Chapter 16: He Is Ambitious, He Yearns To Become Stronger
Saying this, Qin Du showed a longing expression, as if recalling something.
Resources in the Lower Cultivation World are too scarce, and even the information is rare compared to the Upper Cultivation World.
At that time, he was also just a young man, standing behind his father like Qin Feilong, listening to him recount those past events long buried in the river of time.
“This time, the ascender is not from the Upper Cultivation World, nor from any of the demon, devil, or ghost races. Instead, it is from the Dragon Race, from the Dragon Domain.”
“For a hundred thousand years, since the phoenix fell and the divine dragon perished, there have been no naturally born gods in the world. One can only ascend to become an immortal and master the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth by continuously cultivating and gaining the recognition of the Heavenly Dao.”
In the past hundred thousand years, there have been countless ascenders, but the majority of them were from the Dragon Race.
“Ten thousand years ago, Dragon King Ao Tian ascended, and after that, the Cultivation World seemed to become desolate, with no one ascending again—not even from the Dragon Race. This time, the ascender, despite their grand momentum and strong strength, has all failed.”
Saying this, Qin Du sighed, with a hint of regret.
Qin Feilong had always only known of the Six Realms and the Six Heavens in each realm, but he never knew there were such myths and legends. Hearing his father sigh, he couldn’t help but ask:
“Why is that?”
“The world says that the mystery lies with the last ascender in all of Heaven and Earth—Dragon King Ao Tian.”
Qin Du turned his body, his gaze fixed on Qin Feilong, his eyes shooting out sharp light:
“This is also why our sect is called the Ao Tian Sect.”
“You might not believe it, but over ten thousand years ago, our sect used to reside in the Upper Cultivation World and was extremely prosperous, almost monopolizing the Upper Cultivation World.”
“Dragon King His Majesty once gave our sect a drop of his essence blood, enabling us to inherit the Dragon Clan bloodline and possess abilities comparable to the Dragon Race’s talent. However, this drop of essence blood has been sealed by our ancestors since over ten thousand years ago—they couldn’t inherit it, nor could they control the Dragon King’s strength.”
Qin Du’s voice gradually lowered:
“After more than ten thousand years, with the passage of time, the Ao Tian Sect has also gradually declined, even only able to exist in the Lower Cultivation World. Our ancestors always said that every hundred years, someone would be qualified to refine the Dragon King’s essence blood and inherit the Dragon bloodline, leading our Ao Tian Sect back to the Upper Cultivation World, and this person would also be the next ascender.”
Qin Feilong, suddenly hearing such a past event, couldn’t help but sigh:
“It is like this.”
“Indeed, it is like this.”
Qin Du sighed:
“Little Dragon, actually, your body’s condition is not the first case in our Ao Tian Sect. Before you, our sect used to have a ‘waste’ every hundred years; they were all successors chosen by the Dragon King’s essence blood.”
Qin Du continued, “But no one has ever been able to truly refine the essence blood. These so-called ‘wastes’ all died during the refining process, their souls scattered.”
“Gradually, the sect stopped spreading this legend, and we parents all chose to hide this matter from our children, letting them live a peaceful life.”
Since Qin Feilong revealed this talent five years ago, Qin Du, without hesitation, chose to conceal it, just like his ancestors. After all, even if they were ‘wastes,’ their Ao Tian Sect had enough resources to let them live out their lives happily.
But every time Qin Du saw his child being mocked by others for his inability to absorb spiritual energy, he would repeatedly question himself:
Was this choice truly the right one? Was this choice truly for his child’s good?
He did not know; he simply made what he believed to be the wisest choice as a father.
But when he saw his child’s engagement being broken off by others due to his physical condition, he was severely shaken.
The Ao Tian Sect was no longer the Ao Tian Sect of the past, and he simply could not protect his child.
The Ao Tian Sect was no longer the Ao Tian Sect of the past, and the image of that talented young man remained in his mind; he did not want his child to have his life buried due to his choice. He should give the choice to his child.
Thinking of this, Qin Du sighed deeply and said to Qin Feilong:
“Your father has been cowardly for five years, and finally, I want to ask, what are your thoughts?”
Retreating would mean bearing the stigma of being a “waste” for a lifetime, but it would preserve his life; advancing meant a one-in-nine chance of survival, but if successful, he would become a genius admired by all.
Qin Feilong looked at his father, unable to speak for a long time.
Even without him saying it, Qin Du understood his character.
He was ambitious and yearned to become stronger. Five years of being a “waste” had not dulled his edge or diminished his pride; instead, it had only strengthened his conviction to continuously become stronger until ascension.
Qin Feilong finally knelt before Qin Du and kowtowed heavily, saying:
“This child is willing to refine the Dragon King’s essence blood. I hope Father agrees.”
Qin Du sighed deeply, sliced his finger, and blood gushed out.
Qin Du used his blood to draw a formation in the air, and after a moment, an entrance appeared out of nowhere. He said, “Go in.”
After Qin Feilong stepped inside, Qin Du spat out a mouthful of blood. He carelessly wiped it away with his sleeve and said:
“Come out.”
Ming Zhaoshuang, hidden in the dark, frowned. The invisibility talisman given by the System should not be so easily seen through.
As Ming Zhaoshuang thought this, she saw a green figure.
Shen Liqian emerged from the darkness and smiled at Qin Du: “Sect Master, how have you been?”
Ming Zhaoshuang noticed that she was followed by two people whose cultivation was unclear.
Ming Zhaoshuang then realized that it was not her who had been discovered, but Shen Liqian.
No wonder Shen Liqian abandoned the excellent cultivation conditions of the Upper Cultivation World to become a disciple of the Ao Tian Sect; it was to snatch the Dragon King’s essence blood.
It was also no wonder that Shen Liqian left the Ao Tian Sect after the Male Protagonist inherited the Dragon King’s essence blood in the original book.
“I have been well,”
Qin Du looked at Shen Liqian, showing no surprise:
“You came to the Ao Tian Sect for this, didn’t you?”
Qin Du laughed, “You knew long ago that this Secret Realm could only be found by those with the Qin bloodline, and only those with the Qin bloodline could enter it, so you’ve been lurking for so many years, waiting for this opportunity.”
Shen Liqian did not deny it: “I hope the Sect Master will grant my wish.”
Qin Du knew he was no match for the two people behind Shen Liqian, so he said to her:
“Young Friend Liqian, you and Little Dragon are quite friendly, and you know his character. How about this, we make a bet. If Little Dragon fails to refine the Dragon King’s essence blood and consequently has his soul scattered and his dao dissipated, I will personally deliver the Dragon King’s essence blood into your hands. But if Little Dragon successfully refines the Dragon King’s essence blood, then for the sake of past affection, spare him, and spare the Ao Tian Sect, how about it?”
Saying this, he extended his hand, signaling Shen Liqian to sit in the secondary seat beside him.
