《Adventures of Lord Genesis》


 Chapter 1 - Birth of Lord Genesis

    In a magnificent castle, the atmosphere was joyous. The servants were busy in the decoration and making sweets. The guards were ready with their spears, swords and bows for any uncalled situation. Entire castle was surrounded with a blue-light barrier. But all over the mood was of happiness for the grandchild of castle lord was about to be borne any second!


    In a well-constructed room lit with moon-stones, a woman was undergoing childbirth. Outside the room, three men in magnificent robes were standing feverishly. They had extraordinary bearings and their aura was of royalty.


    "Father, you''re more nervous than me even though it is me who is going to become the dad," joked the youngest of the three. He was a handsome looking youth who looked someone who is in his early twenties even though he was 400years old. For mortals such a lifespan was impossible but for martial artists, it was a very short span!


    " Zhen Ming, you say I am nervous? Of course, I am nervous. You, my incompetent son, didn''t father a single child in your 400 years of life. So how can I not be nervous when my first grandchild is about to born?" said the male who appeared to be in his mid-fifties from his looks. He had eagle-like eyes and a long greyish beard.


    The unexpected reply made Zhen Ming''s face twitch. He only wanted to lighten the mood. Who would have known that he would become the joke?


    "Zhen Ling, it''s enough. Your son was trying to cheer us up. You don''t have so brutally honest," said the third person with a serious tone though his expression showed that he was enjoying the divine comedy between father and son. He had long red hairs and his robes were full of extravagant designs.


    "Lin Feng, what would you understand? My incompetent son didn''t give me a single grandchild. MY wife died far too early otherwise I would have her give birth to competent children who would have given me dozens of grandchildren by now."


    This time both Zhen Ming and Lin Feng''s face twitched. Zhen Ling was far too honest for his love for grandchildren! In fact Lin Feng himself was about to become the grandfather. He was the father of Zhen Ming''s wife.


    Still, his love for grandchild was under control. He was a martial artist and his cultivation base was strong. He could easily live for few more thousand years and had enough time to experience the joy of being a grandfather. Lin Feng also has a son named Lin Zheng who is known as the greatest scammer of the century. Lin Feng was sure his scammer son would give him dozens of grandson given his personality.


    It was at this moment the sound of thunder reverberated throughout the castle. It was as if there was an explosion going in the night sky. The three of them sensed something strange, and they dashed to the balcony. The scene they saw was something they would never forget till the end of their lives.


    As far as their eyes could see the sky is covered with violet-colored clouds. The violet clouds were spreading violet radiance which flowed to the ground. The violet radiance seemed full of vitality and holy aura. It fell on the ground and everywhere it went it led to the spread of vitality.


    Even though the castle was protected by the barrier and didn''t allow any foreign matter it could do nothing to obstruct the violet glow. It was if the barrier didn''t exist at all as far the violet glow was concerned.


    Dead grass regained its life. Flowers bloomed, dead springs regained their spiritual essence, old people regained longevity, blind people regained their eyesight, and physically handicapped people were no longer handicapped! The diseases which only the top alchemists of the empire can cure were so easily destroyed as if they never existed.


    The martial artists on other hand found the spiritual essence in the world getting stronger. Many found that they were no longer struck by bottlenecks! Few even had promotion in their realms.


    For both cultivators and mortals, the violet radiance was nothing less than the blessings of Heavens. Mortals and cultivators alike thanked the Heavens. Everything happened in the time of three breaths!


    Meanwhile, Zhen Ling in the castle was terror-struck. He was a very powerful cultivator who had reached Divine Manifestation Realm. A cultivation realm where one can feel themselves to be a part of nature. Before Divine Manifestation Realm, one can use the laws of nature to one''s advantage. By understanding the principles and laws of Heavenly Dao and using their cultivation base as a medium, the cultivator can shrink the ground to an inch, call the wind and summon the rain and create a domain. But after reaching Divine Manifestation Realm one can actually make their own body and soul a part of the Great Dao even though they were not even a speck of dust in the eyes of Great Dao.


    Zhen Ling felt that this heavenly phenomenon was occurring throughout the empire? Were the Heavens blessing my empire? No! For Heavens, the boundary made by the humans didn''t matter. This heavenly blessing is spread throughout the continent...no perhaps throughout the Planet. What could cause it? Why was it happening? He felt that he couldn''t understand the principles and laws of this phenomenon at all. The only thing he could feel was that it was spreading to an area far greater than his scope of understanding...


    Suddenly a fierce shriek from inside the castle brought the three people back to their senses. Their faces turned unsightly when they realized that the shriek came from the room where the childbirth was taking place...


    All of them instantly teleported inside the room, and what they saw were far more shocking than the scene before. They felt that the earlier scene of violet clouds and violet radiance doing miracles was just a spark compared to the scene before them which was like a fire.


    The room where the childbirth was taking place was grand with its length being a hundred meters and the height being no less than twenty meters. It was no less grand than a mortal kingdom''s palace. The entire room which was initially lit with moon-stars now no longer offered any radiance as if they didn''t dare to offer glow.


    Upon a magnificent bed lied a woman who was trembling and shouting because the moment she gave birth the space above her bed was occupied by violet clouds that were spreading violet radiance. That was not the cause of her horror...the cause of horror was that the same time a floating river appeared whose water appeared to be made of stars. Blue orbs were floating in this heavenly river. The violet clouds were occupying the space above the woman''s bed and the surrounding space was occupied by the heavenly river.


    When Zhen Ling saw this river he was dumbstruck again for he has read about this river! In ancient records, it is said that the life and death cycle i.e. the sa?s¨¡ra of all beings is managed by Lord Yama. The Yama uses two rivers to manage the sa?s¨¡ra. One was the River of Death in which one''s soul would flow after one dies. The River of Death was invisible and it existed everywhere. It flowed along with every living being though they could never feel or sense it as if it was in the different plane of existence. When a living being died his/her soul would go that invisible River of Death. The river would take the souls to Yama who would decide their fate and reward them hell or heaven.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Similarly, to continue the sa?s¨¡ra cycle of the Universe, the souls judged by Yama would travel to new bodies for their rebirth through River of Life. The flow of this river was opposite to that of River of Death. Both rivers shared similar abilities, but they were of opposite nature like Yin and Yang. The River of Life didn''t surround every being unlike River of Dead. It would flow towards a place where a new life was about to be born and give that body with the soul the moment the body came to exist outside of mother''s womb. Before soul fuses with a body, the latter was just essence and energy. It is only after the fusion of essence, energy, and soul would there be a true living being.


    So how could Zhen Ling not be dumbstruck? The Rivers of Life and Death were existences that no one can sense or see...not even Great Saints! So what can make this immortal existence show itself? Was it caused by the violet clouds? But why would these violet clouds appear inside the room? Was the phenomenon outside a red herring?


    He didn''t have time to contemplate further when he noticed his newly born grandchild floating in the air towards the violet clouds present in the room. A soul in the shape of blue orb flowed out from the River of Life. At the same time the violet clouds start scattering away and what came in its place was a violet bead. The bead was as large as a baby''s fist and it was engraved with strange golden-colored runes. The moment the bead appeared everyone in the room fell to their knees including the female servants, the female doctor and the newly arrived three men. The only exceptions were the mother and child. It was as if the bead felt some gratitude to the new mother for giving birth.


    The others were not so lucky. They were trembling from fear especially the newly arrived men. How can a bead make them kneel and so powerless? Was our cultivation a joke? They were existence similar to Gods in the eyes of mortals, and yet they were kneeling to a bead! What was this ridiculous pressure? They tried to resist but with no result. They even felt that the bead didn''t make them kneel...it was their very soul who wished to kneel. Zhang Ling was sure that the bead could wipe out their existence anytime it wished!


    The soul in the shape of blue orb flew towards the bead, and they both started fusing with each other. It was as if the soul and bead were one, to begin with. The soul offered no resistance. It was as if it accepted the bead on its own violation and not because of bead''s divine might.


    The entire room was filled with holy radiance. None saw what the fusion of bead and soul looked like. The only thing Zhang Ling felt was that a golden radiance went towards his floating grandchild. After that, he could feel nothing else as his grandchild''s body radiated a blinding radiance.


    When Zhang Ling and others opened their eyes the River of Life and bead had long disappeared. The newly born child was in the bosom of her mother and looking at her with his sky-blue eyes. My child is safe! This was the last thought of the mother who lost her consciousness due to exhaustion.


    The other spectators weren''t so lucky and had no luxury of being relaxed. Zhen Ling, Zhen Ming and Lin Feng rushed towards the mother-child duo.


    "A boy!" The new dad beamed with joy though he couldn''t hide the worry of the early event from his tone. The newborn looked at his father with his sky-blue eyes and then fell asleep.


    "We couldn''t let anyone know what occurred here," Zhen Ling said solemnly. Today was the day he was supposed to be happy, but he had a premonition if the happenings of this event were spread he would invite extermination of his family. He has lived for thousands of years and knew the working of human nature. Talent and wealth bring envy. The unknown brings far worse...


    "The heavenly phenomenon earlier was spread throughout the empire if not the continent. I don''t think anyone else noticed what happened when my daughter was undergoing childbirth. The barrier surrounding the castle should be able to stop from others sending their perception inside. Even we didn''t felt the existence of that strange river and the violet clouds in the room even though the barrier didn''t restrict our perception. We would have been oblivious to the phenomenon if not for the shriek of my daughter."


    "Lin Feng, you''re right, but we can''t take any chances. All those old monsters out there would want to know the cause of the heavenly phenomenon which spread vitality throughout the area. For cultivators of my cultivation base it''s very hard to make a slight improvement in a hundred years but now my cultivation has strengthened due to the fickle amount of violet radiance, and same goes for other cultivators throughout the empire. Even I would try to find the source of this phenomenon and get the benefits no matter the cost and means. The phenomenon of three breaths can give so many benefits so what would happen if one can find the true source of the phenomenon?"


    "Human beings will die for riches and cultivators would die for a chance to improve their strength. The saying is really true. What should we do?"


    When Lin Feng said this he gazed towards the female servants and a female doctor. Zhen Ling understood the meaning. The female doctor had lived for a long time, and she understood what was going on. She fell to her knees and started begging.


    "Sir, please don''t kill me. I swear on Heavenly Dao that I would never show anything happened here! If I break my promise may I be stuck in hell for all eternity!" begged the female doctor.


    She knew that she has courted disaster by being present here. Zhen Ling was the twenty-fifth imperial prince!! The Emperor had countless children and the chance of Zhen Ling becoming the emperor was almost zero but even still he held a great power and influence among the empire!!


    He was one of the strongest experts in the empire, so he can decide the fate of lesser people like the doctor much less the servants who were slaves. Imperial family can kill as they like!! That was the benefit of being a royalty.


    "Snort! I can take no chances!" The moment Zhen Ling said these four fire-balls appeared in the air out of nowhere which flew towards the servants and doctor. They were burned to ashes in a blink of an eye. They didn''t even get chance to cry for the fire generated by a cultivator was something that not even low-grade magical tools can handle much fewer cultivators of Awakening Realm.


    Not even their ashes remained.


    "Ming''Er, compensate their families. Tell them that an assassin broke in and tried to murder my grandson. The servants and doctors died while protecting the child. Their shrieks alerted you and at the end, you killed the assassin. Reward their families for their bravery. Also, launch an investigation on the guards for allowing an assassin to barge in."


    "Yes, father," replied Zhen Ming with a solemn voice. He did felt sympathy for the dead but at the end, it was the only sympathy. He couldn''t take any chances with the safety of his child.


    Zhen Ming would have killed the servants and doctor himself if his father hasn''t killed them. He had killed countless enemies, and he has long learned that a man has to be ruthless when the situation dictates.


    He looked at his sleeping child and his eyes were filled with love. In his eyes, there was also worry about the fate of his child. Cultivators risk their lives at every junction, but he felt that the fate of his child was far crueler than any cultivator before.


    The birth of this child caused a heavenly phenomenon so how can his life be any ordinary? His fate was already decided to be full of danger. For now, perhaps they can hide the truth from others but what about future? No secret can be concealed forever. One day the truth would be revealed...


    Thinking about the future scenarios he wished that his child was ordinary. He would be disappointed to see his child being weak but at least he could live happily in the limited glory. Being extraordinary would perhaps bring him glory and power but so would the danger and chance of death.


    "What we cultivators cultivate is the strength but what my son would cultivate is fate," mumbled the mother in her sleep.


    Alas, they are worried about the wrong person. It is the world they should be worried about and not their son!

 Chapter 2 - Incident In The Imperial Capital

    Three years have passed since the heavenly phenomenon occurred. The Endless Continent was full of chaos. Old monsters left their closed-door cultivation to investigate the heavenly phenomenon. Countless mortals and rogue cultivators are abducted by top alchemists. What were initially blessings for the mortals and rogue cultivators turned into curse when the cultivators and alchemists started using them to investigate the heavenly phenomenon.


    The demonic path cultivators started blood sacrifice ceremony in many regions. They sacrificed millions of mortals to get the violet radiance but alas with no results. It was as if the violet radiance was a blessing which could not be stolen. The experiments of alchemists were in vain as well.


    Ancient records were searched but with no luck. Many ancient ruins were investigated to discover any hints but all in vain.


    In the world only four people knew that the heaven-shaking incident was created by the arrival of a newborn! The maids and doctor were killed to hide the secret. Outside people were told that an "assassin" tried to murder the grandchild of Zhen Ling, and the maids & doctor died while protecting the newborn. A massive search operation was launched to find the companions of assassin but with no results. The families of maids and doctor were given rich compensation for their "bravery and noble sacrifice".


    Zhen Ling is the twenty-fith imperial prince of Skyrise Empire. Even though the probability of him becoming the crown prince is zero but it didn''t mean he is weak. He has lived for more than a thousand years and the influence he created in the Empire was something no one can dare to underestimate. Even the Crown Prince would agree on that. For an old fox like him faking records of an assassination attempt was nothing. He made sure to leave no loopholes.


    Skyrise Empire is one of the strongest Empire in the Endless Continent. The Empire has 108 states with the smallest state having an area of 5 million sq.km. Even for cultivators such a figure was horrifying much less mortals.


    Zhen Ling rules over one such state in the name of Emperor. So how can a man ruling over such a large territory be lacking in cover-up?


    In an open field outside the castle, Zhen Ling was holding his grandchild. They have named him as Zhen Han. By Zhen Lin''s side was his daughter-in-law Lin Li. Her eyes were full of love when she saw the smile on her son''s face. She knew that her child was happy to be outside the castle as ever since his birth she kept him inside due to her worries. She wanted him to enjoy the world but was afraid that his secrets would be revealed if he was outside. But now...her child has to leave.


    For her Zhen Han was everything, and thus she couldn''t help but worry when she thinks of the upcoming trip to Imperial Capital. She has to go with her three-year-old son to the capital so that her son''s genealogy can be registered in the official imperial records.


    She was afraid that the powerful cultivators in the Empire would notice the mystic origin of Zhen Han. What would happen if those power-hungry monsters in the capital found about the origin of that worldwide phenomenon? The very thought of it gave her chills. The capital was full of wolf in sheep''s clothing. For gaining longevity they would do anything. Sure her child has a strong family background but could they face an entire Empire? In fact, she didn''t trust her own clan or her husband''s clan. Royalty and nobility are devoid of kinship. That was an eternal fact. People kill each other for small profits but her son carried a heaven-defying fortune. Would they spare him? She knew the answer.


    Zhen Ling also knew about the worry of her daughter-in-law. In fact, he was also worried, but he didn''t let it show. He was the head of the family so how could he show a weak side of himself?


    "Lin Li, you don''t have to worry. Even I couldn''t notice anything strange about Han''er. I have inspected him through my divine sense multiple times and didn''t notice anything strange even though I know that he is anything but ordinary. So how would other people notice when they don''t know about his mystic birth? Even if they searched him through their divine sense the only thing they would notice is his extraordinary latent talent and that''s nothing to worry about."


    Hearing her father-in-law''s words, Lin Li realized that her worries were unfounded. Besides having superior talent wasn''t anything surprising as her son has the bloodline of Skyrise Emperor. Most importantly the talent of most youngsters has increased due to the violet glow phenomenon. Anyone who absorbed the violet glow got some sort of blessing. For the younger generation, the blessing was in the form of an increase in talent. Everyone believed that the present era would be the age of heroes.


    In the Endless Continent, the path of cultivation starts at the age of five. There was still time before her child starts his martial journey.


    Zhen Ling felt relieved when he saw the worry from Lin Li''s face disappearing.


    "The holy beast would arrive soon. You should get ready. "


    "Yes."


    Soon a giant blue phoenix arrived and took the mother-son duo to the capital. For mortals, it was impossible to cover the trip distance in their lifespan but for the sage beast a week was enough.


    Throughout the journey, Zhen Han was sleeping in his mother''s arms with occasionally waking up for daily necessities. After a week they arrived in the capital.


    The imperial capital was divided into nine zones with the Imperial Palace in the first and inner-most zone. The second zone was open only for royalty and nobility. Of course, it also allowed their servants and guards. Even still the second zone was full of people. It has a population of more than 100 million! Cultivators had a long lifespan and their ability for breeding can''t be underestimated especially when one is of high status.


    The holy beast left Lin Li and Zhen Han in the outermost section of the second zone as afterward flying was restricted. There were magical arrays in the sky which made flying impossible unless you have the permission from the Emperor.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    The imperial guards were ready for escorting the mother-son duo but Lin Li refused the offer. She wanted to make up for her earlier mistakes and let her child enjoy the market. Lin Li introduced her son to the various merchandise. Zhen Han''s eyes were full of awe when he saw magic beasts in the city. Golden-horn Horse, Bloodwing Dog, Six-eyed Monkey, Cerberus, Winged Tiger and many others. Back in the state, his mother didn''t allow him to leave the castle due to her worries. Now he left her mother''s arms and started running around on his own.


    There were no restrictions. He can now finally see how the world was. He can see the beasts he saw in the books. Perhaps soon he can see the beautiful scenarios the books described?


    Zhen Han''s daydreaming was broken when he heard a loud shriek. Some distance away he saw a muscular man in rich attire dragging a female. From the attire of man, it was sure that he was from imperial family. As for what he was going to do with the female it was obvious to the people nearby, but they did nothing.


    Lin Li soon caught up with her child and took him in her arms. Even though she despised the shameless actions of the male she could do nothing. That young man could have taken the woman through a chariot or had made her unconscious. But he didn''t, which means he was enjoying the despair of woman. He was at the Blood Transformation stage, and yet he enjoyed harassing a mortal slave. How despicable.


