H
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Chapter seven: Fangs in the Shadows, Bloodline in Bloom**
Ambush at Black Crag Pass**
Lin Yu descended the shadowed ridges of Demonbone Sect's border, the Soulbrand Ember sealed in his spatial ring.
The whispers had already begun:
"The newcomer survived the Field of Ten Thousand Screams."
"He must have found something powerful."
Twenty cloaked figures emerged from the rocks—**core disciples**, their eyes blazing with greed and fear.
At their lead stood **Han Zesheng**, the Vice Chief Disciple of the core tier, with nine beast marks and a silver war halberd.
"You've returned, Lin Yu," Han sneered. "And now you'll give us what you found."
Lin Yu stood tall, wind rippling around him.
"If you want it, come take it."
They did.
What followed was chaos—halberds, spears, shadow chains. Lin Yu evaded with *Crimson World Step*, and flames erupted from his fists.
But numbers overwhelmed. Blood sprayed. Knees cracked. The ground shook.
As Han Zesheng raised the killing blow—
> **\[System Warning: Host's life at critical threshold.]**
**\[Unlocking Forbidden Ability: Essence Devour – 30 seconds use.]**
Time froze.
Lin Yu's eyes became pits of golden hunger. His veins glowed like molten lava.
He reached forward—**and ripped Han's soul-force in half**.
Screams erupted. The others backed away in terror as Lin Yu devoured the essence of two more disciples, their techniques flashing into his mind:
* **Ironblood Spiral Palm**
* **Mirror Mind Defense Seal**
In thirty seconds, he stood alone.
Han Zesheng's corpse hit the earth—face locked in disbelief.
\[Ability Locked Again. Cooldown: Until next critical threat.]
Lin Yu exhaled once.
"Never again will I be prey."
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Xue'er's Awakening**
At Cloud Crystal Sect, Xue'er collapsed during her cultivation.
Dreams roared through her: memories not her own—**dragon wings**, icy tears, burning skies.
When she awoke, her aura shattered the training field. Blue flames wrapped her, forming a sigil in the air.
**Divine Bloodline Awakening: Half-Dragon, Half-Ice Phoenix.**
Elder Shen fell to his knees.
"The Prophecy returns."
Mu Yuelan watched from the tower, white-knuckled.
"Long Tian… you left too much behind."
---
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The Return of the Mad Witch, and the Mark of Favor**
Judgment at Demonbone**
The outer disciples whispered as Lin Yu passed. His robes were singed, eyes hollow with fury—but he walked like a god.
Summoned before the Grand Judgment Pavilion, he stood trial before the Sect Elders.
Elder Fang snarled, "You killed twenty outer disciples and a core."
"They ambushed me," Lin Yu said coldly. "And I'm still alive. That's the real offense, isn't it?"
Whispers surged. Execution loomed.
Until the storm rolled in.
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. The Mad Witch Returns**
A wind colder than winter death swept through the sect.
Lightning cracked the skies, splitting the gates. A single woman walked through the storm—barefoot, crimson-dressed, humming.
**Elder Mei Lan**, the *Mad Witch of Wither Vein Gorge*, had returned.
Feared by kings. Exiled for killing a sect patriarch in a duel. And still smiling like sin in silk.
Her eyes locked on Lin Yu.
This one… interesting blood. And a scent I haven't smelt in centuries."
The elders backed away like rats before fire.
She walked up to Lin Yu, placed a clawed hand on his shoulder, and turned to the sect:
"He is mine now."
"W-What?" Elder Fang stammered. "He's unstable—dangerous!"
"So am I," Mei Lan grinned. "Touch him again and I'll repaint the halls in your intestines."
And just like that, Lin Yu went from trial to triumph.
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Hidden Conversations**
In Mei Lan's forbidden garden—where nothing bloomed but cursed lotus and demonic orchids—Lin Yu knelt.
"Why me?" he asked.
She smiled and offered a black lotus seed.
"Because I know your blood doesn't just remember dragons… it remembers gods."
"You're not the first to return from the dead. But you might be the last."She stood and turned.
"Train. I will make you feared. And when your enemies come, they'll wish I hadn't touched you at all."
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