Grandmother

"Before that, we need to sign a contract to ensure that the content of the following conversation will not be leaked."

"Can."

Ronan nodded, realizing he was about to uncover the true secrets of the Cold Stone Manor.

Madam Livy smiled slightly, then parted her rose-colored lips and began to chant a strange and difficult incantation in a low voice.

A faint fluctuation of spiritual energy emanated from her chanting, and the originally bright light in the room gradually dimmed with the chanting, until only a beam of light remained, enveloping Ronan and Madam Livy, while the surroundings were completely dark, making the atmosphere in the room mysterious.

"... The God of Contracts and Oaths bears witness to Livi Estrina Kaczynski..."

As the last syllable of the incantation faded, a complex and distorted black pattern appeared in the air in front of Madam Livy, and her gaze fell on Ronan.

Ronan did not reveal his real name, but calmly raised his hand and released a wisp of his Soul Aura.

His and Madam Livy's Soul Aura was infused into the black pattern in the air, which quickly turned golden as if burned by flames, and then rapidly dissipated.

A simple Soul Contract was thus established.

"Now you can tell me, right?"

Ronan felt a tiny mark the size of a grain of rice on the nail of his left little finger, and Madam Livy's attitude towards him seemed to have changed subtly.

Wizards trust Soul Contract just as ordinary people believe in the sun, moon, and stars hanging in the sky. Once wizards sign Soul Contract, their relationship will become closer invisibly.

"Certainly."

Madam Livy breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Ronan, saying, "Sir Linas should be aware of the pros and cons of 'Talent Transplant,' right?"

"Um."

Ronan nodded and briefly explained the side effects of the "Talent Transplant" that he knew. Then he heard Madam Livy say, "Yes, but this is just a 'lie' woven by all the wizard families of White Stone Fortress."

The 'Talent Transplant' magic circle, after generations of refinement and improvement by numerous wizards of White Stone Fortress, can now complete the desired 'Talent Transplant' without contaminating mental or Soul Power, and can be used more than three times.

"Oh?"

Ronan's eyes flickered, and he asked directly, "Conditions?"

"It's so convenient to chat with a smart guy like Mr. Linas."

Madam Livy chuckled and said, "The conditions are not harsh."

"If you can stay at the manor for a year and do a few things for me, I can perform three Talent Transplant for you free of charge. Hmm, if you want to transplant the Cold Scale Python's talent, it should be available in two or three months."

Ronan refused outright, saying, "These conditions are too harsh; I cannot accept them."

"Talent Transplant" isn't really necessary for him, and the difference between one and three times isn't that big. Is it worth spending a year being driven by someone for this, and missing the Mirror Garden trial?

"Then I think if I add what I'm about to say, you probably won't find it too harsh."

Madam Livy said calmly, "I possess genuine 'Bloodline Transplant' technology, which is far more powerful than any 'Talent Transplant,' and it's also nearly permanent."

"Bloodline Transplant?!"

Ronan's eyes widened in shock as he stared intently into Madam Livy's eyes. He spoke in a low voice, "Madam, you're not joking, are you? Or do you know what a true Bloodline Transplant means?"

"I don't need a level one kid like you to teach me this."

Madam Livy smiled, casually toying with the gemstone ring on her finger. "If you don't believe me," she said, "We can sign another contract... Oh, by the way, do you remember You Ji Ke? He just received Second Order Icefall Bear bloodline transplant. The power of that bloodline allows him to dominate among mid-level second-tier wizards, and challenging late-level second-tier wizards isn't impossible. Actually, the terms of the deal—allowing you to stay in the castle for a year—are for your own good. Different people may experience different changes after receiving bloodlines from different magical beasts, some good, some bad. Having you under our watchful eyes makes it easier for us to make timely adjustments for you."

It also makes it easier for us to record some data..."

"So this 'Bloodline Transplant' technology is not yet mature and perfect, right? People like You Ji Ke are just daring experimental subjects."

Ronan narrowed his eyes, finally understanding where the rumors about the monsters near the Cold Stone Manor came from.

