《The Cycle of Resentment》 Chapter 0 - Prologue The Cycle of Resentment Chapter 0 - Prologue In the distant past, the universe was ruled bydivine beasts. Existences as vast as galaxies each owning their independent realms, however at the apex of the universe stood four sovereign beasts ¨C supreme rulers. The Azure Dragon, Vermillion Bird, White Tiger, and the Black Tortoise. They were better known as the ¡°Four celestial guardians¡±. These beasts were not justlimited to one or tworealms- each one of them reigned in a vast region of the universe,inhibitingthe growth of other divine beasts to avoid any potential threats in the future. However, their downfall was imminentwhen theancient Qilin hadawoken from his extended slumber. The "Four celestial guardians¡± and the Qilin had entered a vigorous war which caused the complete and utter destruction of the entire universe ¨C after several millennia of intense battle the Qilin just barelyemerged victorious.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Before their death, the Four celestial guardians had cursed the ancient Qilin and pledged that they would seek him out to the ends of the world in their next life. The legendary Qilinhad feasted on the physical bodies of theFour celestial guardians in an attempt to gain their powers and merge them with his soul, however even if it had succeededthe Qilin''seffortswere naught as he wouldn''t be able to escape death due to the severity of his injuries. So, as the only form of life left in the universe, the Qilin had offered his remaining life force tomanipulate the universe and restore the realms that were once destroyed. In addition to this, he cursed the Four celestial guardians, making it so he would be reborn at the same time as them. The Qilin was not someone who would dwell onpast grievances however the Four celestial guardians were beings that feared the strong and bullied the weak, so he could not leave things as they were. Their resentment towards each other would allow them to one-day reincarnate until the enmity they had against each had rectified. This dreadful tale was spread around all corners of the Earth andbecame known as ¡®The Cycle of Resentment¡¯. Chapter 1 - Wu Tiangong The Cycle of Resentment Chapter 1 - Wu Tiangong A gargantuan beacon of light had hastily rose from the earth and reached far into the sky. This beam of light emitted an aura of holiness and sent forth multiple waves of oscillations to its surroundings, wreathing and slowly morphing into an extensive earthquake. "Run, run! The gods are descending!" "A calamity has struck down upon us. Everyone evacuate now if you value your lives!" The current scene was bizarre. The TiantangKingdom was very powerful, however one earthquake had single-handedly put the entire Kingdomin a state of distraught. Hopeless. Some people had already given up on the realistic thought of escaping this catastrophe - among theshrieks and squalls, the sound of wails were visibly audible. The area was in absolute peace just a moment ago, but what had just happened? The giant beacon of light had solely formed an earthquake capable of scaring even sorcerers. However, when everyone thought all hope was lost. The blinding beacon of light had started to dissipate. The earthquake which was once violently shaking the ground had also calmed down at an abnormal rate until it eventually stopped. If the fact the suspicious beacon of light and earthquake wasn''t enough to confuse those who were unlucky enough to have been present, then the disappearance of both almost simultaneously surely was. Not long after, an infant was born from the point of origin of the beacon of light, however, this infant was definitely not ordinary - he had illuminating scarlet eyes and lustrous, thick jet-black hair. A flushed crimson crest with the outline of the legendary Qilinwas engraved on this infant''s chest. The aura emitted from it could cause trauma to even the highest tier sorcerers. However, the crest was only revealed for a split second before it thoroughly vanished from sight. Sorcerers would usually have to wait till the age of six or at least an age where their common sense had reached a level high enough for them to start producing sorcery power. However, this child was shrouded by a pure layer of sorcery power almost cocooned around him. This infant was born into the prestigious Wu Family (one of the four major families), famous for their multiple ground-breaking discoveries in the field of alchemy. However not only was he born into the Wu Family ¨C his father was the clan chief. The Wu family¡¯s clan chief (Wu Jing, someone at the apex of theTiantang Kingdom) rushed into the room right after the beacon of light had dissipated. Bean-sized beads of cold sweat covered his face. In fact, Wu Jing¡¯s entire body was covered in sweat.Hisgaze filled with worry and concern, yet the second he saw everyone was unscathed the corners of his mouth rose up into a smile. ¡°This child ¨C his Aura! There¡¯s no mistaking it, he¡¯s already stellar rank one ¨C a first-rate talent!¡± Wu Jing was in awe; this is the first time anyone was ever born with sorcery power at birth ¨C it defied all logic. Wu Jing had planned to hide the birth of his son, however that was clearly not an option anymore - the beacons of light which struck on the Wu clan¡¯s territory would need an explanation and it was highly unlikely the three other major families would let him go till he provides one; therefore, it is undebatable that news of this genius-level existences birth would become a hot topic in this Kingdom. It was later decided that the infant would be named Wu Tiangong after a renowned sorcerer as well as the Wu clan¡¯s ancestor who helped them obtain the glory and prosperity they possess today. Time had passed since the birth of this child chosen by the heavens. He was now 6 years old. Wu Tiangong was naturally the number one genius in the Wu Clan and worshipped by virtually everyone in the clan. Even the arrogant sovereign elders of the Wu Clan, who were considered second to only the clan chief would have to bow in his presence. Sorcerers in the Wu clan were without question much more talented and capable than the average sorcerer, however, even their talent was much inferior to Wu Tiangong¡¯s. No one in his age group could compare in the slightest to him. Wu Tiangong¡¯s very existence was seen as a threat to the balance of the four most powerful clans in theTiantang Kingdom ¨C leaving them with no option but to strengthen their relationship before Wu Tiangong¡¯s rise. These four powers consisted of the Yang clan, Tang clan, Zhou clan, and the Wu clan. Today was the fabled day of the battle between the Wu clan¡¯s top two geniuses. Wu Tiangong was naturally one of them and the other was his childhood friend ¨C WuZetian; she was the daughter of a distinguished sovereign elder called Wu Tianyi, someone who was second only to the clan chief in the Wu clan. The outcome of the battle could easily be guessed by anyone. Wu Tiangong sorcery was rank 2 Stellar realm whereas WuZetianwas only a rank 5 Planetary realm sorcerer. The Planetary realm was the lowest realm in sorcery, however being a rank 5 Planetary realm sorcerer at such an early age was extremely hard and could only be achieved by a genius. ¡°Elder brother Tiangong,don¡¯tbe too harsh.I¡¯m afraid I am trash in comparison to you.¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. WuZetianwas a delightful young girl about the same age as Wu Tiangong. She had lustrous black hair and a sweet innocent face. She was like a ray of sunshine and could easily turn a gloomy setting into an upbeat one.It was worth nothing she was Wu Tianyi¡¯s most precious treasure. ¡°Little sister WuZetian. Don¡¯t compare yourself with others. You are naturally still a genius and will one day grow up to become a powerful woman!¡± The corner of Wu Tiangong¡¯s mouth was lifted up into a smile. Even though he was the number one genius in the Wu clan he was very humble. He did not take victory to heart and could also take a loss with grace. Wu Tiangong¡¯s scarlet eyes were flickering with avidity ¨C he could not wait any longer to battle against WuZetian. Wu Tiangong and WuZetianwere currently standing in an arena. A vast amount of people nearing the thousands stood outside of the arena huddled up. These people were all very privileged and were born into high positions in the Wu clan, however, one person immediately stood out - the father of Wu Tiangong and the clan chief of one of the four strongest powers in theTiantang Kingdom ¨C Wu Jing. Wu Jing was a handsome middle-aged man. He stood 2.5 meters tall. Just standing there, Wu Jing unconsciously emitted airs of absolute superiority. ¡°Elder brother Wu Tiangong. My father has recently spent a fortune to buy me this treasure. This is a legendary pill from the divine beast era. It is said that once it¡¯s consumed it will purify your body and make future breakthroughs in sorcery far easier. This is my gift to you.¡± WuZetianwas holding a jade box in her delicate hands. The jade box itself was a treasure worth an entire city, however, the pill inside the jade box was far more appealing. The pill was glimmering with holy light. Potent natural energies were visibly leaking outside of the pill. Countless people in the audience simultaneously started drooling from one look. One would have to be stupid if they weren¡¯t jealous of Wu Tiangong at this moment. ¡°I appreciate the gift; however, I cannot accept it. Like you said your father had spent a fortune on it for you. It wouldn¡¯t do if I were to steal this precious gift from you.¡± Wu Tiangong would always strive to get stronger, but he held true to his friendships. He would never accept gifts from his friends if it would stagnate their development. Behind Wu Jing stood 4 sovereign elders. Each of them asserting airs of dominance. Among them was Wu Tianyi ¨C WuZetian¡¯sfather. His expression had turned to one of difficulty. Almost as if his plans were on the verge of failing. ¡°Wu Tiangong. I feel like what my daughter said was correct. You should accept her gift. As the number one genius, it would be a lot more beneficial to you than her. If you feel guilty accepting this gift it would do if you pay me back when you grow up. Please give me some face and accept this gift.¡± Wu Tianyi called out. ¡°Son. I also agree with what he says. You should receive this gift.¡± Wu Jing was the father of Wu Tiangong. All fathers wanted to see their children prevail and Wu Jing was noexception, besidesWu Jing had practically ogled the treasure to make sure it was safe for Wu Tiangong to take and wouldn¡¯t harm him in any way. ¡°It seems like I¡¯ll have to accept this generous gift. I will do my best to pay you back for this opportunity in the future.¡± Wu Tiangong closed the gap between him and WuZetianand received her gift. He was eager to consume it but it would serve an unfair advantage if he took it before the fight had started. ¡°Elder brother Wu Tiangong. The outcome of this battle is already determined. Please let us all bear witness to you consuming the treasure and further increasing your talent,¡± She urged Wu Tiangong. ¡°Very well junior sister.