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墨書 Inktalez
When it comes to the monster races of China, nine out of ten people would mention the fox spirit as the most popular choice. This is not surprising, as this family is not only numerous but also steeped in countless legends. A whole book, "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio," could almost be considered a comprehensive collection of fox spirit tales.
However, if we turn our attention to the monster clans of the West, even a child would remember the notorious family of vampires. Not to mention the countless novels, comics, movies, and games in Western culture that revolve around this mysterious race. Just mentioning the famous Count Dracula and the romance of "Centennial Romance," with its tales of love-driven madness, has captivated many young hearts.
In contemporary vampire studies, this foremost Western monster clan is undoubtedly the largest monster race in the world, traditionally divided into the Magic Secret Faction.
Among them, the Secret Faction adheres to many rules; for instance, they do not feed on human blood without cause, do not reveal their identities, and do not kill indiscriminately. Such bloodlines are not friends to humanity but neither are they enemies. Even the Demon Hunting Team, which primarily focuses on hunting monsters, seldom engages with these rule-abiding and powerful non-human races. In stark contrast, the Demon Faction openly displays their existence and seeks to dominate Earth, reveling in their power. They view ordinary humans as mere food and trample upon all human laws, believing themselves to be superior and untouchable. Especially fresh vampires newly inducted into the Secret Faction often act recklessly, becoming destabilizing factors in human society.
Arlen Xuding Si arrived in England not specifically to treat Evelyn's mother; his mission was to monitor the vampire clan's Hundred Years' War.
Every century, the bloodline selects new candidates eligible for nobility and requests recognition from the Elder Council.
According to their rules, a young person becomes an adult not based on age or strength but rather on whether they have received acknowledgment from the Elder Council and hold a legal title.
The assessment of titles during the Hundred Years' War truly occurs only once every hundred years within the bloodline. This time gap is quite lengthy for vampires who possess infinite lifespans; many young ones can hardly wait to showcase their abilities during the Hundred Years' War and obtain their coveted symbols of status.
Young vampires who believe they are qualified for nobility drop everything at this moment to rush to London. They can also participate in the Grand Auction at this time, where they might purchase a long-desired weapon that could enhance their power.
After Fang Lin Kong became a disciple of Liexiezi, he won favor with both Master Uncles. The Azure Sky Ancestor holds a distinguished position within the International Demon Alliance and was invited as a guest for the bloodline's Hundred Years' War. In a good mood, he said to Fang Lin Kong, "Since you have some leisure time, why not join us old fellows for some excitement? Master Uncle invites you to attend this planet's most luxurious banquet!"
Liexiezi was already aware of Azure Sky Ancestor's plans and initially did not wish to participate in such events. However, he suddenly realized that recruiting a group from the foremost Western monster clan would greatly benefit his future endeavors. Thus, when he caught Azure Sky Ancestor's inquisitive gaze, he nodded slightly.
With such an opportunity for broadening horizons, Fang Lin Kong certainly wouldn't forget to bring Lin Yu along. Even Evelyn insisted on tagging along with him. As Fang Lin Kong's vacation was nearing its end, he wanted to broaden his perspective before returning home with Wen Yi and Chen Mingbin.
Arlen Xuding Si and Oren Vikin were also guests at the Bloodline Century War. Unfortunately for Fang Lin Kong, when he sought out Lin Yu, he missed meeting Oren Vikin entirely and did not realize that this person who had once guided him had also arrived in London.
The Blood Clan is the largest clan of monsters in the West, and their presence is naturally significant. Many of their members hold esteemed positions in society, becoming elite figures within human civilization. When it comes to integration with human society, the Blood Clan stands out as the best; over ninety percent of them live among ordinary humans, a remarkable feat that is rare among all monster races.
Most monster clans have numerous recluses who avoid crowds and humans, preferring to interact only with their own kind.
It can be said that, whether in the East or the West, the Blood Clan is an exception among exceptions. Many of their younger generation have been transformed from ordinary humans, retaining many human habits. They enjoy living in groups, love cities, appreciate pop music, and savor various cuisines.
After attending two grand events back-to-back, Fang Lin Kong felt much more relaxed this time. The Blood Clan's Hundred Years' War, as the name suggests, is indeed a battle. Every young vampire seeking a title or an elevated status must defeat their kin or elders. Only by stepping on others' heads can one see further and higher; of course, if one is polite, they may step on shoulders instead. This saying was inscribed by the clan's predecessor, Einstein, in the family genealogy.
