"...Pei was the eighth direct disciple Master took, and also his most favored one.

"His natural talent for martial arts was extraordinary, the best I had seen before you showed up, Young Senior Brother.

"Just less than six months into his training, he had already mastered all the inherited skills and even comprehended a True Skill.

"For us, achieving that took nearly ten years.

"Master saw Pei as the hope for the Crane Sect's resurgence and poured almost all his energy into him.

"His favoritism was so pronounced that for a time, it even caused discontent among us martial brothers.

"But Pei himself was so outstanding that even if we had complaints, we were often left speechless.

"Among all of us, Lin had the best relationship with Pei.

"When Pei first joined, Lin helped him lay his foundations.

"Later, when Pei started to distinguish himself, he, in turn, began to guide Lin..."

"What happened after that? Why did this Pei Ye betray the sect?"

There was a long pause.

Then he spoke again, slowly.

"Later..."

"Later, our Master lost a duel against the Snake Sect Master.

"He was severely injured. The Snake Sect, backed by major factions from the Martial Arts Circle, then pressured our Crane Sect. They tried to expel our lineage completely from Sum Nation and the Heaven Water Sect.

"On our way out of Sum Nation, Master's old enemies, hearing the news, came rushing, trying to wipe us all out.

"In that battle, our Master lost both arms and legs, his eyes were gouged out, and he suffered multiple blows to the chest, nearly dying.

"Three of the eight direct disciples were killed, and the rest of us were severely injured.

"But Pei Ye… he fled before the fight even began."

"Was he afraid?"

"Perhaps.

"Perhaps he didn't see the point in dying with us, who were being pushed to a dead end.

"After all, with his exceptional talent and brilliant future, why would he throw his life away with us? (Laughs)"

"..."

"Did Coach Lin let him go?"

"Yes.

"But not exactly."

"Hm?"

"Lin was the first among us direct disciples to discover that Pei Ye wanted to escape. I don't know what Pei Ye said to him, but in the end, Lin did let him go and didn't tell anyone.

"But..."

"That night, Master also knew that Pei Ye wanted to leave.

"When Pei Ye fled, Master followed him and protected him all the way.

"Eventually, he watched him... disappear into the vast darkness of the night without a backward glance."

.....

The conversation Lu Yuan once had with Zhuang Xiujie flowed like a river through his mind.

This was Zhuang Xiujie's account of the truth behind why the legendary Ba had betrayed the Crane Sect. Lu Yuan couldn't be certain of its complete accuracy.

However, it was likely close to the truth. Liu, despite his roguish and domineering nature, was described by Zhuang Xiujie in a way that suggested a hidden soft side, a portrayal that fit what Lu Yuan knew of him. It sounded like something Liu would do.

Liu was far too kind...

Lu Yuan murmured to himself, "If it were me, and Pei Ye wanted to leave, I would certainly respect his choice.

"But if he took things from the Crane Sect, he'd have to leave them all behind.

"Why not cripple his limbs, destroy his martial arts, and then call a cab to send him on his way..."

Lu Yuan's gaze returned to the file in front of him, and he replayed the videos within it several times.

His expression grew colder with each viewing.

Evil Martial Association, Night Emperor... such grand titles, such cool nicknames...

So, you've done well for yourself abroad, have you? Come back to show off to old acquaintances?

As Lu Yuan silently pondered, he continued reading through the information.

There was nothing particularly surprising in what followed.

Lin Zhiquin returned from Sum Nation a week ago. He first visited the martial arts academy, then his old home, and then...

"Huh?!"

Lu Yuan's eyes suddenly froze, fixated on a short passage in the material.

—"On October 8th, at 9 a.m., he went to the Civil Affairs Bureau of Burnt Rock City and finalized his divorce with his wife..."

Lin Zhiquin was divorced?!

The very day he met me? An hour before our meal?!

Why?

Lu Yuan was puzzled. He swiftly reviewed the entire file from the beginning again.

He took his daughter, Lin Mo, to Sum Nation for medical treatment. Upon returning, he divorced his wife, leaving all their assets to her...

What could have happened to make Coach Lin make such a decision?

Was it because of Pei Ye?

Lu Yuan frowned, continuing to examine the material. He quickly used his authority to access more information about Lin Zhiquin from the Yellow Bear's internal system.

The martial arts academy, his parents' home, the divorce, leaving with nothing, giving me his notes, visiting Liu in Weishan… Is Lin Zhiquin… wrapping up his affairs? It seems like he… wants to die?!

Lu Yuan's eyes suddenly flashed with a keen light.

He had grasped something.

He immediately pulled up the file on Lin Mo, Lin Zhiquin's daughter.

The next moment...

The answer was revealed.

......

"Age?"

"Forty-five."

"Title?"

"Rock Ram."

"Invitation?"

"Here."

In a small, private room, Lin Zhiquin sat opposite a woman with short hair and a capable demeanor.

He calmly answered every question she posed.

"Routine questions, please bear with it," the woman said.

After finishing her last question, the woman smiled at Lin Zhiquin and handed him a document.

"Take a look. If there are no issues, sign at the bottom. Someone will then arrange for you to rest. All you have to do is wait for the Bloody Battle to begin."