He guessed correctly. Cold Stone Manor had probably been conducting Bloodline Transplant experiments on people for a long time, including those who disappeared near the Cold Stone Manor. Of course, the process might not have been as dark as he imagined.

Ordinary people, Wizard Apprentice of average ability, may be forced or coerced into becoming test subjects.

However, when it comes to First Level Wizard or higher, it is highly likely that, like You Ji Ke before, it is a voluntary act after signing Soul Contract.

After all, for many wizards, the physical body is just a shell, and in pursuit of greater power, it is not unacceptable for their appearance to become a "monster".

"A truly perfect transplant of Warcraft bloodline is not something that can be achieved so easily."

Madam Livy looked at her fingernails and said calmly, "To gain extraordinary rewards, one must naturally bear the corresponding risks."

Compared to the rewards of success, this risk is utterly insignificant.

Ronan's eyes flickered as his mind raced.

He admitted that he was somewhat tempted.

Especially when the Saint Blood Tree in your possession is already effective.

If he could transplant a bloodline suitable for him, and then continuously purify it through the power of the Saint Blood Tree, how powerful would he become in time?! Madam Livy saw his interest and smiled, seemingly wanting to give him another push. Suddenly, she said to him in a rather ambiguous tone, "If you are willing to cooperate with me to leave an heir for the Cold Stone Family, I can unconditionally fulfill all of the above-mentioned conditions."

And we will do our best to give you the best, and we will fully disclose the experimental content and progress to you until the Bloodline Transplant technology is perfected to the point that you feel safe and secure, Linas ..."

Madam Livy's eyes gradually softened, her gaze falling on Ronan like honey with its silky texture.

She reached out to Ronan, seemingly to stroke Ronan face, and whispered, "To be honest, you really resemble my second husband—no, you're much more handsome and charming than him. I swear we can be a great couple."

"Never mind."

Ronan's two unexpected words were like a sharp knife, cleanly and decisively shattering the ambiguous signals that Madam Livy had unilaterally released.

The latter's hand, which was about to touch his cheek, froze in mid-air, looking extremely embarrassed.

"I'm not interested in any of what you're saying."

Ronan placed the Rune Stone back in front of Madam Livy and said calmly, "... I think we should go back to the original deal."

That's enough.

Ronan calmed down from his enormous ambitions.

Leaving aside the question of whether the "Bloodline Transplant" technology developed by a mere second-level wizard and a declining wizarding family is reliable at all.

Even if it were true, he didn't believe in such a windfall. Who knew what kind of huge pitfall awaited him after accepting it?

Madam Livy slowly withdrew her outstretched hand, her expression quite unpleasant.

For a woman, being rejected is already quite embarrassing, let alone being rejected by someone who is courting her love.

Madam Livy took a deep breath, tried to calm herself down, and after regaining her composure, her attitude towards Ronan changed completely, becoming extremely cold.

"The Last Thing"

"I really have no interest in hearing about things that have nothing to do with 'Talent Transplant'."

Ronan also lost his patience and frowned, saying, "I just want to achieve the purpose of this trip to the Cold Stone Manor as soon as possible."

Madam Livy looked at Ronan and sneered repeatedly.

After a moment, she leaned forward and said softly to Ronan, "Aren't you interested in anything about Soraya?"

As far as I know, you've been looking for this person ever since you entered White Stone Fortress, haven't you?

"Well"

Ronan was stunned when he heard what Madam Livy said.

His eyes were glazed over, and for a moment he didn't know how to answer.

At the entrance to a dimly lit art studio, Madam Livy whispered something to Ronan.

"My grandmother is waiting for you inside."

Don't try to deceive her; she is far wiser and stronger than you imagine.

Ronan didn't say anything, but reached out and pushed open the studio door.

The light from the outside corridor passed over Ronan and cast a long shadow on the room floor, but the shadow quickly disappeared, merging into the room's original darkness like ink.

Ronan's eyes flickered, he took a light breath and stepped inside.

