Chapter 150: The Visitor

Yam did not set too many training plans for Aches. It was simply the most straightforward and primitive task of swinging his sword every day.

At the beginning, it was one thousand swings per day.

After Aches persisted for half a month and began to gradually adapt, Yam increased it to three thousand, then five thousand swings.

Theoretically, five thousand sword swings required five hours, but in reality, Aches took more than seven hours to complete them. Because of this, he had no time for anything else beyond practicing sword swings each day.

As a result, in nearly a month since arriving at White Mountain City, he hadn’t even left the lord’s manor. His daily routine was a triangle of his room, the dining hall, and the training field.

“What do you think of Aches?” Ion came to the training field, watched Aches sweating with youthful vigor as he swung his sword, and then asked Yam beside him.

“We can’t change his bloodline aptitude, but his talent in swordsmanship isn’t bad.”

“Oh?” A hint of surprise appeared on Ion’s face.

Over the past two months, he had, of course, witnessed Aches’ effort every day.

But Ion’s ability in swordsmanship was far inferior to Yam’s, so although he saw Aches working hard and earnestly swinging his sword each day, he couldn’t truly judge his talent. So hearing Yam say this now, Ion felt quite surprised, wondering whether there truly was talent for swordsmanship in his own bloodline. Otherwise, how could both of his sons be so skilled in swordsmanship—and now even his eldest grandson?

“Father, have you decided which bloodline you want Aches to awaken?” Yam asked.

“What do you think about the ‘Swift Wolf’?”

“Speed isn’t Aches’ strength. The Swift Wolf’s ability boost would only make his weakness less pronounced. In my view, it would be better to enhance his strengths instead. That way, he could acquire combat capability much more quickly.” Yam slightly shook his head. “Personally, I’m more inclined toward bloodlines that would greatly enhance Aches’ strength or further his swordsmanship abilities.”

“But if the Third-Tier awakening is the ‘Frenzied Wolf,’ wouldn’t that significantly make up for his shortcomings in other areas?”

“You want Aches to follow the path of the ‘Son of the Mountains’?” A trace of surprise appeared on Yam’s face.

Currently, everyone in the Tyrella Kingdom knew that the commander known as the Son of the Mountains was attempting to carve out a unique promotion path as the ‘Wolf King.’ After all, he was already a Fifth-Tier Bloodline User, just one tier away from awakening his Bloodline Imprint. Most unbelievably, his bloodline advancement path was filled with conflicting bloodlines: wind for Second-Tier, fire for Third-Tier, lightning for Fourth-Tier, and ice for Fifth-Tier.

If he chose either the earth or water element for the Sixth-Tier, he would accomplish a feat unheard of even by the Hall of Spirits: crafting a bloodline path using multiple opposing elemental bloodlines.

The Hall of Spirits had even predicted that if he succeeded in advancing to the Sixth-Tier, he would undoubtedly awaken one of the Twelve Silver Bloodlines—the Wolf Bloodline.

He would be the second Wolf King to appear in a thousand years.

Yam had learned of this while talking with Monica by chance.

In fact, with his current status, Yam would be completely in the dark once he left Red Eagle Territory. He wasn’t even familiar with the major figures in the Southern Region, let alone someone on the level of the Hall of Spirits.

What he knew about the Son of the Mountains came only because the man was stationed in the Southern Region and had once been a top general under Marquis Visen. So Monica had heard of him: it was said that after Marquis Visen retired due to injuries, this commander took his place as the current commander of the Tyrella Kingdom’s Southern Army. But more specific matters were said to involve a power struggle between the royal family and the Southern Duke, so Monica hadn’t told Yam too much.

“But wouldn’t that path only work up to the Third-Tier?”

Yam thought it over and realized his father’s idea wasn’t entirely wrong.

Because of the Demonic Sword’s special ability, as long as Aches was given two opportunities for Purification, reaching the Third-Tier Bloodline wouldn’t be a problem.

Once he awakened the Frenzied Wolf Bloodline, its ability Berserk—although somewhat dangerous—would greatly enhance all of Aches’ abilities. So long as Aches had a solid foundation, the effect of Berserk would become increasingly terrifying.

Ion glanced at Yam, then sighed. “For now, other than Cindy, does anyone else in the Soderbell Family reach the Third-Tier without relying on the Demonic Sword’s ability?”

Yam fell silent.

After a moment, he nodded slightly and said, “You’re right, Father. …But I think that if that’s the case, then we might as well have Aches awaken a stronger bloodline. Since we won’t pursue further bloodline advancement, we only need to consider the Third-Tier and the future bloodlines of Aches’ descendants.”

“Then what do you suggest?” Ion looked at Yam.

