Chapter 260: Strike Down Anyone That Stands In My Way

Li Xiaofei thought for a moment and replied, "She’s like an angel in the sunlight."

Tan Zhenwei didn’t openly react to the compliment. Instead, he said, "Honestly, I never expected her to be in a relationship at this stage of her life. I also didn’t plan on her staying in Liuhe Base City indefinitely. The family wanted her to return for university, and I was actually swayed by the idea."

Li Xiaofei nodded but remained silent.

Tan Zhenwei went on, "You’ve slain the Bull Demon and driven back the star beast tide. Your presence now commands awe across Liuhe Base City. It's only a matter of time before the gang factions submit to you. Even the Ye family has begun to fear you. Many other families are quietly watching and waiting to act. How do you feel about that?"

Li Xiaofei paused, then responded, "Every time I grow stronger, I realize how small I was before. The path of martial arts has no end, and I won’t stop moving forward."

Tan Zhenwei nodded approvingly.

"You’re probably aware by now that Little Ying’s background is far from ordinary," Tan Zhenwei said. "What I want to tell you is that both the Tan family and the An family are Saint families. Now, both families want Little Ying to return to her roots and rejoin the family."

Li Xiaofei was taken aback by Tan Zhenwei’s openness. He quietly contemplated the city leader's intentions in revealing this information.

Tan Zhenwei pressed a button behind his desk. The office’s doors, windows, and curtains automatically closed, and the walls were covered by a layer of faint silver metal. A magnetic energy field enveloped the entire office.

"Roughly three months ago, a family test revealed that Little Ying possesses a rare Saint Emperor Bloodline. This bloodline traces back to the origins of both families... By the way, do you know the history of the Tan and An families?" Tan Zhenwei asked.

Li Xiaofei shook his head.

Tan Zhenwei explained, "There was a legendary figure known as Sun Fei, the Northern God Emperor in the history of Great Xia. No one knows where he came from, nor where the Northern Region is located, but he was undoubtedly a godlike figure. He left behind a bloodline called the Saint Emperor Bloodline. Through various circumstances, some descendants of Great Xia obtained this bloodline, and from it, the Ten Saint Families were born. The Tan and An families are two of these ten. The ten families were once incredibly powerful, but the Saint Emperor Bloodline within their descendants thinned over time. Little Ying is the only one in this generation whose Saint Emperor Bloodline has awakened."

Li Xiaofei remained silent.

Sun Fei, the Northern God Emperor! He had heard of this name from Little Aunt before as one of the five supreme figures of legend. He hadn’t expected the Tan and An families to be connected to such a figure.

"Do you understand the significance of a bloodline?" Tan Zhenwei asked.

Li Xiaofei shook his head again.

Tan Zhenwei took a sip of tea before continuing, "Nowadays, martial artists in Great Xia gain power through intense cultivation. Starforce qi has been proven to be a force that can be cultivated by all humans worldwide, but it is not the only path to strength."

"Five hundred years ago, a small number of Great Xia’s citizens were party to a certain event that allowed them to acquire mythical abilities. These abilities left special energy sources in their blood, allowing them to cultivate more rapidly and practice unique techniques that others cannot. These individuals became known as bloodline bearers."

"Bloodline bearers go by many names, including chosen ones, heaven's chosen, or heaven's vessels. In short, they are far superior to ordinary people on the path of cultivation. As such, they are highly valued by nations and major powers. For a Saint family, a bloodline bearer is their hope when it comes to maintaining their current status and achieving even greater heights. A Saint family that fails to produce a bloodline bearer for three generations is not far from decline and ruin."

"Take the Gu family of Jiangnan, for example. Twenty years ago, they were one of the most prominent Saint families in the country. However, with no bloodline bearers emerging in the second and third generations, their glory has already begun to fade."

Li Xiaofei reflected on Tan Zhenwei’s words. He was most intrigued by the major event that had occurred 500 years ago and had given rise to bloodline bearers on Earth.

𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

So, he asked about it.

City Leader Tan replied, "The event took place in 2023 and was monumental enough to be recorded in human history. However, the Star Council has prohibited any discussion or dissemination of information regarding it since 2322. What you’re asking about is known as the Night of Divine Blood."

The Night of Divine Blood?

Li Xiaofei’s face showed clear confusion.

City Leader Tan explained, "At that time, Earth was being ravaged by star beast invasions, and the damage was catastrophic. Nations around the world were nearly bankrupt, and countless major cities had fallen to the star beasts. The human population was teetering on the edge of extinction. But three days after the emergence of the first Saint, Taiyi, Earth's sky was suddenly covered in a crimson blood-red hue. The entire planet experienced what was called the Night of Blood. A blood-colored radiance blanketed the land, and the sky seemed to flow with a sea of blood. This phenomenon lasted for three days and nights, and was followed by a blood rain. However, some of the droplets were crystalline, and when they entered the bodies of ordinary people, they triggered mutations. This was the origin of the first bloodline bearers."

Li Xiaofei listened with intense curiosity. This event had taken place 500 years ago, in 2023, the very year he was transported by the Dog Box. If Tan Zhenwei was correct in his timeline, disaster had struck Earth shortly after he disappeared. The star beast invasion had happened the same year he left.

Why such a coincidence?

"Some Saints studied the mysterious blood and found that it contained energy sources that were capable of enhancing the human body. They theorized that this blood came from legendary, godlike figures," Tan Zhenwei continued. "Later, word of the bloodlines spread, and it was revealed that there were varying levels to one’s bloodline. The most exalted bloodlines came from the five great supreme figures. However, this hierarchy was not absolute; one could overcome these differences with effort and cultivation. Scientific studies showed that even the most powerful bloodline bearers only managed to unlock a fraction, perhaps only ten to twenty percent, of their bloodline’s full potential."

Li Xiaofei nodded thoughtfully and asked, "So, does that mean Little Ying’s awakened bloodline is one of the five supreme bloodlines of our time?"

"Exactly," Tan Zhenwei said. "So now you can understand why Little Ying is being fought over by two great Saint families and why the younger generation of other Saint families were initially so eager to pursue her, right?"

Li Xiaofei nodded. "So, what you're saying is that being her boyfriend means I'm up against a lot of pressure and competition."

Tan Zhenwei agreed, "That’s correct. Before you slew the Bull Demon, you had almost no chance. Even though you performed exceptionally well in the tournament, gaining both my and Inspector Li’s favor, my support alone couldn’t safeguard your relationship. But now that you've managed to slay a grade five star beast, you've finally earned a basic qualification to compete."

Li Xiaofei chuckled slowly and confidently. "No, I’m not going to compete with them."

Tan Zhenwei was taken aback. "What?"

"Uncle Tan, you’re supporting us, aren’t you?" Li Xiaofei asked.

Tan Zhenwei nodded.

"Then that’s settled," Li Xiaofei replied with a confident smile. "Parental blessing and mutual affection; we’re already in a relationship. What competition? I’ll send whoever dares to overstep and try to steal her away straight to the afterlife."

He’d strike down anyone that stood in his way. His love knew no boundaries, and he was determined that no mountain or sea would stand in his path.