The battlefield lay silent, strewn with debris and the faint scent of blood and ash. Lin Yuan crouched beside the inner disciple's fallen body, his eyes fixed on the storage ring gleaming faintly in the morning light. Every step, every battle, had led to this moment.
He pricked his finger and let a few drops of blood fall onto the ring. It pulsed softly and shimmered, acknowledging him as its new master.
Inside, the ring contained low-grade spirit stones, miscellaneous items like clothes, two sword art manuals, and at the center, a faintly glowing spiritual plant—the treasure he hadlost his life for, Lin Yuan's eyes narrowed. The manuals were useful, yes, but the plant was the true prize. Its energy hummed with life, tuned to awaken the dragon bloodline within him.
He placed his hands over the plant, and as he began to circulate his cultivation technique, energy surged through him. His circulation channels flared, guiding the treasure's latent power throughout his body. The Dragon Physique, already integrated, resonated immediately. A low vibration hummed through his chest,a deep, ancient rhythm aligning with the power flowing from the spiritual plant.
[System Notification: Host bloodline fully awakened. Dragon traits unlocked.]
The bloodline awakened explosively. Power surged through his veins, harmonizing with his Dragon Physique. The sensation was overwhelming yet exhilarating, a fusion of reincarnated potential and awakened ancestral might. Energy rippled along his muscles and bones, refining every meridian, strengthening circulation, and amplifying reflexes.
The system's voice sounded clearly in his mind:
"Host. Dragon Bloodline fully awakened. Traits acquired: higher regeneration, basic elemental immunity, Dragon Majesty. Additional traits will manifest as host cultivation grows."
Lin Yuan flexed his fingers experimentally as knowledge about the new traits was transmitted through the Bloodline like a remembered memory. Wounds that had existed minutes ago were already closing, almost instantly healed. His stamina felt limitless, his reflexes heightened, and his presence radiated dominance. Even the faint Dragon Majesty trait caused weaker cultivators or low-level opponents nearby to hesitate instinctively.
The two sword art manuals caught his attention. One detailed a basic long-sword technique, elegant but straightforward; the other specialized in rapid dual-blade strikes. He stored them carefully in his infinite inventory. While unnecessary for survival now, they could refine his skills and provide tactical versatility later.
As the circulation technique harmonized with the bloodline, Lin Yuan felt a final surge of energy from the spiritual plant. The system immediately converted the remaining energy into raw cultivation energy. It flowed into him, stabilizing and amplifying his foundation.
[System Notification: Residual spiritual plant energy converted. Host foundation reinforced.]
Without hesitation, Lin Yuan channeled the energy through his circulation technique. Meridians glowed faintly under his skin as he guided the flow, focusing entirely on breaking through to Body Tempering Stage 9. The energy moved smoothly, perfectly synchronized with his Dragon Physique and fully awakened bloodline.
A deep, almost primal hum echoed within him. His senses sharpened, his muscles tensed with power, and every fiber of his being felt alive. The breakthrough was complete.
[System Notification: Body Tempering Stage 9 achieved. Realm stabilized.]
Lin Yuan exhaled slowly, the battlefield around him now seeming sharper, more vivid. The spiritual plant's power had done more than awaken the bloodline—it had elevated him beyond what even he had expected. Every movement felt effortless, every strike potentially lethal, and every breath carried the weight of predatory precision.
He glanced at the storage ring one last time. Low-grade spirit stones and miscellaneous items had been absorbed or stored. The sword art manuals were tucked safely into his inventory. But it was the spiritual plant that had defined this moment: full bloodline awakening, Dragon Physique resonance, and breakthrough to Body Tempering Stage 9.
He stood, hands resting lightly on his sword. The battlefield behind him told the story of ruthlessness, but his attention was forward-facing. Mountains loomed in the distance, sects and mercenaries scattered across the terrain. The inner disciple's death had been merely the first step. The treasure had awakened him fully, and now, with Stage 9 Body Tempering solidified, Lin Yuan's path was clear.