Chapter 519: Setting a new record
"You... it’s your turn," the red-robed old man said, his voice as calm and indifferent as ever. His gaze swept over the remaining crowd of geniuses from the mortal worlds before settling on Max.
But the moment his eyes locked onto Max, something unexpected happened—a faint ripple passed through his body. His blood stirred. No, it trembled. Just for an instant, like a suppressed roar echoing in the deepest part of his being. It was subtle, fleeting, but undeniable.
The old man stiffened, his pupils narrowing slightly. Then, just as quickly, the sensation vanished, his blood calming as if nothing had happened.
’Did I just imagine that?’ he wondered, a rare moment of doubt flashing across his mind. He stood still for a second longer than usual, observing Max with slightly narrowed eyes and feeling nothing this time. ’No... it must’ve been a fluke. Nothing more.’
He reminded himself of the truth he knew: all the young genius present possessed Source Bloodlines of the Black Dragon lineage. It was the minimum requirement to even be eligible for the True Inheritance Trial.
And while their talents varied, they all belonged to the Black Dragon Palace’s extended bloodline—some more diluted, some stronger, but none capable of causing his blood to react... at least in theory.
After all, he himself had a Source Bloodline—just like them—but with a key difference. Embedded within his lineage was a concentrated 20% Blood Essence of the Black Dragon. That made his bloodline far superior to any of the youths present, even those from the Divine Realm.
It was a gift, a legacy from a rare chance his ancestors had seized. And with that level of Black Dragon blood essence in his veins, there was no logical reason why he, a veteran expert, would feel his bloodline tremble in response to a mere junior... and one from the mortal world, no less.
It was impossible. It had to be.
And so, the old man shook the thought from his mind and gestured firmly toward Max, returning to his usual tone. "Step forward. Face the Ancient Dragon Scroll."
But deep in his heart, a sliver of unease lingered, curling like smoke in the back of his mind—one he didn’t dare acknowledge aloud.