    Lin Li was strong enough to kill him, but she couldn''t. It was obvious that the female was a slave. In the empire, slaves have no rights. In all honesty, she supported the slave system but was against the immoral acts of forcing oneself on another. The young man was from royal family just like her so their status was somewhat equal. So how can Lin Li take action? If she did then she would bring the wrath of the Empire laws. She has to think about her child and her husband. A life of a slave wasn''t worth enough the risk.


    "Mother, why is that woman crying?"


    Lin Li was surprised by the question and didn''t know how to answer him. He wasn''t old enough to understand the working of the world, but she also knew that she has to guide him to the right path so that he doesn''t become a lecherous man in the future. Far too many people in the royalty lost themselves to the carnal pleasure. She wanted her son to be a perfect gentleman.


    "That man is going to force himself on the woman. He is going to do something horrible against her wishes. Something a true man would never do."


    Even though Zhen Han didn''t understand what was the "horrible" part...he knew that it was absolutely bad if his mother said so. His mother has always been right.


    He has seen his father always agreeing with her mother. His father had once told him that he would never admit defeat to anyone even if he was killed.


    ''A true man never admits defeat or apologies'' were his words. Next day he has seen his mother shouting at his father followed by his father apologizing. Later he asked his father why he apologized as a true man never admits defeat. Strangely his father''s face was twitching. His father then said that his mother was an exception as she is always right.


    "Mom does that means that man is not a man?" questioned Zhen Han. He now felt disgusted at the man who was dragging that female.


    "Yes. He is not a man. He is more beast than a human being. People like him deserve to mate with only beasts."


    "Mate with beasts?" Zhen Han knew the meaning of the word ''mate''. So he is surprised at his mother''s words.


    "Yes. Only when he is mating with the beasts and on receiving end would he understand." Lin Li regretted her words as soon as she has spoken. How could she let herself use such a language in front of her son?


    "I understand, mom. He deserves to mate with beasts." Strangely when Zhen Han said these words, his eyes were full of violet glow. If a Divine Manifestation stage cultivator was present he/she would notice that as soon as Zhen Han said these words the natural laws of the heaven and earth were changed.


    Lin Li was only at Golden Body stage, so she didn''t notice the change in natural laws, but she noticed the violet glow in her son''s eyes. She had a bad premonition as she hastily closed his eyes, and prayed that no one noticed the change in her son. She used her psychic abilities and made him fall into sleep.


    Soon the entire city was full of beasts roar. The chariots were broken as the beasts started getting berserk. Beasts discarded their confinement and the duties they were given. The buildings in the city were being trampled by the beasts. Even though most people in the second zone were cultivators, but not everyone was powerful than the beasts. Besides, truly powerful cultivator wasn''t bored enough to rome in the city.


    The beasts killed the cultivators who tried to stop them. Even the Slave Seals inside the beasts stopped working! In ordinary situations, the Slave Seal makes it impossible for a beast to rebel otherwise the beast would face a tragic death! Without Slave Seal, it was impossible to stop beasts who were at Golden Body and more advanced stages of cultivation.


    Even the beasts who had a harmonious relationship with the humans lost their sanity. They started going on a rampage. It was as if the Heavens themselves wanted the rebellion of beasts!


    Some unlucky fellows died just because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.


    Beasts throughout the city were rebelling and running towards the direction of that robust young man.


    The robust young man was dragging the female through an intersection when he suddenly had a large sense of crisis. Cultivators develop their perception, and when one reaches Blood Transformation stage he/she can develop Divine Instinct. A sixth sense which gives premonition of danger in advance. That young man''s Divine Instinct was going crazy! The divine instinct was as if telling the man that he is going to suffer a fate far worse than death!


    Within a flick of second that young man was surrounded by beasts. Their eyes were full of blood threads and passion.


    Passion?


    The young man didn''t dare believe his guess. He dropped the female slave and dashed away when he made a small opening with the help of an exploding-type spirit talisman. The beasts instead of chasing the young man started fighting among themselves seem as if they were rivals in love. They all wanted the young man for themselves without sharing! I


    Alas, the young man wasn''t lucky enough. Other beasts who were lurking for their chance took the advantage of the quarrel and started chasing the young man. Without any surprise, he was caught.


    Soon there were shrieks of horror coming from the mouth of young man. The passersby in the city had their jaws dropped. Many of the passersby were killed during the chase of beasts. The surviving ones couldn''t believe the things they were seeing.


    The beasts who were fighting among themselves noticed that others took advantage of their battle. They stopped fighting and run away towards the young man. The young man has used away his full powers and mystic treasures to kill away the beasts. His body hardly has any clothes left. Instead, his body was full of holes.


    Just as he was taking a moment rest he noticed more beasts coming. His scalp was exploding from the imminent sense of crisis. Soon again the city was full of horrible screams.


    The beast masters were trembling in fear when they realized the status of the young man with whom the beasts were sharing the love.


    The city guards and beast masters started attacking the beasts to protect the young man but alas that only increased the troubles for the young man. The beast started getting more violent.


    Far away Lin Li was holding her son in her arms and gazing at the unbelievable scene. Even from such a distance, she could hear the shrieks of the young man. For the first time in her life, she felt pity for a lecherous man.

 Chapter 3 - Clearing Karma!

    Lin Li had a hard time believing the unbelievable scene in front of her. Indeed she has said that people like that young man deserve to mate with beasts but in the end, they were just words spoken in anger.


    How could she ever expect her words to turn true? Who would have known her son would make her words as the law of the world?


    The screams of the young man were soon fading. It was not because the beasts have completed their lovemaking session but due to the exhaustion of young man. Sure he was in Blood Transformation realm but at the end, it was just a second step in the road of cultivation.


    In the universe, the cultivation realms are divided into Awakening, Blood Transformation, Golden Body, Divine Sea, Dao Awakening, Divine Manifestation, Divine King, World King, Empyrean and Dao Ancestor. According to the legends, there are realms beyond Dao Ancestor but they have never been verified.


    The young man was only in Blood Transformation but some of the beasts who were sharing their passion were even in Golden Body realm! He was lucky that Divine Sea beasts weren''t in surrounding otherwise his fate would have been far worse. But then again the young man would disagree: nothing could be far worse than what he has already suffered! That young man has enjoyed multiple women at once in the past but not even in his worst nightmares, he made love with a beast. No! Beasts! Not to mention the beasts were male! Could anything be far worse? Definitely not! The young man didn''t even know how many beasts has defiled his body. The shame plus exhaustion made him lose consciousness.


    This didn''t stop the enthusiasm of the beasts. Beasts were fighting among themselves to have a love session with the young man.


    Lin Li couldn''t take the sight any longer. She found herself on the verge of vomiting. Oh heavens, what I have seen. This wasn''t just her thought but the thought of almost every person in the market.


    Just as a newly arrived Cerberus was about to start its love session with the young man it heard a loud noise.


    "You dare!"


    The Cerberus found his body inflating with his blood vessels on the verge of explosion. The three heads of the Cerberus were showing frantic signs of panic but they couldn''t stop their body from the explosion. The Cerberus was dead. He died without knowing how and why he died.


    The beasts nearby showed frantic expression as well. They found themselves unable to move at all.


    Up in the sky, people could see a red-robed man floating. He has white hairs and a long beard. His eyebrows were as sharp as a sword.


    When Lin Li saw the old man she couldn''t help but shout, "Uncle Shi!" Lin Li knew the old man. He is Shi Xiong who is at Divine Manifestation realm just like her father and father-in-law. Shi Xiong is one of the strongest experts in the Empire and he is the head of Shi Clan.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    The old man glanced at Lin Li but then once again focused on the beasts. His face was full of anger and shame.


    The young man who the beasts were defiling was his own grandson! Shi Hao was his favorite grandson but now some wild beasts did the unbelievable things to him. How could he not get angry when he sees his own flesh and blood in such a poor state? His reputation has been ruined!


    Shi Xiong arrived in front of his grandson who was no longer conscious. The beasts nearby were trembling but could do nothing due to the pressure from the aura of Shi Xiong. They couldn''t move much less run. After the arrival of Shi Xiong they have regained their true nature. It was as if the pressure from Shi Xiong broke the recent change in the natural laws.


    "I know you beasts aren''t fully at fault for your actions. I could sense that someone has changed the rules of nature, and made coupling between you and my grandson as some sort of natural instinct within you. But that doesn''t mean I can let you live. You will have to pay the price of blood!"


    Shi Xiong waved his hand and all beats exploded! Dying from self-explosion was the most horrible form of death.


    Shi Xiong took a long breath to calm himself. He then scanned the entire second zone with his divine perception but couldn''t found the signs of culprit responsible for his grandson''s condition. He knew that only someone who has achieved Divine Manifestation or above can change the natural laws. Perhaps the culprit has run away? The other possibility is that the culprit could avoid his divine perception. But that should be impossible! The ones who can avoid his perception are Divine King or above!! Would people of such high esteem be bored enough to play such a terrible joke on his grandson?!


    Hang on! The natural laws which were affected in this area were of high level. Mating is a trait which concerned the very existence of a species so how can such natural laws be influenced by Divine Manifestation realm? No. Even Divine King couldn''t influence them! Only someone at World King realm can influence such natural laws. I have to inform his Highness as soon as possible!


    He took another breath and turned his face towards Lin Li who was far away. Cultivators have superior senses so such a distance was nothing if they want to communicate.


    "Lin Li, I originally came to escort you to imperial housings. When the guards told me you declined their offer of escorting you I thought it is my duty as your father''s friend to escort you. I thought your child might be in danger as he has faced assassination attempts when he was born so¡­ Even though it''s the imperial city I thought there might be possible attacks. Who would have known it would be my grandson¡­.sighs."


    Lin Li is in shock ever since the tragedy of Shi Hao started. First, the unimaginable suffering that poor guy suffered due to her but now she realized that Shi Hao was a grandson of her father''s best friend. She couldn''t help but feel ashamed for causing such pain to Shi Xiao. Shi Xiao has been very good to her ever since her birth. He has acted like a second father to her on many occasions. If only she knew Shi Hao was her uncle''s grandson perhaps she wouldn''t have said those words. Then again Shi Xiao has a dozen of children and hundreds of grandchildren so it was not surprising for her to know.


    As for assassination attempt? That was a lie Lin Li and others created to hide the origin of the heavenly phenomenon.


    "Uncle Shi, I''m sorry. I am at fault," Lin Li''s face was full of shame as she apologized. She almost blurted out the truth but then stopped herself.


    "How can I fault you? It''s not surprising that you didn''t rescue my grandson as most likely you didn''t know his identity. My child, you don''t have to blame yourself. It was fate if my grandson suffered such calamity."


    Shi Xiao gave a deep sigh and then continued with his words.


    "Perhaps he was lucky that you left without imperial guards which in turn brought me here. If I didn''t arrive here than most likely Shi Hao would have died in that unspeakable act. If he died in such a way... Sighs. Anyways, after he wakes up I would bring him to thank you and your child. I would make sure to gift your son Zhen Han a perfect gift to clering the karma."


    Shi Xiao believes in the concept of karma. In a way, the presence of Lin Li and her child saved his grandson so how could he not repay? If he didn''t repay for this kindness then perhaps he would never achieve Divine King realm!


    His Majesty once gave a sermon on achieving the Dao. He talked about the need to give utmost importance to karma. If not dealt properly Karma is the biggest hindrance in the path of achieving the Dao!


    Shi Xiao arrived in the city as he was worried about the assassination attempts on Zhen Han. So in a way, he formed karma with Zhen Han. The karma was very low as far as he was concerned but at the end, low things lead to big calamities. He didn''t want to take a risk.


    Lin Li''s face couldn''t help but twitch at Uncle Shi''s logic.


    Uncle, I''m sorry but I am responsbile for the fate of your grandson! If I hadn''t come here and instead went away with the imperial guards your grandson would be absolutely safe. Gift for my son? Uncle, my son is responsible for everything! How could you reward him instead?!?


    Lin Li wanted to cry but has no tears as she gazed at her sleeping son. This young rascal has a smile on his face!

 Chapter 4 - I would become top in everything I strive for!

    Lin Li gave a long sigh and proceeded towards the first zone of the imperial city. Shi Xiao has the imperial edict so he is allowed to use his flight abilities. He flew towards the imperial palace for informing the Emperor and also to give medical attention to his grandson.


    Lin Li didn''t remind Shi Xiao of his original goal. She was more than capable to company her son the first zone for the genealogy records. In fact, she wouldn''t have come here if she thought her son''s life is in danger. No one would dare to murder an imperial descendant in the Empire. Her son, Zhen Han, has the blood of current Skyrise Emperor. Though the bloodline connection is faint as Skyrise Emperor is the great-grandfather of Zhen Han the very presence of bloodline gave him protection.


    It was due to this reason that Zhen Han''s grandfather used assassination attempt as a coverup to hide the secrets of his birth. What could be a more important manner when a newborn imperial child is tried to be murdered? Of course, Zhen Ling was aware that using assassination attempt for a coverup has its own disadvantages such as imperial enquires, etc. Being an old sly fox he was more than adept to hide the clues.


    As Lin Li was deep in her thoughts her son started rubbing his eyes. The little rascal woke up moments later. Lin Li''s forehead was full of blacklines when he demanded food. His expression was saying she was starving him.


    "You create such trouble but yet you have no qualms in asking for food."


    Zhen Han showed his puppy-like eyes at her words.


    "Mom, what trouble? I don''t remember doing anything bad," Zhen Han''s face was full of innocence.


    "You don''t remember what happened before you fell asleep? "


    "Ah! I remember you saying something about a young man deserving to mate with beasts! Mom, what happened to him?" Zhen Han asked with great curiosity. The only thing he remembered is that he agreed with his mother and nothing more.


    "Ssshhh! You will never mention that to anyone!"


    The black lines on Lin Li''s face were getting more. She was blaming her son but now her son has passed the blameto her. She knew most likely his son changed the natural laws unconsciously. His expression made her guess more strong.


    She made a mental note to discuss his strange powers with her father-in-law when she returns back to the state. This time luckily no one noticed when he used his powers but what about in future? If someone notices him using powers which only people from Divine Manifestation realm can use then he would bring a life-threatening calamity. How can a child who didn''t even started cultivating change the natural laws?


    Mating is a trait which concerned the very existence of a species so how can such natural laws be influenced? Such laws were far too more advanced and difficult to understand. Much less change them.


    Natural laws are the very foundation of a world. They govern every aspect of the world including the weather, natural calamities, the fertility, the types of species and their natural instincts including lust, etc. If anyone can influence such laws then the world would be destroyed long ago. Even people from Divine Manifestation can only control the low-level natural rules such as weather and that too for a small range. Even Divine King realm cultivators couldn''t high-level laws which affect the very existence of a species. Only someone from World King realm can influence such high-level laws.


    Lin Li didn''t know much about the working of natural laws but she has a strong premonition that not even her father and father-in-law could change such natural laws even though they are at Divine Manifestation.


    But now her son did the unbelievable. If such secret was known then all the experts out there would come for him. There would be zero chance of survival.


    No matter how she would need to find ways to make him control this powers.


    "Mom, I''m hungry!" Zhen Han once more shouted for food.


    ---------------------------------------


    Zhen Han and Lin Li arrived at a high-end restaurant in the second zone. They chose a private cabin for food. Zhen Han helped himself with the local delicacies. No matter how much he ate he felt that he was still starving. Lin Li didn''t feel any worry. She has scanned his body with her divine sense and could see that his cells were absorbing energy at a very fast rate. Seems like his body has lost a great amount of energy when he used his powers earlier. She was glad that there was a cost for such great power. Even she was jealous of his abilities but of course, she also prided herself on giving birth to such a child.


    She cleared her mind and thought of a very important matter. More important than the heaven-defying abilities her son has. What if her son got drunk in power by achieving such abilities at such a young age?!?


    Now he doesn''t know how powerful he is compared to his peers but what about the near future when he learns of his abilities? Soon he would start his cultivation journey and see the difference in his abilities compared to his peers.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Even old people destroy their potential by becoming blindly arrogant. She has seen far many geniuses who became waste after getting high of themselves just because they were born superior. That''s a very common occurrence in the Endless Continent.


    Would Zhen Han become same? Is it possible for him to NOT get arrogant and self-satisfied when he learns of his heaven-defying abilities? The answer is no. Lin Li was totally frightened by the possibility.


    Originally she didn''t plan to lecture him about cultivation before he turns five as that is the age when a person becomes ready for cultivation.


    But she realized she has to teach not only about cultivation but about working of the world as soon as possible. She has to make him learn that there is a mountain beyond mountain! She has to make his foundation strong so that he doesn''t become self-satisfied like a frog in the well.


    "Han''er, do you know how the imperial city is divided?"


    Zhen Han''s mouth was full of food when he listened to his mother''s question. He replied in negative.


    "It''s not surprising for you to be unaware. Let me explain you about the imperial city."


    Lin Li can''t directly tell him to not become arrogant in the future. Such lessons have to be given in a subtle way otherwise they lose their effects. She planned to teach him those valuable lessons through the example of the imperial city.


    The imperial city was divided into nine circular zones with the ninth being the outermost zone. The ninth zone occupied the most area but it was least developed. A large number of mortals lived in it. From the eighth zone, the residence of cultivators starts appearing.


    Even though it is titled as a city the imperial capital has more than ten thousand mountains in it. The cities of cultivators are different from the mortals. Cultivators need essence springs and spiritual energy which is usually rich in mountainous regions. The imperial capital is located in the core of a divine rank spiritual vein. The heart of spiritual vein is located in the innermost zone i.e. the first zone.


    Mortals aren''t allowed to live in imperial residence! If someone without talent is born in the imperial family then he/she is exiled to the second zone.


    Zhen Han finally gained interest in Lin Li''s words when he learned about the plight of mortals.


    "Mom, that is cruel. How can someone discard their family members just because they are ordinary?"


    Lin Li face was full of smiles as she realized that her trick was working.


    "The world is full of hardship. My child, you have no idea how cruel the world is. You ask why to discard mortals but that''s how the world works. Everything is for the benefit."


    She took the opportunity to further explain the working of the world.


    Every breath in the first zone is full of spiritual vigor so how can it be wasted on mortals?


    Sure you might be from imperial family but you wouldn''t be given any benefits if you don''t show potential! No matter which world it is they all share a common law: survival of the fittest.


    No matter whether it is the imperial family, rich clans or religious sect their very existence depends on two things: their current strength and their ''future potential''.


    The current strength is the number of strong experts an organization has. The strong experts of today can make sure the organization exists for the time being but what about the future?


    Even the strongest expert would die someday. There are no immortals in the world. Eternal life is nothing but a hollow dream.


    So who can protect the organization when its founding pillars die or become weak due to old age? That''s when the ''future potential'' comes in place. Future potential is referring to the younger generation.


    Why do the powerful clans invest resources on young geniuses if not for their future potential? The very reason the clans invest so much on young talents is for the future possibility that they would become someone who can return the investment multiple times.


