The Bloodline Nourishment Spring

Chapter 190 — The Bloodline Nourishment Spring

The passage beneath the research platform descended deep into the Ancient Evolution Grounds.

Aether walked at an unhurried pace, with Long Zhentian following beside him. The further they travelled, the stronger the Origin Energy became. Unlike the energy in ordinary cultivation grounds, this energy carried a special quality that seemed to resonate directly with the bloodline.

Long Zhentian examined the walls as they passed.

"These passages were built to guide bloodline energy throughout the grounds. The people who created this place understood that simply supplying energy wasn't enough. A bloodline needs to absorb it gradually and adapt."

Aether glanced at him. "So this place wasn't merely designed to strengthen bloodlines."

"Correct. It was designed to help them develop."

The System's notification appeared in Aether's vision.

[Area Identified: Ancient Evolution Grounds]

[Primary Function: Bloodline Nourishment and Ancestral Characteristic Development]

[Current Condition: Partially Operational]

[Detected Resource: Bloodline Nourishment Spring]

[Distance: 430 meters]

Aether's eyes brightened slightly.

"Let's see what they left behind."

They continued forward until the passage opened into a vast underground chamber.

At its centre was a clear spring surrounded by ancient stone pillars. Thin streams of golden-green energy flowed through channels carved into the floor, converging beneath the water. Despite the age of the structure, the spring remained active.

Long Zhentian studied it carefully.

"A Bloodline Nourishment Spring. Its quality is quite good. The energy here can nourish bloodlines, strengthen their foundations and encourage dormant ancestral characteristics to develop. It should also help creatures whose bloodlines have reached a natural limit."

"Can it cause a breakthrough?"

"If their foundations are strong enough. The spring provides an opportunity, not a guaranteed result."

Aether nodded.

He opened the Origin Beast Space and summoned his three companions.

Nyx appeared first, her mysterious Origin Mark faintly glowing. Kiyomi followed, her small silver-white body appearing beside Aether. The young female Earth Dragon emerged last, looking around the chamber with obvious curiosity.

The little dragon immediately noticed the spring.

"That energy feels different."

"It is a Bloodline Nourishment Spring," Aether explained. "You can use it to strengthen your foundations and develop your bloodlines. But don't force yourselves to absorb more than your bodies can handle."

Nyx examined the spring before looking at Aether.

"You found another useful place."

"That's generally the purpose of exploring ancient ruins."

Nyx gave him a brief look, seemingly unimpressed by his answer, while Kiyomi had already moved closer to the water.

Long Zhentian explained how the spring worked and warned them against absorbing its energy too quickly. After confirming that they understood, Aether allowed each of them to enter the designated cultivation areas around the spring.

Nyx settled near the deepest section.

Kiyomi chose a quieter spot where the energy flowed gently.

The young Earth Dragon positioned herself near one of the larger channels, her golden scales reflecting the light.

Aether remained near the edge of the spring.

For clarity, this chapter was copied from without the author's approval; its publication there supports the author.

"Begin."

The three beasts started cultivating.

The spring responded almost immediately. Golden-green energy rose from the water and gathered around their bodies. Their bloodlines began absorbing it, while the energy channels beneath the floor distributed additional nourishment throughout the chamber.

Aether watched the process for a moment before sitting down himself.

He had no intention of wasting such a valuable opportunity.

The Infinite Origin Physique began drawing in the spring's energy. Unlike his companions, Aether's body didn't rely on a single bloodline. The energy entered his body and was gradually refined, harmonized and integrated into his unique physique.

The System assisted by identifying impurities and adjusting the energy's distribution.

[Bloodline Nourishment Energy: Absorption Initiated]

[Infinite Origin Physique: Integration in Progress]

[Energy Refinement: Improving]

[Physique Development: 3.5% → 3.6%]

Aether continued cultivating.

The spring's energy circulated through his body, strengthening his physical foundation while improving the quality of his Origin Energy. His physique gradually adapted to the nourishment, allowing it to absorb the energy more efficiently.

The process wasn't instantaneous. Every increase required his body to refine and integrate the energy.

Several hours passed.

Inside the spring's cultivation area, Nyx was the first to experience a major transformation.

Her Origin Mark began glowing brightly. The energy surrounding her body grew denser, and her cultivation advanced.

[Nyx — Cultivation Breakthrough]

[Origin Tempering Realm, Stage 9 → Stage 10]

She didn't stop.

Her bloodline continued absorbing the nourishment, and the energy within her body underwent another transformation.

