Chapter 158: Boiling Blood Trait

Chapter 158: Boiling Blood Trait

Opportunity for paid consultation doesn't come easily.

In Black Mist Jungle, this kind of one-on-one high-end guidance is usually an exclusive privilege for students with exceptional academic performance or special contributions.

Thompson pondered briefly, then took down an ancient archival records volume from the bookshelf, carefully flipping to a specific page.

The yellowed, curled edges of the paper and its faded ink clearly showed this page had been flipped through countless times.

"Some 'memory' Traits of high-level supernatural materials can indeed be enhanced, but this requires a special 'imprint ritual'. The most classic example is Soul Steel."

The elderly guardian smiled knowingly without exposing anything, then pointed at the complex diagrams and runes on the aged page:

"This is the ritual Ancient Alchemists used to strengthen the bond between Soul Steel and its user. By infusing mana in a specific sequence, a unique 'mana circuit' can be established within the Soul Steel, making it easier to accept the user's will."

Luo En studied the diagram intently, memorizing every detail.

The arrangement of runes, the trajectory of mana flow, even the subtle mana balance points—all were carefully recorded in his mind.

This was exactly the key information he needed, the precious knowledge he couldn't obtain from ordinary archival records.

He solemnly took out a complete mana stone from his pocket and handed it to Thompson.

The other party naturally wouldn't provide such valuable ancient texts for free.

However, even ordinary apprentices with complete mana stones rarely got opportunities to access such precious knowledge, let alone having guidance services thrown in.

"Of course, this book might look quite old, but it's actually a copied edition that's been passed around countless times. The ritual on it is only for reference—you mustn't rigidly apply it..."

Thompson handed him the book and proficiently accepted the mana stone, continuing to explain:

"Another thing to note is the practitioner's spirit state. You must maintain intense focus and calmness. Any emotional fluctuation could cause the ritual to fail."

Luo En nodded, already mentally outlining the specific implementation plan.

"As for the insulation layer..."

Thompson closed the book, his expression turning more serious:

"This is an extremely complex and dangerous field. Insulating different mana fields is an advanced alchemy application—slight carelessness could lead to mana leakage or even explosion."

A warning flickered in the elderly guardian's eyes:

"I've noticed your research direction is very unique. If you're planning to combine Soul Steel with insulation technology to divide and store certain mana, I must remind you—this kind of experiment is extremely dangerous."

A chill ran through Luo En's heart, but his expression remained calm.

"I understand the risks, Mentor. My research is still at the theoretical stage and I won't rashly conduct practical operations. I'll verify every step repeatedly and ensure nothing goes wrong before proceeding."

As the consultation drew to a close, Thompson explained several crucial alchemy techniques in detail, especially advanced theories about mana conversion and material fusion.

These were knowledge completely absent from ordinary archival records—oral formulas and secret techniques passed down through generations of alchemists.

After the paid consultation ended, Luo En left the tower and headed back to the workshop.

The sky had darkened. Even at night, Black Mist Jungle remained eerily terrifying.

Occasional strange howls came from the distance, tree shadows swaying under moonlight as if countless eyes were watching from the darkness.

Starlight illuminated the path ahead.

Luo En's thoughts returned to today's gains.

As his research deepened, he became increasingly certain his direction was correct.

After all, predecessors had already succeeded, though they became "Apostles" whose names stink in history. Still, they left a bold mark on mage history.

Those thirteen supreme Apostles were capable of rivaling top Archmages...

Approaching the workshop, Luo En saw warm light spilling from the window.

He heightened his mana perception, already sensing familiar auras inside the workshop—Liliya and Daire had returned.

Pushing open the door, a silver-haired petite figure darted out.

"Master!"

Daire shouted excitedly, her eyes sparkling with triumph:

"I won! That big guy didn't even see half my strength!"

Her eyes glowed alarmingly, her whole body radiating a satiated aura, like a predator after a feast.

Luo En smiled and gently patted her head:

"Excellent job, Daire. I knew you wouldn't disappoint me."

He immediately noticed Daire's transformation—the increasingly radiant violet-red eyes.

This was the mark of successfully devouring spoils of war, showing her bloodline was evolving toward a higher level.

"Next time, try to swallow two at once." He joked half-seriously.

"Liliya, how did things go?" Luo En turned to the girl standing aside.

Liliya bowed slightly, wearing a pleased yet restrained smile:

"Everything went smoothly, Teacher. Daire performed exceptionally in the elimination round and advanced easily. I've also completed my Elementary Apprentice certification and was rated as 'moderate potential'."

Luo En noticed the brand-new badge pinned on her chest, nodding in approval:

"Excellent work. For a Fifth Class Star, achieving breakthrough within half a year is already a rare accomplishment."

"Daire's battle has been fully recorded."

Liliya took out the crystal orb, carefully handing it to Luo En:

"Based on observations, she successfully absorbed part of the merman's abilities, particularly showing significant improvement in deep-sea environment adaptability and strength."

