Chapter 282: Phantom Husk Legacy

Chapter 282: Phantom Husk Legacy

"Speaking of which, Grandmage Selena..."

Luo En replied thoughtfully:

"I've seen this name mentioned in some ancient texts. She was supposedly a powerful cultivator from the early Third Era who ascended the True Path. She pioneered research on bloodline mutation and organ transplantation."

"Correct", Uther affirmed with a nod.

"Selena was Aiden's... ninth ancestor? No, probably tenth. Either way, very distant blood relation.

Before her passing, following traditions of her era, she chose to leave her Phantom Husk residual construct within the family.

Originally meant to protect descendants and perhaps offer guidance during critical moments, this decision ironically brought great calamity to her lineage..."

Luo En's expression grew more focused. He realized these details were crucial for understanding the Phantom Husk's essence.

"So the Bloodsworn King isn't a true Lich King in the conventional sense, but rather... a distorted, incomplete existence?"

"Very accurate judgment", Uther praised with a nod.

"In a sense, Aiden is more Selena's continuation than a true heir.

This is precisely why other Lich Kings hold him in contempt, refusing to acknowledge him as their equal."

Luo En's eyes flickered with contemplation.

"This is also why you're willing to share these secrets with us - because he can no longer interfere with worldly affairs?"

"Wise indeed", Uther's white eyebrows lifted slightly.

"This shortcut ascension method forever prevents the 'Bloodsworn King' from reaching the true Lich King's height.

Now trapped in his own Domain, his influence over the main world is severely limited.

Moreover, the 'Bloodsworn World' itself is an extremely rare IV-Type Plane.

Despite Selena's and the Bloodsworn King's combined efforts across two generations, complete conquest remains elusive."

The elderly guardian's expression animated, as if recalling an amusing memory.

"However, his current weakened state mainly stems from an event in the early Fourth Epoch, approximately four thousand two hundred years ago.

At that time, I was merely a newly ascended Dawn Star Rank mage.

But 'The Elder' Callix had already reached Archmage status and successfully challenged the Bloodsworn King."

Uther chuckled, having witnessed the event firsthand.

"Callix?" Luo En recognized the name.

"The legendary figure who mastered causal severing and result projection?"

"Legendary?" Uther laughed heartily.

"The dead always get romanticized. I wonder how delighted that old codger would be knowing posterity labeled him 'legendary.'"

Stroking his white beard, he continued reminiscing.

"Callix's hatred toward the Bloodsworn King ran deep.

Grandmage Selena once sponsored many young prodigy mages, Callix among them."

Eve asked curiously, "So Callix was one of Grandmage Selena's beneficiaries?"

"Not just that", Uther's eyes brimmed with nostalgia, as if reliving the moment.

"Grandmage Selena saved Callix's life.

Back then, during an Abyss Exploration, Callix suffered grievous injuries and multiple organ failures.

Then-leader of the School Alliance Selena personally performed an organ replacement surgery on this fellow True Path cultivator.

She not only saved his life but also transplanted Special Bloodlines into him, directly influencing his later innate talent development."

"So when Callix learned what Aiden did..."

"He burned with unprecedented fury", Uther's voice turned cold.

"I remember that day he came to me, eyes ablaze with rage.

He cursed Aiden as a 'bloodline-traitor with white eyes,' 'desecrator,' and 'false king.'

He vowed to make Aiden pay not for justice, but for avenging Grandmage Selena."

Uther paused, his eyes gleaming slyly.

"Yet Callix was wise. He knew challenging Aiden directly would be foolish - at that time, Aiden stood but one step from Lich King status.

So he devised a revenge plan I've admired to this day..."

Uther deliberately paused, his expression turning cunning.

"You know, mages never act purely out of altruism. In mage circles, profit always comes first.

Even acts of gratitude involve maximizing personal gain.

Callix's revenge plan coincided perfectly with one of his critical rituals."

"What ritual?" Eve asked eagerly.

Uther waved his hand dismissively:

"This involves extremely secret knowledge. Even I only know fragments.

But judging from later outcomes, Callix clearly didn't achieve complete success."

