Within the altar, Duan Fengbu'er, spurred by the phantom of the Nine-Headed Serpent, had already activated his Bloodline Battle Body. Sharper than knives, his fingernails began to grow outward as his Dou Qi surged, radiating a faint green light that quickly deepened into a dark, inky green.

Toxin! Increasing! From the dark green, it gradually shifted to a pale yellow... and then slowly moved from pale yellow toward a golden hue.

Pan Hongji abandoned thought, his pupils contracted to needle-point size as he stared intently at the faint shadow behind Duan Fengbu'er, a shadow composed of writhing darkness, his fists clenched tight with tension.

"What is this?" Qian Jin's eyes lit up as he saw the slowly writhing shadow behind Duan Fengbu'er transform into the semblance of a relatively smaller Nine-Headed Serpent.

"One of the signs of the Heavenly Extreme Bloodline Awakening?" Lucifer Liushui’s eyes flickered with hostility. "This..."

Pan Hongji abruptly turned his head, his gaze like lightning locking onto Lucifer Liushui. The signs of the Heavenly Extreme Bloodline Awakening potential for the Pan Family's Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline, while a secret, wasn't an absolute secret; rumors of it had reached the ears of several major powers.

This girl, what force did she hail from? Various speculations flashed through Pan Hongji's mind: The Qian Family? Impossible! If it were the Qian Family, Qian Jin would have already driven this girl away. Could it be a family with the War God Bloodline? Or perhaps the Golden Three-Headed Dragon Bloodline? Or... Dozens of family possibilities raced through Pan Hongji's mind, only to be swiftly dismissed as he found reasons to negate each one. He couldn't fathom where this girl originated.

Aaaargh!

Duan Fengbu'er stood in the altar, every scale on his body fully erect. Blood seeped out from the gaps between the scales, and the piercing agony transformed into roars of rage.

Pan Hongji watched Duan Fengbu'er in the altar with worry. Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline warriors entering the Second Altar would always have taken a mysterious potion beforehand; it not only increased the success rate but also lessened the pain of the bloodline warrior undergoing the altar trial.

For a First Level Awakening Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline warrior, experience dictated that the enhancement should ideally come from the demon cores of Lower Tier Magical Beasts. Even someone with the aptitude to manifest Nine Shadows would, due to their relatively weak First Level Awakening strength, barely manage to utilize the core of a Middle Tier Magical Beast.

As for the demon core of a High Tier Magical Beast? Pan Hongji had intended to offer one to try and win over Duan Fengbu'er, but he hadn't planned on letting him use it directly, because the power contained within a High Tier core was too immense!

A High Tier Magical Beast core of the same serpent lineage! While it was the ultimate tonic for the Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline, it could also be a massive poison. Within the deepest part of the Sand Python's core resided the pride of that beast—its refusal to submit to the Nine-Headed Serpent. This pride, upon extraction, would transform into an unseen war.

This was evident from the fact that Duan Fengbu'er had only held the core in his hand, without even calling for mages to help activate the altar, yet the Nine-Headed Serpent Bloodline Altar had activated itself. This showed the highly antagonistic relationship between the altar and the demon core.

Scales! They began to peel off Duan Fengbu'er’s body, one by one. Pan Hongji's worry tightened in his throat. In this generation of Duan Fengbu'er, the Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline had fortunately produced three young men capable of manifesting Nine Shadows. Today, he absolutely could not let one of them die here due to his own oversight!

"Aaaargh! This is killing me!" Duan Fengbu'er’s knife-like nails dug deep into his own palms as he roared towards the sky, his forehead beginning to crack under intense pressure. "Pain! It hurts so much! I don't want to die! I haven't become the strongest warrior yet! I haven't chopped off the Demon King's head! I haven't finished all my comrade's cigarettes! I absolutely cannot die! Sand Python! Stop fighting me! You can't win! Give me your power! Aaaargh!"

Screech! Screech! The altar's rotation speed increased rapidly, the velocity so great that it generated dazzling sparks, emitting a piercing metallic grinding sound.

Pan Hongji felt his breathing becoming labored. This situation had never occurred before! The altar had never spun this fast—it was even creating metal sparks! Indeed! Forcing the absorption of a High Tier Magical Beast core during the transition from First to Second Level Awakening was far too reckless.

It seemed... Pan Hongji sighed. It seemed he would have to use his power to forcibly halt the altar, otherwise, the Pan Family would lose a vital fighting force, and also risk losing Qian Jin, a future distinguished guest.

"Pan Hongji! You stay put!" (Support the tower, click to subscribe and vote.)

In the altar, Duan Fengbu'er glared at Pan Hongji, roaring until his voice broke. He shouted Pan Hongji's full name: "I can do it! I absolutely will not die with my eyes closed! Every time I close my eyes, I see my mother kneeling beside the water well in the dead of a freezing winter night, washing clothes with those frostbitten hands! I want to live! I absolutely will not die! I dare not close my eyes! Compared to dying with my eyes shut, I fear seeing the image of my mother in the winter night even more! Damn it! Damn Sand Python! Give it to me! Shatter for me!"

