Emergence and New Bonds

The dazzling azure light illuminated the cavern like the rising sun, blinding everything and everyone. Yuqing instinctively shielded her eyes with her sleeve, while Tianyang raised an arm to protect his vision. For several long moments, the light felt endless, as though it would engulf them entirely.

When the brilliance finally began to fade, they slowly opened their eyes, blinking at the breathtaking sight before them.

A small creature, no larger than half their size, stood amidst the shattered remnants of the azure egg. Its tiny wings, a radiant azure hue, shimmered like polished gems. The little horns on its head were pristine white, curving delicately, and its scales glowed faintly, alternating between azure and pure white. Its underbelly and tail were snow-white, giving it an almost celestial appearance. Yet its most striking feature was its crimson-red eyes, filled with a mix of curiosity, innocence, and intelligence.

"It's…" Yuqing whispered, her voice trembling with awe.

"A young dragon," Tianyang completed, his voice equally soft, as though speaking too loudly might shatter the surreal moment.

The dragon moved forward hesitantly, its small claws crunching on the shards of the egg beneath it. With a soft, almost melodic chirp, it reached out its tiny neck and nuzzled Tianyang's leg.

For a moment, both Tianyang and Yuqing froze, their hearts pounding. Then, as if moved by an unspoken instinct, Tianyang knelt and placed a hand on the dragon's head.

"It recognizes us," Yuqing said, her voice trembling with emotion.

Tianyang nodded, his lips curving into a gentle smile. "It's as if… it sees us as family."

Yuqing knelt beside him, her delicate fingers brushing against the dragon's smooth scales. A warmth spread through her heart as the little creature let out a contented purr.

Suddenly, a surge of energy washed over them. Tianyang and Yuqing stiffened as a complex formation carved itself into their minds and souls. It was ancient, intricate, and pulsing with profound power.

"What's happening?" Yuqing asked, her brows furrowing in confusion.

Tianyang closed his eyes, focusing on the energy. After a moment, he opened them, his expression a mix of astonishment and understanding. "It's the Yin and Yang Dual Contract. The dragon has accepted it."

Yuqing's eyes widened. "The contract we initiated earlier?"

"Yes," Tianyang confirmed. "But there's more to it than we realized. This contract… it's beyond anything I've seen. It surpasses even the Lifebound Contract."

Through the bond, they could now sense not only the dragon's emotions but also its boundless potential. The formation pulsed with harmony, linking the three of them in a connection that felt unbreakable.

As they studied the contract, they could sense that the dragon possesses a Royal Bloodline or higher, and also a surprising detail emerged: the contract's rules, though similar to a Lifebound Contract, had been altered,

"It changed the terms," Tianyang said, astonished. "If it dies, we'll remain unharmed. But if either of us dies, it will perish with us."

Yuqing looked at the dragon, who gazed back at them with its crimson eyes. "It… it changed the rules to protect us."

Overwhelmed by emotion, Yuqing hugged the little dragon, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Thank you," she whispered.

Tianyang placed a hand on the dragon's head, his voice firm yet soft. "We'll protect you, little guy. You're part of our family now."

The dragon chirped happily, flapping its small wings in excitement.

After spending hours bonding with their new companion, the dragon let out a soft, rumbling growl. It looked up at them with wide, pleading eyes, its small tongue flicking out as if tasting the air.

Tianyang chuckled. "Looks like someone's hungry."

Yuqing smiled, recalling the scrolls they had read earlier. "Dragons with high bloodlines need a strong foundation. Demon cores are the perfect nourishment for them at this stage."

The couple retrieved several high-grade demon cores from the storage rings of the Beast Taming Sect. As soon as they presented the cores, little dragon's eyes lit up, and he eagerly snatched one, crunching on it with obvious delight.

Tianyang and Yuqing watched with amusement as the dragon devoured the cores, its tiny claws clutching them like a child with its favorite treat.

As the dragon finished its meal, it let out a satisfied chirp and curled up beside them, its tail twitching slightly.

Tianyang glanced at Yuqing, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Mengqi would adore him."

Yuqing returned his smile, her eyes sparkling. "Have you thought of a name?"

Tianyang looked thoughtful, then turned to the dragon. "How about Yao'er?"

The dragon tilted its head, as if considering the name, then nodded enthusiastically. Yuqing giggled, blushing slightly as she nodded in agreement.

With their bond solidified, the trio prepared to leave the cavern. They carefully gathered the remaining resources: divine-tier herbs, legendary-grade artifacts, and rare-grade pills.

Before departing, they returned to the graves of the Divine and Saint Azure Dragons. Yao'er approached the graves solemnly, his crimson eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"We'll honor their sacrifice," Tianyang said softly, placing a hand over his heart.

Yuqing nodded, her voice firm. "They gave us a great responsibility. We won't fail them."

The misty forest was quiet as the trio emerged from the cavern. Yao'er walked between them, his wings fluttering occasionally as he explored his surroundings with curious eyes.

After several hours of travel, the sound of clashing weapons and shouting voices broke the tranquility.

"Someone's fighting," Tianyang said, his tone cautious.

Yuqing nodded, her expression serious. "Let's investigate."

Moving stealthily, they approached the source of the commotion. Hidden among the dense foliage, they observed a fierce battle between two groups.

One group, clad in blood-red robes, wielded vicious Earth-tier techniques. Their movements were precise and deadly, supported by unique-grade artifacts.

