Chapter 144: Absorbing the Bloodline

The castle looked ancient, its style dating back at least seven or eight hundred years.

Spanning over 6,000 square meters, the castle was vast yet eerily quiet, with no signs of activity.

“This castle belonged to the noble family who originally owned Blackrock Valley. No one lives here now; it’s always been empty. The apprentices and servants aren’t worthy of living here, and I don’t like it—it’s too big. What do you think?” Brack asked.

Helag was pleased. “It’s quite nice. I like it.”

For others, the castle might feel too empty and quiet, unsuitable for long-term living. But for Helag, it was perfect. He enjoyed solitude without interruptions.

Being alone made many things more convenient.

“Let’s take a look inside,” Brack said, leading Helag into the castle.

The castle had many buildings. Helag chose the innermost part as his bedroom and laboratory.

“I’ll arrange for two servants to help with daily chores. They’ll live in the gatehouse at the entrance,” Brack said.

“Thank you. I really like this place,” Helag replied.

Brack smiled. “I was worried you’d find it lifeless. I’m glad you like it. I’ll be in the courtyard to the east. If you need anything, just come find me. The servants will handle food, clothes, and other necessities.”

After Brack left, a man and a woman arrived.

The man, Lennon, was forty, skilled in driving and horse care, responsible for errands and messages.

The woman, Mary, in her thirties, handled cooking, laundry, and cleaning.

“Just do your jobs, and don’t enter the inner castle without my permission,” Helag instructed.

They bowed in acknowledgment.

Helag noted their physical state. They seemed fine, but their appearance didn’t match their age.

Both were in their thirties or forties, yet their hair was already graying.

In Blackrock Valley, only wizards or apprentices lived there. Ordinary people suffered from radiation, shortening their lifespan.

Servants were expendable to the Terchy family, and no one cared about their longevity.

Only someone like Pete, a Grand Knight, could withstand the radiation due to his physical strength.

This was because there were few formal wizards in Blackrock Valley, mostly apprentices.

If Pete were in a place like Moonlight Forest, full of formal wizards, he’d need anti-radiation potions to avoid a shortened lifespan.

Lennon returned with a carriage, now Helag’s, for travel.

He unloaded many items, including bedding and other essentials.

The castle had been cleaned, but Mary meticulously tidied every corner of the inner castle.

She dared not slack off, picking up even a single hair to throw away.

Mary had more tasks ahead. Lennon would bring vegetables, some for storage in the cellar, others for pickling and drying.

There were also meats and smoked fish to store. Helag might not eat much, but it was essential to have supplies.

Helag explored the castle, checking each room and planning their future use.

Finding a spacious basement, he decided to set up his lab there, as it was more secluded and soundproof.

He took out some lab equipment from his space ring, quickly organizing the basement into a makeshift lab.

***

A few days later, in the basement.

Helag was now fully familiar with the castle and had discovered two hidden rooms, though they were empty.

The castle was running smoothly. Mary placed meals on the designated table at mealtimes.

Tonight, Helag would begin the most crucial step: practicing Great Dark Heaven.

Before him, a glass container held a potion-soaked black leg.

In the past, practitioners of Great Dark Heaven consumed the flesh of their target to absorb its bloodline power.

Helag didn’t need such primitive methods. With his lab equipment and Deep Blue’s help, he could extract the bloodline without eating the limb.

The black creature’s leg remained active, not decaying.

Helag extracted it, infused it with magic, and drained the blood into a beaker.

The next step was tedious: removing impurities from the blood with magic.

With Deep Blue’s assistance, Helag slowly eliminated the impurities.

An hour later, only pure red blood remained in the beaker.

Helag channeled magic into the Great Dark Heaven spell model, a stone tablet’s phantom appearing behind him.

With a thought, the blood was absorbed into the stone tablet’s phantom.

The bloodline power spread from the tablet, merging with Helag’s own bloodline.

Helag felt pain throughout his body, indicating the bloodline power was being absorbed and integrated.

An hour later, Helag opened his eyes, a spark of electricity flashing within them.

“Deep Blue, analyze my body.”

“Helag Merlin: Strength 16.5, Agility 17.3, Constitution 17.4, Spirit 42.2, Mana 100%.”

All his stats had improved significantly, especially agility, which rose to 17.

This was just the physical enhancement from absorbing the bloodline power, without using the power itself.

After absorbing the black creature’s bloodline, Helag gained a new innate ability: control over lightning, called Lightning Mastery.

Through bloodline power, Helag could stimulate his muscles with lightning, greatly enhancing his speed, defense, and strength.

He also learned that as his bloodline power grew stronger, he could cover his entire body with lightning, further boosting his speed and strength.

There were two ways to enhance bloodline power: absorbing more of the same type of bloodline or increasing his own strength, which would gradually reveal the hidden power within his bloodline.