The man, seizing his advantage, gripped the hilt of the saber with both hands. All his strength was channeled into it as he planted his feet firmly, leaning forward. Inch by inch, he pushed Ren Yuanhao against the cold brick wall of the alley.
"Speak! Who are you people!"
With one hand on the saber and the other clamped around Ren Yuanhao's throat, making it increasingly difficult for him to breathe, the man pressed on.
"I, I haven't even asked who you are yet! Xiao Yue, what about Xiao Yue and the others~"
"They are naturally being attended to!"
The man's knee drove violently into Ren Yuanhao's abdomen, forcing a mouthful of blood out of him.
"I thought you might put up a bit of a fight, but you're just a weakling. Speak, what cultivation sect do you belong to?"
The man grabbed Ren Yuanhao's sweat-soaked hair, repeatedly slapping his face with his hand.
Hearing this, Ren Yuanhao immediately realized that the cultivators were also after the Grey Wolf, and their objectives might not be the same. It was unknown if they were allies or enemies.
"Pah~"
Ren Yuanhao sneered and spat blood at the man's face. Enraged, the man twisted the saber hilt clockwise and counterclockwise, gouging bloody marks on Ren Yuanhao's shoulder with the blade.
Yet, he didn't utter a single sound.
"Well, you're a tough one, just like those stubborn cultivators. But soon, you'll be like them, your vital energy drained, turned into a mindless, unfeeling tool!"
The man's words contained a wealth of information, and Ren Yuanhao's mind raced, connecting a series of events like a lightning strike.
While the Mandala Gene could forcefully create acquired ability users, their vital energy was far less potent than that of cultivators. Therefore, if their vital energy could be extracted using high-tech means and infused into these acquired ability users, they would become the most terrifying existence!
"Damn it, has Mandala Gene's live research reached this level already?"
The side effects of the Star Absorption Technique, combined with the interaction of the three vital energies within his body, made Ren Yuanhao's breathing increasingly labored. The best way to counteract the Star Absorption Technique was to use the Tide Calming Art to guide it.
With this thought, Ren Yuanhao forcefully activated the "Turning Tides Flow" from the Tide Calming Art to resist the side effects of the Star Absorption Technique. Simultaneously, he gathered his water-attribute vital energy in his palm and, catching the man off guard, struck his shoulder with a palm!
An extreme cold energy spread ferociously from his shoulder, and a thin layer of frost instantly erupted. Within seconds, half of his body was covered in frost from this extreme cold, and his internal vital energy was completely suppressed.
"Ice Vital Energy! You're different from other cultivators. Such immense vital energy, you must have reached the Foundation Establishment realm! Capturing you would be a miraculous feat!"
The man sealed the major acupoints on his shoulder with his hand, staggering to his feet. He glared fiercely at the woman who had remained motionless and roared, "If not now, when!"
The woman let out a cold laugh in response, "Hmph, after you die, I'll capture this man myself and claim the reward. Wouldn't that be better?"
"You!"
The man forcefully circulated his vital energy, but he had never expected Ren Yuanhao's Ice Vital Energy to be so potent. Even by channeling all the vital energy he could muster, he was utterly powerless against it.
"You only have yourself to blame for being too impatient," the woman said with a charming smile. Stepping lightly, she swayed her slender waist and walked towards Ren Yuanhao. "Such a handsome young man. What a shame. Perhaps if you agree to be my man, I might let you go."
The woman let out a series of panting breaths, then removed her mask, revealing a face that was perhaps a bit too pale. Had it not been for her extreme paleness, she could have been considered a beauty with distinct features.
Her breath tickled Ren Yuanhao's ear, making him intensely uncomfortable. Every word she spoke felt like ants crawling into his ear. Ren Yuanhao smiled as if a storm had cleared, "Missy, you are quite attractive. It's just a pity you've chosen the wrong side. If you abandon the darkness and join the light, becoming part of our cultivator faction, we could be a pair envied by all~"
Ren Yuanhao's words were naturally a lie, and he knew that such a cruel woman would never defect. His words had two purposes: first, his abilities were still unrevealed, and admitting to being a cultivator now might allow him to glean more clues from the two of them; second, such seductive words might sow discord and buy him some time.
"Young master, do you truly mean that?" The woman cupped Ren Yuanhao's face, examining him like prey.
"Of course. As a man of my word, how could I go back on my promise?"
Ren Yuanhao maintained his smile. Blood continued to stream from the wound on his shoulder. The woman's expression suddenly changed. Her black claws, like sharp blades, pierced into Ren Yuanhao's wound, instantly inflicting a piercing, bone-chilling pain.
He gritted his teeth, and instead of anger, he laughed. "Missy's affection is truly overwhelming. But aren't you afraid I'll suddenly strike and turn you into what he is?"
"Afraid, of course, I'm afraid. But I won't be so careless, and besides~"
Before the woman could finish her sentence, she drew out the saber and then delivered two palms, immediately sealing Ren Yuanhao's acupoints, rendering him immobile.
"This way, you can't touch me, and I can dote on you properly, my dear young man."
As she spoke, the woman moved closer to Ren Yuanhao, her body seeming to meld into his. She nibbled and bit at his neck with her teeth. It was at this moment that Mu Ziyue, who had been knocked unconscious, woke up.
As a young woman experiencing her first stirrings of love, seeing this scene, her face instantly flushed crimson with shame. "Shameless! Bao Ge, you should resist!"
"Your Bao Ge can't resist, he can only let me take what I want. Little sister, your Bao Ge's body is a rare treasure in this world. You truly have my admiration."
The woman's words were lewd and seductive. Mu Ziyue knew Ren Yuanhao wasn't that kind of person, but her physical condition was extremely poor. Forget helping, she couldn't even stand up properly.
"You, don't talk nonsense. He and I are siblings. Besides, Bao Ge isn't that sort of person. You're destroying someone's reputation, you're worse than a beast!"
The woman giggled, "Either way, they'll be dead once captured, so who cares about his reputation? Besides, to share intimacy with me before death, isn't that a fortunate end for him."
As they spoke, Ren Yuanhao's entire body suddenly became burning hot. The Turning Tides Flow broke through his acupoints, like an erupting volcano. Before the woman could even react, Ren Yuanhao struck her with a palm, sending her flying and instantly knocking her unconscious. Coupled with the immense force of the Turning Tides Flow, this woman was likely in grave danger.
Ren Yuanhao's orifices streamed with crimson blood. He picked up the saber from the ground and walked towards the man, whose body was half frozen, like a vengeful spirit.
"I ask you, what happened to Xiao Yue and Zhao Yishu~"
"Heh heh, a lone man and two women alone in a room. What do you think happened?"
"I don't understand what you're saying. Could you please translate!" Ren Yuanhao swung the saber into the upper left of his shoulder, pressing the blade down. A column of blood spurted from the shoulder.