Blood groaned softly when he tried to stand. He had fallen asleep completely, with little resistance. He realized that he had really needed that sleep, since he felt completely refreshed. A smile couldn't help forming on his face.
He had neglected a thing, though, and it seemed they would arrive late for the undertaking.
Looking around, he noticed that he was alone; Ballock must have gone out when he woke up. He stared through the window into the thick night; they had to wait till the next morning before they could continue.
Blood opened the door and asked the servants about Ballock. A direction was given which he followed until he arrived before a door guarded by three men.
Upon seeing him, they asked no questions and let him in.
Blood entered the place the guards called the village library, his hoodie still draped over him. He descended the stairs until he reached the bottom, where a medium-sized tree stood.
The tree could survive in this enclosed space?
He was amazed and couldn't help but be absorbed by its strange twist and the mysterious worms coiling around it, which gave it an unusual air.
There was only one thing that could quench his curiosity…
[Jade Eye]
A panel appeared before him…
[Warp Tree Twig (Grade 3)
Description: A twig taken from the Warp Tree, a broad-trunked tree mostly covered by the forbidden Warp Worms that collectively share in its benefits. It originates from the Soul Warp Tree, an essential ingredient in certain alchemical recipes involving the soul. Furthermore, a twig from the Soul Warp Tree matures into a grade 5 Warp Tree, at which point it becomes suitable for alchemical refinement.]
Woow!
Blood was amazed by the description of the Warp tree. A tree of this value shouldn't just be sitting around. He remembered seeing many such trees when he walked to the library. This same tree was everywhere, except this particular one had a unique luster.
He suspected that the villagers themselves, including the village head, didn't know the tree's value; otherwise, it wouldn't have been left standing or used merely as decoration.
He had noticed the trees when the village head let him and Ballock to his abode, and he realized the entire village was covered with the same kind of tree; there were so many that, if he was not mistaken, every house had at least five.
He had read about the village before and knew that it had taken its name from the tree their first village head had brought back roughly a hundred years ago.
It wasn't that no one had passed through the village; rather, most people did not know what made it unique, and the villagers mainly sold Warp trees as timber and for other basic uses.
It was a waste of resources because the villagers, including the village head, didn't recognize the value of what they had.
Blood's interest was piqued.
Undeniably, ingredients for making soul‑type alchemical products—even in other fields—were very rare wherever one went. Owning a regenerative soul‑type ingredient was therefore a major achievement, and such items were the legacies of certain sects and families.
Ballock who was reading one of the many books in the library, glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw Blood's intense stare, which amused him. He dropped the book and stepped closer.
"Why do you have that expression. It is as if you've found your family's inheritance?" he joked as he turned Blood's head, diverting his gaze.
"It's actually an inheritance. It's just that it isn't my family's." Blood confirmed his joke without beating around the bush.
Ballock was intrigued by Blood's claim. He knew he wasn't joking around, "Fine, you've got me. Why don't you explain then?" he asked, now impatient.
Blood didn't put him in suspense and explained what he had discovered…
Ballock's eyes widened at the revelation before scanning the surroundings for any hidden bug. Had there been one, it would already have been too late.
Blood looked at the shape of the Warp Tree Twig. He suspected it was the rumored branch the first village head had once brought back. Its bearing was entirely different from the others he had seen, which only deepened his suspicion. It should be the highest grade the village had achieved.
"Even after all these deductions, it is still of no use, at least for now. Only when it reaches the fifth grade will it become useful." Ballock stated the plain truth which Blood had also thought about.
"Nevertheless, soul-type ingredients shouldn't be looked down upon, no matter how diminutive they appear. Even if it couldn't be concocted due to its limited grade, it might work for basic soul healing, and it might even enhance the basic healing pills to some extents." Ballock expressed his thoughts with one finger on his chin,
" Also, the village chief holds you in high regard, especially since he couldn't see through your realm—not even slightly—which must have been irking him. I think it might work if we tell him to become your follower and then gradually draw him in. Just like that, we can take full control of the village. Our interest is only on the Warp Trees anyway!" he added solemnly.
Blood was caught in a dilemma as he pondered over Ballock's words, "You've become more fallacious, dude. My thought didn't even come near yours." Blood complemented with a hidden smirk.
"Should I take that as a complement?" Ballock responded with an evil smile.
"My mind seems to work at full capacity whenever am with you. I've noticed it more these days, especially within the Red domain, where, for some reason, the connection somehow feels stronger." he added, talking about the domain they had entered by chance.
"Hmm, is that so? Anyway, it won't be easy, especially since the Blood Book doesn't want you as a follower, how could the old man possibly be enough? I don't even know the criterion for selecting a follower at all. And I also don't believe the village head would succumb so easily. This is what we should do." Blood said and stepped closer to Ballock as they exchanged words silently.
Blood had attempted the Blood follower selection on Ballock, but it failed, leaving him to wonder whether he had performed it incorrectly or if he was meant to wait for the Blood Book's prompt before initiating the connection. The thought was wearying nonetheless.
Furthermore, considering that the village head was already old, Blood thought taking him as a follower would be a waste of a precious spot. He felt that each position was very precious. Instead, he would have to find another way to draw the village head into accepting his terms. After all, they were the only ones who knew about it.
As if on cue, the village head pushed open the entrance door and hurried inside. His eyes lit up the moment he saw Blood, who stood beside the Warp Tree, its aura casting a faint shimmer around him.
He had been alerted the moment Blood exited his room, so he quickly finished what he was doing and hurried over. The red‑haired boy stirred within him a feeling he had never experienced before, something unfamiliar yet undeniable.
"Young master, how was your rest? Would you like something to eat?" he asked.
He had previously left Ballock to attend to important matters. Although Ballock had shown interest in his books, he was uncertain whether it was genuine or merely a feint. After all, given their strength, they should already possess many books of even higher quality.
The library was of no use to him in terms of profound knowledge, aside from his personal research.