170: Golden animal bones

Tian Zhu City ancestral land.

Bang—

A massive, heavy bone great-halberd struck the back of a Witch Clan youth, who immediately spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, falling like a meteor to the ground, creating a huge, deep crater.

Beside him, Gu Changsheng stood proudly, halberd in hand, his body wreathed in golden flames, his expression calm and unperturbed.

“Defeated… The Gongsun Royal Clan’s top Prodigy was actually defeated so easily… Yet, in the previous battle, Gongsun Liang clearly had the upper hand.”

“That was then, this is now.

The Royal Clan bestowed three drops of Golden Ancestral Blood.

Moreover, Ya He must have had other Opportunities; his strength is completely different from before.”

“The times have changed… The next Clan Chief of the ancestral land will likely fall to him…”

The other Witch Clan Prodigies nearby looked on with envy and jealousy.

At this moment, a sound like a grand bell echoed from the Void Realm.

“Ya He has defeated Gongsun Liang, ascending to become the number one Prodigy of the Ten Great Royal Clans, and may enter the Divine Hall for one Bloodline Legacy.”

Rumble—

A crack appeared in the Void Realm, and a surge of azure Spiritual Qi rained down like sunlight. Everyone present felt their bones and muscles resonate, emitting a series of crackling sounds.

“Such a rich Witch God Bloodline Qi…”

“With Ya He’s successful challenge, he will likely soar to great heights from now on. The Divine Hall Elder’s gaze has probably already fallen upon him.

I just wonder, how long can he sustain the Witch God Bloodline Legacy?”

Gu Changsheng’s lips curved into a slight smile.

‘Finally, an Opportunity to explore the mysteries of the Origin Blood…’

He shot forward, vanishing into the Void Realm, disappearing from everyone’s sight.

Passing through layers of Protective Aura, the view gradually opened up, and a massive Divine Hall floating in the Void Realm came into view.

“Greetings, Your Highness… This old man, Ku Gu…”

At the entrance, a lean old man, wearing a Xuanhuang beast robe and bare-armed, said with a smile.

‘The Divine Hall’s guide… Ku Gu…’ Information about this person appeared in Gu Changsheng’s mind.

According to the Witch Clan’s rules, Great Witches who advance to Profound Cave can be absorbed by the Sky Palace to cultivate.

However, the threshold is quite high.

Ku Gu, before him, was a Genius born from a medium-sized tribe. In his youth, he once suppressed a multitude of Prodigies, dominating for a time, and was only absorbed after old age and physical decline.

“Elder Ku Gu, please lead me to the Legacy grounds.”

“Of course, of course.”

The two traveled along, passing over a long cloud path, until a blood pool gradually appeared before them, bubbling like boiling water.

Around it were piles of Strange Beast skeletons, like mountains.

Purple Gold Royal Beasts, Three-Eyed Strange Crows, One-Eyed Spiders… there were hundreds of species whose names could be called out.

Each had an extraordinary aura.

Ku Gu spoke, “The Strange Beast skulls collected from the Lower Realm are all gathered here in layers.

Finally, their essence is refined and merged into the blood pool, giving birth to Origin Blood.”

“I see,” Gu Changsheng nodded.

“The longer one stays in the blood pool, the more Bloodline Power one absorbs, and the greater one’s cultivation potential.

Typically, a Prodigy who comes here for their first Bloodline Legacy is considered good if they can last for the duration of one incense stick.”

Hearing this, Gu Changsheng’s heart stirred.

In his memory, Ku Gu himself had also undergone a Bloodline Legacy in his youth.

“Elder, how long did you last back then?”

Ku Gu’s face showed a profound smile, and he held up three shriveled fingers.

“Three incense sticks?” Gu Changsheng probed.

“Three hours…”

One hour is roughly the time it takes for four incense sticks to burn.

Three hours… that would be twelve incense sticks.

Doesn’t that mean Ku Gu was twelve times stronger than an ordinary Genius in his youth?

Seeing Gu Changsheng silent, Ku Gu chuckled, “Your Highness, there’s no need to be so disheartened.

As a Royal Clan member, you only need to make regular contributions, and there are many ways to receive Bloodline Legacies.

With enough attempts, your Bloodline Power will naturally become potent.

Unlike me, who came from a medium-sized tribe; no matter how high my talent, I only had one chance at a Bloodline Legacy.”

Though he smiled, his words carried a hint of loneliness.

“Go on. I’ll guard nearby.”

“Alright.”

Gu Changsheng shot forward and plunged into the blood pool. Immediately, threads of Qi and blood energy surged into his body, merging with the golden blood within his physique.

Previously, he had forcibly burned his Bloodline to overpower Gongsun Liang, causing significant damage to his Golden Bloodline.

Now, it was recovering rapidly, and strengthening at a visible rate.

