"Elder Xie, I have another question," Long Chen said, his voice calm yet filled with curiosity. "What of the Dragon Veins in the Secret Realms? Are they different from the ones found in our world?"
Elder Xie exhaled deeply before responding.
"Secret Realms… they are part of this world, yet at the same time, they are not."
Long Chen furrowed his brows. "What do you mean?"
The elder closed his eyes for a brief moment, collecting his thoughts. Then, he spoke, his tone patient yet profound.
"Secret Realms are pieces of land that were sealed away, separated from the Motherland long ago. They exist within the same celestial body, yet they do not belong to it. They carry their own karmic luck, independent of the land we walk upon."**
Long Chen's eyes sharpened. "So that means… the Dragon Veins within them also do not belong to the Motherland?"
Elder Xie nodded slowly.
"Exactly. The true Dragon Veins of this world have long since merged with the Will of the Mother Star: This entire Continent or should I say star. They cannot be extracted, nor can they be refined. They have become part of the celestial body's consciousness, inseparable from it. However, in Secret Realms, the situation is different."
Long Chen leaned forward, his interest piqued. "Different how?"
Elder Xie's gaze darkened.
"Within a Secret Realm, Dragon Veins still exist as separate entities. They have not merged with the Mother Star's Will, which means, in theory, they can be extracted."
Long Chen's expression became serious. "In theory?"
The elder chuckled softly. "Yes, in theory. But taking a Dragon Vein from a Secret Realm is not as simple as you may think."
"Why?" Long Chen pressed.
Elder Xie's voice lowered slightly, carrying a grave tone.
"Because the Dragon Vein is directly connected to the core of the Secret Realm. It is a fundamental part of that realm's structure, stabilizing the energies within it. If you take the Dragon Vein, the balance of the realm will collapse, and sensing any problem from you who is an outsider, it will immediately throw you out as it has the highest authority within the Realm itself. Unless..."
Long Chen's eyes gleamed with understanding. "Unless the Secret Realm is already on the verge of destruction."
Elder Xie nodded approvingly.
"Indeed. If a Secret Realm is already unstable, then taking a Dragon Vein will not make much difference—it will collapse sooner or later regardless. However, if the realm is stable, forcibly extracting a Dragon Vein will bring ruin upon it. Everything inside will begin to deteriorate, the land will wither, and eventually, the entire realm will collapse into nothingness though that is almost impossible because of Secret Realm ejecting you out."
Long Chen frowned. "Then wouldn't that mean taking a Dragon Vein is practically impossible?"
Elder Xie's expression was unreadable.
"Not necessarily. There are ways to extract Dragon Veins while minimizing destruction, but they require techniques and knowledge that only a few possess. If you wish to take a Dragon Vein without destroying the realm, you must either stabilize the realm's core first or transfer the karmic balance elsewhere. However, such methods are extremely difficult, and very few cultivators throughout history have been capable of doing so."
Long Chen nodded, absorbing every word. "I understand. So, then… if someone were to successfully extract a Dragon Vein, what would it be used for?"
Elder Xie's lips curled into a knowing smile.
"That depends on who is using it."
Long Chen raised an eyebrow. "How so?"
Elder Xie leaned back slightly, his voice carrying the weight of knowledge passed down from ancient times.
"In history, for those of the Dragon Clan, refining a Dragon Vein strengthens their Dragon Energy, increasing their power and vitality."
Long Chen's eyes lit up. "So the Dragon Veins hold direct benefits for dragons?"
Elder Xie's expression grew somewhat indifferent.
"Yes, but only for inferior dragons. Pureblooded dragons, those with high aptitude and noble lineage, would never bother refining Dragon Veins. To them, such energy is meaningless. It would be akin to a king drinking common well water to improve his strength—it is beneath them."
Long Chen smirked. "So only lower-tier dragons would refine them?"
Elder Xie nodded. "Correct. However, for humans and other races, Dragon Veins hold far more significance."
Long Chen's expression turned serious again. "In what way?"
Elder Xie raised a single finger.
"There are two primary reasons why non-dragons refine Dragon Veins. The first is to strengthen the body and soul."
