Mu Qingxin didn’t dodge or flinch, charging straight into the blue fire pillar.
As soon as the Black Barrier on his body was melted, a new one took its place.
In the blink of an eye, Mu Qingxin reached Shen Ji and threw a punch.
Shen Ji reflexively raised his elbow to block, but the strength of the Sixth Evolution still sent him flying back a considerable distance, leaving two distinct tracks on the ground.
Shen Ji roared toward the sky, and circles of blue fire rings rippled out from his body once again.
His aura suddenly shifted as he charged toward Mu Qingxin, cloaked in layers of heavy pressure.
Mu Qingxin’s face beneath the black armor was exceptionally pale, and even the crimson in his eyes began to fade.
To break through the fire pillar earlier, he had consumed most of his energy to maintain the existence of the Black Armor.
Seeing the rings of fire approach again, he gritted her teeth and leaped upward, condensing a circular barrier beneath his feet.
He began circling in the air above Shen Ji.
Shen Ji tilted his head to the side, seemingly confused as to why his opponent was above him.
He followed suit, clenching one hand.
A Black Barrier appeared beneath his feet as well, and he wobbled upward in pursuit.
Liu Yao watched the afterimages of the two clashing in the sky from a distance.
“Is this a King Seed?” she murmured.
Just then, a helicopter descended behind Liu Yao.
Xiao Jiu hopped out and ran over, supporting Liu Yao as she asked, “Big Sister, are you okay?”
Liu Yao coughed up some clotted blood.
Her face was pale, but she waved her hand.
“I’m fine. Is Shen Ji’s Third Evolution over?”
Xiao Jiu’s expression turned troubled as her gaze slowly shifted behind her.
Ye Xi jumped down and casually wrapped some bandages around her bleeding wrist.
“No,” she said.
“His evolution isn’t over yet.”
“Then why—”
“Because you were about to die, so I kicked him down.”
Ye Xi’s tone was casual, as if she were speaking about a trivial matter.
Liu Yao lowered her gaze.
It was true—if Shen Ji hadn’t arrived in time, she would likely be a pile of mush by now.
Most importantly, the person who did this was none other than Shen Ji’s so-called girlfriend.
Although she didn’t understand why the other woman was so confident in Shen Ji, she etched this debt of gratitude deep into her heart.
Xiao Jiu spoke up.
“Big Sister, what do we do now? Shen Ji and Captain Mu… Mu Qingxin are already gone.”
Ye Xi moved then, pulling out a hair tie to pull her hair into a sharp high ponytail.
She rolled up her sleeves and said, “If you’re not dead, get up and get to work. Our goal has always been this batch of blood plasma.”
Liu Yao gave a bitter smile and forced herself to rally, walking toward the remaining Black Barrier.
Ye Xi took a long breath, and Blood Mist drifted out from around her body.
The moment it touched the Black Barrier, a series of sizzling, corrosive sounds erupted.
As time passed, the Black Barrier still stood firmly in place.
Tiny beads of sweat broke out on Ye Xi’s fair face.
“That’s enough. Let me do it.”
Liu Yao gave her an affirming look.
Ye Xi hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Liu Yao held her breath and focused, activating her Strength Talent.
She struck out with all her might, and the Black Barrier finally shattered completely.
Liu Yao ripped the truck door off.
Inside the mangled vehicle, rows of gleaming Black Iron Boxes sat quietly.
“Take this.” Liu Yao tore open a Black Iron Box with her bare hands, took out a bottle of blood plasma, and tossed it to Ye Xi.
Without hesitation, Ye Xi twisted it open and chugged the entire bottle.
Her depleted energy and blood were rapidly replenished.
Looking at the crates of safe blood, Liu Yao’s heart finally settled.
Now that the majority of their plan was complete, it all depended on whether Shen Ji could escape.
—
Meanwhile, Shen Ji was gradually regaining consciousness in his Sea of Consciousness.
The last image in his mind was Ye Xi stuffing the remaining half of her wrist into his mouth.
At the same time, System notifications rang in his head.
**[Warning! Warning! Energy replenishment is too strong. The King Seed Third Trial has begun]**
**[Trial Objective: Kill Mu Qingxin]**
**[Reminder to Host: Please remain conscious. Upon completion of the trial, you will be granted an opportunity to choose a Talent]**
Shen Ji felt utterly helpless.
He was in a dilemma.
First, he didn’t believe he could actually kill Mu Qingxin.
Second, he couldn’t feel any control over his body right now.
He could only vaguely sense three spots of light drifting toward him: one blue, one black, and one a hazy white.
Although Shen Ji didn’t know what these spots of light were for, his intuition told him they were the key to solving his problem.
Just as he was about to grasp one of them, Shen Ji’s vision suddenly brightened, and his sight gradually returned.
A look of relief appeared on Mu Qingxin’s face, which was still partially covered by the black armor.
He murmured, “A King Seed, huh? To be the first to make way for you… I hope you can still remember me.”
Shen Ji was completely bewildered.
‘Wait, man, what are you saying? Are these your last words?’
Seeing the clarity returning to Shen Ji’s eyes, Mu Qingxin seemed to realize something.
He gave a self-deprecating smile and said, “The King… I hope you find my ability useful. I leave the future of the Blood Race to you.”
Shen Ji stepped back several paces.
Only then did he notice a giant sword condensed from a Black Barrier impaling Mu Qingxin’s chest.
**[Trial Completed]**
**[Ding! The System has automatically selected the Barrier ability for the Host]**
All the crimson faded from Mu Qingxin’s eyes.
Blood trickled down the corner of his mouth.
After a few final twitches, he lay on the ground, motionless.
Shen Ji felt as if all his strength had been drained.
He slumped onto the ground and began to piece together what had happened.
First, he lost consciousness, then he saw the three spots of light, and now Mu Qingxin was lying here.
A question haunted his mind.
‘What on earth happened while I was unconscious?!’
Shen Ji skeptically kicked the motionless Mu Qingxin.
The whole thing felt like a dream.
Someone at the Sixth Evolution had actually died?
And he even called him “The King” at the end?
‘System, did you give me too much of a cheat, or did he hold back?’
**[Reminder to Host: This System does not use cheats]**
At this moment, Shen Ji just wanted to sleep heavily.
There were too many mysteries, and he couldn’t even find a single thread to start unraveling them.
Whether it was physical weakness or mental exhaustion, everything was urging him to stop—to stop completely.
Shen Ji looked around at the silent forest.
He had no memory of this place, which caused him to panic for a moment.
Using the last of his strength, he fished his phone out of his pocket.
Just as he was about to dial Ye Xi’s number, she called him first.
“Xiao Jizi, why didn’t you answer my call for so long?”
“Damn it! Me, answer your call? I don’t even know where I am right now!”
The corners of Ye Xi’s mouth curled up.
Before Shen Ji had picked up, she had been pacing back and forth, several times wanting to go look for him herself.
If Liu Yao hadn’t persuaded her to guard the blood plasma first, she would have gone long ago.
Now that Shen Ji had answered the phone, her heart not only settled, but a thought also surfaced: ‘He’s my man, after all. Taking down a Sixth Evolution practitioner was as easy as turning over a hand.’