# Chapter 8: Hold On
The pitch-black sea behind him was eerily quiet. Su Xiao took out a space probe, which resembled a dagger but lacked a guard and was slender and elongated.
He thrust the space probe into the space ahead, waited a few seconds, then pulled it out. He noticed that the crystal probe only had a few black lines, indicating that the space here was not severely eroded by the Abyss. Unlike the space near Sanctuary City, where inserting the probe for a few seconds caused darkness to spread to the handle, making it unnecessary to even pull it out for inspection.
Summoning Iron-Blood Hounds in that kind of environment—let alone whether the Iron-Blood Hounds of the Underworld would respond—even if they did, the moment they arrived, they would surely pounce on Su Xiao first. That level of spatial erosion clearly intended to kill the summoned party.
[Iron-Blood Pact: Upon activating this pact, you will sign a contract with the Iron-Blood Hounds of the Underworld's Omen Lands, gaining the right to summon them to fight for you. In return, after each battle, you must pay one Strong Heart (minimum Absolute Strong rank · Strong Heart) as compensation for this battle. If payment is not made, you will suffer severe backlash from the Iron-Blood Hounds...]
This pact was one of equals. More precisely, Su Xiao was temporarily hiring the Iron-Blood Hounds to assist him. They could either refuse or, if they discovered that the summoner Su Xiao harbored malicious intent, permanently shatter the [Iron-Blood Pact].
Su Xiao released a trace of blood energy, forming the [Iron-Blood Pact] on the back of his left hand. He pressed one hand to the ground, and Proud Song crystals spread to form a summoning array. With his -32 points of true Charm attribute, he logically shouldn't be able to summon anything. Yet from the distant Underworld, he received a response.
Illusory seal imprints appeared before him, each representing an Iron-Blood Hound he could communicate with and summon. He chose the sixth one—entirely pitch black, but its imprint was much smaller than the other Iron-Blood Hounds.
As the summoning was confirmed, light radiated from the summoning array. Burgan beside him merely watched, not intending to interfere. He needed to conceal himself as much as possible now.
The Dark Will had successfully awakened earlier, causing him slight discomfort, but his long-term exposure to darkness allowed him to bluff his way through. After all, it was common for exploration team members to have chaotic thoughts or jumbled memories.
The blood-colored light of the summoning array gradually dissipated. A fierce, irritable, and highly aggressive aura erupted, manifesting as needle-like black energy that caused Xilin, Burgan, and Baha to step back several paces. Even the Pain Archbishop's aura grew heavier.
The needle-like black energy shot outward, even causing the hem of Su Xiao's long leather coat to rustle. After more than ten seconds, the newcomer's aura restrained. Except for Su Xiao, everyone stared intently—and saw... nothing.
Seeing nothing, they instinctively lowered their gaze and spotted something about the size of a small dog. Its skin was glossy black, and its neck and torso were covered in pale red bone spines, slightly sparser than fur. Each spine had a slight curve and could spread out, becoming barbed hooks.
Seeing these barbs, along with Black Leech · Kenbas's pointed snout and streamlined head, gave the impression that it excelled at burrowing into an enemy's flesh, then spreading all its bone spines into barbs, making it impossible to pry out.
Black Leech · Kenbas had narrow eyes. It looked at Su Xiao, studied him for a few seconds, and perhaps finding him agreeable, said:
"Pubudu, yeka (Underworld language)."
The general meaning was that it was willing to assist Su Xiao for one day, but required payment of three [Strong Hearts]. Since Bubu Wang wasn't present, this was all that could be understood.
Su Xiao took an item from his team space. He held it with one hand—it was about the size of a millstone, over a meter in diameter, shaped like a heart but covered in blood vessels and meridians. This vivid red giant heart gave the sole impression of strength, along with terrifyingly rich life force within.
This item was called [Titan Dragon Heart]. Su Xiao had Jila cultivate it by combining the gene sequence of the Demon Flame Dragon with the powerful life characteristics of the Titan Giant Beast.