    Of course, most talents fail to live up to their potential. They would either die or suffer mental scars which would make them useless. Sometimes the talented geniuses lose themselves in the carnal and other pleasures. All of these scenarios would make the investment of clans turn into losses.


    The great clans know of the possible losses but yet they invest so much for a single hope. It was similar to how a mortal spends money to buy thousands of lottery tickets in hope of getting a ticket which would be the key to the jackpot. If he gets the jackpot then the initial investment was more than worth it. Sometimes it''s possible that all thousand lottery tickets are blank and in that case, one can only blame oneself for poor luck.


    The concept of investment in the young geniuses by great clans is of similar nature. Everything is for the eventual possibility. Of course, there are times when people of low talent have achieved greater things. The probability is far too low for such a case to occur so the clans don''t spend much on such people.


    The imperial family is also same as those of great clans. The resources are there for talented geniuses. If you have talent then you can have everything otherwise nothing.


    In the imperial family, there is no sense of kinship. A brother would readily kill his own brother for the throne. A son wouldn''t hesitate to pierce his father''s chest for obtaining the throne. If a person is more talented then it means he might become trouble later. Some secret records mention that the current Skyrise Emperor killed his own brother during his youth just because he was more talented.


    What happens to such talented people if they are not corrupted by the pleasures of life? Most times they are killed by a rival organization. Very few talents can reach their potential.


    "You see my child? That''s how the world works. Unless one is at the top of the food chain it''s useless to be self-satisfied. Even if one lack worthy rivals in the same generation that doesn''t mean one is invincible. Can he/she defeat the older generation? Unless one is the strongest existence in the world it''s nothing but laughable to be self-satisfied."


    Zhen Han didn''t understand the hidden meaning in her words due to his young age but he understood how the world works. He didn''t say anything but look at her. Lin Li understood that he would be able to understand the hidden meaning in future.


    "Han''er, you should have grand aspirations. A true man is never satisfied with small accomplishments. I want you to be top in everything you strive for!"


    Zhen Han could see the love and kindness in his mother''s eyes when she spoke those words. He didn''t know what was considered as grand aspirations but he promised himself that he would make her words turn into reality.


    "Mom, I promise you that I would have grand aspirations! I would become top in everything I strive for! I promise!"


    Lin Li felt joy at his words. She could sense the firmness of the promise he made. She can be finally at ease. She secretly complimented herself for her skills in words.


    Alas, a couple of centuries later she would regret her choice of words. Her son would live up to his promise but in a way, she could never have imagined!

 Chapter 5 - Young Sapling

    Zhen Han and Lin Li arrived at the entrance of the first zone. The entire boundary was surrounded by a blood-red barrier. Even experts of Divine Manifestation realms would have a hard time breaking the barrier. The barrier was both a defensive and offensive array.


    The entrance to the first zone was heavily protected by the imperial guards. Zhen Han and his mother were easily able to enter inside after providing their identity token.


    Zhen Han''s face was full of awe as he stared at the amazing scenery in the first zone. The inside of the first zone was full of mountains and lakes. Every breath he took was full of spiritual essence.


    "As expected of the imperial capital," praised Zhen Han.


    "Haha. You have seen nothing. Wait till we go to the Imperial Palace."


    This time Lin Li couldn''t refuse the imperial escorts. The first zone has many forbidden areas such as spirit stones mines, spirit herb garden, etc so every action within the first zone was noted.


    Zhen Han and Lin Li went inside the imperial carriage provided to them. The imperial carriage works on spiritual stones so it didn''t need any beasts. The speed of carriage was fast, and all Zhen Han could see through carriage window were glimpses of mansions and gardens in the mountainous terrain of the first zone. He has a hard time believing it was a city.


    His grandfather''s castle was also in mountains but they were nowhere as grand compared to the imperial city. The castle has Spiritual Energy Gathering Array so the spiritual vigor was high but nothing compared to the first zone of the imperial capital.


    Zhen Han thought of his mother''s earlier words and understood that everything depends on one''s own ability. If you are strong you can have anything you like but if you are weak you will be at mercy of others. Talented people can have riches but useless people can''t even one-time food. A cruel world.


    He has enjoyed riches from his birth but he realized that compared to the imperial city it was nothing. He wasn''t envious or bittersweet about the difference in living standard. He was grateful for what he had. From his mother''s words and the stories, he knows most people don''t have basic necessities of life. He has seen the house slaves inside the castle who worked so hard and never complained. Or the young woman in the second zone whose dignity was trampled by that young man.


    A man should know when to be grateful and satisfied. This also didn''t mean they should not pursue more riches. Zhen Han once more thought of his mother''s words and thought perhaps there is a difference between satisfied and self-satisfied. One should be content with what one has but shouldn''t be too content that they stop pursuing more.


    "I would become the strongest and richest person," Zhen Han promised himself in his heart.


    Soon they arrived outside a grand river. The mother-son duo came out of the castle. At the center of the lake, they could see a grand palace full of imposing attitude. It was at least 5 km long. This was dozens of times large than grandfather''s castle.


    "Mom, would we go through a boat to the palace?" Zhen Han asked.


    "Nope. We would walk on the bridge." Lin Li answered.


    Zhen Han was confused by her words as he could see no bridge in the river. In fact, there were no boats in the river as far as he could see. No bridge? No boats? How were they supposed to go?


    "You''re thinking there is no bridge, right? Who said that the bridge has to be above the river surface?"


    Lin Li took Zhen Han at the front of the river. She took out her identification jake token and placed her aura on it. A green light came from the token which flew inside the river water.


    Soon Zhen Han could see different types of fishes coming towards the river bank. They were grouping themselves. He couldn''t help but have a shocked expression on his face as he realized that the fishes were the bridge his mother mentioned.


    Millions of fishes converged together to form a one-meter wide bridge.


    Zhen Han stepped on the fish bridge. Much to his shock the bridge didn''t move or showed any sign of breaking. Lin Li gave a small chuckle when she saw her son''s expression. The imperial escorts followed behind the mother-son duo.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "It''s nothing to be surprised about. The fishes are anything but ordinary. They were born in such a high-density spiritual energy area. Just like cultivators they too have evolved."


    The bridge was 10 km long so for a mortal it would be a time-consuming journey but for cultivators it was nothing. Lin Li took Zhen Han in her arms when she saw him showing signs of exhaustion.


    She walked slowly so that her child can enjoy the sight. She has seen far more wonderful things in life so for her the fish bridge was nothing but a child''s play. In fact, there were many wonderful things back in the castle and the state. It was just that Zhen Han was far too young for him to meet those wonderous pocket dimensions and mystic realms.


    "Well, I also showed such an expression when I first arrived here during my youth so I have no right to laugh," Lin Li reminded herself.


    It was nighttime when they finally arrived at the palace.


    -----------------


    Wang Xixi was waiting in front of Imperial Palace for welcoming Zhen Han and his mother. Wang Xixi is the sixth wife of Skyrise Emperor. Perhaps if someone who doesn''t know the working of Empire would think being the sixth wife was a low place but in fact, it was a very high place.


    The current Skyrise Emperor has ninety-nine wives and thousands of concubines. The Emperor has been in power for more than thirty thousand years so the size of the harem wasn''t shocking. In fact the harem was considered small.


    The Skyrise Emperor was in World King realm so he has a very long lifespan. For mortals, the Emperor was nothing less than a true immortal.


    In his thirty thousand years life, the Skyrise Emperor has married multiple times and taken many concubines. Sadly most of his lovers died due to old age.


    A mortal has a lifespan of hundred years at most but cultivators can steal lifespan from the Heavens. So the lifespan of cultivators is long but that doesn''t mean they are Immortal. Higher your cultivation level the longer would be your lifespan but even then you would have to face death. There was no eternal life or at least no one from Endless Continent has heard about an Eternal Life Being.


    For Wang Xixi being the sixth wife of an Emperor, who has lived for more than thirty thousand years, spoke volumes. Out of ninety-nine wives, only twenty survived the river of time. As for concubines thousands of them have died and replaced by new concubines.


    Wang Xixi was someone who has an eternal trust of the Emperor and hence she has the responsibility by the Emperor for handling the genealogy records.


    The members of the imperial family thought it was a thankless and useless task but only Wang Xixi knew how important the genealogy records were.


    Wang Xixi has a complicated expression on her face when she saw the three-year-old Zhen Han. She has scanned his body through her divine perception when he entered the first zone. She was able to judge that he has a very high latent talent.


    "Having high talent is not always good." Wang Xixi thought to herself. She felt bittersweet when she thought of what would happen to him tomorrow during the ''genealogy records''.


    Wang Xixi cleared her thoughts and went to greet the newly arrived mother-son duo. Lin Li quickly offered greetings when she saw Wang Xixi.


    "Lin Li, I will take your child tomorrow morning for the genealogy records and inspection." Wang Xixi reminded Lin Li before leaving them inside their temporary residence.


    --------------------------------------


    Wang Xixi teleported herself to a dark underground palace. She was hovering in the space of the underground palace. It was more precise to say she was standing in the space as the room has no floor. The room looked like a scene from outer space. Full of darkness and coldness.


    In the center of the room, there was a cocoon floating. The cocoon was gigantic and made of blood threads. It released a faint but powerful aura. The aura was so powerful that it could destroy Divine Manifestation realms just with its very presence.


    In the Endless Continent, the path of cultivation was divided into ten realms: Awakening, Blood Transformation, Golden Body, Divine Sea, Dao Awakening, Divine Manifestation, Divine King, World King, Empyrean and Dao Ancestor. Each realm was subdivided into lower, middle, high and perfection.


    Awakening, Blood Transformation, and Golden Body realms focused on the development of the fleshly body itself. Awakening realm focused on awakening the body from its mortal sleep and making it awake to the spiritual energy of the world. It meant laying off the shackles of mortality.


    Blood Transformation and Golden Body realms focused on increasing the vitality of body and making it inextinguishable.


    Divine Sea focused on qualitative changes in the soul. From Dao Awakening realm one start sensing the Great Dao of the world. Some believe Dao Awakening is the first true step in the path of cultivation.


    Divine Manifestation realm focuses on manifesting the enlightenment of Dao in the form of a divinity. From Divine Manifestation onwards one can use the natural laws of the world during battles.


    The highest known experts in the Endless Continent are of World King realm but the blood-red cocoon was releasing an aura which was countless times stronger than World King!


    Wang Xixi has faced this cocoon multiple times but that didn''t stop the fear she has. Every time she saw the cocoon she felt a fear from her very source of soul.


    "You have disturbed my sleep..." A sinister voice came from the cocoon.


    Wang Xixi was frightened out of her wits. She hastily kneeled and tried to explain.


    "Reverend Master, my apologies. I came here to tell you we have found another sapling meeting your standards."


    Wang Xixi''s face was full of sweat as she waited for a reply from the cocoon.


    "Ah! You have found a lot of saplings lately. How is the new sapling compared to the previous ones?"


    "Reverend Master, the latent talent of the new sapling is very high compared to the previous ones. Most likely he too has benefitted from the heavenly phenomenon which has blessed our continent. He would be suitable for master..."


    The heavenly phenomenon from three years ago has created a lot of miracles. No matter whether it was mortal or cultivator everyone benefitted from the violet radiance. Mortals gained longevity and find themselves free of their ailments. Cultivators had progress in cultivation. Young people have an increase in their latent talent.


    The blood cocoon was silent for a while as if the presence inside was in deep thought. Afterward, it released a sinister laughter.


    "A sapling with very high talent. Hahaha. Seems like Heavenly Dao wants me to revive soon."


    "Yes, master. The world and its people are waiting for your revival."


    The presence inside the blood cocoon didn''t care a bit about the words of Wang Xixi. All it cared for was reviving soon.


    "I will give you two strands of my soul. You know what to do. I''m sure I don''t need to remind you the price of failure."


    "Reverend Master, you can rest assured. I will handle the matter properly," Wang Xixi frantically promised. She has handled this matter many times before.


    Two blood-red soul strands came out of the blood cocoon. Wang Xixi took out a precious treasure jar and placed those strands in it. She once more offered her respect and hastily teleported out.


    "The one she spoke of should be my 999999th sapling. My two soul strands would lie dormant inside this new sapling''s soul, and pave way for my return just like the other saplings. Young sapling, mature soon so that I can enjoy the fruits. "


    The presence inside the blood cocoon gave a self-satisfied laughter. It has a strong premonition that the new sapling would be a turning point in its revival.

 Chapter 6 - Predator becomes Prey!

    Wang Xixi started making necessary preparations for the supposed genealogy inspection and records. She can''t afford to screw things up otherwise no one prevent her from death. She has lived for more than twenty thousand years and she didn''t want to die even after living this long. No one wants to die and the fear gets only worse as one gets older. All achievements of life are wasted. No matter mortal or cultivator they would be ready to commit the worst atrocity for an extra day in the life.


    Morals? Reputation? Everything pales in comparison to life. If you have the life you can have everything. What is the use of reputation after death? Morals and rules are things created to control the weak and gullible.


    Still, there was a tinge of regret in her heart. She has seen Zhen Han''s grandfather Zhen Ling grow up. While it''s true that is no sense of kinship among royalty but there are always some exceptions. Humans grow fond of the pets they keep so how can they feel no compassion for someone whom they have treated as their children? Even though the Skyrise Emperor has ninety-nine wives and more than a thousand concubines the number of children he has are less than a hundred. For powerful cultivators, it''s extremely difficult to have children. It was a rule of the Heavens to balance the world. If strong cultivators can easily breed then their children would be strong just due to their virtue of birth. Excessive of everything is harmful to the balance of the world and hence heavens try to restrict it.


    Wang Xixi has no children of her due to her high cultivation. She has seen Zhen Ling from birth to his current age and held some maternal love for him. Now she was going to harm his only grandson so how can there be no guilt?


    "Besides the roots of soul strands would need few decades before they can grow up. So it''s not like Zhen Han wouldn''t be able to live his life on his own accord for the next decades."


    Wang Xixi gave a chuckle filled with grief. She said these words to herself to lessen the guilt but she knew the words were laughable.


    "I wonder if my lord husband is numb to the guilt? The presence inside blood cocoon can only lay out its foundation for revival in someone who has a blood connection with lord husband..."


    The blood relationship doesn''t have to originate from Skyrise Emperor. It can originate from his own children, from his blood brother and sister and their descendants who share a kinship with him.


    "If only lord husband hasn''t found that legacy left by the presence inside blood cocoon... if only he hasn''t sacrificed his own blood brother...if only."


    She gave a long sigh. She knew there are no "if only". One has to pay for their actions no matter how regrettable. She wanted to live and for that, she was ready to do anything even if she regretted it in future.


    -------------------------------------------------------------


    Lin Li had no idea about the schemes plotted against her son. Her father-in-law has no chances of inheriting the throne and while he indeed rule over one of the states it wasn''t something for which the imperial family would plot against her son. Zhen Ling was at Divine Manifestation realm so he has few more thousands year of vitality left. The one to succeed his place as the ruler of state would be Zhen Lin''s son. So plotting against Zhen Ling''s grandson was a waste. Even if they killed his grandson who can say he wouldn''t have a new grandson in next few years. What Zhen Ling didn''t lack is time.


    So Lin Li wasn''t worried about any plotting from the imperial family. She only wanted to get done with the genealogy and go back to her home.


    She took Zhen Han to the Genealogy Department which was located on the south side of the imperial palace. The department was in a ten-floor pagoda.


    Wang Xixi was waiting for their arrival at the foot of pagoda. She guided them inside the pagoda which has an archaic feel.


    "Han''er, you don''t have to be worried. The procedure for genealogy inspection is very easy. You would be sedated for an hour so there would be no pain," Wang Xixi tried to cheer up Zhen Han.


    "I''m not afraid!" Zhen Han tried to put a brave front. His mother has told him the people in the department would take his blood and run some scans through a magical array so he felt somewhat scarred. He is a three-year-old kid so things such as blood made him uncomfortable.


    "Haha, of course not. You have the blood of Skyrise Emperor in your veins so how can you be afraid," Wang Xixi playfully said. From her face, no one can notice any signs of the action she was about to take.


    Soon they come in front of a giant hall which was heavily guarded against outside through a defensive array. The interior of the giant hall was made of blood crystals. According to Lin Li''s knowledge, the blood crystals store the information about the genealogy of every royal member.


    At the center of the hall, there was a white slab radiating a white light. Zhen Han was made to lie above the slab.


    "Lin Li, I''m sure you know but you have to be outside the hall during the process. Only I''m allowed to be inside the hall as I''m responsbile for the records," Wang Xixi reminded Lin Li .


    "I''m extremely sorry, ma''am. I have heard it from my husband before but I forgot about it due to my carelessness."


    The genealogy inspection was only done for the people of royal blood. Lin Li was from the Great Lin Clan which has no blood connection with the imperial Zhen Clan. Lin Li has come to capital many times but never to the blood inspection hall.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Lin Li kissed her son''s forehead and left the hall. As soon as she left the hall a blood-red barrier covered the boundary of the hall. The barrier was far stronger than the barrier covering the entire first zone of the imperial city! From this one could judge how important the blood inspection hall was for the Skyrise Emperor.


    Wang Xixi used her psychic abilities and made Zhen Han unconscious. She made a small cut on Zhen Han''s wrist and followed by waving her hand. The drops of blood from his wrist scattered in every direction and were absorbed by the blood crystals. The blood crystals released a blinding glow upon the absorption of the blood which lasted for a flicker of a second.


    If the blood crystals release a glow it means the blood absorbed by them have a true genealogy connection to the founding ancestors of the Blood Inspection Hall. If no glow then there is no connection to the bloodline. In both cases, the blood crystals record the genes structures of the person. Even though a person''s gene structure changes with progress in cultivation the very source of it remains same. The blood crystals record the very source and hence in future, the person can be identified even if he/she becomes a monster due to cultivation deviation.


    The whole procedure of the genealogy inspection and records didn''t even last five minutes. It has been the same way from the very inspection of the Blood Inspection Hall but yet the person whose genealogy was recorded would always be kept inside for an hour. The procedure was painless and carried no danger but yet the person was made to enter sleep for an hour.


    Not every genius or royal born is given the special attention of blood-red cocoon. Hardly one or two people in a million would bring the attention of blood cocoon. While it is hard for higher level cultivators to breed the same didn''t apply to the mortal born descendants or lower level cultivators. Their presence resulted in a large size of the population carrying the royal blood. Wang Xixi would be busy throughout the year for the blood inspection. The blood inspection was compulsory for everyone as long one carries even the royal bloodline no matter how diluted. The hall has the capacity to undergo multiple inspections at once but for "special occurrence" only single person is inspected.


