"xiao family mountains"
Lou King was attempting to cultivate by sitting in a cross-legged position. However, he was struggling to achieve a breakthrough to the Dou Zhe level. Because of the mysterious herbs he had consumed in the forest, his physical body had become incredibly strong, but this strength made breaking through to the next realm significantly harder.
He hadn't realized it before, but his physical body had already reached a strength equivalent to a 7th Star Dou Zhe. To overcome this barrier, Lou King required a massive amount of energy. To solve this, he purchased several low-level herbs, intending to extract their essence to fulfill his energy needs. He began preparing his body to ensure it could withstand and absorb the raw power of the medicinal essence.
While Lou King was practicing, he sensed a presence nearby. Looking toward the top of a mountain cliff, he saw a girl standing there. She had long black hair, fair skin, long slender legs, and was dressed in striking red clothes. She was so beautiful that anyone who looked at her would be instantly captivated. She appeared to be around 18 years old.
Lou King immediately recognized her: she was Xiao Yu, the eldest daughter of the Xiao family elder. As Lou King watched her, Xiao Yu suddenly launched an attack. With a long sword in her hand, she lunged at him. Facing the incoming strike, Lou King did not panic; he stood his ground and met her challenge head-on.
Lou King dodged every one of Xiao Yu's attacks with ease, which only fueled her frustration. In her anger, she began unleashing lethal strikes, but Lou King remained untouchable, evading every move gracefully. Seeing him escape her best efforts, Xiao Yu's rage peaked.
"WATER SWORD SLASH!"
She swung her sword, unleashing a powerful technique toward Lou King. Just as the attack was about to hit, Lou King raised his hand, caught the blade bare-handed, wrenched it away from her, and pointed it back at her.
"Xiao Yu, you have lost," Lou King said calmly.
Xiao Yu was fuming. She couldn't believe that after two years of rigorous practice at the Jia Nan Academy and reaching the 3rd Star Dou Zhe level, she still couldn't defeat him. Stunned and angry, she snatched her sword back and stormed away from the mountains.
As Lou King watched her leave, he pondered why she was so angry. Years ago, when Lou King reached the 3rd Rank of Dou Zhi Qi at age five, his family was happy. However, the elders feared he would leave the Xiao family once he grew up. To bind him to the family, they arranged an engagement between the seven-year-old Lou King and Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu resented this arrangement and held a grudge against him ever since. She had challenged him many times but could never win. At age 15, after reaching the 9th Star Dou Zhi Qi, she left for the Jia Nan Academy and was rarely seen at home. Now, two years later, she had returned much stronger-yet she had lost to him once again. This was the source of her immense frustration.
Lou King continued his practice. Three days passed, and during this time, he showed no negligence in his training. Xiao Yu repeatedly challenged him and gave him notes to fight; though she lost every time and left, she kept coming back. During this period, Lou King maintained absolute control over his willpower, soul power, and body to endure the coming pain.
Lou King had completed all his preparations. He took out three bottles and placed them in front of him. He picked up the first bottle and swallowed it in a single gulp. As soon as the medicine entered his body, it began to heat up. His veins started bulging, his eyes turned bloodshot, and intense pain surged through him. A scream escaped his lips, and his face turned pale, yet he endured it all.
Xiao Yu was watching from the mountain peak. Seeing Lou King in such a state, she was stunned; she couldn't focus on anything else except watching him suffer. While she watched, Lou King—still enduring the agony—reached for the second bottle. As he consumed it, a silence fell over the surroundings. Xiao Yu became deeply distressed; she knew how powerful that medicine was. Even with Lou King's strong body, it was forcing him to scream. Taking a second bottle could be fatal. Before she could even finish that thought...
"Ah... Ahhhhhh! Ah... Ahhhhhh!"
The sound of loud, piercing screams filled the air. Panicked and terrified, Xiao Yu rushed toward him. Lou King's condition was deteriorating rapidly. Before she could reach him, Lou King grabbed the final bottle and downed it in one go. Xiao Yu stood frozen in shock.
"Ah... Ahhhhhh! Ah... Ahhhhhh!"
He let out a final, violent scream, writhing in agony. Blood began to seep from his body as his veins started to burst. Xiao Yu could only watch, unable to fathom his pain, but she knew one thing: this pain was more powerful than death itself. Anyone would rather die than endure this.
Lou King's body went limp and paralyzed, sliding down from the rock. Xiao Yu rushed to his side and grabbed his hand, trying to steady him, but she realized he had lost all control over his limbs. His body felt lifeless, and his heartbeat was slowing down.
Tears welled up in Xiao Yu's eyes, and her own heart began to race. She couldn't understand her feelings in that moment, but she was overwhelmed with grief. Lou King looked at her, his vision blurring.
"Xiao Yu... forgive me. You had to suffer so much because of me, but you won't have to endure it anymore. I think... my time has come."
As those words reached her ears, Lou King's eyes closed. Xiao Yu felt a sharp pain in her chest, and her tears wouldn't stop. Looking at his pale face, memories flooded back—how he had looked after her since they were children, always standing in front to protect her, teaching her everything, and helping her become a genius without ever asking for anything in return.
She remembered how she had turned against him, fueled by anger and ego, when she found out they were betrothed without her consent. She had been cold, challenged him constantly, and treated him poorly, yet Lou King never held a grudge and was always ready to help her.
In this moment, her pride vanished. She realized that Lou King was never at fault. Seeing him dying, she finally understood how much he meant to her and that she truly loved him. Xiao Yu held him tightly, sobbing uncontrollably. She was certain he was dying—his veins were ruptured, he had lost too much blood, and survival seemed impossible. She could do nothing but cry.
Lou King, unable to feel his body, was lost in his own thoughts. He could hear Xiao Yu crying, but he couldn't move or even open his eyes. He lay there, waiting for the end. But after several minutes passed and nothing happened, he became confused.
[Ding! Host has successfully broken through to the Dou Zhe realm. Integrating System with the Host now...]
A voice echoed in Lou King's ears. He was startled; he knew this wasn't Xiao Yu's voice. In fact, her crying had suddenly stopped. The voice sounded like an electronic lady. Lou King opened his eyes and found himself in a strange space. Looking at what was in front of him, he realized who the voice belonged to.
"Sy... sys... System! My cheat code has finally arrived...!"