This Spiritual Energy is Lethal!
Chapter 411: Blood Source

Chapter 411: Chapter 411: Blood Source

Jacob slid down the rope, and when the length of the rope was expended, he gently swung to the railing at one side and vaulted into the corridor.

Hugging the brick wall, he heard the sound of hurried footsteps coming from the staircase in the corridor, sounding like there were about a dozen people.

Jacob moved to a door nearby, gently turned the handle; it wasn’t locked. He pulled out a throwing knife, cracked the door open just a slit, slipped in, and quickly closed it behind him.

The guards outside, holding crossbows, ran past the corridor, unaware that there was an added intruder on this floor.

Jacob darted into the room, raising the throwing knife in caution, only to see that it was a laboratory, empty of any people. Tiny kerosene lamps hung on the walls, and many glass vessels were arrayed on the tables.

He leaned in to inspect the vessels closely and guessed that all the red liquid inside was blood.

A foul stench of decay hit his nostrils, and he covered his nose, fighting the urge to cough. After searching the room, he found nothing of use.

Jacob moved to another door inside the room, which clearly led to a connecting chamber within.

He heard noises behind the door, so he gently twisted the knob and peeped into the other room through the crack.

Jacob saw an old man in a white Church robe conversing with three men in black suits.

The old man’s face shone shriveled and withered under the kerosene lamp, like a mummy long dead yet still capable of standing and talking.

"This batch of new blood is not enough," said the old man.

"We are... actively searching for a new source of blood, Master William. We bought over a dozen child workers from the iron foundry recently," answered the man in the suit, his tone somewhat anxious.

"Have you been to the orphanage?" asked Master William, pinching his chin.

Jacob held his breath, his expression tensing, for the children he was looking for were here.

"The children at the orphanage are related to the Philip family, we do not wish to be exposed," the suited man said cautiously.

"Hmm... I know they have always been in that business, which is why they always have new girls... but I do not care," said Master William.

"What if they discover our research?" asked the man in the suit.

"Then let them witness real terror," responded Master William.

The three suited men exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat wooden.

"Rats have come into the sewers; I hear the disturbance continues," Master William changed the topic.

"The intruder is extraordinary, not a drunkard or vagabond, more like one who came prepared," the suited man explained.

"Could it be from the Secret Keeper Organization?" Master William inquired.

"I do not know, we should not have alarmed them... I have arranged for more hosts to go down to the sewers; he will not be able to leave alive," the suited man assured.

"If the intruder is indeed dispatched by the Secret Keepers, I will have Florence deal with him," Master William said as he turned to leave.

"Master William, we will continue searching for a new source of blood," the three suited men bowed slightly to Master William.

"Hmm... I will be setting off for the sanatorium on the south bank... after all, there are getting to be more and more rats here," said Master William, then looked over in the direction of Jacob.

Caught by that gaze, Jacob hurriedly closed the door and pulled out a revolver. However, Master William paid no heed to him and slowly walked out of the room.

Chen Ke, groped by a horde of monstrous creatures, struggled valiantly as a full suit of black Knight armor instantly enveloped his body.

The black Knight’s armor radiated intense heat, shifting from black to dark red, to bright red, then erupted into a scorching Flame Burst.

This was a unique ability of An Helei’s Elegy Armor, but for Chen Ke, who possesses An Helei’s Ash, it wasn’t very useful, as the "Flame Immunity" trait was more helpful.

The Flame Burst explosion burnt the monsters grappling with Chen Ke into blackened jerky, and the air was suddenly filled with an unpleasant scorched smell.

But Chen Ke didn’t stop there; he extended his right hand, shaking off the white ashes, causing the temperature around him to suddenly rise to 1000 degrees.

This heat made the sewage underfoot boil, and the surrounding monsters all shriveled up from the scalding temperature, emitting "squeak, squeak, squeak" noises as they burrowed into the water, some with flames erupting from their backs.

The high temperature traveled along the drainage pipes, causing a deflagration effect in the semi-enclosed space. The manhole cover above Chen Ke’s head flew skyward with a bang due to thermal expansion and contraction.

Not only that, but the grease that had not been cleaned from the walls for millennia also turned brittle under the high temperature, flaking off in large chunks.

"Why has it suddenly gotten so hot?" some pedestrians on the street wondered.

They, of course, had no idea that there was a Spiritual Ability User beneath their feet.

Chen Ke didn’t release any more heat, but it took some time for the temperature to dissipate. Clad in knight’s armor, he stood in the water, watching the scattered remains of monsters, when Xu Jing walked in from the passage behind him.

"I’m glad you’re not dead; I really blundered earlier," said Xu Jing.

She had changed into a new outfit, still in the style of the 19th century, this time in red.

"Weren’t you infected with a meme? How did you recover so quickly?" Chen Ke looked at Xu Jing and removed his armor.

"I... uh..." Xu Jing looked at Chen Ke with a smile that suggested there was more to tell.

Chen Ke’s clothes were in disarray after being grasped by the monster, his shirt and coat were torn to shreds, exposing his chest and abdomen.

"Does this make us even? You missed the best part," Chen Ke said, looking down to straighten his clothes.

He touched the bullet wound scars on his abs and couldn’t help but wonder why the countdown of life, which could consume life to heal all injuries, even regenerating limbs, wouldn’t also restore Lin Mo’s old injuries.

Xu Jing knew what Chen Ke meant; he had accidentally seen his own body in the cafe.

"After this is over, you can tell me alone... I know a hotel with double rooms that have a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the Taist River..." Xu Jing said with a smile.

"You haven’t answered my question yet," Chen Ke reminded her.

"Are you referring to the meme? Have you forgotten? In this reality, I’m already dead," Xu Jing said.

"That’s possible?" Chen Ke huffed.

"Your three friends are still getting treatment at the foundation; normally, it takes at least four months to fully recover," Xu Jing said.

"Sam... after they recover, will you let them come back?" Chen Ke asked.

"Of course, if you want, we can erase their memories of entering the foundation and of 2006, and then release them back into 2009," Xu Jing said.

Chen Ke nodded, although this also meant that Sam and the others would no longer recognize him.

"Let’s continue with what we’re doing, Chen Ke. I think we’ve already stirred up the hornet’s nest," Xu Jing said, pulling out her advanced pistol and walking up to Chen Ke.

"You mean to say... we don’t need to hide anymore?" Chen Ke asked.

"Kill anyone who sees us. Leave no survivors," Xu Jing nodded.

"First, we find Jacob, then see what’s really beneath us," Chen Ke said.

He took a deep breath, donned the full set of Black Knight armor again, and hoisted the Moonlight Greatsword on his shoulder, walking with a clank toward the dark passage ahead.