Now... three years have passed — since the night that changed everything.
Since the blood of his parents soaked the ground, since fire and lightning tore apart the sky, and since he fell to his knees in the rain, clutching the jade artifact he could never understand.
Now, morning blankets the mountain forest east of the old sect ruins.
The air is damp, the sound of insects echoes through the underbrush. Mist hangs low among the tall pine trunks.
Hun Yao roamed with his horse. He had become a nameless wanderer, wearing worn-out clothes and a conical straw hat that shaded part of his face.
In the past two years, he had faced countless threats and gained experience, yet his cultivation level had never advanced.
He looked at his palm.
"For the past two years I've trained so hard," he muttered softly.
He clenched his fist.
"But why can't I advance…? I can't even use Spiritual Qi at all."
He looked up at the gray sky.
Rain began to fall, soaking his body. With a heavy voice he murmured,
"Why… does the rain always come whenever I feel lost…"
Yet, even beneath the gloomy clouds, a single star still shone beyond.
The sound of his horse's steps echoed softly between the pattering rain and muddy ground.
But within the thickening mist, a faint shadow appeared among the trees.
Hun Yao pulled the reins. His horse stopped.
Silence fell. His ears caught the faint whistle of the wind — carrying the scent of metal and killing intent.
"Nine of them…" Hun Yao thought. "Three to the right, five to the left… that means two more are—"
Before he could finish counting, two figures lunged — one from the front, one from behind!
By reflex, he leapt upward.
But from behind the trees, five blades of Qi shot toward him.
He managed to draw his sword and deflect three strikes. Two got through — one slicing his neck, the other piercing his left arm.
"Khugh!" Hun Yao staggered and fell.
Without groaning, he forced himself up, blood dripping from his arm. His eyes widened — his horse had collapsed, two blades embedded in its body.
"They… killed my horse first… so I can't escape," he realized.
He tried to grab his sword again, but his neck and arm began to go numb.
"Paralyzing poison… their Qi blades must've been coated," he thought, gasping. "I can't breathe properly… and I can barely move…"
"I have to retreat. I can't fight them like this."
He took his sword and turned around — only to find five men blocking his path.
One of them stepped forward.
"Where do you think you're going? What a pity… your journey ends here."
Hun Yao gritted his teeth. "Tch… damn it. In that case… I'll fight."
He steadied himself, trembling but still standing tall.
"You still want to resist? How ironic," said a burly man carrying two axes on his back. He smirked.
"Fight me instead. If you win, I'll let you go."
The hunter drew one of his axes and walked toward Hun Yao.
"A duel, huh? Fine… I'll entertain you," Hun Yao replied, steadying his breath.
He thought quickly, He's probably at the second level of the Awakened Veins realm. In my condition, there's no chance I can win.
The man stepped forward — his axe glowing with the Qi aura of level two, Awakened Veins Realm.
Hun Yao knew: even at his best, this would be tough. Now, half paralyzed, it was nearly impossible.
The first swing came down toward his shoulder. Hun Yao blocked it but was driven five steps back.
The second swing came from below, aimed at his abdomen. He leapt, spun midair, and slashed from the side — but the man easily parried, slammed his axe into the ground, and sent a burst of mud flying.
Hun Yao was thrown back. Blood spilled from his mouth.
"That's it? How disappointing," said the man, tossing his axe upward and catching it again.
With heavy breaths, Hun Yao stood up. "It's… not over yet."
As the man prepared to finish him with a vertical strike to the heart—
Craaaack!
A blue light tore through the air. A sharp ringing sound burst from within Hun Yao's body.
The jade cup artifact in his storage pouch trembled violently, releasing a blinding blue light through his clothes.
Hun Yao's eyes widened. His breath was drawn out of this world. His vision blurred — consciousness pulled into a void.
The light entered his body — and in an instant, his eyes gleamed with radiant blue!
The wind stopped.
The sky roared.
Rain reversed its fall, spiraling toward Hun Yao's body.
The man with the axe froze. "W-What is this…"
Hun Yao raised his hand. The raindrops around him lifted into the air, forming a massive vortex.
His sword floated beside him without touch.
"He's… not himself…" one of the hunters whispered.
With a single gesture, Hun Yao hurled the vortex like a giant spear.
It pierced through the air and exploded, flinging the axeman dozens of meters away into a tree — his body limp and unmoving.
The other hunters panicked.
"Quick! Kill him before—"
Swoooosh!
Hun Yao moved his hand. Ten blades of water materialized midair, shooting forth with deadly precision. Two hunters fell instantly, three more severely wounded.
Two remaining hunters leapt from the trees, chains and throwing knives ready.
Hun Yao turned — his glowing eyes brighter than ever. He raised his hand, and the ground beneath them burst into liquid water.
They lost their footing, falling into the swirling current.
He danced in the rain — as if one with the heavens.
His body moved with power not his own. Every motion brought destruction. Every step shook the world.
The hunters fought desperately, but their efforts were useless. Their Qi burned away by the water filled with pure spiritual energy.
Moments later, only Hun Yao remained — standing amid blood and mud.
The blue light in his eyes faded. His breathing grew heavy. His body trembled.
"W-What… was that… just now…"
The pain of his wounds returned. His shoulder torn, his arm bleeding, his left leg twisted — yet his gaze stayed fixed on the now silent sky.
The jade artifact in his pouch glowed one last time… then went quiet.
Hun Yao smiled faintly.
"So… I'm still alive after all."
But as he took one step forward—
Thud!
He collapsed. His body hit the wet ground, motionless.
Rain fell again, washing away the traces of battle — as if the heavens themselves wished to conceal the truth of that night.
Footsteps echoed, splashing through the puddles.
Hun Yao slightly opened his eyes and saw a figure approaching, but his vision blurred — his strength was gone.
He fainted amidst the downpour.
The figure stopped beside him, reaching for the jade artifact.
But as his fingers touched it, an overwhelming aura burst forth — throwing him back several steps.
Stroking his beard, the man muttered,
"It seems… this artifact came from the Upper Realm."
He placed a pill beside Hun Yao, then slowly raised his hand.
An unexpected phenomenon occurred — the falling rain froze midair, unmoving.
He clenched his fist, and the raindrops vanished instantly, along with the dark clouds that fled as if in fear.
He stopped, gazed up at the sky, and said softly,
"What a fortunate child."
Then he vanished — without wind, without sound.