Chapter 526: Chapter 60: True Spirit Bloodline—Golden-Nosed White-Haired Celestial Rat
In the path of Qi Blood Martial Arts, the Sixth Grade involves Condensing Divine Gang, allowing one to become Extraordinary and Unworldly.
At the Fifth Grade, one achieves Gang Sha Unity, gaining the ability to fly and travel through the earth.
At the Fourth Grade, one achieves Merging Divine Intent and Law Integration to nurture a Qi Blood Dharma Form. At this point, they are no different from a Golden Core Grandmaster.
As for the Third Grade…
The Dharma Aspect solidifies, allowing one to begin Mastering the Power of Heaven and Earth. Not only can they perform feats like Moving Mountains and Filling Seas, but their lifespan also increases dramatically.
A Fourth Grade Martial Artist who takes good care of themselves can live for two to three hundred years.
But a Third Grade,
Can live for eight hundred years, free of illness and disaster!
Therefore, a family with a Third Grade expert presiding over it can, in theory, easily become a thousand-year Noble Family.
The Huang Family of Zhenghai City has a legacy spanning over two thousand years, having produced several Third Grade experts in that time. A Noble Family of such stature is so powerful that even one of its branch families is likely stronger than the entire Zhou Family or Nie Family of Taiyuan Prefecture.
“I am Liuu Tinglan, of the Liuu Family from Water City. I was on my way home to visit my family when I encountered bandits and was unfortunately taken captive.”
Inside the carriage.
A beautiful woman, her hair disheveled and face haggard but her grace undiminished, spoke timidly:
“I was fortunate to receive your help, my benefactor. I thank you.”
As she spoke, she pulled her two children with her, intending to kneel and kowtow.
By now, they had dealt with the bandits, left the mine, and were on their way to the Zhu Mansion.
“There’s no need.”
Zhu Ju extended a hand, and an Invisible Power prevented the three from kneeling. He then asked:
“Madam, have you notified the Huang Family in Zhenghai City? What do you plan to do now?”
“Benefactor,” Liuu Tinglan said, lowering her head.
“Until the people from the Huang Family arrive, I hope we might stay at the Zhu Mansion. I pray you will take us in, benefactor.”
“Furthermore…”
“I implore you, benefactor, not to speak of what happened today to anyone.”
Zhu Ju frowned.
Water City was not far from Taiyuan Prefecture.
Given her status, the City Lord’s Mansion wouldn’t refuse a request to have the Government Office dispatch an escort.
Now, she wanted to stay at his mansion and insisted on keeping it a secret from outsiders. Clearly, she wanted to handle this with discretion.
‘It makes sense.’
‘The daughter-in-law of the esteemed Huang Family was abducted by bandits and held in their den. Who knows how long she was there, or what might have happened during that time?’
‘Although her aura felt pure, suggesting she hadn’t been violated, who would ever believe that?’
‘A beautiful woman, trapped in a den of thieves… no sane person would believe she could remain undefiled.’
‘And for a great family, losing one’s purity is a monumental humiliation!’
“Madam.”
Zhu Ju considered this for a moment before speaking slowly:
“I am merely a cloth merchant from Taiyuan Prefecture. I cannot afford to bear even the slightest enmity from the Huang Family.”
“You need not worry, benefactor.” Liuu Tinglan gave a bitter smile.
“The Huang Family must already know something has happened to me. They would never target you to silence a witness.”
“In fact…”
“This entire ordeal, I fear, was the handiwork of someone within the Huang Family.”
“That’s good.” Zhu Ju breathed a sigh of relief. As long as they weren’t trying to silence him, it wouldn’t be a problem.
“I will have a courtyard prepared for the three of you at the Zhu Mansion. It is a humble place, so please forgive us if our hospitality is lacking.”
“Not at all,” Liuu Tinglan said, shaking her head.
“Thank you, benefactor.”
* * *
After getting off the carriage, Nursing Director Zhang hurried over to greet them.
“Young Master.”
“What’s the situation?”
“It’s people from the Huang Family of Zhenghai City,” Zhu Ju sighed.
“And not just anyone—the daughter-in-law of the main family branch. She’s from the Liuu Family of Water City. A few days ago, on her way to visit her family, she was attacked by Earth Rat Xu Qing and his men. She and her two children were all dragged into his rat’s nest.”
“What?!” Nursing Director Zhang’s face went pale.
“Earth Rat has such nerve, daring to touch the Huang Family’s daughter-in-law. Isn’t he afraid of death?”
“Naturally, someone hired him.” Zhu Ju narrowed his eyes.
“From what Liuu Tinglan says, this attack is likely related to the Huang Family’s internal conflicts.”
“Heh…”
“No need to pay it any mind. This has nothing to do with us. We just happened to run into them while clearing out the mine.”
“Yes,” Nursing Director Zhang replied.
“We won’t get involved in the affairs of great families.”
“Exactly.” A smile appeared on Zhu Ju’s face.
