Cold Stone Manor, Changes and Abilities of the Saint Blood Tree

"I've made some contacts for you, sir. Currently, there are three wizards from White Stone Fortress accepting 'Talent Transplant' orders from outsiders. Here's the information they've provided; please take a look, sir."

In the Ice Bat Tavern, Ronan sat in his usual window seat, while Barrysha respectfully handed him several parchments and Rune Stone.

Whether it's parchment or Rune Stone, they all contain information about "Talent Transplant".

The handwriting on the paper was different, clearly indicating that it was written by different people. Barrysha didn't even have time to sort it out before she notified Ronan to come over.

Ronan scanned through all the information, gently put down what he was holding, calmly looked at Barrysha, and said indifferently, "Do you have any good suggestions?"

Barrysha glanced at the black magic stone Ronan had placed on the table to weigh down the parchment, unconsciously swallowing as she suppressed the burning desire in her eyes. After a moment's thought, she spoke seriously, "Of these three, the Frisi Family wizards can offer the most types of magical beasts for transplantation, but their failure rate is the highest. I'm not sure if it's related to the wizards receiving the 'Talent Transplant,' but the success rate for wizards receiving 'Talent Transplant' at the Frisey family has consistently been only half of the normal rate, sometimes even less. However, they promise to refund half the fee if it fails. Ice Ridge Valley used to be the ancestral home of the Kravel Family, but now it's declined to just an old man named Tamsangjia. This old fellow is eccentric and unpredictable; sometimes he'll suddenly raise the price, but he's quite polite to second-level wizards of the same level. Relatively speaking, Madam Livy of the Cold Stone Manor has a very good reputation, but there have been rumors of monsters appearing near the Cold Stone Manor for centuries, and people disappear there every year. If you go there, sir, please be very careful..."

"Monster?.."

Ronan's eyes flickered, and he asked Barrysha, "Has anyone seen what the monster looks like? How strong is it?"

"Most of the people I saw are dead. Those who survived are either insane or mentally unstable, and the monsters they mutter about are all different and bizarre. As for the strength of the monsters you mentioned, sir..."

Barrysha gave a wry smile and said softly, "To us ordinary people, since they are monsters, they are naturally terrifying beings that we cannot resist. I don't know exactly what their strength is..."

What is the highest level of criminal responsibility for people who go missing in that area?

"A First Level Wizard disappeared over there and has never been seen again, and there was more than one."

"Don't the other wizarding families in White Stone Fortress care?"

"Cold Stone Manor belongs to Madam Livy's family territory. Other families have no right to interfere or govern it. Few wizards from other families go there. Most of the Cold Stone Manor who go there are either visiting wizards who are undergoing 'Talent Transplant' or ordinary people who sneak in to hunt."

Ronan asked Barrysha a few more questions, then nodded and made his decision.

"Let's go with this Cold Stone Manor... Help me contact this so-called Madam Livy."

Barrysha didn't try to persuade her further, but simply agreed respectfully, put away the magic stone on the table, and then hurriedly left.

After Barrysha left, Ronan sat alone at the table, tapping his fingers lightly on the surface.

"Cold Stone Manor... Missing Persons Monster"

"Is a wizard conducting some kind of evil human magic experiment inside?"

After thinking quietly for a while, Ronan stood up and, like a gust of cold wind, passed through the tavern, quickly returning to his own residence behind the tavern.

The room wasn't very big, but the roaring flames in the fireplace added a warm, orange-red hue to the entire space.

The room was built with some kind of cedar wood. There had been a heavy snowfall in White Stone Fortress in the past two days, and the snow outside was piled up to almost halfway up the windows. The windowpanes were covered with large, exquisitely shaped, and beautiful ice flowers, creating a fairytale-like atmosphere.

However, even the most beautiful snow scenery can become tiresome after looking at it for more than a month.

Ronan's patience was slowly wearing thin.

Kosti gave him a two-and-a-half-month deadline, and he couldn't possibly go back right at that time. If he missed the opening of the Mirror Garden Secret Realm, that would be a real loss.

"No matter what's strange about this Cold Stone Manor, I'm just going there to receive a 'Talent Transplant'... Whether it's successful or not, I'll return to the Silver Magic Ring immediately afterward."

Ronan calculated that he could only stay in White Stone Fortress for a maximum of twenty-five days.

He gave himself fifteen days.