Such a curiosity could only be produced through an insect nest. Moreover, this was possible because Jila was the Eternal Light Lord, receiving vast amounts of World Force from the Eternal Light World, enabling this kind of insect race organ creation. Fortunately, the initial creation cost was high, but subsequent cultivation of [Titan Dragon Hearts] was within acceptable costs.
Previously, Su Xiao had paid the Iron-Blood Hounds with ordinary [Dragon Hearts] from Demon Flame Dragons. Now, this was tailor-made. Simply put, one [Titan Dragon Heart] was worth more than a thousand [Dragon Hearts]. Even within the Iron-Blood Hound clan, this was a top-tier [Strong Heart].
From Black Leech's already glazed-over eyes, it was clear how tempting this [Titan Dragon Heart] was. Black Leech hadn't been able to evolve stronger for a long time, but it felt that if it devoured enough of these rare hearts, it might complete its long-awaited advancement.
After a brief silence between the two, Black Leech · Kenbas nodded at Su Xiao, making it clear: for this assistance, it no longer needed three [Strong Hearts]; one would suffice.
But at that moment, Su Xiao directly tossed the [Titan Dragon Heart] in his hand. Seeing the flying [Titan Dragon Heart], Black Leech was visibly stunned, but the hunger in its blood made it stop restraining itself. It pierced the [Titan Dragon Heart] and burrowed inside.
The [Titan Dragon Heart] hit the ground and visibly shriveled. In just over ten seconds, it became a layer of withered sac skin. Black Leech tore through the sac, stretched its body, and let out a burp. It only had one feeling: satisfaction.
Yet the next second, another [Titan Dragon Heart] was tossed out. Black Leech was stunned again but didn't hold back. It burrowed into the incoming [Titan Dragon Heart], devouring it before it even hit the ground, leaving it withered.
This time, Black Leech shook its head, even licking its front paw pads with some contentment. Its aura had shifted from the initial arrogance, ferocity, and aggression to something calmer, though still dangerous.
Another item flew over—a [Titan Dragon Heart] landed before Black Leech. Black Leech didn't move. In fact, it even took a small step back. It suddenly had a bad feeling: this Law Destroyer might be trying to buy its life.
A total of ten [Titan Dragon Hearts] were tossed out. The already small Black Leech appeared even smaller among the hearts. It tilted its head, looking at Su Xiao with suspicion. Just minutes ago, its vertical pupils had been full of aggression, but now... there was a hint of confused clarity?
"You, this, what, meaning."
Black Leech spoke in halting Human Void Language.
"I summoned you without prior notice. That was rude of me."
Su Xiao's words made Black Leech grin. Though its shark-like teeth looked very ferocious, it felt that politeness required a smile.
"This time, I'm dealing with one of the three councilors of the Abyss Descendant · Dukain Family: the Beast Lord."
Hearing this, Black Leech's multiple vertical pupils narrowed slightly. It looked around at the [Titan Dragon Hearts]. If they were dealing with the Beast Lord, these ten rare hearts, though still generous, were no longer absurdly so.
"Good. I die, five times, before, won't retreat."
Black Leech's Void Language was still not fluent.
"Alright. Then take these as the deposit."
"?"
All of Black Leech's small eyes showed great confusion. Among the Iron-Blood Hounds, it was considered aloof, but this time it couldn't hold it together. This equivalent was just the deposit...
"Regardless of success or failure, as long as you do your best, I'll pay you 30 [Titan Dragon Hearts] afterward. If we succeed, 50."
Su Xiao's offer thoroughly shattered Black Leech's hesitation. It had heard from its younger brother, Red Leech, that this Law Destroyer was generous. Now it seemed, generous was an understatement. He gave full respect, had good reputation by paying a deposit, and made an offer that particularly pleased the dog.
With this attitude and sincerity, Black Leech felt that even summoning Omen, Omen wouldn't refuse.
Suddenly, Black Leech felt a sense of crisis. Omen surpassed it in both strength and status. If Omen encountered this Law Destroyer, who would be summoned next time was uncertain.
Black Leech decided: this time, it wouldn't retreat before dying 10 times. Since the other party had given full respect and sincerity, as an Iron-Blood Hound, it couldn't be a coward. Also, when first summoned, Black Leech felt that this Law Destroyer with his terrifying blood energy looked agreeable.
