Chapter 230: Natal Vessel

Chapter 230: Natal Vessel

Her eyes flickered with alertness. "This energy fluctuation is unusual—it doesn't resemble normal leakage. It feels more like deliberate destruction."

"Wasn't the Bloodline Altar's protection just reinforced?" Luo En frowned. "Unless—"

"Someone forcibly destroyed the seal", Madame Ellen interjected. "And not just anyone."

Their gazes met, the same realization dawning in both: Abyss Eye.

Suddenly, rapid footsteps echoed from the inner chamber. Moments later, Liliya, Daire, and Ai Lan rushed in, their voices urgent. "Teacher!" "Master!"

They nearly stumbled through the doorway. Liliya's face was etched with anxiety, Ai Lan's vines trembled nervously, and Daire gaped at Luo En, golden eyes wide.

"Master, you've changed!" Daire blurted, awe lighting his tone. "Your aura... it's completely different!"

A faint smile touched Luo En's lips. The unexpected reunion stirred unexpected warmth. "Yes. I've ascended to Full Mage."

Liliya gasped softly, her expression a mix of admiration and something more shadowed. "Congratulations, Teacher", she murmured, her voice sincere but trembling. Despite her efforts to hide it, the sheen in her eyes betrayed her turbulent emotions.

"Master... finally succeeded", Ai Lan whispered. Her vines brushed his arm, emerald eyes glowing with relief.

In mere days apart, lifetimes seemed to have passed.

Looking at these three familiar faces, Luo En felt the icy numbness of his soul slowly thaw. The qualitative transformation during his True Path ascension had been harrowing. Now, standing here amidst those who cared for him, the memory of those nightmarish trials felt distant, almost unreal.

"You all seem well", he said, his tone gentler than usual. "You must've worried."

Daire bounced beside him, spinning in a circle. "Master's so powerful now! It's like having stars shining around you!"

Liliya watched the scene, happiness mingled with melancholy. She knew this success meant their parting would come soon. The path of a Full Mage lay far beyond the Black Mist Jungle, in a much broader realm. Yet, she couldn't help but feel pride.

Since the day she'd stepped into the Workshop, she'd known Luo En was destined for greatness. Now, witnessing his metamorphosis, even with the shadow of separation, her awe remained undimmed.

"I'll help Ai Lan prepare snacks", she said, masking her emotions with a smile. "Not as lavish as usual, but at least we can celebrate your ascension."

Madame Ellen led them to the courtyard, a haven of simple tranquility. Morning light filtered through the leaves, casting a serene glow.

As Luo En gazed at the peaceful scene, the destruction he'd glimpsed during his ascension resurfaced—Earth devoured, everything reduced to nothingness. The apocalyptic vision clashed sharply with the present calm.

"You're thinking deeply", Madame Ellen observed, her keenness catching his distant stare.

"I wonder... what is the purpose of the power obtained through the True Path?" His voice grew distant. "During ascension, I saw stars consumed, civilizations collapsing. A warning... or a premonition?"

Madame Ellen's expression turned contemplative. "That was the Devourer's perspective—a memory implanted to reveal power's essence and possibilities. Only by mastering it can one truly control it. Power itself holds no morality; it's the wielder who defines its path."

Luo En nodded thoughtfully. "Then I'll advance step by step, no matter how distant the road." He lifted his gaze beyond the Black Mist Jungle canopies, as if peering into the farthest reaches. "I only hope to climb high enough to someday understand the choices of those true 'Great Ones.'"

A flicker of approval lit Madame Ellen's eyes. "You've found the true heart of a seeker—never satisfied with present achievements, always chasing higher, farther possibilities."

She raised her teacup. "To the endless path. To the pursuit without end."

Luo En clinked his cup in response. "To eternal seeking."

The tranquil moment shattered with sudden knocks at the door.

Luo En exchanged a glance with Madame Ellen. Signaling Daire's group to stay, the two moved swiftly through the corridor. Madame Ellen summoned living vines to open the door, revealing Holt's gaunt frame.

