Chapter 429.2: The Ancestral Blood Art

Qi Yuan speculated randomly.

Purple Fate Tan turned toward him. “Blood Robe, would you be interested in marrying into Purple Fate Heaven?”

He refused outright, “Nuh-huh!”

He was now convinced there was something seriously wrong with the Purple Fate Clan's bloodline. Otherwise, who would ask someone to marry into the family the very first time they met? Shouldn't they first ask whether he owned a house or a carriage? Or inquire about his salary? Wait, never mind. For a live-in son-in-law, none of those questions mattered.

Without wasting words, Purple Fate Tan handed over the Ancestral Blood Art. “This is the Ancestral Blood Art that the ancestor instructed me to give you. When you've cultivated it to the ninth layer, you may seek an audience with the ancestor and request one small favor.”

Qi Yuan curiously accepted it. “Is this a cultivation technique?”

Of course, Purple Fate Tan was aware that Qi Yuan came from the Second Heaven and knew little about the Black Demon Abyss. Thus, he patiently explained, “Yes and no. It is a cultivation method unique to those who possess our bloodline. Our greatest strength lies in our bloodlines. The stronger one’s bloodline, the greater one’s talent. The greater one’s talent, the greater one’s potential. And naturally, the greater one’s future achievements.

“The Ancestral Blood Art allows our bloodlines to evolve and undergo leaps in quality, granting all kinds of special abilities until they reach perfection. It has fifteen layers in total. If someone managed to cultivate it to the highest level, then even with the weakest bloodline, they could simply stop cultivating. Given enough time, they would eventually reach the Principle realm.”

Pride filled his face. Of course, no one in the Black Demon Abyss had ever accomplished such a feat. Generally speaking, the stronger the bloodline, the faster one practiced the Ancestral Blood Art.

Qi Yuan asked expectantly, “How much time is enough time?”

Wouldn't that mean he could simply master this technique, lie around inside a game world, and emerge as a Principle Yang Spirit?

Purple Fate Tan answered enthusiastically, “Only one hundred thousand years!”

Qi Yuan was baffled. “...Isn't the word 'only' a little inappropriate here?”

With that much time, he'd rather stay inside the Myriad Principle Gate comprehending Principle itself. After a million years, he'd come back invincible. Of course, compared to playing games, even that didn't seem particularly appealing.

Purple Fate Tan paused before earnestly advising him, “Blood Robe, your bloodline is exceptional, but be realistic about your goals. It isn’t that easy to attain the Principle realm. Well, if you truly complete the Ancestral Blood Art, then you will likely step into the Yang Spirit realm within a hundred years.”

Even he felt somewhat envious. Since the members of the Black Demon Abyss originated from a Creation Treasure, their cultivation system differed somewhat from that of the Sixth Heaven. Other cultivators would have to temper their magical power, strengthen their souls, and comprehend the Great Dao. Any one of those tasks could consume ten thousand years with the slightest insight.

Meanwhile, the Black Demon Abyss only had to strengthen their bloodline. Bloodline was everything and bloodline granted everything. To ordinary cultivators of the Sixth Heaven, the Black Demon Abyss's path to the Yang Spirit realm was almost like taking a shortcut.

Qi Yuan's bloodline was obviously far superior to his own. Otherwise, the ancestor would never have shown such interest. In truth, Purple Fate Tan's bloodline was quite ordinary, surpassed even by his own daughter. However, in addition to his outstanding comprehension, he also worked tirelessly. That was how he had become the foremost Principle cultivator beneath the ancestor of Purple Fate Heaven. He truly envied people like Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan answered lazily, “That doesn't sound very cost-effective, but I'll practice it when I have time.”

He could ask the ancestor for a favor when he reached the ninth layer. That was a decent enough reward.

The corners of Purple Fate Tan's mouth twitched, choosing not to respond. He handed the storage pouch to Qi Yuan, reminding, “This is another item the ancestor asked me to pass on to you. Try not to tell others about it. Otherwise, you'll attract jealousy.”

