Chapter 84: Carnivores and the Painter of Blood (5)

Jack Chen made a swift decision, his brows furrowed as he quickly severed the connection to the life spirit resentment being consumed by karmic flames, preserving himself. Yet, in that instant, nearly seventy percent of the life spirit resentment was obliterated, causing his combat strength to plummet sharply.

However, Jack, obsessed with the pursuit of perfect pigments, paid it little mind. He strode directly past the gate that had been scorched clean of life spirit resentment; the blood upon it had dried, rendering it worthless to him now.

At this moment, Jack only wished to see what kind of person possessed the perfect pigment—and then claim what rightfully belonged to him.

In the backstage room, Wu Zui was still somewhat dazed. He had planned to divide and conquer, dealing with each threat individually. But suddenly, the enemy seemed to have pinpointed their location and even demolished the final barrier outright.

Fortunately, the backstage room had two doors. Even if the front could not be held, Wu Zui and his companion had a way out. After escaping, they could regroup elsewhere to confront their pursuers. Besides, the spirit investigators of Coastal City were no fools; the intensity of the battle likely meant someone would soon arrive.

Then, the tables would turn—the many against the few, but with the roles reversed.

Arriving at the final blood-stained gate, Jack Chen was much calmer. Even if he obtained the perfect pigment, he still had no idea how to handle it in its current state. Moreover, once the pigment was depleted, he would have to begin his search anew.

He had searched for so long before encountering one; he could not be sure he would have such luck again. So the conclusion was clear—

The donor of the pigment must not be killed!

As for the promise to the Butcher? Did maniacs really need a reason to turn on each other?

Still, Jack wished to find a way to rid himself of this pig-like brute. The Bloodstained Painter’s reputation was quite good within the Purification Society, after all. And Jack could not allow this swine to reveal anything about his perfect pigment.

The pig in Jack’s eyes was now crouched by the gap in the gate, sniffing incessantly.

“The scent of orchids—this is it! This is the place! They’re here!” The Butcher, intoxicated, muttered to himself. Even the pain from the karmic flames burning his skin was subconsciously ignored.

Jack glanced at the dwindling number of Bone Towers—less than a hundred remained—and did not order an attack. Instead, he addressed the Butcher stiffly: “Omnivore, wipe the blood from the door! My Bone Towers must not touch that stuff!”

The Butcher, lost in the fragrance of orchids, was interrupted and his anger spiked instantly. But now was not the time to break ranks; he still needed Jack’s help to deal with Wu Zui and his companion. Even without the Green-Eyed Oddity, his spirit consort was devastatingly lethal to men.

In the Butcher’s mind, if things really came to blows with Jack, he could have his spirit consort drag Jack into an illusion to trap him. Then he would have ample time to escape or even kill this madman obsessed with blood-soaked art.

As for the Purification Society president’s prohibition? As long as he didn’t deliver the killing blow himself, it wouldn’t matter! A powerless Jack could be dealt with by any spirit investigator. The president’s prohibition would remain inert, and he would bear no responsibility.

With these thoughts, the Butcher surveyed the surroundings, found a piece of stage fabric, and used it as Jack had ordered to wipe the blood from the gate.

Once the blood was wiped clean, the Bone Towers smashed the gate to pieces, and Jack and his party poured in. They arrived just as Wu Zui and his companion closed the door behind them. This time, there was no blood to bar the way; the Bone Towers immediately pursued.

A horde of skulls clogged the narrow corridor completely.

Scarlet karmic flames covered Wu Zui’s newly acquired golden longsword, while blue light shimmered on Xiao Keyan’s hammer. The two engaged in battle with the skulls cloaked in black resentment.

The Butcher, upon seeing Xiao Keyan and Wu Zui, could not wait any longer and charged forward.

If he could devour her spirit consort, he would break through and his potential would soar.

Thinking of the fragrance of orchids emanating from the spirit consort in his arms, the Butcher attacked Xiao Keyan with renewed fervor. If he could seize her, the life spirit resentment within him would instantly consume her magnetic energy, rendering her nothing but a supplement awaiting slaughter.

But before the Butcher’s blackened hand could reach Xiao Keyan, the Bone Towers encircling Wu Zui and his companion suddenly turned on him, their unicorn horns stabbing at the Butcher from all directions.

The Butcher’s excitement had led Jack to mistakenly believe his target was also Wu Zui, and anyone eyeing his perfect pigment donor was doomed!

A seductive figure appeared beside the Butcher, wrapping his arm, and their forms became ephemeral. In the next instant, the Butcher was behind Jack, and the spirit consort he treasured surged into Jack’s body.