Luo En accepted the crystal orb, slightly perceiving the internal recording, then nodded approvingly:

"Good. The devouring efficiency exceeded expectations. It seems the 'Gluttonous Appetite' potential is far beyond our imagination."

He held the orb to his eyes, carefully observing the recorded mana flow trajectory inside.

The bloodline mana within Daire's body had already approached the Gold-Ring critical point, far surpassing ordinary sirens' Silver-Ring level.

If cultivated at the current pace, after several targeted devouring sessions, she might very well enter the Gold-Ring bloodline category before the gladiatorial tournament ended.

"The next beast battle might be even more dangerous."

He turned toward Daire: "Rest for now. The upcoming free-for-all will be more difficult. But I believe, with your current abilities, you should be able to advance to the final."

Daire lifted her delicate chin confidently:

"Don't worry, Master! I'll definitely win the championship! That puppet will be ours! Those guys are just delicious snacks in my eyes."

Luo En smiled and nodded, but his mind was already contemplating longer-term plans.

...

In the laboratory, candlelight flickered, shadows dancing on the walls.

Luo En stood before the workbench, spreading out experimental data records from the past month and meticulously reviewing them.

These charts and formulas witnessed his daily efforts and thoughts, each failure and breakthrough.

"It's time for a comprehensive review."

Luo En gently closed his eyes, constructing his unique consciousness library within his mind.

He had already built this magnificent palace of knowledge within his spirit space.

Every book and bookshelf was arranged with precise logic, facilitating easy access and information organization.

His consciousness avatar wandered between towering bookshelves, arriving at the "personal cultivation" section.

In this area, rows of books were neatly arranged, each recording his cultivation progress and insights in different fields.

Luo En picked up the first book, its cover embossed with gold lettering: "Meditation Progress of The Murmuring of the Star Devourer".

Opening the book, detailed records of his meditation's spirit state, mana flow, and technique refinement were inscribed.

"Meditation technique progress has been steady—no significant leaps, but real improvements every day."

Luo En added the latest progress to the book:

[Current Progress: The Murmuring of the Star Devourer (Proficient 192/300)]

With continuous practice, his spiritual energy had steadily increased, nearing the High Apprentice standard of 4.0.

"If maintaining this pace, I might breakthrough to High Apprentice by the end of the Blood Gladiatorial Tournament. By then, the next quarterly sequence meeting won't be far away."

He returned the book to its shelf and took down another one—this time, a record of progress in Spell Construction and Spirit Interference.

[Current Progress: Spell Construction (Proficiency 65/100)]

[Current Progress: Spirit Interference (Proficiency 78/100)]

Under Soren’s additional guidance, both skills had advanced rapidly. Spirit Interference, in particular, had begun showing the early signs of "Spirit Burst."

While still incomparable to a Full Mage, these developments had undoubtedly added a highly effective auxiliary attack technique to his arsenal.

Even Soren had expressed surprise during the relentless practice. "Luo En’s precision in Spiritual Energy Control far surpasses others at his stage", they remarked.

A flicker of emotion passed through Luo En’s eyes before he regained his composure.

He knew this wasn’t due to innate talent, but rather the result of countless days and nights of meticulous training. Every ounce of progress was earned through time and sweat.

The third book focused on Element Perception, detailing the characteristics of elemental fluctuations and their interactions.

[Current Progress: Element Perception (Proficiency 67/100)]

"Younimentor’s 'Mana Anchoring Crystal' is truly a treasure. It elevated my understanding of Element Perception to a new level."

Beyond regular lessons, the extra tutoring from Youni Serafen had been invaluable. Without their special attention, he might have needed several times longer to reach his current level.

However, now that the advanced courses were complete, such personalized guidance would only be accessible through paid consultations—a privilege limited to one session per week.

Leaving the bookshelves, Luo En accessed a special scroll titled "Asset Inventory" within the Mind Library.

It meticulously documented every income and expense, organized with clarity.

"Financially, I’ve accumulated quite a reserve", he noted.

Over the past month, completing several large potion orders and the ten Mana Stones reserved from the Shapeshifter’s Skin contract had left him with fifteen complete Mana Stones and several hundred fragmented Mana Shard Fragments after deducting workshop expenses.

"Not particularly wealthy, but for an apprentice, this is already quite substantial", Luo En mused, feeling slightly reassured. This was the power of being a Profession: Potion Master—his ability to attract wealth.

A sufficient stock of Mana Stones meant he could afford crucial materials and information in emergencies, as well as support more complex experiments and research.

"Finally, there’s the Bloodline Awakening training."

Luo En exited the Mind Library, reopened his eyes, and fixed his gaze on the delicate glass vial at the far end of the workbench.

Inside swirled a dark red liquid, faintly rippling under the light as if alive.

