Ling Han flipped through his memories, and anger quickly appeared on his face.
His predecessor was the only son of the Ling Clan’s Head, Ling Dong Xing. His mother and grandparents had all passed away very early on. The Ling Clan was a clan of martial artists; every clan member knew martial arts, and was proud of the fact. So, how did someone like Ling Dong Xing become the Clan Head? That was because he was the strongest and had reached his position through battling!
But Ling Han was regarded as trash since his childhood because of the issue with his Spirit Base, and had received much ridicule from those around him.
To give his son a bright future, Ling Dong Xing made an agreement with Hu Yang Academy—Hu Yang Academy would receive Lign Han as a disciple and put all efforts into training him in exchange for Ling Dong Xing entering Purple Light Ground Valley to find and retrieve something Hu Yang Academy had lost many years ago.
Hu Yang Academy was an academy under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Dynasty of the Rain Country, possessing uncountable resources. If they decided to put all effort into training him, even the worst kind of trash would be able to reach Element Gathering Tier.
But the people from Hu Yang Academy were not idiots. If that item was easily retrievable, then why would they have given such generous conditions?
Purple Light Ground Valley was a place fraught with danger. One wrong step could lead to death, but since it was for his son’s sake, Ling Dong Xing departed seven days ago without hesitation.
The day before, people from Hu Yang Academy had come and informed the Ling Clan that, as promised, they would come to pick him up on this day. Yet at that moment, the Chief Butler of Ling Clan, Ling Zhong Kuan, had come to talk with his predecessor. He wanted him to give up this precious position to his own grandson, Ling Mu Yun.
The reason provided was that Ling Mu Yun was a genius with boundless prospects, and such an opportunity couldn’t be wasted on trash.
His predecessor of course did not agree. After all, this was something his father had used his life in exchange to obtain! However, although Ling Zhong Kuan come to talk, he was actually only informing his predecessor and didn’t come there to listen to the other’s opinion at all.
His predecessor could no longer endure and acted, but Ling Zhong Kuan was a warrior of the Element Gathering Tier. Just one finger was enough to overwhelm him—how could he resist?
With just one punch, his predecessor was seriously wounded, and was subsequently confined in his own room, obviously not to let him create an issue in front of the people from Hu Yang Academy. Once Ling Dong Xing returns, everything would have already been concluded.
The seriously wounded Ling Han thus died in anger.
Ling Han harrumphed. They have gone too far. His father used his life to obtain this position for him, and Ling Zhong Kuan and his grandson dare to snatch it away just like that?
These extremely shameless dogs!
He couldn’t accept this!
He rose up from his bed, and instantly felt ache throughout his whole body—true, he had obtained a new life, but the injuries on his body would not recover on their own.
‘En? The Spirit Base has been damaged!’ Ling Han’s brow wrinkled. That attack from Ling Zhong Kuan had actually damaged his Spirit Base, and damage to the Spirit Base was a very troublesome issue; ordinary medical stones would be of no help.
‘According to my understanding, there are seven types of pills that can heal damage to the Spirit Base, though four of them require ingredients that are so expensive that even selling the whole Ling Clan would not be enough—moreover, my Spirit Base had only received light damage, and thus does not require such high-grade pills.
As for the remaining three types, two of them require molding to form pills, and that would be too much of a burden at my current cultivation of second layer of Body Refining Tier. If that’s so, then I only have one choice – Origin Heart Recover Spirit Powder, which can be created by simply mixing the required ingredients at the correct ratio and cooking them to become a medical concoction.
I will heal my injuries first, and then go and stop Ling Zhong Kuan and his grandson. Although I do not care about this position, I will definitely not allow the opportunity that my father has traded his life for to be used to benefit this shameless grandfather-grandson pair!’
He sat down with his legs crossed, and started circulating Indestructible Heaven Scroll. [3]
This was his first time circulating this cultivation technique which might have been of the Immortal Grade, but because he has analyzed it for ten thousand years, it now was something that could be done easily.
“Weng, weng, weng!” Powerful life signs appeared suddenly inside his body; his Origin Power was greatly depleted, but his injuries were quickly healing.
