Darkness.
That was the first thing Li Tian felt.
Not peaceful darkness.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
Like something pressing down on his chest.
His consciousness returned slowly, like he was being dragged back from a deep pit.
Pain followed.
Everywhere.
His body felt torn apart.
His ribs burned.
His muscles refused to move.
Even breathing hurt.
"Still alive…"
A faint whisper escaped his lips.
Then—
A cold splash of water hit his face.
Li Tian's eyes snapped open.
"Wake up."
A rough voice echoed.
His vision blurred for a moment before slowly focusing.
Stone walls.
Dim light.
Iron bars.
Chains.
He was no longer in the courtyard.
He was underground.
A prison.
Two guards stood in front of him.
Different from before.
Fresh.
Uninjured.
One of them kicked his leg lightly.
"Didn't expect this one to survive that long," he muttered.
The other guard snorted.
"Doesn't matter. Orders are clear. Keep him alive."
Alive…
Li Tian's eyes darkened slightly.
So it was true.
They didn't want him dead.
They wanted to use him.
Drain him.
Piece by piece.
His wrists were chained again.
This time—
Stronger.
Thicker.
Cold iron biting into his skin.
He tried to move.
Pain shot through his body instantly.
"Ugh—!"
The guard laughed.
"Don't bother. You're barely holding together."
Li Tian lowered his head.
Breathing slowly.
Calm.
He couldn't waste energy.
Not now.
Not here.
The guards eventually stepped back.
One of them leaned against the wall.
"Tomorrow, Young Master will come himself."
The other nodded.
"Yeah… then we'll see what's really inside him."
Li Tian's fingers tightened slightly.
Tomorrow…
That means—
This is not the end.
This is just the beginning of something worse.
The guards grew quiet after that.
Only the sound of dripping water filled the prison.
Time passed.
Minutes.
Or hours.
Li Tian couldn't tell.
Then—
The system flickered faintly.
[Host condition: Critical]
[Passive recovery active]
[Warning: Insufficient blood energy]
Li Tian frowned slightly.
Recovery…?
It was too slow.
Too weak.
At this rate—
He wouldn't last.
He closed his eyes.
Thinking.
Calmly.
For the first time since everything started—
He wasn't fighting.
He wasn't running.
He was thinking.
If I stay here…
I die.
If I fight now…
I die faster.
Then what's left…?
The system pulsed again.
[Nearby blood essence detected]
Li Tian's eyes opened slightly.
Nearby…?
His gaze shifted.
The guards.
Alive.
Breathing.
Warm blood flowing inside them.
His jaw tightened.
Again…
This choice.
This disgusting path.
For a moment—
He hesitated.
Then slowly—
His eyes turned cold.
"If I don't become a monster…"
He whispered internally.
"…I'll die like prey."
Silence returned.
The guards didn't notice anything.
One of them yawned.
The other stretched lazily.
"Night shift is the worst," he complained.
"Shut up and stay alert," the other replied.
But even as he said it—
He wasn't paying full attention.
That was enough.
Li Tian lowered his breathing.
Slower.
Quieter.
Almost nonexistent.
Then—
He stopped moving completely.
The guards glanced at him.
"Oi… is he dead?"
One of them stepped closer.
Annoyed.
He grabbed Li Tian's hair and lifted his head.
"Hey—"
At that moment—
Li Tian's eyes snapped open.
Cold.
Sharp.
His body moved instantly.
Not fast.
Not powerful.
But sudden.
His head slammed forward.
CRACK!
The guard's nose broke instantly.
"ARGH—!"
Before the second guard could react—
Li Tian twisted his body, ignoring the tearing pain in his muscles.
The chain rattled loudly.
He used it—
Pulled hard—
Dragging the injured guard forward.
The man stumbled.
Off balance.
Li Tian moved closer—
And bit into his neck.
Deep.
Brutal.
Blood burst into his mouth.
Hot.
Thick.
The guard screamed.
But the system reacted instantly.
[Blood essence absorbed]
[Energy restored: Minor]
A small surge of strength returned.
Just enough.
Li Tian didn't stop.
He pushed the guard down and grabbed the fallen dagger from his waist.
Then—
Without hesitation—
He stabbed.
THUD.
Once.
Twice.
The guard went still.
The second guard froze.
Shock.
Fear.
"What the hell—?!"
He rushed forward.
Angry.
Fast.
Li Tian tried to stand—
But his body lagged.
Too slow.
The guard's punch slammed into his face.
He fell back hard.
Vision spinning.
"Bastard!"
The guard drew his sword.
Rage filled his eyes.
"You're dead!"
Li Tian forced himself to move.
His body screamed.
Every muscle tearing.
But he rolled to the side.
The sword hit the ground.
Sparks flew.
Li Tian grabbed the chain attached to his wrist.
And swung it.
CLANG!
The iron chain struck the guard's arm.
The sword slipped slightly.
That opening—
Li Tian lunged.
He tackled the guard down.
Both crashed to the ground.
Mud.
Blood.
Stone.
Everything mixed.
The guard was stronger.
Pushing him back.
"Get off—!"
Li Tian didn't try to overpower him.
He couldn't.
Instead—
He slammed his head down.
CRACK.
Again.
CRACK.
Again.
The guard weakened.
Just enough.
Li Tian grabbed the dagger again—
And drove it into his throat.
THUD.
Silence.
Heavy.
Breathing.
Only Li Tian's.
He rolled off the body.
Staring at the ceiling.
Chest rising rapidly.
"I…"
His voice broke.
"…I did it."
But this time—
There was no relief.
Only exhaustion.
And something darker.
The system flickered again.
[Blood essence absorbed]
[Host condition: Slightly stabilized]
Slightly…
That was all.
Li Tian slowly sat up.
His hands were shaking.
Covered in blood.
His own.
And theirs.
He looked at the chains.
Still locked.
Still binding him.
So even after all this…
He was still trapped.
His jaw tightened.
No.
Not anymore.
He dragged himself toward the wall.
The fallen guard's sword lay nearby.
He picked it up with trembling hands.
Raised it—
And struck the chain.
CLANG!
Nothing.
Again.
CLANG!
A crack appeared.
His breathing grew heavier.
One more—
CLANG!
The chain snapped.
Silence.
Li Tian froze.
His wrist…
Free.
For the first time—
He wasn't bound.
He slowly stood up.
Unstable.
Weak.
But standing.
He looked at the open cell door.
Unlocked.
The guards hadn't expected him to survive.
A faint smile appeared.
Cold.
Dangerous.
"This…"
He whispered.
"…is just the beginning."
He took one step forward.
Out of the cell.
Into the dark corridor.
And for the first time—
Li Tian was no longer inside a cage.
But outside it.
Yet somewhere deep inside—
The system pulsed again.
[New Directive Pending]
[Dragon Path requires continuous blood]
The darkness ahead felt heavier.
Deeper.
Unknown.
Freedom had come—
But with it—
A much more terrifying path.
🔥 The Dragon's Ancestral Legacy 🔥