Morning sunlight pierced through the gaps in Lin Xian's bedroom window. The air was still cold, but the sun's warmth slowly seeped into the thin blanket that covered the two figures on the bed. Lin Xian was still asleep, his breathing steady and his face calm. Lin Shuyin had already opened her eyes slowly.
"AAAAAHHH!"
A scream shook the room. Lin Shuyin, his little aunt, jerked awake. Her eyes widened as she realized she was lying in bed—next to Lin Xian.
She quickly turned to the side. Seeing Lin Xian still fast asleep made her face pale. She reflexively kicked him as hard as she could.
"ARGHHH—!!"
Lin Xian was thrown off the bed. His head hit the wooden floor. He immediately woke up, clutching his aching head.
"Auntie, why did you kick me?!"
Shuyin stared at him, breathing heavily. Her face was red—not only from anger but also panic. She quickly checked her body, then held her sensitive areas as if to make sure everything was still untouched.
Lin Xian was silent. Still sitting on the floor while rubbing his sore head.
"W-what happened last night? You... you didn't do anything to me, did you?!"
"WHAT?! Of course not!" Lin Xian stood up. "You were completely drunk, and I just put you to sleep. When I tried to leave, you grabbed my hand tightly. I couldn't leave and... I ended up sleeping too."
"Don't lie! Y-you slept next to me!" Shuyin's voice trembled, her face even redder.
Lin Xian let out a long sigh. "You held my hand and told me not to go. I just... I couldn't bear to leave you alone."
Shuyin fell silent. Her expression of panic and anger slowly shifted into hesitation. She looked at Lin Xian with a complicated gaze.
"You... really didn't touch me at all?"
"NO."
Shuyin continued to stare at him. Then, without saying a word, she stood up. With quick steps, she left the room without looking back, leaving Lin Xian still confused by everything that had just happened.
The door shut rather hard. The sound of Shuyin's footsteps faded away.
Lin Xian scratched his head. "Why was she so angry?"
He looked at the now-empty bed, then turned to the window. The sky was already bright. A new day had begun—and he didn't know what other surprises were waiting for him.
***
Lin Xian continued what he hadn't finished last night. He cleaned his house, cooked some food, and sat on the terrace sipping tea.
"Today is the prize-giving day for the top leaderboard ranks."
Lin Xian would receive at least one million qi crystals. A huge amount for a 14-year-old. He could buy many things with that many qi crystals.
The prize distribution would be held in the afternoon. Not only Lin Xian would receive one, but the top three would get rewards. Only the top three.
Lin Xian stood up. He planned to train a bit; in the past few days, he had been too focused on the entrance test and hadn't trained much.
He walked toward a tree. Lin Xian took a deep breath. He felt something warm flowing from within his body. Not long after, he clenched his fist and channeled qi into his hand.
A second later, his hand emitted a thick dark aura.
"Qi from the Demon Breathing Technique. I'll give it a try," said Lin Xian.
He threw a punch forward. The dark aura struck the tree in front of him, even causing its bark to peel slightly—despite Lin Xian only using 0.10% of his strength.
Cracking sounds echoed from the trunk, and fine cracks began crawling upward like parasites. Slowly, smaller fractures started to spread around the point of impact. Lin Xian frowned.
"I only wanted to test it… its power is even more brutal than I expected."
He lowered his hand slowly. A thin black smoke still rose from the surface of his skin, then gradually disappeared, absorbed back into his body.
"The Demon Breathing Technique is too terrifying. If I'm not careful, I'll be killed by my own power."
Lin Xian stared at his palm. The qi from the Demon Breathing felt different—hotter, wilder. And... there was a hunger within it. As if the power wanted to be unleashed fully—to destroy anything it touched.
There was a destructive urge growing inside him. Lin Xian didn't want this power to control him. He had to strengthen his mind to prevent that.
"I really have to be careful," he muttered softly.
Suddenly, from a distance, the sound of hurried footsteps accompanied by a shout could be heard. Someone entered Lin Xian's residence. He forgot to close the gate.
"Lin Xian! Master is calling you! Right now!"
Lin Xian turned quickly. A young male student from the Academy stood at the front gate of his house, his face looking anxious.
"What happened?"
"I don't know. But... something seems to have happened at the prize distribution room!"
Lin Xian furrowed his brows. He had never heard of anything like this happening before. He immediately walked toward the student who had come to fetch him.
"Take me there!"
***
Lin Xian saw a crowd from a distance. He could sense a familiar aura coming from that direction. Lin Xian quickened his pace.
"What happened, Elder Qingran?" asked Lin Xian.
Qingran turned. "You finally arrived." He pointed at a student who was rampaging. "He's undergoing a transformation similar to senior Mu Tianzheng."
Lin Xian looked toward where he pointed. At that moment, he saw that a student had a very strange appearance. His body was covered with black veins, he had two horns, blood-red eyes, fangs, and saliva constantly dripping like a dog.
Lin Xian looked again. He glanced around, feeling that the one who had set up this student was among the crowd, but there were too many people. It was almost impossible to identify the culprit.
He looked back at the rampaging student. As he got a clearer view, Lin Xian's eyes widened.
"Isn't that Qin Zhen?" he said.
Qingran turned. "You know him?"
Lin Xian nodded. He rolled up his sleeves, his gaze turning serious. He walked forward. Qingran placed a hand on Lin Xian's shoulder, trying to stop him.
"Let me handle this. Tell the others to stand back!" Lin Xian requested.
Qingran shook his head. "No. That's too dangerous. That student has gone berserk. He can't be saved. Don't throw your life away." Of course, Qingran didn't agree.
Lin Xian turned to him. His gaze full of determination. "There's something I want to try. Just trust me." He spoke firmly.
Qingran still didn't give permission. He wouldn't allow Lin Xian to get involved. But Lin Xian wasn't the type to obey orders so easily. He felt this was a great opportunity.
"Suit yourself then!" Lin Xian ignored Qingran's words.
He immediately dashed toward the possessed Qin Zhen. A wide grin spread across his face.
"I'm curious if this will work."