Within just a few minutes, he was fully recovered.
‘It is worthy of the name “Indestructible Heaven Scroll”! I have only just started training in it, and have already felt such remarkable effects.Yet this is completely different from other types of cultivation techniques; ordinary cultivation techniques make use of the Spirit Base to absorb Spiritual Qi from the sky and the earth to transform into Origin Power, and Indestructible Heaven Scroll is the exact opposite, using Origin Power to refine the body and heal injuries!
Once my training reaches the highest level, achieving immortality may not be impossible. That is why it is called Heaven Scroll! Unfortunately, the level now is not enough, otherwise I could use Indestructible Heaven Scroll to heal my Spirit Base.’
Ling Han opened his eyes and, looking at the growing light outside his window, murmured softly: “Now, I shall go and meet with Ling Zhong Kuan, that shameless old man, and give him a surprise!”
He put on his shoes, walked towards the doorway and opened the door.
In the doorway was a tall figure, blocking his advance. This man’s name was Zhang Yuan, one of Ling Zhong Kuan’s lackeys.
“Young Master Han, Chief Butler has commanded that you have to stay in your room today!” Zhang Yun said with a laugh. Although the person in front of him was the son the Clan Head, he was also a notorious piece of trash, and just a joke in his eyes.
Ling Han’s gaze grew cold, and said, “You dare hinder me?”
It was exactly that. The Chief Butler had told him that he couldn’t allow Ling Han to come out and get in their way at all costs. If things come to head, he even had the permission to attack him! Thus, Zhang Yun smiled falsely and said, “This is a command from the Chief Butler. Young Master Han, please do not make things difficult for me.”
‘Ling Zhong Kuan, this old dog, is truly cautious; he has seriously wounded me and still feels insecure, going so far as to assign someone to guard the door,’ Ling Han thought. This also showed how important it was to Ling Zhong Kuan for his grandson to enter Hu Yang Academy—if this hope was shattered, Ling Zhong Kuan’s despair and fury could be imagined.
“Get out of my way!” Ling Han spoke coldly.
“Young Master Han, this was ordered by the Chief But-”
“Pa!”
Ling Han raised his hand and gave him a slap, speaking coldly, “What are you doing? I told you to get out of my way, and you don’t?”
What, he had actually received a slap from a piece of trash? Zhang Yuan covered his face in disbelief; this piece of trash actually dared to resist him, what kind of joke was this?
He was furious, and recalled Ling Zhong Kuan’s words from before: if things come to head, he had permission to attack! He could not stop his hate from rising, and said thickly, “Young Master Han, this is what you have forced me to-”
“Pa!”
Ling Han raised his hand once more, and gave him another solid slap.
[1] ED/N: Probably referring to a scroll made of bamboo slips.
[2] ED/N: Dantian refers to Sea of Qi or similar entity. Believed to be located in the pubic region inside one’s body, it’s a key organ related to cultivating Qi. It is also important in Traditional
Chinese Medicine, mainly in reference to Qi.
[3] ED/N: Yes, the same name, but this time as a cultivation technique.
Chapter 2
Translator: _Dark_Angel_ Editor: Kurisu
Zhang Yuan was about to go crazy. He had actually received two slaps from a piece of trash! In his fury, he did not consider how a piece of trash at only second layer of Body Refining Tier could slap someone at fourth layer of Body Refining Tier twice. Opening his mouth to release a great roar, he pounced at Ling Han.
There was only one thought in his head now, and that was to ruthlessly beat up this piece of trash!
His one punch was filled with great power, bringing with it a slight breeze as it headed towards his target.
Ling Han was oddly calm and immobile. In his previous life, he could naturally get rid of ten thousand of Zhang Yuan with a flick of his fingers, but now he only had the power of the second layer of Body Refining Tier.
The difference in strength was a bit problematic, but that was it. The one controlling this body was, after all, a former warrior of the Heaven Tier! His strength may have been lost, but his insight remained!
Zhang Yuan only needed to raise his hand or move his leg, and Ling Han would be able to deduce where his punch would be heading towards and where his feet would be moving to. As a result, by the time Zhang Yuan’s punch flew out, Ling Han had already reacted.
