Blood flowed within the human body.
Each beat and contraction of the heart symbolized the outward surge and inward return of that blood, and theoretically, it was almost impossible to replace it.
Setting aside whether the blood of different races could fuse together, or if transfusing it would have side effects, even if there were none, blood was fluid, and the dark dwarf's needle moved up and down erratically, making it impossible to calculate a precise location.
Perhaps Grey-White Eyes could calculate it, or perhaps Xu Mu at the brink of life and death could, but currently, he clearly could not.
Therefore, if he wanted to save Nash, he could only replace all the blood in the latter's right arm.
"I will drain the blood from your right arm, then sever its connections to the various blood vessels, and finally spread some of my blood beneath your flesh," Xu Mu said in a calm voice.
"This... are you sure?" Nash's eyes widened in terror, but before he could ask another question, he felt a powerful yet gentle force surge into his body.
That force squeezed all the blood out of his right arm and then sealed the various acupoints and blood vessels.
In just a few seconds, Nash's right arm was drained of blood, and the blood vessels in other parts of his body bulged due to the sudden influx of a massive amount of blood.
Xu Mu concentrated, forcing blood from his own body, wrapping it in Daoyuan, and burying it beneath Nash's flesh, above the blood vessels, where it floated quietly.
"All done," Xu Mu said, his face pale, large beads of sweat dripping from his forehead. "Don't move rashly. My blood is rather special. If it accidentally gets into your blood vessels, it will melt your entire arm."
"I... I feel like I'm already melting." Nash's face was flushed red. His right arm was now a fiery red, as if it would ignite at any moment.
Just then, the dark dwarf holding the metal needle approached. He glanced at the pained expression on Nash's face, then at his burning arm, assuming it was some strange illness. Pinching his nose, he inserted the needle with a hint of disgust.
*Pfft!*
"Mmm..." The metal needle pierced his right arm, splashing some of the blood buried beneath the flesh into it. The excruciating pain that erupted nearly made him faint.
But Nash, still, suppressed a cry.
"This color..." The dark dwarf withdrew the needle, and then, looking at the colorful black swirling around it, he asked in astonishment, "What race are you?"
"Human," Nash replied, enduring the pain.
"Interesting. Your blood has a different color than others. It's neither human, nor elf, nor demon. Instead, it's something I've never seen before..." The dark dwarf's face was filled with curiosity, and he shook his head repeatedly.
"We grew up in the same place. When we were young, both of us were parasitized by tree demons. Perhaps that's why," Xu Mu said with a smile, smoothing things over, and extended his own right arm, holding it up to the dwarf.
The latter squinted. He didn't scold Xu Mu for interrupting but silently took his needle and poked Xu Mu's right arm again. When he withdrew it, the colors swirling around it were even more vibrant and noble, making the dark dwarf's eyelids twitch.
"Interesting. You two are indeed different from other lowly slaves." The dark dwarf pondered for a moment, then finally let Xu Mu and Nash pass. "You two stay here. There's no need to go through other procedures. I will assign you separate cells later, and then I will study this blood properly."
The dark dwarf smiled, thinking that being parasitized by tree demons might be a one-in-a-million mutation. Such nobility was normal, after all, trees absorbed the essence of the earth to grow, and they, the dwarves, lived underground.
"We will cooperate fully," Xu Mu said with a smile, pulling Nash aside. He then silently sprinkled the Daoyuan and blood onto the ground, simultaneously releasing the seal on Nash's internal powers.
"Hoo." The scorching discomfort gradually disappeared, and Nash's complexion slowly regained its healthy color.
"Thank you," he said, his voice trembling.
"You're welcome," Xu Mu smiled faintly. "It was worth a bowl of my blood to exchange for your secrets."
Nash nodded silently. Only then did he finally understand what it meant to say it might cost him half his life.
In reality, what made him tremble was not just the heat of the blood, but more so the terrifying pressure emanating from it.
It was as if a wild beast was facing a noble divine beast. Xu Mu's blood was as noble as the heavens, while he was like lowly grass.
"To possess the bloodline of a dark sorcerer, truly an honor," at this moment, the dark dwarf behind them exclaimed again.
Xu Mu and Nash turned around. They saw that the person he was referring to as having the bloodline of a dark sorcerer was the woman in their team, Svena.
"So that's how it is," Nash's face showed a complex emotion. No wonder he always felt a terrifying aura around her; she was a dark sorcerer.
"What is a dark sorcerer?" Xu Mu asked curiously.
"Dark sorcerers are one of the branches that separated from our Dark Elf tribe."
"Their magic is evil and powerful. Every time they cast a spell, a large area of plants withers, so the entire elf tribe united to suppress and seal them. It wasn't until later, during the war with the dwarf tribe, that the dark sorcerers' seal was broken open. In that battle, the dark sorcerers, despite being elves, helped the dwarves," Nash explained.
"Oh." Xu Mu looked at Svena, slowly connecting her with the phantom sorcerer he had seen in the sandstorm.
"A conspiracy, but what could it be?" Xu Mu frowned. At this moment, Svena walked over with a smile and asked Nash in a low voice, "You're an elf too, aren't you?"
This question made Nash's heart pound, but he still had to feign calmness and reply, "Huh?"
"You've misunderstood. I am a pure-blooded human."
"Is that so? Then why did you exchange blood with him?" Svena, like a venomous snake, flicked her slender tongue and leaned her head slowly toward Nash's face.
"You're mistaken." Xu Mu pulled Nash behind him, calmly facing Svena. The latter looked somewhat stunned, her indifferent and evil gaze meeting Xu Mu's for a long time.
"Alright." Svena smiled, averting her gaze, skillfully concealing her inner tension.
Like Nash, when facing Xu Mu, the thought of that glass-like blood would evoke an inexplicable sense of oppression, originating from the soul.
"My friend, the dark sorcerer, I will contact the elder later to personally visit you in the guest room. He will also help you break the curse," the dark dwarf said respectfully.
"Okay," Svena nodded.
"You two, follow me." The dark dwarf looked at Xu Mu and Nash, then led them out of the cage and into a cave. Svena was also led away by another dark dwarf.
"Although you two will be housed separately and won't have handcuffs or ankle chains, it doesn't mean you're truly special. The work still needs to be done," the dark dwarf said, opening a prison cell made of roots.
The environment here was indeed better than the main dungeon. At least there was a straw mat for a bed and some sunlight filtering through the cracks in the rocks.
"I won't confiscate all your belongings. Just hand over any metal weapons, armor, and the like," the dark dwarf said, closing the door and looking greedily at Xu Mu and Nash.
"So, he's planning to embezzle." Xu Mu narrowed his eyes, then after a moment's thought, slowly drew out the Grade Six knife from his waist.
Inside the cell, this knife exuded a terrifying cutting intent. The weapon spirit trembled within, long ready for battle. The dark dwarf was so scared he started to stammer:
"You... what do you want to do?!"
"This is the only valuable thing I have." Xu Mu smiled, then flipped the tip of the knife and offered the hilt.
"Now, I intend to give it to you."