The Wolf Emperor's Hall loomed heavy, torchlight flickering over wolf carvings etched into the stone walls. The gate exploded, crimson light flooding in like a blood tide. The Vampire Grand Elder stepped forward, clad in a blood robe, his aura crushing like an abyss. His greedy eyes locked on Lin Tian's pendant. "The Wolf Emperor's Mark… Lin Wanqing's bloodline is mine!" he roared, his voice shaking the pillars. Lin Tian's heart raced, fury igniting. "You know my mother?" Su Xueyao stepped in front, claws glinting, her voice tense. "Lin Tian, he's Transcendent Level 1—stay sharp!" The System chimed in his mind: [Task: Confront the Vampire Grand Elder to protect the Wolf Emperor's Hall. Reward: Heavenly Wolf Bloodline Awakening Progress +20%, Mysterious Inheritance][Sub-Task: Repel Vampire Vanguards. Reward: Beginner Skill 'Wolf Soul Thrust,' 1000 EXP]
Mist churned, and the hall erupted with killing intent. Ten blood-red figures burst from the shadows, clad in black armor, wielding blood spears, their auras at Mortal Level 9. Su Xueyao growled, transforming into a wolf shadow, her claws tearing through the air toward the nearest foe. Lin Tian gritted his teeth, unleashing his Heavenly Wolf Fist, the punch roaring like a wild beast, striking a guard's chest. The force sent the guard staggering, shock in its eyes. Lin Tian marveled at his speed, the System's agility boost making him a blur. He roared, "Wolf Soul Roar!" A sonic wave surged, freezing two guards. Su Xueyao seized the chance, her claws ripping through one's throat. Back-to-back, their synergy was seamless—Lin Tian's fists thundered, Su Xueyao's claws flashed, and the vanguards fell one by one, dissolving into black mist. The battle ended, and Lin Tian panted, a vision of "Wolf Soul Thrust" flashing in his mind—a piercing strike infused with wolf spirit, capable of breaching defenses. [Sub-Task Completed! Reward: Wolf Soul Thrust, 1000 EXP. Current Level: Transcendent Level 1] He clenched his fist, resolve burning.
The Grand Elder's sneer shattered the silence. "Ants, daring to defy me?" With a wave of his robe, bloodlight formed a massive spear, its tip aimed at Lin Tian's heart. Su Xueyao shoved Lin Tian aside, her claws clashing with the spear, sparks flying. She staggered back, blood trickling from her lips. Lin Tian roared, charging, Wolf Soul Thrust erupting, his fist a meteor striking the Elder. The spear parried, but the Elder's eyes flickered with surprise. "Not bad…" he growled, his spear splitting into countless blood shadows, raining down. Lin Tian activated Wolf Soul Shield, a wolf phantom blocking some strikes, but shadows grazed his arm, blood seeping. Su Xueyao shouted, "Lin Tian, fall back!" Weaving through the Elder's attacks, her claws and spear clashed, cracks spiderwebbing the walls. Lin Tian gritted his teeth, his mother's words echoing: "Tian'er, your fate isn't this…" His pendant blazed, bloodline surging. [Heavenly Wolf Bloodline Awakening Progress: 90%! Temporarily Unlocked: Wolf Emperor's Claw (30 seconds)]
His hands morphed into golden claws, lunging at the Elder, tearing through blood shadows, forcing him back. "Wolf Emperor's power?" The Elder gasped, his spear countering. Lin Tian dodged, but the claw's power faded, leaving him drained. Su Xueyao slashed at the Elder's back, only to be repelled by blood mist, collapsing. Lin Tian rushed to her side, helping her up. She wiped blood from her lips, her eyes fierce. "I'm fine… but his blood array's restricting our bloodlines!" Lin Tian nodded, his Wolf Soul Sense locking onto a crimson altar in the corner, radiating cold energy. Before he could act, the hall quaked, the floor splitting, blood-red vines snaking toward them. The System warned: [Warning: Blood Array Trap, weakens bloodline power. Recommendation: Destroy immediately!]
