Two days later, Evan Chu and his group arrived at the entrance to the Dragonblood Crucible. Ethan Chu and Lynn Chu both wore nervous expressions.
"Dad, can this Dragonblood Crucible really awaken our bloodline power and help us break through to a higher realm?" Ethan Chu asked, half skeptical.
"If you truly awaken your bloodline power, your realm will naturally soar. You might even transform into a Golden Dragon like me, and ascending to the Immortal Realm could be just around the corner!" Evan Chu said, full of hope.
"But the Crucible is dangerous, and I trust the Golden Dragon Grand Elder has explained everything to you. Watch the time, and control your desires—don’t get greedy!" Evan Chu warned, his tone both caring and firm.
"Don't worry, Dad. We won't let you down. I know I can awaken my bloodline and become your pride!" Ethan Chu said seriously, his expression mirroring Evan's from his youth.
"Alright, it's about time. Ethan, you go in first—we're all waiting for you to surprise us!" the Golden Dragon Shrine Master said, anticipation in his eyes.
Ethan Chu strode to the entrance of the Crucible. "You can do it, Brother!" Lynn Chu cheered, her voice full of support.
Ethan Chu nodded confidently and vanished from everyone's sight. Inside, he didn't rush in but carefully circled the mysterious Crucible, inspecting it with growing curiosity.
A powerful medicinal stench assaulted his nose, making him want to retch. The Crucible's liquid was a deep crimson, like blood itself, radiating a terrifying aura.
As moonlight poured down onto the Crucible, Ethan Chu quickly stripped off his clothes and leapt in. Instead of a splash, the viscous liquid swallowed him whole, hiding his body from view.
The instant Ethan Chu entered, an overwhelming pressure crashed down from the Dragonblood Crucible, and a mighty energy began pouring into his body. He remembered what the Golden Dragon Grand Elder had warned, so he kept his cool—no panic, no fear.
The Crucible's liquid was so thick it felt like glue, trapping him in place. As the minutes ticked by, the energy flooding into his body only grew more intense.
He could feel his blood changing, and a torrent of power surged from his dantian straight into his Saint Star Pellet, swelling to the point of bursting.
"This Crucible's energy is insane! I have to grit my teeth and endure—awaken my bloodline, transform into a Golden Dragon, and let my strength explode!" Ethan Chu muttered, hot-blooded determination burning in his eyes.
After a while, Ethan Chu felt his blood boiling, his body overflowing with heat. The pain grew sharper and sharper—like he was about to burst apart.
"Just half a stick of incense left—I can't give up now!" Ethan Chu gritted out, his face set with fierce resolve.
The power in his dantian kept building, the swelling pain growing worse. He felt his whole body changing rapidly, like something was slowly growing out from inside him.
He stretched out his arm and stared—golden dragon scales were sprouting all across it! Ecstatic, Ethan Chu realized the bloodline baptism was truly awakening his inner power, giving him a shot at Golden Dragon transformation.
Bang! Bang! Just as time was about to run out, several crisp cracks echoed from his dantian—the unmistakable sound of breaking through realms. But the swelling pain in his core still wouldn't fade.
By now, Ethan Chu's entire body was covered in dragon scales. Timing it perfectly, he summoned every ounce of strength and shot toward the shore. Instantly, a thunderous dragon roar erupted from his mouth, shaking heaven and earth!
The dragon roar rang out, and Evan Chu and the others outside heard it loud and clear. Their faces broke into excited smiles—Ethan Chu had done it! He'd awakened his bloodline power! Now everyone was dying to see how many claws his Golden Dragon form had, and just what realm he'd reached.
At that moment, Ethan Chu felt his strength multiplied by countless times, as if he could challenge any master in the world. The baptism wasn't nearly as painful as the Golden Dragon Grand Elder had warned—his dantian swelled, but it was all within his limits.
Glancing over his body, Ethan Chu couldn't help but smile. He'd actually become a six-clawed Golden Dragon—a status truly noble among the clan! He could even sense a faint bulge on his lower abdomen, the seventh claw waiting to grow out at any moment.
With a thought, he reverted to human form. Suddenly, strange new knowledge flooded his mind—dragon-clan secret inheritance. His body felt tougher than ever, his defense greatly enhanced.
Checking his realm, Ethan Chu found he'd reached peak Seventh-Layer Venerable Martial Realm, on the verge of breaking into the eighth layer. Advancing so fast was terrifying—like living in a dream!
After dressing, Ethan Chu walked out. Lynn Chu instantly grabbed his hand, peppering him with questions: "Brother, how do you feel? I heard your dragon roar—did you transform into a Golden Dragon? Quick, how many claws do you have now, and what's your realm?"
"Lynn, I'm a six-clawed Golden Dragon now, and the seventh claw could pop out any time! As for my realm, I'm at peak Seventh-Layer Venerable. Isn't it crazy? I shot up so many levels, even I can't believe it!" Ethan Chu blurted out, still amazed.
"You did well, Ethan, but don't get arrogant. As long as you keep working hard, I believe you'll ascend to the Immortal Realm within a hundred years. Then you'll truly be one of the Immortals!" Evan Chu said, pride and hope in his voice.
Lynn Chu shot Evan Chu a look. "Dad, don't just praise my brother—I haven't even entered the Crucible yet! Maybe my results will blow your mind even more. I started a whole layer higher than him, so once I awaken my bloodline, I should be at least Eighth-Layer Venerable or better!"
"Lynn, let things flow naturally—don't be greedy. When the time's up, you must come out of the Crucible, or that wild energy will rip your body apart. Go ahead and enter now. I hope you shock us all!" Evan Chu advised, his tone both caring and stern.
Lynn Chu smiled—a devastatingly beautiful, nation-toppling smile. Anyone lucky enough to marry her must have accumulated endless good fortune in a past life.
Lynn Chu entered, circled the Crucible once, then stripped off her clothes. Her figure was indescribably perfect—if she appeared in the Immortal Realm, she'd instantly be hailed as a fairy.
Her curves were fully exposed to the air, her waterfall-like hair reaching her hips, her flat lower abdomen flawless, and her 'mysterious region' already covered in 'wild grass'—quite different from Selena's.
"Dad, Mom! I won't let you down!" Lynn Chu drew a deep breath and leapt straight into the Crucible...
PS: No clue when the next chapter will be—don't rush me!