Bloodline Awakening, Sign-in Ninth-grade Mysterious Pill

Ling Clan, East Ling City.

A primitive stone tablet, dozens of meters high and wide enough for several men to embrace, stood prominently in the plaza at the very center of the city.

The surface of the tablet was engraved with strange patterns that flickered with a faint, rhythmic light, as if it were breathing.

[Ding, detected that the host has arrived at the check-in location: Bloodline Clan Tablet. Do you wish to complete the check-in?]

In front of the tablet, a youth in white robes pressed his palm against its surface.

"Check in!"

[Checking in. The process will take one minute. Please do not leave the check-in location during this time.]

The youth had a handsome face, and as if in response to the tablet, a strange rune slowly appeared between his brows.

A moment later, a bright light began to glow upon the stone tablet.

"Ling Xi, age eleven, strength One-star Dou Practitioner, bloodline grade: Grade One."

The middle-aged man standing behind Ling Xi let out a very audible sigh upon seeing the light on the clan tablet.

"Our clan has over a million descendant citizens, yet it is unexpected that in these years, it has become difficult for even a single clansman with a Grade Four or Five bloodline to appear; there are only those with Grade One or Two."

"It seems that the Dou Di Bloodline of our clan is indeed gradually drying up."

The middle-aged man's voice carried a thick layer of disappointment, as well as a sense of panic regarding the future survival of their race.

As one of the Eight Ancient Clans possessing the Dou Di Bloodline, the importance of bloodline grade went without saying.

Or rather, for every race possessing the Dou Di Bloodline, the inheritance and depletion of that bloodline was a matter of the utmost importance.

If the bloodlines of these imperial clans were to completely dry up, they would become nothing more than an ordinary family faction on the Dou Qi Continent.

They could not even begin to imagine what would happen then.

[Congratulations to the host for a successful check-in. As this is your first check-in, a lucky critical hit has been triggered!]

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining a seven-star reward: one Ninth-grade Mysterious Pill.]

[Does the host wish to claim it immediately?]

"Do not claim yet."

Hearing the system prompt in his mind, Ling Xi suppressed the wild joy in his heart and issued the command.

After all, this was the place where the Ling Clan conducted bloodline grade testing; experts were as numerous as clouds, and there were many prying eyes.

Claiming the reward here was by no means a wise choice.

If it caused any strange phenomena, the exposure of the pill would be the least of his worries—he might not even be able to save his own life!

"Our Ling Clan, much like the Yao Clan, has clansmen whose soul power is naturally much stronger than that of other races."

"Although your bloodline grade is a bit low, your soul power is a cut above your peers, and your Dou Qi attribute is also suitable for developing into an Alchemist."

An old man with white hair and beard suddenly appeared before the Bloodline Clan Tablet.

"Greetings, Elder Ling Yang."

The middle-aged man hurriedly bowed the moment he saw the old man.

"This Old Man is Ling Yang, an elder in the Clan Academy of East Ling City."

The old man ignored the middle-aged man and looked toward Ling Xi.

"After the bloodline testing ceremony concludes in seven days, you may report to the Medicine Hall in the Clan Academy."

Hearing this, Ling Xi was stunned for a moment, then bowed to Elder Ling Yang.

"Many thanks for your high regard, Elder Ling Yang."

"Our Ling Clan is one of the Eight Ancient Clans, and the blood of the Dou Di flows within our bodies."

Ling Yang looked at Ling Xi and cautioned him in a deep voice.

"Even if your bloodline grade is low, you must never belittle yourself. You must cultivate diligently and contribute your own strength to our Ling Clan."

For a junior in the clan whose soul power met the standard and who could become an Alchemist, Ling Yang was uncharacteristically talkative.

"Yes, Elder!"

Ling Xi bowed respectfully to Ling Yang.

He had heard of this elder, who was quite famous even within East Ling City.

"Go now, and remember to cultivate well."

Ling Yang was naturally very satisfied with Ling Xi's respectful attitude.

"This junior takes his leave."

Ling Xi bowed once more to the middle-aged man who had been presiding over the bloodline test, then turned and left the plaza.

"Ling Wu, you talk far too much."

Ling Yang glanced at the middle-aged man beside him, who looked somewhat sheepish; his voice was not nearly as gentle as it had been when speaking to Ling Xi.

"Why say such things in front of these children who have just awakened their bloodline grades?"

"I was just feeling a bit sentimental for a moment."

Ling Wu's face showed a look of embarrassment, and he couldn't help but sigh again.

"You and I have held countless Bloodline Awakening Ceremonies for these Emperor Clan Descendant Citizens here in East Ling City over the past hundred years or so."

"Yet, the bloodline grades within these descendants are becoming lower and lower."

Hearing this, a grave expression appeared on Ling Yang's face.

The Ancient Races have passed down the Dou Di Bloodline since the ancient era.

In the process of their development, these Ancient Races inevitably interbred with ordinary people who lacked the Dou Di Bloodline.

Although the offspring produced from these unions possess the Dou Di Bloodline, it becomes extremely diluted.

These people are referred to as Emperor Clan Descendant Citizens.

It is not just the Ling Clan; other Ancient Races also draw a very clear line between their Direct Line Clansmen and these descendants.

"A few years ago, we could still encounter a few descendants with Bloodline Atavism, but now we haven't seen one in years."

As the Elder presiding over the Bloodline Awakening in East Ling City, Ling Wu felt this most deeply.

If a descendant experiences Bloodline Atavism, the Dou Di Bloodline within them is activated, and their bloodline grade increases significantly.

While this improvement is quite limited, it still allows these descendants to enjoy the same treatment as Direct Line Clansmen.

"Unless our Eight Ancient Clans produce another Dou Di powerhouse, the dissipation of this Bloodline Power is inevitable."

Ling Yang couldn't help but sigh upon hearing this.

"Back then, the Xiao Clan was so formidable, and Xiao Xuan was such a brilliant and talented figure, yet once he died, didn't the entire Xiao Clan's Dou Di Bloodline wither away in an instant?"

"All we can do now is try our best to cultivate these children."

"We don't need a Dou Di; if even one of them can reach the level Xiao Xuan attained back then, our Ling Clan could flourish for another thousand years."

Hearing this, a look of disapproval appeared on Ling Wu's face.

"The bloodline grades of these descendants are only first or second rank; how could such a figure possibly emerge from among them?"

The grade of the Dou Di Bloodline is the sole standard for measuring the talent of the Ancient Races' citizens.

The higher the bloodline grade, the higher the status one enjoys within the Ancient Races.

Take someone with the talent of Yao Chen, for example; because his internal bloodline grade was too low, wasn't he still discarded by the Yao Clan like a worn-out shoe?

"Bloodline grade is certainly important, but acquired cultivation is also vital."

Ling Yang shook his head; not wanting to say more, he patted Ling Wu on the shoulder and instructed him.

"Awaken the bloodline grades for these children properly, and do not speak of those things again."

"Understood."

Ling Wu nodded at Ling Yang and spoke hurriedly.

Seeing this, Ling Yang sighed lightly once more before vanishing from where he stood.