When the smoke cleared, Baron found Ferdinand in a massive crater on the ground, so scorched black he was barely a humanoid silhouette.

He was incredibly weak, yet the myriad burns covering his body were already healing due to his nature as an Undead.

It was a blessing in disguise for Ferdinand; the Canaan Tree Spike had also been destroyed in the Annihilation Stone’s explosion. Now, the only one who could threaten him was the Demon Hunter L standing before him, two Bone Blades still stuck in his shoulders.

Demon Hunter L couldn’t lift his arms, so he simply crouched down, looking down at him, and asked:

"Who is the Immortal Church’s mole among the higher-ups in Fude City?"

"Tell me why the Blood God and Dragon God answered your prayers. Who are you? Do that, and I’ll give you everything on the Immortal Church, including all the Secret Techniques of [Burning Blood]."

Ferdinand spoke, the words tearing at a blast wound on his face. A black liquid, thick with the stench of decay, trickled out.

"This is a trade."

With both the Annihilation Stone and the Canaan Tree Spike gone, Ferdinand believed the Demon Hunter now lacked the means to kill him, an Undead.

However, he was still wary of Yalilan, who was pursuing them, so his tone lacked its earlier arrogance.

’A trade? You motherfucker actually dares to talk about a trade with me.’

Baron sighed, using his remaining Spiritual Power to pull another Canaan Tree Spike from his clothes.

’There’s another one?’ Ferdinand’s expression changed. "I can tell you everything about the Immortal Church! Just don’t kill me."

’Like father, like son, I suppose.’

Baron nodded. "I swear on L’s honor to the Dragon God and the Blood God."

Seeing Baron swear by his "real name" to the two gods who had answered his prayers, Ferdinand truly told him everything. When he heard the real name of the big shot in Fude City’s Immortal Church, Baron’s eyes narrowed sharply.

’It’s actually him?!’

’How could it be him?’

’No, I can’t fully trust this man’s words.’

’For an old bastard like him, it wouldn’t be hard to try and take someone down with him before he dies.’

After Ferdinand had finished explaining everything, Baron suddenly said, "Your body’s recovery rate is speeding up."

Ferdinand’s expression instantly stiffened, but he still said, "I can give you all of [Burning Blood]."/p>

Since Baron hadn’t killed him outright and had even agreed to a trade, Ferdinand assumed Baron was just like most uneducated Demon Hunters: a pure opportunist.

And indeed, after hearing this, Baron made no further moves.

’I need to seize this chance to recover my Spiritual Power and heal my wounds. Later, depending on the situation, I’ll either kill this brat first or escape.’

Ferdinand paused, then said directly, "I’m the one who taught Tate what he knows, but it wasn’t the complete version. The ability to temporarily boost and unleash one’s Spiritual Power is just its most insignificant function."

"The complete version of [Burning Blood] is based on the way a High Tier Blood Race mobilizes their Spiritual Power during combat. It can grant you their phantom-like speed and regenerative abilities for a short time..."

"Like the Gold Connection Circuits that appeared on your body before, and are appearing again now?" Baron asked.

’Come to think of it, Ferdinand’s speed was so great that even Yalilan, who was at the same tier and had also learned [Burning Blood], couldn’t catch him.’

’Even if there was a gap in their Spiritual Power, Ferdinand was still absurdly fast.’

Ferdinand nodded, just as he was about to say something.

PSSTCH!

The sound of flesh being pierced—Demon Hunter L had actually run him through the chest with the Canaan Tree Spike! 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Ferdinand’s face went rigid, his eyes filled with utter shock. He asked dazedly, "Why? Is this also Destiny?"

"Why do people always ask ’why’ before they die...? If Destiny truly favors her believers, does she cease to exist just because you don’t praise her?"

The Demon Hunter said flatly, "Sorry, but I’ve pretty much learned your [Burning Blood] already. Don’t be surprised how. Right now, you—naked and with [Burning Blood] active—are the perfect example.

In other words, you’ve lost all value to me."

"Don’t look at me like that. I may not be a good person, but compared to a Bronze Boy like you, who burns, kills, and plunders, who only thinks about Silver all day, who doesn’t even care about his own son... I think I’m still pretty decent."

Baron smiled. "I know what you’re thinking right now. You’re wondering why I dared to swear on my own name to two gods, aren’t you?"

"But I’m sorry to say, the name L, much like this life of yours that will never reach Silver," he leaned in and whispered in Ferdinand’s ear, "is ultimately a fake."

