ps: Second update is here. Gotta save the third update for tomorrow morning. Been sleepy since eight, what a tragedy~~~~(>_<)~~~~

Within the dusky emerald circular space, a disc-sized, ink-green orb hung suspended in the air, crystal clear and flawless like a feather light as air, its brilliant luminescence flashing, bathing the small space in an ethereal, dreamlike glow. Before the ink-green orb, Nie Kong and Mu Xueyi sat facing each other in meditation.

This place was the Heartwood space of the Wood Ancestor.

After Nie Kong returned to Yin Yue City from the Soul Soothing Cave, Mu Xueyi, who had already woken up, brought him here. Mu Xueyi had only been fully conscious for two days, and in terms of strength, she hadn't even recovered one-tenth of what she was twenty years ago. However, helping her son awaken his bloodline was more than sufficient.

After all, for the bloodline awakening, her own blood was all that was required; the strength of the giver was irrelevant.

Originally, the Wood Ancestor could perform the bloodline awakening even without manifesting in person. Normally, that ink-green orb—the Wood Ancestor’s heart—was integrated into the Ancestral Celestial Luo Tree. Just like when the young children of Yin Ruins came here with their mothers for bloodline awakening over the past two decades, the Wood Ancestor had never appeared. Yet, the moment Nie Kong and Mu Xueyi entered this area, the Wood Ancestor was already waiting in the tree's heart.

However, Nie Kong did not begin the bloodline awakening immediately upon arrival. Instead, he took out the hideous "Phantom Annihilation Detachment Pill" he had refined months ago during the Core Canon Grand Ceremony.

According to Mu Qingyi, clansmen who were already Spirit Masters before their bloodline awakening could enhance their spiritual power cultivation when forming their Inner Aspect; the increase ranged from one rank to as high as two or three ranks.

Nie Kong was currently at the fourth rank of Spirit Transformation, making it the perfect time to consume the "Phantom Annihilation Detachment Pill." If he didn't seize this opportunity to advance his cultivation to the fifth rank of Spirit Transformation before his bloodline awakened, the pill would be wasted once the awakening occurred.

"Crunch!"

The spiritual medicine entered his mouth, and with just a slight chew, the "Phantom Annihilation Detachment Pill," bearing a hint of a burnt taste, dissolved. An intensely bitter flavor spread instantly, while the medicinal power slipped down his throat into his abdomen, then burst forth like gunpowder with a lit fuse.

In an instant, the spiritual power within Nie Kong’s meridians surged violently, akin to ocean waves stirred by a hurricane. As the medicinal power seeped in, the spiritual power churned more intensely, the outward burst becoming increasingly ferocious, sending tearing pain through all of Nie Kong’s meridians. However, before this pain could fully spread, his Spirit Seed began to tremble. A cool sensation diffused outward from his brow, thread by thread, instantly flowing through his limbs and body, sweeping away the pain within the meridians. Afterward, Nie Kong only felt a minute, almost negligible discomfort…

It was like being bitten by a mosquito!

Indeed, after reaching the Spirit Transformation stage, consuming spiritual medicine that elevated one's rank rarely caused the agonizing suffering experienced previously. For ordinary people, being bitten by dozens or hundreds of mosquitoes simultaneously would be unbearable, but for a Spirit Master, this level of pain was practically ignorable.

Yet, when nearly half of the "Phantom Annihilation Detachment Pill's" potency had dissolved, Nie Kong’s mind suddenly became somewhat hazy. He felt his consciousness condense into a tangible, round mass that floated out of his head. The moment it left his body, a sudden change occurred.

A formidable force erupted from nowhere, rushing wildly toward that ball of consciousness from every direction.

In that instant, Nie Kong felt as if he were a naked infant placed outdoors in winter, the biting wind cutting mercilessly at the child's tender skin like knives.

"Hmph!"

Nie Kong’s consciousness involuntarily let out a pained groan.

Those forces did not cease in the slightest, continuing to lash out relentlessly from all sides. As time passed, Nie Kong felt that ball of solidified consciousness being struck smaller and smaller—from the size of a fist to that of a ping-pong ball, then shrinking to the size of a peanut, and finally, as fine as a grain of rice...

Simultaneously, Nie Kong’s awareness grew increasingly blurred.

"Kong Cheng." A crisp, gentle voice sounded. Nie Kong jolted in alarm, his eyes snapping open. What greeted him was Mu Xueyi’s concerned gaze and a face wearing a soft smile.

What just happened?

Nie Kong looked around. It was still that same dusky emerald space, and he could still see the ink-green orb. He sensed his internal condition once more: spiritual power surging powerfully, and the potency of the "Phantom Annihilation Detachment Pill" had completely vanished, yet his cultivation had risen to the fifth rank of Spirit Transformation!

Recalling the scene just now, Nie Kong looked astonished. Consuming spiritual medicine of the fourth rank or higher would trigger an illusion of the Inner Demon. What he experienced must have been that. However, the inner demon produced while taking the "Phantom Annihilation Detachment Pill" seemed harmless; a single call from his mother had awakened him.

Mu Xueyi seemed to anticipate his confusion, smiling brightly. "This 'Phantom Annihilation Detachment Pill' has undergone countless years of research in our Yin Ruins. The danger posed by the Inner Demon has now been completely eliminated, making it perfectly suited for clansmen at the Spirit Transformation stage to experience the effects of fourth-rank or higher spiritual medicine."

