Chapter Thirty: The Divine Dragon Emerges

Qin Feng, along with the disciples of the Qin family from Luoyang Town, stepped out of formation and, under the expectant gaze of Qin Tianzheng, walked into the ninth Ancestral Dragon Blood Pool.

The moment they touched the water within the ancestral blood pool, countless streams of azure energy surged through the pool like serpents, each one swiftly converging upon the forty-two Qin family disciples. These azure currents wove around them like silken cocoons, as if each one was about to transform into a dragon.

"What a peculiar sensation."

Watching others undergo their transformations from outside was one thing, but to step inside and experience it personally was quite another. The instant Qin Feng entered the Ancestral Dragon Blood Pool, he felt immense energy envelop him, as if he had returned to the safety of the womb. This strange energy seeped gently into his body from every pore, saturating his flesh.

His entire body tingled, yet it was an exquisite comfort.

"So this is the baptism of the Ancestral Dragon bloodline—what an incredible feeling," Qin Feng thought, closing his eyes to savor the surge of this extraordinary energy.

The energy seeped continually through his skin, saturating muscle, meridians, nerves, blood, and even bone—there was not a single part of him untouched, not even his eyes or skin. From the inside out, his body was undergoing a profound metamorphosis.

Mind and body alike, Qin Feng was in a state of perfect relaxation.

The blood pool simmered and bubbled.

At the edge of the Ancestral Dragon Blood Pool, two stewards looked on as the forty-two young disciples underwent their transformation.

"Who would have thought," one remarked, "that a Heaven-grade Dragon Soul would emerge from Pool Four? The stewards in charge of Pool Four will surely brag about this for ages."

"Indeed," the younger steward nodded. "But the bloodline of the branch families has always been thin. Producing a Heaven-grade Dragon Soul is like seeing a ghost; after this, even a Yellow-grade soul will be rare."

"I doubt there will be more," the older replied. "That Heaven-grade soul just now drained nearly eighty percent of the pool’s energy. If another high-grade Dragon Soul appears, we’d have to add another drop of Ancestral Dragon’s blood..." Lowering his voice mysteriously, he whispered, "Hey, did you hear? Of the three drops allocated each year, it’s said only two remain today. One was lost just days ago—"

"Hush! Are you trying to get yourself killed? That’s classified—don’t go blabbing!"

"Understood!"

But at that moment, the older steward glanced sidelong into the pool and nearly jumped in shock.

At the center of the pool, one figure was suddenly enshrouded in a massive cocoon of azure energy. Torrents of azure current rushed toward it, endlessly, as if it were a bottomless pit, devouring all that came near.

The two who had just confidently declared there would be no more high-grade souls froze, their faces turning to stone.

Could another Heaven-grade Dragon Soul be forming?

Endless azure currents surged into Qin Feng’s cocoon. He welcomed it all, absorbing the energies as they flooded into his blood, muscles, and very cells, fortifying his body and urging his bloodline’s soul to manifest.

He could feel it—whether skin, bone, or organ, his entire being was alive with tiny, trembling, leaping particles.

"My whole body is shaking!"

Qin Feng felt a profound pleasure. The strange energy resonated with the latent power in his blood, while the azure currents continued to rush in, growing ever faster.

"It’s as if every part of me has come to life."

Qin Feng was awestruck. The energy was silently remaking him, from the very mechanics of muscle down to the deepest recesses of his cells.

A fundamental metamorphosis.

He let out a low, primal roar.

The sudden transformation drew the attention of all present.

Qin Dingtian, who had just sat down, sprang to his feet like a loaded spring. Instantly, all eyes turned to the ninth ancestral blood pool.

A terrible pressure radiated from Qin Feng, rippling out in all directions.

"It hurts!" Qin Feng clenched his teeth. Every cell in his body seemed to explode with energy, countless currents merging within him. The explosive force was almost maddening.

The potent energies within his flesh surged like rivers, pounding at his bloodline and driving his soul to manifest.

Externally, a massive azure dragon-shaped aura coiled around Qin Feng, soaring ten stories high and filling the air above the blood pool. Its luminous eyes swept over the crowd.

