"Boiling Blood."
Robb silently recited the name of his newly acquired trait, sensing the changes it brought.
He closed his eyes and returned once more to his mental library, quickly logging the breakthrough into the Bloodline Knight section.
By comparing his past experience data, Robb clearly recognized the value of this trait.
Previously, every time he used a bloodline energy burst, he would suffer extended periods of weakness and fatigue.
Like that time when he and Andrey fought the mercenaries sent by the Shapeshifter, after using his dragon-breath burst, he collapsed into a vulnerable state, making it easy for the hypnotic attack to succeed. Even after breaking the hypnosis, he remained half-conscious for a long time.
Or during the battle with Marcus, where the post-burst weakness prevented him from dodging a critical bite in time.
This kind of backlash had always been a fatal flaw for Bloodline Knights, making them especially vulnerable at critical moments.
Now, however, this Boiling Blood trait drastically improved the situation.
Robb stood up and tested a small amount of bloodline energy.
To his surprise, the energy surged faster and felt denser, like it had been compressed.
When he stopped channeling it, the fatigue that followed was barely noticeable.
"This is practically an upgraded version of 'Bloodline Burst.' Stronger, and almost no side effects."
He clenched his fist, feeling the power surging between his knuckles.
The energy felt vibrant and alive, like a crackling bonfire: warm, steady, and enduring.
Robb walked to the edge of the training area and picked up a test stone.
This was a type of hard blackstone that most ordinary people couldn't scratch, even at full strength.
He inhaled deeply and activated his bloodline energy until it began to boil, then struck.
Boom!
The test stone cracked, a fracture spreading from the impact point and splitting the stone into several pieces.
"The explosive force is at least 50% stronger than before. And the burning effect is clearly more intense, though the stone didn't quite show it."
He examined his hand, aside from a slight redness at the knuckles, there was no discomfort.
Previously, even this brief burst would've left his muscles sore for an hour or two.
"The biggest benefit is reduced fatigue."
Robb thought back to Andrey's past battles, how every burst left him limping like a ragdoll.
That's why Robb had never risked using bloodline activation in actual combat, the post-burst weakness made it impractical.
But with Boiling Blood, not only could he trigger stronger bursts, he could now recover quickly enough to burst again if needed.
That gave him a powerful new trump card.
"Still, I need more real-world testing."
Robb remained calm.
Initial results were promising, but he wouldn't jump to conclusions.
Only strict field trials could confirm the trait's true utility and possible limitations.
"Steady steps, moving forward."
He turned off the mana lamp and walked toward his bedroom.
Tomorrow, another full day awaited, full of challenges to solve.
…
Night slowly faded from the Black Mist Forest. The dark creatures grew less active, though low growls and eerie rustlings still echoed in the distance.
Inside the workshop, however, the lights remained warm and bright.
One familiar green figure was missing, but in the yard, a large ancient tree now stood, radiating vigorous life…
Robb stood at the workbench, carefully observing the little mermaid in front of him.
Over the past two days of beast battles, Daera had exceeded all expectations.
She had defeated three opponents in a row and absorbed every bit of their essence.
But such rapid energy intake had its risks.
"Daera, give me your hand. I need to check your energy flow."
Robb's tone was direct.
"Okay, Master!"
Daera extended her hand excitedly.
Her eyes shimmered with strange color, their once-clear blue now mixed with deep purple and dark red, forming a mysterious gradient.
Robb gently touched her wrist and activated Extraordinary Detection and Primal Tracing, scanning the energy flow within her body.
A complex bloodline map immediately appeared in his mind.
Her once-pure mermaid bloodline was now interwoven with multiple foreign energies.
The fishman's deep-sea adaptation, fine control over water elements, and even traces of the Redblood Drake factor he'd previously given her.
Most of the energies had been successfully integrated into Daera's bloodline, but at certain junctions, there were signs of instability.
"Just as I suspected," Robb muttered.
"Too much energy intake, and the integration pressure is too high."
If not corrected, this could cause energy disruptions at critical moments, damaging her growth and combat performance.
"You little glutton. You've eaten too much 'food' and now need help digesting it."
Robb smiled, ruffling her silver hair.
Daera blinked her big eyes.
"Master, it feels like all that power inside me is fighting. Sometimes it even tickles."
"That's exactly why I'm going to help you realign it."
Robb turned to the medicine cabinet and retrieved several custom-prepared potions and a special fine silver needle.
This was his personalized bloodline-harmonization procedure for Daera.
By using specific potions to adjust internal energy flow, and guiding it with focused spiritforce, he could help different bloodline factors reach a stable balance.
Layla quietly assisted from the side, efficiently setting up the equipment.
"Shall I prepare the stabilizer solution?" she asked softly.
Robb nodded. "Use the pale blue vial. Mix to a 30:70 ratio."