¡± Wu Tiangong was already very much yearning to take it and now that he had been given an excuse to consume it, he would not be dumb enough to deny it. Wu Tiangong had picked up the mysterious pill and from up close it looked even more invaluable. Wu Tiangong¡¯s mouth was agape and he hastily threw the pill in and consumed it. Natural energies were flowing all around his body almost as if dragons were curling around him, however, that only lasted for a second. Wu Tiangong was immediately hit by surges of pain like he was struck by lightning continuously. (Wu Tianyi)The plansucceeded!If Wu Jing didn''t urge him, I''m sure he wouldn''t have swallowed the poison, I suppose he is useful for something. Hahaha. I can now be the number one genius in the Wu clan! Wu Tiangong''s expression was one filled with endless regret. Others might not have known but as Wu Tiangong was the one experiencing thetorture,he could easily tell he was fed a poison ¨C one that would seal his sorcery and it was far superior to any poison from theTiantang Kingdom, so finding a cure would be incredibly hard. The pain had eventually subsided and Wu Tiangong had regained control of his body, however, it was now far weaker than it was before. Wu Tiangong now had the body of a cripple ¨C far weaker than even a sorcerer at the Planetary rank one. Hefelt completely dejected. Like he had to swallow a thousand needles. Sorcery was the pride of all Sorcerer¡¯s, and Wu Tiangong as someone who''s sorcery is sealed naturally wasn''t able to use it. Wu Tianyi and WuZetianrevealed expressions of joy ¨C like a scheme they had been working on had succeeded. In fact, it did. WuZetianwas always in Wu Tiangong¡¯s shadow, no matter how much progress she made, Wu Tiangong would always by leaps and bounds ahead of her.The only thing in the way of WuZetianbeing the number one genius was Wu Tiangong, and now he had his sorcery sealed. Calling him trash would serve as a compliment. However, WuZetianwas arguably far less happy than her father ¨C Wu Tianyi had always been in constant competition with Wu Jing for the position of the clan chief, but this all changed when Wu Jinghad a fated encounter with a mysterious sorcerer whom he saved from the brink of death. He received a series of benefits from the sorcerer ¨C one of which was enlightenment, which made his sorcery rank soar through the sky, and leaving Wu Tianyi far behind. (Wu Tiangong)Damn it, I thought WuZetianwas someone I could trust. This pill wasn''t a treasure, it was agoddamnpoison. Even after growing up with her for all these years, was she just pretending to like me? I have never mistreated her, why would she do this to me? Questions were wriggling through Wu Tiangong''s head like snakes - he had always had a high tolerance, but getting poisoned by his most trusted friend was truly unexpected. ¡°WuZetian. I never thought you would stoop this low.¡± Wu Tiangong felt like he had been stabbed. WuZetianexhibited an innocent giggle, before dashing towards Wu Tiangong and throwing a palm towards his chest. Wu Tiangong in the mind of the audience was a cripple ¨C he could not even see the attack let alone react to it and his father had not caught on to the changes in his body, so he could not protect him from this attack. Wu Tiangong was struck and was sent flying back hundreds of meters before eventually hitting the audience wall and coughing up multiple mouthfuls of blood. Wu Tiangong had not only lost. He had lost miserably. From once the most powerful genius to have been born into the Wu clan to the weakest. Wu Jing instantly left the audience and came to his aide.Wu Jing was convinced that the pill Wu Tiangong had consumed was a treasure.The thought of one of the sovereign elders poisoning someone from the same clan would never cross his mind.Not to mention he had exhausted a lot of effort scanning the pill for any lethal substances. However none of that matterednow,his main concern right now was healing his son. Chapter 2 - Mysterious Crest The Cycle of Resentment Chapter 2 ¨C Mysterious Crest Wu Tiangong was no longer in the arena. He was sent to the best healers in the clan so he could receive a haste recovery. If Wu Zetian was Wu Tianyi¡¯s treasure than Wu Tiangong was Wu Jing¡¯s treasure. As he was being healed by the best healers in the Wu clan it didn¡¯t take long for the severity of the injury inflicted by Wu Zetian to lessen. Wu Jing had questioned Wu Tiangong multiple times to find out what had happened. It was practically impossible for a rank 5 Planetary realm sorcerer to defeat one at rank 2 Stellar realm sorcerer, however, Wu Tiangong did not bother answering his question and revealed to him his sorcery had been sealed without an explanation of how. Wu Tiangong knew that his father trusted the sovereign elders far too much to accuse them of harming his own son. In fact, the thought would never even cross his mind. So, he never bothered explaining the reason his sorcery had suddenly become sealed. Time had once again passed. Wu Tiangong had turned 16 years old in the blink of an eye, however, his status in the Wu clan had changed for the worse. Wu Tiangong''s body was as weak as a cripple. Even though he was the son of the clan chief and Wu Jing had tried everything he could to unseal his sorcery, but nothing had worked. He was deemed ¡®worthless¡¯ by his entire clan. Wu Tiangong was on his last straw. In three months, the Wu clan would host their annual youth tournament where those at the age of sixteen would fight to determine the strongest of the new generation. Every child in the Wu clan at the age of sixteen was obligated to participate, including Wu Tiangong. Even though the act of killing during the tournament wasn¡¯t permitted, he would still become a laughingstock. Wu Tiangong¡¯s body was practically weaker than a newborn, let alone sorcerers his age. ¡°This tournament was introduced by our ancestors. There¡¯s nothing I can do to stop you from participating. Put up with it this time, I¡¯ll find a way to restore your sorcery¡± Wu Jing said with a face filled with sorrow. ¡°Father, thank you for your concern but I¡¯ve already been the laughingstock for over half my life. This tournament won¡¯t change anything.¡± ¡°Son-¡± Wu Jing¡¯s expression had turned from a state of sorrow to dejection. He was completely disappointed in himself. Wu Tiangong showed no emotions on the surface; however, he was flustered. He knew that relying on his father forever wasn¡¯t an option and he wasn¡¯t planning on either. ¡°Damn it! This damned pill ruined everything. Life is not worth living if I¡¯m going to be a cripple for the rest of it.¡± Wu Tiangong had once heard that ¡®dangers present opportunities¡¯ and decided life is not worth living as a cripple. He was dead set to explore the Kunlun Mountain in hopes of a treasure that could unseal his powers. This area is located in the Wu clan¡¯s territory; however, it was considered taboo for anyone in the younger generation to even step foot in there as it is filled with monstrous beasts at the peak cosmic level and even some at the Multiverse level. Wu Tiangongsnuck out of his house,his parents unawareand had started his journey. Afterthree daysof traveling, he had reached the outskirts of the mountain ¨C something which would take ordinary sorcerers under a week. Even though the Kunlun Mountain was a relatively dangerous area, the outskirts were actually quite safe. Traveling there had already taken a toll on his body but Wu Tiangong paid no mind to it and continued walking till he had finally arrived at the centremost part of the mountain, where the peak monstrous beasts live. Whilst walking towards the innermost part Wu Tiangong was met with sharp gazes from every angle, however once again Wu Tiangong paid no mind to it and strangely enough no beasts had decided to attack him. Almost as if they were saving this prey for an existence even more powerful than them. Climbing up the mountain was already very tiring for a sorcerer, one could not even begin to imagine the exhaustion Wu Tiangong was feeling. He had finally reached the centremost part of the Kunlun Mountain. The area was very peculiar. Giant footprints were pretty much visible everywhere on the mountain, however, the centremost part of it was completely different - all the gazes that were once leering at him had now completely disappeared and was replaced with one single gaze. However, this single gaze was far more petrifying than the rest of them combined.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Wu Tiangong wasn''t afraid of death in the slightest, but whoever was watching him at this moment was far too horrifying, leaving his legs in disarray and almost dropping to the floor. He had closed his eyesalmost accepting a swiftdeath -a monstrous beast the size of a grown elephant had descended from the sky and pounced at Wu Tiangong. This was no ordinary monstrous beast - it was a noble Griffin. A beast with the body, tail, back legs of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. The appearance of a Griffin was truly majestic. - it was theking of this mountain and a beast at the rank 5 cosmic realms. Wu Tiangong''s skin was slashed off, his flesh revealing the outline of his bones. Thoughts had clouded Wu Tiangong''s head. (Wu Tiangong) I can''t just die like this. If I die now Wu Zetian and Wu Tianyi''s plan will have succeeded. My life will have been in vain and my father will meet his end. I have to at least try to fight back. Wu Tiangong did the best he could to resistfoldingboth arms over his head in an attempt to block its fatal attacks, however, what could Wu Tiangong - someone who had his sorcery sealed do whilst battling the legendary Griffin? It was too powerful. It did not even take five seconds until Wu Tiangong had dropped to the floor and his heartbeat had stopped. Wu Tiangong had died. The surrounds had turned awfullyquiet now that the battle was over. It was not every day this Griffin could consume a human, and frankly, they tasted a lot better than monstrous beasts, so he had spared no time before slowly devouring Wu Tiangong''s corpse. The beastthoroughly enjoyed every bite and almost seemed like he was at peace. However, right at that moment, a crest had appeared onWu Tiangong''schest, which emitted a blinding glow. The glow had rapidly spread to every corner of the Kunlun Mountain, not even sparing the outskirts until it eventually started to subside. The monstrous beast that had once attacked and devoured Wu Tiangong to a state where he was not recognisable had disappeared without a trace. In fact, the entire mountain was completely flattened. Wu Tiangong''s heart rapidly started beating again. His body was also replenished almost instantly but his body now was incomparably stronger to what it was before - Tiangong had unconsciously reached the peak of the cosmic realm (rank nine). Two months and 26 days had passed and he had finally regained consciousness but he wasn¡¯t at the Kunlun mountain anymore. Wu Tiangong recognised where he was as it is the place where he spent most of his years growing up. Upon opening his eyes, he was immediately met with the gaze of two people. These two gazes were respectfully his mother and father however both of them were crying. Wu Tiangong was flustered. He had spent most of his life around his parents but this is the first time he had seen them crying. ¡°Son, you¡¯re awake! How are you feeling?¡± Wu Jing had started scanning Wu Tiangong from tip to toe to ensure Wu Tiangong had fully recovered. ¡°Father, mother don¡¯t worry I¡¯ve fully recovered¡± Wu Tiangong jumped off his bed and landed in front of his parents. Wu Tiangong¡¯s parents were much more concerned with his health than the fact that the entire Kunlun Mountain had been completely flattened and a crater being the only thing left in its place. ¡°Father, how much time is left till the tournament starts?¡± Wu Tiangong asked eagerly. ¡°The tournament starts tomorrow, however, don''t fret I¡¯ve managed to find an expert sorcerer from the Xin Empire who might be able to help you regain your sorcery. Quickly come, we¡¯ll pay him a visit.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need. I¡¯ll be fine tomorrow¡± Wu Tiangong knew the sorcerer his father had found was probably someone from the Xin Empire, however, he had probably found him on a whim as a last hope to save him. Therefore the ''expert'' surely wouldn''t have the skill set required to unseal his sorcery if it was still sealed. ¡°Son, are you sure?¡± Wu Jing was perplexed ¨C Wu Tiangong would always get excited about news regarding him regaining his sorcery however not only had he rejected the help offered, but his reaction also made it seem like it was a trivial matter to him. ¡°Wu Tiangong. Your father has spent a lot of his time and countless treasures to contact this expert to help unseal your sorcery! You shouldn¡¯t act on an impulse.