Chapter 21: Striking Gold!

Inside the secret chamber.

Cheng Guang surveyed his surroundings with indifference. The walls were forged from black iron, impenetrable and airtight, while a few scattered lamps cast a dim light throughout the room.

"Guang, come here."

Cheng Zhihai beckoned him to the center of the chamber, then produced a peculiar-looking stone pillar seemingly out of thin air. It was about three feet three inches in length, its tip shaped like a sharp, inverted barb. The edges glimmered faintly with a blood-red hue, as if the pillar had been soaked in countless streams of blood.

"This is a rare treasure used by royal families across the various dynasties to test the purity of their bloodline. It’s called the Bloodline Stone. Legend has it that this stone was once a single piece, later divided among the great dynasties, with each receiving a portion."

"I acquired this particular Bloodline Stone by chance. Whenever a dynasty falls, a few of these stones find their way into the world. Though they may not be precious to us, for those with royal blood, they are invaluable."

Cheng Zhihai patiently explained, then continued, "Guang, simply drip your blood onto the stone. It will reveal your bloodline. The brighter the light emitted, the purer the lineage."

"Do as I say. Later, I’ll explain why I want you to test your blood on this stone meant for royalty."

Cheng Guang nodded slightly. Though he understood everything clearly in his heart, he maintained a confused, bewildered look on his face.

He stepped forward and examined the Bloodline Stone, feeling a hint of nervousness—not because he feared it wouldn’t detect his royal blood, but because he was uncertain about the concentration of his lineage.

The ancient Great Xia royal bloodline, granted to him by the system—was it strong, or diluted? He had no idea, but now he could finally find out.

He pressed his hand gently against the tip of the pillar, applying just enough force for the sharp point to pierce his flesh. Blood trickled down the stone’s intricate surface, slowly staining it crimson.

Cheng Guang withdrew his hand, quickly bandaging the wound, and fixed his gaze upon the stone, waiting for its response.

Beside him, Cheng Zhihai watched the Bloodline Stone intently, his eyes trembling and fists clenched tight, unable to utter a word from sheer tension.

A streak of golden light flashed.

The next moment—

He saw the Bloodline Stone, now soaked in Cheng Guang’s blood, begin to tremble. Streams of golden brilliance flowed across its surface like liquid starlight.

Soon, the golden glow intensified, flooding every corner of the chamber.

Witnessing the dazzling gold, Cheng Zhihai’s anxiety only grew, his stern eyes clouded with bewilderment.

"Gold?"

"How could it be gold?"

"The Bloodline Stone shows seven colors according to bloodline purity: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet."

"But gold? That’s unheard of."

Cheng Zhihai was utterly lost.

Seeing the golden radiance on the Bloodline Stone grow brighter and brighter, Cheng Zhihai’s heart was gripped by a sense of foreboding, certain something bad was about to happen. He hurried to wipe away the blood and halt the anomaly.

But it was too late.

At the very instant he moved, a vast and ethereal aura erupted from the stone.

The next moment—

Boom!

The Bloodline Stone shattered like stardust, plunging the chamber into utter darkness, as deep and endless as the night sky.

In that darkness, a single point of gold began to blossom, growing ever more brilliant, ever more blinding.

In an instant, it was as if they traversed the ancient cosmos. A chill swept over their bodies, and silence fell upon the chamber.

The flames of the lamps, the whisper of ventilation—every sound vanished.

After a brief hush—

Boom!

Like a nuclear explosion, a mysterious force erupted, sending a pillar of dazzling golden light soaring upward.

"Damn!"

Cheng Zhihai’s expression changed dramatically. Vital energy surged through him, radiating overwhelming power. He conjured a transparent barrier that enveloped the chamber.

Yet his efforts were futile.

Most of the golden light easily broke through his defenses.

It burst through the chamber.

It rose above the Duke of the Nation’s Mansion.

The brilliant gold shone like the descent of divinity, lingering above the mansion for a long time, refusing to fade.

Cheng Zhihai watched, squinting, his heart churning with indescribable shock.

He didn’t understand why the Bloodline Stone had shattered, nor why it triggered such a phenomenon. All of it lay beyond his knowledge.

Though he managed to conceal most of the spectacle, preventing widespread attention, the gold shining above the mansion still drew the gaze of observant eyes.

They watched the Duke’s Mansion, refraining from probing too deeply, merely observing the golden light and sensing its immense, terrifying aura, rendered speechless by awe.

After a moment, whispers began to circulate.

"What is this?"

"Did Cheng Zhihai break through to the Heavenly Realm?"

"It shouldn’t be. This doesn’t feel like a breakthrough, and for some reason, I sense a trace of the Bloodline Stone’s aura within this gold."

"Are you saying the Bloodline Stone caused this? That’s absurd."

"I’m just saying—the gold feels so sacred, it makes me want to bow my head."

The hidden experts murmured amongst themselves.

Within the Duke’s Mansion, guards and servants noticed the sudden golden light flooding the sky. It was holy and solemn, so intense they could not bear to look directly at it.

Many could only glance briefly before their eyes began to sting, forcing them to lower their heads in haste.

…

Inside the secret chamber.

Cheng Zhihai surveyed the mess in silence, his expression bewildered.

He was utterly confused.

Taking a deep breath, he glanced at Cheng Guang, finding the boy equally stunned.

Cheng Zhihai couldn’t help but chuckle wryly—it was only natural. If he himself was shocked, how much more so would this child be?

"Guang, don’t mention anything that happened here to anyone. I need to ask your grandfather what all this means."

With that, Cheng Zhihai hurried toward the exit, stumbling slightly as he left, a testament to how deeply he was shaken.

Cheng Guang, left behind, had yet to recover.

Gold...

An explosion of gold!

The ancient Great Xia royal bloodline awarded by the system—was it truly so powerful?

A smile spread across Cheng Guang’s eyes.

The system might be unreliable, but this reward was beyond reproach!

…