Mr. Chairman studied the hexagonal array for a moment, then ran his fingers along the silver coffin, saying, "Very well! To be safe, I'll first set up a teleportation array around it. Should the released entity prove too powerful, I'll banish it—thus preventing any damage to the storage tools and materials in the warehouse." The proposal was sound, and both Zhang Yuanqing and single-arch knight expressed no objections, nodding in agreement. Immediately, the uncle retrieved the materials and arranged them at the four sides of the coffin, establishing a simple teleportation array. Once the array comes into contact with the power of a Supreme Sovereign, it activates automatically, randomly transporting the beings within. With the uncle's approval, Zhang Yuanqing then produced the Spirit-and-Form-Annihilating Blade and carefully sliced open the sealed lid along the seams. Zhai Cai quietly stepped back to the side. Zhang Yuanqing summoned a spiritual servant, which he then used to lift the silver coffin lid. With a heavy "clunk," the contents inside came into view—revealing a pale, bare man, his skin as if coated with a layer of powdered white. He had an exceptionally handsome face, with perfectly defined features and a long, graceful frame, his muscles flowing smoothly. "Wow, he could definitely be a male model," his uncle remarked, then turned his gaze to the naked man's chest. There, a silver nail the thickness of a thumb had been driven into his heart. The wound showed no signs of infection or deterioration; instead, it had developed black blood vessels that had grown and adhered to the nail, as if trying to absorb and integrate it. "Not just a model—he's a vampire!" said Zhai Cai firmly. Zhang Yuanqing stroked his chin, pondering. "Vampires aren't extinct, are they? I remember you saying vampires were actually a type of mutated creature, but the method of creating them had been lost, so they only existed during the medieval period. Currently, vampires only appear in the副本—yet here, we're in the treasury of the Church, a treasury that's been part of reality since time immemorial. How could there be vampires here?" Zhai Cai paused to analyze. "That is to say, a century ago, the Papal Court discovered a vampire that should have gone extinct in the real world and sealed it, preserving it in their treasury! He looked down at the vampire, reached out, and gently touched his pale chest. 'No item information has been read—he's still in a sealed state. Should we try to awaken him? Perhaps we can gain insights into medieval times. However, while he's sealed, we can't yet determine his status.' At the会长's gesture, the single-line knight stepped forward, grasped the silver pin embedded in the naked man's chest, and pulled it with strength. A golden droplet appeared at the会长's fingertip and was then injected into the wound. The golden liquid was instantly absorbed. Instantly, the wound on the naked man's chest began to heal rapidly, and a faint pulse emerged from within his chest. 'Thump, thump-thump, thump-thump-thump...' The heartbeat grew stronger—from weak to powerful—the once pale, century-old corpse, now radiating a terrifying, heart-stirring presence. Just as the魔王, sealed for endless ages, awakens... no, he has always been awake. The naked man inside the coffin opened his eyes—his pupils were a deep, ruby red, like precious rubies. Having just woken from a century-long dream, he immediately saw three humans gathered around the coffin, gesturing at him and speaking a language he could not understand. "Quite weak!" "At most, early dominion level—how can the Church not kill it?" "I was surprised—thought it might be a half-divine monster." "Perhaps the Church is keeping it as a safe investment. After all, vampires have already gone extinct—now they're like world-class protected species." The vampire man, once filled with bewilderment, now radiated an unyielding hunger, fierce brutality, and cold detachment. He slowly sat up, exhaled a long, thick breath—though a single glance could have slain the three mere ants before him—he maintained his grace, speaking in a low Italian tone. "So it seems I have indeed slept for a long time. Are you people from the Church?" Zhang Yuanqing didn't understand, turning to the lone knight: "What did he say?" Since the Lingjing realm hadn't provided a language translation, it clearly meant the vampire wasn't a NPC within the副本—rather, he came from the real world. "It seems to be Italian," said Zhai Cai, shrugging. "I don't understand it either." The chairman spoke up, delivering a fluent Italian sentence right from the start: "The Papal Court has been extinguished for one hundred years. We are treasure hunters. Are you a vampire?" He then turned to his nephew and the lone knight to translate. "The Papal Court has been extinguished?" The vampire paused for two seconds, then suddenly raised his head and burst into laughter, so loud that the entire space trembled. "Farong," he exclaimed, "I've said this before—when I awaken once more, I will personally destroy the Papal Court and drain your blood. I never imagined that in just one hundred years, your Papal Court would have turned to ashes." The chairman translated the vampire's words to the two of them. Zhai Cai said, "Farong is the name of the Pope. So, it appears the Pope was the At that moment, the vampire composed himself, regained his grace, and looked at the three of them, speaking calmly and deliberately: "Thank you, treasure hunters, for awakening me. As a reward, I can make you my servants. However, I have slept for a hundred years and long for blood—thus, only one of you shall serve me. The other two shall be my meal!" The pale, handsome vampire turned his elegant smile toward the single-armed knight and Zhang Yuanqing: "I do not particularly enjoy serving servants who are too handsome, so you shall both be my food." With that, he raised his hand, adorned with black nails, and made a grasping motion toward them. Zhai Cai stepped forward swiftly and gave him a solid, resonant slap that sent him sprawling back into the coffin. The blow was both strong and loud, and the vampire was completely stunned, lying motionless in the coffin for several seconds before regaining consciousness. He popped out of the coffin, expression stunned: "You... " Before he could finish, Zhang Yuanqing stepped forward and gave him