    The reason no matter, if the person is special" or ordinary, is kept for an hour is to make a smoke screen. The "special" treatment requires longer but the true procedure would not take even five minutes. If most people only took five minutes but others took long then there would be suspicion. Same applies if they are not made stupor. This was the foundation for an hour-long official inspection.


    "Sighs. Now is the time to do my true job."


    Wang Xixi took out a treasure jar from her storage ring and opened it. Inside it was placed two blood-red soul strands.


    The soul strands hovered over Zhen Han''s face, and then entered his glabella. The soul of a human being is located inside the glabella.


    A living being comprises of three aspects: Energy, Essence, and Soul. The energy and essence are considered as mortal aspects of a living being. The soul is considered as the immortal aspect of a living being because even if the person dies he/she can revive through the cycle of reincarnation. The soul is the most important foundation of a living being. It is where the Will of a person is stored.


    The two soul strands soon found the soul of Zhen Han, and they couldn''t help but have a shocked reaction on their faces. The soul of Zhen Han was in a humanoid form and its appearance was same as that of the host body.


    That wasn''t what made them surprised. What shocked the two invading soul strands was that Zhen Han''s soul was releasing a violet radiance. The violet radiance has a heaven-shaking aura which scared the two soul strands. They realized with a fright that they have lost their mobility!


    Even though they were nothing but a negligible part of the soul of the person in blood cocoon they carried a power greater than Divine King. Yet now they were feeling scared. The two soul strands were independent consciousness of the blood cocoon but at the end, they are a part of it.


    The soul strands have a feeling that they have seen the violet radiance before!


    The soul strands start trembling in fear soon when they realized that they have lost connection to the main body! They couldn''t feel the presence of the soul from which they originated!! The worst part for them was that their main body wouldn''t notice anything amiss since they were independent consciousness and had planned to sever the link after invading Zhen Han''s soul to protect Zhen Han''s body from strain.


    Originally they planned to invade Zhen Han''s soul by implanting themselves as "seeds". After becoming "seeds" they would enter into a state of hibernation otherwise their presence would destroy the soul of Zhen Han as he is nothing but a mortal and hence can''t handle their presence.


    As Zhen Han would grow up the seeds would germinate inside the soul and slowly awaken from their hibernation. After few decades they would spread their roots inside the Zhen Han''s soul and slowly take control of it after full awakening. This would become a natural takeover instead of a forced body possession.


    As the original "seeds" originated from the presence inside the blood cocoon the source of Zhen Han would become same as the blood cocoon. This process becomes far easier due to the bloodline connection. The blood cocoon then can absorb Zhen Han without any worry as Zhen Han and the blood cocoon has the same source.


    There is no danger in absorbing a source which originated from oneself. It''s dangerous for the blood cocoon to absorb a foreign source due to contamination. The source is the very origin of life so how can one absorb an origin carelessly?


    But now the two soul strands had a premonition their plan was going to fail. Soon they realized why they felt the violet radiance released by Zhen Han''s soul was familiar.


    F%ck! Wasn''t it the same violent radiance created by the heavenly phenomenon three years ago? Why is the soul of this mortal who hasn''t even started cultivation releasing the violet radiance?


    Three years ago everyone irrespective of gender or race has absorbed some violet radiance released by violet clouds in the sky. The violet radiance was a blessing which created miracles for everyone.


    Even the presence inside the blood cocoon has absorbed the violet radiance three years ago. Even though the place it lived was restricted by the world''s most formidable array formation they could do nothing to stop the violet radiance. The presence in blood cocoon was grateful that the array didn''t stop the violet radiance as it was able to help a great lot. The violet radiance saved it a lot of time and efforts in its recovery process. The presence inside the blood cocoon has ordered the Skyrise Emperor to found more of violet radiance but that worthless emperor failed.


    But now a three-year-old kid was releasing the same radiance as if his soul was a factory manufacturing the violet radiance! The worst part was that the soul strands couldn''t absorb the radiance at all. The radiance was absorbed by the fleshly body of Zhen Han! The soul strands were not able to move at all!


    The presence inside the blood cocoon has lived for more than a million years, and by the virtue of it the same can be said for two soul strands as they shared memories. It soon understood most likely the child named Zhen Han is responsible for the heavenly phenomenon three years ago!


    Damn. We have to escape from here. The main body has to be informed of this heaven-defying treasure here. The main body would be able to recover in no time to its original glory!


    No! It could far surpass its earlier achievements! It can have its revenge against the Demon Extermination soon.


    But how do we get out of this messy situation?


    Just as the soul strands were trying to think of ways they realized with a fright that the soul of Zhen Han was creating a devouring force. The soul strands were moving towards the soul of Zhen Han without their free will.


    As they came near Zhen Han''s soul they were once more shocked. They saw a violet bead inside the soul of Zhen Han. Earlier they saw no signs of bead but now they were able to see the violet bead with golden runes. They also noticed very faint cracks on the bead. The cracks were such that not even Divine King can notice them but they could as they were part of an entity who was once Dao Ancestor!


    The soul strands screaming in fear after noticing that the devouring process was created by the cracks inside the bead!


    They were more than sure of bead''s intention! The bead wanted to absorb them for helping it meld the covers!


    Damn! We were supposed to absorb Zhen Han! How can it be opposite!


    How can a predator become prey?


    F@ck!! We can''t let it happen. We would rather explode ourselves instead of absorbed by a bead! How can a Dao Ancestor be played by a bead! They had their own dignity!


    We would rather die than submit!


    The soul strands once more released a terrifying scream after realzing they weren''t able to self-explode! They could do nothing but scream as the devouring force brought them to the cracks of beads!


    Hang on! Why does it feels like as if the bead and we share the same source? This feeling can''t be wrong! We have the same source!


    Impossible! Unless...don''t tell me the phenomenon three years ago was a trap?


    The main body has absorbed violet radiance so in a way we have also absorbed the radiance as we are part of the main body.


    The heavenly phenomenon was not a blessing but a curse?!? It subtly modified our very source to match the bead!


    Was it done so that the bead can absorb everyone?!


    Impossible! The entire Endless Continent has absorbed the violet radiance!


    Everything for mending few cracks of a bead?!


    Motherf#cking Heavens! How is this Zhen Han guy a prey? He is a predator from the birth!

 Chapter 7 - Can We Have The Blood Inspection Again?

    As the two soul strands were facing the life & death crisis their true self, the presence inside the blood cocoon has no idea about their doom.


    Inside the mystique room which looked like a scene from outer space, the presence inside the blood cocoon was undergoing its recovery process.


    If a World King realm powerhouse was there they would be able to notice a body made of nothing but flesh and blood inside the blood cocoon. The body was only flesh and blood with the organs fully visible due to lack of skin. It was a birth of new body. If a World King realm powerhouse looked more carefully they could see the body inside the blood cocoon was a female judging from the two peaks on the body''s chest.


    "Ah!" The female inside the blood cocoon gave a loud shout due to a sudden shock but her voice sounded pleased. A smile was visible on her face if one can call it a face gave it was nothing but flesh and blood.


    "Haha. My connection with the two soul strands is severed. Seems like they have planted themselves as the" seeds" inside that young sapling. Less than a century and the sapling would be ready," the female said. Her voice sounded hoarse probably due to incomplete formation of her body.


    The female inside the blood cocoon was more than pleased. She has recovered more than 70% and within few more centuries, she would be able to revive herself completely. The new young sapling would further reduce the time and efforts required.


    A million years ago she was the strongest cultivator in the Endless Continent. She was at the strongest cultivation realm known to the Continent...the Dao Ancestor realm!


    For eons, Dao Ancestor is thought as the last realm in the cultivation. In the current era of Endless Continent, there was no Dao Ancestor realm cultivator. Or at least the general public lacked the knowledge about such a powerful cultivator.


    "How stupid I was in my younger days. After reaching Dao Ancestor I lost my cautious attitude thinking I was at the peak of cultivation. Only after my defeat did I understand that the path of cultivation has no peak or end. If one finds the so-called peak or end it only means one has met an obstacle and has reached the limit of their potential," the female said with a hint of melancholy.


    "I wonder if any of my apprentice-brother survived at the hands of Demon Extermination." She has wondered about her companions multiple times in past when she got time to think about past.


    She didn''t like thinking about her defeat as it reminds her of "Demon Extermination". He was her nightmare.


    "Just who is Demon Extermination? I have to discard my body and destroy a part of my soul after I got contaminated with the grey matter."


    Her worst fear was not Demon Extermination but the grey matter he brought from his home dimension. The grey matter is the most sinister existence she has ever seen or known.


    She could remember the scenes of the horror the grey matter created. Whenever a cultivator touched the grey matter then his/her body would get corroded by it. The death would be horrifying with the body decomposing at a rate visible to the mortal eye. It was a painful and slow death.


    The worst part is that even the soul, which is an immortal aspect of the living being, would corrode and die.


    "I only survived due to sheer luck. Demon Extermination launched only a few particles of grey matter on me," the female said with a hint of sorrow and anger. She felt ashamed for the Demon Extermination didn''t even take her seriously during the war.


    "I guess that''s what the people at bottom of food chain feels. This Skyrise Emperor and his wife are ashamed and angry at the treatment I give them. What goes around comes around..."


    The strong prey on the weak but someday even the strong finds itself becoming food for a more stronger being. This was an eternal cycle...


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    -----------


    Inside the Blood Inspection Hall, Wang Xixi was calmly watching Zhang Hao who was in a stupor.


    "Strange. He is showing no sign of pain," Wang Xixi noted said with a frown. Usually, she would only plant one strand of the soul in the selected young sapling. Out of million people hardly there would be one or two qualified to be a young sapling meeting the required criteria for even one strand of the soul. The soul strand of the female inside blood cocoon was not something anyone can bear. It was a risky process. There have been cases where the geniuses died within few years. So the requirements for becoming a young sapling are high. Someone who can qualify for two strands of soul has even more harsh criteria.


    Wang Xixi has scanned Zhen Han''s body through her divine perception and has felt his latent talent nothing less than heaven-defying. She expected him to cry in pain or at the very least show sign of fear even if he was unconscious.


    When she inspected the genealogy of ordinary people she would make them suffer the same pain as those who undergo the "special treatment" so that there would be no suspicion. Of course, she would implant the pain through her psychic powers just before the person awakens from the stupor.


    This was for ordinary people who weren''t qualified for the special treatment of blood cocoon. Those who get the special treatment doesn''t need any artificial pain. The very pain of soul invasion is unbearable.


    How can the pain of invasion of the soul be bearable? The soul is the very Will of the living being so any harm to it created a pain far beyond imaginations. Physical pain looked nothing in comparison.


    "Perhaps the two soul strands haven''t implanted themselves yet?" That was the only possible guess she could think of. Even though she has divine perception but she couldn''t scan the soul of a person easily as that would be dangerous to the person in question. The soul is the immortal aspect of a living being but also the most feeble aspect.


    ----


    In the inner world of Zhen Han''s soul, the two foreign soul strands were giving cries of despair.


    They were a part of an existence who has once achieved Dao Ancestor realm, and yet now they are played by a young brat.


    The brat is wet behind the ears so how did he play the entire Endless Continent?


    The female inside the blood cocoon has thought of the possibility that violet radiance might be a scheme by some alien races or some supreme cultivator hiding in the Endless Continent. She indeed rejoiced when the violet radiance phenomenon helped her in the recovery process. Yet she couldn''t let go of suspicion it might be a scheme by some someone.


    But then from the mouth of Skyrise Emperor, she has learned about the phenomenon of violet radiance throughout the world. Then she thought it was impossible for a living being to create such a phenomenon on a global scale. Or at the very least an existence who can create such a phenomenon was far beyond her scope of understanding. Even the Demon Extermination she fears shouldn''t have such a power from what she understood.


    This made her think that perhaps her fear was groundless.


    In the present, the two soul strands of the female cursing themselves for not being cautious enough. One can never be cautious enough. The female has learned it a million years in the war between Demon Extermination and yet now...


    Alas, their cursing was useless. The two soul strands were soon absorbed by the cracks inside the violet beads. The ''Will'' inside the soul strands found themselves under a wiping force. Soon the soul strands were nothing more than the pure form of red energy with a tinge of violet in them.


    A part of the energy from the two soul strands was then refined and used to mend the cracks. The cracks showed no hint of recovery even after absorbing the energy which was more powerful than a Divine King.


    Perhaps for the bead, the two soul strands were not even a drop of water when it actually required an ocean full of water. Maybe even the true self of the soul strands would be only qualified for "a drop".


    Not all the energy of the soul strands was used for mending the cracks. In fact, only 1% of the energy was used for mending the crack!


    There was a slight part of the energy which didn''t share the same origin as the bead so it was not used. The heaven-defying phenomenon from three years made a foundation for everyone who benefitted from it to have their source become like the bead. More or less the bead used a method similar to the female inside the blood cocoon.


    The female inside the blood cocoon is able to absorb an entire "young sapling" due to them sharing the same source after the germination. The energy she would waste would be less than 10%. Sadly the same can''t be said of the bead. The bead at the most would be able to convert 1% of the total source and absorb it. 99% of the energy it absorbs would need to be discarded due to it not having the same source.


    If the two soul strands came to know that the entire scheme was for only 1% of their energy then they would die out of shame! For 1% of energy, the bead would kill them?


    How can the heavens be so ruthless and senseless! This would be their last thought if they were alive but now they were just a pure form of energy.


    The pure energy than was absorbed by the fleshly body of Zhen Han. The energy automatically spread inside the flesh and blood where it became a nutrition for the cells.


    It could be said the biggest winner of the incident is Zhen Han!


    -------------


    After some time Zhen Han waked up. He has a delightful expression on his face. He didn''t know why but his body felt extremely comfortable.


    He turned his face and saw Wang Xixi looking at him with her mouth agape.


    "Great Grandma, why is your mouth open? My mother always tells me to not open my mouth for long otherwise some fly might enter..." Zhen Han has a serious expression on his face as he explained.


    Wang Xixi couldn''t believe the scene in front of her. How can the young brat have a cheerful expression? The experience of soul invasion should have given him a severe headache at the very least. He should be moaning in pain but now instead he is lecturing her! His expression didn''t seem fake.


    Could his latent potential be heaven-defying enough to ignore the pain of soul invasion? It should be impossible, right?


    "Great Grandma, please open the screen. I want to meet mom!" Zhen Han loudly said.


    "Ah yes," Wang Xixi tried to calm the dreadful waves inside her mind. She opened the barrier around the Blood Inspection Hall with a movement of her hand.


    Zhen Han ran towards her mother. Lin Li was surprised to see her son in so high spirits. She has heard that after blood inspection people usually complain of mental fatigue but now her son...


    "Mom, even though I was asleep during the blood inspection I think it was a lot of fun! I feel so refreshed," Zhen Han said as he climbed into her mother''s arms.


    Wang Xixi who was coming from the hall couldn''t help but feel her mouth twitch. This was the first time someone actually enjoyed the procedure!


    Perhaps he is a masochist?


    "Great Grandma, can we have the blood inspection again?"


    Wang Xixi : "......................"

 Chapter 8 - Discussion in the Throne Room

    Zhen Han couldn''t understand Wang Xixi''s thoughts and neither could Lin Li. He continued to pester her for another blood genesis. In the end, his mother has to intervene and stop him.


    Zhen Han couldn''t calm himself. The energy he absorbed was far too strong, and since he hasn''t started his journey of cultivation he has no idea about refining the energy. Obviously, he was also unaware of the two soul strands and their tragic fate.


    There were many parts of the palace where Zhen Han and his mother Lin Li lacked the authority to enter. The very fact they could tour around some parts is related to them being a part of Imperial Zhen Clan.


    -------------


    In the throne room, Skyrise Emperor was sitting on a dragon throne. He has long black hairs and his eyes were like those of an eagle. He has a very heavy expression as he listened to Shi Xiong''s encounter. Shi Xiong fully explained about the "mating" session of beasts with his grandson Shi Han. Si Xiong felt very ashamed explaining what he considered as the biggest disgrace of his life.


    Yesterday he has requested for an audience with his Highness but only today the permission is granted. He could feel the looks of mockery from the audience in the throne room. No one ridiculed him openly or dare to gloat due to the presence of his highness but it was only temporary. Many people have seen the shameful incident in person so there was no way he could hide it.


    "Shi Xiong, you think a World King realm cultivator orchestrated these?" Skyrise Emperor asked with a heavy frown.


    "Sir, I''m not sure about this. It is only a guess of this lowly subordinate," Shi Xiong answered respectfully.


    Someone has modified the high-level natural laws on which the very existence of a species depends. Nature created sexual desires for the continuity of a species. So how can such laws be changed by anyone? Shi Xiong was at Divine Manifestation realm and he was sure that not even someone from Divine King realm can manipulate such heavy laws. Divine King was the next realm after Divine Manifestation realm. World King realm is higher than the Divine King, and in the entire Endless Continent, there are less than a dozen World King.


    "Your Highness, I ask you to give me a chance to speak," a tall man with long white hairs politely requested.


    "Ying Xiu? You are the prime minister of our Skyrise Emperor. I have told you many times you can speak anytime you want no matter what is the topic."


    "Your Highness is kind. What I want to say is a heavy flaw in Sir Shi Xiong''s story," Ying Xiu said with a smile.


    "What did you said? You think I will dare speak a lie to his Highness?" Shi Xiong roared.


    "I never said you lied. I said your story has a flaw. Let me explain it to you," Ying Xiu gained the attention of everyone with his few words.


    "You said the beasts regained their sanity after your arrival. You also claim the pressure from your aura broke the change in natural laws. But you also say the perpetrator is at World King realm. Don''t you think your words are self-contradictory?" Ying Xiu questioned Shi Xiong.


    The ministers understood what Ying Xiu meant. How can a Divine Manifestation cultivator disrupt the domain of a World King? It was akin to saying an ant can stop the path of a lion.


    The modification of natural laws might be perhaps temporary but still, how can a cultivator two great realms behind disrupt the arrangements of a World King?


    "Your Highness, I like to believe there was no involvement of a World King realm expert. Most likely the perpetrator was either in Divine Manifestation or Divine King realm," Ying Xiu said.


    "What?" The entire imperial court was in an uproar. From the conversations so far it was clear that no one below the World King can play with such high-level laws but now the prime minister is saying otherwise.


    Even the Skyrise Emperor is surprised by the claims. He was in a bad mood thinking about a World King enemy in the Empire but the unexpected claims made him somewhat relieved. He was also in World King realm so he wasn''t afraid of the same step match. He has many tricks up his sleeves especially if he used the techniques he learned from the female inside the blood cocoon. Still, he would like to avoid a confrontation in the capital as far as possible.


