Chapter 106: The Unexpected Turn!
Jiang Zhe frowned. "What exactly is the True Blood of the Ancient Gods? How is it related to the millennial 'Grand Festival of the Holy City'?"
"Master, there is actually no direct connection between the two," Kolun replied, revealing the secrets of the world of the Ancient Gods.
"Even without the Grand Festival, the True Blood of the Ancient Gods is harvested every thousand years. It's the very essence that condenses within the world over that millennium, and it gets rapidly consumed within days of appearing.
"As for the Grand Festival, it originally started as a mere celebration. Only later was it turned into a selection trial to pick out powerful Hero- and Saint-level descendants of the Ancient Gods, granting them the right to drink the True Blood."
"Wait." Jiang Zhe was puzzled. "Is the True Blood only meant for Universe or Domain Lords?"
"No, Master." Kolun shook his head. "It's just that Saint-level beings benefit the most from it, followed by Heroes, and then Demi-Gods."
"Domain Lords? Universe-level? World Masters?" Jiang Zhe frowned deeper. The order of efficiency didn't seem to make sense.
Kolun explained, "Warriors who drink the True Blood earn the title Children of the Ancient Gods. They must then embark on the Pilgrimage Path to seek out the lost legacies of our people."
Pilgrimage Path?
Jiang Zhe's mind flashed to the red-marked regions on a star map he'd seen earlier. Even World Masters faced near-certain death there.
So were they sending elite Domain Lords to die?
Seeing Jiang Zhe's confusion, Kolun continued, "The Pilgrimage Path is our ancestral land. The True Blood greatly enhances our unique aura, reducing the chances of attacks there—but this protective effect is time-limited.
"It doesn't work at all for Divine beings. For Demi-Gods, it lasts half a year; for Saints, three years; for Heroes, thirty years."
At that, Jiang Zhe finally understood the hidden content of this cultivation trial.
— First, stand out at the Grand Festival to earn the right to drink the authentic True Blood.
— Then, enter the Pilgrimage Path carrying this protective aura to explore and gather precious treasures.
— Finally, retreat before the protection fades and return safely.
That was the proper way to complete this second cultivation mission.
When the time came, not only would he earn 100,000 points, he could also collect treasures like the F-grade Zichen Bailuo Leaf, worth millions of primal units.
In another timeline, when Luo Feng sent his Mosha Clan clone to explore, he found it perilous precisely because he'd missed a crucial step—lacking this protective buff.
Praise the 'Enlightener', Jiang Zhe thought smugly.
As the old saying went: "It's always easier when you have someone at court."
As a direct descendant of a royal city World Master family, Kolun laid out over 90% of this world's secrets before Jiang Zhe.
All the boons of this cultivation world were now in the open, waiting for Jiang Zhe to seize them.
"Oh right, Kolun, what exactly is the lost legacy of your Ancient God race?"
Given how gifted the Ancient God descendants were as spiritual force users, Jiang Zhe suspected this lost legacy might suit him perfectly.
Kolun answered honestly, "I don't know, Master. Only Demi-Gods or someone like the Lord of the Holy City might know. Even my clan's patriarch has never spoken of it."
He hesitated, then offered, "Shall I try to inquire for you, Master?"
"No need. Don't do anything unnecessary," Jiang Zhe waved him off.
If only the Enlightener's influence was strong enough to sway a World Master's will—he'd have just ordered Kolun to send a message to his family patriarch already.
Jiang Zhe cleared his thoughts and returned to basics. "Start with the simplest question. How do I participate in the Grand Festival of the Holy City?"
Kolun replied without hesitation, "It's very simple: obtain the Thirty Royal City Hero Badges."
But immediately he found himself locked under a deathly stare. An unhappy snort exploded beside his ear.
"Hmph! I know that already."
"First question—your badges have anti-counterfeiting measures. Can that be bypassed?"
"Second, there isn't enough time. I likely can't tour 30 royal cities and complete 3,000 matches in just 500 days."
Understanding Jiang Zhe's difficulty, Kolun thought for a moment. "Master, the authenticity issue is easily solved. As long as you drink a vial of Ancient God essence blood each month, you'll be recognized as one of us. Any badges forged from your blood will pass the pre-festival verification."
"Ancient God essence blood? The same stuff you used to trick Drake?"
"Yes, Master."
Jiang Zhe frowned. The idea of drinking someone else's blood was off-putting.
But curiosity won out. "Isn't it disturbing to use your kin's blood like this?"
