The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 164: Bloodline Grafting Art

Vol 2 Chapter 164: Bloodline Grafting Art

After finding out about the situation at 'Beast-Call Valley', Sylutia took Morris to the garrison of that faction.

A flash of teleportation light later, the two arrived at the location of this faction.

High stone walls stood on both sides here, and there were eagle nests on the cliffs surrounding the pool. Inside them were several gray-brown falcons, their sharp eyes monitoring the area.

"Huh, someone's coming today? Isn't it not yet time for the resource exchange?" A burly man wearing a fur coat walked over.

"You two, come here to register, state your origins and situation." He beckoned to Sylutia and the cloaked Morris beside her.

"One moment." Sylutia nodded, then spoke to the uneasy Morris in black robes behind her.

"Follow me, don't speak unless spoken to."

"Yes, Lady Ya."

Sylutia then walked over to the burly man, stated her origins, and presented her badge as proof."So it's Lady Sylutia." The man compared the badge, looking slightly surprised, and his attitude became respectful.

Seeing this, Sylutia was a bit curious.

"You've heard of me?"

"Of course. A while ago, the roar of the vulture-lion echoed across the southern part of the continent. Many organizations and factions inquired about what happened, and I heard about it from my companions." He answered with a smile.

"Please wait a moment, Lady Ti Ya. I need to go and notify them, otherwise, some situations would be too discourteous."

After saying this, he returned the badge to Ya, whistled, and a three-horned war beast nimbly leaped down from the cliff and came to his side.

Mounting this war beast, he quickly headed into the valley's interior.

About six or seven minutes later, he returned again, patted the war beast beneath him, letting it go play by itself, and then came before Sylutia.

"Please follow me, Lady Ti Ya." After speaking, he led the way for the two.

Sylutia followed behind him, looking at him with some curiosity, chatting about the situation here.

"Beast-Call Valley isn't very large. All official members number just over 200. Including the peripheral members on the surface continent, it might be just over ten thousand people." He said casually.

Here, official members refer to those of the Third Tier and above. Thinking carefully, such a scale already far surpasses Regas. However, within the Hidden Grove, this is still a relatively small organization.

"Our members initially all study the 'Bloodline' Path, but they utilize many secret arts and abilities of the 'Beast Fang' Aspect, and also tame some 'Beast Fang' Aspect beasts as companions. If one reaches the Fifth Tier, they will begin attempting to accommodate the 'Beast Fang' Aspect as a composite second Aspect."

"Does Lady Ya primarily cultivate 'Verdant Nectar' or 'Castle'?"

"Still 'Verdant Nectar'." Sylutia answered.

"Then we should have many areas for exchange. It would be even better if Lady Ya could help us cultivate some Fruits."

As they spoke, the three gradually reached the interior of the valley. Here, there were towering stone city walls, and from inside, one could hear various beast roars and shouts.

"A beast-fighting competition is going on inside. Lady Ya can come and take a look." Saying this, he slowly pushed open the heavy gate, revealing a larger entrance, and beckoned the two inside.

On the city wall towers, there were also guards in fur trench coats patrolling. They held beast-horn longbows and wore beast bone ornaments. They looked like they should be a branch profession of the 'Ranger' Path.

After entering the valley, there were many stalls on both sides of the street. This should be the valley's main trading area, selling various beast products and goods, with fur, beast bones, ointments, and food being the most common.

"We'll look at these things later. Let's head to the beast-fighting arena." He led Ya and the other directly to the large building further inside.

Passing through the gate tower and steps, the three entered the interior of the beast-fighting arena. Many members were sitting in the spectator stands here. In the arena, two giant beasts were fighting. Through the introduction of the burly man beside her and her own observation, Sylutia gradually understood the situation of both sides.

One side was a giant salamander about twelve meters tall. Its body was black with a few blue stripes.

Race: Salamander (Mutant)

Status: Healthy (Water-Source Body)

Talents:

Water-Source Blood [Superior Grade]: Can absorb large amounts of water into the blood and utilize this water to gain various benefits.

Fate Card: [Water-Spring Salamander] [Third Tier · Snail Fish]

"A giant salamander living in large rivers. Its body can absorb and compress large amounts of water, using it to enhance itself."

- Effect: [Water-Source Body Lv.6], a talent within the bloodline, allows you to absorb water to expand your body, gaining immense strength and physique.

- Effect: [Limb Regeneration Lv.5], an innate ability of the salamander race, allowing limbs to regenerate.

Core Card: [Water-Source Overlord] [Snail Fish]

"You have controlled an entire river, manipulating its flow and flooding at will, devoured and cut off river water sources, and repelled over a thousand creatures of the same tier."

- Influence: [Water-Source Overlord], greatly enhances control over water flow and sources, making related ability effects stronger.

Ability Cards:

[Water Flow Smash Lv.7] (Snail Fish): A mighty smash carrying compressed water flow, powerful enough to shatter rocks and the spines of any challenger. (Extremely powerful)

[Water Flow Protection Lv.6] (Snail Fish): Compressed water flow surrounds the body, greatly reducing damage from various attacks.

