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Upon hearing this, Qian Nian's disappointment dissipated instantly.
He didn't understand profound principles.
Now, with no hope of even reaching the second stage, how could he dare to dream of stages eleven or twelve?
Any divine-level opportunity was acceptable to him.
Even if this so-called Blood God Constitution was only equivalent to the Celestial God level, it was still precious to him and his foundation for rising.
Although this Blood God Constitution hadn't changed his innate cultivation aptitude, it gave him the chance to improve it.
Moreover, the concept of divinity was ultimately intangibleāwho knew what crises might arise along the way.
What mattered most to Qian Nian at this moment was the opportunity to change his current situation.
Though the Blood God Constitution hadn't directly altered his present state, it provided him an opportunity, which made Qian Nian excited.
"There are no demons or spirits nearby, so we can't help you improve your aptitude for now," Xu Yuan slowly said. "In that case, let's recover gradually. Although your speed in refining demonic power is slow, fortunately, we two are here."
Both Xu Yuan and the Blood Demon needed recovery.
The Blood Demon had fewer needs but still required compensation for the losses incurred by opening the passage. The amount of primordial energy he absorbed from heaven and earth remained enormous to Qian Nian.
As for Xu Yuan, he needed to slowly nurture his willpower, which inevitably involved gathering a large amount of primordial energy.
Though his willpower recovery mainly relied on integrating with the universe and nurturing his will through it, gathering energy also expedited the process.
The environment created by these two masters was more than enough for Qian Nian to experience being pushed forward in cultivation.
After all, if aptitude was lacking, resources could make up for it.
Even the smallest leakage of the concentrated primordial energy attracted by Xu Yuan and Blood Demon was more than enough to satisfy Qian Nian.
Qian Nian truly experienced cultivation under the pressure of abundant primordial energy.
The demonic power that was previously refined slowly could now be condensed with just a little effort.
It was simply unbelievable.
Is this what it feels like to be a genius?
"Don't get lost in the joy of rapid cultivation. Carefully feel the process of refining demonic power and perfect your cultivation technique."
Xu Yuan's reminder brought Qian Nian back to his senses.
He gritted his teeth, refraining from solely accumulating demonic power, and instead focused on refining it as usual. Even with the abundant primordial energy promoting the birth of demonic power, he continued to put in all the necessary efforts as before.
Perhaps due to a psychological effect, Qian Nian felt that the demonic power he refined in this state was different.
He gained motivation and enthusiasm.
Under the operation of demonic power, his body gradually improved.
The impact from falling off the cliff wasn't directly offset by the Blood Demon God King; he merely maintained Qian Nian's body shape, while the internal impact still existed.
Even with the circulation of demonic power, it took Qian Nian a full month to fully recover.
This one month completely transformed him.
Climbing out of the human-shaped crater, Qian Nian looked at his hands and felt the changes in his body, feeling extremely excited inside.
Demonic Power!
His demonic power far exceeded the past.
Even though he still endured the same hardships in refining demonic power, many steps seemed redundant. However, with the push of primordial energy, his cultivation speed was several times faster.
Most importantly, accompanied by the destruction and repair of his body, the accumulation of demonic power seemed to have no bottleneck, steadily increasing without pause.
This one month's worth of demonic power accumulation surpassed what Qian Nian had accumulated in three years of previous cultivation!
In the past, cultivating meant gaining a bit of demonic power, then facing slow progress, painstakingly overcoming each new point before moving forward againāa tormenting cycle that extended the time needed to gain a hundred points of demonic power tenfold.
But this month, Qian Nian experienced the feeling of being a geniusāno bottlenecks.
Bottlenecks indeed restricted too many people.
To repeatedly break through limits, one either had extraordinary aptitude, ensuring guaranteed success akin to having a towering mountain path, or got used to breaking shackles, habituating themselves to overcoming obstacles step by step, making breakthroughs routine.
Alternatively, like Xu Yuan, they were neither at the top nor bottom but possessed extraordinary aptitude, forging entirely new paths.
Clearly, the first scenario almost only existed in theory.
Xu Yuan belonged to the third type, while Qian Nian could only tread the second path.
This was also why the Blood Demon God King hadn't directly altered his aptitude. Of course, it was possible the Blood Demon God King hadn't considered this or was simply too lazy to enhance Qian Nian's aptitude.
Looking at his physique, stronger than two months ago, Qian Nian finally realized the issue.