“Hu!”
The fist had hit its target and Zhang Yuan revealed a cold grin. Once hit with his punch, its overwhelming power would instantly cause Ling Han to lose all means of resistance, leaving him completely at his opponent’s mercy.
He had hit his target!
“En?”
Zhang Yuan’s face revealed his surprise; although his punch appeared to have hit Ling Han’s face, it had actually missed by a slight margin—Ling Han managed to take a step back in time and just barely managed to dodge his fist.
His fist stopped exactly in front of the tip of Ling Han’s nose. It was almost touching it, so perfectly calculated as if he had used a ruler to carefully measure the distance.
‘It must be a coincidence,’ Zhang Yuan thought in his heart.
And it was at this moment that Ling Han’s palm once more flew towards him.
“Pa!” A loud, crisp noise was heard, and Zhang Yuan received another solid slap.
“Damn it!” Zhang Yuan spat out a mouthful of spit, let out a loud shout, and once again launched his fist, punching towards Ling Han.
“Hu!” Zhang Yuan’s fist once again missed. It was as if Ling Han moved at the same moment as his upper body flew backwards! Using both hands to push himself off the ground, his right foot automatically kicked out, hitting the spot in between Zhang Yuan’s legs with a soft sound.
“Ao-!” Even if his cultivation was at the fourth layer of Body Refining Tier, it didn’t matter—he would still be unable to have the ability “iron balls”, and this kick had hit its target solidly. Zhang Yuan suddenly dropped down onto his knees, both hands gripping his crotch as large droplets of cold sweat appeared on his face.
“You’re so treacherous!” Zhang Yuan twitched, his whole face was so twisted it looked inhuman.
“Pa!”
Ling Han once again gave him a slap. Zhang Yuan’s mouth opened, and spat out a few broken teeth. Ling Han naturally had no sympathy for him, and said, “A dog will always be a dog; as expected, it would not be able to spit out ivory.” [1]
Zhang Yuan was extremely furious. He had actually been made to kneel on the ground and received a violent slap from someone at the second layer of Body Refining Tier… what kind of humiliation was this? He wanted to counterattack, but the kick that his privates received had directly removed all his power to resist. Every move he took made his balls hurt in agony.
But he definitely couldn’t allow Ling Han to ruin Ling Zhong Kuan’s important business. Otherwise, if he couldn’t complete the task that the other had assigned him… going by Ling Zhong Kuan’s character, he would definitely be killed.
“Han, Young Master Han, listen to me, you can’t leave this place. Actually, you have been poisoned, once you leave this room, you will die of poison,” his thoughts were anxious so he tried to quickly think of something that would make Ling Han stay here.
Ling Han could not help but smile. Did he think that this kind of terrible acting would be able to deceive him? He flew up and kicked Zhang Yuan away. He didn’t have any free time to waste on this lackey, he had to stop Ling Zhong Kuan’s evil scheme from succeeding instead. Otherwise, his father would have risked his life only to benefit others.
As for Zhang Yuan? Ling Han naturally would not take this kind of minor character into consideration. After all, Ling Zhong Kuan only needed to see him appear, and would naturally come to deal with Zhang Yuan. He had no need to dirty his own hands.
“Don’t go! Don’t go!” Zhang Yuan’s sobs and pleas spread out from behind him. It was as if he could already see his own miserable end.
Accomplice to a villain, he only had himself to blame, and didn’t deserve the slightest bit of sympathy.
Ling Han strode forwards. After a few minutes, he arrived at the inner doorway to the living room. He hadn’t stepped in yet but already could hear a loud, aged voice: “Miss Liu, please, please!”
The living room had an inner and outer doorway. The inner doorway was connected to the inner court, while the outer doorway would lead to the main door. Looking out through the curtains, he could see a group of five walking in. The group comprised of five people: four male, one female.
Aside from the young woman, Ling Han could recognize the four men. They were all Ling Clan clansmen. One of them was an elderly man, the Chief Butler, Ling Zhong Kuan. Two of the other three were middle-aged men of around forty years, both Ling Zhong Kuan’s sons. The last one was a young man, older than Ling Han by about one or two years, and that was none other than Ling Zhong Kuan’s eldest grandson, Ling Mu Yuan.
