Lizarius remained silent for several moments.
His golden eyes slowly narrowed.
Another thought surfaced.
*...But my situation is different.*
He quietly absorbed another demon beast's soul.
**WHOOSH!**
The soul disappeared into his maw.
Lizarius' expression remained unchanged.
*I possess multiple Bloodlines.*
*Yet they have never clashed.*
*They have fused.*
He paused.
*The White-Scaled Lizard Bloodline.*
*The Fire, Earth, Wind, and Shadow Bloodline.*
*The Dream Crawler Bloodline.*
*And all the other Bloodline Genes I have acquired...*
*Every single one of them has been incorporated into a single existence.*
His golden eyes flickered.
*They aren't separate Bloodlines anymore.*
*They have become one.*
Lizarius carefully considered the implications.
*If someone were to somehow acquire my blood...*
*They wouldn't obtain the original White-Scaled Lizard Bloodline.*
*They would obtain my current Bloodline.*
His gaze lowered toward his own claws.
*The mutated White-Scaled Draconic Storm Lizard Bloodline.*
A brief silence followed.
*Containing everything that has already been incorporated into it.*
He immediately questioned the system.
*"Is that correct?"*
The mechanical voice responded without hesitation.
**[Affirmative.]**
Lizarius' eyes narrowed slightly.
The system continued.
**[Your current Bloodline is no longer equivalent to the original White-Scaled Lizard Bloodline.]**
**[All successfully integrated Bloodline Genes have become part of your primary Bloodline structure.]**
**[The resulting Bloodline is classified as a unified mutated Bloodline.]**
Lizarius remained silent.
*So I was right.*
The system continued.
**[However, there is an important distinction.]**
Lizarius waited.
**[An individual who acquires your Bloodline Essence will not automatically possess every ability you currently possess.]**
Lizarius' golden eyes flickered.
**[Bloodline inheritance transfers potential, not complete mastery.]**
He quietly processed those words.
**[The recipient may inherit the characteristics and abilities contained within your Bloodline.]**
**[However, those abilities must still be awakened and developed.]**
Lizarius' gaze became thoughtful.
*So they would gain the potential...*
*But not the finished abilities.*
**[Correct.]**
**[The strength of the recipient's vessel, their compatibility with the Bloodline, and their level of cultivation will determine how much of the inherited Bloodline can be successfully manifested.]**
Lizarius remained silent.
The system continued.
**[Some Bloodline abilities may awaken naturally.]**
**[Others may require specific conditions to be fulfilled.]**
**[Others may remain dormant until the recipient reaches sufficient physical or spiritual development.]**
Lizarius' eyes narrowed.
*So even if someone gains my Bloodline...*
*They would still have to awaken everything step by step.*
**[Correct.]**
A brief pause followed.
Then—
the system added another warning.
**[There is one additional possibility.]**
Lizarius' golden eyes sharpened.
*"What is it?"*
**[If the recipient's physical vessel is insufficient to contain the inherited Bloodline...]**
The system paused for a moment.
**[The Bloodline may overwhelm the vessel.]**
Lizarius remained motionless.
**[If the Bloodline exceeds the vessel's tolerance, the recipient may suffer severe physical damage.]**
**[In extreme cases, the vessel may be completely consumed and destroyed.]**
Silence.
Lizarius slowly looked toward Lían.
*So possessing my Bloodline doesn't guarantee survival.*
His golden eyes remained calm.
*The stronger the Bloodline...*
*The greater the requirements placed upon the vessel.*
Another thought surfaced.
*And mine is no longer an ordinary Bloodline.*
He looked at his white scales.
Tiny traces of lightning quietly traveled across their surface.
**ZZT.**
*It contains multiple integrated genes.*
*Even if they have become one...*
*The resulting Bloodline still carries everything that was incorporated into it.*
Lizarius remained silent.
*If someone with a weak body tried to inherit it...*
His gaze became slightly colder.
*Their body might not even survive the awakening.*
The system confirmed his conclusion.
**[Correct.]**
Lizarius slowly turned his attention back toward the forest.
*Interesting.*
*So Bloodline inheritance isn't simply receiving power.*
*It is receiving the potential to become compatible with that power.*
His golden eyes settled upon Lían once more.
*And the vessel determines how much of that potential can actually become reality.*
The forest remained silent.
Lizarius' thoughts gradually settled.
*Then my Bloodline...*
*Is effectively a single Bloodline now.*
*One Bloodline.*
*Multiple integrated traits.*
*Multiple potential abilities.*
*One existence.*
He quietly opened his jaws.
Another demon beast's soul emerged.
**WHOOSH!**
It was swallowed without resistance.
Lizarius' golden gaze shifted toward Lían.
The young cultivator was still crouched beside the corpse of the Third Stage demon beast.
Crimson energy continued flowing into his body.
The beast's remaining life force gradually disappeared.
Its enormous body slowly withered.
Then—
the final trace of energy entered Lían's meridians.
The reconstructed art finally stopped.
Lían remained motionless.
For several breaths—
he simply stood there, silently sensing the changes within his body.
Then—
his eyes widened.
"...I can feel it."
His hand slowly clenched.
His spiritual energy circulated through his meridians.
A faint look of disbelief appeared on his face.
"...My cultivation."
He closed his eyes.
He carefully sensed his current condition.
His spiritual energy was noticeably denser.
His meridians felt stronger.
Even his physical body seemed to have gained another degree of strength.
Lían opened his eyes.
