Han Xing placed the spoon back on the table and sat up straight to listen.
"I have considered your situation, the methods I know, and the treasures I had at hand. Your origin, even your root was stripped out. In other words, your very body and being is incomplete, even lesser than a complete mortal."
Han Xing nodded, already understanding the point.
"Perhaps an Immortal could give and replace what was missing inside you. But unfortunately those methods are far from me. Even at my previous peak, I am a great realm from reaching that threshold. And now I have lost my cultivation over the past hundreds of years…" Han Yang sighed with deep regret.
"I can give you a chance at rebirth… but you will no longer be completely human." Han Yang's voice turned serious.
"What do you mean, dad?" Han Xing remained calm, and was not afraid in the slightest.
"The origin and essence of life you had lost cannot be replenished by normal means. The pieces that were missing were too deep. However, I can help you achieve rebirth through a complete transformation."
Han Yang took out a box from his spatial ring, and inside laid an inconspicuous seed.
"This is the seed of Sacred Heart Willow. Hundreds of years ago, I defeated a transformed demonic plant spirit, and this was left behind. It could germinate and grow into the same spiritual plant that had the potential of an Immortal grade spiritual plant. The seed will take root in the void of your body, rooting itself in your dantian, and fusing with your body, and achieve transformation."
Han Yang explained in one breath. His words were shaky at the end, afraid Han Xing would refuse his outrageous method of turning human to non human. But instead of rejection, Han Xing only nodded.
"I understand…" After a second, Han Xing gave a resolute answer.
"I am willing, dad. Even if I would not become a human."
"Son… are you really, sure?" Han Yang felt his heart palpitating. He couldn't believe how easily Han Xing accepted his proposal.
"Yes. I am sure dad. Besides, I believe I will always be me. And I trust you know what you are doing, dad." Han Xing's voice was filled with trust, as if he would accept whatever Han Yang would do even if it meant turning him into a half human half demonic plant being.
"Son. I will not fail you. Come with me. I already prepared a secluded place far from here."
Han Xing nodded and went out with him.
Han Yang placed his hand around Han Xing's shoulder, and taking a step, he crossed thousands of miles to a desolate mountain.
Han Xing felt dizzy for a few seconds, but also was in awe of his dad's miraculous abilities. He knew his dad was extraordinary but he barely showcased it at home.
Han Yang led Han Xing to the center of a formation. Runes marked the ground, array plates and formation flags surrounded the area with Han Xing in the centre.
"Son, once you take this pill, I will immediately activate the formation and use the Demon Incarnation Technique to fuse you with the origin of Sacred Heart Willow." Han Yang's expression was serious and solemn.
Han Xing nodded. "I am ready, dad."
"Good. Then, let's begin."
Han Xing swallowed the pill. As it went down his stomach, it turned into a strange sense of warmth pooling in his abdomen, and then it spread throughout his entire body, turning them really hot.
The heat turned even hotter, as if it was slowly burning him inside out. His body trembled, sweat broke out from his entire body.
"Hold on…!" Han Yang shouted. He waved his hands, and the 5 Elements Heavenly Qi Gathering Formation activated, the surrounded chi from 1000 miles from the center gathered, forming a vortex of chi so dense it condensed into golden droplets emitting hazy light.
Another formation juxtaposed activated, the Yin and Yang Overturning formation lit up. A golden beam shot up right to the sky. Celestial phenomena of revolving Sun and Moon appeared, shocking the entire Black Desolate realm.
"Heavens! Is this a sign of unparalleled treasure appearing in the world?!" The various parties in the black desolate realm turned their gaze towards the beam of light and the phenomena in the sky.
"This aura… is it someone breaking through the Nascent Soul realm?! Is it the Sword God, or is it the Red Demon?!" An old monster pried his coffin open sensing the fluctuation in the sky, shock filled his heart.
Many cultivators of different realms, from Qi Gathering to the top powerhouses of the realm in Peak of Golden core rushed to the area, all wanting to capture the opportunity that appeared.
But as they approached the place, they were shocked to see a golden thick barrier formation, blocking them from passing through.
A cyan light flashed in the sky, arriving at lighting speed in front of the golden shield. His sharp eyes look with scrutiny at the barrier. His hand unsheathed the sword on his waist.
