Chapter 20: The Blood That Opens the Past
The sun hung low, casting a golden glow over the jagged mountain cliffs. Before Jin stood an ancient stone wall, weathered by centuries yet imbued with a silent, pulsing power. Faint dragon runes, etched deep into the rock, glimmered with a hidden energy—as if the wall itself was waiting.
Jin stepped forward, palm outstretched, pressing flat against the cold stone.
Nothing stirred.
He frowned. "Not enough… yet?"
With a determined breath, Jin clenched his fist and struck the stone sharply.
Crack!
Pain flared in his knuckles; blood welled and dripped freely.
For a heartbeat, the runes flickered where his blood had fallen—red, golden, and a flash of azure—but the wall remained unmoved.
Lana's voice broke the tense silence.
"You need to give it more, Jin. More of your blood. Let the inheritance know you are not just anyone."
Jin nodded solemnly. Drawing the dagger at his waist, he sliced a clean line across his palm. Crimson droplets fell onto the heart of the largest rune.
Suddenly, the entire wall blazed to life.
Runes ignited like molten coals—burning bright red, gold, and shimmering azure. A fierce wind roared around them, and the earth beneath their feet trembled.
A hidden seam split open slowly, vertical and radiant, spilling pure light into the dusky air.
Jin's heart thundered in his chest.
He glanced at Lana, Arielle, and Sarah—the three whose fates now entwined with his own.
"Let's go."
Together, they stepped through.
Behind them, the wall sealed shut without a trace, swallowing the light.
The Hidden Realm of the Dragon Clan
Inside, the air shimmered with spiritual power.
Luminous moss clung to the ancient stone walls, glowing faintly like embers in twilight. Carvings told stories—dragons battling celestial beings, clans rising and falling in epic wars long forgotten.
The earth beneath pulsed with glowing veins, like the heartbeat of the realm itself.
Arielle's eyes grew wide, reverent.
"This is no ordinary ruin. It must have belonged to a Dragon Sovereign… maybe the last of their kind."
Jin approached a vast mural painted in faded pigments. Dragons clashed with divine warriors, falling one by one to despair and ice.
At the bottom, a great dragon lay encased in eternal frost, wings folded in silent defeat.
Nearby, treasure glittered—ancient coins of unknown metal, crystals humming with elemental essence, weapons dark and etched with power.
But what caught Sarah's attention most were the herbs growing in patches beneath the murals.
"Spirit Orchid Roots… and Frozen Heart Petals," she whispered. "Lost to time… almost extinct."
Suddenly—
A booming voice shattered the silence.
"WHO DARES ENTER THIS HOLY DOMAIN?"
The cavern chilled; even the walls seemed to tremble.
From the center of the hall, a vast, hazy spirit materialized.
A colossal dragon, its form translucent and shimmering blue, horns curled like a crown, eyes glowing with divine wisdom.
"If you stand here, it means your bloodline has been accepted. Now, prove your worth."
The dragon's voice echoed like thunder.
"You, bearer of the Azure Dragon blood—step forward."
Jin's footsteps echoed as he approached a raised stone pedestal.
The spirit inclined its massive head.
"Place your blood upon the stone. Let fate judge your claim."
Jin cut his palm once more, letting blood drip onto the pedestal.
Light flared brilliant blue, enveloping him in a vortex of wind and flame.
"JIN!" the girls shouted.
The spirit's voice resonated calmly.
"He is now being tested. Fear not. If worthy, he shall return stronger. If not… the mountain will bury his name forever."
Breath held, they watched as the light swallowed Jin.
The Hidden Trial Realm
Jin landed hard on a floating island amid a surreal sky of glowing lakes and drifting stones.
Dragons soared overhead, gods of a forgotten age.
The oppressive weight of ancient power crushed him.
He fell to his knees, chest heaving, breath searing like molten iron.
System notifications flooded his mind.
[System Upgrade Complete]
[Summary of Progress During Dormancy:]
• Magic Power Level 2 Achieved
• New Skills: Frost Requiem, Blood Devour Sutra
• Dragon Bloodline Awakening: 35%
• Demon Bloodline: 8%
• Cultivation Stage: Blood Refining – Vein Tempering Level 2
• EXP: 1800/1500 → Level Up Available
• Lost Manuals Registered: 3
• Title Gained: Wolf King
• Current Mission: Survive Dragon Might
[Daily Missions: Unavailable – System Restarted]
No time for celebration.
A thunderous roar shattered the ethereal calm.
A massive dragon, scales black as obsidian and eyes like dying stars, descended with bone-rattling force.
Trial One: Withstand the Pressure of a Dragon.
Jin's knees buckled beneath the colossal presence.
Every breath was fire and stone.
Summoning every ounce of willpower, he activated:
[Tyrant Body – Silver Form]
His skin glistened with newfound strength, muscles rippling with iron density.
Still, the crushing force threatened to shatter him.
Teeth clenched, eyes fierce, Jin growled:
"This… is the path of dragons."