C3 His Resurrection

In the secluded hills behind the Huangfu estate, Huangfu Jie followed two guards in silence, arriving at a sinister, blood-red pool.

She watched as the guards stealthily disposed of Lin Yunchen's body in the Blood Pool, then stepped forward, confronting them.

"Chief."

Recognizing Huangfu Jie, the guards promptly greeted her with deference.

With a dismissive wave, Huangfu Jie approached them. A formidable aura, characteristic of a Spirit Sea Stage expert, radiated from her.

"Chief, I'm not sure what I've done wrong, but please, spare me," one guard pleaded, both kneeling, trembling under the weight of her presence.

"You've done nothing wrong," Huangfu Jie assured them softly. "Your young miss simply instructed me to act."

Before the words had fully left her mouth, two severed heads tumbled to the ground, landing with heavy splashes in the Blood Pool, becoming one with its gruesome contents.

With the deed done, Huangfu Jie turned and departed.

Little did she know, nor did Huangfu Xihua—who had personally ended Lin Yunchen's life—that Yunchen would encounter a life-changing benefactor in this very place.

Back in her chambers, Huangfu Jie found Huangfu Xihua waiting. "Grandma, you've returned."

Upon seeing Huangfu Jie return from the Blood Pool, Huangfu Xihua rushed to her side, assisting her to the seat she had just vacated.

Settling in, Huangfu Jie glanced at Huangfu Xihua and smiled. "Xihua, those two have joined the young master of the Lin family in death. Now, we needn't worry about our secret being exposed."

Huangfu Xihua's face remained stoic at the news, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of concern. "Grandma, what if the Lin family retaliates? I fear the Huangfu family may not withstand their onslaught."

Huangfu Jie gave a slight nod upon hearing Huangfu Xihua's concerns, her expression gradually taking on a more somber tone. "Your worries are not unfounded. With that in mind, let's form alliances with the other families to stand against the entire city."

A spark of determination lit up Huangfu Xihua's eyes as she responded, "Grandma, which family should we align ourselves with?" She gazed intently at Huangfu Jie, eagerly awaiting her guidance.

After a moment of contemplation, Huangfu Jie replied softly, "In the city, there are ten prominent families: the Lin's, Moo's, Bai's, Ye's, Qian's, Long's, Ji's, Mu's, Nangong's, and our own Huangfu's. The Lin's, Moo's, Ye's, and Ji's are close allies and unlikely to join us. Therefore, we should seek an alliance with the Bai Family to confront the other eight families."

"One day, the entire city will be under our control. Then, everything will be decided by us..." With that, both Huangfu Jie and Huangfu Xihua lifted their heads, peering into the distance, each harboring their own schemes that no one else could fathom.

At the Blood Pool in the Huangfu family's rear mountain, Lin Yunchen lay there, barely opening his eyes to a world drenched in crimson. His first impression was that this was no place for humans; it was a hell teeming with innumerable demons.

"Awake, are you?" A voice echoed, mysterious and faint.

"Who's there? Speak up! Show yourself instead of lurking in the shadows," Lin Yunchen called out, now convinced that he had indeed perished and this was the fabled hell.

The voice retorted with irritation, "Kid, you should realize that if it weren't for me, you'd be truly dead by now."

Lin Yunchen cut off the voice mid-sentence, his tone laced with self-mockery, "Dead? I've already died once. What's there to fear about dying again?"

"Wait a minute, could it be that I'm not dead? Am I still alive?"

Lin Yunchen snapped to his senses and gradually sat up.

The mysterious voice chuckled upon seeing Lin Yunchen's realization, murmuring, "Not too shabby, kid. You're fairly sharp."

In that moment, Lin Yunchen started to give credence to the words of the mysterious voice.

He was acutely aware that he was submerged in a Blood Pool, his clothes now a matching shade of blood-red.

Rising to his feet within the Blood Pool, Lin Yunchen gazed at the desolate area around him and asked softly, "Senior, could you explain how I came to be here?"

The last thing Lin Yunchen remembered was being stabbed deeply in the chest by Huangfu Xihua with a dagger before blacking out.

Hearing Lin Yunchen's query, the mysterious voice responded with a smile, "Take a look around the Blood Pool. If there's anything you don't understand, I'll fill you in. But keep in mind, I'm only sharing my own conjectures—I'm as in the dark as you are."

Lin Yunchen heeded the voice and approached the edge of the Blood Pool. Stepping away, he spotted two headless corpses lying nearby.

"They're dressed in the Huangfu family guard uniforms. They must be the family's guards, but why are they dead here?"

