Chapter 45: Ingesting Dragon Blood

“Crazy! Everyone’s gone crazy!”

Watching as Qi Condensation cultivators frantically bid, even the previously calm VIPs in their private booths turned red-faced in argument, Fang Xing felt a chill sweep over him.

“Aren’t these supposed to be cultivators of fire-based arts? Why are you all going mad over this?”

Yet he didn’t know that for these Qi Condensation cultivators, this was their very ‘Path of the Dao’!

No matter what, it was worth a gamble.

Moreover, while Qianyuan Fire Poison was most suitable for fire-based cultivators, it didn’t mean others couldn’t use it.

According to the Five Elements theory, fire generates earth, so earth-based cultivators could Mianqiang use it—though effectiveness would drop by two or three tenths.

And for yang-based cultivators, the reduction might be only one or two tenths!

Even for other cultivators, as long as they weren’t water-based—directly opposed to fire—it was worth a shot!

Who knows? Maybe it would work!

If it succeeded, they’d immediately become a Foundation Establishment elder, equal to the Zheng family’s patriarch, and rise as the fourth major force in Qinglin Marketplace!

Even if they failed, it was just death.

In the marketplace, death was an ordinary occurrence.

“This place isn’t for me. Let’s go!”

A gentleman doesn’t stand beneath a crumbling wall. Fang Xing rose at once and left the auction hall.

He went to a counter, presented his token, paid sixty-seven spirit stones, and received a vial of ‘Dragon Blood Pill’.

After this, Fang Xing didn’t hesitate—he chose any exit from the auction hall and headed straight home.

Perhaps most cultivators’ attention was fixed on the Foundation Establishment spiritual item auction.

Or perhaps Fang Xing’s perceived value was too low.

Or perhaps the Qingxuan Sect’s intimidation still held sway.

Either way, Fang Xing arrived home safely—nothing happened.

He exhaled deeply, then looked at the Dragon Blood Pill in his hand.

He pulled the stopper and poured out several deep red pills.

“So one vial contains five pills…”

Fang Xing sniffed—it carried no scent of blood, only a rich, fragrant aroma.

“Same old rule: test for poison first, then proceed slowly…”

He was always cautious with anything ingested: “I’ll sleep in Chu Ying Star first… That last Foundation Establishment elder’s aura was truly overwhelming…”

…

Several days later.

The shantytown.

Hua Feiyue, drenched in sweat, looked drained: “Young Master… I can’t hold on any longer!”

Fang Xing sat on a chair, breathing slightly heavy, yet somewhat disappointed: “Just a little more… Your Seven Emotions Technique isn’t strong enough—it failed to fully stir my inner emotions…”

That’s right—he’d paid spirit stones again to hire Hua Feiyue to aid his cultivation.

At this point, Fang Xing had gained deep insight into the Essence of Extreme Emotion Sword, just barely missing the threshold of mastery.

“Young Master, I suggest purchasing a ‘Chaos Soul Talisman’—it’s a cultivator’s talisman, far more effective than my Seven Emotions Technique…”

Hua Feiyue wiped her sweat and offered the suggestion.

“Hmm, that’s a good idea…”

Fang Xing nodded: “But the marketplace’s been chaotic lately…”

“After all, it’s a Foundation Establishment spiritual item. If I weren’t a martial artist but a cultivator, I might’ve risked everything too…”

Hua Feiyue covered her mouth and laughed—clearly enjoying the chaos.

Thanks to the Foundation Establishment elder’s presence, the auction had ended smoothly.

But immediately after, the marketplace’s security deteriorated sharply—some cultivators even fought openly in the stall zones, eventually suppressed by Qingxuan Sect’s enforcement squad.

“Rumor has it the fighting outside the marketplace was even fiercer…” Fang Xing stroked his chin: “Qianyuan Fire Essence sold for a fortune—the Zheng family made a killing…”

“Heh, if they had a choice, why would the Zheng family ever sell a Foundation Establishment spiritual item? Almost certainly due to pressure from Qingxuan Sect… If there’s a winner here, it’s only Qingxuan Sect,” Hua Feiyue offered another perspective.

“That does make sense.”

Fang Xing nodded, then asked: “Has Chen Yi contacted you?”

Hua Feiyue’s body trembled slightly, then replied: “I have no further ties with that man… He reached out before, but I never replied.”

Clearly, Hua Feiyue had severed all bonds with Chen Yi.

And she was clever enough to know associating with Chen Yi would bring nothing but trouble—and she wanted no part of it.

“Cultivators have always looked down on martial artists… Chen Yi’s oath-brotherhood with you seemed deliberately calculated.”

Fang Xing smiled faintly: “Enough about him. Here’s today’s herbs—take them to the market, sell them, then buy a ‘Chaos Soul Talisman’ and return.”

Selling herbs himself would fetch a higher price than selling to shops, increasing income—but it took time.

