Gaze and you will become stronger: starting from Doupo

A bone-chilling cold shot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and the curse that was already on the tip of his tongue was swallowed back. His face turned deathly pale, and his eyes were filled with fear and disbelief. He could sense that this seemingly ordinary young man before him possessed a terrifying power within him that could easily destroy him.

"Let's go!" The leading soldier suppressed his resentment and fear, glared fiercely at Jiang Han with eyes full of venom, and then led two other soldiers, whose faces were also pale, away in a disheveled state towards the east. They were several times faster than when they came, as if a vengeful ghost was chasing them, and in the blink of an eye, they disappeared from everyone's sight.

"Ancestor, they are warriors of the Jin family. In this imperial city, the Jin family is a renowned longevity family, with an ancient lineage and incredibly profound foundation. Their ancestor, Jin Taijun, is an unparalleled supreme being who guards the borderlands, possessing unfathomable strength and holding a pivotal position in the imperial city. They are truly not to be trifled with." Looking in the direction the three warriors flew away, the Demon King hurriedly stepped forward, his tone tinged with worry. He knew all too well how vast the Jin family's power was; their members were scattered throughout every corner of the imperial city, and they were known for their vengeful nature. Offending them would undoubtedly bring endless trouble in the future.

The Demon King paused, then continued, "Within the Imperial City, the Jin family is used to dominating and always has the final say. Given their vengeful nature, they certainly won't let your previous actions go unpunished, and I'm afraid even stronger figures will soon come seeking revenge." A hint of worry flashed in his eyes. Although he believed in Jiang Han's strength, the Jin family did have a Supreme Being in charge, and if things really escalated, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"I have already given them a chance. If they are truly so ungrateful, then I don't mind annihilating them." Jiang Han's voice was not loud, but every word resounded like thunder, filled with supreme authority, shaking the hearts of all the sect leaders. The confidence and domineering tone in his voice made everyone present take notice. They had no doubt about the truthfulness of Jiang Han's words. How could someone who could easily shatter the eyes of a supreme being fear a mere immortal family?
"Thank you for your help, fellow Daoist!" The middle-aged man, Shi Tian, ​​quickly stepped forward, his eyes filled with deep gratitude, and bowed deeply to Jiang Han in thanks. However, a hint of worry quickly appeared on his face, and his brows furrowed: "Fellow Daoist, you shouldn't have offended the Jin family for the sake of us descendants of the Sinful Bloodline. The Jin family is incredibly powerful, and our Shi clan is currently weak and powerless, unable to contend with them at all. Doing this will only bring endless trouble upon yourself." His tone was filled with self-reproach and helplessness; he didn't want to implicate his benefactor because of his own affairs.

"Master, my forehead hurts, it feels like something is trying to pop out." Just then, the little boy suddenly shook Jiang Han's large hand, his childish voice tinged with pain. As soon as he finished speaking, a dazzling crimson light suddenly burst forth from between his eyebrows. The light, like the rising sun, instantly illuminated the entire tribe, causing everyone present to involuntarily squint.

The next moment, under everyone's watchful eyes, the blood mist between the little boy's eyebrows seemed to come alive, slowly weaving and condensing in the void, eventually forming an ancient and mysterious 'sin' character. The rune was exactly the same as the one that appeared between the eyebrows of the middle-aged man, Shi Tian, ​​but its color was more vivid, its light more dazzling, as if it contained some strange power and exuded a faint pressure.

"The mark of sin... the mark of sin blood!" a sect leader at the Severing Self Realm exclaimed in disbelief. He had lived for countless years and seen countless descendants of sin blood, but he had never seen such a dazzling mark of sin blood; it was completely beyond his comprehension.

"This is the most dazzling mark of sinful blood I've ever seen! The power it contains is so pure, it's unbelievable!" another cultivator murmured to himself, his eyes filled with shock. He could sense that the mark of sinful blood between the little one's brows contained an extremely powerful potential, something that no ordinary descendant of sinful blood could possess.

