The next morning, Velin received a wooden box imprinted with the Dawn family's crest.
Without delay, he bolted the door from the inside and took out a simple set of alchemy equipment.
First, he placed the Calming Flower petals into a mortar and slowly ground them with a stone pestle. A purple juice seeped out as he ground, and a faint, sweet fragrance filled the air.
Next, he poured purified water, the Calming Flower juice, and Scorpion Tail Venom into a beaker in sequence.
"HSSS..." A faint corrosive sound arose.
Velin's expression was focused. He was so absorbed he even forgot this Magic Potion would decide his fate. With the pure mindset of a researcher, he observed the alchemical reaction and rapidly took notes in his journal.
Once the churning subsided slightly, he slowly poured in five grams of Original Blood Crystal powder.
The moment the first grain of powder fell into the mixed liquid, all boiling and repulsive reactions ceased instantly.
The originally murky liquid began to clear, eventually transforming into a pool of translucent silver liquid that emitted an indescribable aura of life.
[Bloodline Purification Potion, preparation complete.]
He downed the silver liquid in one gulp.
An icy torrent slid down his throat and into his stomach, then transformed into countless fine, warm currents that surged to his every limb.
Before Velin could even savor the changes in his body, a new prompt popped up on the system panel.
[Host bloodline 'Song of the Forest' detected at over 30%. 'Bloodline Talent' activation conditions met.]
[New formula unlocked... Activation Potion: Main Ingredient: 5g Original Blood Crystal powder. Supplementary Ingredients: ...]
[Preparation Method: ...]
'Bloodline talent? What the hell is that?'
—
In the Radiant Grand Cathedral, the annual Awakening Ceremony was underway.
In the center of the dome, a skylight made of a giant, polished crystal, like the eye of a god, looked down upon the Blood Heart Stone at the center of the ceremonial high platform below.
On the high platform, city-state officials and high-ranking members of the Divine Hall in priestly robes wore solemn expressions.
Velin stood at the very back of the crowd, his gaze sweeping over Leonard.
He was wearing a brand-new formal suit today. The family crest, embroidered with silver thread, shone on his chest, and his face wore an expression of absolute certainty.
Not far away, Diana Dawn stood quietly.
She wore a set of deep blue formal lord's attire with shoulder pauldrons, which outlined the tight curves of a body honed by years of training. Below the tightly cinched belt were legs that, even wrapped in cloth, exuded a sense of astonishing power.
Velin withdrew his gaze, his heart as calm as still water.
To the people around him, this was a gamble to beseech divine grace.
But to him, it was merely a necessary procedure to announce the results of his experiment.
He was no longer the failure who prayed for miracles.
He was the fire-bringer, a Prometheus about to ignite the flame of reason in an ignorant world.
"Next, Leonard Klein!"
The Priest's resounding voice echoed within the cathedral.
Leonard reveled in the crowd's attention as he placed his hand on the Blood Heart Stone.
HUMMM!
The blood-colored patterns on the Blood Heart Stone suddenly burst with light, and the phantom image of a forest flashed into existence behind him before vanishing.
"He successfully activated his bloodline!"
The magistrate's voice carried a hint of excitement.
The entire hall erupted!
To be able to activate one's bloodline at sixteen was already an incredible achievement in Green Vein City.
Viscount Barton, next to Count Leman, remarked with a touch of envy, "My Lord Count, it's true what they say: a tiger never sires a dog. Not like that boy of mine—only activated his bloodline at nineteen, and he just fools around all day. I'm so worried I'm losing my hair."
Count Leman was indeed very pleased. As everyone knew, the younger one was when they activated their bloodline, the higher their potential for growth.
Leonard withdrew his hand and swept his gaze over the crowd. When he saw Diana Dawn, he gave her what he thought was a charming smile, looking for all the world like a peacock displaying its feathers.
"Next, Velin Klein!"
When this name was called, a ripple of whispers and suppressed snickers broke out.
Velin, seemingly oblivious, walked toward the high platform.
