Qi and Blood Like a Dragon, the Fifth Ring in Sight

Time flowed like water, silently passing. Three years had gone by in the blink of an eye since Yu Yuanchen emerged from seclusion and began taking part in Family Affairs.

Over those three years, the situation in the southeast of the Heaven Dou Empire had grown increasingly delicate. Friction between the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Black Flame Demon Flood Dragon Family, along with its allies, had never ceased. Though no large-scale conflict had erupted, small-scale killings, battles over resource sites, covert assassinations, and counter-assassinations had almost never stopped. Both sides were like drawn bowstrings, maintaining a dangerous balance as they gathered strength and waited for the chance to shatter the deadlock completely.

Against this undercurrent of turmoil, a hidden excitement and anticipation stirred within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan because of an unexpected discovery made by Yu Yuanchen.

It had all begun with Yu Yuanchen's deep exploration of his own strength.

Thanks to the immense resources the clan had allocated to him because of his outstanding performance—carefully prepared high-grade Soul Beast Meat every day, supplemented by various century-old Spiritual Materials that strengthened his foundation, and even soups brewed from thousand-year spiritual herbs on occasion—along with his unrelenting cultivation and persistent tempering with Thunder God Power, his Soul Power had advanced at an astonishing pace. In just three years, he had risen from Rank 43 and broken through to the Rank 50 bottleneck as easily as splitting bamboo!

Even across the entire continent, such speed would leave most so-called geniuses far behind.

Yet his rapid growth in Soul Power was not his greatest gain.

While continuously tempering his body with Thunder God Power, purifying his bloodline, and strengthening the Dragon Blood Origin fed back by that Purple Gold Scale, Yu Yuanchen had not neglected to deeply tap into his own potential. He repeatedly studied the notes left behind by the clan's predecessors, especially the sections concerning the development of Physical Strength.

Among them, a few words left by an elder from centuries ago, famed for his formidable physique, caught his attention. That elder had vaguely mentioned in his notes that, during a life-and-death crisis, he had accidentally stirred another force hidden deep within his bloodline. It was not Soul Power, but something connected to Qi and Blood. When unleashed, it could instantly cause his Physical Strength and defense to surge, as though a savage dragon had possessed him. He called this power Dragon Blood Boiling, but regrettably failed to develop a stable method to trigger and control it. In his later years, he speculated that it was closely tied to the Martial Soul Origin and the strength of one's life essence—Qi and Blood.

"Bloodline Power..." Yu Yuanchen mulled over the term again and again. It reminded him of Tang Da'er from Dou San. The Golden Dragon King Bloodline had granted him an all-purpose, overwhelmingly powerful Qi and Blood force, almost like a second Martial Soul. Even if the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon was far inferior to the Golden Dragon King, it was still a dragon born with a powerful body. Tang Da'er could make his Qi and Blood like a dragon with just one ring, so was it really too much to expect him to trigger Bloodline Power with four rings? There was great potential here. He recalled certain theories from his previous life: Qi and Blood were the foundation of life, directly tied to Physical Strength, vitality, and Life Force. Soul Masters in this world relied too heavily on Soul Power and Soul Skills, seemingly placing little importance on developing their own Qi and Blood.

"My Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul already grants me a powerful physique. Combined with the constant tempering of Thunder God Power, my Qi and Blood should be far more vigorous than those of Soul Masters at the same rank. Can I try actively guiding and triggering this force?"

Once the thought arose, he could no longer suppress it.

He began experimenting. At first, he had no clue where to start. He could only use his powerful Spiritual Power to look inward, sensing the flow of his blood and the beat of his heart as he tried to guide and gather that intangible Qi and Blood with his mind. The process was tedious and difficult. His repeated attempts all ended in failure, and his excessive concentration even caused his Soul Power to become restless.

But he did not give up. Deep within Thunder Gorge, while using Thunder God Power to temper his body and feeling that Purple-Gold energy flow through him, bringing numbness and stinging pain, inspiration suddenly struck. He tried merging a thread of Spiritual Power into the circulating Thunder God Power. Rather than controlling it, he acted as a guide, directing that higher energy to ignite the boiling Qi and Blood throughout his body.

"Boom!"

It was as though a spark had fallen into boiling oil!