Rubbing his chin, Fang Lin Kong had no interest in the delicacies before him. He had been staying in the territory of a Blood Prince for three days now. This Prince was none other than Oshir, the only vampire he knew.
He had learned firsthand what an ancient Chinese proverb meant: "Only after three generations of wealth does one understand how to eat; only after five generations does one know how to dress!"
Self-made wealthy individuals either pride themselves on being frugal and simple or spend extravagantly on luxury items. The former can boast about possessing a virtue, while the latter are often labeled as nouveau riche—a term that carries negative connotations.
Prince Oshir may not know how many generations of wealth he has accumulated, but he has certainly been rich for thousands of years. His residence appears simple at first glance but is actually opulent. Even a random chair could date back to the time of King Arthur, and the dining bowls are artifacts from ancient palaces. The reliefs on the main door are said to have been hand-carved by Michelangelo himself. Whenever he picks up an item, someone will tell him that it is unique in the world—a one-of-a-kind treasure.
Fang Lin Kong spent his days in boredom; at night, he would use Prince Oshir's underground chamber's magic circle to attend the venue for the Hundred Years' War.
The Princes of the Blood Clan are said to rival deities; even if their strength does not match Kyo Kusanagi's, it is not far off. With thousands of years of accumulation, they have opened a space as their stronghold.
Originally, Fang Lin Kong was with Liexiezi and others until he encountered Prince Oshir, who kindly invited him to stay at his residence with Evelyn.
Azure Sky Ancestor and Liexiezi are considered ancestors of Kunlun Celestial Path. Although Lin Yu, a legitimate disciple of Kunlun Celestial Path, did not know their identities, Fang Lin Kong did. He encouraged Lin Yu to get closer to these two figures for some guidance. If Lin Yu could learn even a single technique from them, it would benefit him for life. Thus, Fang Lin Kong temporarily parted ways with Lin Yu.
Prince Oshir is a third-generation vampire with countless descendants. Over these few days, numerous handsome men and beautiful women have appeared in this vast mansion. As the only human in this grand estate, Fang Lin Kong attracted quite a bit of attention.
Prince Oshir belonged to the Secret Faction. Although he was a member of the blood clan, he had established a harmonious friendship with the Demon Hunting Team, serving as a diplomatic buffer between the Dark Council and the Demon Hunting Team. Prince Oshir enjoyed many privileges. The Hundred Years' War of the blood clan was originally a perfect opportunity for the Demon Hunting Team to invade during internal strife. Each Hundred Years' War was accompanied by a holy war between both sides, and the blood clan almost always suffered heavy losses, often leading to decades of silence afterward.
This time, Prince Oshir fought against the odds and managed to pass a decision in the Elder Council to invite guests to attend the Hundred Years' War, which took considerable effort. The Azure Sky Ancestor from the International Demon Alliance and Arlen Xuding Si from the Demon Hunting Team not only represented their respective factions but also symbolized the tacit approval of these two major groups. As long as the blood clan's Hundred Years' War did not affect ordinary human society, there would be no external interference.
Fang Lin Kong had attended several days of meetings alongside the Azure Sky Ancestor, but he found the infighting among the young blood clan members quite tedious. Although Fang Lin Kong was younger than those blood clan members, his combat experience was extensive. The enemies he had faced were among the strongest on this planet; in terms of battle experience and tactics, these young blood clan members could not compare to him.
Similarly, Fang Lin Kong's presence alongside guests in what should have been seats of honor for the elders was quite peculiar to the young blood clan members. The Azure Sky Ancestor and Arlen Xuding Si were internationally renowned figures, and Liexiezi had an impressive demeanor. Their previous battle had caught the attention of some observers who understood how formidable this elegant and charismatic man truly was. However, Fang Lin Kong was an exception.
Although Fang Lin Kong had attracted some attention from monsters, news from Asia did not reach Europe, where the Demon Hunting Team and Dark Council held sway. Young blood clan members were generally arrogant and would not pay much attention to emerging human talents. Having learned lessons under Liexiezi's command, Fang Lin Kong remained low-key during this Hundred Years' War that determined his promotion to nobility; he merely observed without taking any action or speaking much.
The group of old vampires in the Elder Council agreed to have guests participate but were quite strict about who those guests would be. Liexiezi's sudden appearance displeased them greatly, yet his subtle domineering aura made them hesitate to voice their complaints. They all focused their gazes on Fang Lin Kong instead, only refraining from immediate action out of respect for the Azure Sky Ancestor and Arlen Xuding Si.