Long Chen's brows furrowed. "The body and soul?"
Elder Xie nodded.
"Yes. Dragon Veins contain immense energy from heaven and earth. By absorbing this energy, a cultivator can reinforce their body, making it more resilient, as well as strengthening their soul, making their spiritual consciousness more profound. It is a method of refinement that grants both physical and spiritual enhancements."
Long Chen stroked his chin in thought. "And the second reason?"
Elder Xie's expression became slightly amused.
"The second is for weapon refinement."
Long Chen's eyes widened slightly. "Weapon refinement?"
Elder Xie nodded once more.
"Indeed. Dragon Veins contain not only the energy of heaven and earth but also karmic luck. This makes them incredibly valuable in the process of forging weapons. If one were to properly refine a weapon using the energy of a Dragon Vein, the resulting weapon would be stronger, more perfect, and perhaps even elevated to the level of divine artifacts."
Long Chen's expression turned contemplative. "So Dragon Veins can be used to forge legendary weapons?"
Elder Xie chuckled. "Yes, but that is easier said than done. Only a handful of individuals in all of history have been capable of refining Dragon Veins into weapons. Such people were not mere blacksmiths—they were Godly existences in Forging Dao."
Long Chen let out a breath. "I see. So unless one possesses the skill of a divine blacksmith, using Dragon Veins for forging is nearly impossible."
Elder Xie nodded. "Correct. The process of refining the karmic luck of heaven and earth within the Dragon Veins is beyond the reach of common cultivators. Only those recorded in history as legendary forgers have ever achieved such a feat."
Long Chen leaned back slightly, his mind filled with the vast knowledge he had just received.
"So, to summarize…" he said, organizing his thoughts. "Secret Realms contain Dragon Veins because they are separate from the Motherland. Extracting them is possible, but it risks collapsing the realm unless it is already on the verge of destruction. Dragon Veins benefit dragons, but only the lesser ones. For non-dragons, they can be refined either to strengthen the body and soul or to forge weapons—though only legendary blacksmiths have succeeded in the latter."
Elder Xie smiled approvingly. "Exactly. You have understood well, Long Chen."
Long Chen bowed slightly. "Thank you, Elder Xie. This knowledge is invaluable."
Long Chen now knew the value of Dragon Veins—both their power and their limitations. If he were to pursue one, he would have to tread carefully. But one thing was certain…
Dragon Veins were a path to unparalleled power.
Suddenly an Idea hit him, more exactly a memory, a memory of his orevious life and many other mangas and theories following a bizzare idea.
Long Chen: "Elder Xie, I have been thinking about something… something bizarre, perhaps even foolish."
Elder Xie: "Hoh? What is it, Long Chen? In your eyes, even the absurd has potential."
Long Chen: "A cultivation technique. One that would allow a cultivator to refine both Dragon Blood and Dragon Veins to form a Special type of Soul: Let's call it -- Heaven-Dragon Soul within their body."
Elder Xie: "…Interesting. But do you understand what you are suggesting? Dragon Blood is a force of life, a power inherited from Dragons only. Dragon Veins, on the other hand, are the condensed essence of heaven and earth, imbued with karmic fate. Though they are similar on topic, you want to merge the two? That is not merely bizarre, it is defiant as even dragons themselves had problem refining the Dragon Vein."
Long Chen: "Exactly. But I believe it can be done. If a cultivator could refine these two forces, they would possess not only the physical might of a dragon but also a Heaven-Dragon Soul—a soul that resonates with the heavens themselves."
Elder Xie: "And how do you propose to achieve this? The body rejects foreign bloodlines, and the soul is far more delicate. If you attempt to merge Dragon Blood and Dragon Veins within a human body, the backlash could obliterate one's meridians, or worse, shatter their soul entirely."
Long Chen: "That is why I have been considering the Supreme Trinity: Body, Soul, and Energy. If we can create a technique that simultaneously strengthens all three, the body would not reject the dragon's blood, the soul would not collapse from the overwhelming will, and the energy would harmonize the two forces into a singular existence."
To Be Continued...