Blood Exchange?

"Have you thought this through? The Blood Exchange Method is extremely dangerous."

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

With that, 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 the Ling Clan's Foundation Establishment Cultivation Method, the Myriad Spirits Returning to Origin Art?"

Ling Xi's foundation was rock-solid. The High Yellow Tier Myriad Spirits Returning to Origin Art was already starting to limit his cultivation, both in Dou Qi capacity and the speed of refining Heaven and Earth energy.

"Senior Ling Yang jests. The Myriad Spirits Returning to Origin Art may be a Foundation Establishment Cultivation Method, but it's no worse than some Mysterious Tier low or even mid-grade techniques."

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

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

This was, of course, Ling Xi's deliberate excuse to brush off Ling Yang.

A High Heaven Tier cultivation method was an extremely precious clan-guarding technique even among Ancient Races, and its difficulty of cultivation far surpassed ordinary methods.

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

Ling Yang chuckled helplessly.

"Even your teacher and I only cultivate a High Earth Tier method from the clan... that's the highest level we can access."

Within Ancient Races, Bloodline Power was strictly hierarchical. Without reaching a certain bloodline level, one couldn't even access the clan's deeper Dou Techniques and secret arts.

"In that case, please help me with the Blood Exchange Method, Senior."

Ling Xi exhaled a mouthful of stale air. Glancing at Ling You's already aged face beside him, his heart stirred inexplicably.

"Teacher, rest assured. It's just a blood exchange—nothing will go wrong."

"I know. I trust you."

Ling You nodded, his face showing not a trace of worry, only a gentle smile.

Ling Xi instinctively felt something was off, but before he could dwell on it, Ling Yang's voice rang out nearby.

"Since you've made your decision, I need to prepare."

Ling Xi subconsciously looked toward Ling Yang. He saw Ling Yang hovering in mid-air above the large cauldron, while the Spirit Jade Ling Xi had picked up as a bargain floated clearly before him.

Ling Yang lightly sliced his other finger, and bright red blood instantly gathered at his fingertip.

"Activate!"

Ling Yang barked in an unusually solemn tone, his bloodstained finger tracing a strange symbol in the air at a speed invisible to the naked eye.

"Our Ling Clan's Spirit Jade can only be unlocked by our clan's secret arts."

Seeing Ling Xi's puzzled expression, Ling You explained from the side.

Ling Xi nodded slightly, but his gaze remained fixed on Ling Yang in mid-air.

The moment the symbol formed from Ling Yang's essence blood touched the Spirit Jade, both burst into brilliant light.

Then, the jade seal containing the Ling Clan's Dou Bloodline Power began to slowly melt.

A surge of vast energy swept through the entire cave as the jade dissolved.

"Condense!"

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

A terrifying suction force erupted from the cauldron beneath him, drawing in all the energy released by the melting Spirit Jade.

As the jade completely dissolved, a strange, fist-sized red blood mass appeared before the three of them.

"Gulp!"

Feeling the peculiar fluctuation from the blood mass, Ling Xi couldn't help swallowing.

A craving he had never felt before surged within him, and he unconsciously took a step forward.

But only one step. After that, Ling Xi shuddered and snapped out of that state of desire.

"This kid's really something, breaking free from our Ancient Race's instinctive craving for Bloodline Power so quickly."

Seeing Ling Xi regain clarity after just one step, Ling Yang couldn't help praising him.

"Hmph, look whose disciple he is."

Ling You snorted, a hint of pride in his gaze toward Ling Xi.

"So this is the Ling Clan's Bloodline Power?"

Ling Xi ignored them both, his eyes fixed on the blood mass.

If not for his exceptional Soul Power, he didn't know what embarrassment he might have faced.

"That's right, this is our Ling Clan's Bloodline Power."

Ling Yang nodded slightly and flicked his hand.

The blood mass, condensed from the Ling Clan's Bloodline Power, landed directly in the cauldron.

Strangely enough, the moment the Bloodline Power touched the liquid in the cauldron, it rapidly dissolved, dyeing the entire liquid a blood-red hue.

"The liquid in this cauldron is the liquefied energy of that Spirit Jade—the legacy left by that Ling Clan elder who sealed this Bloodline Power."

Ling Yang's expression carried a hint of emotion.

"Judging by the intensity of this trace of Bloodline Power and the residual energy, that elder was likely a Peak Dou Venerate... or even a Half-Saint."

Half-Saint!

Ling Xi's gaze sharpened.

In this era where no Dou Di could be born, the word "Saint" represented the pinnacle of existence on this continent.

Though only a Half-Saint, it still bore the Saint title, far beyond what ordinary Dou Venerates could hope to match.

"This Bloodline Power is so dense that after refining it, even a clan member with only a First-grade Bloodline could ascend to the Seventh-grade level."

Sensing the strength of the Bloodline Power in the cauldron, Ling Yang was somewhat startled.

Seventh-grade Bloodline might not sound extraordinary, but in the Ancient Clan, it was a rank only figures like the Eight Great Commanders possessed.

As for the Ling Clan... the most outstanding genius in the last fifty years had only reached Sixth-grade Bloodline.

"Ling Xi, if you're willing to turn this Bloodline Power over to the clan, I'll persuade the clan to offer a High Earth Tier cultivation method and a matching Dou Technique as a reward."

After eyeing the Bloodline Power in the cauldron, Ling Yang couldn't help but speak.

He had no choice—the Ling Clan's Bloodline Power was nearly depleted, and a Seventh-grade Bloodline could forge a future top-tier expert for them.

Ling You glanced at Ling Yang but said nothing this time.

He too was a member of the Ling Clan and understood all too well the current state of their dwindling Bloodline Power.

"Senior Ling Yang, say no more. Please proceed with the Blood Exchange for me."

A High Earth Tier cultivation method and its matching Dou Technique might be a great temptation to others, but in Ling Xi's eyes, they were worthless.

Ling Yang's gaze shifted to Ling You.

"Perform the Blood Exchange for him."

Ling You shook his head slightly.

"The Ling Clan's current predicament can't be solved by a mere Seventh-grade Bloodline Power."

"True."

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

"Strip off your clothes and enter this cauldron."