She paused, then added, "It's not just us; other major sects outside likely possess similar spiritual medicines designed for Spirit Masters to experience the Inner Demon."

"So that’s how it is."

Nie Kong understood instantly. He had to admit that such a medicine was extremely necessary. If one had never experienced anything similar before, consuming fourth-rank or higher medicine that induced Inner Demons could easily lead to being unknowingly invaded, resulting in various accidents.

With this medicine, Spirit Masters could, at the very least, gain a slight sense of alertness during the process.

"To neutralize the Inner Demon contained within this 'Phantom Annihilation Detachment Pill,' many of our Yin Ruins' Spirit Pharmacists have dedicated their entire lives to refining this specific fourth-rank medicine."

Mu Xueyi’s smile deepened. "Wood Ancestor, now that Kong'er's spiritual medicine is finished, shall we begin now?"

In saying this last part, Mu Xueyi’s eyes turned toward the ink-green orb. Almost the instant her voice faded, the pristine, luminous ink-green orb rippled slightly. Immediately, the Wood Ancestor’s aged voice echoed through the space, "Child, are you prepared?"

"I am."

Nie Kong took a deep breath, feeling a slight tremor of excitement, yet he nodded without hesitation. Ever since Hua Yan told him he possessed the Yin Ruins bloodline, Nie Kong had been awaiting this day. After such a long time, the moment for bloodline awakening had finally arrived.

Mu Xueyi, sitting across from him, maintained a broad, warm smile. Even now, the joy of reuniting with her son had not subsided in her heart.

Although her eldest son had passed away before this day could come, at least her second son was still here. Mu Xueyi could not be more satisfied with this child. Without his bloodline awakened, he managed to condense the Spirit God Apertures with a wood-attributed physique, cultivate to the Spirit Transformation realm, even return from the spirit veins of Lingyu City to Yin Ruins, and even rescue her, his mother, as well as Qingyi, Leng Xing, and the others—all these achievements made her immensely proud.

If he had grown up in Yin Ruins, constantly influenced by the Ancestral Celestial Luo Tree, clansmen whose bloodlines had awakened would become increasingly handsome and beautiful. Because his bloodline had remained dormant for twenty years while living outside, his appearance wasn't as refined as the Yin Ruins men, nor was his height comparable, but in Mu Xueyi's eyes, these were not flaws; they were closer to advantages. The men of Yin Ruins were always excessively effeminate, a deficiency resulting from both innate nature and acquired habits. Her son, however, had absolutely none of those issues.

"Very good." The Wood Ancestor’s voice carried a hint of a smile. A green beam, as thick as a finger, suddenly shot out from the ink-green orb, pointing directly at Nie Kong’s brow. Immediately, the "Azure Moon Illusionary Heart Orchid" imprint on Nie Kong's brow faintly emerged, becoming exceptionally clear within seconds.

Before the true bloodline awakening could commence, this 'Phantom Aspect Projection,' forged using Azure Moon’s soul as its source, naturally had to be removed first.

"Buzz!"

A fierce ringing resonated in the dusky green space. Nie Kong felt a sharp sting at his brow, as if the skin there were being violently peeled away. Shortly after, the small "Azure Moon Illusionary Heart Orchid" imprint detached from Nie Kong's brow, transforming into a wisp of green vapor that entered the beast token held close to Nie Kong's chest.

"Ah, this feels much better." Qingyue climbed out from the lapel of Nie Kong’s robe and landed lightly on his shoulder, stretching lazily with an expression of deep contentment on her small face. Clearly, she had been severely stifled while her soul was merged within Nie Kong’s body; staying inside Nie Kong’s mind was nowhere near as freeing as being outside.

"You are Qingyue, the medicinal spirit that Kong'er took in?"

Seeing the beautiful little sprite suddenly appear on Nie Kong’s shoulder, a strange flicker appeared involuntarily in Mu Xueyi’s eyes. This was a thousand-year medicinal spirit; her son had said that before she brought her along, the soul power trapped within the Spirit Sealing Stele had reached the Heavenly Spirit realm.

Although her soul power had currently dropped to the Void Spirit realm, she would eventually recover. Having her by her son's side would certainly offer much greater security.

"Wrong! Wrong!"

Qingyue shook her head like a rattle drum, humming, "How could the beautiful Azure Moon Illusionary Heart Orchid be subdued by a mere Spirit Transformation cultivator? I have signed a Spirit Seal with him, and it’s a Life and Death Spirit Seal at that. Speaking of which, I truly suffered a loss back then; if it weren't for this little fellow Nie Kong..."

"Stop your rambling. Save whatever you have to say for later, don't interrupt me when I’m doing important business!"

Nie Kong pinched Qingyue’s tiny waist between two fingers and placed her on the ground beside him, then turned to Mu Xueyi, "Mother, let's begin now."

"Nie Kong, you dare call me a chatterbox?"

Qingyue put her hands on her hips, pointing at Nie Kong and hopping madly.

"Alright," Mu Xueyi nodded with a smile, glancing at Qingyue before closing her eyes. A green light flickered on her brow, revealing the "Ancestral Celestial Luo Tree" imprint. Before long, a touch of crimson bloomed within the dark, emerald heart-aspect imprint on Mu Xueyi's brow—that was her blood.

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