Before Lin Yunchen could finish his thought, the mysterious voice interjected, "Why so many questions? They're dead because of you. If it weren't for the need to keep your incident under wraps, I doubt that old woman would've gone to such lengths."

"Old woman? Then it couldn't have been Huangfu Xihua's doing; it must have been her grandmother's."

With the mysterious voice's insight, Lin Yunchen pieced everything together, realizing these were the handiwork of Huangfu Jie.

Regaining his composure, Lin Yunchen turned back to the Blood Pool and spoke gently, "I'm curious about your identity, Senior. Could you please show yourself? I apologize if my demeanor was inappropriate earlier. I hope you won't hold it against me."

The mysterious voice, as if ignoring Lin Yunchen's plea, posed a question, "Are you content with this, young man?"

At the voice's words, Lin Yunchen's face twisted with rage, and he felt a surge of fury, "Content? How could I be? Given enough power, I would ensure Huangfu Xihua pays dearly. No, I want the entire Huangfu family to pay the ultimate price—their destruction!"

Upon hearing Lin Yunchen's words, the mysterious voice let out a cold chuckle. "But you lack the strength, don't you?"

"Indeed, strength... I've become nothing but trash, a mere First Layer of the Body Tempering Stage. How could I ever stand against the entire Huangfu family? I'll never be able to make them pay their dues."

Lin Yunchen offered no rebuttal to the mysterious voice's taunt.

Observing Lin Yunchen's descent, the voice deepened, "Kid, do you aspire to be the master of your fate, the sovereign of the world, drunk with power and beauty at your feet?"

Lin Yunchen paused, uncertainty in his voice, "Is that even possible for me?"

Hearing the hesitation, the mysterious voice chuckled. "You alone cannot, but with my assistance, you can."

Something clicked for Lin Yunchen at those words.

Regaining his composure, he turned towards the center of the Blood Pool, bowing deeply. "Elder, if you would extend your aid to me, I would traverse any ordeal, endure any hardship, and face any peril just to exact my revenge."

The mysterious voice roared with laughter at Lin Yunchen's declaration. "You've got spirit, lad. I've clearly not misjudged you..."

Before the voice could finish, a blood-red silhouette began to coalesce midair, transforming into an exceedingly dashing figure with a mane of blood-red hair cascading over his shoulders, his striking features as if not of this world.

"Elder," Lin Yunchen greeted the figure, his voice laced with utmost respect.

The blood-red figure descended gracefully beside Lin Yunchen, whispering, "Kid, I can guide you on the path to power, and when the moment is right, aid you in obliterating this so-called family. But I ask for one promise in return. Can you commit to it?"

Overwhelmed with emotion, Lin Yunchen fervently replied, "Please, instruct me, Elder. Whatever it is, I shall fulfill it, even at the cost of my life."

A flicker of intrigue passed through the eyes of the blood-red figure. "Should you ascend to the Great Sage realm within your lifetime, I wish for you to journey to the Reincarnation Continent. There, seek out and restore my physical form, so that I may bask in the daylight once more."

"The Great Sage realm..."

It was only upon hearing the words of the blood-red figure that Lin Yunchen realized the caliber of the individual he had encountered—an entity that had reached the pinnacle of the world, whose mere footfall could send tremors through the earth.

The blood-red figure fixed an unwavering gaze on Lin Yunchen, patiently awaiting his decision. After a millennium of waiting, a little longer hardly mattered.

Regaining his composure, Lin Yunchen met the figure's gaze once more, his eyes now carrying a weight of solemnity. "Senior, should I attain the Great Sage realm within my lifetime, I vow to journey to the Reincarnation Continent and aid you in reclaiming the daylight."

Despite Lin Yunchen's earnest promise, the blood-red figure harbored lingering doubts. "I would ask that you enter into a God-Devil Contract with me. I've been burnt once before and I cannot bear the thought of history repeating itself."

Lin Yunchen nodded thoughtfully at the request, his brow furrowed in puzzlement. "Senior, how does one forge a God-Devil Contract? I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the process."

A faint smile broke across the stoic face of the blood-red figure upon hearing Lin Yunchen's admission. "Simply slice open your finger; I will handle the rest."

No sooner had the words left his lips than Lin Yunchen made a neat incision on his right index finger, from which his blood began to seep out in a vivid crimson stream.

In the very next instant, a droplet of Lin Yunchen's blood soared into the Blood Pool. As two rivulets of blood met midair and slowly fused, they transformed into a scroll of blood. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning crackled from nowhere, striking the blood scroll with a resounding boom.