Chapter 116: Crimson Blood Flying Dragon Tracing Origin

Chapter 116: Crimson Blood Flying Dragon Tracing Origin

"Shut up! You won't fail!"

Luo En abruptly cut off Andie's next words, which had nearly become a desperate plea:

"Even if something goes wrong, I'm here. I've prepared many bloodline suppression potions. I can intervene at any time."

This was actually a comforting lie. Once bloodline activation began, external forces could rarely interfere.

If Andie underwent full mutation, Luo En's options would be extremely limited—perhaps only to ease his passing.

But right now, what Andie needed was confidence, not fear.

"I understand."

Andie took a deep breath. He clearly knew this too: "Then let's begin."

He raised the vial, nodded to Luo En, then drank it in one gulp.

The moment the potion touched his tongue, Andie's expression grew unbearably complex—shock, then pain, finally settling into something like rapturous delirium.

Golden light seemed to ignite from within his skin, flowing along the rune pathways painted on his body, forming a complete mana network.

Eyes slowly closed, his hands unconsciously spread wide. His body lifted into the air, hovering about half a foot above the ground, as if cradled by an invisible force.

The formation's glow intensified. All seven mana crystals simultaneously emitted a resonant hum, harmonizing into a single tone—the unmistakable mark of mana resonance.

Luo En stepped back a few paces, watching closely.

He knew the next few minutes would decide Andie's fate—either awakening as a Bloodline Knight, or becoming a monster consumed by mutation.

Time crawled. Andie's state seemed stable at first, but Luo En soon sensed the mana flow within the formation becoming uneven, as if encountering resistance.

Andie's expression twisted. His muscles twitched chaotically, as though battling some force within.

"Damn it." A warning bell rang in Luo En's mind. "He's rejecting the potion."

This was the most common danger during bloodline activation. When the awakened ancient bloodline clashed with the host's spirit or flesh, it would disrupt mana flow, potentially triggering mutation or worse.

Luo En's mind raced. He could intervene, but the risks were extreme. Or he could trust Andie's willpower to survive this trial.

Andie's consciousness had already fallen into a strange chaos.

Within his spiritworld, a colossal crimson dragon-like entity surged toward him, its maw snarling, eyes like molten lava, scales gleaming with metallic sheen.

In this life-or-death moment, countless images flashed through Andie's mind:

The desperate faces of expelled candidate apprentices he'd seen while assisting the Enforcement Team;

Karl's corpse, tainted by mutation;

Even the bitter memories of his childhood—mocked by older brothers, ignored by his father.

These memories intertwined into an indescribable storm of emotion—anger, sorrow, defiance, longing.

"I won't end like this!" Andie roared inwardly. "I won't become another monster, another nameless corpse!"

The crimson flying dragon's illusion halted midair, its golden-red vertical pupils locking onto Andie as if evaluating this human's worth.

After an endless standoff, the dragon's posture softened. Its massive frame shrank, finally condensing into a swirling ball of crimson mana floating before Andie.

"I accept you as part of my power."

Andie reached out, touching the mana orb. "But I, Andie Falu Ke, remain master of this body."

With his declaration, the crimson mana flowed into him—not as invasion, but fusion—melding into coexistence.

Back in the real world, the formation's glow stabilized, no longer fluctuating wildly.

Andie descended slowly, feet firmly touching the ground.

The scales forming on his skin hadn't vanished, but neither did they spread further—from neck to arms, like intricately designed armor.

"Andie?" Luo En approached cautiously, unsure if the man retained his sanity, already gripping a pocket watch and a sonic vibration spell.

Andie slowly opened his eyes. Those golden pupils remained, but his gaze had regained human clarity.

"I succeeded, Luo En." His voice was hoarse yet brimming with indescribable joy. "I feel... indescribable."

Luo En exhaled, tension finally easing.

"You almost made me start writing your eulogy", he joked. "For a moment, I thought you'd fully mutate."

"I thought so too." Andie studied his scaled hands, their subtle sheen under candlelight. "But at the last moment, I remembered so many things... Those memories gave me the strength to endure."

Luo En observed his friend's transformation.

Externally, aside from the scales, Andie hadn't changed much. Yet his aura had completely shifted—a dormant beast's latent pressure lurked beneath his skin, ready to erupt.

"How do you feel now?" Luo En asked. "What bloodline awakened?"

Andie closed his eyes, sensing the changes within.