Jack’s consciousness grew hazy—a woman in sheer white gauze, slender waist, ample chest, and shapely hips began to dance beside him. A strange fragrance invaded his mind; he seemed to be enchanted.

But the Butcher had miscalculated. The surging life spirit resentment within Jack easily resisted the spirit consort’s mental allure. If Jack harbored any impure intentions, he would succumb as well, but that was impossible.

There are always those in the world who remain unmoved by peerless beauty—eunuchs, the resolute, or those like Jack, who for some reason feel nothing for seductive women, or even harbor murderous intent.

The seemingly endless life spirit resentment spilled forth from Jack, his eyes blazing. A shrill scream rang out as the exquisite spirit in a cheongsam was expelled from Jack’s body and compressed by his resentment into a black sphere the size of a volleyball.

Within Jack’s hand floated the black sphere, inside which the cheongsam spirit’s twisted, terrified face could be seen. The Butcher roared in fury, life spirit resentment flaring as he launched an attack on Jack.

As for the prohibition? To hell with it!

Jack did not let the Bone Towers intervene; he simply ordered them to keep an eye on Wu Zui, then engaged the three-hundred-pound agile brute himself.

Xiao Keyan jabbed Wu Zui with her elbow. When Wu Zui looked over, she blinked and pouted.

“Master, should we run?”

Wu Zui instantly understood her meaning.

He shook his head slightly and glanced at the skulls surrounding them, then at Jack and the Butcher locked in a savage melee.

“Not safe around here. Let’s watch for now.”

Xiao Keyan nodded in immediate comprehension.

The two then stood obediently against the wall, under the Bone Towers’ puzzled gaze, acting like well-behaved children but communicating in secret gestures. The Bone Towers, being only four-star, lacked the intelligence to interpret this exchange and were left utterly confused.

Jack allowed the Butcher to attack, only blocking with the black sphere containing the cheongsam spirit when his vital points were targeted. The Butcher, unwilling to harm his own spirit consort, was forced to hold back.

“You care so much for a spirit—no wonder you’ve always ranked at the bottom among the elders. Even if you let it grow strong, you still won’t be able to control it!” Jack said, drawing a strange white flexible sword from his waist.

The sword resembled a rapier but was extremely supple.

“Since you’re destined to die, why not help my oddity advance? As colleagues, I’ll send you on your way!” With that, Jack’s sword relentlessly attacked the Butcher’s wrists.

Whatever material the sword was made of, the Butcher’s life spirit resentment could not withstand it. With a single thrust and flick, the tendons in both his wrists were severed, blood gushing from the wounds.

Such injuries did not affect the flow of spirit resentment, but the Butcher could no longer attack with his hands. Seeing the Butcher calm down and attempt to retreat, Jack swept his leg, toppling the three-hundred-pound brute.

Two flashes of sword light followed, and the Butcher’s feet erupted with blood; his tendons were severed as well.

Jack’s sword then pierced a crucial point on the Butcher’s body, and a torrent of life spirit resentment flowed from him like a breached dam. His strength declined rapidly, and he finally collapsed, powerless.

Jack controlled the resentment, converting it into energy for the Bone Towers, each white skull now flashing with black light.

When the Butcher’s remaining life spirit resentment was nearly gone, Jack released the cheongsam spirit he had been suppressing. The black sphere cracked open, and the spirit consort in bright yellow cheongsam lay prone on the ground.

The yellow cheongsam had been badly corroded by spirit resentment, revealing pale skin beneath. The tattered dress and the pitiful look in her phoenix eyes could stir the heart.

Yet, among those present, not one was susceptible to her allure; her seductive gaze was wasted on the blind.

Jack gazed down coldly at the cheongsam spirit, his tone icy: “If you die, he lives. If he lives, you die.”

It was obvious who “he” referred to.

The cheongsam spirit did not hesitate and surged into the Butcher’s body. With his vital point breached, the Butcher could not resist and was easily pulled into an illusion. The remaining spirit resentment in his body was absorbed by the cheongsam spirit, boosting her strength.

The three-hundred-pound Butcher, his face frozen in disbelief, was drained to a withered corpse by his own treasured spirit consort, not even a scrap of flesh left—only skin and bones remained.

Years of consuming female corpses had left residual spirit resentment in his flesh, which proved a valuable supplement to the nearly transcendent cheongsam spirit.

After emerging from the Butcher’s body, the cheongsam spirit’s dress had restored itself. In terms of resentment energy, she had reached the realm of a four-star spirit. Still, she remained crouched on the ground, cautiously watching Jack.

“Get out!” Jack waved his hand, signaling her to leave.