The golden scroll unfurled fully, flooding the chamber with blazing light.
Ancient runes writhed like living serpents across the walls, etching themselves deeper into the stone. The temperature plummeted, and yet Lin Chen's blood felt like it was boiling inside his veins.
Yu Xueqing instinctively took a step back, shielding her eyes.
Lin Chen, though, stood firm — even as his heart pounded like a war drum.
---
Words formed in his mind.
Heavy. Weighty. Like the voice of a god whispering through time.
---
「Bloodforged Sovereign Body Tempering Art」
— First Stage: Blood Vessel Rebirth.
---
His pulse thundered. His sword, still in hand, quivered as if recognizing the ancient power.
---
Lin Chen licked his cracked lips.
"Heh… Body tempering, huh? A forbidden art using blood as the medium… This is just my style."
---
Yu Xueqing's voice broke through the hum.
"Lin Chen, this art—it's dangerous. Body cultivators who walk this path often die during the first tempering. Your meridians might rupture. Your dantian could collapse!"
---
Lin Chen turned his head, and though his face was pale from blood loss, his grin was devilish.
---
"Senior Sister, when have I ever played it safe?"
---
He stepped forward and placed his palm against the glowing scroll.
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BOOOM—!
A shockwave erupted.
The chamber's walls cracked, and a crimson mist exploded outward, enveloping Lin Chen.
---
Yu Xueqing's eyes widened as she recognized the scent.
"Blood Qi condensation... pure and ancient."
---
Inside the mist, Lin Chen grit his teeth as the inheritance force invaded his body.
Every vein and vessel in his flesh felt like they were being torn apart and reforged.
His blood boiled, transforming from liquid to something thicker, denser—more alive.
---
CRACK—
His right arm spasmed as a vein popped beneath the skin. Blood spilled from his nose, ears, and eyes.
Pain.
Unimaginable pain.
---
Yet Lin Chen's grin only widened.
---
"This… this is it… This is what I need to climb higher!"
---
Images flooded his mind — visions of ancient sovereigns bathing in oceans of blood, reforging their flesh into weapons, their bones into divine steel.
---
The scroll's voice echoed one final command:
「Tempering is suffering. Suffering is evolution.」
---
Lin Chen roared.
His qi flared, intertwining with his blood essence.
The sword in his hand absorbed some of the overflowing aura — its dull edge gaining a faint crimson sheen.
---
Yu Xueqing could only watch in silent awe as Lin Chen endured what should have killed a normal cultivator three times over.
---
Minutes felt like hours.
---
Then—
The mist suddenly collapsed inward, absorbed completely into Lin Chen's body.
---
THUMP.
Lin Chen fell to one knee, gasping.
His chest heaved, skin drenched in sweat and blood. But his aura… it was different.
---
Denser. Heavier. Like compressed magma.
---
Yu Xueqing rushed forward, kneeling beside him.
"Lin Chen! Are you—"
---
Lin Chen's hand shot up, giving her a thumbs-up even as blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth.
"Heh… Success."
---
Yu Xueqing exhaled in disbelief. "You madman… you actually survived the first stage."
---
Lin Chen slowly pushed himself upright, groaning.
His muscles ached, but he could feel it — his veins, now strengthened and expanded, were like reinforced channels. His qi flow had doubled in speed.
---
"Not just survived," Lin Chen rasped, flexing his hand.
"I advanced."
---
[+1 Minor Body Cultivation Layer: Vein Tempering Stage Initiated]
[Qi Circulation Efficiency: Enhanced]
---
His cultivation hadn't just stabilized at 4th Layer Qi Condensation.
His foundation was now fortified beyond that of any normal peer.
---
Lin Chen sheathed his crimson-tinged sword and turned to Yu Xueqing.
---
"Senior Sister," he said, voice hoarse but steady. "With this art… I can go further. Faster. Stronger."
---
Yu Xueqing met his gaze — and for the first time, saw not a reckless junior, but the shadow of a future apex cultivator.
---
"You're not normal," she murmured. "And the path you're walking… it will only get bloodier."
---
Lin Chen grinned. "Good. Blood makes things grow. My power, my enemies' fear… even my harem—"
---
Yu Xueqing's face turned a shade colder. "Harem?"
---
Lin Chen coughed awkwardly, pretending to look at the cracked ceiling.
"Ahem. I meant… legacy. My grand legacy."
---
Yu Xueqing's eyes narrowed, but she said nothing.
---
Lin Chen straightened, his bones cracking audibly.
"Let's move. I have more trials to clear. More arrogant geniuses to face-slap. And more treasures to steal."
---
Yu Xueqing sighed but followed, her own aura steadying.
---
As they stepped out of the inheritance chamber, the golden scroll dissolved behind them — its knowledge now etched forever into Lin Chen's blood and bones.
---
Far above, in the deeper layers of the Hidden Trials, new dangers stirred.
---
And Lin Chen?
He grinned, sword at his hip, blood still crusted on his lips.
---
"Next target: whoever dares block my path."
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To be continued in Chapter 20: Ambush at Blackmist Ravine!