"All stats have shown significant growth. The Bloodline of the fifth-level Kemoyin Snake Emperor is truly terrifying!"
Gazing at the visibly increased stats on his status panel, Leilin sighed with satisfaction.
The Bloodline of the Kemoyin Giant Serpent could already provide warlocks with tremendous bloodline enhancements, but once it reached the fifth-level Snake Emperor Bloodline, the influence it granted became even more immense.
Almost every moment, Leilin could feel this supreme Imperial Bloodline reshaping his body — it even penetrated into his True Spirit, tingeing his soul power with a hint of crimson that only grew stronger.
"Even though the Kemoyin Snake Emperor's Bloodline helped me advance to the fifth level — making me a powerhouse even among fifth-level Radiant Moon Warlocks — the consequences that come with it are something I must bear..."
Leilin couldn't help but recall that sensation of being watched — the surveillance from the Mother of Ten Thousand Serpents of the Infernal World. It had always left him feeling like a thorn at his back, forcing him to push himself harder than anyone else to improve his strength.
He had a premonition that if he ever chose to confront or even betray the Mother of Ten Thousand Serpents, the Snake Emperor Bloodline within him might bring about unforeseeable consequences.
Leilin couldn't help but recall his first meeting with the two Kemoyin Dukes.
Since he had already advanced to Radiant Moon Warlock and awakened the Snake Emperor Bloodline, Leilin could sense that he could completely bypass the wills of those two Morning Star Dukes and issue them direct commands — even ordering them to die, and they would likely comply.
As for Furi? She was an even simpler matter. From body to soul, she was firmly under Leilin's control. This sensation of holding absolute dominion over another person was somewhat intoxicating.
All of this naturally stemmed from the Kemoyin Snake Emperor's Sovereign Talent, but through it, Leilin also glimpsed the extent of the Mother of Ten Thousand Serpents' control over serpentine beings.
Should these two ever come into conflict, Leilin had absolutely no confidence in his own position.
*Bang!* The laboratory door swung open. Furi sprang to her feet with a delighted expression. "Leilin! Did the experiment go well?"
But almost immediately, her sharp eyes noticed something different about this "Leilin."
After a moment of stunned silence, Furi covered her mouth in shock. "You... your aura — how did it drop back to Morning Star level?"
"It went very well!" This Leilin smiled. From behind him, another Leilin with a far more profound aura stepped forward. "Even you didn't notice the anomaly at first. It seems the Soul Imprint was a complete success!"
"Is this your Morning Star clone?" Furi's eyes lit up as she looked at the Leilin who had appeared first.
"Yes! My true body will remain in Morning Star
The Morning Star-level clone nodded and turned to leave.
The real Leilin stepped forward, gazing with a smile at the slight swell of Furi's belly.
Through their bloodline connection and the Kemoyin Snake Emperor's Sovereign ability, he could clearly sense the vigorous growth of that little life.
Not just the child — Furi herself had only recently advanced to Level 3 Crystallization, yet she had already unknowingly broken through to the peak of Level 3. Her bloodline was continuously purifying as well, giving her a real chance of advancing to Morning Star!
All of this was, of course, due to Leilin's subtle, permeating influence. The two Dukes hadn't benefited much, but on Furi, the effects were unmistakable.
"Terrifying! Is this also a power of the Imperial Bloodline? Subtly transforming one's own kind, guiding them to evolve toward greater strength..."
A sharp gleam flashed through Leilin's eyes. Only now did he truly grasp the terrifying nature of the Imperial Bloodline — it wasn't merely an enhancement to individual combat power, but an elevation of the entire species!
It could be said that if Leilin stayed within the Ouroboros Ring for a full hundred years, most of the first-level Manxter Giant Serpent Warlocks would likely evolve into third-level Horar Black Serpent Warlocks, and the Horar Black Serpent Warlocks might even have a chance of advancing into pure-blooded Kemoyin Giant Serpent Warlocks.
The bloodlines inherited by the numerous bloodline families would become increasingly purified due to Leilin's very existence.
Of course, all of this was related to proximity to Leilin. Furi, being closest to him, received the most profound influence from his radiation and aura — she had seen results in just a few months.
"Chip! Establish a task — analyze the Imperial Bloodline's influence on the species! And attempt to solidify this radiation into a permanent form, ideally creating an energy tower for perpetual irradiation!"
Leilin commanded.
*Ding! Task established — Imperial Bloodline's influence on the species! Beginning subject radiation collection. Simulating...* The Chip responded promptly.
Leilin naturally had no intention of permanently serving as an incubator or radiation device. To elevate the overall strength of the Kemoyin Warlocks, constructing a similar radiation tower was essential.
