Chapter 212: Both a Gift and a Curse

Looking at the "Sleeping Apple" offered by Nie Yingying, Queen Sailina was overjoyed!

As for Siwen and Hans, who failed to return together, Her Majesty the Queen expressed that she had a bit of trouble telling those two apart.

Therefore, those who have performed meritorious service and walked before me alive shall be rewarded; as for the dead—I will remember their contributions!

"Excellent! Truly excellent! You have proven your loyalty and courage!"

The Queen admired the apple in her hand, never ceasing to heap praise upon Nie Yingying and Aoruilian.

"And loyalty and courage shall surely be rewarded! Miss Nie, I shall teach you all the secrets of my beauty; I believe this is the best reward for a woman! And Mr. Solaris, you are already a 【Light Knight】 conferred by His Majesty the King; perhaps 【Light Baron】 would be a good reward! After all, titles and power are what best enhance a man's charm!"

As the Queen's words fell, Nie Yingying obtained the Green Entry 【Beauty Technique】, and Aoruilian's 【Light Knight】 title also changed to 【Light Baron】.

Nie Yingying's face turned green; as a woman, she naturally wouldn't mind an Entry that could make her more beautiful, but if this Entry was exchanged for merit that she had risked half her life to obtain, then it was far too poor a deal.

Beside her, Aoruilian also frowned slightly; he now felt the benefits of special profession Entries. Not to mention the function of hiding his own Entries, the convenience gained during Plot Missions was also quite good. For example, in the previous mission to hunt down Baixue Gongzhu, Siwen and the others could only go alone, while he could lead plot soldiers—this was a tangible benefit.

But this time, his efforts only resulted in an upgrade of his title; this reward was somewhat disproportionate to his merit.

Ignoring the silent complaints in their hearts, the Queen turned gracefully, and the apple that had been in her hand vanished.

"Very well! Miss Nie, come inside the hall with me; I shall impart the secret of maintaining beauty for a long time to you! And Mr. Aurelian Solaris, come in as well; my loyal warrior deserves a glass of fine wine!"

Saying this, she walked into her side hall without looking back.

The Queen's side hall was clearly not as luxurious as her original bedchamber, but it was still exquisitely refined, and that legendary Magic Mirror stood silently beside the vanity.

Just as Nie Yingying and Aoruilian looked at each other in confusion, the Queen reached out and grasped at the empty air beside her.

A miniature purple vortex appeared and vanished, leaving only a black-gold wine glass in the Queen's fair, white palm.

The surface of the wine glass was covered in complex patterns, with tiny gemstones inlaid into the body of the cup.

With the appearance of this wine glass, a thick, bloody scent enveloped the entire side hall, and Queen Sailina even took a deep breath, an expression of intoxication appearing on her face.

Amidst these waves of blood, a faint, elusive fragrance permeated the air, intertwined and seductive.

【Holy Grail of Blood】! Purple item! A contract made with blood, a sacrifice made with souls! One cup refreshes the mind! Two cups bring eternal stamina! Three cups grant immortality!

Although a purple item was certainly exceptionally powerful, looking at the Entry notes that read like advertising copy, Aoruilian felt a bit panicked!

Never mind, this was a reward he had risked his life to earn.

He respectfully took the 【Holy Grail of Blood】 with both hands.

The liquid in the cup was as thick as honey and deep red, bordering on black; combined with that heavy, bloody scent, Aoruilian swore this was by no means a delicious drink.

Aoruilian, who had been able to reach the status of a Tier 5 powerhouse step by step, was naturally not a man of indecision. He held his breath and, without hesitation, raised the Holy Grail and downed the honey-thick liquid in one gulp.

As Aoruilian drank the liquid from the Holy Grail, the Queen smiled and waved her hand, and the miniature purple vortex appeared once more to swallow the 【Holy Grail of Blood】.

Meanwhile, the internal injuries on Aoruilian's body were rapidly self-healing, and his fractured ribs were mending amidst the sharp pain.

At first, he felt a warm power flowing through his entire body, dispelling fatigue and pain. However, as his injuries healed, that power did not disappear; instead, it burned his flesh like a raging fire.

His muscles expanded, his bones reshaped, and power surged in like a tide, accompanied by tearing pain.

Aoruilian gritted his teeth, his veins bulging, and cold sweat poured down like rain.

Nie Yingying, standing to the side, guessed that this was Aoruilian's second reward, but his condition did not seem good.

However, this state did not last long, and soon Aoruilian recovered.

His eyes were bright, and he clenched his fists with a face full of surprise; he felt that his current strength could easily beat that violent maniac Siwen to a pulp.

He then realized the situation, his face still flushed with excitement, though this did not stop him from bowing to the Queen with his hand over his chest.

"Your Majesty the Queen! Thank you for your reward! I shall repay your grace with loyalty and strength."

"Very good, Aoruilian. I have always seen your loyalty. I hope this power will help you bring more glory to the kingdom and to me." The Queen was very satisfied with Aoruilian's answer. "Now, the rest is a lady's private time; an excellent gentleman should take his leave."

As Aoruilian exited the room, Nie Yingying's heart could not stop racing.

It was clear that Aoruilian had just received an extra reward, so it was highly probable that she would not just be dismissed by the Queen with a green 【Beauty Technique】 Entry.

Sure enough, the Queen swayed her figure, walked gracefully to Nie Yingying, and gently lifted her chin with a pale, slender finger.

"My dear Miss Nie, every woman should keep herself in the most beautiful state—an elegant posture, decent upbringing, and even exquisite makeup; these are all indispensable aids. But do you know? We have an even better choice, and that is... eternal youth."

Her voice was as soft as a whisper, yet carried an unquestionable seduction, as if painting a dream within reach.

Nie Yingying's heartbeat slowed, and her gaze gradually blurred under the Queen's stare, as if falling into an irresistible dream.

Queen Sailina's wine-red eyes grew increasingly bright; she leaned in close, her tall figure almost pulling Nie Yingying entirely into her embrace.

"The scent of a young girl... is always so fascinating."

Her nose tip wandered across Nie Yingying's slender neck, as if intoxicated by that sweet, fresh scent, unable to pull herself away.

A flash of scarlet crossed Queen Sailina's wine-red eyes, and the corners of her lips curled up slightly, revealing sharp Blood Clan fangs. Her voice was low and filled with temptation: "My dear Miss Nie, are you ready to welcome eternity?"

Before Nie Yingying could respond, the Queen's fangs had already gently pierced her slender neck. A sharp pain arrived, followed by a cold sensation, as if some kind of power were flowing into her body along with her blood. Nie Yingying's body trembled slightly, yet she could not break free from the Queen's embrace.

A moment later, the Queen released her, licked the residual blood from the corner of her mouth, and smiled with satisfaction: "Welcome to the Blood Clan, my child."

Nie Yingying felt a strange power surging within her; her senses became abnormally sharp, and she could even clearly hear the flickering sound of a candle flame in the distance. She looked down at her hands, her fingertips seemingly glowing with a faint, blood-colored light.

"I... have become a Blood Clan?" Her voice trembled slightly, yet carried a hint of irrepressible excitement; the Bloodline Entry she had been looking forward to had been obtained just like that.

The Queen gently stroked her cheek, her eyes full of doting: "Yes, from now on, you will possess eternal youth and power. However, remember—the identity of the Blood Clan is both a gift and a curse."