Eternal Night City.
The Wish Fulfillment Company, with crowds waving money downstairs.
In the top-floor office, Li Xiao sat in the boss’s chair, carefully examining the cup in his hand.
The cup’s design was somewhat unusual: a basin-sized opening, a bowl-sized grip at the bottom, and a round base, entirely black without any fancy colors.
Li Xiao felt it carefully, always sensing that in the center of the cup, there seemed to be a heart faintly beating.
Unsure what it was, Li Xiao placed the cup on the table for the others to examine.
“Take a look, everyone.
Does anyone know what this is?” Tang Lai was the first to step forward, touching and examining it, finally scratching the back of his head.
“Boss, is this what you snatched?
It doesn’t seem very useful.” Klinton Platinum and Chi Ying also shook their heads; they simply hadn’t seen enough to know what it was.
Huang Qiushui, who had been looking at a black book in her hand, looked up with a hint of hesitation and closed her book.
Huang Qiushui stepped forward, her gaze examining the cup on the table, then she carefully picked it up to inspect it.
“I think I know what this is.” Li Xiao’s eyes lit up, and he immediately sat up straight, his gaze filled with curiosity: “You know?
Tell me quickly, what is this cup for?” Under Li Xiao’s gaze, Huang Qiushui’s expression remained unchanged, but her hand unconsciously rose to brush a strand of hair from her temple behind her slightly reddened ear.
Huang Qiushui shook her head: “I’m not very sure.
The cup’s style is somewhat different from what I know.
However, apart from the lack of special inscriptions, that faint heartbeat sensation is very similar to what’s described in the book.” Huang Qiushui said, noticing the anticipation in Li Xiao’s eyes: “If it’s real, this is very likely one of the thirteen Holy Artifacts of the Blood Clan, the blood cup.” “Thirteen Holy Artifacts…” Li Xiao murmured—he had indeed read about it in a book describing the history of the Blood Clan.
The blood cup, in the legends of the Blood Clan—a cup that had held the fresh blood of a god.
“Is it the blood cup that, with just one drop of blood, can continuously pour out fresh blood?” Li Xiao asked, somewhat disbelieving, looking up.
“Not yet confirmed,” Huang Qiushui shook her head, not daring to guarantee it.
After putting down the blood cup, she suggested a method.
“But we can try.
Just drop a single drop of blood into it, and we’ll know.” “Alright, I’ll do it.” Li Xiao had the same idea.
A sharp surge of internal energy cut his fingertip, and Li Xiao squeezed out a drop of his own fresh blood.
A drop of third-tier transcendent blood from a high-tier Blood Clan member dripped into the cup.
The blood fell to the bottom of the cup, was quickly absorbed, and vanished.
“Thump-thump-thump…” The originally faint, almost inaudible heartbeat gradually became clear.
Inside the blood cup, as if there truly were a heart, a series of beating sounds emerged.
As the heartbeat became clear, fresh blood began to seep from the bottom of the cup.
Li Xiao dabbed his finger and tasted it, a Familiar flavor coming from his tongue.
Li Xiao was very Familiar with his own blood; there was no mistaking the taste, and even the energy contained within it was precisely the same.
Li Xiao looked up at Huang Qiushui and nodded: “It’s my blood.” Hearing this, Tang Lai and the others’ eyes lit up, and they excitedly gathered to watch the blood cup, which was pouring out more and more blood.
Although their knowledge was limited, they all knew what this blood cup represented.
An inexhaustible supply of transcendent blood represented wealth and power.
With an unlimited supply of high-tier transcendent blood, they could quickly advance to the third and fourth tiers.
When the fresh blood flowing from the blood cup was about to overflow, Li Xiao looked at Tang Lai and the others, who were licking their lips, eager to try it.
“What are you all standing around for?
Quickly find something to catch it, or it will spill if you don’t hurry.” Hearing this, Tang Lai also reacted and hurriedly turned to find a container.
Watching the hurried figures of Tang Lai and the other two, Li Xiao turned to Huang Qiushui, who was still standing: “Qiushui, how did you know this was the blood cup?” Hearing Li Xiao’s voice, Huang Qiushui froze, momentarily caught off guard, a flicker of panic in her pupils.
After a brief brainstorm, loyalty finally prevailed: “It’s this book,” Huang Qiushui raised the book in her hand: “It contains detailed information about all twelve Holy Artifacts of the Blood Clan.” Twelve?