If word spread that the ancestor had secretly given someone special treatment, it would inevitably attract unwanted attention.

Qi Yuan replied casually, “A mediocre talent is one no one envies.”

After all, he was just here to have fun. As long as his own interests weren't harmed, he'd simply do whatever he pleased.

Purple Fate Tan smiled. “As you wish.”

He had only mentioned it in passing. Usually, when an ancestor gave someone a welcoming gift, the gift itself wasn't valuable. What mattered was the ancestor's attitude. He felt no envy whatsoever toward whatever Qi Yuan had received.

“Daxue, take Blood Robe to his cave residence so he can cultivate properly.”

With those words, Purple Fate Tan disappeared.

Purple Fate Daxue looked at Qi Yuan with obvious envy. “In my whole life, I’ve only ever received one gift from the ancestor. You get one the moment you arrive. Life really isn't fair to us humans...”

He immediately pointed out her mistake. “For the record, you're not human.”

With ox horns growing out of her head, how could she pretend to belong to the human race?

“I wonder what welcoming gift the ancestor gave you. Is it worth more than a Black Cloud Blood Rider?”

A gift from the Ancestor certainly wouldn't be cheap. Otherwise, wouldn't people look down on him? Of course, it wouldn't be excessively precious either. Her father had received a Mythic-grade spirit beast. The young Purple Fate Daxue had basked in that glory for quite some time.

Qi Yuan sAID matter-of-factly, “Let's get to my cave residence first. I already said I wanted a nicer one. Otherwise, I'd be unhappy.”

Purple Fate Daxue said enviously, “You really are something... You've already gotten such an advantage, yet you're still complaining. Do you even know that the Ancestor has designated you as the foremost Demon Child of the younger generation?”

Qi Yuan wasn't particularly fond of the title. “Demon Child?”

He was obviously a lawful good!

She laughed. “The Purple Fate Heaven originally has four Demon Children. With you included, there are now five. You've become the leader the moment you arrive, so I imagine the others won't be convinced.”

The two chatted while heading for a towering mountain suspended in the heavens. Completely deserted, no buildings stood upon the mountain, and only broken rocks lay scattered everywhere.

Purple Fate Daxue placed her hands on her hips and proudly pointed ahead. “See that? That's your cave residence. Isn't it awesome?”

Qi Yuan stared ahead, momentarily stunned. “Why is this cave residence so strange?”

Before him floated an enormous sphere of steel. Larger than the entire Great Shang Kingdom, it truly deserved the word "enormous." It was clearly a cultivation world, yet this gigantic sphere was constructed entirely of steel, giving it an unmistakably science-fiction and cyberpunk aesthetic.

Just then, a woman’s clear, crisp voice rang out. “What's strange about it? This cave residence is called Origin Star. It was built in the image of the stars that illuminate the myriad heavens!”

Two young women—one tall and one petite—appeared. One had small pink ox horns tied with butterfly ribbons. Exceptionally petite, she had straight-cut bangs and wore an aquamarine dress, looking adorable.

The other possessed no horns. She had a tall figure and a cool expression. Her form-fitting dark green dress accentuated her figure. Much of the chest area was cut away, revealing dazzlingly fair, soft skin. A black silk ribbon was tied around her smooth thigh. She was the one who had spoken.

“They are Demon Children. The cute one is called Little Lu. The sexy one is called An Xunlu.”

Little Lu glanced at Qi Yuan once, then immediately lowered her head again, appearing rather bashful. An Xunlu carefully sized him up with a scrutinizing gaze.

Qi Yuan's attention likewise settled upon An Xunlu.

Not because of her revealing outfit, but because her name was wrong. She should have been called Safety Shorts[1] instead.

1. aka An Xinku. A pun on the Chinese pronunciation of her name. ☜