Qingyun Town – Marketplace – Afternoon.
The scorching sun blazed overhead, and the streets of Qingyun Town bustled with life. Merchants shouted from their stalls, the scent of spirit herbs mingled with roasting meat, filling the air with vibrant energy. Dressed in the robe of an Outer Sect disciple, Lin Xuan walked calmly through the crowd, the pendant on his chest pulsing with faint warmth. His recent victories in the Outer Sect had earned him a rising reputation, but the label of "crippled meridian" still lingered like a shadow.
He was here to purchase spirit herbs, hoping to solidify his first-layer cultivation—and to visit the old Lin family residence. It was the only clue his mother had left behind. Perhaps it held secrets related to the mysterious Heavenvein.
As he examined a bundle of frost grass, a mocking voice rang out behind him.
"Well, if it isn't the crippled Lin Xuan. Rockin' that Outer Sect robe like it means something!"
Turning, Lin Xuan met the sneering face of Liu Meng, aura flaring with fourth-layer energy. His brocade robe screamed arrogance, and his flunkies snickered behind him. Liu Meng was a side-branch member of the Liu family and lackey of Liu Hao. Despite witnessing the terrifying puppet during the selection, his arrogance remained intact.
"Cripple, crawl back to where you came from! This town belongs to the Liu family. You've got no place here!"
Lin Xuan's gaze turned icy. "Liu Meng, are you looking for death?"
His fingers tightened around the pendant as flames of anger surged in his chest.
The System chuckled.
"Ding! New mission: Teach Liu Meng a lesson and investigate the Lin residence clue. Reward: Spirit Sense Enhancement—+5 meters to your perception range. Accept?"
Lin Xuan's pupils shrank slightly, his heartbeat quickening. Spirit Sense Enhancement? He recalled how the puppet's perception had astonished him in the wilderness. Another power-up?
Blue light rippled across the pendant. Lin Xuan took a breath and murmured, "Accepted."
Liu Meng sneered. "Still got a mouth, huh? Flaming Palm!"
With a roar, his palm burst into flame and crashed toward Lin Xuan. The wave of heat overturned nearby stalls and sent onlookers scattering.
Fourth-layer! Far stronger than Li Yun!
"Wind Wolf—summon!" Lin Xuan roared.
The pendant flared, and a silver-furred wolf materialized. Crimson eyes locked onto Liu Meng with a low snarl, sending a ripple of dread down the street.
Lin Xuan's heart pounded. That realism… every time it feels like a true beast has arrived from the wilds.
The crowd gasped.
"That's Lin Xuan's Wind Wolf again!"
"Crippled? Hah! The Liu clan's about to get humbled!"
Liu Meng's face twisted in rage and envy. "Tricks and illusions! Flaming Triple Strike!"
He fired three blazing palms. Fire serpents swept forward, searing the ground and snapping wooden stalls like twigs. Wind Wolf flashed into motion, silver light streaking across the street. It dodged narrowly, claws gouging into stone as scorched earth cracked behind it. A second flame blast singed its flank, blackening its silver fur.
Lin Xuan's robes smoked, a corner burned to cinders. His eyes narrowed.
"Host, fire is brute force—use terrain! Collapse the stalls, obscure his vision!" the System barked.
"Got it," Lin Xuan muttered, breath steady.
Wind Wolf slashed left, wind blades slicing through nearby stalls. Wood and smoke filled the air, blinding Liu Meng. The flustered lackey flailed wildly.
That's when Lin Xuan struck.
Wind Wolf darted through the haze, wind blades like shooting stars. They slashed into Liu Meng's shoulders—blood sprayed, staining the stones crimson.
"Argh!" Liu Meng screamed and crashed to the ground. "You… You're no cripple!"
Wind Wolf's blades hovered inches from his throat, radiating cold, silent killing intent.
Lin Xuan stepped forward, voice sharp as a blade.
"Tell the Liu clan—your days of barking are over."
Cheers exploded from the crowd.
"Lin Xuan! Rising star of Qingyun!"
After the Dust Settles.
Liu Meng was dragged away by his lackeys, spitting curses.
"Lin Xuan… the Liu clan will make you pay!"
From the crowd, a brawny man stepped forward, laughing heartily. Thick arms crossed over a coarse vest, his hammer gleaming at his side. Second-layer aura rolled off him like a forge's heat.
"Well done, brother! Been waitin' for someone to slap those Liu dogs around. Name's Zhang Tie, town's blacksmith. How 'bout we be friends?"
Lin Xuan blinked, eyeing the man's earnest, sun-weathered grin. Something warm flickered in his chest. Fighting alone in the forest had shown him how cruel the road could be. A true friend… might make all the difference.
"Lin Xuan. Outer Sect disciple. A pleasure."
Zhang Tie laughed. "Heard the name already! You cracked that bastard's nose real nice. That fool's been bullying my shop for weeks. Come, let me buy you a drink!"
He clapped Lin Xuan's shoulder—hard. Lin staggered slightly, but smiled.
The System purred.
"Host, you just picked up a good bro. Loyal, blunt, fearless. He'll be handy in the trials."
Lin Xuan nodded, gaze soft. "Zhang Tie, I'll remember this."
"Bah, don't get mushy! My forge's on Front Street—come hammer some iron anytime. First visit's free!" The two of them burst into laughter as the market returned to its usual roar.
Unseen by them, a figure in a pale yellow dress slipped through a side alley.
Liu Qingyao's hands trembled, her gaze shadowed with emotion. She turned and walked away, her silhouette quiet and cold as her skirt swept across the cobblestones.
The Old Lin Residence.
Evening fell. Lin Xuan parted ways with Zhang Tie and stepped alone into the dilapidated Lin estate. Moss climbed the broken walls. Dust choked the air. His mother's study remained untouched.
Pushing open the door, he coughed as particles danced in the fading light. On the desk lay a letter written in ancient calligraphy.
His hands trembled as he opened it.
"Xuan'er—The Heavenvein Fragment… You must guard it. The forbidden ground hides the truth. The pendant is the key. Beware…"
There was no signature, but the handwriting felt painfully familiar.
Lin Xuan's eyes widened. "Heavenvein… Guardian? Mother—what were you hiding?"
He clutched the pendant, its glow answering his thoughts.
"System—this letter… is it related to you?"
The System's voice turned solemn.
"Ding! Mission complete. Spirit Sense Enhanced—+5 meters. Host, the Heavenvein Fragment is a key. The forbidden ground is the gate. Even a cripple… can become a savior. Investigate?"
Lin Xuan's eyes burned with resolve.
"I will. I'll uncover everything… for Mother."
The System chuckled.
"Then brace yourself. Qingyun Town is only the beginning. The Liu clan has been trafficking with demons."
Lin Xuan tucked the letter away, sunlight bathing his patched robe. From the shadows of a ruined home, the boy stood like an unyielding pine tree—ready for the storm to come.