"Snap—"

The studio door closed behind them, plunging the room into deep darkness.

Ronan tried hard to see the scene in the room, but his superhuman eyesight could not capture anything, and the spiritual power he emitted was completely swallowed up by the surrounding darkness, receiving no feedback whatsoever.

Just as he was considering what to do next, a faint light suddenly appeared in the room.

The light came from directly in front of him, gradually illuminating everything in the room.

Ronan squinted and saw a gaunt, elderly woman sitting with her back to him on a high chair in the direction of the light.

In front of the woman was a painting of an extremely young and beautiful brown-haired girl with milky white and delicate skin and sky-blue eyes.

The girl's feet were surrounded by blooming irises, the light blue or light purple flowers swaying gently in the painting as if blown by the wind.

Not only the flowers, but the girl in the oil painting is also moving.

She stared intently at Ronan with her pure, clear eyes, filled with curiosity, as if she were carefully examining him from head to toe.

Gradually, the girl seemed dissatisfied with simply observing Ronan from afar. She lifted the hem of her long skirt and stepped directly out of the painting, running towards Ronan with a crisp sound like icicles colliding.

"Who are you? What do you want with Soraya? Which Soraya are you looking for?"

The girl bombarded Ronan with a barrage of questions.

Ronan opened his mouth, but hadn't yet figured out how to answer.

Suddenly, the beautiful girl who was about to run up to him stopped abruptly, letting out a piercing, sharp, angry scream. Then, as if pulled by some invisible force, she flailed her arms and legs and retreated rapidly, finally being sucked back into the original oil painting.

The young girl was trapped inside the oil painting, struggling to escape. At that moment, the old woman who had been sitting in front of the painting quietly turned around. In that instant, Ronan seemed to see six indescribable, dazzling lights appear before him, followed by a vast, boundless spiritual force sweeping over him.

A thought flashed through the mind of Ronan, Third Level Wizard.

Kosti was also Third Level Wizard, but she had never displayed the power befitting a level three wizard in front of him.

Only now did he truly understand the power and terror of Third Level Wizard.

Ronan felt as if he had suddenly found himself in the deepest part of the Deep Sea, his soul and body about to be crushed by waves of terrifying pressure emanating from all around him.

"Wave@#"

Ronan's lips moved silently, and one ice spell after another formed around him and then quickly dissipated.

Within the Consciousness Space, the [Frozen Earth] seal flashed repeatedly.

Finally, with the activation of the "Yarlis Ice Ring Necklace" worn around his neck, an extremely thin Ice Cold Domain emanated from his body, struggling to support a small space under the terrifying pressure from the surroundings.

It was at this moment that Ronan felt a lightness in his body.

The overwhelming pressure around them instantly receded like a tide, and the six dazzling lights in front of them quickly subsided.

Ronan finally saw what the Third Level Wizard woman looked like.

She wasn't as old as he had imagined, just very thin, with long gray-brown hair piled high, many wrinkles on her face, and deep blue eyes. Her appearance bore a five or six-point resemblance to the girl in the oil painting.

As Ronan sized up the woman in front of him, he felt a slight pull on his neck. The Ice Ring necklace he always wore broke free from the constraints of his robes and floated up.

He didn't stop it, letting the necklace be torn off and fly towards the woman, where she finally gently caught it in her hand.

"[Frozen Earth], Ice Ring, Yarlis' Necklace"

The woman looked at the necklace in her hand, murmuring softly, her gaze finally settling on Ronan. "Who is Carlos to you? Why did he give you everything?"

Ronan took a deep breath to calm his turbulent emotions.

He wasn't wrong; the woman in front of him was Soraya, the woman he was looking for.

When he was making a big fuss in searching for someone named "Soraya" in White Stone Fortress, he had imagined that a similar scene might happen, but he never expected it to come so suddenly.

"I don't know Carlos."

Ronan shook his head, a metal box containing a snow-white envelope appearing in his hand. He stepped forward and calmly said to the woman, "I am just a messenger. Please forgive me for opening this box without permission."