In the early morning, within the peaceful AnLan boundaries, in Qin City's Qin Family, a naive figure, covered in blood, stumbled toward the main court of the Qin Family. The surrounding Qin family members were accustomed to this sight.
"Young Master is out hunting beasts again!"
"Sigh, the Young Master was born with divine strength, not to mention his innate fourth-grade Lingwu bloodline, which is among the top bloodlines, just like the elder young master's fourth-grade Azure Phoenix bloodline. It's only a pity he cannot cultivate..."
"Not being able to cultivate is one thing. I just don't understand why the family head treats him so well, supplying him with so many elixirs and spirit grass every day... if it was me, I would have broken through the nine layers of blood refinement and entered the second realm of martial arts!"
Many of the Qin family disciples were discussing in hushed tones.
The young boy was named Qin Yang, the second son of the Qin family head, and his elder brother Qin Xuan were both recognized as geniuses in the Qin family with innate fourth-grade bloodlines. Their future was initially immeasurable, but for some reason, they have always been unable to cultivate.
Walking down the street, Qin Yang seemed oblivious to the surrounding discussions. A hint of determination flashed across his naive face.
"Who says I can't cultivate?"
"After ten years of hunting, nourished by beast's blood, as long as I get through tonight, I can refine the ancient cauldron in my body and obtain the treasure blood within. By then, I will certainly make substantial progress and even give father a surprise!" Qin Yang clenched his fists and strode into his courtyard.
"Young Master." At the door, an ugly old man respectfully greeted him. The old man, dressed in a grey robe, looked hideous with his face full of scars. His right arm was severed at the shoulder, leaving only an empty sleeve.
"Uncle Zhong!" Qin Yang replied happily at the sight of the old man.
"Young Master, have you been hunting beasts again? The family head has been waiting for you for a long time," Uncle Zhong said with a kindly smile.
"Father has come? That's great, I have good news to tell him!" Hearing these words, Qin Yang's face was filled with an excited smile as he couldn't wait to tell his father that he could start cultivating.
The Qin Family head, named Qin Tianzong, was a powerful figure in the AnLan boundary. He was not just the head of the Qin family but also an elder in one of the middle-ranking sects within the boundary, dealing with numerous affairs every day.
Reaching the inner court.
Inside the hall, at the center, a tall figure sat on a throne, dressed in a gray battle robe. He exuded an intimidating aura of power that did not require anger, it was Qin Tianzong. Beside him, four figures stood on either side, all of them were the family elders.
"Greetings to Father and the four elders!" After a quick freshening up, Qin Yang arrived in the living room and respectfully greeted them.
"Hmm, it has been a blink of an eye, and fifteen years have passed. Yang'er, how has your father treated you these past fifteen years?" Seeing Qin Yang approach, a complex look flashed in Qin Tianzong's eyes.
"Father has always treated me well. Even though I have disappointed him, Father has never given up on me. He nurtures me every day with elixirs and spirit herbs. Even though I am unable to cultivate, my foundation is not weaker than any martial artist!" Qin Yang responded with a puzzled look. Why is his father asking this all of a sudden?
"Since our Qin family has treated you fairly over these past fifteen years, would you do me a favor today?" Qin Tianzong's face darkened as he asked in a cold voice.
"Father, what would you like me to do? As long as it's within my capabilities, I will definitely give my all!" Qin Yang responded firmly.
"I need your blood and the vitality in your body!"
"What?" Qin Yang's face underwent a sudden change.
"Start! First, disable his limbs and extract his bloodline!" The once gentle Qin Tianzong suddenly turned cruel. At his command, the four elderly men, who were powerful dual realm martial artists, moved quickly like ghostly figures towards Qin Yang.
Qin Yang, a mere mortal, had no time to react. Crisp sounds rang out, fresh blood splattered across the floor, and his limbs were broken in an instant.
"Qin Yang, this is your fate. You were an abandoned baby adopted by our Qin family. It's time for you to repay us!" An elder said with a cruel smile. His hand, as sharp as a steel knife, pierced directly into Qin Yang's backbone. A searing pain coursed through his body as a dense spiritual bloodline was forcefully pulled out.
Bang!
After his bloodline was extracted, Qin Yang was casually thrown onto the ground.
"Why?" Qin Yang, covered in cold sweat, fell to the floor, his heart sinking into a pit of ice.
His limbs, broken!
"Bloodline, detached!"
Excruciating pain continuously assaulted his mind, as his whole body couldn't help but convulse.
"Why? Simply because you're not a member of my Qin family, yet you possess the Four-Ranked Bloodline!" Qin Tian looked supremely down at Qin Yang.
"I sealed your foundation, preventing you from cultivating, nurturing you for fifteen years, supplying great quantities of pills and spirit herbs daily. You thought, did I truly care about you? Only in this way can I make your bloodline full of spiritual energy, allowing your flesh to be refined into pills. When the time comes, with the refining of your bloodline and lifeblood vigor, my son, Qin Xuan, will not only be able to upgrade his bloodline to Rank Five, but he can also make a break in martial arts to the Third Layer!"
"Fifteen years of preparation, the seeds that have been planted, the blooming flowers and the fruition, it's naturally time to harvest the fruits. Outfitting others with the wedding dress, such is your fate!"
He coldly voiced out his words, sharp as a sword, piercing through Qin Yang's heart. The image of his benevolent father in the past was completely transformed into a fierce devil!
"Is it just because... I'm not a Qin?" Qin Yang's face was filled with bitterness.
It was just because he wasn't a Qin.
So, the favors he received for the past fifteen years were all pretense!
All of it was pretense!
How ludicrous!
Laughably, he genuinely innocently thought that everything was for his sake!
Fifteen years of nurturing, all for his bloodline and lifeblood vigor, to extract his bloodline and refine him into a human pill, as someone else's dowry!
This is his fate?
On what grounds?
Qin Yang was overwhelmed with grief and anger. His inner stronghold instantly crumbled, and he vomited blood. He couldn't hold himself up any longer and passed out.
"What a useless man. Throw him into the dungeon. When Master Qingfeng arrives tomorrow, have him turned into a pill. We'll send it off to the Windsnow Sect to help Xuan'er break through!" Qin Tian didn't waste another glance at Qin Yang. His cold command reverberated through the room.
"Yes!" Two elders nodded respectfully. They dragged Qin Yang off like they were hauling a dead dog.
...
The Qin Family's dungeon was freezing and bone-chilling. Slowly regaining consciousness, Qin Yang felt a piercing pain all over his body that caused him to uncontrollably shiver. But the pain and the cold that hurt him the most... were in his heart!
His life had taken a sudden turn. Everything he'd known had changed in an instant.
The second son of the Qin Family?
The favorite child of the family head?
Endless supply of medicinal pills every day for fifteen years without fail?
All illusions!
It was all a lie!
"Why is this my fate? If this is indeed my fate, I, Qin Yang, refuse to accept it!" Qin Yang struggled to his feet, his eyes blood red.
Only because he wasn't a Qin. Should he be raised like cattle for fifteen years, just so that his blood could be used to make a pill?
Why?
I, Qin Yang, refuse!
My fate will not be this!
Qin Yang roared in his heart!
Meanwhile, at that exact moment, clang— he heard a chain breaking within his dantian. The sound was crisp and pleasing to the ear. There was a faint hint of dragon chants, resounding and shaking at his ear. The monstrous impact made Qin Yang pass out once again!
