Chapter Twelve: Resource Integration

Six months later, in the suburbs of London.

A vintage estate covering dozens of acres had been quietly erected. Within its grounds lay structures of ancient Chinese style, the most conspicuous of which was a metallic tower standing in the center. The tower had a peculiar design, topped with a metal rod over ten meters long that pierced the sky. Its base consisted of layers of dark, metallic plates engraved with dense, intricate lightning runes. The structure resembled a television tower from a later era, yet appeared far more substantial.

Next to the metallic tower was an altar the size of a football field. Four stone pillars rose from it, each carved with the bas-reliefs of the four great sacred beasts: the Azure Dragon, the White Tiger, the Vermillion Bird, and the Black Tortoise. The entire altar was covered in mysterious, crimson runes.

At the center of the altar sat a giant egg the size of a person. The egg possessed the luster of warm jade and emitted a faint, deep-red glow. Golden, archaic patterns etched upon its surface shimmered under the sunlight, exuding a sacred aura that compelled onlookers to kneel and worship.

"Creak... sizzle..."

Just then, the metallic tower opened, and a young man with missing legs, seated in a metallic wheelchair, emerged. The youth had sharp, sword-like eyebrows and bright, star-like eyes. He wore black-and-white robes, and faint blue electrical sparks flickered around his body. His eyes were filled with joy.

The efficiency of this lightning-attraction tower, which he had designed himself, far exceeded his expectations. In just three short months, his cultivation had advanced significantly; not only had he completely repaired his Golden Centipede Dharma Image, but his very cells were now imbued with thunder attributes. He could summon heavenly lightning without the aid of his Lightning-Striking Chisel. His "General Outline of the Chaos Doutian Lightning Method" had also progressed greatly. He only needed to refine the Golden Centipede within him and survive the scattered immortal tribulation to fully transform into a Lightning Dharma Body.

It is truly said that of the four elements of cultivation—wealth, law, companions, and location—wealth comes first.

Since subduing the vampire clan six months ago, Li Yang had consolidated all their resources. He placed Amelia in charge of their finances, while Selene led the Death Dealers and the Night Walkers to scour for resources. The vampire clan had been rooted in this land for over a millennium. Although humanity had risen in recent years, it did not hinder the deep-seated influence the vampires held across every stratum of human society. With this massive power at his disposal, the resources Li Yang required were collected in an endless stream.

Furthermore, Li Yang utilized the vampire clan’s influence to establish a large-scale research institution dedicated to biological genetic science, helping him better develop the bloodline of his natal mythical beast. Under the systematic efforts of an organization rivaling a national machine, various rare treasures were continuously funneled into Li Yang’s pockets. Even the final ingredient needed for the Nirvana Golden Pill had been located just days ago.

Naturally, such large-scale operations came with side effects. The frequent and massive mobilization of the vampire clan severely disrupted public order, triggering high-level government vigilance and even leading to several skirmishes. This caused the relationship between humanity and the vampire clan to plummet to freezing point.

In the past, humans and vampires were the best of allies. Since ancient times, there was an unwritten rule: the vampires helped humans resist the Lycan invasion, and in return, humans provided a steady supply of blood. This relationship had been established over a millennium ago, but Li Yang’s forceful intervention had shattered the balance. With the rise of modern weaponry, humanity no longer relied on the vampires as they once had.

Following the clandestine clashes of the past six months, the relationship between the two parties was on the verge of an official rupture. Li Yang, however, deemed it all worthwhile. In his eyes, the vampire clan was merely a tool; as long as his goals were met, sacrifices were inevitable. It was precisely because of this relentless, cost-no-object looting that the materials for the Nirvana Golden Pill could be gathered in such a short time. As for the Immortal Blood, thanks to the vampire clan's powerful intelligence network, Marcus had already detected traces of it; news was expected soon.

The only thing that left Li Yang dissatisfied was Alexander Corvinus. This old man clearly possessed his own hidden power, and perhaps sensing that someone was plotting against him, he had remained elusive. Despite the best efforts of both the vampires and the Lycans, not a single clue had been found.

