After a dizzying sense of weightlessness passed, Yulster returned to reality.
It was still that dimly lit room, still the candlelight so faint that it seed it could extinguish at any mont.
Everything he had just experienced felt like an illusory dream.
But sensing the thorny rose insignia newly etched deep within his soul, Yulster knew it was all real.
He had truly succeeded in summoning the god behind Castel.
It was just that... no one had expected this god to be the Bloodline’s Ancestor, who had been missing for two thousand years!
Reflecting on the various legends about the Blood True Ancestor, Yulster sighed inwardly.
He knew that from now on he was utterly without freedom.
No matter what promises that being made, it couldn’t change the fact that he had beco prospective fodder, and that he could be devoured at any mont.
What he could do from here on was either to try pleasing that being as best he could or simply lower the being’s interest in him, and then... live on carefully, fearfully, with difficulty.
Crap!
This was even worse than making a subservience covenant with Elder Maxim or becoming a Blood Servant!
At least with the latter, although one also lost freedom, as long as one persevered, there might be a chance to regain it!
At this very mont, Yulster wished he could cross back to the ti before he drew the thorny rose and then fiercely slap himself several tis.
The Duke had said nurous tis not to offer prayers to a strange god.
And now, the first ti he did it, the retribution ca instantly.
Yet, what was done could not be undone; he could only lant and accept his miserable fate with sighs.
"Ah... True Ancestor, why can’t you be kinder to your descendants like other True Gods?"
"To see becoming a Favored of the Ancestor as a great terror, that’s probably unique to the Bloodline, isn’t it?"
Yulster lanted in his heart.
Of course, he only dared to lant in his heart.
The contract had been set; who knew whether that terrifying existence was watching him.
If he carelessly spoke his mind and by chance his words reached the ears of that being and displeased them, he might instantly beco fresh fodder.
There had been similar events in history!
However, though becoming a Blood Favored of legend disheartened Yulster, to be a Favored by Divine Grace was still to be a Favored by Divine Grace.
After returning to reality, he distinctly sensed that his strength, which hadn’t changed in a millennium, showed signs of loosening at its bottleneck.
Yulster felt... that the upper limit of his strength had increased, and if only he drank enough Transcendent blood and then slept well, he might be able to comprehend deeper Bloodline Resonance, advancing his strength even further.
Even if he couldn’t break through to beco a Duke, he could likely reach the peak possible for an Earl!
This should have been sothing to celebrate.
But he couldn’t feel happy about it.
A shepherd naturally hopes their sheep grow quickly and well, plump and strong.
Because that way, the at would be plentiful and delicious.
With this thought, Yulster felt even more despondent.
Yet, as despondent as he might be,
since he’d beco a Blood Favored, he was completely tied to the chariot of the Blood True Ancestor.
The Nais Clan records said that a Blood Favored was like the hand and foot of the True Ancestor.
If the True Ancestor fell, they could completely resurge through their Favored.
For this reason, the Bloodline descendants who did not want to see the Ancestor resurged naturally would also purge all Blood Favored.
Even for the sake of his own life and existence, Yulster had to help this resurrected Ancestor hide their identity, fulfill their arbitrary and autocratic demands...
Thinking this, Yulster let out another sigh and began erasing the traces of his summoning.
Fortunately, he had used his own blood as a catalyst for the summoning.
With the strength of the Bloodline, erasing traces was quite convenient.
And just as he had finished erasing the traces, the tightly closed door of the room creaked open, slowly pulled by soone from the outside.
The piercing light flooded in, making Yulster shield his eyes involuntarily.
Imdiately after, Elder Maxim’s aged voice ca directly at him:
"Hehe, Yulster, three days have passed, have you made your decision?"
Elder Maxim seed to be in a good mood, his tone much gentler than the last ti they t.
Yulster could even sll the strong scent of alcohol on him.
Combining the various legends about this Legendary Elder in the clan, he instantly knew that in these past three days, the elder had most likely been getting drunk in so human-world tavern.
"Why the silence? I’ve given you three days, have you still not co to a conclusion?"
"Submit to , offer your loyalty, and join in ushering in a new future for the Nais Clan, or would you rather... persist in your folly and force to turn you into a Blood Servant?"
Seeing Count Yulster silently refuse to speak, Elder Maxim furrowed his brows and asked.
"Hmph, think carefully now. If you offer your loyalty to , you can still retain a certain degree of freedom, and I might even promise to let you go after I take control of Nais..."
"But if I’m forced to make you a Blood Servant... heh, I can’t guarantee that your will would still be your own."