a solid slap, sending him back into the coffin with a heavy, resonant *thud*. The vampire with a shattered skull rose again, this time sitting up. The Chairman raised his palm. Seeing this, the vampire's crimson eyes flickered with panic and fear, his voice now urgent: "Stop! Please stop!" The uncle lowered his hand, smiling warmly. "It seems your worldview has been completely refreshed!" The vampire didn't grasp the word "worldview," but the elegance and hauteur had already faded from his gaze, replaced by bewilderment. He couldn't understand how it was possible—his very sovereign of the night, having vanquished countless witches, werewolves, and hunters, even designated by the Church as a forbidden entity—could now be repeatedly beaten by three treasure hunters? "Who are you all, and how do you possess such formidable power?" the vampire asked, cautious and thoughtful. "Terrifying, isn't it?" the president said calmly. "People like me—there are literally dozens out there." He pointed at Zhang Yuanqing and Zhai Cai. "People like them, however, are as common as stray dogs you'd see everywhere in the Middle Ages." Zhang Yuanqing: "...” The single-line knight: "...” The vampire stared in disbelief but couldn't challenge or question it—only remained silent. The president asked again, "Tell me about yourself. Who are you?" "I am King Augustus of the Night," the vampire said, lifting his chin slightly. "Those who know my name have long since become mere dust of time." "When were you most active?" the president inquired, "And why are you lying in a coffin?" The vampire Augustus replied: "My era was one of the Byzantine Empire under Emperor Alexios I, with Pope Urban at the helm. The power of the Papacy surpassed that of the king, while the power of the night was entirely in my hands." "I am considered an obstacle by the Papacy; they can make the king submit, yet they have no means against me. Yet even my invincibility has one unyielding enemy." Alexios I? When did that person live? Zhang Yuanqing looked at the lone knight, who in turn returned a look of bewilderment. "The king of the Byzantine Empire a thousand years ago," the chairman explained. A thousand years ago? That was roughly the late Northern Song Dynasty, when true masters were indeed invincible! Zhang Yuanqing matched his nation's history to that period and instantly grasped the concept. Vampire Augusto said: "That enemy is life itself, and time. Though vampires live long lives, they are not immortal—I will still die. To avoid dying like my companions, I have fallen into a deep sleep within the ancient castle in the mountains. "Until a group of treasure hunters entered the castle and awakened me." "I have slept for over eight hundred years, and I am grateful to still be alive, though the world has changed dramatically. The elves, werewolves, and vampires that once thrived in the night have all vanished, and the witches no longer exist. What is most令人 resentful, however, is that the Church has endured. While living among humanity, I discovered that the way extraordinary beings enhance their powers is something I have never heard of or witnessed. Thus, I began hunting them down, seeking to understand the reasons behind this transformation—yet in doing so, I became the target of the Church itself. The current Pope, Faron, assembled a group of priests and knights to hunt me. The astute Faron, knowing my preference for virgin blood, used pure young women to lure me, then injected mercury into their bodies, weakening me." Augusto the vampire's expression grew increasingly indignant: "But I still eliminated them all, except for the most cunning and powerful—Faron himself. As a result, I was sealed within my coffin, and remained there until you opened it." "Back in the time of the Papal Court, there had been hunts for vampires! That explains the silver weapons I saw inside the chest. Indeed, these vampires, rising from ancient mountain castles, share a nature similar to the Pure Yang Master. It's no wonder this one was so arrogant upon waking—he still believed himself invincible! The times have changed, sir. Zhang Yuanqing probably already understands why the Pope has kept this vampire, though he may have simply forgotten. As the rank of the Spirit Realm travelers has risen, half-gods have emerged, and more sovereigns have appeared—now, a small Karalimi poses no threat at all, and thus has been stored away in the warehouse, gradually forgotten. 'Vampires have an astonishing lifespan!' the Chairman remarked, then added, 'How many vampires like you still exist?' "Heard this, vampire Augustus lifted his proud chin and said, 'I differ from the lesser vampires who cannot control their hunger. I am a bloodline blessed with the Primordial Power—the very essence of the ancient bloodlines, one who can stand beside the mythical bloodlines of old.' Primordial Power? Then you've mistaken your name, Zhang Yuanqing thought, unable to help but remark. Zhai Cai said, 'Mr. President, I'm curious about how vampires came to be. While the Church's chronicles describe them as a type of anomaly, I find that rather unconvincing. Anomalies rarely maintain human form, and their instincts usually surpass reason—yet this one is remarkably rational.' The President asked, 'Who was your bloodline's primordial ancestor, and how did they come into being?' Vampire Augustus replied solemnly, 'Our bloodline's primordial ancestor was cursed by the Divine King!' 'Who was the Divine King?' the President lounged lazily, 'Don't expect me to ask a question and then have you answer it. My patience is thin.' "Count Dracula quickly interjected, 'Odin! Who else dares to call themselves the King of Gods?' The Chairman's eyes flickered, 'Does Odin truly exist?' In Norse mythology, Odin is the King of Gods. Among the travelers of the Spirit Realm, it is speculated that the Norse mythology may correspond to the yet-unopened Third Region. While it is possible that the Norse mythology corresponds to the Third Region, the figures within the myth may not necessarily be real. Much like in the Second Region, where countless immortals and deities are mentioned, only a few have been proven to exist. Zhang Yuanqing was immediately intrigued. The hidden history of the Third Region remains a knowledge gap among the Spirit Realm travelers—even half-gods like his uncle are largely unaware of it."