16: Dragon Blood Grass

His Bloodline had risen to 48%, only a step away from the qualitative change at 50%.

However, the closer he got to his goal, the more cautious Gao De became, not daring to take risks lightly.

He knew deep down that in his current state, in the eyes of truly powerful Yao Race or Human Cultivators, he was nothing more than a "delicious snack" full of dragon blood and nourishment. He had to proceed steadily.

He coiled atop the Spiritual Vein spring, consolidating his skyrocketing cultivation while reflecting on the battle with the atavistic giant python.

Suddenly, a question surfaced in his mind: "Why did that big snake show such obvious signs of atavism? Was it merely good luck?"

In this world, every effect must have a cause.

Especially with Bloodline evolution, it often requires a specific Opportunity or external stimulation.

He immediately issued an order through his Divine Sense to the few Crab Generals who possessed slightly higher intelligence and had clashed with the giant python multiple times: "Go to its lair and search carefully to see if there is anything unusual!"

The Crab Generals received the order, brandished their claws, and crawled along the familiar paths the giant python frequent towards its lair on the back mountain.

The wait was not long. About half a day later, the Crab Generals returned, carefully carrying a peculiar plant in their claws as they swam back.

The plant was dark red all over, shaped like orchid grass but with only three long, narrow leaves. The surface of the leaves was covered in naturally formed patterns resembling dragon scales. The entire plant emitted an extremely faint yet strange aura that made the dragon blood inside Gao De's body throb slightly! Especially at the root of the plant, a small, inconspicuous dark red fragmented bone with ancient patterns was entangled; that throbbing sensation likely originated from this object.

An invisible ripple also spread out after the bone entered the water.

"This is... dragon blood grass? And this bone..." Gao De's pupils constricted slightly as he recognized the Origin of the plant.

This was a strange plant that only grew in the burial grounds of fallen Dragon Clan members or Dragon-Blooded Creatures with thick Bloodlines, growing by absorbing dragon blood essence.

As for that fragmented bone, its aura was even more ancient and pure; it was likely the remains of an ancient beast possessing a Dragon Clan Bloodline!

No wonder that giant python could show signs of atavism! It must have accidentally discovered this dragon blood grass growing next to the ancient beast fragmented bone and stayed there long-term. Nourished by the faint Dragon Qi it emitted, over time, it stimulated its own thin dragon blood. After all, most snakes possess a trace of imperceptible Dragon Clan Bloodline, leading to a mutation and the growth of a dragon horn sarcoma!

"An Opportunity! This is a true Opportunity!" Gao De was ecstatic.

The Bloodline boost from devouring the giant python was more about plundering its accumulated dragon blood essence, but this dragon blood grass and that ancient beast fragmented bone were treasures that could fundamentally purify and stimulate his own Dragon Fish Bloodline!

He carefully took the dragon blood grass and the fragmented bone, placing them next to the Spiritual Vein spring.

The dragon blood grass seemed to like the pure water Spiritual Qi here, swaying slightly as the Dragon Qi it emitted seemed to become a bit more active.

"With this dragon blood grass and fragmented bone to assist me, there's no need to risk going out to find other resources. I have great confidence in pushing my Bloodline to fifty percent, or even more, in the short term!" Gao De felt certain.

He decided to enter secluded cultivation, using the Spiritual Vein, dragon blood grass, and ancient beast fragmented bone to make the final sprint.

He instructed the Crab Generals and Shrimp Soldiers to guard the deep pool strictly and not let any creature disturb him.

Then, coiling atop the spring, he inhaled the wisps of Dragon Qi from the dragon blood grass and the ancient aura from the fragmented bone along with the pure water Spiritual Qi, fully circulating the Dragon Transformation Merit.

This time, he had full confidence; breaking through to Wisdom Attainment was right before his eyes!

However, what Gao De did not know was that while he was immersed in his secluded cultivation, outside the deep pool, because he had devoured that atavistic giant python and the scent of the dragon blood grass was faintly spreading, a trace of extremely thin yet exceptionally pure "Dragon Qi" began to drift through these waters.

This trace of Dragon Qi might be hard for ordinary aquatic tribes to detect, but for certain existences, it was like a lighthouse in the dark... Dozens of miles away, deep within the Zhu Family territory that served under Demon King Fushui, the two Second Order Pig Dragons that anchored the Family were originally lying lazily in their lair. One of them suddenly raised its hideous head, nostrils flaring, as a trace of doubt and greed flashed in its crimson eyes.

"Hiss... (Husband, it seems... there's a strange smell, very faint, but very tempting...)"

The other Pig Dragon also raised its head, sensed for a moment, and let out a low roar: "Hiss-hoo... (It's... an aura of the same Origin, but more powerful... in the southwest direction...)"

The Clear Water Flood Dragon Bloodline flowing within them made them feel an instinctive longing and focus toward this sudden, pure Dragon Qi.

Although the aura was extremely faint and difficult to pinpoint from dozens of miles away, it was undoubtedly a signal.

