Xue Kai woke groggily, rubbing his eyes. Pulling back the tent flap, he realized the sky had already turned pitch black.
That nap had lasted far longer than he'd expected.
On the table nearby, a scroll of paper lay conspicuously in plain view, catching Xue Kai's attention. He grabbed it and unrolled it to read, but as he did so, an object slid out and dropped to the floor.
Looking down, Xue Kai's eyes widened—it was the ancestral pendant that Luu Xiaoxuan had taken.
'She gave it back? When did she become so considerate? Did this mean the lantern festival plans were canceled?' With a mix of confusion and an inexplicable sense of disappointment.
Grabbing the pendant on the floor Xue Kai put it back on the table, and continued looking back at the paper, Xue Kai read what was written on it:
[This pendant is no fun. I'm giving it back to you. But don't think you can just skip out on tonight. If you dare not show up, I have my ways to make it disappear again!]
Xue Kai stared at the note, his first thought being, 'This handwriting… Are you sure this was written by a girl? It's worse than mine!'
Still, seeing the pendant returned in perfect condition, Xue Kai felt a sense of relief. For a brief moment, Luu Xiaoxuan's image in his mind softened, losing some of its more negative connotations.
Putting down the paper he once again grabbed the pendant, as he gently stroked the pendant's smooth, polished surface, a faint smile tugged at his lips.
And then, a voice abruptly echoed in his head:
[What the hell, man?! I was just enjoying a rare moment cuddled up with a beauty, and now I'm being handled by some random guy. Is there no justice in this world? I wake up after a long slumber to something so nice, only to have it ruined like this!]
Xue Kai froze, his eyes widened in shock.
He darted his eyes around the room, trying to locate the source of the voice. But there was no one there.
[What are you looking at? I'm right here, in your hand!]
Xue Kai's gaze dropped to the pendant in his hand. His expression twisted in disbelief as the realization struck him— 'this thing was alive?!'
For a moment, the impulse to throw the pendant to the floor, smash it to a million pieces, and stomp on it rose within him. But before he could act, the voice spoke again.
[Calm down! Just give me a bit more inner energy. The little bit I absorbed while you were unconscious isn't enough!]
"Oh," Xue Kai responded absentmindedly, with a blank look on his face. As instructed, he channeled a gentle flow of internal energy into the pendant. Gradually, the surface of the pendant began to emit soft white rings of light.
'Wait. Something doesn't feel right here. Did this guy just say he absorbed my energy while I was unconscious? That explains why his strength had been mysteriously lacking after my recent injuries!'
Anger surged through him, and Xue Kai flung the pendant across the room. But before it could hit the ground, a semi-transparent figure emerged from it, catching the pendant midair.
"Ah, it's been ages since I've taken this form. Feels nostalgic" the figure said, stretching lazily.
"What are you—no, who are you?" Xue Kai corrected himself mid-sentence.
"Who am I? Good question." The figure's expression turned thoughtful. "Honestly, even I'm not too sure anymore. I've been asleep for so long… Each time I wake up, it's only for a short moment, and pieces of my memory seem to have vanished along with the passing of time."
The figure seemed to be straining to recall something significant. "There was… something… destiny… cycles of reincarnation… a seal… a trial… and…" He trailed off, his brow furrowing as if the key pieces of his memory remained frustratingly out of reach.
Xue Kai, seated on a nearby chair, observed quietly. Though he appeared calm, his mind was in turmoil. 'Could this really be the pendant's secret? And just how long has this guy been alive?'
The figure shook his head and looked up again. His striking face—both handsome and faintly otherworldly—was framed by long, dark purple hair, which only added to the confusion about his gender. But judging from the voice, Xue Kai was certain: this one was definitely male.
"Spit it out," Xue Kai said firmly, snatching the pendant back and shaking it like a warning. "If you don't explain yourself properly, don't expect me to channel another ounce of inner energy into this thing."
"Fine, fine." The figure chuckled, flipping his hair flamboyantly. "You can call me Yin. Big Brother Yin, if you like. Though technically speaking, I'm older than even your great-great-grandfather's great-grandfather. But let's not dwell on the details, seeing as most of that time was spent in hibernation."
"Uh… Big Brother Yin, then," Xue Kai stammered, somewhat thrown off by the man's casual arrogance. "So… what exactly are you? And what's your connection to my pendant?"
Yin smirked, seemingly pleased by the respectful tone. "Well, kid, it's not what I am but who I am. Let's just say I'm someone from a long time ago." He gestured to the pendant. "That thing's been passed down for over 500 years, right? You're holding more history in your hand than you realize."
Yin then waved his hand as if ignoring what he just said, as he paced a few steps and chuckled. "I can't remember much anymore. What I do know is that I must have been forced into a desperate situation during a significant battle in my lifetime, which ultimately caused my soul to shatter and scatter. Reincarnation became impossible for me.
