Blood God's First Success, Cultivation Leaps! (Two-in-One Chapter)

"Hiss!"

Mountain winds swept across the cliff, ruffling the slightly messy black hair on Lin Chen's forehead.

His figure was like a phantom, leaving behind trails of faint, blood-colored afterimages that were impossible to track.

His footwork was profound, his aura nearly merging into the surrounding environment.

That Xuan-rank high-level Shadow Escape was no longer a simple movement technique in his hands; it had become more like an instinct of art.

As he dodged and shifted, he not only perfectly adhered to the scroll's descriptions but added many details optimized by his own understanding.

Faster speed, more treacherous changes in direction, and minimal consumption!

He had already reached the pinnacle of perfection!

And this was only after practicing it a few times!

Xiao Xun'er, standing to the side, had long since become numb to the initial shock.

Yet, deep within those glazed eyes, a trace of indescribable, complex light remained.

She watched as Lin Chen came to a halt, his breathing steady, as if the display he had just performed were nothing more than a casual stroll.

"This movement technique is passable."

Lin Chen evaluated it indifferently, as if speaking of a trivial matter.

Hearing this, the corners of Xiao Xun'er's lips couldn't help but twitch slightly.

A Xuan-rank high-level movement technique, mastered to such a realm after only reading it once and practicing a few times, was merely "passable"?

If these words were to spread, one could only imagine how many self-proclaimed geniuses would be infuriated to death.

"Are you leaving?"

Seeing Lin Chen stand up, preparing to depart, Xiao Xun'er spoke softly.

She hadn't even recovered from her shock, and yet Lin Chen was already finished?

"Mn."

"However, I will come to the Back Mountain to cultivate often in the future."

"If you wish to exchange cultivation insights with me, you may do so at any time."

After Lin Chen finished speaking, he cast his gaze toward the distant, rolling silhouette of the black mountain range:

The Magical Beast Mountain Range!

The 'prey' within Wutan City had become alert and were no longer of much value.

He needed a more massive source of blood essence, and not just to improve his cultivation.

More importantly, it was for his trump card for survival:

The Blood God Child!

And the Magical Beast Mountain Range was undoubtedly a better hunting ground!

Time flew by, spring turned to autumn!

In the blink of an eye, four and a half years had passed.

The five-year-old child of the past was now approaching ten.

Although he was still young, years of cultivating the Blood Scripture and fighting in the mountains and forests had made Lin Chen's physique much taller and straighter than his peers.

His face had shed most of its childishness, his features becoming sharp and cold.

His eyes were bottomless, with occasional flashes of blood-red light that were truly heart-stopping.

Yet, when he looked at Xiao Xun'er, the ice in his eyes would unconsciously melt just a little!

Like a stream thawing in early spring.

His cultivation had already reached the eight-star Dou Grandmaster level!

If this speed were to spread, it would be enough to shake the entire Jia Ma Empire!

A ten-year-old Dou Grandmaster—it was unheard of!

But only Lin Chen knew that this speed... was too slow!

If not for the Blood God Child, he would have already broken through to Dou Ling, or even Dou King!

But he had to do this!

If you only have one life, would you dare to act recklessly without a resurrection coin?

In the Xiao Clan's Back Mountain, at the familiar cliff clearing:

Two figures were rapidly crossing paths and colliding!

Dou Qi surged, whipping up fallen leaves across the ground.

One of the figures was dressed in a pale cyan dress, her movement technique agile and graceful.

Golden flames danced at her fingertips, her attacks fierce yet always holding back a fraction of their power.

It was none other than nine-year-old Xiao Xun'er.

By now, her control over the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame had become increasingly proficient.

The young girl's figure was beginning to show signs of grace, her dark hair flying as they exchanged blows.

Occasionally, the gaze she lifted toward Lin Chen held a hidden reliance that even she did not yet understand.

Her opponent, naturally, was Lin Chen.

He did not use Yuantu or Abi, nor did he unleash the full speed of his Shadow Escape.

He simply used his palms, wrapped in blood-red Dou Qi, to parry and counter:

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Blocking, deflecting, and guiding—his movements were concise and efficient, like a combat machine tempered through thousands of battles.

He was not competing with Xiao Xun'er for victory; he was feeding her moves.

He was honing her practical combat skills, forcing her to gain better control over her own power.

