The veins on his neck bulged one by one, looking like living creatures writhing beneath his skin.
Bai Xuan instinctively took half a step back, his hand quickly gripping the handle of his staff as he warily watched the sudden change before him.
In the next second, he saw tiny beads of blood slowly seep from Peter’s neck, arms, and the backs of his hands, trickling down his pale skin.
Peter’s face was as white as a sheet of paper, his lips tinged with a deep purplish-blue, and his body twisted at an unnatural, logic-defying angle.
A grating, bone-creaking sound echoed from his joints, making everyone's chest tighten.
The status panel in Bai Xuan’s eyes suddenly flickered.
Peter’s health pool was plummeting at a visible rate, the red numbers dropping in rapid succession.
Before he could overthink this bizarre situation, he steadily raised his staff, and the Holy Light gathering at his fingertips instantly poured out.
The golden glow of the Holy Light Catalyst enveloped Peter instantly. Yet, the moment the light fell upon him, Peter's body jerked violently, as if struck by a powerful electric current.
The blood seeping outward immediately congealed, stopping its spread.
However, his health was still dropping, albeit at a slightly slower pace.
Bai Xuan poured more mana continuously into his staff while casting Purifying Severance. The golden light grew increasingly intense, wrapping Peter up completely.
He could clearly feel a cold, eerie power fiercely resisting his mana, pulling and consuming each other.
Peter's mouth was wide open, as if he wanted to scream but could not make a sound.
Only a heavy, raspy wheezing came from his throat, each breath accompanied by painful spasms.
His fingers clawed frantically at the ground, his nails digging deep into the soil.
Bai Xuan’s mana was draining rapidly. It felt like trying to uproot an ancient, deeply rooted tree—just as he managed to pull it up a fraction, an invisible force would drag it back down.
No longer hesitating, he cast Holy Light Catalyst and Purifying Severance once more. The golden light surged explosively, causing Peter’s body to stiffen before he collapsed limply to the ground.
Finally, Peter’s health stopped falling, halting at a precarious single digit.
The numbers on the panel ceased their rapid countdown. Bai Xuan stared intently at the digits for a long while.
Only after confirming that they had truly stabilized did he slowly lower his staff and let out a long sigh of relief.
Peter lay sprawled on the ground, lifeless, like a sack of discarded old clothes.
His eyes were tightly shut, but his lips still quivered slightly, unable to form any coherent sound.
Dried bloodstains covered his face, neck, and arms, and his soaked clothes clung tightly to his body, outlining his frail and wretched figure.
The man was alive, but barely.
Bai Xuan squatted beside him and waited quietly for a moment.
Peter's lips continued to move, but his voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz. The broken syllables could not form complete words, sounding like incoherent mumbling.
He tried casting Holy Light Catalyst one more time. The golden light washed over Peter, but the man showed no reaction whatsoever.
Bai Xuan slowly stood up, looking down at the curled figure on the ground, his expression darkening.
This was likely a measure left behind by Zane. Once triggered, it would slowly tear the victim apart from the inside.
He suddenly recalled what Peter had just said: “his methods,” “the things he left behind.” So that was what it meant.
Zane's ruthlessness was never just directed at his enemies. Even his own people were viewed as pawns to be sacrificed at will.
Mora was definitely in danger. Barend had already gone missing because of him, and now that Mora was also in trouble, there was no way he could sit back and do nothing.
From Peter’s fragmented words, it seemed Peter had concealed his own actions and lied to Zane.
However, whether his words were true remained to be seen.
He remembered Mora discussing staff crafting with him, and the way her face had instantly drained of color when she told him of Barend's disappearance.
Bai Xuan tightened his grip on his staff, determination flashing in his eyes.
Regardless of whether it was true or false, he had to go check.
Just then, a shout echoed from the woods, and the members of the White family who had been hiding emerged one after another.
Some went to bind the captives, some inspected the carriages, and others headed toward the two abandoned cage wagons, each attending to their duties.
As they passed by Bai Xuan, they instinctively slowed their pace. Some stole glances at him, their lips twitching as if they wanted to speak, but they ultimately swallowed their words.
“Take him away,” Bai Xuan said in a deep voice to those beside him.
Men from the team immediately stepped forward and dragged the limp Peter off the ground.
His legs had long since lost all strength to support him. Unable to stand, he had to be hoisted up and dragged away, stumbling along.
