As for the purple essence blood, if it is truly preserved, it is at least a third-grade talent.

……

As everyone conversed, in the main hall, a group of burly guards had already carried out a massive cauldron from behind the altar.

This cauldron was incomparably heavy, adorned with many patterns of mountains, rivers, and plants, giving it a mystical appearance. It took several Martial Master-level experts working together to lift it and place it over a blazing fire that had already been lit.

Splash, splash, splash!

A large amount of crystal-clear mountain spring water was poured in.

With the fire blazing, the water in the cauldron quickly began to boil.

The manor lord Samuel Johnson stood before the altar, his eyes sweeping in all directions, sharp and spirited. Through the main hall, he looked at the crowd gathered in the martial arena, smiled lightly, and then called out loudly, “Add the medicine.”

Afterwards, more than a dozen martial artists from the manor each carried a large basin filled with pre-cut monster beast meat, brought them to the cauldron, and poured them into the various bronze cauldrons.

Time passed quickly.

Some elderly people in ancient attire began to throw in stalks of pre-prepared herbs, silently keeping track of the time.

Henry Johnson knew that all that flesh came from great monsters that had been hunted. The essence blood refined from it with mountain spring water was extremely valuable, and with the addition of some herbs, it would become even more precious. Consuming it could strengthen the body.

“Our Jiang Manor has been established for over sixty years now, and this true blood baptism has been held dozens of times.” The manor lord Samuel Johnson stood atop the altar, stirring his true qi to amplify his voice, which boomed into the ears of all the clansmen: “All children aged six, step forward!”

Inside and outside the main hall, it instantly quieted down. Everyone’s attention shifted over, all knowing that the main event was about to begin.

“Han’er.” Jack Johnson and Vera Quinn both looked at Henry Johnson.

Jack Johnson said softly, “Han’er, do your best to move forward, go as far as you can, and reach the very top of the altar. You must understand, in this world, the only one you can truly rely on is yourself.”

“I understand.” Henry Johnson nodded.

Having experienced his previous life, Henry Johnson was well aware of the importance of strength.

If he had no cultivation talent, with his father’s strength and status, keeping him safe would be no problem. But if he wanted to earn the respect of others and obtain everything he desired, the most important thing was still his own strength.

Henry Johnson looked up and smiled at his mother, then walked toward the center, going straight to the very front, while the other children also stepped forward one by one.

The entire Jiang Manor had over ten thousand people, and there were more than three hundred children around Henry Johnson’s age, but only three were true-blooded descendants of the Jiang clan.

In Jiang Manor, the Jiang clan were the rulers and held high status, but their numbers were few.

Hundreds of children entered the main hall in turn.

“Open the Origin Spring, worship the Martial Ancestor!” Clan leader Samuel Johnson stood atop the altar. Through the firelight, his somewhat aged face bore a solemn expression.

Soon, Robert Johnson and several clan warriors carried a huge wooden pole up to the altar, and a massive beast-hide scroll was hung up.

Everyone in the main hall turned their gaze toward it.

On that beast-hide scroll was a man with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a snake, holding a massive battle spear in his hand, exuding wild power. His appearance seemed to make the whole world collapse, becoming the very center of the main hall.

“The Martial Ancestor portrait.” Henry Johnson’s heart pounded. This portrait was strikingly similar to the image of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva that had appeared in his mind during soul training, both subtly containing the ultimate truths of heaven and earth.

Was this the Martial Ancestor portrait, the heirloom of the Jiang clan, as his father had said?

A large hole appeared in the floor of the main hall, and surges of astonishing heaven and earth energy gushed up from below, quickly spreading throughout the hall.

Henry Johnson looked at the heaven and earth energy rising from the hole, pondering in his heart: “When Great-grandfather first established Jiang Manor on this mountain, it must have been because of the origin spring deep underground, which could continuously produce origin stones and serve as the foundation of the manor.”

Chapter 9: The True Blood Baptism

The surging heaven and earth energy spread out, and the Martial Ancestor portrait seemed to be stimulated. The figure in the painting instantly came alive, becoming even more dazzling, and a faint murderous aura descended, causing the expressions of the hundreds of children facing it to change.

The sharpness of that battle spear made even Henry Johnson feel a chill in his heart.

Immediately, an invisible force was released from the half-human, half-snake Martial Ancestor portrait, and the essence blood and precious medicine in the cauldrons were directly swept up by that force.

“With the essence blood of monster beasts, we beseech the Martial Ancestor to grant us his law!” The manor lord Samuel Johnson, standing atop the altar, shouted loudly.

True qi infused his voice, making it echo throughout the main hall.

The rolling monster beast essence blood, together with the heaven and earth energy gushing from the hole, was absorbed by the invisible force released from the portrait. Soon, it condensed in midair, forming a huge mass of blood and flesh, appearing extremely bizarre.

“Step forward in turn to pay respects to the Martial Ancestor portrait. The closer you get, the better. At the very least, you must reach the steps of the altar.” The clan leader Samuel Johnson’s voice echoed in the main hall: “Do you all understand?”

A group of children all nodded; their parents had already instructed them, so they understood very well.