Chapter 75: The First Apostle, Transformation, Creation of the Primordial Bloodline!

Late at night, in Shanghai.

A skyscraper stood tall, ablaze with light. At its pinnacle, four grand characters proclaimed its name: Celestial Technology.

Thus, the building was known as the Celestial Tower.

As one of the four great powers, Celestial Technology had already been a domestic titan in the old era, delving into technology, biology, genetics, and other fields, with remarkable achievements. When the new era dawned, it rose to prominence at the very first opportunity.

Among its ranks, the figure known as Asura stood as its representative, once hailed online as one of the Five Supreme Beings.

Beyond him, the company boasted many awakened individuals, its influence formidable.

Yet unlike Eternal Gene, Celestial Technology did not seize control of a supercity to become its overlord. Instead, it chose to remain in Shanghai, coexisting with Wu Zhou Group.

However, in contrast to the other three great powers, Celestial Technology kept an extremely low profile. Aside from Asura, it seemed to lack any outstanding awakened individuals, appearing somewhat out of place.

But no one doubted its strength. After all, to cooperate with the authorities was not something an ordinary power could achieve.

At this moment, within the mid-levels of the Celestial Tower, there was a room—ordinary in appearance, but more akin to a cell. Crafted from alloy, it was so robust that even artillery shells would struggle to breach it. Once confined, not even awakened ones could escape.

Inside, Asura hung with his hands suspended, half his body wounded; the other half was entirely prosthetic, a marvel of bionic machinery.

His aura was faint, the cloak that once concealed him now gone, revealing a youthful face.

He appeared to be in his early twenties.

“Now, I’ll give you one more chance. What really happened in Shennongjia?”

“You know well the company values you. They even entrusted you with the Asura Blade. Do not betray the company’s investment in you.”

Outside the cell, a middle-aged man in a suit spoke, his eyes calm as he gazed at the bloodied Asura.

He was tall, with deep-set eyes—a man of mixed heritage.

This was Liu Changyuan, known in the West as Tom Liu, the true master of Celestial Technology.

He too was an awakened one, standing at the Awakened Realm, slightly stronger than Asura.

“President Liu, I’ve explained countless times. We encountered a beast in Shennongjia. Miss Jennifer and the others were all killed by it. That’s the whole truth,” Asura replied, his voice hoarse.

Now, he was a far cry from one of the Five Awakened Supremes; his flesh-and-blood left side was riddled with wounds.

“You should know that I could end your life at any moment,” Liu Changyuan said, a remote device resembling a car key appearing in his hand. He glanced at the spot on Asura’s bionic half where his mechanical heart resided.

“I’ve always known,” Asura raised his head with a faint smile. “So, I carry out every mission you assign with utmost diligence. And this time, I am speaking nothing but the truth.”

“President Liu, they’re just a few Westerners. There’s no need for endless questioning. I’ve told you all I know. Whether you believe me or not is out of my hands.”

Upon returning from Shennongjia, he had reported directly to Celestial Technology and, as planned, briefed the executives.

Yet the upper echelons refused to accept his account, flying into a genuine rage and locking him up, subjecting him to punishment.

Asura had not expected the company to go to such lengths for the sake of Jennifer and her group.

He had heard rumors of close ties between the company and the West. He had thought them mere business partnerships.

Now, it seemed he had been too naïve. The company’s relationship with the West was far more complex.

“Miss Jennifer was an Apostle of the Holy Angel. I must give an answer,” Liu Changyuan continued, “You know my methods. One more day—if you still withhold the truth, I’ll send you to the research lab and turn you completely into iron. You know the company has the means.”

“Of course, of course,” Asura bowed his head. “But I have told you the truth.”

Indeed, it had been Lu Yuan’s doing, but out of a sense of kinship, Asura wanted to shoulder the blame alone.

He had thought the company would let the matter drop.

But their attitude left him disappointed, sparking a spirit of resistance.

He knew that revealing the truth might bring his suffering to an end—for he barely knew Lu Yuan, not even as a friend.

Yet Asura was clear: first and foremost, he was Chinese. Once the company learned the truth, they would surely join with the West to target Lu Yuan.

He himself had been transformed so many times he was barely human.

In that case, why draw trouble to others?

“Very well, don’t blame me for what comes next,” Liu Changyuan’s patience had run dry. He turned and left the room.

He had just stepped out when a figure appeared—a Westerner holding a cross-shaped staff identical to Jennifer’s. Clearly, he too was one of the Twelve Apostles under the Holy Angel.

“Mr. Wade, what brings you here?” Liu Changyuan greeted him with a smile.

He was a devout follower of the Western Church; to him, the Twelve Apostles were messengers of God, deserving of utmost respect.

Especially this man—the First Apostle, the most powerful among the Twelve.

“I have used Western divine arts on the others who went to Shennongjia. I already know what happened, and came here to inform you, Mr. Liu. There’s no need to waste more time.”

Apostle Wade spoke fluent Chinese. In the new era, languages had become much easier for awakened ones to master.

A little effort, and one could learn them with ease.

“Oh? What happened?” Liu Changyuan asked immediately.

Wade did not waste words; he recounted everything.

