Chapter 2: I Never Give Up!

Chapter 2: I Never Give Up!
The path of martial arts hadn’t really closed for him!
Although he hadn’t fully understood what kind of transformation his bloodline had undergone, one thing was certain: pressing forward held at least a glimmer of hope, perhaps even unexpected changes.
Blood-refining weaponry began with taking human form before melting down the essence. Under Yan Tingyu’s practiced hands, the liquid metal finally fused into a sharp sword about half a meter long.
As thin as a cicada’s wing, the blade bore crimson patterns resembling flowing veins of blood. A light flick made it buzz with the clear, pleasing resonance of rippling autumn water.
“This far surpasses ordinary weapons. Even among the finest, it’s at least medium-grade,” murmured Yan Tingyu, her pretty face unable to hide her shock. She knew weapons best. “It was forged from the most basic materials! Only because Qin Zheng added his drop of blood yielded such a wonder. If people heard about this across the Divine Martial Continent, every weaponsmith would doubt it. I wouldn’t believe it myself, if I hadn’t made it with my own hands.”
One drop of blood changed everything. Common materials had crafted a superior weapon. Throughout the process, blood-colors shifted to transparent, even transforming into a human-like form! It all proved Qin Zheng’s bloodline had undergone a profound metamorphosis.
After a brief surge of excitement, Qin Zheng calmed down.
“For me, this only proves my bloodline is extraordinary. It doesn’t guarantee my martial path will finally open.” His mind still lingered on the Martial Path.
“Not necessarily,” Yan Tingyu said seriously, staring at him. “The foundation of the Martial Path is the Martial Vein. Your blood… might be the Martial Vein.”
Qin Zheng’s heart stirred.
He had indeed wondered about that.
Martial Veins came in many forms. They weren’t only the intricate networks spun within the dantian like spider webs. There were many unique types.
For instance, the Celestial Bat Meridian. This Martial Vein wasn’t in the dantian, but formed like a bat from the meridians between the chest and abdomen. It was the fundamental vessel for martial power. Upon reaching a certain level of cultivation, one could activate the latent mysteries within the Celestial Bat Meridian, evolving Divine Abilities like bat wings.
There were similar examples, like the Blazing Dragon Meridian, concealed within the bones of the right arm. When mastered, the right arm could transform into a Blazing Dragon Arm, becoming a formidable weapon.
Such special Martial Veins weren’t actually rare.
Qin Zheng had once harbored the fantasy that his own Martial Vein might lie dormant within his blood itself, simply unawakened.
But later, he deliberately questioned high-level warriors like the Captain of Guards in the East Sea Prince’s Mansion. He learned that while some Martial Veins were hidden, they never blocked breakthroughs. When crossing from the Physique Realm into the Physical Martial Realm, these hidden meridians might make it difficult to discover their location, but strength would naturally surge through them upon reaching the required power level. It wasn’t like Qin Zheng’s case, where true breakthrough seemed perpetually impossible.
Thinking this, Qin Zheng, who had felt a spark of hope, immediately frowned again.
“Discouraged? Thinking of giving up?” Yan Tingyu asked softly.
“Give up?” Qin Zheng stared, pointing at his nose. “I am Qin Zheng! The word ‘give up’ doesn’t exist in my life!”
Yan Tingyu continued quietly, “You should understand this. Failing three hundred times in attempting a breakthrough did trigger a profound change in your bloodline. But that doesn’t inevitably mean the gate to the Martial Path has opened for you. Oh, perhaps pressing on does hold a chance. Yet imagine… maybe after a thousand attempts? Three thousand? Ten thousand? Or… what if you reach your life’s last breath still unable to activate your Martial Vein? Forever trapped in an unending cycle of striving, breaking through, and then falling back? Under those impossible odds, do you truly still intend to continue?”
Qin Zheng smiled. “Tingyu, you know my nature. Even when hope seemed utterly lost before, I persisted through three hundred attempts, do you know how many years that took?” He gently flicked the gleaming blade beside him. A pure, resonant chime rang out. “I admit, thoughts of abandoning it all have come. Moments of despair, stretches of gloom. Yet I pushed through… every time. My spirit for the Martial Path… it’s been tempered till it cannot be crushed.”
