Alone in the bedroom, I sat on the bed and summoned the panel. Rose Hightower's words had uncovered a world of knowledge I had never known. Atherflex, Manastream, Wave Realm—these terms were unfamiliar yet intriguing, hinting at a deeper understanding of the First Realm and the potential for further advancement.

My mind raced, connecting the dots and piecing together fragments of information.

After a while, I retrieved the pulsating organ, a curious experiment forming in my mind.

The organ, roughly the size of a chicken egg, felt strangely warm in my hand. Closing my eyes, I placed it in my mouth. A metallic taste washed over my tongue, but beneath it, I sensed the potent energy it contained, a siren song calling to the depths of my being.

With newfound determination, I channeled my absorbed lifespan into the True Explanation of Astral Fortification.

[Remaining absorbed lifespan: 672 years]

[In the first seven months, you meticulously refined the vampire core, separating the pure essence from its dross. At the same time, you absorbed the surrounding celestial essence, advancing your training at an unprecedented pace.]

[The sixth chamber filled, marking your ascension to the intermediate stage of First Realm. Yet, the potent essence of the vamp core continued to surge, filling the seventh chamber in its wake.]

[Within the core's depths, you gained a fragmented understanding of Blood Evil (incomplete).]

[Remaining absorbed lifespan: 671 years]

My eyes widened in astonishment as the lifespan infusion took effect. My hypothesis had been correct – as long as a potent catalyst is in the body, it could drastically influence the panel's simulation process.

But the results exceeded my wildest expectations.

Filling two chambers had previously taken two decades of arduous training. Yet, with the vamp core's essence coursing through me, it took less than a single year.

This revelation also resolved a lingering question: How could vamps, with lifespans far longer than humans, be driven out New Terra by human warriors? Even Golden Chief, despite being in the initial stage, had over 570 years of life, while a human at the peak of the First Realm could only hope for an additional 40 years.

It became clear: human cultivation was essentially a form of plunder. Relying solely on the gradual absorption of natural essence would leave one hopelessly outmatched by their monstrous adversaries.

A new line of text on the panel caught my attention:

[Blood Evil (incomplete): The essence of consumed monsters, tainted by their inherent corruption, can be harnessed for your use. The celestial essence within your body will have a corrosive effect.]

The description brought to mind Golden Chief's potent magic, a chilling reminder of the risks I faced. If I hadn't surpassed it in levels, I could have easily succumbed to the corrosive influence of the demonic energy, my body dissolving into a putrid mess.

"A much-needed offensive tool," I mused, a grim satisfaction settling over me.

With renewed focus, I resumed the infusion of lifespan, eager to unlock the full potential of this newfound power.

[In the 27th year, the eighth chamber brimmed with power. However, the influx of essence, tainted by your essence, clashed with the pure celestial force, hindering further progress.]

[By the 49th year, all nine chambers were saturated, marking your attainment of the advanced stage of the First Realm.]

Fueled by the abundance of absorbed lifespan, I pressed on, undeterred by the escalating challenges.

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[In the 72nd year, the tenth chamber finally yielded to your relentless efforts. The world around you seemed to sharpen, its secrets slowly unraveling before your enhanced senses.]

[In the 104th year, the final two chambers succumbed, their capacity overflowing. Your body, now a vessel of immense power, could contain no more. You had reached the pinnacle of the First Realm.]

[Remaining absorbed lifespan: 568 years]

[First Realm - True Explanation of Astral Fortification (Grandmaster)]

While mastering existing techniques offered a clear path to perfection, creating new ones was a risky endeavor, a gamble with unpredictable consequences.

After a moment's hesitation, I decided to reserve 300 years of lifespan for future endeavors, investing the remainder into this uncertain gamble.

The panel erupted with a flurry of repetitive prompts, each one blurring into the next.

[In the first year, even though your realm was perfected, you understood that stagnation bred weakness. You continued to push your limits, seeking further enlightenment from the universe.]

[In the tenth year, the quest for enlightenment continued...]

