Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 730 Immortality in the Extreme Realm
"That's outrageous. Even a newborn's thirst is too intense, like an untamed wild beast."

On the abandoned watchtower, Yannick calmly gazed down, as if watching a stage play from the front row.

In contrast, Thales had to rely on his binoculars, the combined power of the telescope and the Sin of the River of Hell, along with the occasional bursts of fireworks in the night sky, to barely make out the battle situation ahead.

King Lausanne II roared repeatedly, seemingly insane, as he chased after Catherine and leaped onto the roof, only to be dragged down by a suddenly appearing net and disappear into the alley.

"Newborn, humph."

Thales scoffed inwardly:
Is this what your newborn looks like?
"I guess it's because he's been blindly suppressing his thirst. But desires are like a flood; it's better to channel them gently than to block them. The more you ignore and brutally suppress them, the more terrifying the rebound and damage will be."

The Feast Leader, a vampire, narrowed his eyes, watching the commotion below:
"So when he was overwhelmed by thirst, he could not even maintain basic reason and became a completely different person or another animal."

Yannick's eyes flickered, and he spoke from the heart:

"As a vampire, if you cannot coexist with your desires and reach a compromise, then you will completely break apart—when one side takes power, the other will be driven out and go their own way."

No wonder, no wonder King Lausanne II committed so many atrocities and had to do so much to cover them up.

“Just like Jekyll and Hyde,” Thales said absentmindedly.

"what?"

Thales snapped out of his reverie and shook his head quite naturally:

"It's not important. Not many people know about the legends of the two-faced demons around the Western Wilderness."

Yannick nodded thoughtfully.

As the trap was triggered, the simple houses in the new suburbs seemed to suddenly awaken, with lights shining inside and out, casting shadowy figures and echoing shouts of killing.

But the houses outside the encirclement remained quiet and dark.

It was as if there was some unspoken understanding between them and the battlefield.

Thales was unable to locate his target and had to put down his binoculars.

“Catherine—the Blood Bottle Gang leader who has a grudge against him—insisted on directing the ambush herself, probably because she was certain of this.”

The Phantom Blade Project ignited Losang II's thirst for blood, causing him to lose his mind and transform into a beast, rendering him unable to fight with clear and organized superb swordsmanship, making him easy prey for the enemy.

So far, it seems to have been somewhat effective.

But just how many connections and people did she use, including those from the Black Street Brotherhood?
How effective will it be?
If her plan fails...

“Now you’ve seen it with your own eyes, Yang, that’s how it is,” Thales said, his gaze sharp, getting straight to the point. “What do you think?”

The vampire senator remained silent for a moment, but his reply was perfectly tactful:

“In my opinion, Your Highness, this vampire assassin’s elders either failed in their duty of discipline, or were ineffective in their control, or simply had no intention of teaching him how to relieve his thirst for blood.”

He squinted, seemingly unintentionally:

"I wonder if it was out of necessity, or if it was out of malicious intent?"

Thales's brow twitched slightly.

"According to our clan's traditions and laws, all the damage and guilt caused by a reckless newborn will be borne by his elders or even his clan, and only they are the most suitable to restrain him..."

“Well said,” Thales interrupted his diplomatic remarks, “that’s why I went to the head of the family and invited the Corleones, but unfortunately…”

Thales sighed and gestured to the spot where Li had just stood.

The parents were irresponsible; they just packed their bags and ran away.

The mischievous child was left to continue causing trouble.

Yannick gave an understanding smile.

However, Thales changed the subject:
"But the way Count Li left so decisively makes me start to have doubts: what if the Corleone family really didn't do this?"

Yannick's eyes flickered.

"Your Highness?"

Thales looked up, his gaze meaningful:
"If Li ignores the mess left by King Losang II, it's because he really doesn't need to take responsibility, since there are no relatives or elders of this vampire in the Night Kingdom, and since King Losang II wasn't a vampire transformed by Corleone, he's naturally not subject to their constraints?"

“Even if the killer isn’t a descendant of the Corleone family, it doesn’t absolve them of suspicion,” Yannick first affirmed Thales’s suspicion, then subtly shifted the direction of his suspicion, “or quite the opposite: did the Corleone deliberately use such an isolated newborn who was unrelated by blood and therefore not responsible, so that he could wash his hands of it at a crucial moment?”

