The majestic man waved his hand, and space itself rippled. A dark tunnel tore open in front of them, its edges shimmering like fractured glass. He gently took Kai by the arm—his grip firm but not forceful.
Then, with a single slow step into the tunnel, both of them vanished. The moment their feet crossed the threshold, the world blurred; in the blink of an eye, the warped passage carried them elsewhere.
Kai found himself standing in a grand hall. Golden patterns shimmered along the marble walls, and a faint floral scent drifted through the air.
Before them hung a massive painting of a woman in flowing green robes. Vines bloomed around her figure, and she brushed the petals with delicate fingers. Her eyes were breathtaking—so deep and vivid that it felt as if entire worlds were hidden behind them.
The moment Kai met her painted gaze, something inside him tightened. His heart throbbed painfully, as though an old wound had been touched. Tears welled up and slipped down his cheeks before he even realized they had formed. He didn't understand why a painting could evoke such a reaction… only that the feeling was overwhelming and real.
The man turned to Kai."Do you remember anything?"
Kai's voice trembled."You're wrong. I'm not your son."
His tone was quiet, as if he feared his own words. But the man's gaze softened rather than hardened.
"My son died ten years ago—or so I believed." He paused, looking directly into Kai's eyes. "Yet the soul lamp belongs to you. Ten years ago, it went out. Today, it lit again. I've never heard of such a thing. A soul is unique… it cannot be replaced."
Kai swallowed."I'm sorry, but I'm not your son. I came from another place—another world."
The man froze for a heartbeat—then suddenly began to laugh. Loudly.
Kai stared, dumbfounded. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything. Did he lose his mind when he realized his son truly died?
But the laughter stopped abruptly.
The man's expression grew serious. Kai's heart tightened.
"Another world…" he murmured. "Then you must have suffered greatly. Like someone cursed."
His voice dropped to a whisper, barely audible "Unloved. Unaccepted. The laws of that universe moving to erase you… to destroy your soul. Never to return. Divine blood abandoned. How cruel…"
Kai couldn't understand all of it—but he grasped enough to feel uneasy.
He clenched his fists "I'm twelve, you said your son died ten years ago. I was born in that world. So… what are you saying?"
The man scoffed lightly.
"Do you think ten years here equals ten years there? Let me guess—your world had no magic? No power? Life was harsh, wasn't it? And it would have grown worse. Had you lived to thirty, the universe itself would have crushed you. Despite being reborn, it would never tolerate you."
He fell silent, lost in thought.
"But that still doesn't explain it," he muttered. "A reborn soul changes. The lamp shouldn't have reacted."
Kai stood quietly, remembering all the hardships of his past life. The betrayals. The loneliness.
Was that the universe rejecting me? No… impossible.
He tried to speak "Um… sir…?"
The man looked at him again.
"I don't understand the full truth yet. But the lamp proves this—you carry my son's soul. A soul imprinted by mine and by your mother's. No matter how much you deny it."
"You may not remember me or your mother. But you are my son. And I will not allow anyone to harm you again. Those who attempted your execution did not see my true face—nor will they remember you. I altered their memories."
His expression hardened.
"Now that I've found you, I will search for your mother. You deserve both of us. You deserve a peaceful life."
He exhaled, weary.
"Because you lived in a world with no energy, your ability to cultivate has been stripped. You cannot become powerful—or immortal. But I will make sure your life is happy. And I pray your mother may have a way for you to cultivate again. This world values strength, not morality."
He turned and waved his hand.
A dark tunnel appeared, space twisting. At the other end stood a humble courtyard where two old men played chess.
With a single step, they crossed the void.
The two elders leapt to their feet "Your Highness—!"
The man raised his hand.
"I found him, My son."
The elders trembled, their eyes reddening.
"But… surely…"
He revealed the damaged lamp. The elder with the long white beard gasped.
"A miracle… the heavens are not heartless!"
The man—Ren Valemont—gently placed a hand on Kai's shoulder.
"From now on, you will live here. These two uncles will watch over you. My name is Ren Valemont. And from this day, you are Kai Valemont."
He left to speak with the elders, a barrier blocking their words.
One of the old men guided Kai to a modest room.
"Young prince, this will be your chamber. If you require anything—"
He turned to leave, hesitated, and looked back.
"You may feel lost or overwhelmed. But His Highness…" His voice cracked. "You mean the world to him and the mistress. Their love for you is… beyond words."
Kai entered the room and closed the door gently.
His head spun.It was too much for a twelve-year-old to grasp.
A new beginning… he whispered in his mind.
Night fell.
At dinner, he had learned of cultivation—of absorbing the world's energy, tempering the body, and gaining power. But he also learned that he could not cultivate anymore.
He stared at the moon through the window.
He had been powerless on Earth.
And here, too… powerless.
His heart resisted.
He couldn't accept it.