Chapter 501: Chapter 21: Wager and Stake
All ten spirit pets entered the Blood Pool, and the shopkeeper started adding the final catalytic herb.
However, at this moment, everyone’s attention was focused on Gugu.
Now, among the ten spirit beasts in the Blood Pool, except for Gugu, all of them were Upper Grade spirit beasts of this realm, naturally endowed with superior bloodlines.
Only Gugu was a lower-grade spirit beast.
However, no one showed any contempt.
After all, this lower-grade Vermilion Toad had already reached the Second Tier Peak Realm.
This further proved the extraordinary nature of the Vermilion Toad and its owner.
"Is it a mutant bloodline?"
"Or does Fellow Daoist Liu have a special secret technique for nurturing?"
However, witnessing the Vermilion Toad withstand the suppression of its bloodline and occupy the central position among the superior spirit beasts proved that little Vermilion Toad had a remarkable heart nature.
"Humph! Your spirit pet is indeed just like you, indeed unaware of the vastness of the heavens and the earth," Bai Cailin remarked provocatively.
Seizing the opportunity, Li Ji’an, who was eyeing the secrets of the Vermilion Toad’s demon pill formation, chimed in: "What’s wrong? Do you think that being born lowly means you must remain humble forever?"
"Do you perhaps want to break through the bloodline restriction?"
"Why not?"
"Heh~ If you are so confident, dare to make a bet?" Bai Cailin was the first to lose composure and spoke up.
"What’s the bet?"
"Let’s bet on whether your Vermilion Toad or my Spiritual Crane can withstand the refinement in the Blood Pool longer!" Bai Cailin proposed spontaneously.
Li Ji’an narrowed his eyes slightly but chuckled inwardly, having anticipated such a wager.
However, he had confidence in Gugu.
The root of the Blood Pool refinement lies in the ability to withstand the pressure of the Blood Fiend from a Tier Three Wild Great Demon, which is a form of bloodline suppression, an impulse emanating from the spirit beast’s bloodline.
The Blood Fiend from the Tier Three Great Demon entered the spirit beast’s body through the Blood Pool, continuously impacting the spirit beast’s bloodline. The more absorbed by the spirit pet, the greater the bloodline pressure, while also enhancing the effect of refining the bloodline.
Although Gugu was born with a low bloodline, three lifetimes of companionship made Li Ji’an realize its willpower was similar to that of the Human Race.
In the first life, Gugu was merely bought as a laborer for the medicinal field, and after its temporary owner was killed by Li Ji’an, it was taken in to protect its life, despite Yan Hongsheng’s high-priced offer.
Normally, given its breed and bloodline, it was merely treated as a tool, used and discarded without investing any effort or spiritual talent in its cultivation, destined to remain at the Tier One Early Period.
Yet, Li Ji’an, with his modest resources, provided Gugu with some Beast Pills, and it unexpectedly advanced to the Tier One Middle Stage.
In the second life, after Liu Jiuqian sold problematic Blood Pills to Li Ji’an, Gugu, with the help of Xiaoqiao and Little Fire Spirit, relied on its tenacious will to break free and was promoted to the rank of a Second Tier Spirit Beast.
During the bloodline transformation with the Sacred Beast Pill, Li Ji’an could sense its resolute willpower beyond that of a mere beast.
Even just now, despite its inherently weak bloodline, any spirit beast in the Blood Pool could overpower it, but it accomplished the impossible feat against the bloodline suppression.
"Bet!" Li Ji’an feigned a moment of contemplation before speaking a little hesitantly.
Bai Cailin’s eyes lit up: "Let’s bet on your secret technique for nurturing spirit pets!"
"Hmm?" Li Ji’an was slightly taken aback, looking at her with some surprise.
She actually attributed Gugu’s extraordinary nature to my nurturing method?
"And what if you lose?"
"At your discretion, you can have anything you want!" Bai Cailin was quite confident, worried that Li Ji’an might back out, so she immediately spread her arms, gracefully spinning to showcase her wild aura.
"..." Her feather robe, exuding a primal wildness, was revealing enough, and the spin made it even more alluring, drawing the gaze of others.
"Fine! I’m in," Li Ji’an agreed immediately.
"Swoosh!" Bai Cailin was instantly delighted. She couldn’t wait to bring out a Spirit Contract, imprinting the terms of the agreement before tossing it to Li Ji’an, asking him to infuse it with magical power to finalize it.
"Please wait, Fairy Bai. I also wish to join the bet, if I may," the owner of the Thunder Winged Lion suddenly spoke up.
"I want to join too!"
"I also want to participate."
...
Bai Cailin swept her gaze over the eight individuals, satisfied with their expressions of desire, but then her eyes narrowed: "What equivalent stake can you offer?"
"This..." The eight were at a loss, understanding Bai Cailin’s meaning of equivalent exchange.
In the end, they all shook their heads, admittedly having nothing that could equal Fairy Bai’s immortal body value.
"Humph! Don’t get in the way," Bai Cailin coldly snorted, dismissing the crowd.
"Everyone, the blood fiend refinement officially begins now!" At this moment, the shopkeeper poured the final catalytic herb into the Blood Pool.
A crimson mist spread instantly above the Blood Pool, engulfing the entire pool and the ten spirit beasts within, erupting with a burst of violent energy, obscuring both vision and Divine Sense at the True Core Early Stage.
"Roar~" Instantly, roars of the spirit beasts emanated from within the blood mist.
Reflecting the formidable pressure they were facing.
Among them, two cultivators brought their spirit pets for the first time looked worried, wanting to probe, but their Divine Sense was blocked by the blood mist.
However, seeing the calm demeanor of others, they managed to suppress their inner unease.
Soon, all ten owners returned to their meditative positions to wait calmly.
The others couldn’t see what was happening inside the Blood Pool, but Li Ji’an’s peak Core Formation Divine Sense was not hindered, easily penetrating the blood mist to witness the changes occurring within the Blood Pool.