"I never imagined this little guy would be a descendant of the Sinful Bloodline! Isn't he a disciple of Hongjun Ancestor? Hongjun Ancestor is a supreme being at the peak, how could he accept a descendant of the Sinful Bloodline as his disciple?"

"So, it turns out that Ancestor Hongjun is indeed intricately connected with the descendants of the Sinful Bloodline! No wonder he helped the Stone Clan, so that's why!"

……

Upon seeing the blood-red character for "sin" appear between the little boy's brows, the cultivators, including the Demon King, the Gluttonous King, and the Old Celestial, all wore expressions of astonishment. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with confusion and shock. They simply couldn't understand why someone like Jiang Han would be associated with the descendants of the Sin Blood, let alone take him as a disciple.

The middle-aged man from the Stone Clan, Shi Tian, ​​and the other villagers also looked astonished, staring blankly at the little one, their gazes fixed on the boy's brow. They seemed frozen in place, unable to recover for a moment. They never dreamed that the child brought by this powerful being would also possess the mark of sinful blood, and such a dazzling mark at that.

"Little one, what's your surname?" An elderly man with gray hair and a wrinkled face walked forward shakily, leaning on a cane. A complex light flickered in his cloudy eyes as he looked at the little one and asked first.

"Grandpa, my surname is Shi, and my name is Shi Hao." The little boy looked up at the old man and answered obediently. Although he didn't understand why everyone was so surprised to see his forehead, he still answered the old man's question very politely.

"Just as I thought." The old man sighed softly, his voice filled with endless vicissitudes and helplessness. "Child, the people here don't know that's your surname yet. Quickly change your name, and hide the mark between your eyebrows. Otherwise, once others find out, you'll run into a lot of trouble." His eyes were full of kind advice; he didn't want to see this child with such a dazzling mark of sinful blood repeat the mistakes of their Stone Clan ancestors.

"Change my name? Why should I change my name? My name is Shi Hao!" The little boy frowned and said stubbornly. He thought his name sounded good, and it was the name his father gave him; he didn't want to change it.

“You’re still young, you don’t understand anything.” The old man shook his head, his sigh filled with deep helplessness. “In this land, the surname Shi represents sinners, represents misfortune. In this desolate place, anyone with the surname Shi will not have a good end. Nine out of ten will die on the battlefield, and very few will have a peaceful death.” His voice was low and sorrowful, as if he were recounting a painful past. “Why?” The little boy raised his head in confusion, looking at the old man with a puzzled expression, his clear eyes filled with doubt. “Just because our surname is Shi? That’s so unfair!”

"Just because our surname is Shi, we are destined to die in battle!" Before the old man could speak, the ten-year-old boy named Shi Yu clenched his fists and said unwillingly, his eyes flashing with anger and stubbornness: "The Shi clan was once one of the most powerful forces in this city, its might shaking the heavens and the earth, and no one dared to provoke it. But everything changed overnight!" Shi Yu's voice carried a trace of vicissitude that did not match his age, as if he had personally experienced that history.

According to Shi Yu, in the most ancient times, the Stone Clan was numerous, with countless experts and powerful figures. They held fundamental authority in the Imperial Pass, serving as the guardians of the Imperial City and revered by countless people. At that time, the Stone Clan's banners flew in every corner of the Imperial City, and their warriors were the sharpest swords on the battlefield, protecting the millions of lives behind them. However, a long-buried case was suddenly unearthed, and the Stone Clan was branded as traitors. Overnight, they plummeted from their zenith to the mire, becoming despised descendants of sinful blood, and the situation changed drastically.

From that time on, whenever there was war, the Stone Clan had to be at the forefront, becoming cannon fodder on the battlefield, paving the way to victory with their blood and lives. No matter how outstanding the talents of the clan's members were, they did not receive the proper training and could only consume their lives in one brutal battle after another. Countless clan members died or were injured. Even if there were many geniuses and numerous masters in the past, they could not withstand this malicious attrition and endless sacrifice.

The long years flowed by like water, and generation after generation of Stone Clan members fell on the battlefield. Now, the once glorious Stone Clan is withered and desolate. All the powerful members have perished, leaving only a mere thousand people, barely clinging to life in a corner of the Imperial City. This is only because some in the higher echelons, remembering past ties, have secretly and diligently protected them. Otherwise, the Stone Clan would probably have been wiped out long ago, disappearing into the annals of history.