¡± Wu Mei - Wu Tiangong''s mother - was enraged as she thought Wu Tiangong gave up on attempting to regain his sorcery. ¡°Mother, I don¡¯t need the help of that expert. Tell him he can return. I¡¯m going to go train for tomorrow. Please don¡¯t disturb me,¡± Wu Tiangong said as he left the room. Both Wu Jing and Wu Mei were left speechless and didn¡¯t refute Wu Tiangong. Wu Tiangong had decided to enter the Wu clan¡¯s imperial library. Due to Wu Tiangong¡¯s special status as the son of the clan chief even though he is bullied by others, they can¡¯t restrict him from access to areas owned by the Wu clan. That includes the imperial library which can only be accessed by the elder existences of the Wu clan. The library was very grand, towering above every building in its vicinity. The walls were built with a material resembling gold however gold looks much inferior in comparison. Upon entering the library Wu Tiangong stood still staring at stacks of books towering towards the tall ceiling however these were no ordinary books. Each and every single one of thesewas a priceless grimoire that ordinary sorcerers could only dream of reading. Once Wu Tiangong adjusted his expression turned from astonishment and amazement to daze and confusion. The library was filled with sky-scraping shelves packed with grimoires emitting powerful energies. If it wasn¡¯t for the massive sign saying ¡®Wu Imperial Library¡¯ it could easily be confused with a maze. However, one dusty grimoire stood out to Wu Tiangong - this grimoire was unlit and dingy and seemed like no one had paid any attention to it at all. Wu Tiangong picked it up and revealed the grimoire¡¯s name - ¡®First Heavenly Slash¡¯. Wu Tiangong had found a treasure worth more than any of the other grimoires in the library combined. Chapter 3 - Trembling in Fear The Cycle of Resentment Chapter 3 ¨C Trembling in Fear Wu Tiangong put the grimoire away and quickly found three other grimoires. Each one of these was worse in quality in comparison to the First Heavenly Slash however they were very renowned in the Wu clan, not to mention much easier to practice and cast. The three grimoires consisted of ¡®Lightning Dash¡¯, ¡®Arcane Beam¡¯ and ¡®Fiend¡¯s gaze¡¯. After picking out the grimoires Wu Tiangong hurriedly ran to a quiet and desolate forest. He wasn¡¯t running because he didn¡¯t have much longer left till the tournament started ¨C Wu Tiangong was looking forward to practicing a sorcerer spell again after a decade. He immediately took out the first grimoire he saw, the ¡®First Heavenly Slash¡¯ however upon opening it the once dusty and dull grimoire had turned into a strand of blinding light which was sucked into the crest on his chest. Wu Tiangong''s expression had turned dejected but only a split secondbefore profound teachings were rushing through his brain. Wu Tiangong felt like he had mastered the ¡®First Heavenly Slash¡¯ to a degree not possible for him after a year of dedicated practicing in a matter of seconds. Wu Tiangong was surprised but more than anything he was brimming with joy. He once again took out another grimoire, this time the ¡®Lightning Dash¡¯. As he expected, the same instant he had opened the grimoire it had once again turned into a strand of light that was absorbed by the crest on his chest. Wu Tiangong was always curious about what the crest on his chest was but he was sure that even though it had sealed his sorcery for over half his life that it was a blessing in disguise and would provide him with powers beyond his imagination in the future. After finishing mastering the grimoires Wu Tiangong headed out of the forest. However, on his way out he encountered Wu Zetian, the daughter of a sovereign elder - she was once considered his best friend however after her scheme to seal Wu Tiangong''s sorcery she was the first to start bullying him. Wu Zetian had always secretly despised Wu Tiangong, however, getting closer to him when he was someone not to be trifled with only granted her benefits. ¡°Oh, look who it is. The once demon ¨C level genius, son of our clan chief, Wu Tiangong! You¡¯re nothing but a cripple now. The tournament is tomorrow, you don¡¯t need to kowtow to me right now. I¡¯ll make you do it during the tournament in front of everyone.¡± Wu Zetian shouted at the top of her lungs as if she wanted everyone in the area to hear. Wu Tiangong was not one to repay malice with kindness however he figured now was not the right time to deal with her. He slowly looked around and memorised the face of everyone who was laughing with Wu Zetian to repay them when the time was right. After he was done, he revealed a slight smirk and walked away without saying a word. The further away he went, the louder the laughing got until it eventually stopped. Time had passed by and the day of the tournament had arrived. Today was the day Wu Tiangong could redeem himself and pay back all those who had bullied him when his sorcery was sealed. Wu Tiangong had not even managed to sleep a wink as he was busy conspiring how he would deal with those who had once oppressed him. The tournament was naturally run by Wu Tiangong¡¯s father and the matchings had been tampered with to ensure hewould get matched with people oflow-levels of sorcery, however, the tournament wasn¡¯t that simple ¨C if the victor was challenged, theywould be forced to accept. This was all done to truly determine the strongest genius in the younger generation. The first matches were usually fodder battles to warm up the audience and as to be expected Wu Tiangong was first up. ¡°The tournament will now begin. First match Wu Tiangong versus Wu Qing¡± shouted an elderly man with a refined face full of wrinkles. He wore a purple dragon patterned robe. He was asovereign elder ¨C Wu Xiaoyao! Wu Qing was considered the weakest of the weak in the Wu clan however as he was fighting Wu Tiangong, the thought of him losing had entered no one¡¯s mind. The second his name was called he dashed out of the audience and into the arena. The arena was fortified with a shield that would stop a sorcerer¡¯s magic from reaching outside of it, therefore causing no harm to the audience and surroundings.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Wu Tiangong didn¡¯t immediately enter the arena instead he warned Wu Qing to concede otherwise he would be refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Once those words came out of his mouth, everyone present started laughing ¨C even the usually anchored sovereign elders couldn¡¯t help but giggle. ¡°You tookthe words right out of my mouth. Come hop into the arena, your daddy is growing tired¡± Wu Qing bellowed. Wu Tiangong didn¡¯t say anymore, instead, he listened to Wu Qing and dashed onto the stage. Wu Jing and Wu Mei revealed dispirited expressions ¨C they were sure Wu Tiangong would be beaten up even more now that he has angered his opponent however before they could even attempt to reconcile with Wu Qing, the match had already begun. Wu Qing immediately leaped in his opponent¡¯s direction. A lethal black gaseous flame had formed around his fingertips ready to strike at any time however that was not all a terrifying killing intent surrounded Wu Qing sweeping towards Wu Tiangong ripple by ripple. Wu Tiangong did not even bother to react. As someone with sealed sorcery, he was as useless as a cripple. The audience was puzzled but more than anything looking forward to Wu Tiangong¡¯s demise. Wu Qing finally released his attack, the entire arena was now fully surrounded by the black gaseous flame blocking the vision of nearly everyone. Almost simultaneously the jaws of the clan chief and sovereign elders dropped. If the crowd was puzzled by Wu Tiangong¡¯s reaction, then they were truly puzzled by the reaction of these peak figures. The black gaseous flame had started to dissipate at an abnormal rate. A body lying on the ground was visible to the crowd. It was a body of a man in his early twenty¡¯s with silver hair and a visible wound on his chest, however, this wound was not an old scar. Instead, it was absolutely fresh ¨C the man lying on the ground was Wu Qing. The crowd had immediately burst out into an uproar. Multiple remarks were visibly audible stating that Wu Tiangong cheated but the sovereign elders and Wu Tiangong¡¯s father were the ones who knew best of what had actually happened. Wu Tiangong had knocked out and injured Wu Qing with only a wave of his sleeve ¨C his sorcery had been unsealed. Wu Jing was filled to the brim with joy. Wu Tiangong had not only unsealed his sorcery, but he had also made an unearthly amount of breakthroughs. No one had attempted to speak out for Wu Tiangong. The sovereign elders all despised Wu Tiangong and his father wanted the people who spoke out to feel embarrassed when their words were proven wrong. Another figure had leaped onto the stage, however, this time around it wasn¡¯t any weak sorcerer. It was Wu Zetian ¨C a renowned genius in the Wu clan at stellar rank one. Wu Zetian had always harboured bad feelings towards Wu Tiangong so she would use any opportunity she can to bully him. ¡°Wu Tiangong, I am very impressed by your display of skills. Could we please swap pointers so I can expand my knowledge?¡± Wu Zetian said in a sarcastic tone as if she was suggesting Wu Tiangong cheated. Wu Tiangong had said nothing, rather he revealed a gaze filled with killing intent towards Wu Zetian. Terror mounted every step Wu Tiangong took. Wu Zetian legs started shaking uncontrollably and she instantly dropped to the floor. With the last bit of strength left in her, she spoke. (Wu Zetian) What has happened to Wu Tiangong? We received the poison from a Kingdom much stronger than ours. It''s almost impossible for him to find an antidote for it. He must be cheating, there''s no way! ¡°I was only joking brother Tiangong. Please don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Wu Tiangong all of a sudden started laughing. ¡°Little sister Zetian, I am really looking forward to this opportunity to spar with you. Please enlighten me!¡± As he spoke he sent forth surges of sorcery power towards her, however, this time around he was holding back. As Wu Zetian was much weaker than him she could do nothing but attempt blocking the impact but without question, she was sent flying back tens of meters from the collision. She tried her best to get back up but unfortunately fear had pulsed through her legs. She had dropped back to the ground and started vomiting mouthfuls of blood. The crowd had once again burst into an uproar however this was not because he beat Wu Zetian ¨C it was because of his sorcery rank. Wu Tiangong was a rank, nine cosmic realm sorcerer. Only one rank lower than the sovereign elders, who were rank one Multiverse sorcerers. The majority of the audience, who once despised Wu Tiangong had no choice but to acknowledge him as a genius once again. Flattery towards Wu Tiangong could audibly be heard around each corner of the arena. Even the sovereign elders had no choice but to curry favour with Wu Tiangong as he would sooner than later catch up to them. However, Wu Tiangong was not done there. He had learned quite a powerful sorcery technique when he had paid a visit tohis clan''s Imperial Library - by the name of ''First Heavenly Slash'', and now more than ever was the perfect time to test it. Chapter 4 - Traversing Sorcery Ranks The Cycle of Resentment Chapter 4 ¨C Traversing Sorcery Ranks Visible Sorcery power was gathering around Wu Tiangong, almost covering him like a veil. However, that only lasted for a few seconds, until the sorcery power had started morphing into the shape of a curved line. This attack was so powerful, that it''s surrounds had started to crack creating multiple voids in the air. Wu Tiangong had taken one final glimpse at Wu Zetian before unleashing the attack in her direction. "First Heavenly Slash!" Wu Tiangong exclaimed. The attack was flying towards her with bizarre speed, and Wu Zetian was going to be hit in under a fraction of a second. However, before reaching her the attack had seemed to be nullified. If this attack had reached Wu Zetian, she would undoubtedly die - even a cripple could tell. "A mighty sovereign elder would actually concern himself with a battle between the younger generation. Don''t you have any shame?" Wu Tianyi was the one who had rendered Tiangong''s attack null and void. "A geniuses death would be a loss to the Wu clan. I only did what any other reasonable person would do." Wu Tiangong had no heart to chase the matter any further - he would sooner or later get his revenge however without sufficient evidence his father would definitely stop him, so he remained quiet. If anyone had the thought of challenging him before, the thought would cross the mind of close to no one now. However, some people were completely delusional and couldn''t be saved. ¡°Wu Tiangong, could you trade pointers with me too?