Fang Lin Kong was aware that there were many individuals in Prince Oshir's residence who harbored ill intentions toward him, but he couldn't be bothered to engage with them. The twenty-four-hour self-service banquet in the hall continued uninterrupted; even without any guests taking food, the well-trained servers showed no signs of slackening.
Fang Lin Kong, being lively and coming from an ordinary human family, felt quite out of place at this aristocratic blood clan feast and even found it somewhat stifling. He quietly took some drinks and was about to leave when a few young blood clan members who had been chatting suddenly burst into laughter. A girl in a snow-white suit stepped forward and blocked Fang Lin Kong's path.
"I’m very curious and would like to know why a human like you is seated at our blood clan's elder table. Since we happen to meet today, please explain it to us!"
Fang Lin Kong recognized this girl; her name was Lilith, and she had made quite an impression during recent battles. There were many families within the blood clan, but Fang Lin Kong had never studied them closely enough to identify which ancient vampire family this proud girl belonged to.
Being blocked and provoked like this, Fang Lin Kong merely inclined his head politely without intending to respond and attempted to walk past her.
Lilith had been highly regarded in her family since childhood and was one of the most outstanding among the eighth generation of vampires. Today she was discussing this Hundred Years' War with several closely related young blood clan members. The initial days were merely about eliminating those who overestimated themselves and selecting true elites; thus no titles had been conferred yet. Lilith had long been displeased with foreign guests seated at the elder table but ultimately knew better than to underestimate figures like the Azure Sky Ancestor and Arlen Xuding Si—no young blood clan member could afford to provoke them. As a member of one of the Secret Faction families, Lilith had received elite education since childhood and looked down upon weak humans as well as any monster families. The fact that a mere teenager like Fang Lin Kong dared to sit at the elder table as a guest infuriated her greatly.
Accompanying her were rising stars among the blood clan in recent years. They shared a good relationship with Lilith; Kaf had recently joined the International Demon Alliance and was rapidly climbing in rank—some speculated that within five years he would break into the top hundred rankings of that alliance. Li Good followed his brother into the Dark Council and had become one of Europe's most outstanding activists in demon circles. The other three were also exceptional figures among their generation of vampires. Their previous conversation happened to revolve around Fang Lin Kong. The proud Lilith declared that she would seize any opportunity to show Fang Lin Kong a thing or two. Coincidentally, his appearance provided her with just such an opportunity.
Lilith felt a deep humiliation at the disdainful attitude of Fang Lin Kong.
Under the gaze of several young vampires who had just been with her, Lilith could not tolerate Fang Lin Kong leaving so easily. That would be the greatest insult to her abilities.
She gently raised her delicate, slender, pale right hand, and in an instant, as her power reached her fingertips, five sharp claws suddenly sprang forth. It was one of the basic spells of the vampire clan: "Claw Technique!"
Seeing Lilith's fingers curl and extend, Fang Lin Kong smiled lightly. Without any noticeable movement, his body silently transformed into a mass of Azure Flame. Lilith didn't even have the chance to curse under her breath before her claws had already slid past Fang Lin Kong's form, striking nothing but air.
Scattered as vapor, gathered as form!
The Mystic Transformation of the Nine Heavens that Fang Lin Kong practiced was an enigmatic spell of endless transformations. After receiving careful guidance from Liexiezi, Fang Lin Kong had quietly begun to advance toward the third transformation: Kunpeng Transformation. The third transformation of Mystic Transformation of the Nine Heavens represented a peculiar realm in cultivation—a critical step from physical flesh to a complete energy body. Only Eastern Mysticism offered such cultivation methods that allowed mortals to step into the profound realm of immortals.
Although Fang Lin Kong had not yet perfected Kunpeng Transformation, he had already grasped the subtleties of Transformation Realm. Thus, the ability to gather and disperse, to change his physical form, was effortless for him.
Lilith was momentarily stunned as Fang Lin Kong's Azure Flame passed through her body. She watched in disbelief as he calmly reformed behind her and departed.
If confronted by an enemy in a life-and-death battle, Lilith's resolute will—honed through strict training by her family—would ensure she reacted optimally in any situation. However, Fang Lin Kong was different; he was not her enemy. In fact, for the vampire clan, Azure Sky Ancestor Liexiezi could be considered an ally. Within the International Demon Alliance, attitudes toward the Dark Council often depended on certain influential individuals. Gaining friendships with those who held power and status was always a crucial diplomatic strategy for the Dark Council's foreign affairs department.
