Three days passed
At night, at the outskirts of the Xuexin Empire, a lone figure stood among the trees. A ragged cloth hung loosely over his upper body, shadowing his face. Only his eyes, cold, sharp, detached, reflected the distant glow of the imperial lights
' He's still here ' Callion sensed it clearly ' After slaughtering the others… he still dared to return ' His lips curved slightly, not in anger, but contempt ' Typical '
He moved, melting into the forest, using shadows and terrain as if they were extensions of his body ' The guard presence has increased '
He didn't slow down, getting close to the empire wall as he avoided the gates ' I don't need to fight any of these weaklings, let's ignore them for now ' A single leap carried him over the massive wall. He landed soundlessly atop it and looked down at the illuminated empire below
' He's not in the palace ' Callion realized, his senses stretched even farther, sensing even energies of various elders of different sects ' There are at least a dozen annoyances I'd rather not waste time on '
*SWOOSH* He vanished, reappearing across rooftops, shifting directions whenever a dangerous presence drew near. To ordinary eyes, he was just a shadow
Minutes later, he stopped near a large compound, encircled by tall walls and a manicured garden within
Callion scoffed quietly ' The Old man knows how to live comfortably, as it seems ' He vaulted the wall and descended into the garden
At its center sat Elder Qiu, cross-legged, immersed in meditation. A thin, refined white aura surrounded him
Callion frowned, and before he could speak, Elder Qiu's voice emerged calmly, without opening his eyes " I knew you would come "
Elder Qiu stood, hands clasped behind his back, as his aura faded naturally, like mist under the sun
" You've grown stronger again " He said, studying Callion " Otherwise, you wouldn't have dared to return. Still… It's insufficient "
Callion's jaw tightened
" In fifty years " Elder Qiu continued evenly " You might reach a level where your rage could be satiated "
Callion clenched his fists as he said angrily " I didn't come to hear you talk about the obvious, Old man "
Elder Qiu met his gaze, unbothered " I don't accept disciples. Leave "
A sharp snort escaped from Callion's mouth " I didn't come for that either " he said coldly " Besides, whatever you could teach me would be a waste of my time if not useless "
Elder Qiu's lips curved faintly, not amused, not insulted " Oh? " He said " Then why come at all? " He paused, eyes narrowing just enough " To find a way to run back with your family, perhaps? Even exiles grow tired of solitude "
Callion's aura stirred violently " Don't play with me "
For the first time, Elder Qiu saw something raw flicker behind Callion's eyes, not longing, but contempt
" I'm not stupid enough to wish that " Callion continued, voice low and cold " I want to know how strong they are. That's all. And you… You seem to know too much about them "
Silence stretched. And a couple of seconds later, Elder Qiu finally nodded " Then we are alike " He said " Angered beings without the power to do anything "
Callion laughed bitterly " You don't have the strength? " He stepped forward " You're the strongest person I've fought. And you're telling me you can't even pass their guards? "
Elder Qiu didn't flinch " That's right " He met Callion's gaze squarely " I couldn't scratch your father "
Callion stiffened
" Your father is a Spiritual Emperor, and your mother its an Spiritual Empress " Elder Qiu continued " A few of the top remaining. And your grandfather… " He paused. " …is something else entirely "
Callion's fists trembled
" You're in the Spiritual Body Transformation Realm " Elder Qiu said calmly " And with that technique of yours, you can go even above your level. But the gap between those realms and yours isn't something you could achieve; you are young and arrogant, a suicidal idiot who didn't think of the consequences when he revealed himself to the world "
Callion swallowed his fury " And the old bastard? " He asked " How strong is he? "
Elder Qiu closed his eyes " No one knows. He entered seclusion more than two decades ago. Even then, he was a Spiritual Emperor in the Supreme State as strong as your father is now "
Callion turned away, nails digging into his palms, feeling pure anger and frustration ' Damn it, I need power. Faster ' He took a step to leave
" Wait " Elder Qiu sighed softly " I believe we can be useful to each other "
Callion glanced back, eyes sharp, and with a mocking grin, he said " You already said you don't take disciples "
" You want to learn? " Elder Qiu responded with the same grin, but Callion snorted and turned again
Then Elder Qiu said " Have you ever been to the Delan Continent? " Callion stopped again as Elder Qiu continued, voice steady " Your family originates there. The spiritual energy there is purer than anywhere else. But that is not only why they stand where they do. They have other means to grow stronger "
Callion faced him fully now " If you know that method " He asked " Why haven't you used it? "
" Because I can't " Elder Qiu opened his eyes " Only the members of the Imperial bloodline can open the gate to that place "
Understanding dawned slowly as Callion frowned, weighing the information. And Shallot's words echoed in his mind ' Cultivation methods are meaningless to us as their training methods '
But he needs to take the risk, there is no time to doubt " …Alright," Callion said finally " You've earned my attention "
Elder Qiu nodded once " We can leave immediately. But if you intend to challenge the Imperial family— "
" I don't want help " Callion interrupted " I'll deal with them myself when the time comes "
" I know " Elder Qiu replied calmly " But they won't honor your pride. They will overwhelm you with everything they have "
Callion remained silent. " You think you don't require allies " Elder Qiu concluded. " But you need them to succeed "
After a long moment, Callion nodded "…Fine "
Elder Qiu turned and leapt toward the wall, Callion followed after, and both dissapered into the night sky
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Far from the Empire's bustle, within a secluded compound, a spacious chamber lay bathed in soft lantern light. The room was refined yet restrained, clearly a place meant for difficult conversations rather than comfort
Three figures sat facing one another: an old man, a middle-aged man, and a young woman
The old man was Wang Yong, his posture straight despite his age. The middle-aged man was Ying Shen, his expression calm but rigid, as if holding back a storm. And beside him sat Ying Jie, her hands clenched tightly in her lap, eyes fixed on her father
Silence lingered for several breaths when Ying Shen finally spoke, his voice even " First… how is your sister, Jie'er? "
Ying Jie stiffened. Her eyes widened before she lowered her head, shame evident in her posture " I… I don't know, Father " She said quietly " Before coming here, I went to see her, but she was already gone. No one noticed when she left, not even the palace guards "
Ying Shen rose slowly and walked toward the window. Moonlight illuminated half his face, casting the other into shadow " I see " He murmured " It was inevitable. I thought… she would do it sooner "
His fingers tightened slightly against the window frame. Ying Jie bit her lip, frustration bubbling over " I warned you " She said sharply, lifting her head " I told you I loved Wang Jun, yet you chose her instead "
Ying Shen turned back, his gaze calm but distant " It was Wang Jun who asked for her hand " He replied " Not yours "
His words struck her like cold water as Ying Jie's nails dug into her palms
Before she could speak again, Wang Yong cleared his throat and stood " Enough " He said firmly " You can discuss this matter later; I need to know everything from that day "
Ying Shen inclined his head slightly " Elder Yong " He said " What you're asking of me could place my entire family in danger. It could make us appear hostile—not only to you, but to the other elders as well "
Wang Yong's expression hardened " I understand the weight of this " He replied " You have my word. Nothing you say will leave this room, except the method you used to know when they arrived."
