"Let me think about it for a while…", Yu Hao said with a serious expression. It was obvious that he was very interested in Zhang Baichi's proposal but had to consider the negatives well before deciding.
Zhang Baichi nodded. "Sure. Take your time to think this through. As I said, you're playing with your life, and I can't guarantee that it will work."
After some small talk, Yu Hao returned to meditate. Zhang Baichi looked at his back but didn't do anything to persuade him for one decision or the other.
On the way back to their basecamp, a few disciples noticed that Yu Hao seemed a bit distracted. Most quickly figured out that this only started after his talk with Zhang Baichi during their break.
Lu Zheng also got wind of this situation and came to find Zhang Baichi during the night, asking what was wrong.
Zhang Baichi lightly explained that he gave Yu Hao a chance to increase his cultivation with a very risky method.
"Are you crazy?", Lu Zheng frowned. "This is Yu Hao we're talking about. He will definitely take this chance, no matter the risks or costs."
His reaction was very violent, surprising Zhang Baichi. "How would you know that?"
"His talent for cultivation has always been bad. The only reason he's at the 9th Layer now is because his father spent a fortune to provide him with rare and powerful resources. If not for that, he'd be at the 6th Layer, at best.", Lu Zheng explained with irritation.
"…I didn't know it was that bad.", Zhang Baichi spoke in a low voice and fell into thought. 'Hey, system, did you know that he was that talentless?'
[Ding! The analysis of Yu Hao's innate talent has been concluded a long time ago and is most definitely accurate.]
'Which means that drop of True Dragon Blood can really help him reach even the Nascent Soul Realm?', Zhang Baichi asked.
[Ding! Host is correct. The transformation brought by the True Dragon Blood will allow even a regular mortal to have the potential to reach the peak of the Core Condensation Realm with ease. Since Yu Hao still has some talent for cultivation, and great comprehension ability, he might be able to reach the Nascent Soul Realm in the future.]
The system seemed to radiate confidence and showed Zhang Baichi an amount of text that he had rarely seen before, further strengthening this feeling of confidence.
With this much, Zhang Baichi was at least somewhat relieved since it meant that Yu Hao had a chance.
However, the system couldn't give him any estimate on the probability of success of Yu Hao's ability to absorb the True Dragon Blood.
[Ding! The ability to absorb the True Dragon Blood or any other Treasures for that matter, depend entirely on oneself.]
Zhang Baichi sighed and glanced at Lu Zheng. "You don't have to worry about this. It's his own decision in any case. I am willing to part with a treasure like that for his sake, but it will depend on him what he makes out of it."
"…Fine." Lu Zheng didn't know what to say, either. If Zhang Baichi was willing to give such an opportunity up, there was nothing Lu Zheng could possibly say. "I'll try to talk some sense into Yu Hao."
"Don't go overboard.", Zhang Baichi spoke coldly as Lu Zheng was about to leave. "Quite frankly, you're not qualified to make a decision on his behalf."
"…I know. But I'll talk to him, anyways.", Lu Zheng spoke with his back to Zhang Baichi. "I don't want to lose another friend."
"Lose another friend…?", Zhang Baichi muttered, but Lu Zheng had already left. 'I guess everyone has their story, huh…'
Zhang Baichi thought about Lu Zheng's words for a moment and realized, that he actually didn't know anything about the latter. Lu Zheng always had this platonic smile on his face and was courteous to anyone, no matter who they were.
But a person like that is the most difficult to read since it was impossible to tell what was really weighing on their minds. Now, it appears that there was more to Lu Zheng than his façade showed.
'I've been a bit pretentious, haven't I?' It seemed that Zhang Baichi would need some time to himself to think about these things and rethink his attitude to the various people he had met and will meet in the future.
.
.
.
With small torches flickering in the darkness, the night passed quietly, and morning came.
Zhang Baichi woke up when the first rays of sunlight shone through the cliffs surrounding their basecamp.
Life returned to the came within minutes as people went along with their morning routines, ate, practised their martial arts, and generally readied themselves for the coming day.
Later, everyone went out to hunt again. Zhang Baichi kept an eye on Yu Hao in particular but noticed that the latter had already recovered and was back up to the same standard of performance as before.
