The air in the grand hall seemed to freeze.
Morning light poured through the open doors, illuminating Lin Chen's figure and stretching his shadow long across the polished stone floor. That fleeting wisp of invisible pressure had vanished as quickly as it appeared, yet it left an indelible mark. Zhao Tianhong and Zhao Wuji's breathing hitched; Zhao Ling'er's face drained of color, her mind flashing back to a childhood terror—of being stalked by a wild beast in the forest.
Zhao Tianhong forced down his unease and growled, "Lin Chen, what is the meaning of this? Do you intend to intimidate us with force?"
On the Xuantian Continent, strength reigned supreme. It was an iron law etched into every cultivator's bones.
The continent was vast and boundless, divided into Nine Heavens and thirty-six domains. The Eastern Domain was merely a remote corner, and Qingyun City was nothing more than a small frontier town on its edge. In such a place, most clan members cultivated in the Postnatal Realm—forging their bodies, tempering flesh and bone. The Innate Realm, where true essence condensed and could be projected outward, marked the true experts—capable of founding sects or dominating cities. Higher still were realms like the Spirit Sea, where cultivators opened an inner ocean of essence, or Divine Transformation, where soul and body fused with heaven and earth. Those were figures of legend, elders in the great central state sects, unseen in a lifetime by ordinary folk.
The Zhao family now boasted two Innate elders, with both Zhao Wuji and Zhao Ling'er having broken through to Early Innate. That was why they dared strut so arrogantly. The Lin family? Since Lin Chen's "crippling" three years ago, their strongest was merely Peak Postnatal—Lin Zhantian himself. They had declined into irrelevance.
Lin Zhantian's heart jolted. Watching his son's calm, profound back, a strange feeling stirred within him. Was this still the silent, withdrawn boy of the past three years?
Su Qingyao stood at Lin Chen's side, her fingers tightening involuntarily around his. She could feel the warmth of his palm—a steady anchor that calmed her racing heart, even as worry gnawed deeper. If he revealed too much now, would it invite deadly enemies?
Lin Chen swept a faint glance over Zhao Tianhong, his voice even and unhurried. "Elder Zhao, you claim the Lin family lacks even a single Innate cultivator, so you think you can trample us at will? Then tell me—is the Innate Realm… truly that impressive?"
The hall erupted in stunned murmurs.
Zhao Wuji laughed in fury. "Boy, you're nothing but a Postnatal cripple—how dare you speak lightly of the Innate Realm? Innate true essence can manifest as qi; a single thought can slaughter a hundred Postnatal ants! What do you have to compare?"
Zhao Ling'er, recovering her voice, shrieked, "Lin Chen, stop pretending! Three years ago your meridians were severed—you couldn't even hold Early Postnatal. How could you possibly turn the tables now?"
Lin Chen ignored them. He turned to Su Qingyao and said softly, "Qingyao, step back a little. Don't let the dust soil your dress."
She blinked, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. She understood—he was about to act. Worry and a quiet, long-suppressed excitement mingled in her chest. For three years, this was the moment she had waited for.
Retreating a few steps, she stood beside Lin Zhantian and whispered, "Father… Chen-di, he…"
Lin Zhantian drew a deep breath, voice low. "Watch. Perhaps… this is the Lin family's turning point."
Lin Chen faced forward again, his gaze settling on Zhao Wuji. "Zhao Wuji, three years ago when you visited the Lin estate, you were only Late Postnatal. Now that you've reached Early Innate, you strut like this?"
Zhao Wuji sneered. "So what? Innate true essence crushes you like an insect!"
As the words left his mouth, he lunged. Innate true essence exploded outward, forming a massive palm imprint that thundered toward Lin Chen's crown with the roar of wind and thunder. Against a Postnatal cultivator, such a strike meant instant death.
Gasps filled the hall. Lin elders tensed, ready to intervene and shield their young master.
But in the next instant, every eye widened.
Lin Chen barely moved. He simply raised one hand and pointed a single finger.
It seemed casual, almost lazy—yet it carried the majesty of a dragon's claw.
Boom!
The palm imprint shattered. Zhao Wuji flew backward like a broken kite, crashing through the side wall of the hall in a cloud of dust and debris. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he struggled to rise, eyes filled with raw horror. "You… how is this possible…"
Zhao Tianhong's face twisted. "Mid-Innate? No… this aura…"
He sensed something wrong. That pressure wasn't merely Innate. It carried an ancient, domineering dragon intent that chilled the soul.
Lin Chen withdrew his hand and said calmly, "Innate? It's only the beginning."
Deep within him, the supreme dragon soul fully awakened.
Boom!
A golden dragon shadow coiled through his meridians, flooding his limbs with boundless power. At last, the system's voice rang in his mind:
[Ding! Host meridians fully restored. Supreme Dragon Soul awakened!]
[Current realm: Late Innate (capable of instantly slaying peers)]
[Rewards: Dragon Emperor Overlord Body (initial stage), Nine Revolutions Divine Dragon Art (first revolution), Devour Heaven Demon Technique (entry level)!]
