In the remote Azure Cloud Continent, within tiny Linxu City, stood the declining Xu Clan, one of the three great families that had long lost its former glory.
Today, the outer courtyard was unusually lively.
A group of young clansmen formed a circle, faces full of mockery and excitement as they watched a thin, pale youth kneel on the ground, coughing blood.
The youth wore coarse gray robes. His black hair hung disheveled, his handsome face smeared with dirt and fresh bruises. Even so, the sharp lines of his features refused to be hidden.
This was Xu Tian, the infamous trash of the Xu Clan.
Born with blocked meridians, he could not cultivate even the simplest Qi Gathering technique. At sixteen, he remained stuck at the first layer of Body Tempering, even ten-year-old children easily surpassed him.
Because of this, he had become the favorite punching bag of the younger generation.
"Xu Tian, didn't you brag about entering the inner clan examination this year?" A burly teenager sneered and stepped forward, kicking the kneeling youth hard in the chest. "With your trash physique, you think you're worthy?"
Boom!
Xu Tian flew backward like a broken sack and slammed into the courtyard wall. Fresh blood sprayed from his mouth as he slid to the ground, vision blurring.
The teenager was Xu Bao, eighteen years old and already at the fifth layer of Body Tempering. Among the outer clan, he counted as a minor genius.
His lackeys laughed loudly behind him.
"Big Brother Bao, why waste words on this waste? He's nothing but a stain on the Xu Clan.""That's right. If I had a son like him, I'd have strangled him at birth to save the embarrassment."Xu Tian clutched his chest. Pain wracked his body, yet deeper than the physical agony was a strange, detached indifference.
So painful… yet so boring.
Even as death crept closer, fear and hatred did not surface. Only soul-deep boredom.
Xu Bao walked over, grabbed Xu Tian by the hair, and lifted his head.
"Listen carefully, trash. From now on, stay far away from Sister Lingxue. A toad like you doesn't deserve to breathe the same air as her.
"Sister Lingxue referred to Xu Lingxue, the true genius of the clan. At seventeen, she had reached the ninth layer of Body Tempering, with rumors that a major sect had already accepted her.
Once, a childhood betrothal had existed between her and Xu Tian. After his trash physique became known, that engagement turned into the clan's biggest joke.
Xu Tian's lips moved. Blood trickled down his chin. His voice was weak but carried inexplicable coldness.
"Get your hand off me."
The courtyard fell silent for a moment.
Then Xu Bao's face twisted with rage.
"You're about to die and you still talk back?"
He raised his fist. Qi surged around it. This strike would shatter Xu Tian's skull.
The surrounding youths watched with excited expressions. No one planned to intervene. Killing a waste like Xu Tian felt no different from stepping on an ant.
Xu Bao's fist descended.
Boom!
A dull explosion rang out.
Yet the expected splattered head never appeared.
Xu Bao's arm stopped mid-air, trembling violently. His fist was caught by Xu Tian's pale, slender hand.
Xu Tian slowly raised his head.
His golden eyes, once dim, now burned with indifferent, terrifying light.
Xu Bao's expression changed dramatically.
"Impossible! How can you…"
Crack!
Bones shattered.
Xu Bao's arm twisted at an unnatural angle. He screamed and flew backward, crashing into the crowd and knocking several people down.
The courtyard went deathly silent.
Xu Tian stood up slowly.
Broken ribs, internal bleeding, blood at the corner of his mouth, the injuries remained. Yet he stood straight, as if pain no longer existed.
He looked around at the stunned faces, expression calm to the point of apathy.
"So weak."
His voice was soft, almost a murmur.
Everyone present felt a chill run down their spines.
At that moment, a mechanical voice with a hint of sarcasm sounded in Xu Tian's mind.
[Ding! Heavenly Domination System binding complete.]
[Host detected in mortal peril. Emergency activation engaged.]
[Scanning host physique… blocked meridians, trash-grade spiritual roots, near-death state.][Conclusion: Utter garbage.]
[Initiating compensation protocol.]
[Reward: Primordial Chaos Immortal Body (Supreme Grade, unique in all realms).]
[Reward: Nine-Revolution Golden Core Foundation (instant completion).]
[Reward: Divine Artifact – Void Sovereign Ring (recognizes host as master).]
[All rewards distributed.]
Power and information flooded Xu Tian's mind and body.
In an instant, blocked meridians shattered and reformed into something beyond mortal comprehension.
His bones crackled as they turned jade-like and indestructible.
His blood surged with the aura of primordial chaos.
Wounds healed in seconds without leaving scars.
Xu Tian blinked.
Then he yawned.
"Is that it?"
The system paused, as if caught off guard.
[…Host, you just received the most broken starting package in the history of all heavens. Most protagonists would be crying tears of gratitude right now.]
Xu Tian ignored it.
He looked at his hands, flexed his fingers, and clenched his fist casually.
Boom!
Air exploded.
A visible shockwave swept the courtyard, kicking up dust and forcing everyone to stagger.
Xu Bao, clutching his broken arm, stared in horror.
"You… what demonic art did you use?!"
Xu Tian tilted his head.
"Demonic art?"
He took one step forward.
The ground beneath his foot cracked like spiderwebs.
Then he vanished.
The next instant, he appeared before Xu Bao.
His hand tapped Xu Bao's chest lightly.
No Qi fluctuation.
No technique.
Just a tap.
Crack!
Xu Bao's chest caved in. He flew dozens of meters, smashing through the courtyard wall and vanishing into the distance.
Dead or alive, unknown.The remaining youths finally reacted.
"Monster!"
"Run! Call the elders!"
They scattered in panic.
Xu Tian did not chase them.
He simply stood there, gazing at the blue sky, expression unchanged.
"Still too weak."
The system spoke again, this time with faint amusement.
[Main quest unlocked: Dominate the Xu Clan within three days.]
[Reward: Random Supreme-Grade Divine Artifact ×1]
[Punishment for failure: None. Because failure is impossible for you, Host.]
Xu Tian's lips curved into the faintest smirk."Three days? Too slow."
He turned and walked toward the inner clan.
Behind him, the outer courtyard lay in ruins.
Deep within the clan, several powerful auras stirred suddenly.
An elder opened his eyes in shock.
"This aura… how is it possible?
"Another elder's voice trembled.
"Could it be that waste Xu Tian?"
On a distant mountain peak, a beautiful girl in snow-white robes gazed toward the outer courtyard.
Xu Lingxue frowned slightly.
"Interesting."
Xu Tian paused mid-step.
He looked toward the inner clan, golden eyes gleaming.
At that moment, a group of inner clan disciples in luxurious robes appeared at the entrance, led by a proud youth holding a folding fan.
The youth glanced at the ruined courtyard, then at Xu Tian.
His eyes narrowed.
"Xu Tian? You caused this?"
Xu Tian offered no answer.
He simply looked at the youth calmly.
The proud youth sneered.
"I am Xu Feng, core disciple, peak of the ninth layer of Body Tempering. On behalf of the clan, I will punish—"
Xu Tian sighed.
"Too noisy."
He raised his hand.
Terrifying pressure descended.
Boom!
Xu Feng and every disciple behind him slammed face-first into the ground, unable to move a finger.
Xu Feng's eyes filled with terror.
"You… who are you?!"
Xu Tian walked past them slowly.
As he passed Xu Feng, he spoke softly.
"From now on, the Xu Clan belongs to me."
The pressure vanished.
Xu Feng collapsed, gasping, clothes soaked in cold sweat.
When he looked up again, Xu Tian was gone.
Only a faint voice lingered in the air.
"Call the Patriarch."
"I'm in a hurry."