The thunder light dissipated, and Xu Ping'an floated to the ground.
"I, the Emperor, have actually been reborn!"
A fierce and domineering aura burst forth from Xu Ping'an's eyes as he looked disdainfully at the world.
"I didn't expect that in this life, my hatred for Zhou Mengyue would actually resonate with the Thunder Devouring Sword, allowing me to awaken the memories of my past life!"
Surprise filled Xu Ping'an's eyes as he reflected on this development.
In his previous life, he had been one of the top four Immortal Emperors of the Sky Realm, the Wind Sword Immortal Emperor, a ruler in his own right.
However, he was betrayed by his beloved wife, Ling Qingyao, who secretly poisoned him, leading to his downfall.
"In two lifetimes, I've been betrayed by the ones I loved the most. How utterly laughable," Xu Ping'an said with a self-deprecating sneer, his eyes filled with a murderous intent that could swallow the eight deserts.
"But the Wind Sword Immortal Emperor is dead; now, I am simply Xu Ping'an."
Xu Ping'an's aura converged, returning to his natural state, becoming ordinary again.
He then touched the vertebrae on his back.
A resplendent thunder pattern covered his entire back, resembling a coiled thunder dragon.
The Thunder Devouring Sword became his spine?
This was the sword he had stumbled upon in a spatial rift in his previous life.
The sword was incredibly mysterious; even in his past life as a Twelfth Rank Immortal Emperor, he failed to fully comprehend its secrets.
"The Thunder Devouring Sword has transformed into my Thunder Sword spine and even helped me achieve the Chaotic Thunder Tyrant Body. This truly is a blessing in disguise."
"Zhou Mengyue, Wang Tianyu, you took my spinal bloodline, and now I will make you regret everything you've done."
Xu Ping'an clenched his fists, and a tremendous killing intent surged in his eyes.
Eight years of wholehearted love met with such ruthless betrayal.
Horrific pain engulfed him as his spine was forcefully extracted while he was alive.
If he, Xu Ping'an, did not avenge this betrayal, would he not fail the title of one of the four great Immortal Emperors?
"And Ling Qingyao, my wife, three thousand years have passed. Now, I suppose I should address you as Empress Qingyao. I wonder what your expression will be when I, your husband, stand before you once again."
Xu Ping'an's gaze was proud as he looked up into the void.
The aura of his entire being transformed dramatically, as if he had washed away the veneer of sophistication to achieve clarity of heart.
Whoever deceives him shall perish.
"Right now, the most important thing is to enhance my cultivation. Zhou Mengyue knows that the Clan Mark is in the hands of my aunt; she will certainly cause trouble for my aunt. Without any cultivation, my aunt is definitely not a match for Zhou Mengyue and Wang Tianyu," Xu Ping'an pondered.
Ever since he was a child and his parents disappeared, it was his aunt who raised him.
It was said to be raising, but it was really more about mutual dependence. In fact, his aunt was only twenty years old, merely four years his senior.
Thinking of his aunt, a warmth flowed through Xu Ping'an's heart; in this world, she was the only one who had been kind to him.
"I must improve my cultivation quickly, and absolutely cannot let anything happen to my aunt."
The more Xu Ping'an thought about it, the more anxious he became, and he immediately sat down cross-legged to begin cultivating.
In the Sky Realm continent, there are a total of twelve Ranks, each divided into nine Layers.
Breaking through each Layer proved extremely difficult.
The strongest in Tian Wu City was only at the Second Rank Ninth Layer.
And at this moment, the cultivation technique Xu Ping'an was practicing was a legendary one called the Chaotic Reversal Scripture.
This cultivation technique, which had cost him a tremendous price in his previous life, was acclaimed as the number one cultivation technique under the heavens.
Chaotic Reversal Scripture.
This was a perilous cultivation technique capable of absorbing the most ominous substances in the world to enhance one's own cultivation.
Extremely poisonous, Supreme Yin Qi, extremely yang, extremely lustful, extremely evil, extremely sinister, extremely demonic... all could be absorbed.
The more ominous the substance, the more it helped in increasing one's cultivation.
As Xu Ping'an performed the cultivation technique, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth converged into a massive vortex, pouring fiercely into his flesh and blood, transforming into a formidable life force.
