Dark Star City, Lin Family.

The night is cool like water, and everything is silent.

In a room, an elderly couple sat cross-legged facing each other, their fingers intertwined.

The moon poured in through the window, falling onto the two of them.

He could only see that his appearance that year was still handsome, but his face seemed a little pale and weak. His forehead was covered in sweat, and his brows were furrowed. He kept adjusting his breath, sending it continuously through his palms.

In a purple robe, with long hair cascading down her shoulders, she was stunningly beautiful. At this moment, she closed her eyes and continuously absorbed the energy of the ancient years.

The man's name is Lin Xiao, and the woman's name is Lin Xi'er. They are both children of the Lin family.

Now, this scene depicts Lin Xiao treating Lin Xi'er.

Three years ago, Lin Xi'er measured a human-grade fifth rank spiritual vein. However, the spiritual vein suddenly began to dry up, and the dried-up spiritual vein could be called a waste vein. Without a spiritual vein, one cannot cultivate, which is an absolute nightmare for any cultivator.

Lin Xiao and Lin Xi'er have been playing together since they were young, they can be said to be childhood sweethearts. The two are very close, and they have already made a private engagement. He naturally wouldn't stand idly by.

Lin Xiao awoke to a Heavenly Rank Spirit Meridian, an extremely rare occurrence throughout the entire empire. Since three years ago, every night he would channel his own Qi into Lin Xi'er, nurturing her spirit meridian.

Gradually, Lin Xi'er's spiritual meridian began to improve, and Lin Xiao was also very happy. Even though he paid a great price for it. Now, Lin Xi'er's spiritual meridian has recovered to the third rank of human level, and it is estimated that it will not be long before she returns to the fifth rank of human level.

Of course, expelling his life essence would have grave consequences for Lin Xiao, even potentially leaving lasting repercussions on his future cultivation. However, for Lin Xi'er, the child he was determined to protect for a lifetime, he was willing to make this sacrifice.

Moreover, they had already agreed that once Lin Xi'er's spiritual veins returned to their peak, Lin Xiao would propose to his father. At that time, they would invite the entire population of An Xing City to celebrate their wedding with wine and festivity.

"Brother Xiao, you are so good to Xi'er, Xi'er wants to be with you for life, never to be separated."

"When Xi'er's spiritual vein fully recovers, Xi'er will marry you."

"Here you go, Xiaoxiao gege. This is a reward for you."

Recalling the words Lin Xi'er had said to him, those suggestive eyes, that pitiful look, that cherry-small kiss, a sweet smile couldn't help but appear on Lin Xiao's face.

Unbeknownst to me, three hours had passed.

As usual, the Qi and Blood Nourishing session comes to an end. Lin Xiao has also reached his limit.

Just then, Lin Xiao suddenly discovered that his hand couldn't retract, and even more terrifying was that his vital energy was constantly flowing out at an extremely fast rate.

"Xier, you..." Lin Xiao could feel that it was Lin Xier who was forcibly drawing his vital energy.

At this moment, Lin Xi'er suddenly opened her eyes. There was no trace of her usual warmth in them, only an icy coldness.

Lin Xiao widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief, "You... why would you do this!"

"Three years, and finally my spiritual meridian is about to transform," Lin Xi'er said with excitement, then coldly glared at Lin Xiao. "I have to thank you for that."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Lin Xi'er's pupils dilated, and her aura surged severalfold in an instant.

Earth Grade Two Spirit Vein!

Boom!

Lin Xiao was struck dumb, his mind going blank. After a long while, he finally recovered from the shock.

"You've been hiding your aura all along, deceiving and using me!" Lin Xiao roared, his eyes filled with rage. "Why, why would you do that to me!"

"Well, I am indeed using you, so what? If not for your Heavenly-ranked spirit meridian, I wouldn't even bother with you. Do you really think you deserve me? I've been with you for three years, taking your spiritual energy is just compensation. Since you mentioned it, let me absorb all your remaining spiritual energy. That way, my spirit meridian can reach a higher level."

Then, a powerful suction force emanated from Lin Xi'er's palm. No matter how Lin Xiao struggled, it was useless. His vital energy was rapidly draining away at a terrifying speed.

A sharp pain shot from his palm, radiating through his fingertips. Lin Xiao endured the agony, his face contorted in suffering, while Lin Xi'er remained impassive and cold.

Suddenly, Lin Xi'er opened her palm and stood up. A flash passed through her eyes, and a cold smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

From now on, I am the number one genius in all of Dark Star City. My future is limitless, and it is your honor to be a stepping stone for me.

"Damn it!" Lin Xiao was furious, and with a sudden roar, he slumped back onto the bed and passed out.

—

"Lin Xi'er, I will kill you!"

Lin Xiao woke up from a nightmare with a start, his eyes flying open. A cold sweat drenched him as he realized he was lying in bed.

He was about to sit up when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his lower abdomen, as if it were going to split open. He had no choice but to lie back down.

Scenes from not long ago, like shadows, linger in Lin Xiao's mind. Even now, he can finally see clearly that the person he had always trusted and given his all to was actually a devil wearing a mask!

Lin Xiao is the head of the Lin family and Lin Feng's adopted son. Since he was found to possess a heavenly spiritual vein, he shocked Anxing City. With his extraordinary talent, his strength increased rapidly, becoming unrivaled for a time, truly a prodigy.

In order to help Lin Xi'er, Lin Xiao was willing to use the most precious spiritual energy of a cultivator, causing his meridians to gradually weaken. This resulted in a sharp decline in his cultivation speed and a drop in his cultivation level.

On the contrary, Lin Xi'er's spiritual meridian grade rose, and her cultivation speed increased.

Over three years, Lin Xiao's cultivation regressed instead of progressing. While other members of his family saw their cultivation levels rise, Lin Xiao fell behind, eventually becoming an unremarkable figure and earning the title of "waste".

After becoming a wastrel, Lin Xiao didn't know how much ridicule and scorn he faced, but he didn't care. As long as he could help Lin Xi'er cultivate, as long as the two of them were happy with each other, he felt all these sacrifices were worthwhile.

But what he never expected was that for three years, he had been used as a tool by the very person he loved. From beginning to end, Lin Xi'er had deceived him. He was nothing but a complete and utter fool, blinded by his one-sided infatuation!

"Lin Xier, this grudge I, Lin Xiao, will not bear! I swear I will never be a servant of others!" Lin Xiao gripped his fist tightly, his fingernails digging into his palm, drawing drops of blood.

Creak!

The door was pushed open gently.

A tall, middle-aged man walked in, with a dignified bearing. It was Lin Xiao's godfather, Lin Feng.

Seeing Lin Xiao wake up, Lin Feng was overjoyed and his face instantly lost its worry. "Xiao'er, you're finally awake."

Three days ago, Lin Feng discovered that Lin Xiao had fainted in his room and brought him back. That means Lin Xiao has been unconscious for a whole three days and three nights.

"Foster father," Seeing Lin Feng's concerned face, thinking of his unwavering guardianship for the past three years, and that he had been keeping secret his sending of vital energy to Lin Xiuer, resulting in this outcome, he felt deep guilt and self-blame.

Remembering when his meridians were weak, Lin Feng had searched tirelessly for a doctor to treat him for three years without ever complaining. Lin Xia's nose tingled, and her eyes welled up.

Click!

A single tear fell onto Lin Xia's jade pendant, melting silently into it and causing the entire pendant to emanate a faint halo.