The black serpent swallowed nervously.
It slowly lowered its head.
"I... apologize."
Lizarius' golden eyes shifted toward it.
The serpent trembled even more.
"I did not intend to interfere with you."
"I only..."
Its voice became quieter.
"...I was curious."
Lizarius stared.
*Curious?*
The serpent immediately continued.
"I sensed the aura of the beasts you killed."
"So I came to investigate."
"I didn't expect to encounter..."
It hesitated.
"...something like you."
Lizarius remained expressionless.
The serpent's body tightened, noticing his attention.
Its heart tightened.
*Is he looking at my horn?*
*Does he want it?*
It immediately lowered its head.
"If..."
"If you're interested in my Blood Essence..."
"I can give it to you."
Lizarius looked down.
The serpent quickly continued.
"I can release the Blood Essence stored inside my horn."
"You can take it."
Lizarius remained silent.
The serpent's voice became increasingly nervous.
"Just..."
"Please spare my life."
Lizarius finally spoke.
"I don't want it."
The serpent froze.
"...You don't?"
"No."
Silence.
Lizarius continued looking at it.
The Blood Horn Python froze.
Its crimson eyes remained fixed upon Lizarius.
*He doesn't want my Blood Essence...*
The serpent's thoughts raced.
*But why does he wish to kill me instead?*
A cold realization slowly surfaced.
*If he kills me...*
*He won't only obtain the Blood Essence stored within my horn.*
*He'll obtain my entire body as well.*
Its body trembled.
*If that's what he wants...*
*There is nothing I can do.*
The serpent could feel the difference between them.
It didn't matter that it was an Earth-Grade Bloodline beast.
It didn't matter that it had reached a relatively high cultivation realm.
Before this white-scaled creature—
it felt completely helpless.
*If I attack...*
*I'll die.*
*That's something I'm sure of.*
*I can feel it.*
*There is no chance of surviving.*
The serpent immediately lowered its head until it nearly touched the ground.
"I beg you..."
Lizarius looked down at it.
"I'll do whatever you want."
"Anything."
"Just..."
The serpent's voice trembled.
"Please spare my life."
Lizarius remained motionless.
The serpent continued.
"If you need something..."
"I'll find it for you."
"If you want me to lead you somewhere..."
"I'll do it."
"If you want information..."
"I'll tell you everything I know."
"I'll even leave this territory."
"I won't appear before you again."
Its body trembled beneath Lizarius' gaze.
"Please..."
"Just let me live."
Silence filled the forest.
Lizarius quietly observed the serpent.
Within his mind—
another question surfaced.
*How does one give another their Bloodline?*
He immediately questioned the system.
*"How can one transfer a Bloodline to another creature?"*
The mechanical voice responded.
**[Bloodline transfer is possible under specific conditions.]**
Lizarius' golden eyes narrowed slightly.
**[A Bloodline can normally be transferred through Bloodline Essence. The Bloodline Essence must first be extracted from the original host.]**
Lizarius listened.
**[The extraction process separates the Bloodline's core essence from the host's body.]**
**[Once extracted, the Bloodline Essence may be transferred into another compatible vessel.]**
Lizarius remained silent.
The system continued.
**[However, Bloodline transfer carries significant risks.]**
**[If the recipient's body is incompatible with the Bloodline, the Bloodline may reject the host.]**
**[Possible consequences include severe physical damage, Bloodline conflict, suppression, or death.]**
Lizarius' gaze shifted toward the trembling Blood Horn Python.
The system continued.
**[The stronger and purer the Bloodline, the greater the burden placed upon the recipient.]**
**[A Bloodline may also be forcibly extracted through death.]**
Lizarius' eyes narrowed slightly.
**[When the original host dies, a portion of its Bloodline Essence may remain within the corpse.]**
**[However, this method is considerably less efficient than a controlled Bloodline extraction.]**
Lizarius processed the information.
The serpent cautiously raised its head.
"Did..."
It hesitated.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Lizarius' gaze returned to it.
The serpent immediately lowered its head again.
Lizarius remained silent.
Then—
Lizarius finally spoke.
"Give me your Bloodline Essence."
The Blood Horn Python froze.
For several moments—
it simply stared at him.
"...My Bloodline Essence?"
Its voice carried a trace of confusion.
"You want it?"
Lizarius' golden eyes remained emotionless.
The serpent hesitated.
"Wait."
"You said Bloodline Essence..."
"Not Blood Essence."
Its crimson eyes widened slightly.
"You want the core essence of my Bloodline?"
Lizarius simply stared at it.
He didn't answer immediately.
Within his mind—
his thoughts remained calm.
*So that's what it is called.*
*Bloodline Core Essence.*
He silently recalled the system's explanation.
*If I wanted to understand how Bloodline Essence is extracted...*
*I could simply simulate the process.*
He had originally intended to simulate the process.
But now—
there was no reason to do that.
The Blood Horn Python was right in front of him.
He could simply observe the process directly.
*If I watch it...*
*I should be able to understand how the Bloodline Core Essence is separated from the host.*
Lizarius' golden eyes narrowed slightly.
*There's no need for a simulation.*
Outwardly—
he answered.
"Correct."
The Blood Horn Python remained frozen.
*He really wants my Bloodline.*
Its crimson eyes flickered with uncertainty.
Then—
another thought surfaced.
*If I give him my Bloodline Core Essence...*
*Will he spare me?*
The serpent carefully raised its head.
"If I give you my Bloodline Core Essence..."