Ferdinand didn’t speak. Life force was rapidly draining from the wound in his chest, but that force wasn’t life—it was his soul.

His consciousness gradually faded. The weakness and exhaustion, both physical and mental, left him unable to resist this spiritual pull and depletion as he had before.

All he could do was stare at Baron, his face twisting into a furious, hideous grimace as more of that black, ink-like fluid gushed from his mouth.

Finally, the fluid submerged him. Baron, expressionless, ignited a ball of Dragon Flame in his hand and touched it to Ferdinand’s black-liquid-shrouded form, watching him struggle in the blaze until he became a writhing mass of fire that seemed to have come from Hell itself.

Having done all this, Baron looked at his own limp and powerless shoulders, then used his Spiritual Vision to see his already-depleted Spiritual Power, and smiled bitterly.

"Lady Witch, could you come out and lend me a hand? Even if you’re out of Spiritual Power, pulling out two blades shouldn’t be too hard for you, right?"

As soon as he said this, a slender figure did indeed emerge from the dense woods behind him.

It was none other than the Dragon Witch, Carmen.

It turned out that while Baron’s group of three had been hunting Ferdinand, she had been hiding, clearly worried about getting caught in the fighting.

Carmen was no longer wearing the clothes of an Immortal Cultist, but a black robe. Her hair was pure black, and her face was still disguised.

According to KK, they had a Taboo Item that allowed her to disguise herself as another person for a period of time, but the rule was that she couldn’t run into the person she was impersonating.

’Seems better than my Chain of the Imitator.’

Baron watched as Carmen ignored him, instead leaning down and suddenly reaching a hand toward Ferdinand. After a few moments, a bead as pure as crystal gradually solidified from illusion into reality within the flames and was drawn into her palm.

Before Baron could ask what it was, the Witch swallowed the Crystal Bead in one gulp.

SHNK!

Baron felt a sharp pain in both shoulders as the two Bone Blades were pulled out through the air. He couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath.

After using her Spiritual Power to pull out the Bone Blades, the Witch casually took out a Magic Card from her clothes. She quickly recited some unknown Spell, and the Magic Card transformed into a brilliant light that enveloped Baron’s shoulders.

As the light flowed over them, the wounds on Baron’s shoulders actually began to heal at a rapid pace.

They still hurt, but he could now move his arms with some effort.

’She can use a Magic Card... Does that mean the Witch has recovered her Spiritual Power? Was it that Crystal Bead that coalesced from Ferdinand’s corpse?’

’Too bad the Undead have no blood, otherwise I might have been able to use the Authority of the Blood Faction to speed up my recovery.’

’Right, thinking about it, Yalilan seems to know about my Blood Faction identity.’

’Hmm... When she said that, Carmen was right behind me. Given the Dragon Witch’s status, there’s no way she didn’t find out too, right?’

Baron’s heart clenched. He certainly didn’t think the Dragon Witch was some benevolent soul.

Unaware of what Baron was thinking, the Witch saw that his wounds had already scabbed over. She suddenly looked in a certain direction, her fine brows furrowing slightly. "He’s here."

"Who?"

"Silver Wizard Fei. We need to leave, now..."

Carmen turned to leave as she spoke, but she swayed unsteadily, looking as if she could fall at any moment. Baron asked about her condition.

The Witch said flatly, "The Spirit Crystal condensed from the Immortal Blessing isn’t enough to power Instant Teleportation Magic. You’re a Contract Knight and a Blood Demon Hunter, so you should be faster on your feet than me. In a moment, I’ll use my remaining Spiritual Power to cast a Bronze Tier swiftness Magic Card on you..."

"Then what about you?"

’The Witch used all that Spiritual Power to heal my wounds. How is she going to get away?’

She looked at Baron quietly. "Are you thinking of abandoning me?"

Baron, who had been poised to bolt into the dense woods: "..."

The Witch sighed. "I’ll cast the speed spell on you. You just need to run with me on your back."

"Do I have to carry you?"

Beneath her hood, the Witch raised a brow, killing intent flashing in her red-gold eyes. "Remember our deal? If you want to ascend to the next tier, my blood is essential..."

The healing on Baron stopped.

"You’ve misunderstood."

Baron scratched his head. "What I mean is..."

He walked to the edge of the woods and led out two bay horses. They looked a bit disheveled and travel-worn, and still had Griffin Feathers stuck to them.

"Can we ride?"

It was Red Hare and Nuzi, the horses they had previously lost in the dense forest.

They had actually come back.

’Praise the Goddess of Destiny.’