Three months later.
Late at night, a bluestone bed stood in the innermost secret chamber of the Soto Great Soul Arena.
Candlelight flickered, illuminating the medicinal herbs, porcelain bottles, and silver needles hidden beside the bed, as well as the person lying on the stone bed and the person standing beside it.
The person lying facedown was naturally Luo Chen, while the person standing was the young master of the Soto Great Soul Arena-Luo Chen's bargain-bin master.
Ever since Luo Chen had become this young master's disciple, he had said he would help Luo Chen awaken the Nether God Bloodline within the Netherworld Scorpion Emperor.
Thus, every night, he brought Luo Chen into the secret chamber and used silver needles to stimulate the Nether God Bloodline within the Netherworld Scorpion Emperor. Since Luo Chen and the Netherworld Scorpion Emperor were one, naturally, he was the one getting pricked.
At that moment, Luo Chen let out an earth-shaking howl inside the chamber: "Ow! That hurts! Master, stop sticking needles in me!"
With that, he struggled hard on the stone bed, trying to shake off the densely packed silver needles on his back.
"Don't move. If a needle goes into the wrong acupoint, you'll end up a vegetable." After saying that, the young master not only continued, but inserted the needles even faster.
"The Netherworld Scorpion Emperor carries the bloodline of the ancient Nether God." The young master's voice was gentle, with a hint of amusement. "As your master, I'm helping you awaken the power of that bloodline so you can grow better."
"You've seen it yourself, haven't you? In just three months, I've made your Soul Power soar from rank 25 to rank 30."
Hearing this, Luo Chen's resistance gradually eased.
After all, Soul Masters cultivated extremely slowly. Even a genius with innate full Soul Power could not soar from rank 25 to rank 30 in three months.
Yet Luo Chen's bargain-bin master had made his Soul Power soar by five ranks merely by giving him a few acupuncture sessions. That was enough to show that this bargain-bin master... really did have genuine ability.
At that thought, Luo Chen gritted his teeth, feeling the power within him being awakened little by little by the silver needles.
Fine, let it hurt, Luo Chen grumbled inwardly. As long as it makes me stronger.
With that thought, Luo Chen put on an expression of someone ready to face death, shut his eyes tightly, and let his master insert the needles.
"Yes, just like that." Seeing this, the young master nodded in satisfaction, bringing down another silver needle. "Relax your body. Don't resist. I'm helping you awaken the Nether God Bloodline within you."
As the silver needles pierced him one after another, Luo Chen felt a wave of drowsiness wash over him.
Normally, once Luo Chen felt this drowsiness, he would sleep until dawn. But now, perhaps because he had taken too many pills, his body had developed sleep-resisting hormones, leaving him unable to fall asleep.
Just as he was about to speak, the perception granted by his Twin Emperor Soul Guidance suddenly produced an extremely rare premonition, as though a powerful expert had arrived here.
Soon, an old man suddenly appeared beside the young master.
A Titled Douluo?! Luo Chen's heart tightened. Not daring to move a muscle, he could only pretend to have fallen fast asleep.
Seeing that Luo Chen had fallen asleep, the old man did not check him. He simply leaned close to the young master's ear and said, "Young master, the sect master wants you to return immediately."
Hearing this, the young master raised his eyebrows slightly. The silver needle in his hand paused before continuing its descent, but his gaze grew deep.
"Did that old man say anything else?" His voice was very soft. "For example... does he know I've taken a disciple?"
The old man shook his head, lowering his voice to a whisper. "He only said that the Nether God would soon reappear in the world."
"I suspect he's summoned you back to prepare for the Nether God's return."
At these words, the young master fell silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter, rocking back and forth until tears streamed from his eyes.
His laughter echoed through the chamber, carrying an indescribable exhilaration and mockery.
Only after he had laughed his fill did the young master wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes and murmur to himself, "That old bag of bones has spent his whole life pursuing the Nether God Trials, thinking he could obtain the Nether God Bloodline by sacrificing his own children."
He lowered his head, staring fixedly at Luo Chen on the stone bed, and murmured to himself:
"What a pity!"
"What a terrible pity. The thing that old man has pursued his entire life actually fell into my hands."
Lying on the stone bed, Luo Chen went pale at this sudden revelation.
No wonder this bargain-bin master comes to stimulate the Nether God Bloodline inside me every day. He wants to strip it from me! Luo Chen thought to himself. No, I have to find a way to escape.
At that thought, Luo Chen's heartbeat suddenly accelerated, but he kept his eyes tightly shut, pretending to remain asleep, not daring to reveal the slightest abnormality.
Meanwhile, the young master, unaware that Luo Chen was already awake, suddenly opened his eyes and fixed his gaze on the old man.
The old man shuddered under that gaze. Just as he was about to speak, the young master abruptly vanished from where he stood, rushed in front of him, and clamped a hand around his throat.
"Young master, what are you doing?"
The old man's eyes widened as he watched in terror while the person he served took a pitch-black pill from his sleeve and stuffed it into his mouth.
"Swallow it. Don't make me say it twice!"
The old man's expression changed drastically. He tried to struggle free of the young master's grip, only to discover that he could not move at all.
"Understood." Left with no choice, the old man swallowed the pill.
As the pill entered his stomach, his body shuddered violently, and he collapsed to the ground.
His face turned deathly pale, and even his breathing grew rapid. "Young master, I've swallowed the Soul-Driving Pill. Please quell your anger."
Only then did the young master smile. His previously icy presence returned to normal, as though that fickle, coldhearted person from a moment ago had not been him at all.
"I'm not angry. What anger is there to quell?" The young master bent down, helped the old man off the ground, and brushed the dust from his clothes. "Uncle Li, don't forget who saved you, who gave you your current position, and who helped you break through to Titled Douluo."
"You should understand... the consequences of betraying your master!"
At these words, the old man's legs trembled uncontrollably. He hurriedly dropped to both knees and said, "Young master, you are no different from the parents who gave me a second life. The sun and moon can bear witness to my loyalty to you, and heaven and earth can attest to it. I have absolutely no disloyal intentions!"
"That had better be true," the young master said indifferently. "Don't let me find out you've contacted that old man again. Otherwise... even I don't know what I might do."
"Yes! Yes! This old servant understands!"
"Go back and prepare everything needed for our return to the sect. This time, I'll seize the top prize in one stroke."
"Understood." With that, the old man's figure slowly retreated into the shadows and disappeared.
Silence returned to the chamber. Only the candle flames swayed gently, casting alternating light and shadow over the young master's face.
Having witnessed this, Luo Chen was even more frightened and dared not move at all on the stone bed.
I knew it. I knew this bargain-bin master was up to no good! Luo Chen ranted inwardly. He claimed he was helping me awaken the Nether God Bloodline, but he actually plans to steal my bloodline to empower himself.
All that talk of a good disciple and the Nether God's spokesman-he's treating me like a cultivation cauldron!
The words his bargain-bin master had just spoken kept replaying in his mind.
This sect master would sacrifice even his own children for the Nether God Bloodline, and now this bargain-bin master is preparing to sacrifice me for it!
This whole fucking family is insane!
I never should have come to Suotuo City!