Threads of sunlight spilled through the window, illuminating his slightly稚嫩（Immature） face, which wore a faint smile—testament to the night's gains.
Sensing the energy within him settle, Dao Ling opened his eyes and saw the lame man staring at him. He rolled his eyes. "Lame Father, what are you doing? When did you get back?"
"You little brat, when did you start cultivating?" the lame man snorted. "Weren't you unable to cultivate before? How did you gain so much strength now? What treasure did you eat?"
"Just these past few days. I obtained a mysterious cultivation technique," Dao Ling replied, beaming. "You don't need to mine anymore. With my current strength, making money will be no problem."
"Mining?" The lame man looked confused. *I wasn't mining—i was digging for treasures.* But upon hearing about the technique, he guessed Dao Ling had stumbled upon a great opportunity and didn't pry further.
"By the way, Lame Father, where did these ores at home come from? They're extremely valuable!" Dao Ling's eyes lit up. If a single Scarlet Blood Copper Crystal was so precious, he could only imagine the worth of the remaining treasures.
"There are plenty in the mine cave," the lame man said proudly. These ores weren't for just anyone—each he'd dug was extraordinary, capable of being refined into powerful treasures. Having so many was逆天 (heaven-defying).
"Don't let外人（Stranger） see these, or we'll be in big trouble," the lame man said gravely, hoisting the basket and eyeing the dozen or so ores within.
He'd kept them at home for fear of dying in the mine cave.
"I know," Dao Ling nodded. The near-accident during the Scarlet Blood Copper Crystal transaction at Treasure Gathering Pavilion had taught him the ores' rarity. He wouldn't sell them unless desperate—they might serve a greater purpose.
"Also, Lame Father, I'm about to attend Star Academy's trials. Want to come with me to Qingzhou City?" Dao Ling asked expectantly, thinking selling even one ore could buy a large house there.
The lame man picked his ear, pondering before saying: "There's a Spirit Channeling Pagoda in Qingzhou City, near the center. After joining the academy, practice there. Break through to Rhyme Spirit only when you can reach the ninth floor; otherwise, hold off."
"Spirit Channeling Pagoda? What's that?" Dao Ling scratched his head, frowning.
"It's an ancient pagoda from antiquity, with ten floors," the lame man said nostalgically, having visited it before.
Legend held that the Spirit Channeling Pagoda was a supreme treasure, yet no one could claim it. Its origin was mysterious—anyone who reached the seventh floor was a remarkable prodigy.
Those who reached the ninth floor were dragons among men, destined to rise!
"Why the ninth floor? What's on the tenth?" Dao Ling pressed. An ancient pagoda surviving from time immemorial shocked him—was it an immortal artifact?
"You'll find out. Reaching the tenth floor is impossible; no one has ever done it," the lame man shook his head. The tenth floor was a legend, unattainable.
Over countless eons, the world had never lacked prodigies or young天之骄子 (heaven's favorites), yet none had set foot on the tenth floor. Could Dao Ling? It was an unbreakable myth.
"Then I'll go see," Dao Ling shrugged. He'd worry about it when he got there—if the lame man told him to go, there must be a reason.
He then headed for the academy, guessing those registered for Star Academy were gathering. He felt confident about passing the trials.
"How much strength do I have now?" Dao Ling clenched his fist, sensing the surging power within. "My strength must have increased again. Can I reach 100,000 catties?"
The thought ignited his passion. 100,000 catties! He'd only read about it in ancient records—legendary offspring of divine beasts like the Golden-Winged Roc, Taotie, and White Tiger could achieve this.
These were divine descendants, born with terrifying godly blood, natural kings. The demon race excelled in physical strength, far surpassing humans in the Body Forging Realm. For a human cultivator to reach 100,000 catties was immensely difficult.
"Maybe with divine beast true blood, but that's beyond my reach," Dao Ling clicked his tongue. Even ancient ferocious beast blood was hard to find, let alone divine beast blood.
