Chapter Eighteen: The Progenitor Bloodline Warlock

The autumn wind bites with a desolate chill, as withered leaves drift through the scent of ripening fruit. A few ghostly glimmers flicker in the gloom, accompanied by the long, haunting howls of wolves echoing beneath the elongated shadows of the moon.

Deep in autumn, on the outskirts of London, the forest comes alive with the glint of ghostly green eyes and the resonant, mournful cries of wolves piercing the night air. A waxing moon hangs vaguely in the sky, casting faint silver radiance upon the landscape, while dark, lupine silhouettes dart through the night, lending an eerie and sinister atmosphere to the darkness.

Li Yang’s estate is ablaze with light, and figures are converging upon it from all directions. Since Li Yang announced yesterday his intention to select test subjects for the "Serum No. 1" from both the Lycan and Vampire clans, Lucian and Amelia have worked through the night to summon their high-ranking kin, all of whom have gathered at the estate to await orders.

Inside the grand hall, the two factions stand clearly divided, led by Lucian and Amelia respectively, occupying opposite sides of the room.

One side consists of tall, brawny figures with bared chests and thick fur. They exude a raw, wild ferocity, smelling of musk and predator, their eyes flickering with a ghostly green light. They look formidable—every one of them a hot-tempered bruiser.

The other side is the complete opposite: handsome men and beautiful women dressed in ornate, elegant attire. They watch the rough-hewn Lycans with undisguised disdain, some even delicately waving their hands before their noses as if shielding themselves from an unbearable stench.

The contrast between the two groups is stark. Neither side will yield; they glare at one another, noses flared, teetering on the edge of a brawl. While the vampires are merely putting on a show of superiority, the Lycans are genuinely restless, with some of the more volatile individuals even letting their lupine muzzles protrude in anticipation.

"Enough, you bastards! Do you have any idea where you are? How dare you act so insolently!"

Watching his subordinates’ posturing, Lucian feels a throbbing headache. He lets out a low growl, his eyes flashing with a menacing green light. Were it not for the fact that this is Li Yang’s estate, he would have undoubtedly charged in to discipline his own foolish kin. Though he is considered the most rational of the Lycans, the inherent violent genes of his bloodline ensure he is no man of gentle temper.

"Greetings to the Great God of Bloodline Sorcery!"

As Catherine wheels Li Yang into the hall, the whispering instantly ceases. Every expression turns solemn as they all bow in unison.

"Rise. You all know the reason why I have summoned you back today."

Li Yang raises a hand, signaling them to stand. His gaze sweeps over the crowd as he speaks with gravitas. "Serum No. 1 has been successfully developed. There are only three slots available. Are any of you willing to serve as test subjects? I must warn you: while the success rate is as high as ninety percent, it is not without danger. I will not force anyone who is unwilling. Regardless of the outcome, I will gift one milliliter of the 'Blood of Perfection' to the clan that participates."

"My Lord, I am willing."

Hardly had Li Yang finished speaking when Lucian stepped forward, eager to be the first to volunteer. He is sincere. Under Li Yang’s guidance, the Lycans have not only emerged from the sewers, but their lives have undergone a heaven-defying transformation; they no longer need to hide like vermin. Furthermore, his wife’s vengeance has been served. Both professionally and personally, Lucian’s gratitude toward Li Yang is profound. Without Li Yang, the Lycans would not be where they are today. Thus, the entire clan shares this deep-seated sense of gratitude.

"My Lord, I am willing as well!"

Seeing Lucian’s move, Amelia refuses to be outdone. Gritting her teeth, she steps forward to declare her stance. Her motivations are simpler; she cannot claim to be truly grateful. Without Li Yang, the power of the vampire clan would not have been so severely diminished. It is not generosity that keeps her from hating him, but the simple fact that she lacks the power to resist. She steps forward only so as not to fall behind the Lycans; as they are now all subjects under Li Yang, she fears that failing to show initiative might cause him to harbor suspicions.

"Very well. However, Lucian, you are not suitable for this experiment. You are the leader of the Lycans. Even with a high success rate, there is still risk. Let us select from among your kin instead."

