Watching John''s expression shift, the corners of Robert''s mouth slowly curved upwards.


    Beforeing to Sterburg, the patriarch of House Carter had given him a firmmand: If he couldn''t bring John back, then he was to kill him.


    The Crimson Count was the foundation of their House Carter''s standing.


    If they couldn''t secure theplete inheritance, then they''d make sure no one else could either.


    John''s mind power spread out, discovering that the moment Robert entered the room, a blood-red barrier had formed around it, centering on Robert.


    His mind power waspletely cut off from the outside, confined within the room.


    John''s face soured as he realized Robert had made thorough preparations, leaving him no hope of escape.


    Taking a deep breath, John forced himself to calm down.


    Surrendering to fate was not an option.


    His mind raced, searching for a way out.


    However, Robert didn''t grant him the opportunity to find one.


    Seeing John remain silent, Robert''s patience quickly wore thin.


    A sh of blood in his eyes, a sword formed from coagted blood materialized in his hand.


    At the same time, an immensely terrifying aura emanated from him, instantly enveloping John within the room.


    John''s breath hitched.


    Robert was a supreme-tier powerhouse!


    Robert''s smile widened menacingly.


    "If Mr. John can''t make a decision, I can assist you."


    The blood-light around Robert grew even more blinding.


    Blood began to flow from beneath his feet, quickly forming a pool on the floor.


    Then, as if alive, the blood slowly crept towards John.


    With the blood drawing closer, John could smell the intense odor of blood.


    Robert watched John with a mocking glee, toying with him like a cat with a mouse.


    He deliberately refrained from killing John immediately, opting instead to pressure him into making a choice.


    Securing the inheritance of the Crimson Count would be the most beneficial oue for House Carter.


    Robert wouldn''t have chosen to kill John if there had been another way.


    He could easily abduct John and force him to continue the bloodline for House Carter.


    Unfortunately, once John reaches the Imperial Capital, he would be under various protections, making any attempt thereafter significantly more challenging.


    To prevent anyplications, if John fails to make a choice here, Robert is prepared to kill him outright.


    They would rather forfeit theplete inheritance than allow John to live.


    John''s brows furrowed tightly.


    The power disparity was overwhelming, an insurmountable gap spanning three tiers of strength.


    Left with no other options, he prepared for a desperate struggle.


    A thought sparked in his mind, and a blood-colored long de appeared in his hands—the Bloodthirsty de.


    Now upgraded to gold-tier, its attributes had significantly improved, along with a new skill.


    [Equipment]: Bloodthirsty de (Damaged)


    [Type]: Weapon


    [Level]: Lv25


    [Tier]: Gold-tier/Divine Artifact


    [Quality]: Damaged


    [Attributes]: Strength+450, Spirit+350, Attack Speed +20%, Bleeding+20%


    [Requirements]: Crimson Demon, Blood Apostle, Crimson Ritual…


    [Skill One]: Blood Devourer (Passive)


    [Description]: The Bloodthirsty de can devour the enemies it has in.


    The stronger the enemies it consumes, the more powerful attributes it gains.


    Additionally, it can self-repair by ying enemies if it has sustained damage.


    [Skill Two]: Blood Rage (Active)


    [Description]: Upon using this skill, all your attributes will increase by 200%, skill damage by 200%, bleeding chance by 200%, and HP by 300%.


    During the skill''s duration, you will consume 3% of your HP every second, with the skill automatically deactivating when HP remains at 1%, cooldown period 1 days.


    [Skill Three]: Blood Puppet (Active)


    [Description]: Upon using this skill, the lives you have in will briefly be transformed into blood puppets.


    These blood puppets retain 60% of their original attributes and skills for a duration of 15 minutes, with a cooldown time of 6 hours.


    ...


    Upgraded to gold-tier, the Bloodthirsty de had seen a significant enhancement in all its attributes, underwent a transformation in its skillset, and gained a new skill.


    However, this new skill was of no use to John in his current predicament; it couldn''t resolve the dilemma he faced.


    Upon John drawing the Bloodthirsty de, Robert''s gaze immediately fixed on the de.


    Shockingly, he felt a bloodline suppression emanating from it.


    His face filled with astonishment.


    Despite the de''s current low level, he unmistakably felt a bloodline pressureing from it.


    How could this be possible?


    House Carter''s ss lineage stemmed from the Crimson Demon—a deity!


