Lin Jin would never let such a rare opportunity go. Xiao Huo was a normal beast, far from being rare. Lin Jin had had to cultivate this brilliant firepower in him through the help of pills and acupuncture, and two perfect evolution processes before he could cleanse Xiao Huo’s bone marrow and achieve such results.
Even still, Xiao Huo had reached his limit at Rank 4. For him to break through to further heights, he would have to go through ‘metamorphosis’.
This was the reason why Lin Jin had to get him the dragon blood pill. However, prior to this, he never got a chance to regulate Xiao Huo’s veins and help him with this metamorphosis.
But this here was an opportunity.
While Xiao Huo was devouring the old dragon’s blood, Lin Jin went over. He took out the lesser dragon blood pill, cut open a small portion of Xiao Huo’s back with a scalpel, stuff the pill in, and then sew the skin close with his coiled wire needle.
Then, he pierced over a hundred needles onto Xiao Huo’s body to help him renew his blood.
Everyone around was baffled by this scene. Neither Black Crow and Evil Scholar, nor Madam Ghost Child and Coffin Man had ever seen such procedures before.
Which normal person would be brave enough to let their pet beast’s blood flow out completely through acupuncture?
No matter how strong a creature was, if their blood was fully drained, it would undoubtedly lead to death. Yet, the blood that spattered out of Xiao Huo’s body instantly turned into flames.
Lin Jin was supporting Xiao Huo’s vital organs with the coiled wire needle so the fire wolf wouldn’t die from blood loss.
Next, it was time to gain new blood and cleanse his bone marrow.
Half of the old dragon’s next was destroyed by Xiao Huo’s fangs while the blood in his body was sucked dry. But even so, the old dragon hadn’t drawn his last breath yet.
He was a four-hundred-year-old monster after all. His tough will to live was quite admirable but everyone could tell that he was about to give out soon. The creature was practically half dead.
But soon…
“This… this is a blood renewal and bone marrow cleansing technique. Oh, great spiritual master, I know my faults. Cultivation has been tough so please save me…” As if he had noticed something incredible, the old dragon’s tone held fright and incredulity. But before he could finish, he drew his last breath.
The next instant, his head hung down and he died.
At the exact moment of his death, inside the palace, Emperor He Qian sensed something. His pupils dilated and he quickly steadied his Rank 4 jade dragon pet beast through their blood contract.
During the process, he could vaguely hear a low growl.
“He Qian, how dare you betray me?!”
The furious growl was filled with resentment and maliciousness that sent chills down a person’s spine, causing cold sweat to form.
Fortunately, the voice soon disappeared, as if it was never there in the first place.
Among the ministers, those with Rank 3 jade dragon pet beasts also sensed distress in their companions and tried their best to restrain them. The ones with lower blood contract realm cultivation simply lost control over their pet beasts.
In an instant, commotions arose in many of the ministers’ mansions as chaos ensued.
In some places, someone even died.
At the sixth princess’s mansion, her handmaidens have been serving her tirelessly around the clock while the imperial physicians were on standby outside. All this while, they had been extra careful not to let accidents happen.
But all of a sudden, the peacefully sleeping princess wore an agonized expression. Her back arched as a chilling aura gathered around her stomach, screaming and roaring.
However, this icy aura soon disappeared without a trace.
The handmaidens were all frightened out of their wits. A tremendous gust of wind had been swirling inside the room and through the dark haze, they could see the silhouette of a dragon swimming past. The braver ones managed to still themselves, only falling limp to the ground while the faint-hearted maidens let out a scream before passing out.
This incident was immediately reported to Emperor He Qian.
He Qian arrived almost at once.
“Your Majesty, just now…” one of the handmaidens knelt down to report but He Qian waved dismissively. “It’s alright. None of you will breathe a word about this. Remember, whoever says anything will be executed.”
“Yes, yes!”
“Leave.”
He Qian ordered and everyone retreated.
While He Yu was still unconscious, for some reason, her complexion seemed so much better.
He Qian didn’t call for the physicians. He observed carefully before clenching his fists tight.
“It’s gone. It’s really gone.”
Even now, He Qian couldn’t be completely sure of his assumptions so he called Great Eunuch Yao Sheng in to have him investigate.
Soon, news returned.
“Jade Dragon Temple is still closed off by a barrier. No one has entered nor left,” Yao Sheng reported.
He Qian nodded.
Then, recalling something, he instructed, “Go, have someone release He Qing.”
“Seventh Princess?” Upon hearing this, Yao Sheng hesitated. “Your Majesty, Seventh Princess has been quite rowdy for a few days now, I fear she…”
“It’s alright. Qing’er has an innocent and straightforward personality. I already knew that an expert must have helped her with her pet beast’s evolution. And more than once, she had let the word ‘curator’ slip. I think the expert she met must be this same curator. Now that what’s done is done, letting her out will be beneficial for us. If the protective curator comes to me asking for her release, what do you think I should do then?”
After He Qian said this, Yao Sheng hurried away to comply.
As he went, Yao Sheng pondered how everything had gone exactly as His Majesty planned it to be. One could say that His Majesty was the true winner in this entire incident.
As expected of a king. Now, Yao Sheng only had to do as he was told.
He shouldn’t be asking unnecessary questions.
Once He Qing regained freedom, she hurried over to He Yu’s quarters. When she saw He Qian, she greeted him gloomily before running over to her sister’s bedside to check on her.
“Qing’er, don’t worry. Your sister is fine now.”
He Qian was smiling.
As an emperor, He Qian rarely smiled. At least He Qing never recalled seeing him do it.
The man always wore a straight face, looking stern, but now, this royal father of hers was smiling. He was grinning so brightly as if something wonderful had happened.
He Qing didn’t know the specifics and she was still mildly afraid of her father so she didn’t ask.
But she believed that He Yu was alright.
Because Curator had promised her. With Curator’s capabilities, he could definitely achieve this feat so He Qing never suspected him even for a moment.
Inside the temple.
Lin Jin had yet to dissolve the Nebula Barrier. He hadn’t planned to renew Xiao Huo’s blood and cleanse his bone marrow so quickly but since they ran into this, it was better to do it now.
The others naturally had no opinions. Moreover, they were more than excited for being able to watch this phenomenal process. Everyone held their breaths and observed, thrilled.
“I’ve heard about blood renewal and cleaning one’s bone marrow. Legends had it that during the peak of the immortals’ era, this process was done for cultivators. Now, in the era of pet beasts, this incredible process would further improve a pet beast’s quality. To think Curator even knows how to do this. Amazing.” Evil Scholar had read many books. Although he wasn’t strong, the man was very intelligent.
At his explanation, everyone else understood what was going on.
“Shh, keep it down. Don’t disturb Curator,” Black Crow urged.
The flames on Xiao Huo’s body had now gone out. The crimson fur on his body seemed to have transformed slightly with sapphire light glowing. It was a color alternating between red and blue.
Ghost Child looked hesitant. After a thought, she said, “This jade dragon’s attribute isn’t compatible with a fire wolf’s. Generally speaking, if he were to change his blood, it had to be of a compatible attribute, otherwise…”
She didn’t finish but everyone else understood her meaning.
This jade dragon’s attributes were wind and water. The combination would form ice. A fire wolf was obviously of fire attribute. Even if it had other attributes, they would be wood or gold at most. Attributes at different polarities like water and fire would never mesh.
If one wasn’t careful, their pet beast might just keel over.