Three days passed peacefully.
For Ye Xuan, "peacefully" meant:
Cultivating in the morning.
Practicing alchemy before noon.
Getting dragged around by Bai Yue after lunch.
Being challenged by Qin Hao in the afternoon.
And feeding Little Snow approximately thirty-seven carrots every day.
The last part was becoming expensive.
Inside Mu Qingxue's mountain courtyard, Ye Xuan sat beneath the bamboo trees.
Spiritual energy continuously flowed into his body.
His cultivation had already reached:
Body Tempering — Seventh Layer
His progress was astonishingly fast.
But Mu Qingxue had repeatedly warned him not to break through too quickly.
So Ye Xuan deliberately slowed his cultivation.
He needed to strengthen his foundation.
Little Snow was sleeping on his head.
The enormous Black Horned Bear was lying nearby.
Its massive body looked like a small mountain.
Ye Xuan opened his eyes.
"Little Snow."
The rabbit opened one eye.
"Carrot?"
"No."
"Then don't talk."
Ye Xuan's mouth twitched.
"You've become arrogant."
Little Snow closed its eyes again.
"Learned from you."
Ye Xuan stared.
"...You're getting smarter."
"Obviously."
The system suddenly appeared.
[The system confirms that Little Snow's intelligence is increasing.]
Ye Xuan looked at the rabbit.
"Why?"
[The host's bloodline is subtly affecting it.]
Ye Xuan's eyes narrowed.
"My bloodline?"
[Ancient Golden Bloodline possesses powerful life-enhancing properties.]
[Long-term exposure can cause beneficial mutations in compatible creatures.]
Ye Xuan's eyes brightened.
"So Little Snow could evolve?"
[Possible.]
"Into what?"
[Unknown.]
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Interesting."
Suddenly—
A powerful bell rang throughout the sect.
DONG!
DONG!
DONG!
Ye Xuan stood.
"That's different."
Mu Qingxue appeared from the main hall.
Her expression was serious.
"An announcement."
"What happened?"
"The sect's secret realm is opening."
Ye Xuan's eyes brightened.
"Secret realm?"
Mu Qingxue nodded.
"Every hundred years, the
Azure Ancient Secret Realm
opens."
"It contains ancient inheritance, spiritual herbs, treasures and opportunities."
Ye Xuan immediately became interested.
"Can disciples enter?"
"Core disciples and direct disciples can."
"Then I'm going."
Mu Qingxue looked at him.
"You've only been in the sect for a few days."
"So?"
"The secret realm is dangerous."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Master."
"Hm?"
"You've taught me to become strong."
"Yes."
"Then I can't hide behind you forever."
Mu Qingxue stared at him.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she nodded.
"Fine."
She reached into her storage ring.
A small jade pendant appeared.
She handed it to him.
"Take this."
Ye Xuan examined it.
"What is it?"
"A defensive artifact."
"It can block one attack from a Saint Realm cultivator."
Ye Xuan's eyes widened.
"One attack?"
"Yes."
"Master..."
He smiled.
"Are you secretly worried about me?"
Mu Qingxue looked away.
"Don't misunderstand."
"It's only a precaution."
Ye Xuan grinned.
"Sure."
Mu Qingxue sighed.
"Inside the secret realm, stay with the sect's disciples."
"Don't enter unknown ruins alone."
"Don't consume unknown pills."
"Don't touch strange formations."
"And most importantly..."
She looked directly into his golden eyes.
"Don't underestimate anyone."
Ye Xuan nodded.
"I understand."
Azure Ancient Secret Realm
The next morning.
Thousands of disciples gathered before the eastern mountain.
An enormous ancient gate stood between the peaks.
Its surface was covered in mysterious symbols.
Elders stood around it.
Powerful spiritual energy filled the air.
Ye Xuan stood among the direct disciples.
Bai Yue was beside him.
Su Lian stood slightly ahead.
Qin Hao had his arms crossed.
Li Ming calmly held his book.
Mo Qing remained silent.
Gu Yuexin had also come.
She glanced toward Ye Xuan.
"Junior Brother."
"Hm?"
"Remember."
She smiled.
"Don't die."
Ye Xuan sighed.
"Why does everyone keep saying that?"
Bai Yue laughed.
"Because you're the kind of person who looks like he'll run toward danger just to see what happens."
Ye Xuan looked offended.
"That's an unfair accusation."
Everyone stared at him.
Ye Xuan cleared his throat.
"Mostly unfair."
Bai Yue laughed.
An elder stepped forward.
"The Azure Ancient Secret Realm will remain open for thirty days."
"Within it, killing is permitted."
"But remember—"
His voice became cold.
"Anyone who deliberately attacks another disciple of the Heavenly Frost Sect will be punished severely after returning."
"Your objective is to seek opportunities."
"Not create unnecessary conflict."
The ancient gate began to shake.
RUMBLE!
A terrifying spatial distortion appeared.
A giant vortex formed inside the gate.
The elder raised his hand.
"Enter!"
One after another—
Disciples entered.
Ye Xuan stepped forward.
The moment he crossed the gate—
[Ding!]
[Special Location Detected.]
Ye Xuan froze.
The system continued.
[Azure Ancient Secret Realm.]
[Special Check-In Available.]
