Ling Clan, East Ling City.
A towering ancient stone tablet, dozens of meters high and large enough for several people to wrap their arms around, stood prominently in the very center of the city square.
Strange patterns were carved into its surface, and from time to time they glimmered faintly, as if the tablet were breathing.
[Ding! The host has reached a sign-in location: Bloodline Clan Tablet. Would you like to sign in?]
A white-robed boy stood before the tablet, his palm pressed against its surface.
"Sign in!"
[Signing in. The process will take one minute. Please do not leave the sign-in location during this time.]
The boy had handsome features, and as if in response to the tablet, a strange rune slowly appeared on his forehead.
A moment later, a bright light gradually illuminated the tablet.
"Ling Xi, age eleven, strength: One-star Dou Practitioner, bloodline rank: grade one."
The middle-aged man standing behind Ling Xi saw the light on the clan tablet and let out a conspicuous sigh.
"Our clan has over a million Descendant Citizens. It's hard to believe that in recent years, we can barely find even one clansman with a bloodline rank of four or five. Almost all of them have bloodline ranks of one or two."
"It seems our clan's Emperor Clan bloodline really is gradually drying up."
His voice carried deep disappointment, as well as fear for his clan's future.
As one of the Eight Ancient Clans with a Dou Di Bloodline, the Ling Clan hardly needed to be told how important bloodline rank was.
Indeed, for every clan with a Dou Di Bloodline, the inheritance and decline of that bloodline were among the most important matters of all.
If the bloodlines of their Emperor Clans dried up completely, they would become an ordinary clan on the Dou Qi Continent.
They couldn't even imagine what would happen then.
[Congratulations, host! You have signed in successfully. Since this is your first sign-in, you've triggered a lucky bonus!] [Congratulations! You have received a seven-star reward: one Ninth-grade Mysterious Pill.] [Would you like to claim it now?]
"Not yet."
Hearing the system's prompt in his mind, Ling Xi suppressed his excitement and gave the order.
This was, after all, where the Ling Clan tested bloodline ranks. It was crowded with powerful people, and there were eyes everywhere.
Claiming the reward here would be a foolish choice.
If it caused any commotion, exposing the pill would be the least of his worries. He might even lose his life!
"Like the Yao Clan, we of the Ling Clan are born with stronger soul power than members of other clans."
"Although your bloodline rank is a little low, your soul power is stronger than that of your peers. Your Dou Qi affinity is also suited to pursuing the Alchemist profession."
An old man with a full head of white hair and beard suddenly appeared before the Bloodline Clan Tablet.
"Greetings, Elder Ling Yang."
The moment the middle-aged man saw the old man, he hurriedly bowed.
"I am Ling Yang, an elder at the Clan Academy in East Ling City."
The old man ignored the middle-aged man and looked at Ling Xi.
"Once the bloodline testing ceremony ends in seven days, you may report to the Medicine Hall at the Clan Academy."
Ling Xi was taken aback, then bowed to Elder Ling Yang.
"Thank you for your regard, Elder Ling Yang."
"We of the Ling Clan are one of the Eight Ancient Clans, and the blood of the Dou Di flows through our veins."
Ling Yang looked at Ling Xi and spoke with solemn emphasis.
"Even if your bloodline rank is low, you must never belittle yourself. Work hard at your cultivation and do your part for the Ling Clan."
Ling Yang rarely had this much to say to a junior of the clan, but Ling Xi had sufficient soul power to become an Alchemist.
"Yes, Elder!"
Ling Xi bowed respectfully to Ling Yang.
He had heard of this renowned elder, who was famous even in East Ling City.
"Go on. Remember to cultivate diligently."
Ling Yang was pleased by Ling Xi's respectful attitude.
"This junior will take his leave."
Ling Xi bowed once more to the middle-aged man who had presided over the bloodline test, then turned and left the square.
"Ling Wu, you talk too much."
Ling Yang glanced at the somewhat sheepish middle-aged man beside him. His voice was nothing like the gentleness he had shown Ling Xi.
"Why say things like that in front of children who've only just awakened their bloodline ranks?"
"I was just feeling a little emotional, that's all."
Ling Wu looked a little embarrassed, then couldn't help sighing again.
"For the past hundred years, you and I have held countless Bloodline Awakening Ceremonies for these Descendant Citizens in East Ling City."
"But the bloodline ranks of these Descendant Citizens keep getting lower."
Ling Yang's expression grew solemn at that.
The Ancient Races had passed down the Dou Di Bloodline since ancient times.
As they flourished, these Ancient Races inevitably had children with ordinary people who had no Dou Di Bloodline.
Although those descendants carried a Dou Di Bloodline, it became extremely thin.
They were known as Emperor Clan Descendant Citizens.
The Ling Clan wasn't the only one to do this. The other Ancient Races also clearly distinguished their Direct Line Clansmen from their Descendant Citizens.
"A few years ago, we could still find a few Descendant Citizens with Bloodline Atavism. Now we haven't come across a single one in years."
As the elder in charge of the Bloodline Awakening Ceremonies in East Ling City, Ling Wu felt this most keenly.
When a Descendant Citizen experienced Bloodline Atavism, the Dou Di Bloodline within them would awaken, and their bloodline rank would rise considerably.
The improvement was limited, but it was enough for these Descendant Citizens to enjoy the same treatment as Direct Line Clansmen.
"Unless the Eight Ancient Clans produce another Dou Di, the loss of Bloodline Power is unavoidable."
Ling Yang couldn't help sighing.
"Back then, the Xiao Clan was so powerful, and Xiao Xuan was such a peerless genius. Yet with his death, the Xiao Clan's Dou Di Bloodline dried up in an instant."
"All we can do now is our best to cultivate these children."
"They don't need to become Dou Di. As long as one of them reaches the realm Xiao Xuan attained, the Ling Clan could prosper for another thousand years."
Ling Wu looked unconvinced.
"How could someone like that emerge from among these Descendant Citizens? Their bloodline ranks are only one or two."
A person's Dou Di Bloodline rank was the sole standard for measuring their talent among the Ancient Races.
The higher their bloodline rank, the greater their standing among the Ancient Races.
Take Yao Chen, for example. Despite his talent, the Yao Clan still cast him aside because his bloodline rank was too low.
"Bloodline rank is certainly important, but cultivation after birth matters too."
Ling Yang shook his head, unwilling to say more. He patted Ling Wu and reminded him,
"Make sure these children awaken their bloodline ranks properly. And don't say those things again."
"Yes."
Ling Wu nodded quickly.
Ling Yang let out another sigh, then vanished on the spot.
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