That's right.

It really has been completely cleaned up.

Thales glanced at Yannick, seemingly casually.

“But if King Losang II is not a descendant of Corleone, or even a blood relative of one of the seven lower clans of the Night Kingdom, then could it be…”

"Please rest assured."

Yannick smiled and promptly cut him off:
"For our clan, developing descendants is a serious, solemn, and complex matter. Any deviation would result in huge losses. Therefore, even the most senior and experienced elders must be extremely cautious."

"Not only are the quotas for bestowing longevity upon descendants strictly limited, but the process is also difficult and lengthy. From demand, reporting, public discussion, approval, to selection, training, testing, and decision of candidates, it is bound to go through many hurdles. The last step is the longevity bestowal that the public recognizes as—that is, transformation."

“We—at least the Immortal Council—have extremely strict rules and oversight in this regard. From the Speaker and Elders to newborns and blood slaves, every vampire is recorded and their affiliation is clear. If their behavior deviates even slightly, they will be traced back to their origins and have nowhere to hide.”

He looked at Thales, his conclusion leaving no room for doubt:
"He couldn't have come from the feast."

Is that such an absolute statement?
Thales smiled knowingly:
"But what if someone, for their own selfish gain, deceives their superiors and subordinates, and creates offspring behind the backs of your council?"

Yannick vehemently denied it:
"No, the Convention of Human Nations and Immortal Species ensures this. The Immortal Council will never allow any unauthorized vampire newborns to be born outside its sight."

His eyes sharpened:
"As for privately creating offspring, this is an even greater crime that threatens the survival of the clan and disrupts the order of our clan. Regardless of their status or blood relation, violators will be punished by death. The whole clan shall bear witness."

Yannick's expression was serious, and his gaze was cold.

Thales stared at him for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Don't be so nervous, I didn't say it was you who did it. Maybe when King Losang II was on the run, he was bitten by some random wandering vampire and transformed into..."

"That's impossible."

Yannick interrupted him, a half-smile on his face.
"Converting into a vampire is far from easy; it requires source blood."

Thales raised an eyebrow:
"What blood?"

Yannick said seriously:

“Origin Blood—the most precious essence of blood in our race, and an important medium for creating offspring and passing on ‘blessings’. However, pure Origin Blood can only be actively condensed by vampires at the extreme level.”

If the source blood absorbed during the transformation is not pure enough, or is excessively diluted and impure...

That could lead to the tragedy of flesh and blood collapsing—a common occurrence in the early history of the vampires, most notably the eldest son of the vampire progenitor.

Or worse, the newborns go completely mad in the transformation, degenerating into blood slaves devoid of reason, driven only by desire, almost like wild beasts.

This will invite the next calamity from the wolf enemy.

Thinking this through, Yannick continued:
"Moreover, the source blood is extremely sensitive. Once it coagulates outside the bloodline, it will completely evaporate in less than an hour. Even if it is injected into the human body, it will not remain for more than a day."

Thales realized:
"That means……"

“This is not something that ‘any random vampire’ could do,” Yannick said solemnly. “The one who bestowed the blessing upon Losang II and transformed him into a descendant must be an extremely powerful vampire of high status, with a distinguished name and lineage.”

He added, intentionally or unintentionally:
"For example, the Queen of Night and Count Li, who were directly bestowed upon and transformed into second-generation vampires by the Nightwing King."

Thales raised an eyebrow:
"Or is it Serena Corleone, who is on the run?"

Yannick didn't speak, he just smiled.

----

For a fleeting moment, Robert wondered if it had all been a nightmare.

In her nightmare, the axe blow came deadly, tearing open her chest and bringing unspeakable pain!

The painful memory made Robert gasp.

But now...

In the alley, Robert sat on the ground in a daze, staring blankly at her chest:
Cracked leather armor, blood-soaked shirt, slightly itchy skin, and a... incredibly ugly axe scar.

what happened?

The weakened body, the pool of blood on the ground, and the faint shouts and cries of battle in the distance all indicated that it was more than just a dream.

"You feel hungry..." a dangerous voice said.

At that moment, Robert's hair stood on end!

She entered a fighting stance, straining to get up from the ground, but fell to the ground again due to seeing stars.

