Chapter 333: Price
Qin Yun and Yi Xiao listened carefully.
"Ancestral Master," asked Yi Xiao immediately. "How long does the awakening take?"
"It depends on what realm you are awakening to," answered Ancestral Master Zhang. "For example, if you were to truly awaken to become a Skydragon, a mortal has to first undergo a blood conversion to awaken into a Skydragon. The bloodline in your body will be converted bit by bit. Your tendons, bones, skin, and flesh and even your vital makeup will be converted. A Skydragon has massive strength, and that’s saying nothing of its Essence Soul! This conversion process will naturally be very long! According to what I know, even the birth of a Skydragon will result in a pregnancy of a hundred years! If you are truly meant to be a Skydragon, it will take a hundred years even if you were allowed to absorb the energy contained within the Dragon race’s Dragon Pool freely."
"Of course, if you were to awaken as a True Dragon, it will be much faster."
"If one is given free reign to absorb the Dragon Pool’s energy, a year would be enough to fully convert one to the first Firmament True Dragon realm. It would take three years to get to the second Firmament True Dragon realm. As for the third Firmament True Dragon realm, it will take ten years," elaborated Ancestral Master Zhang. "And this only works on the premise that one is given free reign to absorb the Dragon Pool’s energy. Without it, the awakening process would be excruciatingly painful and the time it takes to awaken will be even longer."
"The awakening requires the absorption of all kinds of energy. Yi Xiao, the Nine Revolutions Spirit Pill you consumed was enough to provide you with the energy needed for your transformation. However, although a Nine Revolutions Spirit Pill is miraculous, the amount of energy it contains is quite insufficient," said Ancestral Master Zhang. "A Nine Revolutions Spirit Pill can at most meet the energy requirement for a day’s transformation. Nine Revolutions Spirit Pills are first-grade spirit pills that can heal a soul. Using one to provide energy for a body’s transformation is quite a waste."
Qin Yun and Yi Xiao were enlightened.
"A Nine Revolutions Spirit Pill a day would mean more than three hundred a year," said Qin Yun chuckling. "We won’t be able to buy that much even if we wanted to."
"No one is that extravagant," said Ancestral Master Zhang. "The Dragon Palace’s Dragon Pool contains all the various energies required for a dragon’s transformation. It’s most suited for dragons. For instance, newborn dragons have a chance to stay in there for more than a hundred days! The amount they absorb will also be far less than what Yi Xiao’s bloodline awakening will require. Therefore, if Yi Xiao has to stay in the Dragon Pool for a prolonged period of time, the East Sea’s Skydragon will likely ask for something quite big in return."
"Something big?" Qin Yun and Yi Xiao looked at Ancestral Master Zhang.
"Yes, it’s because the combined energy contained in the four Dragon Pools of the Four Seas’ Dragon race will probably be insufficient to awaken a Skydragon," explained Ancestral Master Zhang. "Dragon Pools are mainly prepared for the newborn dragons of a generation. Your awakening will absorb too much of their energy, so the East Sea Skydragon will naturally raise certain conditions."
"The four Dragon Pools’ combined energy is insufficient for a Skydragon?" Qin Yun mumbled inwardly.
"Don’t worry. If this is really the birth of a new Skydragon, the Dragon race will contact the Other Realm. There will definitely be sufficient Dragon Pool energy prepared for Yi Xiao," assured Ancestral Master Zhang. "There is no need for you to doubt the Dragon race’s heritage."
Qin Yun nodded.
The dragons in his world were but one of many branches scattered throughout the numerous worlds.
"Alright, Yi Yan will be there in a while. With him there, the both of you will not get fleeced," said Ancestral Master Zhang with a smile.
...
After chatting with Ancestral Master Zhang for a while, Qin Yun and Yi Xiao gained a better understanding of the situation.
Very soon.
Sou!
A black-haired male dragon descended onto the mirror lake’s surface. He reached the bank in two steps. He smiled at Yi Xiao, who was now sporting a pair of dragon horns. There were also snow-white dragon scales on her face and hands. He sensed Yi Xiao’s surging vitality. It was even stronger than Qin Yun who had cultivated a Connate purplish-gold Golden Core.
"Greetings, Senior Skydragon." Qin Yun bowed. Yi Xiao immediately bowed as well.
"It’s indeed a bloodline awakening." The East Sea Skydragon nodded. "Do the two of you know about my Dragon race’s bloodline awakening? It is the awakening of a particular ancestor’s powers."
"We just had Ancestral Master Zhang explain it to us," explained Qin Yun.
"There will be no mistake if Brother Zhang is the one doing the explaining." East Sea Skydragon nodded. "The Dragon Transformation is painful. Becoming a True Dragon, or even a Skydragon, in one step feels like disembowelment. The pain is excruciating and therefore intolerable."
Yi Xiao could not help but nod.
It was already very painful. Even with her level of endurance, she had nearly gone mad.
"If you were in a Dragon Pool, the bloodline awakening would not result in such pain. Furthermore, it will be much faster," said East Sea Skydragon. "I have already informed Elder Ao Qiong from the West Sea to come. This matter needs to be discussed in detail with her. After all, Yi Xiao can be considered a member of the West Sea lineage."
Qin Yun and Yi Xiao nodded.
...
Patriarch Yi was the first to arrive since he was closer. Some time after, Elder Ao Qiong from the distant West Sea arrived.
"Patriarch." Elder Ao Qiong was a wizened female Elder. She was also the strongest Elder in the West Sea. She was currently at the third Firmament True Dragon realm. She immediately bowed when she saw the East Sea Skydragon.
Qin Yun, Yi Xiao, and Patriarch Yi did not find that surprising.
They also knew...that the Four Seas’ Dragon race was one big family! And the East Sea Dragon race was the progenitor.
