Blood Lords resurrection

A hoarse voice shouted from behind them. Lucas turned to see a familiar face: a neighbor and fellow clansman, flanked by two soldiers of the Golden Order. Just as the clansman revealed their location, a swift arc of a blade severed his head from his shoulders.

"I can't traverse the blood world while carrying my sister; I'm running low on essence. What can I do?" Panic rose within Lucas, but a simple solution flickered to life in his mind. He would lift his sister onto his back and run. Without hesitation, he did just that.

"If I can reach the cliff to the north and jump, I can drag Audrey with me into the blood world. From there, I'll escape to the east," he thought desperately.

Unbeknownst to Lucas, a crimson cloud was coalescing at the center of the blood clan village. It hovered ominously, siphoning the blood essence from fallen clan members—leaving nothing but husks in its wake. The cloud silently began to track Lucas and Audrey, having already consumed the two righteous cultivators who had pursued them.

As Lucas sprinted toward the edge of the cliff, he sent his sister over to safety before leaping himself. Just as he fell, he activated his blood world traversal.

 "Why hasn't my essence pool replenished?" he wondered, panic rising. He attempted to activate his powers three more times mid-air before despair seeped in. At least Audrey Will survive and wouldn't witness such an embarrassing death of her elder brother.

But then, amid his self-pity, he felt a flicker of essence returning. Desperation birthed determination, and he tried again.

A sickening splat echoed within the cave Lucas fell into. He had regained just enough essence to survive but felt immense pain coursing through him—especially within his spirit. Immobilized, he could only gaze helplessly at the sky.

As he lay on the ground, he noticed the crimson cloud drawing near. It lingered above him, then descended, transforming from mist into liquid blood that began to engulf his body. Trapped in his weakened state, Lucas could only watch in despair with tears welling in his eyes. His voice failed him; he could not scream.

Yet, thanks to his family's blood cultivation techniques, as long as his heart continued to beat, he would not perish. He watched in horror as the crimson liquid consumed his lower body, inching closer to his heart. Just as it threatened to overwhelm him, ancient symbols appeared within his heart, releasing a terrifying aura that pushed back against the encroaching blood. The swirling crimson was sent into a frenzy, but the pain was overwhelming, causing Lucas to lose consciousness.

In the midst of the chaotic bloodstorm that had once again taken the form of a cloud, a dark droplet materialized, absorbing the remaining essence. It fell upon Lucas, attempting to merge with him. Yet, his weakened body could not contain its power. The droplet responded with excruciating slowness, painstakingly reconstructing him. As Lucas transformed, he transitioned from a fragile blood cultivator to the perfect vessel for the dark power within the Black blood.