My Arts Evolve When Perfected

[Tier One Luminous Blood: 24/100]

[Tier One Luminous Blood: 25/100]

[Tier One Luminous Blood: 26/100]

[...]

The closer he got to the 30-point mark, the hotter Jiang Qiu’s chest burned. It felt as if his body had become a shackle for his power, and a frenzied volcano was imprisoned within his heart.

His small body was as stiff as a stone. A torrent of power erupted from the depths of his bloodline, irresistibly melting away the impurities in his meridians.

Sweat squeezed from his pores, and a sour tang pricked his nose.

Jiang Qiu’s body trembled. It was as if flames were faintly burning upon him, his flesh as scorching hot as a magma rock.

The effects of the Water of Origin were simply outstanding. With every moment he endured, the pain intensified. A surging, ancient aura pressed down from the heavens, growing more intense the more he resisted.

But if he were to just let down his mental defenses, the pressure would dissipate. There would be no need to continue the torment. His soul would curl up and retreat...

’But how could I possibly give up!’

’From the moment I arrived in this world, my goal has been to fight Yu Ri, Tang Guang, and Feng Li for the Enlightenment Fruit. No matter how impossibly distant the Northern Boundary is portrayed in the tribe’s stories, I have to fight for that Enlightenment Fruit.’

’If I can’t even beat the kids of the North Snow Tribe, what right do I have to compete with Yu Ri, Tang Guang, and Feng Li?’

’I have to hold on until the very end!’

As this thought coalesced in his mind, a sharp glint flashed in Jiang Qiu’s eyes, like the point of a newly honed spear.

He forced his trembling body still, lifted his head, and his gaze passed through the human wall of children, all about 1.3 or 1.4 meters tall, to the table on the Altar. The Witch Fragrance incense stick was now less than two-thirds of its original length. Making it to the halfway mark would mean one possessed an excellent bloodline!

’But how could halfway be enough?’

’A Chosen One has to last until the Witch Fragrance has completely burned to ash!’

WHUMP! WHUMP! WHUMP!

Just as the Witch Fragrance was about to burn halfway, over forty of the children present suddenly toppled over like grass flattened by the wind. It was as if they were all struck down simultaneously by an invisible hand, collapsing in droves.

The sight struck the hearts of the crowd like a bolt of lightning splitting a great tree that sheltered a flock of birds. Their faces fell, and a stifling weight settled in their chests, impossible to relieve.

Even young Flower bit her lip until it turned white, her small, delicate fists trembling in silence.

The bloodline test was like a mortal, born of heaven and earth, embarking on a path of homecoming—crossing mountain after mountain in search of their ancestors’ legacy.

If they could not cross this threshold, they would never see their ancestors, nor would they be able to receive their ancestors’ gifts.

And the "excellent bloodline" was a massive, chasm-like threshold, a heavy hammer that slammed down on one hopeful head after another, leaving them dazed and confused.

Just moments ago, it seemed like some forty children were about to reach the "excellent bloodline" checkpoint, but they all collapsed in unison—fainting, flushed red, having reached their limit.

Only three people still stood on the field!

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP...

It was impossible to tell whose hearts were pounding—perhaps it was the parents, praying their children would last until the Witch Fragrance burned past the halfway mark. In this tense moment, even the Elder Witch Priest was moved, his five gaunt fingers curling into a loose fist.

’Although there isn’t much new blood suitable for training as Warriors this year, it seems there are a few kids with the potential to become outstanding Warriors!’

An excellent bloodline meant the potential to become an outstanding Warrior. Those were the powerhouses who could lead a Hunting Team, the very core of the tribe’s prosperity!

’And that child, Hill, has actually lasted this long too! Even if he isn’t a Chosen One, he’s still extremely worthy of the tribe’s resources to nurture!’

’The heavens have blessed North Snow!’

[Tier One Luminous Blood: 30/100]

Suddenly, the panel flickered. A volcanic eruption of heat surged toward Jiang Qiu’s Celestial Spirit Acupoint. His pupils quaked violently and his irises dilated—it seemed the bloodline within him was awakening!

The energy in his abdomen was also draining away at a frantic pace!

[Bloodline Awakening]

[Ice Skin]

[Description: Your ancestors survived in the most extreme cold. Unyielding to the climate and terrain, they pushed ever forward, forging bodies of Ice Skin. Now, this ability to adapt to the environment blesses you, making your skin like solid ice.]

A faint layer of white frost condensed on Jiang Qiu’s face, as if he’d been dusted with fine salt. Few people noticed, assuming it was just snowflakes that had landed on his face.

But Flower had been staring intently and couldn’t help but murmur, "Hill’s face is frosting over. Is he too cold...?"

Hearing the child’s mutterings, the old man with the limp also noticed something was amiss. He narrowed his eyes. "How can there be frost?"

Logically speaking, the children undergoing the bloodline test should be at their hottest. Even if they were to lie naked on a frozen river, the ice layer would have to melt a fair bit.

Not to mention the softest white snow in the world—it should basically melt the instant it touched Hill’s face. How could he possibly be cold enough for frost to form?

If one were to say it was a Bloodline Talent awakening, that wouldn’t be right either. Typically, only a Chosen One with immense potential would awaken a Bloodline Talent, and only after the Witch Fragrance had completely burned away.

For such a strange symptom to appear now was completely against common sense.

The Elder Witch Priest noticed this as well. He frowned slightly, but seeing that Jiang Qiu was still standing perfectly straight, he did not intervene.

And now, only three remained on the field. They were like white cranes left standing after a flock of chickens has scattered. As the Witch Fragrance burned past the halfway mark, they still stood there with clenched fists!

"Hah—"

With a sudden, heavy gasp, the four-year-old child in the same row as Jiang Qiu swayed and fell. His palms, cheeks, and forehead were flushed and blood-red. As he was carried away, he was still mumbling about being hungry.

"Excellent bloodline. Permitted to enter the main Hunting Team to train, and possesses the right to share in the distribution of prey."

As the Elder Witch Priest’s declaration ended, a woman shrieked with excitement, "My Wood has an excellent bloodline! An excellent bloodline!"

She ran over cheering to take care of her child, and the onlookers began to discuss it among themselves, their eyes full of envy. "That kid really did perform well. Although he’s the oldest of the two hundred, I heard that when he goes out with the Hunting Team, he can even catch some Ice-toothed Rats by himself."

"The tribe really struck gold with this bloodline test. This is great, just great..."

No matter whose child it was, as long as someone with an excellent bloodline appeared, it was a blessing for the tribe. And only when the tribe was strong and prosperous could everyone live a better life.

After that small wave of excitement, the onlookers’ tension returned. They watched the only two people still standing on the field, their emotions intertwining like a great net.

"Hill actually managed to last this long. He really might be a Chosen One."

"If he can hold on until the end, then he’s definitely a Chosen One. But he doesn’t look like he’s in good shape right now, does he?"

The sound of whispered discussions circled the field. The Elder Witch Priest’s brow furrowed deeply. He squinted at Jiang Qiu, studying him. The boy’s young face wasn’t flushed red from the heat; instead, it was covered in a thick layer of white frost. It was truly strange.

And while the other child still holding on was shaking like a sieve, he was no longer trembling. In fact, he was perfectly still.

Like he’d been frozen into an ice sculpture.