    "Your Highness, I have checked the protection and surveillance arrays in the second zone where the incident took place. While a World King realm expert has many ways to cover up their presence from arrays... all of those ways involve affecting the array in some way. If it was some other array then perhaps we would never know if they were affected but the array in both first and second zone are of special nature. Your Highness found those arrays method in a Mystic Realm, and while indeed someone from World King realm can neutralize them or fool them there is a difference. The arrays would have a change which can be identified if someone played tricks with them."


    The surveillance arrays didn''t record the happenings in the imperial capital zones. It would need a lot of resources to set up recording arrays.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    The arrays inside the second zone would record the cultivation levels of anyone who entered it. Even if someone covers up their cultivation they couldn''t hide it from the array. Even if someone fooled the arrays then the arrays would notice the fooling event as a special occurrence. In truth, this array method was given by the female inside the blood cocoon.


    "There have been no changes or mention of special occurrence in the array core which means no one tried to fool it. The number of Divine Manifestation cultivators in the second zone at the time of the incident is fifty. There were ten Divine King realm experts as well."


    "Of course it''s all a hypothesis. It''s possible that the perpetrator was in the World King realm and fooled the arrays such that they didn''t record the special occurrence. I would like to think that was not the case due to my second point.".


    Indeed. Many people didn''t agree with the array explanation. Arrays were developed by cultivators so there can be cultivators who can nullify them without the arrays noticing it.


    "My second point is that the person who created this mess was someone who doesn''t have his or her emotions under control. From what we know Sir Shi Xiong''s grandson was fooling around with a slave girl whom he has purchased few minutes before the incident. He dragged the slave girl through the market. Minutes later the beasts in the surrounding area went into a frenzy. They lost control of their sexual desires...


    "While I can''t be sure of my following guess but I like to think that my guess is close to the truth. The perpetrator saw young master Shi humiliating the slave girl, and he/she either felt disgusted or anger at the sight. Such things are rather common so it is nothing bad in our eyes. But what about someone who opposes such things? Someone who feels offended by the acts of slavery or sexual abuse would want young master Shi suffers. Can anything be better than teaching young master Shi in his own style?


    "Now a cultivator who arrives even at Divine Manifestation realm would have a steady heart. He/she would have experienced many things in the world. Such a powerful cultivator wouldn''t be swayed by the acts of young master Shi. The world has far more evil acts. Of course, good and evil are subjective. People at the high place don''t care about such things. Even if they did they wouldn''t act such. Or at the very least if the perpetrator is a World King then he/she would be very bored to do such a thing.


    "Furthermore if it was a World King realm then Sir Shi Xiong wouldn''t be able to shatter the change in natural laws with his aura. Even I who is a Divine King wouldn''t be able to shatter the domain created by a World King."


    The Skyrise Emperor contemplated his words. What he said was everything based on an assumption. In fact none of the points he said truly proved the absence of World King from the incident in the second zone.


    But yet his assumptions sounded right. He gave three points which independently didn''t hold the ground but together...


    "Ying Xiu, even if we believe that your words are true could you explain how a cultivator lower than a World King can manipulate such supreme laws?" The Skyrise Emperor asked.


    "Your Highness, I think it is an alchemist who is responsible for the change in the sexual desire of the beasts. Higher-tier alchemists can create pills which can turn illusion into reality. Sir Shi Xiong said there were changes in natural laws but are we sure? I and other Divine Kings checked the second area as soon as we got the report about the incident, and didn''t sense any disturbance in the laws. With the passing of time perhaps the traces of manipulating laws were removed but I doubt the traces would disappear in less than an hour. We have no way to confirm as the beasts were killed by Sir Shi Xiong. Maybe it was some sort of pill instead of a World King."


    Hearing these words Shi Xiong was on brink of explosion. Ying Xiu was saying that he did misjudge!


    How could he be wrong? He has felt the changes in the natural laws himself. He didn''t understand why his aura can easily shatter the changes in natural laws. It would be either perpetrator didn''t pay any attention while creating the change, and hence a lower level cultivator was able to disrupt it. Or the perpetrator was in a stupor and lost his powers after casting the domain.


    But now none of this mattered. He never thought the traces of manipulating laws would vanish! There should be some chaos in natural laws when one changes them.


    It was like how an external object invades water. There would be signs of disruption for a short time. In case of natural laws, the signs of disruption would last long.


    There is only one other exception: the changes in natural laws are created by the Heavens themselves. If the nature of its own changed its rule temporarily then there would be no sign of disruption.


    But this wouldn''t make sense at all.


    Damn. First I lost my dignity due to the beasts and now I''m losing my reputation.


    "Sir Shi Xiong, I have a proposal for you. For the sake of our great Empire, I hope you will agree," Ying Xiu said politely.


    "What proposal?"


    "Sir Shi Xiong, could you let your grandson be inspected by Alchemist Wang?"


    As soon as "Alchemist Wang" name is mentioned everyone in the room sucked in a breath of cold air!


    Alchemist Wang is the highest ranking alchemist in the Skyrise Empire, and he is also the older brother of Wang Xixi. He has a peculiar habit of collecting different types of specimens.


    He would love to have a specimen which has aroused the desires of countless beasts! It wouldn''t be surprising for him to think Shi Xiong''s grandson holding some clues about the mystery.


    For alchemists knowledge was everything. They have pursued the mystery of life for eons in a way to reach eternal life! Shi Xiong''s grandson could become one of the stepping stone in Alchemist Wang''s path if the Emperor consented. Shi Xiong''s consent meant nothing!


    "How dare you!" Shi Xiong was panting with anger. He never thought his day could get so worse. He has no enmity with Ying Xiu but yet the latter was trying to pit him.


    Shi Xiong loved his grandsons. Shi Hao was one of his favorite grandsons. He has some bad traits but he was still his flesh and blood!


    As if the tragedy he suffered under the beasts wasn''t enough! Now they want him to suffer at the hands of the cruelest man in the Empire.


    Even Skyrise Emperor would need to give Grandmaster Wang face if he decides to have Shi Hao as a specimen.


    In ordinary conditions, the Emperor has to think about Shi Xiong as well since he represents the Shi Clan. Shi Clan is one of the nine great clans on whose shoulders the Empire runs.


    If the emperor is the head of a body then the nine great clans are the organs. Skyrise Emperor has unimaginable powers but for running an empire so grand requires a lot of people and power. Obviously, there is the risk of betrayal when the clans are given such high powers but having so many clans in power help check the power abuse. The clans would battle among themselves to gain more power so it prevented imperial family to a certain extent.


    "Sir Shi Xiong, you have to think about the greater good of our empire and its people. Alchemist Wang would be able to make more progress in the way of alchemy which would be beneficial to our empire. Most importantly there is a good chance of Alchemist Wang decoding the mystery of such a profound law which deals with the sexual desires. If we can learn the ways by experimenting with your grandson then he would be praised in the annals of our history. We can win against our enemies from the surrounding empires," Ying Xiu spoke in a polite way.


    His words sounded sweet and talked of honor for the empire but anyone with a brain can understand his intentions are not least noble.


    "If we can decode the mystery of sexual desires then we could breed holy beats who lack interest in fleshly pleasure. While it is hard for higher level lifeforms to breed at the very least we would be able to increase the chances of breeding. Think how powerful our Empire would become. Our Empire''s dream of supremacy in the Endless Continent would no longer be a dream!" Ying Xiu continued with his persuasion.


    If the people in the throne room weren''t old foxes they would have actually thought Ying Xiu has noble intentions.


    -------------------


    Meanwhile, Zhen Han went back to his temporary lodge with his mother for an afternoon nap. He wasn''t tired after his recent activities but afternoon nap has become a part of his schedule every day so it was difficult to avoid. No matter how energetic he is at the end he is only a three-year-old kid.


    Today the dreams of a three-year-old kid are going to create havoc in the real world...

 Chapter 9 - Dreams of Origin (Part 1)

    Zhen Han soon entered his sleep, and he found himself in a dream...no multiple dreams.


    In his first dream, he turned into a formless and colorless mass of energy. The formless energy has no idea how it was created and for what goal.


    The formless energy realized it was different from other objects in the universe. The planets and stars had no "Will". But it has a Will if its own. It could move on its own violation. It didn''t have to follow the fixed cycle, unlike the planets and stars.


    The formless energy for millions of years traveled through the universe to find another being with "Will". The only thing it found was ice-cold desolate worlds.


    After the end of every Grand Chaos Era, the universe would destruct. From the destruction, a new universe would be born. It was like the life of a Phoenix: from the ashes, a new life would be created. This was the eternal cycle which the universe has followed from its inception.


    Very few things could survive the destruction of the universe if any. The universe would turn back into its original form.


    The formless form of energy has seen the destruction of a universe and birth of another. It was able to survive the destruction either due to luck or some scheme which the formless energy didn''t know. Yet it never met any lifeforms.


    Perhaps the universe was far too big so it was not surprising it had not met any life forms. There were many Greater World containing thousands of galaxies...


    At the end of another Grand Chaos Era, the formless energy found itself becoming the part of the destruction. This time the formless energy want able to save itself from the destruction.


    The formless energy wasn''t a true form of life but it has gained enlightenment about the way of the universe. It has its own Instinct. The formless energy didn''t want to "die". To save itself the formless energy used the same concept the universe as follows: starting new from the destruction.


    During the destruction of the universe, the formless energy sealed what it believed was its "Will". The gigantic formless energy sacrificed all its energy to protect a small "seed" which was its Will.


    The first dream ended with Zhen Han exploding in his formless form.


    ----


    In the second dream, Zhen Han found himself in the shape of a small seed. The universe was once again in its beginning stage with different forms of energy and gases fusing to form new matter.


    The small seed absorbed the chaotic energy of the universe. It slowly germinated and spread its roots in different planets. The process continued for a billion years after which the seed finally germinated into a sapling. After another billion years it turned into a gigantic tree. The tree was larger than an entire galaxy so its size is beyond the scope of understanding.


    Once again another billion years passed after which the tree "meet" living beings. The living beings introduced themselves as "children of The Creator".


    The lifeforms the tree meet were of different races but it was as if they were in harmony and truly belonged to one family.


    The tree didn''t know about its own origin. The only thing it knew was that it evolved from a seed. It was its first time meeting someone who has a "Will", and the tree has a deep feeling that it has always desired to find those with "Will".


    The tree then asked the children of the Creator if they know about its origin.


    Those lifeforms answered in positive. They said the tree has a name. The Creator named the tree as "World Tree".


    According to them, the seed was created by The Creator of the universe. It was The Creator who blessed the tree with nutrition so that it can grow and fulfill its duty.


    The duty of World Tree is to help the universe. The World Tree would give its fruits to the people of the universe for helping them. Kindness and charity are the noble aspects every lifeform should have according to the children of The Creator.


    They shared a part of their memory in which every single wondrous tree would give their fruits to the people. A tree has no self-desire. It only lives for the sake of the world. At least that''s what those memories showed.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The tree was like a kid with no idea of good or bad. No idea about what is noble or evil. Like a gullible child, the tree believed the words of the lifeforms.


    From that time onwards the tree has a name: World Tree.


    Another billion years passed during which the tree gave its mysterious fruits to the children of The Creator. It didn''t stop anyone from picking its fruits.


    Alas, the tree suffered from the loss of its fruits. The fruits contained its own vital essence so the tree started getting older.


    And yet the World Tree never stopped someone. It truly believed in its mission of helping the universe. For its mission, it was ready to sacrifice its life.


    The tree knew about the concept of life and death as it has seen many generations of those lifeforms dying. Many of those at the old age would ask for a life-essence fruit which the World Tree readily granted.


    The tree knew it wouldn''t live for long. The number of fruits it could grow started decreasing. For the first time, the tree understood the concept of aging.


    A deep Instinct in the tree hated aging and death. That Instinct wanted the tree to live at any cost.


    The Instinct desired for the tree to stop the charity, and start thinking of ways for survival.


    The tree thought of the deep Instinct as nothing but evil thought. Children of The Creator has warned the tree about this "evil thought" long before.


    The tree did what those lifeforms said. It buried the "evil thought" deep in its heart and tried best to grow fruits for the sake of other lifeforms.


    One day an old man at the end of his lifespan arrived in front of the World Tree. Without any warning that old man attacked the world tree''s trunk. That old man was extremely powerful. He was a supreme cultivator at the end of his lifespan.


    That old man showed a frantic expression as he attacked the tree. The tree didn''t attack him as harming others is something "evil".


    Even though the old man was extremely powerful he wasn''t able to make a single scratch on the tree.


    "You dumb tree...give me your vital core!" the old man roared. The man was extremely agitated.


    The tree identified the man as the first generation of Children of The Creator. He was the first generation of the people who "meet" the tree and explained about its responsibilities.


    "Can''t you understand what I''m saying? You dumb tree, I don''t have much time!" the man continued to attack while roaring.


    The tree was perplexed by the behavior of the old man. In the first meeting with the children of The Creator, the tree was said to never give its core to others. Without the vital core, the tree would die and couldn''t fulfill its duty.


    In the earlier years, many people have asked the tree for its vital core but the tree denied. It didn''t fear death but it has a responsibility of helping the universe. None of the people who asked it dared to attack.


    Now the same person who advised the tree is asking it to commit the taboo! The tree wasn''t able to understand.


    Suddenly the old man took out a jade talisman on which a dragon was inscribed.


    "Dumb tree, you are forcing me to use my trump card. I have saved it for killing the Crown Prince but now..."


    The tree felt fear for the first time. The tree knew the talisman man in the old man''s hand could destroy its trunk. Perhaps it would have been impossible if the tree was in its prime but now the tree was on its deathbed.


    The deep "evil thought" which the tree has suppressed was shouting loudly in the consciousness of the tree. The evil thought took advantage of tree''s confused state and freed itself.


    Before the old man could launch the jade talisman one of the tree''s root pierced old man''s heart!


    Both the tree and old man were shocked at the unexpected twist. The tree knew the "evil thought" did such thing.


    While the old man couldn''t believe that tree would actually attack him! He believed the brainwashing of the countless years wouldn''t go to waste!


    The root absorbed the old man''s energy, essence, and soul! The tree tried to regain control of its evil thought but then stopped when it absorbed the soul of old man.


    The tree could see all memories of the old man. What the tree saw made it almost faint.


    How could this be? The old man has killed millions of people? He has even killed his own "brothers".


    The tree was confused by the shocking pictures it saw in the memories. The tree scanned the memories of the old man, and identified the real name of "evil thought".


    The evil thought is an Instinct of every living being. People call this Instinct as " Survival Instinct".


    The tree further inspected the memories of the old man. It came to know that the old man was at the end of his lifespan. The normal fruits wouldn''t extend his life as his body has grown a resistance to them after multiple uses.


    Even for that old man with such a strong cultivation base, a billion years of lifespan is impossible without the help if tree.


    The old man knew his only chance of survival depended on the vital core of the tree. He attacked the tree without any warning as he thought that the old tree would be weakened enough. He was aware the old tree wouldn''t agree to his request due to their earlier brainwashing.


    It can''t be! The tree showed multiple expressions for the first time in its life. The tree was confused, sad, angry and disgusted.


    From the memories, the tree realized that a supreme cultivator has found about it when it was nothing but a sapling. That supreme cultivator was far too strong than the old man it just killed.


    That supreme cultivator planned everything as he knew about the ignorance of a tree.


    He believed in the famous idiom "To kill the Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs" and hence planned in such a way that they could enjoy the fruits for a long time.


    That supreme cultivator was very strong but even he lacked confidence against the tree. He could only guess how strong the tree would be if it went all out. The tree occupied an entire galaxy! It took planets as its roots!


    So the supreme cultivator devised the best possible scheme thinking in mind the long-term benefits. The story of The Creator was fake. Everything was a lie.


    The personality and wisdom of a person depend on his environment and the people he meets. The interactions in the life define the personality of a person.


    The supreme cultivator planned to use this basic principle to brainwash the tree.


    The people he sent for first meeting were his trusted subordinates. The supreme cultivator never appeared by himself but used his subordinate for everything including taking fruits. The only fruits the supreme cultivator would personally use were the heaven-tier fruits which need million years to grow.


    Other fruits would be used by his subordinates to strengthen his army. For that supreme cultivator, the tree was nothing less than a blessing of Heavens!


    The supreme cultivator didn''t plan to let the tree die out of old age. According to the supreme cultivator, the tree has a lifespan rivaling the universe itself but it would decrease dramatically after growing those mystique fruits.


    He has planned to attack the tree when it grows weak to steal the vital core! He wanted to use every part of the tree! There could be no waste!


    It was a pity the old man attacked much before the supreme cultivator could. The old man was on his deathbed, and he knew the supreme cultivator wouldn''t share the vital core.


    "My name is world tree? My responsibility is to help the universe?" the tree cried bitterly. It never expected the world to be so cruel. How can people do such terrible things without any remorse?


    A year passed by and during that time the tree''s entire way of thinking changed.


    The tree wanted to live! The survival instinct in the body was running strong. The tree promised itself to never suppress the survival instinct again.


    "Even if I don''t grow any fruits I wouldn''t live for long. I have used far too much of my life essence in growing those fruits. There has to be a way for me to avoid death. "


    The tree was trying its best to think of ways to extend its lifespan.

 Chapter 10 - Dreams of Origin (Part 2)

    The tree suddenly was struck by an idea!


    "If my roots can absorb the energy, essence, and soul of that old man. I take planets for my roots. If I can absorb nutrients from the planets and stars than absorbing energy from a living being shouldn''t be that hard."


    The more tree thought about it the more it was sure on finding a way to extend its lifespan.


    The world runs in a circle. Someday the predator becomes a prey.


    The tree then thought of ways to trick the supreme cultivator and his followers.


    Soon it had a plan or an idea close enough to a plan.


    -------------


    A few years later, the "Children of The Creator" once again came to the tree. This time they were shocked to see the appearance of the tree. They were aware the tree was in its last days but they were sure that the "last days" would last for thousands of years at the least.


    But now the tree was withering at a rate visible to the eyes. There were no leaves on the tree forget about fruits.


    The branches of the tree were falling. The tree was as large as a galaxy but yet now it no longer gave the imposing attitude it once gave.


    "World Tree, we are here," the cultivators announced their presence when they realized that the tree didn''t notice their arrival.


    The cultivators have to shout multiple times before they got the tree out of its sleep.


    "Children of The Creator, I apologize for I have no fruits to offer," the tree sadly said. Its voice made it pretty cleared how sad it was for not able to help people of the universe.


    "I am glad you arrived here. I have a favor to ask," the tree spoke again.


    "Favor?" the cultivators were surprised. The tree has never asked anyone for a favor. It was brainwashed to live its life for the sake of others.


    "Yes. I will die soon but if I die naturally my vital core would be wasted. I would be failing in my duty after my death, but if I can give away the vital core before my death then it can help the people of the universe. I am so sorry for asking you this," the tree explained.


    The cultivators realized what "favor" the tree wanted! The tree wanted to give its vital core to them! What a stupid fool!


