## Darkness.
Endless darkness.
Lu Yuan had grown accustomed to this darkness. In his ninety-eight previous deaths, he had seen too much of this color—the black of mutated beast fangs, the black of abyss water, and the black of human hearts.
But this time, the darkness was different.
*"Host has completed the ninety-eighth death cycle."*
A cold mechanical voice echoed in his mind, like an ancient machine, or perhaps an unspeakable will whispering.
*"Memory inheritance protocol initiating."*
*"Memory fragment retention: 97.3%."*
*"Skill fragment inheritance: 78.6%."*
*"Bloodline awakening degree: 12%."*
*"System notice: Final hidden permissions will unlock upon reaching ninety-nine rebirths. Please use with caution."*
Lu Yuan tried to speak, but his body no longer existed—or rather, within this so-called "system space," he was merely a bundle of consciousness.
*"Final warning: Each rebirth will permanently reduce emotional value by 0.5%. Current emotional value: 51%. When emotional value reaches 0%, the host will lose all human emotions."*
Lose all emotions?
Lu Yuan sneered inwardly. After experiencing ninety-eight betrayals and ninety-eight deaths, how much emotion did he have left?
Hatred.
Only hatred.
Hatred for Lu Ming—that seemingly gentle but actually treacherous blood brother. That hypocritical smiling face, Lu Yuan would never forget.
Hatred for Su Yao—that fiancée who publicly broke off the engagement and trampled on his pride. The sweet words they once exchanged now felt like mockery.
Hatred for Zhang Hu—that team member Lu Yuan had personally trained and trusted the most. It was this person who, at the final moment, stabbed a deadly knife into his back from behind.
*"Rebirth countdown: 3 seconds."*
*"2 seconds."*
*"1 second."*
*"Rebirth complete."*
---
Sharp sunlight.
Lu Yuan's eyes snapped open.
Instinctively, he tried to roll over to dodge possible attacks, but his body felt as heavy as lead. Looking down, he saw a pair of delicate hands—thin, pale, with distinct joints but utterly devoid of strength.
These were… fifteen-year-old hands?
*"System."* Lu Yuan mentally called out.
*"Greetings, Host. Current time point: Three years after the Catastrophe, Year 284 of the Qingstone Kingdom. You have been reborn three weeks before your exile."*
Three weeks.
Three weeks until the "rebellion" that would lead to his exile.
Three full years until the betrayal that would make him experience ninety-eight deaths.
But this time, he would not be as naive as before.
Lu Yuan slowly sat up, surveying his surroundings. This was a dilapidated stone room, walls weathered, ceiling showing several obvious cracks. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the window lattice, casting several golden light columns on the floor.
Memories surged like a tide—no, not surged, but were "deposited" into his mind by the system.
This was a side effect of rebirth. Each rebirth caused him to lose some memories. However, the system would reintegrate important information as "memory fragments."
*"Host, current physical status: F-rank bloodline, Body Tempering Stage Three. Third Prince of the Qingstone Kingdom, labeled 'The Waste Prince.' Bloodline assessment in three days."*
Bloodline assessment.
A cold smile curled on Lu Yuan's lips.
In three days, he would be publicly tested and branded with an F-rank bloodline before the entire court. Then Su Yao would publicly break off their engagement, Lu Ming would "kindheartedly" intercede for him, and his father would impatiently wave him out of the great hall.
Everything was arranged.
Everything was under the control of that so-called "good brother."
But now, things were different.
This was his ninety-ninth life.
*"System, display available missions."*
*"Mission list updated."*
*[Daily Mission] Survival Training: Complete one basic cultivation session. Reward: 10 Experience Points.*
*[Novice Mission] The Secret of Bloodline: Visit the Imperial Library and find records about the 'Abyssal Bloodline.' Reward: 50 Experience Points, unlock hidden map.*
*[Timed Mission] Prevent the Broken Engagement: Display your abilities during the bloodline assessment and change Su Yao's decision. Reward: 100 Experience Points, Permanent Attribute Point +1.*
Lu Yuan stood up and walked to the window.
Outside was the capital of the Qingstone Kingdom—Qingstone City. Though it was far more rundown than the "New Cities" of the new world, at least it still had protective walls and order existed.
In three days, he would reclaim everything that belonged to him here, before everyone's eyes.
No, not just reclaim.
He would make those who had once trampled on him—kneel before him, one by one.
*"Lu Ming."* Lu Yuan whispered this name, his voice cold for a fifteen-year-old.
