Chapter 143: Primal, Inheritance Dream

The Ice Crystal Serpent's crystalline scales were cracked and bleeding, with blue-tinged red blood seeping from its wounds. However, as a tier-two magical beast with ancient bloodline potential, it began healing rapidly as energy particles converged on it from the sky.

"You were too reckless," Bennigo remarked quietly to Ronan, while meticulously collecting every drop of the serpent's blood scattered around. Not a single drop was wasted.

"No matter how extraordinary your talent is, you can't compare to such an ancient bloodline. It's only in its juvenile stage now, but as its bloodline awakens, its growth in strength will only accelerate."

Ronan remained calm, replying, "Don't forget, we have the Sacred Blood Tree. When it comes to bloodline power, I can always stay a step ahead."

"Let's see if you can successfully transplant it first," Bennigo replied, shaking his head. He then muttered to himself, "Luckily, there's still a way to break this contract. Damien, you understand what I mean, right?"

Bennigo cast a furtive glance at the Ice Crystal Serpent, his words carrying a deeper meaning.

Ronan's eyes flickered; he understood what Bennigo meant by "breaking the contract." It was essentially about preemptively "breaking the deal"—eliminating the serpent before it grew stronger than him, thereby negating the risk of switching roles with the contract.

The "Posilina's Wager Agreement" was a seemingly fair gamble, but in reality, it still favored the "master" to some extent.

Despite knowing this "solution," Ronan didn't want to resort to it.

As he had told Bennigo, walking alone on the path was too lonely. There needed to be challenging endeavors, seemingly impossible goals, to keep the spirit of progress and motivation alive.

In this regard, he was quite similar to Anglair.

"All done."

Bennigo had collected all the scattered blood, bundling it with his mental power, nearly filling an entire oak barrel.

"I'll prepare; you extract the most potent essence blood from it."

With that, Bennigo hurried towards the valley.

Ronan turned his gaze to the Ice Crystal Serpent, which was quietly licking its wounds.

After the beating and signing the "wager" contract with Ronan, the serpent seemed to have matured significantly.

It lay silently, its crimson eyes deep and contemplative, as if learning patience and cunning.

"What were those three Frost-scaled Pythons to you, sacrificing their essence blood for your transformation?"

Ronan approached, speaking softly, trying to communicate with the serpent.

It didn't respond, only looking at him with its deep eyes.

The Posilina Soul Contract was different from typical master-servant soul contracts, maintaining a degree of independence for the "servant."

In usual contracts, the servant had no secrets from the master, but Ronan couldn't fully sense the serpent's thoughts, only glimpsing its emotional fluctuations.

"One died, probably to better cover your bloodline awakening," Ronan speculated, noticing a ripple of emotion within the serpent. It hissed softly, its eyes exuding a chilling coldness.

This coldness far exceeded what it had shown Ronan before.

Serpents were typically cold-blooded by nature.

Yet, strangely, Ronan found this serpent and its kin warmer than many wizards.

"The other two were captured. They're likely being kept somewhere now."

Ronan extended his hand, reaching toward the serpent's head, intending to stroke its scales.

The serpent flinched back, clearly resisting, unaccustomed to such intimate interaction with a "human," especially one it resented and constantly sought to surpass.

"Don't worry. When the opportunity arises, I'll help you rescue them. Also..."

Ronan calmly placed his hand on the serpent's brow, shooting sharp silver metal threads from his fingers into the flesh beneath its horn.

The serpent winced in pain, eyes filled with rage and ferocity, ready to bite Ronan.

But Ronan remained unfazed, coldly watching it.

"You should learn to be a proper familiar."

Drops of blue-tinged red blood flowed from the metal threads, drawn from beneath the serpent's horn.

Bennigo had instructed Ronan to extract heart blood, but Soraya had told Ronan that the most valuable essence blood of a Frost-scaled Python with awakened Ancient Ice Crystal Serpent bloodline was in the blood sac beneath its horn.

That's where the bloodline power was most concentrated.

As the bloodline root was drawn, the serpent writhed violently, repeatedly trying to bite Ronan, yet the soul contract restrained it.

Once Ronan had extracted about a fistful of essence blood, he stopped.

Releasing the serpent, he retracted the metal threads into his robe. The serpent quickly grew lethargic, appearing worse off than before.

Ronan tossed it hundreds of high-grade magic stones for recovery, instructing it to stay nearby and not wander off, then flew towards the valley.

There, he found Bennigo by the Sacred Blood Tree, pouring the collected serpent blood as nourishment.

"Letting the Sacred Blood Tree absorb some of the serpent's blood will aid in purifying similar bloodlines later."

Bennigo explained casually as Ronan approached.

Ronan blinked, realizing Bennigo's deeper understanding of the Sacred Blood Tree.

"I'm planning to keep some blood for experiments," Bennigo added, seeking Ronan's approval.