    Vital Core! This was infinite times better than the magical fruits. The magical fruits gave them such an extended longevity and unimaginable strength. If they could get the vital core then...


    Their eyes were red with greed but they soon controlled themselves.


    The supreme cultivator would send a dozen of people to the tree every time. The group was made of people who weren''t in good terms with each other. It made sure that they don''t dare to conspire against the supreme cultivator.


    The cultivators knew if they dared to take the vital core of oneself then they would be attacked by other fellow members of the group. No one would be able to save them from the supreme cultivator.


    The cultivators suppressed their greed and tried to think with a clear mind. They knew they have no choice but to tell the supreme cultivator. They couldn''t take such a decision on their own.


    "World Tree, what are you saying? The Creator is very pleased with you so you don''t have to apologize. We will tell The Creator first of your noble intentions," the cultivators took their leave after saying this.


    Soon they left.


    "Ah! I thought they would fight each other but they have more control over their greed than I initially thought. It''s good for me anyway," the tree gave a chuckle.


    -------------------------


    In a galaxy far away, the supreme cultivator was in meditation. He has three-heads and six-arms, with each head having three eyes. He has deep-red skin.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Soon he was informed about the status of the tree.


    "What?" the supreme cultivator was shocked. He expected the tree to last for few thousand years more. He didn''t plan to steal the vital core for at least next few centuries.


    Still, he was pleasantly surprised nevertheless to see the na?ve behavior of the tree. The supreme cultivator felt proud of himself for the scheme he played. For him, it was as easy as tricking a two-year-old.


    "I will go personally for taking the vital core," the supreme cultivator made the decision. The vital core was far too important for it to be left to his underlings. He was confident in his ability to control his underlings but still didn''t want to take the risk.


    What if one of the subordinates tried to fuse with the vital core in the way?


    One could never be too careful. He left hastily...


    -----------------


    Meanwhile, the tree was eagerly expecting the arrival of the supreme cultivator. It wouldn''t be far stretched to say that the tree was afraid.


    It was the first time it was going to do something it has never done before: murder. It has killed the old man before but that was more of a self-defense than murder. Now it was different.


    The tree has made an elaborate ruse to kill the supreme cultivator and his subordinates. For doing this, the tree transferred most of its vitality to its vital core and the roots. These lead to large-scale weathering of its branches and leaves. The tree gave an aura of death and decay.


    It sounded simple but it was dangerous. A single mistake in transferring the energy could lead to a permanent damage or even death. The tree has already lost the majority of its lifespan due to the fruits it gave to the people of universe earlier.


    Now was the time to take back what belonged to it with some interest.


    The tree felt neither guilt nor shame. Strangely it felt a type of excitement it has never felt before. The tree couldn''t believe how a few years ago all it wanted to do was help the universe at any cost but now...


    Time changes everything. Not even the best of person can resist the change.


    -----------------


    The tree felt the arrival of a strong presence but it acted as if it didn''t feel it. Soon in front of the tree, the supreme cultivator and his subordinates arrived.


    The supreme cultivator and his subordinates could feel the rich aura of death and decay from the tree. They were sure the tree couldn''t even last for a hundred years.


    The supreme cultivator felt pity. The pity was not directed towards the tree but for the vital core. He was worried if the vital core was damaged beyond hope.


    "World Tree, wake up!" the supreme cultivator said. He didn''t attack the tree like the old man did.


    He was confident that he was going to get the vital core. The tree has long time ago fallen into its trap.


    Even if the tree refused he was sure he can defeat the tree. The tree might be powerful in its prime but now it was nothing but a tree waiting for its death.


    The tree soon waked up from its sleep.


    "You are?" the tree reacted surprised after seeing the supreme cultivator.


    "World Tree, I am the eldest child of The Creator," the supreme cultivator replied.


    "Eldest child?"


    "Yes. The Creator send me here to retrieve the vital core," the supreme cultivator continued, " The Creator is very pleased with what you have done for the sake of the universe. In the annals of our history, your noble sacrifice would be always remembered."


    The three heads of the supreme cultivator simultaneously said. The cultivators behind him have a serious expression as well. Though inside their hearts they were laughing at the dumb tree.


    This dumb tree sacrificed its vitality over a span of billion years, and now it was going to die for the supreme cultivator.


    We might be weaker than the tree but at least we have brains. This tree has unimaginable power but all it could do is become a slave. What is the use of power if you are so dumb?


    They couldn''t help but gloat the tree''s misfortune. Just as they were enjoying the tree''s misfortune they suddenly felt heart wrecking pain.


    As the cultivators looked down towards their body, they saw giant roots piercing their hearts! The roots were sucking out their vitality! Their bodies were withering at a rate visible to the human eyes.


    Even the supreme cultivator wasn''t spared. In fact, he was given "special attention" by the roots.


    Thousands of gigantic roots surrounded him without any warning. They pierced his three heads and his arms. Hundreds of roots pierced his heart and other inner organs. The roots were stealing his vitality!


    Impossible!


    How could this be?!


    "Y-you...dared attack me?" the supreme cultivator found it unbelievable. The attack was totally out of the blue when he was complimenting the tree for its noble sacrifice.


    He indeed has let his guards down but the credit also went for the power displayed by the tree''s roots. The speed of the roots and the strength displayed by the roots was far beyond his understanding.


    Is this really the power of a tree on its deathbed?


    Are you fu#cking kidding me?


    The supreme cultivator was still calm inside. He might have been pierced by the roots in his heart but he has his trump cards.


    Suddenly he let out a horrible scream.


    A gigantic red dragon phantom came out of his heart! The dragon phantom used his heart as a nourishing tool to attack him!


    The dragon phantom gobbled up the supreme cultivator!


    This can''t be! Surely it can''t be the jade dragon talisman I gave to my personal disciple?


    The jade dragon talisman was something he discovered in ancient ruins. He believed the talisman was something created before the birth of current universe though he wasn''t sure of his hypothesis.


    He has gotten few more powerful treasures so he rewarded his senior most personal disciple with the dragon talisman.


    But now!


    Damn!


    Was the earlier attack by roots was to implant the dragon talisman in my heart?


    What a cunning bas#ard!


    The supreme cultivator spent a lot of efforts to defeat the dragon phantom. Just as he came out of smoke after defeating the dragon...his heart got pierced by a thick gigantic root.


    This root was far stronger than the earlier roots. The tree used the energy it absorbed from the subordinates of supreme cultivator to power-up this single root.


    The tree was aware of the strength of supreme cultivator through the memories of the old man it killed a few years ago.


    The tree wasn''t confident in killing the supreme cultivator through his own efforts so it used the dragon talisman it stole from the old man''s corpse a few years ago. The tree activated the dragon talisman inside the supreme cultivator''s heart and distracted him while trying to refine the energy absorbed from his subordinates. The subordinates were powerful but they were helpless against the roots.


    The tree used the energy refined from the subordinates to launch the last attack on the supreme cultivator.


    This time the supreme cultivator realized he couldn''t fight back. The root was spreading throughout his body and stealing the vitality.


    Out of his three heads, two were already destroyed. His six arms were severed by the joint effort of the dragon talisman and the roots.


    But yet he could never believe he would die at the hands of this dumb tree.


    Were all my schemes were for nothing?


    "World Tree, you shouldn''t have done this. The Creator would punish you," the supreme cultivator tried to put up last-ditch effort.


    There was no Creator or at least the supreme cultivator didn''t know if such a being even existed. It was nothing but a lie he created and spread so that he could brainwash the tree.


    "Really? Here I thought The Creator would praise me," the tree replied with a chuckle.


    "What?" the supreme cultivator asked with disbelief.


    "The Creator wanted me to help the people of the universe. You, cultivators, have low lifespan even if you eat my fruits. But if I absorb you, you can live for eternity as a part of my energy. As long as I don''t die you can always live inside as my nutrients. So shouldn''t The Creator be proud of me?" the tree asked with a mocking tone.


    The supreme cultivator was in total disbelief at the words of the tree. Soon his essence, energy, and soul were absorbed by the tree.


    Even in his worst nightmares, he never expected to face such a horrifying death.

 Chapter 11 - Celestial Intervention

    Zhen Han''s dream of living as a formless energy followed by a tree was going on for trillion of years, but in real life, it was only ten minutes since he has fallen asleep. The concept of time in dream and reality is so different that it is far beyond comparison.


    Lin Li was sleeping beside Zhen Han. She has a smile on her face as she runs her hand through her son''s hairs. She wishes nothing but for this moment to last for an eternity. As a child grows old, the love between child and parent wavers.


    She wants to return back to Yue State tomorrow after the arrival of the holy beast. She wants to make the best use of the time. For her, the imperial capital was far too polluted with dirty politics. She wants her son to be surrounded by the love of his family. Yue State was her father-in-law''s fiefdom.


    KA-BOOOOOM!


    Lin Li was surprised by the sudden sound of an explosion. She ran towards the window, and the sight in the sky made her tremble in fear.


    Impossible!


    It was noontime but the entire sky was dark. The entire first zone of the imperial city was filled with dark clouds. The imperial palace which spans dozens of kilometers is located in the first zone!


    What made Lin Li tremble weren''t the dark clouds but the black and white lightning. Just looking at the strange lightning made her weak.


    The blood-red barrier covering the entire first zone was continuously attacked by the black and white lightning. Not to mention the Skyrise Empire, but even in the entire Endless Continent, the blood-red barrier was one of the strongest array formation ever known to humanity. It has a power rivaling Dao Ancestor realm! This was one of the backup created by the woman inside blood cocoon for worst case scenario!


    Now the barrier was showing the sign of cracks...


    "Just what the f#ck is going on?!" Lin Li muttered. She couldn''t control her body from shivering. She has met Skyrise Emperor once but even his presence was nowhere horrifying as the black and white lightning!


    Even though the barrier protected the imperial palace from the strange lightning; it couldn''t prevent its terrifying aura from invading inside the palace and other regions of the first zone.


    She was at Golden Body realm but the terrifying aura of the lightning made her feel as if the god of death was waiting nearby. She was afraid she would die soon. She didn''t want to die so soon. She has a dream of seeing her son achieving great success in love and strength.


    "If I die what would happen to my son?" Lin Li has tears in her eyes. She was not even able to move due to the pressure from the strange lightning.


    Suddenly, a violet barrier surrounded the interior of the room. Lin Li opened her eyes when she felt the terrifying aura from before disappearing. When she saw the violet barrier covering the inside of the room she thought of her son. He was sleeping as before but a violet colored bead''s outline was visible on his glabella. From his glabella, a violet light was continuously flowing outside which provided the barrier inside the room with energy.


    When Lin Li moved towards Zhen Han, the size of the barrier reduced


    . It was as if the barrier existed to only protect Zhen Han and Lin Li. For the first time, she felt the violet bead was not a cursed item...


    Lin Li was shocked but also pleasantly surprised. She sat next to her son, and the violet barrier soon transformed into a violet cocoon which surrounded the mother and son duo. Lin Li noticed the strangeness of her son. He was in deep sleep even after such a loud explosion...Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "Don''t tell me the lightning is directed towards my son?" She was more sure of her guess as she thought about it.


    "The fact that the bead is providing protection to me and Han''er...plus Han''er deep sleep. Does the strange lightning outside want to wake my son? "


    -----------


    At least Lin Li knew who was responsible but poor Skyrise Emperor has no idea.


    Just what the f#ck is going on?!


    From last half hour, Skyrise Emperor and the members of the imperial court were discussing the incident in the second zone. The Skyrise Emperor was about to approve the request for Shi Xiong''s grandson to be inspected by Alchemist Wang but then he suddenly felt a horrifying pressure.


    With his divine vision, he saw the dark clouds appearing from out of nowhere in the first zone. The barrier protected the palace and other regions in the first zone from the wrath of black and white lightning.


    Skyrise Emperor was one of the strongest known experts in the Endless Continent but now even he felt fear when he saw the strange lightning. He could barely control himself from shivering.


    The members of the imperial court and Shi Xiong couldn''t control their bodies as they trembled in fear.


    "Lord husband, what is going on?" Wang Xixi teleported near the Emperor and asked.


    "How the hell would I know?!" Skyrise Emperor snapped back. The strange lightning was about to destroy the blood-red barrier.


    He has no idea on how to save himself much less stop this destruction. He didn''t even know who was responsible for this attack from the Heavens and why.


    His fears only got worse after sensing that he couldn''t use any spatial magic outside the barrier. He could teleport anywhere inside the barrier but not outside. There was no escape! He made all his trump cards ready! He enforced the barrier with his trump cards. Same went for everyone else. They did their best to enforce the barrier. Now was not the time to hold back...


    Damn!


    Meanwhile, inside the underground palace. The female inside the blood cocoon let out a scream filled with disbelief when she sensed the strange lightning outside. Her body was made of flesh and blood without any skin.


    "Yin-Yang Tribulation?!?" the woman was horrified. It was a Celestial Tribulation cultivator at the peak of Dao Ancestor face!


    In the Endless Continent, the cultivation realms were divided into Awakening, Blood Transformation, Golden Body, Divine Sea, Dao Awakening, Divine Manifestation, Divine King, World King, Empyrean and Dao Ancestor.


    Skyrise Emperor was at World King realm!


    In her prime, the woman inside the blood cocoon was an initial stage Dao Ancestor realm!


    From the last million year, she was trying to recover her powers. Her new body wasn''t properly constructed so she was much weaker than her prime days!


    Even during her prime days, she wouldn''t dare face the Yin-Yang Tribulation much less now! Yin-Yang Tribulation was the strongest tribulation of the world they live in!


    So how could she not be horrified?


    "Wh-What the f#ck is going on?!"


    She has planned some backup for worst-case situations. It was a Dao Ancestor rank teleportation talisman! She was able to sense that the tribulation only covered the first zone of the imperial city.


    She didn''t know what was going on but she knew beyond a doubt the consequences she would face if the strange lightning falls on her!


    For safety''s sake, she planned to teleport to another Empire. She has prepared few backup locations. Without any hesitation, she broke the teleportation talisman to activate the teleportation portal.


    Alas, nothing happened. There was no teleportation portal like she imagined! All forms of spatial magic were banned!


    "IMPOSSIBLE! Why wouldn''t such a high-level teleportation talisman work?!"


    The woman was scared witless.


    "The Heavens wouldn''t restrict the movement of innocents during tribulation! But now I can''t teleport... Don''t tell me the tribulation is directed towards me?!?"


    The woman forcefully broke the blood cocoon and came out. She has lived for more than a million years and she has a strong will.


    She didn''t know why the tribulation was directed towards her but she knew she couldn''t avoid it! So she decisively stopped her recovery process and brought out her incomplete body outside.


    She teleported herself near the Skyrise Emperor and Want Xixi. She too provided reinforcement to the blood-red barrier.


    "Blood Witch, tell me what have you done!" Skyrise Emperor angrily asked though his expression showed fear.


    "Skyrise Emperor, how would I know?" the woman with the title of Blood Witch snapped back.


    The members of the imperial court were shocked to see the newly arrived woman. They didn''t know the identity of the woman, but they were sure her status was higher than the Skyrise Emperor otherwise how would Skyrise Emperor show a fearful expression.


    "Then tell me what the hell is that lightning? And why can''t I teleport outside even after using the talisman you gave me?" Skyrise Emperor said.


    "What? Even you can''t teleport outside?"


    Blood Witch was once again shocked. She thought the tribulation was directed towards her since she couldn''t teleport. But now even Skyrise Emperor couldn''t teleport!


    "Yes. No one can teleport outside!"


    Motherf#cking Heavens, what the hell is going on? Is everyone facing Yin-Yang Tribulation?!


    How is this a Celestial Tribulation? It is a Celestial Punishment!


    Are the Heavens punishing us for our sins? No! The Heavens don''t care about the killing!


    The Demon Extermination wiped out half the continent with the grey matter but Heavens did nothing!


    There was another probability! The entire area was sealed because inside this area an event which defied the heavens was taking place!


    But that should be impossible!


    Even if someone was doing a thing which defied the heavens; why would the heavens target everyone? Unless the heavens thought all of us were involved in it! That should be impossible, right?


    Hang on! The onslaught of Yin-Yang Tribulation shouldn''t be continuous! The tribulation would happen at intervals since heavens never close all doors.


    But now it''s a continuous slaughter! There is no gap between the attack on the barrier! What are the heavens trying to carry out!?


    Someone tell me what the f#ck is going on!

 Chapter 12 - Heavens Are Unfair!

    The rules of Heavens, in their own way, try to keep up the balance and fairness of the world. The fairness was not related to the food cycle. The Heavens didn''t care about the life of mortals or cultivators. Even if they cared, they wouldn''t intervene.


    The balance and fairness were related to external changes in the current environment of the world. If a foreign race or a foreign object tries to invade a world then they would face Celestial Punishment.


    In a way, it is similar to how the body reacts when a virus invades the body. It tries to kill the virus or at the very least stop it from expanding.


    Similar was the current situation in the Skyrise Empire. The Heavenly Laws in the Endless Continent felt the current dreams of Zhen Han as something which has potential to destroy the balance of the world.


    If a person has the memories of his previous life then he has the potential to create a havoc in the world. If the person was some high-ranking cultivator in the past then in current life he could use the memories of his past life in such a way that the entire delicate balance of the world would be destroyed.


    Why were the memories erased when a person undergoes reincarnation if not for this reason?


    The entire world would fall under destruction if people can regain memories of their past.


    The rules of the Heavens, in the Endless Continent, didn''t know if what Zhen Han was dreaming about his previous life or were they memories of some supreme cultivator. In either case, it was something against the laws of this world.


    If Zhen Han was inheriting the memories from a cultivator of this world then the Heavens wouldn''t interfere but if it was another world then the Heavens would have no choice but to interfere.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Of course, people in the imperial capital weren''t aware that the entire mess was created by a three-year-old.


    Blood Witch, Skyrise Emperor and everyone else tried their best to reinforce the barrier but it soon broke. It might have power rivaling the Dao Ancestor but in front of Yin-Yang Tribulation lightning, the barrier only lasted ten minutes!


    Yin-Yang Tribulation lightning is at peak Dao Ancestor realm so it is impressive for the barrier to last this long.


    Now the true hell has arrived for them...


    Under the might of black and white lightning, most of the imperial palace was destroyed.


    Three groups of white and black lightning went after Blood Witch, Skyrise Emperor, and Wang Xixi.


    Wang Xixi almost fainted from fear when she saw the tribulation lightning coming towards her.


    She couldn''t believe the sudden reversal in fate. In the morning, she has implanted two soul strands of Blood Witch inside Zhen Han all so that she can live. She felt guilty for harming him but that didn''t stop her actions. She has lived for thousands of years and she dreaded death. If a person dies then what is the use of family wealth and power? She wanted to live.


