"So as it turns out, I was fooled by this fox hiding in a sheep's hide." Reading through the system's message, Lucian was left stunned.

Although he half-expected the old man's trust and interest to be low, he didn't think the numbers would reach negative.

The more he read, the more his eyes widened in shock. The one man he believed to be the safest turned out to be worse than all his expectations.

"So not only is he powerful enough to threaten the world, but he's also a 'mortal enemy' of mine for some mysterious reason?" He chuckled painfully in his mind. "Way to go, Lucian."

Stuck in a mix of unending laughter and a crippling sadness, Lucian's lips twitched frantically.

After a short moment of struggle, Lucian momentarily let out a deep sigh. "No, this isn't the time. I shouldn't worry about something like that right now."

Lucian's actions were simple. He merely wanted to prevent the current situation from folding into his immediate demise.

If his sudden expressions aroused further suspicion in Tianlong Bai's heart, there was no telling as to what he could do.

'Given the intensity of his hatred, it's safe to assume I'll die almost immediately. As to what the hatred is all about, I guess I'll figure it out once I survive.' He thought as he looked at the old man calmly.

Over the edge of his forehead, a small bead of sweat formed out of nervousness. Though he did not realize it himself, the old man noticed the sudden change immediately.

'Sweat? In this cold environment? His expressions are fragile too... Did he sense something? No, that can't be...' Tianlong Bai's common sense refused to believe his suspicious thoughts.

"Did my expressions perhaps unconsciously change?" It was a plausible thought; after all, who would have believed that a child as young as Feng Tian could sense danger from him?

"Ahem," Clearing his throat, he decided to ignore the current situation and moved on.

Lucian as well understood his intentions. He was relieved over the old man's actions and decided to cooperate.

"Tianlong Sect, as you might have guessed, follows the rule of balance. Do you know why?" The old man asked, his eyes glinting with strange anticipation.

Naturally, Lucian didn't know the answer and shook his head in response.

---

[Your teacher, Tianlong Bai's interest and trust, has increased by 5!]

└ [Interest: -5 (5↑)]

└ [Trust: -90 (5↑)]

---

The next second, a system window chimed before Lucian's eyes. The familiarity tab of Tianlong Bai had shown a change once again. It was then that Lucian realized just how alert the old man had become.

'If I had even tried to answer this, without a doubt, he would've sensed that something was wrong. The only reason my heart is still beating is that I simply didn't know.'

"It is because our sect comes from the lineage of azure dragons. In the ancient world, countless mystical and divine creatures existed over this land. Azure dragons were one of the 4 mystical beings that overlooked the authorities and powers of this world." The old man explained, "However, at the end of their time, as their bloodline was trampled by the heavens, only a single member survived."

"That man, Tianlong Zhen, was a lower servant of the clan—a half-blood. However, his loyalty towards the clan overpowered even the direct bloodlines. Filled with spite and fury, he spent thousands of years in seclusion and recreated the techniques of his clan through enlightenment. At last, in the last days of his life, he created the Tianlong Sect in the memories of his and his clan's beliefs."

"The meaning of Tianlong, over the years, has faded from the books. Thus, the old beliefs have been forgotten. Even I do not know of such a thing. But as a member of the Tianlong Lineage, it is both my and your duty to despise this world." He clenched his fists tight as a speck of his hatred let loose from his suppression.

In an instant, the air around shifted turbulently. Countless screams echoed just outside the building as people froze in terror and collapsed out of fear.

Lucian, on the other hand, found himself in a miserable state as well. Unconsciously, his body dragged him away from the old man, mistaking his hatred for killing intent.

Stuck closely to the wall behind, he heaved frantically for the slightest bit of air. "What... just happened...?" He mumbled in a low, almost inaudible voice.

He looked at his trembling hands and felt his rampaging heartbeat. 'So this is... his power?' With widened eyes, Lucian focused on the old man ahead.

Tianlong Bai had already suppressed his hatred, but still, something about him felt different.

"Only when you inhabit such hatred for the world can you truly become a part of our lineage. The heavens cannot be hated, for we no longer have any means to reach them. Ever since the Great War, the connection between this world and the heavens has been severed. The outcome has limited the amount of Qi, which continued to grow weaker with every new cultivator." His voice, along with his words, calmed down significantly.

"You are a child, much younger and more intelligent than your peers. I wish for you to proceed with the first trial of our clan. I will teach you the basics, but after that, you are to decide your own path into this world." His words suddenly awoke Lucian's numbed senses.

"From that moment onwards, I wish for you to explore this world on your own. The decisions you make, the people you meet, and the outcome it creates—I want you to experience them." The more the old man spoke, the more Lucian's eyes widened.

'Wait, it was that easy?' he thought, recalling his original task of finding freedom in this world.

"I, however, will follow you around at my own discretion. Not as a protector, but as an observer." The old man further explained, shattering Lucian's imagination in an instant.

"However, do not be mistaken, for I will not reveal myself unless your life is threatened by the choices that weren't yours. For even I will not save you for your own foolishness."

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