Strictly speaking, the rune on the back of the Icy Jade Scorpion was just a projection of the power of the female giant’s bloodline.
However, just a projection and the wail it let out was enough to almost catch Leylin in an illusion.
In addition, the bloodlines of these higher ranked creatures all possessed incredible might even if there was just an aura of it left.
“A.I. Chip, how’s the analysis on this fear-inducing rune?”
Leylin asked.
[Analysis complete. Obtained freezing and healing runes that are incomplete at 45%. Able to make a cross reference with 31% of the information with the wailing banshee] The A.I. Chip intoned.
“Huh?” Leylin was surprised. “Looks like the innate ability of the Icy Jade Scorpion to freeze and heal itself was affected by and formed from the blood of the female giant.”
He suddenly had a thought that would exploit the Icy Jade Scorpion Emperor to the fullest.
“If I combine that information about the technique to mend my sea of consciousness with the Icy Jade Scorpion Emperor’s innate skill, burning through its bloodline and stimulating the abilities of the runes on its back to form a bloodline imprint that can be used once…”
Leylin’s eyes shone blue as he calculated, “In that case, I can also use this freezing ability once, and its effects will even be amplified. The power of the bloodline inside would be enough to mend the damage to my sea of consciousness.”
Using solidified spiritual force could do this as well, but it took far too long. In addition to this, Leylin wanted to regain his strength as a rank 2 Warlock as soon as possible.
“Freezing” was a unique innate talent of the Icy Jade Scorpions. While heavily injured, they could protect themselves in a thick layer of ice. Not only was it an ultimate defence, it could also help heal injuries.
Now, Leylin wanted to use this ability on himself.
“A.I. Chip, what is the feasibility of this idea?” Leylin immediately asked in his mind.
Large amounts of information and graphics flashed, and the A.I. Chip gave an answer. [Feasibility is at 87%. Host body first needs to undergo changes in order to be able to tolerate icy radiation.]
“As expected, it’s possible!” Leylin’s eyes exhibited his joy.
The innate freezing ability of the Icy Jade Scorpion Emperor, as well as the slight projection of the power from an ancient bloodline, was definitely able to repair the sea of consciousness of a rank 2 Warlock.
This was the optimal method to make use of the Icy Jade Scorpion Emperor.
After all, Leylin already had a lot of materials from the Icy Jade Scorpions. Besides, how could materials from another world be more important than his own strength?
“En! In that case, I should start making some preparations.”
Leylin glanced at the Icy Jade Scorpion Emperor in the ice mountain. Covered in a block of ice, this Icy Jade Scorpion Emperor looked more fantastical, the green on its body looked almost alive.
Only the weakening of its life force and breath showed that it did not have long to live.
“A.I. Chip, prepare the Bloodline Ignition Potion. It’s essential to make some preparations.”
Leylin’s eyes glinted coldly.
To completely make use of the freezing innate ability of the Icy Jade Scorpion Emperor, it was necessary to burn up all its blood completely and stimulate the fear-inducing rune on its back. Then, one needed to model it into a freezing bloodline rune, which involved a very complicated process.
However, all these preparations needed to start from somewhere. This was to ensure that this Icy Jade Scorpion Emperor could live through this, and secondly that Leylin himself could adapt to the harsh cold while in the frozen state.
……
Three days later, in the laboratory.
“Leylin, may I enter?” Celine’s voice could be heard from outside.
“I’ve already undone the alarm spell formation. Come in.” She promptly heard Leylin’s answer and did not hesitate as she pushed the door to enter.
“This…” The moment she entered, Celine instinctively wrapped her clothes tightly around her.
Within the laboratory, large amounts of mist was everywhere. There was even a thick layer of frost on the surrounding walls and some instruments.
Meanwhile, Leylin was naked in a giant glass tank.
He was soaking in a blue icy liquid that seemed to be seeping into his body bit by bit, turning him a little blue.
“What are you doing?”
Celine had long since gotten used to Leylin’s naked body, and she naturally approached him without flushing red. She judged the trough and was puzzled.
She found this icy aura very familiar.
“Isn’t this the unique radiation of the icy caves?” All of a sudden, Celine thought of its origins.
“No, this is just an imitation. It isn’t even 50% of the original, and can’t keep an Icy Jade Scorpion Emperor alive.”
Leylin breathed in deeply, and the icy blue colour in the tank faded, turning from a dark blue to a lighter one, to the point that it was slightly translucent.
Over ten seconds passed, and the icy liquid in the trough had turned translucent.
Leylin stood up and walked out at this point.