His expression turned grave.

"At that time, Aiden, as a half Lich King, was at his peak, yet struggling to quell the Bloodsworn World's conquest.

Callix used this opportunity to lie low, gathering intelligence on Aiden, analyzing his weaknesses and behavioral patterns, even contacting his mentor 'Eye of Observation.'"

The silvery light in the air intensified, making Uther's projection more tangible.

"They chose to strike during Aiden's critical Lich King ascension phase, when his 'Transcendent Stance' hadn't fully stabilized."

Eve held her breath.

"What happened?"

"Exquisite!" Excitement sparkled in Uther's eyes.

"Using his causal severing ability, Callix temporarily cut Aiden's connection to Selena's Phantom Husk fragments.

Deprived of his primary power source, Aiden became like an awkward apprentice before the Eye of Observation."

He mimicked a dismissive throat-cutting gesture:

"Throughout the entire battle, Aiden couldn't even graze his enemies' robe hems, completely outmaneuvered.

Most crucially, Callix forcibly reclaimed Selena's Phantom Husk residual construct from Aiden's body."

"Reclaiming Phantom Husk from a Lich King's body?" Eve's eyes widened. "Is that even possible?"

"Under special circumstances, yes", Uther explained.

"Those Phantom Husk fragments never truly belonged to Aiden. When connections severed, they naturally scattered."

Luo En frowned.

"But you said Callix's ritual failed?"

Uther's expression turned complex.

"Yes. While successfully reclaiming the Phantom Husk fragments, Callix's ritual ultimately failed. As for the exact reason..."

He shook his head.

"This involves too many secrets. In short, Callix succeeded in vengeance but paid an enormous price."

The air fell briefly silent as everyone processed this information.

"What happened next?" Eve asked softly. "What became of that Phantom Husk fragment?"

A profound look crossed Uther's face as he directly shifted the topic.

"This leads to a deeper question - the true purpose and significance of the Phantom Husk."

He slowly stood, silver light flowing through the chamber.

"Do you know about Truth Pavilion's special containment measures for Archmages?"

“Slightly heard of them,” Luo En replied, “I’ve heard they can preserve souls and Phantom Husks, granting Archmages a form of immortality.”

“Indeed,” Uther nodded, though his expression darkened with clear disgust.

“This technology from the Truth Pavilion originated with the ‘Creator.’ It allows souls and Phantom Husks to undergo special treatment, preserving them indefinitely in a semi-dormant state.”

His tone turned biting with sarcasm. “On the surface, it’s a merciful measure to spare those who’ve contributed to magekind from true death. But in reality…”

Uther made a motion of being bound. “Those existing within the ‘Specimen Vault’ avoid death, yet remain tightly controlled. They’re trapped in a liminal state between life and death—unable to die, yet incapable of truly living.”

The old man’s voice carried deep resignation. “Worse still, each awakening demands an enormous expenditure of spiritual energy. Over time, these awakenings grow increasingly difficult.

“Imagine millennia passing while you desperately seek a brief moment of clarity, only to find even opening your eyes drains every ounce of power. To remain forever in this agonizing haze of half-sleep…”

Eve couldn’t help trembling. “That sounds absolutely horrifying… It’s not a gift at all—it’s eternal torment.”

“Precisely,” Uther agreed. “And those imprisoned can no longer refine their scholarly achievements or communicate with the outside world. They can only watch helplessly as their theories become distorted or plagiarized by later generations. For truth-seekers, this is a punishment far crueler than death itself.”

He turned to Luo En. “This is why many Archmages choose another path—leaving their Phantom Husks to successors or students.”

Luo En nodded. “You mean this lineage method has its own significance?”

“Certainly,” Uther’s gaze softened with nostalgia. “When an Archmage voluntarily leaves their Phantom Husk to an heir, if the heir becomes an Archmage themselves, they can use their own Phantom Husk to nourish and protect fragments of their predecessor’s Husk. In a way, this can even partially revive the consciousness of the ancestral spirit.”

His voice grew gentle. “Grandmage Selena held exactly this hope—expecting future generations to produce someone capable of inheriting her legacy. Unfortunately, she never foresaw someone like Aiden would emerge—a twisted soul.”

