《The Remains of a Clan》 Chapter 1 : The Awakening of the Emperor The void. An endless abyss, where neither time nor space existed. Everything could have remained this way for eternity. But something clung to the dying consciousness, refusing to disappear. Then, pain. At first diffuse, it suddenly spread like a thousand needles piercing his soul. A burning sensation coursed through his veins, forcing an instinctive reaction. ¡ª Hngh¡­ His eyelids twitched before suddenly opening. A dim, flickering light blinded him for a moment. He squinted, his gaze slowly adjusting to his surroundings. What he saw struck him immediately. A dirty, cracked wooden ceiling. Dull walls, gnawed by humidity. The stench of mold and stale air filled the space, assaulting his nostrils. He tried to inhale, but a wave of weakness immediately overwhelmed him. His muscles trembled under their own weight, unable to react properly. His body was¡­ cold. He could no longer feel the familiar strength that had once surged through his meridians like an infinite ocean of energy. ¡ª This body¡­? His fingers twitched, then clenched onto the rough, threadbare sheets. He attempted to sit up, but a brutal dizziness crushed him back onto the mattress. He slowly lowered his gaze and discovered thin, almost emaciated arms. His hands, once capable of bending the heavens and crushing continents, were now frail and trembling. A heavy silence settled. Then, a laugh. Deep. Icy. ¡ª So, even I have been reduced to this¡­ For a fleeting moment, his memories surged forth, a violent storm raging through his mind. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. He was Feng Lin, the invincible Celestial Emperor, the absolute master of heaven and earth. His name alone was enough to make the immortal realms tremble. His gaze could break geniuses, and his power dictated the fate of millions. But he had fallen. Betrayed by those he had elevated. Struck down by hands he had once protected. He remembered his final battle, the fury and despair of a man standing alone against the world. Then¡­ nothingness. Yet, he was alive. His gaze hardened. No, he was no longer the Celestial Emperor. He was¡­ someone else. Gradually, his memories merged with those of the body he now inhabited. This body belonged to a different Feng Lin. A weak young man, the last heir of a once-prestigious clan, now despised and forgotten. He should have possessed immense potential, but an unknown poison coursed through his veins, slowly eroding his life force and sealing his meridians. He understood immediately. ¡ª This poison¡­ someone wanted him dead. No¡­ wanted me dead. The former Feng Lin had died because of this. Betrayed. Poisoned. Abandoned. And now, he found himself in this miserable body, a pathetic remnant of a fallen clan. But this world was making an unforgivable mistake if it thought he would accept this humiliation. A cold smile stretched across his lips. ¡ª No matter who did this¡­ I will find them. His gaze gleamed with a cruel light. His current weakness was only a temporary shackle. He had already climbed to the peak once. He knew exactly what to do. This world thought he was buried. He would prove to them that an Emperor never dies. And this time¡­ Those who had betrayed him, those who had forgotten him, those who had scorned him¡­ All would pay. But first¡­ the Poison Purification. Feng Lin slowly clenched his fists. This body was weak. Too weak. But that was not the only reason for his pitiful state. The poison. He could feel it, crawling through his veins like a swarm of venomous serpents. Every breath was a struggle against an invisible weight, every heartbeat a silent agony. He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the faintest trace of energy he still possessed. ¡ª Let¡¯s see¡­ His former cultivation had vanished, reduced to nothing. All that remained was¡­ a breath. A mere sliver, a remnant of the power he once wielded. Another might have collapsed into despair. He, however, smirked coldly. ¡ª That¡¯s enough. He did not need overwhelming power to survive. Just a single moment. His consciousness delved deep within his own body, probing every corner. And he found it: a tiny fragment of his former essence, buried deep within his collapsed dantian. With a trembling motion, he pressed his index and middle fingers against his dantian, igniting what little strength remained. A blue flame flared within him, minuscule but scorching. It seeped into his meridians, illuminating his body from within. ¡ª Come out. His voice was barely a whisper, but the command was absolute. The poison reacted instantly, writhing violently. Agony ripped through his body, but he did not stop. Then, with a sharp flicker, the blue flame vanished. Everything fell silent once more. He slowly opened his hand. A black pearl, no larger than a grain of rice, rested in his palm. He crushed it between his fingers. ¡ª I survived. This was only the beginning. Facing