Celine had prepared a towel and began to dry the droplets of water on his body like a caring wife.
“What do you plan to do to the Icy Jade Scorpion Emperor?” Celine enquired.
“We’re both going to go to the joint conference of the guilds in the east capital. When that happens, only Grandpa Cedric will be here, and it can’t deal with an Icy Jade Scorpion Emperor with the strength of a peak rank 1 Magus!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it by then.”
Leylin was overjoyed.
Through the tempering of his body with the icy radiation over these few days, he had gradually gotten used to such a chilly temperature. With a few more remodelling attempts, he would be able to make use of the freezing innate ability of the Icy Jade Scorpion Emperor without any residual effects on himself to treat his injuries.
Of course, he would not mention this to Celine. She was an intelligent woman who knew what could and couldn’t be asked.
“Do you need clothes?”
After dressing Leylin, Celine rested her head on Leylin’s shoulder, her nimble little tongue licking at Leylin’s earlobes and silently hinting at something.
“Of course not!”
Leylin laughed and pressed her down…
A warm breeze blew, causing one to have the urge to take a nap.
In the subterranean world, the humans of Twilight Zone could not divide the year into four seasons. They had only two ways of detecting the current season. One was based on the activity of the planet’s crust, and dividing the year into the cold and warm season. Another way was through specific crops, and dividing it into the planting and harvesting seasons.
Such a warm breeze was the most obvious indication that it was the warm season.
Leylin sat on the back of a horse carriage with Celine by his side. An aromatic, crisp smell travelled over from Celine’s hair, causing Leylin to feel slightly restless.
The people driving the carriage were the two level 3 acolytes, Obo and Ilya.
Within all of Nature’s Alliance, these two were the ones who were somewhat able to do this.
The animals used to pull the carriage were obviously not horses, but an animal found underground—Wildebeests!
These animals were a lot larger than normal horses. They also had bony armour, and what was most obvious was the single horn on its head.
These animals were more patient than horses, they could also withstand some amount of radiation, and were the first choice for light Magi of the Twilight Zone when they went out on expeditions.
Of course, they was only useful for ordinary acolytes and Magi.
As for even more powerful Magi, they were naturally able to tame even more ferocious, mystica
l creatures, or even top-grade pets while they went on their journeys.
For a small guild like Nature’s Alliance, using a Wildebeests showed how hard pressed they were.
However, they had no choice. After Celine took over, Nature’s Alliance had not been in a good state and had been pressured in many areas. Based on the intel she received, there was a large possibility that the Nature’s Alliance would be demoted from its rating in the joint conference.
In this situation, Celine had no choice but to look for external help. She could only turn to Leylin.
Though Leylin had been said to be a famed professor in name only, Celine had been tactful and given most of the authority in Nature’s Alliance to him. Leylin wouldn’t turn down such a large gift as well.
He also needed help from the other organisations for his upcoming plans. He had wanted to help Nature’s Alliance expand and assist them based on the agreement they had.
However, it was also not a bad idea to take over this organisation.
Leylin thought to himself as he eyed Celine, who looked calm.
Notta Highlands
“Have you made inquiries about this already?”
Leylin asked Celine, who was at the side.
“Based on intel from a few close friends, the person targeting us at this joint conference is Skrill of the Eight-Clawed Spiders!” Celine smoothed her hair out, revealing her pale neck. One could also see her well-developed chest.
“Skrill? That spider man?” Leylin turned a blind eye to Celine’s unintended seduction. The Crystal Mask that Celine trained in had a special effect, in which the Magus would unwittingly bewitch the people around them.
This was not very effective on a semi-converted Magus, and even less so on Leylin.
“He’s merely a semi-converted Magus. With a few helpers, you’d be able to take care of him, right?”
Leylin glanced at Celine.
“If it was only him, I could somewhat contend against by using some help my mentor left me, but…”
Celine’s eyebrows showed her gloominess at this. “There seems to be another power supporting Skrill..”
“I see!” Leylin nodded.
“Of course, all I hope for is that my lord maintains the Nature’s Alliance’s current standing. Celine has no wish for anything more.” As if afraid Leylin would change his mind halfway through, she quickly spoke and clarified herself.
“Don’t worry. Since I’ve already agreed, you can trust me.”
Leylin didn’t pay any attention to whoever was working behind the scenes.
The bloodline imprint of the Icy Jade Scorpion Emperor was completed, and once his body could adapt to the icy radiation, he could regain his strength as a rank 2 Warlock!
A rank 2 Warlock, and especially one like Leylin with a powerful bloodline, had a strength that far exceeded that of a regular rank 2 Magus.
