Chapter 491 - 425: Xiong Batian’s Transformation, Opening Spirit Veins, Awakening Bloodline Talent, Taking a Mount

After learning about the Tai Python of Tai Lake, Jiang Qiu had a plan. What he needed most right now were powerful bloodlines, but he was uncertain just how strong the Chaos Bloodline beings in the Primitive Ancient Forest were. The best approach was to first test his strength against a powerful expert that the giant wolf knew about.

That’s right. Jiang Qiu planned to first test the Tai Python of Tai Lake. If possible, he would take some of its Essence Blood to temper his own body, which would then allow him to start Opening Spirit Veins. If his opponent’s strength was too overwhelming, he would have no choice but to make a tactical retreat.

Although the giant wolf’s description made the Tai Python sound incredibly powerful, the truth was that the creatures of this world were generally enormous. Size might indeed represent a gap in strength, but it wasn’t necessarily the whole story.

Sometimes, size wasn’t actually that important. For example, back in the [Primordial] world-cluster, where were all the colossal behemoths?

Even the top-tier experts of the Harmonization Realm were just two or three meters tall—a normal size. There were certainly no giants hundreds of feet high.

Therefore, there was no definite link between strength and size. If there were, Xiong Batian could have crushed him with a single stomp. Wouldn’t that make *him* invincible?

So, Jiang Qiu prepared to head to Tai Lake. After questioning the giant wolf for some common knowledge, he killed it with a single punch.

That’s right, killed with a single punch, without a hint of hesitation. After all, it was just a minor character he’d asked for directions. Even though it had gone through Opening Spirit Veins, its strength was nothing special.

Its inability to use the Heaven and Earth Spirit Charm doomed its power to be limited. And in a contest of pure physical strength, why would Jiang Qiu, born with the body of a pure Dragon Race bloodline, have anything to fear?

’In other words, in Xiong Batian’s eyes, I’m a being from the High Heavens. Why would I fear a mere giant wolf from the First Celestial Realm?’

The strong simply crush the weak. That was why Jiang Qiu killed the giant wolf so casually. Nearby, Xiong Batian’s eyes went wide, and he just stood there, completely dumbfounded. "He... he just killed it?"

Xiong Batian was truly dumbfounded. He had just been listening to Jiang Qiu and the giant wolf converse, their discussion ranging from the Chaos Bloodline beings in the depths of the Primitive Ancient Forest to the Tai Python of Tai Lake. Each mention of these incredibly powerful, Dominator Level creatures had been a shock to his system.

Their conversation had broadened his horizons, showing him a much larger stage, a bigger world. And the result? While he was still reeling from the shock, Jiang Qiu had killed the giant wolf with a single punch. That small fist had torn straight through the wolf’s abdomen, causing its internal organs to explode.

An invisible Dragon Race pressure was released in an instant. As flesh and blood flew, Xiong Batian’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets in terror.

’This is an Unrivaled expert!’

The Great Demon that had Opened its Spirit Veins—a creature he had once feared greatly, no, a creature he *still* feared—had been killed by Jiang Qiu directly. And it hadn’t even looked like he’d broken a sweat.

’Such power! This proves it. He really is a being from the High Heavens. Jiang Qiu is just too powerful!’

"Alright, I’ve killed your enemy for you. Use its Essence Blood to begin Opening your Spirit Veins and tempering your body," Jiang Qiu said, casually tossing the massive wolf carcass in front of Xiong Batian. "The quality of this Essence Blood should be enough. Any stronger, and you probably wouldn’t be able to handle it."

Jiang Qiu had casually dealt with Xiong Batian’s greatest foe and was now preparing to use him to test a method for Opening Spirit Veins. If it proved feasible, he would adopt this method in the future.

As for why he hadn’t just asked the giant wolf how it had Opened its Spirit Veins?

The wolf either wouldn’t tell him, or it didn’t even know itself. In any case, its explanation was a jumbled mess, and it couldn’t clearly articulate how it had managed to Open its Spirit Veins.

Jiang Qiu wasn’t sure if it was unwilling to say or truly didn’t know. In any case, since the creature refused to speak even in its final moments, Jiang Qiu had no choice but to kill it.

’Now, let’s begin testing the method for Opening Spirit Veins, one step at a time.’

"Yes, yes, of course, my Lord! Thank you, my Lord!" Xiong Batian prostrated himself on the ground, kowtowing several times, overcome with excitement. To him, this was a debt as great as being given a new life. "If there is ever anything you need in the future, my Lord, I will pour all my strength into serving you! I will definitely repay your immense kindness!"

He had truly submitted his heart and mind. His thoughts were remarkably pure, untainted by any ulterior motives. He simply believed that Jiang Qiu was the one who could guide him to the stage of Opening Spirit Veins, a truly magnanimous lord.

Forget helping him Open his Spirit Veins—the moment Jiang Qiu killed the giant wolf, he had already become a great figure to whom Xiong Batian owed a huge debt of gratitude, even if he had no intention of helping him further.

Killing his most feared and powerful enemy had eliminated the immediate threat to his life. Such opportunities were rare, and the helpless, unsupported Xiong Batian truly had no way to contend with the giant wolf.

This just went to show how momentous Jiang Qiu’s casual favor was to him!

Soon, he followed Jiang Qiu’s instructions, dismembered the giant wolf, and extracted its blood. He was about to begin the first Essence Blood Tempering Body of his life in an attempt to Open his Spirit Veins!

The two of them dug a large pit in the ground. Then, using some special plants to create a waterproof lining, they filled the pit with blood. After adding some water drawn from a nearby source that contained Spirit Charm, Xiong Batian lay down inside.