A colossal beast burst from the crack in the stone coffin, a ferocious ferocious beast the size of a calf, entirely black and gleaming with a chilling sheen.
It was a Wulong, with a pair of wings on its back, spanning three meters.
"Roar!"
The Wulong roared to the heavens, shaking the entire ancient tomb.
"Ancestor, this... is this the legendary Kunpeng bird, capable of flying through the heavens and burrowing through the earth? How can it exist?"
Someone exclaimed in surprise.
"This... this is the sacred artifact that our Su clan has been guarding!"
"A sacred artifact?"
"A treasure left by our ancestors for their descendants?"
The elders and youths of the Su family all revealed greedy expressions.
Su Chen's eyes were also blazing with desire, wishing he could rush forward and snatch the treasure.
"Kunpeng bird!"
Su Qian's expression was grave as he stared at the Kunpeng bird. His heart pounded wildly, and a thought flashed through his mind: "Could it be..."
Just then, the Kunpeng bird dived down, claws flailing, grabbing at Su Chen.
Su Chen was jolted awake.
The Kunpeng bird was faster than him and had already locked onto him, making evasion impossible.
"Bang!"
The Kunpeng bird slammed heavily into Su Chen's chest, instantly sending him flying.
Crash!
Su Chen fell more than thirty feet away.
The Kunpeng bird, relentless and ferocious, lunged at Su Chen, intending to devour him.
Su Qian's face changed drastically. He rushed forward, punching the Kunpeng bird, but was repelled and fell to his knees beside Su Chen, his face as pale as paper.
The Su family descendants were horrified.
Su Qian coughed and spat blood.
"Father!"
Su Zilin was extremely anxious. She supported Su Qian and asked, "Father, where are you hurt?"
"I... I'm fine..."
Su Qian waved his hand.
"Father, you should rest. I'll deal with it!" Su Chen got up.
"Chen'er... don't be reckless!"
Su Qian stopped his son.
"Chen'er, you are no match for it. Quickly take your aunt and retreat!" Su Qian spat out more blood, forcing himself to stand up.
"Father..."
Su Chen hesitated.
"Listen to Grandfather, hurry and go!"
Su Qian pushed his nephew, urging him to leave.
"Uncle, you and Aunt wait for me here!"
Su Chen dropped these words, drew his saber, and charged at the Kunpeng bird.
Clang! The saber broke.
The Kunpeng bird was unharmed.
Su Chen was stunned.
The defensive power of this monster was practically heaven-defying; he couldn't even scratch it!
The Kunpeng bird pounced at Su Chen, its sharp claws tearing through his skin and flesh, blood spraying out.
Su Chen endured the pain and swung his saber at the Kunpeng bird's neck.
Clang!
Sparks flew. Su Chen's tiger mouth burst open, and the saber in his hand fell to the ground.
The Kunpeng bird seized the opportunity, its gaping maw clamping down on Su Chen's shoulder.
Su Chen screamed, struggling desperately.
"Chen'er..."
Su Qian roared.
Puff!
A dart pierced the Kunpeng bird's skull, embedding itself in the ground.
"Little Chen..."
Su Zilin's eyes were filled with tears as she picked up her nephew, who was covered in blood.
"Aunt... it hurts..."
Su Chen was weak and listless.
Su Zilin hurriedly put Su Chen down, examined his wounds, and found them to be extremely deep, with blood soaking through his clothes.
"Hold on!"
She took out a medicine bottle, poured out a pill, and put it into her nephew's mouth.
The pill dissolved instantly, nourishing Su Chen's body and expelling the residual power and poison of the Kunpeng bird.
"Wuwuwu..."
The Kunpeng bird wailed and finally collapsed on the ground, no longer moving.
"Huffs!"
Su Chen breathed a sigh of relief and lay on the ground.
He had been prepared to die just moments ago, only to be saved by a sudden dart.
Who was the owner of that dart?
Su Chen lay on his side, opening his eyes with difficulty. He saw a person standing in a corner of the wall not far away.
