"My lady... the ruins' entrance requires a high-level fey bloodline as a key. I've tried every possible sample from our kin, but the curse embedded in our blood causes the ruins to reject us…" Qi's voice trailed off, filling the underground hall with a heavy silence.
Despair flickered on the faces of every hybrid fey present. This bloodline curse—a punitive measure the ancient fey placed on descendants deemed unworthy—marked them as criminals in the eyes of the fey. Their blood, tainted and shunned, couldn't unlock the ancient fey relics they so desperately needed.
They had finally located the long-sought fey ruins on Cossay Island, but at the last critical step, their cursed bloodline barred their way. Where could they possibly find high-level fey blood free from this curse?
After the silence settled, all eyes turned to their leader, seated high on her throne.
"Is there no other way?" the leader asked, her voice low and thoughtful as she gazed at Qi. "Prepare for two options. If there is no substitute, we'll use force to break in." She paused, scanning the room. "The rest of you, take bloodline detectors and start searching! We don't need much—only a trace to serve as a catalyst. Not every suitable bloodline carrier needs to be a half-fey. Some humans carry traces of fey ancestry, dormant and unactivated."
Her gaze sharpened. "Find those who qualify and obtain their blood. That will open the ruins."
Having outlined the plan, she addressed the gathered half-fey with renewed determination. "This is our closest opportunity yet to break the curse, and perhaps our last chance at salvation. We must succeed!"
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After two gruelling days of travel, Lucian's group finally emerged from the mist-choked mountains and reached a small human settlement near the port.
"Fey bloodlines are really fascinating," Lucian muttered to himself in his inn room. He peered through a microscope-like device at a sample of blood he had collected from the half-fey named Tao. At this stage, he hadn't yet begun separating the components; instead, he examined the sample closely, noting that it contained traces of natural runes—some dispersed, others forming intricate sorcery models. These patterns, undoubtedly linked to the fey bloodline, were embedded directly in the blood itself.
Lucian eagerly sketched the scattered runes and models on a piece of paper before moving to the next step: the delicate process of extracting pure fey blood from the sample.
"The blood contains a specific curse, so I'll only be able to isolate one type of fey bloodline," Lucian murmured, deciding to focus on the rarest component: Moon Fey blood. Moon Fey, a powerful fey species, naturally progressed to full sorcerer level as they matured, surpassing even Greater Fey in bloodline rank. Their blood would thus be far richer in high-level sorcery models.
With care, Lucian entered a focused state, using his mental energy as a fine scalpel to extract the Moon Fey blood according to the system's instructions. The blood had a light purple hue, with a fragrance reminiscent of plants—unlike the typical metallic scent of human blood. Fey blood was, in fact, a valuable alchemical resource, used in a variety of high-level potions.
"It's a shame the curse is still embedded within. Attempting to use this blood without further purification would risk severe contamination from the curse." He sighed, moving to a more precise stage of separation.
Finally, as dawn neared, Lucian stretched, weary but satisfied, as he placed a single crystalline drop of Moon Fey blood into a tiny vial. The almond-sized crystal represented all he could extract from Tao's blood.
This amount was too small for a full bloodline infusion but served as an ideal research specimen. Already, Lucian had glimpsed the complex, higher-level sorcery models embedded within, hinting at techniques accessible only to full sorcerers. When he reached that level, these would make an intriguing study.
"If possible, I should negotiate with Lilia for more samples," he mused, pleased with the acquisition but not in urgent need.
In the room next door, however, Carrie was struggling. Sitting up in bed, she looked visibly drained. She rubbed her temples, trying to shake off a strange feeling.
For several nights now, whenever she entered a meditative state, she could sense faint whispers around her—indistinct yet hauntingly present, disturbing her focus.