“Then I won’t try persuading you to be a weaponsmith anymore.” Seeing Qin Zheng’s unwavering resolve, Yan Tingyu felt her own enthusiasm wane. To her mind, Qin Zheng’s blood held such miraculous potency for forging weapons! He was perhaps born to be an exceptional Weaponsmith! Yet he remained fixed solely upon the Martial Path. No matter what allure she presented about weaponsmithing, he seemed utterly uninterested.
“I actually wouldn’t mind if you kept trying to tempt me,” Qin Zheng mused playfully. “It’s just that… your tactics are all wrong. That’s why I’ve never been swayed.” He habitually rubbed the tip of his nose with his right forefinger.
A puzzled frown appeared between Yan Tingyu’s brows. “What… tactics?”
Qin Zheng strolled casually towards the door, then turned. “Inducement, Tingyu. The key is in the ‘induce’ part, the allure. Beauty… seduction… the kind where clothes, well… vanish?”
Before he could finish, Yan Tingyu cried out furiously, “Qin… ZHENG!” She raced toward him angrily, hands seemingly ready to scratch or hit.
“I’m just speaking fact,” Qin Zheng declared innocently. Leaving only that sentence hanging, he turned and sprinted away like quicksilver.
By the time Yan Tingu chased him out the door, only his mischievous call echoed back. “I’ll be waiting for that charming ‘inducement’ of yours!”
Stomping her feet with anger, Yan Tingyu glared after him… then, unexpectedly, a laugh bubbled up anyway.
Qin Zheng’s spirits remained fairly high on the return journey. The transformation in his bloodline – its existence was confirmed. Though it didn’t guarantee an open path to martial arts, it rekindled a precious sliver of hope within him. And that was Qin Zheng’s very core temperament: once he fixated on a goal, he clung to it relentlessly.
He was already formulating plans for the days ahead: immerse himself once more in rigorous training, strive for that three hundred and first attempt at the breakthrough.
Approaching the Donghai Prince’s Mansion, even before reaching the Jade Lotus Courtyard, loud, animated voices drifted out. A distinctly familiar voice rang among them – Qin Yi, the second son of the current East Sea King, widely known around the Great Yan Imperial Capital as a notorious, arrogant, domineering young master.
Stepping into the Jade Lotus Courtyard, Qin Zheng saw Qin Yi draped in fine silk robes lounging elegantly within the pavilion beside the Jade Lotus Pond. Six or seven of Qin Yi’s household servants buzzed excitedly around him. They instantly fell silent the moment Qin Zheng appeared.
“Where have you been, dog of a servant?” Qin Yi demanded, glaring through slitted eyes. He didn’t even wait for Qin Zheng’s reply. “This Young Prince has been kept waiting too long today! But I am merciful, unlike you worthless slave trash.” He gestured lazily with a folded fan. “Don’t think that just because your father died protecting my grandfather grants you special standing!” He jabbed air towards Qin Zheng’s forehead. “You are a born servant. A slave lower than even a dog! Allowing you residence here in Jade Lotus Courtyard is my father showing pity out of respect for the Old East Sea King! How dare you not bow when meeting your master!? Come here! Kneel!” Qin Yi’s voice turned commanding. “Then, present both hands and surrender that iron box my grandfather bequeathed to you.”
“Young Prince, I cannot comply,” Qin Zheng stated flatly.
The Old East Sea King had personally given him an Iron Box on his deathbed, sternly warning him: never open it unless the Donghai Prince’s Mansion faced imminent danger. And Qin Zheng must tell absolutely no one about the box’s existence.
Qin Zheng found the Old King’s instructions perplexing – illogical even – but as a final request from the revered old man, he dared not treat it lightly. Obediently following the final wish was simply respect paid to the deceased King. Surrendering the box to this spoiled brat Qin Yi was utterly out of the question!
Glancing at the sharp-eyed, furtive servants flanking Qin Yi, Qin Zheng guessed they probably spied on him while he inspected the Iron Box to check if it was missing. Thankfully, he had already moved it to a new hiding spot. He didn’t fear them searching the Jade Lotus Courtyard.
“What!?” Qin Yi slammed his fan heavily onto the stone table and lunged to his feet. “You DARE refuse this Young Prince’s command!?”
“I meant no disrespect, Young Prince,” Qin Zheng countered coolly, remaining composed. “I am merely honoring the last decree of the Old Prince.”
“Silence with dragging the Old Prince into this! I ask one last time!” Qin Yi spat icy venom. “Will. You. Hand it over?”
