Lin Lei, His Majesty King Joean, and the rest were all bewildered. Who exactly was this mysterious white-haired elder? For even the number one expert in the Saint Realm, 'Hedson,' to be so humble?
"Could it be the War God?" Lin Lei thought to himself.
For Hedson to act this humble, the only possibility was a God-level powerhouse. Moreover, Kasrot and Lanko clearly recognized this white-haired elder as well, which meant it was most likely the War God.
"Bring another chair," Xili the butler immediately said to a nearby servant.
Lin Lei stepped forward with a smile. "Sir, it's an honor for our brothers that you've come to attend my younger brother's engagement ceremony. Might I ask who you are?"
"Me?" The white-haired elder smiled and glanced at Lin Lei. "My name is Hodan!"
"Hodan?" Lin Lei searched through his memories in a flash, but there was absolutely no record of any powerhouse named Hodan.
"Lin Lei, don't ask too many questions. It's a great joy that Lord Hodan has come today. Everyone, please take your seats," Stone Sword Saint 'Hedson' said with a smile.
Although Lin Lei, King Joean, and the others were confused, they all sat down.
"Lord, let my fellow disciple and I toast you." Kasrot and Lanko both raised their cups.
Lord?
Lin Lei's heart stirred.
First, for a Saint Realm expert to call someone 'Lord,' that person must be a God-level powerhouse. Furthermore, Kasrot and Lanko had used 'Lord' rather than 'Master,' which likely meant he was not the War God.
Of the continent's five God-level powerhouses, Lin Lei had met Di Lin and Hayssen, but had never seen the High Priest, the War God, or the King of the Dark Forest. This white-haired elder must be one of those three.
Now it was confirmed that he was not the War God.
Then he was either the High Priest or the King of the Dark Forest.
"But those two God-level powerhouses haven't appeared in who knows how many years. How could Hedson, Kasrot, and Lanko all recognize him?" Lin Lei couldn't believe it.
The face of a God-level powerhouse was not so easily seen.
"Lin Lei." The white-haired elder called 'Hodan' raised his cup and smiled. "Come, let's have a drink."
Lin Lei hastily raised his cup.
"Seeing you, Lin Lei, reminds me of when I encountered those Dragon Blood Warriors of your Baruch Family. Ha ha, who would have thought that several thousand years would pass in the blink of an eye," Hodan said with a hearty laugh.
These words made Lin Lei's heart clench violently.
"My Baruch Family's Dragon Blood Warriors? Several thousand years ago?" Lin Lei looked at Hodan in confusion.
In his family's history, the first three consecutive generations had produced Dragon Blood Warriors, but afterward, one would only appear once every thousand years. Yet this man was saying that several thousand years ago, he had met quite a few of them.
"I didn't expect that Senior Hodan had known my ancestors," Lin Lei said with a smile.
"Of course. Your family's patriarch Baruch was indeed an impressive figure," Hodan said with emotion. "But your Baruch Family has declined since then. Back then, with dozens of Dragon Blood Warriors, who would dare provoke you? What a pity, what a pity..."
Lin Lei's eyes widened.
"Dozens of Dragon Blood Warriors?" Lin Lei and Wotton both looked at Hodan in shock.
"What, surprised?" Hodan glanced at the two of them.
Hedson quickly said, "Lord, perhaps this matter should be discussed elsewhere. There are too many people here." It was best not to let the common nobles learn of such secrets.
"It's fine. Only the people at this table can hear us. As for the others in the hall, no matter how loudly we speak, they won't be able to hear," Hodan said with a hearty laugh.
There were eight people at this table. Aside from Wotton, King Joean, and Monroe Dawson, the rest all possessed Saint Realm strength. The white-haired elder, in particular, was unfathomably deep.
"Dozens of Dragon Blood Warriors?"
Lin Lei and Wotton could hardly believe it.
The family genealogy recorded things very clearly—three Dragon Blood Warriors had appeared in the first three generations of the family, and afterward, only one appeared every thousand years. In total, only five. How could there have been dozens several thousand years ago?
"The Four Ultimate Warrior families... sigh, they've all declined beyond recognition. How glorious the Four Ultimate Warrior families once were," Hodan lamented.
Lin Lei's mind stirred.
He recalled that the Dragon Blood Secret Manual mentioned a second method of becoming a Dragon Blood Warrior: devouring living dragon blood. But according to the family genealogy, all three Dragon Blood Warriors had been born naturally.
If the second method had never succeeded, why would the Dragon Blood Secret Manual record it?
Back then, Lin Lei and Derinkoort had both suspected that the family's treasured book might have been tampered with. His family must have once produced Dragon Blood Warriors born from devouring living dragon blood.
"I never imagined there would be dozens!" Lin Lei and Wotton were both deeply shaken.
"Oh, that little girl Nina has arrived," the white-haired elder 'Hodan' said with a hearty laugh, drawing the attention of Lin Lei and the others—who were still in a state of shock—to look over.
Lin Lei and the others stood up, and Wotton went directly over to Nina.
Wotton and Nina held hands as they toasted at each table. But at this moment, both Wotton and Lin Lei, who was still seated at his original seat, were in turmoil.
Their family's history was clearly not as simple as they had imagined.
Furthermore...
Saint Realm experts had terrifyingly long lifespans. How could all of their family's Dragon Blood Warriors have vanished without a trace? And it wasn't just their family—the Undying Warriors, the Purple Flame Warriors, and the Tiger Pattern Warriors had all experienced the same thing. All four of the Ultimate Warrior families had mysteriously declined.
"A secret..." Lin Lei understood that the continent's history was absolutely not what was publicly known.
As the King of Assassins, 'Hayssen,' had once told Lin Lei, more than five thousand years ago, many powerhouses from other planes had descended upon the Yulan Continent's plane. Yet none of this appeared in the recorded history of the continent.
At this engagement banquet, Lin Lei was somewhat absent-minded. He kept thinking ceaselessly.