Chapter 159: Abyssal Life Compendium

Chapter 159: Abyssal Life Compendium

"Boiling Blood", Luo En murmured, silently reciting this newly acquired trait's name while feeling its transformation surge through him.

He closed his eyes and re-entered his consciousness library, quickly adding this crucial breakthrough to the "Bloodline Knight" section.

Comparing it to his past experiences, Luo En clearly recognized the trait's immense value. Previously, after every bloodline mana burst, he endured prolonged weakness and exhaustion.

Just like during the battle with Andie against the Shape-shifter's mercenaries when his dragon breath left him vulnerable, making hypnotic domination easy and requiring a lengthy recovery after breaking free. Or when facing Ma Kusi, post-burst powerlessness let his opponent sink fangs into him before he could react.

This aftermath had always been the Bloodline Knight's fatal flaw, leaving them dangerously fragile at critical moments. Now, "Boiling Blood" would drastically improve this weakness.

Luo En stood, testing a small mana surge. To his delight, the mana came faster and stronger, as if compressed. When he stopped channeling, the mana dissipated quickly with minimal fatigue.

"This is like an upgraded version of bloodline burst. Not only stronger, but nearly without side effects."

He clenched his fist, feeling the vitality coursing through his knuckles—a warmth like a crackling campfire, steady and enduring.

Walking to the training grounds, he grabbed a testing stone. This black mineral was notoriously hard, leaving no mark even under full human force.

Taking a deep breath, he surged his bloodline mana until it boiled, then struck.

Boom!

The testing stone shattered, cracks spiderwebbing from the impact point before splitting into fragments.

"Burst power increased by at least fifty percent, and the burning effect improved significantly. The stone just didn't show it well."

He checked his hand—only slight redness at the knuckles, no discomfort. Previously, even brief bursts left his muscles aching for hours.

"The biggest benefit is reduced fatigue."

Recalling Andie's combat experiences—each burst reduced her to a trembling mess. Luo En himself never dared use "Bloodline Awakening" in real battles due to this crippling weakness. Now, "Boiling Blood" let him unleash greater power while minimizing post-burst weakness, even allowing consecutive bursts in emergencies.

This trait had become one of his strongest aces.

"Still, more testing is needed."

Luo En remained rational. Though initial results thrilled him, he wouldn't jump to conclusions. Only through rigorous combat trials could he confirm the trait's true potential and limitations.

"Proceed carefully, step by step."

He extinguished the mana crystal lamp and walked toward his bedroom. Tomorrow would bring new challenges demanding his attention.

...

Night slowly retreated from the Black Mist Jungle, its dark creatures growing quieter, though occasional eerie howls and rustles still echoed.

Inside the workshop, lamplight burned warm and bright.

One familiar green figure was missing, but the courtyard now hosted a vigorous ancient tree...

Standing at the lab table, Luo En studied the young siren before him.

After two days of arena battles, Daire's performance exceeded expectations. She had defeated three opponents and absorbed their essence completely.

Yet this rapid mana absorption carried risks.

"Daire, extend your hand. I need to check your mana flow."

"Okay, Master!"

She eagerly offered her tiny hand. Her eyes sparkled—a once-pure blue now shifting into mysterious gradients of deep purple and crimson.

Luo En touched her wrist, activating "Transcendent Perception" and "Tracing Mark" to examine her mana flow.

A complex bloodline map materialized in his mind:

Her once-pure siren bloodline now interwove with heterogeneous mana—fishmen's deep-sea adaptability, precise water-elemental control, and even traces of the Crimson Blood Sky Dragon lineage he'd provided. Most integrated smoothly, but dangerous instabilities flickered at key nodes.

"As expected", he muttered. "Mana intake was too fast. Her bloodline can't handle this pressure."

Left unchecked, this imbalance risked mana disruption, threatening Daire's future growth and combat effectiveness.

"You've eaten too much 'food,' little one. Now I'll help you digest."

He ruffled her silver hair. She blinked her big eyes.

"Master, it feels like forces are fighting inside me... Sometimes it tickles!"

"Exactly. Let me adjust it for you."

He turned to the medicine cabinet, retrieving specially prepared potions and a fine silver needle. This was his custom bloodline harmonization protocol—using specific potions to regulate mana flow, then guiding spiritual energy to balance bloodline factors.

Liliya assisted quietly, her movements precise.

"Teacher, should I prepare stabilizing fluid?" she asked softly.

He nodded. "Take the light blue bottle. Dilute it to 30% concentration."

She immediately complied, mixing the potion with practiced efficiency.

Over months of collaboration, master and apprentice had developed seamless teamwork. Though Liliya started with mediocre talent, her "Diligence Compensates for Inadequacy" innate trait steadily improved her skills, making her an irreplaceable assistant.

Once prepared, Luo En guided Daire onto the specialized crystal bed—a structure designed to conduct spiritual energy and stabilize mana.

"Will it hurt?" she asked nervously.

"No. At most a slight tingling, like last time... Maybe some itching."

Relaxing, the siren closed her trusting eyes.