Warmth surged through Lin Chen's heart. In his previous life, he had relied on military forbidden arts to heal. In this life, the dragon soul's power had propelled him forward in one leap. In a backwater like Qingyun City, Late Innate was already invincible.
Zhao Tianhong finally panicked. "Lin Chen… you've been hiding your strength for three years?!"
Lin Chen's lips curved in a cold smile. "Hiding? It's the Zhao family that's blind. Three years ago you forced the engagement; now that you see me 'crippled,' you come to break it. The Zhao family calculates well."
Zhao Ling'er collapsed to the floor, her red gown disheveled. "Impossible… how could you have recovered…"
Lin Chen looked down at her, his calm eyes holding three years of accumulated frost. "Zhao Ling'er, you said keeping the engagement hinders you? Fine. I'll grant your wish."
He bent, picked up the torn contract from the floor, and slowly ripped it in two.
"From this day forward, we have no ties. But the humiliation the Zhao family has inflicted today—I, Lin Chen, will remember."
Zhao Tianhong roared, "Boy, you dare! The Zhao family has two Innate elders here—do you think you can act so arrogantly?"
The second elder, Zhao Tiande, finally moved. Innate true essence coalesced into a massive claw that seized toward Lin Chen.
Lin Chen shook his head. "Courting death."
He stepped forward. Dragon soul power radiated outward.
Roar!
A low dragon's roar echoed through the hall. A golden dragon claw manifestation appeared, slamming downward.
Boom!
The massive claw shattered. Zhao Tiande staggered back several steps, his palm splitting open, blood dripping freely.
Dead silence fell.
Zhao Tianhong's pupils contracted. "This… what divine art is this? Dragon bloodline?!"
On the Xuantian Continent, dragons were ancient divine beasts, extinct since the great war ten thousand years ago. Rare bloodline awakeners were heaven-defying geniuses, capable of sweeping entire realms.
Lin Chen offered no explanation. He only said coolly, "Zhao family—get out. Today I spare your lives. Come again, and I will wipe your clan from existence."
Zhao Tianhong's face flushed purple with rage, yet he dared not speak further. He knew they had kicked an iron plate. Lin Chen's aura far surpassed Late Innate—perhaps approaching the Spirit Sea Realm!
"Withdraw!"
The Zhao entourage fled in disgrace. Zhao Wuji was carried out, Zhao Ling'er sobbing as she followed. Their earlier arrogance had turned to the rout of stray dogs.
Only then did the hall erupt.
Lin elders stared at Lin Chen as though seeing a ghost. Servants whispered in awe. Lin Zhantian rose slowly from his seat, eyes red-rimmed. "Chen'er… you…"
Lin Chen turned and bowed slightly. "Father, I have worried you these three years."
Lin Zhantian's voice trembled. "Good… good! As long as you're well, the Lin family has hope!"
Cheers broke out among the Lin members. Three years of humiliation, washed away in a single morning.
Su Qingyao stood quietly to the side, tears glistening in her eyes. She didn't cheer like the others; she only watched Lin Chen, heart full to bursting. The boy she had guarded in secret for three years had finally spread his wings—and they were magnificent.
Lin Chen walked to her, taking her hand once more. "Qingyao, it's over."
She shook her head, voice soft. "It's only beginning."
He smiled, squeezing gently. "Then let's begin together."
The morning sun climbed higher, bathing the Lin estate in golden light. Word of the events spread swiftly through Qingyun City—the waste young master had awakened a dragon bloodline, crushing the Zhao family with ease.
By noon, the city was abuzz. Families that had distanced themselves sent gifts in haste. Those that had mocked the Lins now trembled.
In the small courtyard beneath the old plum tree, Lin Chen and Su Qingyao sat side by side on the stone bench.
The earlier chaos felt distant here. Only birdsong and the rustle of leaves remained.
Su Qingyao leaned lightly against his shoulder. "Lin Chen… these three years, were you always pretending?"
He nodded. "I needed time. And… I wanted to see who would stay."
She lifted her head, eyes searching his. "And now that you've seen?"
Lin Chen met her gaze steadily. "I see you clearest of all."
A blush spread across her cheeks, but she didn't look away. "Then… don't hide from me again."
"I won't." He reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered against her skin, warm and reassuring.
For a long moment they sat in silence, the weight of three years lifting like morning mist.
Yet Lin Chen knew this was only the start. Qingyun City was too small; the dragon soul's true legacy lay in the wider world—secret realms, ancient ruins, the great sects of the central states.
And enemies far stronger than the Zhao family would come.
But with her at his side, he felt ready for anything.
As afternoon shadows lengthened across the courtyard, Lin Chen stood. "Qingyao, prepare yourself. In three days, we leave Qingyun City."
She rose without hesitation. "Where you go, I follow."
He smiled, the dragon within him humming in quiet approval.
The first breath of the dragon had shaken Qingyun. Soon, it would resound across the Nine Heavens.