His face was taut with urgency, his manners forgotten. "Luo En! I've been searching everywhere—thank the stars you're here!"

"Report", Luo En commanded, his voice coldly sharp.

"Bloodline Altar's under attack! Soren Mentor was assaulted, the seal destroyed. Abyss mana is leaking in torrents!"

"Who did this?"

Holt inhaled deeply. "The Holy Disk Master. And... he's hunting for you."

Luo En's gaze locked onto Holt, his calm exterior belying razor-sharp alertness. Since ascending, his perception had evolved. Now, subtle dissonance prickled his instincts—a thorn of unease.

"You arrived quickly, Senior Holt", he remarked, tone flat. His eyes scrutinized every detail.

The Demon Hunter Knights' "Hunting Evil" ability triggered—a primal warning spreading like electric currents. The perception wasn't ordinary mana detection but a bloodline-rooted rejection, a hunter's instinct for Abyss corruption.

Luo En confirmed instantly: this Holt was an impostor.

Activating "Transcendent Perception", spiritual energy extended like invisible tendrils, probing the figure's mana outline.

[Recognition Results:
Target: Disguised Lifeform (Abyss-Awakened Being)
Original Identity: Presumed 'Holy Disk Master'
Mana Signature: Chaotic fluctuations from Abyss Layer 6, bearing 'Labyrinth Domain' traces
Transformation Status: 80% disguise, mana instability detected around neck and eyes
Threat Level: Dawn Star Rank (Potential Dusk Sun Rank)
Special Note: Carries unknown high-tier mana substance—suspected Apostle Blessing. Extreme Caution Advised]

Luo En's pulse quickened, though his exterior remained still. Beneath the surface, spell matrices formed in the spiritual world, precision-engineered for simultaneous release. Simultaneously, he tightened his "Radiation Field", locking every trace of energy within, shielding his awareness from detection.

"How severe are Mentor Soren's injuries? How much of the Altar's defenses remain active?"

Luo En feigned concern, his words carefully chosen to delay time, allowing his preparation work to become more thorough.

His spiritual energy had already reached his waistband, establishing a preliminary connection with the Puppet Substitute.

"Soren Mentor's fate remains uncertain. The Altar's seal has completely shattered."

The disguised Holt exclaimed anxiously, his eyes sweeping over Luo En's shoulder as he evaluated Madame Ellen's condition.

"We must rush to the scene immediately. Fuyuanzhang has already begun organizing defenses. Abyssmana leakage has started manifesting within the School grounds. The situation is far more critical than anticipated."

Luo En noticed the subtle shift in his opponent's gaze, his suspicions now fully confirmed. His spiritual energy had already completed the "Sound Wave Oscillation Erosion State" spell matrix, waiting only for a single thought to unleash devastating destruction.

Madame Ellen clearly sensed the anomaly as well. Her emerald green eyes narrowed slightly while fingers hidden in her long sleeves silently reached toward her storage artifact. She exchanged an almost imperceptible glance with Luo En - an unspoken understanding between master and apprentice.

"Is that so? Then we should indeed act immediately."

Luo En stepped forward calmly, his expression composed.

"But before that, I have one question-"

He suddenly halted, his gaze turning blade-sharp as it pierced the imposter's eyes. His voice chilled to absolute frost.

"Holy Disk Master, why disguise yourself as Holt to meet me?"

The fake Holt's expression froze, surprise flashing momentarily in his eyes before vanishing in a flash of cold amusement.

His previously gentle eyes turned malicious, his lips twisting into an unsettling curve.

"Truly remarkable you pierced my disguise."

His voice now rasped in a guttural, unnatural timbre, as if multiple voices overlapping.

"No wonder you were marked by the Throne Holders."

Before the final word faded, "Holt's" form began warping like a melting wax sculpture being reshaped. Purplish-black mana surged beneath his skin like liquid, distorting his human shape.