    But now she felt Heavens didn''t want her to live! Otherwise, why would she face a Celestial Tribulation! No! Not Tribulation but Punishment! Damn!


    Without any hesitation, she used the entire blood essence in her body to cast a small defensive shield against the incoming lightning.


    Her heart was full of pain for using the blood essence as it determines the longevity and potential of a person. But what is the use of blood essence if she dies?


    She was a half-step World King but the lightning tribulation was at Dao Ancestor realm! That too at peak stage! It was a huge gap of two realms!


    Wang Xixi was aware so she has no choice but to go all out. She knew she couldn''t destroy or attack the lightning. All she is capable of protecting herself.


    Alas, the small shield she casted didn''t even last for a fickle of the second against the lightning. Not a single of her treasure was able to resist the might of lightning.


    The black and white lightning invaded her body!


    She cried in terrible pain but that didn''t stop the lighting from ravaging her inside.


    Half her body was experiencing heat as if her body was pushed into the sun. The other half of her body was experiencing a cold she never knew was possible. Her two parts were experiencing totally opposite feelings but yet they were equally painful for her.


    Soon one half of her body was burned to ashes. The other half was freeze to death.


    Until her last breath, she couldn''t understand why the Heavens targeted her. She felt extremely wronged.


    In the eyes of mortals and cultivators, the Heavens might be cruel but they are fair. But today she felt the Heavens were unfair otherwise why would she be targeted for no reason? Why would she be killed!


    Her last thoughts were full of curse against the Heavens as she died in extreme pain...

 Chapter 13 - I Dont Want To Die!

    The members of the imperial court and Shi Xiong were not targeted by the lightning but the very aura of the lightning made their breathing hard.


    The imperial palace was surrounded by a sea. Other than this, the first zone of imperial capital also consists of spirit stone mines, medicine garden, alchemy chamber, guest house, etc.


    As soon as the barrier broke, the very aura of the Dao Ancestor realm from Tribulation lightning annihilated most of the first zone.


    Thousands of imperial guards and members of the imperial family died because they couldn''t stop the aura of lightning from invading their bodies. They died even though the tribulation lightning didn''t target them!


    Even before the barrier broke, Lin Li has fallen to her knees because of the aura of tribulation lightning. She was lucky that the violet bead made a cocoon around her and her son thus protecting them.


    Others were not so lucky. Before the barrier broke they were barely keeping themselves alive. After the barrier broke, just the aura of lightning was creating destruction in their bodies.


    Only Shi Xiong and few others who were at Divine Manifestation stage, or those who have a treasure of Divine Manifestation stage were able to save themselves from dying. They knew if the lightning targeted them they would have no chance of survival.


    How can they fare against the Celestial Lightning when even Lady Wang Xixi didn''t last one second!


    Shi Xiong was having a hard time believing the changes. Yesterday, his grandson suffered an unspeakable tragedy. His grandson was targeted by the beasts in the second zone for making love! Dozens of beasts made love with his grandson in front of thousands of people! Shi Xiong believed nothing could be worst then that.


    But then half an hour ago, Skyrise Emperor was about to agree on Ying Xiu''s request to have Shi Xiong''s grandson to be used as an experiment specimen! The fate of an experiment specimen was far worse than death. He felt that was the worst thing. Worse than the tragedy his grandson suffered under the claws of beasts!


    Just as he thought his grandson''s fate is sealed, the Heavens intervened by sending the Celestial Lightning. For a moment, he was even pleased thinking that the Skyrise Emperor would be so busy that he won''t spare any attention to his grandson.


    He couldn''t even rejoice in the thought as soon as the aura of lightning arrived inside the barrier. It made his body tremble in pain! That was when the barrier successfully shielded them from the strange lightning!


    After the barrier broke the true hell began for him and others. The tribulation lightning didn''t target him and others but yet their bodies were full of injuries. Many of their bodies were as black as charcoal.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    Shi Xiong felt nothing could be worse than this. He realized that the Heavens were showing him that there could always be a worse thing. His idea of worse has been expanded in the last twenty-four hours!


    "Perhaps the real tragedy has just begun. Our Empire would be on deathbed even if we survive the slaughter of Heavens," Shi Xiong told himself.


    Skyrise Empire is one of the strongest Empire in the Endless Continent but in future, they would have to clutch for straws for saving themselves.


    "I guess Lin Li and her son are dead as well unless they have a Divine Manifestation stage treasure," Shi Xiong bitterly thought. Lin Li was her best friend''s daughter so he didn''t want her to die.


    "Haah. I can barely save myself much less them. I should think if escaping from here. If a stray lightning hits me I would be dead," Shi Xiong ran in his full speed towards the exit of the first zone. Due to the intervention of the Heavenly Laws the cultivators were not able to use any form of spatial magic which included flying and teleportation.


    Aaaahhhhhh!


    Shi Xiong was running on the sea surface when he heard a heart-piercing shriek from behind in the imperial palace island. He was shocked because most of the weak cultivators were already dead. Only people who have Divine Manifestation stage and above powers or treasures survived.


    Due to the lightning tribulation, Shi Xiong and many ''weaker'' stage cultivators were not able to use their Divine Sense or Divine Perception. Even then Shi Xiong knew who the shriek belonged to. How could he not know the voice of Ying Xiu! The bastard who tried to make his son as an experiment specimen!


    Shi Xiong was surprised by the shriek as the lightning only attacked Skyrise Emperor, Blood Witch, and Wang Xixi. Ying Xiu is a Divine King stage cultivator! He was stronger than Shi Xiong but yet he was screaming! The tribulation wasn''t attacking him so why was he screaming?


    Shi Xiong turned back and saw a horrifying scene. The Blood Witch originally didn''t have any skin on her body. Her internal organs very initially visible but now at a rate visible to mortal eyes...she was forming a skin.


    The horrifying part was she is absorbing the flesh and blood of Ying Xiu and other cultivators who haven''t left the ruins of the imperial palace.


    "How dare you, dirty whore! I am the prime minister of this Empire! I command you to stop"


    Ying Xiu has a hard time believing that this bitch dared to attack him. He is the prime minister of Skyrise Empire! He has control over millions of lives and now his body was withering all due to this ugly whore!


    The Blood Witch was able to fend off the first lightning attack on her. But she knew she couldn''t survive this tribulation in her current state. She needed more power.


    "Dare? I even dare to make your Emperor as my slave and you ask how I dare? Instead, you dare to command me? " Blood Witch said with a laugh.


    She finds it funny people with high status think that she would give them face. What is the use of high position if you are weak. In life and death crisis which idiot would talk about status?


    She knew the world was full of idiots, who were so drunk in their little power, that they thought themselves as the king of the world.


    Originally, she didn''t plan to absorb anyone besides the ''saplings'' she chose. Absorbing the energy from a different source who doesn''t share the same origin is akin to drinking poison.


    From the last million year, she only absorbed the young saplings in whom she has implanted her soul strands as seed. With the passing of time, the soul strands would grow into a tree controlling the ''sapling''. This process was extremely slow but it resulted in her target having the same source as her. Plus she only used people who shared the bloodline of Skyrise Empire which was compatible with her.


    Such practice made it sure that absorbing them didn''t result in any hidden injuries or accumulation of poison. It resulted in a stable foundation.


    But now she was facing the worst threat she has ever faced. She didn''t feel such crisis when she faced Demon Extermination a million year ago. Due to the attack of grey matter, she was forced to discard her body and a part of the soul.


    The current crisis was even worst. It was an attack by the Laws of Heavens!


    Absorbing people who didn''t share the same source was truly drinking poison but at the very least she would be able to face the tribulation


    Satisfying thirst by drinking poison! Both paths resulted in death! One would give an instant death and the other would give a slow death.


    She wanted to live a little longer even if it gave her a horrifying death! She casted a giant blood vortex towards the sky as if in defiance to the Heavens.


    "I don''t want to die!"

 Chapter 14 - Chief Culprit Enter The Stage!

    On the sea surface, Shi Xiong gave a sigh of relief. He praised his wits for running away before Blood Witch started the crazy sacrifice. If even Ying Xiu was not able to show any resistance then how could he?


    He turned his back towards the palace island and once again started running. Even if the Emperor was getting slaughtered he wouldn''t dare to look back! The imperial palace was hell not just because of the Celestial Lightning but also due to Blood Witch. He just wants to get out.


    Back on the island, Blood Witch has reconstructed her body successfully. She gave an aura of a middle-stage Dao Ancestor realm.


    Even during her peak, which was a million-years-ago, she was only an initial-stage Dao Ancestor realm cultivator. But absorbing almost a hundred-powerhouses has increased her realm.


    Still, she didn''t have complete confidence in her ability to cope up with the peak-stage Dao Ancestor level Yin-Yang lightning.


    Yin-Yang can mean Life & Death, Darkness & Light, Ice & Fire, etc but in this tribulation, it only meant a horrifying death!


    The pain it gave was beyond description. Two contrasting but equally painful feelings would invade one''s body. The pain was not just of the body but also of soul! Even a minor scratch on the soul is hundred-times more painful than severing a body part.


    Blood Witch knew she has to reach the peak stage of Dao Ancestor realm if she has to successfully cross this tribulation.


    She made a grasping motion towards Skyrise Emperor who has barely resisted the first lightning. To be able to resist a tribulation of Dao Ancestor level at World King realm was impressive. Alas, he couldn''t use most of his unique abilities pertaining to his cultivation due to the chaos created by the Heavenly Laws in this area.


    The specialty of World King lies in their formidable domain. They can make a separate small world of their where they are the gods. But now the tribulation lightning has restricted all sort of spatial magic. This was also the reason Blood Witch and others couldn''t escape.


    People above Divine Manifestation realms are hard to kill if they try to escape but alas against the very laws of the Heavens...the methods of humans are laughable.


    Skyrise Emperor''s body moved towards Blood Witch without his violation.


    "Blood Witch! Remember our contract! If you do anything to harm me you will die!" Skyrise Emperor was gasping for breath. He was on verge of death after resisting the first lightning.


    He was on guards against the Blood Witch but now he was fully exhausted and couldn''t do much.


    Twenty-eight thousand years ago, Skyrise Emperor sacrificed his blood brother for casting the Blood Witch''s body. Initially, he and his brother has found a legacy of the Blood Witch in a mystic realm.


    For inheriting the legacy, one has to sacrifice someone who was blood-related to them. Skyrise Emperor attacked his brother from behind and killed him. Only afterward he came to know the legacy was a trap. In the mystic realm where the legacy was kept, the Blood Witch was healing her soul.


    From the blood of Skyrise Emperor''s brother, she casted the blood cocoon. It was from that moment onward the Blood Witch started implanting the soul strands in the talented members of Skyrise Emperor''s family.


    From that time onward he became a slave to her. He didn''t resist as he gained power he never thought was possible. He was able to expand the Empire and bring it to its current state. For safety''s sake, he has made a contract with the Blood Witch. In ordinary times she wouldn''t agree to any form of binding but at that time she was nothing but a soul.


    She knew she has to have a faithful servant for her to recover fully. Someone who can bring her a lot of resources and ''saplings''.


    The contract stated none of them would try to harm each other. It also said Skyrise Emperor would do his best for healing Blood Witch while in return she would teach him cultivation methods and magical spells. Even then Skyrise Emperor was always on guard.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Now, Skyrise Emperor found himself becoming a target for Blood Witch just like his brother and other relatives.


    "Contract? You really think a soul contract with an insect-like you can bind me?" Blood Witch coldly snorted.


    While soul contracts were dangerous, the effect of the contract also depended on the cultivation level of the parties involved.


    "At worst I would suffer a backlash. I would suppress the backlash temporarily as I fight the tribulation lightning,"Blood Witch continued without any emotion: "Besides you should feel grateful for living so long and achieving what you have. When I first met you, you were nothing but an insignificant insect. Now you have achieved so much. A man should learn to be satisfied."


    The Skyrise Emperor was incensed. He has sacrificed his blood relatives and even his direct descendants for reviving her. Now she dared to say such things to him even after all the sacrifices he did for her.


    "Are you thinking I should be grateful to you? You did what you did for your greed and not for me," Blood Witch said as she sucked out Skyrise Emperor''s blood energy. Even though, she trashed talked her focus was absorbing his energy. The trash talk disturbed Skyrise Emperor''s state of mind which made the energy-sucking process slightly easier.


    "Unlike you, I''m killing you for your sake. You can now apologize to your brother and other relatives in person when you go to the netherworld," Blood Witch ended her words as she sucked the last drop of energy from Skyrise Emperor.


    Skyrise Emperor died just like that. No one was there to mourn for him. All his strength, influence and glory didn''t stop him from dying in a way as painful as that of his brother and other relatives. In his last moment, he regretted his decisions.


    He didn''t regret killing his brother or relatives but what he regretted was not prepared enough to face Blood Witch. In this world, there is no medicine for regret...


    The entire matter, between Blood Witch facing the first tribulation lightning and absorbing the energy of Skyrise Emperor & his subordinates, only took ten-breaths of time.


    Up in the sky, the dark clouds were seething in anger with every passing second. They were about to send the second tribulation lightning towards the Blood Witch, but then they stopped.


    In the north side of the ruined imperial palace, there was a violet cocoon floating along with the debris. The violet cocoon was more like a defensive barrier instead of a true cocoon. The violet cocoon was semi-transparent and one can see a woman in her early thirties along with a three-year-old kid.


    The cocoon made a jump towards the sky. The cocoon shattered on its own after reaching enough altitude. Afterward, the woman and her child were hovering in the sky even though all forms of spatial magics were banned!


    Blood Witch noticed this as well. She was shocked to see someone alive in the imperial palace island besides her. Most of the people either died due to the aura of tribulation lightning, and some were killed by her. Some dozen lucky rats did escape though.


    When Blood Witch sensed the cultivation level of the two hovering in the sky she was more shocked. The woman was only at Golden Body realm!


    In the Endless Continent, the cultivation realms are divided into Awakening, Blood Transformation, Golden Body, Divine Sea, Dao Awakening, Divine Manifestation, Divine King, World King, Empyrean and Dao Ancestor.


    Even Divine Manifestation realm cultivators barely survived the destruction caused by the aura of tribulation but that woman with such a weak cultivation base has no scratches!


    The worst was that kid who was a complete mortal! He hasn''t even started cultivation!


    Have the Heavens gone blind? Or the logic of the universe has changed during my million year absence?


    Wait! The violet bead outline on the kid''s glabella! It has the same aura as that of the violet radiance from three years ago! Plus the kid look familiar!


    Three years ago, everyone, irrespective of gender or race, has absorbed some violet radiance released by violet clouds in the sky. The violet radiance was a blessing which created miracles everywhere. Even Blood Witch has absorbed the radiance which has made her recovery process faster.


    Meanwhile, the dark clouds in the sky once again stated creating the strange lightning. This time the target was not Blood Witch but the child hovering in the sky!


    Blood Witch has lived for more than a million year so her analyzing abilities were good. She now was able to judge why the Celestial Punishment was directed towards her, Skyrise Emperor and Wang Xixi.


    The original target for the Celestial Punishment was that kid! The kid was responsible for the violet radiance three years ago as well judging from his bone age. For whatever reason, the laws of the heavens were not able to sense the presence of the kid ever since the tribulation began.


    So the Heavens targeted the main culprits who were ''guarding'' the kid: Blood Witch, Skyrise Emperor, and Wang Xixi. The heavens were targeting the violet aura in the kid, but we too have a fickle of the same aura!


    When the Heavens didn''t find the main culprit they went after his strongest ''bodyguards''. It just so happened those ''bodyguards'' has a malicious intent towards the kid!


    FUCK! You got to be fucking kidding me!


    I was being played by a kid?!?


    How is he a kid? He is simply a monster! A wolf in sheep''s clothing!


    "The heavens truly are blind!"

 Chapter 15 - Why Would You Beg When You Can Command?

    Blood Witch knew why the child looked familiar to her. He was her latest sapling! After thinking of her findings of the violet radiance she was sure her two soul strands were killed!


    This kid even tricked the Heavens so how can two soul strands harm him?


    Meanwhile, Lin Li was shocked to see herself in the sky along with her son. Just minutes before, the violet bead has formed a protective cover around her and Zhen Han. Now it brought them in an open battlefield and the protective barrier around them has disappeared.


    Everywhere there were ruins. All she could see was debris and corpses. Few corpses were totally withered as if someone has taken away their flesh and blood. They were totally sucked dry.


    In the sky, she could see the dark clouds creating the strange lightning. She was truly afraid as before she almost died if not for the interference of violet bead. She couldn''t even face the aura of destruction created by the lightning much less now facing the lightning directly.


    "Violet Bead now is not the time to joke. Please form the protective shield," Lin Li bitterly said.


    Her son was still in deep sleep otherwise she would have definitely asked him. She was sure her son wouldn''t refuse her request. Just yesterday he made her words into the laws of the world for few minutes. Shi Xiong''s grandson was targeted by the beasts for love session due to her!


    The violet bead gave no response. Lin Li and Zhen Han were still floating in the sky. The Dao Ancestor level lightning was coming towards them. This time the lightning was far stronger than the one faced by Blood Witch and others.


    Blood Witch has reached the peak of Dao Ancestor realm after absorbing Skyrise Emperor though the rise in cultivation level was temporary. Even she felt that she stand no chance against the lightning.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    She was sure the child and his mother would die by the lightning. They were able to survive so far as they were hidden, but now they were out in open. She couldn''t understand why the kid would court death.


    No matter what he was dead for sure! She gave a sigh of relief thinking the tribulation lightning would no longer target her. She didn''t want to take any chances so she decided to run while she could!


    Meanwhile, the lightning was directly coming for the mother-son duo.


    "Han''er, please. I beg you wake up," Lin Li was scared. She feared death but she was more worried about her son. She wanted to wake him up and activate the bead for both but her main priority was her son. A mother couldn''t see her child die in front of her.


    "Han''er, please!"


    She closed her eyes when the tribulation lightning was about to strike.


    Swooooosh!


    "Why would you beg when you have the right to command your son?" an ancient voice asked.


    Lin Li opened her eyes when she heard the voice filled with vicissitude. Her eyes almost went out of socket when she saw the scene in front of her!


    A gigantic tree was in front of her! Even the word giant was an insult to the tree. The tree was as large as the distance between sky and earth. The tree looked as if it was illusory but the ancient aura it gave was enough to shake the heavens. The entire island, no, the entire imperial capital started trembling. All the nine zones of the imperial capital were suffering through a massive earthquake.


    It was as if this world couldn''t handle the presence of this tree. The tree didn''t release any pressure but yet its very presence was creating an avalanche!


    The body of Zhen Han was ''inside'' the trunk of the large tree. The violet bead was now out in open and floating above Zhen Han''s head. Zhen Han continued to be in deep sleep.