Time passed quickly, and Xu Ping'an's Qi-Blood continued to rise.
As dawn broke and the first ray of light shone on Xu Ping'an,
he suddenly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath that sounded like a muted thunderclap.
"A night of cultivation raised my cultivation from the Qi-Blood First Layer to the Qi-Blood Sixth Layer Realm. It seems I owe thanks to Zhou Mengyue for the gift of her Supreme Yin Qi over the past eight years, and the virulent poison of the Five Poisons Powder. Otherwise, such a breakthrough would have been impossible," Xu Ping'an said, surprised and delighted.
Supreme Yin Qi and virulent poison, now for him, they were indeed like tonics.
He stood up and threw a punch, which exploded the tree beside him instantly.
This punch had at least three thousand jin of force.
"So strong, my Sixth Layer Qi-Blood is equivalent to an Eighth Layer Qi-Blood strength of an ordinary cultivator. The Chaotic Reversal Scripture truly is extraordinary," Xu Ping'an marveled inwardly.
Even the cultivation techniques he practiced in his previous life did not have such heaven-defying effects.
"It's time to find my aunt," Xu Ping'an decided and immediately ran towards the Xu Family's direction.
...
"Aunt, I'm back."
Xu Ping'an pushed open the grand doors of the old Xu family house.
However, the scene before him instantly filled him with rage.
He saw his aunt, her head being forcibly held down to the ground by a woman.
Her hands were pierced through by sharp daggers, pinning them to the floor, blood streaming.
And her body was covered in wounds.
Her originally black, shiny hair was now chopped off haphazardly, unrecognizable and like a dog had gnawed it away.
Desperate tears filled the beautiful face of his aunt.
Besides this woman, there were three other servants rummaging through the old Xu family house.
"Seeking death."
Xu Ping'an felt as if a heavy hammer struck his chest, and with eyes red with fury, he charged over.
His eyes were filled with relentless ferocity, like a lion gone mad.
He recognized the woman; she was Zhou Mengyue's personal maid, Zhou Xiaoqing.
He hadn't expected to still be a step behind, allowing Zhou Family people to hurt his aunt.
Right now, his aunt's despairing face filled his mind.
Zhou Xiaoqing was clearly shocked, but upon recognizing the comer, she immediately showed a look of disdain.
"Hmph, overestimating yourself."
The woman sneered and immediately gathered all her Qi-Blood to strike with her palm.
She was a Cultivator at the First Rank, Fifth Layer Realm of Qi-Blood, and she thought Xu Ping'an, though for some reason not dead, was nothing but a First Layer Qi-Blood trash, no match for her.
But when Xu Ping'an's fist collided with her palm, she was utterly dumbfounded.
"Crack!"
Zhou Xiaoqing's entire arm was deformed by the overwhelming force, bones breaking in three places.
"Ahh!"
Zhou Xiaoqing screamed, sent flying backwards.
"Sixth Layer Qi-Blood? Impossible!"
Zhou Xiaoqing couldn't believe her eyes as she looked at Xu Ping'an.
"Ping'an, you're alive, that's wonderful."
His aunt, seeing Xu Ping'an, was overcome with emotion, not at all concerned about the pain in her hands, as she forcefully pulled them off the daggers and wrapped her arms around him.
Xu Ping'an shivered when his aunt hugged him.
Was that despair on his aunt's face because she thought he had died?
"Aunt, I'm okay, I'm alive and well," Xu Ping'an felt warmth in his heart as he held his aunt tightly in his arms.
"Do you know how worried your aunt was about you? I thought you were dead, what would I have done in this world without you?"
His aunt's tears were like a gushing fountain, completely forgetting that her wounds were still bleeding.
"I'm sorry, aunt, I was too late," Xu Ping'an's heart shook with immense sorrow.
His aunt, a weak woman, had her palms pierced through by sharp blades, how painful must it be?
A sky-high murderous intent erupted from Xu Ping'an's chest.
"You all will die today!"
Xu Ping'an's gaze towards Zhou Xiaoqing was filled with a killing intent that seemed to solidify.
Those cold eyes were like those of a Nether Emperor.
Zhou Xiaoqing's heart turned cold instantly, and she was gripped by an overwhelming terror.