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Within the Spirit Pearl Realm, Lan An stood amidst his chattering harem, their laughter a melody of unity, yet his mind churned with ambition. The Sacred City's trials loomed, a crucible for his rise in the Sacred Lotus Academy. His recent exploits in Dark Origin Continent, bolstered by Yan Yue Qi, had swelled his Prestige Points to billions, a fortune to arm his beloved wives and himself. The Dragon King Halberd summon had fortified his arsenal, but the Life-Death Pact's final reward a bloodline promised a transformative edge, one tied to the Conquer the Mother-in-Law quest's intricate web of destiny and desire.
"Ding, initiating random Bloodline Summon…" the System intoned, its mechanical voice a herald of fate.
Lan An's command set the System to work. "Countdown begins: 1000, 999, 998, 997…"
His heart thundered, unrestrained, as the timer ticked. Bloodlines, the essence of ancient races or species, granted humans their innate powers upon refinement. Bai Mu Mei's trace of Ancient Star-Devouring White Serpent bloodline allowed her to absorb stellar energy, a glimpse of their potential. In his past life, Lan An knew of fabled bloodlines—werewolves, vampires—pale shadows of the cosmos' vast tapestry.
"Jin Ni, are bloodlines graded?" he asked, swallowing hard, the prolonged countdown hinting at a formidable prize.
Jin Ni's petite, regal form materialized on his shoulder, unseen by his wives. "No clear hierarchy exists," she said, shaking her head. "The universe is boundless, its bloodlines countless, each with unique purposes. None dare claim supremacy, lest they provoke rival bloodline powers. A bloodline's strength hinges on its wielder's ingenuity."
She continued, her voice playful, "Within a species, however, bloodlines are strictly ranked. The purest often dominate, especially among beasts, who revere such purity."
Lan An nodded, grasping that bloodlines were tiered only within their kind, purity dictating status. "Some rose to glory with mortal blood, while others, born with mighty bloodlines, perished early," Jin Ni added.
"Examples?" Lan An's curiosity flared, his knowledge limited to Bai Mu Mei's serpent trace and the Blue Phoenix bloodline incubating atop the Palace Tree.
"Take the Five Elements Emperor," Jin Ni said. "His five spiritual roots were unmatched, yet his bloodline was mere human. Or the Moon Age Empress, with common human blood but dual Time and Space roots, invincible in her realm. Before them, no peer dared boast superior bloodlines—courting death, perhaps?" She giggled.
Lan An's eyes widened, enlightened. Personal prowess trumped all, yet bloodlines offered immense advantages, not to be underestimated. He resolved to master any bloodline summoned, amplifying his strength.
"Ding, congratulations, host, for summoning the Reverse Dragon Bloodline, stored in system space!"
The summon concluded, leaving Lan An stunned. Azure Dragon, True Dragon, Golden Dragon—these he knew from legend, but Reverse Dragon? A dragon was a dragon, surely not weak.
"Not merely 'not weak'!" Jin Ni sighed, her tone a mix of joy and worry. "Whether this is your boon or bane, I cannot say."
"Explain, now!" Lan An demanded, glaring at her impatience.
"Dragons rule seas and skies, their nobility unmatched, kings of myriad species," Jin Ni began gravely. "The Reverse Dragon is an anomaly, born of ancestral reversion and mutation, bearing an overbearing will and fierce possessiveness. Each seeks to seize the Dragon Clan's throne, its innate ability to counter most dragons branding it a calamity. The Dragon Clan slays them at birth, and their kin face eternal imprisonment in the Dragon Prison as sinners."
"Damn it!" Lan An cursed, his face darkening. "Refining this makes me the Dragon Clan's enemy?"
"Don't despair," Jin Ni soothed. "Slain young, yes, but a mature Reverse Dragon is unstoppable, even by the Dragon Clan."
"The issue is surviving to maturity," Lan An muttered, brow furrowed.
"Legend speaks of a Dragon Prince who secretly raised his Reverse Dragon son," Jin Ni recounted. "That Reverse Dragon became Dragon Emperor, leading the clan to unrivaled dominance, subjugating all realms. Yet, his ambition outpaced his foundation, and he perished under a Heavenly Tribulation, else the cosmos might bow to dragons."
"Some dragons revile Reverse Dragons outwardly but yearn for that era's glory, hoping another rises. However, the current True Dragon Patriarch would mark you as a threat to his throne," she warned.
Lan An closed his eyes, weighing her words. "Dragons exist only in the Immortal Realm, right?" he asked coolly.
"My apologies, that exceeds your current authority," Jin Ni said sheepishly. "But I assure you, no dragons dwell on a low-tier world like Viet Dragon Star. You're safe from detection."
