Chapter 43: The Demonic Bloodline
At the border where Nanling, Tianfeng, and Dayuan kingdoms converge lies a region known as Skyfall Valley.
Stretching hundreds of miles in length and over a hundred miles wide, the valley houses one of the most prestigious institutions in the three kingdoms: The Royal Academy.
The Royal Academy is renowned across the kingdoms, with thousands of students enrolled, an abundance of powerful instructors, and a repository of elite cultivation techniques and Yuan arts. Each year, it attracts disciples from all three nations, and those who graduate without being eliminated are highly sought after by the greatest powers in the land.
With its towering pavilions, elegant terraces, and glittering palaces, the academy resembles an entire city dedicated to cultivation.
A Desperate Plea
Outside a secluded courtyard within the academy, a young girl clad in a blue martial robe hesitated at the door. Her delicate features were marred by worry, and her lips pressed together in thought. The image of a steadfast boy with an unwavering gaze surfaced in her mind, spurring her to knock gently on the door.
"Come in," called a raspy, female voice from within.
The courtyard exuded a strong medicinal fragrance, mingling with the fresh scent of rare herbs. The yard was lined with verdant plots filled with precious medicinal plants—each worth a fortune.
Inside, a gaunt old woman dressed in gray practiced a slow, deliberate set of movements, resembling a martial kata. Her appearance was unnerving: withered skin stretched over sharp cheekbones, her sunken eyes emitted a faint greenish glow, and her leathery complexion resembled dried orange peel.
"Greetings, Master Leng," the girl said with a respectful bow.
"So, Ling'er, have you made your decision?" the old woman rasped, her voice grating on the ears.
"If you can provide me with a pill to heal Yuan meridians, I... I will cultivate the technique you offered," Mu Ling'er replied through gritted teeth.
"Good." A grotesque smile spread across the old woman's face as she retrieved a white jade bottle from her spatial ring. "Here. This is the Meridian Nourishing Pill—a sixth-grade spiritual elixir. Few in the entire Northern Yuan Region can claim to possess one."
Ling'er's eyes widened as she carefully accepted the bottle. Upon opening it, she saw a thumb-sized green pill marked with six swirling lines. It radiated a faint glow, exuding potent energy.
"A genuine sixth-grade elixir... Xiao Feng, your wounds can finally be healed," she whispered, relief and joy filling her expression.
A Sinister Bargain
The old woman led Ling'er into a dark stone chamber at the rear of the courtyard. In the center of the chamber was a pool filled with a bubbling, viscous crimson liquid. It emitted a faint metallic scent, its surface shimmering ominously in the dim light.
"Remove your clothes and enter the pool. No matter how excruciating, you must endure. Focus on cultivating the technique I imparted to you," the old woman instructed coldly.
Determined, Ling'er disrobed, revealing her pale, unblemished skin and graceful figure. She stepped into the blood pool, her slender legs trembling slightly as the heat and pressure surrounded her.
Seated in the pool, she began to circulate her Yuan energy according to the technique the old woman had taught her. The liquid's scalding heat was unbearable, searing her flesh as though she were submerged in boiling oil.
"Ahh!" she screamed, her voice echoing through the chamber.
"Silence!" snapped the old woman. "If you fail, I will reclaim the elixir!"
Ling'er bit her lip, suppressing her cries. "I... I can endure. Please, don't take it back. I need it to save my brother!" Her voice trembled, but her resolve was unwavering.
The old woman retrieved a jade vial, carefully tipping a single drop of golden liquid into the pool. It was a droplet of essence blood, brimming with terrifying energy. As the droplet merged with the crimson liquid, the pool began to churn violently, sending waves of energy crashing into Ling'er's body.
Pain wracked her form as the essence blood merged with her being. Her once delicate features twisted in agony, yet her mind clung to the image of her younger brother. She couldn't fail—not after everything life had already taken from him.
A Transformation
The old woman muttered to herself, her expression one of glee. "Yes... as I suspected. This girl possesses innate Yin Demonic Qi. What a pity such potential was wasted in a human bloodline. But now, I'll fully awaken it, perfect her bloodline... yes, perfect it!"
Ling'er's skin began to exude beads of blood, her natural blood replaced by the dark crimson liquid in the pool. As her body absorbed the pool's contents, her appearance underwent a horrifying transformation.
Her once flawless white skin became etched with black, vine-like patterns. Her nails grew into razor-sharp claws, and with a sickening crack, a pair of dark, feathered wings erupted from her back. Her silky black hair turned a deep crimson, cascading down her shoulders like a bloody waterfall.
Her cultivation surged uncontrollably, leaping from Purple Mansion fourth stage to ninth-stage pinnacle in mere moments. But as her strength grew, so did her horror at the changes to her body.
Staring at her reflection in the pool, she clutched her knees and sobbed. "What have I become? This isn't me... this isn't me..."
The old woman's laughter filled the chamber. "You've succeeded! The transformation is complete—your bloodline has transcended! You now possess the noble Heavenly Demon Bloodline, far superior to your pathetic human heritage!"
Her words were met with Ling'er's anguished cries, but her glee only grew. She gazed at the trembling girl with a fervent intensity, her eyes burning with greed.
The Weight of Sacrifice
Far away, Mu Feng remained oblivious to his sister's plight. He could not know the cost she had paid to obtain the means to heal him.
Some bonds are forged in sacrifice, and few are as pure as familial love. A love willing to endure the unthinkable, for one simple hope: that the person you cherish will have a chance to thrive.