Meng Yan had been in this world for eight years.
His strength had risen from an ordinary Blood Clan Baron all the way to his current Viscount level.
Such a leap in strength, for an average Blood Clan, would be unthinkable without several hundred years.
However, even so, his strength was still not enough.
Viscount William's threat was imminent.
There were only seven years left until the date to offer Blood Energy to Viscount William.
By then, even if Meng Yan could contend with Viscount William and not have to offer up the Blood Energy he had painstakingly cultivated,
Viscount William would surely associate this abnormal rapid increase in his strength with the possibility that Meng Yan possessed a precious treasure capable of greatly enhancing power.
That greedy old fellow would definitely not let the matter rest.
Because Lyon was a Bloodline of Viscount William, there was a Blood Bond between them.
Viscount William could easily find Meng Yan's whereabouts using Blood Clan Magic.
Therefore, there was no escaping.
He must possess immense strength, strength sufficient to crush Viscount William.
Only then could he fear no threat.
If he could eliminate Viscount William, that would be the best outcome.
To achieve this goal, the strength of a top-tier Blood Clan Viscount was not enough.
According to Meng Yan's calculations,
If he were to spend the next seven years in slumber, wholeheartedly absorbing the pure energy released by the divinity,
He should barely be able to elevate his physical strength and Blood Core energy level to the top-tier Viscount level.
His Spiritual Power, having not absorbed new transcendent souls, would remain within a four-hundred-meter radius.
With such strength, facing an old-guard Viscount like Viscount William, who possessed powerful blood implements, he would truly only be able to barely protect himself.
Meng Yan had no blood implement assistance.
Furthermore, Lyon only knew first-tier Blood Clan Magic.
Even now that he had advanced to the second-tier Blood Clan Viscount level, he could still only use first-tier Blood Clan Magic.
Regarding combat experience,
Lyon's combat experience was only at the Baron level.
Meng Yan also found the combat experience of the Green Evil Spirit and the two ethereal demons largely unusable.
Therefore, unless he could significantly widen the gap in raw strength with Viscount William,
Otherwise, Meng Yan did not have much of an advantage.
It seems he still needs to find a way to absorb more transcendent souls...
Inside a quiet room in the old castle.
Meng Yan stood by the window, soft moonlight falling upon him.
He glanced at his reflection in the window glass.
Lyon was a true White Eagle Federation citizen, with blonde hair and blue eyes, and was exceptionally handsome.
His features carried a melancholic aura, elegant and noble.
He chuckled to himself. No wonder Lyon had so captivated Werewolf Mark's granddaughter, Irene, making her utterly infatuated.
She even willingly became a Blood Servant.
Such looks, even Meng Yan, who was accustomed to seeing handsome men and beautiful women on Blue Star, couldn't help but be amazed.
He slightly composed himself.
He spoke to John, who was standing beside him, bowing:
"John, some of the parchment manuscripts you provided were very helpful to me.
I have now advanced to Blood Clan Viscount, and it's time to fulfill my promise."
John knelt on the ground excitedly, his voice trembling as he said:
"Thank you, Viscount!"
A peculiar gleam flashed in Meng Yan's eyes. He looked down at John and said in a low voice:
"Once you become my Bloodline, a Blood Bond will form between us.
Unless we are thousands of miles apart, I can easily find you.
Your strength limit will be fixed at the Viscount level.
Unless I later break through to Earl, or you devour the Blood Core of a higher-level Blood Clan,
Otherwise, for your entire life, you can only grow to the Viscount level at most.
Do you understand these things?"
John, still kneeling, said resolutely:
"I understand.
Even as a Blood Clan, John will be your most loyal servant!"
Meng Yan nodded in satisfaction.
Over the past few years, John had managed the old castle and handled miscellaneous affairs for him very well.
Once John became a Blood Clan Baron, he would be able to assist him even better.
The Blood Clan, regarding their next generation of Bloodline, besides the Blood Bond allowing for constant tracking, had no other control abilities.
Therefore, they were always extremely cautious in choosing who to Embrace.
After all, developing a Bloodline consumed a large amount of Blood Energy.
For example, Viscount William, if not for the Victor Family's requirement that every family member above the Viscount level must develop at least one Bloodline within a thousand years, he would never have developed a Bloodline.
After Viscount William developed his Bloodline, to replenish his own Blood Energy and maximize his profit,
He would exploit half of his Bloodline's Blood Energy every fifty years, showing extreme greed.
Among other Blood Clan, those as cruel to their Bloodline as Viscount William, treating them as human Blood Banks, were few and far between.
Normal Blood Clan treated their elders who granted them the Embrace with great respect.
After all, becoming a Blood Clan bestowed a long life and powerful strength, which was a tremendous gift.
However, with Viscount William's methods, even the greatest favor would be worn away.
But Viscount William didn't care. As long as he continuously deprived his Bloodline of Blood Energy, let alone catching up to him, even ordinary advancement for his Bloodline would be incredibly difficult.
He possessed immense strength, and his Bloodline's advancement was firmly controlled by him, so he could essentially rest easy.
However, his good days were also quickly coming to an end.
Meng Yan raised his hand and gently touched John's head.
With a hum.
John's body trembled, and a red energy wave spread from him.
He felt himself suddenly become incredibly weak.
His originally jet-black hair gradually began to show strands of white.
All the Blood Energy within his body surged towards the top of his head, being absorbed by Meng Yan.
He understood that Meng Yan was dissolving his Blood Servant contract.
Blood Servants could not directly become Blood Clan.
Only by first dissolving the Blood Servant contract, turning John back into an ordinary human, could he be granted the Embrace.
It felt like a very long time had passed.
All the Blood Energy in John's body had completely vanished.
All traces of Blood Energy throughout his body were also completely cleared by Meng Yan, using his powerful Spiritual Power.
At this moment, John's hair was completely white, and his face was covered in wrinkles.
He had become even more aged than before becoming a Blood Servant.
That's enough.
Meng Yan looked at John, who had become an ordinary human after the Blood Servant ritual, and nodded.
Now, he could begin to grant the Embrace.
Granting the Embrace was a Blood Clan's innate ability, an instinct.
Every Blood Clan who advanced to Blood Clan Viscount would naturally master the ability to grant the Embrace.
Meng Yan lifted John's body.
His Blood Core vibrated.
Two pale fangs emerged, biting into John's neck.
Inside the Blood Core, Blood Energy began to surge.
He separated one-third of his Blood Energy and injected it into John's body.
At the same time, he used Spiritual Power to form an ancient magic rune and imprinted it into John's mind space.
All the Blood Energy within John's body frantically gathered towards the magic rune in his mind space.
Finally, the magic rune and all the Blood Energy merged into one, transforming into a light red Blood Bead.
Inside the Blood Bead, Blood Energy churned.
At its center, a figure flickered faintly—that was John's soul.
The Blood Core formed, and a Blood Clan Baron was born.