Everyone around him shouted in exclamation.
"It's the ancestor of the Thousand Sword Sect, the Sword God! To think one of the strongest powerhouses of this realm is here…!"
Ji Long unleashed his aura at Peak of Golden Core, sending gusts of wind and sharp aura that caused all swords and weapons carried by thousands of cultivators in the vicinity to tremble.
"1000 Swords Returning to One!"
Ji Long raised his blade, 1000 blades made of spiritual light conjured in the sky, circling like a raging dragon above the barrier.
As Ji Long slashed his sword, the 1000 blades all converged, turning into a giant thousand meter blue light.
The light landed on the barrier, creating a massive explosion of light that blinded everyone on scene. Those of lower cultivation had their eyes bleed, their bodies losing strength and fell from the sky from being affected by the sheer leftover power of the attack.
As the light settled, Ji Long's expression turned from surprise to solemnity. The golden barrier remained intact, as if it had not been touched by even the wind.
From silence, came shock and disbelief.
Some said it was an immortal treasure or a secret realm. Some said it was an old monster that never appeared in the world.
While the world was in shock, Han Yang was using everything he could to help Han Xing succeed.
The seed was already inside his dantian. It sprouted, and the root took place in his origin.
Han Xing gritted his teeth, his body trembling from the pain and the energy coursing through his entire body. His skin turned into that of white wood, spreading from his lower dantian to his upper body, to his neck, then crawling up to his face.
Constant influx of chi surrounded him, circulating in and out of him, destroying his body, and letting the new flesh grown from the origin of the Sacred Heart Willow replaced the destroyed flesh.
It was excruciating, but Han Xing endured.
The prosthetics on his limbs fell apart, and from the stumps a thick branch of white wood grew.
Golden willow leaves glimmering with spiritual light sprouted from his body and branches that grew. The sky painted gold from the light emanating from him.
"Ah…!" He shouted as he felt his whole body turning into something entirely different. His spirit transformed alongside the change in his body.
Han Yang saw it was time, and he summoned his natal spirit treasure, the 9 Turns Sacred Cauldron.
The spirit treasure covered Han Xing, and with a bang, the phantom lid closed on him.
Han Yang clasped his hand, using all of his power to fully fuse the origin of the two different beings. His hair that was dark turned grey as he overexerted himself.
Just as the fusion was about to succeed, clouds carrying purple thunder gathered in the sky carrying wrath of Heaven.
The thunder above roared, forming an image of a dragon 1000 feet in the sky.
Han Yang's expression turned sharp. He took out his most treasured sword, the 7 Heart Blood Jade Spirit sword.
"1st move, cutting the earth!"
He roared, slashing a powerful sword that could cleave the earth in two towards the tribulation thunder!
The slash sliced the thunder dragon in two, even cleaving the tribulation clouds apart. But the clouds gathered back, turning darker and even created an even more terrifying thunder dragon with a hint of red colour amidst the purple.
"2nd move, cutting the Sky!"
Another slash was cut, its power even slicing and leaving cut in space! The thunder was once once sliced apart.
The last thunder tribulation gathered, creating a three headed red thunder dragon in the sky.
"Heavens! I will let the child live, even if it costs me my life…!"
Han Yang's eyes turned red, he used all of his remaining strength and even sacrificing parts of his origin to completely let Han Xing be reborn.
"3rd move… cutting Heaven!"
With the last roar, another slash was unleashed. The space shattered whenever the slash passed. Mountains turned to dust, all living things turned into nothingness. The slash arrived at the red thunder dragons, creating an explosion that shook the entire Black Desolate realm.
The golden barrier around them cracked inch by inch, losing its power and stability. But the sky finally cleared up.
Han Yang looked down at the spirit cauldron in the center of the formation.
He opened the lid, and Han Xing was safe and sound. His eyes closed, but from Han Yang's senses he could tell Han Xing had undergone a complete transformation.
Cough…!
Han Yang coughed out a drop of blood.
"I underestimated the heavenly tribulation, and my origin…" Han Yang quickly sensed himself. It seemed he paid a heavy price to do this.
But he still smiled. He had no regret, even if his lifespan cut short to only tens of years.
