Bloodline Inheritor

An abandoned, unfinished building on the outskirts of Jiangcheng.

The black-robed man stood before a shattered window. Moonlight spilled through the hole, illuminating his pale face.

He had just witnessed the entire death of the Skin-Shedding Ghost through the trace of a mental imprint he had left on it.

That man who had appeared out of thin air.

Those scarlet eyes.

Those black flames.

The Skin-Shedding Ghost was a B-rank entity. Though it was among the weaker ones, it was still B-rank.

Even an Awakened at the peak of the Divine Sense Stage would have needed to fight it for a while to bring it down.

But that man.

He had only looked at it.

Just once.

And the Skin-Shedding Ghost had burned to ashes.

The black-robed man's fingers tapped lightly against the window frame, producing a rhythmic sound.

"Interesting."

Behind him, another figure emerged from the shadows.

He also wore clothing bearing the Black Moon emblem, but the emblem on his chest had an additional silver border, a sign of higher status.

"Old Nine, did you call me here just to watch you stare into space?"

Old Nine, the black-robed man who had raised the Mirror Demon and the Skin-Shedding Ghost, did not turn around when he heard him.

"Old Seven, both the entities I raised are dead."

The man called Old Seven raised an eyebrow, walked to the window, and stood beside him.

"I know about the C-rank one. Aside from its unusual ability, it wasn't strong. It's no surprise it died. But the B-rank one..." He paused. "I remember you'd been raising it for almost a year?"

"Yes." Old Nine nodded. "The Skin-Shedding Ghost, middle-grade B-rank, with strength equivalent to the middle Divine Sense Stage. Even against someone at the peak of the Divine Sense Stage, it could hold out for a while."

"So who killed it? Those people from the Paranormal Bureau?"

Old Nine closed his eyes, and the final images transmitted by the mental imprint replayed in his mind.

"A young man who looked to be in his early twenties. He appeared out of thin air, without any energy fluctuations. He just suddenly appeared in front of that Fire Release kid."

Old Seven frowned. "A Space-Type Awakened?"

"More than that." Old Nine opened his eyes. "He also has a Wind-Type Superpower. One palm strike sent the Skin-Shedding Ghost flying dozens of meters. Then his eyes changed color, turning scarlet. After that, black flames appeared on the Skin-Shedding Ghost."

"Black flames?"

"Yes. Those flames were strange. The instant the Skin-Shedding Ghost touched them, it burned to ashes without even a chance to resist." Old Nine turned to Old Seven. "Have you ever heard of an ability like that?"

Old Seven fell silent for a few seconds.

"Spatial abilities, scarlet eyes, Wind-Type, black flames... so many abilities in one person," he murmured, repeating the details. Then his pupils contracted slightly. "Wait. What you're describing reminds me of a record in the organization's archives."

"What record?"

"A very old one."

"It said that in a certain ancient legacy, there was a kind of bloodline inheritor. These people all possessed multiple special abilities." Old Seven's voice grew grave. "Supposedly, none of these bloodline inheritors are ordinary."

Old Nine froze.

"You're saying that young man is a bloodline inheritor?"

"I'm not sure." Old Seven shook his head. "The records aren't detailed. There's no clear method for identifying a bloodline inheritor. But if it's true..."

He did not continue, but both men understood what it meant.

An Awakened with a bloodline legacy was of immeasurable value.

"We have two choices now," Old Nine said slowly. "First, try to recruit him. If he's willing to join the organization, his strength and potential can only benefit our plans in this city."

"And the second?"

"Second, eliminate him before he fully develops." A cold glint flashed through Old Nine's eyes. "Otherwise, with him around, I'm afraid our plans won't go smoothly, and he'll become an enemy of the organization in the future."

Old Seven considered it for a moment.

"Do you think he'll join?"

Old Nine shook his head. "I don't know. But judging by how he stepped in to save those minor figures from the Paranormal Bureau, he's close to the authorities. At least for now, he leans toward their side."

"Then let's try recruiting him first," Old Seven said. "If that doesn't work..."

He drew a hand across his throat.

Old Nine nodded.

"But we can't approach him ourselves," he said. "Have the people under us make contact first. Sound him out and see how he feels about the organization. If possible, we can then introduce him to the higher-ups."

"What about that Fire Release kid?" Old Seven asked. "He killed your Mirror Demon."

Old Nine was silent for a moment.

"Leave him alone for now."

"He's close to that young man. Once we've figured out that man's situation, we'll decide how to deal with him."

Old Seven nodded. "Then that's what we'll do."

The two stood before the window, their shadows stretched long by the moonlight.

In the darkness, undercurrents had already begun to stir.

The following evening, at the Paranormal Bureau.

Su Qianxue sat at her computer, looking at the newly updated file on the screen.

[Name: Lin Jin]

[Abilities: fire Superpower, Wind-Type Superpower, teleportation, unknown eye-related Superpower (Note: the subject referred to these eyes as the "Sharingan." Their specific abilities are unknown. Currently known capabilities include releasing black flames and breaking illusions.)]

[Threat level: cannot be assessed]

[Remarks: the subject has demonstrated no fewer than three different categories of abilities, far exceeding the scope of conventional dual-ability Awakened. His actual limits are unknown. Continued contact is recommended. Do not antagonize him.]

Su Qianxue stared at the word "Sharingan" on the screen, her brow slightly furrowed.

Chen Feng had already given her a detailed report of what had happened last night.

Appearing out of thin air, Wind-Type Superpower, scarlet eyes, black flames.

Every detail reshaped her understanding of that man.

She remembered the first time she had met Lin Jin, when his expression had not changed in the face of the pressure she secretly released.

At the time, she had suspected he was no ordinary Awakened.

Now...

The B-rank Skin-Shedding Ghost had burned to ashes after a single look from him.

It further confirmed her suspicions.

At the Peak Source Energy Stage, with an S-rank Space-Type Superpower, she could also kill a B-rank entity instantly, but she could not do it as cleanly as he had.

Su Qianxue leaned back in her chair and rubbed between her brows.

"Group Leader Su." Chen Mo's voice came from the doorway. "You wanted to see me?"

Su Qianxue straightened. "Yes, come in."

Chen Mo entered and stood in front of her desk.

"What do you think about what happened last night?"

Chen Mo thought for a moment before saying cautiously, "That Lin Jin... is strong! Extremely strong! And he has so many kinds of abilities: fire, wind, Instantaneous Movement, and those eyes. He doesn't seem like an ordinary Superpower Awakened. He's more like..."

"More like what?"

"Like the bloodline inheritors recorded in some ancient texts," Chen Mo said. "Some ancient bloodlines contain multiple abilities that can be unlocked gradually after awakening. I suspect he's that kind of bloodline inheritor."

Su Qianxue nodded.

She and Chen Mo were thinking the same thing.

"But, Team Leader, I'm more curious about something else." Chen Mo gave her a knowing smile. "You seem especially interested in him?"

Su Qianxue froze for a moment, then glared at him. "Enough wisecracks. Get out."

Chen Mo slipped away with a grin.

The office fell quiet again.