Chapter 55 [Blood Source Assassin] Dream Invasion

"I have to admit, your dreamscape... is really handy!"

Zorn thought to himself as he looked at the [Dream Weaver], who excelled in weaving dreams and hypnosis, now easily subdued.

Had they been in the outside world, Zorn would have needed to prepare for quite some time and guarded against any desperate counterattack from the [Dream Weaver].

However, within the dreamscape, the sequential spiritualities of the two were drawn much closer.

Even if the Weaver wanted to fight back or cry for help, he would first have to go through the process of "waking up."

Clearly, Zorn would not afford him that opportunity.

A single deep baptism of [Evil Spirit Authority] directly captured this peak Tier 1 [Dream Weaver]. Zorn intended to subject him to two more deep baptisms shortly to ensure the subsequent plan proceeded flawlessly.

After sorting out his train of thought, Zorn asked, "What is the extraction efficiency of the Forbidden Bloodline regarding the higher entity, the [Double-Ringed Serpent]?"

"Reporting to the Envoy Lord, the extraction efficiency of the forbidden blood is not particularly high. Each batch requires sacrificing at least three humans to obtain a single portion of 'forbidden blood'."

"Even for that single portion of forbidden blood, quite a bit of it dissipates."

"Fortunately, these past few days, Lord Cormier Faulkner has successfully researched a method to perfectly seal the forbidden blood."

Hearing this, Zorn furrowed his brow slightly.

"Sacrificing three humans to obtain just one portion of forbidden blood? That efficiency is a bit too low!"

"If it were me, sacrificing a single human would net me a portion of forbidden blood... Ahem. Indeed, this damned cult organization is actually harming the citizens of Oglan."

"We must strike them down severely, and confiscate all of their assets!"

While obtaining crucial intelligence, Zorn also locked onto the key figure involved.

The [Mad Wizard] Cormier Faulkner.

This was the chief research wizard within the Forbidden Bloodline.

According to the normal trajectory of events, when the Church raided the stronghold of the [Forbidden Bloodline], the [Mad Wizard] Cormier Faulkner managed to escape with a large amount of "forbidden blood."

That forbidden blood drove him increasingly mad and depraved, but his strength also grew at a terrifying pace.

"Aside from Cormier, who else from the [Forbidden Bloodline] organization is stationed here?" Zorn asked once more.

"There is also a Tier 5 Deputy Bishop, Lord [Blood Knight], and two Tier 4 Priests."

"In addition to them, there are about twelve acolytes like myself, as well as over thirty devout believers who have completely given their faith to the [Forbidden Bloodline]."

Zorn nodded slightly.

"No wonder it takes the church's strength to resolve the trouble here. The [Forbidden Bloodline] has indeed invested quite a significant force in this place."

A Tier 5 [Mad Wizard].

A Tier 5 Deputy Bishop, the [Blood Knight].

And two Tier 4 Priests.

The acolytes below were generally Tier 1 or Tier 2, with exceptional ones reaching Tier 3, and those Tier 3 individuals were all slated to become probationary priests.

Facing so many Transcendents, if Zorn were to silently initiate a catastrophe and wait for it to expand further, he would undoubtedly win.

However, whether he could calmly secure the "forbidden blood" here was another matter entirely.

That [Mad Wizard] Cormier was exceptionally cunning.

At the slightest sign of trouble, he might flee with the goods.

Even if he didn't take them, if they launched a suicidal counterattack, the probability of Zorn acquiring the complete forbidden blood intact would be very low.

He glanced at Boyd, whose demeanor was full of piety.

"It is time to let the believers exercise their subjective initiative."

Zorn was not entirely familiar with this place, and letting these insiders play to their strengths often yielded better results.

After all, insiders were always the hardest to guard against.

"I want to acquire as much of the forbidden blood here as possible. Do you... have a way?" Zorn asked in a lowered voice.

After pondering for a moment, Boyd spoke slowly.

"The forbidden blood is currently sealed on the second underground level, guarded by the two priests."

"Every time the seal gate is opened to transport resources inside, the two priests conduct strict inspections and re-engage the seal."

"At present, it is virtually impossible to quietly extract the forbidden blood."

"However, Envoy Lord, if you are not in too much of a hurry, I perhaps have a brilliant plan that can allow you to acquire that forbidden blood."

"Oh?" Zorn raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Tell me in detail!"

"It is like this, Envoy Lord."

"A friend of mine possesses extremely outstanding talent. Although he is only Tier 2, he is deeply favored by the Deputy Bishop, Lord Greger, and is currently a key cultivation target of the Forbidden Bloodline."

"He is currently responsible for the task of transporting the forbidden blood."

