"Whoosh!"
Lin Chen didn't linger. He took advantage of the deepest darkness before dawn.
He slipped back into the Xiao Clan Nursery without a sound.
He avoided the lax gaze of the night watchman.
Like a civet cat, he climbed through the window and returned to the cramped dormitory he shared with the other children, thick with the smell of sweat and a faint mustiness.
The orphans sharing the room with him were fast asleep.
snores rose and fell around him.
He quickly took off his old clothes, which were coated in dust and faintly reeked of blood.
He stuffed them into the deepest part beneath his bed, then changed into the coarse, faded sleepwear issued by the nursery.
He lay back down on his little bed as though he had never left.
At first light, the nursery matron discovered that Lin Chen, who had been "missing" all night, was back.
With clear concern on her face, she pulled him over and gave him a thorough check.
Only after confirming that he wasn't hurt did she gently pat his back.
Her voice carried a hint of lingering fear as she chided him:
"You little rascal, where did you run off to last night?"
"Don't you dare do that again. It's dangerous out there."
Lin Chen lowered his head and answered softly.
A trace of warmth stirred in his heart. It was one of the few sources of warmth he had now.
During the day:
Lin Chen acted like a child who had been frightened into silence.
He kept to a corner.
He didn't immediately cultivate and absorb the blood essence!
At the Dou Zhe stage, raising one or two minor star ranks.
Would only offer a limited boost to his combat power, given that he had Yuantu, Abi, and the Karma Fire Red Lotus up his sleeve.
More importantly, the nursery was full of people, and it was easy to draw attention.
Cultivating the Blood Scripture would make it easy to expose himself.
When night fell again.
After confirming that the children sharing his room were all fast asleep, Lin Chen sat cross-legged on his bed and sank his consciousness into his dantian.
He carefully extracted the blood essence stored in his dantian!
This time, he didn't refine and absorb it.
Instead, he guided it slowly into the two ancient sword phantoms hovering silently within.
"Vmm... vmm..."
Yuantu and Abi rang out once more, their twin swords giving satisfied little hums.
Like a parched land drinking in rain, they greedily devoured the pure energy.
The blood-red patterns and ashen, deathly sheen across the blades.
Seemed to brighten by the tiniest, almost imperceptible sliver.
Though they still possessed only one trillionth of their original essence.
Lin Chen could clearly feel that their auras had grown a little denser and stronger than they had been the day before!
The road to restoring them was long, but the method worked!
"Slaughter... blood... souls..."
Lin Chen silently repeated the yearning conveyed by the twin swords.
He needed more! Stronger prey!
The Jialie Clan... would have to pay!
He had no intention of calling it quits after killing two or three people.
With his temperament, he wouldn't sleep soundly until the Jialie Clan was wiped out!
The next day:
An unusual atmosphere hung over the nursery.
Servants whispered among themselves, while the stewards hurried about.
From snatches of conversation, Lin Chen heard words like "honored guest," "an extraordinary big shot," and "the clan leader is greeting them in person":
"Could it be... Xiao Xun'er?"
Lin Chen's heart stirred.
Judging by the timing, it seemed about right.
Still, he wasn't very interested.
Right now, his only goals were to grow stronger and get revenge.
As usual, he ate a meager breakfast at the nursery.
Then he wandered aimlessly around the Xiao Clan grounds by himself.
In truth, he was familiarizing himself with the area and thinking through his next move:
"Strength comes from killing, but right now I lack effective Dou Techniques and means of protecting myself."
"The Boundless Blood Sea is still out of reach, but the Blood God Child..."
Lin Chen's eyes flickered.
The Blood God Child avatar was mysterious and unpredictable, and it was an excellent way to stay alive!
If he could form one, it would be like gaining another life!
From then on, he could act without restraint!
But forming a Blood God Child required vast amounts of blood essence and a powerful soul as its foundation.
His soul was perhaps much stronger than those of other children his age.
That was thanks to the memories of his previous life and the baptism of Styx's legacy!
But he still needed to build up his strength before meeting the requirements for cultivation!
Fortunately, the Blood Scripture cultivated the body, soul, and Dou Qi all at once!
"First, I'll stockpile some blood essence, then try to form a Blood God Child!"
Lin Chen made up his mind.
His target would naturally be those wicked, karma-laden members of the Jialie Clan!
He would use their blood and souls to forge his own life-saving trump card!
Before long, he found himself near the Xiao Clan Martial Arts Arena.
The clan's disciples usually came here to practice Dou Techniques and test their strength.
At the moment, quite a crowd had gathered. Most were children, along with some adults from branch families.
The place was noisy.
Lin Chen had no intention of paying attention and was about to walk around it.
Suddenly, a voice rang out from the testing area!
It echoed from the center of the arena, clear enough for him to hear:
"Dou Qi, Third Stage!"
Lin Chen's steps abruptly halted!
As though he'd been struck by a binding spell!
