38: Chapter 38 Bloodline Shackles, Like an Insurmountable Barrier!

Deep within the Immortal Cave.

Spiritual Qi formed a vortex, surging madly into the body of Shi Jian.

The invisible barrier standing between the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage and the Late Foundation Establishment Stage was now covered in spiderweb-like cracks.

Various medicinal powers rampaged through his Meridians, slamming repeatedly against the crumbling barrier, desperate to break through...

"Break!"

Shi Jian roared inwardly. His entire skeleton creaked, his massive body grew by three feet, and his dark black fur stood on end, glowing with a palpitating blood-red light.

Demonic Qi gathered into a single line, launching the final charge.

Boom!

The barrier shook violently, already teetering on the edge.

Just a sliver more.

With just one more burst of new power, this bottleneck that had plagued him for years could be completely shattered. Shi Jian felt as if he saw hope!

However, at this critical juncture.

A deep sense of exhaustion suddenly welled up from the depths of his Bloodline.

It was a deficiency stemming from the Origin of his species, like a dried-up riverbed that would instantly absorb any amount of water poured into it.

The originally violent medicinal power, upon touching this Origin deficiency, disappeared without a trace like mud into the sea.

Until finally, there was no power left to continue.

In the end, everything returned to silence.

Shi Jian lay on the ground, panting heavily. Every breath released a stream of scorching air, heating the rock on the ground.

He opened his eyes, a trace of helplessness flashing in his vertical pupils.

"Still not enough."

Shi Jian raised his heavy front paw, looking at the sharper, metallic-lustered claws, and cursed inwardly.

The Bloodline of an ordinary black bear was ultimately too trashy.

Even with the System and the Enlightenment to awaken his intelligence, even after swallowing High Grade Spirit Medicines like the purple-patterned ginseng and the blood-condensing lotus.

He still could not break the shackles brought by this Bloodline!

In Yao Beast cultivation, Bloodline is king.

These four words were cruelly unreasonable...

If it were those Yao Beasts with ancient exotic Bloodlines, like that Dark Gold Ape, with the same resources poured in, it would likely have been smooth sailing, long since having broken through to the Late Foundation Establishment Stage.

Yet he was stuck here.

However, it was not a total loss.

Shi Jian slowly stood up and shook his fur. The cracking sound of bones echoed in the Immortal Cave...

Although he failed to break through to the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, the total amount of Demonic Qi in his body was a good twenty or thirty percent thicker than before his seclusion!

His Physical Body had also been tempered repeatedly by the medicinal power, becoming much stronger.

Peak Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

It was truly just a thin layer of window paper away from the Late Stage...

"Oh well, what is meant to be will be; there is no use in rushing."

"My life is still long; there will always be such a day."

Shi Jian retracted his aura, pressing all the released Demonic Qi back into his body.

His body was now a size larger, standing nearly two zhang tall, like a moving small black mountain.

He turned and walked toward the entrance of the Immortal Cave.

Rumble—

The heavy stone door, sealed for nearly five years, slowly opened. A stale atmosphere, mixed with the fresh air from outside, rushed in.

Outside the Formation.

Sun Boan and Sun Kezheng had been waiting outside for a long time. Hearing the movement, both looked up in unison, their eyes locked on the dark cave entrance.

Heavy footsteps rang out.

Every step felt like it was treading on their heartstrings!

When the massive body of Shi Jian completely stepped out of the shadows and was exposed to the sunlight, Sun Boan's pupils contracted, and his breath hitched.

There was no earth-shattering pressure, nor any violent, rampaging Demonic Qi.

But this calmness, restrained to the extreme, instead gave people a suffocating sense of oppression...

It was like facing a bottomless pool of stagnant water; you never knew what kind of terrifying monster was hidden inside.

"Respectfully welcoming the Old Ancestor out of seclusion!"

Sun Boan knelt on both knees without hesitation and kowtowed deeply.

Sun Kezheng was half a beat slower, but he hurriedly followed suit, kneeling down with his forehead pressed against the cold stone floor, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Shi Jian walked up to them, looking down at them from above.

"Get up."

His voice was low, carrying a metallic friction texture.

Sun Boan stood up, slightly hunched, hands at his sides. His attitude was even more respectful and sincere than five years ago.

"How has the situation been outside these past few years?"

Shi Jian walked over to a bluestone and lay down lazily, just as he used to.

Sun Boan, with a humble posture, reported the changes in the situation over the past five years, detailing every event.