For two months, without eating or drinking, not only did he not starve to death, but he was also brimming with vitality, showing no signs of depletion.
Even cultivators needed nutritional supplements to maintain their bodily functions. For cultivation, especially for human cultivators in the Holy Domain practicing demonic power and strengthening their bodies, nourishment was crucial.
"Your physique is still deficient. The cultivation of demonic power ultimately depends on demon bloodlines. Though your demonic power has increased several-fold, it's only external. You need to replenish your nourishment." Xu Yuan calmly remarked.
If Qian Nian relied long-term on Xu Yuan's conversion of primordial energy for sustenance, it wouldn't affect his cultivation but would cause his demonic power to degenerate, losing its characteristic transformation abilities.
"Yes!" Qian Nian responded.
"This month, any gains?" Xu Yuan asked.
Hearing Xu Yuan's question, Qian Nian thought carefully, recalling his month of cultivation.
"The cultivation of a genius feels so good."
Qian Nian was truly addicted to this feeling.
"Then strive to become a genius. I've let you indirectly experience the gap between you and a genius. Your future achievements depend entirely on yourself."
After saying this, Xu Yuan only pointed Qian Nian in the right direction and stopped offering guidance.
Under Xu Yuan's guidance, Qian Nian began searching in the valley.
First, he searched for various medicinal herbs in the valley.
This valley was exceptionally remote, with slightly thin primordial energy. However, over the years, only those medicinal herbs capable of surviving in such conditions remained, each with unique characteristics.
Especially after a month of soaking in primordial energy, the efficacy of these herbs greatly increased, with some even mutating, becoming stronger or more versatile.
Under Xu Yuan's guidance, after Qian Nian gathered many herbs, he quickly left the valley.
Outside the valley lay a continuous range of mountains called the Tian Mountain Range. Qian Nian had jumped from the cliff top of one of these mountains.
"Have you decided which bloodline to fuse?" Xu Yuan asked.
"No, my bloodline power is too weak, causing difficulties in cultivating demonic power. Though there's a possibility of fusing bloodlines at the first stage, my bloodline is too weak. I don't know if I can truly fuse external bloodlines or if they'll be compatible," Qian Nian replied.
"Now, you have the qualification," Xu Yuan said indifferently.
Qian Nian smiled.
Yes, he had the qualification.
So, which bloodline should he choose?
Qian Nian closed his eyes, carefully recalling the various demon bloodlines he knew. Numerous images flashed through his mind, finally stopping on a ferocious hound roaring at the sky.
The Sun-Devouring Divine Hound!
A fearsome divine beast on Falan Star, known for its powerful devouring ability. The Qian Family of the Nine Gates, where Qian Nian belonged, possessed the corresponding bloodline, which was the foundation of the Qian Family.
Each of the Nine Gates inherited a divine beast's bloodline, each famous during the Spirit Continent era. However, most had disappeared in the flow of history, leaving no pure breeds, causing the decline of the Nine Gates. Their bloodlines became increasingly diluted, and Qian Nian himself had almost no traces of demon blood, nearly indistinguishable from pure humans.
Sadly, the Sun-Devouring Divine Hound was extinct.
Qian Nian sighed inwardly.
The Sun-Devouring Divine Hound was the best match for his Blood God Constitution, yet it was extinct. Even if not extinct, how could he find its trace in this vast Falan Star? And if found, how could he obtain its bloodline from the owner?
Qian Nian didn't place all his hopes on Xu Yuan and Blood Demon.
He understood that with them residing in his body, their condition must not be optimal. Even at their peak, they couldn't dominate Falan Star, let alone now.
Therefore, he had to choose a substitute for the Sun-Devouring Divine Hound.
However, acquiring bloodlines with devouring abilities was extremely difficult. Which one should he choose?
"Dragging your feet, making decisions so slowly," Xu Yuan said. "My perception covers at least one-third of the Holy Domain. Don't worry about the inconvenience of searching."
Qian Nian froze upon hearing Xu Yuan's words.
At least one-third of the Holy Domain?
Realizing this, Qian Nian immediately made a decision.
"Elder, I want the Sky Devouring Hound's bloodline."
The Sky Devouring Hound was a branch of the Sun-Devouring Divine Hound's bloodline. Legends say that by devouring countless bloodlines and assimilating them, enhancing the bloodline, it could evolve into a true Sun-Devouring Divine Hound.
"Sky Devouring Hound? Skilled in devouring power?"
