Chapter 1

"Kill! Kill!"

A roar filled with anger, resentment, and unwillingness to accept defeat gradually brought Nie Yun back to his senses.

"Yun'er, you're finally awake. Don't scare your mother like that next time!"

As soon as he opened his eyes, he heard a slightly sobbing voice. Hearing this voice, Nie Yun shuddered, his eyes instantly widening as he quickly turned his head toward the direction of the sound. Indeed, he saw a middle-aged woman sitting by the bed, her eyes red and bloodshot, as if she hadn't slept for several nights.

"Mother?"

Nie Yun's body stiffened, his mind buzzing as a fragment of memory flashed through his head.

He was called Nie Yun, a super-strong expert at the peak of the Dantian Acupoint Realm. When the demon race invaded, he and dozens of sworn brothers entered the most mysterious Wanjie Mountain to find the traces left by the gods, hoping to break through and find a glimmer of hope. After a series of adventures, they indeed discovered an ancient civilization deep in the distant space-time. Just as he had obtained it and hadn't had time to examine it in detail, a long sword pierced his chest!

The one who struck was his most trusted brother! They had long since surrendered to the demon race and used him to find this relic!

Under the powerful assault of the demon race, Nie Yun had no intention of living, but being betrayed by his most trusted brother still drove him mad. With his severe injuries, he used a forbidden technique, burning his lifespan to kill all those who betrayed him with his sword!

That battle caused the collapse of Wanjie Mountain and the ancient civilization!

That battle led to the complete destruction of those who betrayed him!

That battle caused his soul to disintegrate, his bloodline factors to shatter, and his existence to completely vanish!

"I shouldn't have died, right? My family was already destroyed, wasn't it?"

As this memory flashed through his mind, Nie Yun clenched his fists. When his eyes fell on the familiar surroundings, a bolt of lightning flashed in his mind, and he opened his mouth in disbelief.

"I actually... returned to three hundred years ago? I'm only sixteen this year?"

The scene before him was very clear, unforgettable for life. It was the year he was sixteen, when he went out and met his cousin Nie Chao. They had a disagreement and started arguing, and the other party severely injured him!

This severe injury left him unconscious for five days and five nights, during which his mother stayed by his side for the entire time. When he finally woke up, his strength had dropped from the third level of the Qi Sea Ninth Heaven to the first level of the Qi Induction Realm!

Due to the sharp decline in his strength, he missed the family disciple assessment, and his branch's status plummeted to the lowest, being abandoned by the family and forced to leave Luoshui City, thus falling into a state of decline, suffering from the bullying of outsiders, and having no support from his clan, leading to the gradual death of his family members!

It was also because of this severe injury that his mother sought the Pengxin Snow Lotus to save him, climbed the Xialuo Peak in secret, and fell to her death, becoming a lifelong regret!

"Don't pretend to be dead if you're fine, get up and start practicing early!"

Just as Nie Yun was overwhelmed by the shock of being reborn, an angry and cold voice sounded. The speaker was a somewhat unkempt middle-aged man, holding a large wine gourd, reeking of alcohol, and staggering out as he spoke.

"Father?" Seeing this person and hearing such a scolding, Nie Yun did not feel repulsed but instead felt his eyes well up with tears.

His father, Nie Xiaotian, was once the family's top genius, a peak cultivator of the royal bloodline who had activated seven bloodline factors. Before the age of twenty-five, he had reached the seventh level of the Qi Sea Ninth Heaven, the Weapon Armor Realm, the champion of the Luoshui Talent Competition, and the recipient of the Luoshui Golden Shield. Just when everyone thought he could break through the seventh level and advance to the Qi Master Realm to become a grandmaster, he suddenly went into a mental breakdown, his Qi Sea damaged, and all his cultivation destroyed!

With his Qi Sea damaged, he could no longer cultivate, which was a huge blow to a super-genius who was said to be a once-in-a-century talent. From then on, he fell into a state of decline, drowning his sorrows in alcohol every day.

From a genius to a waste, his former opponents began to ostracize him, and the status of his branch in the family plummeted, eventually being assigned to the most remote area of Luoshui City, not even allowed to enter the family mansion!

He was born in such an environment, suffering from various bullying and ridicule from the moment he was born. Therefore, he had always hated his father, who caused all this, and even hated this family!

If it weren't for this father, he could have activated his bloodline factors much earlier, obtained more cultivation resources, and his strength would have improved much faster. He might have become a genius admired by everyone in the family, instead of living on the outskirts of the city, despised and looked down upon by everyone!

If it weren't for this father, he wouldn't have suffered so much humiliation, faced so many obstacles in everything he did, and lived in poverty!