"Black Leech, I heard you're good at infiltration."
"Of... course."
Hearing this, Su Xiao looked at Burgan. Black Leech followed his gaze and asked, "Replace... ment? Or, kill?"
"Replacement."
Almost as Su Xiao spoke, Burgan drew the short swords at his waist. Intense light surged on his body surface, his heart turned blazing red, and the mechanical skeleton within seemed to be illuminated. Metal tendrils hung from the broken swords in his hands.
However, Black Leech moved so fast there was no afterimage. A moment ago, it was beside Su Xiao; the next, it pounced onto Burgan's face, its pointed head burrowing toward Burgan's right eye socket.
The cruel sound of friction between body surface, flesh, and bodily fluids forced Burgan, who was about to undergo mechanical activation, to stop. He grabbed his blackened right eye with both hands, letting out a pig-like, miserable scream. He fell to the ground, struggling violently like a fish coming ashore.
A few seconds later, Burgan, lying down, suddenly arched his chest to the limit, forming a C-shape with his body, then relaxed. He got up, moving his body with some discomfort, producing cracking sounds from bones rubbing. After hanging his head in silence for a few minutes, Burgan reopened his eyes.
Burgan's index finger nail elongated, and he began sketching a map on the ground. He said, "Here is... Wild Abundant Sea, this is... the night dock, this... the Elf Kingdom. The Beast Lord... where, unclear. Probably... in the Elf Kingdom. This servant... belongs to, the Beast Lord's second son, Soth. He, half an hour ago, called, this body's, consciousness."
Black Leech still spoke haltingly, but much better than before. It had devoured the consciousness of this body and gained its memories. As for whether it would be affected by the consciousness's [Dark Corruption], the answer was yes.
But there was a buffer period. Given Black Leech's soul strength, it could withstand direct Abyss Descendant-level [Dark Corruption] for a while. This indirect version was even less problematic.
Moreover, Black Leech could vomit out temporarily devoured memories, along with the corresponding [Dark Corruption].
"Soth? What tier?"
"Supreme, Double Fang."
The "Double Fang" Black Leech mentioned was a rough assessment of Supreme rank among Iron-Blood Hounds. Converted, it meant an experienced Supreme level.
Su Xiao hadn't yet fought a Supreme-level opponent. However, he estimated that although he had advanced to Supreme through ultra-limit specifications, this was still his first world after advancing to Supreme. His strength was probably between experienced Supreme and top-tier Supreme. He probably couldn't beat top-tier Supreme, let alone super·top-tier Supreme. As for [Supreme Peak], if he encountered one now, he would surely die.
But not being able to beat top-tier Supreme was Su Xiao's own estimate, not tested in practice.
After 30 seconds of detailed discussion, Su Xiao and Black Leech successfully devised a cautious and thorough plan: use Burgan to contact his superiors in the Elf Kingdom, kill them, have Black Leech devour their memories and occupy their body, then find the Beast Lord's second son, Soth.
The subsequent process was: kill, devour memories, determine where the Beast Lord was.
Of course, devouring the memories of the Beast Lord's second son, Soth, was quite high-risk. But Black Leech was willing to try. With this compensation, Black Leech could afford to lose a few lives.
After hearing Su Xiao and Black Leech's plan, Xilin grabbed at her braids, looking like "are you two kidding me?" She had expected a battle of wits between old schemers.
Su Xiao didn't intend to engage in a battle of wits with the Beast Lord. Or rather, why would he scheme here? This was the other party's home base, operated for over an era. They had accumulated more than ten Supreme-level Elf servants alone.
The other side had more Supreme-level fighters than his team members. In such a situation, the Law-Destroying Blade in Su Xiao's hand was the ultimate wisdom.
This wisdom could cut into the enemy's brain, delivering wisdom strikes on a physical level.
Su Xiao activated the Lord's Train key. The steel beast-like Lord's Train emerged from alternate space. Brake cooling steam gushed out. Everyone boarded, and the train started.
Inside the train, Xilin leaned back in her seat, holding a cup of kumquat lemon tea. She bit the straw, took a sip of the perfectly sweet and sour fruit tea, and suddenly felt that this journey might be quite nice.
