My Mother is the Villain

Chapter 32: Key

"So it’s that simple," Victor said as he took out the Necklace of Hate.

The requirement was the ability to seal souls. No wonder no one had ever been seen doing this before. Such artifacts were rare across both human continents, and the young and weak simply didn’t possess them.

"Elder, can you assist me?" Victor asked.

"Yes, Young Master..." The bald elder clearly harbored a cruel streak as well, showing no hesitation in killing innocents.

His gaze landed on an unremarkable group near the members of the Dragon Blood Sect—likely a subordinate faction.

"Prepare to absorb their souls, Young Master," he said.

All he did was extend a single finger.

Despite the distance, that finger strike slammed into nine youths within the group.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

They exploded into clouds of blood in an instant.

Victor saw the skull embedded in the Necklace of Hate suddenly glow, its mouth slightly opening.

At his command, a strange suction force erupted from within.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

From the drifting blood mist, nine faint lights were pulled toward the skull’s mouth.

If left alone, their souls would have been dragged away by the world itself—erased completely.

But being captured by an artifact... that was not true death.

Everyone watched as those fragile souls were devoured by the skull.

"Damn it! What is this?!"

"What are you doing?!"

The screams echoed from within the skull.

At the Lord Realm, even souls could speak.

Their voices leaked out while the skull’s mouth remained open—but the moment it closed, all sound vanished.

Victor could feel it—the hatred within.

Hatred that turned into power, something he could draw upon to strengthen himself.

Though external, it was still a form of energy.

Unfortunately... the hatred was weak.

Those youths hadn’t even fully grasped what had happened—their deaths were too sudden.

They needed awareness before true hatred could form.

As long as Victor allowed it, he could let them see the outside world.

Of course, the intensity of hatred also depended on the individual.

Ordinary people like them would never produce anything significant.

Only someone like Lukas—whose hatred ran deep—could truly empower the Necklace of Hate. That was why Margaret had targeted him, making him suffer even more.

At the same time, the roots that had been connected to those youths suddenly shifted.

Shua! Shua! Shua!

They shot toward Victor and attached themselves to his body.

A surge of Life Energy flooded into him.

The sight stunned everyone present.

DING!

(You have committed an evil act, causing the deaths of nine individuals for personal gain. Your mastery of the Heaven Guardian Dragon Bloodline has increased from 0% to 5%!)

---

[Bloodline:]

Heaven Guardian Dragon (Heaven Class >5%)

---

Victor received the notification.

"Elder Russell, what is the meaning of this?!" a red-robed elder from the Dragon Blood Sect shouted angrily.

There was no way he could remain silent when a subordinate faction under them had been slaughtered so casually.

The bald elder merely smiled faintly.

"Is there a problem? Do you object? I merely crushed a few ants for my Young Master. They should feel honored to contribute to his cultivation."

"You—!" The red-robed elder trembled with rage, while the elder from the slain youths’ faction didn’t dare utter a word.

"Ahem..." Bryce approached, clearing his throat.

He had finished handling his sect’s disciples.

"To assist Young Master Victor—what an honor for them," he said with a nod.

His presence was open support, and he was strong enough not to fear weaker sect elders.

With two powerful factions backing Victor, the red-robed elder could only swallow his anger.

"Y-Young Master... I understand their souls have only been sealed. Could you... return them once you are finished?" the elder of the fallen youths asked.

He was thin and somewhat short.

He wasn’t a coward—but before the Russell Clan, he could only beg like one.

Among the dead were his grandson, the clan master’s son, and several key successors.

"What do I get in return?" Victor asked calmly.

He didn’t rule out the possibility. After all, their hatred wasn’t particularly valuable.

The elder wasn’t surprised.

He began communicating remotely with his clan master.

This had been his idea—but he was certain the clan master would agree.

Victor waited patiently, continuing to absorb Lifespan.

"Young Master... we are willing to offer you our Heavenly Library Key," the elder finally said.

The crowd stirred in shock.

"The Scoot Clan? That small clan actually has that key?"

"Where did they even get it?"

"Young Master, this key grants you a one-time entry into the library at Heaven Emperor Academy," the bald elder explained. "It is perhaps the most valuable library. Many high-level Merit Laws and Techniques are stored there. You may choose three—Tyrannical War Body originated from there."

Victor nodded lightly.

"I’ll release their souls once the key is handed over."

He then returned to absorbing Lifespan.

Even without focusing, the results were the same.

At the same time, he examined the power of his Dragon Bloodline.

Hot. Violent.

That was its nature.

It seemed to require strong willpower to control.

At only 5% mastery, he was still fine.

But beyond 30%... it might become difficult.

The ferocity of a dragon could begin to influence him.

He wondered—

Would that effect disappear once he obtained the Heaven Dragon Soul?

Because if not... with an additional 50% boost, things could become troublesome.

Victor wasn’t kept waiting for long.

Another elder—an acquaintance of the first—arrived with sweat covering his face, clearly having rushed here in a hurry.

The moment he saw Victor, he knew this was the young man in question.

He approached respectfully, his body trembling slightly under the gaze of the Bald Elder.

Even Emma was far stronger than him.

"Young Master, this is the key," the elder said, presenting a golden key to Victor.

It was wrapped in faint black seals, likely meant to destroy the key after a single use.

Victor accepted it and stored it away without hesitation.

"It’s not over yet, so wait," Victor said calmly.

"Yes, Young Master..." The elder nodded.

A faint smile appeared on Victor’s lips.

If he hadn’t been born as a Young Master, then even halfway through his story, he might still only be dealing with minor clans like the Scoot Clan.