"Crimson Blood Flying Dragon", he murmured. "A subspecies branch of the Yangyan Dragon. The awakening isn't complete—I've only gained part of its power. But even so..."

He didn't elaborate, instead extending a hand toward a heavy anvil in the workshop's corner.

Luo En, puzzled, watched as Andie's palm suddenly glowed with fresh red scales, fingers morphing into sharp talons.

Then he simply gripped.

The anvil—hundreds of kilograms, requiring two or three strong men to move—lifted effortlessly in one hand, like cardboard.

More shockingly, his talons sank deep into the metal, leaving five clear claw marks.

"This..." Luo En gaped. "That's the power of a Bloodline Knight?"

Andie nodded, gently setting the anvil down.

"Not just strength", he added. "My senses are sharper—enhanced hearing, smell. I can even perceive mana flow in the air."

Luo En noticed how Andie's pupils contracted and dilated with his emotions, reptilian in nature.

"Any other abilities?"

Andie inhaled deeply.

A sudden burst of crimson flame ignited in his palm, golden dragon patterns weaving within the inferno, radiating intense heat.

"Fire affinity is greatly enhanced", he said. "I can manipulate flames instinctively, with minimal mana guidance."

He clenched his fist, dispersing the flames. Then turned to Luo En, eyes filled with complexity.

"This feeling of power coursing through me... It's like my old self was a mere illusion, and only now have I truly awakened."

Luo En nodded silently. He understood the shock of such a transformation.

The old Andie, despite being a prince, had been little more than a commoner surviving on family status in the Black Mist Jungle.

Now, he'd transcended ordinary limits, becoming a true extraordinary being.

Luo En stepped into the formation, inspecting the faded runes and mana crystals.

"Actually, your awakening had some issues", he mused. "That mana disruption and near-loss of control—perhaps the potion formula or formation design still has flaws."

"No, it's not entirely the potion", Andie shook his head. "It's my own compatibility. I felt it. Without your precise potion guidance, I'd have become a twisted corpse long ago."

He walked beside Luo En, sincere. "Honestly, according to royal records, someone of my caliber attempting such a high-level bloodline awakening has less than a 30% success rate. I succeeded largely because of your potion and formation design."

Luo En frowned slightly. He was more concerned with learning from this experience to better prepare for his own bloodline activation.

"I need to adjust the formation", he thought aloud. "Especially the layout of the seven mana pathways. Your disruption mainly occurred at the junction of the third and fifth channels. Adding a buffer there might help."

They discussed details, Luo En noting many observations.

"I think I should go eat something", Andie finally said, stretching his shoulders. "Bloodline Awakening drained a ton of energy. I feel like I could devour an entire bull."

Luo En chuckled. "Then best hurry back. Newly awakened bloodlines require massive mana to stabilize. Hunger's normal."

Andie nodded, slipped on his outer robe, and prepared to leave.

But at the doorway, he suddenly paused, turning back to Luo En.

“Thanks, Luo En. Without you, I’d probably be dead in Xin Xi Ya’s bed by now…”

The golden-haired youth hesitated, as if gathering words for a heartfelt speech.

Before he could continue, Luo En slammed a fist into his back—firm but not harsh.

Thud! Andie’s words vanished mid-throat.

He blinked in surprise. His newly awakened reinforced body could handle far more than that, but the sudden interruption shattered his carefully crafted emotional monologue.

“Save the melodrama,” Luo En rolled his eyes, waving him off impatiently. “Go rest. Spend these days adapting to your bloodline ability. There’ll be plenty of time to fight for your life later.”

Andie chuckled, shaking his head. He knew Luo En’s nature—always blunt at the most sensitive moments, masking real concern with indifference.

“Oh,” Luo En added casually, as if discussing tomorrow’s weather. “We’ll need to hit Lizard Alley again soon to pick up some supplies. Try not to get another Enforcement Team emergency.”

Andie studied his friend. It seemed Luo En didn’t need help during the upcoming bloodline activation ritual.

“I understand,” he said quietly, eyes flickering with realization. “I won’t be late next time.”

Though he’d explained the ritual’s details to Luo En, the execution had been entirely Luo En’s work. Now, it was clear—the ritual was a solo endeavor.

Everyone had their secrets. Andie wouldn’t pry.

“I’ll take my leave.” He fastened his robe, golden pupils gleaming in the dark. “I’ll see you in two days to discuss bloodline control techniques.”