Because of these reasons, he increasingly hated his father, increasingly despised him, and there was no familial affection between them.

This situation continued until that day...

That day was filled with blood, as the demon army invaded the entire Luoshui City. His father's body blocked him, being pierced by the spear of a demon leader!

It was only at the moment of his father's death that he realized his father had sold his treasured Wen Lin Broadsword, which he valued like his life, to help him activate his bloodline factors!

To help him cultivate quickly, his father knelt before the clan leader, enduring humiliation to obtain the Spirit Grain Pill, which his mother pretended to obtain by chance and gave to him!

To prevent his reputation from affecting him, his father endured the pain of putting on a cold face in front of his son...

But... what could he do at that moment? His father was already gone, completely leaving him!

The tree wants to be still but the wind won't stop; the son wants to support his parents but they are no longer there!

He realized too late. If he had realized earlier, he wouldn't have been so disrespectful. After his mother's death, when he took charge of the branch, he would have scolded his father so much that he wouldn't dare to come home! If he had realized earlier, he wouldn't have shouted in shame at being the son of such a waste when the demons came, causing his father to lose heart and willingly die! If he had realized earlier, he wouldn't have...

Too many "ifs," too many "wouldn'ts," all vanished with that spear, never to be recovered!

Father, I have wronged you!

Father, I have been a scoundrel!

Father, I have been ignorant, I didn't understand your hardships!

Father, since this life has given me a second chance, I am willing to use my life to make up for my past mistakes, to defend your honor and dignity with my life!

"Father!"

Emotionally moved, looking at his somewhat ragged father, Nie Yun's eyes welled up with tears, and the long-lost title slowly came out of his mouth, stiff but filled with genuine affection.

"You called me... what?" Nie Xiaotian's steps faltered as he walked out, his body trembling uncontrollably, unable to believe what he heard.

This son, since the age of six, had been ashamed of his background and his father, never calling him "Father" once. How... how...

"Father, drink less alcohol. Your old injury from back then hasn't fully healed yet!" Suppressing his emotions, Nie Yun said.

"Drink less alcohol? My son is calling me Father? No, no, I have disgraced you, I am not worthy to be your father..." Nie Xiaotian hurriedly walked out, his back to Nie Yun and the others, two streams of turbid tears slowly sliding down his face...

If my son is willing to call me "Father" and recognize me, I can die without regrets now!

"I'll talk to Father later. He is still immersed in the shadow of his past failure. I must resolve this heartache for him!" Sighing, Nie Yun looked at his mother. "Mother, I'm fine. Your eyes are red, you must be tired. Rest quickly, and I'll come to greet you tomorrow!"

"Good, just rest a bit more after waking up. I'll find the best healing holy medicine to treat your injuries and help you fully recover!" Seeing her son fully awake, Nie Ling, his mother, felt the pressure in her heart suddenly ease. Indeed, she felt a bit tired, so she stood up, comforted him a few times, and went back to her room to rest.

"To change everything, I must have strength. Don't waste time, start practicing quickly!"

With both parents leaving the room, Nie Yun slowly sat up and entered a meditative state according to his usual breathing method.

Qi Sea cultivators have a total of nine realms, commonly known as the Qi Sea Ninth Heaven, which are the First Level Qi Induction, Second Level Spirit Grain, Third Level Qi Nourishment, Fourth Level True Qi, Fifth Level Body Exit, Sixth Level Formation of Gang, Seventh Level Weapon Armor, Eighth Level Qi Master, and Ninth Level Supreme!

Qi Sea cultivation is determined by bloodline factors, which indicate talent. The higher the bloodline, the stronger the cultivation talent, and the higher the realm one can reach in the future!

Bloodline factors are measured by the number of bloodline factors a person is born with, representing talent. The more factors, the more noble the identity, divided into five levels: Imperial, Royal, Marquis, Noble, and Common. Ordinary cultivators have no bloodline factors. Activating one is considered a high-quality common bloodline. Two to three are noble bloodlines, and so on, four to five are marquis bloodlines, six to seven are royal bloodlines, and eight to nine are the rarest imperial bloodlines!

Each level is further divided into high-quality and low-quality based on the number of bloodline factors. Even within the same royal bloodline, a high-quality bloodline has a higher status and is more noble!

Back then, his father Nie Xiaotian could activate seven bloodline factors, becoming a high-quality royal bloodline, showing his great potential!

Seven bloodline factors, each forming a dantian in the Qi Sea, meaning he had seven dantians, making his cultivation speed seven times faster than others!

Others cultivating for seven days was equivalent to him cultivating for one day. This talent could be described as terrifying!

"Huh? Where are my bloodline factors? Weren't they already activated? Why are they all gone?"

