《Honor of The Imperium Battle》


 Strange Burst Out

    The afternoon sun sank low, casting a golden glow over the vast sea, where it met the towering mountains in a breathtaking view.


    In the distance, the small city of Tai Hua bustled with the lively chatter of marketgoers.


    Nestled within the city, the Xu Clan¡¯s residence sat by a tranquil lake, its surface rippling gently as fish swam beneath, occasionally flashing silver. The wooden beams and tiled rooftops of the Xu Clan''s small residence sparkled delicately on the water''s surface, kissed by the soft glow of the setting sun.


    By the water''s edge, a nine-year-old boy named Xu Hanyu stood, his black and purple robe dancing lightly in the gentle breeze. A blue cord bracelet rested on his wrist, its intricate design hinting at deeper meaning. Beneath his robe, a dark-purple thorn-like mark spread across his arm, contrasting with his innocent smile.


    Though he was the third son of the head of the Xu Clan, there was little sign of the expectations that came with his title. At his age, he cared little for cultivation, living more freely than most children his age.


    He simply enjoyed the world around him as an innocent child would do, unaware of the pressures that would eventually come.


    As his fingers grazed the lake¡¯s surface, ripples spread, which caused the fish to dart away.


    While watching them, he noticed a young man, three years older than him, dressed in the same Xu Clan clothing.


    "Brother Xu Rong!" Xu Hanyu called out, hoping to get his attention.


    Xu Rong turned with a faint smile on his face. But beneath that facade, his younger brother¡¯s enthusiasm grated on him.


    Irritating¡­


    Despite putting on a facade of being a good older brother to Xu Hanyu, Xu Rong harbours a profound hatred towards him, one that runs deeper than one might fathom. His feelings for the young man go beyond what one might expect.


    Even his voice grates on my nerves, like an itch you can¡¯t scratch. Xu Rong¡¯s fingers slowly curled into a fist.


    "Come here..!!" He laughed softly, beckoning Xu Rong closer as he dipped his fingers in the water.


    "Little brother.." he said softly, walking over to him. "What are you doing out here?"


    "Brother Xu Rong! Look¨Cthere¡¯s a fish!" Xu Hanyu beamed while pointing at the water.


    "Oh? Do you like them that much?¡±


    Xu Hanyu nodded eagerly. ¡°Hm!¡±


    Observing the young child in front of him. Carefree. Defenseless. Weak. His back turned.


    A thought slithered into his mind.


    This is your chance, Xu Rong!


    Without hesitation, his expression darkened.


    ¡°Then stay with them forever!¡±


    With a swift kick.


    A sharp splash.


    ¡°Aah¨C!¡±


    Xu Hanyu tumbled into the lake, the cold water swallowing his cry.


    His older brother¡¯s grin twists into something cruel, revealing a glint of madness. A small victory.


    But then¨Cpanic.


    That smile quickly faded to terror as he stepped back, helplessly watching his brother''s desperate fight against drowning.


    What if he goes under?


    A cold knot tisted in his stomach. He hadn¡¯t thought this through.


    No. It¡¯s his fault for being weak. So incapable. I can¡¯t show weakness now.


    ¡°Brother Xu Rong! H-help¨Ccough¨C!¡±


    His heart pounded while thinking.


    If someone finds out¡­ Father will¡ª


    Suddenly, panic erupted from a distance.


    "Oh my¨C?! Young Master Xu Hanyu has fallen into the lake!"


    Xu Rong froze into the spot as he didn''t have any idea what to do next.


    It wasn¡¯t my fault¡­I didn¡¯t do that¡­!


    Footsteps. A frantic rush.


    "Call Lord Xu and the three Elders!"


    He took a shaky step back as he covered his ears.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    It wasn¡¯t my fault... I didn¡¯t do that!


    Yet, his eyes remained locked on the boy in the water¡ªXu Hanyu, slipping below the surface, while the others were reaching for him.


    And still, Xu Rong did nothing.


    ¡­


    "Kneel!"


    Finally standing before him, Lord Xu¡¯s voice cut through the tension like a blade. Xu Rong fell to his knees before Lord Xu, his heart pounding with worry. He complied instantly, the thud of his knees hitting the ground resonating in the charged stillness around them.


