Chapter 147: Chapter 146: Tier One Bloodline Potion

On the plaza grounds, only a few dozen human-shaped patches of ashes and the lingering smell of burnt flesh proved they had ever existed.

The mortal servants and guards kneeling at the edges had witnessed a scene comparable to divine punishment and were scared out of their wits.

Many fainted on the spot, while the rest huddled together, trembling like quails, not daring to even lift their heads.

Among them, an old man who looked like a butler was on the verge of collapse.

’Thankfully, I’m just a mortal with no Spiritual Power.’

’Thankfully, I didn’t show even a hint of hatred just now.’

Ian descended to the ground and walked over to the old man. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"Are all the Wizards of your clan here?"

"Y-Yes, my lord! Aside from those who left years ago and never returned, all the registered Apprentices... are here..."

The old man’s voice was hoarse, tinged with the tearful sound of a survivor.

"My lord... there might be something of interest to you in the clan’s treasury... I only beg... I only beg that you spare the mortals..."

He knew this was the clan’s only chance of survival.

"Lead the way," Ian said coolly.

...

A moment later, Ian retrieved an ancient metal cylinder from the dusty Secret Vault of the Osborne Clan.

Inside was a formula written on a scroll made from the hide of some unknown Magic Beast.

The script was written in a mixture of some kind of dried blood and a special ink, exuding an ancient and savage aura.

"Hm?"

Ian’s gaze fell upon the Beast Hide Scroll.

’A Tier One Bloodline... so the complete formula is here.’

The Beast Hide Scroll felt coarse and tough in his hand. Its worn edges and the dark red script, like dried blood, silently spoke of its age and extraordinary nature.

He looked directly at the core part of the formula.

Main Ingredient: Heart Essence Blood of an Earth Barbarian Bear.

Ian’s Spiritual Power flowed over the script, and a detailed description of the ingredient emerged in his mind.

’An adult Earth Barbarian Bear, a Tier One Peak Power-type Extraordinary Creature... hibernates for long periods at Earth Vein nodes... its heart Essence Blood contains its complete Life Origin Mark.

And the most precious thing of all: an Earth Law Fragment.’

Ian knew exactly what this meant.

If the Rock Bear Potion he had traded with Nolan was akin to unnaturally forcing growth, forcibly grafting some of the fur characteristics of a Rock Armor Demon Bear onto a person...

...then this Earth Barbarian Bear Potion guided and sublimated the user’s bloodline from its very foundation, steering it toward the higher level of an "Earth Vein Favorer."

For those whose bloodlines already resonated with the Earth or with bears, there was an extremely high probability of directly Awakening the Earth Affinity Talent.

’This is a true Tier One Bloodline Potion.’ A faint sense of delight rose in Ian’s heart.

The formula was immensely valuable and would be a great aid to him as well. He fully understood its significance.

Potions were an extremely important part of his path in Magic Potion arts, and a formula like this, one that touched upon a Law...

...its concepts, structure, and methods for processing ingredients were a treasure trove of knowledge in themselves.

Secondary Ingredient: Living Pith of a Stone Heart Vine.

His gaze fell upon the description of how to acquire and use it.

’The lignified root pith of a hundred-year-old Stone Heart Grass... living pith collected at dawn amidst the morning dew...’

Reading this, Ian immediately understood the creator’s ingenious design.

’The heavy earthen energy accumulated over a century, and the faint yet pure life essence from the morning dew.’

’The combination of the two could perfectly neutralize the violent, pure, bestial Will within the Earth Barbarian Bear Blood Essence.’

’It’s not just a Stabilizer, but also a "slow-release medium" for the Earth Law.’

The concept behind the refining process was also very interesting.

’The Blood Crystal must be activated under the moonlight for three nights... using the gentle, cool power of the moon to slowly soften the violent properties in the Blood Essence, achieving a preliminary harmony.’

’After the pith is extracted, contact with the activated Blood Crystal will produce the illusion of a bear’s roar...’

’The sound is a manifestation of the two Earth Vein essences beginning to merge at the Rule level. It’s also a clever way to determine if the initial refining has succeeded.’

’The final form is a viscous, amber-colored liquid containing golden Law Fragments or threads...’

’This indicates that the Earth Barbarian Bear’s Core Mark and Law Fragments have been perfectly preserved and dispersed throughout the Potion.’

’The final refining ritual requires drawing an Array with the user’s own blood, allowing the Potion to familiarize itself with the user’s bloodline aura beforehand...’

Ian nodded. This detail was crucial for improving the Potion’s compatibility and reducing the risk of rejection.

It was clear the creator of this formula had considered every aspect with extreme care.

The formula’s core effects and risks also flashed through Ian’s mind.

’A massive increase in Power, Physique, and Earth Element Affinity...’

’The possibility of breaking through the limits of one’s bloodline quality... and a chance for Satori within three days of consumption...’

Every one of these effects was far beyond what the simplified Rock Bear Potion could offer, as the latter merely strengthened skin defense.

Of course, the risks were commensurate.

’Failure of the Will check results in bloodline contamination, permanently infusing it with Beastiality.

The pain of a bloodline backlash, the risk of failure, and the crucial matter of its uniqueness.’

’A person can only take it once in their lifetime? That’s still pretty good.’

These limitations were precisely what indicated that this formula touched upon a deeper, more taboo domain of bloodline modification.

It wasn’t about simply adding a Demon’s characteristics to the surface of one’s body, but an attempt to fuse with the Demon’s Life Origin Mark.

’The one Nolan got probably didn’t even have the basic Life Origin Mark fully preserved.

Let alone Law Fragments. No wonder it was just a crude, simplified version with vastly different effects.’

This was a truly complete, Tier One Bloodline Potion formula that reached the level of a Law.

’The Osborne Clan... I suppose you had some value after all.’

The last ripple in Ian’s heart calmed. This unexpected gain was better than he had anticipated.

He neatly rolled up the beast hide and placed it in the most secure spot in his Dimension Bag.

This ancient formula would undoubtedly serve as a significant reference for his future path in Magic Potion arts.

Walking out of the castle, Ian didn’t spare another glance for the mortals who were still limp on the ground, paralyzed with fear.

His revenge was complete, and their value had been extracted.

With a light tap of his toes, his figure floated upward, landing once more on Gaga’s broad and steady back.

"Finished your business?" Gaga asked, its heterochromatic eyes glancing down at the deathly silent valley below.

"Yes. It’s clean now," Ian’s voice was calm and steady.

"GAGA!"

Gaga let out a clear, triumphant cry, announcing the complete end of this belated reckoning.

Its enormous wings suddenly unfurled, beating against the air and stirring up a violent gust, carrying Ian as it soared into the sky once more.

Long after the two figures disappeared, the eyes of the Osborne Clan’s survivors remained glazed with terror.

The morning wind swept through the silent valley. On the training ground, only the solitary ice sculpture remained, reflecting the cold morning light.

And the few dozen human-shaped patches of cold ashes.

They silently told the tale of what had happened here.

A Wizard Apprentice clan that had once been prominent, even in this remote region.

Was now well and truly... extinct in all but name.