Chapter 134: Breaking to Build

On Muyu Island, within the Quiet-Heart Cottage, inside a cage forged of cold steel, Shu Tianjiao flicked its tail, locking itself in.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak..."

With a solemn expression, looking as if it were ready to face death, Shu Tianjiao turned its gaze toward Jiang Chen, signaling that it was prepared.

Observing the creature, Jiang Chen flicked his sleeve, produced the Rat Blood Bead, and placed it before Shu Tianjiao.

The moment the bead appeared, Shu Tianjiao’s eyes lit up. It had braced itself for agony, but now it found the scent intoxicating—it seemed its previous struggle had been unnecessary.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak..."

Forcing itself to restrain the urge to swallow the bead in one gulp, Shu Tianjiao asked Jiang Chen if it could begin.

Jiang Chen nodded. With his consent, Shu Tianjiao did not hesitate, immediately attempting to draw upon the power of the Rat Blood Bead using the secret technique Jiang Chen had taught it.

At that instant, the Rat Blood Bead blossomed with a hazy crimson glow, illuminating the entire cage. Bathed in this bloody light, the bloodline within Shu Tianjiao began to churn violently.

A moment later, as the agitation intensified, the creature, which had been enjoying the sensation, let out a cry of agony. It felt as if a fire were burning within its body, scorching its mind and soul, igniting an urge to destroy everything in its path.

However, at the critical moment, its internal pride and the expectations Jiang Chen held for it allowed it to steady its resolve.

Gritting its teeth, Shu Tianjiao persisted. It knew clearly that if it surrendered to its bloodline instincts now, this transformation would surely fail.

Nearby, watching this scene, Jiang Chen frowned slightly but ultimately did nothing. Improving one’s bloodline was a personal endeavor; it relied primarily on the creature itself, and there was little others could do to help.

"Enhancing one's bloodline is never easy. For the demon race, it is a defiance of their inherent status."

"We shall see how much you can absorb. Thirty percent is a pass, sixty percent is excellent, and eighty percent would be an unexpected delight."

With these thoughts, Jiang Chen silently observed the changes in Shu Tianjiao.

The most common ways for demonic creatures to improve their bloodlines are twofold: one is to seek upward, absorbing the bloodline of a superior to trigger a qualitative change through a quantitative one; the other is to compete among peers—the law of the jungle, a fight to the death where quantitative accumulation leads to a qualitative leap. Both methods are perilous; a single mistake can lead to bloodline collapse and death. Improving one's bloodline post-natally is, by nature, an act against the heavens.

Of course, beyond these two methods, there are others in the world of cultivation, though most are matters of rare fortune and difficult to replicate. For instance, spiritual treasures like the Dragon-Fish Pearl have the ability to improve the bloodlines of dragon-kin, but obtaining them is far too difficult.

Time flowed silently. At first, Shu Tianjiao gritted its teeth in endurance. Later, unable to bear the pain, it began to let out pained roars. Now, it had fallen silent, its voice raspy and gone.

Correspondingly, it had absorbed seventy percent of the bead's power, but its state had reached a breaking point.

Due to the immense infusion of bloodline energy, its body had naturally expanded to the size of a young calf. Even without utilizing magic, its flesh was cracking, and its fur was stained with blood—a terrifying sight.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen prepared to intervene. He could clearly feel that the creature’s body was on the verge of collapse; if it continued, Shu Tianjiao might truly die.

But at that very moment, Shu Tianjiao struggled fiercely and swallowed the Rat Blood Bead, which had shrunk to the size of a dragon’s eye.

"I am the prodigy of the Rat Clan, handpicked by the Master..."

As the bead entered its stomach, a formidable surge of bloodline power erupted, and Shu Tianjiao’s will roared within.

Sensing this spiritual tremor, Jiang Chen understood its intent.

"Very well. Since you wish to stake everything on this, I shall grant your wish."

Understanding the creature’s sentiment, Jiang Chen chose to help it succeed.

*Whoosh.* With a gesture, the Blood-Evil True Flame appeared in Jiang Chen’s hand.

"One cannot build without breaking. Whether you live or die now depends on your own destiny."

With a soft sigh, Jiang Chen channeled the fire, and in an instant, Shu Tianjiao was completely enveloped.

Bathed in the crimson flames, enduring the searing heat, Shu Tianjiao felt extreme agony. Every inch of its flesh was wailing, but because of the fire’s burning, its body—which had been about to burst—showed signs of stabilizing.

"Rat King... I will become a true Rat King..."

The crisis of physical collapse was temporarily averted. Enduring the agony of being consumed by the flames, Shu Tianjiao pushed its willpower to the limit, suppressing the turbulence of its bloodline.

At this moment, as if sensing its resolve, the disparate and clashing bloodline energies suddenly quieted, showing true signs of fusion.

Like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, as more alien bloodlines merged, the previously weak power within Shu Tianjiao began to grow and sublimate. Simultaneously, fragments of inherited memories began to surface naturally in its mind.

Outside, watching Shu Tianjiao, now bathed in blood-fire and gradually calming down, Jiang Chen realized that the transformation had succeeded.

Not long after, once all the alien bloodline energies were integrated, a powerful aura burst forth from Shu Tianjiao.

With a roar, it flicked its tail, easily shattering the iron cage. Shu Tianjiao’s appearance had changed drastically; its deep black fur was now tinged with a faint silver-gray, and its two large golden front teeth gleamed in the moonlight.

If the old Shu Tianjiao had looked dull and unremarkable, it now carried the air of an upstart.

It waved its tail, feeling the power surging within. At this moment, it felt as though its tail could split the heavens and its claws could rend the earth—it felt omnipotent. It instinctively wanted to vent this power and display its strength.

But just then, a familiar, cold killing intent descended, instantly waking its spirit.

"Squeak..."

Meeting Jiang Chen’s indifferent gaze, the creature shivered and regained its senses.

*Hum.* With a shift of energy, its calf-sized body vanished, shrinking back to the size of a palm, and it scurried to Jiang Chen’s feet.

It tugged at Jiang Chen’s hem, squeaking incessantly, recounting the pain of its transformation, hoping to evoke Jiang Chen’s affection and be forgiven for nearly tearing the house apart.

Watching Shu Tianjiao, a strange glint flashed in Jiang Chen’s eyes. After this transformation, the creature’s intelligence had grown even further—it was the cleverest demon he had ever seen.