The Hero's Home in Ping'an Community, the neighborhood where the Lin family currently resides. As the name suggests, Hero's Home is primarily inhabited by retired soldiers and families of martyrs. In Lin Shanhe's words, living among these fellow comrades brings him peace of mind.
Due to the influence of the Myriad Races War, human residences are no longer as extravagant as they once were. Individual residences are clustered together, forming secure mid-rise fortress buildings. These buildings are generally ten stories high, with wall thicknesses of up to one meter. If necessary, they can activate external armor and crystal core weapons mounted on the roof. Furthermore, each building has martial artists of Silver rank or higher residing within to guard against martial artists and fierce beasts from the Myriad Races entering Earth through newly formed spatial rifts.
Room 801, Building 6.
"Mom, what delicious food did you make?" Lin Zhan asked as he opened the door and looked at Ouyang Xinlan, who was busy in the kitchen.
"Brother, brother, hug!" Lin Zhan smiled as he looked at the little girl standing on the sofa, arms outstretched towards him.
"Let your brother see if our little dumpling has gotten fatter," he said, picking up the little girl dressed in a princess dress and kissing her slightly chubby cheeks. The little girl giggled heartily in Lin Zhan's arms.
"Naughty brother, stinky brother, Ya'er isn't fat!" This was Lin Zhan's five-year-old sister, Lin Ya'er.
Lin Shanhe, who came out upon hearing the voices, said, "You're back. Hmm... you've broken through and awakened your bloodline."
Lin Zhan clenched his fist, and a faint blade light flashed. "I broke through today and awakened our family's Overlord Blade bloodline. But it seems a bit different; my affinity with wind and my agility have also increased."
"Your mother's family awakens the Xun Wind bloodline, which can greatly enhance one's speed and agility." Lin Shanhe cradled Lin Ya'er and said, "Also, you've leveled up a bit too early. Our human race's innate physique is weak. Martial arts advancements and bloodline awakenings require strong physical support. Once the body is damaged, the path of martial arts becomes difficult. You should consolidate and temper your physical body before advancing to Silver. Our Lin family's Overlord Blade puts a significant burden on the body, so physical strength is even more important for us."
"The reason your grandfather could fight multiple experts of the same level back then was that he was bestowed a drop of True Dragon blood by King Dixi, which refined his body. Your grandfather fought ten lords from the Myriad Races, killing eight and seriously injuring two. Later, he was killed by a king from the Bone Demon clan. King Dixi, in his rage, tore through space and descended upon the Bone Demon clan, killing the Bone Demon King and deterring the Myriad Races. From then on, kings were forbidden from attacking martial artists below their own rank."
The Human King is mighty... Lin Zhan asked, "But how did King Dixi give Grandpa True Dragon blood? Was Grandpa so exceptionally talented that the Human King noticed him?"
Lin Shanhe replied proudly, "What's the use of high talent? Our Lin family's ancestor's surname was Yin."
...Holy cow, my family has a Human King ancestor. Lin Zhan instantly felt himself becoming more imposing.
"You two, stop chatting and come eat," Ouyang Xinlan called out, holding a plate of ribs.
"Ribs, ribs, I want to eat ribs!" Little Dumpling Lin Ya'er shouted happily and ran towards the dining room.
"Dad, can you give me a jar of that black demon tiger bone wine you're brewing tomorrow? Mom, can you give me a few Dragon Blood Orchid flowers? If possible, please ask Uncle to get some more from the Demonic Wood Clan battlefield," Lin Zhan said while eating.
Ouyang Xinlan asked, "Black Demon Tiger bone wine can nourish blood and strengthen bones. Your grandfather hunted a lord-level Black Demon Tiger back then, and there's still five to six hundred catties of tiger bones left, so we don't lack that. But you don't need it now; it's for Golden rank cultivators. Dragon Blood Orchid flowers are used to enhance snake-type spirit beast bloodlines. We have about five flowers, and it wouldn't be difficult for your uncle to get more. But what do you need them for?"
"Dad, Mom, I want to contract a Little Golden Dragon Python as a spirit pet. Most of my Lin family's combat techniques require high physical strength and cause significant damage to the body. I want to contract with the little dragon python and use its dragon bloodline to feedback and strengthen my body through the contract. At the same time, I can do my best to help the little dragon python improve its bloodline and level up. I'll also have a powerful combat companion to prevent the tragedy of Grandpa and Dad being besieged in the future," Lin Zhan explained to his parents as he ate.
Lin Shanhe thought for a moment. "This method is feasible. Contracting a spirit pet will have an acceptable impact on your mental power. As for raising the little dragon python, we still have quite a few Myriad Races Beast Cores. Moreover, when I retired, I brought back the beast cores of the three Diamond rank Gluttonous Devourers I killed. They weren't counted as military merits. Tomorrow, your mother and I will accompany you. Otherwise, your dean, Old Man Li, that stingy old man, won't let you near the little dragon python."
"It happens that I haven't seen Linglong in years. I didn't expect she'd even have a child. Tomorrow, I'll bring Ya'er along for a change of scenery and give her a day off. Let's eat first," Ouyang Xinlan added.
"Wuwuwu, I get a day off tomorrow and don't have to go to kindergarten. Mom is the best!" The little dumpling, with ribs in her mouth, jumped up happily.
Hearing his sister's happy laughter, Lin Zhan thought this matter was settled!
After dinner, Lin Shanhe took Lin Zhan to the study in the attic of their home. "You've broken through to Bronze, so you should have a suitable weapon," he said, opening a hidden compartment in the study and taking out a sword box. "This sword is called Dragon Scale. It was forged from the sword bone of a Diamond rank Spineback Sword Dragon I killed, combined with meteor iron. It's enough for you to use until you reach Diamond. With your talent, it shouldn't be difficult to reach Diamond with our family's resources. We also have two more swords left by your grandfather. One was forged with a lord-level Black Demon Tiger as the main component, and the other was forged by a quasi-king of the Bone Demon clan. However, it was this sword that brought about your grandfather's death. That quasi-king was the only son of a Bone Demon clan king, so the Bone Demon King, disregarding the Myriad Races agreement, personally killed your grandfather."
"Quasi-king? Was Grandpa also one?" Lin Zhan asked his father.
"A quasi-king is a martial artist with the potential to become a king, someone who has touched the edge of the laws and only needs accumulation to ascend to kingship. Your grandfather was naturally a quasi-king, and moreover, he was a quasi-king with royal blood. His path to becoming a king would have been further than that of ordinary kings, making him much stronger."
Lin Shanhe fell silent for a moment before continuing, "In fact, the invasion of the Myriad Races is not as simple as it appears on the surface. In ancient times, our Human Race was also one of the top-ranked races among the Myriad Races, otherwise, where would so many myths and legends come from? The ancient kings of the Human Race changed their surnames and branched out to guard against a future war of the Myriad Races. This is also the origin of our Lin family. And the Human Race is not as simple as it appears on the surface. As far as I know, there are at least King Yu, King Yi, and King Kuafu of the Human Race still alive, as well as eight quasi-kings who are historically famous individuals preparing to ascend to kingship. Once our Human Race suffers a genocidal blow, these hidden Human Kings will directly descend upon the enemy race and destroy them. Coupled with our many strong allies among the Myriad Races, this has led to the current situation."
Lin Zhan couldn't help but think to himself: it seems that these old monsters who have lived for thousands of years are not to be trifled with. They are too ferocious.