Chapter 154:

Item Name: Frostfang – Classic Noble Ceremonial Sword

Quality: Standard – Sovereign

Traits: Transcendent Piercing – Exceptional Swiftness – Exceptional Spirit Protection – Winter Essence Enchantment

Special Effect: This item has an extremely high chance of inflicting the 【Freezing Slow】 effect on targets it hits, which can stack. After triggering this effect three times, the target will be completely frozen and afflicted with the 【Suffocating Cold】 status.

Current Bound Owner: Andre Alexei Romanov Torrez

Crafter: Nordtov Royal Court’s Commissioned Grandmaster Seleucus Coda

Item Description:

【This sword is a tribute and replica of the “Holy Wolf Fang” sword wielded by “Hero King Boris”, the founding monarch of the Kingdom of Nordtov. It was a gift bestowed upon followers by Her Majesty “Wolf Queen” Angelina Alexeievna Romanov after becoming the Queen of all Nords.

Every owner of a Frostfang blade has been an important figure in the Nordtov court.

The political symbolism imbued in this sword far exceeds its mere existence, but that does not prevent it from being a masterpiece among weapons. It only lacks a touch of essence to be considered a true top-tier war art forged from steel.】

“Theoretically, this should be the first Sovereign-level weapon I’ve obtained personally, right?”

Murphy caressed the luxurious hilt of the Frostfang blade, feeling the chilling coldness emanating from the weapon.

He felt quite satisfied. Although he already possessed Necessary Evil, an artifact that could be used until “the game servers shut down”, Murphy still felt the need to equip himself with a secondary weapon.

There were two reasons for this.

First, Necessary Evil’s weapon traits determined that its greatest strength lies in collaborative combat rather than being wielded directly by its bearer. Once this Desire Demon Blade entered its active hunting state, Murphy would be empty-handed.

Although he had formidable abilities like Night Claws, he could not summon this power during the day. Did he really want to resort to fighting with his bare fists?

It wasn’t impossible, but for a vampire swordsman to be reduced to fisticuffs would be rather unbecoming.

Second, and more importantly...

Although Necessary Evil had not been in Murphy’s hands for long, the mischievous little demon had clearly discovered a second use for it.

“Swish!”

Frostfang left its sheath, and the slender blade vibrated rapidly with a flick of Murphy’s wrist before swiftly returning to a straight line.

This spirit blade could not be fully mastered by Murphy through spirit resonance due to its bound wielder, but he currently did not care about its special effect. He nonchalantly took up this perfectly balanced noble ceremonial sword and assumed the opening stance of the Tomb Guard Sword Arts.

The Necessary Evil hanging from his waist let out a resigned hum.

Under Murphy’s gaze, it levitated and floated a step away from him, blade pointing down in a rather peculiar opening stance despite being ungripped.

“No, we won’t practice ‘Wolf’s Kiss’ today. Let’s try the ‘Midnight Assassin’ from the Thorn Clan. I’ve heard it’s one of the finest assassin sword arts among the blood clan techniques. Considering our upcoming dealings with them, I’d like to see it in action.”

Murphy instructed.

The “reluctantly working” Desire Demon Blade hummed again, quite unwillingly changing its blade position. This time, the hilt was up and the edge was down, hovering at a standard 90-degree angle to the ground, as if an invisible hand were gripping the demon sword.

“Come!”

The vampire lord crooked his finger, and the Desire Demon Blade immediately charged forward with 【Grandmaster】 level Midnight Assassin sword art, only to be met by Murphy’s Frostfang blade.

One man, one sword, they exchanged blows. Murphy was clearly at a disadvantage... no, scratch that. Ever since starting this “sword art special training”, he had barely won at all!

Even when using his own Blood Vulture Sword Arts, which had reached the Grandmaster level, and Necessary Evil, he still couldn’t win.

After all, the Desire Demon Blade made its living through its mastery of spirit blade techniques. Each sword art engraved within was a true Grandmaster-level skill. It was impossible for Murphy, who had only been in this world for a little over a month, to suddenly surpass the pinnacle of such supreme skills, even if he was a sword genius.

However, this did not prevent Murphy from seeing it as an effective means of rapidly improving his swordsmanship.

Tris had previously told him that advancing one’s Black Iron power level had to be done “slowly” because this level was about laying the foundation.

It was like the simple principle that a bucket’s capacity is determined by the shortest plank. Rushing through the Black Iron Body’s tempering would inevitably leave him with terrible flaws. As a long-lived vampire, he would typically spend several years, or even over a decade, perfecting his foundational skills at the Black Iron level until they were flawless.

Even short-lived human Black Iron warriors would choose to journey across the continent, challenging formidable foes to perfect their skills.

In any case, Tris’ advice was worth heeding!

Therefore, Murphy planned to learn all the advanced sword arts engraved within Necessary Evil’s blade to at least the 【Master】 level before attempting the Silver Trial to advance his power.

This was an extremely arduous and time-consuming plan.

Fortunately, after dumping the management of his territory on his Crimson Regent and tossing clan affairs to Tris, Murphy’s only remaining tasks aside from patrolling his domain and interacting with the little players were completing his own plans.

