Chapter 196: Blood Night's Onslaught

Kelinda's words had not even finished when a strong wave of energy swept in like a gale, causing the furniture in the room to shake violently and creak. Zhang Cheng was caught off guard, nearly knocked to the ground by the force, but Xiao Dian reacted swiftly and grabbed him.

"What's happening?!" Mo Yi sprang to his feet, a powerful wave of demonic energy radiating from his body, forming a protective barrier in the room to shield against the external impact.

"It's the Blood Night Clan! They're after us!" Kelinda's face turned pale, a flash of panic in her eyes. Her words made Zhang Cheng and Mo Yi's throats tighten.

"What?!" Zhang Cheng could not believe it; they had chased them all the way to Lan Xing so quickly.

"Impossible!" Mo Yi shook his head in disbelief, "Black Meteor Star is thousands of light‑years from Lan Xing; how could they locate this place so fast?"

"They must have left a tracking mark on Kelinda!" Xiao Dian said gravely, his deep gaze fixed on Kelinda, tinged with concern.

Kelinda bit her lip and remained silent, but her pallid complexion said it all.

"What do we do now?" Zhang Cheng asked anxiously; although he didn't know how powerful the Blood Night Clan was, Kelinda's and Mo Yi's reactions made it clear they were far from easy to handle.

"What are you afraid of?! One by one, two by two, we'll kill them!" Mo Yi roared, his eyes brimming with battle fervor.

"Mo Yi, calm down!" Kelinda seized her brother's arm, stopping his rashness, "We are not yet their opponents."

Mo Yi inhaled deeply, forcing himself to settle down. He knew his sister was right; they could not force a head‑on clash now, or they would only die in vain.

"Then what should we do?" Mo Yi looked at Kelinda, bewilderment in his eyes.

Kelinda was silent for a moment, inhaled deeply, and said, "I foresaw they would not give up easily, so I made some preparations in advance."

"What preparations?"

"I led my clan in interstellar migration and took most of the magic crystal ore..." Kelinda said slowly.

"Interstellar migration?" Zhang Cheng and Mo Yi stared at her in surprise; they hadn't expected her to make such a monumental decision.

"Exactly," Kelinda nodded, "Black Meteor Star is no longer safe; we must find a new home."

"But..." Mo Yi began, but Kelinda cut him off.

"I know what you want to say," Kelinda gently stroked her brother's cheek, "but this is the only way. We cannot pin our hope on the enemy; we must survive by our own strength."

Mo Yi fell silent; he knew his sister was right.

At that moment, Kelinda let out a muffled hum, her complexion turning even paler, her body swaying as if she could collapse at any instant.

"Sister!" Mo Yi hurriedly supported Kelinda, asking anxiously, "What's wrong with you?"

Kelinda weakly shook her head, a strand of fresh blood spilling from the corner of her mouth, "I'm fine, just..."

"Sister! What's happening to you?!" Mo Yi, frantic, held Kelinda, his eyes full of worry and panic. He felt her body trembling, as if bearing immense pain.

Zhang Cheng also stepped forward nervously, but Xiao Dian reached out to stop him. The elderly man's face grew solemn as he shook his head, signaling them not to interfere.

Kelinda feebly waved her hand, indicating she was fine, yet a thin line of bright red blood seeped from her mouth; her face was frighteningly pale, and fine beads of sweat dotted her forehead.

"I'm fine..." Kelinda inhaled deeply, trying to force herself to continue, but she couldn't stop a violent cough; blood streamed down her fingers, staining the pristine sheets in a shocking splash.

"And you still say you're fine?!" Mo Yi, his heart aching, held Kelinda, fury blazing in his eyes, "It must be those bastards from the Blood Night Clan! What on earth did they do to you?!"

Kelinda gently brushed her brother's cheek, smiling softly to comfort him, but another violent cough cut her off.

"Don't worry, it's just a minor injury..." Kelinda said haltingly, "During the battle with the Blood Night Clan, I was inadvertently wounded in my origin by their demonic Qi..."

