The sky above Qingye City had just turned indigo, stars blooming in the dark like scattered lanterns. Lin Ho slowly opened his eyes from meditation.
The chaotic spiral in his dantian pulsed steadily, resonating with the meridians now reforged through primal pressure. The breakthrough into Meridian Forging – Early Stage had come without resistance — guided not by force, but by absorption and refinement.
He looked down at his palms, heat still rising from the bones beneath his skin.
> "Chaos devours… chaos reshapes. It doesn't reject. It transforms."
---
A knock at the gate interrupted his thoughts.
Old Master Lin entered without a word, carrying a long wooden case wrapped in sealing thread.
> "You've stabilized."
> "Yes, Grandfather," Lin Ho nodded. "I broke through again."
The old man raised an eyebrow, then smiled faintly. He placed the case down on the stone table.
> "Tomorrow is the Qingye Sect's entrance selection. You should attend."
Lin Ho paused.
> "Even with this… cultivation method?"
> "Especially because of it. You can't walk this path in isolation. Let the world see your potential — just not the whole truth."
He tapped the case.
> "This belonged to your father. A spiritual-grade longblade. Not flashy, but loyal."
Lin Ho lowered his head respectfully and accepted the case.
---
The Next Morning – Qingye Sect Selection Grounds
A vast arena outside the city stretched over an open plateau. Tens of thousands of young cultivators from nearby regions gathered in orderly rows, grouped by age and realm. Floating platforms circled overhead — judges, clan elders, and sect observers watching from above.
Each candidate would undergo three trials:
1. Spiritual Root Evaluation
2. Combat Performance
3. Will Assessment
Lin Ho stood near the back in plain black robes. Many others wore silks inscribed with talismans, their spiritual treasures flashing with runes. Glances passed over him with casual dismissal — sensing only an early Meridian Forging aura.
> "Does he even have a clan?"
"Probably a random backwater bumpkin…"
He ignored them.
---
Spiritual Root Evaluation
One by one, cultivators stepped forward to press their hands to a crystalline pillar that shimmered with their elemental affinity.
> Fire.
Water.
Wood and Earth dual root.
Single Lightning Root.
Then Lin Ho approached.
The pillar flickered. Dimmed. Glowed again. Then twisted — golden light flashing with chaotic black. The crystal cracked with a sharp sound, leaving a fine web across its surface.
Gasps rippled across the field.
The elder attending the pillar frowned.
> "...Unstable affinity. Record him as undefined. Probably a body-type cultivator."
Lin Ho simply stepped down. He expected this. The Chaos Bloodline would not show itself to such crude instruments. No one here had the qualifications to recognize it.
---
Combat Trials – Ten-Person Matches
Each group was placed in a battle ring. Lethal strikes were forbidden, but full-force combat was allowed.
Lin Ho's group included a cocky youth from the Bronze Crane Sect with a wind-etched spear and a girl wielding twin sabers.
As soon as the gong sounded, the spear-wielder charged straight at Lin Ho.
> "Out of my way, trash."
Lin Ho didn't even draw his sword. His body shimmered — space subtly distorting — and he reappeared behind his opponent, palm glowing with swirling golden-black Qi. One strike sent the spear user crashing out of the ring, blood at his lips.
> "Did… did he use a movement technique?"
"No… that wasn't any known technique…"
The twin-saber girl lunged next, blades flashing with wind force. But Lin Ho moved like water through the gaps, his palm knocking her weapons aside with a twist of his waist.
The ring fell silent.
From one of the floating platforms above, an elder leaned forward.
> "That boy… doesn't use Qi like the others."
"Send someone to observe him. Discreetly."
---
End of Trials – Selection Results Pending
By dusk, most candidates had been sorted. Lin Ho's name still hadn't been called. He stood calmly.
Then a voice echoed from above.
> "Lin Ho. Report to Elder Qiu's peak. Special interview requested."
More murmurs followed. Special interviews were extremely rare — reserved for talents worthy of Inner Sect status.
Lin Ho nodded and turned, face unreadable.
Far in the distance, several cloaked figures hidden in the crowd quietly dispersed. Their eyes narrowed, but none showed recognition.
Not one of them — nor anyone here — knew what his bloodline truly was. Only the highest Supremes of the world, those who stood at the brink of divinity, might recognize the chaos within him.
But none of them were here.
---
Later That Night
As Lin Ho walked down the mountain path, a junior disciple caught up with him.
> "Senior Lin… your cultivation technique, it's not one I've seen. Who taught you?"
Lin Ho turned slightly, answering without hesitation.
> "My grandfather passed it to me."
> "Ah? Then… who is your grandfather?"
He met the boy's eyes.
> "Lin Tianzhen. One of the Fifteen Heroes."
The junior turned pale and backed away with a bow.
> "I… I see. Thank you, Senior!"
Lin Ho continued walking, his thoughts steady.
As for the bloodline?
If anyone asked…
> "I don't know."
And that was all they'd get.