Watching Furi smile, Leilin suddenly felt a moment of trance.
His vision seemed to pierce through Morning Star Space, arriving in the dim underground — in a handsome office, Xiling was stroking her own more prominently rounded belly, a faint trace of loneliness on her face.
Through the Kemoyin Snake Emperor's Sovereign Talent, nearly every Kemoyin descendant across the entire
Leilin's preparations certainly didn't end with Furi. Beyond this public wife, he maintained intimate relationships with several other female warlocks. Naturally, for the sake of obtaining the bloodline, they had all come willingly — there had even been a few private duels behind the scenes as they competed for the opportunity.
"The propagation of the bloodline has begun!" Leilin couldn't quite articulate what he was feeling. In the end, he could only let out a sigh...
The radiance of the Astral Gate flashed as a spatial corridor formed. The Morning Star-level Leilin stepped through the luminous portal onto the floor.
"Welcome home, Master!" To the tower spirit of the Wizard Tower, the clone Leilin possessed the same soul signature as the original and knew every hidden mechanism and password — he was, of course, also the Master.
"Mm. I'll go meet with the two Dukes."
Leilin was now the backbone of the Ouroboros Ring. Every major strategy and plan required his approval. While secret arcane imprints and similar means could facilitate communication, a vast amount of documents, files, and even physical signatures still required his bodily presence.
Ever since Leilin had purified the Kemoyin Snake Emperor Bloodline and become the Emperor of the entire Kemoyin race, Aima and
This was perhaps partly due to the difference in strength, but more than that, it was likely the natural pressure and subtle influence of the Imperial Bloodline.
For this, Leilin could only shake his head.
After meeting with the two visibly trembling Dukes, Leilin dove headfirst into a sea of paperwork. Fortunately, with the Chip's assistance, he handled such matters with extraordinary speed and without a single error.
Once these tedious affairs were concluded, Leilin departed the Phosphor Fire Swamp and arrived at a city of ordinary mortals.
Boer City, situated on the edge of the Dark River Basin, had suffered decades of war due to its proximity to warlock territory and appeared rather desolate. But humanity's will to survive was boundless — once Jupiter's Thunder changed leaders and the fighting between both sides ceased, the city swiftly regained its former prosperity.
Mules, horses, and carts filled the streets, their presence mingling with the pungent smell of manure.
Mercenaries in leather armor, merchants clutching ledgers, and clowns with faces painted in vivid colors — all contributed to the city's lively spectacle.
All manner of taverns and inns operated day and night. Here and there, drunkards could be seen slumped in street corners, only to be unceremoniously dragged away by patrol squads and thrown into jail — unless someone posted bail, hard labor was their only fate.
"With the war over, ordinary people across the Ouroboros Ring's territory needed to rebuild their homes and resettle refugees, which in turn stimulated the market here!"
Surveying the booming and prosperous scene, Leilin instantly understood the reason.
Without breaking stride, he made his way straight to the commercial district in the city center, entering the most opulent and elegant refreshment parlor.
"May I sit here?"
Leilin was wearing a gold-trimmed tailcoat — the kind only nobility were permitted to wear — and coupled with his warlock's unnervingly beautiful features, he had no idea how many serving girls were secretly blushing at the sight of him.
But he had long since grown immune to such reactions, and made his way to a seat without a care.
Across from him sat a girl with freckles still dotting her face. She carried a bit of baby fat in her cheeks and wasn't particularly beautiful — the sort who would vanish the moment she stepped into a crowd. But the longer one looked, the more one would notice an extraordinary quality about her.
But right now, this girl had her mouth stuffed with pastries, one hand clutching an ice cream cone she refused to let go of, and the other continuously dipping French fries into ketchup before shoving them into her mouth.
The table was covered with discarded food containers, piled into a small mountain. One had to wonder how she could possibly digest so much.
"You're finally here! I've been waiting here for two days!" the girl grumbled discontentedly, her words slightly muffled by the mouthful of food.
She casually swept aside the clutter of snacks in front of Leilin and gestured for him to sit. Leilin, without a shred of hesitation, took his seat.
In that very instant, he seemed to hear the sound of countless hearts breaking, and even more envious glares were directed at the girl across from him.
"You know..." Leilin gazed at the food-devouring girl across from him, his eyes holding a depth that was strikingly at odds with the scene. "If these people knew that the one they're resenting is a witch — a fifth-level Radiant Moon Witch, no less — what expressions do you think they'd make? It would certainly be quite entertaining!"
"You need to show some understanding for a girl who spent three thousand five hundred and seventy-two years as a spirit without ever getting to enjoy any of this! My resentment is completely justified!"
The girl complained indignantly.