221: Final preparations

In the underground Secret Realm, by the side of the Dragon Transformation Pool.

As another batch of "nutrients" was tossed into the pool, the boiling of the Blood Pool reached a new height.

The dark red plasma surged, making a "gurgling" sound. The outline of the dragon-shaped embryo at the bottom of the pool was now clearly visible; one could even vaguely see phantom scales, intricately woven with dark gold and blood-red, covering its surface.

A heart-palpitating mixture of vitality and pressure, blended with a sinister aura, continuously radiated from the pool.

The Black-Robed Person "Shadow Erosion" and Dragon King Ao Guang arrived together once again.

"Your Majesty, the Dragon Transformation Pool has accumulated over ninety percent of its capacity! The primordial fetus is bursting with vitality, its Dao Rhyme is naturally formed, and it is only one step away from full maturity. That step is also the most critical—injecting the 'Primer' and completing the 'Blood Sacrifice.'" Shadow Erosion's voice carried an irrepressible excitement, his gaze beneath the hood staring intently at the embryo in the pool.

"Primer? Blood Sacrifice?" The Dragon King's eyes flickered. "What is this Primer? And what is required for the Blood Sacrifice?"

"The Primer is a medium that can trigger the Great Dao contained within the primordial fetus, allowing it to perfectly harmonize with Your Majesty's Divine Soul. Ideally, it should be a wisp of high-grade dragon Soul or dragon blood Origin that shares the same source as Your Majesty but is distinct, used to 'activate' the fetus's spirituality and make it recognize its master," Shadow Erosion explained. "As for the Blood Sacrifice... at the moment the fetus matures, it needs a 'blood food' ceremony of sufficient weight. Using its Essence Blood and Soul as the flame to thoroughly ignite the fetus's potential, it can then be transformed into the most perfect 'Dao Foundation' for Your Majesty's Breakthrough! For this Blood Sacrifice, the higher the cultivation, the purer the Bloodline, and the greater the quantity, the better the effect."

The Dragon King remained silent for a moment, the expression in his eyes shifting. "A Primer... among my descendants, there are indeed a few with mutated Bloodlines or those who practice special Cultivation Techniques. Extracting a sliver of their Origin might serve the purpose."

"But as for this Blood Sacrifice..." His gaze swept across the empty poolside, then seemed to pierce through the rock layers to see those dragon sons and daughters in the Crystal Palace, each with their own schemes—especially those three powerful Crown Princes. "What kind of weight is required?"

Shadow Erosion gave a low, raspy chuckle. "Naturally... the more the better, the stronger the better. If several fourth-rank Dragon Clan members could be used as sacrifices, the effect would be optimal."

"Of course, this matter requires careful planning to avoid a violent backlash that could ruin Your Majesty's grand design. I have a method for setting up the 'Myriad Spirits Returning to Origin Grand Array.' It can gather all the sacrifices in one place and complete the Blood Sacrifice covertly, channeling all their essence into the Dragon Transformation Pool to aid Your Majesty's success!"

The Dragon King's pupils constricted as chill and ambition intertwined in his heart.

Sacrificing several fourth-rank Dragon Clan members, possibly even including his own "outstanding" sons? This Black-Robed Person's ambitions were indeed not small!

But... if he could break through to the fifth rank, any price would be worth it!

Those rebellious sons weren't necessarily of one mind with him anyway. If he could use this opportunity to clear them all out, it might not be a bad thing.

However, this "Myriad Spirits Returning to Origin Grand Array" and the Blood Sacrifice method must be firmly grasped in his own hands. He absolutely could not let this Black-Robed Person have any opening to exploit.

"Regarding the Primer, I will personally select a suitable candidate. As for the Blood Sacrifice and the grand array... hand over the array map and the control core to me. I will arrange for my trusted aides to set it up," the Dragon King said in a tone that brooked no argument.

Shadow Erosion seemed to have expected this and bowed. "As it should be. I shall present the array map and the core array talismans immediately. I only hope for Your Majesty's early success, leading the Qianjiang Dragon Palace and even the entire aquatic race toward unprecedented glory!"

The two discussed a few more details in low voices, primarily concerning the stability of the "source eye" and how to guard against possible interference from Central Continent forces.

Shadow Erosion subtly mentioned that they could exploit the greed of the Central Continent people for ancient ruins, lured them into pre-set "perilous lands." This would not only weaken them but might also add some "unexpected harvests" to the Blood Sacrifice.

The Dragon King remained noncommittal, only instructing Shadow Erosion to step up monitoring before leaving with the newly acquired array map and talismans.

Shadow Erosion remained alone by the pool. Watching the direction in which the Dragon King had departed, a twisted smile spread across his face beneath the hood.

"Old loach, cautious and suspicious as expected. But... so what if I give you the array map? The true 'Demon Seeding Heart Erosion' core was hidden in the deepest part of the primordial fetus long ago."

"When you swallow the fetus and your Divine Souls merge, that will be the moment you transform into our Holy Cult's 'Evil Dragon Incarnation'! As for the Blood Sacrifice... heh heh, the more sacrifices and the heavier the resentment, the more powerful the Evil Dragon's true body will be! When the time comes, Lord Heavenly Demon Evil Dragon descends and will surely use this body as a foundation to sweep through this realm!"

He had no idea that this conversation with the Dragon King had been heard clearly by Gao De, almost word for word!

Inside the world of the talisman, Gao De suddenly snapped his eyes open, a sharp light exploding in his gaze!

