Legend of the Divine Archer

As the carriage arrived at a stop, Zhang Li leaned back in her seat, her expression thoughtful. "We are almost there; I need to report this to the Archduke. Take a rest. Zhang San will meet you tomorrow to discuss the new recruit onboarding," she instructed, her tone carrying an air of finality.

Zhang Li was the first to descend, followed closely by Wei Xi. But just as Yan Jin's foot touched the ground, an electric current surged through his body, forcing him to his knees. His face contorted in pain, and a guttural groan escaped his lips.

"What is going on?" Zhang Li and Wei Xi asked simultaneously, their voices tinged with alarm.

For the first time in months, Yan Jin's blood energy was reacting, the dormant power within him stirring violently. His bloodline, long suppressed, was awakening with a vengeance. He reached out, grabbing Zhang Li's robe with trembling fingers, his voice barely a whisper. "Out…si…de," he managed to mutter through gritted teeth.

Zhang Li, understanding the urgency, acted swiftly. With a single tap of her foot, the world around them blurred, and in an instant, they were transported to the outskirts of the city, away from prying eyes.

There, Yan Jin collapsed onto the ground, writhing in agony. His body twisted and contorted in unnatural ways, veins and arteries bulging grotesquely as the blood energy surged through him like a raging torrent. The strain on his body was unbearable—his energy conduits, long dried up and withered, were being forcefully revitalized, stretched beyond their limits.

His clothes tore apart, unable to withstand the violent changes wreaking havoc on his body. Steam hissed from his skin, his entire form turning an ominous shade of red. The air around him crackled with the intensity of the energy, and the ground beneath him scorched as if seared by fire.

Zhang Li watched in horror, her usually composed demeanor shattered by the sight before her. She had heard of some forbidden technique that granted immense power at a terrible cost. But seeing its effects firsthand was something else entirely.

The scars that marred Yan Jin's body, the hollow look in his eyes—these were signs of inhumane torture, of a boy who had been forced to endure unimaginable suffering.

In the depths of Yan Jin's blood navel, the nine-headed neonate Hydra roared ferociously. The creature's, were crowned by a rotating fourth halo, glowing with an intensity that signaled a new evolution. The Gwi, and the Kun Peng, the sovereign of the skies and the embodiment of speed, floated freely, basked freely in the newfound surge of primordial energy.

Suddenly, the third head of the Hydra, which had long been dormant, began to stir. It detached from the main body, writhing and coiling in the air before transforming into a vision that flooded Yan Jin's mind. He saw a beast unlike any he had ever imagined—a creature with the body of a colossal bull, yet with a single, spiraling horn like a unicorn's.

Its giant tusks resembled those of an ancient elephant, and its bones gleamed with the sheen of steel, while its muscles rippled with the solidity of bronze. It was the incarnation of brute force, the embodiment of raw, untamed power. It was the Behemoth.

As the Hydra's third head morphed into the Behemoth, a profound transformation began within Yan Jin's body. The scorching light that enveloped him seemed to sear his soul, reforging him into something more powerful. His bones, shattered into countless fragments, only to be reconstituted with the unyielding strength of steel.

His muscles, taut with tension and pain, were now replaced with the dense, bronze like those of the Behemoth.

The agony was unbearable, as if every fiber of his being was being torn apart and rebuilt from the inside out. His muscles sizzled, emitting waves of heat as they reshaped into something far more resilient and powerful. His blood, grew heavier than gold, each drop infused with the weight and power of the primordial forces now surging through him.

Within his navel, the three primordial creatures—the Nether bird, the Kun Peng, and now the Behemoth—roared in unison, their combined energies forming a triad of mastery: the Nether bird, the master of truths and falsehoods, the Kun Peng, the master of speed and the heavens, and the Behemoth, the undisputed master of strength.

Their roars echoed through Yan Jin's consciousness, harmonizing into a symphony that resonated with is being.

The primordial energy fully awakened within him, burst forth in a blinding beam of light that shot out of Yan Jin's body and illuminated the night sky.

"Not good," Zhang Li thought, her instincts immediately recognizing the potential danger. She was right. Within moments, the seven generals stationed in the border town appeared, their formidable presences flanking the area as multiple other auras scanned the location, probing for any signs of disturbance.

"This is Treasure Pavilion business. One step closer, and I will consider you all enemies," Zhang Li declared, her voice cold and commanding. With a heavy thud, she let her giant hammer drop to her side, a clear warning to the encroaching generals.

"Tsk, it's that crazy bitch," one general muttered under his breath, well aware of Zhang Li's notorious reputation within the Coalition Army.

"There are seven of us and one of you," another general sneered, his energy crackling with hostility. "Are you sure you can take us all on?"

As tensions escalated, a resonant hum emanated from the light shielding Yan Jin. The hum quickly transformed into a powerful, ancient pressure that descended upon the generals, spreading outwards like a wave.

"Leave now, or stay forever," a voice boomed from within the light, carrying an authority that sent chills down the spines of those present. The ancient aura, left the generals no choice but to retreat, believing they were facing a senior of unimaginable power.

"Sorry for disturbing the senior's business," one of the generals stammered before the group collectively took a few steps back, their bravado faltering. With a sense of urgency, they quickly flew out of the area, not daring to challenge the unseen force any further.

"Phew..." Zhang Li exhaled, relief washing over her as the immediate threat dissipated. Things could have gotten really ugly, she mused, as she watched Yan Jin emerge from the light, his white coat draped over him, though his body still struggled to stand firm.

"What devilish technique did you use to end up like this?" Zhang Li asked, her gaze scrutinizing his weakened form.

"Bloodline legacy," Yan Jin replied, his voice strained but grateful. "Thanks for the protection."

"What is your bloodline?" Zhang Li inquired; curiosity piqued.

"You'd die of a heart attack if I told you," Yan Jin quipped, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

"It's fine if you don't want to share," Zhang Li responded with a dismissive wave. "But how did you trick them?"

"Bloodline legacy," Yan Jin repeated, his tone lightening slightly despite the exhaustion evident in his posture.

"Pfff, let's go before they realize the trick," Zhang Li chuckled, her expression softening as she prepared to move. With a swift motion, they vanished from the spot.