Chapter 22: The Ancient Holy Physique, Lin Xue: You Must Take Responsibility for Me

"However, we can't compete to see who pees farther..."
Ling Tian's expression froze, stunned. Wait, sister, are you a prophet? You even foresaw this.
"Big brother, well, back then I used this trick to escape from her..."
Ling Shuo, standing by, was eager to know what Ling Tian was thinking and whispered in his ear.
Ling Tian took a deep breath and shot Ling Shuo a fierce glare. Useless! Always ruining things!
Now that Ling Yanlan had mentioned it in advance, Ling Tian couldn't challenge her anymore.
He honestly couldn't think of any area where he could outperform Ling Yanlan. Surely, he couldn't rely on his father for that.
"Ahem, didn't you say you had things to do, cousin? I won't disturb you then..."
Ling Tian coughed, noticing people approaching from afar.
He abandoned the idea of inviting Ling Yanlan into the Imperial Banner for a chat.
Too many eyes around; it wasn't appropriate.
Besides, Ling Yanlan's identity was somewhat special.
"Interesting. If you want me to join your faction, you must first show me your potential. If you can't even defeat me, don't even mention him."
Ling Yanlan came up to Ling Tian, pinched his cheek with interest, and spoke.
Afterward, she shot Ling Shuo a glare and turned to leave.
Watching her retreating figure, Ling Tian rubbed his pinched cheek—tsk, was this a warning?
Just pinched your face. If you dare, bite me.
Indeed, in this world, strength remains the foremost priority.
"Big brother, actually, I have a great idea for recruiting followers. For those who come, I can offer my goods at half price..."
Ling Shuo, seeing Ling Tian's not-so-pleased expression, rolled his eyes and remembered Ling Tian's ambitions, voicing his suggestion.
Ling Tian...
Ling Tian instructed Ling Shuo to have principles. For young children, these things shouldn't be promoted.
If everyone ended up like Ling Yanlan's little brother, they'd be despised by all.
Ling Shuo nodded earnestly, being a victim himself, he understood what needed to be done.
After chatting for a while, the two parted ways.
Since there was some specificity, there was no need for such methods.
Moreover, at Ling Shuo's age, Ling Tian couldn't do much yet.
Unless he invited them into the Imperial Banner for tea.
Forget it, no rush.
...
"After discussing with your mother, we've decided to send you to the Blood Spirit Pool for cultivation."
That evening, Ling Zhantian solemnly announced the decision.
"Blood Spirit Pool?"
Ling Tian raised an eyebrow; it sounded formidable.
"Yes, only those who've made significant contributions to the Ling family are allowed to cultivate there, but for you, it's not necessary."
Ye Qingwu nodded beside him, explaining.
Ling Tian curled his lips—tsk, what a blatant shortcut!
"How long you stay inside depends on your own fortune..."
Ling Zhantian finished speaking, produced a storage ring, shoved it into Ling Tian's hand, and grabbed his collar.
He was about to send Ling Tian off right then.
Ling Tian...
What an eager father! Clearly can't wait.
Alright, alright, worried I might disturb your couple's time, aren't you?
"Son..."
"Hm?"
"This thing, I'll keep it safe for you. Right now, it's not appropriate for you to look at it."
Ling Tian thought his father suddenly grew a conscience, but to his surprise, he took out the little picture book Ling Shuo had given him and tucked it into his own clothes.
Ling Tian's face darkened. If Ling Zhantian's actions were scored out of ten, Ling Tian would give him an eight-point-four, thinking he fell short by one-point-six!
"Don't look at me like that. It's for your own good,"
Ling Zhantian spoke meaningfully, then tossed Ling Tian into the Blood Spirit Pool and sealed the entrance.

