Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 281 The Shame of the Witch King

Eve gently held Yutel's hand: "Grandpa, you will always be our guiding light."

Ron watched this heartwarming scene, silently assessing everything he was seeing.

The genuine affection that Yutel showed for his students was a rare sight among the Black Mist School.

There, the teacher-student relationship is more of a transaction than a genuine inheritance and connection.

Perhaps, a more realistic reason is...

Ordinary apprentices of the Black Mist School are not qualified to be regarded as heirs by those high-ranking formal wizards.
Deer, standing to the side, asked curiously:

"Grandpa Yutel, have you really lived for a very, very long time? Older than the Great Elder of the Siren?"

Upon hearing this naive question, Yutel shook his head and chuckled:

"The Great Elder of the Siren is probably a Morning Star level wizard. Even with the advantage of his race, he can only live for seven or eight hundred years."

I can no longer remember my exact age; I only know that I witnessed three major transformations of the Crystal Spire and said goodbye to so many friends and students.

Ron could sense the deep loneliness behind Yutel's words.

For someone like him who has lived for at least several thousand years, the passage of time brings not only the accumulation of knowledge, but also endless separations.

Becoming an immortal being is perhaps a blessing that mortals dream of.

But for those who have actually experienced it, it may be an unspeakable curse.

Dinner continued in a pleasant atmosphere, and Eve's cooking was truly amazing.

Every dish is a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate, and its shape and presentation are works of art.

Ron took a few more bites and had to admit that the dishes were not only beautiful to look at, but also tasted quite good.

"Speaking of which, since arriving at the Crystal Spire, your performance has certainly lived up to the 'jewel-level' rating."

Yutel turned the conversation to Ron:

"That paper on mobile simulated warfare devices has already caused quite a stir in academic circles."

Ron smiled slightly, maintaining just the right amount of humility:
"It was just good luck that my research direction happened to align with the needs of the school of thought."

Moreover, my research builds upon the work of predecessors; I have merely integrated and improved upon existing theories.

“Luck?” Yutel chuckled softly.
"Young man, I have already used my access privileges to read your paper."

That innovative design of the energy circulation system, and that unique insight into the technology for stabilizing soul fragments, cannot be explained by luck alone.

"You flatter me," Ron replied respectfully, though a slight thought stirred within him.

I never expected that my paper would already be circulating among high-level officials.

This is both an honor and a sign that one's every move at the Crystal Spire is under scrutiny.

"Your classes are very popular too," the black-haired princess chimed in with a smile.

“Every time I go to class, the classroom is packed, and even some teaching assistants and lecturers come to sit in.”

"This is mainly because of a genius student like Princess Eve."

Ron skillfully shifted the praise to the other person:

"Adding some innovative teaching methods will naturally attract some curious glances."

I believe what truly attracted them was the desire to see why a princess of the Crown Clan would choose a teaching assistant from a fringe academic background as her mentor.

A meaningful look appeared in Yutel's eyes:
"No need to be overly modest, Ron."

To receive so much attention and praise in a place like the Crystal Spire is itself a testament to its strength.

You can simplify complex theories to an astonishing degree without losing their depth and precision.

This in itself is a rare teaching talent.

The old man's gaze shifted to Eve:

"But what pleases me most is that little Eve seems to be doing much better. Her 'demonic devouring' symptoms have indeed eased during this period, haven't they?"

Eve nodded happily, her heartfelt joy impossible to conceal:

“Yes, Grandpa. Ron’s kindness helped me control the worsening of my symptoms and even allowed me to leave the magically isolated environment for a short time, something I’ve never experienced in fourteen years.”

Yutel's expression softened:

"For an elderly person, nothing is more gratifying than seeing their descendants recover."

Little Eve's 'demonic devouring' symptoms have plagued us for years; countless treatments by experts in various fields have proven ineffective, and we were almost in despair. But now... we must thank you for being willing to participate in this attempt.

Ron nodded slightly:

"This is the result of our mutually beneficial cooperation."

The knowledge that Princess Eve imparted to me is equally invaluable.

In particular, the techniques for refining and controlling mental energy, as well as the knowledge of astrology and history, were extremely helpful to me.

Yutel's gaze held a deeper meaning:
"Now that we've come this far, how are you making progress in your studies of history and astrology lately?"

Ron could only answer honestly:
"Progress is rather slow. Although His Highness is providing guidance, it will probably take a long time to truly master the core of these two disciplines."

"Do not worry."

Yutel gently comforted him:
"These two disciplines inherently contain profound dangers and require a gradual approach."

Like gazing into an abyss, if you stare too long, the abyss will stare back at you.

Impatience will only bring disaster, not breakthroughs.

