Outside the Sacred Bloodline Grounds
Dongfang Qing's face was wreathed in smiles as he addressed Qin Chen. "Young friend, I apologize for the spectacle you witnessed at our Sacred Grounds today. Please accept this token. With it, you can enjoy a thirty percent discount at any of our affiliated locations across the realm. It also grants access to areas restricted to ordinary martial artists. I hope you'll keep it."
He pressed a token into Qin Chen's hand.
The token gleamed with a golden sheen, marking it as a Golden Guest Token of the Sacred Bloodline Grounds.
The Grounds issued tokens in three tiers—iron, silver, and gold—with the rare Guest Elder Token above them. As a fourth-tier branch in Great Qi, the Golden Guest Token was the highest honor they could bestow.
Qin Chen accepted it without hesitation. "The attendant won't face punishment, will she?"
Dongfang Qing chuckled. "Of course not, young friend. No need to worry."
"Good." Satisfied that Lin Xinrou wouldn't be penalized, Qin Chen nodded and departed.
As Dongfang Qing and Qin Chen left, the crowd of onlookers and martial artists outside the Grounds erupted in fervent discussion.
"Who was that boy? To have President Dongfang Qing personally see him off!"
"No idea!"
"Tch, tch, even Great Qi's princes might not receive such treatment from President Dongfang."
"Did you see the token he gave the boy? Gold! It's got to be a Golden Guest Token. They say it grants a thirty percent discount on anything at the Grounds. Even the capital's top factions might not have one."
Envy rippled through the crowd.
Bloodline Chamber Area
Calm had returned.
Dongfang Qing reentered, his gaze cold as it settled on Liu Tong, sprawled on the floor. "Expel Liu Tong from the Sacred Grounds. He is forbidden from setting foot here ever again."
Liu Tong's vision darkened, nearly fainting. "President Dongfang, please, it wasn't my fault! I'm innocent! Have mercy!" he wailed, clinging desperately to Dongfang Qing's leg.
"Get lost!" Dongfang Qing's face hardened. A swift kick to Liu Tong's chest sent him flying. "Do you know why you're being punished? If you'd merely let someone into my chamber, I could overlook it. But when the issue arose, instead of owning your mistake, you doubled down, making excuses and trying to shift blame. Worse, you slandered others to save yourself. Allowing you to remain would be an insult to the Sacred Grounds."
Liu Tong crashed to the ground, spitting blood, sobbing, "President, please, one more chance!"
"Hmph, sparing your life is mercy enough. Beg again, and I'll end you right now. Drag him out!" Dongfang Qing snapped.
Liu Tong's cries echoed as two guards hauled him away like a lifeless fish. He knew there was no turning back. Though he'd secured his position through connections, Dongfang Qing was the president of the Grounds—one word from him could ruin anyone.
Dongfang Qing's gaze shifted to Lin Xinrou, who flinched, her heart racing with dread. "President, I know I was wrong. It won't happen again," she stammered, tears brimming.
To her surprise, Dongfang Qing smiled. "Wrong? I should thank you for bringing him to my chamber. Tell me, what's the boy's name? His background?"
Lin Xinrou blinked, thrown by the sudden shift. "I… I don't know. I only know his name is Qin Chen."
"Qin Chen?" Dongfang Qing mused, nodding. "You did well today. Collect an extra month's salary and take two days to rest."
"Yes, sir!" Lin Xinrou stumbled out, dazed, still unsure what had just happened.
"Li Wenyu, find out who this Qin Chen is," Dongfang Qing instructed.
"Yes, sir." Li Wenyu hesitated, then asked, "President, does the boy have a significant background?"
He'd served Dongfang Qing for years and had never seen him so intrigued by a youth.
"Background?" Dongfang Qing glanced at him, stepping into the chamber and studying the bloodline instrument with a trace of awe. "Didn't you notice?"
"Forgive my ignorance," Li Wenyu said.
Dongfang Qing pointed to the instrument. "This latest model has six states and eighteen levels. Each level activates an additional array rune, increasing the instrument's detection strength. Count the runes lit now."
"One, two, three…" Li Wenyu's eyes widened. "Eighteen? How is that possible?"
"Exactly. Eighteen," Dongfang Qing said, his voice low, eyes gleaming. "This instrument, acquired with great effort from the higher-tier Grounds, is rare even in the Northwest Five Nations. Great Qi has only this one. I've mastered only the first twelve levels, yet that boy activated it to its maximum—level eighteen. How do you explain that?"
Li Wenyu gasped. "You mean he's backed by a powerful bloodline master?"
"Very likely. Even if not, he's no ordinary youth." Dongfang Qing stroked his beard, squinting thoughtfully. "To think our capital has gained such an intriguing figure. Fascinating."
Qin Chen returned home to find his mother absent. He sighed softly. These past days, she's been out from dawn to dusk, working to earn money. After the academy exam, I must find a way to provide for us. I can't let her toil like this.
Resolved, he retreated to his room to cultivate.
In the simple chamber, Qin Chen sat cross-legged, a faint crimson glow enveloping him. Beneath him, subtle blood-red runes shimmered, encircling his form.
As an eighth-tier Bloodline Emperor in his past life, Qin Chen knew countless bloodline cultivation techniques. He was now practicing a formidable method from the Martial Domain, consolidating his newly awakened bloodline.
Bloodline awakening required stabilization, and mastery demanded constant practice to wield it freely. Qin Chen was honing his control.
An hour later, he froze, astonished. "What's this? My bloodline power… it's grown slightly stronger!"
The increase was minute, imperceptible to most martial artists, but Qin Chen noticed it instantly. The faint thread of lightning within his bloodline had intensified, a subtle but undeniable enhancement.