As he passed Leonard, his cousin taunted, "Weren't two failures enough for you? Or are you hoping that dusty old knowledge of yours will make this stone sing you praises?"
Velin didn't even turn his head, walking straight to the Blood Heart Stone.
The instant his palm touched the stone's surface, a sudden change occurred!
A soft, emerald-green light abruptly bloomed from Velin's palm!
Behind Velin, the phantom image of a forest also appeared, but unlike Leonard's, a slowly unfurling, emerald-green Scroll insignia was visible in the center of the forest's embrace!
Ripples like water spread out from it. Next to the high platform, a decorative pot of Silver Leaf Chrysanthemum slowly straightened its stem before everyone's eyes, and a single petal tremblingly unfurled!
The entire cathedral fell deathly silent.
The elderly Priest presiding over the ceremony had trembling lips, his murky old eyes filled with utter shock.
"Gods... Th-this is a Bloodline Talent!"
An official to the side hurriedly fumbled through a dust-covered book.
"...It's the 'Spring Messenger'! His Bloodline Talent is the 'Spring Messenger'!"
BOOM!
The deathly silent cathedral instantly erupted in a tsunami of gasps and discussion.
The nobles all rose to their feet, undisguised shock in their eyes.
A Bloodline Talent! That was an ability one could usually only obtain after reaching a certain level of power. To gain one upon first activation? This person was either a genius or the heir to a top-tier bloodline!
Viscount Barton's jaw dropped in astonishment. Thinking of his own disappointing son, a surge of inexplicable anger rushed to his head.
The smile on Count Leman's face froze for a moment, but the stiffness quickly transformed into a much warmer, heartier smile, though a sharp glint flashed in the depths of his eyes.
In the crowd, Lilia covered her mouth as tears of joy streamed from her eyes.
And at the end of the VIP section, Diana completely forgot to maintain her decorum as a Count.
Her lake-blue eyes were wide as she stared blankly at the figure bathed in emerald-green light, a tempest raging in her heart.
Velin slowly withdrew his hand, and the vibrant green light receded completely back into his body.
He turned to look at Leonard, whose face was as white as a sheet.
"It seems, my dear cousin," Velin's voice was not loud, but it carried clearly to everyone's ears, "that the gap between us is a little larger than I originally anticipated."
"A Scroll insignia... the... the flower bloomed?" Leonard trembled violently, his reason completely burned away by the flames of jealousy.
He pointed at Velin and shrieked hysterically, "It's fake... It's all an Illusion Technique! You're a good-for-nothing! By what right... By what right do you get to touch the realm of 'Bloodline Talent'!?"
This had utterly upended his world!
The elderly Priest who presided over the ceremony now had an ashen face.
"Young man of the Klein Family, the Radiant Grand Cathedral does not welcome blasphemy against miracles. The gifts of the bloodline come from the gods. Are you questioning the majesty of the gods?"
Those words were like an invisible mountain, pressing down on Leonard's spine.
"I... I didn't..." His lips trembled as he tried to explain, but he found that the gazes of those around him had already changed.
The nobles who had just been looking at him with envy and flattery now had eyes filled with contempt, scrutiny, and even mocking schadenfreude.
These gazes were like countless poisoned needles, piercing his heart, riddling everything he was proud of—his talent, his family background, the flattery—with holes.
He staggered back a step, lost his footing, and collapsed pathetically onto the cold, hard stone floor.
The ceremony ended. The crowd, still reeling from the shock, slowly began to disperse, but they tacitly left a vacuum around Velin.
Leonard was helped to his feet and walked past him, utterly dejected, not even daring to meet his gaze.
Just then, the sound of steady footsteps stopped in front of Velin.
Count Leman wore a gentle smile, as if the person being helped away just now wasn't his own son.
"Nephew, congratulations on awakening your bloodline. But this is only the beginning of your Extraordinary life. I think we have much to discuss."
The Count extended his right hand. The emerald ring on his middle finger pulsed with a brilliant light.