Chapter 439: Section 226: Bloodline Investigation
The sun gradually climbed higher in the sky.
The sea breeze grew stronger, billowing the sails halfway.
Lan Zao was patrolling the deck.
His skin had been tanned dark by the sunlight, his body was robust, and his gaze sharp. Dressed in a full set of Bronze Level equipment, he looked even more imposing.
Lan Zao stopped in his tracks and shouted, “Who tied this knot?”
“It was, it was me,” a mercenary stepped forward.
“The knot is tied incorrectly. Have you never been a sailor?” Lan Zao asked.
The mercenary bowed his head and said, “Yes, that’s correct, and I’ve rarely been out to sea.”
“That won’t do. Come, watch me tie it and then you do the same!” Lan Zao bent down, untied the knot, and demonstrated in front of everyone.
He straightened the rope first and laid it flat on the deck.
Then he bent the middle section of the cable to form a figure-eight shape.
After that, he threaded the end of the rope through the upper loop of the figure eight repeatedly.
Finally, he straightened the rope, and the series of figure-eight knots were evenly distributed along it.
Lan Zao stood up and stared at the mercenary in front of him, “This is the continuous figure-eight knot. Look, its loops are quite large, and when you need to seek refuge in an emergency, you can grip it tightly, and even if you slip once there’s no fear.”
“Do you understand?”
The mercenary nodded repeatedly.
Then Lan Zao tossed the cable to him, “Untie it, then tie it yourself.”
“Yes, my lord,” the mercenary immediately began to act.
Lan Zao used to be the boatswain of the Pig Kiss, having been born in a fishing village and living off the sea for many years, he knew these things by heart.
He inspected the deck and the cabins diligently and scrupulously, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to the group.
“Lord Lan Zao, I’ve tied it. Is it correct?” Soon, the mercenary finished making the continuous figure-eight knots.
But just then, a messenger mercenary came running over, “Lord Lan Zao, the squad leader summons you.”
“Ah, the squad leader summons me?” Lan Zao stepped over the ropes on the deck, noticing the eager look of the mercenary, and quickly headed towards the Captain’s quarters.
Behind him murmurs from the mercenaries could be heard.
“They say that Lan Zao is highly favored by the squad leader.”
“Indeed.”
“Look at his eager attitude; who wouldn’t like such a subordinate?”
“Shut your mouth, Lord Lan Zao is not someone you can judge at will.”
Thump, thump, thump.
Knocking on the door of the Captain’s quarters sounded.
“Come in,” the Dragon-man youth permitted.
Lan Zao pushed open the door and came in, bowing respectfully, “Squad leader, you summoned me?”
The Dragon-man youth gave a slight smile, “There are some things I need to tell you, come in.”
Saying this, he took out a sound collection box and placed it on the desk.
This delicate alchemy tool could capture sounds and prevent them from spreading.
Not only that, but there were also several scouting Alchemy Puppets guarding around the Captain’s quarters, inside and out.
Seeing the actions of the Dragon-man youth, Lan Zao immediately understood that the subsequent conversation would be quite private, and he promptly closed the door.
Lan Zao approached the desk.
The Dragon-man youth signaled for him to sit, then took out an alchemy tool in the shape of a Protective Arm.
This was a blood extraction device hastily made by Zi Di using the Alchemy Array aboard the Deep Sea Monster Fish.
Lan Zao, however, did not sit; he smiled and said, “My lord, I would prefer to stand.”
The Dragon-man youth’s expression became stern, “If I tell you to sit, you sit.”
“We are going to use this to draw some of your blood next,” the Dragon-man youth continued to explain. “During the previous melee, some of us were affected, our will temporarily warped—this is quite alarming.”
“So, we plan to make some potions to prevent this kind of tactic.”
“One of the primary ingredients for concocting Magic Potions is the user’s own fresh blood.”
Lan Zao nodded, without a hint of hesitation, and promptly took the Protective Arm and put it on.
The Protective Arm tightened slightly, fixing itself onto his forearm, then a needle extended and accurately pierced into Lan Zao’s vein, beginning to draw blood.
During this period, the Dragon-man youth asked, “Lan Zao, if I remember correctly, the skill you cultivate is Water Grass Fighting energy, right?”
Lan Zao suddenly stood up with a snap, standing erect and answered respectfully, “Yes, my lord!”
The Dragon-man youth pointed at the seat, “Sit down and talk.”
After seeing Lan Zao sit down, he continued, “Before, you also tried other Fighting Energy, with some effects, correct?”
“Yes.” Lan Zao stood up again with a snap, “When we left Mysterious Monster Island, you distributed many Fighting Energy techniques for us to try. After trying them, indeed, a few Fighting Energy techniques also suited me.”
