By the time Li De returned to the ancient castle, it was already night.
After stretching his body, he called in the vampire guard who had been standing watch in the corridor.
"Summon Dylon. We're heading to the Whispering Bat cave."
"Yes, Clan Leader."
Two Sun-hours later, at the Whispering Bat cave.
The Whispering Bat colony resided in a cave on the left side of the mountain near the ancient castle, not far from the Holy Land where the Holy Spirit was kept.
The cave was connected to the ground by a staircase, and the entrance was a large landing platform covered in oiled bluestone, marked with numerous scratches.
Hundreds of Whispering Bats inhabited the cave.
Although Li De had mentally prepared himself, he was still startled when he saw the Whispering Bats.
They were like a monstrous version of bats—huge.
Their wings, when fully spread, reached ten meters in length, adorned with ferocious hooks at the tips that gleamed coldly, sharp enough to pierce through a knight's armor.
Their massive claws, with bulging muscles, were as strong as a giant's arms.
Their heads were filled with sharp teeth capable of crushing a warrior's armor, and their long ears were a signature feature, exuding the essence of a magical world.
Name: Whispering Bat
Level: 6
Innate Skills:
[Frenzy: When injured, they enter a frenzied state, greatly increasing their strength and becoming fearless of pain.]
[Blood Rebirth: Consuming blood rapidly heals their wounds.]
[Superhuman Physique: Whispering Bats raised through special methods possess extremely strong physiques.]
[Sonic Wave: Whispering Bats can emit unique sound waves to locate targets, which can also be converted into a mental spell—permanently fixed as a Tier 3 spell: Mental Shock.]
Description: Giant bats raised by vampires through special methods. They possess immense strength and incredible flying speed, capable of unleashing mental attacks. They are unique creatures of the vampire race.
Powerful.
This was the only thought Li De had after reviewing the Whispering Bat's attribute panel. With four innate skills, the Whispering Bats possessed strength far beyond that of ordinary magical beasts.
The Sonic Wave skill, permanently fixed as a Tier 3 mental spell, was a particularly pleasant surprise.
Spellcasters were extremely rare. Not only were vampires natural spellcasters, but even their mounts had spellcasting abilities.
And the vampire race currently raised over 400 of these Whispering Bats.
Li De now realized he had somewhat underestimated the foundation the vampire race had built over two centuries.
But this only made him feel even better.
Only with strength could they ensure their survival.
"Clan Leader, everything is ready."
Dylon gestured to the four Whispering Bats in front of him, instructing his subordinates to secure the heavy oak chest onto the back of one bat.
For convenience, each Whispering Bat was equipped with a specially designed harness, similar to a knight's saddle.
So securing the chest wasn't difficult.
Li De nodded without saying much. It was already around 3 AM, and returning to Green City at this time would mean arriving at dawn.
Night was far more suitable for vampire activities than day.
"Prepare the Whispering Bats. I'll send word once I've purchased enough grain. Also, if the cleanup of the Southern District is progressing too slowly, remind Odys for me."
"The future of the vampire race will change from this moment. Dylon, you are a witness to history. Don't let me down."
The concern in Li De's tone deeply moved Dylon. This was a sign of the Clan Leader's trust in him.
Placing a hand over his chest, Dylon performed a noble bow.
His tone was solemn and serious.
"Progenitor, I will fight for you until my last breath."
"Dylon, you know I've always trusted you. Alright, I'll head back now."
Li De waved his hand, stopping Dylon from expressing his loyalty again.
He walked over to the calm and obedient Whispering Bat, stepping onto a specially designed short ladder before sitting steadily on a saddle made of cotton and cloth.
The seat was surprisingly soft, nothing like the bony frame he had imagined.
Holding the reins, he gave a slight flick. The Whispering Bat, with an intelligence comparable to a ten-year-old child, pushed off with its massive claws, its wings flapping as a gust of wind rose.
Under the watchful gaze of the Goddess of Night, the massive body of the Whispering Bat soared into the sky.
The three bats behind it also took off smoothly.
This was Li De's first experience with this mode of flight.
It was completely different from any other form of flying. Watching the vampires and the ancient castle shrink below, the mountains growing distant, he had to admit that riding a bat wasn't half bad.
Having traveled between Green City and the ancient castle many times, he was already familiar with the route.
Guiding the Whispering Bat through the mountains, they flew under the cold moonlight through the night.
The Whispering Bat's speed was astonishing—Li De estimated it reached three hundred kilometers per hour.
At first, he enjoyed the thrill of looking down at the earth, but soon the strong wind made his eyes dry and painful.
In the end, he used a Tier 1 spell, Magic Shield, to solve the problem.
Three Sun-hours later.
The Whispering Bat gently landed in a forest outside Green City.
The sky was just beginning to lighten.
After dismounting, Li De used Mage Hand to retrieve the oak chest from the back of another bat. With a wave, he sent the bats back to the ancient castle.
The Whispering Bats, trained by the vampires, had a homing ability comparable to that of pigeons. No matter where they were, they could find their way back to the nest.
Li De watched the bats disappear into the distance, then straightened his slightly wrinkled blue mage robe and leisurely walked out of the forest.
On the main road outside Green City, merchant caravans that had missed the last chance to enter the city at dusk and were forced to camp on either side of the road witnessed a strange and frightening scene.
A mage, dressed in robes, was traveling alone at dawn, with a translucent giant hand carrying an oak chest behind him.
This bizarre sight put the night watch guards on high alert.
Mages were even rarer than nobles. Any mage traveling would usually be accompanied by a retinue. Seeing one emerge alone from the forest was truly terrifying.
It was too abnormal.
Li De glanced indifferently at the clustered merchant caravans, noting the guards' wary and fearful expressions. He wasn't particularly concerned.
His mage robe and the Mage Hand behind him clearly indicated his identity.
In this world, mages were symbols of power and mystery. It would be strange if these ordinary merchant guards didn't react to his presence.
It was still a bit early. The city gates wouldn't open until after dawn, when the sun rose.
He had at least another Sun-hour and a half to wait.
He needed to find a place to rest.
Li De's gaze swept over the merchant caravans. On the wide grassland to the right of the road, a fully alert caravan caught his attention.
Over twenty carriages bore clear signs of battle, with several partially destroyed.
Many wounded were gathered around a fire, the strong scent of blood barely masked by the herbs. However, nothing could escape a vampire's keen sense of smell.
Unexpectedly, he spotted a familiar banner among the caravan.
Two golden wheat stalks crossed each other, intricately embroidered with golden thread by a skilled maid into a beautiful pattern.
Golden Wheat Merchant Guild.
Li De's eyes narrowed slightly, and he came to a halt.