Even if divine beast blood existed, forces wouldn't sell it—risking the wrath of a divine beast clan could trigger bloodshed, making it virtually unobtainable.
After pondering, Dao Ling shuddered, centering himself. *I can't rely on external forces forever. Honoring my own body is the path. What's the point of cultivating if I depend on others?*
*I mustn't over-rely on the Devouring Heaven technique. I need to forge my own path!* His heart pounded—he'd nearly fallen into obsession, breaking out in a cold sweat. Though Devouring Heaven was逆天 (heaven-defying), relying on his own potential was best.
Techniques were mere aids, and this realization strengthened his state of mind.
"Thats him! That good-for-nothing!"
A shrill cry exploded at the academy gate. Qian Lin, face contorted with venom, clenched his fists, shaking with rage. Dao Ling had crippled him, ending his martial path.
In this world, being unable to cultivate was worse than dirt—he longed to devour Dao Ling's flesh.
Dao Ling's face darkened. Gazing at Qian Lin, his eyes chilled—this was about yesterday's incident.
"Think I'm an easy target?" Dao Ling's cold gaze fell on the three beside Qian Lin, fixing on a disdainful youth who radiated strength.
"Qian Lin, is this the one? This brat had the nerve to cripple you?" Qian Jing asked dismissively.
"Yes! Cousins, if you cripple him for me, all my savings are yours!" Qian Lin roared through gritted teeth, willing to spend everything to destroy Dao Ling.
"Relax, Qian Lin. We're family. Crippling an arrogant brat is only right—never mind the money."
"Dao Ling, today is your death!" Qian Lin shrieked, pointing at him. "I won't let you die easily. I'll torture you slowly, and joining Star Academy? A dream!"
"With you lot?" Dao Ling scanned them indifferently.
"What did you say?" Qian Jing's face darkened. He hated that tone, thinking he'd misheard.
"Scum! Kneel and apologize, or you're找死 (courting death) for offending Young Master Qian Jing!" The Qian Lin brothers' faces turned sinister.
So this was Qian Jing—a renowned prodigy in Qingshan City, already at Half-Step Rhyme Spirit. Reaching Rhyme Spirit usually took half a year; Half-Step Rhyme Spirit meant storing energy for the breakthrough, though the process was long.
"Hmph. I've no interest in watching a waste kowtow. Go cripple him," Qian Jing sneered. As a Qian family prodigy and future Star Academy student,
Dao Ling was a mere insect he could crush with a finger.
"Right! Cripple him!" Qian Lin raged.
"Kid, you asked for this—don't blame us!" The Qian Lin brothers冷笑 (chuckled), murderous intent flaring as they charged to cripple Dao Ling.
"All of you, scram!"
Dao Ling's face turned冷酷 (cold), roaring as his hair fluttered, clothes clattering, and skin burst with dazzling divine radiance. Golden light danced between heaven and earth, blinding onlookers.
This was surging blood qi, unleashed to make the air hum like a waking ferocious beast!
Boom! The aura erupted like a山洪 (mountain torrent), smashing into the charging figures.
"Ah... Pu..." The Qian Lin brothers trembled, bones cracking, hurled into the wall by the tempest. They lay trembling, vomiting blood.
"What?" Qian Jing's face fell. He never expected the good-for-nothing to be so strong.
Dao Ling's gaze swept the writhing youths. They felt like they were in a furnace, internal organs burning, screaming in agony.
Fear consumed them—who was this变态 (monster) whose mere aura could crush them?
"How... How is this possible!" Qian Lin nearly collapsed, legs shaking. Dao Ling's aura alone had sent the Qian Lin brothers flying—how terrifying was his strength?
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Qian Jing strode forward, gazing down at Dao Ling with calm arrogance. "You're good enough to make me act. Let's see if I can crush you in one move."
His eyes dripped with disdain. As a Qian family prodigy and future Star Academy member,
Dao Ling was nothing more than a bug to be squashed.