Seeing Zhang Hao prepare to force his way in, the Seven Executives, a Great Martial Master, instantly became enraged. He said, "Since you seek death, this Esteemed One will grant it to you."
"Zhang An, let him come over!" A clear, cold voice came.
The one speaking was precisely the Family Head, Zhang Shiyi.
The Family Head had spoken. The few guards and the Seven Executives naturally didn't dare to obstruct.
"Yes!"
Zhang Hao glanced at the Seven Executives triumphantly. He walked over with his head held high and chest puffed out. However, as he passed by the Seven Executives, he provocatively winked at him.
The Seven Executives was provoked by Zhang Hao in this manner. He instantly became furious. But at this moment, he naturally didn't dare to act rashly. He could only secretly remember it.
Zhang Hao was led by a guard to the front of the Family Head, Zhang Shiyi. He looked up.
Zhang Shiyi stood upon a high platform, his expression calm and composed. His deep, sharp gaze fixed on Zhang Hao, as if he could see into his soul.
"You are a member of the Zhang Family, why has this Esteemed One never seen you?" Zhang Shiyi looked at Zhang Hao.
Zhang Hao felt a sharp gaze fall upon him, making him feel heavy pressure. He naturally knew that the Family Head was a Martial Warrior in the Martial King Realm. He was one of the few top experts in the Zhang Family. In front of him, it was best not to play tricks. Therefore, Zhang Hao solemnly said, "Family Head, this Junior is from the Ninghai City branch."
Saying this, Zhang Hao handed the jade token representing his identity to Zhang Shiyi.
Zhang Shiyi took a look and returned it to Zhang Hao. His expression remained very calm.
"Ninghai City branch? The Family Head is Zhang Jincheng?" Zhang Shiyi asked.
"The Family Head knows my Father?" Zhang Hao was a little surprised.
"Mm, we met once over ten years ago."
Zhang Shiyi nodded slightly, looked at Zhang Hao, and asked, "What is your name?"
"This Junior, Zhang Hao, greets the Family Head!" Zhang Hao quickly asked respectfully.
"Since you are from a branch, why were you late this time? Don't you know that once you miss the time for Blood Pool Refining, your qualification is canceled?" Zhang Shiyi looked at Zhang Hao, his voice carrying authority.
"Family Head, it's not that this Junior wanted to be late."
Therefore, Zhang Hao recounted what had happened since he arrived at the Zhang Family. And while he was at it, he reported the Seven Executives.
"Zhang An, are his words true?"
A mountain-like pressure enveloped Zhang An.
Zhang An felt a chill in his heart and quickly said, "Family Head, there's no such thing, he's slandering this subordinate!"
"Hmph, do you think this Esteemed One knows nothing? Next time you commit this offense, you will definitely not be lightly pardoned!" Zhang Shiyi said with a cold snort.
"Yes, yes! Thank you, Family Head... Thank you, Family Head..." Zhang An immediately breathed a sigh of relief. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his hand.
At the same time, the Seven Executives, Zhang An, glared at Zhang Hao with venomous eyes, secretly gritting his teeth and saying, "Kid, you dared to complain in front of the Family Head, I definitely won't let you off."
"Since there was a reason, you may go in! Remember, don't be late next time. Otherwise, even if I am the Family Head, I will not make an exception for you," Zhang Shiyi said indifferently.
"Yes, Family Head!"
Seeing that he had achieved his goal, Zhang Hao finally breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly swept towards the front of Demon Dragon Valley. In front of Demon Dragon Valley, several Elders of the Zhang Family Main Clan were joining forces, preparing to open the Seal.
The Zhang Family disciples felt a bit strange seeing Zhang Hao sweep in from outside the valley. Why was someone still coming in when the time had passed? Their gazes were all unfriendly as they looked at Zhang Hao.
"Who exactly is this person? Why does he look so unfamiliar?" A disciple of the Zhang Family Main Clan asked with some surprise.
