Demon King Blood

As far as Lin Xinghe knew, fewer than five percent of the outstanding graduates from the Thirteen Immortal Sects across all generations had advanced to become Nascent Soul True Lords.

Yet the odds of an Immortal Sect First Seat advancing to become a Nascent Soul True Lord were as high as seventy percent, which was tantamount to having a ticket to the Nascent Soul stage already reserved.

The importance of the position of Immortal Sect First Seat was plain to see.

The reputation of the Cold Domain Lin Family as a True Venerable Clan was indeed intimidating, but competition within the clan was fierce, and opportunities were rare. In terms of prestige, it was nowhere near the Immortal Sect First Seat.

The reason Lin Xinghe could now throw his weight around in the Fallen Dragon Prefecture Spirit Beast Pavilion was not his status as a member of a True Venerable Clan, but the privilege of being the direct grandson of a Nascent Soul True Lord.

"My name is Lin Xinghe. I'm sixteen, at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, with a Water-Heavenly Spiritual Root. I'm fully confident that I can break through to the Tenth Layer of Qi Refining, reach the Qi Refining Limit, and forge a Supreme-Grade Dao Foundation."

He gazed intently at the Variant Spirit Turtle and said confidently, "Would you be willing to become my Companion Beast?"

The young turtle paused, then began to examine Lin Xinghe seriously.

This was a courtesy none of the cultivators before him had received.

Seeing this, Chen Beiwu couldn't help but feel a bead of cold sweat in his heart.

If the other party succeeded in winning the spirit turtle's approval, it would be difficult for him to come across another Companion Beast with Fortune as golden as this one's.

Damn it, don't tell me this kid is actually going to pull it off! Guan Ange narrowed his eyes.

Lin Xinghe wasn't a cultivator from Fallen Dragon Prefecture. If he managed to contract the young spirit turtle, wouldn't that mean that Fallen Dragon Prefecture's cultivation clans were worthless? That was something he couldn't accept.

"Roar."

Under everyone's gaze, the Variant Spirit Turtle shook its head.

Water-Attributed Heavenly Spiritual Roots were nothing unusual in the Cavern Mystery Immortal Sect, and there was nothing particularly praiseworthy about a Supreme-Grade Dao Foundation forged by a cultivator at the Tenth Layer of Qi Refining-in other words, at the Qi Refining Limit.

But to avoid missing a destined partner, it had deliberately used its Spirit Bond Sense talent to inspect him.

Although the other party had an excellent Fate Pattern, it felt no spiritual resonance at all, which meant their Fate Patterns weren't compatible enough.

In all likelihood, it wouldn't be able to draw on the great momentum of the other party's Fate Pattern to awaken the Ancient Bloodline within its body, break through its shackles, and transform into a Fourth-Tier Mysterious Beast.

In these circumstances, even if Lin Xinghe were fully confident that he could break through the Qi Refining Limit, advance to the Eleventh Layer of Qi Refining, and forge a Transcendent-Grade Dao Foundation, it still wouldn't choose to form a Contract with him.

After all, the Cavern Mystery Immortal Sect was full of cultivation prodigies!

If not for the peerless Hidden Dragon the ancestor had spoken of, it wouldn't have left the Cavern Mystery Immortal Sect to make a special trip to remote Fallen Dragon Prefecture in search of a destined partner.

Lin Xinghe took a deep breath, showing no surprise.

Cultivators who had become First Seats of the Thirteen Immortal Sects in past generations had all been at least the foremost immortal seedlings of a province.

His aptitude ranked among the top three in Fallen Dragon Prefecture, but in Heavenly Derivation Commandery, he wouldn't even make the top hundred, much less in the next level up, Origin-Opening Province.

Lin Xinghe had spoken up earlier because he was betting that his Fate Pattern, [Dark Abyss Flood-Dragon Fate], could move the Variant Spirit Turtle. Unfortunately, he had still failed in the end.

But it didn't matter. He had prepared other means to obtain this great opportunity.

Even a Heavenly Spiritual Root wasn't enough to move it. It seems the Darkwater Spirit Turtle places great importance on Fate Patterns. Chen Beiwu relaxed his fingertips, which had gone faintly white from clenching.

Good, good, good. Turtle bro, you're awesome! Guan Ange stifled his laughter.

If everyone failed, then it was as if nobody had failed.

Even Lin Xinghe had been unable to gain the Variant Spirit Turtle's approval, so his own failure to subdue it was entirely understandable. That meant his innate talent and aptitude were on par with those of a second-generation member of a True Venerable Clan.