From Daoist Yun Du entering a death seclusion to attempt a Breakthrough to the Golden Core, to the cancellation of the Baiyun Assembly; from Han Qing's rebellion and subsequent death, to the infighting within the Chen Clan Alliance; and then the appearance of Demonic Cultivators, with Elders of the Foundation Establishment Stage from White Cloud Temple falling one after another.

One by one, item by item, it was clear and well-organized, highlighting the key points.

Finally, Sun Boan summarized the development of the Sun Clan over the past few years.

"Currently, our Sun Clan has four Cultivators at the 7th level of Qi Refining or higher. Including all clansmen, there are twenty-five Cultivators in total. In recent years, we have had a few more promising seedlings for cultivation, but unfortunately, their talent is mediocre..."

"We have recruited twenty-one Loose Cultivators as Guest Elders, including three at the Late Stage of Qi Refining. Development is going very well. The eight vassal clans under our rule have all been completely tied to our clan's ship through marriage."

"The marketplace is profitable, and the Spirit Medicine fields have had bumper harvests year after year."

"In addition, that batch of bear cubs in the back mountain has also had five successfully awaken their Demonic Qi, stepping into the threshold of Level 1 Yao Beasts."

"Shi Pan, Shi Mo, and Shi Yin, in particular, are growing rapidly and already possess strength comparable to Middle Stage Qi Refining Cultivators..."

"..."

Sun Boan said a lot. After all these years, he had truly matured a lot, but he also had gray hair on his head...

He was also getting old, nearly sixty years of age.

He stood with his hands down, eyes full of expectation, quietly waiting for the evaluation of Shi Jian, as if seeking a shred of recognition from an Elder.

Shi Jian smiled after hearing it and scratched his chin with a claw:

"Not bad."

He looked at Sun Boan. Although there were a few more wrinkles on that old face, his eyes were sharper and deeper than five years ago.

He had less of the timid anxiety of worrying about gains and losses, and more of the composure of someone who has the big picture in control.

"Boan, you have improved a lot these past few years."

Shi Jian did not spare his praise: "You know how to endure, how to borrow strength, and how to tie people to your own war chariot."

"This demeanor now finally looks a bit like the Clan Chief of a cultivation clan. Regardless of cultivation level, at least in terms of the big picture, you are stronger than your narrow-minded grand-uncle..."

Receiving this praise, the eyes of Sun Boan reddened slightly, and he hurriedly lowered his head: "It is all thanks to the Old Ancestor's reputation and protection; this Junior dare not claim credit."

"Enough, stop flattering me."

Shi Jian yawned: "Since the water outside is already muddy, let it continue to be muddy..."

"Our Sun Clan will continue to close our doors and live our own lives."

"However..."

Shi Jian's tone changed, and a cold light flashed in his vertical pupils: "We do not look for trouble, but that does not mean we are afraid of it. I just heard Ke Zheng say that a few groups of Loose Cultivators of unknown Origin have come from the south?"

Hearing this, Sun Kezheng stepped forward and cupped his fists in response: "Replying to the Old Ancestor, that is indeed the case. Zhou Sun discovered several strange Spiritual Qi fluctuations thirty miles outside the city half a month ago."

"The other party is very cautious and did not get too close to Hongtian City, but they have been hovering around the periphery, seemingly scouting for targets..."

"Scouting?"

Shi Jian grinned, revealing his white fangs.

"White Cloud Temple has fallen, and every Tom, Dick, and Harry wants to come out and bite off a piece of meat. It truly is an eventful time, full of trouble~"

He stood up, stretched, and his bones made a crisp sound.

"Sleeping for five years, this old skeleton is almost rusty."

"Pass the word down: be relaxed on the outside but tight on the inside. Tell those Guest Elders and Loose Cultivators to be alert. Anyone who dares to run wild on the territory of Hongtian City..."

Shi Jian slammed his heavy bear paw onto the bluestone beside him.

Bang!

The hard bluestone instantly turned into powder and drifted away with the wind.

"This Seat will take their heads and use them as balls for the cubs in the back mountain to kick!"

Sun Boan and Sun Kezheng looked at each other and replied in unison:

"We obey the Old Ancestor's decree!"

After the two retreated, Shi Jian stood alone on the Peak of the back mountain, overlooking the prosperous Hongtian City below, as well as the rolling mountain ranges further away.

Winds are rising and clouds are gathering.

The chessboard of Baiyun Prefecture has finally reached the time to flip the table.

I just hope no one comes to provoke me!

He is really very angry right now!