Ling Han looked towards the only female in the group. Even with his eyesight from his previous life as one at the Heaven Tier, his eyes brightened. This young woman was truly beautiful. Her looks were like autumn, her skin as fair as the moon. She seemed to be only seventeen or eighteen, but already possessed an elegant demeanor and beauty that could bring disaster to country and people.
It was just that her aura was as cold as if she was an icy mountain, driving away any who dared to approach.
This young girl would certainly be the person sent by Hu Yang Academy, what a coincidence.
“En?”
Ling Han’s eyes widened slightly. He had discovered something even more coincidental, and his lips couldn’t help but reveal a smile.
Both parties sat separately in their positions as guest and host. A few maidservants came forwards to serve fragrant tea and stood respectfully at the sides of the five people’s seats.
“Has the person from the Ling Clan that you are sending to the academy gotten ready?” Liu Yu Tong opened her mouth and spoke, her voice both cold and melodious, with a bit of disdain. What she hated the most were people who would enter the academy through the back door. Although she was commanded to come here, she had no good feelings towards this future younger brother disciple.
“Ready, ready!” Ling Zhong Kuan hurriedly spoke. Although he was old enough to be the young girl’s grandfather, both parties were of the same level, Element Gathering Tier.
One’s skill in martial arts did not depend on age. Only the strong would be respected.
Ling Zhong Kuan even had a feeling that this young girl’s level was slightly higher than his own – he was at the sixth layer of Element Gathering Tier, while this girl could be of the seventh layer, or maybe even eighth.
This also caused him to be even more eager to send his own grandson to Hu Yang Academy. In a few years, he would be of an even higher level than Ling Dong Xing and help him snatch the position of the Clan Head.
“Mu Yun, quickly come and greet your Elder Sister Disc
iple Liu!” The old man turned and spoke to Ling Mu Yuan.
“Yes, grandfather!” Ling Mu Yun spoke with great respect. Cupping his hands in Liu Yu Tong’s direction, he said, “Mu Yun greets Elder Sister Disciple Liu!” There was heat in his gaze. He felt wild ambition when looking upon this cold, beautiful and incomparably strong beauty.
He believed that, with enough time spent together, he would be able to capture the heart of the beauty.
Liu Yu Tong was slightly surprised. She recalled that the person from Ling Clan she was to escort was named Ling Han. However, it was none of her business. She was only responsible for bringing a person from the Ling Clan back to the academy.
“Since you’re ready, then let’s depart,” she said calmly.
“Miss Liu, why don’t you stay for a few days in our humble abode, so that we can express a small bit of our gratitude?” Ling Zhong Kuan hurriedly said. He wanted to get close to this young girl, and in the future, she would also be able to take care of his grandson.
“No need!” Liu Yu Tong rejected coldly, turned and was about to leave.
“Please wait!” a voice was heard, and Ling Han strode out.
The faces of Ling Zhong Kuan and his group changed slightly. However much they looked down on this piece of trash of the Ling Clan, they were the thieves right now… and thieves would naturally feel guilty.
“Younger Brother Han, weren’t you injured? Return quickly to your room to rest,” Ling Mu Yun reacted the quickest. He shot forwards and reached Ling Han’s side, extending his hand. He wanted to fall upon Ling Han at the first moment, without giving the other any opportunity to open his mouth.
He was at the seventh layer of Body Refining Tier, and his strength was not something Zhang Yuan could compare to.
[1] ED/N: it’s a reference to a Chinese idiom: no ivory comes from the mouth of a dog (), meaning “no good words are to be expected from a scoundrel”.
Chapter 3
Translator: _Dark_Angel_ Editor: Kurisu
There were altogether nine layers of the Body Refining Tier. The first to third layers were usually called the early stage of Body Refining Tier, fourth to sixth levels were the middle stage, and seventh to ninth levels were the late stage. Martial artists from three different stages had a great disparity in their strength.
Alchemy Emperor of the Divine Dao c1-1294 Page 4