¡± A resounding voice shouted loudly. The voice came from a monstrously colossal man ¨C this man was Wu Guang. The Wu clan had a ranking list for the top geniuses of the younger generation. Wu Zetian was thehigheston the ranking list currently at number 1, however, she wasn''t always number one. Wu Guang used to be number 1, but his last birthday had split him apart from the members of the younger generation - once a sorcerer reached the age of 50, they would be counted as part of the older generation. Wu Guang was one of the many who would openly assault Wu Tiangong when he was much weaker. Therefore, as the opportunity to pummel another bully presented itself, Wu Tiangong would naturally not decline. ¡°It would be my honour.¡± ¡°I do have one condition though. Allow a sovereign elder to search you for magical gear before we start our spar.¡± Wu Guang was under the impression that trash would always remain trash ¨C he had thought Wu Tiangong used magical gear to gain his current sorcery rank and if he was stripped of it, he would also return to being trash, however little did he know his thoughts were completely flawed. The corners of Wu Tiangong¡¯s mouth rose up into a mischievous smile as he nodded to Wu Guang¡¯s condition. "That''s absolutely fine, however, if you find no magical gear on me I will personally strip you of your abilities as a sorcerer." Wu Guang''s face had turned slightly pale. Was he willing to risk his own sorcery in exchange for a small bet? However, he didn''t even have the opportunity to answer back. Almost instantly Wu Tianyi flashed onto the stage and stood right in front of Wu Tiangong whilst grinning. It was clear that Wu Tianyi was using some sort of observation skill whilst looking at Wu Tiangong. Time was passing slowly, andWu Tianyi''s expression hadturned noticeably less joyful the more had passed. It had been an hour since theWu Tianyi started searching Wu Tiangong, however his expression had only got worse. He was surely about to give up. Suddenly his face lit up almost as if he had a plan. ¡°Here it is. I found it!¡± Wu Tianyihad taken a magical gear out of his storage pouch. It was an illuminating jet black stone that emitted a vibrant dark hue of gaseous flames. A single glimpse was all that was needed to tell it was a precious treasure for any sorcerer.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. The crowd had once again burst into an uproar however, compared to before, the crowd was now started yelling out insults towards Wu Tiangong. Even the clan chief was fooled by the Wu Tianyi''s plot, as it was much too unreasonable for Wu Tiangong to turn into a cultivation genius from his past state of ¡®trash¡¯. Wu Guang deafening laughter covered the entire plaza. ¡°Haha. That¡¯s what I thought. Once trash always trash. Using underhanded methods to cheat during the youth tournament. As expected of Wu Tiangong¡± Wu Tiangong did not respond to Wu Guang. He revealed a smirk and took a gaze at all those who were laughing at him, so he could remember all of them and make sure he doesn¡¯t befriend them in the future. ¡°It has always been one of our customs that those who cheat during the youth tournament are tortured and beheaded to set an example to the younger generation.¡± Wu Tianyivoiced his opinion as he was committing an act of justice. Wu Jing¡¯s mind was muddled. As the clan chief, he would have to uphold all the customs passed down to him by the clan¡¯s ancestors. However, the person in question was his own son, Wu Tiangong. ¡°You-¡± Wu Jing muttered to himself. ¡°Father it''s fine. I¡¯ve engraved all those who wronged me today in my mind.¡± ¡°I will now uphold our customs and receive justice for the younger generation¡± Wu Tianyiunleashed a powerful slash containing the aura of a rank one Multiverse sorcerer in the direction of Wu Tiangong, however before the attack could reach him. He had disappeared. Wu Tianyi was puzzled and adjusted his gaze towards the clan chief. As he would be the only person who could move about without him noticing. However, Wu Jing stood in the exact same position as before and Wu Tiangong was nowhere in sight. In reality, Wu Tiangong was right behind him and had perfectly concealed his aura, so unless WuTianyi physically looked in the direction Wu Tiangong was standing he would never be noticed. ¡°He¡¯s behind you!¡± ¡°Sovereign elder! Wu Tiangong is behind you!¡± Audible shouts could be heard all across the arena. Those who wanted to get on the Wu Tianyi''s good side had not only shouted, they were even pointing behind him to mark Wu Tiangong¡¯s exact location. The reason Wu Tiangong could escape his radar was that he was not only a rank 9 cosmic realm sorcerer ¨C he was also able to traverse across 2 levels of sorcery. In other words, not only would rank 1 Multiverse realm sorcerers not be his match; even rank 2 Multiverse realm sorcerer¡¯s, unless they were a genius-level existence above Wu Tiangong, they would not be his match. Wu Tiangong replicated his movements and unleashed a slash, however, it was tens of times more powerful than the one Wu Tianyi had unleashed. Not to mention the fact that the sovereign elder was not expecting the attack and had no way to defend it. An arrow at the end of its flight ¨CWu Tianyi had precisely been cut into two through the middle. His organs revealed to everyone present. Those who were faint-hearted immediately started to throw up. If those with weak comprehension didn¡¯t understand that Wu Tiangong wasn¡¯t to be trifled with, then they had now received a lecture. Wu Tiangong was emitting the aura of absolute dominance. Making everyone else feel inferior and that they had wasted the time they had spent alive. Those in the audience who met Wu Tiangong¡¯s gaze would either faint on the spot or drop to the floor shivering. ¡°Does anyone else want to accuse me of cheating?¡± The storm had ebbed to nothingness. Silence was now lingering in the air. What was this silence? If there is a soul present at least a heartbeat would be audible, however, at this moment the surroundings were illogically mute. The silence was poison to them. Sweat drenched the skin of all those present. Even Wu Tiangong¡¯s own parents couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of lingering fear. Wu Tiangong illustrated how powerful he was perfectly. Not even the faintest thought of Wu Tiangong cheating had crossed anyone¡¯s mind anymore. "Cultivators These words were engraved in the minds of everyone present. Wu Tiangong had wanted to interrogate Wu Zetian in front of the others, so he could reveal their schemes to his father before sending Wu Zetian to her death, however, something urgent had come up. Wu Tiangong took one final gaze at the people in the audience and in a flash left the arena and ventured towards the Kunlun Mountain. During Wu Tiangong¡¯s fight withWu Tianyi memories charged into his head. Wu Tiangong was the reincarnation of the legendary Qilin. The divine beast which had caused an uproar during the primordial era where beasts were the ultimate rulers. At a time when humans didn¡¯t exist. His former self had not only caused the destruction of everything, but he had also caused the recreation of entire realms. His former self had single handily defeated all four celestial guardians.The Qilinreigned during the strongest era. It was, without doubt, the most fabled and omnipotent existence to have roamed the universe. Divine Beasts had innate abilities. A single innate ability from any random beast in its era could bring complete annihilation to entire Empires. Wu Tiangong¡¯s abilities, however, were far stronger. He had not only unlocked his past memories. He had also awakened his celestial bloodline ¨C this bloodline was far stronger than that of the beasts in its era. This very bloodline enabled the Qilin to manipulate all forms of life ¨C create an entirely new species, possess and control others. The power to create and destroy. No sorcery skill could even begin to compare with it. Even the ¡®First Heavenly Slash¡¯ which Wu Tiangong had considered a treasure was absolutely worthless in comparison. Chapter 5 - Arranged Marriage The Cycle of Resentment Chapter 5 - Arranged Marriage As Wu Tiangong had left the arena where the youth tournament was taking place right after he created a scene, he was not there to witness what happened after he left. Everyone present started kowtowing and flattering the clan chief ¨C even the arrogant supreme elders were no exception. They had all realised their mistake and out of fear tried their best to reconcile with Wu Tiangong¡¯s father in hopes of him sparing them. However Wu Tiangong had no one other than his mother and father to rely on in the Wu clan. He did not consider the rest of them as family nor friends, so their attempts were futile. An hour had passed and Wu Tiangong was still undergoing his strange transformation. His body had now started to reconstruct; however, it was thousands of times sturdier than before and unconsciously emitted the airs of a king. He had grown thick muscles all over his body and towered others at 2.2 meters tall. Wu Tiangong was a handsome man before transforming, and his face still resembled what it was before, however his appeal had increased tenfold. Wu Tiangong''s previous bloodline was considered impure as it had also once contained the inferior bloodline of the Wu family. However, now that his body had undergone these changes the Wu family''s bloodline which once flowed through his blood had now completely been drawn out of his body, leaving only the Qilin''s pure bloodline. Wu Tiangong regaining all his memories gave him a broad knowledge. One key bit of information was that the whole concept of ¡®sorcery¡¯ was derived from cultivation. The Tiantang Kingdom Wu Tiangong lived in was considered incredibly weak and this caused them to be alienated from the rest of the world - leading to each generation getting progressively weaker and vital information eventually being lost. The Planetary, Stellar, Cosmic and Multiverse realms were just the foundation realms for cultivation. Once one had reached the Boundless realm, they could finally be considered a cultivator. Wu Tiangong had gained a lot of enlightenment from his former life''s memories. However, the powers he once had was not so easy to obtain again. Wu Tiangong would have to cultivate to higher realms and slowly unseal the powers of his bloodline. He had also obtained a cultivation technique called ¡°Divine Flow¡±. This enabled those who practiced it to absorb and merge with other life forms and energy no matter how potent it may be. As Wu Tiangong was still far too weak to use the true powers of his bloodline, this technique was perfect for him. The life forms the cultivation technique absorbs would be stored in his dantian making it considerably easier for Wu Tiangong to manipulate. If Wu Tiangong were to capture the soul of a cultivator stronger than himself, he would be able to gain complete control over it. Two days had passed by in the blink of an eye. The powerful aura which seemed to be cocooned around Wu Tiangong had finally subsided - his transformation was finally complete. "I feel great! No one below rank 5 Multiverse would be my match" Wu Tiangong was, in fact, still a rank 9 cosmic realm cultivator, however, he was already able to traverse across 2 cultivation ranks before. Now that he had obtained his previous life''s battle experience the title of ''genius'' wasn''t enough to describe Wu Tiangong anymore - he was a demon. Now that Wu Tiangong had finished measuring his power level, it was time for him to return home. It had taken Wu Tiangong about 10 minutes to reach the Kunlun Mountain from the Arena and his house was much further away. Previously it would take Wu Tiangong three weeks just to reach the outskirts from his house - it now took him under an hour.