As his spirit entered the Qi Sea, Nie Yun immediately noticed something different and froze in place.

His talent before rebirth, though not as good as his father's, was not too bad either, or he wouldn't have been able to cultivate to the peak of the Dantian Acupoint Realm! He clearly remembered that at the age of sixteen, he had activated three bloodline factors, becoming a high-quality noble bloodline. How could he have none now?

This is impossible!

Without bloodline factors, he was just an ordinary cultivator. Even with the best cultivation techniques, he couldn't reach the peak of the Dantian Acupoint Realm, let alone take revenge or lead this branch to prosperity!

"Moreover, I remember that after my severe injury at sixteen, I still had the first level of the Qi Sea Ninth Heaven. How... do I have no strength at all now?"

The absence of bloodline factors was already strange, but having no strength at all in his body was even more bizarre. Could it be that after being reborn, not only did his person change, but his cultivation level also changed? And it didn't advance, but regressed?

"What's going on..."

Boom!

Just as Nie Yun was puzzled and didn't know what was happening, a sudden roar echoed in his mind, and an ancient and profound intention instantly resounded throughout his brain.

"Heaven and Earth's creation, infinite bloodline!"

In an instant, a mysterious and incomprehensible technique was transmitted through the intention, and under its nourishment, the internal energy in his body began to circulate according to a special pattern.

As this internal energy circulated, his body emitted a "crackling" sound, and his physical body was continuously transformed by an unknown force. In his dry and shriveled Qi Sea, a light suddenly flickered, and an oval sphere appeared.

Bloodline factor!

Cultivating this nameless technique could actually change his talent and generate bloodline factors!

"Infinite bloodline..."

Seeing the changes in his body and Qi Sea, Nie Yun was so excited that his whole body trembled.

If other sixteen-year-old boys encountered this situation, they might be afraid and not know what to do, but as a peak Dantian Acupoint Realm expert, he knew very well the benefits of being able to generate bloodline factors!

Being able to generate bloodline factors means that one can change their talent and bloodline through cultivation, making cultivation faster and strength greater!

"Ha ha, it seems that not only did I obtain the ancient civilization's relic, but it also accompanied me in my rebirth!"

Hastily holding his breath, Nie Yun carefully examined the nameless technique that suddenly appeared in his mind. Before his rebirth, he and his sworn brothers entered Wanjie Mountain to find the traces left by the gods, hoping to find an opportunity to break through. He never expected to find such a heaven-defying technique!

The technique consisted of over three thousand characters, detailing how to generate bloodline factors through cultivation, change one's talent, and become a superior being!

"According to the description, cultivating this nameless technique is very difficult. Generating each bloodline factor requires a great deal of effort. I just generated one under special circumstances after comprehending the technique. Generating a second will be much more troublesome!"

Nie Yun didn't let his joy cloud his judgment and calmed down.

The cultivation method described in the nameless technique can only generate bloodline factors and change talent, but it cannot help increase strength or cultivation level. Moreover, it's not easy to cultivate. Being able to smoothly generate a bloodline factor upon comprehending the technique is already a stroke of great luck.

Although he now has only one bloodline factor, which is lower than his talent in his previous life, Nie Yun is full of confidence.

The speed at which a person's strength increases depends first on bloodline factors, i.e., talent, and second on the level of the cultivation technique!

Cultivation techniques, like bloodlines, are divided into five levels: Imperial, Royal, Marquis, Noble, and Common. After his family was destroyed in his previous life, he obtained a supreme cultivation technique through a fortuitous encounter, which could even be said to surpass the imperial level. It was precisely because of this technique that, through relentless effort, he cultivated from a high-quality noble bloodline to the peak of the Dantian Acupoint Realm in three hundred years!

The deepest cultivation techniques of the four major families in Luoshui City are only of the low-quality noble level. Even the imperial royal family might not have a high-quality imperial level technique, let alone one that surpasses the imperial level!

This technique is called the "Ninefold Nirvana Technique." As the name suggests, it can circulate nine times in the body, and when the ninefold circulation is complete, one's strength greatly increases!

"When my body first accepted the nameless technique, it was transformed by an unknown force, making my dry and shriveled Qi Sea full, indicating that I have already reached the peak of the second level, Spirit Grain. Now, I need to convert the bloodline factor into a dantian!"

The Qi Sea Ninth Heaven, the first level is Qi Induction, where one connects with the power of heaven and earth, transforming it into nourishment for oneself. This level is the most difficult for those who have never cultivated before, even with good talent, it takes at least three to five years to complete. The second level, Spirit Grain, also known as Guanyuan, Xiaotian, Tiangen, and Minging, involves using absorbed spiritual energy to open the Qi Sea, making it full and powerful.