If the goal of this trip can be achieved within fifteen days, all the better. If not, return immediately and try to break through to the second level of wizardry on the way.

In fact, Ronan didn't take the so-called "Talent Transplant" from White Stone Fortress very seriously.

The effect of "Talent Transplant" is indeed a very powerful boost for most ice-type wizards.

The talent to instantly cast an ice spell can almost be used as a trump card, and the talent of ice attribute energy affinity can "transform" an ice wizard, enhancing their abilities in all aspects.

But I am not a pure ice wizard.

"Talent Transplant" is just "icing on the cake" for him. It's best to have it, but it doesn't matter if he doesn't. The most important thing is that it's not a permanent improvement. Thinking this, Ronan set up Rune Array and then took out the Saint Blood Tree from his Space Ring.

After more than a month of continuous nourishment with blood, the Saint Blood Tree grew rapidly.

Its height has increased from the original size of two palms to more than one meter.

The trunk is nearly two fingers thick, and the number of leaves reaches more than forty, giving it a lush and verdant appearance.

The mature Saint Blood Tree became more spiritual, and its actions to express affection became more obvious. When Ronan took it out of his Space Ring, the sapling's leaves rustled all over, as if it were being affectionate with him.

As usual, Ronan used his own blood, combined with the special "nutrient solution" that Bennigo had given him before he left, which was specially prepared for the Saint Blood Tree, to feed the seedling once.

After watering, I habitually pat the treetops gently with my hand, playing with them and strengthening our bond.

"Um?!"

Suddenly, Ronan's eyes flickered, and he gently pried open a cluster of branches at the very bottom of the Saint Blood Tree, revealing tiny, crimson tendrils beneath several lush green and pinkish-white leaves.

"What's this?"

Ronan blinked, looking at the red tentacles on his hand. He subconsciously took out a Communication Stone from his Space Ring. A moment later, there was a knock on the door of Ronan's room. The door opened, and a tall, thin young man with a red nose and clever eyes stood respectfully at the door.

The young man was also carrying a plump grouse with gray-white feathers that occasionally flapped its wings.

"Respected Wizard, may I ask... is this alright?"

"Okay, thank you."

Ronan took the grouse from the young man, casually tossed out a Low-Level Magic Stone, and before the young man could express his gratitude with a joyful expression, he had already closed the door.

Ronan quickly walked back to the Saint Blood Tree within the Rune Array, took out the Communication Stone from his pocket, and Communication Stone spoke into it, "Found a living creature, Bennigo."

What should I do next?

Bennigo's voice emanated from the Communication Stone, unlike his usual calm and indifferent tone; his voice seemed to suppress a hint of excitement and urgency.

"I don't know the specifics of how to do it; it's up to you, Damien. Try communicating with the Saint Blood Tree and make it understand your intentions. Remember to record the entire process!"

"Comminicate."

Ronan put down the Communication Stone, looked at the Saint Blood Tree in front of him, and his eyes slowly blossomed with a look of anticipation.

The Saint Blood Tree.

A legendary tree said to possess the power to purify bloodlines and bring the dead back to life.

Ronan had been looking forward to this day ever since it was just a seed.

Unexpectedly, it came so quietly and unexpectedly.

According to Bennigo, when the Saint Blood Tree grows tendrils resembling blood vessels, it proves that it has acquired a certain ability to purify bloodlines.

Ronan took a deep breath and suppressed the surging emotions in his heart.

He crouched down and slowly released his spiritual energy towards the Saint Blood Tree in front of him.

His fluctuations in consciousness were incredibly gentle, like soothing a child.

The process went even more smoothly than he had imagined, perhaps because the Saint Blood Tree grew entirely by "eating" his blood, and because he had achieved a true blood connection with it in a certain sense, having an unreserved intimacy and trust in it.

The Saint Blood Tree, brimming with spirituality, quickly understood his meaning.

When all the crimson tentacles hidden beneath the branches and leaves were revealed, Ronan discovered that the number of tentacles far exceeded his expectations.

The dense tentacles, like countless thin red threads, clung to Ronan's right hand, gradually wrapping around the bewildered snow grouse in his hand, unaware of what was about to happen.

The whole process looked mysterious and sinister.

Ronan released his grip, took two steps back, and stared intently at the scene before him.

