Draconic Vampire: Curse of the Blood

At the exact moment when Keith entered the viscount layer, Valencia's eyes focused on him. It was not because he was able to enter the viscount layer, instead, his lack of usage of any blood-qi technique during this test made her interested in him.

She was focusing on Anica who was ahead of all the students. She was almost reached halfway into the viscount layer. When she approached the end of the viscount layer, her movement started to slow down.

Valencia was curious as to why this young boy could move inside the viscount layer without using any blood-qi technique even though he was only a final stage baron. Using her senses, she scanned Keith's body and found that he was almost at the viscount stage and his blood core was at the peak of the final stage baron. 

She couldn't even differentiate between his blood core and the core of an early-stage baron in terms of blood-qi. His blood core was no doubt smaller than a regular early-stage viscount, but his blood-qi was of the same quantity, which intrigued her.

She had never seen someone have this much blood-qi density. In her life, only a handful of people came close to obtaining highly dense blood cores and almost all of them were duke level or higher.

Increasing blood-qi density inside the core was not something lower-level vampires could do. It required a tremendous amount of insight into the path of blood condensing. You have to know how the blood core functioned and how it converted and stored blood-qi within itself.

It was totally different from circulating and condensing blood-qi. 

What he had was something only duke-level vampires could do. She also knew a detail, more of a secret, that the earlier someone grasped the insight to condense blood-qi to its maximum, their potential would be limitless. 

Typically, those who reached duke level or higher were a handful. They were geniuses. Still, they only start comprehending this aspect of blood-qi only after reaching count, and even then, they couldn't immediately start implementing it. 

It takes them decades to master this and apply their own blood ore. So seeing such a phenomenon, she was speechless for a moment. With a sharp glint, she looked at the high stage and she could feel a slight disturbance in the blood-qi.

She guessed that the professors also noticed this. She wanted to ask the boy herself or make him join the student council and study him, but looking at the reactions of the higher-ups, she knew she had a very slim chance.

Dean Jesper definitely would have his attention on the boy that showed such terrifying potential. If the news broke out, other deans would also start to take an interest in him. Basically, her chances of talking to him would only be possible today.

She decided to see him when the test is finished and try to befriend him. If she could lure him to join her council, it would bring so much benefit to her. She could finally have a hope of knowing this blood condensing technique. It was a gamble but, in the face of uncertainty, she wanted to take one sliver of hope.

She turned around and asked the vice president about this boy. Unfortunately, he didn't know anything about him or his origins. She thought he was from a prominent family or at least from a family within the top 10.

"I want you to get all the information about this boy and give it to me by the end of the test." She ordered the vice president.

"I will try to meet your expectations." The vice president nodded slightly and disappeared from his position.

As she was contemplating her next moves and how to approach Keith, the other students didn't know such a great thing was happening inside the test area. Only high-level vampires could sense the blood-qi technique activation from this far.

If they were not close like Annica and the other young vampire, then it was almost impossible for them to tell if Keith used his blood-qi technique or not.

Almost all of the students were focusing their attention on Annica and a small number of boys were also cheering for her. Clearly, they were from her own country and knew her. They also wanted to court her, which was obvious from their excited faces. 

"I knew she would cross the viscount layer. Watch her pass the count layer a well. I bet she  could reach marquis layer if she tried her best." A young vampire said.

"Haaa.. Don't say such embarrassing things… I admire her but crossing the count layer is already impossible. Reaching that layer will solidify her position at top 3, even without the genes alone." Another vampire sitting opposite said with a snort.

"Did you see how she just sprinted across the baron stage and entered the viscount layer so fast? Unbelievable! I could never walk light under this immense pressure." A third vampire said.

Among them, the young boy who ranked first also paid significant attention to Annica's advancements, but in the middle, his expression changed.

"You sure?" He mumbled.

A light shadow that could be only seen by him was floating behind his right earlobe.

His expression changed and his vision shifted towards Keith and a sharp glare cast upon Keith's figure. He nodded his head like he was listening to someone and his vision was locked on Keith while he was contemplating something.

Inside the test area, Keith was struggling really hard to move further into the viscount layer as his blood core was on the verge of blowing up. It was so heated up due to excess amount of blood-qi circulation and pumping such a huge amount of blood-qi in a short period of time was taking a toll on it.

At that moment, Keith sensed multiple eyes focused on him. Among them, three particularly stood out. First was a huge presence coming from the high stage where all the professors were seated. The second source was from the student council president Valencia herself. The third was weak, but something was seriously profound about it. 

Even though the presence was weak, its aura had a unique aspect to it, like a deep pit with no end. He also couldn't tell where this was coming from. It was like someone was purposefully masking it.

He was in a dilemma as to how he ended up getting the attention of three powerhouses. He was just trying to see his limit. Was it that profound that they were interested in him? But he didn't even use any blood-qi technique.

'Maybe it is a good thing. If I can become a direct disciple for any of the deans, that would be the best outcome. Still, there is one thing that is seriously bugging me. If they are interested in me apart from my potential, like my physique and blood core, it could get troublesome.'

Keith didn't want to deal with high-level vampires who wanted to study his physique and know his secrets. He already met a lunatic who wanted to cut him open. Thankfully he swindled him for now.

'I have to come up with a plan to keep him away. Or I must find something that can mask my blood core and my blood-qi properties. Looking at what I've caused, I might be a bit too late.' 

As he walked further into the viscount layer, the three presences intensified around him, like they were trying to split him open.

'If this is too late to stay out of the radar, I will show you something, you will never forget. Trouble will find me after this anyway, might as well go all out.'

His steps became haggard as he reached the limit of his blood core.

'Rest for a while, little guy.' Keith focused on his blood core one last time.

[ It isn't sentient. Why are you talking to it like it is your pet?] 

Thes system, which was observing everything, spoke out inside his mind.

That's my decision to make. You just focus on your own task. Activate the warrior frame.'

Keith ordered the system with a tired voice.

[Hmmph! Right on]

Hong! Flash!

The viscount layer was illuminated for a moment as Keith's full force of blood-qi erupted from his body. His aura almost tripled and his stamina returned as he inhaled a lung full of air. His eyes shot open with a crimson glow within his iris.

This caused an uproar among the students as their sights shifted towards Keith, who was now on their radar.

'He was still holding back?' The young boy looked at Keith in a new light.

'This kid… going to make things even more difficult for me.' Valencia was gnashing her teeth.

All the eyes inside the hall were focused on a single figure, who was radiating a viscount level aura that could be felt from hundreds of meters away. This presence was not something the other students could ignore at this moment.

Each and every single one of them looked at Keith in awe, as they couldn't imagine how he managed to emanate a viscount level aura. 

Meanwhile, the high stage was in an uproar. Particularly the professors from the warrior frame department were losing their minds after confirming Keith's viscount level warrior frame. This was an impossible task according to them as he was just a baron.