After being transformed by the nameless technique, Nie Yun's Qi Sea became full, indicating that he had already reached the peak of the Spirit Grain level. Now, he needed to convert the bloodline factor into a dantian to nourish the spiritual energy.

A dantian is a separate area opened in the Qi Sea, like a planet floating in the universe, capable of automatically absorbing and purifying spiritual energy. Ordinary cultivators without bloodline factors cannot form dantians, making cultivation more difficult and their advancement speed much slower than those with even the lowest-quality common bloodline factors!

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Nie Yun's spirit was completely focused on the bloodline factor.

The unactivated bloodline factor, like a large egg, was oval-shaped and floated motionless in the center of the Qi Sea.

"Open the bloodline, condense the dantian!"

With a low cry, Nie Yun controlled the spiritual energy in the Qi Sea to quickly rush toward the bloodline factor. As the spiritual energy rushed, the originally motionless oval egg began to slowly rotate, emitting a grayish light.

The rotation and emission of light from the bloodline factor were signs that it was about to be activated.

In one go, Nie Yun's spiritual energy immediately transformed into a sharp giant sword and slashed at the light. Boom! A thunderous sound echoed in the Qi Sea, and the bloodline factor suddenly expanded into a planet-like shape, rotating and autonomously absorbing and nourishing spiritual energy from the outside.

The bloodline factor had completely transformed into a dantian!

"Done! It took me three whole months just to open the first dantian back then!"

Seeing the dantian in the Qi Sea absorbing spiritual energy and increasing his strength every minute, Nie Yun's eyes shone with excitement.

Transforming the bloodline factor into a dantian was now very simple. The first time he did it, it cost him a great deal, using both spiritual medicines and external forces, and it took three whole months to succeed. The timing of the spiritual energy and spiritual power had to be just right, or it would fail!

However, for Nie Yun, who had reached the peak of the Dantian Acupoint Realm in his previous life, this was nothing.

Transforming the bloodline factor into a dantian meant that the spiritual energy in the Qi Sea could be nourished by the dantian, and his strength was now the same as it was at sixteen in his previous life, reaching the initial stage of the third level, Qi Nourishment!

Once all the gas in the Qi Sea was fully nourished and refined, he would reach the peak of Qi Nourishment and could then purify and advance to the fourth level, True Qi!

Cultivators with bloodline factors have their dantians automatically nourish and refine spiritual energy, while ordinary martial artists can only cultivate on their own, making the speed of advancement much faster! After all, no matter how hard one works, it's impossible to cultivate for twenty-four hours a day without eating or drinking!

As for high-quality royal cultivators like his father Nie Xiaotian, their speed was even more terrifying, with seven dantians simultaneously absorbing and refining spiritual energy, making their speed incredibly fast!

"Stop talking nonsense. Nie Yun has no manners, and as a member of the outer branch, he has offended a member of the inner branch, violating the clan rules. This is the clan's punishment order, delivered by the law enforcement members. You have three days to pay ten thousand taels of silver as compensation, or you will be expelled from the clan and never allowed to return!"

Just as he was cultivating, Nie Yun heard a haughty and cold snort from the courtyard, and the speaker walked in.

The Nie family, like ordinary families on the continent, assesses all members every two years based on their talent and strength, determining whether they belong to the inner or outer branches. Members of the inner branch can stay in the Nie Mansion at the center of Luoshui City, while members of the outer branch are assigned to various places to manage the family's various businesses.

The Nie Tian branch, where Nie Yun was from, used to live in the core area of the Nie Mansion when his father was strong. After his father gave up, he could no longer participate in the family competition and was ostracized, leading to their current situation.

Members of the outer branch and inner branch are like collateral and direct descendants, with different statuses and vastly different rights within the family.

"Ten thousand taels of silver? Our Nie Tian branch really doesn't have that much money... Can we report to the clan and ask for leniency?"

His mother's voice sounded. After his father's decline and constant drinking, all matters of the Nie Tian branch were handled by his mother, who was essentially the head of the branch.

"Leniency? Ha ha, if you can't pay, that's fine too. Doesn't your family have the Luoshui Golden Shield? Hand it over as collateral!"

"The Luoshui Golden Shield was personally given by the city lord of Luoshui City when Xiaotian won the Luoshui Talent Competition. It represents the supreme honor of our Nie Tian branch and cannot be mortgaged..."

"Honor? Your branch needs honor? Has honor?" The voice was filled with sarcasm and ridicule. "Woman, calling you aunt is giving you face. Don't be ungrateful. Tell you, if you can't pay ten thousand taels, hand over the Luoshui Golden