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Amid the intricate and messy knowledge of blood magic, there was only one ritual—known as the Ritual of the Blood Puppet—that could be performed without the practitioner possessing the bloodline of a blood sorcerer.
Judging by the effects described in the ritual, Gavin secretly speculated that this must be the method Qyburn would later use to resurrect the Mountain.
According to the book, the first step was to find a fresh corpse. This corpse needed to be intact, with minimal damage to the muscles and bones.
Then, on the corpse's skin, one had to carefully draw a series of mysterious and complex runes using specially prepared materials. These runes possessed enigmatic magical power, capable of channeling the energy required for the subsequent steps.
The next step involved injecting a special concoction into various parts of the corpse with meticulous care. This ensured that the drugs was evenly distributed, subtly altering the internal environment of the body.
Afterward came the most critical moment: the infusion of magical blood. The enchanted blood and the special potion had to be slowly and steadily injected into the corpse's veins, gradually replacing its original blood.
This process demanded extreme precision and caution. Every drop of blood had to be infused at the correct speed, in the correct quantity, and into the correct location. A single mistake could lead to the failure of the entire ritual.
However, this blood magic ritual was not considered particularly powerful in the records of the blood sorcerers. Most often, it was used as a method for them to create their own servants.
This was because the puppet's strength and abilities were limited by the state of its body before death. Furthermore, without regular infusions of magical energy into the puppet, it would be difficult for it to remain active for long.
The process of the ritual was exceedingly complex, with its most crucial step being the infusion of magical blood and a special potion into the corpse, replacing the body's original blood.
This step required the utmost precision and caution. Even the slightest deviation could result in the ritual's failure. For a blood sorcerer, who could naturally manipulate blood, this was an easy feat. But for others, it posed an insurmountable challenge.
Suddenly, Gavin's interest was piqued. It was clear that Qyburn had managed to overcome these challenges in the future. After all, no matter how he looked at it, Gavin didn't believe that Qyburn himself possessed magical abilities.
As for the infusion of magical blood into the veins, the most suitable source would undoubtedly be the blood of the puppet's master.
In this way, once the Blood Puppet was resurrected, it would become utterly loyal to its master, unwaveringly obeying their commands and completely losing any sense of self.
From this perspective, it became evident that Qyburn's modifications to the Mountain had not fully aligned with the requirements of the Blood Puppet ritual. After all, at the final moment, the Mountain had harbored an uncontrollable obsession within his heart, choosing to defy commands.
Gavin's expression grew focused as he carefully examined the list of materials and medicines required for the ritual. His gaze moved slowly over the dense lines of text, and his brows furrowed slightly because among the numerous listed items, he could only identify a small part of them.
Even so, the few materials and medicines he recognized were enough to astonish him. Each item exuded an air of extraordinary rarity and expense.
Some of the herbs grew only on remote, uninhabited cliffs or within the depths of ancient, mysterious forests where few people went. The rare minerals mentioned required immense effort and manpower to extract from deep underground.
Thankfully, most of these items could be purchased—if one were willing to pay a hefty price.
Drawing upon his own experience and knowledge, Gavin began to calculate the cost. The more he thought about it, the more astonished he became. Slowly shaking his head, he speculated that creating a single Blood Puppet would likely cost no less than a thousand gold dragons—a staggering and daunting expense.
Clicking his tongue, Gavin frowned deeply as thoughts of the yet-to-be-won tournament prize surfaced in his mind. Even if he managed to win the prize and successfully claim it, his careful calculations suggested it would only be enough to create four Blood Puppets at most.
At this thought, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh, his heart filled with helplessness and reflection. "Earning money… it remains the most pressing challenge right now, and in the future, it will likely continue to be a daunting problem I'll have to face."
Still, there was some solace to be found. If his speculation was accurate, his mysterious panel ability might significantly enhance the strength of the flesh puppets, completely freeing them from the limitations imposed by their strength in life.
This meant that even an ordinary, weak corpse could potentially be transformed into a formidable force through the power of this mysterious ability.
The more Gavin thought about it, the more excited he became. Yet, beneath the excitement lingered a growing sense of unease about the road ahead. "If I aim to build an undead army with this method, the path forward will indeed be long and arduous."
Gavin had plenty of ideas for products that could bring him immense wealth. However, every time he considered putting them into action, a profound sense of helplessness would rise in his heart.
He was acutely aware that, with his current strength and status, he had no way to protect the rights to these lucrative ventures.
Should any of these ideas reveal their immense profit potential, they would inevitably attract countless greedy wolves, eager to devour them like fresh fat meat.
The powerful and influential would never pass up an opportunity to seize such wealth, and Gavin knew he was powerless against them.
He was already contemplating the idea of partnering with someone who wielded power and influence.
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The Next Day
The next day, Gavin, carrying the precious books, once again stood before the door to Qyburn's study. He took a deep breath to steady himself, then raised his hand and knocked gently on the door.
"Knock, knock, knock." The sound echoed through the quiet hallway.
"Come in," Qyburn's voice called from within.
Gavin pushed the door open and stepped inside. With a polite and humble smile on his face, he bowed slightly toward Qyburn and said, "Maester Qyburn, thank you for lending me these books."
Qyburn nodded with a smile and asked, "So, how well do you understand the content of the books?"
Gavin walked to the desk and began to present his insights in an organized manner. The two engaged in a deep discussion on the various topics covered in the books, their conversation warm and focused.
Thanks to Gavin's understanding, which far surpassed the knowledge of this world, as well as his unique perception and grasp of magic, his ideas and reasoning left Qyburn pleasantly surprised. Gavin's explanations even resolved some issues that had puzzled Qyburn for a long time.
Their conversation lasted for a considerable time. Eventually, Gavin leaned forward slightly, his gaze carrying a hint of earnestness and expectation, as he said to Qyburn, "Maester Qyburn, this discussion has been incredibly enlightening for me. I sincerely hope, with your esteemed status as a Maester, I could have the opportunity to access more books on magic like these to further expand my horizons and knowledge. Would that be possible?"
As he spoke, Gavin's hands instinctively rubbed together, betraying the nervousness and eagerness he felt deep inside.
Qyburn leaned back in his chair, his gaze scrutinizing Gavin as his fingers lightly tapped on the desk.
After a brief moment of contemplation, he said, "Gavin, this is no trivial matter. Most of those books are both rare and highly confidential, accessible only to Maesters. However, allowing you to read them is not entirely out of the question. But you must swear to uphold the secrecy of their contents."
Qyburn's expression grew solemn, his tone grave and deliberate.
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[Chapter End's]
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