Chapter 690: The Divine Blood Is Still Weak

Li Yi had been a guest at Master Xiu Xiang's home for fifteen days, during which he never stepped out of the courtyard, spending each day eating, drinking, and digesting food—and the changes in those fifteen days were astonishing.

More than twenty of the sixty major acupoints in his body had already been filled with divine blood.

In addition, his soul had grown significantly stronger without deliberate cultivation, though the greatest change was in his strength.

The gestation of the divine bloodline had boosted the power of Dragon and Tiger.

His golden qi now coalesced into a true, living dragon; his silver divine blood transformed into a genuine, ferocious tiger.

This transformation stirred a deep intuition within Li Yi—he knew he had prematurely acquired the power of one dragon and one tiger while still in the Five Qi realm.

In the Declining Dao Era, achieving true Dragon and Tiger power required at least the Three Flowers realm; for instance, Xiang Xiangzi at his peak possessed ten dragons and ten tigers.

That meant Li Yi now possessed one-tenth the power Xiang Xiangzi had at his peak.

"If all sixty acupoints were filled, how many dragons and tigers would I command?" Li Yi's gaze flickered with astonishment.

The more acupoints filled, the greater the bodily transformation—currently, twenty acupoints produced one dragon and one tiger, but later perhaps only ten would suffice; he did not know the exact progression.

Because no one had ever walked this path.

Yet Li Yi could already feel he had passed the most arduous early stage; from now on, his strength would increase at an unimaginable rate.

The accumulated foundation of his dual cultivation would now fully blossom.

While Li Yi lived at Xiu Xiang's home, eating and drinking for free, the old servant had sent word of him via a flying spirit bird to Xiu Xiang.

At this moment, Master Xiu Xiang, as usual, led his guards and servants, assembled his caravan, and circled Beihuang City along his usual route—each journey netted him anywhere from a thousand to ten thousand taels.

After all, occasional surprises still turned up.

Like this one.

When Master Xiu Xiang received the old servant's message, he became more excited than if he had earned a hundred thousand taels.

"Da Yi has come—my chance to pass down my name for ten thousand generations has finally arrived. Master Nanshan once said Da Yi could one day become a regional deity. What business could ever yield a regional deity?"

Master Xiu Xiang rose from his carriage, gazed toward Beihuang City, and declared without hesitation: "I will return to Beihuang City. But a merchant's promise must not be broken—the trade route must continue, for people await our goods, people await vital supplies, people depend on our caravan to survive. Qi, I entrust this caravan to you. Carry it forward in my stead."

A warrior named Qi rode up on a spirit beast and slammed his fist hard against his chest: "Aye."

A single word—aye—was the warrior Qi's vow.

In the Wildlands, people valued promises above all else; once pledged, a promise must be kept, unless the man was dead—even the most cunning, cruel slave masters never broke their word.

Hearing Qi's vow, Master Xiu Xiang smiled faintly, then entrusted the entire caravan to Qi, while he himself, accompanied by two guards, mounted a spirit beast, left the group, and headed toward Beihuang City.

He could not wait to meet Da Yi.

For Da Yi's importance far surpassed any profit from a single trade journey.

"Send word of this good news to Master Nanshan—if it is Da Yi, Master Nanshan, who travels afar, will surely return gladly." Master Xiu Xiang then released another spirit bird.

This bird was a spirit beast used among merchants to transmit messages—extremely fast, resilient, and rarely targeted in this world, for few dared attack messengers.

That day.

Li Yi ate and drank as usual within the courtyard; he had grown accustomed to the feeling of growing stronger simply by eating and drinking without doing anything else.

Just as he finished his meal and prepared to return to digest the essence.

Suddenly.

In a direction to the west, not far away, another unusual power surged into the sky—its energy intertwined with the heavens and earth, forming a purple radiance carrying a noble, domineering aura.

This aura was ancient, resembling in some way the divine bloodline manifesting in Li Yi's body.

"Divine bloodline?"

Li Yi immediately understood.