Seeing Count Yulster remain silent, Elder Maxim completely dropped his smile and threatened with a stern face.
Upon hearing his words, Count Yulster slowly looked up at the Legendary Elder who had sided with the Blood Demon Duke.
It was clear that both forced allegiance and becoming a Blood Servant were great humiliations and unacceptable conditions for a Bloodline individual who had already pledged loyalty to a superior...
But at this mont, faced with Elder Maxim’s nacing pressure, Count Yulster felt no turmoil within.
He wasn’t just devoid of anger; he even felt like laughing.
Of course, it was a cold laugh.
Perhaps even one of ridicule.
A submission contract?
Beco a Blood Servant?
Please, the chance of either of these soul-binding contracts succeeding when his soul had already been marked by the True Ancestor’s Holy Emblem was ghostly thin!
The overbearing Favored Contract had even severed his connection with the faith of Lord Cosy completely. Forget a Legendary forceful contract, although... his devotion wasn’t exactly fervent to begin with.
Count Yulster, who had lost all will to live, had completely lost interest in arguing or playing mind gas with Elder Maxim.
In the grand sche of the True Ancestor’s return, not just the internal strife of the Nais Clan, but all of the existing Bloodline’s Five Great Clans—each and every one of them—wouldn’t be able to escape!
However, looking at the opponent’s condescending attitude, treating him like sothing in the palm of his hand, as if everything was under control, Count Yulster felt irritated again.
And this irritation, mixed with the frustration of being bound by a Blood Contract, created a strange chemical reaction, making Count Yulster feel a smoldering, unbearable suffocation, like oil poured on fire.
Especially the arrogance of the other party, the way he didn’t take him seriously at all, rekindled a rebellious spirit in Count Yulster, who had initially planned to give up.
To hell with you!
Indeed, the True Ancestor had the power and the right to play like a pawn, but who the hell are you!
You’re a Legendary Duke, and yet you resort to underhanded tactics against , a Blazing Sun Count, spit!
If you are so capable, why don’t you go and face off against the Great Elder and Duke Yoroc!
Bullying a lesser count, what skill is there in that!
Count Yulster cursed in his heart.
And as he cursed, a sudden thought struck him.
He looked up with a gleam in his eyes and let out a cold laugh:
"Oh? Submit?"
"Elder Maxim, I’m sorry, but I’ve been pondering here for three days and nights, trying to think of even one reason to follow you, but after three days and nights, I just can’t co up with any..."
"Compared to the being I follow, you are so weak, so pathetic, like a clown jumping up and down, making sick..."
"I have no interest in following the weak. A being like you, who only resorts to unsavory tricks behind the scenes—you don’t even have the courage to challenge the one I follow!"
"Heh, beco a Blood Servant? Please. Even without using the Blood Profanity Staff, I know of the risks in forcibly turning a Bloodline individual loyal to a superior into a Blood Servant."
"You’re not giving a choice, you just lack the confidence—you’re worried about exposing yourself before the being I follow."
"Your courage is actually very small; you’re not sure you can turn into a Blood Servant without alerting the power behind , or to put it more directly, you are afraid of the power behind !"
"Ha, as a Bloodline individual, even a Legendary, what is there for to follow in you? Compared to you, Lord Yoroc is on a completely different level—he at least dares to confront Gods directly!"
"In my eyes, you can’t even sever my existing Bloodline contract."
Count Yulster spoke mockingly, his challenging gaze filled with deep contempt.
Seeing his infuriatingly smug deanor and listening to his coarse insults, Elder Maxim was about to explode with rage.
Especially when Count Yulster directly compared him with Duke Yoroc...
"Shut your mouth! You disrespectful wretch! How dare you defy a Duke Elder!"
"Fine! Fine! Since you seem so keen on becoming a Blood Servant, I’ll grant you your wish! I will do more than just that—I will completely erase your will! Twist your lineage! Turn you into my Blood and Flesh Puppet! The most miserable Blood Servant!"
"Can’t break your contract? Can’t turn you into a Blood Servant?"
"Hmph!"
"Today, I will let you know that even if the True Ancestor himself ca, he wouldn’t be able to save you! And you can forget about preserving your Bloodline connection!"
Elder Maxim gnashed his teeth, his eyes bloodshot.
He pulled out the Blood Profanity Staff from his chest, pointing it straight at Count Yulster, and bellowed:
"Dark... Blood Covenant!"
A dark crimson glow erupted from the Blood Profanity Staff.
At the sa ti, Elder Maxim’s spiritual power surged like a tide, riding the staff’s light towards Count Yulster’s soul...
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