"You filthy bloodsucker—"

no no!
Where are her weapons?
Get moving!

"...dizziness, nausea, mood swings, hypersensitivity, numbness and itching in the wound, and even recurring low-grade fever," the voice ignored her and continued, "You need rest and food."

The sound of a body being overturned could be heard—it seemed that the monster was searching Old Brooks's corpse.

what did he say?
Hunger? Eating?
Robert came to his senses and tried hard to think.

No, it's impossible.

She stared blankly at the scar on her chest:
Her injuries were fatal; there was no way she could have survived, and even if she had, she couldn't have recovered so quickly...

unless……

eat.

Robert realized something and his face turned pale.

No.

She propped herself up on her arms, gritting her teeth as she stared at the monster before her—his armor was tattered, he was covered in filth, and he was so disheveled that even his goggles had fallen off.

But without a doubt, his eyes were sharp and his movements were steady, no longer showing the previous listlessness and weakness.

Nearly at its peak.

As for the reason, the emaciated corpse of the giant man on the ground explains everything.

"you you……"

Filled with vigilance and fear, Robert said in a trembling voice:

"With such severe injuries, I couldn't possibly survive, unless..."

“Yes,” the monster said, looking quite dissatisfied with the fact that it had only found a short axe, a few daggers, and a money pouch sewn into the lining of the giant’s clothes on his corpse. “I gave you a drop of source blood.”

Moreover, it was the purest kind he could provide.

"You survived."

It’s over.

Robert shuddered and collapsed to the ground.

Do not……

The immense shock and despair relentlessly assaulted her spirit.

Source blood.

Vampires create offspring and use the blood of newborns for transformation.

impossible.

She pressed her hand to her chest, feeling a faint, illusory pain, and remained frozen in shock.

impossible.

The shouts of battle continued all around, and the firelight flickered.

A few seconds later, the same immense anger and shame replaced the previous emotions and overwhelmed Robert's heart.

"How dare you, how dare you..." she gritted her teeth, trembling violently, "I will become, become..."

Just then, a swordsman carrying the Lamp of Eternity rushed into the alley, his head in his hands. Upon seeing Robert and the giant's corpse on the ground, he exclaimed in surprise, "What happened—"

Boom!
The monster appeared instantly in front of the swordsman, who collapsed before he could even see its shadow.

"What does it matter?"

The monster set down the limp swordsman and picked up his lamp and longsword:

"You survived."

To stop decaying, to live forever, and perhaps even to become stronger and faster—wouldn't that be wonderful?
Robert was stunned as he looked at the fallen swordsman.

Lausanne II skillfully picked up the steel axe left behind by Denver and effortlessly threw it in another direction above his head.

The steel axe swept across countless rooftops, landing far away beyond countless walls with a piercing sound.

The shouts of battle from the surrounding area immediately converged in that direction.

"Go to hell, you monster!"

The shouts of battle brought Robert back to her senses. She grabbed the alloy silver knife and pointed it at King Lausanne II.

"No, I am human, human, just human..."

She gritted her teeth, her eyes bloodshot.

You can't...

You can't do this to me!

I must also carry on my mother's profession, hunting vampires, hunting...

Thinking of this, Robert's gaze gradually dimmed, and the tip of the knife trembled incessantly.

Hunting myself?
They feed on blood, hunt for survival, lurk in the shadows, unable to see the light, and are forever tormented by blood...

Wherever it goes, it brings death, fear, and destruction to people...

Robert felt a chill run down his spine.

No.

All the stories she had heard and all the training she had received since childhood became the last straw that broke her back at this moment.

Robert took a deep breath, and with trembling hands, but with unwavering resolve, turned the blade around.

The knife tip was aimed at her heart.

"Do not."

Her eyes were resolute.

"I will never become a monster who harms others for personal gain."

no way.

Robert closed his eyes and gripped the knife handle tightly.

Goodbye, Mom, and to the nineteen cats in the house—especially the picky one.

King Lausanne II stroked the longsword in his hand and squinted.

Didn't your mother teach you that?

Robert paused in his movements:
How do vampires transform?

what?
Robert suddenly opened his eyes, his anger rising.

How dare he mention her mother?
"Of course I know!"

Vampires force-feed their primal blood to innocent people, turning them into sun-avoiding monsters just like themselves—mad, out of control, and eternally cursed…

At least that's what my grandmother said to my mother...