When the grouse, used as an experimental subject, was completely enveloped by tentacles, turning into a shape resembling a red ball of yarn, "Gurgle—"

A sucking sound echoed in the quiet room, and all the dense, crimson tentacles lit up. Then, the Saint Blood Tree began to glow as well, and complex, light red, mysterious patterns appeared on each of its leaves. An indescribable mysterious aura wafted through the room.

Ronan watched as the plump grouse, enveloped by countless tentacles, rapidly "shriveled" within two seconds, though the life force within remained, albeit becoming extremely weak.

The Saint Blood Tree was trembling violently, desperately stretching out every leaf on its body, and the mysterious patterns floating on the leaves became even brighter.

It was clear that the Saint Blood Tree was working very hard at this moment... After an unknown amount of time, a huge blood sac grew at a visible speed at the very top of the Saint Blood Tree, and then a branch as thick as a thumb quickly grew out of the blood sac.

Rather than a branch, it was more like another strange tentacle, only much thicker than the previous one. It was smooth and without any patterns, except that at the very top, there was a small opening that looked like a suction cup.

The tube connected to the blood pack extended itself towards Ronan, and a faint fluctuation of consciousness was transmitted to Ronan.

Ronan understood the information contained in this fluctuation of consciousness, thought for a moment, and directly inserted the tendrils back into the red "ball of yarn" wrapped in countless tentacles.

The blood sac at the top of the Saint Blood Tree quickly shriveled up until it completely withered, while the originally shriveled "ball of yarn" swelled up again.

"Whoosh—"

In an instant, countless tentacles and whiskers retracted and opened, revealing a lively snow grouse to Ronan once again.

This snow grouse, which came from the kitchen of "Ice Bat Lodge" and was "modified" by the Saint Blood Tree, is now completely different from its original form.

Its size had increased by almost double, and its originally grayish-white feathers had turned completely white, emitting a faint glow under the illumination of the Rune Array in the room.

Its legs and wings were visibly strong and powerful, its beak and claws were sharp, and its eyes gleamed like rubies, with a hint of ferocity in them.

A strange yet powerful aura seemed to be awakening within it, and the changes in its body were ongoing. Ronan even sensed a large number of free energy particles in the air constantly converging towards it. "Whoosh—"

A sharp whooshing sound followed as a streak of white light hurtled toward Ronan's face.

Ronan snapped his fingers lightly, and the grouse, which seemed to say "My fate is in my own hands, not in the heavens," exploded in mid-air, turning into a cloud of red and white blood mist. It was then enveloped by an invisible force, gathered into a ball, and landed in Ronan's hand, where he stored it in his Space Ring.

[Strength increased three to four times, speed increased, body shape changed, physique changed, and the ability to actively absorb energy particles awakened.]

A blank Rune Stone appeared out of thin air in Ronan's hand, and he began rapidly recording something on it.

When he finished what he was doing, his originally calm and handsome face was now filled with undisguised excitement and joy.

"It really does have the effect of purifying bloodlines!"

"An ordinary snow grouse, after undergoing Bloodline Purification, almost has the potential to develop into a level-zero magical beast..."

"Well"

Turning his head, Ronan's gaze fell back on the Saint Blood Tree, his eyes immediately wavered, and he quickly walked up to it.

The Saint Blood Tree looked extremely withered, its leaves drooping and dull, appearing listless and exhausted.

"Doing this now is still too strenuous for you, isn't it?"

Ronan tried his best to soothe the Saint Blood Tree's emotions, speaking gently.

At the same time, it directly enters a "Half-Demonification" state, cuts open its flesh, and generously pours its life-giving blood onto the Saint Blood Tree.

The latter Greed absorbed Ronan's blood, its appetite never having been so great.

Its spirits recovered quickly, and it soon returned to its original "radiant" state, even sprouting several new leaves with faint, mysterious patterns on them, making it a "good child" in its growth.

Ronan finished watering, gently patted the top of the Saint Blood Tree, stood up, and a huge, strange light flickered in his eyes.

"Once we return to the Arcane Circle, I'll have Bennigo help analyze my bloodline and filter out the valuable parts. Then we can begin purifying it using the Saint Blood Tree."

"I remember Kosti once said that I possess a trace of Moonlight Elf blood within me. I wonder what kind of talents and abilities Moonlight Elf have. Are they considered a powerful race...?"

"Things are starting to look more and more promising..."

Three days later, on a snowy high slope outside White Stone Ridge.

A black carriage with silver trim sped across the vast white snowfield.