Ying Shen studied him in silence for several seconds. Then he exhaled slowly
" Very well " He said " Two hundred years ago, the Ying Family lived on the Shang Continent. At the time, our strength far surpassed what it is now " Both Wang Yong and Ying Jie stiffened
" We were not equals to the Imperial Family of that continent " Ying Shen continued " But we were acknowledged as an outstanding clan "
Wang Yong's eyes narrowed " The Shang Continent " He said slowly " It possesses spiritual energy second only to the Delan Continent. That means your family was a true powerhouse "
Ying Shen nodded " Until someone came… for my granduncle " The air in the room changed instantly.
" …Just like Chen Kai " Ying Shen added quietly
" What?! " Wang Yong rose abruptly
Ying Jie's face drained of color, memories of Chen Kai's ruthless slaughter flashing through her mind
Ying Shen did not pause " My father once told me that the lives of my grandmother and granduncle were never meant to be what they became. Back then, our family was divided into two branches—those 'blessed by the heavens'… and those born to serve them "
Wang Yong's gaze darkened " That kind of hierarchy still exists today " He said " Let me guess—your grandmother and granduncle belonged to the latter "
" Yes " Ying Shen replied " The turning point came when the patriarch's son attempted to r*pe my grandmother "
Ying Jie gasped softly
" My granduncle intervened " Ying Shen continued " He injured the patriarch's son. For that… the patriarch crippled his cultivation and severed all four of his limbs "
Wang Yong clenched his jaw
" My grandmother was devastated. She wanted to end her life for the pain she brought her dear brother, but my granduncle stopped her "
Silence weighed heavily
" A few days later, my granduncle disappeared " Ying Shen said " My grandmother searched for him frantically, until the patriarch's son told her he had him. He promised she would see him again… if she married him "
Wang Yong's voice was low " That was a lie "
" Yes " Ying Shen said " But at the time, she had no other choice but to believe it "
Ying Jie covered her mouth in horror " My grandmother married him. Years passed. She gave birth to my father… yet my granduncle never appeared. She believed he was still imprisoned "
Ying Jie's voice trembled " That man… was my great-grandfather? "
" Do not call him that " Ying Shen said sharply " Your great-grandmother was deceived " Ying Jie nodded slowly, swallowing her revulsion
" When my father was one year old " Ying Shen continued " My granduncle returned "
He paused
" He was no longer broken. His limbs were restored. His presence… overwhelming. In less than an hour, he annihilated the patriarch, his children, and the entire heavenly branch. Not even their descendants were spared "
Wang Yong and Ying Jie stared at him in disbelief
" A single man " Ying Shen said quietly " Ended a family that ruled the Shang Continent "
Wang Yong inhaled sharply " His strength " He said slowly " Must have surpassed even Chen Kai's. Tell me, did he turn golden? "
Ying Shen shook his head " I don't know. My grandmother never told my father the details. Only that he stayed with her until the Ying Family fled the continent "
He paused
" He even tried to teach her his techniques. She couldn't learn them—but she learned something else "
" …She learned to sense him " Wang Yong muttered.
His eyes widened slightly. That explains it.
He glanced at Ying Jie, then back at Ying Shen.
' It's the bloodline? ' Wang Yong thought ' It's why no one can replicate their techniques? Or it's something else. That raises even more questions. How many of them have appeared since the Golden Tyran? It has been five hundred years since then, we know nothing of the other continents' history... damn '
He looked directly at Ying Shen " The day Shallot appeared " He said " You sensed him before anyone else. Didn't you? "
" Yes " Ying Shen replied " And others as well. Days in advance. I tried to have Ying Yue learn from him, but he refused. They are here only for specific people "
" Chen Kai " Wang Yong said.
" Yes "
Ying Jie stared at her father in disbelief " You… you tried to give him my sister?"
Wang Yong raised a hand gently, silencing her " Then answer me this," he said to Ying Shen " Can you teach this sensing method to me, or to your daughter? "
Ying Shen hesitated only briefly
" I could but... " he said " It took me years without guidance. With them present… months should be enough "
Wang Yong smiled faintly ' Even if I can't learn it… she can '
" Little Shen " he said warmly " Teach us "
Ying Jie straightened, determination replacing shock " Yes " she said " Please do so, Father "
The pieces were finally falling into place—and for the first time, the heavens were smiling at them