Whatever Nature’s Alliance had, it wasn’t enough for a rank 2 to covet it, was it?
“A.I. Chip! How much longer will it take until my body adapts to the icy radiation?”
Leylin closed his eyes and asked.
[Beep! Based on the current data on Host body, estimated time left: 56h 34min.]
The A.I. Chip quickly gave an answer.
“Two days later, which is after the joint conference ends?” Leylin muttered to himself and then checked his stats again.
[Leylin Farlier. Rank 2 Warlock, Bloodline: Giant Kemoyin Serpent. Strength: 21.1, Agility: 14.4, Vitality: 27.9, Spiritual force: 79, Magic power: 79 (Magic power is in synchronisation with spiritual force).]
After so many days of hard work and treatment using all sorts of potions, he could only draw out a small amount of his solidified spiritual force. This was not enough to break through the bottleneck of rank 1.
This strengthened Leylin’s resolve to use the freezing innate ability. If not, who knew how much longer it would take for him to regain his strength as a rank 2 Magus!
“After mending my sea of consciousness, my battle power will be even more powerful than it had been on the south coast since I’m no longer affected by my emotional instability…” Leylin calculated in his mind.
“I look forward to it!”
In the icy caves, with the Icy Jade Scorpion Emperor’s Breath, as well as its Icy Jade Scorpion’s bodies, he had thoroughly eliminated the issue of emotional instability.
However, this was not a complete elimination. Perhaps after he advanced to a higher rank, the chaos and tyranny in his bloodline and genes would explode forth once more.
However, with the detections by the A.I. Chip, Leylin was sure that while he was a rank 2 or even rank 3 Warlock, the emotional instability would not affect him.
Getting rid of this issue, he now possessed all the advantages of being a warlock with an ancient bloodline with no disadvantages at all. How much more power could he display?
When strength and intelligence were combined, there was nothing that could hinder a Warlock in a pursuit of the truth.
“My lord, what’s on your mind?”
Celine leaned over.
“Nothing much!” Leylin tugged her into his lap, a hand slipping down while following the curves of her waist.
“M-my lord, not here. Outside–there are people outside!”
Celine blushed, rejecting Leylin’s embrace.
Outside, Obo and Ilya outside ducked their heads in embarrassment. All the thoughts they had died down after seeing the strength that Leylin flaunted every once in a while.
……
Notta Highlands. The ground in this desolate area was filled with a white quartz gravel.
Usually, this place would be filled with creatures of the darkness, but they had now left the area.
At the heart of the Notta Highlands, a bright ball of light that spanned for around ten metres was hanging in mid-air like a little sun, emitting light and warmth.
Under it gathered Magi of different tribes who looked different and wore clothes of various colours.
Even if it was just passive radiation and energy fluctuations that were emitted, the gathering of so many Magi forced the creatures to avoid them.
After all, this was still within the eastern capital of the Twilight Zone, and not a place for the creatures to flaunt their prowess. Any Magi that was stronger than them, could exterminate all the higher ranked darkness creatures.
However, if this was outside the Twilight Zone, where human activity was low, the situation would be reversed.
The creatures of the darkness had an absolute advantage based on their numbers. There would even appear formidable creatures that could rival a Magus, which would encircle and annihilate Magi.
“Lu lu!”
Meanwhile, another horse carriage bringing a few Magi passed through. The Horned Horse pulling the carriage seemed to sense the strength of the Magi, and neighed in worry.
The Magi merely shot a glance at this area. Upon finding out that it was a small-scaled guild, they promptly lost interest and continued along their way.
However, there were a few Magi that exchanging glances in secret, staring at the carriage without even blinking.
*Rattle!*
Obo and Ilya respectfully opened the door to the carriage, bowing as they welcomed the two professors inside.
Celine alighted first, her face unusually flushed and clothes slightly untidy. However, she soon regained her calm.
“That’s quite a lot of Magi!”
Leylin also descended from the carriage, scanning the area and commenting with a smile.
He had sensed the aura of large amounts of energy while on the carriage, and now, using his naked eyes, he knew that there were at least 400 official Magi gathered here.
This was no small number, and these were merely the representatives from various large organisations. They still had much more guards than their headquarters.
Only Celine, whose guild was about to fall apart, would come with the full power of her guild, leaving no one behind to pr
otect the headquarters.
These 400 Magi seemed to intentionally cause pressure on the area, the radiation from their bodies slowly yet steadily emitting, and even causing the land here to have a different smell.
“Four hundred nuclear reactors piled together, exposing all their strength. If this happened in my previous world, it would be a huge issue!”
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