Layla moved with precision, blending the formula as instructed.
After months of working closely, the two had developed a seamless rhythm.
Though Layla had started with average aptitude, her "Diligence Makes Up For Mediocrity" talent helped her steadily improve. She had become his most dependable assistant.
Once preparations were complete, Robb had Daera lie on a crystal bed.
This special bed amplified spiritual flow and stabilized energy.
"Will it hurt?" Daera asked nervously.
"No, just a slight tingling at most," Robb assured her. "Maybe even a little ticklish, like last time."
The little mermaid relaxed and closed her eyes in full trust.
Robb dipped the silver needle in potion and tapped a few key acupoints on her body.
The potion quickly absorbed through her skin, flowing along her energy channels.
Then he focused his spiritual energy, placing both hands on her forehead and chest, guiding the chaotic forces within.
This required extreme precision, understanding the nature of each energy and its flow pattern.
A single mistake could cause conflict or even bloodline collapse.
Fortunately, Robb had practiced thoroughly on his self-devouring slime test subjects.
[Bloodline Modulation (Adept) EXP +1]
Robb clearly sensed the flows within Daera stabilizing.
The once-clashing energies began settling into complementary positions under his guidance.
"Mermaid bloodlines are typically water-aligned… but Daera seems to have a natural affinity for wind elements too."
Robb observed carefully.
"Maybe I can guide the two into a symbiotic state."
He adjusted his energy output, channeling some water energy toward the wind concentration zone, creating a buffer zone between the two.
The result was immediate, once opposing elements began fusing into a unique Water-Wind Synergy.
[Bloodline Modulation (Adept) EXP +1]
Daera's expression relaxed. A soft blue glow appeared on her skin.
Robb continued incorporating each new energy into her bloodline core.
Now, these were no longer foreign intrusions, they had become part of her being, ready for full control and use.
When he reached the trace of dragon blood, Robb became especially cautious.
Dragon blood was notoriously aggressive. Even a trace could suppress or overwrite other bloodlines.
He was considering whether to remove it entirely, but then noticed something intriguing:
The dragon blood hadn't expanded invasively. Instead, it had formed a stable seed-like energy core, coexisting peacefully with the mermaid lineage.
"How curious…" Robb raised an eyebrow. "The dragon blood didn't corrode, it formed a seed."
Using Primal Tracing, he could see its potential growth path.
With proper guidance and nourishment, it might grant Daera partial dragon traits, without compromising her primary mermaid identity.
"A rare opportunity."
Robb decided to preserve this structure and reinforce its environment.
He injected some targeted fortifying agents around it, forming a protective energy buffer.
This would allow safe, steady development without destabilizing her core.
"Like tender flesh inside a clam…"
He found a fitting metaphor. "A shell on the outside, growing silently within."
The harmonization process lasted nearly three hours. When the final energy flow balanced, Daera's bloodline reached an optimal state.
[Bloodline Modulation (Adept) EXP +1]
Robb exhaled slowly, withdrawing his spiritual energy.
Even for him, this was a mentally taxing task, but the results were worth it.
Daera slowly opened her eyes, now brighter and more luminous than ever.
"Master, I feel so light!" she chirped, twirling her hands in the air.
A perfect stream of water appeared with her motion, forming a beautiful spiral.
A faint breeze wrapped around the stream, making it more stable and fluid.
"Wind and water dual affinity," Robb nodded with satisfaction. "Even better than expected."
The little mermaid leapt off the crystal bed and spun joyfully around the room.
Her movements were smoother than ever. Her skin had a pearly sheen, and she radiated vibrant energy.
Through this tuning, Daera had reached a new equilibrium.
The energies she absorbed in the arena had been perfectly integrated, now part of her true strength.
"Master, that was amazing!" Layla couldn't help but exclaim, full of admiration.
"You didn't use much external energy, just spiritual guidance and mild potions, to complete such a complex bloodline harmonization."
Robb shook his head modestly.
"The credit belongs to Daera's superior bloodline and her unique Glutton talent. I was just the facilitator."
But deep down, he knew this success marked a new milestone in his bloodline modulation technique.
From simple purification to complex element fusion, and now full-scale bloodline harmonization.
Each step was built on countless experiments and theoretical research.
To get disparate bloodlines to coexist in one body was long considered nearly impossible by traditional theory.
Some conservative bloodline specialists even deemed it madness.
But Robb had just proven otherwise, albeit through extremely precise spiritual control and deep understanding of bloodline essence.
Yet just as he was basking in the satisfaction, a stubborn problem returned.
Despite the growth in bloodline tuning, his Extraordinary Biology skill had hit a wall.
[Current Progress: Supernatural Biology (Novice 48/50)]
It had been stuck there for days. Though novice stage breakthroughs were usually quick, this stall was unexpected.