My maternal great-uncle said the same thing to my grandmother before he passed away...

My maternal grandmother's great-uncle inherited his skills from his own great-aunt!
This great-aunt is even more remarkable. You should know that her stepfather is the great-nephew of the protector of mankind, the special secretary and bard of the first generation of immortal hunters!
The setting sun bears witness that the clerk once marched alongside Kayla and her comrades, fearlessly fighting on the battlefield, singing war songs for them, and recording their glory!

But such a long, great, and glorious heritage has all been destroyed tonight by this—

“That makes sense. A newbie like you who gets attacked from behind would naturally think that this will turn you into a vampire.” Losang II said casually.

and many more.

Robert calmed down and widened his eyes.

What did he just say—vampire transformation?

Without realizing it, she put down her scimitar and spoke with surprise:
"You mean, you mean I won't, won't become a vampire?"

But King Losang II snorted coldly:
"you will."

Robert's smile froze.

"From the moment the source blood enters the body until it is completely metabolized and ineffective, it takes at least twenty hours," King Lausanne II said coldly. "If you die during this time—"

Death in battle, death from a fall, death from illness, death from old age, or even death from stupidity—no matter the manner of death…

"You will transform."

King Losang II said quietly:
"Resurrected by the source blood and turned into a vampire."

Of course, this is on the premise of enduring the pain and torment during the transformation, as well as the mental blows afterward.

No. Robert thought blankly: He said I could transform.

I will die, then be resurrected, and become a vampire with fangs...

Having lost her hope, Robert collapsed to the ground, unable to bear the blow, her spirits plummeting once again.

It's over, there's no hope left.

"Why," she cried, heartbroken and utterly despondent, "why is fate so cruel to me? Why are the setting sun and the rising sun, including the bright moon, so unjust to me?"

She set her sights high from a young age, studied diligently, and finally encountered her first vampire in her life...

But they went from hunter to prey.

Is there any more tragic fate than this?
“Indeed, this is the essence of the gods,” Losang II said coldly, “creating injustice.”

He still had to kick someone when they were down!

Robert wept bitterly, heartbroken.

"Do not."

She cried as she raised her scimitar:

"I do not accept!"

She'd rather die than...

“I’ll kill myself right now,” Robert sobbed.

She'd rather die than become a vampire! To become a disgusting, filthy monster!

"you sure?"

King Losang II said coldly:
"Twenty hours haven't passed yet."

Robert suddenly remembered something and shuddered.

Yes, I can't commit suicide.

He said that if I died within twenty hours, I would become a vampire!

Ahhhhh!

The scimitar fell to the ground, and Robert clutched his head, utterly devastated.

A few seconds later, she sorted out her thoughts and her gaze hardened.

"It's alright, patience is a hunter's most reliable aim—then I'll wait for the full twenty hours!"

For the past twenty hours, I've locked myself in my room and haven't gone anywhere!
Until the day when even if I die, I won't become a vampire...

I'll commit suicide again!

Having found a solution, Robert picked up her weapon, her eyes filled with hope:
That way, I'll definitely not become a vampire—

Eh?
Robert's smile froze.

and many more.

She held up the scimitar and mechanically turned her head:

"What if, what if I hadn't died in those twenty hours?"

“In that case, the source blood will be expelled from your body, purified, and never seen again.” Losang II said without looking up.

Robert was stunned.

Discharge, purification?
"If I'm still alive then, will I still become a vampire?"

King Lausanne II ignored the foolish question and merely glanced at her disdainfully.

Robert's eyes widened further.

Wait, so if that's the case, as long as I don't die within twenty hours...

"what!"

Having figured it out, Robert burst into tears, lying on the ground and weeping with joy!

Great!

O gods, thank you for your great favor!
I will risk my life to save the cat in return!

"Remember, next time you encounter a mercenary deliberately avoiding groups, acting alone, or even changing their appearance..."

King Losang II glanced at Denver, who was already dead on the ground:
There must be a reason.

It's not bad.

King Lausanne II turned around, no longer looking at the vampire hunter behind him.

That's just stupid.

"and many more!"

