The Su Clan was vast—not in legend, but in blood. With over a thousand members sprawled across its expansive estate, it stood tall in the eastern regions of the Crimson Vein Province. Not the strongest... but feared nonetheless.
The birth of Su Yi, the patriarch's only son, had sparked a celebration the clan hadn't seen in decades. Red banners danced in the wind. Silk drums echoed across mountain paths. From servant to steward, joy colored every corner of the estate.
> "A child born under a blood moon… this is no ordinary blessing," whispered the midwives.
At the center of it all stood Su Lifan, the clan patriarch. Towering, sharp-eyed, and weathered by decades of silent battles—not on the battlefield, but within scrolls, trade, and clan halls. He had waited long for an heir.
> "Let it be known!" he roared from the upper dais. "The Su Clan shall not fade into dust. From this moment on, we bloom anew."
The celebration had just begun.
Within the clan's vast compound, over 900 members remained within the Mortal Realm,scattered across two main stages:
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1. Body Tempering Realm (6 Sub-Stages):
1. Skin Refinement – The outer layer. Strengthens resistance to external force.
2. Muscle Tempering – Enhances muscular power and flexibility.
3. Bone Forging – Hardens skeletal structure, improves internal support.
4. Blood Cleansing – Removes impurities, strengthens circulation of qi.
5. Organ Toughening – Fortifies internal organs, sharpens perception and stamina.
6. Marrow Transformation – Rebirth of the core. Unlocks true potential for qi absorption.
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2. Qi Cultivation Realm (9 Layers):
Where one begins to absorb and control spiritual essence. Most in the clan never crossed the 4th layer.
Only a dozen or so members had reached above the 5th layer, and none had ever stepped beyond Qi Cultivation—except one.
The Guardian.
A silent figure, never seen during daylight, rumored to dwell beneath the ancestral temple. It was said he had reached Foundation Establishment, a realm where one's presence could silence a crowd.
But even he never intervened. Only the patriarch could summon him, and only in moments when the clan faced collapse.
> "One guardian," Su Lifan once said, "is worth more than a thousand paper swords."
Inside the hall, relatives lined up in ornate robes—branch families, distant cousins, and those whose smiles barely hid their envy.
> "So this is the heir…"
> "Hmph. What's so special about a baby?"
> "Another spoiled root to protect while we bleed in the outer lands."
Their voices were soft, but not lost.
Lin Xuiyan, resting nearby, held Su Yi gently. Her eyes, though tired, were calm—watching the crowd with quiet vigilance.
> "He won't be a pawn," she whispered to herself. "Not like the others."
Meanwhile, servants bustled about, musicians played ancient tunes, and the smell of plum wine drifted through the corridors.
Then came a whisper to Su Lifan.
A steward leaned in and spoke with haste.
The patriarch's expression changed—barely. A flicker of steel crossed his gaze before he turned away from the crowd.
> "They've arrived?"
> "At the gates, Patriarch. Their insignia is covered."
> "Of course it is."
He didn't move. Instead, he raised his wine cup and smiled at the cheering clan.
> "Let the guests wait. Tonight, we toast to the bloodline of Su."
Outside the estate walls, three black carriages waited.
No flag. No words.
But something old stirred beyond those gates.
And soon, the Su Clan would remember what it meant to bleed.
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To Be Continued...