My health recovery is incredibly fast.

Of the five, Audrey was the only one who was not married.

Hmm... she has something she can't say about...

The side effects of the breathing technique elixir she took made her body fuller and stronger, like a man, but this was just an outward manifestation of the side effects.

The inherent harm of the side effects is that she lost her ability to have children, and an organ related to fertility experienced irreversible atrophy.

No one knew this except Audrey and the person who arranged the drug-taking ceremony for her.

Tim did his job well and dug up this secret as well…

Now, Xia Zuo knows too.

After discussing it with Beatrice a few days ago, he originally planned to have a good talk with Audrey, and now he has another reason to show up.

Xia Zuo first secretly visited the strongman, the clown siblings, and the snake charmer, then floated all the way to the sky above Rosac City. After a brief search, he found the small house that had been the reward he had received.

The area in front of and behind the house was kept spotless, with no overgrown weeds, litter, or animal droppings.

Xia Zuo went into the bungalow, wove magical furniture, arranged it a little, and then wrote a letter, which he delivered to the director's office of the Audrey Martial Arts School using an invisible blood servant.

Through the perspective of the Blood Element servant, Xia Zuo saw Audrey dressed in training clothes. She was still a tall, imposing, and powerful woman.

Audrey noticed the letter that had suddenly appeared on the table. She unfolded the letter and looked at it, momentarily stunned, and it took her several minutes to come to her senses.

Then she closed the doors and windows.

The Blood Element servant lingered outside the window, hearing the sounds of changing clothes coming from behind it.

The image of Audrey wearing a slit dress immediately flashed into Xia Zuo's mind.

No way... It's just a casual meeting, I doubt I'd dress this formally.

Furthermore, he specifically reminded Audrey in the letter to keep a low profile and avoid attracting attention.

When Audrey pushed open the door and walked out, leaving the martial arts gym through the back door in the backyard, Xia Zuo breathed a sigh of relief.

The other person was dressed in normal clothes, but their appearance and figure were covered by a gray hooded cloak.

The Blood Element Servant followed behind Audrey, monitoring the surrounding situation. After escorting Audrey to the bungalow, it was dismissed by Shazo.

Chapter 8 Choice

Audrey felt somewhat uneasy as she entered the small house. Although she tried to restrain herself, her hands, which were frequently clasped together, betrayed her inner feelings.

The circus members, whom I haven't seen for nearly ten years, suddenly reappear before my eyes, and have even transformed into high-level mages... It feels like the kid next door who's wearing open-crotch pants getting into a top national university and being recommended for a combined master's and doctoral program...

Xia Zuo tried his best to keep his movements and tone calm.

Having run a martial arts school for many years and led a circus troupe on tours around the world, Audrey had excellent mental fortitude and quickly recovered from her initial nervousness.

Looking at the face before her, which hadn't changed much, still young, handsome, and somewhat immature, Audrey easily found a trace of Xia Zuo's former self in him, and a sense of closeness welled up in her heart.

“Time flies…” Audrey picked up her teacup, took a sip of the fragrant tea, and slowly let out a sigh of relief. “So… Xia Zuo, you’ve returned to the Starry Night Kingdom this time to serve as the resident mage?”

When Xia Zuo left the Western Continent a few years ago, he wrote in a letter to the circus members that he would be studying in other countries far away from the Starry Night Kingdom, arranged by the academy.

In Audrey and the others' minds, there was no such thing as a temple or an eastern continent. Starry Night Academy was the most powerful organization in the Starry Night Kingdom.

“Yes.” Xia Zuo nodded, leaning back in his chair, and said, “As you know, once you become a resident mage, you rarely have the chance to leave the castle. I want to see more of the place before I officially start working.”

"Have you met Popeye and the others?" Audrey asked.

“I went to see them, but I didn’t meet them.” Xia Zuo shook his head slightly. “They have their own families and lives now, and my presence would disrupt their peaceful lives.”

Xia Zuo looked at Audrey, who appeared to be around 40 years old. Although she had practiced breathing techniques, she couldn't resist aging—her black hair was streaked with silver, and she used expensive cosmetics to cover the wrinkles around her eyes and cheeks. What was remarkable was that, despite the physical demands of running a martial arts school, Audrey's figure remained unchanged.

“Big Sister, let me be frank. I know the breathing technique elixir you took has caused you deep damage. I came to see you today to help you heal this hidden injury.” Xia Zuo’s gaze deepened. “But I’ve changed my mind.”