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Wu Tiangong''s progress was completely absurd. If the sovereign elders that previously messed with him had come to know how powerful Wu Tiangong is now, they''d be scared beyond belief. "Son, you''re back! Where did you go?" Wu Jing was still a peak Multiverse realm cultivator, he would easily be able to sense Wu Tiangong if he was in Wu Jing''s perimeter. "I had felt the opportunity to breakthrough, but your son is incompetent and failed." Wu Tiangong felt there was no need to disclose his transformation or any details about his previous life to even his father, as it would only attract unwanted attention - not to mention the chances his father would believe him were close to none. "Son, you''ve left for a long time. Actually, since you left many members of the Wu clan have presented you with gifts in an attempt to reconcile with you." Wu Mei threw a small pouch towards Wu Tiangong. This pouch wasn''t an ordinary pouch though. It was a storage device. The tiny pouch was able to store two rooms worth of items within it. One such tiny pouch was already quite expensive, it would leave others wondering what grand treasures would be inside of it. Wu Tiangong was the son of the Wu clan''s clan chief so not much could catch his eye and a storage pouch wouldn''t catch his eye, however, the items inside left even Wu Tiangong in astonishment. The storage device was filled from top to bottom with priceless treasures used to increase cultivation, some of which Wu Tiangong had only ever heard of. This pouch was attentively prepared by Wu Zetian and her father. If they didn''t reconcile with Wu Tiangong sooner or later, there would be no place for them in the Wu clan. Wu Tiangong would never accept such precious gifts from friends, however, if it was offered by someone he had broken all relations with he wouldn''t mind. The cultivation resources within the pouch would allow Wu Tiangong to breakthrough to the Multiverse rank one in a matter of minutes as he paired it with the ''Divine Flow'' technique he had learned in his past life. "That''s not all after the tournament ended everyone returned to their lodgings, and Wu Guang used this opportunity to run away." Wu Jing uttered. *Boooooooooookkkkkksssshh* A loud explosion could audibly be heard in the distance, instantly interrupting Wu Tiangong''s train of thought. Wu Jing as the clan chief had to uphold his duties and ensure the safety of his clan. He rushed out of his house and charged towards the direction of the explosion. Wu Tiangong was following closely behind. "Where is that trash Wu Tiangong? Call him here right now!" The voice came from a girl, which seemed to be similar in age to Wu Tiangong. Her hair was kohl-black and it plunged over her shoulders. She had a decanter shaped waist and her complexion had an impeccable, ochrous hue. Her pencil-thin eyebrows eased down gently to her black, beetle¡¯s-leg eyelashes. One look was all it took to tell she was a striking beauty, however her manner of conduct completely contrasted her outward appearance. She also wore a glimmering headband on her forehead with the character ÖÜ (Zhou). "Are you looking for me?" Wu Tiangong furrowed his eyebrows. He was enraged at the scene in front of his eyes. The beauty was strangling an aged elder of the Wu clan - he could turn a blind eye to internal fights within the Wu clan, but he would never forgive those of other families who injure people from the Wu clan. "You''re Wu Tiangong? Do you recognise me?" Wu Tiangong actually had no memory of ever meeting this girl, so he was very confused. However, his father knew all too well who this girl was. She was Zhou Yue, the daughter of the Zhou clan''s clan chief - a power as dominant in the Tiantang Kingdom as the Wu clan. "Zhou Yue, what brings you here today? Has your father asked you to pass on a message?" Wu Jing asked. "I''m here to cancel my arranged marriage with Wu Tiangong. I would be more than willing to marry him if he were at least a sorcerer, however, his powers are sealed. It would be embarrassing for a genius like me to marry a cripple." Zhou Yue''s had to show respect to Wu Jing therefore her arrogant tone had calmed down slightly when talking to him. Everyone present had heard Zhou Yue''s words as she was shouting them at the top of her lungs, in an attempt to show off, however, everyone present was from the Wu clan and had all bore witnessed to Wu Tiangong''s current level of strength. Zhou Yue was delusional - not only had Wu Tiangong''s cultivation been unsealed. He had also made a heaven-defying number of breakthroughs. Even the sovereign elders in the Wu clan would stand no chance against Wu Tiangong. Wu Tiangong could defeat those in the same generation as him with just a gaze - even a genius such as Zhou Yue was no exception. "So you are here to cancel our arranged marriage? I''m glad you came here, otherwise, I''d have to journey to the Zhou clan and do it myself. Someone of your level doesn''t even deserve to be my slave, let alone wife. Our marriage is officially cancelled, now get out of my sight!" Zhou Yue was offended by Wu Tiangong''s words but she would never have thought the marriage that was arranged before she was even born could be canceled with such ease - she was elated. News of Wu Tiangong''s sorcery being unlocked had yet to reach outside of the Wu clan, but that''s not to say it would never happen. Sooner or later the entire Tiantang Kingdom would come to know of how powerful Wu Tiangong had to become and the Zhou Yue would undeniably regret her actions today. Chapter 6 - Zhou Yues Mistake The Cycle of Resentment Chapter 6 - Zhou Yue''s Mistake Three days had gone by since Zhou Yue¡¯s visit to the Wu clan. To Wu Tiangong, the days blurred together, forming one long rainbow ¨C it was only natural that gossip of how powerful he is once again encircled the Tiantang Kingdom. His reputation was finally restored. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Zhou Yue had finally returned home and she was enthusiastic to announce what she thought would be good news. Even though the Zhou clan was equal in terms of status to the Wu clan, their territory was much grander. The Zhou clan¡¯s territory was actually built over an ancient city. Though most things had to be rebuilt, there were still some derelict buildings that remained. These derelict buildings, despite their state, were made of a material resembling gold, however, it seemed thousands of times more precious than ordinary gold. The buildings galloped into the clouds asserting a sense of dominance to anyone who would catch sight of them. ¡°Zhou Yue, where have you been this past week?¡± A voice reverberated throughout the Zhou clan¡¯s territory from a distance. This powerful voice originated from the clan chief of the Zhou clan ¨C Zhou Fang. ¡°Father, I have good news. I have managed to nullify the arranged marriage I had with that trash!¡± Zhou Yue was filled to the brim with joy. Her father had always wanted to cancel the marriage since Wu Tiangong''s downfall but it was quite complicated for him as he was the person who had arranged it to begin with. So, Zhou Yue having managed to cancel it on her own would''ve been seen as a blessing. However, Zhou Yue was delusional. ¡°YOU HAVE DONE WHAT? TELL ME YOU ARE JOKING?¡± Zhou Fang was a well-composed middle-aged man with a wizened face. His back was slightly hunched but he was still much taller than the average person standing roughly 2.5 meters tall. Zhou Fang was currently sitting on a grand throne made entirely of gold and embossed with dragon patterns, which almost seemed to be animated. Zhou Fang had all the possessions of a king, however, the way he reacted was certainly much unlike one. In this situation, he could hardly control his temper. Not only had Zhou Yue offended and nullified a marriage with the strongest genius in the Tiantang Kingdom, but she had also insulted the entire Wu clan. However, Zhou Yue didn''t know this and she would certainly regret it when she does. "This? He should be happy. " She wondered."I¡¯ve managed to cancel a marriage with someone whose sorcery is sealed. Why is he enraged?" Zhou Yue had spent the journey back to her territory quarantined, so naturally, she hadn¡¯t caught a single whiff of any news regarding Wu Tiangong. The conversation between the two ringed throughout the Zhou territory, so it was quite audible to the majority of people in the vicinity and as Wu Tiangong¡¯s recent status revamp was already common knowledge to the people in the Tiantang Kingdom (this naturally would include the Zhou clan), it would leave one wondering why the daughter of the clan chief, who was seen as a genius in both political affairs and sorcery, would make such a stupid decision. Zhou Fang¡¯s thoughts were distraught. He had personally raised Zhou Yue since birth, and knew how capable she was ¨C she wouldn¡¯t make such a lawless mistake without reasoning. ¡°Zhou Yue." He shouted in a tone filled with anger. "Hurry up and get home! We will discuss this there.¡± She was now beyond confused as to what was going on. She had thought her decision would please her father, not infuriate him. The clan chief lived in a very luxurious palace ¨C one with architecture like no other. This building was also a remnant from the ancient city which had inhabited this territory previously. The ancient city was ruled by a monarch, which at the time had invited the best architects to personally construct his abode. The palace was located quite high up on a mountain overlooking the entire Zhou territory.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Even though the exterior of the palace was quite pleasing to look at, the interior would leave you agape. Zhou Yue had now reached the gate of the palace. It was shiny and unrealistically large. Her tiny hands reached out and she had only opened the gate slightly when faded light had escaped from the palace and blinded her. The light seemed very unnatural, but at the same time very holy ¨C it originated from a torch, it was a priceless treasure. Something that her father would use to boost his cultivation speed during secluded training. It was worth noting that Zhou Yue didn¡¯t actually live in the palace, and her entering it today was actually a first. This actually frightened her, as she wouldn¡¯t be invited in her father¡¯s palace without an abundant amount of reasoning. In the midst of the faded light, a majestic throne was visible to the naked eye. It was embezzled with buoyant dragon patterns. Even if a cripple would give off an imposing vibe if they were to sit on the throne. A crimson rug bathed in blood was streaked from the gate all the way to the throne her father sat on. Zhou Yue would undeniably have to walk on this rug to reach her father. She was pondering endlesslyeyeing the rug. She wasn¡¯t usually scared of her father, she was usually rather arrogant around him, however something about him today had petrified her from head to toe. Zhou Yue had accidentally looked straight forward and immediately met her father¡¯s gaze - this was not the sort of gaze a father would use to greet their child. It was a sharp, terrifying gaze directed at Zhou Yue''s soul. At this point she started shivering, however, she was still reviewing what she could¡¯ve done to enrage her father. (Zhou Yue) What have I done? Why is father so angry? Why is he looking at me like that? He¡¯s completely infuriated. Zhou Yue¡¯s legs were still wobbling, but that didn¡¯t stop her from walking towards her father. Tip Tap Tip She had once again caught the gaze of her father and she was left frozen on the spot. Zhou Yue was very unyielding, she gulped and continued moving forward. Tap Tip Tap The palace hall was abnormally silent therefore the pitter-patter of Zhou Yue¡¯s tiny feet was incomparably loud, however, none of that mattered ¨C she was now standing right in front of her father, completely vulnerable to his heart-rending gaze. Zhou Yue opened her mouth in an attempt to speak,but before she could even utter a word Zhou Fang spoke. ¡°Zhou Yue, did you break the engagement with Wu Tiangong?¡± Zhou Fang¡¯s rage had currently reached the boiling point and his tone was filled with rage. Zhou Yue was almost ogling the floor, trying her best not to look up at her father. The room was once again awfully silent. She didn¡¯t have the stomach to answer back anymore. ¡°ZHOU YUE!¡± Zhou Fang had repeated her name in hope of an answer. ¡°Yes, father. I have ended our arranged marriage.¡± Zhou Yue had used all her might to talk back. Her legs wobbled more and more until she eventually dropped to the floor. The rug she stood on was surprisingly thick, so the drop was softened for the most part. ¡°My beloved daughter. Do you realise what you have done?