Especially that incomparably domineering Heavenly Flame:

"Your left flank is too exposed!"

"The flames are gathering but dispersing; you're wasting Dou Qi!"

"Predict my movements not with your eyes, but with your senses!"

Lin Chen's cold voice rang out from time to time, pointing out Xiao Xun'er's shortcomings.

Every piece of advice hit the mark, allowing Xiao Xun'er to benefit immensely.

Only occasionally would his gaze sweep over her shoulders, rising and falling with her gasps, or the stray locks of hair dampened by sweat.

A strange feeling would flicker through his heart, so fast it felt like an illusion.

After a long while, Xiao Xun'er was drenched in sweat, her breath coming in short gasps, and she came to a halt.

She looked at Lin Chen opposite her, whose breathing remained steady and whose clothes were not even ruffled, a flash of helplessness and admiration crossing her eyes.

This guy was simply a monster!

Sparring with him brought immense pressure, but her progress was also lightning-fast.

"I'm done, I'm done,"

Xiao Xun'er pouted, reaching up to wipe the sweat from her temple.

Her fingertips inadvertently brushed her cheek, and the resulting flush made her look exceptionally charming.

"You guy, you were just toying with me the whole time."

Only in front of Lin Chen would she occasionally shed the cold, aloof mask of an Ancient Clan heiress.

Revealing the true self that belonged to a girl of her age.

Lin Chen withdrew his stance, neither confirming nor denying.

"Not bad, you've improved since last time."

He paused, pulled a small porcelain bottle from his robes, and handed it over:

"This will help you suppress the Heavenly Flame."

Xiao Xun'er took the bottle, feeling a slight chill against her skin.

Upon opening it, a scorching aura wafted out, instantly calming her restless Dou Qi.

Inside the bottle was a liquid as bright red as blood.

She looked up at him, her glass-like eyes shimmering:

"What... treasure is this?"

"Something that can help you control the Heavenly Flame."

Lin Chen spoke indifferently, with no intention of explaining further.

After all, this was something he had condensed using the power of his Karmic Fire.

And he had added a bit of his own blood.

Xiao Xun'er gripped the porcelain bottle tightly, the coolness from its surface seeming to seep into her heart.

Though she did not know exactly what it was, anything that could help her control the Heavenly Flame was undoubtedly extremely precious!

He was always like this.

An indescribable emotion spread through her heart, carrying a hint of sweetness mixed with a touch of bitterness.

The two walked side by side to the edge of the cliff and sat down by habit to regulate their breathing.

The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the clouds golden-red, casting a warm light over their figures.

The mountain breeze carried the fresh scent of grass and trees from afar, stirring Xiao Xun'er's hair.

A few mischievous strands brushed against Lin Chen's cheek, carrying a faint, delicate fragrance.

Lin Chen turned his head slightly; the girl's profile, bathed in the sunset glow, was as soft as a painting.

Her long eyelashes fluttered like resting butterflies.

He subconsciously wanted to raise his hand to brush the hair away for her, but his fingertips paused in mid-air.

In the end, he quietly withdrew his hand and clenched his fist.

Xiao Xun'er seemed to sense something and turned to look at him.

As their eyes met, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.

She saw a flash of complex emotion deep within Lin Chen's eyes.

It was like a night sky hiding stars, so profound that she could not see through it.

Her heart skipped a beat for no reason, and she hurriedly looked away, gazing toward the distant mountain range.

The tips of her ears, however, quietly turned red.

Over these past four and a half years, the relationship between the two had long since moved past the initial strangeness and probing.

Ever since the time Lin Chen stepped in to help her suppress the backlash of her Heavenly Flame, similar situations had occurred several times.

The Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame was far too overbearing, even with the secret techniques of the Ancient Clan sealing it.

The power of its backlash was certainly not something a young girl could easily endure.

Every time she suffered through the agony, Lin Chen would always "happen" to appear.

In reality, it was the Karma Fire Red Lotus sensing the Heavenly Flame!

He would then use his mysterious methods to calm her pain, even using his incredibly pure Blood Origin Dou Qi to nourish her meridians.

Once, when she was in a daze from the pain, she vaguely felt his palm pressed against her back.

That warm touch and his steady heartbeat became her greatest source of comfort.

Over time, an indescribable sense of trust and reliance quietly sprouted in Xiao Xun'er's heart.

