Alright, **readers**, let's talk about birthdays.
For normal kids, a birthday means **cake, gifts, and maybe some hugs**.
For me?
It means **hell.**
Why? Because my father—**Luo Tian, the walking nightmare**—said so.
---
### **The Test of Blood**
The morning of my **fourth birthday**, I woke up to the sound of **drums.**
No, not the happy, celebratory kind.
The kind that **announces war.**
I was dressed in **black ceremonial robes** and escorted outside. **Hundreds** of Luo family members had gathered in the courtyard, standing in silence.
In front of me?
A massive **stone platform** stained with **dried blood.**
And standing in the center was **Luo Tian.**
"Today marks the coming-of-age trial for my ninth son," he announced. His voice **boomed** across the courtyard. "He has trained. He has killed. But today, he will prove his worth."
*Oh great, another impossible test.*
I sighed. "And what exactly do I have to do this time?"
Luo Tian's lips curled into a **dark smirk**.
"Simple," he said. "Win."
He stepped aside, revealing a **giant iron gate** behind him.
The chains **rattled**. The doors slowly creaked open.
And then—
A **shadow** lunged forward.
---
### **The Opponent: A Blood-Horned Beast**
Out came a **Blood-Horned Beast**, standing over **two meters tall**, with crimson fur and **razor-sharp tusks.** Its eyes gleamed with **pure bloodlust.**
I heard whispers from the crowd.
"This is insane! That's a peak **Qi Gathering**-stage beast!"
"Even grown warriors struggle against it!"
"Is the patriarch really expecting a four-year-old to fight that thing?!"
I let out a slow breath, cracking my knuckles.
Let's be real, readers—**this isn't my first life-or-death battle.**
But fighting a beast at **Qi Gathering Stage** when I'm still in **Body Tempering?**
Yeah, even I knew this was going to be a problem.
---
### **The Battle Begins!**
The **beast roared**, slamming its massive hooves against the ground, **shaking the entire platform.**
I had **one second** to react.
I dodged to the side just as its tusks **gored through the ground**, shattering stone like it was paper.
This thing wasn't just strong—it was **fast.**
I tried to counterattack, launching a **palm strike at its ribs**.
**BOOM!**
The impact barely made it flinch.
*Crap.*
I needed more power.
---
### **The Earth-Shattering Awakening**
I stepped back, breathing heavily. My body was **strong**, but this beast was on a **different level.**
Then I remembered what my father said.
*"Survive it. Endure it. Then break past your limits."*
I clenched my fists.
The Earth-Shattering Hand wasn't just about brute strength.
It was about **understanding destruction itself.**
I closed my eyes. **Focused.**
I could feel it—the **rhythm of energy**, the flow of **power beneath my skin.**
The beast lunged again, its **tusks aiming straight for my heart.**
This time, I didn't dodge.
I **stepped forward.**
The world **slowed down.**
I **raised my palm** and struck—**not against the beast's body, but against the air itself.**
**BOOOOOOM!**
A **shockwave erupted**, splitting the ground, sending the beast flying backward.
The entire courtyard fell into **silence.**
Luo Tian's eyes widened—just **slightly.**
I smirked.
"Guess I win."
---
### **The Aftermath**
The beast was **unconscious**, blood leaking from its ears.
The elders stared at me like I was a **demon in human skin.**
And my father?
He simply nodded. "Not bad."
*Not bad?!*
I just pulled off something that **no other child in history** had done, and all I got was **"not bad"?**
I sighed. "So… what now?"
Luo Tian turned away. "Now, you grow stronger. This was only the beginning."
The **beginning?**
Oh boy. **Here we go again.**
---
### **Ending Hook**
Zin has conquered his **coming-of-age trial**, proving himself before the entire Luo family.
But what new challenges await him now that he has truly stepped into the world of martial arts?
Find out in **Chapter 12: The Invitation!**