"Mm."

Lin Zhiquin nodded, took the document, and read it line by line.

After reading the last word, he picked up a pen.

He hesitated for a moment before signing, as if wanting to confirm something one last time. He looked up and asked the woman, "As long as I accumulate ten thousand victory points, I can exchange them for 'Divine Blood.' Is that correct?"

The woman blinked, then laughed cheerfully.

"Uncle, you've asked this question four times already. Yes, that's correct.

"Among the items exchangeable for ten thousand victory points, there is indeed 'Immortal God Blood.' 'Immortal God Blood' is a gift from the great 'God of Martial Combat and Hunting.' It possesses extraordinary divine power, far stronger than any Genetic Optimization Liquids or Body Strengthening Agents on the market. Those who ingest the Divine Blood will receive the blessings of the 'God of Martial Combat and Hunting,' gaining an unquenchable fighting spirit and an indomitable physique..."

The woman rattled on, as if she had recited this spiel many times.

Finally, she added, half-jokingly, "Uncle, don't all you traditional martial arts Fighters come to the Bloody Battle for this? Why are you still hesitating and uncertain?"

"I'm just worried... it might not work."

Lin Zhiquin lowered his head, mumbling his reply.

The woman glanced at the computer screen beside her and smiled. "Uncle, you've exchanged for several doses of the weakened Divine Blood at our Mosa facility before, haven't you? Don't you know if it works?

"The kind you exchanged for previously was diluted; it didn't contain even a trace of pure Divine Blood.

"This 'Immortal God Blood,' however, is a full vial of pure blood.

"Its effect is a hundred, a thousand, even ten thousand times stronger than the diluted version!"

Lin Zhiquin didn't look at the woman's exaggerated expression. He just grunted in acknowledgment and silently signed his name.

After signing, Lin Zhiquin walked out of the room.

Just then, people also began to emerge from adjacent small rooms.

One of them shot Lin Zhiquin an odd look, then scoffed and turned away.

Lin Zhiquin paid him no mind and calmly walked out of the building.

The streets seemed deserted.

The weather that day was somewhat gloomy. The autumn wind stirred a few plastic bags on the street, sending them tumbling.

Lin Zhiquin took out a cigarette and silently lit it.

Then he pulled his phone from his pocket and turned on the screen.

The screen displayed a photo of a pretty young girl with a radiant smile.

Through the pale blue smoke, Lin Zhiquin squinted at his phone screen, as if trying to burn the girl's image into his memory.

After a long while.

The cigarette burned down to its end.

Lin Zhiquin put the phone back into his pocket and walked alone towards the unseen end of the long street.

Lin Mo, Dad... I'll make sure you can live a full life.

.....

Congenital Cellular Exhaustion Syndrome!

Lu Yuan stared at Lin Mo's file, his expression blank.

Patients with this condition are born with cells that have only one percent of normal activity, or lifespan...

They have extremely short lifespans and are highly susceptible to premature death...

It's considered a global medical enigma.

Currently, aside from consciousness uploading and body replacement, there are no effective solutions.

Even if consciousness transfer is successful, there's a high probability the condition will recur.

This illness is like a curse bound to the very soul...

Lin Zhiquin waited with Lin Mo in Sum Nation for over a month.

The world-renowned expert they had an appointment with unexpectedly canceled his trip the night before he was due to arrive in Sum Country.

In other words, Lin Zhiquin and Lin Mo waited in Sum Nation in vain for over a month. In the end, they didn't even get to see the expert, let alone have the surgery, before they had to return.

Lin Mo's last glimmer of hope was extinguished. No wonder... no wonder Lin Zhiquin made such choices...

Lu Yuan closed the file. He sat on the sofa, staring blankly at the white wall opposite.

When he met Lin Zhiquin, Lu Yuan had asked about Lin Mo.

Lin Zhiquin had replied quickly and naturally, saying the surgery went well and Lin Mo would recover soon.

He hadn't shown the slightest hint of anything unusual, not even a flicker in his emotions.

It had led Lu Yuan to genuinely believe everything was fine.

I guess he had already made all his plans by that time.

Snapping back to the present, Lu Yuan silently used his Yellow Bear access to check Lin Zhiquin's current whereabouts.

"Three days ago, Chiming City..."

Lu Yuan's eyes flickered; he felt like he'd seen this address somewhere before.

He quickly found the source.

"The location for Mosa's ultimate Bloody Battle, as stated on the invitation... it's in Chiming City!"

I see.

Lu Yuan stood up from the sofa, his expression calm.

So, Mosa has naturally become his last lifeline again, huh?

Coach, it must be hard to shoulder these burdens alone, isn't it? Why didn't you say anything sooner?

The trail for the Elephant God Religion's 'Key' also went cold at Mosa. It seems... this ultimate Bloody Battle is one I really must attend.

Lu Yuan casually grabbed some clothes from the sofa and put them on.

He dressed, grabbed his phone, and walked step by step towards the living room door.

His powerful physique seemed to ripple, like a dormant beast slowly awakening.

Lu Yuan paused at the door, lightly touched his ear, and spoke in a low voice.

"Peregrine Falcon, arrange a Fly Shuttle.

"Now... come and pick me up immediately."

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