¡± Zhou Fang had slightly calmed down, as it truly didn¡¯t seem she knew what she had done. ¡°No.¡± (Zhou Yue) I understand that I had nullified a marriage set by my father and the clan chief of the Wu clan, however, this marriage was set when Wu Tiangong was still a genius. My father should be happy I got myself out of thatmess. ¡°Have you not heard of Wu Tiangong having unsealed his powers?¡± Zhou Yue¡¯s expression had instantly shifted from frightened to one of repentance. She had thought she had grasped the severity of the issue; however, Zhou Fang opened his mouth once again. ¡°Have you not heard Wu Tiangong had single-handedly defeated a sovereign elder of the Wu clan? Someone at rank 1 Multiverse whilst at the peak of the cosmic realm?¡± ¡°WHAT?¡± If Zhou Yue¡¯s expression was previously one of repentance, then now it was one of complete self-condemnation ¨C like she had been tread upon by a herd of horse. ¡°Father, that can¡¯t possibly be true.¡± She tried her best to denounce her father¡¯s words ¨C Zhou Yue was also a genius, however, if Wu Tiangong was truly a peak cosmic realm sorcerer who could defeat a grand sovereign elder, she would only be an ant in comparison. ¡°You question the investigations conducted by our Zhou clan¡¯s elite spies?¡± She had finally grasped the gravity of what she had done. She had insulted the number one genius in the Wu clan and If she didn¡¯t find a way to resolve this situation the Wu clan wouldn¡¯t leave things be. Zhou Yue was a very attractive girl, who would instantly stand out among others. However, her current appearance was one so hideous that even her father could hardly recognise her. The duo both silently contemplated in the room. Thoughts about how they were planning to resolve this situation before it escalated had swarmed their minds. It was once again abnormally silent like someone had muted the surroundings. Chapter 7 - Poisoned The Cycle of Resentment Chapter 7 ¨C Poisoned Narrow, dingy and cave-like, a cheap bony oak framed bed was cut shorter to fit into the room. A snippet of carpet greying with decades of mould and dust on top of it, supposedly the mattress. In front of the bed were several thick metal bars and three robust grey stone walls surrounding it. In the center of the room, a girl with soiled lustrous black hair and a tarnished sweet innocent face was tied up by broad and heavy chains to an oak chair, but in comparison to the oak bed frame, it was much sturdier ¨C the chair she sat on was most definitely not ordinary. Spikes covered the front, arm-rest, and seat. Whoever was sitting here was currently undergoing gut-wrenching torture. Resounding footsteps could be heard from a distance. The sound of the collision between wooden sandals and a metal floor. Gradually becoming more audible the closer it got. Thump Thump Thump A dark silhouette had reached for the heavy door made of metal bars. ~Creeeeaaak~ Time doesn¡¯t slow down for anyone, yet for the girl, it felt like it had barely budged. Her expression had turned into one filled with complete dejection. The silhouette had finally moved close enough to identify ¨C it was a man marked by reflecting physical strength. The man was a mammoth in comparison to the girl; he had a thick grey facial hair reaching the bottom of his torso. He walked in with his chin thrust forward and narrowed eyes. This man was one of the sovereign elders who was standing behind Wu Jing during the youth tournament. In his hand, he carried an awkwardly large bloody mace. The nails on the mace directly fitted the multiple seemingly dug out holes on the girl''s bodies, almost like a jigsaw piece. This was clearly not her first experience. ¡°I can¡¯t handle any more of this. I¡¯ll bleed out to death. My life is far more important. If I reveal who it was, I might still have a chance of living, however, if I don¡¯t, I¡¯ll certainly die.¡± The girl started breathing heavily. The sovereign elder had not wasted his time with superfluous words, he had lifted the gigantic mace above his head and revealed a swinging motion. ¡°STOP!¡± The girl bellowed.
Outside of the prison cell, dawn came seeping down the mountainsides. The sky was streak by clouds and the golden sunshine was brighter than ever ¨C at this point, it would blind even sorcerers if they stared for long at it. Things had finally calmed down in the Wu clan¡¯s territory. Tiangong was currently meditating cross-legged on a grass field, collapsing light pouring over him like water. He had spent the last few days stabilising his foundations ¨C Tiangong was now officially comfortable with his new vessel. ¡°Great, I¡¯m now used to this new body.¡± Tiangong whispered to himself. ¡°I¡¯ll be able to make maximise my breakthroughs in the future.¡± He stood up and breathed a mouthful of fresh air. ¡°Time to head back!¡± Tiangong was darting across the grass without disturbing it ¨C this was one of the characteristics of the legendary Qilin. He was heading towards his home, and it wasn¡¯t too far away, so it only took him a couple of minutes to reach. His house was nothing compared to Zhou Fang¡¯s palace; however, it had a special place in Tiangong¡¯s heart. From afar it was bricks and adhesive decked with slates, the same as any other. There was nothing about it in the very least attractive, yet it gave him a sense of belonging.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Even if he had only used it as a safe zone to escape the bullies in the Wu clan ¨C something whichhe frankly didn¡¯t need anymore¨CTiangong had spent most of his time in this ordinary house. Tiangong had reached for the doorknob, without even bothering to look. He was completely accustomed to it. He was immediately greeted by his living room. One which was quite small and cramped, however very comfortable. The room was filled with furniture, mostly sofas ¨C it wasn¡¯t obvious but this simple touch certainly added to the vibe of gentleness surrounding his home. In the corner of the room, his mother (Wu Mei) was sat. One would think sitting in such an environment would also calm Wu Mei down, however, her current countenance was devastating. Tears were cascading like a waterfall from the corner of her eyes. Searing pain was audible through her series of deafening shrieks. When she cried, she would grab onto something for aide, virtually anything, a table or the back of a chair, and then her whole body would quiver. Tiangong was not at all amused by this scene. He did not see his mother very often as she would always strangely disappear, however she was a very vibrant person. He had only ever seen her either happy or angry. Not once had he seen his mother cry before. And he would most certainly not forgive the person who had caused this scene. ¡°Mother.¡± Tiangong had thought twice before speaking. ¡°Mother, what happened? Who did this to you?¡± ¡°Tiangong, when did you come in?¡± Wu Mei was in so much sorrow she had unconsciously blocked her surrounds and had never noticed Tiangong¡¯s presence.Her lack of reactionseemed almost forced. ¡°It''s...It¡¯s your father.¡± The more she spoke the more she started to murmur. ¡°Your father has been poisoned by Wu Zetian.¡± ¡°POISONED?¡± Tiangong was shocked. ¡°Where is father now?¡± ¡°He¡¯s under the care of our most knowledgeable sorcerers in our Wu clan''s Alchemy quarters.¡± She simultaneously lowered her head whilst speaking. ¡°I¡¯m afraid even I¡¯m currently not allowed in.¡± It was strange how Wu Mei would stop immediately stop crying when answering Tiangong''s questions, and a second later start crying again, as if she hadn''t paused a minute ago, but Tiangong did not question it. Once his mother had revealed the location of his father¡¯s whereabouts Tiangong had instantly rushed out of his home. Tiangong had reached the entrance of the Alchemy quarter''smain building. This was most likely where a person of the clan chief¡¯s status would be treated. In front of the entrance stood two sovereign elders, both at the rank 9 Cosmic realm. Both sovereign elders had noticed the determination in Tiangong¡¯s eyes and knew that they were no match for him in terms of power, but their words might stop him. ¡°Y - Young master Tiangong. Your father is currently undergoing treatment by our most skilled sorcerers. If you were to interrupt right now, it could lead to your father¡¯s condition worsening¡± However, Tiangong took no notice of these elders and dashed into the building. ¡°Young master...¡± *¡± Darn it. why do I have to be so unfortunate? I can¡¯t guard the entrance when someone as powerful as that The guard¡¯s thoughts were filled with rage, yet his body betrayed him. He was shivering from head to toe. Like he had just survived a calamity. Inside of the building, three people were surrounding Wu Jing ¨C who was currently unconscious. His skin was pale and cold to the touch. He had degraded from his once bulky physique to one in the shape of a stick. His former prowess had now completely subsided. Wu Jing''s case was much severe than Tiangong - it wasn¡¯t a poison which sealed the consumer''s sorcery, it was much more potent. This poison would¡¯ve taken his life already if it wasn¡¯t for the treatment he was currently undergoing. ¡°Tiangong. Don¡¯t come any closer. The three of us are currently trying our best to improve your fathers'' condition. You just need to watch from the side.¡± ¡°Let me have a look at him. I¡¯ll be able to tell what the problem is.¡± Tiangong spoke in a much more respectful tone to these sovereign elders. This was due to the fact all three of them were soaked in sweat,because of theirattempts to cleanse the poison in his father¡¯s body. Tiangong actually had a limited amount of conversation with his father. This was mostly because he was ashamed of his powers being sealed. His father had enthusiastically spent a lot of time finding people who could possibly unseal his powers in naught. However, he had never stopped. Even if it didn¡¯t seem like it Tiangong had always loved his father dearly. He reached his hand out towards his father¡¯s wrist. Tiangong was reading his pulse. Tiangongwidened his eyes, raised his eyebrows and his mouth pulled back towards his ears. His father''s condition was truly disastrous, and at Tiangong''s current strength it would be incredibly hard to cure.
In another setting, the conversation between the girl and the sovereign elder had yet to end. ¡°Fine! Stop! I¡¯ll tell you who gave me the poison.¡± The girl who was undergoing torture was Wu Zetian. Wu Zetian was a mantis who stalked the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Even though she had experienced death-rendering pain ¨C in fact much more than her father had. She was at least still alive, and the opportunity to remain so depended on if she was willing to betray the one who had provided her with the poison. The sovereign¡¯s previous stern expression had yet to fade away. Leaving a mark of fear on Wu Zetian¡¯s soul. Her heart had tensed. ¡°It was...¡± Wu Zetian had started to stutter. ¡°It was.¡± Chapter 8 - Concocting a Pill
The Cycle of Resentment
Chapter 8 - Concocting a Pill
¡± This... This is Dantian seeking poison. It¡¯s not very powerful, but this is far more precious than anything you could possibly get in the Tiantang Kingdom. Where did Wu Zetian get this? This is troublesome, the ingredients needed to purify the poison are much more precious than the poison itself, and can definitely not be found here.¡±
Tiangong was the fabled Qilin in his past life. An existence which had brought ruin to the universe, and restored it as it was now - naturally he would have broad knowledge, regardless of the topic.
¡°The only thing I can do is help father maintain his current condition by blocking the poison from spreading.¡±
¡°Sovereign elders, I appreciate all your help, but please move to the side. I will handle this.¡± Tiangong spoke with the airs of a king.
Even if the sovereign elders had wanted to refute, they could not - Tiangong had exerted intense pressure with his sorcery power locking all three of them in place. Despite the extremely strong pressure Tiangong had released, it did not harm any of them at all.
Tiangong still respected these three men. They were the only reason his father was still able to breathe now, even if the poison was still there.