Eve murmured, “So Grandmage Selena’s kindness ultimately became the source of catastrophe.”

“Indeed,” Uther sighed. “This isn’t uncommon in mage history—good intentions yielding disastrous consequences.”

His tone deepened. “Speaking of which… I can feel my remaining time dwindling. Soul decay is a gradual process. Perhaps within a hundred years, I’ll follow the path of my departed friends.”

Eve’s eyes filled with tears. “Grandfather…”

Uther gently stroked her hair. “Don’t grieve, little Eve. I’ve lived long enough, witnessed countless rises and falls. For me, death is merely another form of liberation.”

He continued, “I’ve already discussed my Phantom Husk’s disposition with Cassandra. Part will remain with her, aiding her journey deeper into the arcane. Another portion I leave to you—it might help with your ‘mana corruption’ symptoms.”

His eyes warmed with affection. “This arrangement ensures knowledge endures through lineage, while offering you both a foundation for the future. Far better than being entombed in the Truth Pavilion’s Specimen Vault.”

Suddenly, the Lance Festival’s bell tolled from the distance. Clear notes echoed through the night, announcing the new quarter’s arrival.

Uther’s projection began flickering. “Seems we’ve talked too long. Tomorrow… no, later today begins the ‘Rainbow Ring’ competition. You both need proper rest.”

Eve stood before Luo En, her amethyst eyes shining with anticipation. “Please don’t worry about transportation in the morning. I’ll send a private airship to fetch you, sparing you the queues at the public descent channels. Even with an assistant professor’s privileges, today’s holiday will make them terribly crowded.”

Luo En gave a slight nod of gratitude. “Then I’ll thank the prince in advance.”

Uther’s fading form murmured, “Time I returned to the Abyssobservatory. An old soul’s energy has limits, and this cloned body can’t stray far from its original for long.

“Luo En, I eagerly await your performance in the competition tomorrow. With your bloodlineformulation skills, you’ll surely surprise everyone.

“Eve, remember to take your mother’s medicine on schedule. Don’t let festival excitement interfere with your recovery.”

Eve obediently nodded. “I’ll remember, grandfather. Recently I’ve been feeling much better—the nightmares have decreased.”

Uther’s silver silhouette began dissolving. Finally, his voice drifted into the air like a whisper. “Take care of yourselves, little Eve. And you, Luo En—don’t let your thirst for knowledge cloud your judgment.”

As Uther vanished, Franca returned with Ai Lan and Daire from the garden. The Little Siren excitedly described the glowing aquatic plants she’d seen, which reminded her of her distant ocean homeland.

Luo En thanked Eve before departing with Ai Lan and Daire. Back in his quarters, he immediately began organizing the knowledge gleaned tonight while making final adjustments for the competition.

His spirit calmed in meditation, though his thoughts raced like lightning. He integrated the Bloodline Lock, “King of Blood’s” secrets, Phantom Husk fragments, and other revelations into a more comprehensive cognitive framework. Each new knowledge fragment functioned like a puzzle piece, constructing a grander cosmic picture.

【History Research (Entry-Level) Experience Points +1】
【History Research (Entry-Level) Experience Points +1】
【History Research (Entry-Level) Experience Points +1】
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These forbidden insights far surpassed ordinary study, accelerating his skill progression. Though merely initial exposure, Luo En already sensed the discipline’s profound allure.

Simultaneously, he didn’t neglect preparations for the “Rainbow Ring” competition. Despite confidence in his bloodlineformulation techniques, facing mentors from the Crystal Spire demanded absolute vigilance.

………………

Today marked the Lance Festival’s climax—the “Rainbow Ring” competition. The entire Dawnport swarmed with spectators as various supernatural species and merchant caravans gathered to witness this spectacle of mastery.

In the sky, rainbow-colored bands symbolizing Lance achievements fluttered like coiled dragons above the plaza, bathing the area in a dreamlike glow. Seven-colored mana flow light cascaded continuously from the central tower, breaking into countless tiny motes that scattered like stars across the venue.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end