"Hahahahahaha!" Richard burst into loud laughter—something he couldn't control because of the ridiculous expression on Sterling's face.

If the so-called Duke Ethan Holystar knew about this, who knew how he would react?

He had clearly been confident enough to let Sterling roam freely around the Holy Star Kingdom, taking whatever he pleased.

Perhaps even the kingdom itself didn't possess anything capable of countering an object that contained the power of a Grand Sovereign.

"Master Alex, capture both of them," said Richard.

Among everyone present, he was the first to regain his composure.

Rumble!

He extended both his hands toward them.

Sterling and Erick were captured instantly, unable to resist.

"Wait, I don't know anything!" Erick pleaded.

Of course, Master Alex didn't release him just because he said that.

BANG! BANG!

Master Alex threw both of them down before Richard, restraining their power completely to make sure they couldn't move at all.

As for Erick's two guards, they had already been drowned in the lake.

"Here, take your horse's ability, but let me go! I only bought it because I was offered a horse ability with royal bloodline!" Erick said again, pulling something from his Storage Artifact—a blood orb shaped like a crystal, engraved with the same markings as Athena's form.

Richard didn't expect the man to surrender so quickly.

It seemed he was simply too afraid of him.

Richard took the blood crystal orb and then summoned Athena from the Dragon Hall.

However, Athena was even larger than his airship.

At the same time, Master Alex used his power to keep Athena suspended in the air.

"What should I do with this blood orb?" Richard asked.

He was asking anyone who could answer since he wasn't sure what he should do.

Of course, he didn't want to make any mistakes.

"Just feed it to her so it can merge with her blood…" Erick answered.

Richard looked into his eyes first. After confirming that he wasn't lying, he tossed the blood orb into Athena's mouth. Though unconscious, her mouth was slightly open—just enough for the orb to fit in.

With a small push of his power, Richard easily sent the orb inside.

Buzz!

Suddenly, Athena's body radiated a crimson light, like flowing blood.

A process was clearly taking place within her, but Richard had no idea what it was—he could only observe the outside of her body.

It was likely restoring her bloodline's power.

Since the blood orb came from her, the process should be simple.

Still, Richard couldn't help but wonder how it could also merge with humans.

Was the blood orb truly able to integrate so easily with someone else's blood?

Before Richard could think further, Athena's body began to emit pressure—a clear sign that her strength was returning.

Her once-dying appearance began to look lively again.

Her breathing stabilized, growing stronger with each moment.

In a short time, she was able to stand, spreading her massive wings.

Gradually, the glow surrounding her dimmed and disappeared.

Phew!

Richard let out a sigh of relief.

He couldn't care less about Erick, whom he considered an insignificant character—just an unfortunate buyer.

His gaze then turned toward Sterling.

The man's appearance was, of course, unusual, with blue hair and light-blue scales on the sides of his face.

"What exactly are you?" Richard asked.

"Richard, he should be a Blood Devourer Beast," said Master Alex. "A Primordial Beast with an Ancestral Bloodline. With just that bloodline alone, he can easily make other beasts submit to him. But it's the ability from that bloodline that's truly terrifying—as you've just seen, he can literally draw out the bloodlines of other Primordial Beasts."

"Blood Devourer Beast…" Richard couldn't help but repeat the name.

"How can a beast possess such an ability?" He still found it hard to believe that such power existed.

Luca had given him a single egg of a Primordial Beast with an Ancestral Bloodline—but it was just an egg, and no one even knew if it would ever hatch.

But the White Ancestor was a true Primordial Beast with an Ancestral Bloodline who had reached the peak of this world. One more step, and it could achieve the power of a true Grand Sovereign through its bloodline.

However, could the White Ancestor possess an ability at least comparable to this Blood Devourer Beast?

"Every Primordial Beast with an Ancestral Bloodline possesses extraordinary power. They are usually gifted with one ability that's nearly unmatched. The simplest might be the fastest speed, strongest attack, or greatest defense—but greater ones have unique abilities like this.

"Richard, the Blood Devourer Beast isn't exactly rare, though they don't always appear in every era. Some people even managed to study their power and replicate it into a High-tier Arcane Art, one that requires exceptionally high affinity with the Blood Element.

"However, what's impossible is accommodating too many bloodlines—no one can do it, not even a Blood Devourer Beast itself. We humans can at most contain one or two bloodlines, while even a Blood Devourer Beast can only handle up to ten. Any more than that, and controlling them becomes impossible—unless one's Blood Element Affinity exceeds 90%."

"Has anyone ever achieved that?" Richard asked.

"The Bloodman Ancient Sovereign—he's the only one," Master Alex replied.

Richard had asked merely out of curiosity, but he hadn't expected there to actually be someone who did.

The Bloodman Ancient Sovereign—Richard had heard the name before, though he never knew the true extent of that being's power.

All he knew was that he was one of the strongest Ancient Sovereigns—among the top ten.

Of course, that ranking was based on their strength before they obtained World Magic Aether.

"I'll imprison this beast," said Richard.

He opened the portal to the Dragon Hall, then kicked Sterling inside.

Killing him now would be too merciful. After all, he was a valuable specimen.

Unfortunately, he had already become someone else's slave. That wasn't something that could be undone—if the bond were broken, he would die.

Of course, he couldn't possibly be enslaved a second time.

It wasn't like the Fire Spirit Queen, who was bound by her own oath—one she couldn't even defy.

Everyone watched as Richard sealed Sterling away.

And none of them dared demand anything about it. In fact, they were all a bit terrified to get involved further—because it seemed Duke Ethan Holystar had already advanced far beyond what they had imagined.

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