65: Weird oil painting

The night was as dark as ink.

In Charles Manor,

a pitch-black shadow silently wriggled, subtly rising and falling as if alive.

The tall and slender figure of the Silver Armor Corpse slowly emerged from that deep shadow.

The fine silver scales covering its body reflected the sparse, dim moonlight, emitting a chilling, metallic luster that made one’s heart palpitate.

Immediately after, Li Ke's figure also calmly stepped out.

His dark red short hair swayed slightly in the night breeze,

and his face appeared somewhat blurred in the dim light.

Almost at the same time as their appearance,

a swift figure had already rushed from the shadows of the castle,

moving quickly yet silently, Li Ke a black lightning bolt.

The newcomer was Hatties.

Upon seeing Li Ke's figure, his previously tense body immediately relaxed.

He immediately knelt on one knee, his voice steady and respectful.

“Master, you’ve returned.”

Li Ke nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the quiet manor, and asked in a calm tone,

“Has anything happened in the manor these past few days?”

Hatties still kept his head lowered, reporting in a steady pace.

“Reporting, Master, everything in the manor is as usual, no special incidents have occurred.”

He paused slightly, a hint of undetectable hesitation in his voice.

“It’s just… Butler Barton’s mental state seems to be increasingly off.”

“He’s become gloomier, occasionally muttering to himself, saying strange things that are unintelligible. This subordinate is a bit worried.”

Li Ke's eyes were calm and unperturbed, as if he had already anticipated this matter.

He waved his hand gently, reassuring him.

“It’s fine, I will handle Barton’s matter myself.”

Upon hearing this, Hatties said no more, respectfully assenting.

Immediately, his figure, Li Ke a ghost, reintegrated into the surrounding darkness.

Li Ke did not immediately enter the castle,

but stood quietly in the courtyard for a moment, carefully sensing the changes in the manor's aura.

During this time, the influence of Myriad Things Demon Contamination had spread from the castle,

beginning to extend throughout the entire manor.

It was foreseeable that many demonic creatures would be born in the manor later.

A moment later,

Li Ke took a step and walked into the castle.

The Silver Armor Corpse, Li Ke the most loyal shadow, followed him step by step,

carrying the strangely shaped, seemingly charred, bizarre corpse in its hand.

......

In the study,

Li Ke's gaze fell upon the charred corpse.

The corpse was entirely a strange charcoal black,

its flesh dried and withered, clinging tightly to the bones, as if it had been scorched by fire.

However, from within this seemingly lifeless shell, a faint, eerie vitality emanated.

Li Ke a flickering candle in the wind, swaying but not extinguished.

Li Ke's fingertips gently brushed the rough surface of the corpse, carefully sensing that strange vital aura.

In his mind, Alvin Oak, whom he had just fought, appeared.

Alvin's state at the time was clearly not normal,

completely different from his usual image as the composed eldest son of the Earl.

The green energy, full of bizarre vitality, that erupted from him also subtly carried a sense of distortion and madness.

Li Ke naturally thought of the [Bloodline Disease] circulating among the nobility.

According to the information he obtained from the Ironwood Old Family Head's memory,

the incidence of [Bloodline Disease] was not only related to an individual's mental resistance,

but also seemed to have some subtle connection with the Bloodline's inherent affinity for nature.

The Oak Elf Bloodline was known for its extremely high affinity with nature,

which also meant that they faced a much higher risk of being afflicted by [Bloodline Disease] than nobles of other Bloodlines.

Alvin Oak was already at the Peak of the Silver Tier in strength,

only a step away from the Gold Tier.

Unless he chose to completely seal his own strength and remain stagnant forever,

otherwise, the unknown pollution lurking deep within his Bloodline,

would probably be Li Ke a shadow, ready to erupt at any time.

“Speaking of which, in recent years, I’ve indeed rarely heard about the Oak Earl himself.”

“Almost all matters, big or small, are handled by Alvin, his eldest son.”

Li Ke's eyes flickered slightly.

“I’m afraid the Oak Earl’s condition is already quite bad.”

Given this, the bizarre corpse before him,

might indeed be some unknown method Alvin used to resolve the [Bloodline Disease].

Even the deeper purpose of this so-called purge operation might be related to this.

Now that he thought about it, in the Valen Mountain Vineyard,

the huge pile of corpses he saw, made of countless bodies,

the corpse Qi seemed to also contain a trace of the unique aura of noble Bloodline descendants.

A thought flashed through Li Ke's mind.

“Those noble members who were judged during the purge operation…”

“Could it be that they were all thrown into that corpse pit, used to nourish this bizarre corpse…?”

This thought merely flashed by.

These squabbles and struggles among the nobility had little to do with him.

Li Ke withdrew his thoughts, his gaze once again becoming indifferent.

Feeling the constant yearning emanating from the Silver Armor Corpse, he waved his hand and smiled,

“It’s yours. Refine it as quickly as possible.”

In the Silver Armor Corpse's empty eye sockets, the pale phosphorescent flame flickered slightly.

It extended an arm covered with fine silver scales and took the charred corpse.

The next moment, the Silver Armor Corpse, holding the corpse, its tall figure rapidly sank into the shadows beneath its feet,

Li Ke a drop of water merging into the ocean, leaving no trace.

Li Ke could clearly sense that

the Silver Armor Corpse's aura had submerged all the way into the depths of the Soul Summoning Forest behind the castle.

It found a hidden place deep underground,

and lay dormant, beginning the slow refinement of that special corpse.

The castle returned to tranquility once more,

with only the occasional faint crackle from the fireplace.

......

A few days later, the weather became uncommonly clear.

Amber sunlight streamed in from the castle's skylights, Li Ke a layer of melted butter, spreading across the wooden floors of the hall and corridors,

adding a touch of warmth to this gloomy castle.

In the hall,

Li Ke sat alone at the long mahogany dining table.

He was currently flipping through an old book titled “Richard's Travels.”

The book recounted the legendary experiences of a ranger named Richard, who bravely Transmigrated through the Holy Radiance Empire, the Northern Kingdom, and the Golden Rose Dynasty.

During this time, the ranger was madly pursued by the legitimate daughter of a great noble,

flirted with the high and mighty Saintess of the Radiant Light Holy Court,

developed a secret affection for the ascetic Saintess of the Court of Suffering, and made a lifelong vow with the female star-gazer of the Star-Orbit Secret Sect…

The book's descriptions were engaging and fascinating.

Most importantly, it vividly depicted the local customs and traditions of various places,

which Li Ke also found quite interesting.

At this moment, Butler Barton slowly walked from the other end of the corridor.

For some reason, as he passed through the corridor,

the previously warm and bright sunlight in the corridor seemed to dim considerably.

That strange dimness moved with his steps,

Li Ke a moving dark cloud, silently obscuring the sunlight.

“Master, you sent for me.”

Barton walked up to Li Ke and said respectfully.

Li Ke looked up at Barton.

He carefully sensed Barton's state,

and that cold and ominous aura seemed to have intensified a few more points than before.

Li Ke's face showed a thoughtful expression.

Then he put down the book in his hand and smiled,

“Barton, show me your oil paintings.”