The East Sea Skydragon was the supreme leader of the entire Dragon race.
"Ao Qiong," said East Sea Skydragon with a smile. "I’ve already informed you of the situation. Yi Xiao is a member of your West Sea lineage. According to the rules, she is to use your West Sea’s Dragon Pool."
"Yes." Elder Ao Qiong smiled at Yi Xiao. "Yi Xiao, I’m naturally agreeable to you using my West Sea’s Dragon Pool. However, there is something that needs to be made clear! The Four Seas’ Dragon race have their respective sense of belonging and they have to obey the Dragon race’s rules. As for you Yi Xiao... you are the child of Ao Xue and a human. At Brother Yi Yan’s request, you were never under the jurisdiction of my Dragon race."
Yi Xiao nodded.
"Now, you will be using the West Sea Dragon Pool to become a True Dragon at the very least," said Elder Ao Qiong. "In that case, you need to shoulder some of the responsibilities of the Dragon race."
"Responsibilities of the Dragon race?" Yi Xiao was puzzled.
Qin Yun and Patriarch Yi had a change in expression.
"Each of the Four Seas’ Dragon is responsible for suppressing one of the four great Sea Eyes," said Elder Ao Qiong. "The West Sea Dragon race suppresses the West Sea Sea Eye! This is also the reason why most of the West Sea dragons do not leave our home too often."
"A Sea Eye is a World Entrance." Qin Yun explained to Yi Xiao.
"My West Sea’s Dragon Pool has been drained for a long time. The energy within the Dragon Pool will probably only be enough for five years when it comes to you," said Elder Ao Qiong. "Even so, the value of this is above that of a Numinous treasure! It wouldn’t make sense to just give it away without expecting you to shoulder responsibility in return, right?"
Qin Yun and Yi Xiao exchanged looks.
"The Dragon Pool’s energy is indeed precious." Patriarch Yi agreed with a nod.
Using the Dragon Pool was indeed much cheaper than consuming Nine Revolutions Spirit Pills.
But over time... the cost was still astounding!
"Three years of Dragon Pool absorption is equivalent to an ordinary Numinous treasure," said East Sea Skydragon. "Every year’s worth of absorption will require Yi Xiao to suppress the Sea Eye for ten thousand years. Don’t worry. She does not need to be there all the time. There will be shifts. Furthermore, she will not be the only dragon in charge of the suppression."
Yi Xiao looked at Qin Yun and said with a voice transmission, "Brother Yun, what they say makes sense. The energy accumulated in the Dragon Pool by the West Sea Dragon race over such a long period of time is only enough for five years. I might use it all up at once... I do need to give something in return."
"Senior Skydragon, Elder Ao Qiong," said Qin Yun with a smile. "What if my wife didn’t need to give something in return for absorbing the Dragon Pool’s energy? What if I made payment using Skydragon Blood Crystals?"
"Skydragon Blood Crystals?" East Sea Skydragon’s and Elder Ao Qiong’s eyes lit up.
The East Sea Skydragon naturally had Skydragon Blood Crystals but they were his vital core! It was impossible for him to produce them.
Skydragon Blood Crystals had many uses for True Dragons.
As for suppressing the Sea Eye?
Although it was an important task, the Four Seas had a large number of True Dragon realm Elders. They did not suffer for lack of a single Yi Xiao.
The East Sea Skydragon immediately discussed the matter with Elder Ao Qiong through a voice transmission.
"That Qin Yun has been to the Ancient Skydragon Palace. He must have obtained a large number of Skydragon Blood Crystals. Should we charge him three Skydragon Blood Crystals a year?" said Elder Ao Qiong through a voice transmission.
"Yi Yan is here too. He represents Brother Zhang. We can’t attempt to fleece them outright. Let’s set it at two Skydragon Blood Crystals a year," decided East Sea Skydragon.
After both of them made the decision, Elder Ao Qiong said with a smile, "Alright, you can use Skydragon Blood Crystals too! It will cost two Skydragon Blood Crystals per year for Yi Xiao’s absorption of the Dragon Pool."
Qin Yun looked at Patriarch Yi who nodded gently.
It was reasonable. The Dragon race was not going overboard!
"Alright." Qin Yun nodded. He took out a bottle from his Cosmic Bag and pulled out a stopper. Immediately, two blood-colored crystals flew out. "Here are two, payment for the first year."
"You can always make payment after the year ends. We from the Dragon race believe you are a man of your word, Sword Immortal Qin." Despite saying so, Elder Ao Qiong continued smiling with narrowed eyes. Ordinary Dharma treasures were limited in their ability to aid the Dragon race but Skydragon Blood Crystals were extremely useful.
...
With that, both sides ended their negotiations.
As the Nine Revolutions Spirit Pills could only provide relief for a day, Qin Yun and Yi Xiao followed Elder Ao Qiong to the West Sea that day.
West Sea Dragon Palace, Dragon Pool.
The Dragon Pool was a place of great importance. Typically, only newborn dragons were sent there.
"Whoosh."
Yi Xiao landed in a gigantic pool. It had shimmering light swirling in it. Qin Yun smiled as he watched from the side. The West Sea Dragon King was even coming to accompany them from not far away.
"Brother Yun," said Yi Xiao through a voice transmission. "I’m curious. I did not undergo a bloodline awakening all these years. Why would it suddenly awaken now? Could it be related to the mystic art that His Majesty gave you?"
Qin Yun’s heart stirred.
The mystic art drained a portion of his vital strength. Typically, one needed ten years to recover it! If he cast it repeatedly in a short period of time, his lifespan would decrease drastically.
"After I cast the mystic art, it didn’t take long for your bloodline to awaken," said Qin Yun with a voice transmission. "Perhaps it is somewhat related."