[Mental Stability -100%. Emotion]
[Mission Completed]
[Reward Acquired: Sword Crimson Demon, Demon Breathing, XP]
A black sword with red gradients appeared before Lin Xian. The moment he held the sword, all the qi in his body was immediately absorbed by the Sword Crimson Demon. The sword slipped from his hand. He stood frozen, stunned.
He stared at the Sword Crimson Demon for a long time. He tried touching it again. His qi was still being drained by the sword. It couldn't be used by Lin Xian. Holding it for more than a second would drain all his qi and could even lead to his death.
[Sword Crimson Demon]
[Grade: Mythical]
[Main Effects: Absorbs the qi of struck enemies, severs souls, and can manipulate darkness.]
He had just acquired an incredibly rare weapon—perhaps one of the strongest ever—but Lin Xian felt it was all meaningless if he couldn't wield it. Even a mythical-grade weapon was pointless if unusable. He would rather have a legendary-grade weapon he could actually use. That would be far more practical.
However, Lin Xian's gaze shifted to a newly acquired skill: Demon Breathing.
[Demon Breathing]
[Grade: Legendary]
[Main Effect: Initiates the path of a Demon Cultivator.]
Lin Xian didn't receive anything physical. It was a skill that directly entered him—he didn't need to study it; he could use it instantly. Lin Xian wanted to start cultivating, to try this new breathing technique.
Before that, he stored the Sword Crimson Demon into the system's item box. Then, he sat cross-legged and began the Demon Breathing technique. After just one breath, Lin Xian coughed up blood. His entire body felt like it was burning, as if a fire raged within his chest.
It was excruciating. He took a deep breath before trying again. This time, he braced against the pain. After just a minute, it felt like his body was being burned alive. But gradually, the sensation started to fade. Everything returned to normal. Lin Xian could feel qi entering his dantian. He could sense it flowing through his body.
His body underwent an awakening. He focused deeper, and a few seconds later, he broke through a barrier to reach the fourth layer of Qi Gathering—a milestone he hadn't reached in a long time. He clearly remembered that it had taken him six months to reach the fourth layer previously.
This wasn't an extraordinary leap—just one small stage. But for Lin Xian, it was astonishing. With a damaged dantian, progressing this fast was unthinkable.
"Isn't this too incredible for someone like me?" Lin Xian couldn't believe what was happening. Everything was simply too amazing. "In my previous life, I had to struggle so hard just to break through one layer. This... this is truly a blessing."
Lin Xian wouldn't waste this opportunity. He would make the most of what he'd gained. This time, he wouldn't let things end the way they had before. Before those people could push him into death, he had to strike first.
"This time, I will walk the path of a true cultivator—toward true immortality." Lin Xian had made up his mind. He could now see a brighter future ahead. "Anyone who dares stand in my way—I'll kill them."
Lin Xian returned to cultivating using the Demon Breathing technique. He had to endure the pain, but it was nothing to him. Better to bear pain than to suffer humiliation and be looked down on for being weak. His desire to become strong was overwhelming.
***
Qingran received news that Mu Yueran had committed suicide. He was in shock. He had tried to comfort her, given her spirit stones and pills to help her grow stronger. He thought it would heal the pain of her loss—but clearly, it hadn't.
Mu Yueran had begun to accept her father's death. But the constant bullying she received in class destroyed her mentally. It wasn't just verbal abuse—she was beaten, kicked, spat on. Her desk was vandalized with the words "slut" and "traitor's child."
For a 14-year-old girl, it was too much. Her life was in shambles. Her father—the only family she had—was gone. That made Mu Yueran feel completely alone. Qingran had shown some concern, but it wasn't enough to make a difference.
"Poor child." Qingran held Mu Yueran's head, now resting on a table. Red marks were visible on her neck—rope burns. "If only those rumors hadn't spread… she wouldn't have ended up like this."
Qingran clenched his fists tightly. His eyes burned with fury. He had a close bond with Mu Tianzheng. They were good friends. Even though Mu Tianzheng was hot-tempered and rough, he had always been enjoyable company for Qingran. He knew Mu Tianzheng's character well.
There was no way he would ever assault the Patriarch's wife. Not only because he wasn't that kind of man—he had deeply loved his late wife—but also because he knew how powerful the Patriarch was. Such a deed made no sense.
Someone must've framed Mu Tianzheng. Only one name came to Qingran's mind.
"Lin Xian. I don't have proof, but I'm sure you're the one who framed Senior Tianzheng."
Killing intent surged from Qingran. The house trembled before he took a deep breath and calmed himself. Once composed, he ordered several cultivators to begin Mu Yueran's funeral preparations.
***
Only a few people attended the ceremony. Just Qingran and the staff carrying out the burial. No students, teachers, or elders came. Qingran felt angered by this, but he couldn't say much—attending was their choice.
"What now, sir?" one of the staff asked.
"Proceed," Qingran replied.
The funeral began, conducted according to the customs of the Sky Entwined Sect. After an hour, the prayer session commenced. A few were allowed to approach and offer prayers beside Mu Yueran's body. Qingran had already done so. As he returned to his seat, his eyes widened.
He saw Lin Xian walking to the front. He stared intently at Lin Xian, watching him pray before Mu Yueran's body. It stunned Qingran.
"What is he doing here? Isn't he the one responsible for all this?" Qingran was baffled. "Why does he look so sad? Isn't this exactly what he wanted?"
Qingran sat in deep thought. Moments later, Lin Xian took a seat beside him. He looked over, smiling softly—but with visible sadness in his eyes.
"She was my fiancée… the woman I loved most. I truly regret not being by her side when she was in despair. I'm really sorry."
Qingran said nothing. He still couldn't believe what he was seeing and hearing.
"Why does he look so full of regret?"