Chapter 1: The Youth Ling Xiao

Early in the morning, as the horizon just began to ripple with pale golden light, a lone figure was already shedding sweat on the training grounds amidst the hazy shadows...

This was Tianfeng City, the main residence of the Ling family.

Hah!

A crisp shout awakened the dawn, and the boy’s appearance became clear.

He looked to be no more than thirteen or fourteen years old. He was somewhat tall, slightly thin, and his skin had a sickly, sallow complexion.

This was likely due to malnutrition, yet the boy had a spirited look. While he couldn't be called handsome, he certainly possessed the aura that a martial artist should have.

It was barely daybreak; the roosters in the courtyard hadn't even crowed yet, let alone anyone else. In the vast training ground, he was the only one there, practicing with all his might.

"Grandfather said that a slow bird should start early. Since I am not as gifted as others, I must put in ten or a hundred times the effort. I don't believe I can't break through to the second level of the Martial Pulse! Those who laugh at me today will be stunned tomorrow!"

The boy’s name was Ling Xiao. Originally, he had no connection to the Ling family whatsoever.

About a year ago, the Tianfeng City Ling family, seeking to expand their clan's strength, issued widespread invitations. Anyone with the surname Ling could participate in the Ling family’s assessment, and those with excellent results would be officially absorbed into the family.

He had passed that assessment to enter the Ling family. At such a young age, having begged for a living with his grandfather, he had managed to open his Martial Pulse and advance to the first level of the Martial Pulse thanks to a tattered cultivation manual he had picked up. It was nothing short of genius.

Even the Ling family members responsible for the assessment had praised him highly.

But Ling Xiao knew clearly that all of this was only because of something his grandfather had said: "In this world, martial artists reign supreme. If you become a martial artist, we won't have to beg anymore."

From that day on, he practiced day and night, not even forgetting to train while begging. That was how he achieved what he had.

Others thought he was a genius, but in reality, he was just practicing more desperately than anyone else.

After becoming a member of the Ling family, Ling Xiao and his grandfather moved into the housing provided by the family. At that time, Ling Xiao was filled with expectations for the future.

There was a girl named Ling Yu.

She was not from the Tianfeng City Ling family, but her family background was very good.

In the past, when Ling Xiao went to their doorstep to beg for food, this spoiled young lady would always sneak out after her family went inside, throw Ling Xiao’s bowl to the ground, and stomp on it fiercely with her exquisite boots made of high-quality materials.

She would add, "I'd rather feed it to a dog than give it to you!"

However, after Ling Xiao entered the Ling family, Ling Yu looked at him differently. She even took the initiative to approach him and make friends. This filled Ling Xiao with pride, and he became determined to go further in martial arts and make a name for himself in the Ling family.

However, ideals are beautiful, but reality is cruel.

A mere first-level Martial Pulse practitioner was nothing but a drop in the ocean within the vast Ling family.

The Tianfeng City Ling family had a population of over ten thousand, and with this expansion, the number had reached twenty or thirty thousand, making them the absolute overlords of Tianfeng City.

How could such a family truly look up to a first-level Martial Pulse practitioner?

Any random maid or servant they pulled out was already at the first level of the Martial Pulse!

The peers within the Ling family all had excellent foundations; they were all without exception at the second level of the Martial Pulse or higher, and some had even reached the third level! The fourth level was a realm that Ling Xiao could only look up to.

Of course, if he could break through to the second level of the Martial Pulse within a year, Ling Xiao might have been able to be proud.

However, some things cannot be forced. Because the tattered manual he had picked up earlier conflicted with the Ling family’s foundational cultivation method, he had to start over from scratch.

Gradually, he had been surpassed by many who had joined at the same time.

By this time, Ling Yu, who had changed her attitude toward him, had once again become that high-and-mighty, spoiled young lady, because she had not only broken through to the second level of the Martial Pulse but had also befriended the genius disciples of the Ling family.

Ling Xiao, having recognized reality, did not fall into despair. On the contrary, he did not forget how he had come to the Ling family, so he practiced even harder and more diligently, swearing that he would never be driven out of the Ling family, or else his grandfather, who relied on him for survival, would suffer again.

The Ling family had a rule: outer disciples who could not break through to the second level of the Martial Pulse within a year would all be expelled, or they would simply become servants of the Ling family.

And now, there was only one month left until Ling Xiao’s one-year limit.

Hoo! Hah!

As the boy swung his arms, the wind whistled, and his shouts were filled with fighting spirit.

Ling Xiao knew what result awaited him in a year, but he would not give up. If he could start from scratch and reach the first level of the Martial Pulse, he believed he could reach the second.

Ling Xiao was currently practicing the Ling family’s foundational martial art—"Savage Bull Strength."