“But ultimately, I did not switch Fighting Energy techniques because their cultivation results are similar to my Water Grass Fighting Energy technique.”
Lan Zao had grown accustomed to using Water Grass Fighting Energy. His Combat Skills were also developed to complement Water Grass Fighting Energy.
More importantly, switching Fighting Energy was a very troublesome matter.
Since there was virtually no benefit, and there was the cost of manpower, materials, and time, why bother switching?
The Dragon-man youth held a pen with the nib towards the paper, “Talk about it, what are the Fighting Energy techniques that worked for you? Also, sit down and talk; don’t be too nervous.”
Lan Zao smiled, “My lord, I’m not nervous.”
“I just prefer to stand.”
“Please let me stand.”
“In front of you, I don’t feel I have the right to sit and talk. Standing makes me more comfortable.”
The Dragon-man youth couldn’t help but chuckle, “All right then, stand and talk.”
Lan Zao mentioned the names of several Fighting Energy techniques, and when he saw the Dragon-man youth writing them down one by one, he asked curiously and with concern, “My lord, are you planning to form a battle team? I wonder, am I qualified to change and practice other Fighting Energy techniques?”
Lan Zao misunderstood the Dragon-man youth’s intention.
The Dragon-man youth pondered for a moment, “It is indeed something I am considering at the moment.”
Lan Zao became excited, “Lord, we really should do this! The Fast Blade squad was trained by Zong Ge and has now become that guy’s personal soldiers. Now, he is also training those Water Pigmen. In the future, he will have two squads, while we don’t even have one.”
“My lord, I don’t know what kind of squad it will be, but do I qualify?”
Lan Zao’s loyalty to the Dragon-man youth almost spilled over.
This loyalty was not the loyalty of a soldier to a superior but mixed with a fervent worship.
This was caused by the unique experiences on Mysterious Monster Island.
The Dragon-man youth did not answer Lan Zao’s question but asked, “Lan Zao, think carefully, have there been any Transcendents among your relatives or ancestors? If so, what Fighting Energy techniques did they practice? What Bloodline did they possess?”
Lan Zao was stunned for a moment, then gave a bitter smile, “My lord, my ancestors were all poor. It was only in my generation that there was the chance to become a Transcendent.”
As he said this, Lan Zao naturally thought of his blood brother, Huang Zao, his expression turning somber.
The Dragon-man youth pressed on, “How much do you know about your Bloodline, and do you know what it specifically is?”
Lan Zao shook his head again, “My lord, I’m not sure. There are too many Bloodlines capable of cultivating Water Grass Fighting Energy, and I have not tested it with Divine Arts. It’s too expensive! For me, being able to become a Transcendent and knowing that Water Grass Fighting Energy fits me best is enough.”
“My Extraordinary Bloodline is very low, only at the Bronze Level; what use would there be in testing it?”
The Dragon-man youth nodded, writing a few more words on the paper, “Then, in the seaside fishing village where you were born and lived for a while, have there ever been any Transcendents?”
Lan Zao recalled for a moment and said uncertainly, “There seems to have been one, from my grandfather’s generation, a Bronze Level. He was able to hold his breath in the sea for up to an hour and had a very robust physique. The villagers were all envious when they talked about him.”
The Dragon-man youth asked a few more questions, and at the end, he took back the blood-drawing tool from Lan Zao’s arm.
“How is the Mercenary Group doing?” the young man asked as Lan Zao was leaving.
Lan Zao hurriedly replied, “Much better than before.”
“Although we lost some people at the docks of Twin Eyes Island, those who remained are more united and elite than before.”
The youth encouraged him, “I hear you have the support of a group of people, well done.”
Lan Zao blurted out, “All thanks to you, my lord!”
“With the money you lent me, I was able to purchase a set of Bronze Level equipment. Only with the increase in my strength could I keep them in line.”
The youth laughed softly, shaking his head, “It’s not just that. In the previous melee, you behaved heroically, saved many lives, and killed many Fishmen. Keep up the good work.”
“Yes, my lord!” Lan Zao reached the door, hesitated for a moment, but still turned around, speaking with a tone of guilt, “My lord, I know my strength is modest, and my talent insufficient.”
“I am just a Bronze.”
“But please use me as you see fit!”
“Even if the squad’s Fighting Energy doesn’t suit me and might decrease my strength.”
“I am loyal!”
“You can trust me completely!”
“I will give it my all to help you take control of the new squad.”
The Dragon-man youth was deeply moved, he stared into Lan Zao’s eyes, nodding firmly, “Rest assured, I will use you at the crucial moment, without reservation!”
Then he added in his heart, “You will play a stronger role; you will have stronger talents, not just the Bronze you are now.”
Upon receiving the Dragon-man youth’s promise, Lan Zao’s face immediately lit up with strong excitement and joy.