The neighboring residence also concealed a divine blood warrior—and from this aura, the opponent's strength was formidable.

Yet Li Yi paid no heed; he closed his eyes, rested, and continued digesting the essence of flesh and blood, nurturing divine blood to fill the acupoints.

After all, Beihuang City teemed with hidden dragons and tigers; encountering other divine blood warriors was normal.

Yet though Li Yi ignored it, he did not know that the neighboring residence also housed a merchant—Master Lie Hou, whose wealth surpassed even Xiu Xiang's, who had long conducted business with Xiu Xiang, both friend and rival.

Naturally, such dynamics were common among merchants.

Lie Hou was a middle-aged man with a short beard, dressed in fine robes, standing in his courtyard and gazing toward Xiu Xiang's home.

"For a long time now, Xiu Xiang's former guest has returned—this is the aura of divine blood, exceedingly powerful. Master Nanshan once judged this man: he will one day become a regional deity." Master Lie Hou was well aware of Da Yi's identity.

After all, when Da Yi's divine blood aura first erupted and celestial signs appeared, it drew the attention of many merchants.

They all envied Xiu Xiang for finding such a rare treasure; fortunately, Da Yi later left Beihuang City, easing their envy somewhat.

Otherwise, they might have been too jealous to sleep.

Since then, many merchants had actively sought other divine blood warriors and funded them generously—this was both competition and rivalry, and it also alerted other merchants to the danger.

If another merchant funded even a regional lord, let alone a regional deity, they would regret it for life.

And Lie Hou, after spending vast sums, had found his own rare treasure.

A descendant of the gods—a divine blood warrior named Dong Chong.

He then gazed at the divine blood warrior in his courtyard.

The man stood tall and massive, nearly three meters in height, his muscles as hard as rock, crisscrossed with purple markings resembling a dappled tiger, and the purple patterns shimmered with light, resonating with heaven and earth.

An ancient, domineering aura radiated constantly.

Alas, Dong Chong was not a direct bloodline heir.

Otherwise, he alone could have founded a divine blood family.

And direct divine blood heirs were beyond the means of any single merchant like Lie Hou to fund.

Though Dong Chong's divine blood concentration fell short of direct lineage, it far surpassed ordinary divine blood warriors; combined with Lie Hou's recent funding, his strength had advanced noticeably—he would surely become a powerful divine blood warrior, even if he never reached regional lord status.

"Dong Chong, how does your strength compare to the divine blood warrior in Xiu Xiang's household?" Lie Hou, watching the golden and silver auras intertwine, sparks and lightning colliding, could not help asking.

"His divine blood is dense, but his strength is weak. In the future, I cannot surpass him—but now, he cannot match me." Dong Chong, though towering and fearsome, was still young.

Youth naturally carried some pride.

Yet Dong Chong had to admit: Li Yi's divine blood was truly comparable to that of a direct heir—he would surely surpass him in time.

But now, Dong Chong did not believe he was inferior.

"A direct heir's divine blood seed—Xiu Xiang is lucky. I am not his equal," Lie Hou sighed, then his eyes flickered and he added: "Xiu Xiang is not home. This divine blood warrior is still weak. Though he may one day become a regional deity, he is vulnerable now."

He could not bear the thought of Xiu Xiang surpassing him in the future.

Better to crush this divine blood warrior now—or at least drive him away.

Dong Chong replied: "If Master wishes to strike, I will go."

He returned kindness for kindness; having received Lie Hou's funding, he was willing to act on his behalf.

"I must think further," replied Master Lie Hou.

His impulse was fleeting; upon reflection, he realized the risk was great.

Divine blood warriors clashing often resulted in mutual casualties.

And if Xiu Xiang learned of it, they would become mortal enemies—only one death could end the feud.

To act out of jealousy was irrational for a competent merchant.

Yet the fact that this divine blood warrior was still weak was indeed a golden opportunity.

After careful thought.

Finally, Master Lie Hou's eyes gleamed: "Dong Chong, strike tonight. Crush this divine blood warrior."

(End of Chapter)