The atmosphere in the Ziyi Garden, the most luxurious estate of the Qin family, was currently oppressive and tense.
Zhao Feng, draped in a colorful robe, sat motionless with a sleek black cat in her arms, her gaze as cold and venomous as a serpent's.
At this moment, an exceptionally beautiful maidservant entered and bowed respectfully. "Madam, the Marquis has returned."
"I know." Zhao Feng's voice was icy as she stood and strode out of the room.
Qin Yuanhong was just stepping into the main hall.
"Qin Yuanhong, what was the meaning of your actions today? Not only did you let that little bastard off, but you also humiliated Prince Rui in front of everyone. Explain yourself!" Zhao Feng fumed, her voice sharp with accusation.
The Zhao family, a branch of the imperial clan, was a prominent and powerful force in the capital. As such, Zhao Feng spoke to Qin Yuanhong with the authority of someone who feared no repercussions.
Qin Yuanhong frowned. "You dare question me? I should be the one asking what nonsense you've been stirring up in this household!"
Zhao Feng's rage flared. "What nonsense? All I've done is try to drive that slut Qin Yuechi out of our family so that little bastard won't one day seize our Qin family's assets! And you—you actually sided with him! Don't think I don't know—you can't bear to part with your precious sister, can you? I always knew your Qin family was rotten to the core!"
"Enough of your ridiculous accusations!"
"Ridiculous? When that whore Qin Yuechi committed such an abominable act, your father not only refused to cast her out but allowed her and her bastard to stay! Now that boy bears the Qin name—do you think he won't threaten Feng'er's position and inheritance? Tell me, am I wrong?"
Zhao Feng's lips curled into a sneer.
Qin Yuanhong's face darkened as he glared at her. "You know full well Father still cares for Third Sister. Yet you dared invite Prince Rui here today? Have you forgotten Father's temper? If he learns of this, who do you think can protect you?"
"So we just let that little bastard stay in the Qin family indefinitely?" Zhao Feng's eyes gleamed with malice, her chest heaving.
"That's why I've told you to be patient!" Qin Yuanhong's voice was low and frigid. "Qin Chen still hasn't awakened his bloodline. When he inevitably fails the academy's grand examination, as the head of the family, I will have every justification to expel him. Not even Father will be able to object. But you—with your constant meddling—you nearly ruined everything! Such shortsightedness!"
Zhao Feng paused, her eyes flashing with realization. "So that's your plan."
"Of course. What did you think? All you've done is create chaos!" Qin Yuanhong snorted coldly before turning away in anger and storming into his chambers.
Zhao Feng, rather than being angered by the scolding, allowed a faint smile to play on her lips. "True… Every Qin descendant possesses remarkable talent. If that little bastard fails the academy's examination, even the old master won't be able to object to his expulsion."
*"Meow!"*
The black cat in her arms suddenly let out a terrified shriek, leaping to the ground in panic. Its fur stood on end like a porcupine's as it stared fearfully at its mistress.
In Zhao Feng's hand was a clump of fur—ripped directly from the cat's back.
---
### **In the Cold, Silent Room**
Qin Chen sat in quiet contemplation, mapping out his path forward.
Three hundred years had passed since his previous life. Whether to exact vengeance on Shangguan Xiyue and Feng Shaoyu or to protect his mother, he knew he had to grow strong—strong enough to dominate the Tianwu Continent.
**Step one: Awaken his bloodline.**
To become a true powerhouse, awakening his bloodline was essential.
At fifteen, Qin Chen had yet to awaken his.
In the Tianwu Continent, those who failed to awaken their bloodline by sixteen were considered to have missed their prime window. Even if they awakened later, their potential would forever be stunted.
*"In this world, every person possesses a bloodline. If it remains dormant, there are only two possible reasons: either the bloodline is too weak to meet the awakening threshold, or there's a physical impediment preventing its manifestation."*
*"Regardless of the cause, I have the means to resolve it. First, I must assess this body's innate talents and foundation."*
In his past life, as an 8th-rank Bloodline Emperor, awakening a bloodline was child's play.
For martial artists, the three pillars of cultivation were **talent, comprehension, and constitution**. His comprehension was unquestionable—it was how he had reached such heights in his previous life.
But talent and constitution were innate.
*"The foundation of this body… is passable, but flawed."*
After a thorough self-examination, Qin Chen understood his current state perfectly—and frowned.
The original Qin Chen had possessed decent martial talent, enough to gain entry into the prestigious Tianxing Academy. He had cleared seven meridians, stepping into the Human-level.
*"With such qualifications, becoming an average expert wouldn't be difficult. But to defeat Shangguan Xiyue and Feng Shaoyu? It's not even close."*
Qin Chen fell into deep thought.
Building a martial foundation was like constructing a house—without a solid base, no matter how grand the structure, it would eventually crumble.
*"This body hastily condensed a qi pool after clearing only seven foundational meridians. While functional, it's unstable and limited in capacity. At higher levels, this will become a critical weakness."*
He focused on the pigeon egg-sized qi pool in his dantian, unease gnawing at him.
Clearing only seven meridians before advancing was the mark of the weakest cultivators. True geniuses—like Feng Shaoyu and Shangguan Xiyue—had cleared **eleven** meridians before condensing their qi pools.
*"With this foundation, even if I regain my former strength, surpassing it will be nearly impossible. Worse, I can't even cultivate the **Nine Star God Emperor Art** in this state!"*
The **Nine Star God Emperor Art** was an ancient technique Qin Chen had discovered in the Divine Forbidden Land in his past life—the most profound cultivation method he had ever encountered. Legend claimed it originated from the **Celestial Realm**.
The Celestial Realm was a myth in Tianwu Continent. It was said that beyond the Nine Heavens Emperor realm lay an even higher plane—the **Martial God** realm—where one could shatter the void and ascend to a greater world.
Yet in ten thousand years of recorded history, no one had ever reached it.
Qin Chen, too, had once dismissed it as fantasy—until he stepped into the Divine Forbidden Land.
Now, he knew better.
And if he wanted revenge, he would need power beyond even what he'd once possessed.