“I heard Monica mention some very unique bloodlines. For example, the Third-Tier ‘Deep Sea Demon Serpent’ guarantees that the Bloodline User’s offspring will definitely inherit a bloodline aptitude. But the drawback is that the aptitude leans heavily toward the water element and would only begin to thin after three generations. There’s also the ‘Earth-Thorn Beaked Bird.’ Though it’s only a Second-Tier bloodline and its Third-Tier advancement path remains unknown, its bloodline ability grants exceptional life regeneration and stamina. Most importantly, it has incredibly strong reproductive potential.”

Ion immediately understood Yam’s point.

First consider whether it exists at all—then consider whether it is strong.

If they chose the 【Deep Sea Demon Serpent】, then although Aches’s descendants for the next three generations would only be able to advance using Water Element bloodlines, at the very least, it would guarantee that all his offspring would be born as Bloodline Users. That was the necessary foundation to become stronger.

After all, even the Hall of Spirits could not fully explain the matter of bloodlines. Otherwise, there would not have been a case like Yam and Lily giving birth to someone like Cindy, whose aptitude and potential clearly far exceeded all of theirs.

As for the 【Earth-Thorn Beaked Bird】, it followed a similar reasoning.

Strong physical stamina and regenerative ability could at least ensure that Aches would not easily die on the battlefield. Moreover, its reproductive effect would guarantee that he could produce many offspring—compared to the 【Deep Sea Demon Serpent】, this bloodline ability focused on winning through quantity.

“Has Aches expressed any thoughts?” Ion thought for a moment, then asked.

“I haven’t brought it up to him yet.” Yam shook his head. “But after observing him for a month, I believe he has a fine temperament—resilient like his mother, and steady. I think we can tell him about the Demonic Sword now. …Besides, the Demonic Sword is, after all, the legacy left by my elder brother. Theoretically, the one most qualified to inherit it is Aches.”

“But once we discovered the secret and function of the Demonic Sword, it was destined not to be anyone’s private property, but the cornerstone of our Soderbell Family.” Ion slightly shook his head. “Moreover, if not for you, we wouldn’t even have what we have today—let alone the name ‘Soderbell.’ Your achievements far exceed Arsen’s.”

“Besides, Cindy has already gained the recognition of the Demonic Sword. As for Liam and Aches, you already know their situations. Unless you or Akar can produce another child recognized by the Demonic Sword, Cindy will inevitably become the next leader of the Soderbell Family.”

Yam remained silent for a while before speaking, “Then what if Cindy’s child fails to gain the recognition of the Demonic Sword?”

“Then we do as we initially agreed,” Ion said in a low voice. “Cultivate the most outstanding child in the family as the heir.”

“What defines the most outstanding?”

“The one who resonates with the Demonic Sword—that’s the most outstanding,” Ion answered without hesitation. “If no one can resonate, then it will depend on their natural aptitude and talent. The one with the highest potential will receive the most resources. If all children have equal talent, then we evaluate them by other abilities—personal strength, political talent, military strategy, and so on.”

“Also, regardless of whose child it is—your second, Akar’s second, or Aches’s child—as long as they show potential, they must be sent back to the family from the age of five. They’ll live together, eat together, and stay together until fifteen before they can leave the clan grounds.”

Hearing this, Yam understood that this wasn’t something Ion had just come up with on a whim. It must have been carefully thought out. Only this approach could ensure that the next generation of the family wouldn’t grow up as strangers and lack kinship—although disagreements in political views might still arise, at least internal strife could be minimized.

“Lord Yam!”

A guard came running over in haste.

“What’s the matter?” Yam asked upon seeing the guard’s demeanor.

Ion also frowned, his right hand already resting on his sword hilt. “Trouble?”

Aches, who had been practicing sword swings, also stopped. Although his arms were aching, he still rushed over with his sword.

“My lady asks you to come to the grand reception hall. A guest has arrived.”

Hearing this, Yam raised his eyebrows.

The grand reception hall referred to the audience chamber in the lord’s manor—the main hall, usually reserved for formal occasions.

If Monica were visiting, she would certainly be received there. After all, the relationship between White Mountain Territory and the Kasein Family was not close enough for her to be invited into private drawing rooms or studies.

So now that Lily had activated the main hall, it meant the guest’s status was not low—at the very least, someone Lily needed to receive formally. And since Yam was also being summoned, it meant the visitor was someone he knew or the topic involved him.

“Kasein?” Ion asked.

“Judging by the timing, most likely.” Yam thought for a moment, then said, “They’ve probably discovered Joshua’s death. Otherwise, someone should’ve come within half a month after Knight Foss returned. The fact that it's taken nearly a month suggests something unexpected delayed the Kasein Family’s attention from shifting to me.”

“Be careful,” Ion said in a serious tone.

“We’ve already made all the necessary preparations,” Yam replied in a low voice. “If we still get exposed, then it simply means my luck has run out. …But even if something does happen, it will stop with me. It won’t involve anyone else.”

“Still, Father, don’t worry too much. I’m just used to preparing for the worst.”

“So I’ll go and see what’s going on first.”

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