Imperial Throne

Chapter 214 : Bloodline Talent

Chapter 214: Bloodline Talent

“Father, why won’t you let Cindy choose another bloodline?” Akar asked in puzzlement. “That Phantom Demon Bloodline clearly has higher value. If it’s because of material concerns, we—”

“The Bloodthirsty Beast is likely the true key to controlling the Shadow Panther cub.” Ion shook his head and said in a deep voice, “Compared to the other Demon Bloodline, with the Shadow Panther’s supportive enhancement, Cindy’s future strength will surpass that of ordinary people. You know where that Shadow Panther cub is now, don’t you?”

“Where?”

“It’s within Cindy’s shadow,” Ion said. “That Shadow Panther is growing faster than expected. The progress differs from what we’ve seen in books, but we lack the heritage that noble families possess, and we don’t have generations of vision, experience, or insight. So our best option is to maintain the original plan. After all, the drop of True Blood from the Phantom Demon Bloodline inside the Demonic Sword—it won’t disappear, will it?”

Akar nodded. “I understand.”

Inside the Demonic Sword, Robin naturally heard the conversation between Ion and Akar.

At this, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

Although Ion lacked the insight of the Bloodline Noble families, he still possessed the simple wisdom of the common folk.

For the Soderbell Family, what mattered most right now wasn’t some so-called long-term vision or plan, but rather a natural, reasonable process of growth—and above all, immediate combat power.

Compared to the Phantom Demon Bloodline, which could only manifest combat ability starting from the Fourth Tier, the Bloodthirsty Beast, though only Third Tier, had far stronger combat instincts and talents than the Fourth-Tier Shapeshifting Demon of the Phantom Demon Bloodline.

Ion understood the Soderbell Family’s position very clearly—that the “third generation would become the family’s pillar”—and had been advancing steadily toward that goal.

“But Father, how did you know the Shadow Panther cub was hiding within Cindy’s shadow?”

Akar asked curiously.

“Ever since that time we hunted the Shadow Panther, I seem to have awakened a certain special ‘talent’.” Ion spoke gravely. “I can faintly sense sources of danger, though the ability comes and goes—it’s unstable. When the Shadow Panther cub was hiding within Cindy’s shadow, it was fixated on my vital points. Though my perception was faint at the time, I still had a strong intuition.”

“That there was something inside Cindy’s shadow.”

“Father, you mean—” Akar nodded. “You’ve awakened a ‘Bloodline Talent’?”

“No, not yet.” Ion shook his head. “According to what we’ve read from Annie and Lily’s family collections, if one truly awakens a ‘Bloodline Talent’, they’ll instinctively understand its ability and effects. But I don’t have that awareness. However, if this ability stabilizes, perhaps it could evolve into a true ‘Bloodline Talent’.”

Bloodline Talents were exceedingly rare abilities.

They had no direct relation to the bloodline type itself, meaning theoretically any Bloodline User could develop a unique, extraordinary Bloodline Talent. In reality, however, their awakening was extremely rare—even a Sixth-Tier Bloodline User might not possess one.

Moreover, even if one awakened a Bloodline Talent, it couldn’t be inherited by their offspring.

That was why records and information about such talents were so scarce—practically reaching the level of myth. At the very least, low-tier Bloodline Users would have no knowledge of the term. The reason Ion’s family even knew about it was because Annie had once read some fragmentary notes in the Kasein Family’s archives.

In common understanding, a Bloodline Talent was thought to be a skill that might emerge only after long, rigorous training and practice.

But in Robin’s view, so-called Bloodline Talents were the manifestation of unique, inherent aptitudes.

A person first needed to possess a natural sense or skill in a certain field. Then, through the awakening of their bloodline and repeated stimulation during bloodline advancement, that innate ability would finally manifest, becoming an exclusive power of the Bloodline User.

In other words, one must first have the talent, before it could become a Bloodline Talent.

Not the other way around—not awakening the bloodline first, then acquiring the talent.

Ion’s Bloodline Talent was Beast Instinct.

It was an intuitive sense honed through countless life-and-death battles on the battlefield, later drawn out during his fight against the Shadow Panther under Robin’s influence. That was why, for Ion, this ability seemed “intermittent”—it wasn’t something he had awakened naturally, but rather something that had emerged with external aid.

However, Ion’s chances of stabilizing it into a true Bloodline Talent were much higher than others.

As long as he advanced to the Fourth Tier, this ability could be stabilized and become a true Bloodline Talent.

Previously, Robin had allowed Aches to obtain a temporary, unique ability to perceive hostility—a power he had converted from absorbing Ion’s talent effect. But since this ability was incomplete, Robin couldn’t bestow it upon others permanently. Only through contact with him could someone gain temporary perception.

But even then, it was limited to observation only.

If someone completely suppressed all hostility and attention, Robin couldn’t sense them at all—the countermeasure was that simple. Unfortunately, no one knew the underlying rule. So even when people thought they hid their hostility well, Robin would still detect a faint emotional trace.

After all, emotions were the hardest thing to conceal.

Many times, even one’s own deepest emotional undertones went unnoticed by themselves.

At the same time—

While Akar was learning all the secrets regarding the Phantom Demon Bloodline from Cindy, a dust-covered group had finally bypassed the Tyrella Kingdom’s Southern Army defenses on the Garris Plains and returned to the Aust Empire’s occupied zone.

Within the main tent of the former Tyrella Western Nobles’ Allied Army—now the Aust Empire’s Black Hawk Legion—the head of the Black Hawk Family, Ram Rodo Siger, suddenly set down the quill in his hand.

With a cold tone, he said, “What is it?”

Three figures quickly entered the tent. “My lord, the ‘Puppet Project’ in the Southern Region has failed.”