Blood-Mark Platform and Spear Techniques

Yang Han comforted, "It's fine. If you die, I'll help collect your corpse."

"You!" Lynn Lin glared angrily at Yang Han.

"Alright, I'm just joking with you." Seeing Lynn Lin's face change, Yang Han laughed.

At this moment, a tunnel appeared ahead. Instantly, a wave of bloody stench poured out, showing just how terrifying it was inside.

Ember Yang frowned and said, "Can't we not go in? It looks really disgusting."

The whole tunnel was blood-red, impossible to tell what it was made from, and the smell of blood was overpowering. When Yang Han and the others reached the exit, they found themselves in a vast world. Though there was no sky, it resembled an underground cavern, but the ceiling and ground were so far apart it felt almost like gazing at the heavens.

"Don't listen to your dad. If you think the smell is bad, here, I specially prepared this. It drives away the bloody stench." Lynn Lin handed Ember Yang a leaf.

Ember Yang almost gagged at the sight. If not for that leaf, she probably would have thrown up. Lynn Lin didn't feel great either, but Yang Han and Melody Wood handled it better. Around them, people began to disperse, each busy with their own affairs.

"Just hold it in your mouth, and you won't smell the blood anymore," Lynn Lin said. Ember Yang curiously put it in her mouth, and sure enough, a fresh scent replaced the bloody odor. She cheered, "Thanks, Sister Lynn! This is great!"

"Where did you get this Greenleaf Cleansing Herb?" Melody Wood asked curiously when she saw it.

"I grew it myself. When I was little, I was terrified of the smell of blood, so I brought a few plants from my sect and always keep them with me. Here, I still have some left. Who wants one?" Lynn Lin asked.

Melody Wood smiled, "You keep it for yourself. I'm fine."

Yang Han also smiled, "If you want to grow, you have to get used to the smell of blood. You can't avoid it forever."

"No need, we'll use it ourselves," Lynn Lin said, then led Ember Yang forward. Yang Han and Melody Wood followed helplessly behind.

The tunnel glowed with blood-red light. Everyone walked inside in order, without pushing or fighting. Yang Han and the others curiously observed the tunnel's path.

The whole tunnel was blood-red, impossible to tell what it was made from, and the bloody stench was thick. When Yang Han and the others reached the exit, they found themselves in a massive world. Though there was no sky, it looked like an underground cave, but the ceiling and ground were so far apart it felt like looking up at the sky.

Most eye-catching was a river—entirely blood-red, just like actual blood.

Ember Yang nearly threw up at the sight. If not for the leaf, she probably would have. Lynn Lin didn't feel great either, but Yang Han and Melody Wood handled it better. Around them, people began spreading out to do their own tasks.

Only some newcomers who didn't understand would wait beside a stone stele. Yang Han, Melody Wood, and the others walked over curiously. The stele displayed the rules of the Bloodfiend Ground.

It recorded: Life and death are your own responsibility—no one else will care. If you kill someone of equal or higher realm, you can go to the Blood-Mark Platform to receive the corresponding Blood-Mark and inherit the loser's Blood-Mark.

The stele also had small maps showing the overall layout. Yang Han saw this place wasn't small, with many regions. There were strict laws—anyone trying to cheat the Blood-Mark Platform would face dire consequences. So everyone knew what to do.

"Interesting, they've even divided it into zones: Gods Zone, Immortal Sovereign Zone, and below Immortal Sovereign Zone," Yang Han laughed.

"Looks like I'll be heading to the Immortal Sovereign Zone," Melody Wood said.

"What about me?" Ember Yang asked suspiciously.

"Let's go together. The Immortal Sovereign Zone is huge. Your minimum goal is to battle Immortal Sovereigns of the Void-stage," Yang Han told Lynn Lin and Ember Yang.

"So we're going together?" Lynn Lin asked, pleasantly surprised.

"Let's see what's so special about your Blood-Marks," Lynn Lin laughed. Everyone gathered around the Blood-Mark Platform, which was in the central area—there were several such platforms, all set up as arenas specifically for duels.

"Crazy!" Lynn Lin exclaimed when she heard Yang Han was thinking about the Gods Zone.

"Alright, enough talk. Let's go, time waits for no one. I'm curious to see what you all accomplish on your first day," Yang Han said with a smile.

Yang Han led them into the Immortal Sovereign Zone. As soon as they entered, the newcomers were immediately targeted for bullying—even by those of the same realm, since at least some Blood-Marks could be gained.

A burly man stepped out from the crowd and asked Yang Han and the others, "What's your strength?"

"Anyone at Void-stage? If so, come duel me! If you win, all my Blood-Marks are yours. If you lose, you'll have to trade yourselves for Blood-Marks." the burly man said.

"Void-stage? Which of you two wants to go?" This kind of opponent was perfect for Ember Yang and Lynn Lin, who were both at Void-stage. Ember Yang had stronger burst power and could match lower Void-solid stage opponents, while Lynn Lin couldn't.