However, tonight’s sword art guidance from the “cruel mentor” was soon interrupted by an unexpected event.

“Ding!”

The core bead on Murphy’s chest let out a soft hum, prompting him, who was struggling to parry the elusive strikes of Necessary Evil’s blade like a midnight assassin, to raise his hand in a pausing gesture.

Almost simultaneously, the chilling demon sword blade also “gently” caressed Murphy’s neck like a shadow’s hand.

“This Midnight Assassin sword art is quite formidable, clearly tailored for surprise attacks and assassinations. It’s worth learning!”

Murphy sheathed the Frostfang blade and glanced at the unconscious Count Andrei, casually casting a Detection spell on him while activating his core bead.

Maxim’s deep voice resonated from within:

“Master, the traitors in Bataxin City have been cleared out!”

“Good, leave the post-operation matters to Lady Palen. I want my ‘Business Knight’ to establish a ‘Bataxin Administrative Committee’ in this city belonging to Transia.”

Murphy said offhandedly:

“As you command, my lord!”

Upon hearing about rewards, the little players’ eyes lit up with delight.

The base reward for this two-day quest was a spirit ring with built-in protection. Now that Lord Murphy had spoken, there might even be hidden rewards.

They cheerfully left the manor, while Murphy extended his hand, using his spirit power to pull open the basement entrance and slowly descend inside.

Maxim, gripping a ceremonial black blade, was guarding the prisoners here. Murphy scanned the area and found quite a few people still in the basement, over twenty weakened vampires trapped inside.

They had chains on their hands and feet.

Murphy immediately noticed that these fellows had a portion of their blood essence extracted, which was the main reason for their inability to escape the basement.

It seemed even among the Blood Vulture traitors, there were factional divisions.

This tradition of infighting was truly endless, with infinite subdivisions, just like you describe, right?

“Who claimed to be ‘my friend’?”

Murphy scanned the dark basement but didn’t recognize any familiar vampires. Angered by the deception, his tone turned cold. In the crowd, an extremely weak female vampire struggled to stand with the help of others.

Although Murphy had never seen her before, this female vampire took the initiative to lower her head and introduce herself:

“My name is Mary, Lord Murphy. I have never met you, but I did not deceive you by claiming to be your friend. My close friend... well, my lover Mork told me your story. He said he had seen your difficult living conditions and instructed his blood servants to provide you with additional relief supplies.”

“Mork?”

Murphy blinked, familiar memories surfacing as he said:

“Oh, I remember now. The guy who wished me a smooth journey to death and generously gave me three extra relief ration packs, wishing me a full stomach for the road?”

“Shing!”

Upon hearing his master insulted like this, Maxim immediately drew his blade halfway, startling the other vampires in the basement.

Even the standing Mary trembled like a sieve.

She truly didn’t know that her unreliable lover’s “help”, which he joked about, was actually in such circumstances?

Damn it!

Her soul was about to return to the Night Mother.

But Murphy did not unleash a massacre.

He waved his hand, signaling Maxim to sheathe his weapon. Looking at the fearful and miserable Mary, whose tattered clothes and once alluring body were covered in scars, clearly having suffered a lot recently, he asked:

“So, where is my ‘dear friend’ Mork? I intended to properly repay that ‘meal’s kindness’.”

“Mork, he’s dead.”

Mary answered fearfully but honestly:

“Not in Bataxin, but at the hands of the true clan traitors. This is the hidden story I wanted to tell you! Lord Murphy, I know who was behind the Kadman City disaster! Mork and I witnessed the omen before the calamity struck.

My lord!

Those of us vampires hiding in Bataxin City are at most a group of disloyal individuals seeking to leave the abnormal situation, but the true traitors are others!

The Blood Vulture Clan was not completely destroyed in the disaster.

3,000 people!

Yes!

At least!

At least 3,000 people had already secretly defected to the vile Wolfsbane Clan before the calamity struck! It was they who shut down the Nocturne Barrier before the Astral Realm rift erupted, and it was they who, under the despicable old Edward’s instructions, devastated our clan.

I witnessed it with my own eyes!”

“Hm?”

This information made Murphy narrow his eyes. He was definitely interested as he asked:

“So, who is the leader of these true traitors you speak of? And where are they now?”

“They fled Kadman City twenty minutes before the Astral Realm disaster struck, perhaps already under the protection of the Wolfsbane Clan.”

The vampire Mary said in a low voice:

“As for the leader, Mork and I didn’t see them, but we heard the name those guys shouted before killing Mork, Baroness Cecilia! Yes, that’s the name!”

“!”

Murphy’s fingers clenched tightly behind his back.

He knew that name!

That was the name of Lady Femis’ mysterious human mother, and the title matched too. So this was the human vixen Cecilia, abandoned by the old scumbag Salrokdar, who under the instructions of the neighboring old king Edward, dealt the fatal blow to her former lover and Femis’ father?

Damn it!

I’m speechless.

My lady, your parents are truly eccentric enough. An unhappy marriage could even cause a nation-destroying family feud. This vampire family drama of yours is indeed “deadly” spectacular!