Another disciple of the Zhang Family Main Clan said with some disdain, "Looking at him, he should be from a branch. Hmph, people from the branches coming to participate in Blood Pool Refining is just a waste of resources. If it weren't for our ancestors pitying them based on being of the same clan and giving them some spots, I would suggest taking back even those twenty spots. Then our Zhang Family Main Clan would produce who knows how many more geniuses each year."
"Exactly!"
Every Zhang Family disciple seemed to agree with the young man's words.
A Zhang Family Elder stepped forward, his authoritative gaze sweeping over the surrounding clan disciples. He said indifferently, "The barrier to the Blood Pool has opened. I will reiterate, within the nine days inside, you must seize the opportunity well. Do not force yourselves; what is suitable for you is the best."
After speaking, under the order maintained by several Elders, the group passed through the barrier and entered the Blood Pool.
After entering the barrier, Zhang Hao's eyes lit up.
The Blood Pool was located within a small mountain valley. Blood energy swirled within the valley. The concentration of spiritual energy was several times that of the outside world. Taking a deep breath, Zhang Hao felt refreshed and invigorated.
"Ding dong!"
"Congratulations, Player Zhang Hao, for absorbing Demon Dragon Blood energy. Experience points increased by 100." A System prompt sounded.
Zhang Hao was secretly surprised. He hadn't expected that simply absorbing a mouthful of blood energy would increase his experience points. Perhaps, if he didn't participate in Blood Pool Refining here, but cultivated instead, he should be able to significantly increase his cultivation within seven days.
Of course, Zhang Hao only thought about it. He naturally knew the importance of Awakening his Bloodline.
Grandpa had told him some steps of the Blood Pool Refining before he came. Blood Pool Refining was divided into three steps: Primary, Intermediate, and Advanced Blood Pool. One would enter a Blood Pool every three days.
Each time, the Blood Pool would automatically shoot out one hundred tokens. Only clan disciples who obtained a pass token could enter the Blood Pool for refining and Awakening their Bloodline. If the Intermediate Blood Pool had one hundred pass tokens, the Intermediate Blood Pool only had fifty. And the Advanced Blood Pool only had twenty. The competition was considerable.
Although the Zhang Family Main Clan generously allocated twenty spots to each branch Family every time, in the Blood Pool Refining, not many could actually compete to enter the Blood Pool.
Back then, Grandpa was also considered a heaven-sent Genius among the branch families, but he only obtained the qualification for Primary Blood Pool Refining. Even if it was just the Primary Blood Pool, Grandpa fought tooth and nail for it back then. Fortunately, although Grandpa didn't awaken his Bloodline back then, the powerful blood energy from the Blood Pool still changed his physique and improved his martial arts talent. Ultimately, it gave Grandpa the potential to step into the Great Martial Master realm, making him one of the few experts in Ninghai City now.
Over two hundred Zhang Family disciples arrived in front of a massive teleportation array. The array was covered in profound runes. It was set up by the Zhang Family ancestors hundreds of years ago. It was just a short-distance teleportation array. However, according to Zhang Hao's Grandpa, entering the teleportation array without obtaining a teleportation token would result in being torn apart by spatial energy.
Suddenly, countless white lights flickered in the void, sweeping towards where everyone was.
"I, Zhang Wei, will take the Primary Blood Pool Refining token."
"There must be a spot for me, Zhang Chaofan!"
"Come on, don't compete with me, otherwise I, Zhang Zhennan, will fall out with whoever does!"
All the clan disciples were rubbing their hands together, extremely excited. Perhaps only Zhang Hao and the four great geniuses of the Zhang Family were relatively calm at this moment. Perhaps it was because none of them took the Primary Blood Pool Refining seriously. Snatching a token from one hundred was not difficult.
Looking at the tokens streaking rapidly through the void, Zhang Hao's eyes shone with brilliance, eager to try.