Luo En dipped the silver needle into potion, then lightly touched several key points on her body. The liquid seeped through meridians instantly.

Next, he focused spiritual energy, placing hands on her forehead and heart to guide chaotic mana into order.

This delicate work required pinpoint accuracy—any misstep could trigger mana conflict or bloodline collapse.

Thankfully, he'd already perfected the technique on autophagic slime molds.

【Bloodline Formulation (Proficient) Experience Points +1】

Daire's bloodline flow steadily stabilized. Previously clashing mana found complementary balances under his guidance.

"Siren bloodlines center on water, but Daire naturally resonates with wind."

He observed intently. "Perhaps guide these elements into symbiosis."

Adjusting spiritual energy direction, he diverted water-elemental mana toward wind clusters, creating buffer zones at their interface.

Immediate results—previously repelling elements began fusing slowly, forming a unique "Aero-Hydro Symbiosis."

【Bloodline Formulation (Proficient) Experience Points +1】

Daire's expression softened into serene comfort, her body glowing faintly blue.

He continued integrating newly absorbed mana into her bloodline core, transforming foreign invaders into organic components she could fully control.

Approaching the dragon blood trace, he grew extra cautious. Dragon Kind bloodline's aggression could dominate other lineages even in minuscule amounts.

Considering complete removal, he noticed an anomaly—the dragon blood trace hadn't aggressively expanded. Instead, it formed a stable mana core coexisting peacefully with surrounding siren bloodline.

"Interesting", he raised an eyebrow. "No erosion effect. It's become a 'seed' structure."

Through "Tracing Mark", he saw its potential pathway. With proper guidance, this seed might grant Dragon Kind traits without compromising her siren core.

"A rare opportunity."

He decided to preserve this structure, nurturing a stable mana environment. Injecting specialized potions, he shaped protective barriers around the seed—securing its development without disturbing the main bloodline.

"Like delicate flesh wrapped in a pearl shell..." He found the analogy apt. "An outer protective layer, while inner growth continues."

After nearly three hours, the final mana stream balanced. Daire's bloodline condition reached its peak.

【Bloodlineformulation (Proficient) Experience Points +1】

Luo En took a deep breath, slowly withdrawing his spiritual energy.

This high-intensity spiritual energy manipulation, even for him, carried a considerable burden, but the results were well worth it.

Daire slowly opened her eyes, her pupils shining with unprecedented brightness and clarity.

"Master, I feel so light!" she exclaimed joyfully, sitting up and sweeping her hands through the air in a sweeping arc.

A perfect stream of water materialized at her command, twisting into an elegant spiral midair.

Subtle wisps of wind coiled along the water's edges, adding stability and flexibility to the structure.

"Wind and Water Dual Elemental Affinity", Luo En nodded approvingly. "The effect exceeds expectations."

The young siren let out a delighted cry as she leapt from the crystal bed, spinning joyfully around the room.

Her movements were more fluid than ever, her skin shimmering faintly like pearls, radiating a vibrant energy.

Through this bloodline harmonization, Daire's condition had reached an entirely new equilibrium.

The mana absorbed from opponents in the arena had been perfectly integrated, becoming a seamless part of her power.

"Teacher, it's truly amazing!" Liliya couldn't help exclaiming, admiration shining in her eyes. "You barely used external mana at all, yet achieved such complex bloodline harmonization through spiritual energy guidance and gentle elixirs alone."

Luo En humbly shook his head. "This was primarily due to Daire's superior bloodline and the unique effects of her 'Gluttonous Appetite' innate talent. I merely played an auxiliary role."

Yet inwardly, he knew this success proved his bloodline formulation techniques had reached a new level.

From simple Bloodline Purification to complex multi-elemental fusion, now progressing to holistic bloodline harmonization.

Each step had been built upon countless experiments and extensive theoretical research.

Achieving harmonious coexistence of different bloodlines within a single organism had traditionally been considered extremely difficult, even impossible according to conservative bloodline modifiers.

Luo En had proven this possibility through action, although the process required exceptional spiritual energy control precision and profound understanding of bloodline essence.

However, while feeling gratified by this success, one fact slightly unsettled him.

Despite smooth bloodline formulation skill progression, his Transcendent Biology breakthrough seemed to have hit a bottleneck.

[Current Progress: Transcendent Biology (Entry-Level 48/50)]

This number hadn't changed for several days. While entry-level breakthroughs were typically straightforward, this prolonged stagnation exceeded his expectations.

Frowning, Luo En recalled similar situations during his swordsmanship breakthroughs.

Previously, no matter how diligently he practiced, the final experience point for Foundational Swordsmanship stubbornly refused to break through until he applied those techniques in actual combat.

"Perhaps Transcendent Biology follows the same principle."

He clearly understood his own issue: "Pure theoretical research can no longer provide new breakthrough points. More practical experience and direct observation are required."

He glanced regretfully at Daire.

Though adjusting her bloodline had provided valuable experience, the variety of transcendental beings available in the Black Mist Jungle remained limited, with few opportunities for in-depth study.