    The tribulation lightning was stopped by one of the leaves! A tribulation of peak-stage Dao Ancestor realm was stopped by a leaf!


    One of the leaves of the tree broke away from the tree. It soon fell upon Blood Witch who was escaping and has no idea about the arrival of the tree. When the leaf touched her, she found herself teleport in front of the tree!


    What the fuck?


    Blood Witch almost fainted from fear when she saw the tree.


    Where did this arrive from?


    The tree didn''t release any pressure but the very presence made her tremble in fear. Her sense of crisis was shouting in pain! Even the grey matter of Demon Extermination didn''t give her such feeling of crisis a million years ago! The pressure from the tribulation lightning was a joke in front of the tree!


    How can such a thing even exist in this world?


    Blood Witch was having a hard time breathing.


    Cultivators above Divine Manifestation stage can survive for days without breathing but currently as if the very presence of the tree has overwritten the laws of the world.


    Much less Divine Manifestation, but now even Blood Witch who was at the peak-stage of Dao Ancestor couldn''t survive without breathing.


    Blood Witch fell on her knees as she tried to grasp for breaths. She opened her mouth as if to devour air but there was no air to breathe. Her eyes were full of blood-red threads and her face lost its color.


    "I can''t breathe! H-help me!"

 Chapter 16 - Insignificant Death

    F


    In Blood Witch''s worst nightmares, she has died by the grey matter. Sometimes, she even thought someone would kill her by devouring her blood and flesh just like how she has done to others. For her, that would be an ironic but a poetic death.


    After the arrival of Celestial Tribulation, she thought she would die by the strange lightning. If she survived then she would slowly die due to the poisoning effect of devouring Skyrise Emperor and others forcefully.


    Not once she thought she would die of suffocation.


    How could she ever think she would die due to lack of oxygen? A cultivator of her power can survive years without oxygen, but now the presence of the illusory tree has changed the very structure of the world. Now she could no longer survive without breathing.


    The tree even took her right to breathe! It was like the tree felt it was an insult for a person like her to breathe!


    The lack of oxygen leads to the death of brain cells at a very fast rate. Blood Witch''s eyes were completely bloodshot and there was not a single hint of color on her face.


    In the distant past, Blood Witch has extreme confidence in her blood abilities. She was given the title of Blood Witch due to her utmost superiority in blood. For her blood was the absolute strength. This was also why she was able to survive even though she was affected by the grey matter a million years ago. The grey matter was something which would corrode the body and the soul. There was no chance if reincarnation if one dies through the grey matter!


    Yet Blood Witch survived when people far stronger than she died. While the Demon Extermination didn''t take her seriously the other reason for her survival was her blood abilities!A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    For her blood was the ultimate blessing. She was the Queen of Blood.


    Now the same blood was turning into a poison inside her due to the lack of oxygen. She was clutching her neck in horror with every passing second. Her skin color was changing to blue.


    She was sweating badly with every passing second her heart rate getting out of control. Without oxygen, her brain, liver, and other organs were undergoing permanent damage.


    She was feeling as if a vise is squeezing her chest. A pain so unbearable as if a mountain was placed on her heart.


    As death approached her she became muddle-headed due to the lack of oxygen available to her brain. She has forgotten about her heaven-defying powers and her unfathomable status in the Endless Continent. She has forgotten everything but the pain she was feeling as she tried to grasp for air.


    And she died...


    In the past, she was able to escape alive from the clutches of Demon Extermination! She has even survived thousands of years as a lonely soul as she reconstructed her body. Her schemes made it possible for her to make Skyrise Emperor as his slave for regenerating her body.


    She has killed millions of people but even in the worst nightmare, she couldn''t think she would die due to a tree! A tree which felt she didn''t deserve to breathe in its holy presence!


    There was no heaven-shaking battle or any insult at the final moments. She died as insignificant death as an insect die when a man steps on it. A totally meaningless death. Perhaps for someone like her, this was the most shameful death.


    Her corpse fell down on the ground with her last facial expression being that of fear.


    Lin Li didn''t know the identity of Blood Witch but she was extremely sure the woman was extremely powerful. Otherwise, how could she be the only person alive on the imperial palace island? The island was full of ruins and corpses.


    She even saw the corpse of Skyrise Emperor. For Lin Li, Skyrise Emperor was the strongest person out there. But yet he died while the woman survived. She could have lived if the tree didn''t interfere!


    Lin Li didn''t dare ask the tree why it killed the woman but she has some ideas.


    Lin Li did initially felt fear when she saw the tree, but then she thought the tree was a part of her son and his bead. Or maybe it was opposite. She wasn''t sure. The one thing she knew for sure was that the tree held no ill intention towards her and Zhen Han. The tree even asked her why she would beg when she could command!


    "That woman is pitiful. For such a powerful person to die in such an insignificant way..." Lin Li felt pity for the woman.


    "Humans step on ants thinking lives of ants are insignificant. But what makes the humans believe their lives are significant? For a higher form of life, humans are also ants. The cycle goes on in a similar fashion without an end. In the end, everyone dies an insignificant death no matter how they try to glorify their death," the tree said.

 Chapter 17 - Worried about tomorrow

    "Humans step on ants thinking lives of ants are insignificant. But what makes the humans believe their lives are significant? For a higher form of life, humans are also ants. The cycle goes on in a similar fashion without an end. In the end, everyone dies an insignificant death no matter how they try to glorify their death."


    Lin Li understood the meaning of tree''s words. The law of jungle is there everywhere. Humans kill animals for their meat and skin. Most times they also use them as slaves. There was no evil in it. The beasts could only blame themselves for being weak and foolish.


    Similarly, if a higher form of life take humans as slaves or use them as food, then the humans can only blame themselves for being weak instead of using the evil card.


    As long as one is born in this world he would be a part of the above cycle whether he wants it or not. Today one might take a fish as food but who is to say tomorrow he would not become the food of a serpent?


    It is not necessary that a fish would be only eaten by the humans or birds. Fishes could be eaten by bigger fishes. Similarly, humans can also become the food of humans. The word ''food'' can also mean slavery in the context.


    In the end, the concept of glorious death was a way to hide one''s incompetence. Even if one dies a natural death, at the end one will become fertilizer for the earth.


    Death was same for everyone no matter how one dies. Still, Lin Li felt pity for Blood Witch. For someone who was able to survive the Celestial Tribulation to die in such a way.


    "Even Skyrise Emperor is dead," Lin Li has great respect for the Emperor. He was the great-grandfather of her son after all. Her father-in-law was the son of Emperor. While the royalty is devoid of kinship one still has respect for their parents.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    She felt guilty for her father-in-law now that the Skyrise Emperor was dead. Her son indirectly has killed him so how could she not feel guilty? How would she face her father-in-law if the truth was revealed? Would he be able to forgive Zhen Han?


    "The Emperor and one of his wife has a malicious intention towards your son. Same goes for the woman who just died," It was as if the tree understood her hidden worries so to console her it said these words.


    Lin Li was startled by the claims. She didn''t doubt the words of the tree. The tree was so powerful that its one leaf can handle the Celestial Lightning. Why would such a tree lie to a weak person like her?


    Still, she didn''t know what malicious intention they had towards her child. She didn''t ask when the tree didn''t speak any further.


    In the sky, the dark clouds were seething. The laws of the heavens were angry on their previous failure so they were creating a more powerful lightning.


    "Scatter."


    The tree spoke a signle word but the laws of the heavens followed the order! The tribulation clouds start dissipating! Even though the tree was illusory its words were taken as the orders!


    Within a second all clouds disappeared!


    "What the fuck?" Lin Li''s mouth was wide open. She couldn''t help but curse even in the presence of this divine tree.


    Fuck! Isn''t this too easy?


    The tribulation killed the Skyrise Emperor and countless others! They were one of the strongest forces in the Endless Continent!


    But now the same tribulation scattered with just one word! How is this even possible?


    Am I dreaming? Maybe it is me who is sleeping instead of my son! Perhaps I suffered some brain damage? She pinched herself very hard just to confirm. The pain was real so she knew the scene in front of herself was also real.


    The world was no longer making any sense to her. A three-year-old''s afternoon nap destroyed the imperial capital! The Emperor and majority of his court were killed because the heavens didn''t like Zhen Han dreaming! A nap of twenty to thirty minutes has brought one of the strongest Empire in the continent on its knees! The Empire was as good as destroyed!


    "Would Han''er night sleep destroy the entire continent?"


    Generally, Lin Li wouldn''t come to such a conclusion, but from last twenty-four hours, the world has lost its logic according to her.


    Yesterday, her son changed the laws of nature by making the beasts copulate with a man! Thousands of people died during the beasts love making process!


    Today, her son brought the Celestial Tribulation and ruined the imperial palace! The Emperor and thousands of others were killed directly or indirectly by the Celestial Tribulation!


    What about tomorrow? Would her son open a portal to the demon world? Perhaps he would make the demons invade the Endless Continent?


    Lin Li felt sorry for the people of the continent...

 Chapter 18 - A strange world

    Lin Li felt her conclusion was well founded. She explained her thoughts to the tree.


    Even the tree became speechless after hearing her explanation. If the tree was capable of facial expressions then its mouth would definitely be twitching.


    The tree was about to reply but then suddenly the entire sky became dark. The tribulation clouds have arrived again! Just a minute before the tree has made them disappear!


    This time the response of tribulation lightning was more rapid. Besides the black and white tribulation lightning, there were five giant meteorites in the sky.


    Each meteorite has a different color. Golden, Green, Blue, Red, and Yellow. Each color represented the five elements Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.


    This time even the tree was surprised.


    "How strange. This world is so weak that it couldn''t even handle my astral projection but yet it could defy my orders." The tree sounded surprised.


    The meteorites rushed towards the tree at a supersonic speed. One of the tree''s leaf-covered Lin Li to protect her.


    The meteorites target was the trunk of the tree where Zhen Han was floating inside in his deep sleep. The laws of the heavens couldn''t allow him to destroy the balance of the world!


    Inheriting memories of previous life or of a being from other world was forbidden! Such a thing could destroy the very balance of the world!


    Previously, the laws of the heavens were not able to find Zhen Han as the violet bead formed a barrier around him and his mother. So the tribulation lightning was directed towards his ''bodyguards'' as they shared the same source aura!


    Afterward, when the bead brought Zhen Han in open the tribulation lightning tried to attack him but the tree appeared. The tree made the tribulation disappear with a single word!Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    But this world of Endless Continent was strange. The heavenly laws of this world were powerful enough to disobey the command of the tree. While the tree was just an astral projection but even still to disobey the commands of such a powerful entity was something next to impossible in low-level worlds!


    The meteorites landed on the trunk but did no damage to Zhen Han who inside the illusory trunk of the tree. He was still in deep sleep.


    Meanwhile, in the four extreme corners of the Endless Continent, four grey light columns came out from inside the earth.


    In the blink of an eye, these four grey light arrived in the ruins of Skyrise Empire''s imperial palace. The four lights converged together and transformed into a giant grey sword.


    The formation of the grey sword created an avalanche throughout the continent.


    "Grey matter? The fusion of Yin and Yang...Black and White. The boundary between Death and Life!'' The Creation!'' There was a tinge of shock in tree''s voice.


    The sword rushed towards the trunk. A branch of the tree arrived and fenced off the grey sword. The grey sword didn''t stop and it continued to send energy attack towards the trunk while it fought with the branches. The entire island was destroyed and submerged in the sea.


    "Seems like I need to stop the memory awakening process otherwise the entire Continent would be destroyed," the tree said.


    With every passing second, the attack of the grey sword was getting stronger while the meteorite attack and tribulation lightning continued as well.


    "My future-self has only seen the memories of my life and my previous self''s life. He has yet to see the memories of other seven who came after me. No, the current situation makes it dangerous for my future self to remember any memory of the past," the tree said unwillingly to itself.


    The tree was able to make out the details from the heavenly laws of this world. The heavenly laws were similar to a puppet.


    The heavenly laws didn''t have any intelligence or a Will of its own. All they did was follow the command given to them. The command given to the heavenly laws was to stop the intrusion of any foreign matter in this world including foreign memories.


    Strangely though they didn''t think the bead was a foreign matter.


    The heavenly laws wouldn''t stop attacking even if Zhen Han stop the memory inheriting process. They would try to kill him as long as he has even a small memory related to a foreign world.


    The tree knew if the fight continued the entire Continent would suffer permanent damage. The tree didn''t care about the continent but his future self. His future-self would have to stay in this world till he becomes strong enough to leave the world on his own.


    If the tree''s true self was present, it could defeat the grey sword without harming the continent. But now the tree was nothing but an astral projection created by the violet bead.


    "You won," the tree gave a sigh. Zhen Han continued to be in a stupor but he stopped dreaming. Even the memories of his dream living as a formless energy and a tree were fully erased.


    As soon as the heavenly laws sensed this, the tribulation clouds dissipated along with the meteorites. The grey sword turned into four columns of grey light and disappeared.


    "Grey Matter in such a weak world. Seems like I underestimated this word," the tree bitterly said to itself.


    "If there is grey matter in this world then it should be connected to ''Well of Creation''."


    The tree laughed with happiness when it reached this conclusion. It was as if the tree no longer minded the ''defeat'' against the heavenly laws of this world.


    "Sadly I wouldn''t be able to help my future self regarding ''Well of Creation''. But then again it would be more fun in that way," the tree thought.

 Chapter 19 - I Am His Past But He Is My Future

    The tree was rather satisfied with the turn of events. According to its original plan, the tree would guard Zhen Han until he awakened the memories of his third past self. When that happened the one who would protect him would be the astral projection of third self.


    Zhen Han has nine past self. The first one was the formless form of energy and the second one was the tree. His other seven forms were unknown.


    Lin Li felt last twenty-four hours have been a roller coaster for her. She was growing numb to shock and surprises the world has to offer.


    First the beasts mating with a human. Then the arrival of Celestial Tribulation followed by the appearance of tree and death of the poor woman by suffocation. If that wasn''t enough the tribulation clouds were scattered by a single word. Perhaps even this wasn''t enough so a meteorite shower along with a complimentary sword was offered by the heavens.


    Even if the demons from foreign world attack the continent she wouldn''t be surprised!


    The heavens truly love me seeing the ''fireworks'' they have created in the last twenty-four hours for my poor heart! Fucking heavens!


    Now the tree was laughing after supposedly getting defeated. Lin Li has heard the tree saying it admit saying the heavens won. The winning was related to my son definitely!


    "Sir...Ma''am," Lin Li didn''t know if the tree has a gender so she wanted to ask if. Ordinary trees are gender-less but the tree in front of her was nothing but ordinary. Besides the behavior so far it seemed it was related to her son.


    "I don''t have any gender though all my future-self have gender. Some were male and some were female."


    The tree''s statement made things more difficult for Lin Li. How is she supposed to greet it?


    "Reverend Tree. If I may ask just how are you related to my son?" Lin Li politely asked. She has some theories about the tree but she wanted to confirm from the tree.


    Before she would never dare to ask such things but now she didn''t fear anything! Her heart has turned into a metal! She fears nothing! Her sense of crisis was already numb from the things she has seen so far.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    "I am his past but he is my future," the tree answered.


    Fuck! How vague! Why does it have to become so mysterious?


    The tree remained silent for next few minutes as if it was searching around through its divine perception. Lin Li has grown guts but she didn''t dare to disturb the tree.


    After few minutes the tree said," How interesting."


    Fuck! Why are you so vague again! Just tell what is interesting!


    Lin Li almost cursed the tree!


    No! I have to calm myself! I am so shocked by the turn of events that I want to court death! I am a mother so I can''t afford to die! Not like my troublemaking child need my help!


    Lin Li tried to calm her nerves.


    "Reverend Tree, what did you find interesting?"


    "Your world is interesting. The opportunities it has to offer would even make people from higher-level worlds jealous," the tree answered. From its voice, it was clear the tree didn''t think much of the opportunities this world has to offer even though it said the people from higher worlds would be jealous.


    "Your Continent lives up to its name: ''Endless''. While its size is finite, most of its space is in hidden dimensions. If you count the length of the Continent after taking the hidden dimensions then it would be almost Endless with the number of opportunities and treasures it has to offer," the tree explained.


    "Though people of this continent are far too ignorant. You call a person at the peak of the first step as ''Dao Ancestor''. In the higher worlds, even the strongest cultivator who has achieved the third step don''t dare to use Dao Ancestor as a title," the tree patiently explained to Lin Li.


    Lin Li was surprised. In the Endless Continent, the cultivation realms are divided into Awakening, Blood Transformation, Golden Body, Divine Sea, Dao Awakening, Divine Manifestation, Divine King, World King, Empyrean and Dao Ancestor.


    All these realms are a part of the first step in cultivation?


    She understood the tree''s hidden intention. The tree wanted her to pass this information to Zhen Han at a proper time.


    "Many of the hidden dimensions in the Continent were unsealed due to my confrontation with the grey matter sword. Your continent would soon fall into chaos. You should prepare yourself," the tree continued on.


    Chaos? Even if not for hidden dimensions, her life was going to be in chaos! The Skyrise Emperor was dead along with the majority of the court! The Empire was now as good as dead. How can there be any peace for her or her family from now on? Her son was a part of the imperial family even if he has no chance for the throne! In the time of chaos, being a part of the imperial family is dangerous!


    "Sighs. The situation is not as bad as you think if you play your cards right and keep the details hidden," the tree said with a chuckle.


    "Anyways, its time for farewell. I don''t think we would be able to meet again though I would love to meet you again."


    While the violet bead was heaven-defying object it too has its limitations. It was only able to bring the astral projection of the tree when more than half the memories of the tree were transferred to Zhen Han. It used Zhen Han as the basis for everything.


    Now that Zhen Han''s memories about the tree were erased the tree wouldn''t be able to exist. If the bead tried to transfer the memories again then the heavenly laws of this world would interfere again along with the sword made of grey matter.


    "Ah! I almost forgot!" One of the tree''s illusory leaf fell on Lin Li''s head.


    Lin Li''s body started emitting a violet radiance! The leaf sucked out the violet radiance and then disappeared.


    Lin Li felled on the ground as she coughed up blood. She was at the peak of Golden Body realm but after the leaf sucked out violet radiance her cultivation level degraded. From peak, she fell to initial stage of Golden Body realm! This resulted in her coughing blood.


    She couldn''t believe the turn of events. The entire continent was blessed by the violet radiance three years ago when her son was born! She also benefited from the violet radiance in the form of cultivation growth.


    She thought the tree has no malice intention towards her seeing how it protected her from the Celestial Tribulation. The tree even shared details about the mysteries of the world!


    But now the tree took away her blessings! Everyone has benefited from the violet radiance so why was only I targeted?


    "A curse can be a blessing in disguise. Don''t you think the opposite can be also true?"