Tiangong skillfully pierced 14 areas on Wu Jing¡¯s body at an incredible speed. These were his major channel lines linked to all 365 acupuncture points.
The flow of Qi in Wu Jing¡¯s body had started to increase enveloping around the poison, and fighting back.
Tiangong had temporarily dealt with the poison in his father¡¯s body, however, this wouldn¡¯t last. He had a limited amount of time to search for the ingredients necessary to completely dispel the poison.
The jaws of all three sovereign elders had dropped. They had spent the last two days restlessly using all they knew in an attempt to stop the poison from spreading. However, Tiangong had done it in a matter of seconds.
Tiangong simply just wasn¡¯t a genius - he was a demon. Even the members of the older generation were clearly no match.
¡°You-¡±. The sovereign elders were gasping with admiration. They felt like they had wasted their entire lifetime.
¡°Tiangong. Where did you learn this?¡± One of the sovereign elders questioned Tiangong.
¡°Sovereign elder, that¡¯s not important right now. My father has only been cured temporarily. The poison will start spreading again soon. And if three months'' time, if he is not treated¡­ He will undoubtedly die.¡±
Almost in unison, the sovereign elders revealed an expression filled with both dismay and rage.
¡°That bastard Wu Zetian!¡± One of the sovereign elders bellowed.
¡°However, it¡¯s not impossible.¡± Tiangong paused. ¡°Do any of you know where I could find essence shards?¡±
¡°Essence shard? Of course, we do. The Celestial Cloud sect owns a cave filled with essence shards, but I¡¯m afraid it can¡¯t be found in our kingdom. And the quantity has been decreasing over the years, so only people of grand status in their sect would receive the opportunity to obtain it.¡±
¡°Prepare me a map to the Xin Empire. I''ll be leaving first thing tomorrow.¡± Tiangong said.
¡°But what use does the essence shard have?¡±
¡°It¡¯s what we need to cleanse the poison in my father¡¯s body.¡±
¡°That can¡¯t be. The essence shard only helps with increasing cultivation.¡±
The sovereign elders were surely scared of Tiangong, but taking into account their clan chief¡¯s life was at risk they rebutted him.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
¡°I asked for a map of the Xin Empire. Are you planning to hinder me?¡± He furrowed his eyebrows.
¡°No, no. We wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± The three sovereign elders felt wronged but nonetheless they lowered their torsos and head; bowing in the direction of Tiangong before hastily leaving.
Tiangong put his father into the care of a random maid, however, he wouldn¡¯t just put his father in the care of anyone. The maids in the Wu clan weren¡¯t blood-relatives. They were from an entirely different power - one which was much less powerful than his and had served them for multiple centuries. So, it was undeniable that they were very loyal.
Tiangong¡¯s next course of action was to prepare for his journey to the Xin Empire.
He knew that the peak experts there were far stronger than he was currently, so he needed a way to bridge the gap between them.
¡°I¡¯ll need to concoct a bloodline rupture pill. It¡¯ll allow me to control more of my innate abilities. If I can unlock my Ethereal Sight, I¡¯ll have a massive advantage in battle, not to mention the ability to see through the true nature of things.¡±
The resources Tiangong needed to concoct this pill would naturally not be found in the Wu clan¡¯s ¡®Pill Concocting Building¡¯, it was far too pressure. If Tiangong wanted these resources, he would have to pay the Wu clan¡¯s ¡®Treasury Tower¡¯ a visit.
Under normal conditions, the ¡®Treasury Tower¡¯ could only be accessed by Wu Jing - Tiangong¡¯s father. However, he was currently unconscious. Wu Jing would always keep the key with him, so it was quite easy for Tiangong to take off him.
Obtaining the key was a blessing as the material the ¡®Treasury Tower¡¯ was made out of was a material Tiangong couldn¡¯t break with his current level of strength.
The tower was awe-inspiring. It stood there as if materialized from the storybook of a child. It was faultless. Every brick of that tower had been propped by the worker''s hands into a perfect circle.
One could easily tell that the Wu clan was much stronger in the past.
The entrance was made up of double doors which were of a generous size hulking over Tiangong. Tiangong had only opened one side of the entrance, yet it was so wide anything even an elephant could pass through - let alone Tiangong.
The resources were clearly visible before he had even walked in. His clan was truly rich. To say Tiangong felt crowded when entering wouldn¡¯t be a stretch.
The tower consists of three floors. Each floor containing treasures more precious than the previous.
Tiangong was currently on the first floor.
Anyone else in the Wu clan would flip if they saw what he saw at this moment, however, Tiangong was calm and collected.
Tiangong climbed the stairs up. He had now reached the second floor. If one thought the first floor was crowded, on the second floor you wouldn¡¯t even have enough space to breathe. Lofty piles of treasures worth miniature kingdoms were crammed in one room.
However, Tiangong did not stop climbing there. The resources he needed would naturally be on the third floor.
He had now reached the third floor. This floor was smaller compared to the other two, and there were also far fewer treasures. Tiangong had enough room to run around unhindered, but that did not mean the treasures were any less valuable than the other two floors. In fact, a single treasure on this floor would be worth the same amount as everything on the first and second floor combined.
Tiangong probed the floor, in search of three resources. A flame aggravating herb, a sacred sage seed and a drop of blood of a Nine-headed Bird. These three treasures were essential for Tiangong to communicate with his bloodline.
He didn¡¯t have to search for long before finding the resources he needed. In the center of the room, six treasures were raised on top of a small platform. Three among them being the resources Tiangong was searching for.
The flame aggravating herb, physically looked like an ordinary leaf. However, the invisible gorging red flame it emitted betrayed it. If anyone below the Stellar realm approached it, they would get disintegrated.
On the right of it was a sacred sage seed. Like the flame aggravating herb, it emitted a pressure. But the pressure it emitted was very much different - it was one which brought tranquillity to those who had the pleasure of being around it.
Three drops of blood of a Nine-Headed Bird were inside of jade decanter adjacent to the flame aggravating herb. More than Tiangong needed.
¡°The Treasury Tower really had everything I needed to concoct this pill! Great!¡± Tiangong exclaimed to himself in his mind.
Now all that was left was concocting the actual pill, and that was actually the easy part for Tiangong.
Being the son of the clan chief naturally provided Tiangong with some perks. His father had provided him with a storage pouch, containing all sorts of items. One of them being a furnace.
These three resources were quite special. The flame aggravating herb and sacred sage seed was like lava and water. Both resources were completely lifeless, however when they collide with each other both exert a potent pressure and unless the person concocting the pill could perfectly control the pressure both unleash, only one of them would survive. Rendering the other useless, and hence failing the pill concoction.
In this realm, there were ranks for Alchemists. These ranged from Yellow Grade, Orange Grade, Green Grade, Blue Grade, Brown Grade, and Black Grade.
In the Tiantang Kingdom, the highest rank Alchemist was at the Yellow Grade.
The ¡®Bloodline Rupture Pill¡¯ Tiangong was going to concoct required a Green Grade Alchemist, so if anyone was here to witness what he was about to do they would faint from shock.
However, this was to be expected - In Tiangong¡¯s past life he was an existence above the Black Grade. Him being able to concoct pills which needed a Green Grade Alchemist was only natural. Chapter 9 – Awakened Ethereal Sight The Cycle of Resentment Chapter 9 ¨C Awakened Ethereal Sight Tiangong reached for his tiny storage pouch and took out a huge gleaming furnace; it was practically new, as Tiangong had never used it before. He lit the furnace with a simple low-ranking skill and controlled the temperature of the flames. Tiangong then simultaneously threw both the flame aggravating herb and sacred sage seed into the furnace. Almost instantly after the sounds of deafening popping noises could continuously be heard from inside the furnace. The two resources had exerted their true pressure upon collision. They were natural enemies, so unless Tiangong was able to control both with absolute precision, one of them would undoubtedly be destroyed. Only one opportunity is all Tiangong had, yet he was as calm as the smoothest waters. He had now been controlling both the resources and the temperature of the flames in the furnace for about half an hour, and the sounds of popping had finally stopped and was replaced with the sound of one final explosion. ~Shhhhhblaaaaam~ This explosion was far louder than the previous popping, and shook the entire floor of the ¡®Treasury Tower¡¯ - even Tiangong had to cover his ears. But that was not necessarily a bad thing. The bigger the reaction during concoction, the better the end result would be. The two resources had now finally merged into a charcoal-like substance. Now the final step was to add a drop of a Nine-Headed Bird¡¯s blood. Tiangong had thrown the drop of blood into the furnace and controlled the flames to spin around and mix the drop of blood with the charcoal-like substance. The flames were spinning around furiously at an incredible speed. The resources inside were hardly visible, however, Tiangong did not slow down. Tiangong looked like someone who had been sent down by the heavens, whilst skilfully concocting a pill with ease, almost as if he had done it millions of times before. ~Baboooomphhhhshhhhhblaaaaam~ The pill had now successfully been concocted. Steam was ceaselessly being released from the furnace. In the midst of it, a pill had formed. An unstable pressure which was ten folds more potent than that of the flame aggravating herb was being released by it. This was the legendary ¡®Bloodline Rupture Pill¡¯. Even the Xin Empire would not be able to concoct it. Now all there was left to do was consume it. ¡°Here goes nothing,¡± Tiangong exclaimed in his mind. The ¡®Bloodline Rupture Pill¡¯ wouldn¡¯t miraculously increase his control over his bloodline, in reality, it would only allow him to shortly communicate with it. Tiangong would have to undergo a constant struggle subduing his bloodline whilst experiencing excruciating pain till it recognises him as its master and grants him further control over it. Tiangong¡¯s mouth was agape, as he threw the pill inside and swallowed. The reaction wasn¡¯t instant, but it surely didn¡¯t take long. By now Tiangong had dropped down to the floor and started rolling around. Hands gripping the hair at the top of his head, he was screaming. ¡°AAAAAHHHH!¡± Tiangong was in so much pain his complexion was ashen, and his skin had started to pale. Searing fiery burst of energy were pulsating around his body. Each burst being more powerful than the former. This torture had lasted only ten minutes before the connection with his bloodline was cut off.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°Without plowing and weeding there is no harvest!¡± Tiangong had lived through this tribulation, but that was not all. He had unlocked an innate ability of his bloodline ¨C the ¡®Ethereal Eyes¡¯ This would now enable Tiangong to see through the true nature of objects, whether that may be a tomb hidden behind a rock or a being able to tell if a person was lying to him. However, this was not its ultimate use. The ¡®Ethereal Eyes¡¯ could only be called upon by Tiangong when he needs it, but as his control over his bloodline grows, they act as his set of ordinary eyes. ------------------------- Meanwhile sometime before Tiangong had entered the ¡®Treasury Tower¡¯ in the Wu clan¡¯s prisons. ¡°It was...