Mu Gui pressed his large hand to the area over his heart, leaning against the corner wall. This news was simply… too electrifying! More startling than hearing someone had chopped off the head of His Majesty, the Great Demon King who had awakened the dual bloodline power in this era!

“Breaking the iron law… breaking the iron law…” Mu Gui Wuxin gasped for air, his bear-like eyes blazing red. With a sweep of his massive palm, he pulled an ancient-looking book from the Dou Realm: “Kid, take a look at this. Can you simulate it?”

Explosive Bear Bloodline Dou Technique (Volume One). “This…” Qian Jin let out a slight, sharp intake of breath, staring blankly at the bloodline technique manual in Mu Gui Wuxin’s hand. It was indeed a secret manual for a bloodline technique. Although not comparable to the Titan Bloodline, one of the Ten Great Bloodlines of the Zhence Dynasty, warriors of the Explosive Bear Bloodline held considerable status among those specializing in high-impact offensive power.

If it weren't for the existence of the Titan Bloodline, the Explosive Bear Bloodline could very likely have become one of the Ten Great Bloodlines of the Zhence Dynasty.

“I obtained this accidentally during an old adventure…” Mu Gui Wuxin pursed his lips, the scar near the corner twitching and making his appearance even more fearsome. “Heh, for this thing, I almost lost my life fighting that Fabredis fellow. Give it a try and see if you can simulate it.”

Qian Jin casually flipped through Explosive Bear Dou Technique (Volume One), and the chapter titled Uproot the Mountain immediately became the most compelling section.

Uproot the Mountain? Qian Jin studied it closely with great interest. It was an immensely large and complex sequence of Dou Qi circulation, one that engaged virtually every Dou Aperture and Dou Meridian in the entire body simultaneously. The sheer volume of Dou Qi required was enormous; one would need the strength of at least a Demon-Slaying Battle level to gather enough to use it three or five times.

“This must be a finishing move, right?” Qian Jin clicked his tongue while looking at Uproot the Mountain. This technique followed a path almost entirely opposite to most conventional Dou Qi alignments. Standard Dou Qi sequences usually focused on imbuing the energy with a specific effect or technique, or causing the energy to rapidly split and explode to generate raw burst power.

Uproot the Mountain, however, after properly sequencing the Dou Qi, stimulated every inch of the practitioner’s skin with Jin force, unlocking the dormant savage strength hidden within the user’s body! Then, the Uproot the Mountain sequence merged with this maximally stimulated brute force to unleash the fiercest possible attack!

Qian Jin frowned and read intently for a long time, managing to commit the incredibly intricate Dou Qi sequence, which felt like thousands of threads woven together, to memory. He slowly mobilized the active Wind and Cloud Dou Qi within his body, beginning the subtle process of simulation.

Strength! Strength! Qian Jin felt the latent, pure savage might hidden within his muscles and bones being gradually excavated by the Uproot the Mountain sequence. It was as if a colossal beast was awakening inside him, threatening to burst through the physical shell with a roar of liberation.

“By my stars…” Mu Gui Wuxin stared at Qian Jin, his mouth agape wide enough to swallow a head whole. “The Explosive Bear Bloodline Dou Technique… it can actually be…”

Loki? Lei’s eyes were fixed on Qian Jin, rigid and unblinking like wooden stakes. For an ordinary warrior to use the unique Dou Techniques of two major bloodlines in such quick succession—was there anything more astonishing?

“Hand over Heavenly Shot Secret Art (Volume Two) to me,” Qian Jin said, extending his palm toward Loki? Lei. “I can spare your life, and let you walk away.”

Loki? Lei’s fixed gaze slowly softened. His rugged face settled into a cold smirk tinged with the cunning of a scholar: “Do you expect me to believe that? When we fought just now, I could feel it—you and I are the same kind of person. The moment I hand it over, you will instantly snap my neck without hesitation.”

Qian Jin slowly curled his five extended fingers back into a fist, letting out a soft sigh as he looked at the young Behemoth Bloodline warrior before him. Though young, his eyes were sharp and perceptive.

“You won’t hand it over, then?” Mu Gui Wuxin widened his eyes, repeatedly cracking his finger joints with audible snaps—kaka, kaka—staring fiercely and coldly at Loki? Lei. Never mind whether Qian Jin could use bloodline techniques; as long as the kid wanted something, it had to be acquired!

Who was Qian Jin? Mu Gui Wuxin stretched his shoulders, a cold sneer playing on his lips. Qian Jin was his successor at the Torrent Battle Fortress! The young man he had found most agreeable over the years! He possessed strength without arrogance, never acted presumptuously, didn't oppress others, maintaining a demeanor humble yet sufficiently firm.

“Uncle… it’s no use…” Qian Jin sighed, raising a hand to shield Mu Gui Wuxin’s chest. “This man is a professional assassin. Physical torture and interrogation will likely be useless…”

Mu Gui Wuxin froze slightly, scrutinizing Loki? Lei, who remained calm, a hint of disdain curling his lips into an icy smile. Extracting anything from a professionally trained killer through physical means might only be achievable by the Black Dragon Guard of the Zhence Dynasty.