his new body. Feng Lin took a deep breath. His breathing was still uneven, but the heaviness in his limbs had significantly lessened. With slow, measured movements, he pushed aside the threadbare sheets and placed his feet on the ground. The cold touch of the aged wood made him realize just how frail this body was. He stood, but a wave of dizziness struck him. He staggered slightly but caught himself against a wobbly piece of furniture. A sneer twisted his lips. To be reduced to this¡­ was an insult. His gaze landed on a cracked mirror, hanging askew on the opposite wall. He approached it with slow steps, his breath still short. What he saw made him freeze for a moment. A young man stared back at him, his complexion pale, his features hollowed by illness. His black hair was unkempt, dull, and lifeless. His golden eyes were the only thing that broke the image of frailty. He ran his fingers over his own face, feeling the thinness beneath his skin. ¡ª Pitiful. Slowly, he straightened his back, his gaze hardening. ¡ª Let the heavens remember¡­ an Emperor has returned. Chapter 2 : A Sign Of Life Voici la traduction en anglais de ton texte : --- Silence hung like a leaden shroud. Only the wind whistled through the cracks in the fractured walls, gliding over the rotting beams like a whisper from the past. Feng Lin slowly opened his eyes. His vision was blurry, his body aching. Every muscle was numb, as if invisible chains had held him captive for years. But he was free. At last. His gaze slowly swept across the room. It was a bedroom¡­ but it looked more like a prison. Walls tarnished by time, a ceiling devoured by dampness, a single rickety table, and a bed with tattered sheets. Even the light filtering through the windows seemed exhausted, as if it hesitated to enter this place forgotten by all. Feng Lin forced himself to breathe deeply. Every breath was agony. ¡ª My body is too weak... A barely perceptible tremor ran through his fingers as he tried to move. His legs felt foreign, as if they refused to obey him. Fifteen years. Fifteen years without the slightest movement. A five-year-old child, poisoned, plunged into a coma before he even had the chance to understand what was happening to him. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. And today, he was no longer a child. His soul belonged to a Pre-Celestial Emperor who had once ruled the heavens... But this body... This wretched mortal body, stripped of strength, emptied of all spiritual essence... A shiver of irritation ran down his spine. In his past life, he could have obliterated a kingdom with a mere gesture. His very name was enough to make the stars tremble. And now? He was nothing more than a cripple, barely able to stand. Feng Lin clenched his fists. The humiliation was unbearable. But he refused to be crushed by this temporary weakness. He slowly placed his hand on his chest and closed his eyes, trying to awaken his memory. His clan. His past. His legacy. But what he found... Were only scattered fragments, shattered, scattered through the depths of his mind. Like an ancient painting, eroded by time. Blurred faces. Nameless voices. Places without shape. An unfathomable abyss. Feng Lin abruptly opened his eyes. ¡ª My soul is too unstable. He had not only lost his body. His very memory was damaged. The memories of his past life were still there, somewhere¡­ But his shattered soul prevented him from fully accessing them. And more than that¡­ He had no cultivation techniques. His knowledge was that of an Emperor. But it was useless in this mortal body. An Emperor never bothered to remember basic techniques. He had never needed them. ¡ª Even a dragon fallen from the sky must crawl before regaining its wings... A bitter smirk twisted his lips. He would have to rebuild everything. From the ground up. A feeling of frustration boiled within him, but he crushed it immediately. It didn¡¯t matter. He would climb the heavens once more. But for that¡­ he first needed to understand where he was and who controlled this place. A sound suddenly echoed through the house. Dong. A heavy, metallic vibration. Dong. Feng Lin turned slightly toward the door. A clock? The deep, weighty sound resonated through the walls, like an echo from the past. Dong. How much had changed in fifteen years? Had his clan fallen into obscurity? Was his name still spoken somewhere, or had it been erased from history? He slowly straightened up, ignoring the pain coursing through his muscles. Then¡­ he heard another sound. Footsteps. Slow. Then hesitant. Someone was approaching. Feng Lin forced himself to steady his breathing. He was too weak to fight, but his mind was ready to face anyone. The footsteps stopped in front of the door. The handle creaked softly. A short breath was heard. Then¡­ the door opened. A figure appeared. An old woman, bent with age. Her hunched back bore the weight of time, her simple, worn linen clothes showing she did not belong to