A purple gleam flashed in Gu Changsheng’s eyes, piercing through the bottomless blood pool. At its base, a golden beast bone entered his pupils.

The edges of the vast blood pool were carved with countless Strange Beast bas-reliefs, their auras interconnected.

The surrounding Strange Beast skulls slowly melted, transforming into a silver liquid that merged into the blood pool, gradually combining with the energy of the golden beast bone to give birth to drops of Origin Blood.

‘The Strange Beast bas-reliefs form a Formation, using Strange Beast skulls as the foundation, fusing with the energy of an unknown golden beast bone… So, this is how Origin Blood is created…’

Gu Changsheng meticulously memorized the structure of all the Strange Beast bas-reliefs.

This was a unique Formation system exclusive to the Witch Clan.

Just like the isolation Formation at the five-layered gateway.

Previously, he had secretly tried to draw a portrait of the Yacha Royal Clan Chief but had not succeeded.

Presumably, it must be a unique method possessed by the upper echelons of the Sky Palace.

With a thought, a startling idea emerged in Gu Changsheng’s mind.

If this bas-relief Formation could be inscribed within the body, refining the power of the golden beast bone and the Strange Beasts, wouldn’t Origin Blood continuously be generated within his body?

‘As long as the rate of Bloodline strengthening far exceeds the natural rate of dissipation in the human body, the Witch Clan Bloodline would naturally be considered successfully transplanted.

However, there are two major difficulties at hand.

One is the fragility of the human body; inscribing a Formation internally is incredibly dangerous.

To perfect it, experimental subjects would be indispensable… Second, a way must be found to steal the golden beast bone…’

Gurgle—

A series of bubbles emerged from the blood pool.

In the blink of an eye, the time for three incense sticks had passed.

A hint of playful amusement appeared on Ku Gu’s face: “I didn’t expect this Prodigy to have such good physical strength.

He can actually last for more than three incense sticks.”

He had guarded this place for a long time, having seen countless Royal Clan Prodigies.

Those who lasted longer than three incense sticks during their first Bloodline Legacy could be counted on one’s fingers.

After a while, a hint of surprise appeared on Ku Gu’s face: “It’s already two hours… Could it be that he can rival this old man?”

Ku Gu came from a medium-sized tribe, with an ordinary Bloodline. He relied solely on his talent and Opportunities to crush the Prodigies of his era.

Especially the Bloodline Legacy, which could be seen as a symbol of one’s potential.

Although his expression was gentle, he harbored a proud spirit within.

Those like him who surpassed three hours were among the top-ranked in Witch Clan history.

“It seems our Witch Clan is about to produce another powerful Profound Cave Great Witch…”

After a while, Ku Gu’s expression became solemn.

In his sight, the blood pool was completely calm.

“It’s already been over five hours, and there’s still no sign of him reaching his limit…”

This almost rivaled the top three in Witch Clan history.

The first place only lasted six hours.

As time passed, Ku Gu grew numb, sitting blankly to the side.

Finally… Bang—

The blood pool exploded, and a figure, bare-chested and with a body like cast bronze, crawled out.

“A full twelve hours…”

Ku Gu looked at the figure by the blood pool, feeling his lips tingle.

If not for the vast life Qi in the blood pool, he would have thought the person had absorbed too much Bloodline energy and died inside.

“Elder…”

Gu Changsheng approached, finding Ku Gu somewhat lost in thought.

“Hmm? You’re out.

Not bad, much stronger than this old man was back then.

However, you must not be arrogant or conceited. There are plenty of people in the Clan who have sustained Bloodline Legacies for over twelve hours.”

Ku Gu omitted the premise—Witch Clan members undergoing their first Bloodline Legacy.

In reality, as Body Refining becomes stronger, and after multiple Bloodline Legacies, the body gradually adapts, and the time one can sustain it also grows longer and longer.

“Alright, I understand…”

“Good, in the Dao of cultivation, one must never be arrogant or complacent.”

Ku Gu was very pleased with Gu Changsheng’s attitude and pulled out a beast bone token from his embrace.

“Your talent is still acceptable.

You may receive one more Bloodline Legacy Opportunity.

This is an invitation token.

Whenever you wish for a second Bloodline Legacy, you can simply crush it.

You will be teleported here from Tian Zhu City.”

“Thank you, Elder.”

Gu Changsheng took the token.

This Bloodline Legacy in the blood pool brought significant benefits. The golden Bloodline within his body had grown countless times stronger, converging into one, like a golden sun.

Even if he burned his Bloodline, it could sustain a battle for three days and three nights.

A moment later, looking at Gu Changsheng’s departing figure, Ku Gu’s face revealed a mix of complex emotions: admiration, and even a hint of jealousy.

“This person is simply… a Prodigy…”