Robert woke up with a start, gritting her teeth:

"You're a vampire, you won't help me for nothing! But let me tell you, whatever your schemes are—"

But her words came to an abrupt end—the wretched vampire had vanished without her noticing.

Robert was left alone, sitting blankly in the pool of blood.

----

Thales stared at the other person for a long time before nodding slightly.

“Fine, Li has already run away anyway,” the prince said helplessly. “As the only vampire expert I have left, you’re in charge.”

Yannick was initially flattered, but then humbly stepped back and bowed.

“Your Highness flatters me,” Yang said, changing the subject, “but there is still one thing I don’t understand…”

"Which point?"

"The Corleone family is cunning, fickle, and malicious, which is certainly despicable, but why would they choose this assassin as their descendant?"

Thales paused, not quite understanding the question:

"Um, maybe it's because... because King Losang II was a powerful Extreme Realm assassin before? After being transformed into a vampire, he has even greater value?"

"That's precisely why it's even stranger."

"What do you mean?"

Yannick explained very patiently:

"In our vampire clan's view, rather than a well-established, experienced, and knowledgeable extreme warrior, we would rather choose a naive young man with limited experience as our descendant and bestow upon him the source blood."

"And why is that—oh, is it because older people are more stubborn and harder to change than younger people?" Thales guessed.

Yannick nodded approvingly:
“Your Highness is astute. When a person becomes a master of the highest level, it means that his life has been set, his cognition has been solidified, and his body, mind, spirit, memory, including the character and habits shaped by his life experiences, are difficult to shake.”

He sighed:

"Therefore, the risks of transforming an extreme expert into a descendant are extremely high: whether it is the possibility of failure in reincarnation, the rejection and pain of the body and flesh, or the obstacles of readjusting to the body, changing thinking, and accepting the vampire identity as a newborn after successful reincarnation, all are much greater than those of transforming an ordinary person, far greater than unimaginable."

More often than not, it's a waste of source blood, resulting in more harm than good.

Thales frowned upon hearing this.

"Not to mention Leon the Bloodfang, who rules the Night Kingdom, even the most ordinary low-level vampires should know this," Yannick said.

Therefore, this is the principle of vampires developing their offspring—the less experience the better, and the less burden the better.

Thales pondered upon hearing this.

But they still chose to convert Lausanne II, opting for the more difficult option instead of the easier one.

Yannick thought for a moment, then said quite naturally:
"That's why I'm wondering: Could it be that there's something fishy about this King Losang II's identity? Is it related to the old case of Kongming Palace?"

Thales nodded.

"Makes sense."

There's definitely something fishy about this.

After all, Marius had said in private that Lausanne II was a former student of Master Joaquin.

"In that case, Your Highness, why go to such lengths when you can find something closer to you?"

"What do you mean?"

Yannick bowed again:
"You should know that no matter how strong the assassin is or how many kills he has, he is still just a sword, and in the end, it's just a matter of a bounty."

Thales squinted.

“We both know that compared to this sword,” Yannick smiled slyly at the encirclement below the tower, “the key to the Emerald City game lies in the Empty Palace.”

Emerald City Gambling.

Thales smiled helplessly upon hearing this.

"I think so."

Unfortunately, Janne was unyielding, and Federico was slippery.

However, their identities were sensitive, so he had to be polite and couldn't be as forceful as the pretty boy from the Western Wilderness.

The secret bureaucracy, hidden in the shadows, is shrouded in secrecy, with the royal power always at its back.

He was caught in the middle, unable to move forward or backward.

I'm not going to take the long way around; I'm just bullying the weak and fearing the strong!
Thinking of this, Thales sighed and looked down at the tower:
"However, I just spoke with those two brothers not long ago, and guess what they're most concerned about right now?"

Yannick's eyes lit up.

"I see."

"Yes, whether it's a coincidence or something strange, their power struggle has always revolved around Losang—"

Thales was speaking when he suddenly stopped abruptly, startled.

"Around?" Yannick asked, puzzled.

Thales remained silent for a moment.

He frowned as he stared at Yannick, who was still smiling, feeling a strange unease he couldn't quite put his finger on.

“Yannick,” Thales abruptly changed the subject, “as a vampire, what is your special ability?”

Yannick's eyes flickered slightly.

"Your Highness?" he asked, looking puzzled.

Is it related to mental health?

Yannick was taken aback.