She would subconsciously search for his figure and feel joyful over his simple words of affirmation.

She would pray silently whenever he ventured deep into the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

She even thought that if things could just continue like this, it would be wonderful.

She did not know Lin Chen's secrets, and Lin Chen never asked about her origins.

The two maintained a strange, tacit understanding.

Xiao Xun'er would bring him medicinal pills and herbs that were hard to obtain from the outside world!

Her excuse was always that her clan gave her more than she could use.

Watching him accept them, a small sense of satisfaction would bubble up in her heart.

Lin Chen, for his part, was responsible for stepping in when she needed him and acting as her best sparring partner.

Occasionally, he would also give her an unexpected surprise, just like he had moments ago.

"Regarding the Magical Beast Mountain Range, I have asked Elder Ling to keep an eye on it."

Xiao Xun'er broke the silence softly, her tone carrying a hint of imperceptible concern.

"There have been some unusual movements deep in the Magical Beast Mountain Range recently; you... be careful."

She knew Lin Chen often ventured deep into the mountains to hunt magical beasts, and every time she thought of the dangers he might face, her heart would tighten.

"Mm."

Lin Chen responded, his gaze fixed on the distant mountains, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

He could hear the worry in her tone, like a pebble dropped into a lake, sending ripples across the depths of his heart.

His cultivation progress over these four and a half years might seem "slow."

In reality, more than eighty percent of his energy had been poured into those heaven-defying divine abilities:

The condensation of the Blood God Child clones!

The two great divine abilities recorded in the Blood Scripture, Boundless Blood Sea and Blood God Child.

Their cultivation thresholds and consumption far exceeded the Heaven-tier or even legendary-level Dou Techniques of this world!

Under normal circumstances, he would need to reach at least the Dou Zun realm.

Only after gaining profound control over the energy of heaven and earth and his own soul could one attempt to cultivate them!

But Lin Chen could not wait!

He knew well that this world was fraught with crises, and stories of geniuses dying young were everywhere.

He had no protagonist's halo and did not believe in destiny; if he died, he was truly dead!

Any grand ambitions or deep-seated blood feuds would all come to nothing!

Deep in his bones, he was still that soul from modern society, and the instinct to cherish his own life was etched into his very genes.

The primary rule governing all his actions was simple: survive!

Steady development? That was only possible if one stayed alive first!

And the Blood God Child clone was the best trump card for self-preservation he could conceive of while his own strength remained meager.

He would condense the clone and hide it in a secret location.

If the main body were to perish, his soul could instantly transfer to the clone and revive, effectively granting him an extra life!

In the face of insurmountable danger, he could even proactively abandon his main body, shedding his skin like a cicada to escape!

This was equivalent to an absolutely reliable resurrection armor!

Only with this could he truly dare to fight and take risks!

Otherwise, if he spent every day cowering in Wutan City killing small-time thugs, when would he ever be able to exact his revenge?

When would he ever be able to repair his supreme treasures?

However, the price of cultivating this in advance was immense!

The Blood God Child clone required a massive amount of highly condensed blood essence energy to serve as its "vessel."

It also required a wisp of his own soul origin to act as a "fuse," establishing a connection with the main body!

To put it another way, it meant allowing one soul to control all bodies!

This not only avoided the perils of soul fragmentation but also ensured perfect synchronization between the clone and the main body.

Countless clones, but only one soul!

Therefore, there were no risks such as self-consciousness backlash or personality shifts!

All the clones, all the bodies—none of them possessed such things!

There was only one soul, and he would not be changed or influenced!

Over these past four and a half years, he had hunted countless magical beasts.

He had even secretly disposed of quite a few unlucky members of the Jialie Clan and desperate outlaws who had crossed his path.

The vast majority of the immense blood essence he had devoured had not been used to improve his cultivation.

Instead, he had carefully purified and compressed it, much like a master craftsman carving a rare, unpolished gem.

Bit by bit, he had injected it into the illusory prototype of the Blood God Child!

Every time he compressed the blood essence, it felt as if a furnace had been ignited within his body, causing unbearable pain.

Every time he used his soul origin to link with the clone, it felt like walking a tightrope; the slightest carelessness could damage his very foundation.

