A Match? The Wager is an Earth Tier Mid-level Dou Technique for Spear!

"Ling Xi pays respects to Elder Ling Yuan."

Hearing this, Ling Xi stepped forward and bowed to Ling Yuan.

"Ling You, are you joking with me?"

Ling Yuan merely glanced at Ling Xi, then pointed at him while speaking to Ling You.

"I've checked this child's records. He's nothing but a Descendant Citizen with a First-grade Bloodline."

"The Dou Di Bloodline in a wretch like him is so thin it's practically nonexistent."

"And you expect him to inherit your legacy as an Eighth-grade Alchemist?"

Ling Yuan's words were extremely harsh, but within the Ancient Races, they were accepted as undeniable truth.

The Ancient Races inherited the Dou Di Bloodline, and all clansmen took pride in their own bloodline.

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

For instance, Gu Xun'er possessed a Divine-grade Bloodline, allowing her even to attend the Ancient Clan's Elder meetings.

Meanwhile, those Descendant Citizens with thin Dou Di Bloodlines occupied the lowest positions in the Ancient Races.

Though they bore the name of an Ancient Race, they enjoyed none of its benefits, their status even lower than that of ordinary outsiders.

Even the upper echelons of the Ancient Races regarded these vast numbers of Descendant Citizens with extreme indifference.

They were seen merely as breeding tools for reproduction.

After all, Descendant Citizens still carried a trace of the Dou Di Bloodline, and there was always a chance of Bloodline Atavism in their offspring.

"I recall that back when you were trying to break through to Dou Venerate, you went to the Pill Tower seeking medicine."

Ling You's tone carried a hint of mockery.

"The one who refined your pill back then was Yao Chen. Why didn't you look down on him for being a Descendant Citizen of the Yao Clan?"

"The Yao Clan is the Yao Clan, the Ling Clan is the Ling Clan—how can they be lumped together!"

Exposed for his past, Ling Yuan immediately retorted in shame and anger.

"Besides, among the Eight Ancient Clans, there are billions of Descendant Citizens, but isn't there only one Yao Chen?"

"One? I believe this disciple of mine will surpass Yao Chen and most of the Ling Clan!"

Ling You patted Ling Xi on the shoulder, a confident smile spreading across his face.

"In any case, I already have a disciple. The clan need not trouble itself with the rest."

"If the clan has any objections, they can come directly to me."

With that, Ling You took Ling Xi's arm and prepared to leave.

"Elder Ling You, wait!"

Just then, Ling Yi, the one Ling Yuan had brought to seek apprenticeship, suddenly spoke up.

Both Ling You and Ling Xi halted in their steps.

"Elder Ling You thinks little of me—I have nothing to say."

Though the youth named Ling Yi tried his utmost to suppress it, everyone present aside from him were old foxes, and they could clearly see the intense resentment he hid.

"But for your disciple, a wretch with only a First-grade Bloodline..."

"For you to claim his future achievements will far surpass most of our Ling Clan—that, I cannot tolerate."

Ling You looked at Ling Yi with renewed interest and chuckled.

"So, what do you propose?"

"He comes from Descendant Citizen stock, so before joining your tutelage, he likely had no foundation or inheritance to speak of."

Ling Yi stared at Ling Xi, his voice low.

"I swear by the Ling Clan's Dou Di Bloodline—I challenge him to a contest of the most basic skill for an alchemist: Soul Power!"

At these words, Ling Yang, who had remained mostly silent since Ling You's arrival, suddenly changed expression.

A contest of Soul Power was far more dangerous than one of Dou Qi.

A single misstep could cause irreversible damage to the future.

"Xi'er, what do you think?"

Ling You did not agree outright but turned to Ling Xi instead.

"Since he's sworn by our clan's Dou Di Bloodline, how could I, as a disciple, refuse the challenge?"

"But a simple contest like this seems a bit dull."

Ling Yi snorted coldly.

"What are you trying to say?"

"Simple enough—there's no problem with the contest, but shouldn't you put up some stakes?"

Ling Xi narrowed his eyes, looking every bit a fox.

"This is good!"

Before Ling Yi could speak, Ling You had already laughed first.

"How about this—I'll put up a sixth-grade Royal Extreme Pill as the wager for my disciple's match."

Between the master and disciple's back-and-forth, they had directly settled the matter.

"A Royal Extreme Pill? An Eighth-grade Alchemist pulling out a sixth-grade pill like that—aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"

Ling Yuan sneered and immediately shook his head.

A Royal Extreme Pill could boost a Dou Emperor's strength by one to two stars.

Though precious, it was nothing special among the Ancient Races.

"Then what do you want?"

Ling You asked with a frown.

"If Ling Yi wins, you take him as your disciple—how about that?"

Ling Yuan didn't beat around the bush and said it outright.

"Fine, but what can you offer of equal value?"

Ling You agreed directly, looking at Ling Yuan with interest.

"This is an Earth Tier Mid-grade Dou Technique, called the Ember Extinguishing Spear Art."

Ling Yuan took a crimson scroll from his Nakai Ring and announced loudly.

"I obtained this technique from an ancient relic. It has three forms, balanced in offense and defense. When cultivated to completion, it's no less than any Earth Tier High-grade Dou Technique."

Ling Yuan had really gone all out.

Even among the Ancient Races, an Earth Tier Mid-grade Dou Technique was no cabbage.

The Myriad Spirits Annihilation Finger, the Ling Clan's inherited technique, was only Earth Tier Mid-grade as well.

"Good, it's settled!"

Ling You nodded immediately upon seeing the Earth Tier Mid-grade Dou Technique.

"But to prevent anyone from backing out, let Ling Yang witness for us."

Ling Yang hesitated briefly, but after seeing the confident expressions on Ling Xi and Ling You's faces, he nodded in agreement.

Seeing her teacher agree, Ling Xi turned her gaze to Ling Yi and asked, "How exactly are we competing?"

"Simple. Since you've studied Alchemy Skill under Elder Ling You, you should be able to release your Soul Power, right?"

A hint of arrogance appeared on Ling Yi's face.

"I'm a few years older than you, so I won't take advantage. You can make the first move."

"If you can push me back with your Soul Power, then you win!"

Hearing Ling Yi's words, Ling You's expression immediately turned strange.

His disciple's Soul Power was far stronger than that of any peer in the clan, especially after cultivating the Myriad Spirits Returning to Origin Art.

"Please!"

Ling Yi waved his sleeve, his carefree expression carrying the air of a young elite from an Ancient Race.

"Hah!"

For an alchemist, releasing Soul Power was basic—Ling Xi naturally knew how to do it.

Under the watchful eyes of the three Dou Venerates—Ling You, Ling Yuan, and Ling Yang—Ling Xi slowly raised her palm and gently pressed it down toward Ling Yi through the air.

A vast Soul Power suddenly burst from between her brows, transforming into an invisible giant hand that slammed heavily down on Ling Yi's head.

At that moment, Ling Yang and Ling Yuan's faces both turned slightly stunned.