"Just yesterday, he told me that next week, a batch of forbidden blood will be transported out, and he will be the one carrying it."

"If... the Envoy Lord can bring him under the banner of the great Holy Witch Lord..."

"At that time, an opportunity might just arise."

The Dream Weaver perhaps did not understand why that Tier 2 friend enjoyed such special treatment.

But Zorn understood the moment he heard it.

"To think there is also a [Bloodline Bearer] cherished by the bloodline power; this is becoming quite interesting."

A [Bloodline Bearer] referred to a special existence capable of digesting and absorbing forbidden blood much more easily, and unleashing the power of the forbidden blood.

Normal Transcendents coming into contact with "forbidden blood" would invariably suffer severe repercussions, even running amok, mutating, losing control, and devolving into terrifying bloodline monsters.

However, for a [Bloodline Bearer], this would not happen.

"What is your friend's sequence?" Zorn asked after a moment of thought.

"He is a Tier 2 [Assassin], exceptionally skilled in concealment and assassination."

"The [Bloodline Assassin] sequence is a very decent sequence, though the risk factor is somewhat high. They easily lose control and bear a terrifying bloodline curse."

"Can you bring your friend over and... drag him into a dream?" Zorn inquired.

Hearing this, Boyd wore a warm smile.

"Respected Envoy Lord, this is a very, very simple matter for me."

"This morning, Reginald and I already agreed that after nightfall, the two of us will join hands to enter the dreamscape and infiltrate the dream of the Berna family's youngest daughter..."

Infiltrating dreams!

Zorn knew full well what kind of sordid deeds Dream Weavers loved to engage in.

Real, vivid, efficient, and entirely free of trouble.

Yet this time, he was about to encounter massive trouble.

"Once I capture this Tier 2 [Bloodline Assassin], the subsequent plan can unfold perfectly."

After gaining a detailed understanding of the architectural structure of the [Forbidden Bloodline] stronghold within the dreamscape, Zorn exited the dreamscape when it was nearly 5:00 AM.

During this period, Zorn subjected the [Dream Weaver] Boyd to two additional deep authority baptisms.

Leaving him not even a sliver of a chance of breaking free.

As he was about to leave, Zorn suddenly thought of something. He turned around and looked at him.

"People frequently come here to make donations. I suppose those donations must have gone straight into your own pockets, right?"

"Yes, Envoy Lord," the [Dream Weaver] Boyd replied respectfully.

"Then how much do you have in reserves?"

"About 330 gold pounds."

"Is that all?"

"I have about 80-odd pounds on my person as well."

"Then give me 400 gold pounds!"

Being kind-hearted, Zorn left the Dream Weaver a dozen or so gold pounds to sustain his daily expenses so he wouldn't expose any flaws.

Stepping out of the Beverly Relief Station, the afternoon sunlight cast a warm, comforting glow upon him.

"Hmm... Not bad. 400 gold pounds acquired. Deducting the 40 pounds consumed, a net profit of 360."

"Adding the 3,240-odd pounds remaining from before, I now have a total of 3,600 gold pounds."

"Ah, Boyd said the Berna family's pasta is quite good. I can go taste it."

Zorn's figure quickly vanished deep into the street.

***

Berna Noodle Shop.

For just 6 copper lers, one could order a large bowl of noodles.

The Berna family's youngest daughter, who helped out in the shop, looked to be about thirteen or fourteen years old.

Lively and cute, she was right at the age of a budding maiden—pretty, well-developed, and clearly a future beauty.

No wonder those two fellows had harbored crooked thoughts.

After devouring a full six large bowls of egg noodles and paying with a silver dragon coin, Zorn melted into the darkness and waited quietly.

Soon, the night grew deep and still.

Zorn, who had long since locked onto the location, waited for the [Dream Weaver] Boyd and the lean, indifferent young man, the [Bloodline Assassin] Reginald.

The subsequent process was quite simple.

The Dream Weaver constructed a heavy and solid dream prison.

The completely oblivious [Bloodline Assassin] plunged headfirst into it.

The "dream infiltration" he had anticipated began.

Except he was the one being infiltrated.

Sensing something amiss, the [Bloodline Assassin] attempted to mobilize his bloodline power to escape, but Zorn was not about to afford him such an opportunity.

The wisps of black fog guided by Zorn directly formed an impassable barrier for him.

During the confrontation in the first half of the night, Zorn subjected him to three deep and slow authority baptisms.

Making him a devout believer of the Holy Witch Lord.

With the capture of these two believers, Zorn was now fully equipped to unfold the deployment of the [Evil Spirit Catastrophe] against the hidden stronghold of the [Forbidden Bloodline].