Over the course of the next two days, their group managed to hunt another three Demonbeasts in the Qi Gathering Realm, one of which Zhang Baichi sold to the system at night.
'Remember, keep that corpse separate from the ones from before. I might exchange for one drop of True Dragon Blood, so don't try to rake the price up, understood?', he demanded with squinted eyes.
[Ding! The Demonbeast's corpse will be handled as Host has instructed.]
[Ding! Host has obtained 37 Points.]
'Good…', Zhang Baichi nodded with a satisfied expression. No matter how much he complained about the system, making money will always feel good. Especially since the Points he was earning were much, much more valuable than mere money.
Another night went and a new day came.
Zhang Baichi was once again wakened up by the morning sun, only to be met with Yu Hao when he was about to eat something.
"Brother Zhang. I've decided.", Yu Hao spoke with a serious expression. Zhang Baichi looked at him an pulled him over to the side where they could talk in peace.
"I've told you about the dangers. And I'm sure Lu Zheng has also done that. But the decision is ultimately yours. So, what will you choose?", he spoke in a calm tone.
"…I'll take the risk. Since there's a chance for me to change my fate, I'll have to take it, no matter the cost.", Yu Hao replied with resolve.
'System, make the exchange. Give me a drop of True Dragon Blood for 292 Points.', Zhang Baichi commanded the system while nodding to Yu Hao.
A small and intricately detailed jade vial appeared in his inventory. He summoned it to his hand and clutched the vial, surprised by his weight.
While he could easily hold it, his feet sunk ever so slightly into the ground; The small vial must weigh at least over 100 kilograms.
There was no change other than that. No pressure, no aura, nothing. The True Dragon Blood was perfectly contained within the small vial.
Zhang Baichi looked at Yu Hao and spoke with a solemn expression. "This… is a drop of perfectly preserved True Dragon Blood. Do you know what that means?"
Yu Hao's eyes instantly constricted and his whole body shuddered. "Tr-True… Dragon Blood?"
His expression showed confusion; He had never heard of something like True Dragon Blood, but the words alone seemed to put an incredible pressure on his shoulders.
"If you absorb this drop of True Dragon Blood, you can essentially change your own bloodline. You will no longer be a pure human, but a True Dragon and human hybrid, far surpassing ordinary humans.", Zhang Baichi explained in a calm, indifferent voice.
In reality, he was just reading off of the description the system gave him for the True Dragon Blood, but Yu Hao had no idea to know about this.
"Your body and soul will be reforged, allowing your potential and strength to undergo an earth-shattering transformation. If you succeed in refining this drop of blood, you will even have a chance to reach the legendary Nascent Soul Realm in the future. Even your aura will change somewhat, giving off the feeling and pressure of True Dragons.", Zhang Baichi continued.
While the description didn't end there, the rest was talking about the danger, something that both, he and Yu Hao, were already aware of.
He looked at Yu Hao and his eyes grew more serious. "Whether you succeed or die trying will entirely depend on you."
Yu Hao looked back at him with the same serious expression and carefully took the jade vial into his own hands, feeling its weight and inspecting it with his eyes. "How do I refine it?"
"Swallow the blood and treat it like a conventional pill.", Zhang Baichi commented after confirming with the system. "This process might take some time, so search for a good spot. I'll make sure no one disturbs you."
Yu Hao gave a short nod and vanished into a small crevasse between two boulders. Meanwhile, Zhang Baichi informed the rest of their group that they will not go on a hunt today and that everyone should rest for today.
"Also, those of you that are able to make a breakthrough in your cultivation, use this time to make those breakthroughs. Yu Hao will do the same, so no one is allowed to approach. Lu Zheng, come with me.", Zhang Baichi commanded.
He and Lu Zheng came to Yu Hao's side, who was already meditating to prepare for his cultivation. "Yu Hao, you can start any time. Lu Zheng and I will stand guard for you."
A few moments later, Yu Hao opened his eyes. He thanked Lu Zheng and Zhang Baichi, then plucked the jade vial open.
Unlike with medicinal pills, there was no phenomenon or anything of the likes.
There was only a small, single drop of a violet hued, crimson fluid at the bottom of the jade vial, one that Yu Hao could not take his eyes off of.