Lilith was astonished by the technique Fang Lin Kong had just displayed. It indicated that this human youth possessed enough strength to qualify for a seat among the guests at the Elder Council.
The ability to vaporize one's body had always been a benchmark among vampires. Those capable of achieving complete vaporization were typically experts of count rank or higher; there were almost no such strong beings among vampires younger than five hundred years. Moreover, vaporization was one of the innate abilities of vampires; whether they were monsters or humans, those who could fully transform their bodies into energy or void were truly formidable beings.
The young vampires watching were equally dumbfounded. They had many plans prepared to mock Fang Lin Kong, but now they all seemed like ridiculous fantasies. To joke around with such a powerful figure was akin to courting death. Furthermore, if trouble arose from their actions, even the Elder Council would not support them.
Kaf nervously crushed his wine glass in his hand and muttered to himself, "So it turns out that some of the rumors from those at White Whale Born are actually true!"
"Such a boring provocation, lacking any real strength. I can't even muster the interest!"
Fang Lin Kong had his own bedroom in Prince Oshir's mansion. He lay on the walnut bed, said to be three hundred years old, downing drink after drink of various liquids. For vampires, taste was always essential, so their feasts would never include childish drinks like Pepsi, Sprite, or milk. Fang Lin Kong only knew how to drink but had no idea what he was pouring into himself; as long as it wasn't human blood, he didn't care about the contents of his beverages.
The Hundred Years' War began by granting low-level titles to young bloods without nobility. Only in the later stages did it become truly exciting. Bloodline masters who already held titles sought further advancement to match their abilities and would apply to the Elder Council. At that point, personal strength, contributions to the family, and even reputation became standards for promotion.
However, these high-ranking vampires with status would not show themselves for now.
Fang Lin Kong had once been quite interested in this renowned monster race, but his recent experiences made him realize that the ancient saying "better to see than to hear" was indeed very true.
After downing his eighteenth drink, Fang Lin Kong reached out again but found only empty cups. He turned over and sat up, glancing at the messy bed before shrugging and pulling out a Flying Sword to slice into a piece of roasted meat. Since getting rid of the burden of Liexiezi, Fang Lin Kong used his magical tools more freely, no longer worried about being recognized and having them taken back. This sense of ease was something he had never experienced before.
The Voidbreaker had cultivated over a hundred Flying Swords throughout his life. Although they couldn't compare to top-tier treasures like the Liexie Twin Hooks, they were still far from ordinary. The exquisite short sword in Fang Lin Kong's hand gleamed like snow, its three- or four-inch-long blade shimmering brilliantly. Even at the Grand Auction, such a level of Flying Sword was considered rare. Only someone with the financial power of Azure Sky Ancestor could accumulate a set of twelve top-quality Flying Swords over hundreds of years. The odds were akin to finding Da Vinci's masterpiece Mona Lisa in an underground black market auction.
Western monsters rarely used long-range control-type magical tools, nor did they have a long-standing culture surrounding Flying Swords. Therefore, modern Psycho Weapons and industrially manufactured Flying Swords internationally were still inferior to handcrafted products. The Blazing Fire Wheel used by Ganesha was already considered quite good; however, for those accustomed to flying with swords on the Eastern Immortal Path, it felt completely out of place.
In contrast, modern Psycho Weapon manufacturing in the East had always been underdeveloped; it would take decades of development to catch up with international standards. Even Kunlun, the most skilled in this field, could only produce relatively ordinary items.
"In a few days, I should be heading back home! Then, for the crucial college entrance exam in July, I'll probably waste about half a year buried in exercises and textbooks. After that… I should be able to get into a university I’m satisfied with. Even if my studies don't go well, I believe with my Spell, cheating during exams won’t be an issue at all. And then… what comes next?"
As he chewed on the roasted meat, Fang Lin Kong momentarily lost himself in thought. He suddenly missed his parents very much and also Ding Qingya, who he always managed to make laugh so easily. He thought of classmates and friends with whom he shared laughter and conversations but weren't particularly close. And then there were mysterious Li Bing, bold Ding Chifeng, domineering Bear King Xiong Yisheng, and Tiger King Zhang Xiaofeng… It seemed there were many things worth reminiscing about in the city where he grew up.
(To be continued)
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