...

"Creak... Greetings to the great God of Bloodline Sorcery, my Lord. Lady Selene and Lady Amelia request an audience!"

As Li Yang was lost in thought, the gate surrounding the altar and the tower was pushed open. A vampire dressed as a maid, suppressing her innate fear of the sunlight, bowed from within the doorway.

"Oh, have Selene and Amelia arrived?" Li Yang replied. "Tell them I shall be there immediately."

Hearing this, his eyes brightened. Coming to see him in broad daylight could only mean one thing: they had found the final ingredient for the Nirvana Golden Pill, the Fire Jade Essence. Eagerly, he propelled his wheelchair toward the estate's main hall.

"Greetings, great God of Bloodline, good day!"

"Here is the item you requested..."

In contrast to Amelia’s respectful demeanor, Selene wore a cold expression and tossed a small box to Li Yang. He did not mind her attitude and gestured for them to sit. Since he had ordered the search for materials regardless of the cost, Selene’s Night Walkers had suffered heavy casualties, nearly to the point of total annihilation. The Death Dealers had also incurred severe losses, so naturally, she held no warmth for him. Unlike Amelia and the others, who had various reasons for surrendering, Selene served him purely out of a promise. Yet, despite her dissatisfaction, she never failed to carry out his tasks, so Li Yang chose to overlook her coldness.

"It is indeed Fire Jade Essence. Excellent!"

Opening the box and looking at the fist-sized, crimson piece of jade essence, Li Yang could barely contain his excitement. This treasure, born from jade veins deep beneath volcanic magma, was exceedingly rare. It was only by sheer luck that one might be found after a volcanic eruption. Acquiring it was a matter of pure chance, and its value was no less than the millennium-old wood he had obtained in the Insect Valley of Yunnan. Such treasures were scarce even in ancient times; to collect them through individual effort now was nearly impossible without immense luck.

"By the way, is there any news from Marcus?" Li Yang asked, looking up at Amelia.

"My Lord, Marcus has not sent word yet. However, according to his report last month, he has discovered traces of the Immortal Bloodline in the vicinity of Ireland."

Facing Li Yang’s inquiry, Amelia spoke with deep respect. As she spent more time with him, she realized this being was not as difficult to deal with as she had imagined; as long as one completed his tasks well, he was quite reasonable.

"Selene, take some time to go to Ireland and provide support to Marcus," Li Yang said, turning to her.

"No... I refuse," Selene replied without hesitation. "My Night Walkers are nearly wiped out, and the Death Dealers have suffered heavy losses. More importantly, our actions are now under constant human surveillance. Any further movement will surely provoke the highest level of vigilance from the government. Our foundation is already depleted; we need to recuperate, not break ties with humanity completely."

The atmosphere in the hall grew heavy. Amelia felt uneasy as she watched Selene stand her ground against Li Yang.

"Hmm..."

After a moment of contemplation, Li Yang chose to compromise. As Selene pointed out, he still needed the vampire clan’s influence. The most important thing now, besides brewing the Nirvana Golden Pill, was to locate the Immortal Bloodline to verify his theories. Brewing the pill would take time, and he needed to be fully prepared before then.

...

Meanwhile, in a forest on the border of Ireland and England, a well-equipped armed team was searching the woods. The group moved with agility, led by hounds, and advanced in a tight formation toward the depths of the forest.

"Sir, there is blood here!"

A soldier wearing a steel helmet and a mask crouched, touching the ground. He looked at the dark red blood on his hand and called out to those behind him.

An elderly man with white hair rushed out from the back of the team. He was short, with a ruddy complexion and emerald eyes that held a look of profound, worldly wisdom.

"Hmm... it is indeed his blood. It is daytime, and he is injured; he cannot have gone far. Everyone, continue the search. If you find any traces, report them immediately. Do not act on your own," the old man commanded after sniffing the blood.