Baron Visari, having lost a large amount of blood, grew weaker, and the Ghoul's extraordinary plague (a collective term for viruses, bacteria, and fungi) spread, destroyed, and transformed within his body.
If a miracle didn't happen, Visari would die within a day and transform into a new Ghoul within three days. It was predictable that this Ghoul would be relatively thin and its flesh would be somewhat tough.
But things clearly wouldn't develop this way. As the microorganisms ran rampant, Visari's consciousness gradually revived, and a characteristic from the depths of his soul began to spread throughout his body.
The many discordant notes were instantly integrated by a conductor.
The virus swarm abruptly ceased its attack behavior and instead reached a delicate balance with the host cells. The cell membrane actively opened transport channels, encapsulating viral particles within vesicles and orderly transporting them through the circulatory system.
The pathogenic bacteria contracted their hyphal networks and instead secreted reparative substances to fill and replace damaged tissues.
The fungal colonies stopped their disordered expansion, and the tips of the hyphae began to weave supporting frameworks. Bacterial flagella spontaneously formed filtering devices, converting metabolic waste into nutrient substrates.
The most astonishing change occurred at the genetic level—originally dormant ancient sequences were activated, prompting the endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes to synthesize new symbiotic mediators.
Visari's bone density increased at a perceptible rate, and the epidermal stratum corneum exuded a pearlescent luster.
His pupils split into multiple iris rings, and his visual spectrum extended into the infrared band. His metabolic system simultaneously adapted energy conversion mechanisms that utilized exogenous microorganisms, ensuring the synergistic operation of different life forms.
In an instant, Visari transformed from a human into a symbiont of the plague. It was evident that his body would undergo many more changes in the future.
As time passed, Visari woke up from his coma.
Looking at the various abnormalities on his body, Visari frowned. This was not conducive to surviving in the Middle Ages.
With a shift in his thoughts, certain bacterial populations within his body changed their way of life, entering apoptosis, causing Visari's appearance to become no different from that of an ordinary person.
Sitting upright on the bed, Visari began to sort out his current situation. His current ability to control microorganisms stemmed from a characteristic within his soul, seemingly a golden finger brought by his transmigration. Visari named it the Fungal Crown Lineage.
This ability, in summary, was the manipulation of various microorganisms that had already been domesticated. As for how to domesticate them, it was very simple: let the microorganism invade his body for seven hours. As long as Visari did not die from it, the microorganism would become symbiotic with Visari and be domesticated.
The specific principle was that Visari's soul would radiate a special field, which would gradually conceptually penetrate the microorganism. When the concept was completely penetrated, Visari would have domesticated the microorganism.
After being domesticated, Visari could induce them to mutate, proliferate, or undergo apoptosis within limited circumstances. However, if the mutation amplitude was too large, it would lead to them becoming a new strain, requiring re-domestication.
In addition, Visari discovered that this world undoubtedly had a local extraordinary system, and it was likely related to the great aristocrats.
Visari reached this conclusion not because of the decapitated Ghoul, as it was possible that it was just some kind of special species.
The truly decisive evidence was Visari's blood!
Stimulated by the Ghoul pathogen and guided by the Fungal Crown Lineage, a certain lineage that was originally recessive in Visari's body became dominant.
"Blue Blood," this was Visari's initial name for this bloodline, because this thing truly made Visari's blood turn blue.
Currently, Visari's blood still contained some red blood, but according to the lineage's perception of his body, within a month, Visari would completely become a life form with Blue Blood flowing within him.
This Blue Blood represented more than just a change in color. It gave Visari an additional sense, a sense that could perceive the energy of the world.
When the Blue Blood flowed within him, Visari clearly felt the various energies freely flowing between heaven and earth. They were colorless and formless, filling the world.
Visari planned to meditate intently, attempting to use his spirit to contact these free-floating energies. However, at this moment, a knock on the door interrupted his attempt.
"I extend to you a greeting as fervent as the scorching sun, Sir Visari, as noble as a distant star," a strange yet respectful voice came.
Visari was startled. What was this? He was stunned for half a second before realizing it was a noble way of saying hello. He quickly replied according to family etiquette.
"I am willing to cast down starlight."
This long string of bizarre greetings was a written form used by nobles in official settings and rarely used in normal life. Visari's family had long since fallen into decline and was considered to have half-withdrawn from the aristocratic class.
Visari belonged to the hereditary noble family of Noctem but had no territory. By now, he only had the empty title of a knight. As for the gold coins in his hand, it could only be said that he was well-fed and clothed, completely unable to support social interactions among nobles.
Even more so, Visari's family now only had him as a living person and was already considered to have one foot in the commoner class, but this hereditary knight title had never been revoked.
The greeting just now translated to: Good afternoon.
As for the address to Visari, "as noble as a distant star ***," it represented that the other party was a servant of a certain noble, and this noble's status was at least two levels higher than Visari's.