"He's so young, can he endure for months?"
Soon after, Ye Qingwu appeared behind Ling Zhantian.
"This is what he must experience; no one can help him."
Ling Zhantian's expression turned deep as he embraced Ye Qingwu.
He didn't want to appear overly stern in front of Ling Tian, preferring to enjoy the harmony of their current life.
The Abyss and other troubles had already worn him down; a change of atmosphere might do him good...
Everyone aware of this believed Ling Tian would emerge in a few months.
Three years later.
"This youngster is truly extraordinary..."
Ling Batian and another Grand Elder, Ling Yun, sipped tea as Ling Yun gazed distantly at the Blood Spirit Pool, as if seeing inside.
"Hahaha, what's wrong? Old fellow, feeling envious?"
Ling Batian's beard curled up; after years of rivalry, he finally had something to boast about.
"I have my wife..."
Ling Yun retorted, not indulging him.
"My grandson..."
"I have my wife..."
...
"Old fellow, care for a friendly match?"
Ling Batian, frustrated, found the old man poking at his sore spots.
"Let's fight, I'm not afraid of you!"
Ling Yun said, stepping first into the void.
"Three years..."
The Blood Spirit Pool's door slowly opened, and a tall, handsome youth of six or seven years emerged.
He wore black robes, stood upright, his face still round with baby fat yet not detracting from his handsome features.
"You old man, you really tricked me!"
Ling Tian shook his head with a bitter smile, muttering softly.
Ling Zhantian never said he'd be inside for so long!
Worse, the storage ring held only clothes and pills, not a single living thing.
Three years—do you know how I survived those three years?
It was tough, but Ling Tian's cultivation reached the seventh level of the Dao Palace.
Four years old, Dao Palace seventh realm.
Ling Tian licked his lips, the Imperial Banner appearing in his hand, now much more familiar.
"Pa-da..."
"Big brother, you're finally out!"
After a wail, a sturdy figure appeared before Ling Tian.
Ling Tian curled his lips—Ling Shuo seemed to have gained weight again.
"Big brother, since you entered, I've come here every day. Finally, Heaven favors the persistent, and I've waited for you!
Here, these are nearly three years' worth of my treasured collection, all saved for you..."
Ling Tian was touched by the first words, but the next moment, Ling Shuo produced a pile of little picture books.
"I get it, I get it,"
Ling Shuo said, closing his eyes to feign ignorance.
"Don't do this again,"
Ling Tian coughed as he put them away. He couldn't refuse such heartfelt gestures—not for any other reason, surely.
"By the way, where are the Three Divine Maidens?"
Ling Tian had decided on the faction's name—Heavenly Court—and wanted to recruit the Three Divine Maidens.
"Her? Not in the family, she's out training."
Ling Shuo shook his head, then asked,
"What a pity... Tell me, are you willing to join the Heavenly Court?"
"Willing, big brother! I'll go through fire and water for you!"
Ling Shuo immediately agreed, pledging his loyalty.
[Heavenly Court member 1/100]

[Reward: Dao Origin +1]
[Detected member origin missing, would you like to use Dao Origin?]
A prompt appeared in Ling Tian's mind, his eyes narrowing. No wonder—he always felt Ling Shuo's physique was unusual, even formidable, but it never improved.
So this was the reason.
"You recognize me as your big brother, so I'll grant you a great opportunity."
Ling Tian pondered. The Dao Origin was useless to him now, so he gave it to Ling Shuo.
He could see Ling Shuo was driven and ambitious.
Ling Shuo drank the spiritual liquid Ling Tian handed him without hesitation.
"Ah! This... this is..."
Soon, Ling Shuo was overjoyed, feeling the vast power within himself—he had awakened his Dao Body!
And it was the formidable Ancient Saint Physique!
"Big brother, I... I must kneel to you!"
Ling Shuo's tears fell—years of accumulated grievances and pain. His cultivation had barely reached Yuan Yang, enduring endless bullying.
Now, that would never happen again.
"You... have suffered,"
Ling Tian held him up, speaking from the heart. The words were for Ling Shuo, and for himself.
The helplessness and confusion of being crippled were etched in Ling Tian's memory.
Having been drenched by rain himself, he wished to hold an umbrella for his brother.
Never mind Ling Shuo's odd hobby—when it came to pee competitions, they were kindred spirits.
"Enough now, a real man shouldn't act this way. If you don't treat me to a good meal today, I won't let you go."
Ling Tian smiled, half-joking; truthfully, he was craving a proper meal.
"Of course, I'll make sure you eat your fill!"
Ling Shuo broke into a smile. Somehow, he recalled what Ling Tian had told him three years ago:
"Follow me, I'll take you to the summit."
It seemed, it might actually happen.
"Big brother, this is all there is, hope you don't mind."
At the Ling family's food street, Ling Shuo prepared a feast, still scratching his head, worried Ling Tian would be dissatisfied.
"I don't mind, I don't mind."
Ling Tian's mouth watered—now even his burps tasted like pills.
"Oh wow, this spiritual meat is delicious..."
"This one's good, too..."
Ling Tian ate like a whirlwind.
Had he always failed to appreciate how tasty these foods were? He was simply famished!
"Don't touch me..."
As Ling Tian was feasting, someone tapped his shoulder.
"Little brother, I told you not to touch..."
Ling Tian frowned, looked up, and saw Ling Shuo sitting across from him—it couldn't have been him.
Turning his head, he saw a little girl in a pink dress, bright-eyed and fair-toothed.
Seven or eight years old, about Ling Tian's height, with large almond eyes—very cute.
"You... are Xiao Xue?"
Ling Tian scrutinized her and called out.
"You—I'm your elder sister!"
Lin Xue pursed her lips and, without waiting for Ling Tian's invitation, sat down beside him.
"We made a bet, you..."
Ling Tian, seeing her bring it up, had to mention the old score.
Lin Xue, hearing him mention it, blushed red as an apple and glared fiercely at Ling Tian:
"How dare you remember that! You said you'd be responsible for me, you liar, you..."