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According to the pact with the "Tongue of the Night," the vampire ascension ritual had extremely intricate requirements.

In addition to sacrificing 1,674 vampire progenies to the great evil being, seven carefully nurtured progenies were needed, each serving the sinful sovereign and symbolizing one of the seven deadly sins: pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust.

As the master, the vampire must genuinely "love" these progenies.

When the ritual began, the power and blood within these progenies would flow into the vampire, to be absorbed entirely.

For instance, Alexia represented pride.

Duke Brad had sent his youngest son, Todd Lackman, to the town of Sige, hoping he could become the symbol of envy in that remote place and eventually serve as perfect fodder for the ascension ritual.

However, before he could enjoy such an honor, Todd had been reduced to a pile of minced meat in Langpu's repeated experiments.

"Damn red dragon…"

At this thought, Duke Brad gritted his teeth even harder.

"I must find another special progeny to replace Todd’s position, preferably a spellcaster."

During the ascension, a vampire could not only drain blood but also absorb all abilities from the progenies, including spellcasting abilities. This was why Duke Brad had painstakingly cultivated Todd into a mage.

"A spellcaster…"

Duke Brad pondered for a moment before recalling a recently captured, insolent vampire progeny—a trickster with a strong affinity for dark powers.

"This one is just perfect."

A smile crept onto his lips as he thought of it—an intriguing prey, now reduced to being entirely under his control.

Duke Brad relished the sensation of being in complete control, enjoying the resistance of his prey, especially their expressions of despair.

For a vampire who had long lost the sense of taste, such emotions were as sweet and rich as fine wine.

Duke Brad licked his lips involuntarily.

"A proud and defiant human, watching themselves helplessly become a sacrificial offering—unable to resist. What a delightful sight this shall be."

"I am truly looking forward to it…"

A flash of expectation glinted in Duke Brad’s scarlet eyes, adding to his sinister appearance.

……

"For the great ascension…"

Langli Baitiao stood in the iron cage, imitating the mindless blood thralls, muttering softly, "For the great ascension…"

The "Mark of Rebellion" was hidden under his tongue, evading the guards' thorough search.

Watching the blood mist gradually permeate the air and the sacrificial formations glowing faintly within the cages, Langli Baitiao internally despaired, thinking, "Damn, am I really about to be sacrificed?"

Suddenly, a powerful pressure surged through his bloodline.

The blood thralls knelt down one after another, licking the ground like devout zealots.

Langli Baitiao followed suit, kneeling as well.

To grow stronger, he could endure even the humiliation of submission.

What was kneeling compared to that?

Endure it!

However, his eyes slyly observed the unexpected guest.

The newcomer had pale skin, scarlet eyes, and wore a luxurious black robe with golden edges—Duke Brad Lackman.

Langli Baitiao’s heart leaped with excitement as he thought, "Finally, this old bastard has arrived!"

But when Duke Brad’s gaze swept over him, he quickly lowered his head and dared not make a sound.

"Excellent, the power is still plentiful."

Duke Brad smiled in satisfaction.

Raising his hand slightly, a swarm of bats emerged from the darkness, forming a giant hand that enveloped Langli Baitiao and lifted him out of the cage.

His cloak fluttered open as his entire body levitated.

Soon, they arrived at the ritual stone platform.

As the bats dispersed, Langli Baitiao’s vision cleared, and he immediately saw the progenies bound to the stone pillars, his eyes widening in shock.

Ordinary people would feel immense fear in such an environment, but Langli Baitiao’s thought process was clearly unconventional, and his focus rather peculiar.

As a seasoned pervert, his gaze instantly locked onto the naked, pale figure of Alexia Lackman, the duke’s eldest daughter.

"Holy crap, they’re really going this far?"

"And without any holy light?!"

"No, Langli Baitiao, you cannot let beauty cloud your judgment."

"You are destined to become the King of Games!"

Resolving himself, he tore his gaze away and continued feigning submission. Fortunately, Duke Brad was still engrossed in admiring his masterpiece, oblivious to the charade.

Amid this, Langli Baitiao caught sight of another progeny tied to a pillar—Yeno Lackman, representing sloth among the seven deadly sins.

"So blindingly hideous."

Langli Baitiao sighed inwardly.

At this moment, Duke Brad turned his gaze to Langli Baitiao, his scarlet eyes glinting ominously.

"What is your name?"

"Langli Baitiao."

Langli Baitiao answered truthfully.

Afraid his disguise would be uncovered and that the vampire duke might kill him on the spot, he dared not lie.

Fortunately, Duke Brad detected nothing unusual, merely smirking and saying softly:

"A strange name… but it doesn’t matter. From now on, your name is Todd Lackman. You are my youngest son, exiled to the outskirts, consumed by jealousy toward your siblings. Understand?"

"Now, once again, who are you?"

"I am Todd Lackman, your neglected youngest son."

"Good. Say it again."

While Langli Baitiao obediently complied, he mentally cursed the vampire duke’s ancestors for generations. He had heard of people acknowledging fathers, but never of someone forcibly assigning themselves a son!

"Who wants to be your damn kid, you old lamp-post!"

Langli Baitiao roared inwardly, but outwardly he responded obediently, "I am Todd Lackman, your neglected youngest son, jealous of my siblings."

"Very good."

Duke Brad nodded slightly.

He observed Langli Baitiao like a puppet, rubbing his chin and frowning in thought.

"Simply having this progeny replace Todd’s identity might not inspire ‘love’ in me."

Duke Brad was a thorough monster, capable of creating twisted and perverse "love" to achieve his goals.

Though he could guide and manipulate emotions, even he couldn’t fabricate them at will.

"The physical and emotional are deeply intertwined."

"To mortals, intense physical desire seems to naturally lead to love. In that case…"

Duke Brad’s scarlet eyes took on a strange, inexplicable desire as he gazed at Langli Baitiao.

Langli Baitiao immediately felt a wave of dread, a foreboding sense of doom overwhelming him.

Though his expression remained calm, alarms blared in his mind.

"Wait, what the hell is this old pervert planning?!"

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