"System, I can't be bothered to search anymore. Find me a treasure that can elevate the bloodline of the Jia Lan Clan—something that can raise a common bloodline to royal blood!" Jiang Che couldn't be bothered to sift through the endless items in the system's marketplace.
[Ding! Host successfully scammed the system, earning 10 million scam points.]
Jiang Che: "???"
Holy crap, the system just exploded with points!
This is bizarre—even the system can be milked for points. Looks like there's another way to exploit it, and the payout is pretty generous too.
[Ding! Located 79 bloodline-enhancing treasures for the Jia Lan Clan...]
The next second, a massive list of system items appeared before Jiang Che.
[Immortal Cloud Heartscale: A unique heartscale from a true immortal-level mermaid, containing a single drop of the mermaid’s heartblood. Can transform any mermaid’s bloodline, elevating it to the pinnacle of royal blood.]
[Price: 300 million points.]
[Stone Maiden’s Tear: Legend tells of a mermaid who once sat upon a reef, gazing at her lover sailing away. Over centuries, she turned to stone, and after a hundred thousand years, shed a single tear—a rarity beyond compare... Capable of breaking royal bloodlines into the forbidden realm, achieving full ancestral reversion!]
[Price: 1 billion points...]
A bit pricey, but to crush Jia Ling'er’s arrogance, Jiang Che was willing to splurge.
Think you’re so high and mighty?
Just wait until the lofty princess sees a common-blooded mermaid surpass her in lineage—wonder how that’ll feel?
Jiang Che licked his lips, a wicked grin spreading across his face.
He couldn’t wait.
"Buy the Immortal Cloud Heartscale."
[Ding! Host successfully spent 300 million points to purchase the immortal-grade treasure ‘Immortal Cloud Heartscale’.]
[Remaining system points: 4.2 billion.]
About 70% of these billions came from the Jiang family ancestors, 10% from the Chosen One Chu Yuan, and the rest from minor leeks (small-time contributors).
Filthy rich—money was no object!
In the next instant, a shimmering, multicolored scale materialized in Jiang Che’s palm. It wasn’t large—smaller than his hand—but the overwhelming aura it emitted froze every mermaid in the room, including Jia Ling'er.
The scale was exquisitely crafted, with a single pea-sized drop of blood embedded at its center, so deeply fused that it seemed alive, pulsing with vitality.
"This—"
Jia Ling'er’s eyes widened, her entire body trembling. Her proudest asset—her bloodline—was being suppressed, quivering in fear.
The owner of this scale had undoubtedly been a supreme powerhouse among mermaids, with a bloodline far surpassing hers.
"Thud! Thud!!"
Jia Ling'er could still hold her ground, being of royal blood, but Qing'er and the other common-blooded mermaids weren’t so lucky.
An immortal-grade bloodline was like a nuclear weapon to them—they dropped to their knees, shaking like leaves.
"What is this?! How could you possibly possess a supreme treasure of our Jia Lan Clan?" Jia Ling'er gasped.
"Hey, hey, hey—got any shame? See something good and immediately claim it’s yours? I hate entitled brats like you."
Jiang Che held the scale in one hand while cradling Qing'er with the other, his palm supporting her soft bottom.
Qing'er trembled violently, her deer-like eyes stealing a glance at the scale before nearly fainting from terror.
"Qing'er, since you’ve been such a good girl, I’ll grant you a heaven-defying opportunity."
Jiang Che smirked.
"W-what opportunity?" Qing'er whispered.
"How about ascending to royal blood? Surpassing even your beloved princess in lineage—crushing her pride where she’s most confident."
His words dripped with temptation, loud enough for all to hear.
Qing'er gulped. Surpass Princess Jia Ling'er? That... that was impossible!
In the Jia Lan Clan, royal and common bloodlines were worlds apart, defining two distinct castes.
But if she was honest with herself... didn’t she want to surpass Jia Ling'er?
Of course she did. She even fantasized about watching the once-proud princess fall into ruin.
"Yes! Young Master Jiang Che, I want it!" Qing'er wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Good girl." He kissed her cheek—she smelled sweet.
Glancing at Jia Ling'er, he found her utterly dumbstruck.
"Hey, you narrow-minded fool, watch closely. Didn’t you say common bloodlines can’t evolve? Today, I’ll grace you with a spectacle..."
"N-no... impossible! Absolutely not!" Panic seeped into Jia Ling'er’s voice.
Ignoring her, Jiang Che pressed the scale against Qing'er’s chest—though the flat-chested little mermaid had nothing much there.
The heartscale merged into her skin, erupting in a blinding golden light.
"Ah! It hurts! Waaah... so hot!" Qing'er winced, the agony of bloodline refinement nearly knocking her out.
But the pain lasted only a second—Jiang Che used the system to mute it.
"W-what’s happening?" Qing'er stared at her glowing hands, her veins visible beneath her radiant skin.
"Relax. Your bloodline’s being refined. Soon, you’ll be royal-blooded—purer than Jia Ling'er."
"Really?" Her big, beautiful eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Impossible! This is some dark sorcery—Qing'er, don’t believe him!" Jia Ling'er was frantic now.
She could sense Qing'er’s rising bloodline potency—this wasn’t refinement. It was outright replacement!
Xue'er, Yun'er, and the other mermaids gaped in awe.
Could miracles really happen?
Could Young Master Jiang Che truly elevate their bloodlines?
Three hours later, Qing'er’s transformation was complete—her body encased in a massive, golden egg, pulsing with an oppressive aura.
Crack!
The shell split, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful girl curled inside, her golden hair veiling her naked form.
"Mmm... did I fall asleep?" Qing'er rubbed her eyes, drowsy.
Her tail had transformed into a shimmering blend of gold and blue, radiating nobility. Though her face hadn’t changed much, the regal aura of her ascended bloodline outshone even Jia Ling'er’s royal presence.
Jia Ling'er stared, lips quivering. "R-royal bloodline?"