Qin Feng opened his mouth, and the dragon’s phantom did the same, unleashing a dreadful roar. A misty azure radiance spread across the square.

"Such a colossal, clear dragon phantom—and it’s still strengthening!"

The entire audience was dumbstruck.

The dragon soul Qin Feng manifested appeared to be surpassing even the Heaven-grade!

All fell into a stupor at the sound of the roar, as if their very minds were stunned. Even the Lord of Tianfeng City stood frozen for a moment.

But the old fox, Qin Dingtian, recovered in an instant. His face flushed with excitement, he barked, "Quick! Add the remaining drop of Ancestral Dragon’s blood!"

"Yes!" The elder beside him leapt to the pool, produced a small bottle of creamy jade, uncorked it, and let a single glowing drop of blood fall into the dragon’s maw at the center.

With a plop, the blood dropped into the pool, and a mysterious energy spread rapidly.

With the new energy, the dragon behind Qin Feng evolved again.

Its form swelled, its image grew clearer, and, most astonishingly, its five claws began to transform into eight—an eight-clawed celestial dragon, exuding a power that made the very heavens tremble. Winds lashed Tianfeng City, black clouds blotted out the sky, and only the mighty dragon could be seen above.

"It’s divine grade!"

Qin Dingtian was beside himself with joy.

A divine-grade soul! In all the Qin family’s long history in the Eastern Domain, only one such soul had ever appeared—a legend who had ascended beyond the mortal realm.

"Will my Tianfeng City witness the return of a thousand years of glory?"

"Hurry! All experts above the Earthly Realm, guard this boy!"

"Yes!"

At Qin Dingtian’s command, the entire city was galvanized. All cultivators, even secluded elders, rushed to the blood pool. Those in the process of awakening their souls were cleared out, lest Qin Feng’s breakthrough be disrupted.

Beside Qin Dingtian, Qin Shaohong’s gaze was nearly ablaze with envy.

"Damn it! Qin Pang was already enough of a blow, but now this Qin Feng is a hundred times more outstanding—how is anyone supposed to compete?"

"Wait!" He squinted. "That boy looks familiar..." As Qin Shaohong focused on Qin Feng’s face, recognition struck.

"It’s him...?"

The tall girl beside him started as well, apparently recognizing Qin Feng too.

Once dismissed as no more than an ant in Qin Shaohong’s eyes, Qin Feng now stole the show, overshadowing everyone—even Qin Pang. Qin Shaohong’s heart twisted with hatred, cursing Qin Feng inwardly, wishing he would fail.

This time, the awakening of Qin Feng’s bloodline soul took extraordinarily long, but it could not be helped—the divine-grade soul demanded too much energy. In less than a quarter-hour, the pool was nearly depleted. Yet the dragon soul in Qin Feng’s aura had fully taken shape: the eight-clawed divine dragon.

But the final step—the true solidification of the soul—remained unfinished. This was the most crucial moment.

Qin Dingtian was the first to notice the energy shortage. His brows knotted, his face drenched in sweat.

Each year, only three drops of Ancestral Dragon blood were allotted, and one had already been lost. Now, both remaining drops had been used.

"No—we must help this boy complete the shaping of his divine soul."

"All clan members, hear me! All above the Earthly Realm, come—shed your blood into the pool!"

"Yes!"

With that, Qin Dingtian led the way, pricking his finger and letting his own blood drip into the pool.

For a blood cultivator, blood was the most precious source of power; too much loss could weaken the body or even damage the soul. But as the clan chief, Qin Dingtian could only lead by example, and the others, reluctant or not, had no choice but to follow.

Thus, nearly ten thousand people, one after another, shed their blood into the pool—a magnificent, stirring sight.

In an instant, a river of bloodlines converged, forming a mighty torrent of energy that poured into Qin Feng, driving the final solidification of his dragon soul.

Though Qin Feng’s eyes were closed, he was deeply moved by the sacrifice of his kin.

Feeding the soul with the blood of the whole clan!

What a stirring, unforgettable scene. At this moment, Qin Tianzheng’s eyes were bloodshot, his whole body trembling as he let his blood fall into the pool, all the while praying silently for Qin Feng’s success...