"One more question," Lan An pressed, inhaling deeply. "If I become a Reverse Dragon, will I oppose Lạc Long Quân?" The creator of his Dragon Immortal Sacred Canon was a figure he revered.
"Hehe, fear not," Jin Ni chuckled. "Lạc Long Quân fathered that Reverse Dragon Emperor. With a hundred sons, a Reverse Dragon among them is no surprise."
Lan An's eyes widened, tension easing. "Fine, I'll refine the Reverse Dragon Bloodline," he declared, resolute, disdaining indecision.
"Fool! Seeking death?" Jin Ni snapped, startling him.
"What now?" Lan An blinked, bewildered.
"Your current physique can't withstand refining the Reverse Dragon Bloodline. Its power would rupture you," she said sternly.
"Any solutions?" Lan An asked, trusting her resourcefulness.
"Disperse the bloodline's energy during refinement," Jin Ni replied. "That resolves it."
"Oh? Disperse? Via dual cultivation?" Lan An's eyes gleamed, glancing at his wives' joyful banter.
"Dual cultivation is ideal," Jin Ni said, shrugging. "But don't rejoice yet. To refine the Reverse Dragon Bloodline, your partner needs at least Early Tribulation Stage cultivation."
Lan An nearly spat blood. Tribulation Stage cultivators were rarer than phoenix feathers on this continent, let alone Integration Stage women within his reach.
"Don't despair," Jin Ni teased, winking. "Quality lacking? Quantity compensates."
"Indeed!" Lan An nodded, relieved. With a gallant flourish, he asked, "How many? My wives aren't enough? I'll charm more!"
Jin Ni raised a finger.
"Ten?" Lan An grinned.
She shook her head.
"A hundred?" His face paled.
"Ten thousand Nascent Soul women, one thousand Spirit Form, five hundred Void Refining, or one hundred Integration Stage," Jin Ni said lightly, each word a hammer.
Lan An: "…"
"Ding, activating Legendary Quest: [Refine Reverse Dragon Bloodline]. Success rewards: One Bloodline Summon, One Heaven-Earth Anomaly Summon, One Grand Formation Summon, One Architectural Treasure Summon. Failure: Hunted by the Dragon Clan."
The System's voice rang as Lan An stood dazed, instinctively checking the quest details.
Quest Notes: Conquer all-female powers like Hundred Flowers Sect or Elven Empress Nation, dual cultivating to refine the Reverse Dragon Bloodline. Alternatively, conquer mighty women or those with special constitutions. Use any means, so long as the bloodline is refined.
Lan An collapsed, curling into a ball.
"Don't play dead!" Jin Ni teased, hopping before him. "Conquering an all-female sect—what true man could resist?"
Seeing him feign unconsciousness, she whispered, "Consider your Harem Faction. Elite it may be, but too sparse. Populate the Spirit Pearl Realm with female sects as concubines. Its vastness begs for life. Or train them into an invincible army, conquering all!"
Lan An's face twitched, tempted.
Jin Ni pressed, "Let me name your legions—Hundred Flowers Army, Elven Army. Picture countless women charging battlefields, then serving you tenderly at home. Thrilling, no?"
Lan An's heart itched, but a quest note caught his eye: Conquer women with special constitutions. "Jin Ni, what are special constitutions?" he asked eagerly.
"Hmph," Jin Ni pouted, her persuasion thwarted, but explained, "Women born with unique physiques, akin to bloodlines, with myriad types and uses. Finding one on this low-tier star is like seeking a needle in the ocean."
"So, a woman with a special constitution reduces the number needed for dual cultivation?" Lan An pressed, hopeful.
"Depends on the constitution combat or auxiliary," Jin Ni said. "For dual cultivation, perfect constitutions include Heavenly Charm Bone, Nine Yin Celestial Body, Yin-Yang Sacred Body, Myriad Fragrance Spirit Body, Soft Water Spirit Body, and more."
Lan An's interest surged. His wives, peerless as they were, lacked such constitutions—a pity.
"Constitutions can be innate or cultivated via high-grade techniques or devouring Heaven-Earth Anomalies," Jin Ni added, pursing her lips.
"Say I dual cultivate with a Yin-Yang Sacred Body woman could I refine the bloodline instantly?" Lan An asked.
"With a Yin-Yang Sacred Body at Perfect Spirit Form, she'd suffice without risking rupture," Jin Ni calculated.
Lan An nodded, a spark of hope flickering. Conquering Hundred Flowers Sect or a Yin-Yang Sacred Body woman? The latter seemed saner, though fate was fickle. He shelved the Reverse Dragon Bloodline refinement, his current strength too feeble for such ambitions.
"Proceed with random Technique Summon!" he ordered, quelling his swelling emotions.
"Ding, initiating random Technique Summon…"
The System's mechanical voice resounded, heralding the next chapter of his ascent.