Chapter 736: The Clan Leader of the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan
The value of Divine Dragon blood was extraordinary, and the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan naturally took it very seriously. Therefore, a total of six Half-Saints and one Saint were tasked with escorting it together.
That Saint, named Ao Yi, was Ao Xinyan's grandfather and the current clan leader of the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan. Throughout the entire Eastern Domain, he was a figure of great renown, commanding enough prestige to sit as an equal with the sect leader of the Liangyi Sect.
Ao Xinyan stood below, bowing to Ao Yi in greeting. "Granddaughter pays respects to Grandfather."
Ao Yi sat at the head, clad in a golden armor dragon robe, with a few strands of white hair at his temples. He appeared to be in his fifties, yet his spirit was vigorous and lively.
"Yan'er, no need for such formalities. Rise quickly."
For a granddaughter like Ao Xinyan, Ao Yi could not have been more satisfied. Her talent was so exceptional that she was hailed as the foremost prodigy of the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan in the past century.
"Oh!"
Ao Yi stared at Ao Xinyan for a moment, letting out a soft exclamation. Then, his eyes snapped wide open. "Yan'er, have you already refined the Divine Dragon Bone?"
Ao Xinyan knew she could not hide it from her grandfather's eyes, so she admitted it. "Indeed, I have already refined the Divine Dragon Bone."
Hearing this, the six Half-Saints seated on both sides all displayed expressions of shock.
In particular, Ao Xinyan's father, Ao Jing, abruptly stood up, ecstatic. "Yan'er, have you truly refined the Divine Dragon Bone? But we haven't yet handed over the Divine Dragon blood and Dragon Emperor blood to Lin Yue. How did he give you the Divine Dragon Bone in advance?"
Ao Yi sat at the head, showing displeasure, and scolded, "Ao Jing, you are now a Half-Saint as well. Can you not maintain some composure? Compared to Yan'er, you, as her father, are falling quite short."
"With Yan'er achieving such success, am I not just too excited? Heh heh!" Ao Jing let out an awkward laugh and quickly retreated to his seat, daring not to say more.
Ao Yi snorted coldly and shook his head. He fixed his gaze on Ao Xinyan again, but this time his eyes softened considerably. Smiling, he said, "Yan'er, you explain it."
Ao Xinyan replied, "Reporting to Grandfather, Lin Yue is a man of broad mind, upright character, and acts with exceptional sincerity. He said he trusted the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan, so he handed over the Divine Dragon Bone to me in advance."
Ao Yi knew that Ao Xinyan had been the proud daughter of the clan since childhood, with ambitions as high as the heavens, looking down on everyone. This was the first time she had praised a young man so highly.
A bright light flickered in Ao Yi's eyes, and he spoke with a hint of a smile, "Grandfather heard from Elder Yinhai that not long ago, Lin Yue defeated two experts from the Demon Sect, She Er and Long San, and also saved your life."
"A young talent like that is quite rare. If his character is truly as good as Yan'er says, he might have the chance to become the consort of the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan."
Ao Xinyan was initially a bit dazed, but she quickly snapped out of it. Her heart raced faster, and she blushed with shyness, protesting, "Grandfather, you must not speak nonsense. Lin Yue and I are merely friends. It is nothing like what you imagine."
How could Ao Xinyan's thoughts escape the notice of an old antique like Ao Yi, who had lived for who knows how many years?
Ao Yi straightened his chest and said, "Grandfather still has some connections with Sect Leader Ning. If Yan'er is too thin-skinned to speak up, let Grandfather personally go and discuss it with Sect Leader Ning."
In Ao Xinyan's mind, Zhang Ruochen's figure flashed, and she actually felt a flicker of temptation.
However, Ao Xinyan knew Zhang Ruochen well, aware that his fiancée was Huang Yanchen. Even if the sect leader of the Liangyi Sect intervened, Zhang Ruochen would not marry her.
If she were to do that, they might not even be able to remain friends in the future.
Ao Xinyan's gaze grew resolute, and she pursed her lips. "Grandfather, if you bring this up again, I will get angry!"
Ao Yi only thought Ao Xinyan was saying this out of shyness, so he chuckled, "Alright, alright, alright... I won't mention it, won't mention it..."
Then, Ao Yi's expression turned serious. "The Divine Dragon Bone contains an immense amount of energy. It can only be refined through a dragon clan ritual, using the sacred power of the Divine Dragon. Without the ritual, how did you manage to refine the Divine Dragon Bone in just half a month?"
To help Ao Xinyan cultivate the Divine Dragon Body, Xiao Hei had taught her some ancient secret arts, including the method for refining the Divine Dragon Bone.
Naturally, Ao Xinyan would not reveal the identities of Xiao Hei and Zhang Ruochen.
She spoke with a hint of irritation, "Grandfather, aren't you asking too many questions? Can't your granddaughter have a few secrets?"
"Haha! Grandfather knows you have great fortune and must have encountered some opportunities. Since you won't say, Grandfather won't ask. My granddaughter has grown up; it seems this old man can no longer control her. I'll have to find someone else to do it."
Though Ao Yi said this, he was inwardly very pleased.
Not everyone could refine the Divine Dragon Bone. In the history of the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan, failed attempts were numerous.
Since Ao Xinyan could refine the Divine Dragon Bone, her talent was unmatched not only in the past hundred years but also in the past ten thousand years, with no one in the clan able to hold a candle to her.
Such a granddaughter made even Ao Yi feel inferior.
It was not until Ao Xinyan had left that Ao Jing finally reacted. He slapped his thigh and burst out laughing. "So that means Yan'er has taken a liking to that Lin Yue kid from the Liangyi Sect?"
Ao Jing's reaction speed was indeed far too slow.
Ao Yi shook his head with a long sigh. This son of his was truly a great disappointment. Fortunately, he had an outstanding granddaughter who could one day take his place.
...
...
When Ao Xinyan returned, she brought back three drops of Divine Dragon blood and twenty drops of Dragon Emperor blood.
The energy contained in Divine Dragon blood was immense, carrying divine might. If it fell to the ground, it could shatter an entire mountain into pieces. If a drop landed on a hundred-pattern sacred artifact, it could pierce through it, turning the artifact into scrap metal.
Thus, ordinary vessels could not hold Divine Dragon blood.
The three drops of Divine Dragon blood were sealed inside three fist-sized orbs, inscribed with runes jointly laid down by the saints of the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan.
Even through the seal, Zhang Ruochen could still feel the vast energy within the Divine Dragon blood. It was hard to imagine how a cultivator at the Fish-Dragon Realm could refine such power.
"A cultivator at the Fish-Dragon Realm must undergo a large-scale ritual ceremony, using the divine power bestowed by a deity, to refine the Divine Dragon blood. Relying solely on one's own strength, even a Half-Saint cannot refine it alone," Ao Xinyan explained.
Earlier, Ao Xinyan had not known that the Divine Dragon blood contained such terrifying energy, beyond what human power could refine.
This time, Ao Yi had only told her the method for refining the Divine Dragon blood when he handed it over. (To be continued.)