[Water Flow Jet Lv.6] (Snail Fish): High-pressure water flow is further compressed by body organs before being jetted out, greatly increasing power.

Fighting against this salamander was a giant ox with huge curved horns. Its body was also about twelve meters tall, even slightly larger than the salamander.

[Black-Horned Brute Ox] [Third Tier · Beast Fang]

'A brute ox of the wilderness. Its immense strength and physique make it have few rivals among creatures of the same tier.'

The two giant beasts fought together. In their collisions, water splashed, the earth trembled, mixed with traces of blood. Such a scene made many of those present cheer and shout excitedly.

Initially, the Black-Horned Brute Ox held the upper hand with its physique and strength. Under the fierce smashing and ramming of those huge curved horns, the salamander was forced back repeatedly, even spitting blood.

However, as time passed, the brute ox exhausted its strength, while the injuries on the giant salamander slowly recovered. The balance began to shift.

Finally, the brute ox was no match for the salamander, was completely suppressed by it, had its head sealed by water flow, making it unable to breathe and suffering greatly. In the end, the brute ox's owner had to admit defeat, ending the beast fight.

"Truly worthy of the giant salamander beast that Cargus meticulously cultivated."

"That guy's endurance is too strong. Unless you defeat it in one go, it will always turn the tables."

"The salamander's regeneration ability and water flow resistance ability complement each other extremely well. Few other giant beasts of the same tier have such a powerful combination."

Listening to the commentary beside her, the burly man led Sylutia down to the bottom of the beast-fighting arena. Here, there were restrooms and rooms for recuperating the giant beasts.

Here, Sylutia met an instructor from Beast-Call Valley. His strength was at 'Fourth Tier · Bloodline'. His hair was messy, but his eyes were deep. He directed the disciples around him to examine the brute ox that had just left the arena.

"Check it carefully. First, insert a tube to drain the water flow from its lungs, then inject No. 15 potion to help heal internal organ injuries. After that, set and fix the bones, then transport it to an empty room to recuperate."

"Yes, instructor!" A group of burly men in fur vests answered, then busied themselves nervously. Most were at the Second Tier, senior apprentices here.

After finishing this, the instructor had free time to speak with Sylutia.

"You're Sylutia, right? You've been involved in quite a few major events recently." His gaze swept over the girl up and down, as if trying to see something different about her.

"I heard you summoned lions. Did you manage to keep any hair or feathers?"

"No. The vulture-lion is a projected life form. Its body is composed of starlight, it has no flesh and blood." Sylutia shook her head.

"That's a real shame." He shook his head, then beckoned to Sylutia and Morris.

"Follow me. There's a quieter room over here."

Afterwards, he took the two to a quiet restroom on one side, then brought over a pot of warm tea.

"Help yourselves to the tea." After saying this, he relaxed and leaned back on the sofa.

"I am Romait, but most people call me by my nickname 'Ironfinger'. You can also call me 'Ironfinger'."

"Alright, Mr. Ironfinger." Sylutia nodded, then spoke about Morris's situation.

"I've heard about this kid's matter. I was the one who specifically instructed to reply." He crossed his legs, took out a cigarette, lit it, and savored the smoke.

"To be able to complete a bloodline grafting ritual without much experience or guidance, you're an interesting child." He looked at Morris standing behind Ya.

Although Morris was over thirty years old, in this old man's eyes, he was indeed still a child.

"Take off your shirt, show me your strength."

"Yes, sir." Morris took off his jacket, revealing his distinctly different crimson left arm. Then Morris exerted force, the muscles on this left arm bulging, becoming exceptionally robust.

"Go, there's a sandbag for testing strength over there. Punch it with all your might."

Morris then walked over and punched with all his strength. The iron-sand-filled sandbag swung up about 30 degrees.

"Not bad." The other party nodded slightly, then had Morris come over and carefully examined his arm.

"I accept you as my disciple. Afterwards, you can register directly at Beast-Call Valley."

"Thank you, si—no, instructor."

"Heh, you're quite smart." 'Ironfinger' nodded, telling him to first go report to someone and complete all the procedures.

Afterwards, Ironfinger looked at the remaining Sylutia in the room, thought for a moment, and then spoke.

"How much does Lady Sylutia know about the matter of 'bloodline grafting'?"

"I've only heard the most basic concepts, I don't know much about it." Sylutia answered.

"I see." He nodded.

"In fact, this secret art was very popular during the Sixth and Seventh Epochs."

"Through certain rituals, ordinary life forms could obtain the bloodline power of other powerful creatures."

"One could even say that the numerous beastkin sub-races were born because of such rituals. It's just that through tens of thousands of years of reproduction and natural selection, their bloodlines gradually stabilized, making them appear more normal."

"The Fourth Epoch was the Star-Beast Epoch. At that time, the world's overlords were various powerful 'Primordial Beasts'. They were immensely powerful; no creature was stronger than them back then."