It swallowed.
"Will you promise to spare my life?"
Lizarius stared at it.
He didn't immediately answer.
Within his mind—
he quietly observed the serpent.
*It has been begging for its life since the beginning.*
*It genuinely doesn't want to die.*
His golden eyes remained calm.
*And it is intelligent enough to understand the situation.*
The serpent hadn't attacked.
It hadn't attempted to flee again.
Instead—
it chose to negotiate.
*Because it knows that attacking me would result in death.*
*And escaping is probably impossible.*
Lizarius paused.
*It's similar to my encounter with the fox.*
The serpent's body trembled slightly beneath his gaze.
Lizarius remained silent.
The serpent's heart tightened.
*I can't trust his word.*
But—
it immediately understood the situation.
*It doesn't matter.*
*Whether I trust him or not...*
*I have no choice.*
If it refused—
it would likely die.
If it attempted to flee—
it would likely die.
If it attacked—
it would definitely die.
The serpent lowered its head.
*I've already begged for my life.*
*There's no shame in doing it again.*
Its thoughts became calm despite the fear.
*Survival comes first.*
It slowly spoke.
"...Will you?"
"Yes."
The Blood Horn Python froze.
For several moments—
it simply stared.
Then—
it slowly lowered its head.
"...Alright."
A brief pause.
"That's a deal."
The serpent took a deep breath.
"I'll give you my Bloodline Core Essence."
For several moments—
it didn't move.
*Can I trust him?*
The answer was obvious.
*No.*
It couldn't know whether Lizarius would honor his promise.
But—
the serpent had no better choice.
If it refused—
it would most likely die.
If it attempted to escape—
it would almost certainly die.
If it attacked—
it would definitely die.
Therefore—
the only option that gave it even the slightest chance of survival was cooperation.
The serpent slowly lowered its head.
"...Alright."
It took a deep breath.
"That's a deal."
"I'll give you my Bloodline Core Essence."
Lizarius remained motionless.
His golden eyes focused entirely upon the serpent.
The Blood Horn Python slowly raised its head.
The crimson horn on its forehead began glowing.
A faint red light emerged from within its body.
At first—
nothing else happened.
Then—
the serpent's entire body began trembling.
Its scales slowly tightened against its flesh.
A strange pressure spread throughout the surrounding forest.
Lizarius' eyes narrowed.
*It's beginning.*
The Blood Horn Python closed its eyes.
Its breathing became increasingly strained.
The crimson horn grew brighter.
**HUMM—**
A deep vibration spread through the air.
The serpent's Blood Essence began moving.
But—
this was different from ordinary Blood Essence.
The energy was far deeper.
More concentrated.
It originated from the very foundation of the serpent's Bloodline.
Lizarius watched without blinking.
The Blood Horn Python's body suddenly shuddered.
**BOOM!**
A crimson aura erupted from its body.
The surrounding leaves were blown away.
The serpent clenched its jaws.
A painful expression appeared across its face.
Lizarius remained silent.
Within his mind—
he carefully observed every change.
*The Bloodline Essence is being separated from its body.*
The crimson aura slowly gathered around the horn.
Then—
a small sphere of crimson light began forming inside the horn.
It was tiny.
Yet—
the pressure it emitted was far greater than its size suggested.
The Blood Horn Python's breathing became ragged.
Its voice trembled.
"...The Bloodline Core Essence..."
"...Is gathering."
Lizarius' golden eyes remained fixed upon the crimson sphere.
*So this is the Bloodline Core Essence.*
The serpent continued concentrating.
The crimson light became increasingly dense.
Its entire body trembled harder.
Sweat-like droplets of spiritual moisture formed between its scales.
Then—
**CRACK.**
A faint sound echoed.
The crimson horn developed a thin crack.
The serpent's expression changed.
"Almost..."
Another crack appeared.
**CRACK!**
The crimson light inside the horn suddenly intensified.
Lizarius remained completely still.
His attention never left the Bloodline Core Essence.
The serpent clenched its teeth.
"...Now."
The crimson sphere slowly emerged from the horn.
It floated directly above the serpent's forehead.
The moment it separated—
the serpent's aura weakened dramatically.
Its body sagged.
Yet—
it remained conscious.
The crimson sphere hovered quietly in the air.
Within it—
a faint image seemed to shift.
The silhouette of a massive serpent.
A crimson horn.
Blood-colored energy.
Lizarius' golden eyes narrowed.
*So this is a Bloodline Core Essence.*
He slowly raised one claw.
The crimson sphere moved toward him.
The Blood Horn Python watched nervously.
Its eyes remained fixed upon the sphere.
That was its Bloodline.
Its foundation.
Everything that made it a Blood Horn Python was contained within that small sphere.
And now—
it was giving it away.
Something began emerging from within its body.
A small crimson sphere.
It was only the size of a fist.
Yet—
the moment it appeared—
an overwhelming Bloodline aura spread through the forest.
The surrounding trees trembled.
Leaves fell from their branches.
Even the air seemed to become heavier.
The serpent's body suddenly weakened.
Its scales lost some of their luster.
The crimson horn dimmed.
Yet—
it continued.
The Bloodline Core Essence slowly emerged completely from its body.
The serpent gritted its teeth.
"...Take it."
Its voice trembled.
"It's yours."
Lizarius' golden eyes remained fixed upon the crimson core.
The Blood Horn Python lowered its head.
"Just..."
It breathed heavily.
"...Remember your promise."