Ye Xuan almost laughed.
Of course.
"Check in."
[Special Check-In Successful.]
[Congratulations, Host!]
[Special Reward: Ancient Beast Bloodline — Primordial Azure Dragon Bloodline.]
Ye Xuan's expression instantly changed.
"Dragon?"
[Correct.]
Before he could react—
A terrifying surge of energy exploded inside his body.
BOOM!
Ye Xuan's blood began boiling.
Golden blood and azure energy collided.
His bones trembled.
His meridians shook.
A dragon roar echoed inside his soul.
ROOOOOAR!
Ye Xuan clenched his teeth.
"What the hell?!"
The system immediately responded.
[Warning.]
[Host currently possesses multiple bloodlines.]
[Ancient Golden Bloodline + Primordial Azure Dragon Bloodline.]
[Bloodline conflict detected.]
Ye Xuan's expression changed.
"Conflict?"
[Temporary stabilization recommended.]
"How?"
[The host's system has detected a suitable solution.]
Ye Xuan's eyes widened.
[New Talent Available.]
[Bloodline Fusion.]
Effect: Allows compatible bloodlines to merge into a stronger bloodline.
Ye Xuan stared.
Then smiled.
"Perfect."
[Would the host like to activate Bloodline Fusion?]
"Yes."
The instant he confirmed—
The two bloodlines began merging.
Golden energy.
Azure energy.
They collided.
Then slowly—
They began forming a new power.
A golden-blue dragon phantom appeared behind Ye Xuan.
Its enormous body stretched across the sky.
Its eyes were golden.
Its scales were azure.
A terrifying ancient pressure spread through the secret realm.
Thousands of disciples suddenly stopped.
"What was that?"
"A dragon?!"
"Where did that pressure come from?"
Even the elders outside the secret realm sensed something unusual.
Inside—
Ye Xuan's white hair fluttered wildly.
Golden light covered his body.
Azure dragon scales appeared briefly across his arms.
His golden eyes became even brighter.
[Bloodline Fusion: 1%...]
[10%...]
[30%...]
[50%...]
Ye Xuan gritted his teeth.
"Come on..."
[80%...]
[99%...]
Then—
[100%.]
Silence.
The dragon phantom disappeared.
The energy within Ye Xuan's body stabilized.
[Congratulations, Host.]
[Ancient Golden Bloodline and Primordial Azure Dragon Bloodline have successfully fused.]
[New Bloodline Created.]
Golden Azure Dragon Emperor Bloodline
Effects:
Extraordinary physical strength
Powerful regeneration
Increased spiritual energy capacity
Dragon Pressure
Enhanced comprehension
Increased resistance to elemental attacks
Natural affinity toward dragon-type creatures
Ye Xuan slowly opened his eyes.
His aura had changed.
He could feel an enormous power sleeping inside his blood.
He clenched his fist.
"Wow."
[The system agrees.]
Ye Xuan smiled.
"That's actually amazing."
[The system occasionally provides good rewards.]
"Occasionally?"
[The host should remain humble.]
Ye Xuan laughed.
Suddenly—
A massive roar came from deep within the secret realm.
ROOOOOAR!!!
The sound shook the mountains.
Ye Xuan looked toward the distance.
His newly awakened bloodline reacted.
His eyes narrowed.
"That's..."
The Golden Azure Dragon Emperor Bloodline trembled.
Something was calling to it.
Not words.
Not a voice.
Something deeper.
An ancient instinct.
Ye Xuan stared into the distant mountains.
The system remained unusually silent.
After several seconds—
[Host.]
"Hm?"
[The system recommends leaving the area.]
Ye Xuan frowned.
"Why?"
[The system cannot determine the identity of the creature ahead.]
"How strong?"
A brief silence.
Then—
[Unknown.]
Ye Xuan's expression became serious.
That was the first time the system had ever given him that answer.
Before he could move—
A beautiful figure suddenly landed beside him.
Silver hair.
Violet eyes.
White robe.
Su Lian.
She looked at him.
"Junior Brother."
"Hm?"
"Did you feel that?"
Ye Xuan nodded.
"Yes."
Her expression was serious.
"Something ancient just woke up."
Ye Xuan looked toward the mountains.
"Let's investigate."
Su Lian immediately shook her head.
"No."
Ye Xuan blinked.
"No?"
"Master specifically warned us not to enter unknown areas."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"You're right."
Su Lian looked relieved.
Then Ye Xuan added—
"We'll investigate from a safe distance."
Su Lian stared at him.
"That's still investigating."
"Technically."
She sighed.
"You're impossible."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Come on, Senior Sister."
Su Lian hesitated.
Then followed.
Deep within the secret realm—
Something enormous slowly opened its eyes.
The surrounding mountains trembled.
Ancient chains wrapped around a colossal body.
The creature looked toward the direction of Ye Xuan.
Its pupils contracted.
For countless years...
It had remained asleep.
But now—
It could sense something familiar.
Something that shouldn't exist.
Something ancient.
Something that made its blood tremble.
A low voice echoed through the darkness.
"Dragon Emperor..."
Its enormous head slowly lifted.
"Has returned?"
And for the first time in thousands of years—
The Azure Ancient Secret Realm began to awaken.