The Eve of War
This Duke Houston was once a remarkably outstanding figure.
However, since the birth of the blood clan, there had only been nine princes!
It could even be said that all members of the blood clan, to some extent, carried the bloodline of these nine great princes.
Vampires are a race that cannot break through their bloodline limitations through personal cultivation. From the moment they are born, their bloodlines are tightly locked.
To break through to a baron, one must obtain baron blood;
To break through to a viscount, one must obtain viscount blood;
…
To break through to a prince, one must have prince blood!
Cultivation resources are always indispensable.
Including Caesar himself—he had long since lost count of how many drops of blood he had consumed to grow to this point.
Without that blood, he might still be a lowly last-generation vampire!
Yet this Duke Houston sought to advance to prince through his own cultivation.
That was akin to defying the heavens!
Thus, Caesar felt a certain admiration for him… even though he was also a failure.
"Is a prince the level achieved after a vampire's final evolution?"
Caesar murmured to himself. "If the so-called immortal and indestructible nine great princes have all perished, why is that?"
This question perhaps could only be answered by visiting the prince's tomb that Count Stephen spoke of.
Caesar was not worried about ending up like Duke Houston, falling on the path to becoming a prince.
As for the last sentence on the stone wall, it revealed crucial information: only those who become dukes before the age of a hundred can glimpse the realm of princes.
That made him even less worried.
Since obtaining the system, less than seven years had passed, yet he had already become a Six-Winged Marquis.
Moreover, during the past three years in the library, his vitality and blood energy had become saturated and abundant.
He would soon be able to break through to duke!
…
No matter what,
the news of Duke Houston's fall must not be leaked.
Otherwise, the Duke clan would be devoured and annihilated by other royal families.
Caesar was just about to leave when he suddenly remembered something and stopped.
"System, I want to sign in here."
"Ding! Sign-in successful. Congratulations, host, you have received: Prince Blood x10; Eight-Star Magic Item [Blood Oath Guardian]."
Hmm?
Caesar's eyes widened in surprise, momentarily taken aback.
He had actually received two items from this sign-in?
And ten drops of prince blood?
This reward seemed excessively generous!
After thinking for a moment, he gradually understood.
There was a rule in the system's sign-in mechanism: the more special the location, the more abundant the rewards.
Without a doubt, this hidden chamber of the duke ancestor was the most "special" place in the entire castle and even the whole Duke clan!
It was akin to the loot dropped by the final boss in a dungeon.
Signing in anywhere else in the Duke clan would not yield such generous rewards again.
"Ten drops of prince blood…"
Caesar's eyes sparkled with fervor. "Truly, heaven is aiding me!"
There were no princes left in the world.
Yet he was continuously acquiring prince blood.
Caesar scanned the hidden chamber before deciding to break through to duke here!
However, he first checked the other reward: the Eight-Star Magic Item [Blood Oath Guardian].
Only with dukes as materials could an Eight-Star level magic item be forged!
It was a delicate necklace, adorned with a blood-red gemstone that sparkled like stars, brilliant and resplendent.
The [Blood Oath Guardian] was a purely defensive Eight-Star magic item!
Once equipped, it would release an indestructible blood energy barrier upon sensing that its master was in danger, which even a Ten-Winged Duke would find difficult to breach in a short time.
However, Caesar merely scoffed and tossed it back into his bag, losing interest in it.
While it was indeed powerful, it was somewhat useless to him.
If he were truly in life-threatening danger, he would have long since used his spatial ability to teleport away!
Why set up a barrier and stand there to take hits when he could just run?
"Snap!"
He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
A nearby coffin vanished and reappeared in the hidden chamber.
He lay down inside and closed the coffin lid.
Caesar took out a drop of prince blood, infused with terrifying life energy, and swallowed it!
He began his advancement to duke.
…
On the eastern side of the Transvag Mountains,
an endless plain stretched out, filled with countless campfires and tightly packed tents, extending from the foot of the mountains all the way to the horizon.
Butler's orc army had also gathered, ready to face the blood clan in battle!
The orcs, each with a distinct appearance, were a sight to behold.
Werewolves, minotaurs, giants, half-human half-serpent medusas, and undead orcs emanating phosphorescent flames—there was an astonishing variety of orcs.
Millions of troops lay in wait, a tense and oppressive atmosphere hanging over the Transvag Mountains, suffocating and foreboding!
Butler's seven orc clans had assembled their forces for a desperate battle!
Bang, bang, bang…
The heavy footsteps sounded like thunder as a towering giant, several dozen meters tall, approached. With each step, the ground trembled.
Atop the giant stood a beast king, proud and imposing.
His form was fearsome, muscles bulging, with a blue face and sharp tusks, wielding a glimmering giant axe in both hands!
He radiated an aura of unparalleled might and authority.
This was Adela, the chieftain of the Strength Clan, and at the same time, the grand chieftain of the orc tribes, leading the seven armies!
Adela surveyed the surroundings and suddenly raised his giant axe, his voice booming like thunder: "For the tribe!"
The battle spirit of the million-strong orc army was ignited.
Everyone's blood surged with fervor.
"For the tribe!"
"For the tribe!"
"For the tribe!"
…
With a mighty swing of his arm, the beast king chieftain commanded, "Let's move out!"
The army set forth.
An unprecedented and colossal war was about to begin.