"You could say that in that era, 'Primordial Beasts' were the original Hours. They were the ultimate expressions of certain 'Aspects'. However, they only instinctively and vaguely controlled this great power, unlike the later Fairy Monarchs who could utilize the 'Hour' status to transform this world."

"After the Fairies rose, the Primordial Beasts gradually became unable to compete. Their numbers greatly decreased, and finally, the entire 'Primordial Beast' Aspect degenerated. This certainly weakened the power of that 'Aspect', but it also allowed other life forms to borrow from and modify it."

"And thus, the ancestors of the beastkin races were born."

"Until the Seventh Epoch, this type of bloodline grafting art was still prevalent. At that time, many wizards would try to implant powerful primordial beast bloodlines into themselves, obtaining abilities normally difficult to cultivate, strengthening their own physiques, and reducing weaknesses."

"However, after the rise of the School of Royal Authority in the Eighth Epoch, the status of wizards gradually declined. After that, mass-producing knights was much safer and faster than implanting bloodlines."

"Later came an era of a hundred flowers blooming. Various supernatural schools rose, and bloodline grafting also became less outstanding and useful, so it slowly declined."

Ironfinger recounted the origin and history of the 'bloodline grafting' art.

"I've always believed that people like us who specialize in bloodline arts are very similar to you gardeners. We are all people who constantly modify life, even create life. It's just that the materials we choose are different." He put down his cigarette.

"So, are you interested in studying here for a while? It might also add some inspiration to your gardener path."

"This... I'm afraid it won't be possible recently. I need to return to the Darkmist Mountains. There's still a lot of work there."

"That's truly a shame." He shook his head slightly.

"However, I will properly train this disciple you sent."

"By the way, you probably lack some pack beasts and war beasts in the Darkmist Mountains, right? Coincidentally, I've recently trained a batch. You can take them, but you'll need to exchange them for some resources."

"Here's the list. Take a look."

[Brute Ox Calf (First Tier · Beast Fang), high strength potential — 10 gold coins]

[Adult Brute Ox (Second Tier · Beast Fang), immense strength — 80 gold coins]

[River Valley Rhinoceros (Second Tier · Beast Fang), excellent defense — 85 gold coins]

[Wasteland Horse (Second Tier · Bloodline), immense endurance — 72 gold coins]

[Sharp-Eye Eagle (Second Tier · Bloodline), exceptional observation — 90 gold coins]

[Electric-Wing Falcon (Second Tier · Vaulted Sky), extremely fast, has electric current attack ability — 180 gold coins]

[Thunderbird (Third Tier · Vaulted Sky), fast, has powerful lightning attack ability — 2000 gold coins]

......

"The ones marked later are all gold coins. However, if you exchange them with resources we need, the price can be 20% cheaper. For urgently needed resources, it can be 40% cheaper."

He then handed another list to Sylutia, which listed many special plant fruits, mineral materials, potion ingredients, etc. Many of them she was seeing for the first time, but there were also some that she happened to possess.

['Second Tier · Bloodline' Aspect fruits, base purchase price — 10 gold coins each (price increases with quality)]

['Second Tier' detoxifying plants, base purchase price — 12 gold coins per portion (price increases with quality)]

.......

'Blood Currant' — she currently still had 6 clusters, about 70 fruits. They were previously used in Scorchstone City and for cultivating 'Vulture-Lion Knights'. The next batch of Blood Currants in the manor would mature in another three months.

'White Camellia' detoxifying tea leaves — she had about 120 portions. This item was used relatively little, so she had a lot left. Because the quality she cultivated was all Rare, if sold, the price would be over 10 times the base price.

Added together, these could probably be exchanged here for about 21,400 gold coins. If these fruits were directly used as exchange resources for purchases, there would be a 20% discount, meaning obtaining 21,400/(1-20%) = 26,750 purchasing power.

After finishing the conversion, Sylutia herself was startled, not expecting it to be so much.

It seems, perhaps, after stepping into the Third Tier, she hasn't stayed long in the Hidden Grove, nor did she realize how rare and powerful the ability to mass-produce high-quality Second Tier crops and fruits is.

In the past, cultivating a single 'First Tier · Verdant Nectar' Great Goose Orchid would take her three months. Now, even if she did nothing, the initial cultivation and nurturing within the manor could produce a large quantity of Second Tier · Rare fruits. The quantity is a hundred times that of before, and the individual quality and value are also a hundred times that of before. Combined, the difference is... Sylutia suddenly realized how terrifying the gap in this was.

In the three years, she had grown a lot. No wonder her friends from the past were all especially surprised when she returned to the surface continent this time. In fact, people she considered ordinary, like Karen and Solyn, were already outstanding among Transcendents of the same age. Sophitina was even a great talent among her peers. It's just that compared to her, they seemed slower.

Since resources are so abundant this time, let's purchase a bit more.

Sylutia looked at the items on the list, bought all the ones she needed, experiencing the feeling of spending gold coins like water. The resources she delivered also forced the 'Ironfinger' opposite her to cross off some of the purchase categories on the list.

Especially the detoxifying herbs. It seems they won't need to purchase them for some time to come.