At the end of the day's cultivation, Dao Ling found himself alone in the martial arts hall.
He glanced around, then furtively rummaged through his drawer and pulled out a black pouch.
Gazing at the pouch, a faint smile crossed Dao Ling's face. He rose, left the hall, and hurried to a small forest in the academy. The empty, quiet area suited him. He found a blue stone to sit on and waited.
"Brother Dao Ling."
Before long, a sweet voice chimed. A maiden in a blue dress approached with a smile, her features delicate, raven hair flowing, eyes soft and expectant.
"Wang Ya, you're here," Dao Ling stood, grinning at the maiden. Warmth welled in his heart.
They had grown up together in the slums, sharing a deep bond. Though Wang Ya moved out a year ago, they still met occasionally.
Dao Ling harbored fondness for her. Unlike others, she hadn't distanced herself after he became a "waste." She'd even said she'd be his woman if they joined Star Academy together.
Her purity and kindness were a refuge. In the academy, he faced nothing but mockery—a cold, unforgiving world where he felt adrift. Having a friend to rely on felt like a blessing…
"Brother Dao Ling, did you bring it?" Wang Ya smiled sweetly, her gaze subtly scanning him. Spotting the black pouch in his hand, her heart leaped, though she feigned ignorance.
"Yep. You can borrow it for a few days, but not too long—my lame dad will get mad," Dao Ling scratched his head. "Lame" was what he'd called his father since childhood.
A miner, his father had scraped by to send Dao Ling to the academy.
Inside the pouch was a fist-sized blue crystal—stunning, translucent, wrapped in wisps of blue light that shimmered like a dream.
Dao Ling's expression turned odd. He stammered, unsure what to say. Letting Wang Ya borrow it for a few days was fine, but… this was the stone his father used to scratch his feet!
He'd always wondered where his father got these shiny stones, which he was forbidden to take out. Wang Ya had seen this blue one before and begged to borrow it.
She was his only friend. How could he refuse with such a ridiculous excuse? He couldn't bear to lose her.
"Wang Ya, here. Remember to return it in a few days," he said, handing over the crystal.
Wang Ya's eyes fixed on the blue crystal, her heart racing. Fervor flashed in her eyes as she trembled, taking it. After a long, careful inspection, she gasped: "Cousin Wang Ling, is this… is this a Blue Crystal? I think it is!"
Her excited words furrowed Dao Ling's brow. *Wang Ling!*
Wang Ling was the academy's top prodigy, with 20,000 catties of strength in Body Forging and already突破 (broken through) to Rhyme Spirit Realm. A renowned figure, Dao Ling knew his name well.
Body Forging and Rhyme Spirit were the first two cultivation realms.
But how did Wang Ya know Wang Ling? And why call him cousin?
Dao Ling's frown deepened. A bad omen struck. Glancing around, he saw a young man in white emerge from the woods ahead.
Dignified, with shoulder-length hair, he wore an air of arrogance. At the sight of the blue crystal, his eyes nearly popped out. Pointing at it, he roared: "Yes! It's a Blue Crystal! Hahaha, a Blue Crystal!"
Wang Ling nearly fainted from excitement, lunging forward.
Dao Ling's face paled. "Wang Ya, what's this about? We agreed not to tell anyone!" he snapped. His father had warned him to keep the stones secret. He'd relented only due to Wang Ya's persistence, never expecting this.
Ignoring Dao Ling, Wang Ling snatched the crystal, inwardly shouting: *Look at this! Five catties of Blue Crystal! A treasure, and it's mine for the taking!*
"An outsider?" Wang Ya sneered, all sweetness gone. "Cousin Wang Ling is no outsider. Oh, and thanks for the crystal, Dao Ling."
"What do you mean?" Dao Ling's fists clenched, veins bulging. Nails dug into his flesh, sending sharp pain. "You've been lying to me!"
"Hardly a lie," Wang Ya sniffed. "I need this crystal. You wouldn't refuse, would you?"
"I won't give it to you! It's the only one my dad has!" Dao Ling's heart ached, his young face contorted.
He couldn't believe the only person he'd trusted in this cold world had been deceiving him. It felt like the end of the world.