    Meanwhile, the three elders sat quietly, their eyes intense, waiting for the moment to happen, their expressions hard to read.


    "Xu Rong, what have you done to your brother!? He could¡¯ve drowned!¡± Lord Xu¡¯s voice boomed, anger and fear mixing together, while the three Elders looked on in silence.


    "I haven''t done anything wrong! He deserves it!" Xu Rong shot back, surprising Lord Xu.


    ¡°You¨C!¡± Before Lord Xu could utter another word, Elder Xu Ting intervened, his voice steady and authoritative. "Lord Xu, please take a moment to breathe. Allow me to handle this matter," he urged, hoping to soothe the rising tension.


    Turning his attention to Xu Rong, who knelt with tightly clenched fists, Elder Xu Ting continued, "Xu Rong, you are aware of what your actions can lead to. You should never have put your younger brother¡¯s life in danger. Our clan does not hurt others, and you must know the difference between right and wrong. Do you understand?"


    Yet, the young master remained angry and frustrated just from hearing the scolds.


    Once Lord Xu had calmed down, he took a deep breath and stated, ¡°I know how you feel about Han¡¯er, but this behavior can¡¯t be tolerated¡­!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xu Rong stayed silent, but he was consumed by his feelings of hatred for Xu Hanyu. Father, you never cared about my feelings! Your attention has always been on Xu Hanyu, even though I am your son too!


    ¡°...¡±


    Then a clan member gradually made his way toward Lord Xu, clutching a brown envelope in his hand. He leaned in close to whisper something to Lord Xu before passing the envelope over.


    Taking the envelope, Lord Xu replied, "You may go now," dismissing the clan member with a wave.


    "Yes."


    As the clan member exited, Lord Xu opened the letter and began to read. Meanwhile, Elder Xu Jia, curious about the contents, asked, "Lord Xu, who sent the letter?"


    "Hm, it''s from Chen Shun."


    "Oh? Your father-in-law?"


    "Yes."


    "What did he say?" Elder Xu Ting interjected.


    He paused for a moment before saying, "He mentioned that he wants to take Xu Rong to Lharong for a few years..." Xu Rong was stunned by the news in the letter.


    "What!? No, we can''t do that!" Elder Xu Bai exclaimed.


    "Why is it so sudden?" Elder Xu Ting added.


    "..."


    Lord Xu inhaled deeply and gazed at Xu Rong, thinking about what choice to make.


    "Rong''er¡­ I believe it would be best for you to go to the Lharong Empire with your grandfather. You can return when you turn nineteen." With that, Xu Rong couldn''t believe how quickly his father accepted that.


    "What?!" Elder Xu Jia and Elder Xu Bai both shouted in unison.


    Sending me away like this¡­ proves that I¡¯m not worthy enough of your care. He thought as he tightened his fists.


    The three Elders were taken aback by Lord Xu''s sudden approval. Elder Xu Bai, in particular, felt upset and disappointed over him, as he had developed a close bond with Xu Rong, his favorite child whom he had always hoped to mentor.


    Elder Xu Bai rose to his feet, gesturing emphatically towards Xu Rong. "Xu Dan, what are you talking about?! Xu Rong is one of our clan''s finest fighters and our future! How can you agree to send him away just because of that unworthy son of yours?! This is unacceptable!"


    ¡°He speaks the truth, Xu Dan. You can¡¯t decide to dismiss him like this! You¡¯ve invested all your time into Xu Hanyu, and now you¡¯re willing to return Xu Rong to his grandfather?! Xu Hanyu hasn¡¯t even shown the ability to cultivate, yet he¡¯s your chosen one over Xu Rong!¡± Elder Xu Jia chimed in.


    Meanwhile Elder Xu Ting sighed, resigned to the escalating argument.


    "He needs to stay there and reflect on his actions! That¡¯s my final word! And don¡¯t you dare refer to Han''er as an unworthy future, Elder Xu Bai!" he declared with conviction.


    "You¡ª!" Elder Xu Bai pointed an accusatory finger at Lord Xu but found himself at a loss for words. Frustrated, he flicked his robes and sank back into his seat.


    Why does father always prefer him and pay so much attention to that useless kid when I deserve it more?