When Audrey heard the first part of the sentence, she clenched her hands tightly together, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Upon hearing the second half of the sentence, she paused, "Changed your mind? Why do you say that?"

"You're just a tiny bit short of meeting the admission requirements for Starry Night Academy," Xia Zuo said confidently.

"Admission...requirements..." Audrey pondered for a few seconds, "You mean, my spiritual ocean is almost ready..."

“Yes.” Xia Zuo nodded. “Although I don’t know exactly how much you’re missing, I can detect that you’re very close to the minimum. You should understand that this last small gap is the hardest to overcome. Countless outstanding people throughout the kingdom have been stuck at this step. Conventional methods can no longer expand your spiritual ocean.”

Xia Zuo continued:

"You did your best to help me pass the university entrance exam and get into the university. Now I want to help you too."

"I feel the same way about Popeye and his friends. Although they are now married and no longer suitable to study in college, their children can. If their children are hardworking enough and have half of my diligence and self-discipline, I would be happy to lend a hand if their children can't go any further."

“Popeye and I were very lucky, Shazo.” Audrey took a deep breath. “I never expected my actions back then would have such a reward…”

The hopeful light in Audrey's eyes dimmed. "But... what can I do if I enter the academy now? I'm too old. Sitting for long periods will make my back ache. I've forgotten a lot of the books I used to read, and it's hard for me to absorb new knowledge anymore. I'll be powerless to handle the courses at the academy... and in the end, I'll have let you down."

Xia Zuo laughed.

When faced with temptation, Audrey displayed the necessary rationality, and even made reasonable deductions and put herself in others' shoes.

This quality is truly rare and precious.

Audrey's reasons were also hard to refuse.

If it weren't for the frequent appearance of bloodline awakeners and the academy adding new admission pathways, Xia Zuo might not have been able to persuade Audrey to enroll.

“You have another path to take,” Xia Zuo said. “In fact, I have made detailed plans for this path and have reached an agreement with all parties.”

Xia Zuo manipulated the silver sand to refill the tea for the two of them, saying:

"When I enrolled, the only way to become a student of the academy was to meet the requirements of the Spirit Ocean. Now, times have changed. As long as you awaken your bloodline power, you can become a student of the academy."

Audrey frowned slightly, somewhat confused. "You mean, you want me to awaken my bloodline power and then enter the academy?"

“Yes.” Xia Zuo nodded.

Audrey paused for a moment, then a hint of panic flashed in her eyes. "I've never heard of bloodline power being considered controllable... Isn't this a secret of the academy? Will revealing it to me cause you trouble?"

"Don't worry," Xia Zuo said with a gentle smile. "Just like I said before, I've already discussed it with all parties in advance. This conversation won't cause any trouble for either of us. You might as well think it over carefully: whether to heal your hidden injuries, continue your current life, and have your own family, or become a bloodline awakener, enter the academy, and see another world."

Xia Zuo shrugged and said, "I can be frank with you. Entering an academy isn't necessarily a better choice. Even if you have the identity of a bloodline awakener, you'll still face academic pressure and exam pressure. The students around you are all teenagers and young adults in their twenties. Their strange looks might make you uneasy, and you might even be ostracized and treated differently."

Xia Zuo paused.

"But these are all fleeting, like dark clouds in the sky. They come, bring rain, and then they leave. Just keep your head down and move forward. The only thing that will truly prevent you from going any further is your own fear of difficulties and your own laziness."

Audrey seemed to be struggling.

She gripped the hem of her skirt tightly with both hands, staring intently at the prominent blue veins on the back of her hands.

"Furthermore, I'd like to add something," Xia Zuo said, blowing away the white steam from the tea. "Regardless of whether you complete your studies at the academy and become a qualified mage apprentice, the power of your bloodline will not disappear. If you are diligent enough, you can completely repair your hidden injuries with your awakened bloodline power through your own efforts. If you have offspring, there is also a very small chance that you can pass on your bloodline power to them."

Chapter 9: Imbuing Bloodline Power

“I don’t think I have a reason to refuse.” Audrey looked up, a thoughtful look in her eyes. “But why don’t you take back my bloodline power? Why give me extra privileges? This is far more valuable than entering the academy or repairing deep-seated injuries…”

Audrey gazed at Xia Zuo again, and for the first time felt that beneath his slightly immature appearance lay a profound and elusive side.

