Chapter 1438: Depeo’s Unusual Behavior

Chapter 1438: Chapter 1438: Depeo’s Unusual Behavior

Seeing the three Duke-level Blood Race members extend their blood-red wings aggressively, Wang Wenze and his team braced themselves: one summoned two avatar tattoos, another was covered in dragon scales with lightning flashing in his eyes, and the last was surrounded by Qi Blades sharp enough to cut gold and iron. Each was prepared to face powerful foes.

Poof! Poof! Poof!

Three crisp sounds rang out as Ordin, leading the three vampire Dukes, without any coordination, expanded their bodies and transformed into blood lines, disappearing before everyone’s eyes at the fastest speed.

"Are they... running away?" Wang Wenze, who had thought the opponents were planning tricks, took a while to come to his senses and said incredulously, seeing the enemies who had been ready to fight him to the death vanish suddenly.

Reacting faster, Pei Yan had already chased after them. Frustration and anger mixed within him, as he hadn’t expected the three to flee without a fight. In the blink of an eye, he caught up with the blood lines, casting Blood Race spells to suspend their illusory forms in midair and shouted angrily, "Trying to use Blood Escape Technique to flee before me? Think again!"

Fight? Hope and the others knew too well it was pointless in that situation. Even if they defeated Wang Wenze’s team, what then? The three Children of Origin would endanger them no less. Taking the distant chance they might miraculously overcome Pei Yan’s team, there were still several Heavenly Dao masters left! What could they use to win?

Knowing that time equaled life, they did not hesitate, sacrificing large amounts of blood essence, dropping three levels, and again using Blood Escape Technique. This time, they moved faster than streaks of light. No sooner did Pei Yan imprint them than the three vanished before him.

"Did they escape?" Ye Ruozai asked in surprise, coming beside Pei Yan and watching the three blood lights retreating.

Pei Yan closed his eyes, absorbing the remaining blood essence in the air, then sighed, saying, "Damn it! Three old foxes, slipperier than eels, sensed danger and immediately chose to flee!"

"They still can’t let go of their power. If they had planned an escape from the start, using Blood Escape Technique for all Count-level and stronger, it’d be really hard to catch! If Liang Qian hadn’t wiped out so many people with that explosion, these three might still hope to retain some strength to seek other clans’ shelter." Mei Simiao patted Pei Yan’s shoulder to console him.

"No worries! I’ve marked them already; it’s undetectable weekly. After dealing with this battle, I will hunt them down. Dropping three levels consecutively, catching them will be effortless." Pei Yan, having absorbed the blood essence, couldn’t bother with them as he returned with others to the battlefield.

In the deep pit, the battle neared its end. Remaining Vlad Clan members faced the well-trained, high-spirited Investigation Hall forces, offering little resistance and losing their lives swiftly. When Pei Yan returned, only a few remaining Count-level had gathered, struggling in a final stand. They didn’t attempt to use Blood Escape as they were severely injured; trying might lead to sudden collapse.

"Hold on!" Pei Yan called to halt final assault preparations by his subordinates. He looked over the leader of these people, sneering, "Isn’t that Depeo? You’re alive?"

"Hehehe! Pei Yan, you won! You truly destroyed a clan with over a thousand-year legacy. You must be feeling proud!" Depeo straightened, facing Pei Yan’s mocking smile defiantly.

"Not particularly." Pei Yan rubbed his hands dismissively, "The White Deer Institute also fell to me; compared to such a top-tier power that once ruled a realm for nearly ten thousand years, your Vlad Clan is nothing."

Depeo trembled at Pei Yan’s undeniable reality. Despite the ferocious reputation, the Vlad family fell a grade below top forces like White Deer Institute. His last pride dissolved, Depeo grimly smiled at Pei Yan, cursing, "You’ve won! But you won’t be victorious forever! Your entity will face ruin someday."

"No eternal dynasty exists; nor do I expect enduring generations. Should the Investigation Hall end like yours, it would only be their due! Enough pretending loyalty before me! You know your clan’s nature better than anyone. In my eyes, your only value is your blood essence." Pei Yan spoke, extending his palm at Depeo.

Overwhelmed by Pei Yan’s might and blood pressure, gravely hurt, Depeo couldn’t resist Pei Yan’s summon, involuntarily floating towards his hand. Yet during the flight, Depeo swung an arm to separate and destroy part of his blood, then exploded, turning into a sky of Blood Mist before Pei Yan.

Pei Yan anticipated Depeo’s actions; self-explosion of blood essence spared pain and humiliation while preventing absorption of blood essence.

Pei Yan absorbed remaining blood essence in the air post-explosion, while frowning, contemplating Depeo’s prior steps. He had extracted and destroyed part of his blood, implying it contained memories he didn’t want Pei Yan to access. Despite prep for self-explosion, he ensured destruction of these memories.

What did he wish to hide? The Vlad family had collapsed to this state, yet what remained to conceal?

"Old Ye, can you gather the soul of that self-exploding man?" Pei Yan turned to Ye Ruozai, asking.

Ye Ruozai closed his eyes, immersed for a moment, then shook his head, "His explosion tore his soul; I can only collect some remnants. You care much for this? I could gather fragments and try finding clues. But it takes time and memories sliced are incomplete; I can’t guarantee finding what you seek."

"No need!" The crucial info destroyed by Depeo means with no complete soul for interrogation, it’d just waste time. Pei Yan, pushing down his doubt, ordered the final sweep of Vlad members.