Chapter 1

In the Chenbei Dynasty, the capital city, and the grand training ground of the capital city.

It is now the harsh winter season, with thick layers of ice forming on the eaves, and the entire capital city is enveloped in a cold, snowy white atmosphere.

Early in the morning, the sound of practicing boxing could be heard from a large courtyard in the northwest of the capital city.

This is the place where the young masters and misses of the capital city's officials and nobles practice boxing, with instructors and various weapons inside.

However, at this moment, there is only one young man in the grand training ground.

The young man practicing boxing has a handsome face and bright eyes, about fifteen years old, but with a slender build.

This young man is practicing boxing, while in the corner, a large yellow dog is lying down, sound asleep.

"I will definitely reach the Xiantian realm, it's almost there." Xiao Yu took a deep breath, his eyes filled with determination.

He then tried to sense the changes in his dantian.

He had reached the "Houtian realm" several years ago, but there had been no progress at all. However, Xiao Yu had never given up; he believed he would definitely break through this barrier.

The Chenbei Dynasty is vast and rich, prosperous and flourishing, a great empire where cultivation is prevalent. From the current emperor to the common people, everyone takes pride in being able to cultivate.

To truly enter the ranks of cultivators, the Xiantian realm is a necessary path.

To reach the Xiantian realm, one must first condense the "Qi Sea." Once the Qi Sea is condensed, one can absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, thus naturally entering the "Qi Gathering realm."

The only difference between the Houtian realm and the Xiantian realm is that the Houtian realm can be achieved through the physical strengthening of ordinary people.

However, to enter the Xiantian realm, one must rely on one's own enlightenment to condense the Qi Sea in the dantian. This is a hurdle, a threshold for becoming a true cultivator.

Xiao Yu had tried for five whole years, but his dantian showed no reaction at all.

However, he did not lose heart. Every morning, regardless of the cold or heat, he came here to practice boxing, all to help himself transcend the Houtian realm and reach the Xiantian realm.

It was these beliefs that kept Xiao Yu from giving up. He knew he had been weak since childhood, so he spent more time cultivating than ordinary people.

"Still can't sense the Qi Sea, keep going." With that, Xiao Yu sat down and slowly sensed the changes in his dantian.

At this moment, four armed guards suddenly walked into the courtyard, led by a young man.

"Hey, you guys, hurry up. The Eighth Prince wants to eat dog meat tonight, quickly drag this dog back and slaughter it." The young man ordered arrogantly, completely ignoring Xiao Yu's presence.

"Stop it!" Xiao Yu's face changed drastically, and he angrily rushed over, throwing a punch.

The dog under the tree, named Dahuang, was as tall as a person and had been Xiao Yu's only friend for many years.

"Get out of the way."

This young man was a companion of the Eighth Prince, with the strength of the "early Qi Gathering realm."

The Qi Gathering realm is the first of the three "Foundation Building realms," followed by the "Qi Accumulation realm" and the "Qi Spirit realm."

Each major realm has six minor realms: early, middle, late, minor perfection, major perfection, and peak.

Only by reaching the early Qi Gathering realm can one truly become a cultivator.

Su Ming's palm strike had the force of several hundred kilograms.

With a wave of his hand, Xiao Yu was sent flying, landing ten meters away.

Unnoticed by Xiao Yu, the glass ball pendant he always wore had been crushed under him.

No one noticed that an invisible energy suddenly emerged from the pendant and entered his mind.

"An ant trying to shake a tree! With your Houtian realm strength, you dare to challenge me, a cultivator of the Qi Gathering realm?" Su Ming's eyes were full of disdain.

"Su Ming, you, a mere companion, dare to hit me? This is insubordination, you are courting death!" Xiao Yu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and angrily pointed at the young man.

The Xiao family is a major clan in the capital city, and he is the young master of the Xiao family. According to the laws of the dynasty, Su Ming would be executed.

"Insubordination? Do you really think you are the young master of the Xiao family? In the capital city, you are just an extra. Truly ignorant and presumptuous, a scholar's son also dares to cultivate? A dreamer! Don't forget, you are just a sickly person, a disgrace to the Xiao family, no, a disgrace to the entire capital city! I really don't understand what the meaning of your existence is." Su Ming raised his eyebrows, extremely disdainful.