Xia Zuo listened to Audrey's words and smiled approvingly, "I need a cautious, rational and reliable person to help me with something. Boss, you fit my requirements perfectly."

"Can you tell me what it is?" Audrey asked, her expression revealing her certainty.

Xia Zuo rubbed his palms together lightly and said calmly:

"In the near future, a momentous event will occur in the Storm Mountains, where Starry Night Academy is located, that will shake the entire nation. At the same time, something else will happen in the mountains west of the kingdom's western border. The convergence of these two events will plunge the entire kingdom into prolonged turmoil."

"Turbulence and unrest inevitably breed darkness."

"I need you to stand up against the destabilizing factors when the time is right and to secure a place among the bloodline awakeners."

Audrey's chest heaved noticeably. "You want me to become the 'Starry Night Province Circus,' right? The Audrey Circus's original performances were modeled after the Starry Night Province Circus. The Starry Night Province Circus is the benchmark for the whole country. You want me to be the leader of the Bloodline Awakeners, guiding them to spontaneously move towards the Academy's goals. Is that how I understand it?"

Xia Zuo clapped and praised, "That's exactly what I meant. I won't restrict your actions, nor will I let you break any of the kingdom's laws. I will create opportunities for you to stand out from the many bloodline awakeners, and at the appropriate time, I will make you one of the backbones of the bloodline awakeners. Your age may be a hindrance, but in my opinion, it is an invaluable political resource. A richer life experience than ordinary students will make proud bloodline awakeners more convinced."

“I really don’t understand you, Xia Zuo…” Audrey looked at her in confusion. “Are you just a high-level mage at the academy? I’ve heard that the professors at the academy are all high-level mages, but they certainly can’t do what you’re saying.”

Xia Zuo touched his nose. "Hmm... you'll find out my identity once you become a Bloodline Awakener."

He took a sip of tea. "Think it over carefully."

Audrey held the teacup with both hands, her fingers tracing the rim. "I accept your arrangement, Xia Zuo. My dream has always been to become a mage. It always has."

“I know. Snake told me back then that you were the most likely person in the entire circus to become a mage’s servant,” Xia Zuo said.

“Yes, that’s right.” Audrey nodded. “The Warriors’ Guild has an expensive breathing technique that can slowly increase one’s spiritual ocean. I bought this breathing technique with the money you gave me, but because I’m too old, it’s difficult for me to use it completely anymore… Thank you, Xia Zuo. Thank you for helping me fulfill my dream.”

"No need to thank me, boss. I'm happy to be able to help you," Xia Zuo said with a smile. "Then I'll awaken your bloodline power now."

"Hmm...do we need to sign a contract?" Audrey asked.

“Of course. The contract protects the interests of both of us. It will make you feel more at ease when you control your bloodline power, without worrying about being exploited by me.” Xia Zuo took out the parchment scroll he had prepared beforehand from his alchemy pouch.

This contract, drafted and proofread by Beatrice, will be kept on file in the temple.

Audrey unfolded the parchment and read it through. The contents were consistent with what Xia Zuo had said, but it did not reveal any further information about the major event.

Audrey didn't pay too much attention to what the big event was. After carefully checking that there were no illegal, criminal, or morally wrong clauses in her contractual duties, she signed her name and pressed her fingerprint at the signature area.

Xia Zuo checked the signature, then put away the parchment scroll. "I'll keep this contract for now. You'll receive a copy once you enter the academy."

He waved his hand to create a privacy barrier in the small house and gestured for Audrey to be quiet.

Under Audrey's gaze, Xia Zuo summoned a Blood Guardian as tall as a person.

The binding energy field armor on the Blood Element Guardian had been treated with magic by Xia Zuo, and even those whose mental ocean was not up to standard could see it.

Audrey covered Zhang Yuan's mouth with her hand, her eyes filled with shock. Anyone who witnessed the Blood Guardian's appearance from nothing would be more or less astonished.

The Blood Guardian removed the glove from his right hand and extended his bright red palm to Audrey.

"Just hold its hand. Soon you will awaken your bloodline power."

Xia Zuo intends to use the Blood Guardian to replace himself, implant a bloodline mark on Audrey, and share some of her attributes.

After all, they were getting married, and they needed to maintain a certain distance from women other than their wives. Also, before this trip, Xia Zuo and Anruer discussed converting Audrey into a blood relative and obtained her consent.

Audrey hesitated for a moment, then extended her slightly trembling right hand and grasped the Blood Guardian's bright red hand.