It was as if explosives had been planted inside Duan Fengbu'er. The black scales covering his body burst forth and flew away. The sharp sound of air tearing was like speeding arrows. Qian Jin raised his hand to catch the flying scales; his palm immediately felt a faint sting.

In the blink of an eye, Duan Fengbu'er became completely covered in blood, standing silently in the center of the altar, as if dead.

The high-speed rotation of the altar had stopped at some unknown point, and the Nine-Headed Serpent phantom had vanished without a trace.

Pan Hongji’s needle-tip pupils contracted once more, the muscles in his face twitching repeatedly. Unprecedented shock surged in his heart—Duan Fengbu'er had actually succeeded! For a First Level Awakening warrior to forcibly absorb the power of a High Tier Magical Beast core during the progression to Second Level Awakening?

Madman! He had been just one thread away from death moments ago! Pan Hongji stared at Duan Fengbu'er, his shocked heart also feeling a sliver of coldness, a coldness even tinged with faint despair.

Duan Fengbu'er’s roars were filled with hatred and love—hatred for the Pan Family, a bone-deep hatred! Coupled with the hatred for his own powerlessness in his youth, and love for his mother!

Qian Jin leaped onto the altar and ran to Duan Fengbu'er's side. The big boy, usually full of playful smiles, now stood there motionless, his eye sockets completely devoid of light—he was unconscious!

Just as he had said, he disliked closing his eyes; he was afraid to! Even though he had passed out, his eyes remained wide open.

"Careful! Don't touch him!"

Pan Hongji launched himself, instantly appearing behind Qian Jin, and roughly yanked at Qian Jin's shoulder, pulling him backward. Duan Fengbu'er's vacant eyes suddenly flickered bright, like the fierce, eerie smoke blooming in the deep night. Soon, this green light dimmed, dimmed, dimmed, until his eyes became a pair of orbs like black gemstones.

New scales began to cover his mangled body, and four venomous fangs slowly extended from his crimson lips. His knife-like fingernails grew another half an inch longer.

Hiss... hiss... hiss... A snake hiss that made one's hair stand on end flowed out from between Duan Fengbu'er's teeth. His entire being radiated no trace of human warmth, resembling a venomous serpent brimming with aggressive intent.

Bang!

The sound of displaced air could be heard rushing from Duan Fengbu'er's body. Beneath the black scales covering him, a ball of visible, pale yellow smoke erupted. This smoke encircled him within a meter of his body; only a very faint yellow mist diffused outwards.

Poison! Qian Jin was startled by the toxic mist spraying from Duan Fengbu'er’s body. He looked back at Pan Hongji, finally understanding why the head of this Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline warrior family had suddenly jumped up to pull him away.

Poison! Duan Fengbu'er had successfully absorbed the toxicity of the Sand Python. The only question was whether this pale yellow mist held the full virulence of the original Sand Python.

Ten parts? Qian Jin shook his head. Rumor had it that the Sand Python's toxic mist could cover several miles, allowing for wide-range, indiscriminate attacks.

Duan Fengbu'er had clearly not absorbed the Sand Python's entire poisonous essence. The question remained: what level was this toxin for now?

Hiss!

Duan Fengbu'er’s body suddenly contorted. His black form flickered across the altar, dragging a shadow of black wind as he lunged rapidly toward Pan Hongji. His knife-like claws left the shadows of five claw marks in the air, sweeping toward Pan Hongji’s head.

Huh? Surprise flashed in Pan Hongji’s eyes again. This was clearly a consequence of forcibly absorbing the High Tier Magical Beast core, leading to his unconscious body temporarily being taken over by the Sand Python's savage nature, instinctively attacking its surroundings.

However, Pan Hongji retreated slightly, watching Duan Fengbu'er attack relentlessly as if tethered to him by a shadow. This had happened before in the Pan Family: a body taken over by savagery would always attack the weakest creature in its sight. Why...? Was his instinct, even while unconscious, still fighting the wildness, controlling the savagery so as not to attack Qian Jin and the others?

Demon Subduing Nine Battles, peak of Demon Subduing Nine Battles, Demon Subduing One Battle, Demon Subduing Two Battles! The yellow mist and wisps of blood continuously sprayed from beneath the snake scales covering Duan Fengbu'er’s body. His Dou Qi strength, unchecked by reason, rose continuously like a breached dam's floodwaters.

Qian Jin watched Duan Fengbu'er with envy. This was the advantage of a bloodline warrior! An advantage that made countless ordinary warriors, even resentful ones. Once the bloodline power was unleashed, the increase in strength was like a bursting flood—its potential growth was completely unpredictable.

This was the unpredictability of the bloodline warrior! Even when at a disadvantage, the pressure of a near-death situation could suddenly trigger an awakening, rousing the power slumbering in the deeper levels of the bloodline, instantly reversing the disadvantage and unleashing terrifying strength that defied prediction.

Peak of Demon Subduing Two Battles! Duan Fengbu'er roared repeatedly. The knife-like claws suddenly sprayed out five thin lines composed of yellow toxic mist. Instantly, like truly living venomous snakes, they coiled around Pan Hongji from different directions, aiming for his nostrils, eyes, mouth, and ears! (To be continued, support the author, support genuine reading!)