Even though Ji Xinghuo was mentally prepared, upon seeing this number, he couldn’t help but be overjoyed.
So much Spiritual Origin Ability was enough for him to upgrade all his Abilities except Rotating Magnetic Field to the next level. Of course, he would not do so; he planned to focus on upgrading two or three Abilities.
But now was not the time for upgrading.
"Burn my blood, sacrifice to the Red Emperor!"
"Burn my blood, sacrifice to the Red Emperor!"
On the battlefield, after the Highlanders had slain the last of the Biao Clan, each of their expressions turned solemn yet fervent, repeatedly shouting the Red Emperor’s prayer in unison.
They held aloft the Red Emperor’s blood flags, kneeling on the blood-stained ground.
Some Highlanders raised their butcher knives again.
But this time, the butcher knives were not directed at enemies, but at their own tribesmen—those who were seriously injured in battle, beyond healing, and who would not be able to recover their combat ability.
These Highlanders numbered in the thousands, but they did not struggle; amidst their pain, they still shouted the name of the Red Emperor as their lives were ended.
Their blood flowed from their necks, mingling with that of their enemies.
Ji Xinghuo watched this scene, feeling only shock.
The Spiritual Origin Ability rose significantly, exceeding forty thousand. Behind these forty thousand Spiritual Origin Ability were more than five thousand lives.
Two thousand Highlanders, three thousand from the Biao Clan.
All of them were followers of the Red Emperor. Their blood flowed together on this hillside, reflecting the Red Flame Star in the sky. Streams of reddish mist rose from the more than five thousand corpses and pools of blood, and amidst the cries of "Burn my blood, sacrifice to the Red Emperor", slowly began to transform.
Ji Xinghuo looked up, noticing that the Red Flame Star appeared even redder.
The dark patterns on it were faintly twisting. A vague and chilling figure seemed to have cast its gaze, sweeping over the bloody battlefield.
He did not dare to look any further and quickly lowered his head again.
The Highlanders sensed something and became even more enthusiastic, shouting hoarsely.
The mercenaries, however, were trembling with fear, not daring to make any rash moves.
The misty blood fog in the midair suddenly churned violently, sucking up the bodies and the blood on the ground, forming clusters of blood spheres. As more and more blood merged into them, flames ignited on the surface of the blood spheres, evaporating, compressing, and slowly solidifying from liquid to solid.
Red Emperor Blood Crystals!
The mercenaries’ eyes brightened, watching these blood spheres scattered across the battlefield, soon-to-be formed Blood Crystals, their eyes showing unmistakable greed.
They had joined the Blood Fury Tribe, fighting desperately, all for these things!
Yet, no one dared to make a move.
The victorious Highlander army, although also having suffered losses, still numbered over eight thousand, including three Legendary Blood Warriors.
Now whoever reached out for the Blood Crystals was seeking their own death.
Finally, when the flames on the blood spheres burned out and the glow dissipated, revealing the red Blood Crystals.
These Blood Crystals, only the size of fingertips, were as red as blood, roughly spherical in shape, with irregular facets numbering in the dozens on their surfaces, like red crystals.
The intense smell of blood emitting from them had disappeared, and their energy fluctuations had also subsided.
More than twenty Blood Crystals dropped down.
Some fell into the blood pits, some into the mud, and some were promptly caught by nearby Highlanders. One fell in front of Ji Xinghuo, only five or six meters away.
He didn’t go to pick it up, letting the Red Emperor Blood Crystal fall to the ground.
Every Blood Crystal was watched by countless pairs of eyes; there was no chance to claim them exclusively.
He Yan finished his prayer, stood up, and commanded, "Gather all the Blood Crystals." His gaze swept across the battlefield, having already memorized the location of each Blood Crystal.
A few of He Yan’s personal guards quickly circled the battlefield, collecting the twenty-odd Red Emperor Blood Crystals, and handed them to He Yan.
He Yan placed the Blood Crystals into a beast-skin pouch and tucked it close to him.
Not only mercenaries were watching; nearly all the Highlanders watched him, each of their eyes filled with desire.
For the followers of the Red Emperor, the Blood Crystals represented strength!
As long as their bodies could withstand the infusion of strength and maintain their will against corruption, they could use the Blood Crystals unlimitedly. Even the weakest Highlander could use at least three Blood Crystals without any issues, and with increasing numbers of evolutions, they could use even more Blood Crystals.
Blood Crystals could strengthen the body, enhancing physical strength.
Blood Crystals also increased the number of times they could merge with Alien Species.
Blood Crystals were everything!
They bravely rushed to the battlefield, clashing with other followers of the Red Emperor, all for a chance to obtain Blood Crystals.
And now, the Blood Crystals were in He Yan’s hands.
Even though He Yan was a Blood Warrior, the strongest Legendary figure present, he felt somewhat terrified under so many intense gazes.
Especially since the other two Blood Warriors were also watching intently.
He Yan stored the beast-skin pouch and, maintaining composure on his face, shouted his orders loudly.
Initially, the surrounding Highlanders did not immediately act, still immersed in their fervor for the Blood Crystals. It wasn’t until He Yan called out several times sternly, releasing the oppressive presence of the Blood Warrior, that the Highlanders finally regained their calm and reassembled on the hillside.
Ji Xinghuo also withdrew his gaze, looking towards the hill.
There, the Biao Clan’s settlement was in chaos. Many Biao Clan members were seen fleeing under the cover of night, mostly women and youths.
Like the Highlanders, there were no older adults among the Biao Clan.
He Yan mobilized two thousand Highlander warriors, foregoing horses, and letting a Blood Warrior lead them toward the hilltop settlement.