Chapter 79: The "Sovereign" Bloodline: Multi-Armed Serpent Demon
Chapter 79 – The "Sovereign" Bloodline: Multi-Armed Serpent Demon
Cui Xi swept her gaze across the plaza before guiding Luo En toward a secluded corner. Confirming no eavesdroppers lurked nearby, she tilted her body slightly toward him.
This intimacy would’ve been unthinkable weeks ago, yet now it felt natural.
“I rarely share such information with anyone,” she murmured, her voice carrying an unusual candor. “But considering our status as both fellow townsfolk and collaborators, I believe you deserve to know.”
The chestnut-haired girl paused, carefully selecting her words. “Li Yue originates from the Fireflow Tribe in the southern Black Mist Jungle. She’s one of the few surviving members.”
Luo En arched an eyebrow. The name tugged at his memory. “Fireflow Tribe? I recall seeing that name in the School’s archives.”
“You’ve impressive recall,” Cui Xi praised, her fingers idly tapping the mana stone pouch at her waist. “That tribe was personally eradicated by Kelinnamentor roughly fifteen years ago. The ‘cleansing campaign’ reportedly left no survivors.”
Her tone remained eerily detached, as though recounting a mundane historical footnote.
Standing beside her, Li Yue—who clearly understood human speech—revealed no reaction whatsoever. Her golden eyes remained cold and unreadable.
“Li Yue was merely an infant at the time. She has no memories of her homeland or kin,” Cui Xi continued. A flicker of something almost resembling pity crossed her voice before she resumed her clinical tone. “Mentor discovered her Sovereign Bloodline and brought her to the School, commissioning a modifier to reshape and train her.”
Luo En’s sharp eyes caught the subtle tremble in Li Yue’s ears at the word “modifier.” Her gaze momentarily darkened with a sliver of buried dread before resuming its blank vigilance.
“Modification?” he asked casually. “You mean the magecraft that alters bloodlines?”
“Precisely.” Cui Xi nodded, glancing at Li Yue. “For combat slaves, modifiers can amplify bloodline advantages, suppress unnecessary memories and emotions, and guarantee absolute obedience.”
A faint, enigmatic smile tugged at her lips. “When I ascended from Elementary Apprentice to Kelinnamentor’s student, she gifted me Li Yue. It was quite an honor within the School. A fully trained Sovereign Bloodline Panther Girl like her is worth nearly ten complete mana stones.”
Luo En studied Li Yue thoughtfully. Throughout Cui Xi’s recounting of her tribe’s destruction, the Panther Girl’s expression had remained as placid as still water, as though her slaughtered kin meant nothing to her.
“She’s truly an impressive training achievement,” Luo En remarked cautiously. “Such unwavering loyalty is rare indeed.”
“This is the Black Mist Jungle’s law,” Cui Xi said softly, a rare wistfulness in her voice. “The strong dominate, the weak submit or perish. We must strengthen ourselves quickly to survive this brutal world.”
Her gaze sharpened. “Speaking of which, your curiosity suggests interest in cultivating combat slaves yourself? Given your progress, it’s something to consider.”
A slight smile graced his lips. “Merely curiosity. I admire how seamlessly you and Li Yue coordinate.”
Cui Xi’s eyes glinted. “Always so cautious. Don’t worry—I won’t spread it around.” Her tone turned teasing, a rare warmth softening her usual frostiness.
“In the Backup Mage Sequence, nearly every member trains at least one combat slave.” She elaborated: “Most favor massive, destructive types—Half-Beasts, werewolves, or bearkins. Li Yue’s speed-and-technique specialization is relatively rare.”
She glanced at the fading sky. “Sequence duels often test one’s cultivation skills. My Mentor once said a combat slave reflects its master’s personality and aesthetics.”
“In that case, what does Xin Xi Ya’s Half-Beast reveal about her?” Luo En asked curiously.
“Violence, impatience, obsession with raw power,” Cui Xi scoffed. “She doses her Half-Beast with Rage Crystals for temporary strength boosts, at the cost of severe lifespan reduction. Classic—prioritizing immediate gains over consequences.”
Nodding, Luo En asked, “By your expertise, what race would you recommend?”
Cui Xi tilted her head, slender fingers tapping her chin. “A Multi-Armed Serpent Demon suits you well.”
Her voice grew professional, clearly relishing the rare discussion. “They wield four to six arms, enabling simultaneous melee protection and ranged support with thrown weapons or bows. Their intelligence rivals—or exceeds—humans, making them adept at executing complex commands.”
“Multi-Armed Serpent Demon?” Luo En’s interest sharpened. “Do they excel at swordsmanship?”
“Exceptionally,” Cui Xi affirmed. “Their multiple limbs grant unparalleled swordsmanship potential. In the Deep Abyss, pure-blooded specimens reportedly wield eight different weapons simultaneously, creating near-impenetrable offense and defense.”
Luo En pondered his Solar Corona Swordsmanship cultivation. Teaching it to such a creature, combined with his spellcasting, could create a formidable synergy. His Foundational Swordsmanship neared mastery—finding a suitable practice partner might even accelerate future breakthroughs.
Cui Xi’s gaze turned calculating. “Naturally, the cost is steep. Even half-bloods with diluted bloodlines require three or four complete mana stones. Pure-bloods demand twenty minimum—only Full Mages typically afford them. Captured from the Deep Abyss’s lower layers, their retrieval carries high mortality rates.”
Luo En mentally tallied his resources. Though prosperous recently, his funds fell far short of such a sum.
“Don’t rush,” Cui Xi seemed to read his thoughts. “First, pass your Potion Master Certification, then Intermediate Apprentice qualification. By the time you join the Backup Mage Sequence, your profession’s income as a Potion Master should easily cover a half-blood Serpent Demon.”
They exchanged a few more words before departing as the plaza emptied.
Before leaving, Luo En cast another glance at the tall Panther Girl.
(End of Chapter)
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