"I'll go first. Ember, you wait. If I can't handle it, you take over," Lynn Lin said to Ember Yang.

"Sister Lynn has always known how to use a spear. Back in your Strange Spiral Shell, whenever we're bored, she always practices her spear techniques," Ember Yang said.

"Oh? Really?" Yang Han asked, intrigued.

"Yeah, Sister Lynn said she once found a spear manual in a cave mansion, so she practiced out of curiosity. She only picked up the basics, but even so, she's really good. See? Every spear thrust leaves that big guy completely disoriented," Ember Yang said.

Yang Han also noticed the Blood-Mark Platform resembled an arena, made from a special blood-red material, though no one knew what it was.

Lynn Lin and the burly man jumped onto the platform. The crowd watched. Lynn Lin knew she had to win this first match—otherwise everyone would see her as weak, and even if she survived, things wouldn't go well for her.

"Alright, let's begin," the burly man laughed.

"Let's do this," Lynn Lin said.

The burly man took out a pair of axes. The axes already had Blood-Marks, though faint, but even so, they boosted his attacks considerably.

"Twin axes? Interesting," Lynn Lin remarked. She didn't hesitate, taking out a spear—neither too long nor too short, just right for her.

"When did Lynn start using a spear?" Yang Han wondered, curious as he saw her wield it.

"Sister Lynn has always known how to use a spear. In your artifact, whenever we're bored, she practices spear techniques," Ember Yang said.

"Oh? Really?" Yang Han was intrigued.

"Yeah, Sister Lynn said she once got a spear manual in a cave mansion, so she started practicing out of curiosity. She only learned the basics, but even so, she's really good. Look—every spear strike leaves that big guy totally lost," Ember Yang said.

Yang Han noticed it too. Each of Lynn Lin's spear strikes seemed to attack one side but actually hit another, making the big guy constantly misjudge the direction. After a few rounds, his twin axes were knocked out of his hands and he was thrown off the platform. Then the Blood-Mark Platform flashed, and the Blood-Marks on his axes automatically transferred to Lynn Lin's spear.

"It's automatic?" Yang Han muttered.

"Seems so," Melody Wood replied, not entirely sure.

At that moment, Lynn Lin jumped down and smiled, "How was that?"

"Didn't expect you to be so skilled with a spear. I underestimated you," Yang Han laughed.

Lynn Lin said proudly, "Of course! You never asked, but this is my special spear technique—it's meant to confuse opponents, making me unpredictable."

"Do you still have the spear manual for this technique? Mind lending it to me?" Yang Han thought about his own Infinite Spear; with a technique like this, his combat ability would improve a lot.

Lynn Lin saw Yang Han asking about her spear technique—probably thanks to Ember Yang. She smiled, "Want it? Then promise me something."

"There's a condition?" Yang Han asked suspiciously.

"Alright, you three—I'll just keep an eye on you. Let's meet here at this time every day; the rest of the time, you're free to do as you like," Yang Han said.

"Alright, but the condition can't go against my conscience," Yang Han said.

"Don't worry, I won't ask you to kill or set fires. You can relax," Lynn Lin said.

"Deal. So what's the condition?" Yang Han asked.

"I haven't thought of it yet—I'll tell you later. The spear technique is in this string of beads. Take your time studying it," Lynn Lin handed Yang Han a string of translucent white beads.

Yang Han took the beads, looked them over, then put them away and smiled, "Thanks."

"You're welcome! See, I won, right?" Lynn Lin smiled at Ember Yang and Melody Wood.

Melody Wood smiled, "Not bad."

Ember Yang smiled, "Nice job, Sister Lynn. You're amazing."

"They left so quickly? What's up with that?" Yang Han wondered, but since they weren't following anymore, he ignored it, found a spot, and took out the beads to study.

"Alright, you three—I'll just keep an eye on you. Let's meet here at this time every day; otherwise, you're free to do as you like," Yang Han said.

"Huh, that's it?" Lynn Lin exclaimed when she heard Yang Han was leaving.

"What, got any more questions?" Yang Han asked.

"Forget it, we'll train on our own. You go do your thing," Lynn Lin said, knowing Yang Han was in a different realm and couldn't really train with her.

Yang Han smiled, said goodbye to the three, and left.

"Prince Leng, they've split up," the Desert Emissary reported to a young man.

"Got it. Just keep an eye on them for now—don't provoke them. They're not worth much yet. Once they've gathered plenty of Blood-Marks, I'll make my move. For now, just watch for whoever has the most Blood-Marks, and I'll target them. Saves time," the youth said.

"Understood, I'll get to it," the Desert Emissary replied.

Yang Han also noticed one of the desert people tracking him, but they soon withdrew.

"They left so quickly? Why?" Yang Han wondered, but since they weren't following anymore, he ignored it, found a spot, and took out the beads to study.

Inside the beads was the spear technique. It had eighteen forms, and Lynn Lin had used the simplest 'Temptation Form,' which made opponents hallucinate and misjudge.