"Are you really planning to tame the Magical Beast like this?" Doehring asked, puzzled, as he looked at Linley. "It's a Magical Beast, not a puppy. Are you sure this will work?"
"Don't worry, Grandpa Doehring!" Linley nodded confidently. "I often play with Wharton."
Linley's words left Doehring looking completely bewildered, but he didn't ask any further questions.
Meanwhile, inside the System Space.
"Failed again."
Lin Ke held a test tube filled with bright red blood.
"Dragon Blood costs too many Energy Points. Linley can't afford to exchange for it yet."
Lin Ke scratched his head.
For the past few days, Lin Ke had been making Dragon Blood whenever he had time, hoping to awaken Linley's Dragonblood Warrior bloodline.
But every batch of Dragon Blood he made was beyond what Linley could withstand at his current level.
"Maybe I need to change my approach." The test tube in Lin Ke's hand vanished. "I've been trying to reduce the side effects each time, but the fewer the side effects, the more Energy Points it costs. What if I add some side effects instead?"
At that thought, Lin Ke's eyes lit up.
"That's right." Lin Ke sprang up from the sofa and drove his right fist into his left palm. "Pain, for example. In the original story, drinking Dragon Blood also caused tremendous pain."
Lin Ke waved his right hand. A test tube appeared before him, filled with bright red blood.
"Remove the pain suppression."
Lin Ke snapped his fingers. The blood in the test tube before him boiled for a moment.
"It worked. The Energy Point cost went down."
The instant he created it, Lin Ke sensed how many Energy Points were required to produce the Dragon Blood.
Before, it had cost 10,000 Energy Points. Now it only cost 8,000.
"That cut the cost by 2,000 in one go. Let's see what else I can remove."
Lin Ke rubbed his chin.
"Remove all the benefits Dragon Blood provides, keeping only the part that triggers the Dragonblood Warrior bloodline."
"Remove..."
"..."
Lin Ke kept simplifying the effects of the blood in the test tube before him.
At last, he looked at the mess of blood in the tube and smiled.
This batch of blood could only trigger the Dragonblood Warrior bloodline within Linley.
It would also cause him tremendous pain.
And that pain would last a full twelve hours.
But it was worth it.
After all, this test tube of Dragon Blood cost just 100 Energy Points to produce.
"This time, I won't profit from Linley's Energy Points. I'll sell it at cost: 100 points."
Lin Ke settled on the price.
The main reason was that, for Linley, this was a single-use item.
And using it would greatly increase Linley's strength.
A higher price wouldn't fit with Lin Ke's plans for Linley's future training.
As for the prices of other consumables, Lin Ke decided to leave them as they were.
Creating a body for himself wasn't something he could accomplish in the short term.
If he did this every time, he might as well work for Linley for free.
"Big Brother Lin Ke." After feeding the God-Eater Rat, Linley returned to his bedroom and contacted Lin Ke. "Exchange one drop of Purple Light Dew for me."
"No problem." Lin Ke snapped his fingers. "Open your mouth."
At Lin Ke's words, Linley obediently opened his mouth, and a drop of purple Purple Light Dew appeared inside.
Name: Linley Baruch
Age: 8
Energy Points: 4
Physique: 1.11
Mental Strength: 1.1
Battle Qi: 0
Magic Power: 2.1
Affinity: Earth Element (Super), Wind Element (Super), Destruction (High), Fire Element (Average), Water Element (Super, Hidden)
Laws Comprehension: None
Battle Qi Manual: None
Meditation Method: Pu'ang Royal Meditation Method
Looking at the Attribute Panel before him and feeling his strength increase, Linley couldn't help smiling.
"According to Father, the Magic Test is less than half a year away." Linley looked out the window at the darkening sky. "I have to become a First-Rank Warrior and a First-Rank Mage within the next six months."
Linley clenched his fist and made a silent vow.
According to Grandpa Doehring, a mage could cast five spells of the same rank.
A First-Rank Mage could cast five First-Rank spells.
But right now, Linley could only cast two.
His mental strength was already sufficient.
All he lacked was accumulated magic power.
As for becoming a warrior, Linley was confident even without Purple Light Dew.
With Purple Light Dew to help him, there was even less reason to doubt himself.
"Linley, I suggest you check the mall," Lin Ke said lazily in Linley's mind. "I've made something new for you. I think you'll like it."
Lin Ke's words sparked Linley's curiosity, but he didn't hesitate.
The Combat Mall panel unfolded before him.
Besides Purple Light Dew and the T-Virus, there was now another item.
The moment Linley saw its description, his eyes locked onto it.
Dragon Blood: 100 White Energy Points
Description: Causes intense pain for twelve hours after consumption, but can awaken the bloodline within a Dragonblood Warrior.
"Big Brother Lin Ke." Linley's breathing grew heavy. "Can this Dragon Blood really awaken the Dragonblood Warrior bloodline?"
"Of course," Lin Ke's voice sounded in Linley's mind. "It's just a shame you can't get enough Energy Points yet. Otherwise, I could make better Dragon Blood that wouldn't cause any pain at all."
"It doesn't matter." Linley shook his head. "As long as I can awaken my bloodline, I can endure any amount of pain."
Linley's expression was resolute.
He would never forget the disappointment that had flashed in his father's eyes after the bloodline test.
It had only lasted an instant.
But Linley remembered it all the same.
Besides...
The Dragonblood Warrior was a peak Saint-level powerhouse.
If he could become a Dragonblood Warrior, he would already have a direct path to becoming a Saint-level powerhouse.
"God-Eater Rat." Linley thought of the God-Eater Rat in the back courtyard. If he could form a contract with it, he would get 100 Energy Points.
"I have to successfully contract with the God-Eater Rat. Then I'll exchange for Dragon Blood and awaken my Dragonblood Warrior bloodline."
Linley clenched both fists and made a silent vow.
And so...
Linley packed every day with activities.
He trained as a warrior in the morning, then studied with Hogg afterward.
After lunch, he went to Wushan to practice magic, then ventured into the mountain to hunt beasts.
In the afternoon, he returned to the back courtyard to feed the God-Eater Rat.
After dinner, he continued his warrior training.
Before bed, he meditated.
Eight-year-old Linley cut his sleep down to less than six hours a night.
But that was exactly why his strength changed almost daily.
His warrior abilities improved especially quickly.
Linley used nearly one drop of Purple Light Dew every two days.
On top of that, he never let up on his training.
So his warrior strength was improving much faster than his ability as a mage.
"Eat up. This is honey-roasted pheasant." Linley placed a roasted pheasant in front of the God-Eater Rat. "Have some more."
Linley reached out to stroke the God-Eater Rat's head. It didn't resist, but simply focused on eating the chicken.
Still, there was no sign that it intended to form a contract with Linley on its own.
Seeing this, Linley felt a little helpless.
"Maybe I should try the method Big Brother Lin Ke mentioned?"
Before you continue