*"In this life, I will show you—true suffering."*
Outside the window, a gust of wind carried the distinctive rotten odor from the direction of the ruins. That was the scent of the future, and the fragrance of revenge.
---
At the same moment, deep within the Qingstone Kingdom's palace.
In an unknown secret chamber, a man in luxurious robes was poring over ancient texts. His features were handsome, a gentle smile playing on his lips, looking like an elegant noble young master.
But if Lu Yuan were here, he would instantly recognize—this person was unmistakably his "good brother," the Second Prince of the Qingstone Kingdom, Lu Ming.
*"Your Highness."* A black-clothed figure knelt behind him. *"The Third Prince's behavior was somewhat unusual today."*
*"Oh?"* Lu Ming's hand paused as he turned a page, raising his head with a teasing glint in his eyes. *"How so?"*
*"He... stayed in his room the entire day, didn't eat, didn't even come out."*
Lu Ming smiled.
*"My younger brother has always been introverted since childhood. Knowing his bloodline assessment is approaching, hiding in his room and not daring to come out—very normal."*
He waved his hand, dismissing the black-clothed figure.
*"Continue watching him. Before the exile, don't let anything go wrong."*
*"Yes."*
After the black-clothed figure left, Lu Ming lowered his head again, looking at the ancient book in his hands.
The cover bore four characters: *Records of the Abyss*.
*"Abyssal bloodline..."* he murmured to himself. *"Someday, I will find a way to activate it."*
*"And then, this world..."*
His smile grew increasingly bizarre, eventually dissolving into low, echoing laughter within the secret chamber.
---
Lu Yuan had no idea he was already being watched.
But even if he knew, he wouldn't care.
At this moment, he stood on a barren hill outside Qingstone City, facing the howling wind, beginning his first cultivation session after rebirth.
*"System, display cultivation panel."*
*"Displayed."*
[Host: Lu Yuan][Bloodline Rank: F-rank (Sealed)][Realm: Body Tempering Stage Three][Available Experience Points: 0][Skill Fragments: Basic Swordsmanship (Mastered), Basic Body Technique (Mastered), Battle Intuition (Incomplete)]
*"Cultivate."*
Lu Yuan sat cross-legged, beginning to guide the internal energy according to techniques he had learned in his past life.
After the Catastrophe, the world's spiritual energy revived. Humans absorbed and used spiritual energy through awakening bloodlines; the higher the bloodline rank, the greater the potential.
But Lu Yuan knew a secret—his bloodline was not F-rank.
Or rather, his bloodline was far beyond F-rank.
*"Abyssal Bloodline"*—this was the secret his mother told him on her deathbed. Within the Lu imperial clan's bloodline slumbered a terrifying power. This power was sufficient to destroy heaven and earth, yet also sufficient to drive anyone mad.
In his past life, Lu Yuan didn't know this secret. He simply believed he was a fool.
But this life was different.
He had already recalled enough memory fragments.
*"System, what would happen if I forcibly unseal the bloodline?"*
*"Warning: Current physical strength is insufficient to withstand the Abyssal Bloodline's power. Forcible unsealing may result in: bloodline backlash, consciousness collapse, or death."*
*"Probability."*
*"Death probability: 87.3%. Bloodline runaway probability: 99.9%. Success probability: 0.01%."*
Zero point zero one percent.
His past life self might have chosen a more prudent path.
But this time, he only had three weeks. After three weeks, he would be exiled to the Ruins Planet, spending three years in utter darkness, then betrayed, killed, and thrown into a pack of mutated beasts.
Either rise within three weeks, or meet the same fate.
*"System."*
*"Listening."*
*"Help me calculate something."* Lu Yuan opened his eyes, gazing at the distant horizon.
*"If I unseal the bloodline to this body's maximum sustainable level—"*
*"How long can I live?"*
The system fell silent for a few seconds.
*"Calculating..."*
*"If the host chooses to burn their life potential to unseal the first bloodline seal within three days..."*
*"Temporary S-rank combat power can be obtained, duration: 3 hours."*
*"Cost: Lifespan reduced by 30 years."*
Thirty years.
Lu Yuan smiled.
He was only fifteen now.
Even with thirty years deducted, he still had plenty of time for revenge.
*"Decided."* He stood up, his entire aura beginning to surge.
*"In three days."*
*"I will make the entire Qingstone Kingdom—"*
*"Witness a miracle."*
---
[End of Chapter 1]