The Pain Archbishop remained silent, as if Burgan's matter hadn't affected him at all.
Su Xiao poured a cup of Elemental Brew for Black Leech across from him. Black Leech was arrogant, but not blindly so. It nodded politely in thanks before picking up the cup. After taking a sip, its expression control momentarily failed.
The Pain Archbishop's nose twitched, and he looked at Su Xiao. Su Xiao didn't speak, handing over the remaining half-bottle of Elemental Brew. Given the Pain Cult's style, alcohol was one of their pain relievers after battle. The Pain Archbishop took a sip of the Elemental Brew, and his usually expressionless face actually changed slightly.
The Pain Archbishop thought for a few seconds, then took a pitch-black finger from his chest and handed it to Su Xiao. Clearly, the Pain Archbishop was the type who, though silent and expressionless, wouldn't take advantage of others. Faced with another's generosity, he wouldn't be stingy.
[You have obtained Suffering Severed Finger (Single-use Item): When carrying this item, if you endure curses and resentment (ultra-high-risk negative states), this severed finger will actively absorb the curses and resentment you would suffer.]
A quite good protective item. Su Xiao often fought against Abyss and Ancient God system enemies. Someday, this item might block a curse or resentment that would cost him dearly.
The Pain Archbishop took another sip of Elemental Brew, hesitated, then resealed the bottle. Both sides felt they had gained from this exchange.
Black Leech began explaining the current situation. With Burgan's identity, he couldn't directly meet the Beast Lord's second son, Soth. The traitor's orders were to bring Su Xiao and the others to the stone forest south of the Elf Kingdom's 27th District, where strong fighters were already ambushed.
If Burgan's identity was exposed before reaching the ambush zone, Burgan could use his "Skin Shedding" ability to immediately escape, then report all information gathered from Sanctuary City to the Beast Lord's second son, Soth's trusted subordinate—an old Elf servant with experienced Supreme strength.
The Abyss Descendants, through breeding factories, had the Elves reproduce in large numbers without suppressing talented Elves from becoming stronger. Instead, they provided especially outstanding ones with certain resource support. Because from the First Era to now, no consciousness had ever broken free from the stabilized [Dark Corruption].
Even the Elves' soul awakening wasn't breaking free from [Dark Corruption]. It was like a split personality—a new consciousness and soul appeared within the body. Moreover, from the Dukain Family's enslavement of the Elves until now, fewer than ten Elves had undergone soul awakening.
Compared to this risk, the continuous supply of powerful Elf servants, absolutely loyal and docile, meant the benefits completely outweighed the risks.
Su Xiao raised his hand. A mass of dark blue smoke appeared and merged into the left arm of Burgan's body. It could be sensed that Black Leech within the body visibly trembled.
After traveling for four hours, the Lord's Train stopped near the destination. The map the Priest had given was fairly accurate, especially after Black Leech supplemented it. The situation in the lower left corner of this continent was basically mapped out.
Black Leech got off the train and quickly ran westward. After a few steps, it stopped. The fingertip of its right hand elongated, becoming sharp like a bone blade. It twisted its arm to a reverse joint angle and slashed several wounds on its own back. Moreover, it used its own blood soul energy to erode the wounds, making them look like they had been injured for hours.
After doing this, Black Leech's gait began to stagger. At first, it was uncoordinated, but after staggering for a while, anyone who saw it would feel it was severely wounded, as if it might collapse at any moment.
Black Leech staggered and fled for over half an hour. When it was still over ten kilometers from the agreed meeting point with the contact, it collapsed on the endless Gobi desert.
A wind splitting through carrying yellow sand blew past. Black Leech—no, Burgan's lips were cracked, and his whole person exuded a deathly aura, as if he might die from his injuries at any moment.
Shoes stepped on gravel and stones, stopping beside Burgan's head. A metal cane pressed into Burgan's eye socket, pushing downward until cloudy eye fluid flowed out. Burgan still didn't react.
"Worthless."
The old Elf servant, holding the metal cane, dressed in butler attire, with wrinkled, aged skin, spoke. He bent down, grabbed Burgan's head with his left hand—larger than an ordinary Elf's—and easily lifted him.
