Eternal Cultivation of Alchemy - Chapter 3180

Chapter 3180: Alternatives
The mention of Qing Tailong naturally led Alex to assume whether the Azure Dragon progenitor was in their Ancestral Bloodline pool too, as a statue like the two before him did.

As he reached that assumption, two more thoughts formed in his head.

First, he wondered if the other two progenitors were also alive in this very way. The Vermilion Bird progenitor and the White Tiger progenitor could very well be Soulsteel statues inside their Ancestral Bloodline pool.

And second, he wondered if the progenitor’s presence was required to make the evolution happen. There was some contradictory information for this thought, but he couldn’t give them the time to think things through before the snake statue spoke again.

“If Qing Tailong was dead, we would’ve known.”

That was as much a confirmation as Alex could get regarding the first Azure Dragon’s status.

Alex’s gaze turned down, washing over the black marble, while his thoughts went astray. After improving Pearl’s bloodline by a certain degree, it would place him at an acceptable range for improvement. Should he reach that point, Pearl’s chances at evolving would increase significantly.

However, there was another issue that made Alex frown slightly.

After learning what the Azure Dragon patriarch had done in sending so many of his descendants after him, and the negative experience he had with his grandmother, Pearl did not want to associate with the Azure Dragons as much anymore.

He had been very vocal about the fact that if Alex could not make his evolution happen all on his own, then he did not want this evolution.

Truthfully speaking, there had been no crime committed, no grievance so severe that Pearl could not turn to them for help. Alex could even tell him to swallow his pride for just a few weeks and accept the evolution.

But that would mean undermining Pearl’s emotions and wishes.

Besides, since he had come all this way, he couldn’t actually leave without learning how the Soul was improved. He needed that answer.

“Please forgive me if I’m wrong here, but I am very certain that one does not need the presence of a Progenitor to make evolution happen,” Alex said. “Pearl, who I mentioned before, in fact evolved on a lower realm before becoming a White Tiger. So, how can I help improve his soul during the evolution process without sending him to the Azure Dragons?”

“Why?” the tortoise asked. “Do you have an issue with the Azure Dragons?”

“I don’t, but what if Pearl was rejected?” Alex said. “What if the Azure Dragons didn’t allow him to enter their bloodline pool?”

The two statues paused, silence filling the room for some time. Alex’s eyes moved around, waiting for either of them to speak up. The wait allowed for Alex to think of more issues with the scenario.

“Not to mention,” he continued. “Pearl is a White Tiger. Could the Azure Dragon progenitor know how to help him without ruining the White Tiger part of his bloodline?”

“It would be impossible for him to do so,” the snake answered almost immediately.

“But…” the tortoise said in a slower cadence. “You do have a point. Qing Tailong may not be aware of how to help the young White Tiger.”

Alex’s eyes widened slightly in hope. The beasts were indeed getting his point. They were getting somewhere.

“Then… there is no way, is there?” the snake said.

Alex’s bliss shattered in a moment. “I’m… sorry?”

“You may be correct, brother,” the tortoise said. “I do not see a way either.”

“But… there has to be a way,” Alex said. “Please, anything would work.”

“No, it won’t,” the snake said. “Truth is, now that you’ve made us consider it, even Qing Tailong could not help you.”

“His existence is an anomaly. A child born of a tiger and dragon is an anomaly. Many have tried before and failed. It was his parents’ unique circumstances that allowed it to happen. Their bodies must’ve been mutated, a one-in-a-million possibility,” the tortoise said. “He cannot be helped.”

Alex controlled his emotions, calming himself. He was talking to the progenitors of the Black Tortoises after all. Random fits of rage would do him no good here.

“If Pearl cannot improve, then how did he become a White Tiger?” Alex asked.

“You mentioned that his Azure Dragon’s bloodline was dead, didn’t you? At that point, he was a regular beast with a White Tiger’s bloodline, which allowed him to evolve. However, to evolve him into an Azure Dragon without taking away the other bloodline is impossible.”

Alex refused to believe that. “May I ask how exactly it is that you improve someone’s soul during the evolution process?”

After a few seconds of silence, the snake spoke.

“We need to conserve our energy for the next beasts who come in for evolution. You should leave now.”

Alex looked at the two statues, a stunned expression threatening to surface on his face. They were going to send him out just like that? Without properly answering the one question he had come here with?

Hell. No.

“The others can wait,” Alex said with an unnatural calm to his voice.

“They need to—”

“They will,” Alex said almost immediately. “How were the last two batches of evolution? How did you like their success? Was it easy? Was it safer?”

“You do not command us,” the snake said.

“I am not commanding anyone, senior. I am simply speaking my mind. My discovery and help far improve the Black Tortoise family and you know it. The last two pairs of beasts should have been proof enough. Many more will come in the future, and many more will succeed. All because of me.”

He did not wish to play this card, but he didn’t have the time to think of anything else.

“Everything I’ve done has been for this one question. So, as the benefactor of the Black Tortoise family, I ask you, how do you help a beast’s soul improve while they are evolving?”

Silence followed Alex’s words, but that was to be expected. Either he was going to get his answer now, or he was going to get killed.