    Suddenly realizing something, Robert eximed with a mixture of shock and tion, "Could it be... a divine artifact of the Crimson Demon?!"


    It seemed only a divine artifact of the Crimson Demon could exert such bloodline suppression on him.


    With this realization, Robert''s eyes zed with greed and excitement, his face betraying ecstatic joy.


    He never imagined that John not only possessed the Legacy of the Crimson Demon but also held a divine artifact of the Crimson Demon!


    Although the Bloodthirsty de was damaged, it remained an item no less valuable than the legacy, perhaps even more so.


    This was, after all, a divine artifact!


    And it was a divine artifact sharing their bloodline!


    Something beyond the wildest dreams of many, yet now ity before him, fueling Robert''s excitement.


    He couldn''t help butugh out loud, feeling favored by fortune.


    Then, Robert''s gaze turned icy as he looked at John.


    He reached out and coldlymanded, "Hand over what you''re holding, and I''ll grant you a swifter end!"


    In Robert''s mind, John was already a dead man.


    Even if John agreed to his demands now, Robert had no intention of letting him leave.


    The allure of a divine artifact was too great,pelling him to do anything necessary.


    John remained silent, only gripping the long de tighter in his hand.


    He felt a sense of resignation, believing perhaps he shouldn''t have revealed the Bloodthirsty de.


    There had been a glimmer of hope for him, but now, by his own actions, it seemed he had extinguished thatst flicker of hope.


    This realization brought a sense of faint pain to John.


    Seeing John''sck of response, Robert''s gaze turned brutally fierce.


    Thick miasmas of blood energy surged from him, causing the blood on the floor to start boiling.


    In the blink of an eye, the blood coalesced into a long spear, several meters in length, within the room.


    The spear''s tip pointed directly at John.


    With a cold and murderous look, Robert demanded, "Hand over the de. Don''t make me ask a third time."


    Threatened by the blood-colored spear, John felt enveloped by an intense aura of death.


    He knew that with just a thought from Robert, the spear could pierce him instantly, leaving no room for escape.


    The disparity between them was simply too vast.


    With John''s current strength, even employing every means at his disposal, he stood no chance against Robert.


    The higher the level, the greater the gap between tiers bes.


    At lower ranks, many prodigies can achieve victories against higher-tier opponents.


    But at higher ranks, even a single tier difference can feel insurmountable, like a chasm that cannot be crossed.


    Furthermore, with John and Robert separated by a full three tiers, it was no longer a matter of a mere gap in strength.


    However, John had no intention of resigning himself to fate.


    He still had many cards up his sleeve, and if he gave it his all, he might just manage to escape from his captor''s grasp.


    Just as John braced for a desperate effort, a thunderous noise erupted.


    The barrier Robert had set up shattered suddenly, breaking into countless blood-colored light particles that swiftly dissipated.


    Simultaneously, an utterly indifferent voice reached their ears, coldly stating, "To dare make a move on the floating train, the people of House Carter really arewless!"


    The door was abruptly pushed open.


    A tall man dressed in a ck trench coat entered the room.


    He appeared to be in histe twenties, with distinct facial features, a stern expression, and a scar across his nose bridge.


    His eyes were sharply piercing.


    There was a unique aura about him, one that John had only sensed in Victor.


    However, where Victor''s aura was like the sharp edge of a sword, this man''s was as piercing as a long spear.


    The moment this man stepped into the room, a formidable presence manifested,pletely suppressing Robert''s aura.


    Robert''s face instantly turned sour.


    Just as he was about to seed, his ns were thwarted at the crucial moment, naturally souring his mood.


    He said coldly, "Since you know I am from House Carter, you should be aware of the consequences of offending us."


    The manughed derisively, "Offend House Carter? Even if I were to kill you right here, Samuel Carter wouldn''t dare say a word."


    Robert''s expression changed dramatically.


    Samuel Carter was the current head of House Carter!


    John, too, looked at the man with some surprise.


    Knowing Samuel Carter''s name and daring to make such bold ims, the man''s identity had to be extraordinary.


    Suppressing the anger in his heart, Robert asked in a deep voice, "May I know the name of such a formidable individual?"


    The man replied calmly, "Vincent Morgan."


    Upon hearing the name, Robert''s expression froze on his face, his eyes filled with shock.


    He was facing "Demonce," Vincent Morgan!