The instant Thunder God Power touched his vigorous Qi and Blood, a scorching force erupted from deep within him! This force was unlike the cool circulation of Soul Power and unlike the violent explosions of lightning. It was more restrained, thicker, and filled with a primal sense of Life Force and power! His blood seemed to race through his body at that moment. His skin flushed slightly, his temperature rose, his muscle fibers trembled faintly, and an unprecedented sense of strength flooded his limbs and bones!

He instinctively raised his dragonized right arm. Without using Soul Power, relying only on the surging Bloodline Power, he threw a punch at a Black Iron Pillar beside him that was used to test strength.

"Thud!!"

A deep boom like a giant war drum burst forth! A clear fist imprint had appeared on the Black Iron Pillar, which normally required the strength of a Soul Emperor to leave a mark! Though it was not deep, it had been caused by pure Physical Strength!

"Success!" Delight burst from Yu Yuanchen's eyes. He carefully felt this New Life of power. It was like a second energy system hidden inside his body, existing alongside Soul Power without conflict—perhaps even complementing it!

He tried integrating this Bloodline Power into his Soul Skills.

"First Soul Skill, Thunder Dragon Claw!"

His dragonized right claw shot out, and Blue Electric Light flashed brilliantly. But unlike before, this thunder claw was far more solidified. The arcs of lightning around its talons were denser and more dazzling, and each swing carried a strange quality—heavy as a mountain, yet swift as thunder! Its power had increased by nearly thirty percent! Moreover, he keenly noticed that his Soul Power consumption had actually decreased slightly!

It seemed that the addition of Bloodline Power made the Soul Skill flow more smoothly, reducing unnecessary leakage of Soul Power while allowing the Qi and Blood themselves to bear part of the energy burden.

What delighted him even more was that when he triggered Bloodline Power, the phantom of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul behind him underwent a subtle change. Its previously somewhat energy-like form became more solidified and lifelike, its scales distinct and its Dragon Eyes seemingly gaining a trace of liveliness. It was no longer merely a gathering of Soul Power, but seemed to possess a genuine foundation and body! The Purple-Gold scale atop the Martial Soul phantom's head also seemed to stir slightly, its restrained golden glow becoming more active under the nourishment of Bloodline Power.

"Qi and Blood strengthen the bloodline! And a stronger bloodline feeds back into the Martial Soul, stabilizing its foundation and accelerating its evolution!" Yu Yuanchen instantly understood the key. It was like a virtuous cycle: a powerful physique and special energy—Thunder God Power—triggered vigorous Qi and Blood; Qi and Blood nourished and strengthened the bloodline origin; a stronger bloodline made the Martial Soul more solidified, raised its potential, and accelerated its evolution; and a stronger Martial Soul then fed back into the body, improving the physique and Soul Power aptitude.

He could even vaguely feel that his efficiency in absorbing Soul Power and sensing Heaven and Earth Origin Qi had also improved slightly alongside the growth of his Qi and Blood and bloodline. This meant that his innate aptitude was gradually being improved and elevated through acquired means!

This discovery was no small matter!

Yu Yuanchen did not hide it. He immediately gave his grandfather, Yu Boxuan, a detailed report on how to trigger Bloodline Power and the various benefits it brought.

When Yu Boxuan first heard of it, he was somewhat skeptical. But after Yu Yuanchen left a fist imprint on the Black Iron Pillar using nothing but Bloodline Power in front of him, then demonstrated the change in a Soul Skill's power under the boost of Qi and Blood, the well-traveled Tyrant Dragon Douluo was completely stunned!

He immediately summoned all the core clan elders and convened the highest level of secret council.

When Yu Yuanchen demonstrated it again before the elders, the entire chamber fell deathly silent before erupting into uncontrollable excitement and clamor!

"Bloodline Power! It is actually Bloodline Power!"

"Strengthening the bloodline! Improving the Martial Soul's foundation! This... this is practically a heaven-defying art of changing one's fate!"

"If every child of our clan can trigger this force, why would we need to fear that the clan will not prosper?!"

The elders' eyes gleamed as though they had seen a road leading straight to the clan's rise.

However, after urgent deliberation and limited trials—they had several clansmen of different ages attempt it—they discovered that things were not so simple.