Lin Tian roared, Wolf Soul Thrust shredding vines, but they regrew faster. Su Xueyao rose, pain in her eyes, her voice low. "This array… it's like my clan's fall…" A memory flashed—her wolf clan's sanctuary ablaze, vampires slaughtering her kin, her powerless escape. Lin Tian sensed her turmoil, his voice firm. "Xueyao, hold on—we'll destroy it together!" They fought as one, claws and fists tearing vines, but the altar's glow intensified, unleashing blood mist that corroded their bloodlines. Pain seared Lin Tian, his vision blurring. Su Xueyao caught him, worry in her eyes. "You're fading—fall back!" Lin Tian shook his head. "We don't leave until it's gone!" He charged the altar, his Heavenly Wolf Fist with Soul Breaker smashing it. [Blood Array Core Damaged, Bloodline Restrictions Weakened!] The mist cleared, their strength returning, and they pressed the attack on the Elder.
As the battle raged, a chilling laugh echoed from the gate. "The Wolf Emperor's Mark is mine!" A black-robed vampire entered, wielding a blood blade, his aura just below the Elder's. [Warning: Vampire Lieutenant, Transcendent Level 1. Recommendation: Proceed with caution!] Su Xueyao frowned. "They planned this!" The Lieutenant sneered. "The Elder stalls you; I take the Mark!" His blade stabbed at Su Xueyao. Lin Tian blocked, his shoulder pierced, blood gushing. Su Xueyao cried, "Lin Tian!" Pain filled her eyes. Lin Tian grabbed the blade, roaring, "Wolf Soul Thrust!" His fist, a wolf's howl, struck the Lieutenant's chest, forcing him back. The central wolf statue quaked, splitting to reveal a blue orb. [Obtained: Wolf Soul Orb, activates Wolf Emperor's Hall defense array] Lin Tian, enduring pain, crushed the orb. Blue light surged, a wolf spirit forming a barrier against the Lieutenant's strike. The Elder roared, "Useless fool!" His spear stabbed at the barrier, trying to shatter it.
Lin Tian panted, bloodline backlash tearing through him. Su Xueyao steadied him, her voice soft. "You're too reckless…" Lin Tian smiled weakly. "Worth it for you." Her cheeks flushed, but she snapped, "Focus—destroy the array!" They charged the altar, Lin Tian's fists and Su Xueyao's claws shattering it. [Blood Array Destroyed, Heavenly Wolf Bloodline Fully Unleashed!] Their bloodlines roared, auras like wild wolves. The Elder bellowed, "You die before the Blood King rises!" His spear unleashed a destructive glow, pillars collapsing. A wolf howl echoed from the hall's depths, a golden light forming a wolf-shaped sword in Lin Tian's hand. [Obtained: Wolf Emperor's Sword (Temporary), imbued with Wolf Emperor's Power] Lin Tian gripped it, roaring, "Heavenly Wolf Slash!" The sword light roared, severing the spear, forcing the Elder back, black blood spilling. Su Xueyao's claw tore through the Lieutenant's chest, dissolving him into mist. [Killed Vampire Lieutenant, Gained 5000 EXP] The Elder's eyes flashed with fear. "The Blood King will crush you!" He fled as blood mist. Lin Tian collapsed, the sword fading. The System chimed: [Task Completed! Reward: Heavenly Wolf Bloodline Awakening Progress +20%, Mysterious Inheritance: Wolf Emperor's Secret Technique (Inactive), Current Level: Transcendent Level 2]
In the hall's depths, a light curtain flickered, faintly showing Lin Wanqing's silhouette. Lin Tian struggled up, heart racing. "Mother…" Su Xueyao grabbed him, her eyes complex. "Careful—it might be a trap." Lin Tian's gaze was resolute. "I need the truth!" Unnoticed, Su Xueyao clutched a wolf token, its bloodlight casting an ominous glow…