The Lin Clan of Marriott City, part of the Soaring Dragon Empire, had a heritage spanning several hundred years. With disciples numbering over a hundred, it was considered a mid-sized clan in the city.
On a scorching summer day, sweat poured like rain in the Lin Clan's training grounds. Numerous disciples practiced diligently, the sounds of their training echoing to the heavens, creating an intense atmosphere. However, these were merely ordinary disciples, not the true Core Disciples. The Core Disciples had their own exclusive training areas.
At the edge of the training grounds, Lin Xuan sat quietly, holding an Engraving Knife and slowly carving a piece of wood. After each cut, he would brush away the shavings and gently trace the carved lines. Only after stroking it several times would he resume his slow and deliberate carving.
The piece of wood in his hands was gradually taking on a human form, complete with lifelike limbs. Yet, he hadn't carved a face onto the Wood Carving. No one knew who he intended to sculpt, nor did they care to find out.
None of that mattered. What stood out was that in the entire training grounds, he alone sat carving. He was around the same age as the other disciples, yet he wasn't training with them. In a world that revered martial prowess, his actions were unthinkable. After all, carving was merely a trivial pursuit, incapable of bringing any real change to one's fate.
"Look, that blind Lin Xuan is over there carving again. If I were him, I'd have crawled home in shame long ago. Sitting here carving like a useless bum... What a disgrace."
"Whatever. The guy's shameless. He's here every day, you just have to get used to it."
...
Lin Xuan's ears twitched slightly; their words had reached him. His expression didn't change as he continued to work on the Wood Carving in his hands. But with every taunt, his carving grew heavier. It was as if his Engraving Knife was a sword, practicing alongside theirs. Or perhaps, he was channeling his fury into the force of his cuts, venting it all on the wood.
"Blind Lin Xuan"—that was the boy's moniker. It was precisely because he was blind that he couldn't train with them. He wasn't even given a real sword, just a wooden stick. The reasoning was obvious: 'He's blind. What if he swings a blade around wildly and hurts someone?'
He hadn't been born blind. A few years ago, while on an expedition with other disciples, he was attacked by a Fierce Nether Snake. He survived the potent poison, but the treatment that saved his life couldn't save his sight. In an instant, his world of light was plunged into darkness.
He knew the clan was capable of healing his eyes, but the cost was astronomical. The poison was incredibly difficult to neutralize, requiring precious Elixir Pills. Furthermore, it would take a Spirit Pill Stage expert expending several years of their own Cultivation to complete the cure. The price was steep, and someone of his status could never hope to receive such expensive treatment.
The Fierce Nether Snake is a low-level vicious beast, but its venom is shockingly potent. Upon biting a victim, it injects its entire supply of venom and dies instantly. They are so rare one might not be seen in a century, yet his group had encountered one. Even a Spirit Pill Stage expert would be in serious trouble if bitten, though they wouldn't be blinded.
Lin Xuan was a disciple of the Lin Clan, but he was not of their bloodline; he was an abandoned orphan they had taken in. His aptitude was low, testing at only a Third-class level—far too ordinary. It was barely entry-level. His blindness on top of that made him even more insignificant.
His aptitude was too low for the clan to ever consider paying such a steep price, especially since he wasn't a true member of the Lin Family by blood. Even for actual Lin disciples, such treatment was reserved for those with exceptional talent.
The Lin Clan's Leader, Lin Feng, was himself at the Spirit Pill Stage. For a Clan Leader to expend years of his Cultivation—risking a drop of several levels in power—and use precious Elixir Pills to save a disciple with mere Third-class aptitude? Impossible. He would only consider intervening for someone with at least Fifth-class aptitude or higher.
It sounded heartless, but it was the reality of their world. If the return on an investment was not proportional to the exorbitant cost, the clan would not act.
But Lin Xuan felt no anger, no resentment. 'They treated my poisoning, they took me in, and they haven't thrown me out. That's already more than I could ask for. What is there to be resentful about?'
'I can only blame my own terrible luck for running into that rare Fierce Nether Snake, or blame my own meager aptitude. Perhaps it was all predestined. All I can do is accept it.'
"Everyone, stop! Today is the day for the distribution of the Body Refining Pills." A deep voice boomed, seeming to press down from the sky and drowning out the disciples' training cries. Approaching them was a Lin Family Steward, Lin Kailong.
The disciples immediately stopped their Cultivation and formed a line to receive their monthly allotment of Elixir Pills. These pills could compensate for a lack of aptitude or accelerate the progress of the talented, so everyone valued them greatly. Lin Xuan was no exception. He quickly got to his feet and, using a wooden stick for support, followed the sounds to join the line.
When the others saw Lin Xuan approach, looks of disgust appeared on their faces, as if they had just swallowed a fly.
"The nerve of this guy. If I were the Clan Leader, I would've kicked him out long ago. He's blind and useless, yet he still has the gall to come and collect a Body Refining Pill!"
"Exactly! It's a complete waste of the Lin Family's resources."