C9 Decreased Family Power!

After being spotted, Xu Ming didn't halt his advance. Instead, he deliberately slowed his pace and steadily closed in on Xu Hao. Xu Hao's eyes narrowed, a fierce determination to kill glinting within them. He raised his fist deliberately and began to channel his cultivation technique, aiming for a lethal blow.

But as he initiated the technique, an excruciating pain tore through his body. Xu Hao's complexion whitened, and his technique slowed to a crawl. The Spiritual Energy coalescing around his fist was meager, barely reaching Martial Disciple Grade One.

"My internal injuries are severe, and my Blood Essence is critically depleted. Managing to exert the power of a Martial Disciple Grade One is already pushing my limits. If I can't take him down with one hit, gathering Spiritual Energy will become even more challenging," Xu Hao thought, as he watched Xu Ming advance with a raised fist. Despite the contempt in Xu Hao's gaze, he was undeterred by his grave injuries and the limited power at his disposal. "This weakling is merely at Martial Dao Grade Two. Even now, a single strike from me could be fatal!"

With that thought, Xu Hao's cultivation technique moved sluggishly, and the strength in his fist dwindled to that of a Martial Dao Grade Eight in an instant.

As a result, the agonizing pain within Xu Hao lessened somewhat, and his complexion improved slightly.

Xu Ming had been carefully monitoring Xu Hao's every action, seemingly predicting his intentions. At the moment Xu Hao's fist began to lose power, Xu Ming transformed into a blur. Moving too fast for the eye to follow, he closed the distance in a heartbeat, and his fist collided violently with Xu Hao's.

As Xu Ming launched his blurred assault, Xu Hao's pupils constricted, a sense of foreboding washing over him. The fists met in an instant, and a formidable force surged through Xu Hao's meridians, striking at his very core.

Xu Hao's meridians twisted in turmoil, his organs feeling as though they were shattering. Blood spurted from his mouth as he exclaimed, "You play dirty!"

Eight Extremes Fist is a form of Internal Fist Arts. While it lacks the brute force to send an opponent flying with a single punch, its internal strength is unmatched. Xu Ming had the element of surprise, and Xu Hao underestimated him, choosing to confront him with only his Martial Dao Grade Eight skills. As a result, Xu Hao met a dire fate.

Xu Hao stood his ground, but the devastating fist force had already pulverized his internal organs.

"Playing tricks?" Xu Ming's eyes gleamed with scorn. "You simply didn't take me seriously. You should have been more cautious. I'm not entirely confident I can take your life."

"You're trying to kill me?" Xu Hao's eyes bulged. "Do you dare?"

"If you hadn't planned to kill me first, to usurp my place, I might have granted you a swift end. But now? You can die!"

Strike a snake without killing it, and it will come back to bite you. It's best to strike while the enemy is weak.

Xu Ming transformed into a blur once more, his fist shining with a jade-like sheen as it struck Xu Hao's chest.

"Puff—"

A sound like a bursting heart emanated from Xu Hao's body. His eyes conveyed a mix of intense unwillingness, regret, and disbelief as he slowly collapsed to the ground. "Martial Dao Grade Nine Peak—"

Xu Hao could never have imagined that the so-called waste of the Xu family and all of Four-direction City had quietly achieved Martial Dao Grade Nine status!

His talent now surpassed that of many family disciples by leaps and bounds.

"Why is this happening?"

Xu Hao was at a loss. He couldn't fathom how the same person who had been derided as worthless for over a decade had attained such a high level of cultivation, especially when the family's Spirit Pills had no effect on enhancing his bloodline.

As Xu Hao's consciousness faded, Xu Ming cautiously approached. Once he was certain Xu Hao had breathed his last, he removed two Space Rings from Xu Hao's fingers and slipped them into his own Space Ring with ease.

A Space Ring, true to its name, is a ring containing its own internal space, crafted from a Space Stone and various other materials. It's exceedingly rare and not something everyone possesses. Only the most talented members of a family are afforded the chance to own one, and the Xu family has fewer than a hundred such rings. Even the smallest Space Ring, with a space of one cubic meter, costs a hundred gold coins.

Xu Ming's Space Ring, a legacy from his mother, boasted dozens of cubic meters of space, making it an exceptional piece.

The origins of the Space Ring were a mystery to Xu Ming; his mother had never divulged its history.

After dragging Xu Hao's body, he unceremoniously tossed it into the swift river, then Xu Ming swiftly vanished into the cover of night.

Within the confines of his humble courtyard, Xu Ming's Divine Sense delved into the Space Ring, contemplating the fiery Accompanying Essence. He pondered, "Should I devour it now, or should I find some supplementary materials first?"

He hesitated to remove the Accompanying Essence because its aura would surely escape, attracting a Beast Tide, or worse, a Rank Five Lion Tiger Beast. Xu Ming had no desire for another harrowing escape.

The volatile energy of the Accompanying Essence demanded caution from Xu Ming.

"The Accompanying Essence from a Rank Five Lion Tiger Beast cub... I wonder to what heights it could elevate my bloodline," Xu Ming mused, his eyes alight with a touch of madness. "Fortune favors the bold, and I'd rather risk bursting at the seams than wither from hunger. My bloodline must ascend!"

With a decisive thought, Xu Ming swallowed the flaming Accompanying Essence, proclaiming, "A man faces death once, but avoiding it can lead to immortality!"

Elevating his bloodline was the cornerstone of his cultivation; enhancing his strength was fundamental to his survival.

As the Accompanying Essence of the young Lion Tiger Beast touched his lips, a scorching heat seared his mouth. Before it could unleash its formidable power, the system aggressively seized the energy, and a cascade of information followed.