He whipped around, his gaze piercing through the crowd.
His eyes locked onto the enormous black Magic Testing Stele in the center of the arena.
The smooth surface of the stele was now shining brightly.
Five large characters were clearly reflected across it:
Dou Qi: Third Stage!
Standing before the stele was a boy of about five, dressed in a brocade robe.
He held his little chin high, a smug smile plain on his face.
He basked in the shock, envy, and even awe in the gazes around him.
His small frame was ramrod straight, like a proud little rooster.
It was none other than the young Xiao Yan!
"Good heavens! Third Stage of Dou Qi at five?!"
"H-how is that possible? When I was five, I was still playing in the mud!"
"No wonder he's the clan leader's son! A genius!"
"A true genius!"
"The Xiao Clan has a bright future!"
Exclamations and praise surged in from all around.
They surrounded little Xiao Yan at the center.
The smug look on his face grew even more pronounced.
He swept his gaze over the other children his age, his manner arrogant and condescending.
At that moment, everyone's eyes were on him, and he was in high spirits.
He had yet to endure life's lows and trials.
Lin Chen's eyes quickly returned to their deep, tranquil stillness.
He watched the dazzling little figure in the arena without a ripple in his heart.
At five, he was already a two-star Dou Zhe, far beyond the so-called realm of "geniuses."
In his eyes, Xiao Yan's radiance was like a firefly beside the bright moon.
Just then, a steward came hurrying over.
He called out from outside the crowd:
"Young Master Xiao Yan! The clan leader wants you at the Ancestral Hall immediately!"
"We have an honored guest!"
The smugness faded slightly from Xiao Yan's face.
He looked annoyed at the interruption, but still held his head high.
Amid the envious gazes around him, he left the Martial Arts Arena.
He headed toward the Xiao Clan's inner grounds.
Lin Chen understood:
"An honored guest... Xiao Xun'er has arrived."
He turned as well and strolled unhurriedly toward the Back Mountain.
The atmosphere in the corridor outside the Ancestral Hall was solemn.
Clan leader Xiao Zhan was there with several elders.
They stood beside a delicate little girl, as exquisite as a porcelain doll.
The girl was about four years old and wore a light purple dress.
Her presence was ethereal and otherworldly; even at such a young age, she already hinted at a peerless beauty.
She was Xiao Xun'er, the young lady of the Ancient Clan.
Xiao Yan was brought over.
With a proud smile, Xiao Zhan introduced him to Xiao Xun'er:
"Miss Xun'er, this is my son, Xiao Yan."
"Yan'er, come greet Miss Xun'er."
"Miss Xun'er will be living with us from now on. You must take good care of your little sister."
Xiao Yan looked at the little girl before him, who was even younger than he was and so beautiful she hardly seemed mortal.
A glimmer of amazement flashed through his eyes, but his genius's pride quickly suppressed it.
He puffed out his little chest and cupped his hands, putting on a solemn air like a grown-up:
"Miss Xun'er, I'm Xiao Yan."
"If you ever need anything, just come to me!"
A faint note of boasting crept into his voice.
Xiao Xun'er lifted her clear, glass-like eyes and glanced calmly at Xiao Yan.
Her little face showed no expression. She only gave a slight nod in greeting and didn't speak.
Her gaze was so calm, as though she were looking at some insignificant object.
The smile on Xiao Yan's face stiffened.
He was used to being fawned over. When had he ever been treated so coldly?
A wave of displeasure rose in his heart.
He tried to find something to talk about:
"Miss Xun'er, I just tested my Dou Qi at the Martial Arts Arena. Third Stage!"
"I wonder what level your cultivation has reached?"
"Maybe we can talk about cultivation sometime!"
He tried to get her attention.
Xiao Xun'er still showed little reaction.
She simply shifted her calm gaze away, seemingly uninterested in everything around her.
She just stood quietly beside Xiao Zhan.
Xiao Yan had hit a soft nail, and the pride in his heart flared up.
Hmph, she was just a pretty little girl, wasn't she?
As if he cared!
He stopped trying to strike up a conversation and folded his arms, putting on an equally indifferent air.
Still, at his father's request, he led Xiao Xun'er out of the central ancestral hall.
They began touring the Xiao Clan grounds.
Just then, no one noticed.
The black-robed old man had been standing in the shadows behind Xiao Xun'er like a shadow himself, his aura almost completely blended into his surroundings:
Dou Emperor Ling Ying.
Beneath his hood, his face suddenly twisted with utter shock!
His powerful soul perception reached out like invisible tendrils.
In an instant, it locked onto a spot around the corner of the corridor.
A five-year-old child in the coarse clothes of the Orphanage was strolling past there at an unhurried pace!
"Miss!"
Ling Ying's voice carried unprecedented gravity, along with a tremor of disbelief.
It rang directly in Xiao Xun'er's mind:
"This Xiao Clan... is hiding a true monster!"