This pendant, however, is an exceptionally rare soul vessel. It allowed me to slumber within it, occasionally awakening when I'd absorbed enough spiritual energy from the outside world—like the last time when you were unconscious, and I took the opportunity to siphon a little of your energy."
Xue Kai's face darkened. "You took my energy without my consent? I thought my meridians were damaged or something!"
Yin waved a dismissive hand. "If I didn't absorb it, it would've just dispersed into the air and gone to waste. Besides, don't tell me you don't even know about the Dormant Dragon Stage of the Dragon Soul bloodline?"
"The Dormant Dragon Stage? Dragon Soul bloodline? What are those?" Xue Kai asked, confused.
It was the first time he'd heard of such terms.
"Unbelievable!" Yin exclaimed, visibly shocked. "You're a descendant of the Dragon Soul lineage, and you don't even know your own clan's heritage? How did you even end up with this pendant? From what I remember, it's supposed to be an heirloom passed down through generations!"
Left with no choice, Xue Kai explained his circumstances. After listening to the story, Yin sighed deeply, his expression tinged with both melancholy and nostalgia.
"To think, the Dragon Soul lineage, once the pinnacle of this continent, has fallen into such decline. As for the supposed annihilation of your clan, it's clearly far more than just a mere conflict or dispute. Fortunately, your bloodline carries a miraculous trace of a pure, ancient lineage—an unbroken connection to the original Dragon Soul bloodline from the ancient era. That's precisely why you're able to enter the Dormant Dragon Stage, a phase known for its 'breaking before rebuilding.'"
Yin rambled on, his tone a mixture of marvel and lament.
"Oh, by the way," Yin suddenly asked, his brows furrowing, "how many True Spirit Realm experts are there on this continent now? Five thousand? Perhaps ten thousand?"
Xue Kai nearly choked in surprise. "Are you joking? Five thousand True Spirit Realm experts? As far as we know, there might not even be… twenty."
"You've got to be kidding me." Yin enunciated each word slowly in disbelief; his expression incredulous.
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Xue Kai replied helplessly.
True Spirit Realm experts were legendary figures on the continent, each one a force to be reckoned with. They were tyrants and powerhouses capable of toppling nations with ease.
The sects they founded were considered the ultimate bastions of strength, places that countless people dreamed of joining, no matter the cost.
This continent, abundant in spiritual energy, is home to countless species of diverse kinds.
Naturally, humans are the dominant race. However, this so-called domain only covers less than half of the landmass.
In the southern part of the continent, a patchwork of nations sprawls across the land, with four empires standing as the most powerful: Northern Court, Jinxuan, Kaman, and Tianxun. Each of these empires commands countless vassal states. The Gasha Empire, where Xue Kai currently resides, is one such vassal state under the Jinxuan Empire.
To the west lies an endless expanse of wild plains, inhabited by orcs and other beast-like races. These lands also host numerous towns and settlements closely tied to various sects.
The Northern Court Empire borders this region and, as a result, boasts a fierce and battle-hardened populace, with soldiers renowned for their valor and skill in warfare.
To the north is the most spiritually rich and expansive region of the continent. It serves as the stronghold for numerous cultivation sects and is also home to several powerful magical beast clans. This area is considered the strongest in terms of power and influence.
The eastern part of the continent alternates between sprawling deserts and dense forests. It is home to hundreds of small and mid-sized mercenary kingdoms, constantly embroiled in conflict, making it one of the most chaotic regions. It's said that elves also inhabit the forests there.
Finally, in the northwest lies a region of towering mountains and perpetual snow. This area is home to many mysterious races. There are even rumors of a cursed forbidden zone hidden in the heart of the mountains, perpetually shrouded in black mist. Beneath this fog, countless undead creatures are said to dwell.
Across all these lands and among all races, spiritual energy from the heavens and earth is harnessed for body tempering and cultivation. Though the methods and ranks of cultivation vary slightly among the races, they generally follow the same basic structure: Elementary Spirit Realm, Profound Spirit Realm, and True Spirit Realm
True Spirit Realm cultivators were revered by all races, their existence akin to legends, and bedtime stories.
Yin casually throwing out the idea of there being 5,000 such experts naturally left Xue Kai utterly speechless.
"You think True Spirit Realm experts grow on trees or something? They're the kind of people who can destroy an entire empire with a mere wave of their hand!" Xue Kai exclaimed with a look of reverence.
"Pfft! I don't remember exactly what level I was back in the day, but one thing I do recall is that True Realm experts were nothing to me. I could easily trample them beneath my feet!" Yin replied dismissively, his face full of disdain.
"In that case, why don't you help me avenge my clan's annihilation? I'd be forever grateful!" Xue Kai shot back.
At this moment, the overwhelming emotion in Xue Kai's heart was a burning, unquenchable anger.