The first was a blood-red gemstone — a
Though it held no use for a warlock like Leylin, who had already purified his bloodline to its absolute limit as a Coromos Giant Serpent warlock, it would absolutely drive other warlocks into a frenzy if brought out into the world. Not to mention, the moment word of the Bloodline Crystal spread,
The Dragon Root Fruit was also a special type of plant. Its skin was extraordinarily hard, surpassing many
This was often the very beginning of a warlock lineage!
Of course, for a warlock like Leylin whose bloodline was already determined, there was no possibility of changing it further. But trading it away would absolutely fetch an astronomical price! Such resources could no longer be measured in mere currency — they could only be exchanged between Morning Star Wizards through direct barter.
The last several sets of bones, roughly the size of an ordinary person's femur, were the remains of powerful beings of at least the third rank. Even after the polishing of countless ages, they showed no signs of weathering whatsoever. One could still sense the residual bloodline pressure radiating from them.
These remains were in fact the most useful things for Leylin. Bones served as the blood-producing organs for many bloodline creatures, and these remains originated from powerful third-rank beings. If he could obtain them, Leylin had a fair chance of refining an ancient bloodline from within!
Beyond these items, the small golden Blood Vulture nests contained many other bloodline-related artifacts. Even a scholar as learned and as terrifyingly knowledgeable as Leylin could not identify all of them.
But without question, every single one was a bloodline item. Any one of them would be enough to drive warlocks insane!
"So that's it!"
Leylin gazed at the mountain of bloodline items piled together, a look of understanding flashing through his eyes.
Clearly, the Blood Vultures' growth was inseparable from these things. Though they couldn't be directly utilized, prolonged contact with them could accelerate the Blood Vultures' maturation, even enhance their strength and awaken strange bloodline abilities!
This was the root cause of why Blood Vultures were so obsessed with collecting bloodline items!
Looking at all these bloodline items, Leylin had to expend considerable effort to suppress the desire stirring within him.
"These things are valuable, but still not as important as the snake-woman's hair. Besides…"
Leylin glanced toward the Blood Vultures stationed at the perimeter of the cave.
Right now, he was in Shadow Lurk mode, bolstered by the Shadow Secret Art's amplification, which was the only reason the Blood Vultures had not detected him.
Shadow Lurk was effective, but it carried one critical drawback: if Leylin wanted to collect these items, he would have to cancel the Shadow Lurk state.
If he proceeded like this, he would definitely be discovered by the Blood Vultures, and the entire clan would mobilize at once. On top of that, with a terrifying Blood Vulture King in the mix, even nine lives wouldn't be enough for Leylin!
Moreover, this would certainly put all the Blood Vultures on high alert, which would be detrimental to his plans down the road.
"There are this many treasures in an ordinary Blood Vulture's nest — the Blood Vulture King's nest must hold even better items!" A flame ignited in Leylin's eyes.
"If there's anywhere the Serpent Woman's hair is most likely to be found, it would be in the Blood Vulture King's nest!"
Leylin immediately recalled the massive cavern he had glimpsed moments ago, and the terrifying fluctuations hidden deep within it.
"It looks like I'll have to spend some time here, figuring out the Blood Vultures' activity patterns..."
……
"Uncle! Are you sure it's here?"
Rhoye looked at
The three remaining Horalar Black Snake warlocks clustered behind them like attendants.
"If we open the wrong one, we could end up trapped in an even deeper layer of this labyrinth — stranded here until we die!"
"Relax! According to the information I've obtained, this is correct! Besides, that thing is far too important to us!" Robin's face was grim, but a flicker of fiery light passed through his eyes.
"I need some time to confirm. Has the trouble behind us been dealt with?" Robin asked without turning around.
"I've set up five lure formations back there, and I created a decoy!" A sinister smile spread across Rhoye's face.
"If they chase after us, they'll definitely be transported to different locations by the labyrinth, and then trapped forever by the endless rooms! The Bear Barbarians are exactly the kind of creatures with one-track minds!"
He spoke with great confidence, clearly feeling in control.
*Boom!* At that very moment, a tremendous roar erupted from not far away, accompanied by the shattering of a magical formation and an enraged shout: "Found you, little insects!"
*Crack!* A pink crystal necklace shattered, and Rhoye's face was filled with disbelief.
"Never underestimate your opponents!"
Robin's eyes remained fixed on the great gateway, but his voice carried over all the same: "They've only broken through our first layer of defensive formations — we still have a little time!"
"Go and manage the wizard formations — stall them as long as you can!" Robin issued the order, and the other three Horall Black Serpent wizards bowed and immediately departed.