“What if I send you over to the Barbarians?” Qian Jin mused, stroking his chin, staring very seriously into Loki? Lei’s eyes. “Tell me, what benefits would the Behemoth Bloodline over there offer me?”

Loki? Lei felt an involuntary shiver watching Qian Jin’s expression, which suggested he was entirely serious. If he were truly sent back to the Barbarians as Qian Jin suggested, the Douglas clan would certainly offer a heavy reward? No! The Douglas clan would not offer a heavy reward!

The coldness that had spread across Loki? Lei’s face gradually gave way to a confident smile. The Douglas clan was one that valued reputation highly; they had long sought to bury the power struggle of yesteryear deep in history. Sending someone back would be a profound humiliation to the Douglas clan, and at that point, the Douglas clan would surely…

…kill the person who sent him!

Loki? Lei understood the crucial point, and his smile broadened. He quietly watched Qian Jin, confident that this man, who knew the secret history of the Barbarian Behemoth Bloodline, could also deduce the nature of the Douglas clan.

Qian Jin sensed the gradual shift in Loki? Lei’s expression and sighed softly. Although this young killer had been captured, his mind remained remarkably clear. Even under these circumstances, he knew Qian Jin couldn't truly hand him over to the Douglas clan.

Handing him over to the Douglas clan, who possessed Behemoth Bloodline power, might not only yield no reward but might also result in him being summarily executed.

Refuse to hand it over? Qian Jin rubbed his chin, vexed. How then could he obtain the Heavenly Shot Secret Art (Volume Two)? Would he really have to wait an entire month?

“Kid, let me try handling this fellow,” Mu Gui Wuxin urged, a touch of unwilling eagerness mixing with his fierce expression. “Maybe I can pry the information loose.”

Qian Jin flinched slightly watching Mu Gui Wuxin’s savage look. The old man seemed quite capable of ruthless methods, but he decided against it.

“Kid, have a little faith in me,” Mu Gui Wuxin pleaded. “Let me give it a try…”

“Better not,” Qian Jin shook his head again. It wasn't that he doubted the ruthlessness of Mu Gui Wuxin’s methods; he just feared they might be too extreme, potentially driving Loki? Lei—who currently showed no desire to die—to his end.

A Behemoth Bloodline awakened warrior! Although not from the Douglas clan, but rather a hunted faction, they were historically of the Barbarian royal lineage. They possessed not only the Heavenly Shot Secret Art but very likely Behemoth Bloodline Dou Techniques as well!

Those were powerful bloodline techniques capable of directly confronting the Titan Bloodline, one of the Ten Great Bloodlines of the Zhence Dynasty! If one were to purely compare the Titan Bloodline with the Behemoth Bloodline warrior, it could even be said that the Titan Bloodline was slightly inferior to the Behemoth Bloodline, and even the Troll Bloodline was slightly inferior when facing the Behemoth Bloodline.

The Barbarians, who managed to survive comfortably between the two great powers possessing ultimate bloodline strength until this day, naturally possessed unique aspects.

The Behemoth Bloodline, which sounded like mere brute force, was actually the most intricate among the three great bloodline techniques: Behemoth, Titan, and Troll.

If he could obtain the Behemoth Bloodline Dou Techniques! Qian Jin had to reassess the young Behemoth warrior before him. The Dou Realm was a boon for its user, but for anyone else, it was an unbreakable lock; unless the user wished to open it, even a powerhouse with fully awakened ultimate bloodline strength could do nothing.

“Sigh…” Qian Jin sighed again, feeling acutely the weakness in his mysterious potion skills. If he had someone with Olala’s configuration ability, he could force this Behemoth Bloodline warrior to drink something, and this warrior would obey his command for the rest of his life, killing himself without hesitation if asked.

One month! One month! Qian Jin looked at Loki? Lei. It seemed he would only be able to obtain the needed secret technique manual from this Barbarian warrior after a month had passed.

“Behemoth Bloodline Dou Technique Secret Art…” Mu Gui Wuxin tutted several times, sighing repeatedly. “If the Titan Bloodline clan of the Zhence Dynasty got their hands on this, perhaps they could glean something from it, modifying or creating even stronger bloodline techniques?”

Qian Jin’s body stiffened slightly. A vague, indefinable feeling flashed across his mind: Modifying and creating stronger bloodline techniques?

Exactly! Qian Jin clenched his fists tightly. Both the Iron Mantis Bloodline Technique and the Explosive Bear Bloodline Technique were not the complete forms for him; he could currently simulate perhaps only about ten percent. Perhaps as his strength increased, or if he truly managed to reach Sainthood, he might have the chance to simulate them all.

But even if he simulated them all, what then? He would merely be a warrior proficient in various bloodline techniques. Whereas a true bloodline warrior, when using their own techniques, wielded that mysterious awakened power of the blood, allowing the technique to perform beyond its normal standard.

Fusion, creation! New bloodline techniques! Qian Jin’s breathing grew ragged. He possessed an advantage others utterly lacked: the ‘Cloud’ aspect within his Wind and Cloud Dou Qi possessed an unimaginable degree of malleability—a unique ability none of the other top-tier bloodline warriors possessed.