allendalepharm Chapter 9 Magnus's Ideas
Chapter 9 Magnus's Ideas
Magnus sat atop the open-air platform of the Pyramid of Fatep, overlooking the pristine city of Tizika below. The evening breeze ruffled his long, crimson hair, and his silhouette exuded an unyielding sense of loneliness.
"My Lord Archmage," Li Wei walked to his side and said softly, "I have a way to permanently suppress flesh mutation."
Magnus turned his head sharply, his eyes filled with disbelief: "Really?"
"It's true." Li Wei nodded, then his tone became serious. "However, this method requires one thing, and only His Majesty the Emperor possesses such a thing."
"What is it?"
"A drop of His Majesty's blood."
Magnus's expression changed instantly.
He suddenly stood up, and his spiritual energy surged dramatically, causing all the crystal railings on the open-air platform to shake violently.
"No! Absolutely not!" he growled, his voice devoid of humiliation, carrying only a heavy resolve. "I will never let my father shed blood for my children!"
He strode up to Li Wei, looking down at him with a complex mix of emotions swirling in his amber eyes:
"You don't understand. I've known my father for decades in the Warp, and I know better than anyone the burden he carries."
"He is the emperor of all mankind, not just the father of me, Magnus. He cannot favor any of his offspring; this precedent must not be set."
"If I ask him to donate blood today, the other Primarchs will follow suit tomorrow."
"What will Father do then? Who will he refuse? Who will he accept? The very foundation of the empire will be shaken!"
Li Wei was stunned; he hadn't expected Magnus's reason for refusing to be this.
He had always thought that this crimson-haired mage was just arrogant, but he never expected that he would be so understanding of the emperor's difficulties.
"So what do you plan to do?" Li Wei asked softly, "Watch your offspring turn to ashes one by one?"
Magnus's fists clenched so tightly they cracked. He turned his head, and the resolve in his eyes was gradually replaced by pain.
"I..." He opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.
The evening breeze blew again, ruffling his disheveled red hair.
This usually all-powerful mage is now like a helpless child, standing at the crossroads of family and responsibility, caught in a dilemma.
After a very long time, so long that Levi thought he would give up, Magnus finally spoke slowly, his voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible:
"Let me think about it. Give me one night."
That night, Li Wei did not return to his residence.
He stood by the library window, watching the lights at the top of the Pyramid of Furtap burn all night long.
The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight shone into the city of Tizca, Magnus found Levi.
His eyes were bloodshot, clearly from not having slept all night, but his gaze was unusually firm.
"I've got an idea," he whispered in Li Wei's ear.
"The Emperor will come today to check on the treatment. At that time, I will tell him that you have found a way to completely suppress the mutation of flesh and blood."
I will request him to bestow upon you an Imperial Bloodline Gene Seed in the name of 'rewarding meritorious officials of the Empire.'
Li Wei was taken aback: "Imperial Blood Gene Seed?"
"That's right." Magnus nodded.
"The Imperial Blood Gene Seed is cultivated in advance using the Emperor's blood, which promotes stable development of the gene seed. It contains the Emperor's own blood, which is sufficient to meet your requirements. Moreover, it is reasonable to request it under the guise of rewarding meritorious officials."
He paused, a complex light flashing in his eyes:
"In this way, Father won't have to shed blood for us, nor will he be accused of favoring his offspring. Even if the other Primarchs have objections, they won't be able to say anything. After all, a hero who saved an entire legion deserves any reward."
Li Wei looked at Magnus and felt a surge of emotion.
This proud mage, for the sake of his offspring and to avoid putting his father in a difficult position, actually came up with such a thoughtful solution.
"Okay, we'll do as you say."
In the morning, the Emperor arrived at the first-floor hall of the Pyramid of Futap as promised.
Accompanying him was Macado, a gaunt-faced man dressed in a gray robe.
The emperor was still wearing his magnificent golden armor and a golden crown, his divine aura sweeping across the entire arena.
Macado stood quietly behind him, his cloudy eyes scanning the first floor of the pyramid's main hall—
The thousands of warriors, already fully clad in scarlet power armor, stood in neat formations on both sides of the hall, their sharp, bright eyes beneath their helmets, awaiting the emperor's inspection with high spirits.
His gaze slowly swept over the solemnly standing Thousand Sons Formation. Seeing these warriors, who were once on the verge of collapse, now regaining their vitality, he nodded slightly.
He then fixed his gaze on Li Wei, who was standing in front of the Thousand Sons Formation.
The moment Li Wei's eyes met Macado's, he felt a chill run down his spine.
Macado truly deserves to be the ruler of the empire, in charge of imperial affairs, with a sharp, piercing gaze and immense authority.
"Magnus, how's the situation?"
The emperor arrived at the front of the formation and asked in a calm yet majestic voice.
"Thanks to you, Father," Magnus bowed slightly, "the scholar Levy has found a new method to permanently suppress the flesh mutations of the Thousand Sons."
He stepped aside, revealing Li Wei behind him:
"Scholar Li Wei is the most outstanding genius among our five major schools, and the greatest contributor to this treatment plan. Without him, the Thousand Sons Legion would probably no longer exist."
The emperor's gaze fell on Li Wei.
It was an extremely calm gaze, yet it seemed to penetrate his soul and see through all his secrets.
Li Wei felt his whole body stiffen, as if he were standing naked in front of the emperor, with no secrets to hide.
"Oh?" the emperor responded indifferently.
"Therefore, I beg you, Father," Magnus knelt on one knee, his tone utterly sincere, "please grant Scholar Livy a seed of imperial blood as a reward for his great service to the Empire."
As soon as he finished speaking, Makado stepped forward and bowed slightly, saying:
"Your Majesty, this is against the rules. The Imperial Blood Gene Seed is the Empire's highest sacred object and cannot be bestowed casually, much less by mortals."
"Rules are made by people!"
Magnus abruptly raised his head and retorted:
"Scholar Livy saved the entire Thousand Sons Legion; his merit deserves any reward! If even such a hero cannot be rewarded, who will be willing to serve the Empire in the future?"
Macardo frowned, about to say something, but was stopped by the Emperor raising his hand.
The emperor's gaze remained fixed on Li Wei for a very long time, until Li Wei's back was soaked with cold sweat, before he finally spoke.
"Can."
He extended his finger, and two drops of golden blood condensed at the tip.
The two drops of blood hovered in mid-air, radiating a warm and sacred light.
"Take it," the emperor said calmly.
Magnus was stunned. He had thought the Emperor would only give one drop at most, but he didn't expect him to give two drops.
Li Wei was also stunned.
He looked at the two drops of golden blood, then at the emperor's unfathomable eyes, and his heart sank.
He already knew that one of the two drops of blood was the core of the formation used to eradicate the mutation of flesh and blood, and the other was a reward for himself.
He suspected that the old fox, the Emperor, might have been spying on his conversation with Magnus yesterday.
He knew from his previous life that one of the greatest hobbies of the Lord of Humanity was to slip into the empire's people under various identities and observe everything silently.
It's perfectly normal to spy on yourself and Magnus.