But Thales narrowed his eyes and continued to press:
"For example, subtly coaxing someone out of their true feelings and secrets?"

The air above the abandoned watchtower fell silent.

"Your Highness is joking," Yannick said awkwardly for a second, then gave a wry smile. "Human hearts are complex and unpredictable. How could I possibly have such an ability?"

Thales scrutinized him for a moment with suspicion.

“Oh, that’s good,” the prince said, squinting. “Otherwise, I would have thought you were trying to uncover the secrets of the Kongming Palace case.”

"I'm so sorry."

Yannick realized what was happening and sincerely apologized:

"I suppose my words caused Your Highness to misunderstand."

Yannick naturally turned his head away, avoiding Thales's gaze: "Let's think about how to deal with this assassin—they can't stop him."

Oops.

Thales was startled and raised his binoculars again.

In the telescope, light and shadow flickered on the walls of the alley, and faint cries of pain could be heard from the hellish senses.

Okay, if Catherine can't handle it, then he'll have to—

"So, the key to the problem is simply catching the murderer, right?"

Thales frowned and turned around:
"Yannick?"

Yannick bowed slightly.
"In that case, I am willing to lend Your Highness a hand."

"But you before—"

“An uncontrolled, isolated vampire is indiscriminately slaughtering innocents in Emerald City. No matter how you look at it, it is detrimental to the reputation of our clan,” the handsome vampire councilor shook his head decisively, his gaze stern. “We will naturally have no choice but to do our duty.”

Thales paused for a second.

Bullshit!

Thales felt disdain.

That's not what you just said.

You clearly said, "Go find your parents then!"
"Really? No other conditions attached?" Thales asked suspiciously.

“Since it’s a righteous act,” Yannick said, his eyes fixed on the encirclement below, inspiring admiration, “what conditions are there to discuss?”

Pooh!
Thales inwardly scoffed, but outwardly he wore a smile.

“That makes me a little uneasy,” he joked. “After all, what’s free is often the most expensive.”

"It's not exactly free."

Yannick smiled at him:
“You have given me a chance to befriend, rather than offend, the future King of the Stars, and that is enough to pay the price.”

He smiled slyly:
"After all, not all cold-blooded species are rigid and stubborn."

I knew it.

Thales scoffed inwardly:
"Then I gave you too much, didn't you give me change?"

Yannick laughed heartily.

"Making people do extra work..."

He blinked:
"There has to be some tip."

Thales squinted and observed him for a while.

Are you sure you're okay?

Thales looked down at the battlefield: "Even before he was reborn as a vampire, that guy was already an Extreme Realm assassin. And after his rebirth, his body will only become stronger... Oh, or are you also an Extreme Realm expert?"

Yannick smiled at the prince's probing gaze.

"Your Highness is so young, yet you are so considerate of others; I am truly moved."

“But perhaps you don’t know this,” he continued, “when humans transform into vampires, their physical mechanisms and structures are completely altered, and even their power of termination disappears without a trace, making it almost impossible for them to retain their original strength and fighting style.”

Complete change...

Thales recalled Lausanne II's words and actions and couldn't help but ponder deeply.

The next moment, the vampire senator's eyes turned cold:
"Secondly, whether it's the extreme realm or the transcendent mortal level, it's just a way of speaking—an outdated term passed down by human knights hundreds or thousands of years ago."

Thales was taken aback by what he heard.

“It may be used to identify strengths and weaknesses, to compare levels, and to fool novices and beginners,” Yannick said, putting his hands behind his back, “but it can never predict victory or defeat, let alone life or death.”

Realm level is just a term...

One can discern strength and weakness, but cannot predict victory or defeat.

Thales seemed to be deep in thought.

Doesn't that sound strangely familiar?
"Moreover, in recorded history, the only Extremis warriors who have truly died at the hands of equal opponents..."

Yannick suppressed his murderous intent and smiled at Thales:

"It's far from half."

Thales's heart stirred.

That means that more than half of the legendary masters who perished in history died because of...

"After all, the old speaker said: out with the old, in with the new."

A gentle night breeze stirred something within Thales.

But when he turned around, there was no one around him.

"Immortality in the extreme realm..."

Yannick's soft sigh came from the darkness:

What's the point of surpassing the level?

(End of this chapter)