He continued to mumble something, his voice fading into the distance before eventually dissolving into the forest, completely inaudible.
Bai Xuan scanned the members of the White family and noticed that several of them were wounded. Blood was still seeping from their wounds; some clutched their arms, while others limped.
Without hesitation, he walked straight toward them.
“Let me heal you,” he spoke. “Free of charge.”
The men froze, and then visible terror washed over their faces.
A guard with a slashed shoulder instinctively took half a step back, waving his hands frantically.
“N-No need! It's just a minor scratch, it'll heal after a few days of rest.”
The limping guard beside him also shook his head in a hurry.
“Yes, yes, we can handle it.”
Seeing their panicked expressions, the corners of Bai Xuan’s mouth twitched slightly.
No doubt, the agonizing screams of those he had previously healed had terrified these men.
He secretly lamented the missed opportunity; if he could have healed this batch, his Pleasure would have definitely surged.
Dismissing his thoughts, he turned and walked toward the two abandoned cage wagons.
By now, the members of the White family had already opened the cages. Some of the people inside huddled in the corners, still visibly shaken.
Others tried to take a couple of steps out, only to hesitate and stop. Most sat on the ground, silently wiping away their tears.
Though they did not fully comprehend what had transpired, they vaguely understood that they had been rescued.
The guard captain quickly walked over, standing beside Bai Xuan with a respectful tone.
“Sir, we will take these people back to Calais Town first and settle them in the refugee camp outside the town.”
Bai Xuan nodded slightly, signaling him to proceed.
Just then, someone suddenly cried out in surprise nearby.
“Look inside this carriage!”
Hearing this, Bai Xuan turned his head. By the carriage that had been intercepted during the breakthrough, two White family guards were staring behind the pulled-back curtain, their expressions filled with astonishment.
He immediately strode over.
It was a small cage, just barely large enough for a person to curl up inside.
The curtain had been pulled completely back, and the sunlight illuminated the inside of the cage clearly.
Kneeling inside was a girl. Her long silver hair fell from her shoulders, pooling at the bottom of the cage like a folded sheet of smooth satin.
She wore an old robe of indistinguishable color, and thick iron chains bound her hands and feet. A segment of dark-gold patterns was visible on her shoulder, glowing faintly in the shadows.
Her skin was exceptionally pale, unlike that of an ordinary human. Though her face was smudged with dust and her arms bore scratches, none of this could hide her extraordinary beauty.
A thought suddenly flashed through Bai Xuan's mind: this was likely what an elf from novels and anime looked like, though he had never actually seen one.
Sensing his gaze, the girl slowly turned her head.
A pair of golden eyes locked onto Bai Xuan's gaze.
Her eyes were calm, like a frozen glacier, yet beneath the ice, an almost imperceptible ripple flashed and vanished.
Whispers echoed from behind him.
“With looks like that, she was probably going to be shipped to the capital to be sold to those noble lords.”
Another person chimed in, “No wonder she was kept in a separate carriage, locked up so tightly.”
The voices were not loud, but they were clear enough for the girl in the cage to hear.
Yet, her face remained expressionless as she quietly stared at Bai Xuan.
The guard captain walked over as well, peering into the cage, his brow furrowing slightly.
Ignoring the whispers behind him, Bai Xuan kept his eyes fixed on the girl, habitually releasing his mental power.
The familiar status panel instantly materialized before his eyes.
【Phoebe Xi】
【Class: None Lv.3】
【Status: Minor Injuries, Hesitant, Intrigued】
【Race: Glay Royalty】
【HP: 263/340】
【MP: 62/130】
【Potential: 5 Stars (Skycrown)】
This sudden high talent caught Bai Xuan somewhat off guard, like pulling a hidden rare item from a blind box.
He had only ever seen a five-star Skycrown potential in one other person.
Amelia Mulan.
That pink-haired girl was meticulously protected by her entire family, possessing the best teachers and the most abundant resources.
Yet, perhaps because she was protected too well, despite possessing such terrifying talent, she was currently only level 7.
Bai Xuan was somewhat puzzled, unsure whether she was intentionally hiding her strength or if there was another reason.
But regardless, the five-star Skycrown potential was right there before his eyes, beyond any doubt.
He then thought of the youth named Banner, who only had a 4-star potential.