“What, it was Lu Yuan?” At this, Liu Changyuan’s expression changed, his brow furrowing. “Mr. Wade, I know of Lu Yuan—he fears nothing. He killed major figures from both Eternal Gene and Wu Zhou Group, and has ties with Sundan Academy.”

“He’s very strong, highly talented. If he’s the one responsible, taking him down won’t be easy.”

“Whoever kills a servant of God has blasphemed against the divine—a sin that cannot be forgiven.”

Wade declared solemnly, “The Holy Angel has decreed it: this is sacrilege. In short, that man, Lu Yuan, must die!”

“Let the world know—all who offend the divine shall pay a heavy price!”

His tone was grave, gripping his cross-shaped staff tightly, emerald eyes blazing with murderous intent.

“Since the Angel himself has issued the order, I will do all I can to assist,” Liu Changyuan replied after a moment’s thought, “But recently, Celestial Technology has been under close scrutiny by Sundan Academy. It’s hard to act freely.”

The Western nations were now divided into two camps: one led by the Vatican, the other by the Knights of Olympus.

Liu Changyuan’s meaning was clear: Celestial Technology could no longer conceal certain matters, and the authorities were deeply dissatisfied.

With beast tides receding everywhere except Deep City, once the government was free, they would surely come after Celestial Technology.

He could not withstand that alone—he needed help.

“Rest assured. For all you have done for us, we will resolve your problems,” Apostle Wade replied. Celestial Technology was vital to them; they did not want to see it suppressed.

“Good.” Liu Changyuan relaxed, then glanced at the room. “Now that we know who the culprit is, then…”

He made a slashing gesture across his neck, asking if Asura should be disposed of.

“Keep him alive; he’s still useful,” Wade said with a smile. “He’ll serve as important bait. Our true target is Lu Yuan.”

“As for the others, leave them be—they’re unimportant. We’ll deal with them after this is over.”

“I understand.” Liu Changyuan nodded, knowing what to do next.

But everything would require careful planning.

First, he must prepare for all contingencies.

As for Wade, he said no more. His thoughts were simple: once Lu Yuan was dealt with, they could move on to the next matter.

Shennongjia.

After more than ten days, the Golden-winged Roc had fully refined the dragon’s blood.

Its body looked little changed, but the light streaming from its feathers was now more dazzling than before.

Most notably, its aura now flowed freely; unless it revealed its power, outsiders could not tell it was a beast king, only that it was extraordinary.

“My bloodline has been greatly purified, but it’s not enough. I must hunt more beasts with dragon’s blood,” it thought, sensing its internal state.

It knew it was still some way from fully awakening its bloodline and becoming a true Golden-winged Roc.

But already, it had broken through five genetic shackles.

This might seem few, but for its combat power, it was a tremendous leap.

If the Golden-winged Roc faced the White King again now, it could surely prevail.

And for the foreseeable future, it could continue to grow, advancing all the way to the Golden Body Realm.

Its bloodline was supremely powerful, its talent immense. Unlike other creatures, it would break more than twelve shackles—its potential was terrifying.

Buzz—buzz—buzz.

Just then, the Golden-winged Roc sensed a mighty aura surging from the high platform.

It looked up to find it emanated from Lu Yuan, sitting within the blood pool.

The aura was vast beyond measure.

More importantly, the blood around Lu Yuan was no longer crimson—it had turned golden, dreamlike and ethereal.

Strange powers surged endlessly from the golden essence.

Even without drawing near, the Golden-winged Roc could sense it.

Its master’s bloodline was undergoing a terrifying metamorphosis—a leap, a sublimation!

And as time passed, the sensation only grew, imprinting itself upon the roc’s very soul.

“This…this aura—has he created an ancestral bloodline?”

The Golden-winged Roc’s eyes widened. From its inherited memories, it knew what this aura signified.

Though only a preliminary transformation, it was still utterly astonishing.

All things have their origins.

Generally, powerful beings inherit the bloodlines of their ancestors—the higher the purity, the greater the bloodline’s power. If impure, its might cannot manifest.

Unless one creates an ancestral bloodline.

As the name implies: though not born with a mighty ancestral bloodline, through some great fortune, one breaks through the limits of the human body, fully sublimating each cell to an inconceivable degree.

In other words, one becomes the first generation of a new bloodline.

And one’s descendants inherit this gift.

Just like the Ancestral Dragon, Primal Wind, or First Qilin—so too with the original Golden-winged Roc.

But never had the Golden-winged Roc heard of such a thing. For a human, it was nigh impossible. In its inherited memories, only a handful of Chinese throughout history had done so—and each was a true hero among men.

“No wonder… No wonder even my bloodline is suppressed. But how did he manage it?”

It was shocked, unable to comprehend how this was possible.

What incredible fortune must it have been?

Wait.

Suddenly, the Golden-winged Roc thought—Shennongjia, Shennongjia. Did its master perhaps receive the legacy of Shennong, one of the Three Sovereigns?

Buzz!

At that moment, Lu Yuan opened his eyes within the blood pool.

Instantly, golden essence surged from his body, forming pillars of light that bathed everything in gold.

His transformation had reached its final stage—success was at hand.