The blood within the Dao-mark jade bottle shimmered with resplendent crimson radiance, each drop resembling a magnificent agate, crystalline and translucent, possessing a unique, ethereal beauty.
Yet these few drops of blood were extraordinary. Though merely drops of blood, they emanated oceanic, vast fluctuations, and even had special Dao marks condensed into chains of order that intertwined, clattering as they inscribed the supreme Great Dao.
This shocked Ye Chen, for this was not ordinary blood, nor was it the Divine Spirit blood Old Yan had forcibly seized from the Tenglong Empire earlier. This was Dao Blood, countless times more precious than Divine Spirit blood.
What was Dao Blood?
It did not refer to the blood of the Heavenly Dao itself. The Great Dao was formless and intangible, existing only between heaven and earth, naturally incapable of autonomously condensing into a blood-like state.
But between heaven and earth, there were always some stunningly talented, peerless figures who stood out across the ages. Their cultivation was supreme, their strength unparalleled, surpassing the limits of heaven and earth. They could elevate their will above the Great Dao, possessing sufficient ability to contain the Dao they comprehended within their own blood, thus creating Dao Blood.
Although this Dao Blood could not possibly contain all of that supreme talent's comprehension of the Dao, each drop contained fragments of the Dao within—truly supreme principles—and also contained boundless, true vitality. It was said to be capable of refining immortal pills and prolonging life.
To create Dao Blood, even supreme Divine Spirits were incapable. One needed to surpass the Divine Spirit realm, to transcend it, to have the qualification to create it. Because that level of difficulty was too great; heaven and earth would not permit it, and even Divine Spirits found it hard to accomplish.
Thus, Dao Blood was a peerlessly precious treasure, containing fragments of the Heavenly Dao they comprehended, a treasure coveted by anyone.
Ye Chen's eyes immediately erupted with piercing light. This Dao Blood was something not just ordinary people, but even Divine Spirits would covet and desire. Obtaining it would have unimaginable, wondrous uses.
Regarding this Dao Blood, Ye Chen was determined to obtain it. Because with just these few drops of Dao Blood, the vast power contained within would be enough for him to rapidly recover a portion of his previous life's cultivation, far stronger than his current self by many times.
"Little Chen, these drops of Dao Blood are very important. You must obtain them," Old Yan said, his voice filled with anticipation.
Even Divine Spirit blood could allow him to replenish some of his Yuan energy, let alone Dao Blood that surpassed the Divine Spirit realm. It would have inconceivable divine effects.
"Don't worry, no one but me will obtain them," Ye Chen said, exuding powerful confidence, determined to succeed.
To obtain these drops of Dao Blood, he wouldn't mind slaughtering gods if they blocked him, slaying Buddhas if they stood in his way, unleashing a great massacre!
At this moment, a terrifying aura overflowed from his body. The golden blood within him boiled, and terrifying divine energy began to awaken, ready for battle at any moment.
At this moment, it wasn't just Ye Chen; even others were moved. Although they might not know this was Dao Blood that only existences surpassing the Divine Spirit realm could create, they clearly understood the priceless rarity of these drops of blood.
Drop by drop, they flowed within the Dao-mark divine bottle. Just the vast blood energy fluctuations they emitted were enough to make everyone's hearts tremble. And the crimson chains of order interwoven within the blood deeply impressed upon everyone the preciousness of these drops.
"Is this the blood of a supreme Divine Spirit? It actually contains Dao fragment principles, incredibly extraordinary."
"It doesn't seem like ordinary Divine Spirit blood. I've seen my ancestor's Divine Spirit blood before. Although it was very powerful, it wasn't as divine as the blood in this Dao-mark divine bottle," Li Sheng frowned. Yang Shaoqi, Long Tenghua, Wu Han, and others nodded in succession. They were all top young talents of their generation and had seen true Divine Spirit blood; they knew its terror.
But the blood contained in this Dao-mark divine bottle before them appeared even more extraordinary and sacred than Divine Spirit blood.
"But it doesn't matter. These drops of blood must be obtained regardless," the several quasi-king superpowerhouses felt their hearts stir, ignited with intense desire, determined to succeed.
Fairy Caiyun was also moved, her gaze fixed tightly on the Dao Blood within the Dao-mark jade bottle. She spoke for the first time, her voice clear and cold, like heavenly music: "So it's Dao Blood. Not bad. What conditions do you want to set?"
