Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 877: Chapter 121: Forget Worry, Three Lives (4)

For countless years, the Thirteen Clans have been divided into four main factions: the Secret Concealment Alliance, the Demonic Feast Alliance, the Independent Clans, and the Extinct Clans.

For centuries, the Thirteen Clans have been in constant friction due to their differing beliefs.

Internal strife is not solely a trait of pure humans.

According to Xitacil, the disputes between the various factions have evolved from true battles to competitions in different fields.

However, no matter what, they all follow the same philosophy—to strive together to create a better world for vampires to survive.

Though internally competitive, they unite against external threats, and while scattered, they are exceptionally cohesive. Thus, in the dark world, the vampire community has been able to sustain itself, and it can be said that it is precisely the existence of the Thirteen Clans that has forged a vampire dynasty that has lasted for centuries.

However, the Thirteen Clans are not the only ones among vampires. Besides them, there are other vampires. For instance, the Takizawa Clan, transformed into vampires through forbidden magic, the historically famous Impaling Duke, or the descendants of Lilith from another myth, and so on.

The Thirteen Clans have always considered themselves pure blood and orthodox, placing themselves at the top of the pyramid within the vampire community. Over the years, even when individual vampires strong enough to rival a clan emerged, they were never truly able to join the Elders’ Council formed by the Thirteen Clans.

Although the term “Vampire Emperor” doesn’t exist, the Elders’ Council of the Thirteen Clans is akin to a king within the vampire community.

Xitacil sighed, “In fact, the Thirteen Clans are the most powerful not just in strength. In other places, many weak families are heavily dependent on the Thirteen Clans. The most crucial is that the Thirteen Clans strictly control the production of pure blood and the Purification Elixir.”

“Pure blood, Purification Elixir?” Luo Qiu asked two questions.

Xitacil instinctively shrank his neck, feeling as though he was on the verge of betraying his kind by revealing their secrets to an outsider in a mysterious state.

But Xitacil nodded, “Pure blood, that is, pure blood. The providers of pure blood are the blood slaves the Thirteen Clans have reared since ancient times. Most of them live within the territories of the Thirteen Clans and are not even aware of their existence as blood slaves. Each of the Thirteen Clans has its own pure blood production base, very secretive and unknown to outsiders. It is said that every pure blood production site retains the primitive way of life, untouched by modern civilization, and it is precisely because of this that pure blood production can be maintained.”

Luo Qiu frowned, “What do you mean by modern civilization being unable to infiltrate?”

Xitacil explained, “Toxins. In today’s humans, their blood is unhealthy for us. We’ve concluded that with the advanced development of modern civilization, various pollutants have invaded the human body. Viruses from promiscuity, chemicals deposited in the body from excessive consumption of synthetics… these are all toxins to us. Aside from providing the Thirteen Clans themselves, only a small amount of pure blood can be supplied to the rest of the clan… and the uneven distribution inevitably leads to some conflicts, as you can imagine.”

Luo Qiu nodded, “And what is the Purification Elixir?”

Xitacil said, “As I’ve mentioned, the supply of pure blood is limited, yet our population has been growing over the years. You know, vampires have long lives and are scattered across different parts of the world. We can’t suppress our nature, we need to survive. Unable to obtain pure blood, hunger drives us mad, instincts overpower our reason… and we will still choose to feed on unhealthy blood. The toxins accumulate in our bodies, making us vulnerable, rapidly consuming our life force… Thus, the Purification Elixir was developed. It’s an antidote developed through collaboration between Independent Clans and Extinct Clans, allowing us to effectively combat these toxins, but it requires regular use to maintain…”

Xitacil shook his head, somewhat helplessly, “The Thirteen Clans essentially control the two most important things for our survival, and even if we occasionally have individuals who want to rebel, in the end, they are powerless… until the True Blood concept was proposed. A synthesized substitute for pure blood, free from pollution. Do you know what this means for the oppressed clansmen?”

Luo Qiu pondered for a moment before slowly saying, “Freedom.”

