The surroundings were still shrouded in darkness; the white lights that once illuminated the area had all gone out when the thudding sounds emerged. Only the faint purple moonlight filtered through the thin cloud layer, casting a thin veil of purple over the hilltop.

The thudding sounds continued, yet they did not increase in frequency. Mr. Rui and the others stood motionless, as if frozen by an Immobilization Spell, their gaze fixed on the key lying on the ground before the stone sculpture. The patterns atop the sculpture were completely soaked with Mr. Rui's blood, turning an intense shade of red. Curiously, in the darkness, the vivid red patterns stood out starkly. As each thud resonated, the red patterns pulsated as if they were veins.

The vibrant red patterns pulsed with the sound, each thud weighed heavily upon the chest, inducing discomfort. As the pulsating intensified, tiny cracks began to appear on the stone sculpture. Yet the sculpture did not shatter; it stood resolutely.

Thud, thud, thud, a faint glow emerged from the red patterns, which slowly detached from the top of the stone sculpture, transforming into a Blood Ball covered in red patterns. Roughly the size of a fist, the Blood Ball bounced rhythmically with the thudding sounds, akin to a beating heart.

"Blood~~~" An unexpectedly grating, low, sinister voice emerged, weak and indistinct.

Mr. Rui and the others, frozen in place, could not quite make out the source of the sudden voice, their faces expressing puzzlement. Yet, they stared in horror at the red patterns abruptly morphing into a Blood Ball. The patterns on the Blood Ball were as clear as the arteries of a heart.

"Blood." The raspy voice resurfaced, clearer this time.

The sudden voice left Mr. Rui and his companions unnerved, unable to discern its origin—it appeared bizarrely right beside them, as if someone were whispering in their ears. However, being seasoned veterans, despite the voice's abruptness, they remained largely unperturbed.

With a steady expression, Mr. Rui asked, "Who are you?"

The words left his mouth, and the voice disappeared, replaced by gusts of eerie wind. The blood that had been spread outside the pit was seemingly drawn together by some invisible force, soaring through the air to converge upon the Blood Ball.

Even though Mr. Rui and the others had seen many bizarre phenomena, this inexplicable scene left them momentarily startled. Jue instinctively positioned himself to shield Mr. Rui, not wanting any mishaps to befall him.

The entire pool of blood was absorbed into the Blood Ball, yet the ball did not grow larger; the red patterns merely became clearer, the bouncing more pronounced.

"Blood." The voice was much clearer this time, no longer raspy or sinister, but it still broke into their ears abruptly.

This time, Mr. Rui and the others were certain the voice emanated from the Blood Ball. Even if it wasn't directly from the Blood Ball, it was undoubtedly related to it.

Drawn by the voice, they momentarily forgot the thudding sounds around them, their gaze fixed squarely on the Blood Ball as though trying to penetrate its mystery. Yet, apart from the red hue, there was nothing else visible.

The Blood Ball emitted a faint glow, and under the reflection of this red light, the surroundings appeared as if soaked in blood. Mr. Rui and the others were oblivious to this, solely focused on the Blood Ball suspended before them, bouncing continually. Each bounce was accompanied by a resounding thud, weighty and unsettling, a sound that bred anxiousness.

"Who are you?" Mr. Rui asked once more, a flicker of unease rising within him. Though he hadn't erred in his previous steps, the current situation was not documented in the Ancient Book, sparking a feeling of being manipulated.

There was no response; the Blood Ball continued to bounce, the prior voice vanished along with the thudding sounds. Yet, these very sounds imposed an unspoken pressure upon Mr. Rui and the others.

Instinctively, Mr. Rui stepped back, gripped by a chilling fear. It was a profound fear he hadn't anticipated ever feeling. Sorres followed suit, retreating as well. Jue, cautious and vigilant, withdrew a step, maintaining his protective stance over Mr. Rui, despite knowing Mr. Rui had no need for his guard.

The Blood Ball bounced with a measured rhythm—one that mirrored the heartbeat of everyone present, an eerily bizarre occurrence unnoticed by Mr. Rui and his companions, all fixated on the Blood Ball, wary of any further strange developments.

The Blood Ball continued to pulse, the raspy voice no longer surfacing, instead, a more terrifying and bizarre devouring sound emanated from the Blood Ball. The consuming sound echoed through the deathly still valley, startling some into cries of fear. This unsettling occurrence was unprecedented for many. Even amongst seasoned Superpower Users, Mr. Rui and his peers were visibly shaken upon hearing the abrupt devouring sound.

Heavy tension lingered over the hilltop, creating a stifling atmosphere. Mr. Rui retreated further, distancing himself from the Blood Ball. The situation had grown too bizarre; he was uncertain if a special occurrence might ensue, his steely instincts kicking in as a form of self-protection.

The devouring sound gradually faded, the patterns on the continually pulsing Blood Ball became sharper in red, and an ominous white light faintly enveloped its surface. The light that should have been pure and holy was tainted with an eerie aura. As the white light emerged, Jue and the others felt the temperature on the hilltop drop several degrees, even triggering shudders in people with the constitution of a Superpower User.

"Blood." A parched voice returned, brimming with a desire for blood. Its appearance plunged listeners into an icy dread.

Jue's expression shifted, retreating hastily as a foreboding sense overcame him, the closest proximity to the Blood Ball bringing forth an inexplicable danger. Before he could steady himself, the Blood Ball's previously faint white light intensified vehemently, releasing a hazy white silhouette that clawed towards Jue.

"Blood!" A chillingly sinister, harsh, and violent voice erupted from the white silhouette's mouth, sending a shiver down the listeners' spines.

Jue reacted swiftly, delivering a striking blow as the white silhouette lunged. Whistling Wind Blades met the advancing shadow but scattered in the silhouette's roar, effortlessly vanquished. Such was the eerie power of the white silhouette's howl. Perturbed by this, Jue dared not underestimate the threat, promptly summoning Wind Force to retreat.

The white silhouette continued to roar, its distorted face contorted with malice, its clear voice relentlessly hammering the same word, the same phrase.

"Blood!"

Driven by intense craving, the white silhouette lunged at the nearest trio, Jue being one of them.

As Jue gathered Wind Force, poised to retreat, a chillingly sinister aura seeped towards him, causing his body to stall, his surrounding Wind Force halting as well. Before he could reactivate his Wind Force and withdraw, an icy sensation spread across his back, followed by piercings of pain in his chest. He glanced downward, witnessing a gleaming blade, blood-smeared, protruding from his chest; an impending coldness emanated from the blade, sharply contrasting the warmth of his blood.

A rattling noise escaped his throat, Jue turned, meeting Sorres's sinister face.

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