Ronan nodded, unconcerned, his attention focused on the Sacred Blood Tree.

Having absorbed a substantial amount of the serpent's blood, the Sacred Blood Tree had grown significantly, resembling a small tree.

Its leaves were clear as emerald, the red veins prominent and intricate, now bathed in a faint blue glow, exuding mystery and elegance.

Ronan shifted into his "Half-Giant" form, cutting his wrist to add his blood to the tree's nourishment.

The tree grew visibly, reaching an unprecedented peak before Ronan stopped, retrieving the essence blood from the serpent's brow.

The blood, a blend of blue and red, resembled an exquisite crystal ball, shimmering with strange light under the sun.

This was the true blood of an ancient beast, enough to drive any bloodline-obsessed wizard mad.

And now, Ronan aimed to take it further!

"Are you full?"

He gently stroked the tree's trunk, speaking softly. "Now it's your turn to shine."

The tree responded eagerly, its leaves rustling like a child eager to impress a parent.

Its attitude toward Ronan was the polar opposite of the serpent's.

Ronan extended his hand, and red tendrils from the tree enveloped the blood orb.

A blood spore formed at the tree's top as Ronan released the orb and sat cross-legged in the rune array Bennigo had prepared.

The bloodline transplantation was ready to begin.

The Sacred Blood Tree trembled, emitting waves of mysterious red light.

Ronan watched, monitoring its state.

"Plop—"

Suddenly, a leaf fell, dull and withered, as if drained of all life.

Ronan's pupils contracted as more leaves fell, the tree appearing afflicted by some disease or severe cold, rapidly declining, while the blood spore atop it grew.

Ronan's eyes flashed, refraining from stopping it. He considered cutting his wrist again to support the tree with his blood, but Bennigo intervened.

"Maintain your state; that's equally important."

Bennigo calmly poured the reserved serpent blood at the tree's base and emptied vials of unknown potions from his storage, all supporting the tree.

With these nutrients, the tree's condition improved, the leaf fall slowing.

After an indeterminate time, the tree suddenly burst with intense red light, then wilted, the blood spore cracking to release a thumb-sized blood crystal.

Ronan caught the crystal.

The purified Ice Crystal Serpent bloodline, once blue-red, had turned deep blue, almost black, its surface unremarkable, cold to the touch.

"A crystalline blood? The original method might not work," Bennigo noted, frowning slightly.

"Start the array as usual... I'll try direct integration."

Ronan decided.

Soraya's bloodline transplantation method involved inscribing the blood as runes on the body, then using the array to embed it, similar to "talent transplantation."

But with the crystalline blood unable to dissolve, Ronan opted for a direct, forceful approach.

He examined the dark blue blood crystal closely.

No one had succeeded with bloodline transplantation before...

The stronger the bloodline, the harder to tame...

Risk of bodily mutation into a monster...

Thoughts swirled in his mind until finally...

He raised his right hand, slashing a wound over his heart, and as the flesh peeled back, he quickly inserted the dark blue blood crystal.

"Mm—"

The crystal's sharp edge pierced his heart's membrane, sending searing pain through him. Ronan grunted, his tall frame bending slightly.

The rune array activated, invisible forces penetrating his body, winding around his heart, tightening gradually.

Under the pressure, his heart pumped blood furiously, sending it racing through his body.

The surging blood washed over the crystal lodged in his heart, Ronan's face pale, lips murmuring incantations.

Runic power formed within him, gently striking the crystal.

Gradually, the once-solid dark blue crystal began to yield, emitting a similar dark blue mist that seeped into Ronan's heart.

With another heartbeat, the mist's mysterious bloodline power coursed through his veins.

In an instant!

"Buzz—"

Ronan felt a tremendous roar in his mind, his heart stopping momentarily.

His eyes, originally bright blue, darkened to a deep, endless blue, even his pupils transforming into vertical slits like a serpent's.

His hair rose, an indescribable, ancient, primal aura emanating from him.

In that moment, all sounds in the vast valley ceased.

Bennigo stood frozen.

Ronan... lost consciousness.

"Huff—huff—"

The north wind howled over a snow-covered expanse.

A youth stood, gazing blankly at the heavens and surroundings.

"Where am I?"

Confusion clouded his eyes; he had no idea where he was or where to go.

He even forgot his name.

He felt he had traversed a long journey, finally arriving here.

This ancient, boundless, desolate snowfield.

"Hiss—hiss—rustle—"

Low, slick whispers, countless sticky, evil voices, like the vilest existences, whispered in his ear.

These voices clawed into his mind, trying to tell him something, bringing nauseating discomfort, like sharp metal scraping glass, driving him to madness.

In agony, he clutched his head, desperately trying to expel the voices.

Suddenly.

The voices ceased.

He looked up in bewilderment and saw two blood-red suns in the snow-laden sky.