Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 3294 -3295: Yatexin

For many clans, the Changhuo Clan is even more detested than Pirush.

Pirush might be treacherous and vile in business, but generally won’t cost you your life; whereas the Changhuo Clan thrives on sowing discord, leading to either arguments or deadly duels, or even inciting wars.

There’s hardly anyone who likes such a tribe.

The Dog Deacon glanced back at Sipolov, signaling with his gaze: I was right, wasn’t I?

Sipolov remained silent.

The Dog Deacon ignored him and continued: “Generally speaking, the Changhuo Clan doesn’t really care about their reputation, nor do they have a pressing need for attention. They’re more like snakes hidden in dark, damp corners, always ready to strike when least expected.”

“So, it’s truly surprising that they proactively traded with the Fragrance Seeking Tribe this time, catching the spotlight.”

“I reckon they’ll stage something big this time.”

As for what kind of grand event it might be, even the Dog Deacon couldn’t predict; perhaps something they’re fervently promoting, or maybe some other major affair?

Given the Dog Deacon’s previous successful predictions, everyone listened to him with heightened attention.

Originally, Angel was planning to ask Luigi about his earlier conversation with the Dog Deacon via the Mind Ribbon. But upon hearing the Dog Deacon’s words, his focus shifted to the presentation stage; he too was curious about what products the perpetually contentious Changhuo Clan would showcase.

On the main stage——

Two members of the Changhuo Clan took the stage, each distinct in appearance and characteristics.

One was a shadow as black as ink, with no visible details whatsoever; it was impossible to discern if he had a physical form, or wore clothes, as he appeared entirely like a shadow.

The other was a graceful black-skinned young girl with dazzling silver curls and shining silver eyes; she wore a long coat with a religious aesthetic, but from the open coat, one could see her cropped top and dashing long pants.

If she hadn’t accompanied that ink shadow on stage, it would be difficult to identify her as a member of the Changhuo Clan.

“She looks a bit like the ‘Phantom Leopard’ Nahuat we encountered before,” Angel pointed at the black-skinned young girl, whispering.

“True, she likely belongs to the Shadow Royal Family just like Nahuat.” Luigi supported while preparing for a mind sync, intending to inquire about the identity of the black-skinned girl from Glaipnir.

But before Luigi could ask, the Dog Deacon spoke first: “Indeed she is from the Phantom Clan, named Yatsin. She’s closely related by blood to Nahuat.”

Within the Changhuo Clan, there were two major factions: the Dark and Shadow factions, with the royal family of the Shadow lineage known as the Phantom Clan. Phantom Clan members differed vividly in appearance from the typical Changhuo Clan, resembling humans except for slightly darker skin.

Nahuat, whom they had met before, belonged to the Phantom Clan, and evidently, the black-skinned young girl, Yatsin, did too.

The Dog Deacon: “Though Yatsin and Nahuat are blood-related, their ideologies differ significantly.”

The Dog Deacon paused briefly, not because of any secret, but because “ideology” is hard to explain… especially since the Changhuo Clan’s values differ from universal values, making it even harder to understand their ideological struggles based on these premises.

After pondering for a long time, the Dog Deacon found a somewhat fitting explanation: “You can view Nahuat as the Dove Faction; though he seeks chaos, Nahuat’s chaos is meant for self-cultivation. In contrast, Yatsin’s ideology aligns with the Hawk Faction; she seeks chaos not only for cultivation but also to satisfy her burgeoning desires.”

Simply put, the Dove Faction within the Phantom Clan knows restraint, while the Hawk Faction leans towards indulgence.

After introducing Yatsin’s ideology, the Dog Deacon solemnly offered sincere advice: “If you wish to engage with the Changhuo Clan, it’s best to deal with the Dove Faction within the Phantom Clan. Yatsin of the Hawk Faction may appear smiling and logical, but her actions can be recklessly uncontrolled.”

Angel nodded in understanding.

Although he didn’t anticipate much interaction with the Changhuo Clan, acquiring more knowledge was always beneficial.

“I recall Gutalace mentioning before that the current leader of the Phantom Clan is Narudo, Nahuat’s mentor.” Angel: “Based on the Hawk-Dove categorization, Narudo should also be a Dove Faction member?”

Faced with Angel’s question, the Dog Deacon fell silent for a long time before saying: “Logically, having trained a student like Nahuat, she should undoubtedly be a Dove Faction member. However… some of her actions don’t reflect such restraint.”

The Dog Deacon appeared troubled: “As for ‘Phantom Granny’ Narudo, I can’t give a definite definition.”