Visari's reply meant: Please come in.
Although noble etiquette did include these overly formal written expressions, in daily life, very few nobles would use these inefficient ways of conveying information. Visari stood up with a complicated expression, wanting to see what abstract being had come to find him, a fallen noble.
The wooden door was gently opened, and a well-dressed black attendant with his head bowed walked in.
Visari glanced at the crest on the other person's body, his pupils shrinking, and put on a serious and solemn expression.
"O brilliant star, His Most Supreme, Most Noble, Most Great, Most Exalted Grand Duke Adolf Augustus Castille has sent me to convey a message to you. He is aware of your killing of the Ghoul mine slave who unexpectedly escaped and expresses his admiration for your bravery."
The servant cautiously looked up at Visari and added, "Since you have awakened the noble bloodline flowing in your blood, I will lead you back to the ranks of the Blue Blood."
Visari's pupils slightly contracted, and a surge of shock rose in his heart. He had killed the Ghoul early this morning, and someone had come to his door by noon today, even discovering the awakening of his Blue Blood.
After a moment of thought, Visari decided to adapt to the situation by remaining unchanged. He feigned ignorance and asked, "I am grateful for Grand Duke Castille's concern. I wonder what Blue Blood and Ghoul mine slaves are, and why have I never heard of them before?"
Finally, as if remembering something, he added, "I allow you to speak outside of etiquette."
The servant bowed deeply, explaining in a devout tone bordering on chanting, "Sir Knight, the supreme and pure Blue Blood has flowed within the nobles of Norbay since ancient times. This is a bloodline blessed by the stars, and great nobles can cast star sorcery through it."
Seemingly to avoid offending Visari, the servant bent down and added:
"In the long transmission through generations, the Blue Blood of some families will gradually fade. When three consecutive generations have no descendants who can regain the glory of the Blue Blood, the family's fief will be reclaimed, and the knowledge related to sorcery will be confiscated and prohibited from being passed down. The noble title will also be demoted to a hereditary knight, just like your Noctem Family, Sir Knight.
Until someone in the later generations awakens this noble bloodline, the Grand Duke will send servants like us to lead them back to the ranks of true nobles."
Visari suddenly understood. No wonder his predecessor had never seen any records related to the extraordinary in the family's inheritance. It turned out to be knowledge control.
Judging from the servant's tone and attitude, the class divisions in this world were clear, with a huge gap between nobles and servants. Even facing him, a fallen noble, he had to be cautious, fearful, and utterly respectful.
Assuming Visari had digested the previous information, the servant continued to add:
"There is a mine near Padua, which is the property of Grand Duke Adolf. His Excellency enslaved a group of Ghouls for mining. The Ghoul you encountered was the two-year-old son of their leader. That beast took advantage of the guards' inattention and sent his young son out."
Visari nodded, "Mm, I understand. May I know Grand Duke Castille's intentions?"
The servant slightly raised his head and took out a silver box from the package beside him. He first carefully placed it on Visari's table and then spoke:
"According to custom, when a noble awakens the glory of their ancestors and returns to the ranks of the Blue Blood, they are to be enfeoffed as a baron and granted a new manor. Grand Duke Adolf has sent me to take you to the Royal Capital to receive the enfeoffment from His Majesty the King."
Visari nodded. Then he thought that great nobles could also have their own vassals. Since Grand Duke Castille could find his residence so quickly, he must have a very powerful influence nearby. So he casually mentioned, as if by chance:
"What if I want to pledge allegiance to Grand Duke Adolf and become his vassal?"
The servant was startled upon hearing this, and the smile on his face grew wider: "Of course, that is possible. It just so happens that the former manor of the Noctem Family is managed by Grand Duke Adolf on your behalf. His Excellency greatly praised your bravery in killing the Ghoul, and it is possible that he will bestow it directly upon you."
Visari smiled heartily: "I have heard of Grand Duke Adolf's wise and mighty reputation since I was a child and yearned for it. Now to be able to become Grand Duke Adolf's vassal truly fulfills my childhood wish."
The servant smiled and bowed, gesturing with his hand towards the silver box on Visari's table: "Baron Visari, this box contains basic information prepared specifically for faded nobles to help you understand the current situation."
As if remembering that Visari was not proficient in sorcery, the servant smiled and added, "Of course, there is also a basic meditation method and basic sorcery within. As for the knowledge confiscated from the Noctem Family, it will certainly be waiting for your favor on the bookshelf when you take over Noctem Manor, Baron."
"You can take these two days to slowly learn about the secrets of the Blue Blood Aristocrats. I will take you to the Royal Capital Maldiv in three days to meet with the Grand Duke and receive your enfeoffment. Do you have any other instructions?"
The servant stood respectfully by the door. After receiving Visari's negative reply, he slowly exited the room, not forgetting to close the door behind him.