C13 Mother

"You won't escape my wrath! Die!"

The Phantom King was seething with humiliation. To be wounded by a mere fourth-level Body Refinement ant was a disgrace. His icy gaze fixed on Su Ling as he aimed a deadly palm strike at Su Ling's head, determined to eliminate the threat once and for all.

"Curse you, you old fiend, for daring to harm my Elder Brother Su! I'll make you pay with your life!"

Yet, as the Phantom King was about to deliver the fatal blow, a sharp and furious voice pierced the air from a distance.

Bang!

A resounding crash followed.

Su Xiaomei, lithe as a shadow, darted toward the Phantom King with astonishing speed.

"Martial Essence Stage! Little sister, you've ascended from the ninth level of Body Refinement to the Martial Essence Stage. And it's clear you've been at this stage for quite some time. I was under the impression you were still at the ninth level of Body Refinement. You've been keeping this from me all along."

With Su Xiaomei's unexpected intervention, the tide of battle shifted. Su Ling lay on the ground, cradling his aching chest, his gaze locked on Su Xiaomei's delicate form.

"Martial Essence Stage! You too are at the Martial Essence Stage?"

The Phantom King's cold eyes bore into Su Xiaomei, his shock palpable. The young girl before him, barely in her early teens, possessed the prowess of the early Martial Essence Stage—a notion almost inconceivable.

"This is bad! Su Ling has already wounded me. Given my current state, even at full strength, I'm no match for her."

With a dark scowl, the Phantom King realized his failure to kill Su Ling had likely alerted the Su Family. Lingering in battle now would only draw more powerful adversaries and seal his fate. With that, he vibrated his feet and vanished, fleeing the Su Family grounds.

"Damn you, you cowardly old scoundrel! If you're brave enough, then stay!"

Fury consumed Su Xiaomei as she hurled insults. She was ready to give chase when Su Ling intervened.

"Xiaomei, let him go. A desperate foe can be dangerous. Beware of deceit!"

Su Ling, rising with difficulty, wore a pained expression as he urgently cautioned her.

Seeing Su Ling in such distress, Su Xiaomei's heart clenched. She rushed to his side, offering her support.

"Elder Brother Su, are you okay?"

Her concern was palpable. If that wretched old man had dared to inflict grave harm on Su Ling, Su Xiaomei vowed to make him suffer a fate worse than death.

"I'm alright."

Su Ling reassured her with a gentle shake of his head, then affectionately ruffled her hair. "Xiaomei, so you've become a Martial Essence Stage master. Why didn't you share this with your big brother sooner?"

"Elder Brother Su, I'm sorry, I was just afraid that..."

Su Xiaomei's voice trailed off as she bowed her head, her hands nervously fidgeting.

Su Ling offered her a warm smile, understanding her silence. Su Xiaomei had kept her advancement to the Martial Essence Stage a secret, fearing it might demoralize him.

Indeed, at sixteen, Su Ling's cultivation was a mere fourth level of Body Refinement, rendering him an outcast in Qingyang City. Meanwhile, Su Xiaomei, only thirteen, had already reached the Martial Essence Stage. Her talent was undeniable, not just in Qingyang City but across the entire Lanqing Empire. She had concealed her true power, pretending to be at the ninth level of Body Refinement, all to spare Su Ling's confidence.

"Little sister, there's no need for you to hold back your cultivation any longer. As you grow stronger, Elder Brother Su will only be overjoyed for you. Besides, your Elder Brother Su isn't the same person he once was—I'm no longer the good-for-nothing I used to be."

Leaning on Su Xiaomei for support, Su Ling's complexion slowly improved. Suddenly, his body jolted as an intense surge of Mystical Qi burst forth from his Sea of Qi with wild abandon.

"Hmm?"

Feeling the ripple of Mystical Qi around her, Su Xiaomei paused, her voice tinged with astonishment, "Elder Brother Su, have you advanced to the sixth level of the Body Refinement Stage?"