"Savage Bull Strength" was the most common foundational martial art. It encompassed both cultivation methods and combat techniques; it could both raise one's realm and be used for fighting, making it a favorite among low-level martial artists.

Because he had practiced this "Savage Bull Strength" so many times, Ling Xiao had developed a natural, fluid feel for it, which showed that he was actually quite suited for martial arts.

Although this common martial art was very ordinary, it still had levels: Basic, Primary, Intermediate, Advanced, and Top-tier!

With five levels, "Savage Bull Strength" was only the most basic of foundational martial arts.

This classification wasn't for fun; the higher the level, the better the effect of the cultivation method and the greater the power of the martial technique.

Ling Xiao was merely an expanded outer disciple; he didn't even have the Ling family bloodline, and since he hadn't shown any extraordinary talent, he could only practice foundational martial arts. He wasn't even qualified to touch primary martial arts.

"I feel like I'm about to break through, but I'm always stuck at the most critical point. Sigh, if only I had a Breakthrough Pill."

After practicing for a long time, Ling Xiao took out his water skin to take a sip, thinking about his helplessness.

Through nearly a year of observation, he had realized that he was no worse than anyone else. In fact, because he was more diligent, his progress should logically have been faster.

The problem actually lay in the cultivation methods and pills.

The members of the Ling family and those wealthy outer disciples either had higher-level cultivation methods or had the money to buy Breakthrough Pills to assist in their breakthroughs.

Those disciples at the second level of the Martial Pulse had basically all used Breakthrough Pills.

This kind of pill wasn't too expensive and had no side effects, but Ling Xiao simply couldn't afford it. The fact that the Ling family provided him with food and shelter was already the greatest benevolence; they wouldn't give him silver.

"Get lost! I already told you, you waste, this is my exclusive area. You aren't qualified to practice here!"

When the sun had fully risen, an hour had passed. Ling Xiao packed his things, preparing to leave, as he didn't want to cause conflict with the Ling family members.

However, it was too late.

A violent shout rang out; it was Ling Chong, a disciple of the Ling family.

As he spoke, Ling Chong even jumped onto the high platform and shoved Ling Xiao. Fortunately, Ling Xiao had been practicing diligently, so although his realm hadn't broken through, his body was sturdy. Despite his sallow complexion, there was no small amount of strength in his thin frame.

Ling Chong didn't push him back; he stood rooted there like an old tree.

"Ling Chong, I have no grudge against you. Why do you always look for trouble with me?"

Ling Xiao was angry. This wasn't the first time the other party had treated him this way.

"What a joke. Do you think I actually like bullying a waste like you? It's just that your ears don't work. I warned you long ago not to practice here. Don't infect us with your 'waste' aura."

Ling Chong looked at Ling Xiao with a playful and mocking expression.

That’s right, he was doing it on purpose. But so what? Of all the outer disciples brought in, only this Ling Xiao dared to disobey him. If he didn't pick on Ling Xiao, who would he pick on?

The Ling family disciples had an innate sense of arrogance, feeling that the expanded outer disciples were just servants with the title of disciple, to be driven at will.

Therefore, almost all outer disciples had been bullied by the main family disciples. Some chose silence, some chose to fawn, but Ling Xiao chose to be neither humble nor pushy.

Ling Xiao didn't want to cause trouble, but if he didn't practice on the training grounds, he would have to go very far to find a suitable place, and he still had to take care of his grandfather; going too far was simply not an option.

"Ling Chong, you're really useless. You can't even push this outer-sect kid off the training platform? How are you even getting by?"

"Exactly. You're at least a second-level Martial Pulse practitioner, right? This kid is only at the first level. You don't even have more strength than him?"

"Hurry up, Ling Chong, drive this kid away. We still need to train."

Those with Ling Chong were either main family disciples or outer disciples who had defected to them; in any case, they were all people who loved to watch the show.

After all, watching the show is never a bad thing.

"Damn it, you dare look down on me? I'll slap this kid off right now and let him know what a martial artist is!"

Provoked by the taunts, Ling Chong looked at Ling Xiao with great contempt and suddenly struck out with a palm, landing it directly on Ling Xiao’s chest.

"Is that enough?"

Blood spilled from the corner of Ling Xiao’s mouth, but he didn't fall, nor did he fly away.

He could have used the force to fly away and avoid injury, but he didn't want to. Once a person retreats or shows fear once, they will develop that habit.

He was unwilling!

"This kid! He's looking for death!" Ling Chong was enraged and flew up, kicking toward Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, scaring Ling Chong into dodging in a hurry. The kick missed, and Ling Chong flew directly off the training platform.

Looking at Ling Chong, who had fallen off the platform, a smile appeared on Ling Xiao’s face. Then, his body swayed, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.