Chapter Thirty: Bloodline Magic

There were plenty of spoils in the Mirror World. Besides nearly a hundred experience points, several skills were dropped.

[Bite Lv1: An attack using sharp teeth to bite the enemy.]
[Wind Blade Tier 1: Releases a blade of wind for a wind-type magical attack. (Monster bloodline magic)]
[Riding Lv1: You know how to handle your mount.]

Chu Yun could hardly imagine ever using the Bite skill in battle. As for Wind Blade, being a monster bloodline magic, he wasn't sure what would happen if he tried to learn it himself—it seemed wiser to experiment later with someone else. So, he handed both skills over to Paimon.

After stacking the Bite skill, Paimon's ability rose by a level, and it also mastered Wind Blade, gaining a means of fighting at range. Now, spotting a wild rabbit or similar prey along the road meant an easy meal.

Spells have many different casting principles. Monster bloodline magic is somewhat similar to a warlock’s innate magic. Compared to warlocks, monster bloodline magic is safer and unaffected by the tides of magic. However, monsters typically can only cast magic aligned to a single attribute; the more powerful ones may use similar attributes, but never opposing elements.

Monster bloodline magic can be considered innate magic—abilities hidden in their genes, learned naturally as they grow. Beyond this, monsters can also gain new magic through their own insights into nature, much like how human druids master their craft. The Stone Skin spell Chu Yun had learned before was of this kind.

Upon returning to the main world, Paimon looked at Chu Yun in confusion, its mind suddenly filled with new knowledge, and Wind Blade could be cast effortlessly.

"This is the power I bestowed upon you. I told you—I would make you stronger." Chu Yun patted Paimon's head and used monster communication to reveal the truth.

"Yiya~yiya~"

Paimon was overwhelmed with joy, its intimacy level jumping by ten points!

For monsters, power and the continuation of their race are paramount. What Chu Yun had done was nothing short of a great blessing in Paimon's eyes.

Chaos in the world was a misfortune for most, but for someone skilled in scavenging like Chu Yun, it might just be an opportunity.

The wagon moved on at a much faster pace, now that Chu Yun had discarded all the red iron ore. Each fire crystal he picked up could be sold for ten gold coins, and he had kept the valuable materials from the wind wolves he’d seen in Rock Town.

These goods, worth only fifteen gold coins, wouldn't fetch much more even in Blackstone City, and they severely hindered speed. In times when monster attacks might increase, maintaining wagon speed was crucial. Compared to red iron ore, wind wolf materials were much more cost-effective.

On his journey, Chu Yun encountered many adventurers returning home.

Most adventurers, when heading out to hunt or explore, prepare according to their mission goals or prey. Now that monsters had grown stronger, their preparations fell short, and retreating early to regroup was a prudent move.

Upon meeting these adventurers, Chu Yun exchanged plenty of information, mapping out monster distribution, and adventurers learned about the dreadful Fate Slate.

As night fell, Chu Yun followed the adventurers and map markings to a human settlement.

The journey from Rock Town to Blackstone City was long, and sleeping outdoors was unavoidable. To ensure the safety of adventurers and merchants, simple camps were built at intervals along the main roads.

Camp locations were typically chosen for concealment and low monster activity, requiring a detour off the main road. Some powerful teams, unwilling to bother, simply camped right beside the road.

But this time, everyone seemed unusually coordinated—a large crowd had gathered in the camp for refuge.

This camp backed onto a rocky hill, its trees long cleared, making it easy to spot approaching monsters. The other sides were all walled with stone, offering reasonable security.

At the camp’s entrance, the stone tablet was covered in knife and claw marks, though the inscription remained faintly visible.

[Falling Rock Camp—Rock Town Adventurers’ Guild]

Some camps were built by cities, others by various guilds. The safer camps sometimes hosted shops run by merchants, like those in the Carlos Mountains, but most wilderness camps offered little more than stone houses and walls.

The camp was now filled with tents, and some merchants transporting food and goods had begun setting up stalls. Chu Yun glanced around—prices were at least three times higher than in Rock Town.

He arrived fairly late, though in truth his pace was leisurely. He had already passed another camp earlier in the day, but as it was still early, he chose to press on. This was the second camp en route from Rock Town to Blackstone City.

Though late, the camp built by the Adventurers’ Guild was spacious enough for him to settle inside the stone walls.

Chu Yun's arrival drew attention—an individual traveling alone with an earth dragon-drawn wagon was unlikely to be weak, and the earth dragon itself possessed combat ability.

"Friend, are you coming from Rock Town or heading there?" A middle-aged man with the look of a merchant approached and asked.

"If you’re bound for Rock Town, why not join our caravan? The monsters outside are far too dangerous now; traveling alone will surely bring trouble."

Chu Yun shook his head. "Sorry, I’m heading for Blackstone City—we’re not on the same route."

Hearing this, the merchant heading for Blackstone City smiled wryly, and another merchant chimed in, "How about joining us? We’re also headed to Blackstone City."

"Your cargo is too heavy, and you’re slow. Sorry," Chu Yun declined politely.

The merchants were a bit disappointed, but after pointing out a convenient spot for him to spend the night, they went off to seek other companions.

Chu Yun moved to an empty spot, parked his wagon, and secured Paimon's reins.

Though he could communicate with Paimon and it seemed gentle enough, it was still a monster; now, with monsters growing restless and liable to go berserk at any time, Chu Yun had to guard against any possible abnormal behavior from Paimon once he was asleep.

"Big brother, can I pet it?"

As Chu Yun finished tying Paimon's reins, a little girl ran over from a nearby tent, her eyes filled with anticipation.

She was somewhat unusual—her ears were pointed, hinting at elven heritage, though her manner didn't quite fit.

"Of course you can. It seems to like you too," Chu Yun beckoned, and Paimon brought its head over.

"Hehe~ Its name is Paimon. What a lovely name," the girl said as she stroked Paimon's head, then spoke words that surprised Chu Yun.

"Hmm? You can talk to monsters too?"