A slightly crystalline liquid seeped from the old Elf servant's palm, flowing over Burgan's facial skin. With a sizzling burning sound, it was absorbed. A few seconds later, Burgan's eyelids twitched painfully a few times before opening.
"Master, save... me..."
Burgan spoke in a hoarse voice. The old Elf servant, wearing narrow-rimmed glasses, snorted coldly and asked:
"Where did those two Supremes from Sanctuary City go?"
"At, at..."
Burgan struggled to raise his hand, as if pointing north. But the next second, he violently vomited a large amount of blood. Seeing this, the old Elf servant frowned slightly, both disgusted that this lowly human was dirtying his clothes and not wanting this human to die like this, as he wouldn't be able to report to Lord Soth.
At that moment, Burgan's left arm exploded. Dark blue smoke emerged. The next instant, this dark blue smoke swapped positions with a person in the distant alternate space. Before anyone could react, Su Xiao had already appeared beside the old Elf servant.
Buzz!
The [Extreme Blade: White Night], having reached its peak state, caused Dragon-Slaying Flash to erupt with golden light. There was no sense of holiness, only pressure and sharpness.
[Extreme Blade: White Night (Supreme Rank · Active/Passive): Upon activating this ability, your next melee slash is enhanced by 500% (including slash attack power, slash force, slash impact, etc.).]
This ability became more absurdly powerful the stronger the user. Now, Su Xiao had advanced to Supreme, and his self-assessment was between experienced Supreme and top-tier Supreme.
The old Elf servant, right beside him, had no time to use any ability. Although he had experienced Supreme combat power, being approached this closely by a Technique Grandmaster, being able to raise his right arm to block was already quick reaction.
Clang!
The dark clouds in the sky were split open. Sunlight, blocked for hundreds of years, rarely shone on this area. However, the sunlight in this world was very dim.
The slash mark crossed the old Elf servant's chest. The slash power and Cyan Steel Shadow Energy that burst into his body caused him to uncontrollably bleed from his mouth and nose.
After Su Xiao delivered this slash, considering this was his first battle against a Supreme-level opponent, even if the enemy was a weaker experienced Supreme, he had to go all out. There could be no upset.
While the enemy was still numbed by [Extreme Blade: White Night]'s slash, Su Xiao had already advanced forward while delivering a seemingly ordinary but actually exceptionally vicious straight kick.
Almost simultaneously, the old Elf servant's ears buzzed, and the scene before him suddenly changed. He seemed to see a young Elf child with amber eyes and a delicate, jade-like face.
"Muji! Muji · Woodvale! Don't let them control you, wake up!"
The memory scene abruptly stopped here. The old Elf servant, Muji · Woodvale, glared with eyes nearly bursting, but the sharp pain in his chest and abdomen left him no chance to counterattack.
Boom!!!
The surrounding space trembled. Where Muji · Woodvale stood, the space there was like thick glass that had taken a hammer blow, covered in translucent cracks at the impact point.
Looking into the distance, there was a trench extending over ten kilometers. This trench was conservatively estimated to be over a thousand meters deep, with groundwater gushing out.
Burgan's body beside him had been shattered into blood mist by the shockwave. Black Leech shook its somewhat dazed head, patted its buzzing right ear with its dog paw, and said:
"Law Destroyer, dead strong ones, especially, those as strong as us Supremes, I can't devour their memories, nor can I occupy their bodies. Must be, alive."
"Won't die. The opponent is an experienced Supreme."
Su Xiao felt that this old Elf servant, as a Supreme, would at most lose combat ability after taking this two-hit combo. In fact, he had to be wary of the enemy's counterattack.
"From my experience, he'll die."
As Black Leech spoke, recalling the terrifying power of that kick, let alone that Elf who was clearly produced through inferior methods, even if it, as an Iron-Blood Hound, took that kick, it would briefly see its most beloved great-grandmother.
"..."
Su Xiao's expression darkened. He stepped on the water ahead and quickly rushed toward the old Elf servant's location.
First, there were three aspects of misjudgment on Su Xiao's part this time.