¡± Wu Zetian had started to stutter. It seemed like if she revealed who it was, she would be met with an even greater end. She paused for a second. ¡°It was... Wu Mei. She was the one who provided my father with the poison to seal Tiangong¡¯s sorcery and also the person who provided me with the poison used on the clan chief. She had promised my father the position of clan chief as long as he followed her schemes.¡± ¡°Blasphemy! You expect me to believe the clan chief¡¯s wife would poison her own husband and son?¡± The sovereign elder once again raised the mace above his head. The prison cell was very dark, however, the mace was shining vigorously. He slashed the mace en route to Wu Zetian. ¡°I HAVE PROOF!¡± She yelped with all her might. The mace had stopped right before it collided with her skull. Dangling right on top of it, staying there for a couple of seconds before he retracted it and held it to his side. Wu Zetian let out a huge breath. ¡°If you lied to me, you won¡¯t get away with just a swift end. I will make you suffer and wish you were dead. Torture worse than anything you¡¯ve ever experienced.¡± The sovereign elder spoke with a stern voice. She gulped before opening her mouth. "I have a letter written by Wu Mei in the storage pouch you have taken off me. It has her signature and aura on it.¡± The sovereign elder clutched at a storage pouch in his robe¡¯s pocket. This was the possession of Wu Zetian. He searched through for a moment before discovering a letter. One that was just as described by her. This letter undoubtedly had the aura of Wu Mei on it, however, what was most shocking was what was inscribed within it. ¡°Wu Tianyi, I know you¡¯ve been eyeing the position of clan chief for a long time now. I can help you obtain it. It¡¯s quite simple, Wu Tiangong is now six and a talent like no other. However, what if we were to seal his sorcery? With Wu Jing¡¯s temperament, he would undeniably give up cultivating his sorcery to help his son unseal it again. Once you finally catch up to him take the position of clan chief by force.¡± Wu Mei gave Wu Tianyi false hope, so he could help her seal her son¡¯s sorcery and get away with it. However, she had not stopped there. Where Wu Mei had received these poisons from was at present unbeknown to everyone. But what was even more puzzling was why Wu Mei would go through all this effort to poison those she was closest to. The sovereign elder started to frown. If the person they were dealing with was someone else in the Wu clan, he could at least understand. However, the person in question was the wife of the clan chief. What reason would she have to poison both her husband and son? ¡°This-¡± The sovereign elder muttered to himself whilst ogling the letter assuring himself that this was truly written by Wu Mei. ¡°It seems like I¡¯ll have to report this.¡± The sovereign elder had left, just like when he had first walked in. However, the footsteps, this time around had started off extremely loud and only got quieter the further away he was. The sovereign elder was on his way to Tiangong. Perhaps he would know why Wu Mei would do this. He had received news that Tiangong was last seen entering the ¡®Treasury Tower¡¯, so he camped outside of it till he caught sight of him. The sovereign elder only stood outside for under an hour when one of the ¡®Treasury Tower¡¯s¡¯ doors suddenly opened. A figure drastically smaller than the door, but still quite tall for a human had walked out. It was the person the sovereign elder was waiting for - Tiangong. ¡°Tiangong!¡± The sovereign elder exclaimed. Tiangong revealed a puzzled expression, as he truly had no idea why a sovereign elder would be waiting outside for him. ¡°Why have you come searching for me?¡± Tiangong questioned. ¡°This matter is quite complicated; it regards your mother.¡± The sovereign elder replied, treading carefully. ¡°Quickly speak.¡± Tiangong immediately became concerned. What he hated most was others injuring his family members, however, the words about to be spoken by the sovereign elder had shocked Tiangong. ¡°How do I put this... Your mother was the one who provided Wu Tianyi with the poisonous pill which sealed your sorcery at the age of six, along with the poison which has put the clan chief in his current condition.¡± The sovereign elder spoke whilst staring down the ground. Even though Tiangong was only a member of the younger generation, he was truly too scary to look in the eye. Whilst the sovereign elder was speaking Tiangong had activated his ¡®Ethereal Sight¡¯. Who¡¯d have thought his innate ability would already have its uses so early on? The words spoken by him didn¡¯t seem to be lies, so Tiangong didn¡¯t refute them. Instead, he asked him one simple question. ¡°Do you have any proof?¡± Tiangong asked. Chapter 10 – Confronting One’s Own Mother Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Chapter 11 – To Have Eyes But Fail to Recognise Mt.Tai The Cycle of Resentment Chapter 11 ¨C To Have Eyes But Fail to Recognise Mt.Tai Tiangong had sat down, still being ogled by the crowd, however, Tiangong was quite a resilient young man, to all those who were staring at him he returned a cold eye. One which frightened all those who had the misfortune of seeing it. The food he had ordered was now ready. Countless dishes and waitresses were all flowing out of a single door. The dishes on their plates were surely much better than something he would eat on a whim at the Wu clan. Each dish was carefully prepared and looked delectable and luscious. Tiangong had started on a bowl of rare pork ramen, it was a dish pleasing to one¡¯s eyes. He chugged it down in a matter of seconds immediately moving to the second and third bowl. The crowd in the tavern had turned from customers to an audience, all staring at him demolishing bowl after bowl of delicacies they wouldn¡¯t even be able to afford. ¡°More, more! Who asked you to stop?¡± ¡°Little friend, it appears we have run out of ingredients. We usually don¡¯t serve this many of our most expensive foods in a single day¡± The man at the bar replied. ¡°I suppose there is nothing we could do about that then. Give me your best wines!¡± ¡°As you wish, little friend.¡± The man at the bar swayed his sleeve at a man behind him, the man looked like he understood what he was indicating and immediately went to the back of the bar. When he came back, he returned with a jug the size of an adult elephant which was filled to the brink. ¡°This here is our best wine made of drops of a fox spirit. It contains natural energies that benefit even the highest stage cultivators. The only problem is most people can¡¯t even afford a single cup, let alone the whole jug. Would you like to purchase it?¡± The man at the bar wasn¡¯t lying, the wine truly contained a whiff of natural energies. It would most definitely benefit Tiangong, however not to the extent of another breakthrough. ¡°Great! I¡¯ll purchase it.¡± Tiangong threw another treasure towards the man at the bar, and without further delay immediately started draining the jug like he was at the point of starvation. The doors to the tavern were kicked in, a young man had walked in. He truly looked noble, standing at 2.8 meters tall, his beauty was comparable to even the most gorgeous girls and his hair was coal black. He looked like he took good care of himself. On his head, he wore a headband one with the Sky (Ìì) character. On his sides were two men, similar age to him, which looked like his lackeys. This young man was surely someone of high status. ¡°Young master Du Bao. Your presence is an honor. Please let me treat you to something.¡±Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°Hahaha. Tell your peasant workers to get me fox spirit wine.¡± The young man replied. ¡°Erm- Young master¡­ I ¨C I ¨C I¡­I¡¯m afraid that it¡¯s currently out of stock.¡± The man at the bar was shivering whilst trying his best to construct a sentence. Tiangong was still gulping down whatever was left of the wine, with a pleasant expression on his face. ¡°IT¡¯S FINISHED? Who else can afford this wine but me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s this young master¡± Du Bao retracted his gaze from the man at the bar and shifted it towards Tiangong, however naturally he wouldn¡¯t be fazed. This made Du Bao even angrier. ¡°You there. Do you know who I am? How dare you finish my favourite wine?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m drinking? How dare you interrupt I, your father?¡± Tiangong''s previous expression of pleasure had changed to one of rage. ¡°You! I¡¯ll let you die a dog¡¯s death.¡± Du Bao exerted the aura of a rank 1 Cosmic realm cultivator in Tiangong¡¯s direction, it shocked the crowd, but this wasn¡¯t certainly too insufficient to even tickle him. ¡°I had eyes but failed to recognise Mt. Tai. Please forgive me oh might Du Bao.¡± Tiangong was shaking from head to toe whilst apologising to Du Bao. ¡°You have had your chance, but you didn¡¯t take it. The only option left for you is death.¡± Du Bao replied. Du Bao waved his sleeve revealing a black sword. He was going to behead Tiangong in front of everyone to set an example. The corner of Tiangong¡¯s mouth rose up into a mischievous smile, as Du Bao came closer and closer till eventually standing at the distance of a finger opposite to him. ¡°Young master Du Bao cut his head off.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what you deserve for messing with young master Du Bao.¡± ¡°Young master Du Bao is surely a genius!¡± The crowd was going wild. Everyone loved a bit of action, including the people present here. Even if they didn¡¯t have any problems with Tiangong, watching him being beheaded was still very entertaining. He raised the sword diagonally, slashing toward Tiangong. If this hit it would most definitely decapitate him. Du Bao was truly a savage. ~Swoooooosh Du Bao¡¯s slash was incredibly fast cutting the air at the fore of it. Some of the people in the crowd had closed their eyes or looked away, but the majority of them were quite eager to see Tiangong''s head fly off, due to how jealous he had made them previously. ¡°Idiots.¡± Tiangong thought in his mind. The sword which was heading for Tiangong¡¯s head was caught by Tiangong¡¯s very own naked hands. But that was not it, he bent his wrist and the sword Du Bao was holding had snapped like a twig. The crowd had already been through a lot, the once eager faces looking forward to Tiangong¡¯s death were now devastated. The young man in front of them was much stronger than Du Bao, and they were practically begging for his downfall only moments ago, if Tiangong had wanted to they would all be dead right now without even having the time to regret their decision. After snapping Du Bao¡¯s sword Tiangong reached out his hand and grappled his neck. Du Bao was now floating in the air supported by Tiangong¡¯s fingers, he had squeezed so hard Du Bao wasn¡¯t able to breathe and was left suffocating. ¡°Please spare our master. It seems like you do not know who he is. He is the disciple of an elder in the Sky sect.¡± One of his lackeys desperately tried his best to save his master. However, Tiangong did not even bother to look at him, let alone respond. Seeing Tiangong didn¡¯t seem to care even Du Bao opened his mouth. ¡°Spare me please¡± He was silently begging Tiangong with whatever energy he had left. ¡°As a wise man once said. You have had your chance, but you didn¡¯t take it. The only option left for you is death.¡± Tiangong said whilst giggling. Tiangong held Du Bao by the throat for about two minutes. He only stopped when Du Bao had been suffocated to death. Due to his past memories, his mindset was certainly not one of a member of the younger generation. In fact, even members of the older generation would pale in comparison to him. Tiangong had pretty much ate and drank all he had wanted at this point. After taking Du Bao¡¯s storage pouch he immediately left and started to travel again towards the Xin Empire. Du Bao¡¯s storage pouch was actually a lot less precious than he had thought. Other than one or two treasures, it didn¡¯t have much. At the pace Tiangong was traveling at right now it would only take him another two to three days till he would reach the Xin Empire, and find some way to steal an Essence shard from the Celestial Cloud sect.