Inside the Spirit Vein Hall stood rows of Spirit Veins that the Li Clan had harvested from demonic beasts over generations. The more exceptional one's talent, the stronger the resonance they could provoke. The greater the number of resonances, the higher the chance of obtaining a truly precious Spirit Vein.

  Su Chen closed his eyes and focused his senses. Dozens of blue lights flickered past in an instant. He sighed inwardly at the sheer depth of the Li Clan's reserves. If he wanted, he could reach out and claim a top-grade blue-quality Spirit Vein without effort. But in this life, with his current aptitude, how could he settle for merely fusing with a blue-quality one?

  Unhurried, Su Chen patiently searched. Soon, a strand of purple light appeared before him. Delight surged through him. It was a purple-quality Spirit Vein, stripped from a demonic beast called the Thousand-Armed Spider.

  Such creatures had nearly vanished from the Heavenly Wind Kingdom and were extremely rare. The beast was covered in countless dense arms and could spit out steel-tough spider silk laced with deadly poison. If he fused with it, he would become an enhanced version of Spider-Man.

  Su Chen did not choose it immediately. He had no desire to turn into a venomous old monster. Suppressing his impatience, he continued searching. Before long, another purple-quality Spirit Vein emerged.

  Lava Berserk Ape.

  This demonic beast had molten rock flowing through its veins, its fur blazing like liquid fire. Another exceedingly rare species, long extinct in the Heavenly Wind Kingdom. Fusion would grant immense physical strength, the ability to manipulate flames, and strong resistance to fire. The drawback was obvious: the fusion would make one's temper explosively volatile. But that minor flaw could be overlooked.

  Su Chen spotted several more purple-quality Spirit Veins, each from incredibly rare demonic beasts.

  "It seems my aptitude still isn't enough to draw out the legendary golden-quality Spirit Vein."

  Disappointment flickered through him, though he quickly reminded himself that it was only a legend—no one knew for certain whether it truly existed. After careful consideration, he selected the Spirit Vein of a demonic beast known as the Frost Moon Ice Phoenix.

  This ancient creature carried the bloodline of the primordial phoenix. Its entire body was snow-white, feathers sculpted like crystalline ice. Legends said that wherever it passed, frost blanketed the land, and its breath could freeze mountains and rivers in an instant.

  Absorbing it would grant mastery over extreme ice powers, the ability to summon the Ice Phoenix's wings for swift flight, and a surge of vigorous life force from the ancient phoenix bloodline, greatly extending lifespan.

  With his choice made, Su Chen stepped out of the Spirit Vein Hall.

  Outside, Li Wenxuan was still loudly showing off his blue-quality Spirit Vein and taking every opportunity to belittle Su Chen.

  "Li Chen, what Spirit Vein did you get? Hurry up and show it already."

  Li Wenxuan stared at Su Chen with jealousy, secretly hoping that whatever Su Chen received would prove inferior to his own.

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  Su Chen emerged from the hall with an utterly calm expression. That composure only fueled Li Wenxuan's misunderstanding.

  The elders stationed in the Spirit Vein Hall also turned curious gazes toward Su Chen. This was the proclaimed greatest genius of the Li Clan in a hundred years. Even they were eager to see what kind of Spirit Vein such a prodigy could awaken.

  Su Chen opened his palm. A thread of purple light shimmered, and then a pure-white Ice Phoenix materialized. The temperature in the entire hall plummeted. Within moments, frost began to form on every surface.

  Though the elders had braced themselves, their mouths still fell open in shock.

  "Our Li Clan actually possesses a purple-quality Spirit Vein!"

  They had always believed that the purple-quality Spirit Vein supposedly left behind by Ancestor Li Shenhua when he departed the Heavenly Wind Kingdom was nothing more than a myth. Yet here it was—real.

  In his heart, Su Chen mused. The Spirit Vein Hall held not just one purple-quality Spirit Vein. There were many.

  Li Shenhua could never have imagined that after his unparalleled emergence, the Li Clan would suffer such a dramatic decline. Not a single genius capable of resonating with a purple-quality Spirit Vein had appeared in all the centuries since. Until Su Chen arrived in this life.

  "Impossible! This is impossible!"

  Li Wenxuan's mouth fell open. He pointed at Su Chen and shouted, "How could you possibly get a purple-quality Spirit Vein? Our Li Clan doesn't even have one!"

  Su Chen frowned.

  One of the nearby clan elders spoke up immediately. "Third Young Master, watch your mouth! This purple Spirit Vein was left behind by Ancestor Shenhua himself!"

  Li Wenxuan refused to back down. "Then why does he get a purple one and I don't? You old fogeys are clearly playing favorites! Li Chen, that purple-quality Spirit Vein belongs to me. I order you to hand it over right now!"

  He sounded exactly like a spoiled brat. The faces of several Li Clan elders darkened with displeasure. If he weren't the clan leader's son—and if his talent weren't decent—they would have slapped him long ago.

  Su Chen laughed.

  Laughed at Li Wenxuan's sheer stupidity. A mocking smile curved his lips.

  When Li Wenxuan saw that Su Chen had no intention of giving up the purple Spirit Vein, his expression turned savage. He strode forward, reaching out to snatch it by force.

  Su Chen caught his wrist with ease and gave a light squeeze. Pain instantly twisted Li Wenxuan's face. "Li Chen, let go of me! Aaaahhh—"

  Unable to stand the piercing shrieks, Su Chen flung him aside. Li Wenxuan landed hard on his backside and immediately burst into loud, wailing sobs. "Li Chen, you're bullying me! I'm going to tell Father! I'll make Father punish you!"

  Su Chen paid him no mind.

  At that moment, a tall, imposing middle-aged man entered the Spirit Vein Hall, followed by several elders.

  Seeing him arrive, Su Chen spoke calmly. "Father."

  The instant Li Wenxuan spotted his greatest backer, his demeanor flipped. He put on a pitiful expression. "Father, I want the Spirit Vein that Big Brother Li Chen has. You have to make him give it to me!"

  As soon as the words left his mouth, every elder in the hall turned their gazes toward the middle-aged man.

  "Shut up!"

  A crisp slap rang out. The clan leader struck Li Wenxuan across the face. Though he used no spiritual energy, the blow still sent the boy flying. Blood trickled from the corner of Li Wenxuan's mouth. Clutching his swollen cheek, he stared in disbelief at the father who had always doted on him most. Tears welled up again, and he began to wail with grievance.

  "What are you waiting for? Take Wenxuan away! Don't let him embarrass himself further here."

  The clan leader's voice was icy. Only then did the guards snap out of their daze and hurriedly drag the sobbing boy out.

  Su Chen's opinion of this life's father rose a notch. It seemed the man wasn't a fool. He could distinguish right from wrong. A true idiot could never have become the head of the Li Clan. Now that Su Chen had demonstrated such extraordinary talent, Li Jiangqun naturally would no longer treat him as an insignificant son.

  "A purple-quality Spirit Vein. Chen'er, your talent is outstanding—truly the greatest our Li Clan has seen in centuries. I will arrange a teacher for you. From now on, focus on cultivating within the clan."

  A warm smile spread across Li Jiangqun's face as he spoke kindly to Su Chen.