Chapter 235 – Legacy and Curse

Outside Longyao City, in the wilderness danger zone.

In this perilous area where Phantom Demons could appear anywhere, numerous rarely-seen figures had gathered in a relatively remote mountainous region. They wore standardized combat uniforms, clearly indicating they belonged to the same faction or organization, and possessed remarkable strength—not only numerous lower-rank Professionals but also several upper-rank Professionals.

Currently, these individuals were battling a group of Phantom Demons inhabiting the mountainous area. The Phantom Demon group consisted entirely of lower-rank demons with no upper-rank ones present, making the fight relatively easy for these powerful Professionals. However, most of these Professionals were Hunters, with only a handful of Sorcerers among them, clearly representing a Hunter Family force that had recruited very limited Sorcerers externally. Thus, despite their overwhelming strength against this Phantom Demon group, the lack of effective killing methods meant it would still take considerable time to completely eliminate these demons with their powerful regeneration abilities.

Mo Leng watched the battle coldly from the rear, his expression as stern as his name suggested, radiating an aura of “coldness” that made people instinctively avoid approaching him. At the very least, the lower-rank Professionals didn’t dare to look directly at Mo Leng, even though they knew he was the Family Head of their Mo Family.

Just then, a figure cloaked in black robes, apparently an attendant, approached Mo Leng. Judging by the aura emitted, this attendant didn’t seem to be an upper-rank Professional. Moreover, the distinct curves beneath the black robe clearly indicated she was female. Unlike other clan members who didn’t dare approach Mo Leng, this female attendant silently came to his side.

Without turning his head, Mo Leng spoke indifferently, “Is that mermaid still unwilling to drink blood?”

Mo Leng asked this seemingly abrupt question. The female attendant nodded in response. “No matter what we try, she refuses to drink blood. She won’t even use the precious materials we’ve prepared for her.”

Her words prompted a sarcastic remark from Mo Leng, as if he were laughing in extreme anger. “She’s clearly a Phantom Demon, yet refuses to drink blood or consume precious materials beneficial to her evolution. Where did that 『Sin』 find such an absurd species?”

Though he showed no outward expression, the female attendant knew the Mo Family Head must be furious. There was no helping it—what the Mo Family needed wasn’t an ornamental mermaid but a Phantom Demon possessing Nightmare Species bloodline. Now that they had successfully captured their target, their most urgent task was to quickly nurture this Phantom Demon, making her evolve and successfully possess the Nightmare Species bloodline. Only then could they realize their ambitions through the Extraction Ritual to obtain this long-lost bloodline and return to their Peak.

Therefore, just as Su Ming had speculated, after capturing Little Hai’er, the Mo Family couldn’t hit, scold, or commit any violent acts that might damage her vitality. Instead, they had to provide her with good food and care, diligently nurturing Little Hai’er to facilitate her evolution. However, in this matter, the Mo Family had encountered unexpected difficulties.The issue was that Little Hai’er was completely unwilling to cooperate—whether it was blood or anything else, she refused to consume any of it.

This was utterly absurd.

For Phantom Demons, blood serves as both sustenance and a source of power. Whether for strengthening or evolution, the most effective and direct method is to consume blood.

Their innate instincts as Phantom Demons make it impossible for them to resist blood or the desire for evolution.

Given this, no one had ever imagined that a Phantom Demon would refuse to drink blood and reject evolution.

This was something even the cunning Mo Leng had never anticipated.

It infuriated him deeply.

After all, for the sake of this Nightmare Species Bloodline, he had sacrificed many things, even venturing into the perilous wilderness danger zones.

Moreover, to accelerate Little Hai’er’s evolution, Mo Leng had ruthlessly and covertly eliminated some low-potential, low-status clan members, using their blood to nourish her.

Who would have thought that, after going to such lengths, he would encounter an obstacle in such an unexpected place?

“No wonder she was kept as a pet in the villa’s swimming pool by that Xu Family girl. So this descendant of a Hazardous Species mutant among the upper-tier Phantom Demons is just a useless, pretty face without even a shred of the ferocity a Phantom Demon should possess?”

Mo Leng’s voice was as cold as frost.

In response, the female attendant offered an explanation.

“Perhaps it’s precisely because her mother was a mutant that she developed unknown abnormalities?”

Mutation and evolution are fundamentally different. Mutation occurs when evolution fails, leading to an extreme deviation—a phenomenon equivalent to aberration—while successful evolution transforms a being into a higher life form. The inherent traits of a Phantom Demon would only be enhanced, not altered.

Little Hai’er’s mother was a Hazardous Species mutant. It’s possible that, due to this mutation, she underwent unexplained changes during evolution, granting her characteristics not found in ordinary Phantom Demons.

