A Sect from a Spirit Vein

"Greetings, Senior Brother Tan."

Tan Yunxing smiled and returned the greeting, his demeanor approachable. When fellow disciples noticed the mark on his forehead, they quickly asked with concern, but Tan Yunxing merely said he had accidentally bumped it.

So they chatted and laughed, discussing various matters within the sect, when someone suddenly said, "A few days ago, Junior Martial Uncle Jiang returned, throwing a huge fit. It turns out she came back from her task only to find her white Spirit Cat missing. They've searched all over the mountains for the past couple of days, but still haven't found it."

"I heard she even posted a reward mission. Whoever finds it will get a Spirit Crystal as a reward."

A few junior cultivators smacked their lips, quietly remarking on how extravagant Junior Martial Uncle Jiang was, each fantasizing about how they would spend the reward if they found the cat themselves.

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Having quietly listened all along, Tan Yunxing suddenly laughed, "Going to all this trouble for a cat is too much. In my opinion, an animal is just an animal. If it's lost, it's lost; if it's dead, it's dead. What's there to find?"

His fellow disciples exchanged glances, unsure how to respond.

Tan Yunxing quickly added, "I mean, Minglong Mountain is so vast, with four peaks spanning a hundred miles. How do you even find a raccoon cat there? Might as well get a new one. Junior Martial Uncle Jiang isn't short on Spirit Stones; she could just buy another."

A junior brother murmured, "But Junior Martial Uncle Jiang doesn't think that way. She said even if it's the body, it must be found."

Tan Yunxing's expression turned cold, and he said lightly, "It won't be found."

...

In the study, Lu Qian had already listened to Ji Yunrou's introduction to the Snake Spirit Fusion Secret Technique, identifying the parts involving the absorption of True Dragon Blood. After pondering it over, he had once more confirmed their intention to cooperate.

Mobilizing spiritual power, the Spirit Flower trembled, and the True Dragon Blood, wrapped in Five Elements Spiritual Qi, was expelled and held in his palm.

This was not a feasible long-term solution, as the power of the Dao Pattern constantly needed dispersing. Yet holding True Dragon Treasure Blood was not something an ordinary object could manage. Even Meng Chi True Monarch couldn't preserve it, only able to keep it in hand through secret techniques, from which Lu Qian had directly seized it.

Therefore, the True Dragon Blood must be used as soon as possible.

"How much do you need?" Lu Qian carefully dissolved the seal on the Five Elements Reincarnation. The ancient, grand, and immensely powerful energy was unleashed again, though it was contained by the array he had prepared in advance.

Ji Yunrou, fascinated, stared at the jet-black Blood Pearl and slowly said, "A third, give me a third, okay?"

Lu Qian was full of doubt, "Is it really necessary to use that much to replenish your lifespan? Back then, Meng Chi True Monarch only absorbed a wisp, about a tenth of that Blood Pearl, and his cultivation advanced one major realm. A third is too greedy."

Ji Yunrou protested repeatedly, "This Blood Pearl contains the power of a True Dragon, which is at the True Immortal level. We Foundation Establishment ants can't absorb much. Even though it's heartbreaking, there's immense waste during absorption."

"Meng Chi only needed a tenth to soar because it's originally of dragon kind and at the Void Refining stage, utilizing True Dragon Blood a hundred times more efficiently than we can."

"I only want a third now, and that's still too little. From that third, I can barely extend my lifespan by fifty years. I'm down to Early-Stage Foundation Establishment; if I can't advance to Golden Core in fifty years, I will die of old age, and that's very stressful already."

"Lu Lang, you wouldn't be this heartless, would you?"

Her reasoning seemed quite sound, yet Lu Qian couldn't be sure there weren't hidden tricks in her numbers.

Lu Qian probed with a few more questions, but Ji Yunrou stood firm on needing a third. Pressed further, she tore open her collar, revealing large areas of creamy skin, and said tearfully, "Fine, you heartless man, if you won't agree, just kill me. But if I die, that dragon blood will be of limited use to you. And I'll curse you from the Nine Netherworld every night..."

