Return of the Immortal Emperor Daddy

"I was rejected?" In the secret chamber, Meng Xue was dumbfounded. How could this be happening? What nonsense is this young man spouting? Was I confessing my feelings? I was clearly trying to scare him off, so what is there to reject? But as she came to her senses, Meng Xue grew furious. Yet, she still dared not leave the secret chamber, afraid that its secrets would be discovered.

Blood Refiners were always looked down upon because none had ever succeeded. Some even said that only daydreamers pursued this path.

"Come out." Wu Tian’s Spiritual Sense enveloped the entire shrine, making him aware of every hidden mechanism inside. He reached out and grasped. A powerful suction force appeared in the Void, pulling the hidden door in the wall wide open. Meng Xue was dragged out from within and deposited right in front of him.

Meng Xue was startled, her pretty face filled with panic.

"Did I frighten you?" Wu Tian asked with amusement.

"I... I’m not scared of you! I... I’m very brave," Meng Xue stammered through clenched teeth, putting on a brave front.

Wu Tian chuckled and got straight to the point. "I came here knowing full well what this place is. I’ll be direct: I want books on Blood Refinement. I assume that predecessors who achieved something in this field must have left behind written works, correct?"

In the history of Blood Refiners, no one had ever succeeded besides a single woman. However, others had still gained some experience along the way. Since the field had yet to truly develop, it hadn’t become stagnant, and the predecessors had generously recorded their findings in books.

But Meng Xue snorted, "There are none." She was still furious about what Wu Tian had just done. How dare he bully a girl like me and then ask for information? No way!

"None?" Wu Tian watched the shifting expressions on her face, unable to understand what was wrong with her. He could only say, "Girls shouldn’t lie. You’ll turn ugly."

What? Is he threatening me? Saying I’ll become ugly? That’s going too far! Unaware of Wu Tian’s distinct lack of emotional intelligence, Meng Xue crossed her arms over her chest, her gaze turning icy cold.

Wu Tian had no idea what was wrong with her. After pondering for a moment, an idea finally sparked in his mind. He then said, "Miss, you seem to have a few days like this every month. It looks like I’ve come at the wrong time."

"What on earth do you mean?" Meng Xue exploded. I won’t tell you about the books from the Blood Refiner predecessors because it’s against the rules! First, you say I’ll turn ugly, and now you’re suggesting it’s my time of the month? What is wrong with this man?

Wu Tian was taken aback by her terrible mood. Even if it is that time of the month, her temper shouldn’t be *this* bad. Could it be... menopause? He considered the possibility, giving Meng Xue another glance. A teenage girl... menopause already? How pitiful! He couldn’t help but sigh.

If Meng Xue knew what Wu Tian was thinking, she would have died of pure rage. Menopause? *You’re* the one going through menopause! I’m only eighteen!

After a moment’s thought, Wu Tian tried a different approach. "How about you call a Blood Refiner out? I’d like to have a discussion with them."

Wu Tian wasn’t a genius who could deduce everything from a single clue, but he was adept at learning and immediately applying new knowledge. By conversing with a Blood Refiner to learn their nascent Path of Blood Refinement, then cross-referencing that with the books from Doushuai Temple in the Heavenly Emperor’s Treasure House, it was highly likely he could figure out the true Art of Blood Refinement.

"Discuss with a Blood Refiner?" Meng Xue shook her head again. "Sir, please don’t make things difficult for me, alright? Whether you want to read our books or talk with someone, you first have to prove that you’re a Blood Refiner, don’t you?"

"Prove I’m a Blood Refiner?" Wu Tian was puzzled for a moment before it dawned on him. Ah, of course. Blood Refiners are still in the experimental stage. Having never known anything but failure, they’ve developed an inferiority complex and will only discuss their work with their own kind. Talking to outsiders? They wouldn’t know what to say.

After some thought, Wu Tian found he could understand their mindset. Blood Refiners could only hold their heads high once they had perfected the Art of Blood Refinement. Array Masters had a complete system. Alchemists had a complete system. But Blood Refiners had nothing.

"I... I suppose I am a Blood Refiner," Wu Tian said. "Of course, I haven’t succeeded either." I’ve never actually studied the Art of Blood Refinement, but then again, nobody really knows it anyway. Everyone’s knowledge is incomplete and still in the research phase. I can just adapt the Art of Alchemy a bit, and it should be passable. Since nobody has ever succeeded, no one is in a position to question anyone else.

"You’re a Blood Refiner?" Meng Xue didn’t believe him in the slightest. Who are most Blood Refiners? They’re middle-aged people who, having lost all hope in the Martial Path, decide to walk the Path of Blood Refinement and dedicate their lives to studying it. But Wu Tian? He’s too young! At his age, he still has so much potential. How could he possibly be researching the Path of Blood Refinement?

Looking at Wu Tian, Meng Xue snorted. "Fine, fine. There’s an assessment held underground here. I’ll take you down." So you want to pretend to be a Blood Refiner? Fine! I’ll take you to the assessment and expose you for the fraud you are! We’ll see if you still have the nerve to be so arrogant then! We’ll see if you still dare to bully me!

The Path of Blood Refinement had always been a fragmented discipline. Thousands of years of research had only produced an incomplete version of it. No one knew the final steps required for success, yet some were still dedicating their entire lives to the attempt. One could only imagine the immense difficulties faced by the very first Array Master or the first Alchemist.

"There’s an assessment?"

"Yes. Do you dare take it?" Meng Xue sneered.

"Fine." Wu Tian nodded.

"The assessment for Blood Refiners tests your knowledge of our history, our most common past failures, our major figures..." Meng Xue began to explain. "It’s mostly a written exam. Since Blood Refiners don’t have a complete system yet, this is the only way we can test people. It’s not like we can ask you to actually perform Blood Refinement."

"It’s based on that?" Wu Tian was stunned. I don’t know any of that. Thinking fast, he suddenly said, "Wait a moment. I need to rest."

"As you wish." Meng Xue smiled. You’d better get scared and leave now. Otherwise, you’re about to make a complete fool of yourself.

Wu Tian leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. He appeared to be resting, but he was actually using one of Sun Wukong’s 72 Transformations to send his Primordial Spirit out of his body. The Primordial Spirit was a concept that simply didn’t exist in the fantasy-like Immortal Emperor Realm. It belonged to the Cultivation System, not the system of this world.

Wu Tian was simultaneously cultivating both the Cultivation System and the Immortal Emperor Realm’s system. Whether anyone would follow in his footsteps was uncertain, but it was certain that he was the first to ever do so.

His Primordial Spirit, riding the Somersault Cloud, returned to King Xiuyuan’s Royal Palace. He sought out Si’er, asked for some books and records from the royal library, and immediately began reading them, taking in ten lines at a glance.

After a short while, his Primordial Spirit finished the last book on Blood Refiners. Heaving a sigh of relief, it returned to his physical body.

"Alright, we can go now," Wu Tian said as he opened his eyes, looking at Meng Xue.

"Hmph." Meng Xue scoffed, fuming inwardly. Go on, keep pretending! Let’s see how you’re going to keep up the act when the assessment starts!