The other group, dressed in royal guard uniforms, formed a protective circle around a lavish carriage adorned with noble insignias.

"That carriage belongs to someone important," Yuqing whispered.

Tianyang's eyes narrowed. "And those attackers… they're not ordinary cultivators. Their techniques are ruthless."

As they continued to watch, the skirmish intensified, and a powerful explosion shook the area.

"Should we intervene?" Yuqing asked, her voice low but tense.

Before Tianyang could answer, the scene took a sudden, shocking turn—

Important Information!

1. Bloodline Tiers

a. Mortal Bloodline

• Description: The most common type of bloodline found in demon beasts.

• Potential: Limited growth potential, typically capped at the Foundation Establishment or Core Formation Realm.

• Examples: Ordinary wolves, serpents, and hawks.

• Characteristics:

• Average intelligence.

• Weak natural abilities or passive skills.

• Limited ability to comprehend advanced techniques.

b. Spirit Bloodline

• Description: A step above mortal bloodlines, these beasts often possess traces of spiritual energy from a higher lineage.

• Potential: Growth up to the Nascent Soul or Soul Severing Realm.

• Examples: Spirit-tailed foxes, flame falcons, thunder serpents.

• Characteristics:

• Increased intelligence and stronger instincts.

• Can inherit basic spiritual techniques.

• Natural affinity for elemental control (fire, water, wind, etc.).

c. Noble Bloodline

• Description: Rare bloodlines from beasts with ancient or legendary ancestors. These beasts are often born with extraordinary powers.

• Potential: Growth up to the Void Tribulation Realm.

• Examples: Ice qilins, shadow panthers, storm griffins.

• Characteristics:

• Possess unique innate abilities tied to their bloodline.

• Higher cultivation speed and talent for combat techniques.

• Can comprehend middle-tier techniques with minimal guidance.

d. Royal Bloodline

• Description: Bloodlines descending from legendary or divine beasts. They are the rulers of their kind.

• Potential: Growth up to the Ascendant Realm or higher.

• Examples: Golden dragons, nine-tailed foxes, azure phoenixes.

• Characteristics:

• Extremely high intelligence; often comparable to humans or beyond.

• Born with divine-grade techniques or unique bloodline abilities.

• Capable of forming contracts or bonds with cultivators, but only on their terms.

e. Divine Bloodline

• Description: The purest and rarest bloodlines originating from primordial or celestial beasts. These beasts are revered across realms.

• Potential: Limitless, often reaching the Immortal Ascension or Celestial Lord Realm.

• Examples: Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger of the Four Sacred Beasts.

• Characteristics:

• Born with innate mastery over divine-tier techniques.

• Their blood alone can empower cultivators or forge divine artifacts.

• Capable of altering the laws of nature and space in their vicinity.

2. Bloodline Traits

a. Purity

The strength of a beast's bloodline depends on its purity. A purer bloodline ensures greater potential and stronger abilities. Impurities can weaken a bloodline over generations.

• Pure-Blooded Beasts: Direct descendants of ancient beasts.

• Half-Blooded Beasts: Mixed bloodlines, often leading to unique hybrid abilities.

b. Bloodline Awakening

Some beasts are born with dormant bloodlines. Through cultivation, opportunities, or external aids (like rare herbs or bloodline pills), they can awaken their ancestral powers.

• First Awakening: Grants access to basic ancestral abilities.

• Full Awakening: Unlocks the beast's complete potential and often leads to a transformation.

3. Inherited Abilities

Demon beasts inherit abilities based on their bloodline rank and type.

• Physical Traits: Enhanced strength, speed, or durability.

• Elemental Control: Manipulation of elements such as fire, water, or lightning.

• Unique Abilities: Powers such as space manipulation, time control, or soul attacks.

4. Impact on Contracts

A beast's bloodline heavily influences the type and strength of the contract it can form with a cultivator:

• Mortal and Spirit Bloodlines: Suitable for simple beast contracts.

• Noble and Royal Bloodlines: Often require Lifebound Contracts.

• Divine Bloodlines: Rarely form contracts; if they do, they demand equal respect and mutual benefit.

5. Bloodline Suppression

Beasts with higher bloodlines can suppress those with lower bloodlines, regardless of cultivation levels. This phenomenon is instinctual and cannot be resisted unless the weaker beast's willpower or cultivation is exceptional.

• Example: A dragon with a Royal Bloodline can cause beasts with Noble Bloodlines to tremble and lose their fighting spirit.

6. Bloodline Refinement

Cultivators and alchemists sometimes refine the bloodlines of beasts or themselves through:

• Bloodline Pills: Enhance the purity of existing bloodlines.

• Bloodline Essence: Extracted from beasts with powerful bloodlines; consuming it can grant temporary or permanent power boosts.

• Forbidden Techniques: Risky methods to forcibly extract or implant bloodlines.

7. Bloodline Mutations

Occasionally, a beast's bloodline may mutate due to external factors, such as exposure to rare energy sources or powerful artifacts. These mutations can:

• Create entirely new abilities.

• Elevate the beast's bloodline to the next rank.

• Cause instability, leading to unpredictable consequences.

Notable Examples of High-Ranked Bloodlines

1. Pure Blooded Ancient Azure Dragon (Divine Bloodline): Mastery over spatial and elemental laws; immense combat strength.

2. Nine-Tailed Fox (Royal Bloodline): Supreme illusions and charm techniques.

3. Thunder Roc (Noble Bloodline): Unmatched speed and thunder manipulation.