McConkey's gaze toward Lin Lei began to shift.
"Ha ha…" After a moment of silence, McConkey burst into hearty laughter. At the same time, he descended from the sky and walked toward Lin Lei at an easy pace, his manner noticeably warmer. "Lin Lei, you legendary magic genius — they call you the second greatest in history. But I'd say your warrior abilities surpass your magical ones. To possess Saint-level strength at such a young age — a Dragon Blood Warrior — you truly deserve the title of ultimate warrior."
Lin Lei had always been proud of his family, but thinking of how it now lay in ruins, with only himself and his younger brother remaining, a thread of sorrow tugged at his heart.
"Mr. McConkey, if you have nothing else, I'd like to head back," Lin Lei said.
McConkey quickly replied, "Brother Lin Lei, this is our first meeting — why not spend some time together? Besides, I'm extremely curious about the legendary Dragon Blood Warriors. If you have the time, I'd really love to spar with you. After all, at the Saint level, exchanging blows with a fellow expert of equal standing is one of the best ways to improve." As he finished, McConkey looked at Lin Lei with earnest anticipation.
Spar?
McConkey was a dominant figure in the Northwestern Provinces. Making his acquaintance would be beneficial. Moreover, Kinn was also in the Northwestern Province — this could count as helping him out.
Lin Lei considered for a moment, then nodded. "I'm still injured. Even if I went to your place, I wouldn't be able to spar right away. How about this — I'll go back for now… and after some time, I'll come visit you. It won't be long — within a month, surely."
McConkey nodded with delight.
"Very well. I'll be waiting patiently at my Jax Family castle for your arrival."
"I will come."
Lin Lei smiled and nodded.
At that moment, heavy snow began to fall from the sky, snowflakes swirling through the air. The two Saint-level experts — Lin Lei and McConkey — exchanged a smile, said their farewells, and parted ways.
Across the vast wilderness, only Lin Lei and Bei Bei remained.
"Winter snow." Lin Lei gazed at the boundless expanse of white. During a heavy snowfall in his youth, he had fallen in love with Alice.
The following year, on another day of heavy snow, he and Alice had broken up.
And in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, again on a day of heavy snow, Lin Lei had comprehended the realm of 'Force.'
Now, once more in a snowy midnight, he had broken through to the ninth-level warrior rank, and his true strength had fully entered the Saint domain.
"Snowflakes…"
Lin Lei was filled with a wave of emotion, but when he looked down at himself, he let out an amused laugh. "I was just standing here having a long conversation with a Saint-level expert looking like this?"
Because of his transformation and battle against the angel, his upper garment was torn beyond recognition, and his pants were in no better shape.
He looked worse than a beggar.
But McConkey hadn't paid it any mind. In truth, many Saint-level experts, during periods of intense cultivation, might train for months at a time and end up filthy beyond measure. They cared little for such outward appearances — what they valued was a person's inner substance.
Take Lin Lei, for example. Even though his clothes were in tatters, just standing there, no one would dare look down on him.
That was the presence of a man.
"Boss, you said you've entered the Saint level now — why don't you transform? Let me admire how awesome you look!" Bei Bei's bright little eyes stared at Lin Lei as he deliberately flattered him.
Lin Lei felt a warmth in his heart.
Not a bad idea.
"Sure," Lin Lei said with a grin. Bei Bei immediately leaped off Lin Lei's shoulder. Black scales once again sprouted across Lin Lei's body, spikes emerging from his back, elbows, and forehead, while his pupils turned a dark golden hue.
Almost exactly the same as before.
But Lin Lei could feel the difference.
*Whoosh.* Lin Lei sensed that the peculiar energy of the Dragon Blood Warrior bloodline, dormant within his body, was now fusing into his bones, muscles, and even his scales, spikes, and dragon tail.
The originally black scales now carried a subtle cyan glow within them.
"What incredible power!"
Lin Lei found that his eyesight and hearing had increased dozens of fold. Nothing within a radius of several miles could escape his perception.
"Powerful strength. Mighty Battle Qi."
Lin Lei clenched his fist, and the entire air shuddered. Those powerful muscles contained far more terrifying strength than before. The Battle Qi within his body was now vastly more abundant.
"Ha ha…" Lin Lei laughed out loud with excitement.
In the dead of night, across the snow-swept wilderness, the fully transformed Dragon Blood Warrior hovered in the air like a creature out of legend, suspended aloft, releasing exuberant laughter.
His voice echoed between heaven and earth.
"No wonder Bak was so excited when he transformed into a Saint-level being. I never imagined that just crossing that threshold would increase my strength so dramatically," Lin Lei thought, thrilled.
The Dragon Blood Warrior was innately gifted — once the energy reached the necessary level, flight came naturally. Just as birds could fly, it was an inborn talent requiring no special comprehension.
"In terms of miraculous power, the blood of the Spiked Armored Dragon is far inferior to the Dragon Blood Warrior bloodline," Lin Lei mused as he stood suspended in the air.
Back then, he had consumed a large amount of living dragon blood and a Spiked Armored Dragon's dragon crystal. Yet even so, his own Dragon Blood Warrior bloodline had dissolved and absorbed it all.
Moreover, now that he had stepped into the Saint domain, he could feel how the Dragon Blood Warrior bloodline energy enhanced every aspect of his body's functions.
"My speed has at least doubled." With a thought, Lin Lei shot forward, leaving a trail of afterimages across the sky.
"As for defense…" He looked at his now fully restored scales, especially the faint cyan glow within them. "Even if I took another blow from a Four-winged Angel, I'd sustain nothing more than minor injuries."
The corner of Lin Lei's mouth curled upward.
Confidence!
Absolute confidence!