Chapter 2: Blood Pool
Chapter 2: Blood Pool
Dong… dong… dong…
After a melodious bell rang, the once-in-a-decade baptism ceremony officially began. The younger generation of the clan had long been eagerly awaiting this exciting moment.
“The first one, Mu Qingling!”
As soon as the Stewardship Elder finished speaking, a girl draped in a white light robe leaped out from the crowd. Holding a spotless piece of gauze in her hand, she drifted over people’s heads like a fairy and landed in the Blood Pool filled with rising blood energy.
The moment her bare feet touched the pool water, a red light surged in from the Yongquan point on her soles and quickly spread throughout her limbs. Very soon, the phantom of a fierce beast appeared behind her. It resembled a bird but was not quite a bird, its body entirely red as if bathed in raging flames. A clear, resonant cry faintly echoed.
“Fire Phoenix!”
“Amazing, the top grade among fire attributes, a Heaven-tier bloodline! After her bloodline power awakens, she will definitely break through the Mortal Realm Peak soon and become an Elite Realm expert!”
…
Watching the huge Fire Phoenix phantom behind the girl in white, people were deeply shocked, quickly causing a sensation!
It was said that humans were the spirits of all things in the world, and everyone contained immense power within their bodies. However, this power was hidden deep within the bloodline, and ordinary people could not awaken it. The Blood Pool, which the Mu Manor had put tremendous effort into building, was used to stimulate the clansmen’s physique, hoping to awaken the power in their bloodlines.
Depending on the grade, bloodlines could be divided into four levels: Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow. Heaven-tier bloodlines were already extremely rare, while the legendary Saint-tier and God-tier bloodlines were even more scarce. Different bloodline grades and varying body attributes meant that suitable cultivation methods could be vastly different.
“The second one, Mu Tie!”
The second to step forward was a cold-faced young man in black clothes. Expressionless, he directly plunged into the Blood Pool like a great roc spreading its wings. His speed was extremely fast, yet upon touching the water surface, not a single splash was made. His whole body floated on the water like a reed. The next moment, a black light burst forth, and a black dragon baring its fangs and brandishing its claws appeared behind him. Compared to Mu Qingling who went first, his bloodline grade was not inferior at all. Truly worthy of being the Chief Transmission Disciple, he caused another sensation.
With two genius disciples appearing consecutively, ordinary people were extremely excited, and the elders on the high platform were no exception. After exchanging glances, they all smiled and stroked the beards on their chins.
“The third one, Mu Qingzhu!”
“The fourth one, Mu Qingyun!”
…
Young clansmen stepped excitedly into the Blood Pool one after another, awakening the power within their bloodlines. The higher the talent, the shorter the baptism time; they would awaken quickly as soon as their hands and feet touched the pool water. Those with poorer talent had to immerse their calves, thighs, or even half their bodies in the Blood Pool.
As time passed, more and more disciples awakened their power and headed to the Scripture Library to find corresponding cultivation methods. Unfortunately, although there were many people, no outstanding genius disciples like Mu Qingling and Mu Tie appeared again. A Heaven-tier bloodline was something that could be encountered but not sought!
“Next, Mu Qingyuan, Mu Qingyuan…”
The Stewardship Elder called out several times before Mu Qingyuan, dressed in splendid clothes, walked out of the crowd leisurely.
He originally wanted to imitate others by making a stylish high jump and leaping into the Blood Pool in one go, but his skills were not up to par. He stumbled at the edge of the Blood Pool, almost falling flat, which provoked loud laughter. Whether from shame, anger, or nervousness, as he walked in, there was no reaction even when the water reached his lower abdomen. Looking at the unfathomably deep water ahead, his face instantly turned pale. Anxious and uneasy, he subconsciously stopped and hesitated, which brought another round of uproarious laughter.
A good-for-nothing who only wastes pills!