“No matter what, we still saved the Huang Family’s daughter-in-law. There should be some benefits, right?”
“Have a courtyard cleared out. Someone from the Huang Family will be here soon to take the three of them home.”
“Yes.”
Nursing Director Zhang acknowledged with a cupped-fist salute.
Watching Nursing Director Zhang’s back recede into the distance, Zhu Ju slowly withdrew his gaze and thoughtfully touched the storage pouch at his waist.
‘Luu Tinglan’s situation isn’t that simple, but I don’t plan to get involved. I just hope I don’t get caught in the fallout.’
‘On the other hand, Earth Rat Xu Qing…’
‘The fact that he attacked the Zhu Family’s guards in the mine… he was clearly prepared, but for a different reason.’
“Celestial Eagle Thieves!”
Zhu Ju whispered:
“Persistent pests. They’re everywhere.”
The reason Earth Rat Xu Qing went after Zhu Ju was because he was hired by Yue Nanfeng, son of the Celestial Eagle Thieves’ leader, Yue Xihong.
As for why Yue Nanfeng would do this, it was unclear.
In theory.
It shouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that Zhu Ju had killed Red Eagle Tong Zhixiang, the third-in-command of the Celestial Eagle Thieves. After all, no one knew he was responsible.
‘Yue Nanfeng?’
A look of confusion crossed Zhu Ju’s face. ‘Do I even know him?’
*
*
*
「Quiet Chamber.」
Zhu Ju sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion and took a Jade Bottle out of Earth Rat Xu Qing’s storage pouch.
CLICK…
He uncorked the bottle, and a dense, bloody light emerged from within.
“Demon Essence Blood!”
As he watched the bloody light swirl upwards, Zhu Ju’s expression shifted.
“This is the Demon Essence Blood of at least a Second Grade Demon, and a rat-type, no less. No wonder Xu Qing couldn’t resist the temptation.”
Xu Qing was a Half-Demon.
If he could have completed the Refinement of this drop of Essence Blood, he would have had an excellent chance of elevating his own Demon Race bloodline.
He might even have been able to advance to the Sixth Grade one day.
Zhu Ju took a light sniff. After a moment of contemplation, his eyes flew open, and a shocked gasp escaped him:
“A Golden-Nosed White-Haired Celestial Rat!”
“A True Spirit!”
Unlike the Human Race, the bloodlines of the Demon Race are divided into high and low ranks. The most powerful of the Demon Race are called True Spirits.
The most powerful individual Demons are called Demon Saints.
True Spirit Bloodlines,
Are all, without exception, top-tier bloodlines!
Even the likes of Flood Dragons don’t make the cut. Only the East Sea Dragon Race can be considered a True Spirit clan.
“What an incredible find!”
“Even if it’s just a single drop, its value is far greater than a Seventh Grade Qi Blood Divine Weapon.”
What he didn’t know was,
It was true that True Spirit bloodlines were rare. However, the Golden-Nosed White-Haired Celestial Rat was a type of Rat Demon, and Rat Demons with accomplished Cultivation were equally rare.
Low-Tier Rat Demons have extremely short lifespans, making it difficult for them to achieve any significant accomplishments. Meanwhile, a powerful Rat Demon couldn’t elevate its own bloodline with just a single drop of Essence Blood. This is why such a treasure ended up in the hands of a relative nobody like Earth Rat Xu Qing.
Zhu Ju took a deep breath, his thoughts racing.
Among the Cultivation Techniques he practiced, the one with the most potential was undoubtedly the Ten Thousand Spirits Body Forging Technique. Theoretically, this technique could refine and merge the bloodlines of countless races, creating the single most powerful bloodline possible.
Low-Tier bloodlines, however, were of little use to him; they would only pollute his own bloodline.
Only the Essence Blood of Third Grade or higher demons could help increase his strength.
‘A True Spirit Bloodline is theoretically at the Tier of the Super Grade. I thought it would take years before I encountered one, yet here it is in my hands.’
Zhu Ju gently caressed the porcelain bottle, his voice tinged with emotion:
“Perfect!”
“I’ve been refining my understanding of the Ten Thousand Spirits Body Forging Technique for years. Now is the perfect time to test if my theories are correct.”
CRACK!
He clenched his fist, shattering the porcelain bottle. A dense essence of Qi Blood instantly erupted, engulfing the entire chamber.
“Absorb!”
Zhu Ju formed a Seal Technique with his hands as his own Qi Blood surged All Over his Body. He activated the Ten Thousand Spirits Body Forging Technique, and it began to intertwine with the Essence Blood before him.
「The next day.」
Zhou Ruxuan came to visit.
“So annoying!”
She had a displeased look on her face.
“Those people from the Celestial Eagle Thieves actually came to my house with a marriage proposal. They want me to marry that Yue Nanfeng.”
“The absolute nerve!”
Hmm?
Zhu Ju paused in the middle of drinking his tea.