Golden Feathers and Azure Eyes, Breaking the Bloodline Bottleneck

Gradually, Lu Yang was even able to vaguely perceive the emotions of the tiny creature inside the egg.

It was a chaotic yet pure intimacy, like a newborn chick recognizing the first thing it sees after opening its eyes.

The white light continued to surge, and the golden and cyan patterns on the surface of the beast egg gradually became deeper and more intricate.

The patterns that were originally intermittent and flickering are now completely stable, with each line as clear and distinct as gold and silver threads, weaving together into a mysterious pattern on the eggshell.

Suddenly, a very light and crisp "click" sounded.

In the white light, a tiny crack appeared at the top of the beast egg.

Immediately afterwards, a series of cracking sounds followed, and cracks spread rapidly like a spider web, expanding outwards from the top.

Eggshell fragments fell in a flurry, revealing a pale golden figure struggling within.

A tiny fledgling struggled to crawl out of the crack.

As a newborn, it was chubby and round, covered with only a very light layer of golden down that clung wetly to its skin.

Those eyes were a deep golden yellow, and even though they had just hatched, they already possessed an innate sharpness.

It raised its small head, opened its pale golden beak, and let out a clear, melodious cry.

Cracking!

The sound pierced through metal and shattered stone, echoing throughout the cultivation room, even causing the surrounding Spiritual Qi to tremble slightly.

Before the cry had even faded, a thick white light surged towards the fledgling like a tide, continuously pouring into its body.

Immediately afterwards, visible changes began.

The pale golden down on the fledgling bird grew and thickened at an incredible speed, gradually becoming hard and long from soft and sparse.

Its chubby body gradually unfolded, its neck became long and powerful, and its wings, when spread, already showed signs of sharpness, with several long tail feathers trailing behind it.

Its appearance was becoming more and more like an eagle, yet it was even more majestic and spirited than an ordinary eagle.

Its neck is longer, its wings are wider, and its whole body exudes an innate sense of pride.

Its feathers, initially pale gold, gradually became deep and thick, each one as if cast in pure gold, gleaming with a somber metallic luster under the light of the lamp.

If you look closely, you can vaguely see that each feather is engraved with intricate patterns, sometimes bright and sometimes dim, flowing endlessly.

Its beak and claws are also pure golden yellow, with sharp, hook-like tips that gleam with a cold, icy light.

The most significant change was in its eyes.

From its initial deep golden hue, it gradually transformed into a pair of cold, stern, vertical blue pupils.

The cyan color was rich and translucent, like two flawless pieces of jade. As his gaze swept across the room, it carried an awe-inspiring aura of dominance over the world.

It must be said that this bird is indeed extremely beautiful.

Even in its infancy, it already possessed the formidable aura of a sky overlord.

A slender figure, golden wings, and those cold, arrogant Qingtong...

It stood in the training room, like a golden statue that had come to life.

Is this the Nine Heavens Golden-Winged Peng?

Lu Yang couldn't help but feel a little amazed.

As the white light continued to pour into its body, its size increased at a visible rate.

It started as the size of a human head, gradually grew to half a meter tall, and then to a meter tall.

When the Nine Heavens Golden-Winged Peng grew to 1.5 meters tall, its size stopped increasing.

But its aura continued to rise steadily.

Starting from the Early-stage Foundation Establishment after hatching, it progresses upwards.

Foundation Establishment Late Stage, Early Golden Core, Late Golden Core...

The aura rose higher and higher, and each leap across a major realm caused a violent fluctuation in the Spiritual Qi within the cultivation room.

When the last ray of white light was completely absorbed, its aura finally stabilized.

Nascent Soul Perfection!

From hatching to the Nascent Soul Perfection, it only took less than half an incense stick's time!

This [Low-Level Spirit Beast Nurturing Card] is absolutely terrifying!

It stood quietly in front of Lu Yang, tilting its head slightly, its blue vertical pupils reflecting Lu Yang's image.

The arrogant indifference he had shown just moments before had vanished, replaced by a pure and warm affection.

In Lu Yang's mind, the white Spirit Beast Mark glowed slightly.

Immediately afterwards, a stammering voice rang out. "Young... Young Master!"

The voice was incredibly childish, clearly that of a child!

Lu Yang raised an eyebrow.

That voice... it sounds like it belongs to a little girl?

He sized up the magnificent golden roc before him, smiled slightly, and nodded. "Hmm, not bad. From now on, you will be my spirit pet."

"Yes, young master!" The childish voice was filled with undisguised joy.

Lu Yang looked at the Nine Heavens Golden-Winged Peng before him, becoming more and more satisfied.

He chuckled and said, "Let me give you a name... Are you male or female?"

The young voice of the Nine Heavens Golden-Winged Peng rang out again. "Young Master, I am female!"

Lu Yang nodded thoughtfully.

He scrutinized the roc's distinctive vertical blue pupils, pondered for a moment, and said, "You are the Nine Heavens Golden-Winged Peng, but your eyes are blue, so let's call you 'Qingtong.' As for the surname... let's use Lu as our surname. Let's call you Lu Qingtong."

Lu Qingtong's joyful emotions immediately emanated from the Spirit Beast Mark.

The childish voice couldn't hide its joy. "Thank you, Young Master, for bestowing a name upon me!"