Feeling a headache coming on, Lu Qian gritted his teeth and said, "Are you sure the remaining two-thirds can form a True Dragon Body Vein?"

Ji Yunrou immediately beamed, "Of course, and with some to spare, too."

"If it weren't for the immense loss, the power of a True Immortal within this drop of True Dragon Blood could achieve not just one, but two or three transformations. It's just a shame that our low cultivation and non-dragon origin lead to huge wasted potential during fusion."

"Look how honest I am, asking for only a third. Otherwise, I could have demanded more—what say you, consider rewarding me a little?"

Ji Yunrou batted her moistened peach blossom eyes as she leaned closer, only to receive a light chop on the head from Lu Qian.

"Why do I find your talk untrustworthy?" Lu Qian said coldly.

Ji Yunrou pouted indignantly, "Alright, if you don't believe me, take the two-thirds and try it first. If it doesn't work, I'll compensate you with my share."

She spoke with such confidence that Lu Qian decided not to argue further. After all, his goal was to create a True Dragon Body Vein for the Yunshan Sect. Any small schemes from Ji Yunrou were within tolerable limits.

Having settled on a plan, the next step was to decide who the remaining two-thirds of the True Dragon Blood should be used on.

"A True Dragon Body Vein infused with True Dragon Blood—what unique features does it have?"

Ji Yunrou lazily sprawled across the desk, "This True Immortal Divinity—how could I know it all? But reasoning from common sense, merging with Dragon Blood would naturally bestow dragon qualities."

"For example, longevity, water control, thunder laying, fire generation, cloud-swallowing and smoke-exhaling, steel bones and iron flesh, strong will to live, wishful size, etc."

Lu Qian pondered for a moment, "Can it enhance cultivation speed?"

Ji Yunrou raised her delicate eyebrows, "Sect Leader Lu, aren't you a bit too greedy? There's no reason to want everything. Though the Dragon Race has a long lifespan, it's not heard that their cultivation speed is special. But with long life, one can accumulate high levels of cultivation over time."

It can't enhance cultivation speed, but can it extend lifespan...

So who should receive these two-thirds of True Dragon Blood?

Lu Qian mentally drafted a list and slowly eliminated some names.

Wang Yu, half-corpse, with vitality and death qi in perfect balance, creating the strange yet exquisite Spiritual Evil power. The tremendous vitality contained in True Dragon Blood would, instead, disrupt that balance in his corpse body, acting as poison.

Removing Senior Brother Wang's name was easy, but for the others...

Senior Brother Yang possessed peculiar Dao Patterns, if promoted to Golden Core, he might acquire highly unusual divine techniques. He is unfailingly loyal to the sect, someone who can be entrusted with life and death at any moment.

As for Senior Sister, she would be the first choice emotionally. If she could gain the True Dragon Body Vein, her ice technique would benefit greatly from water element control, her cultivation path smooth and lifespan extended. They could then forever be a pair of immortal lovers.

Little Yan was also a good fit. She already had unparalleled Void Spiritual Root, but merging with True Dragon Blood could propel her to an even more powerful level.

If Xiao Tianci had True Dragon Blood, his robust physique would significantly boost a Sword Cultivator's power.

Considering Qi Cultivation Disciples, excluding Baitao, Li Da, and Wang Ruoyu. Honestly and fairly, Lin Le was a natural candidate, but Tan Yunxing, though not favored personally, was also highly suitable.

With water and wood Dual Spiritual Roots, perfectly compatible with True Dragon Blood's water and thunder divine techniques, he could become a pillar of the sect if fused.

He paced back and forth, brows tightly knit, even forgetting about Ji Yunrou waiting nearby.

Even with a strong Consciousness Collection, thoughts electric and pros and cons quickly weighed, he was now ensnared in an inextricable bind.

After a long while, Lu Qian gave a wry smile. At this point, he realized he wasn't a saint either; personal preferences did prevail.

It seemed the True Dragon Blood had to be chosen between Senior Sister and Lin Le.