A question mark popped into Li Xiao’s mind: “Why twelve?
Shouldn’t it be thirteen Holy Artifacts?” Li Xiao’s gaze shifted to the book in Huang Qiushui’s hand.
Her fingers were tightly gripping the black book, and she lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze.
This inexplicable scene made Li Xiao feel as if something had exploded in his mind.
“No—it can’t be—don’t tell me, this book is one of the thirteen Holy Artifacts…” Li Xiao was sure he saw it clearly: when he said these words, Huang Qiushui’s body visibly trembled, as if a long-hidden secret had been revealed.
When Tang Lai and the others’ hurried figures left the room to find a container for the blood, Huang Qiushui finally looked up, as if having made up her mind, her eyes no longer evading his.
There was still a trace of hesitation deep in her eyes, her eyelashes trembled slightly, but a voice in her heart kept telling her that she shouldn’t hide anything from Li Xiao.
“That’s right, this is the book of darkness, one of the thirteen Holy Artifacts of the Blood Clan.
It records everything about the Blood Clan, including their origins, lost magic from history, forbidden rituals…” Huang Qiushui handed over the book.
When she saw Li Xiao reach out to take it, a trace of disappointment flickered in the depths of her eyes after all.
Taking the book of darkness, the touch in his palm and this sudden surprise made Li Xiao’s head feel a bit dizzy.
How did he go out once and come back with two treasures in his hands?
Li Xiao would never have imagined that a single trip out would yield so many gains.
Li Xiao rubbed his somewhat swollen head; how could he not have seen the disappointment that had flickered in Huang Qiushui’s eyes just now?
“Don’t worry, I’m just looking.
This is still yours.” Hearing Li Xiao’s words, Huang Qiushui felt only a sense of shame rising from the depths of her heart.
Her head drooped, and she couldn’t help but blame herself.
How could she doubt Li Xiao?
How could she harbor such questioning thoughts?
The intense emotions surged through her heart, and in a daze, a mist even rose in her eyes.
Huang Qiushui lowered her brows, looking at Li Xiao’s eyes, as if they were about to well up with water.
Li Xiao lowered his head, not noticing Huang Qiushui’s change.
When he opened the book of darkness, all that appeared were blank black pages.
“???” A question mark appeared above Li Xiao’s head.
Not believing it, he flipped a few more pages: “Is this some kind of wordless heavenly scripture?” Li Xiao looked up, about to ask, when he saw Huang Qiushui, at some point, had already bent down and brought her face close to his.
Looking into her eyes, Li Xiao even thought she had been drugged.
“Ahem, ahem.” Li Xiao awkwardly cleared his throat, helplessly waking Huang Qiushui.
Huang Qiushui, realizing what had happened, stiffened and quickly straightened up, flustered as she tidied her long hair.
After Huang Qiushui’s flurry of movements, Li Xiao picked up the book of darkness in his hand and asked: “There’s nothing in this book.
Does it require some special method to see?” Huang Qiushui shook her head, speaking in a soft whisper, her eyes darting around, not daring to look into Li Xiao’s eyes at all.
“The contents of the book of darkness can only be viewed by its recognized holder.” “Is there no other way?” Li Xiao frowned.
Although it wouldn’t matter if he couldn’t see the contents, he always felt a little itchy inside.
It was like climbing a wall to peek at a widow bathing, only to find that she had already finished when he finally got up there.
“There is—as long as the previous holder dies, the book of darkness can recognize a new master.” After saying that, Huang Qiushui couldn’t help but look up, her nervous pupils anticipating Li Xiao’s reaction.
Hearing this, Li Xiao didn’t think much of it, raised his hand, and handed the book back: “Then forget it.
You can read to me what’s written inside.” Feeling the weight in her palm, Huang Qiushui no longer had any doubt.
Her heart soared, her eyebrows trembled slightly, and her body felt as warm as if she were by a fireplace in the depths of winter.
If Li Xiao were to look at Huang Qiushui’s information at this moment, He would know that the loyalty column for Huang Qiushui had already reached its maximum value.
“Boss, I’m still a low-tier Blood Clan member, so I can only view very little content, just over ten pages, and most of that describes the twelve Holy Artifacts.” “There are even such restrictions.” Li Xiao’s eyes showed some disappointment.
He had originally wanted to ask if the book contained methods to resolve the Familiar relationship or content that could raise the tier limit of Mixed-bloods.