Seven sinister eyes of varying sizes erupted across his face, each rotating with independent consciousness. His body swelled grotesquely, tearing through clothing as purplish-black scaled limbs emerged.

"Too late, Luo En Lalf! The Abyss Eye has already marked you as the Throne Seed vessel! Void Spider Magussir personally selected this seed for you. You shall become the Fourteenth Throne's vessel!"

Yet the moment Holy Disk transformed, Luo En moved.

Every preparation culminated in this instant.

The "Primordial Circuit" activated, channeling mana through the most efficient pathways - no longer simple mana output, but precise guidance to optimal locations without waste.

The "Radiation Field" expanded instantly, enveloping the space. Mana particles in the air trembled, accelerated by this force.

The "Overmagic Technique" reached its peak, spell construction speed and power attaining unprecedented heights.

- Sound Wave Oscillation Erosion State!

With a gentle push of Luo En's palm, an almost invisible mana ripple spread toward Holy Disk.

Combining Sound Wave Oscillation with "Erosion Sonata" infused Star-deep corrosive whispers, devastating against Abyssmana-tainted beings.

Amplified by the "Hunting Evil" trait of the Demon Hunter profession, Abyssal Creature damage multiplied exponentially, creating near-perfect restraint.

Residual mana from Stellar Ring Convergence vibrated through the air, resonating with the special stellar mana to enhance the attack's power.

The ripple appeared delicate but contained power sufficient to tear through Dawn Star Rank defenses.

"Damn brat!"

Still transforming, Holy Disk hadn't anticipated Luo En condensing such terrifying attack so rapidly. By the time he sensed danger, constructing defense proved impossible.

The ripple touched his mutated body, triggering horrifying effects.

Flesh rotted rapidly, like strong acid corrosion, hissing as purplish-black liquid erupted from wounds. More terrifyingly, these liquids decomposed into black smoke dissipating into air.

Luo En's eyes gleamed with calculating calm - the "Harmonic Ripple" trait had achieved perfect frequency resonance.

Echo. Echo. The terror lay in "returning."

The ripple didn't dissipate but continuously resonated and overlapped within Holy Disk's body.

Wave after wave of shockwaves tore through his internal organs.

Each resonance intensified exponentially - like a multiplying nightmare consuming the objective from within.

"Ahhhh!"

Holy Disk screamed as his body crumbled in patches. The seven eyes burned with disbelief.

"Impossible! How could you... This power can't belong to a newly ascended Full Mage!"

The Holy Disk Master nearly collapsed from this single strike, but Luo En's assault hadn't ended.

Thanks to unlocking the "Dual Soul" Special Innate Talent, he could now construct two spell matrices simultaneously.

- Radiant Halo: Compressive Detonation!

A purelight-element bird soared from Luo En's palm, its elegant form mirroring a mythical phoenix. Each feather radiated dazzling light.

It traced a graceful arc through air before diving precisely toward the severely damaged Holy Disk.

Beneath its beautiful exterior lay deadly intent - each feather compressed destruction mana to the extreme.

Recognizing the attack, Holy Disk's seven eyes burned with pure fear.

"Youni's-"

Before he could finish, the light bird struck.

The initial impact seemed unremarkable, even offering momentary relief.

Then came the horror - the bird imploded, bursting into countless light-blades that tore Holy Disk apart from within.

This was the "Compressive Detonation" trait - concentrating all mana within an extremely limited area. Destructive power far surpassed ordinary attacks.

Each light-blade operated like a surgical scalpel, precisely severing every mana pathway, disrupting circulation, and dismantling defense mechanisms.

The majority of Holy Disk's body dissolved into twisted flesh, barely maintaining humanoid form. Four of his seven eyes extinguished, the remaining three dimmed.

Yet astonishingly, he remained standing, his laugh turning maniacal.

Pain and despair intertwined with pathological fervor.

"I must not fail! Magussir's gift... The Throne Seed will bestow rebirth!"

His chest suddenly split like a blooming flesh flower, revealing a blood-red pearl.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end