Lan Jia had long yearned for Mount Alsino, which stood high in the sky behind the royal court, but he had never climbed even its lowest ridge, a regret he always felt.

Like him, countless vampires can only worship this mountain of origin from afar, unable to enter it.

Chu Nian's condition aroused him somewhat. However, he concealed it well, remaining calm and politely asking, "Do you have any other conditions?"

Chu Nian smiled and said, "That's all."

"Very well, I will convey your terms to His Majesty truthfully!" Lan Jia said, bowed, and left.

Dracula was surprised when he heard his report and said, "Open Mount Alsino to the vampires?" There's nothing there but his portrait from when he was born and a bunch of useless books. What's there to open up?

Lan Jia: "Yes, Your Majesty, His Highness the Prince has only this one condition."

Dracula: "Can she really restore Anna to her original state?"

Lan Jia: "Judging from how certain she seemed at the time, it must be true."

Dracula pondered, "So, Anna's current state is indeed her doing." As he spoke, his fists clenched involuntarily, and his teeth chattered with resentment and anger.

Lanca sensed his anger and lowered his head, afraid Dracula would realize he also wanted to open Mount Arsino. Unfortunately, judging from the king's expression, it seemed he had never considered opening Mount Arsino.

Could it be that what His Highness said is true? That those evergreen fruits grow on Mount Alsino, and that there is saltwater lake water?

"You go and rest first, I'll discuss it with Anna," Dracula suddenly said.

Chu Nian had been secretly monitoring Dracula using her mental powers. After dismissing Lan Jia, he didn't consult with Anna but returned to his bedchamber alone.

Chu Nian had long guessed that Dracula would never agree to open Mount Alsino, as it contained records of his origins: he was first embraced by a vampire of the lowest rank.

To him, that inferior vampire was a disgrace.

His royal court was built at the foot of Mount Alsino, which was a way of protecting the mountain and preventing other vampires from climbing it.

He still doesn't realize that more than a month ago, Chu Nian had already infiltrated the group and discovered a series of secrets about the vampires, vampire wizards, and werewolves.

Even more remarkably, this woman discovered a wealth of food highly beneficial to vampires on the mountain. There was a reason Cain instructed the Blood Bat King to make Mount Alsinor the birthplace of vampires. When Cain left, he left behind an environment and conditions perfectly suited for vampire survival on this mountain.

After waiting for several days without receiving any reply from King Dracula, Lan Jia was somewhat disappointed. He had thought he would finally be able to personally ascend the Origin Mountain of the vampires to pay homage, but it turned out to be another disappointment.

Hoping for a change in circumstances, he secretly spread rumors in the court that Prince Gretel had announced his agreement to reconcile with King Dracula and his willingness to cure Princess Anna's aging condition on the condition that Mount Alchino be opened.

Anna now locks herself in her room all day and doesn't go out at all. Even Dracula hasn't set foot in her room these days and hasn't even visited her. This makes her even more heartbroken. But no matter how much she shuts herself off, these rumors still reach her ears.

Hope was rekindled in her heart.

Seduced by the hope of regaining her youth, she dressed herself up as beautifully and elegantly as possible that day, and finally mustered the courage to knock on the door of Dracula's bedroom.

She had never felt so insignificant before, but she still managed to walk up to Dracula with her head held high.

“Anna Gibrenna,” Dracula said first upon seeing her, “what brings you here?”

He didn't call her "Anna" directly, which made Anna feel his distance from her, and the enthusiasm she had felt instantly cooled down.

However, perhaps the temptation of regaining her youth was too great, she still tried her best to remain calm and rational. For the first time, she bowed respectfully to Dracula like the other vampires, and said, "Your Majesty, I have heard that there is a way to cure my aging disease."

Dracula: "Don't listen to the servants' nonsense. The aging syndrome of vampires stems from a mutation in their blood. I think your aging syndrome might be because you ignored racial boundaries and forcibly practiced magic with Sophia. That magic caused the mutation in your blood."

Anna persisted, "I just want to know if Prince Gretel has a way to cure my senile condition?"

Dracula: "I told you, those were just the servants talking nonsense."

Anna: "May I pay a visit to Prince Grete in person?" Her question was pointless. If she really wanted to go, she should have done it herself. Why was she asking?

Dracula: "My child, have you forgotten how you and the others attacked her castle not long ago? What do you think she will do to you if you go to her? Will she kindly heal your illness? Are you sure she won't take the opportunity to retaliate and scheme to make you even worse off?"

Anna certainly had these concerns as well; otherwise, why would she have asked Dracula if she could visit Chu Nian? Since she asked, she wanted Dracula's permission and protection.

But Dracula clearly had no intention of letting her go.

Anna thought for a moment, then respectfully curtsied and said, "I understand." With that, she turned and left.

However, she still secretly slipped out of the royal court through a less crowded side gate, intending to find Chu Nian. Youth was too precious for her; even if it meant taking a risk, she was willing to try.

However, she was stopped at the door by Dracula's guards as soon as she stepped out.

After that, she found that there were many guards at the door of her room, and she had to get Dracula's permission to go out.

Dracula's arrangement made Anna even more convinced that the rumors were true, but Dracula either didn't want to heal her or he didn't want to agree to Prince Gretel's conditions to open Mount Alchino.

Anna wondered what was on that mountain. But she couldn't even leave her room, let alone find someone to treat her illness, let alone infiltrate the mysterious Mount Alsino, which was considered extremely mysterious by the vampires.

Dracula claimed her aging was due to a mutation in her blood, caused by magic only wizards could learn. She didn't believe this explanation at all.

She had once peeked into the Sophia family's library, and one of the ancient books recorded that the wizard's ancestor was a powerful being with the bloodlines of vampires, werewolves, and wizards, possessing all the abilities of the three races.

If we reverse this logic, it means that vampires, werewolves, and wizards actually share a common ancestor, and their oldest bloodlines are of the same lineage. Therefore, vampires can learn and use magic.