At this point, dessert time after the dinner had just ended.

The half-dragon maid tactfully stood up and exchanged a glance with the tree spirit beside her:
"If the three of you need to discuss some academic issues, we can go to the backyard and enjoy the garden view on the eve of the festival."

The radiant flowers there have already begun to bloom; it's quite a sight.

Eve smiled and nodded:

"Thank you, Franka. We do have some things we'd like to discuss. There are special magic drinks on the observation deck in the backyard; please help yourself."

Franka bowed slightly and left the reception room with Alan and Dal, leaving only Ron, Eve, and Yutel behind.

The atmosphere in the air subtly shifted, while Yutel's phantom became more solid.

The surrounding silver light began to flow in a complex pattern, forming an invisible veil that blocked any possible prying or interference.

“Since we’ve brought up taboos and secrets,” a mysterious glint flashed in Yutel’s eyes:
"Tonight, I want to share a story with you. A story about ambition, betrayal, and the truth about the being known as the 'King of Blood'."

These secrets, even those hidden in the Crystal Spire's archives, have profoundly influenced our world order today.

Eve's eyes lit up, like a child waiting for a story, even though her knowledge far surpassed that of her peers:

"Are they the legends about the Third Age, Grandpa?"

Yutel smiled slightly:
“A clever child. Yes, the truth about the ‘Blood King’ who once shook the entire wizarding world.”

Ron leaned forward slightly involuntarily, his eyes gleaming with a thirst for knowledge.

The "Blood Lord" is one of only two Witch-Kings in the Third Age, alongside the "Absurd Lord".

Their deeds have left a significant mark on the history of wizarding, but the details are little known.

Do you know how the 'Lord of Blood' rose to power?

"I'll ask softly," Yutel asked, his silver eyes appearing almost transparent in the candlelight.
"Official records say that He rose to the position of Witch King step by step through his own efforts and talent."

But in reality, the entire process relied entirely on His inheritance of the illusory remains of His ancestor—the supreme sorceress 'Lady of Blood' Selna.

"Lady of Blood" Selna...

He searched his memories and discovered that he was one of the pioneers of the Authentic Path revealed to him by Lady Allen. An ancient being from the early Third Era, who would have thought he could be connected to a Witch-King.

Ron was somewhat surprised, and his mental energy unconsciously focused:

"The ethereal remains can be inherited? I thought this was a unique form of existence for each great wizard, completely different from the common concept of inheritance."

“In theory, that’s true.”

Yutel nodded slowly, his silver eyebrows slightly raised:
"The ethereal body, as a form of existence that transcends the physical body for a great wizard, is usually closely connected to the individual's soul structure and cannot be separated from it at all."

However, under certain conditions, especially for wizard clans with extremely strong bloodline characteristics, certain fragments of the ethereal remains can indeed be partially inherited or activated by blood-related descendants.

Eve asked curiously, "Is this situation rare?"

Yutel gently shook his head, and the silver light swayed accordingly:

"Extremely rare. In recorded history, there have been no more than five successful cases, and most of them have been accompanied by huge risks and costs."

The 'Lord of Blood' was originally called Aiden Bradley.

It was through some forbidden ritual that he successfully absorbed the remaining fragments of Selna's remains, thereby strengthening his unique talent.

"So, what are the details of this ritual?" Ron asked cautiously, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Yutel's expression turned serious:

“That’s not the main point I want to share tonight, Ron.”

This ritual has been explicitly prohibited by all major wizarding organizations in the Abyss Continent.

Not only because of its inherent danger, but also because it involves the desecration of the remains of our ancestors.

As far as I know, Aiden paid a heavy price for this; a part of his soul was permanently shattered, leaving an irreparable crack.

Ron nodded in understanding, though he was still full of curiosity, he knew when to stop.

Eve had figured it out: "This sounds like the mechanism of the bloodline lock. Mother once briefly mentioned this concept, but didn't explain it in detail."

“That’s right, little Eve.” Yutel gave her an approving look:
"Bloodline locks are an extremely ancient phenomenon in the wizarding world, and are particularly common in families with powerful bloodline lineages."

Simply put, when a family produces an extremely powerful wizard, especially one who reaches the level of a Grand Wizard or even a Wizard King, their descendants are often subject to an invisible limitation, making it difficult for them to surpass the achievements of their ancestors.

His gaze was fixed on the girl, as if he was intentionally observing her reaction:

"This restriction is not intentional, but rather a manifestation of the rules."

Just as a river can hardly exceed the height of its source, the inheritance of bloodlines also seems to have some kind of upper limit.

This upper limit is often set by the most powerful individual in the family, although this process is unconscious.

Ron's mind raced; this information was extremely valuable to him.