Watching Mu Qingyuan in a dilemma, Mu Feng sneered coldly. If he had also been given so many pills since childhood to cleanse his tendons and marrow, let alone just having damaged meridians, even if his meridians were completely severed, he would have achieved cultivation success long ago, far surpassing ordinary people!
“Go, keep moving forward!”
Seeing his always dearly loved grandson being so useless, the Elder of Inheritance on the platform could no longer sit still. He was furious at his failure to meet expectations. Standing up, he roared like a lion about to devour someone.
Under his intense stare, the frightened Mu Qingyuan had no choice but to brace himself and continue forward. He moved carefully, inch by inch, afraid that he might drown before his power even awakened, his courage smaller than a newborn mouse’s. Finally, when the water was about to reach his chest, he awakened, and light flashed. After a long time, just as the light was about to fade, a faint phantom of a groundhog finally appeared behind him.
Yellow-tier!
The lowest, poorest grade among bloodlines! The groundhog grade was already low enough, and he almost failed to manifest even that!
Trash among trash, dregs among good-for-nothings!
Timid as a mouse, and it truly matched his attribute!
Looking at the phantom behind Mu Qingyuan, the crowd burst into another round of uproarious laughter. There were many people with mouse attributes, but one as lowly and wretched as a groundhog was truly rare!
“Next, Mu Lanying!”
Mindful of the Elder of Inheritance sitting nearby, the Stewardship Elder pursed his lips, barely managing to hold back his laughter, and continued reading the names. The eager clan disciples stepped forward one by one. In the blink of an eye, most of the day had passed.
“The last one… Mu Feng!”
Just before the sun set, it was finally Mu Feng’s turn.
Under everyone’s gaze, Mu Feng walked out and slowly stepped into the Blood Pool step by step. His movements were plain, not as flashy as other clansmen, but his steps were calm, without a trace of panic.
“Awaken, the power within my bloodline!”
After stepping into the Blood Pool, Mu Feng whispered a prayer, hoping for some miracle.
Although he appeared calm and hadn’t held much hope before coming, deep down, he too was full of desire and anticipation for powerful strength, yearning for a miracle to occur.
What maiden does not yearn for love, what youth does not wish to be a hero?
The impoverished Mu Feng had been sensible since childhood. He usually didn’t speak much, focusing on his studies, but in his heart, he shared the same aspirations and dreams as his peers, hoping to one day become a supreme expert standing at the Cultivation Peak. Unfortunately, reality was always cruel; the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. Even when the water reached his chest, there was still no reaction.
“Hahaha, a good-for-nothing is a good-for-nothing, far worse than me! Even soaking your whole body in the water is useless, you might as well get out now!”
Looking at Mu Feng in the Blood Pool, Mu Qingyuan laughed heartily, finally finding some balance. After laughing a few times, he abruptly stopped, suddenly feeling that something was wrong— very few people around were joining in!
Watching Mu Feng resolutely moving forward step by step without any reaction, some people felt disdain, some sneered, but more shook their heads and sighed. Everyone knew that Mu Feng had never been able to cultivate since childhood; this baptism was just a formality for him. What was admirable was his determined expression.
“Heaven’s way is unfair, why?”
“Why won’t you give me even a single chance, why?”
…
Mu Feng’s eyes turned red, and clenching his fists, he continued forward.
The water grew deeper and deeper, slowly submerging his chest, his neck… until his whole body was completely underwater. Sadly, there was still no movement inside his body. The severe illness he suffered shortly after birth had severely damaged his meridians and had long ago taken away his right to cultivate.
Sometimes, Heaven truly closes its eyes.
The way of Heaven is unjust!
In this world, nothing is absolutely fair!
In Mu Feng’s heart, he suddenly gained a bit more insight into the so-called Dao!
The crimson pool water, made from who knows what, caused a stinging pain as it seeped into the body. The stronger one’s strength and the higher one’s talent, the more sensitive one was to it, and the stronger the repulsive force when diving underwater. Most people didn’t dare, and couldn’t proceed further once the water reached their necks. Perhaps because his meridians were damaged, Mu Feng didn’t feel much difference. After reaching the deep water area, he decided to go all the way and simply dove down, holding his breath and diving all the way to the bottom.