Right after the Dog Deacon’s words ended, Laplace spoke calmly: “Although I don’t know much about Narudo, ideological struggles are essentially a means of governance by the upper class over the lower.”

“Narudo, as the leader of the Phantom Clan and the strongest force of the Changhuo Clan, is beyond these ideological struggles. When you stand at her level, debating ideology becomes meaningless.”

“She could be a Dove Faction member, a Hawk Faction member, even create a Turtle Faction herself, and within a short time, it would become the third major faction, rivaling the Doves and Hawks.”

Simply put, Narudo isn’t really part of the “ideological struggle”; she’s transcended it, or perhaps she herself embodies ideology.

Angel showed a look of realization.

Previously, he had trapped himself within a fixed framework. For someone like Narudo, their counterparts are those like Rhein, the Black Earl; they stand at the pinnacle of the Pyramid, establishing rules themselves, so how could they be constrained by rules?

“That being said, although Yatsin belongs to the Hawk Faction of the Phantom Clan, she’s still nothing compared to the black shadow beside her.” The Dog Deacon realized Angel’s lack of basic knowledge and decided to continue the education thoroughly.

Angel turned his gaze towards the other person on the main presentation stage following the Dog Deacon’s introduction.

The completely indistinct, purely dark ink shadow.

“Who is he?” Luigi curiously asked.

The Dog Deacon replied with frustration: “All members of the Dark Lineage are just dark shadows. Even among themselves, they probably can’t distinguish each other. I’m just a dog, how would I know who he is?”

After a sarcastic comment, the Dog Deacon continued: “The two representatives sent by the Changhuo Clan this time, apart from Yatsin of the Shadow Lineage, include this unknown shadow from the Dark Lineage.”

“The reason I say that even Yatsin’s Hawk Faction pales in comparison to this shadow is because the Dark Lineage is undoubtedly a chaos faction.”

The Shadow Lineage, whether Dove or Hawk, whether restrained or indulgent, operates within a measured ‘degree.’

Whereas the Dark Lineage has no faction divisions; everyone is chaotic. Chaos means acting without ‘degree.’

To illustrate briefly, if you give Yatsin a fulcrum, she might dare incite turmoil in the Ice Country; but even with a hundred fulcrums, she wouldn’t dare to provoke unrest in the Hundred-Dragon Divine Kingdom.

Of course, she might occasionally dare provoke a couple of Mirror Dragons. But to incite the whole Hundred-Dragon Divine Kingdom, she wouldn’t boldly face such a massive backlash.

But the Dark Lineage is different; their courage knows no bounds, their actions lack rules or limits. If they see even the slightest seed of unrest, even against the Hundred-Dragon Divine Kingdom, they’ll rush in.

Angel: “Did the Black Lineage of the Changhuo Clan really incite the civil strife in the Hundred-Dragon Divine Kingdom?”

Dog Deacon: “…I’m just using it as an example, it doesn’t mean it’s true.”

“The Hundred-Dragon Divine Kingdom never had civil strife, not because the Black Lineage didn’t dare, but because they didn’t have the foundation for internal turmoil.”

The prerequisite for internal turmoil is social nature.

Hundred-Dragon Divine Kingdom, although called a “kingdom,” doesn’t have the semblance of a “kingdom” at all. The Mirror Dragons are separated by eighty thousand leagues, and they may not even see each other all year round. Although social relationships exist, there’s no social nature.

In this scenario, at most it can stir up disputes between one or two Mirror Dragons, but inciting all the Mirror Dragons, having them form factions and attack each other, is practically impossible.

Dog Deacon purely uses this example to illustrate the excess of the Black Lineage.

Dog Deacon: “Speaking of which, you should know about the Changhuo Clan’s return to the homeland, right?”

Angel nodded: “Split Valley.”

Dog Deacon: “Originally, Split Valley was called Shadow Valley. Later, some troubles arose within the Changhuo Clan, sparking disputes between the Black Lineage and the Shadow Lineage, eventually leading to Shadow Valley’s split, becoming the current Split Valley.”

“Although I don’t know exactly what trouble caused the split within the Changhuo Clan; but as far as I know, the catalyst causing disputes between the two lineages, the Crouching Dragon and Young Phoenix, actually also came from the Black Lineage.”

This also reveals the nature of the Black Lineage.

The Black Lineage, true to being a chaotic faction; they not only sow confusion among other tribes but even their own clan, causing the division between darkness and shadows.