It was best to trigger Bloodline Power from a young age, pairing it with specific body-tempering methods and resource nourishment so it could be steadily nurtured and strengthened over time. For elders like them, whose bodies had already taken shape and whose Qi and Blood were beginning to decline, the effect was negligible. Forcing the process might even damage their origins.

Yu Yuanchen had succeeded partly because he was still young, with his body in its prime stage of growth and highly malleable. More importantly, however, was the marvel of Thunder God Power! This energy, whose essence was extraordinarily high, was like the most precise key and the most powerful catalyst. It had forcibly opened the door to the hidden storehouse of Qi and Blood within him, providing the initial and most crucial guidance and support.

"What a pity... Thunder God Power is Chen'er's unique opportunity and cannot be replicated." One elder sighed, then immediately grew energized again. "But at least we have found the direction! From now on, the clan must adjust its training strategy. We must increase our investment in body-tempering resources for all young disciples and explore systematic methods for nurturing Qi and Blood! In the long run, the overall talent of the younger generation of our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will surely rise to a new level!"

This discovery infused the clan's future with limitless hope and motivation. Yu Boxuan immediately ordered it classified as the clan's highest secret, strictly forbidding any leak, while beginning to formulate a new training plan for the younger generation.

As the source of it all, Yu Yuanchen's status within the clan became even more extraordinary. He was not only an heir of exceptional talent, but also a great contributor who had opened a new path for the clan.

Now, another crucial hurdle on a Soul Master's path lay before Yu Yuanchen—obtaining his Fifth Soul Ring.

Rank 50 was a watershed for Soul Masters. The theoretical limit for a Fifth Soul Ring was around 12,000 years. But for Yu Yuanchen, that was clearly far from enough.

"Your foundation is exceptionally solid, your Qi and Blood are vigorous, and your Soul Power is highly condensed. You also have Thunder God Power and your initially awakened Dragon Blood Origin protecting you." Yu Boxuan looked at his grandson, whose Thick Aura and clear gaze were striking, and said solemnly, "In Grandfather's opinion, any Fifth Soul Ring below 30,000 years should be possible for you!"

Thirty thousand years! That was an age most Soul Masters would only dare dream of for their seventh Soul Ring!

Yet Yu Yuanchen shook his head, his eyes firm. "Grandfather, 30,000 years is not my limit. My target is around 35,000 years, and it must be a Dragon Species Soul Beast!"

"35,000 years? A Dragon Species?" Yu Boxuan's Pupils Contracted. Even he felt his heart skip a beat at that choice. A 35,000-Year Dragon Species Soul Beast possessed strength comparable to that of some ordinary Soul Douluos! Furthermore, Dragon Species Soul Beasts were proud and unruly, with powerful souls. The risk of absorbing their Soul Rings far exceeded that of other Soul Beasts of the same age.

"Yes." Yu Yuanchen explained, "That Thunder Spirit is good, but it is not of the dragon lineage in the end. Now that my Qi and Blood have begun to take shape and my bloodline urgently needs strengthening, I need pure dragon origin to ignite this fire! The risk may be great, but so are the rewards. And..." He paused, a flash of Purple-Gold lightning gleaming in his eyes. "I am confident."

His confidence came from the steadily growing Thunder God Power, from his initially awakened Thick Blood Qi, from the Purple Gold Scale that was slowly transforming and possessed a special affinity for dragon-type power, and even more from the practical confidence and unyielding will he had gained by secretly killing several Soul Emperors over the past two years.

Yu Boxuan gazed at his grandson for a long time. In his eyes, he saw an unquestionable confidence and determination. He knew that this grandson's mind was far more mature than those of his peers. He would never act without reason.

"Good!" Yu Boxuan finally nodded heavily, a trace of resolve flashing in his eyes. "Since you have such ambition, Grandfather will take this gamble with you! The clan will use every resource at its disposal to find a suitable target for you!"

A magnificent Scroll Painting seemed to slowly unfold as Yu Yuanchen set his target for the Fifth Soul Ring. The Hidden Dragon had sharpened its claws and fangs to their peak. Its next step would be to venture deep into the wilds, battle a true dragon, seize its Soul Ring, and forge an unrivaled foundation for itself!

The road to becoming strong had never lacked risks and challenges. Yu Yuanchen was already prepared.