Meanwhile, as the flames of war roasted the Infernal Cult's doors, Konrad sat crossed-legged within the Northern Khan's royal chambers to anchor his soul to the Ancient Crystal World. Icy-blue nether force swirled around him as his dark soul rose in black fog and hovered above his body.

　　Shockingly, even in that state, his body remained fully conscious, thereby showcasing its ability to exist without a soul. Konrad's hands flashed in incantation gestures and fueled by the overflowing nether force, his soul descended into the ground and stretched throughout the Ancient Crystal World.

　　From the Barbarian Continent to the Hidden Forest, from the Hidden Forest to the Holy Continent, every piece of land within the Ancient Crystal World was corrupted and possessed by Konrad's soul.

　　In the instant his soul melded with the ground, all deaths within the world became fuel for his growth. His eyes opened and looked beyond the Khan's palace to lock on the distant battlefield of Serkar vs. Zenith Ants.

　　At first, the might of his maternal house's experts failed to startle him. After all, with the ninth elder in his hands, Konrad had already determined the nature and limits of their growth. Such strength was necessary to achieve a "mutually wounded result" with the Zenith Ants.

　　However, when Berken unleashed the illusory shadow, even Konrad couldn't contain his surprise.

　　"Astounding. He's using his burning blood to make an Ancestral Call and imitate the Devas' Ancestral Glories by summoning the might of his distant ancestor. Although this is nothing more than an infinitesimal part of the ancestor's strength, this still is…astounding."

　　Konrad appraised while rising from his seat.

　　Within the room, Else, who successfully reached the third layer of Seer's Vision, also observed the scene with rapt attention. The disproportionate might of humanity's blood burning was something she'd recently become aware of. And still, she couldn't comprehend its origin.

　　Demon and Deva bloodlines were divided into six ranks:

　　Half-Blood, Pureblood, n.o.ble Blood, Greater Blood, Royal Blood, and Race Primogen.

　　On typical days, just like the Ancient Crystal World's sun, moon, and dream spirits, golden-blooded humans were one step below pureblooded demons and devas in terms of bloodline strength. But once their lineage ignited, it was more than a match for Greater Demon or Deva Blood. Konrad's previous Phantasm Lord Bloodline was no better. Clearly, someone or something played tricks to suppress all human lineages beneath the t.i.tan level.

　　But who possessed such a monstrous ability?

　　"Could it be…the Realm Wills?"

　　Konrad wondered in silence while stepping toward Else.