“Freedom.” Xitacil nodded heavily, “If we can master the creation of True Blood, it would be equivalent to possessing the power to oppose the dictatorship of the Thirteen Clans. We would rapidly develop and rally as a force, piercing into the Elders’ Council to gain a voice.”

Luo Qiu was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, “The fourteenth clan, perhaps.”

Xitacil opened his mouth, then smiled wryly, “Your gaze is intimidating… Indeed, some among us have proposed this viewpoint and have been actively working for it.”

“Go on,” Luo Qiu said calmly, “how does this relate to your presence here today?”

“I represent the Fernandis Family,” Xitacil replied, “It’s also an ancient vampire family. There’s also the force behind Lady Eve, the Takizawa Family behind Mr. Takizawa, Queen Elizabeth’s kin, and lastly Karen, which is us. As for Tu Shenyi, he is Karen’s descendant and the proposer and researcher of the True Blood concept. Over the years, we’ve continuously supported his research on True Blood… But for years, we haven’t succeeded, and what we have are mostly semi-finished products, not ideal in effect. Through years of research, we’ve only produced a batch that can be used and is even better than pure blood, the ‘Forget Worry’ series.”

Luo Qiu puzzled, “Since True Blood is your planned means to create the fourteenth clan and join the Elders’ Council, it should be quite confidential, right? Why, then, let the world know about the ‘Forget Worry’ series and even auction it publicly, leading to tales of wealthy merchants disappearing after drinking it?”

“It’s just a facade.” Xitacil sighed, “The Thirteen Clans’ control and monitoring over their kin are extremely strict. They seem to have vaguely sensed something. So, we came up with a way; rather than hiding it, we openly revealed it to the world… presenting True Blood, which was almost a finished product, in another guise. We also reported this plan to the Elders’ Council.”

Xitacil paused and continued, “You should know, the undead aren’t truly immortal. We merely don’t die naturally. Humans have many ways to kill us. Besides exorcists, some human weapons make us fearful. We just want to survive, not to spark a full-blown war with humans. Thus, any act of blood-sucking needs to be reported. So, we planned an auction, with myself, Lady Eve, and Queen Elizabeth’s father, each buying a ‘Forget Worry’ series at a high price, to make Tu Shenyi famous. That way, the winemaker Tu Shenyi could attract many people to him.”

“So, for the past twenty years, every time Tu Shenyi unveils a new wine, there’s a tasting event, which is when you dine?”

Xitacil nodded, “Yes, we need to keep doing this, so the Elders’ Council won’t suspect us. Because we have no shortage of time, the patience of the Elders’ Council is beyond imagination… Until this past year or two, has surveillance on us gradually relaxed.”

“The rumor about the wealthy merchant? Queen Elizabeth’s father?”

Xitacil hesitated for a moment, then finally said, “He truly disappeared after drinking the Other Shore Flower. This was unexpected to us. Afterwards, we could only tell the Elders’ Council that it was a deliberate illusion to enhance Tu Shenyi’s legendary status.”

Luo Qiu said, “What happens after drinking the nearly finished True Blood, the ‘Other Shore Flower,’ do you not know? Isn’t it strange that it’s unpredictable?”

“No, no, no, we truly don’t know.” Xitacil hurriedly said, “The Forget Worry series was accidentally created by Tu Shenyi… he indeed said so. Initially, it could indeed replace pure blood, but later we discovered that each one, after drinking, produces some side effects. ‘Other Shore Flower’ allows one to see deceased lovers, bringing ‘heart death.’

Each True Blood has strange abilities, ‘Other Shore Flower’ can make one’s ‘heart die.’

‘Naihe’ brings the ability of division to bloodsuckers but also causes personality splits, enduring two different thoughts daily.

‘Ninety-seven’ grants powerful abilities after consumption but simultaneously makes the bloodsucker’s body age, and once every half month, all power is lost, a frail time like a ninety-seven-year-old, lasting a whole day.

“What I possess, ‘Yellow Springs,’ brings fear.” Xitacil chuckled bitterly, “It has the ability to summon souls of the dead… but every day, it brings the pain of death… of course, you won’t die true death, but each time it’s that real, and you won’t feel numb, only deepening fear with each experience, until the day arrives you cannot endure, wishing truly to die.”