Li Yang observes their expressions and understands perfectly. Since Amelia is unwilling, he will not force her. To put it bluntly, high risk often brings high reward; once the experiment succeeds, the Lycans will undergo a monumental change. If they are unwilling to risk it, Li Yang will not compel them. If they were not his own subordinates, he would never have offered them a serum that cost so much time and effort to create.

"Are there any others willing?" Li Yang asks, looking toward the brawny men behind Lucian.

"My Lord, I am willing..."
"I am willing..."

No sooner had the words left his lips than the men behind Lucian surged forward, clamoring to express their willingness.

"Silence! Listen to what His Lordship has to say!"

Noticing Li Yang’s slight frown, Lucian feels a jolt of alarm and shouts at his men. After serving Li Yang for so long, he understands his habits well: a blank expression usually means Li Yang is composed, a gentle look means he is in a good mood, and a frown means he is deeply displeased. As for shouting, that never happens, because a frown is already a sign of his displeasure; to push further might lead to a dire outcome. He does not want a good opportunity to turn into a disaster that earns the Lord's resentment.

"Decide among yourselves. I will not participate in the selection."

Seeing the Lycans fall silent at Lucian's rebuke, Li Yang relaxes his brow and closes his eyes to rest. In truth, he does not understand it himself, but ever since arriving in England, his temper has become increasingly erratic and volatile. Any slight annoyance causes a surge of violence deep within, even inciting murderous intent in his heart.

What he does not realize is that this is related to the rapid progress of his cultivation. The Six-Winged Golden Centipede is an ancient beast—a synonym for cruelty and ferocity, born with overwhelming power and untamable instincts. When he first cultivated his family's legacy, he had merely integrated the creature into his bones, and its power had remained dormant and unrefined. But as he now integrates the essence, spirit, and energy of the creature, its innate, brutal beastliness is beginning to influence his personality. The influence is subtle and gradual, leaving him unaware until now.

Initially, the process was slow, and Li Yang’s state of mind was able to suppress it. But since coming to England, the speed of refining has increased geometrically, and he has been deeply affected. To put it plainly, although he has lived through one more life than the average person, his mental state is not significantly stronger. Furthermore, the path he is treading is unprecedented; he has no mentor, and he must grope his way forward alone. While he has a clear direction, the details and pitfalls must be navigated by himself. Although he feels that something is wrong, he cannot pinpoint the source. Had the old Daoist Zixiao been here, he would have identified the root of the problem instantly.

"My Lord, these are the three we have selected!"

While Li Yang rests, the Lycans have gone through a fierce selection process, and three have emerged as the chosen ones.

"You two, what are your names?"

Li Yang looks at the three men before him: a black man, a white man, and a werewolf with tawny skin. He recognizes the black man—Raze, Lucian's right-hand man—but he has no impression of the other two.

"My Lord, I am Kuhl!"
"I am Orf!"

As he gazes at them, a faint, imperceptible golden light flashes in Li Yang’s eyes. The energy fluctuations within their bodies are reflected in his vision. While he cannot perceive biological magnetic fields with total clarity, he possesses the observational instincts of the Six-Winged Golden Centipede. He can vaguely sense the life energy of the entities before him. Raze possesses the highest energy, befitting an ancient werewolf of over six hundred years; he is the oldest and strongest of the Lycans after Lucian. The other two, while inferior to Raze, are clearly the elite of their clan.

Under Li Yang’s gaze, the three feel a sudden chill, as if they have been laid bare. They look at each other, filled with confusion.

"Very good. Follow me."

Satisfied with their physical condition, Li Yang beckons to them and, with Catherine pushing his chair, heads toward the underground laboratory in the depths of the estate.

...

Though it is late at night, the laboratory is bustling with activity. Both the Lycans and the vampires are creatures of darkness, accustomed to living by night; for them, the late hours are the prime time for their daily work. When busy, they often go days without sleep; it is a routine occurrence for such non-ordinary beings.

"Greetings to the Great God of Bloodline Sorcery!"

As Li Yang enters the lab, the researchers bow in nervous respect, and the lively atmosphere of the room instantly falls into a hushed silence.