“However, I’ve also heard another version. The emergence of Split Valley might be a decision by the upper echelons of the Changhuo Clan, not purely due to internal disputes.” Dog Deacon: “But this is just a rumor, whether it’s true or not, I don’t know. But Ghost Steward seems to believe this rumor, he thinks that these splitting acts orchestrated by the Changhuo Clan may have four parts truth, but six parts are false, and these false six parts are decisions made by the Changhuo Clan’s high level, acting specifically for outsiders to see.”

Dog Deacon himself has no particular opinion regarding Ghost Steward’s understanding.

It makes no difference to them who the Changhuo Clan is acting for.

The reason it is mentioned now is purely because of Laplace’s face, providing Angel with some insights.

…

While they were discussing, the main display stage was not idle either.

The unnamed dark figure from the Black Lineage first retreated to one side of the display stage; the royal family member of the Shadow Lineage, from the Phantom Clan — Atlasi, stood in the center of the display stage.

Once Atlasi stood still, she noticed the heat pillar starting to drop.

Although the reputation of the Phantom Clan is somewhat better compared to the Black Lineage, they are ultimately part of the Changhuo Clan. To love someone is to love the whole, to hate someone is to hate the whole.

Before Atlasi even opened her mouth, the heat pillar dropped by 10%.

Fortunately, the Fragrance Seeking Tribe had previously given Atlasi a good start, so even if the heat pillar dropped by 10%, it still remained much higher than most other tribes.

Atlasi also noticed the change in the heat pillar, a hint of gloom flashed in her eyes, she snorted before speaking: “Our Changhuo Clan is different from the previous tribes that took the stage, we will not skimp, nor will we take the stage just to promote ineffective and useless products.”

Her speech begins with a sarcastic tone, critiquing other clans entirely.

Angel wasn’t aware of how the clans who previously took the stage felt at the moment, but from the calm gaze of Dog Deacon and Sipolov, one can tell that the Changhuo Clan has always spoken this way.

If they don’t stir up some trouble, they probably won’t feel content inside. Even if the trouble they stir can only gain a trivial advantage through words, they are willing to pursue it.

“Provoking through comparison and contrast is a compulsory course in the path of cultivation for the Changhuo Clan.” Dog Deacon said lazily: “If you all were on stage before them, they would also use you as a target for criticism, it’s very normal.”

“It’s unclear what’s up with the Changhuo clan’s ancestors’ talents, needing to sow discord to grow in strength.”

While sighing, Dog Deacon continued listening to Atlasi’s rhetoric.

“Our Changhuo Clan will have two displays this time, one is showcasing our newly developed products, and the other is demonstrating our latest research cultivation results.”

At this point, Atlasi deliberately paused in her speech, glancing at the heat pillar nearby from the corner of her eye.

The Changhuo Clan is not some small tribe. Although they are disliked, no one has dared to act against the Changhuo Clan so far, not only because of “Phantom Granny” Narudo’s deterrence but also the inherent strength of the Changhuo Clan.

Their strength differs from the Fragrance Seeking Tribe, which rose among the upper-middle class through fragrance powders, it is tangible strength.

Even the Yingji Clan, known for its prowess in warfare, must weigh their options when considering a battle with the Changhuo Clan.

Therefore, when the Changhuo Clan announced their clan’s research ‘cultivation results,’ it is bound to be groundbreaking.

Sure enough, as her words fell, the rate of decline in the heat pillar began to slow, even indicating a trend of reverse ascent.

Seeing this, Atlasi slightly curled her lips, watching the heat pillar return to 90%.

It was only then that Atlasi spoke again: “And our research results are related to ‘Barrier Break.’

Barrier Breaking refers to breaking the tier barrier.

A tier barrier is akin to an ordinary apprentice advancing to an official wizard.

This barrier represents the bridge of transcending, the beginning of evolution. It exists not only within the wizard’s Magic System but also across various Energy Systems.

Including within the Mirror Domain’s Aggregation Energy System, such barriers exist.

Just look at the promotion rate of official wizards to know that breaking such barriers is exceedingly difficult.

When Atlasi mentioned the Changhuo Clan’s research results relating to ‘Barrier Break,’ almost instantly, the heat pillar surged towards full capacity.

Seeing this, Atlasi’s expression grew even prouder.

Nonetheless, facing the prospect of being the center of attention, Atlasi spoke leisurely: “However, the result of the ‘Barrier Break’ research will be presented by my companion. As for me, I am here to introduce the most cutting-edge invention of our Changhuo Clan this time.”

“Anger Collector.”