"Master, am I really a descendant of sinners?" After hearing Shi Yu's words, the little boy's small body trembled slightly. He raised his head and looked at Jiang Han, his clear eyes filled with unease and confusion. He didn't understand why he had to endure so much suffering and injustice just because of a surname.

"Of course not." Jiang Han gently picked up the little one, reached out and tenderly pinched his cheek, his eyes filled with affection: "Remember, you are not the descendant of sinners, you are the pride of the Stone Clan, the hope for the future."

"Then what's with the 'sin' character on my forehead?" The little boy pouted, pointed to his brow, and asked in confusion. The red 'sin' character was still shining, as if mocking his identity.

"This is not a symbol of sin and blood; it represents glory and honor." Jiang Han smiled gently, his eyes filled with determination. "It is the supreme honor that your ancestors earned by slaying countless alien creatures on the battlefield to protect this land and the billions of lives behind them. It was only later that it was slandered by villains and became the so-called symbol of sin and blood."

"Glory and honor?" Upon hearing Jiang Han's words, the old man beside him frowned slightly, a hint of doubt and expectation flashing in his eyes: "Do you know about the events of that year? What exactly happened in the old case of our Stone Clan? Was it really a case of being slandered?" This question had troubled generations of the Stone Clan. They had tried countless times to clear their names, but all their attempts ended in failure. Now, hearing Jiang Han's words, a glimmer of hope rekindled in the old man's heart.

A deafening roar suddenly echoed from the distant horizon, as if a vast army was approaching. Looking up, everyone saw one ferocious bird or beast after another, their wings outstretched, circling overhead. They were enormous, blotting out the sun and casting long shadows. On the backs of these beasts sat powerful knights clad in black armor, their eyes cold and radiating a chilling killing intent; clearly, their intentions were hostile.

In no time, these powerful knights descended upon the small Stone Clan tribe like a dark cloud looming over the city, completely surrounding the entire tribe. Their movements were perfectly synchronized and filled with a chilling aura, making the already tense atmosphere even more oppressive. The Stone Clan villagers turned pale, huddled together tightly, their eyes filled with fear.

"A Jin family enforcer!" Upon recognizing the attire and badge of the newcomer, Shi Tian's expression changed drastically. A hint of despair flashed in his eyes, and at the same time, his aura rapidly surged to its peak, his divine power surging wildly within him, ready for battle at any moment. He knew that what was bound to happen had finally arrived; the Jin family's revenge had come even faster than he had imagined.

The leader of this group of knights appeared to be very young, around twenty years old, with a pale complexion that was almost sickly, as if he had never seen the sun. Although he was a man, he had a very effeminate appearance; his lips were a pale purple, and his eyes held a hint of malice and arrogance, giving off an unsettling feeling.

He sat atop a massive Southern Fire Rhinoceros, an extraordinary mount engulfed in blazing Southern Fire, its body radiating purple aura and exuding a powerful aura—clearly a rare and sacred ancient beast. Each breath of the Southern Fire Rhinoceros carried an intense heat, making the surrounding air scorching.

"Why don't you accept the decree issued by my Jin family!" The young man at the head of the group, Jin Zhifei, stared at Shi Tian with a cold gaze like a venomous snake. His chilling voice carried undisguised killing intent: "Does your Shi clan intend to openly defy the law? Or do you think that having a powerful backer means you can disregard my Jin family?" His gaze swept over Jiang Han and his group, his eyes filled with disdain and provocation.

"My son is exceptionally gifted, a prodigy rarely seen in ten thousand years. He will reach the Supreme Realm within a thousand years and will surely become a pillar protecting the borderlands!" Meeting Jin Zhifei's gaze, Shi Tian showed no fear, only intense resentment and anger: "Yet you want him to go to a battlefield of life and death at such a tender age of ten? What is the meaning of this? And who issued such an absurd decree!" His voice boomed like thunder, echoing throughout the tribe. (End of Chapter)