"Mama!"
A childish voice rang out through the silent courtyard.
Xiao Sui turned and looked at her son. Tears streamed down his tiny face, mixing with the snot that dripped from his nose. His innocent eyes were swollen red from crying, and his small body trembled uncontrollably.
"Don't cry, my baby boy," Xiao Sui said softly, forcing a gentle smile despite the blood trickling down the corner of her lips. "Mummy is going to be fine."
She knew it was a lie.
She slowly reached out and wiped away the tears on his face before continuing,
"Now listen carefully to what I'm about to tell you."
Her voice became solemn.
"Legends have it that the inheritor of the Dragon-Tiger Inheritance not only becomes strong and powerful but rises above all others. Such a person possesses unrivalled cultivation, stands at the peak of existence, and roams the universe unhindered."
She paused briefly.
"I, your mother, already knew that I would meet my end today."
As those words left her mouth, she stretched out her hand and reached into her own soul.
A brilliant light emerged.
The moment it appeared, the surroundings were illuminated by an indescribable radiance. Within the light, the phantom images of an Azure Dragon and a Divine White Tiger revolved around one another like Yin and Yang. Their majestic auras spread across the heavens, giving the illusion that they ruled over the entire universe with imperial might.
It was breathtaking.
The Dragon-Tiger Inheritance.
Holding the dazzling light in her left hand, Xiao Sui gently caressed Xiao Feng's face with her right.
"Feng'er..."
"This bloodline has been passed down from generation to generation. It has only ever been bestowed upon those deemed worthy and exceptionally talented."
A trace of regret flashed across her beautiful face.
"But because our family has declined and our bloodline has nearly disappeared, the inheritance was eventually bestowed upon me... someone with only mediocre talent."
She smiled bitterly.
"Because of that, I could never unleash its true power."
Her eyes became filled with hope as she looked into Xiao Feng's tear-filled eyes.
"Xiao Feng... look at me."
He slowly raised his head.
"I believe you will accomplish what I never could. I believe you will awaken the true power of this inheritance."
"Promise me..."
"Promise me that you will carry on the will of the Xiao Family."
Without hesitation, Xiao Feng nodded.
"I promise, Mother."
"I will unleash the true power of this inheritance."
"I will destroy our enemies."
"Not even the heavens themselves will be able to stop me."
Xiao Sui smiled.
"Good..."
She gently nodded.
"The people responsible for the downfall of the Xiao Family are the Imperial Family of the Nine Divine Nations, led by the Emperor himself."
Hatred flashed through her eyes.
"When the time comes..."
"Massacre the guilty..."
"...but spare the innocent."
"I understand, Mother."
She reached out once more.
"Now..."
"Close your eyes."
Xiao Feng's small body stiffened.
Although he was only six years old, he understood.
The moment he closed his eyes...
...his mother would leave him forever.
Fresh tears rolled down his cheeks.
With immense sorrow and grief, he slowly shut his eyes.
Seeing this, Xiao Sui took a deep breath.
She guided the brilliant Dragon-Tiger Inheritance toward Xiao Feng's abdomen.
"Bear with the pain," she whispered comfortingly.
"It will soon be over."
Closing her eyes, she began chanting an ancient incantation.
"O holy Azure Dragon of imperial might..."
"...and Divine Tiger of supernatural strength..."
"I, Xiao Sui, am no longer your master."
"Your new master awaits you."
"May you unleash your boundless strength and let the entire universe know..."
"...that you, the Dragon-Tiger Duo..."
"...are the strongest."
As the final words left her lips, the inheritance trembled violently.
The Azure Dragon let out a thunderous roar.
The Divine Tiger released an earth-shaking growl.
Without hesitation, Xiao Sui thrust the glowing inheritance into Xiao Feng's abdomen.
The moment it entered his body—
BOOM!
A violent surge of energy erupted from within him.
The Dragon-Tiger Inheritance instantly forged a dantian inside his previously ordinary body, creating the very foundation of his cultivation.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"
Xiao Feng's agonizing scream pierced the heavens.
His tiny body convulsed violently as unimaginable pain spread through every inch of his being.
His bones cracked.
His meridians expanded.
His flesh trembled.
The inheritance forcefully reconstructed his body from the inside out.
No ordinary child could have endured such suffering.
Yet Xiao Feng gritted his teeth and endured.
Minutes turned into an hour.
Eventually, the unbearable pain subsided.
His exhausted body finally gave in.
He collapsed unconscious.
Had anyone witnessed what had happened, they would have been left speechless.
For a six-year-old child to endure pain capable of killing seasoned cultivators...
...was nothing short of a miracle.
Time passed slowly.
Night quietly descended upon the ruined village.
Because of the massacre carried out by the assassins, every surviving villager had fled. Not even the sound of a housefly could be heard.
The once lively village had become a ghost town.
Silence filled the air.
Beside his mother's lifeless body, Xiao Feng slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw...
...was the cold, motionless figure of the only person who had ever protected him.