Chapter 308: Reform (Please vote at the end of the month)

Many researchers have lost their lives while attempting to fuse different abyss factors.

Yet, the blood of the "Preservation Strain" seems to possess a miraculous harmonizing ability, capable of making any type of abyss factor become docile and controllable.

Combining these three characteristics, a chilling truth gradually emerges:

"The true purpose of the 'Preservation Strain' system may not be to preserve ancient bloodlines at all..."

Luo En stands before the laboratory bench, his mind rapidly integrating all the clues:

"It is to cultivate special 'Abyss Weapons'!"

If this deduction holds, then the relationship between ancient families like the Wang Guan Clan and the abyss is far more complex and sinister than it appears on the surface.

They are not opponents of the abyss, but partners—perhaps even co-conspirators!

The "Preservation Strain" families are the products of this unspeakable cooperation.

They maintain the basic form and sanity of humans while possessing the ability to fuse perfectly with various abyss creatures.

At critical moments, they are the most perfect abyss weapons.

"No wonder the rumors record that the troops led by Tower Master Cassandra to conquer other worlds were described as ravaging like a virus. Perhaps 'virus' was not a metaphor, but a realistic description..."

Luo En recalls various legends and rumors.

If many of Cassandra's troops possess this special bloodline, they would have an overwhelming advantage when facing creatures from other worlds.

Not only can they resist abyss corruption in the main world, but they can also turn the enemy's power to their own use, and perhaps even directly convert enemies into their own combat strength.

This is the fundamental reason why the Conquest Faction is so confident; they possess an ultimate weapon that outsiders cannot comprehend.

But this also explains why the status of the "Preservation Strain" families is so special and contradictory.

On the surface, they are precious bloodline inheritors under protection;

In reality, they are strategic resources under tight control.

Every "Preservation Strain" individual is a trump card in the hands of the ancient families.

Their blood, genes, and even their very existence are someone else's property.

Thinking of this, Luo En cannot help but feel a different kind of emotion toward Franca.

This half-dragon maid, who appears dignified and cold on the surface, is actually a caged bird trapped in a golden cage.

Every drop of her blood and every breath she takes serves someone else's ambition.

And her so-called "loyalty" and "protection" are very likely just the result of bloodline control.

"But these findings also point me toward a new direction..."

Luo En suppresses the complex emotions rising in his heart and returns to the track of rational analysis.

Since the "Preservation Strain" bloodline possesses such perfect abyss adaptability,

then if he can crack the secrets within it, he can develop safer and more controllable bloodline fusion technology.

He would not need to take the extreme route like Cha Ye, nor would he have to bear huge risks and costs to gain the possibility of breaking through bloodline limitations.

"Of course, the prerequisite is to be extremely careful..."

He looks at the still-weak "Ink" in the recovery tank, alarm bells ringing in his heart.

The experiment just now has proven that even abyss factors that have undergone "gentle" processing still contain unimaginable destructive power.

Once handled improperly, the consequences would be unthinkable.

"'Ink' has not fully recovered; further bloodline remodeling experiments must be temporarily shelved."

Luo En carefully burns the analysis report; the value of this information is immeasurable, and it is also extremely dangerous.

If someone with ulterior motives discovers that he has seen through the secret of the "Preservation Strain," the consequences will be far more serious than any experimental accident.

Just at this moment, in the crystal pool on the other side of the room...

The slumber of the little siren Daier becomes even deeper, her vital signs almost imperceptible.

At the same time, the water around her begins to show strange changes.

The originally clear and transparent liquid now glimmers with a subtle silver luster, and circles of mysterious ripples spread outward from her body.

"Ailan, how is Daier's situation?"

The dryad floats over from the corner, her emerald branches swaying with some unease:

"Her life energy is indeed constantly increasing, but this mode of metamorphosis... makes me feel worried."

Ailan's voice carries obvious anxiety:

"Master, I have searched through ancient memories for a long time, and there has never been a record of such a long deep sleep in the metamorphosis of the siren race.

Moreover, the energy fluctuations around her are becoming more and more intense, sometimes even affecting the nearby magic circulation."

Luo En walks to the side of the pool and activates the "Extraordinary Identification" skill to carefully observe Daier's state.

In his special vision, the little siren's body is undergoing a reconstruction never seen before.

It is not just a change in external form; even the internal energy structure is undergoing fundamental changes.

Most shocking is that some energy patterns that should not exist have appeared in her body.