Han Yang took a step and arrived right at the reborned Han Xing. He grabbed him , and with another step, they disappeared.
The formation eventually shattered and turned into particles of lights.
Various factions rushed in trying to investigate. Each of them send back messages and information to their leaders, each carrying wariness and caution.
Ji Long felt the surrounding aura. The trace of profound swordsmanship left behind definitely did not belong to this realm. It was unlike anything he had ever seen. And in the Black Desolate Realm, no one dares to claim he was 1st in the path of Sword other than him.
"Someone of the Upper Realm…" He muttered in a guess.
He sat crossed legged on a destroyed mountain, taking the chance to comprehend the sword aura left behind not caring to think too much.
While the Black Desolate Realm was in an uproar, Han Yang returned to his quiet courtyard.
He placed Han Xing down the quilt gently, waiting patiently for him to open his eyes.
Han Yang observed his skin had become fair and white, smooth like a newborn skin, with a healthy pink on his cheeks. His complexion had turned from a sickly bony person to that of a child of an immortal.
Han Xing eventually opened his eyes. His pupils had turned golden, similar to the golden leaves of Sacred Heart Willow. His originally black hair had turned silvery, reflecting faint light from the sun.
"Dad…?" Han Xing turned his eyes to Han Yang.
He looked at him properly for the first time in his life. He regained his sight, and seeing his dad's face he couldn't help but felt so much emotions. His eyes covered with a thin veil of tears.
"Son, you did it." Han Yang said with a wide smile.
"Dad… why your hair… you… you look…" Han Xing felt his heart hurt. He could tell his dad overexerted himself to help him.
"Son, don't worry about it. It's nothing. I just need some rest."
"Dad…" Han Xing sat up and pulled him into a hug.
"Dad… thank you…" he could only mutter the word. But that word was never enough to express his emotions, his guilt, or his gratefulness. That his father would sacrifice so much for him.
Feeling the tears soaking his shoulders, Han Yang felt his eyes moist too. He knew his son's first thought was of worry for him at the moment.
"Son, it's nothing much. This old man had so much in his sleeves. Even the Heavenly Dao of this realm couldn't stop me." He tried to appear nonchalant and smug, wanting to hide his inner emotions and not make him worry.
"Okay… okay dad. Just, just rest please…" Han Xing pulled away, looking at his father's face again. His hair was already white and his face pale. Even a random passerby could know he was not fine.
"Sigh. Like I said, it was nothing. You are worrying too much." Han Yang stood up straight, his hands behind his back appearing cool.
"... Okay, okay. I get it. It's nothing. But just rest." Han Xing pleaded.
Han Yang scoffed lightly. "You really treat me like a frail old man! Are you cursing me son?"
"No. Of course not…" Han Xing let out a shaky breath. His expression was complicated.
"Dad, from now on, let me take care of you. I feel strong now. So just rest. Let me handle everything from now." Han Xing moved his new arms and feet around, his eyes sincere and sincere.
"See? You are really cursing this old man!" Han Yang's face turned grim, disliking the way his son was treating him like a frail old man suddenly as if their role got reversed overnight. He still had power on him left!
"Dad." Han Xing let out a soft amused sigh.
"Fine, okay I get it you are fine. But, let me share the work around the house from now on. You have been working so hard for me."
Han Yang's expression softened. His son was so filial. He didn't regret anything and only felt it was worth the sacrifice he made.
"Good. It's about time you grow up and be independent. Now you are given a new life you should make the best of it."
"Mm. I know dad. I wouldn't waste it. Just wait for a moment. Let me cook lunch this time."
Han Yang just nodded, letting him go. As Han Xing left the room, Han Yang sat down on bed, sweat breaking out of his back and face, his expression turning paler.
He rested against the frame of the bed, closing his eyes.
It was indeed taxing for him, but he wanted to keep a strong image for his son, not wanting to make him worry. Without meaning to, he already fell asleep.
Han Xing returned a short while, noticing his dad had already fallen asleep in such an uncomfortable position.
He took a pillow and placed it behind his head, hoping it would be more comfortable.
From now on, Han Xing promised to himself he would take care of him from now on.
And with his rebirth, he had more to look forward to.