Duke didn't know much about bloodline mages; he only knew that although bloodlines could make their path smoother, they could also become a restraint later on.

For instance, someone like Bell, born into an ancient wizard clan, would find it extremely difficult to reach particularly high levels in the future, as he would find it hard to break through the limits of his bloodline power.

To break through the constraints of bloodline power, one must enhance their bloodline power.

However, for ancient wizard clans like the Crawford Clan, they have already optimized and improved their bloodline power countless times.

Continuing to enhance it is easier said than done, and it's not something that just anyone can achieve.

When Duke saw Bell, he immediately knew who had won the Deep Sea Heart.

He didn't expect Bell to be in the Flower Sea Plane, and just so happened to be in the Glann Forest area.

The bidding process at the auction was anonymous, making it difficult for others to know who was bidding.

Bell probably didn't learn about it from the auction site; he most likely found out through other means that Duke intended to bid for the Deep Sea Heart.

Duke quickly thought of the Giant Rock Commerce Association. Previously, he had asked them to watch for news about crystal cores, and it was through their channels that he had come to the auction.

The matter wasn't particularly secretive; the Giant Rock Commerce Association naturally hadn't kept it confidential. The information likely spread from there.

Organizations like commerce associations are inherently complex, so it's perfectly normal for the Crawford Clan to have spies within them.

Bell most likely learned through internal channels of the Giant Rock Commerce Association that Duke was coming to bid for the crystal core.

Earlier, he was also in the Jade Heart auction hall, probably in one of the private rooms above.

Bell wasn't certain which auction item Duke was bidding on until the Deep Sea Heart appeared, confirming that this crystal core was what Duke needed, prompting him to start bidding.

He raised the bid by a million each time, preferring to take a loss than let Duke win the Deep Sea Heart.

Bell had already become a Crystalized Wizard and naturally didn't need such things as crystal cores.

Moreover, he was a dark attribute wizard, so he wouldn't need a water attribute crystal core.

His actions were merely to disgust Duke, preventing him from acquiring the Deep Sea Heart.

In just an instant of seeing Bell, Duke figured everything out.

It's also not the Giant Rock Commerce Association's fault; he indeed hadn't asked the association to keep the information confidential.

Given the structure and composition of the association, it's difficult to keep any secrets.

From this, Duke could see that Bell never intended to let him off the hook, always keeping a watch on his movements in secret.

In the past, it appeared that Bell didn't bother him simply because Duke was too reclusive, almost always staying inside Black Sail without going out, or he was at the Beastman Plane or Wood Elf Plane.

The only time he had traveled far was to the East Coast, but due to some reasons, the trip ended abruptly, and he returned midway.

Reflecting on it now, Duke speculated that it was fortunate the trip ended early, or he would likely have encountered some trouble.

Defeated by Duke last time, Bell's reputation was tarnished, and he wouldn't easily let it go.

Now, upon arriving at the Flower Sea Plane of the Silver Hand, Bell couldn't wait to show up.

When Bell saw Duke approaching, he wore a mocking smile and held a wooden box, saying, "The Deep Sea Heart you wanted..."

"I think you should buy yourself an egg," Duke casually remarked, then continued walking forward without pausing, not intending to engage with him at all.

Bell hadn't finished speaking, and upon hearing this, felt as if he had eaten crap, his face turning crimson red.

As a noble, what he cared about most was his dignity, and being publicly ridiculed by Duke made him feel immense humiliation.

Just as Bell was about to explode in action, two nearby wizards in white robes immediately focused their spiritual power in this direction, instantly deterring Bell from acting.

This was the Silver Hand's domain, and the Silver Hand always valued rules, showing no mercy to those who dared disrupt them.

Moreover, the Flower Sea Plane, as one of their important tourist and entertainment planes, had stricter demands for security and wouldn't tolerate anyone causing a scene in front of them.

Duke knew this well, so he wasn't afraid of Bell at all, striding past him confidently.

Many wizards around were watching the commotion; most of them didn't know who Duke or Bell were, unaware of their grudges.

But a few who were informed quietly communicated via spiritual power about the incident with Bell's egg being smashed, causing some wizards to chuckle.

Bell's fingers on the wooden box turned white from exertion, his knuckles protruding with bulging veins.

Duke's light, mocking remark was like a poisoned needle, piercing precisely into Bell's most sensitive and shameful old scar.

The faint laughter and whispers nearby seemed like countless small tongues of fire, licking at his noble dignity and the pride of a Crystalized Wizard.

He felt a rush of hot blood surge to his head, almost breaching the dam of his rationality.

"Stop!" Bell's voice squeezed out through his teeth, hoarse and icy, with a hint of forcibly repressed madness, "Duke! Do you think this is over?"

Duke did not pause his steps in the slightest, nor did his shoulders even twitch, as if he hadn't heard the threatening roar filled with rage.

His silhouette appeared particularly jarring to Bell, full of contempt and disregard.

Duke had no intention of wasting words with Bell; the matters couldn't be settled peacefully anyway, so they'd see in time and wait for the right moment.

This time, Bell indeed caused Duke some trouble, making him lose the opportunity to obtain a water attribute crystal core.

However, Duke has more than enough time to prepare slowly and doesn't care much about such a water attribute crystal core.

Bell originally intended to frustrate Duke with this matter; the less Duke cared, the more it troubled Bell.

After all, spending a full six million magic stones wasn't a trivial amount for Bell.

It was like a punch spent a long time charging that ended up landing on empty air, leaving him extremely pent-up and uncomfortable, as the repressed emotions couldn't be released, making him even more distressed.

Soon, Bell watched Duke's figure disappear into the darkness ahead, leaving him incredibly frustrated.

In the distance, Duke and Horn walked along a shaded path, with luminous mushrooms on the roadside providing a little bit of starlight-like glow.

After a moment of silence, Horn said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Duke, it seems that the problem is on our side."

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