The Zhu Family Cultivators soon noticed the unusual behavior of their Spirit Beasts. Though they didn't understand why, they increased their vigilance and patrols.

An invisible wave began to quietly spread out, centered on the deep pool where Gao De was located.

The quiet Breakthrough he sought might not go as smoothly as imagined. The trials on the path to dragon transformation never cease... Just as Gao De was focusing on his secluded cultivation, using the dragon blood grass and ancient beast fragmented bone to assault the Bloodline Bottleneck, the anomaly in the Zhu Family territory dozens of miles away finally caused a ripple.

That pair of Second Order Pig Dragons indeed coveted that faint, pure Dragon Qi.

The male crocodile swam restlessly in the lair, its crimson eyes frequently looking toward the southwest, the general direction of Gao De's deep pool.

Although the female crocodile's aura was slightly weakened because she was carrying eggs, greed and desire similarly flickered in her eyes.

To them, that trace of Dragon Qi was like a supreme temptation. If they could devour it, perhaps it could further their Clear Water Flood Dragon Bloodline, and even provide immense benefits to the offspring about to be born.

However, the reality of their predicament was like cold chains, firmly binding their actions.

Inside the lair, the ripples of the spiritual eggs in the female's belly became more obvious; the time for laying them was drawing closer. This was the future hope of the Zhu Family, and no mistakes could be tolerated.

If the male crocodile rashly left at this time to head to an unknown place to fight for an Opportunity, the consequences would be unthinkable if an accident occurred during the female's delivery or if they encountered an attack.

Outside the lair, the Lin Family was like a sword hanging overhead.

Although things had eased slightly recently due to the mediation of the Green Wave Sect, the Lin Family spies still appeared sporadically on the periphery of the Zhu Family waters, watching like tigers.

The Zhu Family Old Ancestor was almost certain that once his Family showed a flaw, that old dog of the Lin Family would definitely pounce and tear them apart without hesitation.

If news leaked that the Family's guardian Spirit Beasts had left the lair, there was no guarantee the Lin Family wouldn't take the Opportunity to strike.

Beset by internal and external troubles, the Zhu Family Old Ancestor weighed his options repeatedly and could only forcibly suppress the greed in his heart and the restlessness of the Spirit Beasts, strictly ordering increased security and no rash actions.

The source of that pure Dragon Qi was certainly tempting, but the survival and Foundation of the Family were more important.

"Order them to closely monitor the movements in that water area, but absolutely do not take the initiative to approach or provoke it! Everything will wait until after the Spirit Beasts have successfully laid their eggs!" The Zhu Family Old Ancestor made the most stable, yet also most helpless, decision.

Thus, an unknown disaster from Second Order Demon Beasts that might have descended upon Gao De was temporarily averted by chance due to the Zhu Family's own predicament.

Beneath the deep pool, the Gao De in secluded cultivation knew nothing of this.

All his mind was immersed in the surging Bloodline evolution within his body.

The medicinal power of the dragon blood grass merged into his Bloodline wisp by wisp, and the ancient Dragon Qi contained in the ancient beast fragmented bone constantly stimulated his Origin.

The Dragon Transformation Merit operated with unprecedented efficiency, melting the pure Spiritual Vein Qi and these external dragon blood essences into a single furnace.

His Bloodline concentration advanced toward the 50% threshold at a slow but incredibly firm pace.

[Dragon Fish Bloodline: 49%...]

The moment the Bloodline broke through 49%, a sudden change occurred!

"Crack... Crack..."

Wisps of minute, blue-white electric light appeared and jumped in the water around him without warning!

These electric lights were not something he actively used, but rather the Water-Thunder Qi naturally drawn out after his Bloodline reached a certain level of purity!

Flood dragons move clouds and bring rain, commanding thunder and lightning; this was a sign that the power hidden deep within the Dragon Fish Bloodline was beginning to be awakened!

At the same time, at the very center of the top of his head, waves of dense itching and slight stinging, like bones growing, occurred.

The scales there opened slightly, and a hard, protruding bump about the size of a fingernail was stubbornly and slowly pushing out from beneath the skin!

Although it was still very tiny, its form already bore some resemblance to the sarcoma on that giant python's head and the legendary unicorn horn base of a flood dragon!

The appearance of a flood dragon was manifesting, and lightning was self-generating!

The final barrier to breaking through to the Second Order Wisdom Attainment Realm was now as thin as window paper!

Gao De could clearly feel all the Demonic Power and Bloodline Power in his body frantically converging toward that critical point.

The next breath, the next heartbeat, might be the moment of emerging from the cocoon as a butterfly, or a fish leaping to become a dragon (flood dragon)!

He withdrew all stray thoughts, sank his mind deep into his Bloodline, and guided that surging power, preparing to launch the final and most dangerous assault!

Within the deep pool, electric lights swirled, and an increasingly strong pressure began to permeate.

The Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals outside the pool felt this awe originating from the Bloodline and the changes in the heaven and earth energy, and they all prostrated themselves on the ground, not daring to move.

The most critical step on the path to dragon transformation was about to be taken!