the nobility. Her white hair was tied in a careless bun, and her wrinkled hands trembled slightly. When she lifted her eyes to him¡­ Her body froze. Feng Lin saw her face crumble. Her breath caught, her eyes widened, and an absolute disbelief reflected in them. Her fragile fingers lost all strength. The gourd she was holding slipped from her hands. It hit the ground with a dull thud, splashing water across the dusty floor. A chilling silence settled. The old woman opened her mouth¡­ but no sound came out. She seemed unable to breathe, frozen in mute terror. Her lips trembled. Feng Lin did not move. He simply watched the old woman as shock slowly twisted her features. In the silence, only the echo of the clock still resonated. Dong. Dong. Dong. His nightmare had only just begun. --- J¡¯ai veill¨¦ ¨¤ conserver l¡¯atmosph¨¨re et l¡¯intensit¨¦ du texte. Si tu veux des ajustements, n¡¯h¨¦site pas ! Chapter 3 : A Shock The heavy silence was interrupted by the sound of the gourd falling to the ground. The old woman froze, her face pale, as if she had seen a ghost. Her eyes, wrinkled by time, trembled with disbelief. Feng Lin, standing before her, observed the scene without emotion. He could see the deep wrinkles on her face, signs of years of toil and suffering. Unlike the others, she had never abandoned him, watching over him even when he was lost in unconsciousness. But at this moment, he had neither the strength nor the interest to dwell on that detail. He took a step forward. His body felt heavy, as if he were carrying invisible chains. His legs trembled under his own weight, and a dull pain climbed up his spine. Feng Lin clenched his teeth. ¡ª Pathetic... He had never felt such extreme weakness. Even an ordinary mortal would have more vigor than him at this moment. His Qi was almost nonexistent, and his muscles had been reduced to mere remnants of flesh. He attempted another step. This time, the pain was sharper. His bare feet against the cold ground made him feel like a stranger in his own body. The old woman wanted to step forward, but he raised his hand slightly, stopping her in her tracks. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡ª No need. His voice was low but firm. He did not want help. He did not want pity. The old servant, still in shock at seeing him standing, slowly regained her composure. She watched Feng Lin, her eyes filled with concern but also relief. ¡ª Feng Lin... you are really standing... Her voice trembled slightly as she approached cautiously, as if afraid to break this fragile moment. Feng Lin looked at her without emotion, his eyes fixed on the ground as if trying to understand the world around him. He felt the discomfort of a body that betrayed him with every movement. ¡ª Tell me, he said in a weary voice, how many years have I spent in this state? How many years have I been asleep? He pretended not to know. He was perfectly aware of how long he had been unconscious, but he chose to ask the question. Not out of curiosity, but to test the old woman, to observe her reactions. The old servant hesitated, her face further etched by the weight of years. She placed a trembling hand over her heart, searching for the words. ¡ª You... you have been in a coma for fifteen long years, Master. The poison... Her voice faded for a moment, as if she struggled to recall the memory. ¡ª We thought... you would never return. A heavy silence settled between them. Feng Lin observed the old servant with calculated coldness, his eyes shining with a hidden glint. He was not interested in the pain or regrets of those around him, but he had clearly noted the fear in her eyes. Feng Lin, still leaning against the wall, slowly straightened himself. His cold, piercing gaze fell upon the old servant. ¡ª And the clan? he asked in a calm, almost emotionless voice. What is its state today? The old servant lowered her eyes, her face marked by deep sadness. She knew the news she was about to deliver would bring no comfort. ¡ª The clan... She hesitated for a moment, as if gathering her courage. The clan is still in the same state. Nothing has changed. In fact, things have only gotten worse. She sighed, visibly burdened. ¡ª It has been over five hundred years now since the clan has been in decline. The wealth is gone, the reputation is tarnished. There is no external support left. Feng Lin clenched his fists, a smoldering anger burning in his gaze. This body, though sick and poisoned, had potential. Before his betrayal, before his fall, he had been a prodigy, an heir destined for greatness. He knew that this body, in its youth, could have reached great heights. The talent was there, beneath the surface, before the poison ravaged it. He should have been one of the best, one of the strongest. But instead... he had ended up in a miserable body, dragged through the mud, at the bottom of the social ladder. ¡ª I reincarnated just to fall this low? he murmured, his voice filled with