    Xu Rong clearly hesitated, unable to believe that his father would agree to send him away. He wants me to send away just because of Xu Hanyu? Ha!


    At the end, he resigned himself to the decision as he couldn¡¯t do anything about it and Elder Xu Bai let out a frustrated grunt.


    After that, all the Elders, except Elder Xu Ting, were upset and left the hall together with Xu Rong, getting ready to leave. This left only Lord Xu and Elder Xu Ting in the hall.


    Once the hall was empty, Elder Xu Ting studied Lord Xu. "Xu Dan, did you truly intend to send Xu Rong away?"


    With a heavy sigh, Lord Xu shook his head. "It''s not what I want, but Rong''er has been increasingly aggressive lately. If I keep him here, he could end up hurting Han''er..."


    "I fear Xu Rong will only resent you for this. And you¡¯ve made enemies of two Elders."


    "I know," Lord Xu admitted, rubbing his forehead. "But I have my reasons."


    Elder Xu Ting let out a long breath. "Whatever they are, I hope they¡¯re worth it. Your actions today may cost you your son." With that, he rose up and left.


    Now, Lord Xu sat alone, eyes closed, resting his arms on his knees. Did I really make the wrong choice?


    Just as silence settled over him, hurried footsteps approached.


    "Father! Father!"


    He turned to see, it was his daughter, Xu Lian rushing toward him, her long brown hair bouncing with each step, the familiar purple of the Xu Clan wrapped around her frame.


    "What¡¯s wrong?" he asked, concerned about tightening his chest.


    "Father! Little brother Hanyu¡ªsomething happened to him!"


    Lord Xu¡¯s expression shifted as he quickly rose sharply from his seat.


    "What?!"


    ¡­


    When Lord Xu and Xu Lian entered the room, they were taken aback to find Xu Hanyu''s unconscious body suspended in mid-air.


    "The Regal Spirit¡­!" Lord Xu gasped in fright.


    "Father, what is happening¡­?" Xu Lian said nervously, hiding at his back.


    Lord Xu then calmly instructed her, "Lian¡¯er, leave the room for now,¡± he said, caressing her hair and continued, ¡°And¡­ don¡¯t tell anybody about this. Alright?¡± Without hesitation, Xu Lian nodded saying, ¡°yes, father¡­¡± and dashed out.


    Meanwhile, Xu Hanyu who was unconscious and moaning as he levitated in the mid-air, a vibrant and intense aura enveloped him, glowing with a fiery brilliance. It was a mesmerizing yet daunting spectacle, filling the room with a formidable energy.


    Even in his unconscious state, he emanated a powerful force that made him get intimidated with the powerful aura that had slowly released into his body.


    "Not even someone at my Da Xuan level can deal with a force this strong!"


    Watching the escalating energy surrounding Xu Hanyu, Lord Xu felt an urgent need to act. He quickly concentrated his wuqi, channeling his internal energy to create protective barriers around him.


    "I have to stop this before the aura radiates out¡­!¡± he whispered.


    With each passing second, the energy emanating from Xu Hanyu intensified, causing him to groan in distress as he thrashed in pain. Even the protective barrier of Lord Xu struggled against the overwhelming force, barely managing to hold it at bay.


    ¡°Aahhhh¡ª!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s tormenting his body¡­!¡± Lord Xu exclaimed.


    It seems like I have no choice but to use the technique ¡®he¡¯ taught me¡­!


    As the tension in the room thickened, Lord Xu drew his wuqi into two tightly clenched fists, initiating his technique ¡°Aura Dampeniingg!¡± With a deliberate grace, he pulled his right fist back, supported by his left arm, his stance steady with slightly bent legs.


    Then, with a powerful thrust, Lord Xu shot his right fist forward, opening his palm to release three small, intricately designed flat circular discs. They spun in the air, glowing with golden-orange energy, their pulsing light connecting them with radiant lines.


    The discs hovered around Xu Hanyu, their energy flowing gently into his body, soothing the chaotic aura. Lord Xu grunted in effort, controlling the energy to ease Xu Hanyu¡¯s pain, the golden-orange light swirling around him, calming the flames sparked by the release.


    More..


    Almost there!


    And finally!