Gurgle…
A stream of bubbles rose. After forcibly diving to the bottom, Mu Feng endured the stinging in his eyes and opened them, slowly searching around.
Contrary to his expectations, the bottom was smooth, with no living creatures, not even moss. After turning around for a bit, he felt increasingly uncomfortable. Just as he was about to swim back up, suddenly, a particularly intense red light caught his eye. He had unintentionally discovered it. Following the red light, he swam over and found a huge underwater Altar Platform, upon which rested a round, glistening Blood Pearl.
Gurgle, gurgle gurgle…
The small crimson Blood Pearl throbbed like a heart, sending out wave after wave of bloody ripples. The Altar Platform was ancient and mottled, who knows how many years it had been there.
“Could this be the power source of the Blood Pool?”
Mu Feng’s heart stirred, and he quickly swam over.
The Altar was carved with dense Talismanic Script, seemingly a terrifying formation. However, because he had no Spiritual Power within him, he passed through unimpeded. Soon, he held the Blood Pearl in his hand.
It was scalding, profound, and contained boundless power…
Holding it between his fingers, Mu Feng felt the Blood Pearl pulsating continuously, as if it were a living being or a sentient creature.
After hesitating for a moment, as if guided by some unseen force, he swallowed it in one gulp. Instantly, his body grew hotter and hotter, as if placed on a stove to roast. At the same time, unfamiliar fragments of memory surfaced in his mind. He saw black-robed figures with the character ‘Shaman’ engraved on their foreheads battling against heaven and earth, scenes of catastrophic destruction, magnificent and tragic. Finally, it fixed upon an Ancestral Sorcerer thousands of feet tall. He saw him make a grasping motion in the air with his right hand, and countless immortals and ancient buddhas screamed, transforming into countless Blood Pearls that came whistling through the air.
The Ancient Shaman Sect, the Great Blood-Refining Sorcerer?
A startling thought suddenly occurred to Mu Feng.
Then, more unfamiliar memories surged in. A flamboyantly written ‘Shaman’ character vaguely appeared on his forehead. The pool water violently churned in response, raising towering waves. A baby-like cry came from the horizon. An ancient, vast, and tragic aura suddenly descended over the Mu Manor, spreading for thousands of miles around.
In an instant, people’s minds blurred slightly. They all shivered simultaneously, an boundless fear arising from the depths of their souls. Almost all the birds and beasts within a thousand-mile radius instantly fell to the ground in terror, prostrating themselves towards the direction of the Blood Pool.
All things paid homage!
The All Things’ Homage upon the Great Sorcerer’s descent!
All creatures in heaven and earth, at this moment, all instinctively prostrated themselves, welcoming the arrival of the last Great Sorcerer in hundreds of millions of years.
In Jianning, this remote border city, the last Great Sorcerer in hundreds of millions of years, the legendary most powerful, most fearsome Great Blood-Refining Sorcerer, was born!
Millions of miles away, in a Taoist temple filled with the fragrance of Sandalwood Incense, a Daoist with an immortal demeanor, who had been sitting cross-legged in quiet cultivation for a thousand years, suddenly changed expression; in a distant, ancient monastery that had stood for untold years, bells and drums suddenly sounded together, the ritual bells hanging from the eaves ringing urgently. An ancient buddha, draped in kasaya and seated on a lotus flower, slowly opened his eyes; at the same time, in the Capital City of the Tongtian Dynasty, the Imperial Palace, the Guardian Nation Jade Tripod symbolizing the Tongtian Emperor’s power and majesty, suddenly developed a crack…
“What happened?”
“Quick, report to the Grand Elder, quickly!”
…
The abnormal activity in the Blood Pool threw everyone in the Mu Manor into panic and disorder, creating chaos. In the confusion, no one noticed that an ordinary figure quietly climbed out from a corner of the Blood Pool and turned to leave.