[Origin Tempering Realm, Stage 10 → Stage 11]

The pressure surrounding Nyx grew stronger. Her Origin Mark released another pulse, and her foundation began reaching for the next major realm.

After a prolonged period of cultivation, the barrier finally broke.

[Major Cultivation Breakthrough Successful]

[Origin Tempering Realm, Stage 11 → Origin Vein Realm, Stage 1]

Nyx opened her eyes.

Her cultivation had crossed an entire major realm. The Origin Energy within her body was now flowing through newly strengthened Origin Veins, giving her a much stronger foundation.

She examined her claws before looking towards Aether.

"I feel different."

"You've reached a new realm. Naturally, you should."

Nyx gave him a dissatisfied look at his casual response, but the faint satisfaction in her expression was difficult to hide.

Nearby, Kiyomi was also undergoing a transformation.

Her small body was surrounded by silver-white energy, while faint violet markings appeared more clearly across her fur. The nourishment was awakening characteristics connected to her Nine-Tailed Origin Fox bloodline.

Her cultivation advanced steadily.

[ Kiyomi — Cultivation Progress ]

[Origin Tempering Realm, Stage 1 → Stage 2]

[Stage 2 → Stage 3]

[Stage 3 → Stage 4]

[Stage 4 → Stage 5]

Kiyomi's cultivation finally settled at Origin Tempering Realm Stage 5.

Her nine-tailed bloodline had not fully awakened, but its ancestral characteristics were becoming more noticeable. The energy surrounding her was purer, and her control over it had improved.

She opened her golden eyes and looked towards Aether.

"Master, I became stronger."

Aether glanced at her status through the System before nodding.

"Indeed. You've made good progress."

Kiyomi seemed pleased with his approval and continued examining the changes in her body.

The young female Earth Dragon was experiencing a different kind of improvement.

Her cultivation was already considerably higher than Nyx's and Kiyomi's, so the spring did not produce the same type of advancement. Instead, it strengthened her existing foundation and helped her bloodline develop.

Her golden scales became more refined, and the Origin Energy within her body grew denser.

After absorbing the nourishment for some time, she achieved a breakthrough of her own, advancing one stage within the Origin Manifestation Realm.

She raised her head proudly.

"I've grown stronger too!"

Long Zhentian examined her condition and nodded.

"Your bloodline has responded well. Continue developing it carefully. A strong foundation is more valuable than rushing through cultivation."

The young dragon nodded, taking his words seriously.

Meanwhile, Aether's cultivation session was reaching its conclusion.

The spring's energy continued circulating through his body. His Infinite Origin Physique absorbed and refined the nourishment, improving its development and strengthening the harmony between the characteristics already integrated into it.

Finally, the System displayed a new notification.

[Infinite Origin Physique Development: 4.0%]

[Previous Development: 3.5%]

[Total Improvement: +0.5 Percentage Points]

[Origin Energy Refinement: Improved]

[Physical Foundation: Strengthened]

[Physique Harmonization: Improved]

Aether slowly opened his eyes.

He hadn't advanced from Origin Vein Realm Stage 5, but the improvement was meaningful. His physical strength had increased, his Origin Energy was more refined, and his physique had become more efficient at integrating compatible characteristics.

He checked the updated status once more.

"Not bad."

Long Zhentian looked towards him.

"Your physique seems to have benefited considerably. The spring's nourishment is particularly compatible with your constitution."

"It was worth coming here."

Aether stood and examined the chamber.

Nyx had reached Origin Vein Realm Stage 1. Kiyomi had advanced to Origin Tempering Realm Stage 5, while the young Earth Dragon had strengthened her cultivation within Origin Manifestation Realm.

He was satisfied with their progress.

However, the System suddenly displayed another notification.

[Detection Alert]

[Multiple Bloodline Evolution Candidates Identified]

[Ancient Evolution Repository — Response Detected]

[Sealed Records: Beginning Activation]

Aether turned towards the far end of the chamber.

Beyond the spring stood a massive stone door. Its surface was covered in ancient markings, many of which had remained inactive for countless years.

Now, one by one, they were beginning to glow.

Long Zhentian narrowed his golden eyes.

"That should be one of the deeper facilities. If the records are still intact, they may contain information about bloodline evolution that even I haven't encountered."

Aether looked at the awakening door.

"Then let's find out what they preserved."

The ancient markings continued lighting up.

Deep beneath the Evolution Grounds, an old mechanism began to turn for the first time in countless ages.