"Devoured the Accompanying Essence of a Rank Five Spirit Beast, Lion Tiger Beast, acquiring 365 Gene Points."

"Devoured the Accompanying Essence of a Rank Five Spirit Beast, Lion Tiger Beast, obtaining 364 Gene Points."

"Acquired 182 Gene Points."

Devouring complete!

"Gene Points—I've actually accumulated 66,795 points!"

Xu Ming's eyes widened in astonishment as he opened them, "Truly a treasure from a Rank Five Spirit Beast!"

This was merely the Accompanying Essence, inherently meant to enhance one's bloodline!

Xu Ming was well aware that not even the Inner Core of a Rank Five Spirit Beast could produce such an effect!

He excitedly opened the Attribute Page:

Xu Ming: Human.

Strength Level: Martial Dao Grade Nine.

Gene Grade: God Grade Gene, God Grade Bloodline, Grade Zero

Gene Points: 100,000/73,418 available for upgrade

Gene Evolution: 100,000 Gene Points required to evolve to Holy Level Gene.

Beast Soul: Possession of the Gale Divine Soul grants the host a tenfold speed enhancement, while the Thunderbolt Divine Soul endows the host with the Thunderbolt Attribute, applicable in attacks and tripling the Attack Power.

"Tonight, my bloodline will advance to God Level Grade Seven!"

Xu Ming was unexpectedly moved, thinking how delighted the woman resting in the family graveyard would have been if she were still alive.

After spending half a year relegated to the farm, he had finally achieved another bloodline advancement today! God Level Grade Seven! Surpassing every prodigy in the Xu family!

"Advance!"

He roared softly, and Xu Ming instantly felt enveloped in a warm energy, experiencing a pleasure like never before. The once-blocked meridians were cleared by a mysterious force.

"God Level Grade Seven! My cultivation speed must have multiplied many times over!"

The enhancement of his genes not only bolstered his physical strength but also transformed Xu Ming's genes and bloodline, unlocking all the meridians appropriate for his bloodline at this stage!

The so-called Bloodline Level is intimately linked to how open the meridians are. The more meridians that are open, the higher the Bloodline Level, ensuring smoother circulation and naturally, a quicker cultivation pace compared to those with lower Bloodline Levels.

With a satisfying crack, Xu Ming clenched his fists, feeling an unparalleled power that testified to his body's newfound might.

"The transformation of my genes has also amplified my physical strength!"

This was the advantage of the system. At this moment, Xu Ming's Martial Dao Cultivation Level might only be at the pinnacle of Martial Dao Grade Nine, but the power of his body was incomparable, likely having already exceeded his Martial Dao Strength and ascended to a new zenith!

"It's a shame that the physical body has its limits. True cultivation is the essence!"

Xu Ming closed his eyes, tuning into the Spiritual Energy in the air, channeling and refining it as it flowed into his dantian.

The aura emanating from Xu Ming's body grew increasingly powerful, accompanied by the sound of rushing water.

...

As night gave way to dawn, Xu Ming slowly opened his eyes, and two half-foot-long beams of light briefly flashed across his gaze.

"In no more than half a month, I'll advance to the Martial Disciple Stage!"

"With a God Level Grade Seven Bloodline, my cultivation speed has increased by more than tenfold!"

It's no surprise that the cultivation speed of those prodigies always outpaces the average person. Reflecting on the boost from his bloodline enhancement, Xu Ming realized his cultivation speed had increased by more than ten times! Previously, it took him two hours to complete a full cycle of energy, but now he could do it in less than half an hour. Moreover, what used to take two months to advance to Martial Disciple now required no more than half a month.

"Crack ~ Crack ~"

As he stood, his bones popped and crackled like popcorn. Glancing at the sky, Xu Ming remembered he had yet to merge with his Thunderbolt Divine Soul.

With a mere thought, the Thunderbolt Divine Soul merged with his own, and as Xu Ming clenched his hand into a fist, the Thunder Lightning Strength naturally surged to his fist.

"Crack ~"

A casual punch struck a small tree before him, sending lightning arcs dancing. Xu Ming hadn't exerted much force, yet the fearsome Thunder Lightning Strength left a distinct, charred fist imprint on the tree's trunk, blackened and burned at least three centimeters deep into charcoal.

"If this were to hit a person..."

The consequences would be dire, with this punch charring at least three centimeters of flesh!

"Absolutely terrifying!"

Yet Xu Ming couldn't help but smile in delight. The most ruthless move against an enemy is the best move! Possessing the power of thunder and lightning truly is a treasure!

...

After completing his cultivation and practicing the Eight Extremes Fist, it was time for Xu Ming to make his way to the manor.

"The third elder has taken a severe blow this time. After this incident, it's doubtful he'll be able to challenge the Patriarch's authority within the Xu family again."

Before Xu Ming even stepped foot into the manor, he overheard the guards at the entrance murmuring amongst themselves, seemingly engrossed in a conversation about the third elder.

One guard's voice brimmed with glee at another's misfortune, yet he restrained himself, careful not to express too much. From the tone alone, it was clear he was from the Patriarch's lineage.

"To think he'd sacrifice over a dozen warriors and tarnish the reputation of a Martial Master, all for a grandson who isn't even a prodigy. And to top it off, he's now gravely injured himself. Is it really worth it? The third elder's actions are utterly selfish, needlessly depleting our family's strength!"

Another guard's voice was thick with resentment. The third elder's self-serving actions, all in the pursuit of his missing grandson, had cost the family many of its stalwarts. Undoubtedly, the Xu family's influence in Four-direction City would suffer a significant blow because of this.