If not for the unique stabilizing effect the Blood Scripture had on the soul, combined with his willpower which far exceeded that of ordinary people, he never could have persisted.

All this hardship and sacrifice was solely for that one trump card for survival!

Fortunately, all his efforts had finally borne fruit today!

After parting ways with Xiao Xun'er, Lin Chen did not return to the Xiao Clan Nursery.

As early as two years ago, he had used money he had "accidentally" acquired.

In an extremely remote corner of Wutan City's outer district, he had quietly purchased a small courtyard with a cellar.

Apart from Xiao Xun'er, no one knew of this place.

He pushed open the creaking wooden door; the courtyard was overgrown with weeds, appearing desolate and dilapidated.

But he didn't care in the slightest, walking straight into the house, lifting the cellar hatch, and descending the cold, dark stairs.

In the center of the cellar, there was nothing.

Lin Chen sat cross-legged and closed his eyes to focus.

His consciousness sank deep into his dantian, where, aside from the slowly rotating blood-colored Dou Crystal and the silent phantoms of the three supreme treasures.

There was also an extremely faint blood-colored mark, almost fused with his own blood energy.

"Condense!"

He shouted inwardly.

Following his command, that blood-colored mark suddenly flared with light!

A dense, blood-colored mist emerged from thin air within the cellar.

"Hiss!!"

This mist was no ordinary vapor, but the breath of origin condensed from billions of drops of blood essence.

It carried a powerful life force and a strange connection that was tightly linked to the depths of Lin Chen's soul!

The mist churned, gathered, contracted, and solidified...

The entire process was smooth and fluid, without a single hitch.

Within the blood-colored mist, bones, meridians, flesh, and skin took shape at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Even the texture of his clothes and the thickness of his hair were rendered with absolute clarity.

In the end, a figure identical to Lin Chen in appearance, physique, and even aura stood silently in the cellar!

This figure was no dull puppet; though his eyes were calm, they held the same profound depth as Lin Chen's.

The Dou Qi fluctuations on his body were restrained, yet one could clearly sense the eight-star Dou Grandmaster cultivation base that originated from the same source as Lin Chen.

Even the rhythmic footwork of the Shadow Escape and the circulation of Dou Qi from the Blood Scripture were flawless!

If someone were to barge in at this moment, they would be completely unable to distinguish which was the true body and which was the clone!

This was the first Blood God Child clone he had finally condensed after four and a half years of painstaking effort!

Going from zero to one is incredibly difficult!

But now that he had successfully mastered the entry-level, the path ahead would not be nearly as arduous!

The clone was not an independent life, but an extension of Lin Chen.

Lin Chen could clearly perceive everything the clone felt, as naturally as sensing his own hands and feet.

He could even instantly transfer his consciousness to the clone, making it the new "main body."

It possessed the exact same combat power as he did!

Looking at the figure before him that was indistinguishable from himself, there was not a hint of excitement or sentimentality in Lin Chen's eyes.

There was only a cold, icy calm.

In his eyes, this was never a second self, nor was it a being with independent thought.

It was merely a tool, a skill, a high-level trump card for survival that required a massive price!

Its existence had only one meaning:

To serve as a vessel for his soul should he encounter misfortune, effectively allowing him to resurrect at full health!

In daily life, it acted like a shadow sharing perception with the main body, lurking here and operating in silence.

"Consciousness synchronized, energy maintenance at minimum."

Lin Chen issued his final command.

The Blood God Child clone nodded slightly, a cold light identical to Lin Chen's flashing in its eyes.

It then fell completely silent, sitting cross-legged in the corner of the cellar like a statue.

Its aura retracted until it was almost imperceptible, merging into the cold gloom of the cellar.

Only after finishing all this did Lin Chen let out a long sigh of relief.

The heartstrings that had been taut for so long finally relaxed a fraction.

With this trump card, he could finally loosen his restraints a little.

However, leaving the clone here was still not entirely safe; he would relocate his base later.

He walked out of the cellar and into the desolate courtyard.

Night had already fallen, and the stars were scattered across the sky.

He looked up, his cold gaze passing over the low courtyard wall.

He locked onto a direction in Wutan City from afar:

That was where the Jialie Clan estate stood, brightly lit.

Four and a half years of lying in wait, the investment of countless blood essence, and now that his trump card was finally forged...

It was time to make certain people pay back their blood debts with interest!