Chapter Forty-Five: Evolutionary Type, Transcendent Grade?

A master dropped from the heavens, and Qin Feng found himself with a windfall. In the vast city of Tianfeng, to encounter another of his kind was a balm for his loneliness.

The two mingled together without drawing much attention, for their meager strength rendered them unworthy of notice by the city’s influential figures. Qin Feng’s earlier worries about the three men faded; rumor had it that Qin Aotian had drugged them and dumped them outside the city’s outskirts. When Qin Shaoming was found, his cultivation was severely damaged, and his Dragon Soul had inexplicably fallen a grade. Yet, he had lost all memory of the past month, leaving the matter impossible to investigate.

It was rare for a Bloodline Soul to drop in rank unless there was massive blood loss that caused fundamental bodily harm, and even then, such a decline was only temporary, recoverable with healing. Since the man survived, and the Dragon Soul was unharmed, and as Qin Dingtian had ordered a thorough investigation that yielded nothing, the matter was left unresolved.

During this period, except for the occasional trouble from Qin Hongyu, who delighted in opposing him, Qin Feng’s days were peaceful. Eventually, unable to bear her harassment, he moved to his master Qin Aotian’s residence, which was closer to the Divine Dragon Pavilion and shielded him from Qin Hongyu’s relentless schemes. She was now bent on tormenting him, but Qin Feng had no intention of letting her succeed.

On this day, within Qin Aotian’s courtyard, both men wore solemn expressions as they stared at a third-stage Scarlet Blood Leopard of the Beastborn Realm before them.

“Qin Feng, release your Bloodline Soul!” commanded Qin Aotian.

“Yes, old man!” Qin Feng replied.

“You brat, call me Master!” The rotund old man knocked him on the head.

Qin Feng grimaced. “Master, it’s so embarrassing…”

Qin Aotian said nothing, his silence heavy.

“You rebellious boy, when I release my Dragon Soul, make sure your little snake behaves itself!” Qin Aotian’s expression grew grave as he instructed.

Qin Feng nodded. “Master, be careful this time. Don’t let it bite you again like last time.”

“Enough, I know. This time I’m prepared.” Qin Aotian waved him off, focused his mind, and released his Bloodline Soul.

A mighty dragon’s roar echoed as a majestic golden Dragon Soul appeared before Qin Feng. Its enormous form stretched several yards high, blocking out the sky, imposing and grand.

Though it was the second time Qin Feng had seen Qin Aotian’s Dragon Soul, he was no less astonished. Such a golden Dragon Soul, so domineering, so dazzling—yet regrettably, it was not of divine grade, but a defective one. It possessed only the form, lacking true substance.

No wonder the old man was so bitter, always parading about in a golden dragon robe, flaunting his status…

Snapping back to reality, Qin Feng focused on controlling his restless little black snake soul. Since the golden Dragon Soul’s appearance, the snake reacted as if faced with a mortal foe, hissing and flicking its tongue incessantly.

Since its last partial absorption of Qin Shaoming’s Dragon Soul, the little black snake had seemingly come fully alive. Its eyes opened, it gained a measure of intelligence, and even Qin Feng’s absorption of spiritual energy had doubled. This unexpected boon filled Qin Feng with greater hope.

At this moment, if Qin Feng did not realize he had awakened an extraordinary Bloodline Soul, he would be a fool.

Moreover, according to Master Qin Aotian’s speculation, this soul was likely an evolving Bloodline Soul—a phenomenon never before seen in the Qin family’s history. If true, it was nothing short of miraculous.

Recently, Qin Feng and Qin Aotian conducted repeated experiments, first confirming the Dragon Soul’s ability to devour Bloodline Souls. Since the Bloodline Soul was the essence at the core of all blood, Qin Aotian boldly hypothesized that it might even devour flesh directly.

Of course, neither dared to use living humans in Tianfeng City for their tests, so they substituted a third-stage Scarlet Blood Leopard instead.

Today, their purpose was to confirm whether the Bloodline Soul could devour ordinary flesh to evolve.

Thus, both harbored a tense anticipation.

“Qin Feng, once my Bloodline Soul merges, control yours to see if it can devour the Scarlet Blood Leopard!” Qin Aotian instructed.

Qin Feng nodded.

With all preparations made, Qin Aotian shouted, “Soul Possession!”