Xiao Xun'er had been feeling a little bored.
At his words, her thoughts stirred:
"Elder Ling, are you referring to that five-year-old Xiao Yan, who has reached the Third Stage of Dou Qi?"
"His talent is decent, but in the clan... he can't be considered top-notch, can he?"
She thought Ling Ying meant Xiao Yan.
"No! Not him!"
Ling Ying's voice brimmed with the excitement of discovering a rare treasure:
"That child!"
"The five-year-old in coarse clothes who just walked over from the Martial Arts Arena!"
Following the direction of Ling Ying's thoughts, Xiao Xun'er casually turned her gaze toward the corner of the corridor.
There, a thin boy with a still-childish face walked slowly with his head bowed.
He seemed completely uninterested in them as he ambled past.
It was Lin Chen!
"Him?"
Xiao Xun'er knitted her delicate brows and carefully sensed him.
Her cultivation was still shallow, and her soul power was limited.
She could only vaguely sense that his aura seemed steadier than that of an ordinary child.
"Miss, this child is extraordinary!"
Ling Ying's voice was full of shock:
"This old servant probed him repeatedly with my soul power—three times! There's no mistake!"
"This child... his Dou Qi is concentrated and powerful, and his energy flows in perfect harmony."
"His cultivation... has already reached two-star Dou Zhe!"
"What?!"
Even with Xiao Xun'er's knowledge and composure as a young lady of the Ancient Clan,
she couldn't help being shaken to her core, nearly losing her composure!
Five years old! Two-star Dou Zhe?!
How was that possible?!
Even in the Ancient Clan, with its boundless resources and peerless techniques,
those who could reach the Dou Zhe level at five were exceedingly rare—peerless geniuses singled out for special cultivation!
And those geniuses!
Which one hadn't been immersed in top-grade medicinal baths since childhood, fed treasures of heaven and earth, and taught by renowned masters who devoted themselves to their training?
But this place... was the barren Jia Ma Empire!
The remote Wutan City!
The fallen Xiao Clan!
A child wearing the coarse clothes of the Orphanage, clearly of low status...
A five-year-old two-star Dou Zhe was indeed shocking enough.
But even more shocking was reaching two-star Dou Zhe at five without any resources!
The two were worlds apart!
It was utterly mind-boggling!
If Ling Ying hadn't said it himself and confirmed it repeatedly, Xiao Xun'er would never have believed it!
"Elder Ling... are you sure?"
Xiao Xun'er's voice carried a tremor she herself didn't notice:
"Absolutely!"
Ling Ying answered with firm conviction:
"This child keeps his aura hidden. If I hadn't sensed him with my soul power, he would almost have fooled me too!"
"The Dou Qi in his body is incredibly concentrated, and the depth of his foundation far surpasses that of others at the same level!"
"He's a peerless monster!"
Ling Ying's thoughts churned like a raging sea.
A five-year-old two-star Dou Zhe, appearing in a place like this.
Either he had stumbled upon an earth-shattering opportunity.
Or... some legendary, heaven-defying physique had awakened ahead of time!
Either way, it was enough to shake the entire continent!
For the first time, Xiao Xun'er's clear eyes fixed on the boy with genuine curiosity and solemnity.
Her gaze followed the thin, slight figure, which was about to disappear at the end of the corridor.
At that moment, the halo of genius surrounding five-year-old Xiao Yan, with his Third Stage of Dou Qi, seemed dim beyond compare.
This little-known son of a guard was shrouded in a mysterious, unsettling haze.
"Lin Chen..."
Xiao Xun'er silently repeated the name she had just learned from Ling Ying.
This Xiao Clan seemed far more interesting than she'd imagined.
Her mission remained unchanged.
But this sudden-appearing monster...
was worth paying much closer attention to.
If she could bring him over to the Ancient Clan, he would be a tremendous asset!
Meanwhile, Lin Chen, the object of the Ancient Clan heiress's and a Dou Emperor's covert attention, remained completely unaware.
He had only obtained the cultivation technique a day ago, yet he could already conceal his aura extremely well.
Even Dou Ling and Dou Wang couldn't see through his cultivation.
But he had run into a Dou Emperor!
Still, once he became familiar with the technique, almost no one would be able to see through him.
He had long since crossed the corridor and reached a secluded, deserted cliff in the Back Mountain of the Xiao Clan:
"Whew..."
The mountain wind howled, ruffling the hair above his forehead.
He sat cross-legged on a smooth blue-gray rock, looking down over the cloud-wreathed valley below.
His gaze was deep.
"Two-star Dou Zhe... the road to repairing Yuantu and Abi will be long... Blood God Child..."
He murmured to himself.
Xiao Xun'er's arrival hadn't stirred much in his heart.
It wasn't as if he had no thoughts about her—after all, she was Xiao Xun'er.
But now, his desire to grow stronger and take revenge overwhelmed everything else!
Before you continue