Chapter 1831: Dragon Blood Advances

“Elevate its grade?” Zhang Xuan frowned.

“Dragons have ranks, and dragon blood also varies in purity!” the Dragonbone Divine Spear said.

Zhang Xuan nodded. In fact, the Dragon clan was somewhat similar to the aristocratic families on the Master Teacher Continent: the purer and more central the bloodline, the higher the talent and the stronger the combat power. Previously, creatures like the Infernal Azure Dragon Beast, though their names included 'dragon,' actually had very thin bloodlines, making them insignificant, like distant relatives in a family. That's why they couldn't withstand his Eight Notes of the Heavenly Dragon and immediately surrendered. This fist-sized drop of dragon blood before him should be the ancient saint-level dragon bloodline mentioned by Ancient Sage Boxun. It was indeed far purer than that of the Infernal Azure Dragon Beast.

“Purifying blood, somewhat similar to advancing a bloodline, is normally impossible. But... they have fused the blood of ancient sages and many cultivators, using the purest water as an aid. Perhaps they really can succeed in making the blood even purer and elevating it to a higher level...” The Dragonbone Divine Spear was filled with excitement. Under normal circumstances, bloodline advancement was almost impossible. However, with so many powerful cultivators present and two ancient sages sacrificing themselves, it might indeed succeed.

Boom! Before its words finished, the dragon blood, fused with Zhang Xuan's and the elder's blood, grew increasingly powerful, seeming uncontrollable and threatening to tear through space.

“It succeeded...” The elder's eyes lit up with excitement. He quickly stood up and looked at Zhang Xuan, saying, “Lanya, it's about to succeed! Hurry and perform the sacrifice...”

“Sacrifice?” Zhang Xuan looked around, not finding a single offering, which gave him a headache. Although he had witnessed Spirit Devils performing sacrifices, he had never presided over one and didn't know the exact steps. If he were to step forward now, he would likely be exposed immediately! After all, no matter how good his disguise, he wasn't a true Spirit Devil. If the sacrifice could succeed, he wouldn't have needed to follow Emperor Chen Yong here. He knew his previous evasion had already made the elder suspicious. If he refused again now, the elder would likely act immediately. Zhang Xuan paused, then suddenly his face flushed. “Pfft!” He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, swayed, and collapsed to the ground.

“You...” The elder trembled with rage, never expecting Ancient Sage Lanya to collapse at such a crucial moment. “Once this is over, I will certainly report this to the Spirit Emperor. Just wait for your punishment!” Finishing his words, he bothered no longer with the fellow and raised his hand. Whoosh! In the blink of an eye, countless sword qi appeared above him, and with a gentle sweep, he unleashed them. Splat! Splat! Splat! The sword qi whistled down, striking the hundred-plus Grand Sage experts seated around the altar. At the same moment, over a hundred heads flew into the air, and blood flowed, surging towards the altar.

Zhang Xuan's eyebrows twitched. A hundred-plus Grand Sage experts were directly slaughtered. No wonder he couldn't find any treasures earlier... It turned out they were using lives as sacrifices! How ruthless!

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! As the blood filled the patterns on the altar, a violent roar echoed, and countless rays of light descended from the sky, enveloping the altar. “Great God, we sacrifice our lives, seeking only for the dragon blood to become purer...” the elder's voice resounded. He spoke in the unique language of the Spirit Devils, which gave off an eerie, unfathomable, and chilling sensation that seemed to penetrate one's very soul.

“As you wish!” A voice slowly echoed from within the light. Zhang Xuan quickly looked up through the light, wanting to see if it was Luo Ruoxi, but he found no one there. The voice was somewhat deep, making it impossible to tell if it was male or female. Boom! As the voice ceased, the light suddenly intensified. A peculiar power enveloped the area, and under the illumination of the light, the dragon blood continuously writhed. The dragon form within it seemed to receive great nourishment, suddenly growing larger by a full circle, its power becoming even more immense and formidable. Normal cultivators could not purify dragon blood, but a deity could easily accomplish it! The opponent had gathered all that power and sacrificed so many lives, all to summon a deity.

Gurgle! Gurgle! Gurgle! Gurgle! As the dragon form grew stronger, the blood itself shrank. What was once fist-sized was now merely the size of a fingernail moments later. Although its size diminished, the power it emitted grew increasingly immense, giving off a crushing sensation, as if it came from another world and could tear through space at any moment. Zhang Xuan had only felt this kind of sensation once before, from Luo Ruoxi. Such power was beyond the Master Teacher Continent's capacity to bear, compelling its wielder to depart. Clearly, the blood before him had broken through the 'dripping blood for rebirth' realm and reached a higher level.

“Master, if I can consume it, not only will I break my seal, but I can also advance further, directly assaulting Ancient Sage Fourth-stage...” Filled with excitement, the Dragonbone Divine Spear trembled incessantly.

“Wait a moment. Let's act once the deity's power dissipates!” Zhang Xuan's face also flushed, and he secretly instructed it. He had only intended to unseal the Dragonbone Divine Spear. He never dreamed he would encounter the other party sacrificing to elevate the dragon blood's grade. Now that the dragon blood's grade had been raised, if the Dragonbone Divine Spear consumed it, it would undoubtedly undergo earth-shattering changes, like a carp leaping over the dragon gate. At that time, wielding the spear, what would he have to fear, even if the Spirit Emperor recovered to his peak? Any expert, no matter how powerful, could be shattered with a single spear thrust! However, even if he wanted to consume this drop of blood, he needed to wait for the deity's power to recede. Otherwise, the wrath of a deity was something he couldn't withstand.

“Mm!” The Dragonbone Divine Spear nodded hurriedly, coiling around Zhang Xuan's waist, still brimming with excitement. Even Ancient Sage Ran Qiu from back then didn't have such an opportunity. If it could find this kind of blood and combine it with its own strength, even if it couldn't match Confucius, it could definitely fight against the Fiend.

Boom! As they secretly communicated, the deity's aura in the air vanished like a receding tide, and the light enveloping the altar gradually began to dissipate. The dragon blood in the flames had now become just a single drop, as crimson as fire, appearing ready to leap from the altar at any moment, soar into the sky, and vanish without a trace. However, under the array's cover, it was unable to escape.

“It succeeded...” The elder's eyes reddened with excitement. Having persevered for nearly a month, it was finally complete. He immediately felt his body go limp, as if he could collapse to the ground at any moment. Clenching his fist, the elder let out a roar, “Welcome, Spirit Emperor...”

“Damn it, now's the time! Go snatch it!” Hearing that he was about to welcome the Spirit Emperor, Zhang Xuan's expression changed. Once that fellow appeared, he wouldn't get a share of the blood. With a slap of his hand, the Dragonbone Divine Spear immediately shot out from his waist. It seemed to understand the urgency of the situation and, without further delay, transformed into a black bone dragon, flying towards the altar.

“You... you're not Ancient Sage Lanya? Who are you, exactly?” Realizing what was happening, the elder's expression changed. Unable to restrain himself any longer, he lunged forward. Whoosh! The Ancient Sage's power erupted from his body, immediately forming a barrier in the air, blocking the Dragonbone Divine Spear.