"Yes!"

Su Ling nodded with conviction, promising, "From now on, your Elder Brother Su will always be there to protect you."

"Ling Er, what's going on here?"

In the blink of an eye, Su Yunshan, accompanied by several Su Family elders, arrived before Su Ling.

Upon his arrival, Su Yunshan was greeted by chaos. The dense Mystical Qi emanating from Su Ling's body left him utterly astounded.

"Ling Er, your level of cultivation?"

Su Yunshan exclaimed, shocked.

At this point, Su Hai and the other elders caught on.

"Sixth Level of Body Refinement Stage!"

As the Su Family's Great Elder, Su Hai had practically seen Su Ling grow up. He knew all too well that Su Ling's meridians were inherently blocked, making him unsuited for martial cultivation—a fact that seemed confirmed when Su Ling only reached the Fourth Level of Body Refinement Stage at sixteen.

In comparison, the Lin Family's son, of similar age to Su Ling, had already attained the Fifth Level of Body Refinement Stage.

Thus, Su Hai and Su Yunshan had once agreed that since Su Ling couldn't pursue martial or alchemical paths, he should instead learn business to avoid a life of poverty.

Su Hai's visit was originally meant to take Su Ling to start his business training.

But now, Su Hai's perspective had shifted. Exchanging a glance with Su Yunshan, both elders saw the same shock reflected in each other's eyes.

Su Ling's realm had not only broken through—it had leaped forward by two minor stages, a feat that defied all expectations.

"Second Elder, send someone to investigate immediately. Find out who had the audacity to intrude upon the Su Family in broad daylight," Su Yunshan commanded, his voice grave.

"Understood!"

Second Elder, Su Feng, gave a chilling look.

Without delay, Su Feng turned to the other Su Family powerhouses and ordered sternly, "Come with me!"

Once Su Feng departed, Su Yunshan inhaled deeply before turning to Su Ling, speaking calmly, "Ling Er, follow me. Great Elder, please join us. As for the little sister…"

"Adoptive father, you wanted me to practice the Ice and Fire Technique, but I haven't even mastered the first layer yet. I'm heading to the training ground to work on the Ice and Fire Technique," Su Xiaomei said with a cheerful smile, bouncing off.

"This child, oh dear," Su Yunshan sighed, a hint of resignation in his voice. He couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness when he thought of Su Xiaomei's origins. He would have liked nothing more than for Su Ling to marry her.

Alas, given Su Ling's humble status, the prospect of marrying Su Xiaomei seemed nigh impossible.

Led by Su Yunshan, Su Ling and Su Hai entered a fortified chamber.

"Father, what's the reason for bringing me here?" Su Ling inquired, his curiosity piqued by the room's sturdy copper and iron defenses.

"First Elder, we're ready to begin!"

Su Yunshan offered no direct answer to Su Ling's bewilderment. Glancing at Su Hai, he simply nodded.

"Alright."

With a single word, Su Hai took hold of Su Ling's wrist, his eyes closing gently. Wisps of Mystical Qi began to seep from his being, traveling swiftly through Su Ling's wrist and into his body.

Moments later, Su Hai's eyes snapped open, a sharp glint flickering within.

"Excellent! The Su Family has truly awakened a prodigy."

Struggling to contain his excitement, Su Hai's face lit up with joy as he turned to Su Yunshan, "Though Ling Er's Soul Force is faint, too weak for the path of Alchemy, his meridians are thoroughly cleared. Given his innate martial talents, it's only a matter of time before he ascends to the ranks of Martial Arts Experts!"

"Good! Good! Good!"

Su Yunshan repeated the word thrice, his elation palpable. He strode over to Su Ling, exclaiming, "She is a natural-born marvel. I always knew she wouldn't bear a failure."

"She? Father, are you referring to my mother? Who exactly is my mother?"

Su Ling's memories did not include his birth mother, and Su Yunshan seldom spoke of her.