Sensing Li Xiao’s disappointment, Huang Qiushui quickly added: “Boss, I will raise my tier as quickly as possible.
With the blood cup’s assistance, it should be very fast.
Then I’ll be able to view more content.” “That’s true, no need to rush.” Li Xiao nodded, his gaze turning to the blood cup on the table.
“Eh?” Discovering something unusual, Li Xiao stood up and looked closely again, suspecting he was seeing things.
He raised his hand and gestured to Huang Qiushui beside him.
“Qiushui, come here and take a look.
Has this blood cup stopped reacting?” Hearing this, Huang Qiushui leaned in and observed carefully.
The blood cup had indeed stopped pouring out blood, and even the heartbeat sound gradually became difficult to hear.
“This can’t be broken, can it?
It shouldn’t be, it’s a Holy Artifact after all.” Li Xiao, unwilling to give up, picked up the blood cup again to examine it.
“Boss, this shouldn’t be the real blood cup, or rather, that’s not right.” Huang Qiushui hesitated for a moment, pondered, and then stated her guess: “This blood cup might be a replica, but it could also be a part of a complete blood cup.” “How so?” Li Xiao also couldn’t figure out the situation, so he could only turn his gaze to Huang Qiushui, who possessed one of the thirteen Holy Artifacts.
Huang Qiushui explained all her conjectures…
After listening to Huang Qiushui’s explanation, Li Xiao also nodded in agreement.
Huang Qiushui’s basis was not complicated.
Tang Lai had once mentioned that the Situ Family brought large quantities of low-tier blood into their manor, with only entries and no exits, yet they could continuously produce and sell high-tier transcendent blood.
The answer was obvious and simple.
This replica, or incomplete blood cup, while replicating blood, needed to consume and absorb a large amount of external blood and energy.
When Tang Lai and the others rushed back with containers, Li Xiao immediately began an experiment to verify Huang Qiushui’s conjecture.
As Tang Lai and the others’ skin was cut, fresh blood dripped down their wrists.
The blood flowing from them fell due to gravity, and before it could even touch the tabletop, it was drawn by the blood cup, all flowing towards its base.
Upon absorbing the first-tier blood from Tang Lai and the others, the blood cup’s heartbeat grew loud again.
Inside the cup, the nearly full third-tier blood began to be produced again, finally overflowing.
The results perfectly validated Huang Qiushui’s conjecture, and Tang Lai and the others also stopped the bleeding from their wrists.
After confirming the blood cup’s function, Li Xiao began to consider how to use it.
First, he ruled out carrying the blood cup with him, as that would completely fail to utilize its function; even the best item, once put on a high shelf, would become a mere decoration.
As for using the blood cup’s ability to make money, Li Xiao also dismissed it; it was not yet the right time.
After eliminating one unsuitable idea after another, the final answer became simple.
Having made a decision in his heart, Li Xiao looked up at everyone, his gaze finally resting on Huang Qiushui.
“Qiushui, the blood cup will temporarily be entrusted to you.
I need a secret underground factory that won’t be discovered.” “Continue to use the company’s account money to purchase large quantities of low-tier blood to feed the blood cup to produce high-tier blood, but for now, it must be for internal consumption only and absolutely not flow out.” “You can recruit a batch of trustworthy people from the Mixed-bloods converted by the company and secretly cultivate them.” Li Xiao didn’t make absolute statements.
Although the loyalty of those converted would eventually be maximized, there were differences in speed, so Li Xiao still remained cautious.
Huang Qiushui nodded solemnly, and Tang Lai and the others also became serious, understanding the importance of the matter.
Having handled the blood cup issue, Li Xiao took out his phone and checked the time.
“It’s getting late, and I need to rush back to avoid exposure.
I’ll leave things to you.
Go ahead and do it, don’t disappoint me.” “We won’t disappoint you, Boss.” Li Xiao looked at the earnest Huang Qiushui and nodded in agreement.
“I trust you with it.” On the way back to the manor, Marcus’s image appeared in Li Xiao’s mind.
When it came to understanding the blood cup, Marcus, who wanted to obtain it, would definitely know a lot.
Including methods to resolve Familiar relationships and the upper limit for Mixed-bloods.
Li Xiao counted them up and realized he still had so many questions that needed to be answered by a professional.
“Marcus, you have chosen the path of death…” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS Aetheron_ Enjoying the story?