"Master, what are you thinking about?" Daire tilted her head, her violet-blue eyes wide with curiosity.

Luo En gently stroked her silver hair. "Nothing much—just considering our next plan. You've successfully advanced to the Bloody Arena's Top 16. Your upcoming opponents will be even stronger, so we need better preparation."

Daire confidently raised her tiny fist. "Master needn't worry! I'll devour them all!"

Nodding with a smile, Luo En's mind wrestled with another question.

How could he obtain more firsthand information about transcendental beings?

Just then, Liliya reported intelligence she'd gathered:

"Teacher, when I went to collect the Beast Arena qualification certificate today, I exchanged some Mana Shard Fragments with the duty officer for information. The experimental subject for this year's Beast Arena is from Lord Fuyuanzhang Haierke's private collection, and the competition rules have changed."

Luo En's eyes lit up. "Oh? Continue."

"They say many parts of this experimental subject were sourced from the Abyssal Chasm, though the duty officer himself wasn't clear about specific details."

At this point, Liliya seemed slightly embarrassed. She twirled her hair before continuing: "I also heard that after this Beast Arena concludes, participants will receive a special privilege—guidance in dissecting the experimental subject under Fuyuanzhang's supervision. This is why even senior apprentices with established status rankings participate annually."

"Dissection guidance..." Luo En mused deeply.

This was a rare opportunity. As a Moonlight Rank mage, Fuyuanzhang Haierke's expertise far surpassed ordinary practitioners.

Witnessing him dissect and analyze transcendental beings would be invaluable practical instruction for Transcendent Biology.

It was well-known that securing consultation opportunities with mages of Fuyuanzhang's caliber was nearly impossible under normal circumstances, with paid consultations having extremely limited availability.

"Also", Liliya continued, her voice betraying growing excitement, "they say besides that puppet, the champion prize includes a copy of the Abyssal Life Compendium. While authenticity remains uncertain, if true, it would be an extremely valuable resource."

The Abyssal Chasm—an enigmatic place shrouded in countless legends—was believed to be the origin of many mysterious creatures.

Even within the School, information about it remained classified, with complete records difficult to obtain even for apprentice sequence members.

Now, acquiring a dedicated bestiary could prove invaluable for his Transcendent Biology studies.

The differences between abyssal and ordinary transcendental beings might precisely provide the breakthrough needed for his current bottleneck.

"It seems this competition's champion holds far greater value than I anticipated."

Luo En murmured, perhaps this time fortune would favor him threefold.

Not only securing substantial rewards and rank advancement, but his Transcendent Biology breakthrough could emerge from this dissection guidance and the Abyssal Life Compendium.

Daire tugged his sleeve. "Master needn't worry—I'll definitely win the championship and bring you that bestiary!"

Looking at Daire's determined expression, Luo En felt a warm current in his heart.

From a frail, dying creature to this vibrant, confident young girl—Daire's growth had surpassed everyone's expectations.

"I believe in you, Daire", he said gently. "But remember self-protection in battle—don't recklessly pursue glory."

Thereafter, Luo En began formulating Daire's training and nutritional supplementation plan for the next few days.

With three days remaining before the Top 16 match, every moment of training opportunity must be seized.

"Liliya", Luo En turned to his disciple, "I need you to prepare several special elixirs for Daire."

He meticulously detailed the formulas for several enhancement elixirs—custom-designed based on Daire's bloodline traits to significantly boost her combat effectiveness in the short term.

Liliya carefully noted every detail before swiftly setting off.

Luo En returned to his laboratory, beginning to review the limited information he'd collected about abyssal beings.

He needed foundational preparation for upcoming knowledge exposure to extract maximum value from the dissection guidance.

"Let me check the known abyssal layer classifications."

Opening one volume, he found fragmented records of the Abyssal Chasm.

It was said the abyss contained thirteen layers, each with unique environmental characteristics and biological populations.

The deeper the layer, the greater the biological mutations and power levels.

Creatures surviving below the sixth layer often possessed special adaptive mutations or evolutions.

"These records are too fragmented and incomplete", Luo En frowned. "Difficult to form systematic understanding."

This lack of comprehensive abyssal ecosystem knowledge hindered his further breakthroughs in Transcendent Biology.

Possessing that bestiary might unlock this mystery.

"The old adage remains true: bold hypothesis, cautious verification."

Closing the book, Luo En reflected.

He clearly understood—true power value emerged only under control.

Whether Daire's bloodline harmonization or his pursuit of transcendental knowledge, maintaining this calm, cautious attitude remained crucial.

Greed breeds failure; recklessness brings disaster.

On this path toward transcendental mastery, every step must be steady and grounded.

Standing at the window, gazing at distant, faintly visible tower silhouettes, Luo En's goals crystallized:

The Abyssal Life Compendium, Moonlight Rank mage dissection guidance, and that Puppet Substitute possibly determining his future path.

These three treasures awaited him within the Bloody Arena's champion prize.

And obtaining them depended on this petite siren girl before him and her astonishingly powerful ability.

"Champion", Luo En silently resolved, "no matter what—it must be mine."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end