Two Choices

In a cultivation room in the Pill Tower, Ling Xi sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his hands forming a seal as dark-red flames curled around him.

With each breath Ling Xi took, the flames around him transformed into the shapes of different Magical Beasts.

At the same time, vast amounts of energy from heaven and earth, mixed with Spiritual Qi, poured into his body. Tempered by the Myriad Beast Spirit Fire, it became the purest energy and surged through him.

The golden liquid representing Dou Qi in his dantian grew steadily, until it nearly filled the entire space.

Then, under the Myriad Beast Spirit Fire's refining heat, it condensed into strange crystals.

"Whoosh!"

The moment every drop of golden liquid in Ling Xi's dantian had turned into crystal, his aura suddenly surged.

Ling Xi's reserves were far more formidable than those of an ordinary Da Dou Shi.

That was without even mentioning the Mysterious Origin Saint Sculpting Pill that had changed his aptitude. With both the Devouring Ancestral Symbol and the Myriad Beast Spirit Fire at work, all the energy he refined from heaven and earth and Spiritual Qi was pure beyond compare.

Even though he cultivated only the High Yellow Tier Myriad Spirits Returning to Origin Art, it could no longer conceal the talent he was beginning to reveal.

At a certain point, when Ling Xi's aura reached its limit, the surrounding energy from heaven and earth suddenly fell still.

The strange phenomenon lasted several breaths before slowly fading as Ling Xi opened his eyes.

His pupils looked especially uncanny. Dark-red flames seemed to blaze within them, and something resembling a strange stone talisman could be faintly seen amid the flames.

"Nine-Star Dou Grandmaster."

Ling Xi clenched his fist and murmured, his expression calm.

"Not bad. In just one year, you've raised your soul strength to the Late Spirit Realm, and your Dou Qi cultivation has reached the Nine-Star Dou Grandmaster level."

Ling You nodded slightly, his face showing his satisfaction.

"Teacher."

Ling Xi rose and bowed slightly to Ling You.

In only a year, Ling You had aged terribly. His face was covered in so many wrinkles that they could almost trap a mosquito.

"It's about time."

Ling You patted Ling Xi on the shoulder.

"Come with me to meet someone."

Without waiting for Ling Xi to answer, Ling You opened the door and headed outside.

Ling Xi hesitated, but quickly followed after him.

One year was far too short a time on the Dou Qi Continent. It had passed so quickly that the Pill Tower remained just as it had been, without the slightest change.

Ling You didn't stop until he had led Ling Xi out of the Pill Tower.

The entrance to Sacred Pill City was as busy as ever, most of the people there Alchemists dressed in white robes.

In terms of prosperity, Sacred Pill City, home of the Pill Tower, ranked among the very best.

Ling You and Ling Xi walked against the flow of Alchemists, heading out of Sacred Pill City instead.

"Looking at how old you've become, I'd say you really are on your last legs."

With a sigh, a gray-robed old man abruptly appeared in front of Ling You and Ling Xi.

"You... Elder Ling Yang?"

Ling Xi stared at the familiar face in astonishment.

"That's right. Without the support of the Ling Clan's bloodline, reaching Nine-Star Dou Zhe at your age is quite an achievement."

The newcomer was Ling Yang, the Ling Clan elder from East Ling City whom Ling Xi hadn't seen in a long time.

Unlike Ling You, Ling Yang's appearance was exactly the same as before, despite four or five years having passed.

"I really am on my last legs. Otherwise, I wouldn't have asked for your help."

Ling You sighed helplessly. He seemed to be struggling with the idea of asking Ling Yang for help.

"This isn't the place to talk. Come with me."

Ling Yang glanced around, then waved his hand.

Ling Xi's vision went black. In the next instant, he had gone from the gates of Sacred Pill City to a cave somewhere unknown.

The cave looked fairly dry and tidy, but a huge cauldron stood in its center.

"Elder Ling Yang, what is this?"

Ling Xi blinked and looked at Ling Yang in confusion.

"Didn't you find a Ling Clan Spirit Jade last time?"

Ling Yang didn't keep him in suspense. He answered directly:

"That Spirit Jade contains the sealed Bloodline Power of an ancestor of the Ling Clan."

"Your teacher is on his last legs, so he asked me to help you with a Blood Exchange."

"Blood Exchange?!"

Ling Xi's gaze sharpened.

At the end of the day, the Dou Qi Continent was a world where bloodlines determined everything.

Whether it was the Ancient Races or the so-called three great Magical Beast clans, they all relied on their Bloodline Power.

The once-glorious Xiao Clan, for instance, disappeared completely from the Central Continent after Xiao Xuan had exhausted its Bloodline Power.

The Soul Clan also needed the Tunling Clan, transformed by Nihility Devouring Flame, to plunder other clans' bloodlines and nourish its own Dou Di Bloodline.

Among Soul Beasts, the suppression caused by bloodlines was even more pronounced.

So it was no exaggeration to say that Bloodline Power was the most important thing on the Dou Qi Continent, especially a Dou Di Bloodline.

"Strictly speaking, I'm supposed to hand over this Spirit Jade containing the Ling Clan's Bloodline Power to the clan."

Watching Ling Xi ponder, Ling Yang couldn't help clicking his tongue.

"But I've got a life-or-death bond with your teacher."

"And you're the one who found this Spirit Jade. You've shown plenty of promise, too. Otherwise, I wouldn't be helping you!"

The Ancient Races regarded their Bloodline Power as sacred. Ling Yang was taking a considerable risk by doing this.

"Thank you, Elder Ling Yang."

Ling Xi bowed solemnly to him.

"Enough of that."

Ling Yang waved his hands repeatedly.

"The Blood Exchange Method isn't as simple as refining Bloodline Power. It means actually replacing the blood in your body."

"Other Ancient Races and even Magical Beast clans have inherited this secret method, but the Ling Clan does too."

He paused, his expression growing serious.

"This is life-threatening. One mistake could kill you."

"If it fails, even if you somehow survive, losing too much blood will leave you gravely weakened."

"And if the Bloodline Power isn't compatible with you, your body will explode on the spot."

"So if you're willing to back out, I'll hand the Spirit Jade over to the clan and reward you with a High Earth Tier cultivation technique."

Ling You, who had been silent until now, couldn't help glaring at Ling Yang.

"Don't scare him, you old coot."

After a pause, he turned to Ling Xi and said solemnly:

"Ling Yang's exaggerating a little, but what he said is true. The Blood Exchange process is extremely dangerous."

"Given your talent, even with a weak bloodline, you could still achieve great things in the future."

"So your teacher's saying it's up to you whether you're willing to take this risk."

Ling Xi was silent for a long while, but Ling Yang and Ling You both waited patiently.

"Heh."

Ling Xi suddenly laughed.

"Teacher, you've already prepared everything for me. If I still backed out, wouldn't all your preparations have gone to waste?"