Those silver rays of light spread throughout her body like blood vessels, forming an extremely complex energy network.

"The bloodline in her body is evolving toward a higher layer..."

Luo En says softly, wonder flowing in his eyes:

"This is not an ordinary growth metamorphosis, but a bloodline awakening; she is returning from a siren to a more ancient bloodline."

"Continue to monitor her state closely, but do not intervene in any way." Luo En makes a decision:

"This level of bloodline awakening must be completed naturally; any external intervention could cause irreversible damage."

………………

The sun sets, and the high-rise buildings of the Crystal Spire glisten in the afterglow, like palaces standing in the clouds.

Luo En's private workshop is currently filled with a rare, warm atmosphere.

Floating magic lamps illuminate the room brightly and softly.

Exquisite snacks and drinks are spread across the central round table, and a faint sweet scent permeates the air.

This is a small celebration party, held both for Luo En's successful promotion to lecturer and for Herman's entry into the probationary wizard sequence.

But if one observes carefully, one would find subtle tension hidden within this joyful atmosphere.

Everyone's smiles appear somewhat forced, and they are occasionally absent-minded during conversation.

"Mentor, it's truly incredible!"

The silver-haired youth Herman stands by the table, so excited that he can barely control his emotions.

His hands keep stroking the brand-new badge on his chest.

It is a silver emblem inlaid with a miniature crystal, emitting a luster that makes the few people around him envious.

"34th in the probationary wizard sequence!"

His voice trembles slightly with excitement:

"I never thought that one day I could reach such a height. In my hometown, being able to become an intermediate apprentice was already a remarkable achievement, and now..."

Speaking of this, tears even glisten in the youth's eyes.

For a child from a remote town, the significance of this achievement far exceeds what outsiders can imagine.

In his hometown, formal wizards are legendary existences, and the probationary wizard sequence is also an unreachable dream.

Now that this dream has become reality, it not only means a change in his personal destiny but also represents a leap in the social status of his entire family.

"Your hard work and talent have received the reward they deserve, Herman."

Luo En nods slightly, his tone carrying sincere praise:

"But this is just the beginning. Although the probationary sequence is important, the real challenge lies in how to convert this opportunity into actual power. The door to becoming a formal wizard still requires you to push it open yourself."

His gaze lingers on Herman for a moment, an almost imperceptible worry appearing in his eyes.

Although he is celebrating his student's success on the surface, Luo En knows clearly that in the coming storm, the fate of these young people will become extremely uncertain.

The status of the probationary sequence might provide some protection, but it could also become a target for those with ulterior motives.

The other five students sit around the table, each genuinely happy for their companion's success. However, a careful observer could find hidden tension in their smiles.

Since they could be selected by Luo En as members of the elite group, naturally none of them are dull.

They also have their own insights into the changes within the school.

"Since it's a celebration party, there should be a gift exchange segment."

Lis is the first to speak, taking out a box carefully wrapped in silk:

"This is a gift I prepared for the mentor."

Carefully opening the packaging, inside is a set of exceptionally exquisite rune-embroidered gloves.

The dark blue silk fabric is as deep as the night sky, with extremely complex rune patterns embroidered on it with silver thread.

"These runes can improve the precision and stability of delicate operations,"

Lis explains somewhat shyly, her cheeks slightly red:

"I know the mentor has been researching enchantment recently, and I hope this can be of some help to your research.

Every stitch and thread was completed by my own hands, taking a full three months."

What she didn't say was that to ensure the continuity of the runes, she had stayed up late until dawn many times, and even forgot to eat due to excessive focus.

The tiny, almost invisible scars on her fingers are the witness to her efforts.

Luo En takes the gloves and immediately feels the exquisite craftsmanship contained within.

Through special weaving techniques, the energy of the runes is perfectly integrated into the fiber structure.

When he puts on one of the gloves, he immediately feels the tactile sensation at his fingertips become exceptionally sharp.

"I can feel your heart, Lis." Luo En praises sincerely.

Hearing such praise, a brilliant smile blooms on the girl's face.

Behind that innocent joy, the emotion of near-worship in her eyes becomes even more obvious.

Luo En notices the change in the other's emotions and is secretly vigilant.

As a mentor, he must be careful to maintain the appropriate boundaries of the mentor-student relationship.

Herman is not to be outdone, taking out a thick manuscript of parchment from his bosom:

"Mentor, this is a supplementary chapter to your original 'Multidimensional Transformation Theory'."