"Yes!"
Xu Yuan nodded.
Perfect.
Though covering a large perception area, screening targets was a massive task, and Xu Yuan would suffer greatly. But if the target excelled in devouring power, it would be easier.
Xu Yuan activated the devouring runes, integrating them into the universe, and quietly waited for feedback.
No need for him to screen.
Outsourcing directly to the universe!
Soon, Xu Yuan received guidance and sensed many demons related to devouring attributes, including three types of canine demons.
"The Sky Devouring Hound you mentioned, is it this golden big dog, this silver big dog, or this black big dog?"
Xu Yuan activated the primordial energy, projecting three images of canine demons in the air.
Qian Nian was shocked.
Such powerful search capabilities.
Found so quickly?
Even Blood Demon was astonished, feeling Xu Yuan's information processing ability was a bit godlike.
Perception coverage didn't mean noticing every detail; normally, the human brain couldn't handle such a massive amount of information.
"It's the black one!"
Qian Nian calmed his excitement, pointing at the image of the sleeping big black dog.
As Qian Nian pointed, the big black dog in the image suddenly woke up, looking around wildly, barking fiercely, and creating a large energy funnel.
Under the violent energy flow, the surrounding space slightly twisted, forcing many demons to reveal themselves. However, the black dog paid no attention to these demons.
He was still searching for the source of danger.
However, the next instant, it howled with fear and disappeared into the air.
Qian Nian stared blankly.
Was this live streaming?
Where was the Sky Devouring Hound?
"Woof!"
The fierce bark made Qian Nian jolt.
Trembling, he slowly turned around to see the big black dog growling at him behind him.
The overwhelming pressure caused Qian Nian immense pain.
This pressure, isn't it from a Demon King?
Qian Nian forced himself to calm down, thinking that with two predecessors backing him, even if this Sky Devouring Hound was a Demon King, he shouldn't be afraid.
At this moment, he no longer questioned the strength of Xu Yuan and Blood Demon.
Xu Yuan conjured a shadow between the man and the dog, placing his hand on the dog's head and stroking its smooth fur.
The Sky Devouring Hound stopped barking, softly whining.
The spatial pressure rendered it immobile, life and death seemingly within the grasp of this shadow.
It realized it had encountered a true master.
"This aura, probably not tenth stage, likely peak ninth stage," Xu Yuan muttered.
The Sky Devouring Hound softly whined, looking at Xu Yuan submissively, speaking human language: "Indeed, twenty years ago, I reached the limit of the ninth stage, but no matter what, I couldn't cross the threshold into the divine level. I hope Master can give me some guidance; I am eternally grateful."
Xu Yuan chuckled softly.
"Your divine opportunity isn't with me. I brought you here to form a contract with this young man."
Contract?
The Sky Devouring Hound struggled violently.
The Sky Devouring Hound would never be a slave!
Being suppressed by a strong opponent, momentarily lowering its head was tolerable, but becoming a slave was absolutely impossible.
Xu Yuan patted the dog's head.
"Calm down. I have a method where you won't lose anything. You can grant the most fundamental bloodline to this boy, and his development of your bloodline power will also benefit you. The contract will be an equal one."
The Sky Devouring Hound's eyes moved, then glanced at Qian Nian.
Developing bloodline power?
Humans were indeed skilled at developing bloodline traits, but that applied to only a few individuals, not all humans surpassing the demon race itself.
What was special about this human youth?
The Sky Devouring Hound observed carefully but saw nothing special about Qian Nian.
However, with his life in someone else's hands, he had no choice but to agree.
Let's see what this so-called contract entails. If this human powerhouse deceived and enslaved him, he could always commit suicide.
The Sky Devouring Hound calmed down, and Qian Nian excitedly approached it, looking at Xu Yuan's shadow.
Only then did he observe Xu Yuan's appearance closely, realizing how young Xu Yuan was.
Though the voice indicated youth, based on his perception of powerful beings, Qian Nian had subconsciously added a layer of weathered gravity to Xu Yuan's image.
Seeing him now, he realized that even as a shadow, Xu Yuan exuded vigorous vitality and youthful vigor.
Xu Yuan pointed with his right hand, and a blood character rune reappeared, spreading and connecting Qian Nian and the Sky Devouring Hound.
Inside Qian Nian's heart, the Blood Demon God King silently observed everything, slightly puzzled.
What was Xu Yuan up to?
Why was he so concerned about this Qian Nian?
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