She also recognized the Dao Blood but didn't believe the white-haired Divine Spirit would simply give away these drops of Dao Blood for free. There must be corresponding conditions.
The white-haired Divine Spirit smiled. "Indeed a very good girl, very clever, understanding so quickly. However, there are indeed conditions. Not too difficult, but not too easy either. As long as you help this venerable one deliver a token to a certain place, these drops of Dao Blood will belong to that person."
Just delivering something, that simple?
Everyone was stunned, but Ye Chen and other perceptive individuals understood it was definitely not that simple. It couldn't be that just delivering something would warrant such precious Dao Blood as payment; that was too extravagant.
But the white-haired Divine Spirit didn't explain further, merely saying: "When you obtain this Dao Blood, you will accept a contract. You must deliver this venerable one's token to a certain place within fifty years. Along the way, you may encounter all sorts of dangers where nine out of ten die, filled with life-and-death crises."
"Moreover, the contract is protected by a Heavenly Dao oath and cannot be violated. Once violated, the consequences will incur punishment from the Heavenly Dao, resulting in certain death. The above are the conditions for accepting the contract. If willing, you may come forward to seize the Dao Blood. As long as you hold the Dao Blood for over the time it takes an incense stick to burn, you will gain the Dao Blood's recognition."
"But before that, you must pass the protection of the blood-armor guard this venerable one left behind. Consider it a small trial."
As his words fell, the white-haired Divine Spirit soared into the sky, sitting cross-legged high above.
Then, a human-shaped light cluster suddenly appeared on the stone seat. Its entire body overflowed with powerful aura, but fortunately, although this human-shaped light cluster was strong, it was only at the Martial God realm. Probably intentionally set at this realm to not make everyone despair.
The surface of the human-shaped light cluster manifested a set of dark crimson blood-colored armor, inscribed with strange crimson patterns that intertwined, clanging as they resonated. It also held a massive crimson greatsword that overflowed with a terrifying, bloody aura, as if a sea of blood was appearing, with countless skeletal remains manifesting in the sky, shocking the mind.
This was astonishing. This set of armor and blood sword were likely extraordinary Dao weapons, overflowing with crimson radiance, further enhancing the human-shaped light cluster's power.
The Dao-mark jade bottle containing the Dao Blood was placed at the head of the human-shaped light cluster. This meant that to obtain the Dao Blood, one must destroy the human-shaped light cluster, causing many to change expression.
"Old Yan, you take action," Ye Chen transmitted mentally. From the start, he didn't want pointless struggle. Old Yan acting would be as easy as turning over his hand.
But Old Yan's voice sounded: "I cannot act."
"Why?" Ye Chen was shocked.
"This white-haired man is not simple. He left powerful Dao principles in this small world. If I act, the origin of this entire world will suppress me. Although I do not fear it, it will alert others. It's really not suitable to act," Old Yan said gravely.
Ye Chen's expression changed slightly.
In the center of the dilapidated ancient hall, on the half-collapsed stone seat, the human-shaped light cluster sat upright, its entire body overflowing with supreme fluctuations, looking down upon the many powerhouses. At its head position, the Dao-mark divine bottle flickered in and out of sight, blood light permeating, emitting waves of powerful blood energy fluctuations that attracted everyone's gaze.
"Seize it!"
No one knew who said it first, but the many powerhouses immediately charged forward. Even ordinary trial participants, unwilling to fall behind, rushed forward, because they all sensed the importance of the Dao Blood.
Probably even those lofty, supreme Divine Spirits would be extremely moved upon seeing it.
Figures swiftly flew up, covering the sky and earth, numbering in the hundreds. Even if their strength was far inferior, the trial participants were numerous enough for ants to kill an elephant, potentially suppressing the human-shaped light cluster's power.
"Scram!"
Yang Shaoqi, Long Tenghua, Li Sheng, Wu Han, and Xia Yang—the five young talents—shouted coldly with vertical pupils, their glabella glowing, unleashing divine might. Surging Dao might erupted, immediately sending numerous trial participants flying and vomiting blood, far from being opponents.
Such a sacred object could not possibly be obtained by others. It was the Dao fruit they had pursued through arduous cultivation over the past two-plus months in this Divine Spirit small world. How could they allow others to lay hands on it?
In an instant, the five quasi-king superpowerhouses charged to the forefront. Martial God Dao Weapons immediately unleashed terrifying light, slashing toward the human-shaped light cluster to seize the Dao Blood.