Nasser recalled the events in Kado City and how nothing unusual had happened when he was with Li Xi, so he concluded that the strange occurrences weren't due to Li Xi but rather the beautiful woman.
When he first met her, Nasser had thought of her as a mere beautiful vase. While seeking to reclaim the Divine Power Crystal, he planned to casually take her as a servant. Playing with what his opponent valued most was always the most satisfying, and mentally torturing an opponent was far more effective than physical annihilation.
However, given the sudden turn of events during this period, Nasser now regarded her with extreme caution, avoiding her as if she were plague. Unless absolutely necessary, it was best not to encounter such a peculiar woman.
But the Divine Power Crystal was still in Li Xi's possession, and he had to pursue it. Nasser took a deep breath, deciding he had no choice but to press on. Fortunately, these unexpected events were all within his control. It wasn't easy to encounter someone of equal strength, so he just needed to be extra careful.
Li Xi, flying ahead, was naturally oblivious to Nasser's predicament. He only felt that the underground world was surprisingly peaceful, even safer than the surface, not at all like the cannibalistic, dark-law-dominated world whispered about in legends.
However, Nasser's screams, which occasionally echoed from behind, perplexed Li Xi. Was it that difficult? Or perhaps the underground world didn't welcome vampires?
The exact size of the underground world was unknown. Some speculated it was larger than the surface landmass, considering that over half of the surface was ocean, while the underground world had none.
Li Xi tried his best to slow his pace, but fortunately, Nasser kept encountering all sorts of bizarre incidents, which stretched the journey that could have been completed in four sandglasses to this point, barely allowing him to catch a glimpse of Li Xi's tail.
Madame Avril's plump, cherry-like lips had also diminished by half. The essence of thousands of years of vampiric existence was being digested by a weak woman within a few hours in this underground world. If Dracula were to know, Li Xi suspected he might jump out of his mithril coffin to scold Li Xi for speaking nonsense.
The current situation was that if Madame Avril were given another hour or two, she would completely digest the Divine Power Crystal. At that point, Li Xi wouldn't have to worry about being locked onto by Nasser anymore.
Time flowed by as they pursued each other. Madame Avril's mouth showed no outward signs of the crystal anymore, with only a peanut-sized remnant left. It would soon be fully digested.
This should have been a joyous occasion, but one thing sent a shiver down Li Xi's spine: after absorbing Lilith's divine power clone and then such a large Divine Power Crystal, Madame Avril still appeared as ordinary as a weak woman who couldn't even defeat a chicken, possessing not the slightest hint of pressure.
It was known that anything or any life form possessing divine power, no matter how little, would naturally radiate a powerful aura of divine power that inspired reverence and awe in countless beings. The hand Li Xi had snatched from Soros in his spatial ring was sealed for this very reason.
Yet, Madame Avril now seemed like a woman who had had a bit too much to drink, as if she were eating edamame with her drink rather than a Divine Power Crystal.
Her hazy eyes seemed to be lost in a beautiful dream, and with every slight movement of her lips, an alluring charm radiated outwards. Li Xi dared not look directly into the eyes of Madame Avril, lost in her reverie, for fear of succumbing. Yet, not looking made him restless, and he couldn't help but steal glances from the corner of his eye. Li Xi's eyesight was so keen that he was practically a contender for microscopic observation without slides and coverslips. Every smile and glance from Madame Avril sent a jolt through him.
If such a mature woman were on Earth, she would undoubtedly be a top-tier predator in any bar, with countless men groveling at her feet.
Li Xi understood that Madame Avril wasn't naturally this unrestrained. It was likely the influence of Lilith's divine power clone. Who was Lilith? She was the leader of all succubi in the abyss. While not necessarily the strongest in combat, when it came to dealing with the opposite sex, Lilith was undoubtedly among the top three. Words like "femme fatale" and "beauty that could topple kingdoms" paled in comparison to her.
After absorbing the divine power of such a being, Madame Avril hadn't caused any serious consequences like streaking in public. Her current uncontrolled radiating charm was a testament to her immense self-control.
Li Xi dared to say that normal people, and even he himself, could not possess such composure. If he had absorbed Lilith's divine power, the world would only have gained another perverted womanizer, a perpetually unsatisfied lecher, the consequences of which would be increased victories for the righteous.
While Li Xi was still immersed in the allure of Madame Avril, Nasser behind him finally lost his patience. Ever since arriving in the underground world, he had encountered one obstacle after another, one near-death experience after another, one accident after another, until he was practically bursting with anger. He had lost count of the unexpected events he had faced, and no amount of caution seemed to help. Seeing the Divine Power Crystal shrink smaller and smaller, Nasser decided he could no longer hold back his strength.
An aura far exceeding that of a Level Seven powerhouse emanated from behind him, accompanied by surging tides of energy. Waves of energy passed Li Xi's position and spread far into the distance. Countless magical beasts, hidden in crevices, swamps, and the depths of waterways, were so terrified by this god-like energy that they lost control, collapsing in fear, their bodily fluids escaping. To them, this situation was no different from the end of the world.