"Primer? Blood Sacrifice? Myriad Spirits Returning to Origin Grand Array? Sacrificing several fourth-rank Dragon Clan members?" The sheer volume of information left his mind reeling.

To break through, the Dragon King had actually gone this mad! Was he planning to exterminate his own clan? Even a full clan execution was nothing more than this.

And the plot of the Black-Robed Person "Shadow Erosion" was even more venomous. He intended to wipe out the Dragon King along with many Dragon Clan experts to refine some "Evil Dragon True Body" for that "Heavenly Demon Evil Dragon" to descend into!

"Heavenly Demon Cult... Evil Dragon True Body..." Gao De chewed on these unfamiliar terms, the sense of crisis in his heart growing even stronger.

This pool of water was deeper and murkier than he had imagined!

But within the crisis, there also lay a greater opportunity!

The Dragon King needed a "Primer" to activate the fetus's master recognition? He needed a "Blood Sacrifice" to ignite its potential? And that Black-Robed Person had hidden a trump card inside the fetus?

"Perhaps... my chance lies in this 'Primer' and 'Blood Sacrifice'!" Gao De's mind raced through deductions. "If I can get ahead of them and influence that 'Primer' in some way, or... at the moment the Blood Sacrifice is triggered and the fetus is at its most active and unstable, use the properties of the prison dragon talisman to forcibly suppress and seize it?"

This idea was even crazier than his previous plan of being the " The mantis stalks the cicada， The oriole is behind" (mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind), and far more risky.

"I must find a way. Perhaps I need to get closer to the Blood Pool, or even... try to make contact with that primordial fetus!" Gao De made up his mind.

He manipulated the dragon talisman, taking advantage of the brief gap during the guard shift change after Shadow Erosion had also left. Like the most patient snail, he began to move toward the center of the Blood Pool, inch by inch.

This process was extremely slow and mentally taxing. The slightest carelessness could lead to discovery by the residual monitoring arrays around the pool or the occasional sweep of a guard's Divine Sense.

Gao De was almost entirely focused, pushing the concealment properties of the prison dragon talisman to their limit.

At the same time, within the Talisman World, he began to frantically run simulations.

He simulated how he should erupt in an instant when the fetus matured, the Blood Sacrifice was triggered, and energy surged violently. He would use the suppression power of the prison dragon talisman to briefly interfere with the space and energy flow of that area, and then, with the fastest speed and the least commotion, pull the core of the fetus into the Talisman World!

He needed to calculate with precision down to the millimeter and grasp the timing down to the split second!

On the other side, Shadow Erosion returned to his secret room in the Tide Observation Pavilion and once again activated that sinister altar.

This time, the content of his report was even more detailed.

"Lord Cult Leader, the old dragon of Qianjiang has fallen into the trap. He is currently selecting the 'Primer' and preparing for the Blood Sacrifice."

"I have handed over the tampered 'Myriad Spirits Returning to Origin Grand Array' map. Hidden within its core array talisman are the reception coordinates for the 'Myriad Demons Soul-Attracting Banner.'"

"Once the Blood Sacrifice is triggered and a massive amount of Dragon Clan Essence Blood and Souls are sacrificed, the resulting sky-high resentment and life essence will thoroughly activate the 'Evil Dragon Demon Seed' deep within the fetus and open the reception channel."

"At that time, I will simultaneously launch the 'Demon Seeding Heart Erosion Great Art.' With attacks from both inside and out, the old dragon's Divine Soul will have no chance of survival!"

"The 'Evil Dragon True Body' formed by the combination of his Physical Body and the primordial fetus will become the most perfect vessel to welcome Lord Heavenly Demon Evil Dragon! The Luck of the aquatic race here will also fall entirely into the hands of our Holy Cult!"

The phantom of the strange face on the altar seemed to become a bit more solid, transmitting back a thought full of approval and greed. It also vaguely revealed that the Holy Cult's arrangements in other areas were proceeding in sync, and other forces would cooperate when the time came to ensure everything was foolproof.

Shadow Erosion trembled with excitement, as if he could already see the grand scene of the Holy Cult's army following Lord Heavenly Demon Evil Dragon as he descended to sweep across the eight directions.

As for Dragon King Ao Guang, after returning to his secret room, he did not immediately study the array map Shadow Erosion had given him.

He took out that starlight jade pendant, sensing it silently for a moment with a furrowed brow.

"Blood Sacrifice... fourth-rank Dragon Clan... this fellow's schemes are immense; it is definitely not as simple as merely helping me break through." A fierce light flashed in the Dragon King's eyes. "However, do I not also have my own trump cards? That thing deep within the 'source eye'... perhaps it can give everyone a surprise."

He summoned a trusted inner attendant and whispered a few instructions.

The attendant took the order and withdrew silently, heading toward the deepest part of the Dragon Palace—the "Dragon Palace Forbidden Ground" that even most of the Crown Princes did not know about.

Three parties—no, perhaps even more—wills were all revolving around that "Dragon Transformation Pool" that was about to boil to its limit and the "primordial fetus" within it, carrying out their final layouts and schemes.

The wind howling through the pavilion foretells a coming storm.

Above Qianyuan City, invisible dark clouds gathered thicker and thicker, so oppressive it made it hard to breathe.

In the underground world, the Blood Pool space.

After several months of careful maneuvering, Gao De finally reached the edge of the Blood Pool, only a hair's breadth away from the churning plasma.

He could more clearly feel the Soul tremors brought by every throb of the fetus, as well as the surging blood energy and eerie Dao Rhyme contained within it—both mouth-watering and heart-chilling.