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Finally after a tense moment, Xu Hanyu slowly regained his steadiness, and the aura finally calmed down. Lord Xu breathes out in relief, catching Xu Hanyu just as he starts to fall from the air, stopping him from hitting the ground.


    He was holding Xu Hanyu in his arms, then gently brushed the young man''s hair from his forehead. ¡°That was a close call.¡± he whispered quietly.


    Lord Xu then gently lifted the young master up and laid him down on the bed, tucking him in with a blanket as he remained unconscious.


    Then thought,


    It¡¯s strange for the Regal Spirit to awaken this early. Something¡¯s wrong. If this aura spreads, not only will you be doomed, but the entire clan will be as well.


    "I¡¯ll set up a barrier to hide your aura, just in case. You can¡¯t leave the residence until you¡¯re ready to handle the attention it will bring."

 Burden of the Curse

    Two years had passed, but Xu Hanyu remained affected by the incident. Although he had matured, he had grown reserved and trusted only his sister, Xu Lian. He feared that others would hurt him the way his brother Xu Rong had. Over time, he became aware of the resentment Xu Rong held toward him, fueled by rumors and the constant comparisons between them.


    Whispers spoke of the mark on his left arm, said to be a curse that prevented him from gathering his wuqi. In a world where curses were considered incurable, the mark made him an anomaly. He was the only one unable to cultivate, and this made him feel hopeless and isolated from the other children.


    Since the incident, Xu Hanyu had been forbidden to leave the residence, while his older sister Xu Lian was free to meet other children and play outside. This freedom only made Xu Hanyu envy her. The rumors spread that Lord Xu had issued this order, fearing that his cursed mark would contaminate others.


    As he grew older, the weight of these expectations and the taunts from his peers became unbearable. At the age of eleven, Xu Hanyu began to take his training seriously, driven by the desire to prove himself. He pushed harder each day, not only to surpass his brother¡¯s shadow but to show the clan he was not as weak as they thought.


    Yet, despite his effort, gathering his wuqi remained elusive. The pressure mounted, but Xu Hanyu refused to give up, using it as fuel to drive himself further, even as doubts gnawed at him.


    Now, he is currently participating in a Wuqi Demonstration, where children''s gathering abilities are evaluated under the supervision of an Elder from the Xu Clan.


    Elder Xu Bai, who was in charge of their training, walked slowly in front of the focused children as he began to speak.


    ¡°The world is vast and full of wonders. Use your energy to connect with boundless power. Just like a strong river, your strength will rise and take you to incredible places¡­¡± His voice echoed in the area.


    They stood focused, knees slightly bent for balance, with their arms in front of their chests and palms facing inward, concentrating on gathering their wuqi energy.


    ¡°Take care of your mind and body with focus and care. Let the wuqi energy spark inside you, like a strong flame. Through this, uncover your genuine strengths and weaknesses¡­¡±


    Xu Hanyu''s brow furrowed in concentration, but his efforts were futile. No spark, no surge of his wuqi. His breath hitched in frustration.


    Am I really just not meant for this?


    He felt a tight knot in his chest as he waited for his wuqi to show up. His heavy arms and repeated failures fueled his self-doubt, and he clenched his teeth under the weight of Elder Xu Bai''s gaze.


    ¡°Accept your true potential and let it radiate brilliantly.¡±


    Elder Xu Bai¡¯s disappointed and disdainful glance cut through Xu Hanyu, increasing the pressure on him. As he observed the young master¡¯s struggle, Elder Xu Bai¡¯s thoughts grew darker.


    If it weren¡¯t for you, Xu Rong wouldn¡¯t have had to leave the clan. Now here you are, looking completely incapable, wasting the clan¡¯s resources.


    Later on, one of the kids shouted with pride, ¡°I did it! Look, I did it!¡± All attention turns toward them.


    Xu Hanyu couldn¡¯t help but feel envious as he watched the other children crowding around the kid and managed to gather wuqi energy.


    ¡°Xu Liao, passed with Xin Shi level 6!¡± Elder Xu Bai announced.


    ¡°Woah! I got mine too!¡±


    ¡°Xu Jie, passed with Xin Shi level 6!¡±


    The girl beside Xu Hanyu, slightly taller than him, said, "Elder Xu Bai, I got mine as well." Her calm presence was comforting, but the joy in her eyes revealed her vibrant personality.