So Fang Xing hired Hua Feiyue to sell them, giving her a cut.

They settled accounts periodically; even if she stole the money, the loss would be limited to recent earnings—something he didn’t care about.

“I understand, Young Master, rest assured!”

Hua Feiyue gazed at the spirit herbs Fang Xing produced, her beautiful eyes shimmering.

She knew this Young Master was no ordinary man—he likely commanded a group of herb gatherers, or at least controlled a low-cost supply channel!

But she wouldn’t ask—such curiosity would be seen as spying on her employer’s secrets, inviting death.

After her past hardships, she understood how precious this job was—and she didn’t want to lose it.

“Though she’s entangled, she’s still useful…”

“Besides, she’s attractive, a Primordial cultivator, skilled in spiritual martial arts, and has a good tongue—perfect for the market stall.”

Watching Hua Feiyue leave, Fang Xing nodded.

Living within the marketplace, under Qingxuan Sect’s rules, and with his laser pistol at hand, he no longer feared ordinary dangers.

“Cultivation comes first!”

With this thought, Fang Xing glanced at his status bar:

【Great Dragon Stance: 15/200 (Proficient)】

【Ghost God Blade: 2/100 (Beginner)】

…

“Great Dragon Stance progresses slowly, Ghost God Blade even slower… It feels like I should go out and slash more people or beasts to advance faster.”

Fang Xing pondered.

The next moment, he raised his hand—a hundred-fold forged steel blade appeared in his grip, its edge spewing several inches of blade aura.

“My strength now rivals a Primordial martial artist. Even without the nanofiber suit or laser pistol, I can kill a typical Qi Condensation Stage I cultivator… With the suit, I might even stand a chance against a Qi Condensation Stage II… Add the electric baton, and perhaps I could threaten a Qi Condensation Stage III?”

“If I face a stronger opponent, no point in hesitation—just pull out the laser pistol.”

Shhh!

Blade aura surged as his figure moved like a coiling dragon, blade following motion, each strike radiating terrifying killing intent.

The ground churned as if plowed, countless weeds severed midair.

After completing the Ghost God Blade form, Fang Xing glanced at his unchanged status bar and couldn’t help but feel speechless.

Then he took out the Dragon Blood Pill.

“I’ve tested for poison and done the lab rat trials—should be fine…”

“The Zheng family wants to build their reputation—they’d never release subpar pills.”

With this thought, Fang Xing didn’t hesitate—he tilted his head and swallowed the Dragon Blood Pill.

Roar! Roar!

In a daze, he seemed to hear a dragon’s roar from ancient times.

Waves of searing heat surged through his limbs and bones, forcing sweat from his body—even his already hardened flesh began to bead with perspiration.

Among the sweat, threads of crimson blood mingled!

“No wonder it’s called Dragon Blood Pill—its power is immense!”

Fang Xing praised, immediately assuming the Great Dragon Stance.

Roar! Roar!

His entire skeleton vibrated, emitting sounds like dragon roars.

Was it illusion? He felt these roars were drawing closer to the ancient dragon cry he’d heard earlier.

His spine writhed like a jade dragon, limbs transforming into dragon claws, head raised, tail coiling.

“Dragon… What is a dragon?”

“Self-strengthening without pause is dragon; dominating the world is dragon…”

“The Federation’s Great Dragon Stance draws from ancient dragon symbolism—mainly a spiritual transformation. Supposedly, after the Great Interstellar Age, other planets discovered dragon-like creatures, but they were only called ‘Dragon Beasts’…”

“Yet the dragons of this cultivation world seem far more authentic…”

After finishing the Great Dragon Stance, Fang Xing instinctively checked his status bar—and froze:

【Great Dragon Stance: 20/200 (Proficient)】

“One session of Great Dragon Stance increased proficiency by five points? Is this the Dragon Blood Pill’s effect? I used one pill for testing, one just now—three left. That means I could gain fifteen more points?”

“If I buy seven or eight more vials, my Great Dragon Stance could reach Stage Four and fully unlock its essence?”

Of course, Fang Xing knew: any pill’s effect is strongest on the first ingestion, then inevitably diminishes.

But this prospect still filled him with great confidence.

“Once the Great Dragon Stake enters its fourth stage, I will comprehend the ‘Dragon’s Essence’! The path before the Courage Realm will open completely… Combined with the Primordial Pill, my speed in reaching the Third and Fourth Martial Realms will be astonishingly fast!”

“According to legend, the martial arts of the Blue Star Federation only truly come alive after the Fourth Realm, with combat power exploding exponentially…”

“Although I have no spiritual root and cannot cultivate immortality, through martial training alone, I may yet stand toe-to-toe with late-stage Qi Refiners, Qi Completion cultivators, even Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators!”

Fang Xing clenched his right fist, as if grasping the future, grasping hope…