"I really did get stronger."
He stared at his hands.
"...I can't believe it."
A moment later—
his expression became thoughtful.
*If I absorb another Third Stage demon beast...*
His eyes slowly narrowed.
*I'm certain I can break through.*
He looked in the direction where the Iron Wolf had escaped.
*If only that wolf hadn't run away.*
His fingers tightened slightly.
*If I had killed it and absorbed its life force...*
He let out a quiet sigh.
"...I probably would've broken through already."
Then—
he shook his head.
"There's no point thinking about it."
"It already escaped."
Lían looked around the forest.
"I just need to find another Third Stage demon beast."
"Then I can finish this."
He stood.
His gaze shifted toward the massive corpse beneath him.
"Before that..."
He crouched down again.
He began collecting everything valuable from the corpse.
The claws came first.
Then—
the fangs.
Pieces of the iron-like fur.
The tougher scales covering parts of the beast's body.
Even several fragments of its armor-like plating.
Lían carefully placed each valuable material into his storage pouch.
He examined the corpse one final time, making sure he hadn't overlooked anything.
"...That should be everything useful."
He straightened.
Then—
his gaze shifted upward.
Lizarius was hovering quietly above him.
Their eyes met.
Lían stared at him for a moment.
Then—
he nodded.
"Alright."
"I have an idea."
Lizarius remained silent.
Lían pointed toward the direction the Iron Wolf had fled.
"Instead of wandering around randomly..."
"We should follow the direction that leader escaped."
He paused.
"It was badly injured."
"It probably didn't go too far."
"And if I'm lucky..."
"We might find it again."
Lían's expression became determined.
"If it survived..."
"...I'll finish what we started."
Lizarius continued staring at him.
Lían turned away.
"Let's go."
He tightened his grip around Thunder Vein.
Then—
he started moving through the forest.
Behind him—
Lizarius silently followed.
The two figures disappeared deeper into the trees.
Neither of them knew—
that they were about to encounter something far more dangerous than the wounded Iron Wolf.
---
Lían moved through the forest.
His footsteps remained light as he carefully advanced between the trees.
Thunder Vein rested firmly in his hand.
Lizarius hovered silently above him, his golden eyes constantly scanning their surroundings.
Lían continued following the direction in which the Iron Wolf had fled.
After traveling for some time—
he noticed something on the ground.
Bloodstains.
Small.
Faint.
But—
still visible.
Lían immediately stopped.
He crouched down.
His fingers lightly touched the soil.
The blood had not completely dried.
His eyes narrowed.
*It's definitely the wolf.*
He stood.
"Looks like we're going the right way."
He continued forward.
The deeper they went—
the quieter the forest became.
The sounds of insects gradually disappeared.
Even the birds had fallen silent.
Lían's expression slowly became serious.
"...Something feels wrong."
Lizarius remained silent.
Lían stopped walking.
He looked around.
The trees had become unusually dense.
Their thick trunks were covered in dark moss, and their branches blocked out much of the sunlight above.
The ground was damp beneath his feet.
Yet—
there were no signs of ordinary beasts.
No insects.
No birds.
Nothing.
Only silence.
An oppressive silence.
Lían tightened his grip around Thunder Vein.
"...Master."
Lizarius looked toward him.
"Do you sense anything?"
Lizarius' golden eyes slowly shifted downward, scanning the forest floor.
Before he could respond—
Lían suddenly noticed something ahead.
A broken tree.
Its massive trunk had been torn apart.
Fresh claw marks covered the bark.
Lían approached carefully.
He reached out and touched one of the marks.
His expression changed.
"...These aren't from the Iron Wolf."
The marks were much larger.
Much deeper.
And judging from their position—
whatever had made them was considerably larger than the Iron Wolf.
Lían slowly withdrew his hand.
He looked around.
"...Something else is here."
A faint rustling sound suddenly came from behind him.
**Rustle.**
Lían immediately spun around.
Thunder Vein rose in his hand.
His eyes swept across the trees.
Nothing.
Only the dense forest.
He waited.
Silence.
Not even the wind moved through the branches.
Then—
**BOOM!**
The earth beneath him suddenly exploded.
Lían's pupils contracted.
A massive black figure shot out from underground.
He immediately jumped backward.
**SHING!**
Thunder Vein flashed through the air.
**CLANG!**
The blade struck a thick black scale.
The force of the impact sent Lían flying backward.
His body twisted in midair.
He managed to land against the trunk of a nearby tree.
**CRACK!**
The tree splintered beneath the force.
Lían immediately pushed himself away and landed on the ground.
He raised his sword.
His eyes widened.
Standing before him—
was a massive beast.
It possessed the body of a bear.
However, its entire body was covered in thick, pitch-black scales.
Two enormous horns curved backward from its head.
Its forelimbs were thick and powerful, ending in claws nearly as long as Lían's arm.
Its massive body radiated an oppressive aura.
And—
its eyes were completely crimson.
Lían's expression became serious.
"...What is that?"
Above him, Lizarius hovered motionlessly.
His golden eyes calmly examined the enormous creature.
After a brief moment—
his expression remained unchanged as he spoke.
"Black-Horned Earth Bear."
A pause.
"Third Stage."
Lían' s eyes immediately brightened.
"...Third Stage?"
His grip tightened around Thunder Vein.
The fear that had briefly appeared in his eyes vanished.
Instead—
a sharp fighting intent emerged.
His gaze locked onto the enormous beast.
*Another Third Stage demon beast.*