    ¡°Xu Lian, passed with Xin Shi level 8!¡±


    ¡°I finally achieved mine!¡± Another kid shouted.


    ¡°.... passed with Xin Shi level 6!¡±The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    On the training ground, everyone was mastering on gathering their wuqi, voices cheerful with success. However, Xu Hanyu felt a heavy weight on his chest at their joyful calls, burdened by his own difficulties.


    I¡¯ll never be good enough. He bitterly thought.


    No matter how hard he tried, he never showed even a hint of his wuqi. With that, Xu Hanyu surrendered. He bit his lip and looked down at his hands, feeling defeated.


    Lost in thought, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw his older sister, Xu Lian, in her purple Xu Clan outfit, her long brown hair trailing behind her as she stood silently beside him.


    ¡°Hanyu¡¯er," she whispered with concern on her face. ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    The young man forced a smile, trying to hide his inner turmoil. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Sis,¡± he said, hoping his voice was convincing enough.


    ¡°Just feeling a little tired, that''s all.¡± But deep down, he could feel his sister''s gaze on him, knowing that she wasn¡¯t completely fooled by his facade.


    ¡°Okay then... why don¡¯t you go rest for a bit?¡±


    Xu Hanyu began to speak,¡±I¨C¡± but was interrupted by a voice.


    ¡°Aii¡­ Xu Hanyu, still no progress at all?¡± They looked over and saw Xu Liao, who appeared to be the same age as Xu Hanyu, accompanied by another boy named Xu Jie, who was glaring at Xu Hanyu with arrogance.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Xu Hanyu asked, trying to stay calm.


    ¡°Nothing much, just checking,¡± Xu Liao said slowly, walking around Xu Hanyu with a condescending look. He paused to examine him, then added, ¡°Still can¡¯t gather any wuqi, huh? How disappointing. What¡¯s it like knowing that you¡¯ll always be the weakest in the family?¡± Xu Liao''s laugh echoed in the air, and Xu Jie joined in.


    ¡°Ah, I also heard the curse on your left arm can¡¯t be healed¡­ How unfortunate. Guess that¡¯s just another thing you¡¯re stuck with,¡± he added, his voice dripping with mock sympathy.


    Well, there¡¯s no curse that can be treated in this world.


    With that, frustration surged within Xu Hanyu as he clenched his fists. Without a second thought, Xu Lian moved to stand in front of Xu Hanyu, her voice steady but firm. ¡°Leave him alone,¡± she said quietly. ¡°If you want trouble, you¡¯ll have to deal with me.¡±


    ¡°Sis, you don¡¯t need to¡ª¡± Xu Hanyu began, but Xu Lian interrupted gently, though with a firm undertone.


    ¡°No, Hanyu¡¯er. You don¡¯t have to take their words.¡± She briefly glanced at him with a comforting look before turning back to Xu Liao. ¡°To keep this going, you¡¯ll need to get past me first.¡±


    Xu Liao grinned, but his confidence wavered at Xu Lian''s unwavering determination. He scoffed lightly. ¡°Tch. Fine, just you wait.¡± He motioned to Xu Jie. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Though Xu Liao backed down, Xu Jie shot Xu Hanyu one last look full of silent menace before they turned away.


    Xu Lian whispered boldly, ¡°Ha¡­! You¡¯re scared, aren¡¯t you?¡± Her eyes stayed fixed on Xu Liao and Xu Jie as they turned to leave.


    Once they were gone, she turned to her brother, her face showing both worry and determination. After a moment, she asked softly, ¡°Are you okay, Hanyu¡¯er?¡±


    Xu Hanyu inhaled deeply, trying to calm his feelings. "Sis, I¡¯m thankful for what you did for me, but you really don¡¯t need to go this far.¡±


    He eased his fists, but a trace of annoyance stayed in his eyes.


    ¡°I just¡­ need some time alone,¡± he added quietly, looking away from her.


    Xu Lian took a moment, then nodded slowly, her expression softening with understanding. ¡°Okay, Hanyu¡¯er. I¡¯ll be close by if you need me¡±


    With that, he nodded back and walked away.