His eyes shine with the unique passionate light of a scholar:

"Based on the energy circulation principles you taught before, I have further deduced several new transformation modes.

Although the theory is not yet perfect, I believe it will provide some inspiration for your research."

While speaking, his voice carries a tremor of longing for recognition.

As a student from a commoner family, he knows clearly that the resources he can provide are limited, and he can only repay the mentor's kindness through hard work.

Luo En takes the manuscript and quickly browses through a few pages of content.

Herman's theoretical deduction is indeed quite brilliant; although it lacks the support of practical experience, it has already reached a quite high level in pure theory.

"A very valuable theoretical supplement, Herman."

Luo En gave a fair evaluation:

"Your talent in theoretical deduction is indeed outstanding, but it requires verification through more practical experience, and you must guard against arrogance and impatience."

Next, the other four students also presented the gifts they had carefully prepared one after another:

The red-haired girl, Lucia, tremblingly took out an ancient bloodline analysis chart she had "borrowed" from her family's collection.

She carefully unfolded the parchment, which recorded the characteristic parameters and evolutionary paths of several rare bloodlines.

"This is research data that our family has passed down for three hundred years."

The young girl's voice trembled slightly: "Although it may not be complete, I hope it can be of some help to your bloodline research, Mentor."

What Lucia did not say was that she had risked being punished by her family elders to "borrow" this data.

The lean Sebastian provided a set of experimental apparatus he had carefully improved.

Each tool had undergone countless adjustments and optimizations to ensure it could achieve the best results when used.

The gentle Albert presented several rare energy crystals from the shallow layers of the abyss.

These materials were purchased with savings he had accumulated for a year, and each piece was worth a fortune.

The youngest, Thomas, contributed a notebook of spell theory he had transcribed by hand.

The handwriting in this notebook was as neat as printed text, showing the immense effort he had put into this task.

Faced with the sincere intentions of his students, Luo En did not stint on his return gifts.

As a mentor, he had long prepared tailor-made gifts for each student:

For Herman, it was a one-time-use "Spirit Power Amplification Stone."

This rare alchemical product could provide extra spirit power support at critical moments.

"Use it when you attempt to break through the bottleneck of a formal wizard."

Luo En said earnestly:

"Remember, timing is very important. Only by using it at the most critical moment can it exert its maximum effect."

For Li Si, it was several improved potion formulas; these were innovative results from his research process that could increase cultivation efficiency.

"These formulas cannot be bought on the market," he reminded: "Keep them safe, and absolutely do not pass them on."

For Lucia, it was a set of optimized bloodline sensing tools that could improve her detection precision and perception range.

The other three students also received corresponding professional auxiliary items, each carefully selected for their specialties and needs.

"Mentor..."

When Li Si took the potion formulas, her fingers trembled slightly.

She certainly knew the precious value of these formulas and understood the painstaking efforts the mentor had made for his students.

"The significance of knowledge lies in inheritance and development,"

Luo En said gently, but his voice carried a seriousness that could not be ignored:

"Your growth is the best reward for me. But I also want you to remember that in this world, knowledge and power often mean responsibility and danger."

His gaze swept over every young face present:

"The days ahead may have some changes, and you must be mentally prepared.

No matter what happens, remember the academic principles and moral bottom lines we have discussed."

Although he did not state it explicitly, everyone could feel the deep meaning behind these words.

The impending school reform would bring tests for everyone, and these young students could not stay out of it.

Beneath the relaxed and pleasant appearance, this gathering was more like a farewell ceremony.

A farewell to the peaceful years that were about to pass, and a preparation for the turbulent era that was about to arrive.

When night fell completely, the students bid farewell and left one after another.

Before leaving, everyone expressed their gratitude and respect to Luo En once more.

Herman walked last and stopped at the door:

"Mentor, no matter what happens in the future, I will never forget your teachings.

If one day I truly become a formal wizard, I will use this power in the way you taught me."

The silver-haired boy's voice carried a maturity that transcended his age.

Luo En looked at this student who had grown from a commoner into a probationary wizard, feeling somewhat gratified.

In this world full of conspiracies and betrayals, such sincerity appeared so precious, yet also so fragile.

"I hope that when that day truly comes, you can remember your words today, Herman."

He said softly: "In this world, the hardest thing to maintain is not power, but one's original intention."

Watching the backs of the students as they left, Luo En stood alone at the door for a long time before sighing softly and returning to his workshop.

(End of chapter)