A thought struck him: was this really the treasure his father had mentioned? But there were baskets of such stones at home! Feigning hysteria, he yelled: "It's my family heirloom! I won't give it up!"
Wang Ya's嘴角 (Corners of the mouth) curled. "You'll give it up whether you want to or not. Cousin Wang Ling deigning to take your heirloom is your honor. Besides, slumming it with you all this time? Most commoners can't even dream of that, let alone a waste like you. Consider the crystal my reward."
Dao Ling's eyes blazed. Wang Ya looked down on him like an insect, haughty as a goddess. Was this the girl he'd grown up with? She'd turned cruel in just a year—all for a stone.
His voice hoarse, he said: "So you've been lying to me for this stone."
"Hmph! You dare talk?" Wang Ya's face darkened. "I asked for it before, and you refused! Why shouldn't I trick you? Do you think you'd have given it to me if I hadn't said I'd be your woman?"
"Your deception is masterful," Dao Ling laughed bitterly. His father's toe-scratching stone was her "treasure."
"You're not worth deceiving—only the crystal is. I wasn't sure it was a Blue Crystal before, but now I am," Wang Ya said, sneering. "A waste like you thinking I'd be your woman? Dream on!"
She held no nostalgia. Childhood bonds meant nothing now. Dao Ling was a waste, destined for mediocrity.
*Ridiculous. My future is to soar. How dare a waste like him try to cling to me?* she thought, thrilled. At an auction with Wang Ling, she'd seen a nail-sized Blue Crystal sell for a million gold coins. How much would this five-catty one fetch?
Wang Ling sniffed the crystal, frowning: "It smells like… feet?"
"Don't be silly," Wang Ya sniffed it too, then laughed. "That's the crystal's unique aroma. Five catties! A true treasure!"
"Brilliant, cousin!" Wang Ling hugged her, laughing wildly. "I never thought a waste could have such a treasure. This is fate—unstoppable!"
Dao Ling stared at the crystal. Snatching back his father's toe-scratching stone? Impossible.
Noticing his gaze, Wang Ling scowled: "What are you looking at? This crystal is mine now,废物（ Waste）!"
He grabbed Dao Ling by the collar. "Where did you get this?"
"It's my heirloom. Please return it," Dao Ling snapped.
Wang Ling laughed, flinging Dao Ling to the ground.
*Smack!* Dirt flew as Dao Ling hit the ground, his bones aching, blood trickling from his mouth. He clenched his teeth, arms shaking with effort.
Wang Ling's strength was fearsome—enough to shatter a boulder. Dao Ling couldn't withstand it.
Wang Ya eyed the trembling boy. "Cousin, if this gets out, it will harm your reputation. Maybe we should… kill him?"
"Heartless woman," Dao Ling thought, veins throbbing. Was he to die by a bitch's hand?
Wang Ling nodded. "We need to make it look like an accident, or the mentors will pry."
"Right!" Wang Ling snapped his fingers. "What if a waste, driven by despair, drinks ferocious beast blood to forge a new cultivation path? A tragic story, no?"
"Genius, cousin!" Wang Ya grinned. "Perfect."
Wang Ling held up a vial of crimson blood. "This Fire Scaled Beast blood was wasted on you, but compared to the crystal, it's a steal."
"Act of Providence," Dao Ling thought dully. *The *Devouring Heaven* technique requires absorbing beast blood!*
The technique had seemed mad—beast blood was too狂暴 (violent), liable to tear one's body apart.
Wang Ling poured the blood down Dao Ling's throat. "Let's go. He'll be dead in a quarter of an hour."
"Dao Ling, don't blame me. The treasure was wasted on you. In my hands, it will shine. I'll break through to Rhyme Spirit soon—you'll never understand the crystal's worth," Wang Ya said, turning to leave.
Watching their backs, Dao Ling suppressed his agony. His eyes closed as he recalled the *Devouring Heaven* method.
His body felt like it was burning,狂暴能量 (raging energy) surging within.
Then, mysterious fluctuations rose from his core.
The Fire Scaled Beast blood, once tearing him apart, now answered a call. It transformed into a crimson torrent, rushing into every fiber of his being.