Yet, judging by Banner's tone, not only did he plan to participate in the upcoming Hero Assembly, but he was also confident in securing the final victory.
This was enough to show that a 4-star potential was already considered extremely outstanding. Even the Undead Grand Duke on the seventh floor of the dungeon only possessed a 4-star Crown potential.
Yet, the girl before him was actually another five-star Skycrown.
However, she was currently only level 3 and had not unlocked a Class yet.
This was exactly how Bai Xuan had been in the beginning.
Without a Class, reaching level 3 would hit a bottleneck, making further leveling impossible.
No matter how great one's talent was, they would be firmly stuck at this step.
The race column read “Glay Royalty”.
Bai Xuan couldn't help but recall the Undead Grand Duke on the seventh floor of the dungeon, remembering his massive body and his appearance that was completely different from humans.
So, the Glay race and humans were not the same race at all.
Looking at the young girl before him again, if he couldn't see her steady breathing, her gently blinking eyes, and her occasional slight movements, others might truly mistake her for an exquisitely crafted doll.
And the most crucial point was that she was royalty, possessing royal blood.
Bai Xuan pondered inwardly. Whether in the novels or anime he had seen in his past life, bloodlines often determined a person's ultimate achievements.
Generally speaking, those with special bloodlines either possessed exceptionally high talent or served as one of the keys to unlocking some hidden location.
Combining all of this, this girl was likely the “gemstone” they had been searching for all along.
Zane had gone to great lengths to capture her. Although Bai Xuan was still unclear about his specific goal, it was bound to be connected to his previous deductions.
Bai Xuan shook his head gently, pushing aside those cluttered speculations, and refocused his attention on the girl.
Finally, he looked at the girl's status bar. The words “Hesitant” and “Intrigued” were particularly eye-catching.
What was she hesitating about? And what thoughts was she entertaining?
Bai Xuan's mind was filled with doubts.
He simply stood there, quietly watching the girl in the cage.
The girl looked back at him, the fleeting ripple in her golden-red eyes having already settled.
Bai Xuan slowly squatted down, meeting her gaze at eye level, and asked softly:
“What is your name?”
The girl did not speak, only staring at him quietly.
A White family guard nearby whispered.
“Sir, she hasn't uttered a single word since she was captured.”
Just then, the guard captain leaned in slightly and asked in a lowered voice:
“Sir, you brought the intelligence... Do you know what that gemstone actually is?”
Bai Xuan shook his head gently, his tone flat: “I don't know.”
His gaze remained fixed on the girl in the cage, never wavering.
Seeing that he was unwilling to say more, the guard captain brought up another issue they had encountered.
“This cage seems to be specially made, requiring a corresponding spell to open. We...”
“No need for all that trouble.”
Bai Xuan raised his hand, cutting him off.
He planted his staff into the ground, gripped the iron bars of the cage with both hands, and gave them a gentle test.
The iron bars were exceptionally hard, clearly custom-made.
Channeling his strength, he applied a bit of force through his arms, and the once-straight iron bars instantly bent.
The surrounding guards couldn't help but twitch their eyelids at the sight.
Shifting his grip, he grabbed two more iron bars and yanked them outward with a sudden burst of power.
The iron bars let out a grating screech, followed by a sharp “crack.”
He tore a massive opening right out of the side of the cage with his bare hands.
The scene fell dead silent; no one around dared to utter a word.
They had originally thought that Bai Xuan's combat prowess was heavily reliant on that bizarre staff.
But now it seemed he could tear open a specially made metal cage with his bare hands.
They couldn't help but imagine that if those hands were to grab them, it probably wouldn't be any more difficult than tearing this cage.
The girl's gaze fell upon the bent iron bars, then slowly shifted to Bai Xuan, an almost imperceptible ripple appearing in her eyes.
“Come on out,” Bai Xuan's voice remained calm.
The girl paused for a moment before slowly crawling out of the cage.
She sat on the edge, her bare toes lightly touching the ground, only stepping down fully once she felt stable.
Heavy iron chains dragged from her hands and feet, clattering loudly with her every movement.
Her wrists and ankles bore deep marks left by the shackles.
Bai Xuan squatted down again, grabbed the iron ring around her ankle, and applied a sudden burst of force. The iron ring did not budge.
He exerted more force, his knuckles turning pale from the strain, until the hard iron ring finally cracked with a sharp “snap.”
The ankle chain fell heavily to the ground.
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