“What’s this? Explain!” Lin Jun demanded, flipping the new page formed from the vampire countess’s soul.
Yellow Codex played nice, no dodging.
[Boss, get some blood. I’ll show you.]
Soon, a Puffshroom’s blood was brought over.
The page’s pale gold border glowed. The blood floated, morphing into a swarm of tiny blood blades—Yuneer’s battlefield move!
The blades stormed a rock wall, screeching as they gouged it full of holes!
Then they collapsed, splattering the ground.
The page’s gold border dimmed by a quarter.
Lin Jun got it. “So, a one-use item for four Hall-tier attacks?”
[Exactly.]
“Lame…”
[Boss! I’m just a poor book—this is a rare lifesaver!]
“Fair point.”
Hidden abilities? Maybe, maybe not. Lin Jun couldn’t lie-detect it.
But Yellow Codex showed off willingly and helped Louisa’s promotion, so he didn’t tear into it or rip the page.
Living Yuneer wasn’t a threat. Her soul as a page? Even less.
As for Yellow Codex, it might scheme to break free, but it’d never get a core-seizing chance again.
If it escaped someday, no big deal—as long as Lin Jun squeezed enough value first!
Like today.
“By the way,” Lin Jun shifted, “your sins aren’t cleared yet!”
[Boss! You said I could keep the page!]
Yellow Codex’s two pages clung to its hard cover, fearing a tear.
“Keep the page. I meant your armor duty!”
Lin Jun strapped Yellow Codex back onto Jida, not on the chest this time, but the left arm—as a shield.
Now, for ranged attacks, Jida had a mana shield and Yellow Codex.
For melee? Still Yellow Codex.
[This… means more beatings?!]
“It’s for your own good.”
[?]
“More hits, faster atonement, quicker freedom! Get it?”
Silence.
[Boss… you’re so right.]
Norris stayed quiet but clearly liked fighting alongside Yellow Codex!
Piggy slept three days, waking to test her new strength.
[Blood Manipulation LV9]
This standard vampire skill varied by user.
Piggy’s piercing blood threads, Yuneer’s petal-blade storm, even Puffshrooms’ clunky control—each had flair.
Now, Piggy’s style carried a hint of Yuneer!
Her pure blood threads now wove simple, sharp petal outlines.
Stronger or weaker? Hard to say, but it felt like fusion.
If Lin Jun hadn’t seen Yellow Codex eat Yuneer’s soul, he’d suspect the ritual mashed their souls in some dark way.
Another change: Piggy’s level jumped from LV50 to LV53—three levels!
If the ritual wasn’t so risky, could vampires chug kin to max level?
What a twisted ritual!
Good thing it only screwed vampires—Puffshrooms didn’t care!
Last change: the mycelium.
To patch her body, mycelium multiplied—not rare, but Piggy’s surge was wild.
Normally, post-repair, new flesh replaced mycelium, balancing out.
But Piggy’s mycelium… stayed put!
Her surface mycelium traces doubled, gray-white patterns snaking denser, bolder on her pale skin!
Her faint pale beauty? Ruined by the extra mycelium.
A few more Blood Seizure Rituals, would Piggy turn full mycelium?
Ship of Theseus?
Even Lin Jun thought it wild, but Piggy didn’t care.
Looks meant nothing to her. She dove into testing these changes.
Blood blades or livelier mycelium—she probed what new power they’d bring!
Strength was her chase!
Demonkin castle atop the hill.
Even at night, the training ground rang with clashing weapons and shouts, though a few figures were missing.
A bat swooped from the dark!
A demonkin mage guard shot up to intercept.
He didn’t trigger the castle’s defenses—clearly a vampire—but even vampires should use the front door, not barge in!
The bat didn’t care for demonkin pride. Its wings flicked, unleashing a wild gust!
The mage spun like a leaf in a storm, tumbling, about to slam into a thick stone wall!
A big hand grabbed his fate by the neck.
Demonkin chief Dean landed, tossing the rattled guard aside, eyeing the hovering bat. “Visarius, a prince, picking on juniors? Beneath you.”
The bat landed, black mist swirling into a grim, handsome man. “Dean! Yuneer’s dead! I felt it!”
“Oh.” Dean’s reaction was flat.
“Your faulty intel… no explanation?!” Prince Visarius stepped forward. Though smaller than Dean’s hulking frame, his chilling aura matched, freezing the air.
“Explanation?” Dean’s lips curled without humor. “I lost a Hall-tier elite too! You stuffed your people in for blood, and when it goes wrong, you come demanding answers?”
“There’s still one.” Visarius’s voice was ice. “Gray, crawled out of Dragoncliff Dungeon after random teleport! Where is he?”
Dean’s eyes narrowed. Gray’s survival wasn’t secret, but few knew the details.
This old bat’s spies were in his ranks?
“Where?!” Visarius pressed.
“Jailed!” Dean growled.
“I’m taking him!” Visarius moved, but Dean blocked his path.
Dean guessed Visarius wanted Gray for some tracking spell, likely leaving Gray as scraps after vampire secret arts.
“How we handle him is demonkin business. Don’t bother, Prince.”
Talks hit a freeze. Their auras climbed, ready to clash.
A demonkin guard struggled to lift his weapon, arms heavy, sweat dripping.
Suddenly, the suffocating pressure lifted. The guard raised his weapon, and Visarius calmly adjusted his lavish robe.
Underlings’ spats were fine, but the Emperor wouldn’t let a prince and duke brawl.
“Small friction” was tolerable…
Visarius’s blood eyes flicked at Dean, then he turned, bat-formed, vanishing into the night.
Dean stood, chest heaving, striding to the jail.
If he didn’t thrash Gray hard, his rage wouldn’t cool!
(End of Chapter)
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