"Origin damaged?!" Xiao Dian's complexion changed; he hurried to Kelinda's side, his aged fingers placing on her wrist, a gentle flow of energy seeping into her body.

A moment later, Xiao Dian withdrew his hand, his brows knit tightly, his eyes full of worry and gravity.

"The situation is worse than I imagined," Xiao Dian said gravely, "Kelinda's origin is severely damaged; if not treated promptly, I fear..."

"Fear what?!" Mo Yi seized Xiao Dian's shoulder sharply, asking urgently, "Please tell me! How exactly can we save my sister?!"

Zhang Cheng also watched Xiao Dian anxiously; although he hadn't spent much time with Kelinda and Mo Yi, he sensed their sincerity and kindness, and could not bear to see Kelinda perish so.

Xiao Dian lightly patted Mo Yi's hand, signaling him to calm down, and said slowly, "If not treated in time, Kelinda can live at most another six months..."

"Six months?!" Mo Yi was struck as if by lightning, his whole body freezing, his eyes vacant as he stared ahead, as though all hope had vanished.

Zhang Cheng's heart sank to the bottom of a valley; he could not imagine that such a kind, powerful woman now had only half a year left.

Kelinda gently clasped her brother's hand, forcing a faint smile, and comforted, "Mo Yi, don't worry, life and death are fate, I..."

Before she could finish, Xiao Dian acted abruptly; a golden light entered Kelinda's body. Kelinda let out a muffled hum, her complexion gradually regaining a rosy hue, and her breathing steadied.

"I have temporarily sealed her wound, which can alleviate the pain, but it's only a band‑aid, not a cure," Xiao Dian withdrew his hand, his expression solemn, "To fully heal her, there are only two methods..."

"What are the two methods?" Mo Yi, as if clutching a lifeline, looked at Xiao Dian with hopeful eyes, asking urgently. He knew his sister's life hinged on the old man's forthcoming words.

Xiao Dian sighed, then said slowly, "The first is evolutionary upgrade. Kelinda is already on the brink of a breakthrough; if she can advance smoothly, she can repair her origin, but the process is extremely perilous—any misstep could scatter her soul. Moreover..."

The old man paused, seeming to choose his words, then continued, "Even if she succeeds, she will lose all memories and become an entirely new being."

"What?!" Mo Yi stared wide‑eyed in disbelief, unable to accept the harsh truth. If his sister lost her memories, would she still be the sister he knew?

Zhang Cheng fell silent as well; he understood what this choice entailed— for Kelinda, it was not only a life‑or‑death test but also a denial of her very existence.

"Then what about the second?" Zhang Cheng's voice was hoarse, his urgency seeking any sliver of hope.

"The second is origin replacement," Xiao Dian's tone grew heavier, "Find a person whose bloodline closely matches Kelinda's and use a special secret technique to swap origins, thereby restoring her to her original state."

"Really?!" Mo Yi, as if seeing a glimmer of hope, grabbed Xiao Dian's arm excitedly, "I'll go find it right away! I'm sure I can find it!"

"Useless," Xiao Dian shook his head, a hint of helplessness in his tone, "Kelinda's bloodline is unique; across the entire universe, only her own family could possibly possess a matching origin."

"But the Blood Night Clan..." Mo Yi's voice lowered; they had just endured the Blood Night Clan's invasion, and now they were to seek help from their enemies—how could that be easy?"

"Is there really no other way?" Zhang Cheng clenched his fists, his heart filled with helplessness.

Xiao Dian was silent for a moment, as if reaching a decision, and said in a deep voice, "There is another method; though hope is slim, it is not entirely impossible."

"What method?!" Mo Yi and Zhang Cheng asked in unison, both staring intently at Xiao Dian, fearing to miss any word.

"Level! If Kelinda can breakthrough to the Creation Star level within a short time, she can, with her immense power, repair her own origin!"

"Creation Star level?!" Mo Yi and Zhang Cheng both inhaled sharply; a Creation Star‑level cultivator is a rarity in the universe, and Kelinda is now only at the pinnacle of the Xingyun level—breaking through so quickly is far from easy!