If Xiao Yu were a commoner, it wouldn't matter much if he couldn't cultivate. However, the problem is that he is the only male descendant of the Xiao family and the young master.

The Xiao family is a major clan in the capital city, not because of the number of powerful cultivators they have produced, but because the Xiao family has always been a family of scholars and literati, with no one ever cultivating.

In a dynasty that values martial arts over literature and where cultivation is prevalent, Xiao Yu's dream of cultivation, along with the entire Xiao family, has become a laughingstock in the capital city.

And now, this guy is really being unreasonable, daring to obstruct what the Eighth Prince wants?

"Woof!"

Dahuang, who had been sleeping soundly, barked because he was being dragged by the four armed guards, extremely unwilling.

"Let it go!" Xiao Yu was furious.

Dahuang had been with him for seven or eight years, accompanying him during his loneliest and most isolated times.

If it weren't for Dahuang's company over the years, he really wouldn't know how he would have gotten through those days.

"Unreasonable thing!"

Su Ming was also angry and threw a fierce punch.

Seemingly fueled by anger, Xiao Yu's blood seemed to boil, and he suddenly reached out, catching Su Ming's punch!

"What!?"

Su Ming saw that Xiao Yu's eyes had turned blood red, and at the same time, his fist felt as if it were clamped by an iron vise, becoming numb.

"I told you to let it go, didn't you hear me?"

An extremely cold aura filled the entire training hall, the icy chill like a deep abyss from the netherworld, making everyone's backs instantly tingle.

The faces of the armed guards turned pale, and they involuntarily took several steps back. Xiao Yu's gaze was like a cold, piercing beam, staring intently at Su Ming.

At this moment, Su Ming was so frightened that he couldn't speak.

"If you don't want to die, get out!" Xiao Yu said coldly, then pushed, sending Su Ming flying several meters away.

Su Ming was extremely surprised. How could this waste suddenly change like this? Could he have been hiding his strength?

But that's not right! He is clearly at the Houtian realm! But he had clearly felt a deep, soul-shaking fear just now!

"Xiao Yu, you have guts! You dare to defy what the Eighth Prince wants, you're asking for death!"

Su Ming gritted his teeth, though unwilling, he had to retreat temporarily.

"Master Su, what should we do? How will we explain to the Eighth Prince when we return?" one of the guards whispered.

"Hmph! This kid is just having a last gasp, a waste will always be a waste! We'll come back tonight, and if he dares to stop us again, we'll kill him!"

"Dahuang."

Xiao Yu walked to Dahuang's side, stroking his head, his eyes filled with determination, and said, "I won't let anyone take you away. Even if it costs me my life, I will protect you."

Xiao Yu didn't notice, but Dahuang's eyes suddenly flashed with a glint.

...

That night, several figures sneaked into the Xiao family's residence. They moved to the courtyard where Xiao Yu was, then approached the tree, and nine knives were raised, all aimed at Dahuang.

"Woof..."

Dahuang had just been dragged out and was stabbed several times, immediately killed.

These people were none other than Su Ming and several armed guards.

Su Ming sneered, "Enjoying yourself today, I'll kill your dog and see how high you can jump."

Suddenly, the door opened, and Xiao Yu rushed out at the sound. When he saw Dahuang lying in a pool of blood, his eyes instantly turned red.

"Dahuang!!!"

"You're asking for death!"

When he saw that it was Su Ming and his group, Xiao Yu roared and threw a punch.

"You, a waste, you..."

Originally thinking that Xiao Yu had no strength and couldn't cause much trouble, but when Xiao Yu threw his punch, an extremely terrifying aura, like a heavy hammer, fiercely enveloped them.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

All nine people were sent flying, spitting blood.

"How is this possible?"

In the darkness, Xiao Yu's eyes were extremely eerie, and the entire courtyard was enveloped in a terrifying killing intent.

"There's something strange about him! Run!" Su Ming shouted and immediately fled with the others.

Xiao Yu didn't chase after them. Seeing Dahuang, who was motionless and dead, his heart was bleeding.

He hated himself for not being able to protect his only friend and despised his own weakness. An overwhelming sense of guilt and shame suddenly welled up in his heart.

Soon, whether from shame or exhaustion, Xiao Yu fainted...