Su Long stood in silence, his breathing steady, his eyes flickering with a cold gleam. The faint red glow of the system panel hovered before him.
[Hatred Value: 100 points]
Without hesitation, he willed the system to consume sixty of those points.
[Cultivation Increased! Body Refining Mid → Body Refining Late]
A surge of power roared through his meridians like a violent tide. His bones crackled, his muscles tightened, and his blood pulsed like thunder. Su Long clenched his fists, veins bulging across his arms as a smile crept onto his face. The oppressive strength of a late-stage cultivator surged within him, but with his Titan Body physique, he knew he could already face even the Body Refining Peak.
Host: Su Long
Cultivation: Body Refining – Late (0/100)
Body Physics: Titan Body – Allows fighting one stage higher
Hatred Value: 40 points
Skills: None
Treasures: Heavenbreaker Sword (low-grade, 0/50), Starpiercer Bow (low-grade, 0/60)
Closing the panel, Su Long whispered, his voice low and cold, "It's time to settle some scores."
Inside the Su Family main hall, laughter echoed like mockery.
On the patriarch's chair, Su Shan lounged arrogantly, his aura radiating like a storm. His cultivation had already reached Body Refining Peak, the strongest presence in the hall. Sitting across his lap was Su Ping, her slender figure pressed against him as she giggled seductively.
"Su Rui, Su Lan," Su Ping sneered, her eyes glinting with disdain. "Why do you two still cling to that useless Su Long? Look at Su Shan—he is powerful, dominant, and destined for greatness. Women should naturally follow the strong. You two are just blind fools."
Her voice dripped with venom.
The loyal servants Su Rui and Su Lan glared at her, tears of rage in their eyes. "You disgusting bitch," they spat. "You betrayed Young Master Su Long. One day, you will go to hell for this."
Su Ping smirked and tugged Su Shan's sleeve. "See? They dare yell at me."
Su Shan's face darkened. He waved his hand, and the guards pressed Su Rui and Su Lan down, forcing their knees to the floor. Su Ping laughed, her voice sharp. "Where is your Young Master now? Look at you kneeling, helpless. He didn't even come to save you. He's a coward, unworthy of being called Young Master."
Su Rui and Su Lan trembled, their tears flowing silently, but their loyalty never wavered.
Nearby, Su Feng, a young guard bound tightly with ropes, struggled to raise his head. His lips bled as he hissed, "Su Shan… you're truly pathetic. Betraying your clan and dishonoring your family… even if I die, I will never betray my Young Master."
Su Shan smirked cruelly. "Then die."
He gestured, and a guard stepped forward with a wicked smile, raising his blade. "Pathetic fool, time to die."
The sword swung down.
Shoosh!
An arrow whistled through the air, piercing clean through the guard's open mouth. Blood gushed as the man's eyes rolled back, his body collapsing with a heavy thud.
Everyone froze.
Another guard roared, "Who dares intrude in the Su Family hall—"
Shoosh! An arrow split his skull, silencing him forever.
Gasps echoed through the hall. All eyes turned to the entrance just as a body was hurled inside, crashing onto the ground. The lifeless face of Su Jie stared up at them.
"Brother!" Su Shan's eyes turned bloodshot. Rage surged within him like fire. "Who? Who killed my brother? I'll rip him apart!"
At that moment, Su Long stepped into the hall, his aura sharp as a blade, his killing intent suffocating.
"You…" Su Shan froze in disbelief. "How did you escape the prison? Why are you still alive?"
Su Long smirked, stepping onto Su Jie's corpse. "Your brother? He was foolish. He thought he could fight me. How naïve." His laughter echoed like thunder. "Now he lies dead beneath my feet."
[Ding! 80 Hatred Points obtained.]
[Ding! 50 Hatred Points obtained.]
"Capture him!" Su Shan bellowed. "I'll torture him until he begs for death!"
The guards roared and rushed forward.
Su Rui and Su Lan screamed, "Young Master, run!"
But Su Long didn't move. The Heavenbreaker Sword flashed. Slash! The first guard split cleanly in half, his body falling in two bloody pieces. Terror spread like wildfire. The remaining guards stumbled back, their courage wavering.
Some dropped their weapons and fell to their knees. "Young Master, spare us! We'll serve you!"
But Su Long's eyes were merciless. His blade carved through them one after another. Flesh and blood filled the hall, the stench of iron thick in the air. He looked like a blood-soaked reaper.
When the slaughter ended, only Su Shan and Su Ping remained.
Su Shan shoved Su Ping aside, his aura flaring. "Body Refining Late? Do you really think you can face me? I am Body Refining Peak!" He pulled out a yellow-glowing sword, laughing maniacally. "Today, I'll kill you in front of your little sister. Let's see how you'll scream!"
Su Long's eyes narrowed, and he rushed forward.
"Fool!" Su Shan swung his blade, confident. Their swords clashed with a deafening boom—
Crack… crack…
Spiderweb fractures spread across Su Shan's sword. His eyes widened in horror. In an instant, the blade shattered into fragments.
"No… impossible!"
Su Long roared and thrust his sword forward, stabbing straight into Su Shan's heart. The arrogant man's expression froze, his body trembling. "How… how could this…" He collapsed lifelessly, blood pooling beneath him.
"Shan!" Su Ping shrieked. Terror overtook her seductive charm as she bolted for the exit. But shoosh! An arrow pierced her skull, nailing her to the floor. Her body twitched before falling silent.
[Ding! First time killing a Body Refining Peak cultivator. Reward: Titan Body upgraded → True Titan Body]
Power surged violently through Su Long's body. His physique hardened, his strength and defense leaping to new heights. A faint glow rippled across his skin, as though his very flesh had turned into indestructible iron.
He slowly lowered his sword, his breathing steady. Then, turning, he rushed to untie Su Rui and Su Lan, helping them to their feet. "Are you two alright?" he asked, his tone softer now.
Tears streamed down their faces as they clung to him. "Young Master, we thought we would die today…"
Su Long patted their shoulders gently. Then he turned to Su Feng, cutting his ropes. The loyal guard, battered and bleeding, smiled faintly.
"Young Master… today you saw my loyalty. Even if I had to die, I would never betray you."
Su Long's eyes softened. "Yes… today I saw it. You have the heart of a warrior."
Su Feng chuckled weakly. "Death is certain for everyone. So why fear it? Better to live like a warrior… and die like a king."
Su Long's eyes widened slightly, his heart stirring at those words. He nodded firmly. "I will remember this."