The concept of bloodline locks not only explains why clans cannot completely dominate various schools of thought, but also indirectly reveals some of the operational rules of bloodline inheritance.

This directly helped some of his research.

"Currently, there is only one known method to break the bloodline lock."

Utter continued to explain:
"That is, only when their most powerful bloodline ancestor passes away can their descendants break through this invisible constraint."

This is why some ancient wizarding families experience a phenomenon of 'generational leap,' where a new generation of geniuses truly rises only after the older generation passes away.

The two people listening fell into deep thought at the same time, as Yutel's words sparked their own reflections.

Ron made connections to Cassandra, Eve, and the "King of Absurdity," while Eve pondered her own situation.

"Let's get back to the topic at hand; we've strayed a bit from tonight's subject."

Yutel gently shook his head, steer the conversation back on track:
"The 'Lord of Blood' was as famous as the 'Lord of Absurdity' in the Third Age, but the two had always had a deep-rooted hostile relationship."

This stems from their distinct paths to rise and the sources of their power.

Eve gently bit her lower lip, her amethyst eyes sparkling with a thirst for knowledge:

"Did they ever have a direct conflict?"

Yutel shook his head:

"After becoming the Witch King, there is basically no conflict between great beings, and it rarely takes the form of direct confrontation."

They prefer to compete in terms of indirect influence and the achievements between civilizations.

But before becoming the Witch King, Aiden always feared that the one most skilled in 'sorcery' and who had become the archmage before him would specifically use his bloodline to weaken or even destroy him.

Yutel's voice lowered, his eyes filled with undisguised disgust:

"So He made an outrageous decision...to slaughter all the members of his own clan."

Regardless of distance, anyone who shared the same blood was sought out and cruelly murdered by Him.

Eve gasped, her slender fingers gripping the corner of the table tightly.
"He...killed his own relatives? Including children and the elderly?"

“All of them.” Yutel nodded heavily.
"From newborn babies to elderly people, from close brothers and sisters to distant relatives they have never met."

He dispatched countless hunting teams to carry out a bloody manhunt that lasted for ten years throughout the entire Abyss Continent.

The reasoning is that without the continuation of the bloodline, the bloodline curse loses its target.

Ron maintained a calm expression, but was inwardly shocked by this extreme behavior.

Even if it's for power, this utterly reckless and insane behavior reveals the extent of the "King of Blood's" psychological distortion.

“Not only that.” Yutel shook his head, his white eyebrows furrowing tightly:

"After becoming the Witch King, He even tried to erase all historical records about Selna, fabricating that his rise to power was entirely due to his own efforts."

They sent people to infiltrate the archives of various academic schools to steal or tamper with relevant documents;

Bribing or threatening those in the know to force them to remain silent;

They even attempted to interfere with the records of the 'Truth Court,' trying to completely conceal their dependence on ancestral power and create a flawless image.

"But it ultimately failed?" Ron astutely grasped the key point.

“Of course.” Yutel’s voice was laced with sarcasm.

"As a top-tier archmage included in the 'Court of Truth' and a primordial wizard who successfully practiced the path of authenticity, Selna's deeds are too important and have been deeply imprinted in the collective memory of the wizarding world."

The Court of Truth's protection of history is far more steadfast and powerful than Aiden imagined.

The plan ultimately failed completely. Not only did it fail to erase the truth, it drastically damaged the 'Blood King's' reputation, making him infamous.

Ron noticed that as Yutel recounted this history, his "historical research" skill progress bar quietly increased.

This forbidden knowledge clearly surpasses the value of ordinary classics, directly touching upon the deep truths of history.

Even so, the 'King of Blood' ultimately became the Witch King and conquered the 'Land of Chaos and Blood'.

Yutel's voice turned low:

"But ironically, that world was also built upon the achievements of the great wizard Selna."

Many years ago, it was Selna who first discovered and explored this bloody and chaotic alien dimension, leaving behind detailed research data.

Aiden merely stood on the shoulders of giants to achieve the final conquest.

"This makes Him seem even more ridiculous in the eyes of the other witch kings," Yutel sighed softly.
"Therefore, he became the most despised and isolated figure among the Witch Kings. Wherever he went, those deep-rooted doubts and ridicule followed him like a shadow."

Eve asked curiously, "So, the other witch kings don't take Him seriously?"

Yutel smiled slightly and said without any attempt to hide his feelings:
"In fact, he was the weakest of all the Witch Kings."

This is not only because its rise to power was full of speculation, but also because the inheritance of the illusory body made its soul unstable.

Moreover, after becoming the Witch King, He devoted much of His energy to eliminating potential threats, rather than continuing to deepen His understanding and mastery of the nature of power.

(End of this chapter)