rage. This body was supposed to be the start of a new ascent, not the end of an old one. How could I have fallen so far? He turned his gaze, growing colder, toward the old servant. She knew he was referring to his own body, to his degraded state. Yet, he expected no pity. Chapter 4 : A Strange Root Feng Lin closed his eyes for a brief moment before declaring in a cold voice: ¡ª Bring me some water. The old servant bowed respectfully and left the room without asking any questions. As soon as she was gone, Feng Lin sat cross-legged and took a deep breath. He needed to check the state of his spiritual root. In his past life, he would have used a high-level artifact for this kind of examination, but today, he didn¡¯t need one. With his experience and understanding of celestial laws, he could probe his own body at a level no mortal could ever hope to reach. He delved his mind into his damaged meridians, going even deeper until he reached the very essence of his cultivation: his spiritual root. What he saw froze him. It was half-destroyed. A surge of black fury overwhelmed him instantly. He, a former Celestial Emperor, reduced to this miserable state? He had never suffered such an affront, not even in the most brutal wars he had fought. But suddenly, something strange caught his attention. Despite the obvious damage, his spiritual root emitted a terrifying energy. ¡ª What is this¡­ You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. His eyes snapped open, filled with incomprehension. This root¡­ he had never seen it before. In all his past existence, in all the ancient texts he had studied, never had such a spiritual root been mentioned. Even mutilated, it radiated an unfathomable power. A chill ran down his spine. What did this mean? Feng Lin calmed himself and decided to inspect the rest of his body. If his spiritual root was this unusual, who knew what other anomalies he might discover? He directed his mind toward his meridians. Some were broken, others obstructed, yet instead of being entirely useless, they seemed to contain traces of a strange energy. Not only had it not completely dissipated after so many years, but it even seemed to be nourishing his spiritual channels in an unknown manner. He frowned. Such a thing was impossible. A poison or a curse would have left only ruin behind. Yet, though his meridians were severely damaged, they showed signs of adaptation. Then, he examined his bones. ¡ª Hm? His bones¡­ they had undergone a transformation. Contrary to what he expected from a weakened body that had been inactive for so many years, his skeletal structure was not only intact but seemed reinforced. Even more, it bore traces of a peculiar refinement, as if his body had absorbed an unknown force during his long slumber. He clenched his fist and felt slight resistance within his own flesh. ¡ª My body¡­ it¡¯s not as weak as it seems. This realization left him deep in thought. He didn¡¯t have the answers yet, but one thing was certain: he had not returned to life in an ordinary form. There was something special about this new existence, something he needed to understand before planning his next steps. Perhaps it had something to do with his new identity. After all, despite the limited information he had gleaned from his predecessor¡¯s memories, he knew that the Feng clan was special. But in what way? He frowned. The previous Feng Lin¡¯s memories were too fragmented on this subject. He knew nothing about the true origins of the clan or the reason for its downfall. The only thing he had was a certainty: this clan was not ordinary. If his transformations were linked to his heritage, then he needed to learn more. But for that, he first had to rebuild himself. He slowly reopened his eyes. The servant would soon return with the water. For now, he needed to hide his discoveries and play his role. There was no point in revealing his true nature too soon. He decided to leave the room to explore the surroundings. Why wait for her return? She would likely inform the rest of his family. Without further delay, he opened the door, and the sunlight blinded him for an instant, forcing him to squint. He found himself on the balcony of a high pavilion, the sunlight momentarily forcing him to narrow his eyes. Before him stretched a panoramic view of the clan¡ªa vast network of buildings that once testified to great prosperity but had now become nothing more than a collection of abandoned ruins. Collapsed roofs, cracked walls, and deserted courtyards stretched as far as the eye could see, each silently telling the story of an inexorable decline. Wild vegetation had taken over: vines climbed along the old stones, and grass sprouted between the cracks of the dilapidated structures, as if trying to erase the traces of a glorious past. Chapter 5 : A Glimmer of Hope The old servant walked through the silent corridors of the pavilion, her heart pounding wildly. Her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions: relief, worry, but also a certain apprehension. After fifteen long years, Feng Lin had awakened. It was a blessing, but also a source of concern. She knew her duty was to immediately inform the patriarch. The Feng Clan had seen better days, but now, it was merely a shadow of its former glory. She passed by cracked walls and empty halls that once echoed with the voices of disciples in training. Now, all that remained was silence and abandonment. Arriving at the wing reserved for the patriarch, she took a deep breath before knocking on the door. A deep, weary voice allowed her to enter. Inside, a middle-aged man with a stern gaze sat in a worn-out armchair. His face bore the marks of the clan¡¯s years of decline. ¡ª What do you want? he asked in a tired tone. ¡ª Master¡­ It¡¯s Feng Lin. He has awakened. The silence that followed was chilling. The patriarch slowly lifted his head, his eyes flickering with a complex light¡ªbetween hope and doubt. ¡ª Are you certain? ¡ª Yes, Patriarch. I saw him with my own eyes. The man remained silent for a moment before rising slowly. He fixed his gaze on the servant, searching for any trace of uncertainty. But she stood firm, convinced of what she had seen. ¡ª Very well¡­ then it is time to see for ourselves. Without delay, he headed for the exit, the servant following closely behind. The Feng Clan might be facing a turning point. The patriarch stared at the old servant with a piercing gaze before speaking in a grave tone: If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡ª Go inform my wife. Tell her that Feng Lin has awakened. She will know what to do. The servant hesitated for a moment, as if she wanted to say something, but faced with the patriarch¡¯s stern expression, she quickly bowed. ¡ª Yes, Master. Without wasting time, she turned and left the room in a hurry, making her way to the matriarch¡¯s quarters. The patriarch, meanwhile, remained motionless for a few seconds, deep in thought. His only son, who had been in a coma for fifteen long years, had finally opened his eyes. But what kind of man had he become? Frowning slightly, he turned on his heels and walked toward Feng Lin¡¯s chamber. The old servant hurried through the long, dilapidated corridors of the main pavilion. Her footsteps echoed faintly on the stone floor, and her heart pounded. After so many years, Feng Lin had finally awakened¡­ but was that truly good news? She arrived before a large, carved wooden door, once majestic but now marked by time. Taking a deep breath, she gently pushed it open and entered. Inside, Matriarch Feng sat near a window, gazing outside with a pensive expression. Her face, once radiant with beauty, bore the marks of time and hardship. Her clothes, though clean and well-kept, no longer held the splendor of the past. When she heard the door open, she turned her head slowly, her stern gaze settling on the kneeling servant. ¡ª Why do you come in such a panic? she asked in a calm but authoritative voice. The servant lowered her head and responded in a trembling voice: ¡ª Madam¡­ the young master¡­ Feng Lin¡­ he¡­ he has awakened. Silence fell heavily upon the room. The matriarch remained still for a moment, her silk fan frozen in the air. Her gaze hardened. ¡ª Are you certain? ¡ª Yes, madam! He was conscious, he spoke to me, he¡­ he asked me for water¡­ The matriarch closed her fan with a sharp motion. She seemed lost in thought, as if trying to understand what this meant. ¡ª Fifteen years¡­ she murmured. Fifteen years he has been in that sleep. I thought¡­ She trailed off. Her piercing gaze fell upon the servant once more. ¡ª How did he seem? ¡ª Different, madam, the servant admitted hesitantly. His gaze¡­ it was¡­ cold. Not like before. And when he spoke to me¡­ it was strange. As if he¡­ ¡ª As if he was no longer the same, the matriarch finished in a low voice. The servant timidly nodded. ¡ª Madam¡­ do you think¡­ something happened to him? The matriarch did not respond immediately. She slowly stood and took a few steps around the room, her gaze lost in the void. ¡ª So many years have passed¡­ if he is truly awake, then we must see with our own eyes what he has become. She paused, then added in a firmer tone: ¡ª Prepare a proper outfit for me. If my son has truly returned to us, then it is time I meet him. The servant bowed deeply before leaving the room in haste, leaving the matriarch alone with her thoughts. An unreadable light passed through her gaze. ¡ª Feng Lin¡­ after all this time, what kind of man have you become? Yes, to her, it was natural that after so many years, Feng Lin had changed. He was no longer the five-year-old child she had once known. Even in unconsciousness, his mind must have evolved, adapted to this long period of stasis. But deep down, she could not shake off a certain unease. He had just woken up, and yet, he did not seem lost or disoriented as one would expect. His gaze¡­ It was far too calm.