Lu Yang nodded slightly.

He suddenly realized something: ordinary Demon Beasts, once they reach the Nascent Soul Realm, should already possess the ability to transform into human form.

Qingtong has now reached the Nascent Soul Perfection, so transforming into human form should be no problem for her.

"You've already reached the Nascent Soul Perfection, are you able to take human form?"

Lu Qingtong nodded. "Yes, young master!"

"Try transforming into human form."

Lu Qingtong responded, and then streams of dazzling golden light surged from her body, completely enveloping her 1.5-meter-tall golden figure.

The golden light surged for a moment, then gradually subsided and dissipated.

The magnificent golden roc that had been standing there had vanished, replaced by a little girl who was less than a meter tall.

The little girl had long, smooth, golden hair that cascaded down to her shoulders, the strands shimmering softly in the lamplight. Her blue pupils were identical to her natural features, clear and bright.

She wore a golden feather robe, the patterns of which subtly echoed the Dao patterns on her wings, sometimes bright and sometimes dim, creating a rather mystical effect.

Her skin was so fair it was almost translucent, with a faint, almost imperceptible golden glow.

Her face was delicately sculpted, with exquisite and adorable features. She looked even shorter than Little Hongdou, and her whole body resembled a little dumpling.

Upon seeing this, Lu Yang was taken aback.

He was a little surprised. Logically speaking, a [Low-Level Spirit Beast Nurturing Card] should be able to nurture a spirit beast directly to maturity, right?

A mature spirit beast in human form should at least be a young woman, right?

He felt something was off when he heard Lu Qingtong's voice just now, because it sounded too young.

Now that I've transformed into human form, I realize something's definitely wrong!

He's still just a little kid?!

How so?

Is there something wrong with this [Low-Level Spirit Beast Nurturing Card]?

This is a system reward; it shouldn't have any problems.

Lu Yang then pulled up the instructions for the Low-Level Spirit Beast Nurturing Card and read them carefully again.

He quickly turned his attention to the last line of the introduction.

It can be cultivated to the Peak Nascent Soul, which is the Nascent Soul Realm Perfection.

Lu Qingtong is currently at the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm Perfection stage.

In other words, the [Low-Level Spirit Beast Nurturing Card] has reached its limit.

Qingtong's growth thus came to a standstill at this stage.

It hasn't even reached maturity yet!

Lu Yang considered this possibility and was somewhat shaken.

If that's the case, then Lu Qingtong's potential is probably far beyond the Nascent Soul Realm.

She already possessed the Nascent Soul Perfection realm in her childhood; once she truly enters maturity, her cultivation will at least be at the Spirit Transformation Realm, right?

Could it even be above the Spirit Transformation stage?

How is that possible?

The upper limit of the Nine Heavens Golden-Winged Peng's bloodline is clearly the Nascent Soul Realm Perfection.

How could it possibly exceed the bloodline limit?

Then Lu Yang saw another line of information on the cultivation card.

There's a small chance that a spirit beast can break through its bloodline bottleneck!

So... does this mean Lu Qingtong's bloodline has broken through its bottleneck and mutated?

Or is it a regression to ancestral traits?

If it truly is a case of atavism, then the significance is extraordinary.

After all, the Nine Heavens Golden-Winged Peng contains a trace of the Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird's bloodline!

The Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird is a powerful Demon Beast on par with the Dragon and Phoenix!

Even if it's just a slight regression to ancestral traits, Qingtong's potential will undergo a dramatic increase!

But... I'm really lucky.

He actually encountered such a low-probability event?

Then Lu Yang remembered that his Rebate Card always offered high-rate cashback.

It seems like I've always been lucky.

Oh, right...

The acquisition of the Nine Heavens Golden-Winged Peng Egg was also due to a series of inexplicable coincidences, as it happened to coincide with Ding Ran being chased.

Could it be that I am a chosen one?

Lu Yang felt a little pleased with himself.

He looked at the exquisitely beautiful little girl in front of him, smiled slightly, and asked, "Qingtong, will you be able to continue improving your cultivation in the future?"

There are some differences between Demon Beasts and cultivators.

The cultivation level of Demon Beasts is limited by their bloodline, which is even more cruel than the Spirit Roots of cultivators.

Generally speaking, Demon Beast's cultivation level cannot break through the upper limit of its bloodline unless it encounters an extraordinary fortuitous opportunity.

If Lu Qingtong can continue to break through, then her bloodline must have changed.

Qingtong carefully assessed her own condition, and a hint of surprise suddenly lit up in her blue pupils.

She nodded vigorously, her voice still childish, "Yes, young master. I can continue to improve."

A hint of surprise appeared in her eyes. "Young Master, my bloodline seems to be much stronger than I remembered! Besides the Metal Dao, I can now also comprehend the Wind Dao!"

Just as I expected...

Upon hearing Lu Qingtong's words, Lu Yang was completely certain.

It is true that the bloodline bottleneck has been broken, and a reversion to ancestral traits has occurred.

This was naturally a great thing for Lu Yang.

Lu Qingtong is already at the Nascent Soul Perfection. If she were given more Cultivation Resources and time, breaking through to the Spirit Transformation Realm wouldn't be impossible!

At that time, I will have a spirit beast at the Spirit Transformation Realm!

He's absolutely invincible on the spot!