FIVE DAYS LATER
Under the serene night sky, moonlight pierced the darkness, and stars shone bright with radiant luminosity.
Somewhere in town, just 30 kilometers northwest of the center, stood a magnificent mansion, covering 856 square meters, painted in a soft cream white.
Inside a quiet room lit with candles, a man sat in a lotus position. He appeared around 40 years old, with red-golden hair tied into a large high bun adorned with dragon-shaped hairpins.
His golden-yellow eyes reflected the sun's radiance, and he wore long flowing robes with wide sleeves, decorated with intricate mist patterns. Beneath the outer robe, a lighter, more form-fitting layer was visible at the collar and sleeves.
As spiritual power flowed from his body in every direction, he released his aura and clenched his fists.
"It seems my strength is improving. I estimate I'll reach the peak of the Transcendent Realm soon," he said.
[Name: Zhong Mo
Age: 46
Realm: Transcendent Realm, Proficiency Level
Relationship: Zhong Family Patriarch]
Patriarch Zhong Mo rose from his seat and walked slowly to the door with a relaxed pace.
As he opened it, a man stood on the other side. The moment he saw Zhong Mo, he knelt down and clasped his hands in salute.
"Family Head, Young Master Zhong Ming has sent a message from the Martial Academy. It's marked as very important," the man said. He was a lower-level family member, not one from the main branch.
"Let me see it."
Zhong Mo grabbed the letter, opened it, and began reading.
His eyes narrowed the further he read, his expression darkening until, by the end, veins bulged on his forehead as he gritted his teeth.
He spoke sharply, "Find out the newest information about the incoming disciples at the Martial Academy."
"And especially the one named Li Hao," he added.
"Yes, Patriarch," the man replied and vanished swiftly.
Zhong Mo crumpled the letter and threw it aside, then stomped toward the main hall.
Under the soft moonlight, Yin essence flourished in the air, its cold energy seeping into the night.
Li Hao sat in lotus posture in his room, gathering spiritual power from the surroundings and cycling it through his inner core.
"Ding!"
The sound of a bell suddenly disturbed his focused state of cultivation. He slowly opened his eyes and gazed at the system screen before him.
[System Directive: Future Countermeasure Triggered]
[Target: Patriarch of the Zhong Family]
[Cause: Predicted retaliatory action due to the breaking of Patriarch's son Zhong Ming's hand]
[Action Required: Terminate target before event chain initiates (7 days)]
[Priority Level: A]
[Reward: Mythic Character's Robe]
[Refusal Penalty: Death of inter-family (Mandatory Directive)]
"Mmm…" Li Hao raised an eyebrow at the screen.
"I didn't think this system still had features I hadn't discovered," he muttered.
"And this penalty… it doesn't seem aimed at me," he thought.
Though he and his parents now had a better relationship, it was still strained.
He didn't care much for their well-being.
Getting up from his bed, he thought aloud, "Well… I still have time. I guess I'll make the best of it."
He stepped out into the courtyard. The night sky stretched above, scattered with drifting clouds.
A cold breeze brushed past him as he walked across the stone steps—each step radiating strength and vitality.
After a while, his figure blurred and vanished from the spot.
Within the inner section of the academy's inner court, grand houses stood as quarters for the inner disciples.
The buildings were spaced just right, surrounded by paved stone paths engraved with intricate Daoist patterns.
Li Hao walked calmly through the dark street, skillfully avoiding patrolling inner disciples. His movements were fluid and quiet.
Eventually, he reached a particular courtyard and looked up at the white building with its blue tiled roof.
He leapt silently over the separating wall and entered, walking in without a sound.
Each of his footsteps was like the whisper of death drawing near.
He hadn't seen the target, but he recognized the aura within.
Every being in the world possessed a unique aura—an unchangeable, inimitable signature.
Even after reincarnation or rebirth, that aura remained.
Li Hao's Dao Eyes could perceive this, and while he hadn't encountered many people worth remembering… this aura had been etched into memory.
Inside the house, Zhong Ming sat in lotus posture. His hand, still wrapped in bandages, was healing from the injury.
He was in seclusion, both to recover and to cultivate.
Opening his eyes, Zhong Ming glanced at his wrist.
"My hand's mostly healed… at least it wasn't broken so badly that I needed a high-grade pill."
"I wonder if Father has found that kid's family yet," he muttered, then smirked darkly.
"Once I get my hands on them, I'll kill them slowly—right in front of him. Let's see how long he keeps that cold face after that."
"THUMP."
"Hmm?" Zhong Ming turned toward the direction of the sound. "Did the front door just close? Who would dare break in?"
He rose slowly and walked to the door with calm, deliberate steps.
When he reached it, he paused and placed his hand on the door's edge.
His fingers tensed. Something felt off.
He tilted his head slightly, eyes focusing on the door handle.
Then, cautiously, he opened it.
"Thud."
A hand shot out and grabbed Zhong Ming by the throat, yanking him down until he was bent forward, face-to-face with the one waiting inside.
There stood Li Hao, side-glancing at him with star-like eyes that sent a chill down Zhong Ming's spine.
The eerie stillness in those eyes made his scalp tingle.