“No.”
Qin Zheng’s refusal was crisp and swift. Not a flicker of hesitation colored his answer.
Qin Yi’s handsome face instantly twisted with fury bordering on violence. His eyes radiated cold, murderous intent. “Very well… Then I’ll just have to KILL you.”
Snatching up a heavy bamboo cane leaning beside the pavilion, he advanced menacingly towards Qin Zheng.
A strange calm settled in Qin Zheng’s gaze. He didn’t retreat, but spoke in an unnervingly steady tone. “Young Prince, consider this location carefully: Jade Lotus Courtyard. Assaulting me here surely draws witnesses from beyond this gate. The Prince, your father… will undoubtedly learn of it.”
Frozen mid-step, the raised cane trembling slightly in the air, Qin Yi visibly clenched his teeth. Fear of consequences finally overrode rage. He knew his father, the current East Sea King, extended Qin Zheng considerable kindness. Forcibly seizing an object specifically gifted to Qin Zheng by the Old Prince? If discovered, Qin Yi faced potentially severe punishment.
“This… fine…” Qin Yi spat the words, lowering the cane. A chilling grin stretched across his face. He stepped close and roughly pressed the cane tip against Qin Zheng’s forehead. “Dog of a servant… oh you miserable vermin. Mark my words now. Three days. I give you exactly THREE DAYS. If you do not kneel and crawl to my feet begging for mercy, willingly placing that Iron Box into my hands…” He leaned in, exhaling a menacing whisper near Qin Zheng’s ear. “…this Young Prince personally sees you end… miserably.” A predator-like gleam sparked in his eyes. “Killing trash like you? I have a hundred methods readily at hand. Think wisely.”
With his attendants in tow, Qin Yi headed for the gate of the Jade Lotus Courtyard. Before stepping out, he paused, looking over his shoulder to flash Qin Zheng a slow, malicious smirk. Three fingers prominently raised.
“Three… days… worm. Three days only.”
He finally departed.
Alone once more within his courtyard, Qin Zheng was utterly still… until finally, explosive fury erupted.
CRACK!
His clenched fist hammered violently onto the stone table. Furious at Qin Yi? Definitely. But equally furious at his own lapse in security that revealed the Iron Box’s existence!
Self-reproach washed over him, yet pragmatism returned quickly. Qin Yi, that arrogant young master, was deadly serious. While unlikely to kill Qin Zheng openly, the threat hung chillingly real. Behind-the-scenes machinations? Easy pickings for someone of Qin Yi’s station.
Forcing his breathing steady, Qin Zheng began formulating countermeasures.
“Ah… painful…”
A sharp twinge shot unexpectedly from the center of his right palm. Lifting his hand to inspect, he saw the wound he’d earlier inflicted – the cut made to draw his drop of Essence Blood needed to test his transformed bloodline. In the fit of frustrated rage moments before, striking the heavy table had torn the wound open slightly.
Retrieving a medicinal balm from his room, Qin Zheng prepared to apply it… abruptly his peripheral vision caught sight of something extraordinary.
A barely visible trickle of fresh blood welling from the wound… wasn’t flowing down his palm. It seemed… seeping INTO the stone table? And tiny, glowing points of silvery light were shimmering across the surface! Ghostly images flickered into view – they looked like… ancient characters?
Qin Zheng froze momentarily, mind struggling to process the impossibility before him. Then instinct snapped him into action. Within seconds, he slammed the Jade Lotus Courtyard gate shut. Grunting under the weight, he hoisted the stone table and hustled it into his private quarters—his peak Physique Realm physique allowing the surprisingly swift task.
Windows locked. Door secured. Eyes widened as he focused back onto the stone table.
Where moments ago ghostly flickers teased, shimmering characters now formed clearly across the stone surface! Characters Qin Zheng could read!
Heart thundering against his ribs, Qin Zheng cautiously leaned closer. He began deciphering the flowing script:
“The Nine-Colored Divine Lotus Scripture…” came the title, etched in radiant light. “…recognized as one of the Three Great Martial Scriptures of the Divine Martial Continent…”
He read on, eyes widening with each passing sentence…
“…cultivate this Scripture to perfection… break the Mortals-Deity Barrier… become deity eternal as the sun and moon… To cultivate this Scripture… independent of the activation of the Martial Vein…”