Grant Sullivan grabbed the jade slip with one hand, but instead of immediately using his divine sense to check its contents, he hesitated and asked, “I’ve only heard that the success rate of bloodline imprints is extremely low, and there are very few finished bloodline imprints left in the clan. The chances of successful fusion aren’t high either, and only direct descendants are qualified to have them implanted. This blank sealing plate is something I’ve never heard of before, but its rarity must surpass even those finished bloodline imprints, since you can freely choose the demon beast and select a bloodline that suits you best. Old Third, where did you get this? Could it be...”

“Brother Brooks, you’re overthinking it. Our branch’s ancestor was actually one of the people in the clan who participated in the research on bloodline imprints. This blank sealing plate is a unique method he accidentally developed back then, but the required materials are far too rare, and since he died so suddenly, he didn’t leave behind the method for making it.”

“At the time, this ancestor also left behind some other treasures related to bloodline imprints, but after so many years, most have already been used up. Now, only this remains. Since you understand the stakes, Brother Brooks, I hope you won’t let a third person know about this, so as not to bring unnecessary trouble to our branch. Of course, I trust Second Brother as well, but sometimes he really can’t control his big mouth. I’m afraid he might let something slip unintentionally, so I had him avoid this.” The handsome young man explained seriously.

“I understand. Don’t worry, I absolutely won’t leak a word of this. The value of this item far surpasses the Blood Essence Pill. In that case, I actually owe you a huge favor.” After thinking for a moment, Grant Sullivan no longer refused and put the two items away.

“We’re brothers—no need to be so formal. But honestly, if I hadn’t been unable to find suitable demon beast blood for a while, and couldn’t guarantee what kind of power the bloodline imprint would have, I wouldn’t have kept this until now. I might have used it directly in the life-and-death arena.” Seeing this, Evan Sullivan instead smiled in relief.

※※※

In the {Zhong Family}’s sacred land, deep within a bone-chilling cold pond, a pitch-black giant clam lay motionless in the mud and sand.

No one knew how much time had passed when suddenly, a streak of spiritual light shot down from above the pond, flashed, and then disappeared into the clam shell.

With a “crack,” the giant clam slowly opened its two massive shells, revealing a graceful young girl in purple.

She sat cross-legged at the center of the shell, appearing to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, her skin as fair as snow, her features delicate and beautiful, holding a sparkling blue talisman in one hand. She was a stunning little beauty, her face still carrying a hint of childishness.

“The Nightmare Palace has finally arrived. I must obtain the Taiyi Pill and form a superior-grade Golden Core. I want to become a Nascent Soul cultivator like my aunt, so that everyone in the clan can see that even as a woman, I can reach Grand Ascension and suppress the entire {Zhong Family}’s fortune.”

The peerless girl lowered her head to glance at the talisman a few times, murmured softly, and without any visible spellcasting, the surrounding pond water suddenly swirled, lifting her delicate body upward.

……

At the top of a mountain protected by layers of restrictions within the {Zhong Family}, a loud boom sounded.

A seemingly ordinary giant boulder suddenly exploded, and a ball of golden light shot out, flashed, and then vanished without a trace.

“Haha, Nightmare Palace, I’ve finally waited for this. Wesley, Rose Thompson, just you wait. This time, I, Samuel Sullivan, will definitely have another fierce contest with you two.”

At this moment, faint echoes of wild laughter could still be heard lingering above the mountaintop.

Chapter 11: Ancient Beast Egg

Grant Sullivan stood inside a building resembling a shop, frowning slightly as he looked at the dozen or so small bottles of various colors and heights displayed on the counter before him.

This place was in a valley not far from the {Zhong Family}, and was the only semi-public market nearby where one could buy cultivation resources as long as they had spirit jade.

Of course, it was said that the owner of this place was also a powerful Golden Core elder of the {Zhong Family}, so the {Zhong Family} simply turned a blind eye to this market.

Grant Sullivan was also a regular here, but after checking the contents of each bottle, he shook his head and asked the gray-robed man behind the counter, “Is this really all the demon beast blood you have here?”

“Fellow Daoist, this isn’t your first time buying from me. If I had any other demon beast blood, how could I not bring it out to make money? Look, this bottle of Bloodthirsty Wolf blood just arrived yesterday—very fresh, the best material for refining Bloodthirsty Pills. This bottle of Firewing Tiger blood has been stored for a while, but it’s still an extremely rare and excellent ingredient.” The gray-robed attendant kept recommending with a cheerful smile.

“Hmph, you’re charging thirty spirit jades for this Bloodthirsty Wolf blood, and the Firewing Tiger is even more outrageous—eighty spirit jades! Do you take me for a fool?” Grant Sullivan rolled his eyes, completely unimpressed.

“How could the prices of these things be the same as before? The Nightmare Palace is about to open, and these are all top-notch materials for refining superior pills—always in short supply. If you don’t buy now, in a couple of days the price might go up even more.” The gray-robed man looked unconcerned.

“Forget it, the blood energy in these things is insufficient—not suitable for my needs.” After thinking for a moment, Grant Sullivan still shook his head.