C2 Massacre

With a swift motion, Lin Shuang drew her Frost Bow and loosed an arrow straight at Luo Shan.

Luo Shan summoned her Essence Energy to counter the incoming projectile. But the arrow's force was too ferocious; even as one of the family's top five warriors, she was overpowered, coughing up blood and sent hurtling backward, crashing to the ground with a heavy thud.

"Your mistake was not killing me when you had the chance!"

Lin Shuang's toes touched down, and she advanced toward the altar with deliberate steps.

Tears flooded Lin Yan's eyes. He could never have imagined that his dearest brother would invade the Lin family and grievously wound their parents.

"Bronze Ancient Blood Pulse Soul!"

The stone statue extended its hand, touching Lin Yan's chest.

A surge of ancient power flooded into Lin Yan's body, a force so immense that the stone pillars encircling the altar sealed off the space to contain it, lest the entire Lin family be overwhelmed.

"What is this?"

Shock filled Lin Shuang's eyes. Such formidable power within the family was beyond his knowledge, as was the altar and the stone statue, especially the ancient bronze sword embedded within it.

The mere presence of the statue was startling enough, but the thought of someone inserting a sword into it was truly astonishing.

As the statue performed its ritual, the ancient bronze sword on its back began to soften, shrinking and melting into a liquid form.

His fingertips traced the bronze rust, guiding the liquefied ancient bronze sword into Lin Yan's body.

Bronze Sword to Blood!

As the liquid metal merged with Lin Yan's blood, he was wracked with excruciating pain, as if his very flesh was being ripped apart.

"This can't be!"

Lin Shuang didn't understand the ritual, but she recognized the significance of the ancient bronze sword; it was no mere relic but likely a mighty weapon capable of altering fate. And now, it was to be bestowed upon her brother, who was deemed incapable of cultivation.

Lin Shuang's sword strike failed to make even a scratch on the altar. Helpless, she watched as a black-robed figure materialized beside her, adorned with the emblem of the Fierce Beast Qiong Qi.

"There are still powerful beings in your clan!"

The man's arrival was eerie, unnoticed even by the ancestral stone statue within the altar.

He lifted his palm, veined with black blood, and brought it down upon the altar with a thunderous crash.

Boom!

The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the altar, which began to crack and splinter.

"Bloodline Fusion, Pulse Condensation, Open!"

Unfazed by the black-robed man's presence, the stone statue remained composed.

The ancient bronze sword that had been on its back had vanished, and the rust on its hands faded. Lin Yan's body glowed with a crimson light, runes swirling across his skin, converging at his chest to form a red sigil resembling the ancient bronze sword.

With the ritual complete, the stone statue crumbled to pieces.

"Our clan will never perish!"

Bang!

The altar shattered under the black-robed man's assault, and as the dust settled, Lin Yan was nowhere to be seen.

A fierce scowl twisted Lin Shuang's features.

"After all I've endured, the ultimate prize falls to Yan, my brother."

He lifted his cold iron sword, his aura of vengeance reaching a fever pitch.

"You are not my parents, and the Lin family are my enemies. You all deserve to die!"

Blood spurted skyward as Lin Shuang stepped out from the Lin family's Ancestral Land.

Every member of the Lin family watched Lin Shuang with trepidation. With a slight smile that split his face, Lin Shuang's expression was that of a demonic Asura.

"In my clan, only one can survive. Otherwise, I'll never reach the pinnacle."

With those words, he swung his sword, and blood pooled on the ground, forming rivulets. Above the Northern Sky City, red snowflakes began to fall, gently drifting down like feathers.

Lin Shuang slaughtered emotionlessly, his latent power awakening with each life taken.

"One day, I will find you, Lin Yan, kill you, and ascend to the zenith of our clan's path!"

Ten years later...

In a grand city, several ragged, gaunt youths sprinted desperately. The one in the lead clutched a large sack, clearly outpacing the others.

Chasing them was a towering, burly man nearly two meters tall. His massive size slowed him down, giving the youths an advantage.

"Stop, you little thieves! You've stolen from the Wang family. Just wait until I catch you!"

The burly man, drenched in sweat, hurled insults at the fleeing youths.

"Looks like I'll have to show you what happens when you don't listen!"

He stomped the ground with such force that it cratered beneath him.

"Martial Pulse, activate!"

As he bellowed, a meridian pulsing with Essence Energy became visible on his forehead.

"Martial Pulse Stage!"

The disturbance drew the attention of many bystanders, who paused to watch.

The Martial Pulse Stage was the initial realm of martial arts cultivation. Those who unlocked their Martial Pulse possessed extraordinary strength, elevating them above all other professions on the continent as martial cultivators. On this continent, martial cultivators were revered, for power ruled all.

Yet, martial cultivators varied in strength, and the man before them was at the bottom rung. Nevertheless, his status was unshakable by the average person.

"This man has managed to open three Martial Pulses in the early period. He's got some skill," commented another martial cultivator observing from the street.

"Mountain Crusher!"

The burly man swung his fists, and Essence Energy coalesced into a massive fist that hurtled towards the youths.

"Puff!"

In the blink of an eye, the trailing youth was struck, spewing a geyser of blood before being flung several meters.

"Monkey!"

The lead youth halted, tossing the sack to the others, and hoisted the wounded Monkey onto his back, continuing their escape.

"Damn rascals."

The burly man spat in frustration, watching them disappear. Exhausted from using his martial skill, he lacked the energy to pursue.

"Hit by my Mountain Crusher, you'll be bedridden for life, if you're lucky enough to live!"

The youths vanished into the city's alleys. Orphans with no one to turn to, they survived by their wits and stealth, their intimate knowledge of the city's layout making them elusive even to a warrior like their pursuer.

"Boss, we've brought back the medicine for you."