[In the twentieth year, you remained steadfast in your pursuit...]

The relentless stream of messages continued, a testament to the endless cycle of striving and seeking.

My palms grew damp with nervous anticipation. Just as I was about to abandon the experiment, a unique prompt flashed before my eyes—a beacon of hope in the monotonous sea of text.

[In the 130th year, perhaps God had rewarded your perseverance. Within the first grand chamber of your body, a wisp of essence had condensed, transforming into a glistening drop of jade dew.]

[In the 150th year, the second drop of jade dew emerged.]

[In the 268th year, nearly half the essence in the first chamber had coalesced into jade dew.]

[Remaining absorbed lifespan: 300 years]

A complex mix of emotions washed over me as I finally understood the significance of what had happened.

The condensation of essence into liquid and Rose Hightower's allusion to the "Wave Realm" all pointed to the transformation needed to transcend the First Realm.

Perhaps, I surmised, when all the essence within the twelve chambers had liquefied, I would truly ascend to the next level of power.

But there was no way to know for sure.

The panel's deduction relied on brute force, an endless cycle of trial and error, with years spent trying to coax the essence within me to change.

How much lifespan would it take to fill even one chamber? The cost was exorbitant, a wasteful endeavor that yielded minimal results.

I closed my eyes, focusing on the subtle changes within my body. The jade dew, while denser than ordinary essence, seemed to offer no immediate advantage.

A sigh escaped my lips. While the First Realm's power was intoxicating, the path ahead was shrouded in uncertainty.

I turned my attention to the remaining techniques, the three hundred years of lifespan a precious resource to be invested wisely.

Knife skills, boxing skills, movement techniques – each held the potential to enhance my combat prowess.

Reflecting on the battle with Golden Chief, I realized my greatest weakness was in my offensive capabilities.

I made my decision.

Shadowstrike would be my next focus.

[In the first year, despite the simplicity of this sword technique compared to your current mastery, you humbly picked it up once more. Like a novice starting their training, you practiced with unwavering dedication.]

I didn't know if it was because I wasted so much lifespan before or because things were bound to turn around.

Soon, my brows relaxed.

[In the forty-sixth year, you completed the final stroke, a profound sense of satisfaction filling you. The once rudimentary forms had coalesced into something entirely new.]

[In the fiftieth year, you had mastered a complete set of sword skills, yet a lingering dissatisfaction gnawed at you. You observed the crimson mist swirling around your fingertips, a spark of inspiration igniting in your mind.]

[In the fifty-fifth year, you achieved a breakthrough by weaving the essence of Blood Evil into your newfound swordsmanship.]

[Remaining Absorbed Lifespan: 255 Years]

[First Realm - Blood Evil Sword Technique (Apprentice)]

With the infusion of vast lifespans, the power of this new sword technique surged, catapulting me from apprentice to grandmaster.

… …

As the first rays of dawn peeked over the horizon, the Pinewood County Central Police Station buzzed with an unusual energy.

Within the homicide squad room, Anil Patel and a few sergeants stood shoulder to shoulder, their attention fixed on Wade and the 13 jackalvamp heads beside him.

At the center of the room, Sheriff Williams, a distinguished figure with a crown of silver hair contrasting his rich, dark complexion, stood ramrod straight in his uniform.

His eyes were tightly shut, his bony hands clutching a newspaper that bore a striking image of me peering out from a pickup truck laden with a grotesque mound of jackal heads. The veins on the back of his hands bulged, his anger barely contained.

"Sheriff Williams," Anil Patel interjected gently, "it is our duty as law enforcement to eliminate vamps..."

The sheriff's eyes snapped open. His gaze swept over the grisly trophies before quickly averting, as if unable to bear the sight.

He waved a dismissive hand. "I lack such abilities. It is you, it is... our hero Kane, who possesses such skills. If that is the case, then let him handle all vamp-related matters."

With a sudden surge of fury, Sheriff Williams kicked over the desk in front of him, his voice echoing through the room. "Let him deal with it all!"