The soft fragrance of moon-lotus incense lingered in the air as Shen Yuan sat beside his mother in the courtyard. The morning sun spilled through the cloud-covered sky, casting shimmering rays over the ancient pavilions of the Shen Clan.
For the first time since awakening, he felt a trace of peace—yet a storm brewed quietly within him.
A deep voice suddenly broke the silence.
"So, you've finally awakened, my son."
The words carried a pressure that made the very air tremble. Shen Yuan turned, and the man approaching radiated an aura so vast that the surrounding Qi bent to his will. His long white robes fluttered lightly, embroidered with runes of gold and azure. His sharp eyes, the same gem-blue hue as Shen Yuan's, seemed to pierce through truth itself.
"Father…" Shen Yuan bowed instinctively, memories from both his lives colliding inside his mind. Shen Wuxian — Patriarch of the Shen Clan, one of the Eight Ancient Clans of the Azure Wave World.
Wuxian studied him quietly. "Your body… it no longer carries the taint of death Qi. The curse that plagued your meridians—how?"
Shen Yuan hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "When I awakened, the curse was burned away by a… new force within me. I don't fully understand it yet, but it feels as though the heavens themselves has rewritten inside my veins."
A faint frown crossed Wuxian's face. "To erase a forbidden curse… only something beyond the Dao could manage that." His gaze softened. "Perhaps fate decided to return what it had stolen from you."
Yuan's lips curved into a bitter smile. If only you knew, Father… that fate itself is the enemy.
Wuxian's expression hardened. "Yuan'er, you've been gone two years, your name whispered with both sorrow and hope. But while you slept, the world did not. The Bai Clan has already announced the date of your duel with their so-called genius—Xiao Chen."
Shen Yuan's fingers clenched. The name echoed like a bell of irony. "I remember father. Three months remain."
His father nodded gravely. "That duel cannot be avoided. The Bai Clan's honor and ours are intertwined. Win—and the Shen name soars once more. Lose—and they will brand you the fallen heir who destroyed our prestige."
Silence hung between them, broken only by the whispering wind.
Shen Yuan finally asked, "Father, tell me truly—what was that curse? Why did even you and the elders fail to purge it?"
Wuxian's eyes darkened, ancient sorrow flickering within. "It was not a mortal curse. When you were born, the heavens trembled. The Five Elemental Eyes re-appeared after a million years, and the Celestial Dao itself marked you, we don't know the origin of curse but it definitely doesn't come from our world. We tried every method—elixirs, soul cleansing, divine talismans—but the death Qi never completely disappeared. Until that night so you chose to go into the seclusion for a breakthrough.
He paused, his voice thick with guilt. "I failed as both a Patriarch and a father."
"Don't," Shen Yuan said softly, stepping closer. "That curse was a chain—and I've already broken it."
A faint smile broke across Wuxian's face. "You sound different, Yuan'er. There's a fire in your words I've never heard before."
"Maybe I finally understand what it means to live," Shen Yuan replied, his tone calm but resolute.
Wuxian chuckled lowly, a proud warmth hidden in his voice. "Then show me, my son. The clan whispers that you've regained your strength—prove it to me."
Shen Yuan blinked. "You want to spar? Now?"
A grin ghosted across his father's lips. "A Patriarch must know the power of his heir. Don't hold back."
They moved to the courtyard's center. Energy swirled as father and son faced each other, two divine figures standing amidst blooming spirit lotuses.
"Begin," Wuxian said simply.
Shen Yuan drew a deep breath. Qi erupted from his core—elemental currents intertwined with streaks of lightning and flame, shaking the ground beneath their feet. His azure eyes gleamed, runes spinning like galaxies.
Wuxian's expression sharpened. "So… this is your new power."
He raised a single palm, and the sky darkened. He is a Emperor realm cultivator He can't go all out on his son so he only released the pressure of a Heavenly Soul realm cultivator which filled the air, enough to crush weaker men outright.
But Shen Yuan didn't flinch. He stepped forward, fist crackling with thunder-infused flame, and struck.
The impact sent shockwaves through the courtyard, splitting the stone tiles beneath them. Dust and light exploded outward in a brilliant storm.
When it cleared, Wuxian stood untouched—yet his eyes betrayed astonishment. "Resonant Core realm already… and that purity of Qi… This surpasses even my expectations."
Shen Yuan steadied his breath, a faint smile curling at his lips. "Whose son do you think I am?"
Wuxian's laughter echoed across the courtyard, filled with both pride and sorrow. "Good Good Heaven blesses my Shen Family, Haaa Haaa Haaah, The Whole Azure Wave will once more know the name of the Shen clan."
As his father turned away, Shen Yuan looked up at the sky, the azure mark between his brows faintly pulsing.
"Three months…" he whispered. "Heaven's chosen or not—I'll rewrite your fate Xiao Chen"
And somewhere, far beyond the clouds, the Dao itself stirred in silent unease.