The sea breeze brushed softly against the hillside, carrying the faint scent of salt and energy crystals. The Lin family's private island had many secrets — but none more mysterious than the sealed cave before them.
Lin Zhan and his five brothers stood side by side in silence, staring at the huge wooden gate embedded into the rock. Strange golden runes glimmered across its surface, pulsing slowly like a beating heart.
"This is it," muttered Lin Chen, brushing his red hair back.
Lin Yue sighed. "Remind me again why we didn't just fake an injury?"
"Because Grandpa can smell lies," Lin Feng replied flatly. "And I like living."
Lin Zhan listened quietly, lips twitching slightly. Compared to these guys, his 'outer city training' didn't sound so bad anymore.
A deep creak echoed through the air as the massive door opened. From the darkness, a soft light spilled out — followed by an old man in plain gray robes.
He looked simple, almost frail, yet the moment he appeared, the air grew heavier. His every step carried a rhythm that matched the beating of the earth itself.
Lin Zhan's body tensed slightly. He recognized this person from his inherited memories — Lin Mu, the second uncle of the Patriarch, one of the three living pillars of the Lin family.
"Second Uncle," all six greeted respectfully.
Lin Mu's calm gaze swept across them. "Mn. Follow me."
He didn't say another word.
They entered a long, spiraling tunnel that led deep into the mountain. The further they went, the warmer the air became, carrying a faint metallic scent.
Finally, the tunnel opened into a vast underground chamber.
At its center lay a pool about five meters wide, its liquid shimmering in red and gold hues. The surface was still, yet every now and then, faint ripples formed — like something alive was breathing beneath it.
Lin Mu pointed toward it.
"This is the Jade Blood Pool. It greatly increase strength and tempers your body. Go in. Do not resist. Endure it."
Then, without further explanation, he sat on a nearby stone slab, closed his eyes, and instantly entered meditation — as if his part in this was already over.
Lin Chen stared at him for a long moment, then looked back at his brothers.
"…Did he just say 'don't die' with his eyes?"
Lin Yue whispered, "He always says that with his eyes."
Lin Zhan chuckled quietly. These people were his family — strange, powerful, but oddly human.
Lin Chen sighed and rolled his shoulders. "Alright. As the eldest, I'll test it first. If I come out screaming, you can run."
Without further hesitation, he stepped into the pool. The moment his body touched the surface, a hiss filled the air. Red-gold energy surged like boiling water, wrapping around him.
"Ah—" Lin Chen gritted his teeth, veins bulging across his arms. "Okay, yep! It burns! It definitely burns!"
The others laughed nervously, but one by one, they followed. Soon, all six were inside.
When Lin Zhan entered, the sensation hit him like lightning.
Hot and cold, sharp and smooth, pain and pleasure — all at once.
He clenched his fists and activated his technique, Star Gene Optimization Technique.
His pupils turned black like endless voids. The red and golden energy of the pool flowed into him, mixing with his own blood.
Tiny sparks of black hole began to flicker under his skin, hidden from the others. The pain faded, replaced by an intoxicating sense of power.
Lin Zhan's mind slipped into a deep, silent state — the kind only cultivators dream of.
Time became meaningless.
When he opened his eyes again, the once-bright pool had turned faintly transparent, its essence drained into him.
He stood slowly. The liquid around him rippled… but his feet never touched the bottom. He was floating or more to say standing on air itself.
As he walked forward, it was as if he stepped on invisible ground, each step leaving faint ripples of energy in the void.
He glanced around — the place was empty. All his brothers were already gone. Only Lin Mu remained, still sitting on the same stone slab, but now looking at him with a faint, satisfied smile.
"You lasted a full month," Lin Mu said softly, opening his eyes. "Not bad, Fifth Boy. You've advanced to Seventh Rank warrior."
Lin Zhan blinked. "A month…?"
He looked down at his own hands. His skin seemed normal — yet every pulse of his heartbeat sent ripples of power through the air.
The old man rose slowly, patting his robe. "You should rest. Your body has changed. If you rush to test it, you'll regret it."
He turned to leave, then paused and added with a faint grin,
"And… don't let your grandfather see you floating around the courtyard again. He'll make you carry boulders till your legs break."
Lin Zhan's mouth twitched. "...Yeah, that sounds like him."
As the old man vanished into the tunnel, Lin Zhan exhaled deeply. He looked up toward the faint ceiling lights and murmured,
"Another life… another new type of experience. Let's see how far I can go this time."
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Lin Zhan didn't return to his courtyard. Instead, his steps carried him toward the eastern side of the island.
Soon, a small building came into view. Even a small blood smell coming out of these walls. It can show what this place is for. A smile curved on Lin Zhan's lips.
"Finally, time to earn some points."
Inside, the place was clean but quiet, lit by floating crystal lamps that hummed softly. Behind the counter sat a young woman in a blue robe, her hair tied neatly, her expression calm yet sharp.
When she saw Lin Zhan enter, she instinctively straightened her back. The faint aura around him can show his extraordinary power.
"Can I help you, young master?" she asked politely.
"I want to enter the secret realm," Lin Zhan said, tapping his wristband on the counter.
The woman smiled politely and checked the ID in her record… and her eyes widened.
"Lin… Lin Zhan? The Fifth Young Master?" she stammered slightly.
Immediately, her tone became more respectful. "Please wait a moment, Senior Lin. I'll call the supervisor."
Moments later, a middle-aged man with a short beard and calm, steady eyes entered from the back room. His aura wasn't flashy, but it had the steady weight of someone who'd survived many battles.
"Fifth Young Master, you wish to enter the Secret Realm?" he asked.
"Yes," Lin Zhan said simply. "I've just completed my pool training. I want to test my limits."
The man smiled faintly, as if amused. "Testing limits, hmm? Your family certainly breeds bold ones."
He gestured for Lin Zhan to follow. They passed through a corridor lined with ancient symbols that pulsed faintly as they walked. The air grew heavier, humming with sealed energy.
At the end of the hallway stood a massive steel door — half-rusted, half-shining — and in its center was a mirror-like surface that shimmered like water.
The middle-aged man pressed his palm against a rune, and the mirror began to ripple, forming a dark vortex.
"This is the entry Gate," he said. "It connects to a controlled small place. You can hunt beasts, temper your body, or collect rare minerals. But remember — injuries inside are real."
Lin Zhan nodded. "That's fine. I didn't come here to play safe."
Without another word, he stepped forward. The mirror surface rippled like a living thing and swallowed him whole.
A sudden chill washed over him — then, silence.