Origins

The abandoned warehouse was pitch-black. Lin Mu walked straight to a corner and lifted a broken wooden plank.

"Go down." She pointed at the exposed hole.

Huo Yuhao looked down and found a stone staircase leading underground. "You're making this so mysterious. What exactly are you people doing?"

"You'll know once you get down there." Lin Mu jumped down first.

Huo Yuhao followed close behind. The stairs went deep underground, and it took them a full five minutes to reach the bottom. Then the space before them suddenly opened up, revealing a massive underground chamber.

"Fuck!" Huo Yuhao could not help swearing.

The chamber was filled with ancient books, while all kinds of charts and maps hung on the walls. Most eye-catching of all was the enormous flag in the center, embroidered with a majestic white tiger.

"The royal emblem of the Star Luo Empire." Lin Mu walked up to the flag. "This was the safehouse your mother left behind."

Huo Yuhao went to a bookshelf and casually opened an ancient volume. It was densely packed with records, all research materials concerning the Dai family bloodline.

"You said I'm a member of the Dai family?" He closed the book and turned to look at Lin Mu. "What proof do you have?"

Lin Mu pulled a yellowed document from her clothes. "This is your birth certificate—your real birth certificate."

Huo Yuhao took the document. Written clearly on it were: Dai Yuhao, eldest legitimate son of the Star Luo Empire's royal family. Mother: Huo Yun'er. Father: Dai Jun.

"Dai Jun?" He frowned. "Not Dai Hao?"

"Dai Hao is your uncle." Lin Mu sat down in a chair. "Dai Jun was the Crown Prince back then—your biological father."

Huo Yuhao felt his mind growing muddled. [Thought Palace] immediately activated and began sorting through the information.

[Reorganizing information...]

[Conclusion: If true, you are the legitimate heir of the Star Luo Empire]

[Inference: Dai Hao participated in a coup, killed your father, and usurped the throne]

[Question: Why did he not kill you outright?]

"Wait." Huo Yuhao suddenly thought of something. "If Dai Hao knows who I am, why didn't he just kill me? Isn't keeping me alive a threat?"

Lin Mu nodded. "That has to do with the pendant you're wearing."

Huo Yuhao instinctively touched the pendant on his chest.

"That isn't an ordinary accessory." Lin Mu rose to her feet. "It's the Dai family's ancestral bloodline detector. Only someone with pure royal blood can activate it."

"So?"

"So Dai Hao needs you alive. He needs the power of your bloodline." Lin Mu walked over to a diagram on the wall. "Look at this."

Huo Yuhao walked over and saw a complex Soul Tool formation diagram drawn on the wall.

"What is this?"

"A sealing formation for an ancient ruin." Lin Mu pointed to several key nodes in the diagram. "Legend says an ancient ruin lies buried beneath the Star Luo Empire, containing immense power. But its seal can only be opened with royal blood."

Huo Yuhao suddenly understood. "So those people at the academy, including Dai Hao, all want to use me to open this seal?"

"That's right." Lin Mu turned to face him. "Did you think it was a coincidence that you entered Sun Moon Royal Academy? Everything was arranged."

[Thought Palace] spun wildly as it analyzed this shocking truth.

[Analysis complete]

[Conclusion: You have been a chess piece since birth]

[Objective: Use the power of your bloodline to obtain the treasures of the ancient ruin]

[Current status: Your bloodline has awakened. They may make their move at any time]

Just then, Huo Yuhao felt something strange happening to his body. The pendant on his chest was growing hotter and hotter, and something within him seemed to be awakening.

"What's going on?" He clutched his chest.

Lin Mu's expression changed. "The bloodline resonance has begun!"

Huo Yuhao activated [Thought Palace] and began checking his physical condition. To his shock, he discovered that the genetic structure inside his body was undergoing subtle changes.

[Warning: Genetic modification traces detected]

[Analysis: Your bloodline was artificially enhanced]

[Objective: Strengthen resonance with the ancient seal]

"Fuck!" Huo Yuhao cursed. "I was modified?"

"What modification?" Lin Mu asked, confused.

"Genetic modification." Huo Yuhao sneered. "Someone tampered with me when I was little and strengthened my bloodline."

Lin Mu froze. "That's impossible. Your mother was always protecting you..."

"Then my mother must have done it." Huo Yuhao reasoned. "To make sure I could handle the dangers ahead, she strengthened my bloodline in advance."

The moment he finished speaking, the ground suddenly began to shake.

"Oh no, they found this place." Lin Mu hurried toward a Soul Tool device in the corner. "I'll activate the teleportation formation. We need to leave first."

"Wait." Huo Yuhao stopped her. "What about the other students?"

"What other students?"

"You think the academy only targeted me?" Huo Yuhao sneered. "Since they're carrying out some kind of ritual, they'll definitely need more sacrifices."

Lin Mu froze for a moment, then nodded. "You're right. I have heard that the academy has been secretly gathering students with all kinds of special bloodlines."

"Then we can't leave." Huo Yuhao said firmly. "I can't just stand by and watch innocent people get killed."

"Are you crazy?" Lin Mu grew anxious. "It's already hard enough just keeping ourselves safe, and you still want to save others?"

"I'm not crazy." Huo Yuhao walked over to the map and began studying the academy's layout. "I just don't want to be a pawn for the rest of my life."

He used [Thought Palace] to rapidly analyze weaknesses in the academy's defenses. Based on his earlier observations, there were several vulnerable points in the underground laboratory.

"What's your plan?" Seeing how serious he was, Lin Mu calmed down as well.

"Simple." Huo Yuhao marked several key points on the map. "We split up. You activate the teleportation array and prepare our escape route. I'll go to the underground laboratory and get those students out."

"That's too dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Huo Yuhao laughed. "I've been living in danger since the day I was born. You think I'm scared of this little risk?"

The rumbling grew closer and closer. Clearly, the pursuers had already found the warehouse.

"Fine, we'll do it your way." Lin Mu gritted her teeth and agreed. "But you only have one hour. One hour from now, whether you succeed or not, we retreat."

"That's enough." Huo Yuhao put away the map. "Oh, and there's one more thing."

"What?"

"There were three obvious logical flaws in what you just said." Huo Yuhao stared at her. "Who exactly are you? Are you really my mother's student?"

Lin Mu's expression changed slightly. "What do you mean?"

"First, if you really were a hidden guard, there's no way you wouldn't know about the genetic modification. Second, you know far too much about the academy's internal affairs. You sound like an insider. Third..." Huo Yuhao paused. "The aura of your martial soul is very similar to that of one of Sun Moon Royal Academy's higher-ups."

Lin Mu fell silent for several seconds, then gave a bitter smile. "As expected, I couldn't fool you."

"So who are you?"

"I'm Mo Li's daughter," Lin Mu admitted. "But everything else I said was true. I really am helping you."

"Mo Li?" Huo Yuhao recalled the vice principal. "Why are you helping me?"

"Because I don't agree with their plan." Lin Mu spoke seriously. "Sacrificing innocent students for power is wrong."

Footsteps sounded overhead. The pursuers had already entered the warehouse.

"Fine. No matter who you are, we're allies for now." Huo Yuhao headed for another exit. "See you in an hour."

"Be careful," Lin Mu warned.

Without looking back, Huo Yuhao entered the secret passage leading into the academy. Behind him came the sound of Lin Mu activating the teleportation array.

"Rescue everyone in one hour..." He moved through the darkness. "Now that's exciting."