Lin Xinghe stepped forward and stood in front of the spirit turtle. A glimmer flashed across the Storage Ring on his finger, and a jade box appeared in his palm.

This again. A trace of impatience showed in the latter's eyes.

These cultivation scions from remote places had no sense of their own limitations. They thought they could move it with a few trifles.

It wasn't some ignorant, simple-minded spirit beast.

If they were really competing in wealth, resources, and background, forget Fallen Dragon Prefecture-even in Heavenly Derivation Commandery, few could compare with it, born of the Cavern Mystery Immortal Sect and cherished by its ancestor.

"Buzz!"

As the jade box opened, a red gemstone the size of a fist was revealed, with what seemed to be blood flowing within it.

A savage Aura that shook heaven and earth erupted with a thunderous roar, sweeping across all of Four Seas Lake and rousing countless Spirit Beasts, as if the King of Ten Thousand Demons had descended.

Under the shroud of this terrifying Aura, the Qi Refining cultivators present found their breathing constricted and froze in place. They couldn't even circulate Magic Power or move a finger. Only a few cultivation scions, relying on the treasures they carried, could barely keep moving.

The Variant Spirit Turtle's eyes narrowed as well. The tremor deep in its Bloodline made it feel as if it were facing a powerful enemy.

"Roar!"

As the Aura gradually gathered, the phantom of a colossal beast suddenly appeared. Its shell was as thick as a mountain, and its limbs as stout as heavenly pillars. It let out a furious roar that shook the four directions.

Seeing the phantom beast's appearance, Guan Ange couldn't help exclaiming, "Blood taking shape, Aura undying-this is the blood of a Fourth-Realm Demon King, the Azure Waves Mysterious Softshell Turtle!"

His words sent shock through the entire crowd.

When Magic Power had been tempered by five hundred years of Dao Practice and condensed a trace of undying nature, the powerful being was known as a Third-Realm Demon General. Such beings were comparable to Golden Core cultivators and could kill a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with a single strike.

But the legendary Fourth-Realm Demon Kings were even more terrifying. Their strength was equivalent to that of a Nascent Soul True Lord among human cultivators. With a thousand years of Dao Practice, they could condense Immortal Blood and an Immortal Aura, earning them the name King of Ten Thousand Demons among cultivators.

Even if beings of this level fell, a drop of their Essence Blood could retain its undying spirituality and endure between heaven and earth. They could even use their undying Aura to kill Golden Core cultivators, possess a Third-Realm Demon General and undergo Nirvana rebirth, continuing their Bloodline.

Thinking of the Demon King Essence Blood's immense power and danger, Guan Ange swallowed and instinctively backed away several steps to put some distance between himself and it.

Although Demon King Blood was a level below Demon King Essence Blood, it still wasn't something an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator could withstand.

It would be one thing if the True Lord's seal inside the jade box remained intact. But if something went wrong with the seal and the Demon King Blood within regained its undying spirituality and ran amok, not one of the cultivators present would escape.

Even with a Golden Core Dharma Treasure and a Third-Tier Talisman on him, Guan Ange still wasn't confident he could escape with his life from the Demon King Blood.

Fortunately, this was the Spirit Beast Pavilion, where the Immortal Alliance had countless powerful cultivators. At least the most basic safety measures were in place. Otherwise, he would already have turned on his heel and fled.

"If you're willing to form a Companion Beast Contract with me, this drop of Demon King Blood is yours," Lin Xinghe said in a low voice.

At this moment, for the sake of the Cavern Mystery First Seat position, he had brought out the trump card he'd kept hidden up his sleeve.

Although the Cold Domain Lin Family was a True Venerable Clan, that didn't mean Demon King Blood was anything less than precious.

On the contrary, Demon King Blood was a rare resource that even Golden Core True Persons coveted. Even the Lin Family's guest Elders might not be able to exchange for it.

But Lin Xinghe was different. He had a Nascent Soul True Lord for a grandfather to bear most of the pressure for him, which was how he had managed, with difficulty, to obtain a drop.

The Variant Spirit Turtle stared fixedly at the Demon King Blood, a flicker of hesitation passing through its eyes.

It had to admit that it had underestimated the determination and background of the Qi Refining cultivator before it.

If any other Darkwater Spirit Turtle had encountered such a treasure, it would probably already have submitted and acknowledged him as its master.