Immediately, his golden Dragon Soul transformed into a stream of golden light, shooting toward Qin Feng’s black snake. The snake, sensing imminent danger, hissed twice and instinctively snapped at the golden stream. Qin Feng forcibly restrained it from attacking.

With the snake subdued, the golden stream circled past its mouth and slipped into its body.

At once, the black snake radiated a golden glow, beautiful to behold.

Yet, possessed by the golden Dragon Soul, the snake grew agitated, writhing wildly, desperate to expel the intruder from its body.

Soul Possession was the only supernatural ability granted by Qin Aotian’s defective Bloodline Soul. Though somewhat limited, it allowed him to sense changes within the black snake’s soul.

At this moment, both men were under strain.

Sweat drenched Qin Aotian’s brow as he urged, “Quick, devour the Scarlet Blood Leopard!”

Qin Feng hurriedly directed the black snake, which darted forward and bit the bound leopard.

The leopard managed a single anguished cry before its flesh shriveled rapidly, hardening and drying within moments.

The black snake’s devouring speed was astonishing. In the time it took for half a stick of incense to burn, the adult Scarlet Blood Leopard was reduced to a dried corpse.

Both Qin Feng and Qin Aotian stared, dumbfounded.

“Unbelievable—such a monstrous ability!”

Though Qin Feng had previously absorbed a portion of Qin Shaoming’s Dragon Soul, the latter’s soul was too formidable, and the black snake had only devoured a small fraction. The Scarlet Blood Leopard before them, by contrast, was merely equivalent to a third-stage Mortal Steel Realm human. For the black snake, devouring it was not difficult, thus the speed was greatly increased.

After the black snake finished devouring the Bloodline Soul, Qin Feng felt a warm current surge through his body, infusing his blood, strengthening his bones, muscles, and every cell. The black snake visibly grew a little, even its agility improved.

After its successful devouring, the black snake bounced twice on the ground and, with a hiss, forcibly expelled the golden Dragon Soul from its body.

Qin Aotian collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air, but his face was alight with excitement.

“It worked! Absolutely!”

“It truly is an evolving Bloodline Soul, one that can grow by devouring the essence of flesh!”

“Just now, through Soul Possession, I sensed the intense bloodlust within your Bloodline Soul, and the exhilarating evolution after absorbing flesh. Your fortune is miraculous, Qin Feng—your prospects are limitless!”

Qin Aotian’s old face flushed with joy, his hands and feet dancing as though he himself possessed an evolving Bloodline Soul, clapping in delight.

Qin Feng was pleased, though his emotions remained calm compared to his master. He had weathered many storms in his life, never succumbing to despair in the lows, nor losing himself in elation at the highs. That was his nature.

“Master, what should I do next?” Qin Feng asked, knowing he had awakened an extraordinary Bloodline Soul—yet it remained far from the grade he desired.

Qin Aotian’s face darkened, and he knocked Qin Feng’s head again.

“I, Qin Aotian, am wise beyond measure—how did I end up with such a dull disciple? Why don’t you get it? Devour! Devour with abandon! Until your Bloodline Soul reaches divine grade—no, perhaps even super-divine grade! Ha!”

“Super-divine grade?!” Qin Feng smacked his lips.

Looking at the old man’s wrinkled face, he felt that such achievements were still far out of reach.

To devour a third-stage Scarlet Blood Leopard had only advanced his Bloodline Soul by a barely noticeable degree—how many powerful beasts would he need to consume to reach divine, let alone super-divine grade?

The road ahead was long; he would walk it slowly.

“But…” The old man’s joy faded, his tone shifting as his brows furrowed.

“Boy, I must warn you—your Bloodline Soul is the strangest I’ve ever seen. Just now, I sensed a strong, violent murderous intent within it. This soul is highly demonic. Right now, it’s not strong enough to influence your mind, but if you continue to let it evolve, that bloodthirsty violence may affect your character and actions. Be careful—never forget this!”

Qin Feng nodded.

He was well aware of this. For Qin Aotian did not know that within himself dwelled something far more terrifying than the little black snake. If the old man ever learned of his unusual ailment, his beady eyes might well pop from his head in shock.

Thinking it over, Qin Feng decided not to tell him. Seeing the old man’s alternating worries and hopes, he thought it better to preserve some of his illusions and joy, sparing him unnecessary concern. That, too, was a kindness.

…