“You seem unlike someone who has drunk it.” Luo Qiu shook his head.

Xitacil shrugged, “Of course, I haven’t personally tried it, but collecting sample data isn’t difficult, right? My tasting agent couldn’t bear this fear of death and ultimately chose to burn himself to death under the scorching sun.”

“What about Three Lifetimes and River of Oblivion?” Luo Qiu asked directly.

“Strictly speaking, Three Lifetimes isn’t a drink but a special gem.” Xitacil said, “But if you put it in clear spring water, it can turn the water into sweet wine. It’s said Three Lifetimes allows dreams of past and present lives, awakening memories of past lives.”

“It’s said?”

“Three Lifetimes is held by Karen, and this saying is hers. Whether it’s true or false, we don’t know.” Xitacil shook his head, “Before this, Karen suddenly mailed Three Lifetimes to me, asking me to bring it. I originally intended to experiment myself first, but there’s Karen’s secret seal on the Three Lifetimes gemstone, which I can’t open. Only Tu Shenyi can open it because he is Karen’s descendant, possessing her blood.”

“And River of Oblivion, and the last one, which seems unnamed?” Luo Qiu nodded.

Xitacil’s face suddenly showed a bit of fear, “River of Oblivion, strictly speaking, is a poison. For us, it’s a lethal poison. Once consumed, our bodies decay into pus and blood, but for ordinary people, it differs little from regular red wine and can even uplift their mood… As for the last one, it’s actually never been named because it hasn’t truly been brewed yet… hasn’t been opened, but is hidden by Tu Shenyi. Coincidentally, this year is the third hunting day, Tu Shenyi has issued invitations to us. Not only that, he even said on the letter that the real True Blood has been researched and will be revealed on hunting day, but he asked us to return our ‘Forget Worry’ series. We speculate True Blood might be the last one in the ‘Forget Worry’ series.”

Finally done, Xitacil anxiously looked at Luo Qiu, afraid that this easily lethal being would not let him go easily, “I’ve told you all the secrets of True Blood… If you’re interested in True Blood, I can help you obtain it.”

“What do I need True Blood for?” Luo Qiu asked amusingly.

Xitacil said, “If Tu Shenyi truly succeeded in researching True Blood, having it would tremendously impact the Vampire Family, you might even in a short time garner vast support from vampire clan members, and…”

Xitacil’s description wasn’t finished before Luo Qiu waved his hand to stop him, “I’m not interested in your food substitutes. If I had any interest, it would only be in this ‘Forget Worry’ series, especially ‘Other Shore Flower’ and ‘Three Lifetimes,’ they sound intriguing.”

Seeing Xitacil suddenly stand up with fiery eyes, “Luo Qiu, my friend… no! Lord Luo Qiu, your power I revere, even a fifth-generation vampire cannot easily defeat me this way… you’re even comparable to fourth-generation, even third-generation powerful undying! Please let me follow you! I’ll represent the Fernandis Family, swear allegiance to you.”

At the same time, Fernandis covertly glanced at the faint crack on the ring in his hand… It didn’t react to Luo Qiu, but because the reaction was so fierce that it directly shattered instantly.

Even the power of a fourth-generation vampire couldn’t break the ring!

Third-generation… already at the level of clan leader of the Thirteen Clans!

The powerful Impaling Duke, who created a terrifying legend, was only equal to third-generation!

Luo Qiu looked Xitacil up and down, shook his head, “Unfortunately, I have the wrong script, your allegiance is of no use to me. But we can still be friends… oh, I mean ordinary friends, nothing more. Besides, maybe we can have business deals in the future.”

Simultaneously, the wine surface inside the red wine bottle placed on the table suddenly quivered slightly, creating ripples.

Xitacil instinctively glanced in a certain direction, frowning slightly, “Seems they’ve started hunting… but perhaps a bit too aggressive?”

Luo Qiu slowly closed his eyes, thoughts spreading like tides.