This person was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, handsome, with a cold smile on his lips. It was Zhao Wenbo.
"It's you?"
Su Chen was greatly surprised.
Zhao Wenbo walked over, smiling slightly, "We meet again."
"So you had this planned all along."
Su Chen realized the truth, sighing at Zhao Wenbo's insidiousness and baseness.
"I said I would send you on your way myself. How could I go back on my word?" Zhao Wenbo approached.
Su Chen gritted his teeth and said, "Zhao Wenbo, if you dare to kill me, the Su family will never let you go!"
"If you die, I will at most receive punishment, not death. But if you live, you will surely retaliate!"
Zhao Wenbo said indifferently, then reached out to grab Su Chen's throat.
"Ah!"
Su Chen screamed in fear, scrambling backward to avoid him, but due to severe blood loss, he fainted.
...
Su Family Mansion.
In a courtyard, Su Chen slowly regained consciousness. He opened his eyes and saw an unfamiliar environment, his heart tightening.
The Su Mansion!
He was still alive?
Thinking back to the scene before he lost consciousness, he quickly checked his limbs and confirmed that his bones were fine, only feeling a slight numbness.
"Chen'er, you're awake!"
A beautiful woman brought over food.
"Mother..."
Su Chen called out.
The mother and son sat at the table to eat.
"Mother, how long have I been asleep?"
"Two days."
"Mmm."
Su Chen nodded and continued eating.
"Chen'er, why are you arguing with your sister?" the beautiful woman asked worriedly.
"Mother, don't mention her."
Su Chen pouted, looking very disgusted.
His sister had a fiery temper and was always looking for trouble, especially with the direct descendants of the Su family, often beating and scolding them.
"Didn't I tell you not to provoke your sister, but you just wouldn't listen!"
"I..."
Su Chen was speechless.
At this moment, he realized that the personality of his spoiled brother was entirely inherited from his mother, and very different from the rest of the Su family.
"Alas," the beautiful woman sighed softly, "After your father passed away, I always hoped you would change your dissolute habits."
"Mother..."
Su Chen choked back sobs, his eyes moistening.
Years ago, his father had died of illness, and his mother had raised him and his sister alone, which was not easy.
"Mother..."
"Don't cry, don't cry..."
Su Chen wiped away his tears and forced a smile, "I'm fine, Mother. Please eat more to nourish yourself."
"Alright."
The beautiful woman put food on her son's plate and instructed, "Chen'er, even though you are mischievous, you cannot forget to cultivate!"
"Mmm!"
Su Chen nodded heavily.
The beautiful woman added, "You are sixteen this year, and it's time to learn martial arts and cultivate. Starting tomorrow, I will teach you the basic cultivation techniques, and you will practice until dawn every night."
"Alright!"
Su Chen agreed.
...
Night fell.
Moonlight like water cascaded over the land.
Su Chen emerged from the house, stretching his back with a yawn.
He had already adapted to this frail body.
The Su family mansion was vast, occupying half the village, with houses lining up like a massive estate, employing over a hundred servants.
Among them stood a magnificent pavilion, with carved beams and painted rafters, exquisite and luxurious.
The direct descendants of the Su family all resided within it.
Su Chen was one of them, and the most useless one at that.
Su Chen had loved to indulge in pleasure since childhood, which had caused his body to weaken.
"Brother, what's wrong?"
As Su Chen entered the courtyard, two girls rushed forward, asking with concern.
"I'm fine, just a bit tired."
Su Chen shook his head, rubbing his forehead, feeling utterly exhausted.
"Chen'er, quickly go inside and rest. I'll go make you a bowl of ginger soup."
"Mmm."
Su Chen nodded and slowly walked into the room.
This was his room in the Su mansion. It was spacious, with a clean and tidy bed, emitting a faint, elegant fragrance that was comforting.
"Huh?"
Su Chen suddenly noticed a wooden hairpin standing by the bedside, crystal clear, like jade, warm and beautiful.