The air vibrated as if a god were enraged. The powerful fluctuations even caused the ground to subtly undulate, sending countless pebbles rolling and tumbling, vegetation toppling. A small mountain that was already unstable directly collapsed, and countless lives wailed, sacrificing themselves for this millennium-rare ascension. With immense power converging into one being, such an existence was of strategic importance.
Level Eight. Even on the surface, where powerful beings were abundant, such an existence hadn't appeared in a long time, let alone in the underground world. Such strength could potentially unify the underground world and establish dominance.
Li Xi was also stunned. Had Nasser used the Heavenly Demon Dismantling Technique, or sacrificed a kidney, to forcibly break through his physical limits and ascend to Level Eight? Had he finally lost patience and wanted to finish this quickly?
A torrent of crimson energy filled one-fifth of Li Xi's field of vision. A tall, slender man walked towards Li Xi with slow steps. His speed appeared slow, but in reality, each step covered a hundred meters, crossing the distance in an instant. Li Xi flapped his dragon wings with the same effort he used with Alice in bed, but could only watch helplessly as Nasser closed the distance.
It was too fast, beyond Li Xi's comprehension. Was this speed achievable by a human body?
Nasser was enveloped in a fifty-meter crimson, egg-shaped dome of light, his domain of blood control at Level Eight. As long as a life form entered his domain, he could transform the life's blood into any shape he desired.
Domain, the hallmark of a Level Eight powerhouse.
Nasser's Level Seven domain was merely an immature one, a flawed product solely derived from his peak Level Seven strength combined with the power granted by Dracula, akin to a "half-step domain" in online terms. It couldn't precisely control an enemy's blood like a scalpel. At Level Eight, precise manipulation was fully achievable; if he wished, he could even make blood in your veins form tiny figures marching in formation, performing military drills.
Facing the Grim Reaper, with Yama summoning souls, Li Xi, confronted by a truly enraged Nasser, naturally couldn't surrender. Even if he surrendered, Nasser wouldn't spare him.
Li Xi looked at Madame Avril, still lost in her sweet dream and unable to wake. His hope for survival lay with her.
He landed on a clean, open patch of ground, bit his finger, and pressed it heavily onto the earth. Countless secret runes appeared.
"Summoning Technique."
"Bang."
Wearing the blood-stained armor of the Blood Dragon and holding a slightly curved iron rod, Sun Er Dai appeared in the underground world.
Li Xi handed Madame Avril over to Sun Er Dai, solemnly entrusting him, "Protect this woman well. If she wakes up, have her revive me."
Sun Er Dai didn't know what Li Xi intended to do, but he would resolutely carry out Li Xi's orders. Through his thick faceplate, he emitted a solemn snort towards Li Xi, assuring him that he would complete the task.
After arranging for Madame Avril, Li Xi turned his gaze to Nasser, who had already arrived nearby. He took a red pill from his spatial ring and swallowed it.
"I suspect your strength is not sustainable. Three seconds, or five?" For a normal person to break through from Level Seven to Level Eight required immense fortune and years of accumulated effort. How could a heavily wounded Nasser achieve a breakthrough like a child of destiny, as easily as drinking water? Without Dracula's assistance, Li Xi wouldn't believe it, and such a price was not something Nasser could bear.
"My duration isn't long, but it's enough to kill you and re-refine that woman behind you into a Divine Power Crystal."
The Level Seven Nasser was still troubled by various annoyances, but after breaking through to Level Eight, he felt something being squeezed out of his body like toothpaste. These things were likely the misfortunes that had been plaguing him.
Li Xi was correct. Nasser had forcibly broken through by borrowing the power left by Dracula. This power was not infinite. What was originally enough for Level Seven Nasser to use for ten days would now only last an hour.
An hour at Level Eight was enough to flatten a city, or take a stroll through the abyss. Therefore, dealing with a mere Dragonborn like Li Xi, plus a comatose Madame Avril, was as easy as a butter knife slicing through chicken, like flying a plane at one hundred meters.
"Gulp."
As Li Xi swallowed, the red chili pill was ingested. As the last secret medicine of the Akimichi clan, it granted one a hundredfold increase in strength, but without timely treatment afterward, death was inevitable.
Facing Nasser, who had broken through to Level Eight and possessed a domain capable of controlling blood, Li Xi had no other choice. Between being killed by the enemy and perishing together, Li Xi chose the latter. Besides, he might not necessarily die. Madame Avril had absorbed such a vast amount of divine power; she must have some miraculous ability. Divine power was the most miraculous force in this world, omnipotent and ever-changing. Li Xi believed that divine power could also cure his post-effects. Now, it depended on his luck whether Madame Avril would wake up before his death and happen to know how to treat him.
An ineffable power emanated from Li Xi's body. His black hair instantly turned red, each strand standing on end as if unwilling to accept the current state, roaring a furious defiance at the world.
The dark red dragon scales and the unfolding dragon wings behind him instantly turned crimson. This was a color only seen on ancient dragons, representing power, might, and truth.
The air roared, and the heavens and earth shook. A typhoon of level ten or more erupted from Li Xi's body, sweeping outwards. Nearby hills, low-lying forests, countless exposed ore beds, and the various dark creatures that had already soiled themselves in fear of Nasser's ascension, were all leveled in an instant by Li Xi's uncontrollable physical strength.