Luo En nodded, watching him go.

After closing the door, he exhaled deeply, his muscles finally relaxing.

Andie’s Bloodline Awakening had gone better than expected, despite the mishaps.

He walked to the window, gazing at the silent Black Mist Jungle as plans crystallized in his mind.

With Ai Li Ke and Li Ya arranging his transfer to the third-phase courses—which required schedule adjustments—there would be no classes next week, resuming only the week after. Combined with the bi-daily alchemy and Elemental Affinity sessions, he had ample time to prepare.

“Morning tomorrow for potion Orders,” Luo En murmured, fingers tapping the windowsill. “Afternoon, start my own bloodline activation.”

Observing Andie’s ritual had reassured him. Even if issues arose, they wouldn’t spiral into catastrophic collapse.

His greatest fear—the ritual’s core design flaw causing irreversible bodily collapse—had vanished. Even if it drained all ten mana from his pocket watch, recovery would still be possible.

If Andie could succeed, then with his Tracing Origin trait, his chances were far better.

“Still, caution’s needed,” he reminded himself. “Everyone’s different.”

Back at his workbench, he gathered materials for the next day.

The bloodline activation elixir was ready, the formation refined. Only minor adjustments remained to ensure perfection.

Suddenly, Ai Lan’s vines brushed his arm, her green eyes filled with concern.

Luo En turned, offering a faint smile. “Just thinking.”

Her vines swayed gently, as if to say, Transformation carries risks. But I believe in your strength to master any change.

He looked at her, surprised. Such philosophical insight from a semi-plant being was oddly moving.

“Thank you, Ai Lan,” he said sincerely. “May tomorrow go smoothly.”

As night deepened, Luo En fine-tuned the ritual’s details until exhaustion forced him to bed.

The next morning, he completed all potion Orders with uncharacteristic efficiency.

After sealing the final batch into delicate crystal vials, he turned to his afternoon ritual.

Standing in the ritual chamber’s center, he surveyed the space.

Compared to Andie’s, his formation was far more intricate—retaining the sun-shape but with nine radial channels instead of five, each rune-packed line exuding precision.

Mana crystals lay scattered across the floor, each selected and formulated to channel specific mana flows.

Ai Lan lingered in a distant corner, silent.

Luo En had warned her not to intervene, no matter what.

“If anything happens,” he’d said, “don’t help. Just wait.”

She’d nodded, her leaf-board swaying. I’ll keep my promise. But please, be careful.

Luo En smiled faintly, then inhaled sharply, activating the formation.

Placing each mana crystal into its node, he chanted incantations, guiding mana into precise pathways.

When the last crystal settled, the formation blazed golden—brighter, more stable than Andie’s.

Next, he traced runes on his body with silver ink, using tools for hard-to-reach spots.

Each rune aligned with an acupoint, forming a complete mana network.

The ink’s sting—sharper than expected—marked the runes merging with flesh.

Finally, he stood at the center, holding his custom bloodline activation potion.

Darker than Andie’s, almost crimson, it shimmered with golden and green motes—designed for the Ralph Family’s lineage.

“It’s time.” He gripped the vial.

Even with the pocket watch’s reset ability, his pulse quickened.

Bloodline activation was a gamble. No one could predict the outcome.

Don’t fear, he told himself. Fear causes failure.

He drank.

The potion struck like molten lava in his veins, pain nearly suffocating.

He clenched his teeth, refusing to cry out.

As it spread, the pain shifted—into a searing awakening, something primal clawing to emerge.

Reality blurred.

The physical world faded, replaced by a vast swamp.

Thick mist blanketed the land, distant growls echoing.

Luo En stood on dry ground—a blackened marsh around him, rotting and reeking.

From the fog, a colossal shape emerged.

A multi-headed serpent—venomous, monstrous. Each head as large as a man, scales gleaming like steel, eyes burning with wild, cruel fire.

The Ralph Family’s bloodline source—the swamp multi-headed serpent. Not the primordial ancestor itself, but a beast rivaling High Apprentices.

“So this is the primal form,” Luo En murmured.

The serpent turned, sensing him. All heads fixed on Luo En, hostility blazing.

It slithered forward, leaving deep furrows in the mud.

Luo En stood firm. Retreat meant failure—mutation, even.

As the serpent closed in, a sudden shift occurred.

[Tracing Origin trait activates!]

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end