Chapter ( 24 ) The Sacrificial Bloodline
400,000 miles away from Earth.
On one of Jupiter's moons, Europa, a place covered in ice and massive cracks, the coldest of all regions.
From within the icy expanse, a large block of ice suddenly cracked and exploded, revealing the figure of a tall, handsome man.
He glanced toward Earth, smiled faintly, and whispered softly:
"Two humans have used the Bloodline Awakening Formation..."
Then, with a sigh, he stored a glowing energy orb into a box and activated a red bracelet on his wrist, saying:
"Rowan, hurry up. I've already gathered the energy on this side. Once you're done, let's leave. Two humans on Earth have used the Bloodline Awakening Formation. We need to report this to our leader."
Through the red bracelet, a voice responded:
"Alright, this moon is just a mess of molten lava... I'll leave as soon as I'm done. You go ahead first."
The man was also on another of Jupiter's moons. After sending the report, he vanished like a shadow.
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### The White Ice World
The Forbidden Palace of the White Ice Queen
The Queen stopped playing her instrument and murmured softly:
"Is it the East Palace Lord? Has he been tasked with selecting the chosen one? What's so special about this?"
She then waved her hand and ordered:
"Let him in!"
A maid bowed respectfully and retreated. Soon, the East Palace Lord entered and bowed to the Queen.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
The Queen calmly asked:
"Have you prepared the selection process?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. However, we still need approval from the higher-ups. According to Grandmaster Xi, after learning that previous chosen ones were treated poorly, the high-ranking officials of the human race have tightened some rules. They demand that any human chosen one must be given a suitable position and treated as an ally."
The Queen frowned and asked:
"What about the Sacrificial Bloodline?"
The East Palace Lord hesitated before replying:
"Well... the princess refuses to accept her bloodline as the Sacrificial Bloodline. She insists on finding another way to match the pure bloodline of the White Ice Dragon and find a suitable chosen one."
The Queen's expression turned furious, and the strings of a nearby instrument snapped instantly. The maids immediately bowed and pleaded:
"Please calm down, Your Majesty."
The East Palace Lord was also startled. The Queen, known for her beauty and gentle demeanor, had made many forget her immense power. In truth, she was the strongest in the entire White Ice Dragon lineage, second only to the grandmasters.
The Queen glared at the East Palace Lord and said:
"I've already tried to persuade her, but she's too stubborn."
She then sighed and added:
"She's just like her father. Fine, if she won't do it, I'll use my own bloodline for the sacrifice."
The East Palace Lord was shocked and immediately protested:
"Your Majesty, that's not appropriate! Please reconsider."
The Queen shook her head and asked:
"Why is it inappropriate? The pure bloodline only exists in me, Princess Chu Chu, and the youngest princess. Since Chu Chu refuses, and the youngest princess's bloodline hasn't awakened yet, I have no choice."
The East Palace Lord struggled to explain:
"But... but... combining bloodlines requires the purest bloodline and a compatible chosen one. Traditionally, this involves... physical union to produce offspring."
The Queen's eyes narrowed, and she said:
"I'll send my bloodline for testing to Grandmaster Xi. Do you have anything else to report?"
The East Palace Lord shook his head, unable to speak further.
Could it be true? Would the Queen herself offer her bloodline as a sacrifice? How could this happen? How could it be allowed?
"Very well. You may leave. Handle the situation as discreetly as possible. And... keep my decision a secret within the clan."
The East Palace Lord could only nod and accept the order.
"Rest assured, Your Majesty."
As the East Palace Lord left, the Queen stood up and gazed at the icy pond. A beautiful woman in silver armor appeared silently beside her and asked:
"Your Majesty, must you personally offer your bloodline as a sacrifice?"
The Queen sighed and replied:
"Zuran, you know our clan's pure bloodline is dwindling. Even the ordinary bloodlines are weakening. We're also constantly clashing with the neighboring Fairy Clan. Their men and women are all incredibly beautiful. Half of our clan has already intermarried with the Green Vine Fairies."
"The problem is, their bloodline not only doesn't match ours but also weakens our own. Now, even ordinary bloodlines can only achieve a third of their former potential. That's why I've forbidden any further marriages with the Green Vine Fairies. It's like silently destroying our bloodline. By the time we realized it, it was too late."
"Among my siblings, only my eldest brother and I possess the pure bloodline. My brother has two daughters, but only Chu Chu has the pure bloodline. The youngest princess's bloodline hasn't awakened yet, so it's unlikely she'll develop a pure bloodline."
"Before our pure bloodline disappears completely, I want to experiment with bloodline evolution. But Chu Chu refuses to marry the chosen one because of that Fairy Prince. So, I have no choice but to offer my own bloodline. This is my wish, and it was also my father's wish. Our pure bloodline is nearing its end. If the chosen one's bloodline modification succeeds, it could transform our entire clan. This is our last hope..."
The Queen, having unburdened her worries, seemed slightly relieved. She turned to Zuran and smiled, gently brushing her hair.
"You've grown up quite a bit. Which hero from our clan would you like to marry? I'll arrange a wedding for you..."
Zuran shook her head vigorously.
"Zuran will not marry. Zuran will stay by Your Majesty's side forever."
The Queen smiled beautifully and said:
"Very well. If you don't want to marry, quickly reach the final stage of the Pre-Celestial Realm. Otherwise, I'll have to arrange a marriage for you."
"Your Majesty..."
Zuran could only think of training harder.
The Queen knew Zuran was exceptionally talented. Zuran had been by her side since she was a young princess. Zuran's bloodline was also extremely pure, descended from a grandmaster who fell in a clan war. Her potential was not inferior to Chu Chu's.
Many princes and heroes wanted to marry Zuran, but she continued to refuse. The Queen secretly shook her head, knowing that none of the clan's princes or heroes could win Zuran's heart.