Kyoto Nightclub.
The Supreme Imperial VIP Room.
"A'Shan, honestly, what were you thinking? Brother Lin is my honored guest. How could you treat him so roughly? If word of this gets out, where would the Donghua Lin Family's reputation be?"
"Hahaha! Brother Lin, my sincerest apologies. My subordinates don't know any better—they have absolutely no sense of propriety and nearly caused a misunderstanding. I'll punish myself with three drinks as an apology on his behalf."
The handsome young man, whose refined features carried a faintly sinister air, raised his wine glass with an apologetic smile.
After scolding the subordinate standing silently in the shadows, he turned toward Lin Xiao with a solemn expression.
"Young Master Lin, you're too kind. It was only a small misunderstanding—not worth mentioning."
Lin Xiao returned the polite smile as he looked at the young man before him, who appeared to be about his own age.
Yet beneath that composed exterior...
His heart was already in turmoil.
A storm of shock—and barely restrained excitement—surged through him.
Although he had already guessed the other party's identity before coming...
Only after seeing him in person did he finally become certain.
Lin Jiuxiao!
The Third Young Master of the Lin Family!
The Donghua Lin Family!
Another supreme aristocratic family backed by an Eighth-Rank Battle Emperor!
More importantly...
The Lin Family was one of the Empire's great military clans.
They controlled the Empire's second-largest military power.
And...
Their relationship with the Chen Family had never been particularly good.
For Lin Xiao...
This was undoubtedly tremendous news.
He could already guess why Lin Jiuxiao had invited him here.
There was a ninety-percent chance the Lin Family had taken notice of his talent and intended to recruit him.
In truth...
Given the talent he had displayed at Donghua Academy, combined with his spotless background, someone should have approached him long ago.
Unfortunately...
Because of Chen Beiyuan...
None of the major factions had been willing to offend the Donghua Chen Family.
Instead, they had all chosen to wait and see.
As a result, Lin Xiao had remained in an awkward position.
But today...
Someone had finally come knocking.
Sure enough...
Lin Jiuxiao's next words confirmed his suspicions.
"Brother Lin, why keep calling me 'Young Master Lin'? That's far too formal."
"Just call me Jiuxiao."
"To be honest, ever since you rose to prominence at Donghua Academy, our Lin Family has been paying close attention to you."
"I even had someone investigate our family genealogy."
"It turns out your ancestors branched off from the Lin Family's main bloodline several centuries ago."
"You and I are family."
"We've simply had little contact over the years, so we've become strangers."
Lin Jiuxiao spoke warmly, his tone filled with emotion.
It was as if Lin Xiao were a long-lost relative he had finally found.
Of course...
Such words were nothing more than polished social etiquette.
For an ancient aristocratic family that had existed for hundreds—or even thousands—of years...
Countless collateral branches had spread throughout the world.
To the Donghua Lin Family...
Those distant branches bearing the surname Lin were little different from complete strangers.
If someone from one of those collateral lines naively tried to visit the main family and claim kinship...
They would probably be beaten out of the gates by servants wielding clubs.
"Where did this country bumpkin come from?"
"Have you gone blind?"
"How dare you falsely claim to be related to the Lin Family!"
Unless...
A truly exceptional genius emerged from one of those collateral branches.
Only then would the main family take notice, personally recruiting them to strengthen their own bloodline.
As someone who had climbed up from the bottom, Lin Xiao understood all too well how the world worked.
"Such is human nature..."
"Such is society."
Without hesitation...
The actor within him took over.
His face filled with excitement as he trembled emotionally.
"So... it's actually true?"
"My ancestors really were close relatives of the Donghua Lin Family?"
"Young Master Lin... no... Jiuxiao..."
"Are you serious?"
The Lin Family wanted to recruit him and replenish their fresh blood.
But likewise...
He desperately wanted to attach himself to the Lin Family and gain a powerful backing.
It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
As the thought crossed his mind...
Lin Xiao's gaze subtly drifted toward the silent figure standing in the corner like a venomous serpent.
That was clearly the A'Shan whom Lin Jiuxiao had mentioned earlier.
A Seventh-Rank Battle Emperor!
To casually command a Seventh-Rank Battle Emperor as a subordinate...
The terrifying strength of the Donghua Lin Family spoke for itself.
With the Lin Family supporting him...
He would no longer be so heavily suppressed whenever he faced Chen Beiyuan.
Perhaps...
After officially joining the Lin Family...
He could secretly set certain plans into motion.
Replace the host with the guest.
And one day...
Take the entire Lin Family for himself...
A smile remained on Lin Xiao's face.
But deep within his eyes...
The flames of ambition had already begun to burn.
"Hahaha!"
"Brother Lin, of course it's true!"
"We're family!"
"I've heard you've been running into some trouble recently."
"But to the Lin Family..."
"Those problems are insignificant."
"I heard you offended Chen Beiyuan, and that's why you've been suppressed."
"What happened before is none of my concern."
"But once you become part of the Lin Family..."
"Then your business becomes my business."
"How about this?"
"I'll arrange a gathering someday."
"We'll settle the conflict between you two."
"No matter how arrogant Chen Beiyuan may be..."
"He still has to give both me—and the Lin Family—some face."
Lin Jiuxiao declared proudly.
Every word dripped with confidence and swagger.
"As expected of Young Master Lin!"
Seeing Lin Jiuxiao personally stepping forward on his behalf...
Lin Xiao was overjoyed.
Naturally, he offered a few flattering compliments.
With the Lin Family as his backer...
Chen Beiyuan and all of his lackeys would have to think twice before making another move against him.
And when the time came...
He would finally have the opportunity to wash away his humiliation.
"Chen Beiyuan..."
"The day we settle our score..."
"Isn't far away."
Lin Xiao sneered inwardly.
Thanks to Lin Xiao's deliberate flattery...
The atmosphere inside the private room quickly became lively.
Especially after Lin Xiao casually revealed that he had successfully undergone Dragon Transformation, causing his Battle Soul to evolve into a Top-Tier Battle Soul...
The mood reached its peak.
Lin Jiuxiao's attitude toward him became even warmer.
The enthusiasm burning in his eyes grew increasingly obvious.
Before long...
The two men had their arms draped over each other's shoulders.
They drank wine by the bowl.
Held beautiful women in their embraces.
And enthusiastically praised one another without restraint.
Looking at how close they had become...
Anyone who claimed they weren't lifelong brothers and inseparable friends...
Not even a dog would believe it.
Just as the Divine Doctor protagonist celebrated finding himself a powerful patron...
Chen Beiyuan returned to the Chen Family estate.
He walked back into his room.
However...
He wasn't alone.
Waiting inside was another man.
His father—
Chen Zheqing.
The Patriarch of the Chen Family.
Commander of the Empire's Third War Zone.
After receiving the confidential message from his son...
This influential imperial figure had immediately left the Third War Zone and rushed back to the Chen Family overnight.
Now...
Father and son stood silently before a strange dragon egg glowing with a sinister crimson light.
It was none other than...
The dragon egg recovered from the Blood Dragon Secret Realm.
Chen Beiyuan stood quietly to one side without speaking.
He simply watched.
Chen Zheqing stared fixedly at the bizarre dragon egg for a long time.
The solemn expression on his face grew heavier with every passing second.
Finally...
He spoke in a tone filled with absolute certainty.
"As expected..."
"It truly is..."
The Blood Calamity Dragon Emperor.
-------------------
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