Blood Exchange?

"You'd better think this through. The Blood Exchange Method is extremely dangerous."

Ling Yang said pensively, "If I were you, I'd use that Spirit Jade to trade for a High Earth Tier cultivation method from the clan instead."

As he spoke, Ling Yang looked Ling Xi up and down.

"You're already a Nine-Star Dou Grandmaster. When you break through to Dou Ling, are you still going to cultivate my Ling Clan's Foundation Establishment Cultivation Method, the Myriad Spirits Returning to Origin Art?"

Ling Xi's foundation was exceptionally solid, but the High Yellow Tier Myriad Spirits Returning to Origin Art was already beginning to limit his cultivation, both in the amount of Dou Qi he could hold and in the speed at which he refined the energy of heaven and earth.

"Senior Ling Yang, you jest. Though the Myriad Spirits Returning to Origin Art is a Foundation Establishment Cultivation Method, it's no worse than some low- or even middle-level Profound Tier methods."

Ling Xi shook his head, a playful expression appearing on his face.

"If the clan were willing to offer a High Heaven Tier method in exchange, I might consider it."

Ling Xi had said that purely to fob Ling Yang off.

Even among the Ancient Races, High Heaven Tier cultivation methods were exceptionally precious clan-protecting treasures, and far more difficult to cultivate than ordinary methods.

"You really have your head in the clouds, asking for a High Heaven Tier method right off the bat."

Ling Yang laughed in disbelief.

"Even your teacher and I only cultivate High Earth Tier methods from the clan... They're the highest-level methods we can access."

Among the Ancient Races, bloodline ranks were strictly hierarchical. Unless one's bloodline reached a certain level, one couldn't access some of the clan's more advanced Dou Techniques and secret arts.

"Since that's the case, then please help me with the Blood Exchange, Senior."

Ling Xi exhaled a breath of stale air. Then he glanced at Ling You's already very old face beside him, and for some reason, his heart stirred faintly.

"Teacher, don't worry. It's only a Blood Exchange. Nothing will happen."

"I know. And I believe in you, too."

Ling You nodded. There wasn't the slightest hint of worry on his face; he simply smiled warmly.

Ling Xi instinctively sensed something was amiss, but before he could think it through, Ling Yang's voice sounded beside him.

"Since you've made up your mind, I'll need to make some preparations."

Ling Xi instinctively looked toward Ling Yang. He saw Ling Yang floating above the great cauldron, while the Spirit Jade Ling Xi had picked up lay suspended in front of him.

Ling Yang drew a finger across one of his other fingers. Bright red blood instantly gathered at its tip.

"Activate!"

Ling Yang gave a grave shout, and with a speed invisible to the naked eye, his bloodied finger traced a strange character in the air.

"The Spirit Jade of my Ling Clan can only be unlocked with our clan's secret art."

Seeing the confusion on Ling Xi's face, Ling You explained from the side.

Ling Xi nodded slightly, but kept his eyes on Ling Yang hovering in midair.

The character Ling Yang had formed from his own blood essence touched the Spirit Jade, and both immediately blazed with light.

Then the jade pendant, which had sealed away the Ling Clan's bloodline power, began to melt.

A vast surge of energy swept through the entire cave as the Spirit Jade melted.

"Condense!"

Ling Yang's expression remained unchanged as he formed hand seals.

A terrifying suction force suddenly burst from the great cauldron beneath him, drawing all the energy released by the melting Spirit Jade into it.

As the Spirit Jade melted completely, a strange red mass of blood the size of a fist appeared before the three of them.

"Gulp!"

Feeling the strange fluctuations emanating from the blood mass, Ling Xi couldn't help swallowing.

An unprecedented longing surged in his heart. Before he knew it, he had taken a step forward.

But he stopped after that single step. The moment he moved, Ling Xi jolted and came back to his senses, breaking free of that state of craving.

"This kid really is impressive. He managed to break free so quickly from the instinctive desire we members of the Ancient Races feel for bloodline power."

Seeing Ling Xi regain his senses after only one step, Ling Yang couldn't help praising him.

"Hmph. Do you even know whose disciple he is?"

Ling You snorted, and a hint of pride entered his gaze as he looked at Ling Xi.

"This is the Ling Clan's bloodline power?"

Ling Xi ignored the two of them, his gaze fixed on the mass of blood.

If his soul power hadn't been so strong, he didn't know what a fool he might have made of himself just now.

"That's right. This is the bloodline power of our Ling Clan."

Ling Yang nodded slightly and raised a hand.

The blood mass, condensed from the Ling Clan's bloodline power, dropped straight into the great cauldron.

Strangely, as soon as the bloodline power touched the liquid inside, it quickly dissolved, turning the liquid in the cauldron blood-red as well.

"The liquid in this cauldron is the energy liquefied from that Spirit Jade. It was left behind by the Ling Clan elder who sealed away this bloodline power."

Ling Yang's expression turned slightly wistful.

"Judging by the strength of this bloodline power and the energy that remains, that elder was probably a Peak Dou Venerate... or even a Half-Saint."

Half-Saint!

Ling Xi's gaze sharpened.

In an age when no Dou Di could be born, the word "Saint" represented the pinnacle of this continent.

Though only a Half-Saint, he still bore the title of Saint—he was in a league far beyond ordinary Dou Venerate experts.

"This bloodline power is so concentrated that once refined, it should at the very least be enough to raise a clan member with only a First-grade Bloodline to the Seventh-grade level."

After sensing the strength of the bloodline power in the cauldron, Ling Yang was also somewhat astonished.

Seventh-grade bloodline power might not seem particularly impressive, but even in the Ancient Clan, it was the sort of bloodline rank possessed by figures like the Eight Great Commanders.

As for the Ling Clan... the most talented member they'd produced in the past fifty years had only possessed a Sixth-grade Bloodline.

"Ling Xi, if you're willing to hand this bloodline power over to the clan, I'll make sure they offer you a High Earth Tier method and a matching Dou Technique as a reward."

Looking at the bloodline power in the cauldron, Ling Yang couldn't help making the offer.

There was no helping it. The Ling Clan's bloodline power was nearly depleted. A Seventh-grade bloodline would be enough to shape a future top-tier powerhouse for the clan.

Ling You glanced at Ling Yang but didn't speak this time.

He was a member of the Ling Clan, too, and naturally understood how close the clan was to exhausting its bloodline power.

"Senior Ling Yang, there's no need to say more. Please help me with the Blood Exchange."

A High Earth Tier method and some matching Dou Technique might be tempting to others, but they were worthless to Ling Xi.

Ling Yang's gaze shifted to Ling You.

"Help him with the Blood Exchange."

Ling You shook his head slightly.

"The Ling Clan's current situation can't be resolved by a single Seventh-grade bloodline."

"True."

Ling Yang gave a bitter laugh, then turned to Ling Xi.

"Take off all your clothes and get into this cauldron."