Cold, darkness, and an indescribable sense of confinement.
Then came a surging pressure, as though it would crush him.
Lin Yinuo's consciousness drifted through the chaos, memories of his past life like shattered glass, mingling with the bewildered perceptions of a newborn.
Where... am I?
He tried hard to open his eyes, but could make out only a blur of light. He wanted to shout, yet all that emerged was a thin, feeble cry that sounded unfamiliar even to him.
"Waaah!"
The loud cry echoed through the room.
"There, there, he's out! A healthy boy!" A woman's voice rang out, slightly weary but filled with joy and deep affection. "Hogg, look. Our second child."
Lin Yinuo felt a pair of large, warm, slightly rough hands carefully take him.
"Good, good! A descendant of the Baruch Clan!" A steady male voice could barely contain its excitement. "Lina, thank you for all you've been through. This child... what a loud cry. You can tell at a glance he's a descendant of us Dragonblood Warriors!"
Dragonblood Warriors? The Baruch Clan?
Those two terms exploded like thunder in Lin Yinuo's muddled mind.
The Coiling Dragon World? I actually transmigrated here? And became Linley's... brother?
He struggled to focus his eyes, vaguely making out a brown-haired man with a resolute face gazing at him with affection. Is this my father, Hogg Baruch? And that beautiful woman on the bed beside him, pale but beaming with happiness-is she my mother in this life?
His gaze shifted with difficulty, catching sight of another little baby beside him, also freshly cleaned and wrapped in swaddling. The little baby's eyes were closed, his tiny fists moving slightly.
Linley... the future master of the universe, owner of the Azure Dragon Ring, the Earth Sovereign, Linley Baruch? He's actually my younger twin brother now?
The enormous influx of information left Lin Yinuo a little dizzy, while also bringing a sense of absurdity and an indescribable excitement.
Just then, a cold, emotionless mechanical voice sounded deep within his mind:
[Host consciousness detected as stable. Soul mutation confirmed... Binding conditions met...] [Hongmeng Sign-In System activating... 10%... 50%... 100%!] [Activation successful! Host Lin Yinuo, welcome to the Hongmeng Sign-In System!]
A system?!
As a standard feature for transmigrators, it was naturally familiar to Lin Yinuo. But the name "Hongmeng" still sent a tremendous shock through him. That was an existence at the very pinnacle of the Coiling Dragon World!
[This system is designed to assist the host's growth. You may sign in once daily to receive a random reward. Reward quality is related to the host's strength, current environment, and relevant events of fate. As the host's strength increases, the system will gradually upgrade.] [Host, would you like to perform your first sign-in?]
Sign in! Lin Yinuo said silently without hesitation.
Whatever the situation, only an idiot would leave a cheat unused!
[Ding! Sign-in successful! Congratulations, host. You have received the beginner reward: [Dragonblood Warrior bloodline purity +1%]!]
A faint yet unmistakably clear warmth appeared out of nowhere within Lin Yinuo's body. Like a gentle stream, it quietly merged into his tiny body, seeping into every strand of flesh and blood, and even the depths of his soul. It was a completion and elevation originating from the very essence of life. Though the change was extremely small, he could indeed feel that his body seemed a little more solid, its connection to some unseen, dormant power a little stronger.
Dragonblood Warrior bloodline purification!
Lin Yinuo was ecstatic. This was the very foundation of the Baruch Clan's rise! In the original story, his father Hogg had spent his entire life striving to awaken his bloodline and revive the clan, only to die filled with regret. His younger brother Linley, too, had endured countless hardships before succeeding.
And now, he had gained bloodline purification merely through his first sign-in! Though it was only 1%, it meant a path to the heavens had already opened beneath his feet! This system's power could truly be called heaven-defying!
"Hogg, look. This child seems to be looking at us." His mother Lina's weak voice held surprise. "His eyes... they're so bright, so calm. He's not like little Linley, crying nonstop just now."
At her words, Hogg carefully studied Lin Yinuo in his arms. Sure enough, the child's eyes were unusually clear. Though they still held an infant's innocence, there was a little less bewilderment and a little more of an indescribable... composure?
"Yes, this child..." Hogg gently touched Lin Yinuo's cheek with a rough finger. A trace of puzzlement flickered in his eyes, but the joy of being a new father outweighed it. "Perhaps the ancestral souls of our Baruch Clan have blessed us with an extraordinary descendant."
He paused and looked at his wife, his tone turning solemn and gentle. "Lina, we agreed before. If they were boys, the elder would be called Lin Yinuo, and the younger Linley."
"Yinuo... Lin Yinuo." Lina softly repeated the name, a tender smile appearing on her face. "One promise captivates a city; one thought reaches the heavens. I hope our child will grow into a man who cherishes affection and loyalty, a man who stands tall and proud."
Lin Yinuo thought, Mother, Father... rest assured. In this life, as Lin Yinuo, I will protect this family and the glory of the Baruch Clan! I will make up for those regrets! Linley and I will create those glories together!
Feeling the faint but undeniably real trace of dragon blood within him, he looked again at his younger brother Linley sleeping soundly beside him. A weighty sense of responsibility and bold ambition welled up within him.
The Hongmeng Sign-In System was his greatest support.
The road ahead was already different.
From today onward, I will write a new chapter in the Baruch Clan's destiny!
Before you continue