Chapter 31: Bloodline Evolution!

"The Six Paths Sect—are you trying to provoke a war between the sects?" Yang Zhengfeng stood atop the palace pavilions, his cold, commanding voice imbued with the mark of the Dao, penetrating the protective array of the sect, echoing with a deep resonance that swept directly toward the crowd of disciples from the Six Paths Sect.

The master of the Six Paths Sect remained unperturbed. Hovering in midair, he waved his hand, intercepting the mark of the Dao effortlessly, so that it failed to reach the disciples below.

"Fight! Fight!" Li Zhenyu muttered below, urging them on. Feeling it wasn't enough, he shouted venomously, "Hand over your monstrous disciple Jiang Ning from Idle Cloud Sect!"

This was his true feeling. Instantly, the disciples of the Six Paths Sect chimed in, emboldened by their master's presence. There was nothing to fear.

"Yes, hand over Jiang Ning!"

"Hand over Jiang Ning—and our disciples from the Six Paths Sect!"

"We must kill him at once!" Li Zhenyu shouted again.

"Your personal disciple Jiang Ning from Idle Cloud Sect started this conflict himself," the master of the Six Paths Sect spoke slowly. "Hand him over, or today my sect will not leave quietly."

Anger brewed in his heart. The two sects already harbored longstanding grudges, though conflict had been rare in recent years. He was convinced Jiang Ning's assault on their disciples was orchestrated by Idle Cloud Sect.

"There must be some misunderstanding," Yang Zhengfeng's eyes flickered with doubt. Jiang Ning, his personal disciple, was supposed to be in seclusion—how could he have gone to confront the Six Paths Sect's disciples?

"What misunderstanding? Speak up!" The master of the Six Paths Sect showed no courtesy, pressing forward with his aura. His Dao-infused pressure seeped through the protective array, forcing several elders of Idle Cloud Sect to retreat.

Among them were the azure-robed elder and Elder Liu Yang, who had taken Jiang Ning away that day.

"Seventh Heaven of Divine Demon Realm! He's broken through!" All the elders were startled.

Within the Divine Demon Realm, each heaven was like a mountain—crossing one meant reaching an entirely new level. Divine Demon cultivators rarely fought across realms; the gulf between each was vast. With his Dao insight alone, the master of the Six Paths Sect could easily annihilate them.

"Jiang Ning has always been within Idle Cloud Sect—how could he possibly harm your disciples?" Yang Zhengfeng was reluctant to act; his time was precious, and he wished to carry out his grand plan.

"You say so, and we're supposed to believe you?" Li Zhenyu, ever eager for chaos, shouted, "I could say you're my son—would you acknowledge that?"

"Right! You claim he's always been in Idle Cloud Sect—are you saying there's another Jiang Ning in the world?"

"Even if it's an impostor, just check his aura and you'll know."

"Bring him out for us to see!" Li Zhenyu shouted again, successfully stirring the crowd.

The Idle Cloud Sect elders exchanged uneasy glances.

This nameless disciple from the Six Paths Sect was truly outrageous—almost as if he was hoping for conflict.

"You heard them—hand him over, or we won't let this go," the master of the Six Paths Sect hovered above, his thoughts unreadable, eyes fixed on Yang Zhengfeng's form, as if he sensed something.

At this moment, Yang Zhengfeng was shrouded in the laws of the Dao, his true form indistinct, merging with the palace and pavilions of Idle Cloud Sect.

The master of the Six Paths Sect then glanced at the Idle Cloud Sect elders. Suddenly, he stepped forward and struck the protective array with his bare hand!

"He really attacked!" Li Zhenyu, still shouting, was startled by the scene. He hadn't expected the master to be so direct—after barely exchanging words, he was already making a move.

Boom!

The surge of energy rippled through the entire Idle Cloud Sect. Instantly, many disciples in seclusion were shaken from their meditation.

"Is the Six Paths Sect truly declaring war?" Yang Zhengfeng remained atop the palace, his voice cold and forceful.

The master of the Six Paths Sect's pupils narrowed again.

"Hand him over!"

"Ridiculous! A few words, and you expect Idle Cloud Sect to hand someone over? Do you take us for easy prey?" Yang Zhengfeng still did not move.

"This old man is suspicious! He'll never hand anyone over!" Li Zhenyu sensed something, and glanced at the several Idle Cloud Sect elders who looked at him with hostility.

"Could it be..." A sudden thought jolted his heart.

At that moment, the master of the Six Paths Sect struck again! He summoned his life-bound spiritual artifact—a stone statue.

Boom!

The Idle Cloud Sect's protective array trembled, on the verge of shattering!

"Stop!" Several elders moved to intercept him, but the master of the Six Paths Sect's attack was swift—at Seventh Heaven of the Divine Demon Realm, the stone statue crashed down again.

Boom!

The foundation of the array was destroyed, opening a breach in Idle Cloud Sect's great formation!

"Ha ha ha, Idle Cloud Sect, so much for your reputation!" The master of the Six Paths Sect laughed uproariously, using his life-bound artifact to clear the way, advancing directly toward the floating palace in midair.

"Divine Demon cultivators are fighting!" The disciples of the Six Paths Sect were shaken.

The disciples of Idle Cloud Sect appeared as well.

At that moment, they were irreconcilable with the disciples of the Six Paths Sect, resentments long festering.

"The Six Paths Sect dares to come and make threats in Idle Cloud Sect!"

"Today, we'll send you back in disgrace!"

Often, their missions outside resulted in conflict—now, upon meeting, some directly began fighting!

The scene devolved into chaos.

Li Zhenyu stared intently at the elders rushing toward the palace, trying to stop the conflict.

"Deathly aura..." He sensed the momentum of heaven and earth—a different source, but even more acute.

"Could it be for..." His thoughts grew clearer.

"Jiang Ning, you should thank me!" Taking advantage of the chaos, Li Zhenyu slipped through the breach in the formation, disappearing into the crowd...

...

At this moment, Jiang Ning was in dire straits.

"This pill..." He was nearly driven mad.

The pill emanated an icy chill; if not for his celestial physique, which neutralized most of the toxins, he would have died on the spot.

The pill had fused with the blood essence of the beast.

One side was wild and scorching, the other like ten thousand years of ice.

The two conflicting energies made Jiang Ning suffer immensely.

"In this pill, there are two strands of bloodline, of the same origin as the beast's blood essence..."

He resisted the energies while continuously absorbing the power of the first-grade bloodline into his body.

He understood: to break free, his bloodline must evolve.

Only by harnessing its power, crossing from the perfected Aperture Opening Realm into the Body Refining Realm, could he escape!

"Damn it, old man—when I get out, I'll make you wish you were dead!"

Jiang Ning shut off his senses, immersing himself fully within.

Thunder rumbled...

He had no idea how much time had passed; every moment was excruciating.

Boom!

Suddenly, Jiang Ning's eyes flew open.

"The bloodline power is sufficient. Once refined, I can evolve my bloodline!"

At that moment, only his head was exposed.

Black hair flew wildly in the still air, his face splattered with beast blood from the giant cauldron, like a demon god seated amidst the inferno of hell.