Robb frowned, recalling a similar issue with his swordsmanship.
Back then, no amount of training pushed it past the final experience point, until he applied it in live combat.
"Maybe Supernatural Biology is the same."
He knew the problem clearly: "Pure theory won't help anymore. I need more field experience and direct observation."
He glanced at Daera with mild regret.
Though adjusting her bloodline had been fruitful, the types of extraordinary creatures in the Black Mist Forest were limited, and deep research opportunities were rare.
"What's on your mind, Master?"
Daera tilted her head, purple-blue eyes full of curiosity.
Robb gently brushed her silver hair.
"Just planning our next steps. You've made it to the top sixteen of the Blood Arena. From now on, your opponents will be much stronger, we need thorough preparation."
Daera raised her tiny fist confidently: "Don't worry, Master! I'll eat them all!"
Robb smiled, but his mind was elsewhere.
How could he obtain more firsthand data on supernatural creatures?
Just then, Layla reported some new intelligence:
"Master, when I went to collect your qualification certificate for the beast melee, I paid a few magic stone shards for a tip, the test subject this time is from Vice-Chancellor Hayes' private collection, and the rules will change."
Robb's eyes lit up.
"Oh? Tell me more."
"It's said that many parts of the beast were sourced from the Deep Abyss. But the staff didn't know much more."
Layla looked a bit embarrassed, fiddling with her hair before continuing.
"Also, I heard that after this match, participants can attend the Vice-Chancellor's dissection lecture of the experimental subject. That's why even High Apprentices with stable positions join this event."
"Dissection lecture…" Robb fell into deep thought.
That was a rare opportunity. As a Radiant Moon Magus, Vice-Chancellor Hayek had knowledge and experience beyond most.
Watching him dissect and analyze an extraordinary creature would be an invaluable lesson in Supernatural Biology.
Usually, getting access to someone of his level, even through paid consultation, was nearly impossible.
"And…" Layla added, her voice tinged with excitement.
"One of the champion prizes, besides the puppet, is a copy of The Abyssal Beasts Illustrated Compendium. It may be just a rumor, but if it's real, it's priceless."
The Deep Abyss, shrouded in legend and mystery, was said to be the origin of countless rare species.
Knowledge of it was top-secret within the academy. Even wizard reserve candidates rarely accessed complete data.
Now, the chance to own an actual compendium…
For Robb's biological research, it was a holy grail.
The differences between abyssal and ordinary extraordinary creatures might just hold the key to breaking through his bottleneck.
"This tournament's grand prize is more valuable than I imagined," Robb said softly.
Perhaps this time, he could win not just rewards and rank, but the breakthrough in Supernatural Biology he so desperately needed.
Daera tugged his sleeve: "Don't worry, Master. I'll win and bring that compendium back for you!"
Robb looked at her determined little face, warmth filling his chest.
From a near-death creature to this bright, confident girl, Daera's growth had surpassed every expectation.
"I believe in you, Daera," he said gently. "But protect yourself. Don't get reckless."
He then began drafting her next few days of training and nutrition.
There were only three days until the top-16 match. Every second had to count.
"Layla," he said, turning to his student. "I need you to prepare the following potions, custom-designed for Daera."
He listed the formulas.
Each was tailored to Daera's bloodline, designed to temporarily enhance her combat abilities.
Layla carefully noted every detail and rushed off to work.
Robb returned to his lab and began reviewing his scarce notes on abyssal biology.
He needed to build a foundation now, so he could ask sharp questions during the dissection and extract maximum value.
"Let's see… abyssal strata classifications…"
He opened a book containing fragmented information about the Deep Abyss.
It was said to contain thirteen layers, each with unique environmental traits and lifeforms.
The deeper the layer, the more mutated and powerful the creatures became.
Those surviving below Layer 6 often had special adaptive mutations or advanced evolutions.
"These records are too fragmented," Robb frowned. "Hard to form a systematic understanding."
That lack of structure was precisely what blocked his progress in Supernatural Biology.
But if he could obtain the compendium… the puzzle might finally be solved.
"As the old saying goes: Bold in hypothesis, cautious in validation."
Robb closed the book.
He knew: power only had value when controlled.
Whether tuning Daera's bloodline or expanding his own knowledge, he had to stay calm, methodical.
Overreaching would only bring ruin.
Standing at the window, he gazed at the distant silhouette of the high tower, his goal clearer than ever:
The Abyssal Beasts Illustrated Compendium.
The Vice-Chancellor's dissection session.
And the substitute puppet that might shape his future path.
All three awaited the Blood Arena champion.
And the key to winning them all…
Was the small Sea Siren girl beside him, and her incredible devouring power.
"The championship," Robb vowed silently. "No matter what, I must win it."