BloodSurge — the third and final stage of the Knocking Realm.
As its name implies, one's vital energy boils like rivers in flood; when that surging force finally refines a single drop of LongevityBlood, the stage is complete.
Among cultivators there exists a saying:
Strengthen thebodytoraiseblood,bloodtoextendlife,lifetonourishfate,andfatetoforgethebody anew.
The body, Life Wheel, and Life Palace — three aspects linked as one: each supports the others and none can exist alone.
A powerful body breeds greater vital essence; abundant vitality prolongs longevity; a longer life strengthens fate; stronger fate in turn rebirths the body.
Meanwhile, the Life Palace governs the Life Wheel, which in turn generates longevity blood to fortify the body that guards the Palace.
Blood is the link among all three; yet as Dao power grows, ordinary blood cannot sustain the rising force, and so it must be tempered into LongevityBlood.
For any cultivator, Longevity Blood is invaluable — the essence of vital force refined countless times, each drop containing boundless Dao mystery.
Another old proverb puts it: Tenthousandbloodsmakealife;onebloodbegetstenthousandlives.
Most interpret it thus — a single drop of Longevity Blood is forged from ten thousand drops of vital blood, and a single drop of an Immortal Emperor's blood could grant a mortal ten‑thousand years of life.
None have tested that claim, but it shows how precious such essence is.
### The Power of the Blood Surge
To most, reaching Blood Surge is not hard — three to five months of training at most.
Li Qiye too began tempering his blood using the Longevity Art of the LunarVortex·SolarWheel.
Behind his head, rings of radiant wheels spun unceasingly.
Within them formed great eddies that drove his blood like a storming torrent.
His body and Life Wheel were of ordinary grade, yet at this moment his blood vitality was no weaker than those born with innate constitutions.
As his blood rushed through the great circulation, it spun faster and faster, surging through him like a vast red moon rising and falling within his veins.
This was the marvel — and terror — of the LunarVortex·SolarWheel: it compressed vitality into immense currents of power.
Its wonders did not end there. As the blood churned, his True Life within the Palace stirred as well — it awakened fully, whales gulping the tides of blood flowing through the vortex.
The KunpengSixTransformations runes flared to life — their Dao foundations grinding and refining the blood as it cycled like a millstone turning.
The coarser blood became silk‑fine and crystal bright, then returned to his Life Wheel to nurture his body again.
Tiny rune‑shaped Kunpengs circled the shining True Life, alive and vivid, each stroke of symbol becoming a living creature of essence and spirit.
All flowed together naturally, the entire system a harmonious circle of life and Dao.
Generations had dreamed of perfecting this Longevity Art; for millions of years none succeeded.
It was Li Qiye who repaired its flaws after endless ages of study — and only with the help of many mighty ones, including Immortal Emperors Mingren and Swallowing Sun, and the Black Dragon King himself.
### The First Drop of Life‑Blood
After a day and night of circulation, a soft sound resonated — as if something heavy had fallen into his Life Wheel.
Instantly, clarity flooded him; a gentle light brimmed from his body; behind him the Life Wheel shone a brighter crimson.
Looking within, he saw it — a single drop of crystal blood, ruddy and pure as flame, a marvel crafted by Heaven itself.
His first Longevity Blood had formed. He had broken through BloodSurge and stepped into the ExpandingDomainRealm.
Cultivation stages, from low to high: Knocking Palace → Expanding Domain → Nurturing Body → Opening Palace → Strong Longevity → True Life → Glorious Canopy → Rebirth Bath → Heavenly Origin → Spirit Nurturing.
Three months to awaken the True Life; one night to condense the first drop of Longevity Blood — a feat so strange as to defy belief, yet proof of this art's power.
Even the greatest geniuses needed ten days to forge their first drop; Li Qiye had done it in a single night.
For ages many talents of the Washing‑Dust Sect had attempted the Lunar Vortex Art and perished within it — its defect was fatal until Li Qiye reworked it.
### A Sect in Awe
Next morning Nan Huairen saw him and could not believe his eyes.
"Senior Brother! Y‑you've stepped into Expanding Domain?"
"Just last night," Li Qiye said evenly, without pride. He knew this achievement was the art's virtue, not his talent.
"But … your True Life only awakened two days ago!"
"Mn. Three months for awakening, one night for the blood."
Nan was thunderstruck.
"The LunarVortex·SolarWheel truly is the first of marvels — no wonder so many geniuses died pursuing it."
He sighed.
"Pity its flaw is fatal. For millions of years no one has ever repaired it."
Li Qiye's eyes were quiet. He alone knew its long history — how he, as the eternal crow, had labored through ages with Immortal Emperors to fill those cracks in the Dao.
Still, Nan asked softly, > "When do you plan to switch to a new Longevity Art, Senior Brother?"
He knew as well as anyone that no one could cultivate this method to its end; the hidden danger was too great.
Changing arts midway was risky — it left wounds upon the Dao itself — but for most that was the only path of growth.
Some chose to perfect a low‑grade technique and elevate it beyond limits, becoming legends who dominated ten heavens and earths.
Yet Nan still cautioned:
"The earlier you switch, the better. If you go too far with the LunarVortexArt, its grip on your blood will become unbreakable. Once caught, you can never escape it."