    ¡­


    Now, the young man stood near the entrance of the Xu Clan, feeling a strong urge to step outside and find a moment of peace. He gazed at the door, willing himself to move forward, but just as he was about to take a step...


    "Han''er." A commanding voice called from behind him. Turning around, he saw his father, with a serious expression, hands behind his back.


    "Father... you''re here."


    "Hm," his father replied, slowly approaching him. "Where are you heading?"


    The young master hesitated, glancing back at the entrance. "Father... I¡ª"


    "..?"


    "I want to go outside..."


    Lord Xu¡¯s gaze softened, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something¡ªguilt, perhaps? He quickly masked it with a stern expression, his voice cold and commanding. "How many times must I remind you? I¡¯ve told you, Han''er, you can¡¯t go outside. It¡¯s too dangerous." He then began to walk away.


    Before he could continue, Lord Xu halted and glanced back, stating, "Keep in mind, only the strong can endure in this expansive realm of power. You can¡¯t navigate the world beyond these walls without power, Han¡¯er,¡± before moving on. Clearly trying to imply that he must be stronger in order to survive the challenges that lie ahead.


    As his father¡¯s figure receded from view, a wave of sadness washed over the young master. It was always like this... He bit his lip and clenched his fists tightly.


    At the end of the day, Xu Hanyu made his way to his training ground, which was conveniently located near his room.


    He struck the boulder, "Hei!" a grunt escaped his lips. Deep within him, he felt a profound sense of despair¡ªa longing for freedom and strength. And this curse had been holding him back, preventing him from experiencing the same opportunities as the other kids.


    Striking the boulder with all his might using the training sword, he poured out every emotion he had been holding inside. He continued until exhaustion set in, leaving him unable to continue.


    In the Wu Shu Continent, power reigns supreme; it¡¯s the ultimate authority over all things. Yet, Xu Hanyu struggles to comprehend why, despite his simple desire to explore the world for adventure and enjoyment, power remains the only currency that matters for his father!


    ¡°Power, huh? I can''t even grasp the kind of power that seems to be in everyone''s hands! So what can I do to become stronger?!" he exclaimed in frustration.


    Finally, he sank down beside the boulder, leaned against it, and took a deep breath, allowing himself to relax as he closed his eyes.


    ¨C


    ¨C


    ¨C


    Lord Xu was tirelessly working late into the night at his clan¡¯s armory business. The Xu Clan¡¯s armory business was located close to the harbor that was five minutes away from their headquarters, as Tai Hua City was nestled between the shoreline and the mountains.


    ¡°We have such clients from the Shan Empire, this is a good thing.¡± he whispered quietly while looking at the papers.


    ¡°In a few months, our armory revenue is expected to surpass the Huo Clan''s, but I''m uncertain if this is good or bad for us.¡±


    When he decided to finally take a break, he leaned back in his chair and glanced at the letter he had received from last night. It was from his eldest son, Xu Rong, who had left for another empire seven years ago. He carefully reached for the letter and opened it.


    He smiled while reading the message, but a hint of worry lingered.


    ¡°Xu Rong is finally coming home..¡±


    While Lord Xu was focused on reading the remaining content of the letter, he suddenly sensed a familiar presence outside his office. Recognizing the aura, he quickly stepped out.


    The streets were eerily quiet at dawn, with no one around except for him.


    As he looked around, he noticed something moving in the shadows of the buildings. ¡°Is that you?¡± he whispered softly while looking in the direction where he sensed a strange motion.


    He then climbed up to the roof for a better view. Once he reached the rooftop, he spotted a cloaked figure that seemed suspicious.


    When the figure realized they had been seen, they took off running. Lord Xu, determined to catch them, leaped down from the roof in pursuit. The chase continued as the mysterious person darted across the rooftops, but Lord Xu anticipated their moves and blocked their path, forcing the mysterious person in cloak to stop.


    Now facing each other on the roof, Lord Xu spoke gently, ¡°Zhong Tian, is that you..?¡± The man slowly pulled back his hood, revealing his face. Lord Xu gasped in shock, realizing it was his old friend.


    ¡°It¡¯s really you..¡±


    "You caught me. Long time no see, my old friend, Xu Dan. You don''t mind me covering my face with this..?"


    "I don''t..."