"I have the Blood of Life, which can help Kelinda breakthrough!" Zhang Cheng suddenly spoke, his tone firm. He had once obtained the essence blood of an ancient divine beast, granting him great vitality, perhaps able to aid Kelinda.

"No!" Xiao Dian rejected outright, "Your bloodline differs from Kelinda's; forcing a fusion would backfire, even hastening her death!"

"Then... what should we do?" Zhang Cheng instantly felt like a deflated balloon, collapsing helplessly in his chair, despair and powerlessness enveloping him.

Kelinda lightly patted her brother's hand, signaling him to stay calm, then turned to Xiao Dian and asked calmly, "Senior, given my current condition, how long would it take to breakthrough to the Creation Star level?"

Xiao Dian looked at Kelinda, his eyes full of pity and helplessness, and said in a low voice: "At least... it takes fifty years."

"Fifty years..." Kelinda murmured, a hint of bitterness flashing in her eyes; fifty years later, she might have already turned to dust, where could she still wait for that breakthrough day?

The room fell into a deathly silence, the oppressive atmosphere making it hard to breathe.

Suddenly, a low voice broke the silence: "Perhaps I can help you."

Everyone started, all turning their heads toward the sound's direction, only to see a black shadow silently appear in the corner of the room, its face indistinct, only a pair of deep eyes flickering with mysterious light...

The mysterious person's sudden appearance made the atmosphere in the room even more grave. Xiao Dian's eyes narrowed, spiritual power surging around him, clearly ready for battle. Though startled, Mo Yi instinctively stepped in front of Kelinda, his demon's claw flashing with cold light, ready to meet the challenge.

"Who are you? Why have you barged into my residence?" Kelinda asked, suppressing her discomfort, her voice low.

The shadow stepped forward, slowly lowering the hood that concealed his face, revealing a handsome yet stern visage. His eyes were deep as the starry sky, yet hinted at an elusive smile.

"I am Duo Yun, Chief Arbiter of the Galactic Alliance Tribunal."

"The Galactic Alliance Tribunal?" Mo Yi exclaimed in a low voice; he naturally knew of this organization, which governs the order of the entire galaxy, wields supreme authority, and whose members are all unfathomably powerful.

Xiao Dian also restrained his aura, giving Duo Yun a slight nod as acknowledgment. Though he was immensely strong, he did not wish to lightly offend the Galactic Alliance.

"Lord Duo Yun, why do you honor us with a late-night visit?" Kelinda said, forcing herself to stay upright, keeping her tone as calm as possible.

Duo Yun's gaze lingered on Kelinda for a moment, then he said softly: "I have heard that Miss Kelinda suffered misfortune and is gravely injured; I have come specifically to help."

"Help?" Kelinda frowned slightly; she had no dealings with the Galactic Alliance, so why would this Chief Arbiter extend assistance?

Seeing Kelinda's doubt, Duo Yun smiled faintly and continued: "I know Miss Kelinda, gravely injured, wishes to break through to the Creation Star level, which would normally take at least fifty years. But I can assure you, in just half a month—only half a month—you will succeed."

"What?!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the room gasped in shock; even the usually composed Xiao Dian couldn't help exclaiming. Breaking through to Creation Star in half a month—this is simply unheard of!

A glimmer of hope flashed in Kelinda's beautiful eyes, but quickly faded; she well knew how difficult the Creation Star level was, and even with heavenly treasures, half a month was utterly impossible.

"Lord Duo Yun, you're joking—how could half a month possibly work..."

"Nothing is impossible." Duo Yun cut off Kelinda's words, his tone brimming with confidence: "Since I dare say it, I naturally have a way."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone, finally resting on Kelinda, and said word by word: "I know you and your younger brother both urgently need strength."

Duo Yun's words seemed to carry a kind of magic, causing Kelinda's heartbeat to quicken involuntarily.

"What price must I pay?" Kelinda drew a deep breath, locking eyes with Duo Yun; she knew there's no such thing as a free lunch, and this Chief Arbiter's sudden appearance surely hides an agenda.

"It's simple," Duo Yun said, the corner of his mouth curling into a mysterious arc, "I just need you to do me a small favor..."