"Lava Drop Dew"—an essential body-tempering elixir for the third stage of the Solar Corona Breathing Technique.

"Tonight, I’ll push for the Bloodline Awakening breakthrough."

Luo En glanced out the window. A bright full moon hung in the sky.

Though not daytime, and thus lacking sufficient Yang Attribute energy to make this the best moment for practicing the Solar Corona Breathing Technique, he couldn’t afford to wait any longer. Tomorrow already had other commitments…

With that thought, Luo En carefully lifted the vial and strode to the center of the training ground.

The ground here was paved with special energy-absorbing stone, capable of withstanding intense heat without damage.

He took a deep breath, sat cross-legged, and steadied his breathing.

As he uncorked the vial, a wave of scorching heat erupted outward, as if he’d just faced the eruption of an active volcano.

"Now."

Without hesitation, Luo En evenly applied the Lava Drop Dew to several critical Bloodline Conduction points on his body.

In an instant, it felt as though molten lava had been poured onto him. The burning sensation penetrated beneath his skin, rapidly spreading throughout his entire body.

Every inch of his skin, every muscle fiber, every vein was filled with searing mana.

"Ugh…"

Despite having endured this multiple times, Luo En still couldn’t suppress a pained groan.

The agony surpassed anything he’d imagined, as though his blood itself was igniting, raging wildly within his veins.

His skin turned crimson, as if burning from within. Sweat barely surfaced before evaporating into a thin mist around him.

"I must… control it."

Clutching his teeth against the excruciating pain, Luo En began adjusting his breathing according to the third-stage requirements of the Solar Corona Breathing Technique.

Each inhale felt like drawing in more flames; each exhale, like expelling molten lava.

Yet as his breath stabilized, the pain began transforming into a strange sensation—

Still burning, but no longer purely agonizing. Instead, it felt like a profound purification.

He could feel the Lava Drop Dew altering his blood composition, making it more active, more aggressive.

The blood affected by the elixir seemed to come alive, actively seeking out impurities and blockages within his body, incinerating them completely.

"First Layer Breathing…"

Luo En murmured the incantation, synchronizing with a specific Breathing Rhythm.

His chest expanded as though drawing in more air and mana.

"Second Layer Breathing…"

As the second layer activated, Luo En felt the heat currents begin a transformative cycle, forming a mana circuit.

The circuit originated from his heart, flowing through his arms, abdomen, and legs before returning to his heart, endlessly cycling. With each loop, the mana grew purer and stronger.

However, as he attempted to enter the Third Layer Breathing, resistance abruptly arose.

"Third Layer Breathing…"

The mana within him seemed to reach a limit, refusing to advance further.

Like a stream attempting to contain the water of a mighty river, the pressure nearly ruptured its banks.

"Just a little more… just a little more…"

Gritting his teeth, Luo En endured the sensation of his body about to explode.

He knew this was the most critical moment of Bloodline Awakening—the breaking point of the bottleneck.

But no matter his efforts, the resistance remained relentless, like an invisible wall.

The energy-absorbing stone beneath him had already turned faintly red, radiating intense heat.

"If this is Bloodline Awakening… then I’ll try drawing on the Chimera Core’s power!"

Closing his eyes, he attempted to communicate with the Core within his body.

This wasn’t his first attempt, but previously he’d always fallen short. This time, however, he stood at the threshold of breakthrough…

As he cycled the searing mana through his body, an unfamiliar, ancient force began awakening.

It was primal vitality—rich with the traits of Transformation and Adaptation.

"Now!"

Seizing the faint connection, Luo En forcefully merged his Bloodline with the force.

In an instant, it felt like a dam had burst. An unprecedented surge of power erupted from his core.

He felt his blood vessels rapidly expanding beneath his skin, his muscle fibers stretching to their limits before contracting.

This cycle repeated, gradually becoming stronger and more elastic.

Meanwhile, the blood initially altered by the Lava Drop Dew fully awakened.

As though possessing its own will, it sought out every corner of his body, delivering mana to the most desperate areas.

How long this state lasted, he couldn’t tell. But when Luo En finally regained control of his body,

He found himself lying on the ground, soaked in sweat.

Yet unlike previous exhaustion, he now felt an unprecedented lightness and surge of strength.

It was as if he’d shed heavy shackles, his entire being suddenly unburdened.

"Did I succeed?"

Luo En slowly sat up, sensing the mana flowing through his body.

That familiar, powerful Bloodline force had fully integrated into his very being, becoming an inseparable part of him.

Like an eternal furnace, it was always ready to unleash astonishing heat.

[Bloodline Awakening Experience Points +1]

[Breakthrough! Bloodline Awakening (Entry-Level 100/100) → Bloodline Awakening (Proficient 1/300)]

[Acquired Additional Trait: Boiling Blood

(Enhances the Life Eruption Effect of "Bloodline Knight" and reduces the negative status of physical fatigue)]

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end