Mutated Bloodline

Time passed quietly, and in the blink of an eye, several more months had gone by.

Ever since the major reshuffle of Yan City's forces several months ago, the entire city had become much more peaceful.

Of Yan City's four major factions, the Symbol Master Association had always stood apart and rarely involved itself in power struggles. The City Lord's Mansion managed the entire city, wielded immense authority, and was the strongest faction of all.

Of the remaining two, the Wanjin Merchant Association was primarily in the business of trade, and its influence was vast. Though the newly risen Lin Family was the weakest, it had a formidable backer who towered over everyone else.

On top of that, the Lin Family was on good terms with the Wanjin Merchant Association and the Symbol Master Association. It was also busy absorbing the resources of the Blood Wolf Gang and the Song Family, with no interest in competing against the other factions. Naturally, no one foolish enough to offend the Lin Family came along.

During these peaceful days, the Lin Family's strength and status continued to rise. Especially after Lin Dong and Lin Xiao broke through, the family gradually began to show the bearing and foundation of one of Yan City's four great factions.

However, this peaceful state of affairs was soon shattered.

Of course, it wasn't because of some person or faction. It was the appearance of an Ancient Tomb Mansion.

In a quiet courtyard within the Lin Family Manor,

"Little guy, here, catch!"

Cang Wu casually tossed over a bloodstained demon crystal. A flash of fiery red darted past, and a gaping maw snapped it up before swallowing it whole.

Only after the fiery red shadow came to a stop could its true form be seen: a massive tiger, its entire body scarlet, like a living flame.

Its coat was a blazing red, and under the scorching sun it seemed to burn like fire. The four powerful paws bore orange-yellow markings, like four fiery clouds.

A dark-red serpent coiled along the tiger's back. A long, sharp horn protruded from its head, making it look almost like an upright tiger's tail as it curled over the tiger's back.

Most astonishing of all were the tiger's flanks. They looked somewhat plump, and faint, unusual patterns could be made out there. The fur around those thickened areas even resembled feathers.

Indeed, they were bird feathers. A pair of wings grew there, though they were pressed close against the tiger's body. Since the feathers were similar in color to its fur, it was easy to mistake them for extra flesh and think the tiger was simply rather fat.

"Senior, what's happening to Xiao Yan? He's looking less and less like a Fire Python Tiger."

Lin Dong looked at Xiao Yan, who had woken not long ago after sleeping for a month, and couldn't help asking curiously.

Cang Wu tossed over two more demon crystals. Xiao Yan swallowed them both in one bite, and only then did Cang Wu smile and reply.

"You're pretty lucky, kid. You picked up a Six Fingers."

"Six Fingers? Senior, the Six-Fingered Saint Dragon Emperor?"

Lin Dong was instantly bewildered. The only person he associated with the name "Six Fingers" was the fearsome figure who had unified the Demon Domain.

Cang Wu rolled his eyes. With a thought, the tea in the teapot flew out and washed the blood from his hands. Then he smiled and answered,

"Kid, you sure know how to dream. That Six-Fingered Strange Dragon was at the peak of the Reincarnation Stage. Do you think he's as common as cabbages, just lying around waiting to be picked up?"

"Wasn't that what you said yourself?"

Lin Dong muttered a couple of words under his breath. When Cang Wu turned to look at him, he shrank his neck and gave an awkward grin.

Over the past few months, Lin Dong had truly seen just how insane the demands of one of the Eight Ancient Lords could be.

Usually, when Cang Wu trained at the Lin Family Manor, he left Lin Dong alone to do as he pleased.

But whenever Cang Wu went out to spar with demon beasts and test his insights, he always brought Lin Dong along.

At first, Cang Wu had been relatively restrained. He would simply toss Lin Dong, who had already become a Three Symbol Talisman Master, into the lair of a demon beast equivalent to the Primal Core Realm Great Perfection, seal the exit with a formation, and make him fight the beast to the death.

And every time, Cang Wu would toss Lin Dong inside and leave him to fend for himself, then go find a demon beast from the Three Realms of Creation to practice against. He wouldn't return for Lin Dong until he was done.

But over the past two months, Cang Wu had started tossing Lin Dong right in front of demon beasts in the Form Creation Realm, making Lin Dong—who was a Three Symbol Talisman Master and had only just broken through to the Lesser Perfection of the Yuan Dan Realm—face off against them.

What frustrated Lin Dong even more was that, from beginning to end, Cang Wu hadn't given him a single word of praise.

The best evaluation he'd ever received was "acceptable." That had been a month ago, after he used the terrain to launch a preemptive ambush and fatally wound a demon beast at the Lesser Success of the Form Creation Realm.

Of course, the training had produced remarkable results. As things stood, Lin Dong could utterly overpower cultivators below the Form Creation Realm. Even against some experts at the Lesser Success of the Form Creation Realm, he could still hold his own without losing.

It was these past few months of hellish training that had left Lin Dong both awed by and afraid of Cang Wu.

"This little guy is like that Six-Fingered Strange Dragon. He's a demon beast with a rare, mutated bloodline. One day, he might have a tiny chance of reaching that fellow's level."

Cang Wu said this casually and softly, but Lin Dong furrowed his brows. He genuinely had no idea what a mutated bloodline meant.

"You really are dense, kid. A mutated bloodline is exactly what it sounds like: a bloodline that's changed. Just look at this. He started out as nothing more than a Fire Python Tiger, but now, tell me—what part of him still looks like one?"

Little Marten had slipped out at some point. He tapped Lin Dong on the head with a tiny paw and spoke with an expression of disdain.

As he spoke, Little Marten's face also showed a hint of envy. He clicked his tongue in wonder.

"So the Six-Fingered Saint Dragon Emperor had a mutated bloodline. No wonder. But that stupid tiger sure is lucky too, to have a rare mutated bloodline of his own."

"ROAR!!"

The moment Little Marten finished speaking, Xiao Yan raised his enormous jaws and growled at him, clearly displeased.

The deep growl and the viciousness in it made Little Marten jolt in alarm. Once he recovered, he glared right back and said indignantly,

"Oh? You stupid tiger aren't so stupid after all. But you dare get tough with Lord Marten? Have you gotten brave?"

"You're a Little Sky Demon Sable. You must have the royal bloodline of the Heavenly Demon Marten Clan, right?"

Cang Wu chuckled at Little Marten, who was putting on a brave front, and asked. Little Marten scratched his head with a tiny paw, nodded, and replied,

"Senior, how did you know?"

"Because you're just as obnoxious as that old fellow from your Heavenly Demon Marten Clan."

Cang Wu pursed his lips and spoke with a hint of disdain. He glanced at Xiao Yan, then at Little Marten, and a trace of nostalgia entered his eyes.

"I remember that old fellow used to pick on that dimwitted Tiger Clan brute all the time."