第五十二章：妖丹期！

    “这血池……！”
    没过多久，就有一位龙宫成员来到了血池之外，正是坐于一只肌肉巨兔身上的龙宫专属炼丹师紫凌儿。
    她的巨兔因常年试药，对于气息非常敏感，刚刚降临苍莽山脉，就寻得此地。
    一...
    这血池……！PurpleButterfly‘seyeswidenedinshockasshetookinthescenebeforeher.Thebloodpool,whichhadbeenaseeminglyinsignificantdotonthemap,wasnowstaringbackatherlikeamalevolententity.Shecouldfeelitsdarkenergycoursingthroughherveins,makingherskinpricklewithunease.
    AsamemberoftheDragonPalace,PurpleButterflywasnostrangertothearcanearts.Shehadspentyearsstudyingtheancienttomesandpracticingtheintricatetechniquesof炼丹,butnothinghadpreparedherforthis.Thebloodpoolseemedtobe...watchingher,itspresencesuffocatingherlikeaphysicalweight.
    Withouthesitation,PurpleButterflysummonedhertrusty巨兔，GiantRabbit,tostandguardbesideher.Hercompanion‘spowerfullegscoiledaroundtheair,readytounleashitsfullfuryuponanypotentialthreats.TheairaroundthemseemedtovibratewithanticipationasPurpleButterflytookanotherstepforward,hereyeslockedonthebloodpool.
    “Welcome,youngone,“avoiceechoedfrombehindher,sendingshiversdownherspine.
    PurpleButterflyspunaround,herhandinstinctivelyreachingforthedaggeratherbelt.Afigureemergedfromthetrees,cloakedinshadowsthatseemedtowritheandtwistlikelivingdarkness.
    “Youshouldn‘tbehere,“PurpleButterflywarned,hervoicefirmbutlacedwithcaution.
    Thefigurechuckled,thesoundsendingripplesthroughtheairlikeacoldbreezeonawinter‘snight.“Oh,IthinkIshouldbe,“itsaid,itseyesglintingwithmalevolentintent.
    PurpleButterflydrewherdagger,itsbladeshimmeringwithanotherworldlylightasshesizedupthenewcomer.Therewassomethingunsettlingaboutthisperson?somethingthatdidn‘tquiteaddup.
    “You‘renotfromaroundhere,areyou?“PurpleButterflyasked,hertonemeasured.
    Thefigureshookitshead,itsfeaturesshiftinglikesanddunesinthewind.“No,“itadmitted,“Iamnot.“
    PurpleButterfly‘sgazenarrowedasshesearchedforanyclueaboutthisperson‘sidentityormotives.Theairwasthickwithtension,heavywithunspokenthreatsandhiddenagendas.
    Suddenly,afainthummingnoiseemergedfromthebloodpool,growinglouderbythesecond.PurpleButterflyfeltherskincrawlasthesoundbegantotakeonarhythmicquality?likeapulse,beatingintimewithsomeancient,forgottenheartbeat.
    “Isthisthingalive?“sheasked,hervoicebarelyaboveawhisper.
    Thefigurechuckledagain,itseyesglintingwithmirth.“It‘smorethanthat,“itsaid,itsvoicedrippingwithanunnaturalreverence.“It‘sthesourceofalllifeanddeath?andIhavecometoclaimitformyself.“
    PurpleButterflyfeltacolddreadcreepingupherspineasshegazedatthebloodpool.Thiswasnoordinarycreature,andwhatevermagiclaywithinitseemedtobecallingtosomethingdeepwithinherownsoul.
    Thehummingnoisereachedafeverpitch,thensuddenlyceased,plungingtheclearingintoanoppressivesilence.PurpleButterflytookadeepbreath,steelingherselfforwhatwastocome.
    “Iwon‘tletyouhaveit,“shedeclared,hervoicesteadyandunwavering.
    Thefigure‘ssmilegrewwider,itseyesflashingwithexcitement.“Oh,butIthinkyouwill,“itsaid,itsvoicedrippingwithmalice.
    Withasuddenmovement,thefigurereachedoutahand?andPurpleButterflyfeltherselfbeingpulledtowardthebloodpool,asifbysomeunseenforce.Shetriedtoresist,butitwastoolate.
    Asshesteppedintothebloodpool‘sdepths,PurpleButterflyrealizedthatherjourneywasfarfromover.Thefateofthisstrangecreature,andthesecretsitheld,werenowherstounravel?nomatterthecost.