In this context, Little Hai’er inherited her mother’s Bloodline. While she possesses the potential for further evolution, she may also have inherited her mother’s mutant traits, making her different from typical Phantom Demons—gentle in temperament, highly intelligent, and not as bloodthirsty.

“If someone like Xu Qianqian, a Hunter descendant, became more aligned with the Phantom Demon aspect of her Bloodline after mutation, gaining a vampiric demonic nature, then that Phantom Demon Cub is the exact opposite. After mutation, she became more human-like, developing humanity—or perhaps Spirituality.”

“The reason Sorcerers with Spirit Constitution emerge among humans is originally due to the influence of the Spirit Demon Abyss overlapping with our world.”

“This suggests that Phantom Demons in the Spirit Demon Abyss might be capable of transforming their demonic nature into its complete opposite—Spirituality.”

This was the explanation provided by the female attendant. Though unsubstantiated, it was surprisingly plausible.

Though demonic and spiritual natures are entirely opposite in power, they are also deeply interconnected.

Just as antidotes for many venomous snakes are derived from their own serum, the reason Spirit Art is so effective against Phantom Demons might be because this power exists within them.This theory had actually been proposed a very, very long time ago and remains a key topic of frequent discussion among scholars to this day.

Unfortunately, due to a lack of evidence and solid proof, this theory continues to face widespread skepticism.

If Su Ming were here, he might very well be convinced by this argument.

After all, he himself might serve as the perfect proof for this theory.

Otherwise, how could two completely opposite, mutually restraining forces coexist within his body after undergoing such difficult integration?

Dual Professionals who simultaneously possess the powers of both Sorcerer and Hunter might themselves be the strongest evidence for this theory.

Precisely because spiritual nature and demonic nature, while mutually restraining and opposing each other, originate from the same source, they possess the potential for coexistence.

Of course, Mo Leng wasn’t the least bit interested in any of this.

He only cared about one thing.

Whether Little Hai’er could evolve into a Nightmare Species.

This directly concerned the future of the Mo Family, his own ambitions, and the long-standing grudges and wishes of his ancestors.

Therefore, he couldn’t allow any accidents to occur at this critical moment.

“No matter what method you use, even if you have to force-feed her, make that mermaid drink blood and consume all the materials we prepared in advance!”

Mo Leng issued the heartless command.

“…Understood.”

The female attendant paused briefly before responding indifferently, then turned and left the room.

Only then did Mo Leng turn his head, watching the female attendant’s retreating back, suddenly speaking.

“Do you hate me?”

The sudden question made the female attendant stop in her tracks.

As if unaware of her reaction, Mo Leng continued speaking to himself.

“I’ve made you sacrifice so much, turned your life into what it is now – do you hate me for it?”

These words didn’t receive an immediate response from the female attendant.

It was only after a long while that the female attendant began walking away again.

She said nothing.

But precisely because of this, Mo Leng understood her answer.

“It seems you want to kill me.”

Mo Leng murmured to himself.

Then, a ruthless expression appeared on his face.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“For the Family’s long-cherished wish, I can sacrifice anything.”

“Even myself.”

This was the legacy passed down through generations of the Mo Family, and also its curse.

Ever since the Mo Family ancestors, in their desperate attempt to reawaken the potential in their Bloodline, violated major taboos and were consequently expelled from their Family and homeland, this legacy, this curse, was destined to tightly bind all members of the Mo Family.

Mo Leng was merely inheriting this legacy, this curse.

The woman he had sacrificed was no different.

“Soon…”

“Very soon…”

“Our Mo Family’s glory will soon be restored…”

Mo Leng seemed to see that day already, the ruthlessness on his face transforming into intense desire and… greed.

He too yearned to reach higher levels, go further, climb higher.

As long as he could extract the Bloodline of the Nightmare Species, he would use another ritual to perform a Bloodline replacement.

When that time came, he would obtain the Nightmare Species Bloodline, acquiring that legendary pass that could lead directly to the Seven-Star level.Even if he couldn’t reach Seven-Star in one go, with his strength already approaching the Five-Star limit, if he could obtain the Nightmare Species Bloodline and unleash new potential, he would undoubtedly advance to Six-Star immediately.

By then, never mind his long-cherished wish regarding the main family, Longyao City would no longer be able to restrain him.

He, Mo Leng, had waited for this day far too long—so long that he could no longer endure the wait.

And this time, Mo Leng was undoubtedly fortunate.

“Boom!”

Not long after, within these mountain wilds, surging Qi erupted alongside a wave of blood energy.

Mo Leng sharply turned his head toward the direction where the blood energy was rising.

“This is… evolution…!?”

Mo Leng stood frozen in disbelief at first, then was overcome with wild joy.

(End of Chapter)