"Disturbing? Not at all, Master." Kolun's reaction surprised Jiang Zhe—he even seemed a bit excited.
"Master, this essence blood comes from kin who failed the Grand Festival trials. We inherit their bloodline power and carry their will in our bodies. If we one day reclaim our lost legacy, it will be thanks to their sacrifice. Isn't that a beautiful thing?"
Jiang Zhe paused, then thought of their plight.
If Earth fell into such a state, and I stood in Kolun's place, would I reject my own people's blood?
Still, he preferred to avoid consuming blood squeezed from Ancient God bodies.
Luckily, he had a solution.
Once Orianna reached World Master level, she could replicate E-grade matter—perfect copies of Ancient God essence blood, produced purely from energy.
Drinking that would do.
Of course, without Orianna, Jiang Zhe would have still pinched his nose and drunk it. He couldn't afford to pass up this cultivation world's opportunity.
After Jiang Zhe fell silent for a while, Kolun continued on the earlier topic.
"As for obtaining the Thirty Royal City Hero Badges, that ultimately means securing qualification to participate.
Ordinary people must earn badges to qualify, but families with Demi-God powerhouses like ours have special privileges. We wouldn't waste time running around thirty cities.
"The Grand Festival is held on a continent spanning about 1.5 billion kilometers, revered as the 'Ancient God Arena.'
No branch of our race is allowed to live there—it's sacred ground, preserved in its primal state. It only opens ten years before each Grand Festival for Saint and Hero participants to enter gradually.
"There are ninety-nine checkpoints scattered across the Arena to handle festival matters.
Our Demi-God clans can enter even without badges by presenting family tokens.
Once inside, if we seize thirty Royal City Hero Badges before the Grand Festival begins, we can bring them to a checkpoint to forge a personal badge and gain official qualification."
Perfect. There was indeed a loophole to exploit.
Jiang Zhe's lips curled up. "Can outsiders use your family token? Like me?"
"Of course, Master! It would be our clan's honor for you to represent House Kael." Kolun looked thrilled. "Twenty years ago, my family assigned me exactly one slot. I'll write at once for them to send the token, and personally escort you to the Arena."
Honor, huh?
Let's hope House Kael doesn't get wiped out for it.
Jiang Zhe mocked inwardly, but said aloud, "Thank you. When this is over, you won't go unrewarded. By then, you should be stepping into the threshold of space laws."
Kolun's face brightened even more. "Thank you for your immense grace, Master! I'll give my all to make this happen."
"Good. I'll stay here at your city lord's mansion for now. You're dismissed."
Two Months Later
Members of House Kael arrived at Tianwu City.
There was no grand entourage—just an old man and a young man.
Outside the mansion, the young man gazed at its luxurious splendor, eyes flashing with deep jealousy and hatred.
"This should've been mine too. I should've been assigned a city to rule. If only my brothers hadn't suppressed me, I wouldn't have wasted my life as a mere playboy in the royal city. I hate them!"
The hatred quickly faded from Leo's eyes.
He turned to the elder and said quietly, "Daro, you know our mission here. Make sure the assessment is handled with utmost care. Don't let worthless trash tarnish our family's name."
"But… Young Master, I fear the First Young Master won't approve…"
"Hmph, Daro, remember who brought you into our house—it was my mother. Be clear on where your loyalties lie. Besides…" Leo smirked. "The millennial festival is coming. Another batch of True Blood will soon flow into our hands. I recall you had a new grandson a hundred years ago, didn't you?"
The old man's face grew bitter. He could only bow his head. "Rest assured, Young Master. I'll make sure you're satisfied."
Getting this assurance, Leo turned to look into the mansion.
Activating his force, he sent his voice rumbling forward. "Third Brother! I've come to visit. Won't you come out to greet me?"
Inside the mansion's cultivation chamber
Kolun was startled awake by the voice transmission, pulled out from his meditation on spatial laws.
His face darkened, then changed dramatically when he realized who had arrived.
He quickly sent a message to Haiden, stationed outside. "Hurry, notify the Master—plans have changed. It's my arch-enemy bringing the token. There may be Saint-level threats to the Master's safety!"
Haiden also blanched, immediately running off to warn Jiang Zhe.
Neither noticed the faint flash of light from the divine umbrella enshrined in the chamber.
Jiang Zhe's Candlelight clone was inside that umbrella's space and had heard it all. He left the virtual universe with a calm smile.
"A Domain Lord? Perfect. Time to test my Black Hole Evolution."