Rumbling sounds continued to echo through the air, and faintly visible was the phantom of a massive bear-like monster roaring and raging within the wizard formations, causing cold sweat to drip ceaselessly from Rhoye's face.
*Crack! Crack!* One crystal after another shattered, carrying the final voices of several wizards.
"Secondary defensive formation — broken!"
"Tertiary defensive formation main structure compromised! Can hold for one more minute at most, maybe less — ah—"
The transmission cut off abruptly, and that final, sharply silenced scream sealed the fate of those wizards.
Rhoye clenched his fists. These were all forces belonging to his family, yet they had been whittled away one after another during this expedition.
Now, only he and his uncle remained.
"I'll go buy us some more time!" Rhoye said.
"No need!" Robin cut him off. Then, he extended a finger and tapped several times on the gateway, tracing circles in a peculiar pattern.
*Hummm!* In an instant, ripples of water surfaced across the massive gateway. The currents surged powerfully before all of them poured into the brass-colored keyhole.
Like a building block castle collapsing, the great door rapidly fractured into countless pieces and scattered to both sides, revealing a mysterious glow within.
"Miserable insects! I'll tear you apart!"
*Boom!* With a thunderous crash, the last wizard formation blocking the bear barbarian wizard shattered, revealing a hulking bear barbarian giant whose muscles coiled and knotted across its body. The moment it laid eyes on Robin, its eyes instantly turned blood-red.
"Don't bother with it — we're going in!" Robin grabbed Rhoye and plunged into the massive gate.
"If you insist on revenge, then come and follow!" Faintly, Robin's provocative voice drifted back.
"ROOAAARRR!!!"
The bear barbarian wizard, eyes blazing red, charged straight after them.
A flash of light, and the scene shifted abruptly.
By the time Rhoye came to his senses, he was already sitting at a dining table.
A massive white tablecloth, spotless and pristine, covered the table. Silver candelabras stood upon it, their candles burning steadily.
"Huh?" Then Rhoye realized he couldn't even stand up, nor could he mobilize even a shred of the Spiritual Power and mana he had once prided himself on as a third-tier Wizard.
He looked toward his uncle, shock and terror written across his face.
At the other end of the table, the bear barbarian wizard sat frozen as well. Though the bulging muscles betrayed the creature's fury, it couldn't so much as twitch a single inch.
"This is the 'Last Supper,' and also the fairest and bloodiest arena of duel. Between our two sides, only one party will walk out alive. The loser will lose everything, becoming sustenance for the victor. And the victor will receive the reward of the Judge's Horn..."
Robin spoke casually, as though he were thoroughly familiar with everything here.
The moment his words fell, dark silhouettes began to materialize one after another in the previously empty seats. They bore not a single trace of energy fluctuation, and their eyes were a sheet of blood-red.
For reasons he couldn't explain, the instant Rhoye laid eyes on them, a chill ran down his spine and cold sweat beaded his back.
He counted carefully. Along the long table there were thirteen seats in total, yet one position sat eerily empty.
"Now, the first course — Bloody Mary dessert..."
An inexplicable voice echoed inside Rhoye's mind, sending a shiver through him.
……
"What the hell is this?!"
Quicksand Castle, a different location. Kasha was sprinting down a corridor at full speed, a strangely-shaped green-skinned barbarian running alongside her.
These two who should have been pursuer and fugitive had somehow formed an alliance, and both wore expressions of sheer panic.
"It's immune to elemental wizardry attacks! Try special attacks! I'll cover you!"
A pained look crossed the green-skinned barbarian wizard's face as he ripped off a jeweled necklace and flung it backward with all his might.
Boom! A terrifying wave of frost erupted, blanketing the ground in a layer of white rime. Countless Rune Chains materialized into view.
Crack! Crack!
Then came the sound of massive chunks of ice shattering apart, and the footsteps grew ever closer.
A dark shadow emerged from the ice fog. It was a monster resembling a middle-aged man, wearing a trench coat and a hood, its specific features obscured. All the fingers on both its palms were missing, replaced by numerous glittering, cold-light scissors.
The many Rune Chains were utterly powerless before the trench-coated man's scissors, easily cut and shredded.
"Petrifying Gaze!"
A torrent of blood-colored runes appeared on Kasha. She bit her finger and drew a peculiar symbol upon her own forehead.
Then, her eyes transformed into a pair of amber-colored vertical pupils.
Amplified by the blood symbol, her innate wizardry reached a terrifying degree. A wave of petrification spread outward from Kasha as its center, expanding in all directions.