The boy looked about seven years old, but his demeanor was far more mature than his peers, making him stand out with an extraordinary presence.
...
Outside the Heavenly Emperor's Mirror.
The cultivators were puzzled by the scene unfolding within the Heavenly Emperor's Mirror.
"What is this?!"
Chu Nan-Nan calmly explained, "When the Heavenly Emperor's Mirror refines a person, it displays their soul's memories in the form of images. Therefore, the scenes inside the mirror are from the Emperor's childhood."
Chu Nan-Nan and the Emperor had turned against each other because, years ago, the Emperor had attempted to take the supreme bone from Chu Nan-Nan, leading to their complete estrangement.
Someone spoke with interest, "So, the boy in the mirror is the young Emperor?"
"This is interesting. The Heavenly Emperor's Mirror has such abilities, allowing us to see the evil deeds the Emperor committed throughout his life!" Ye Fan's lips curled into a slight smile, his eyes filled with anticipation.
All the cultivators were intrigued by this, as it was the past of the Emperor himself.
The strongest in the Three Realms, how many secrets did he carry? No one knew.
Chu Nan-Nan, wearing her ghost mask, snorted coldly, "The Emperor was evil to the core, his deeds despicable. Even looking at his past disgusts me!"
At that moment, a burly man with an overwhelming and terrifying aura glanced at Chu Nan-Nan with a complicated expression and said, "Actually, the Emperor wasn't always like this. He changed over time."
His name was Nie Fengyun, once a sworn brother of the Emperor and the most trusted person by his side.
After Chu Yang became the Emperor, he entrusted Nie Fengyun with the task of guarding the Heavenly Court, allowing him to command its forces. If Nie Fengyun hadn't betrayed him at the last moment, Ye Fan and the others would never have had the chance to attack the Heavenly Court.
"Nie Fengyun, have you forgotten that he personally killed your sister and turned her into an artifact spirit, disregarding your bond?"
"This deep blood feud, and now you speak for the Emperor? It's laughable!" A woman in white, as pure as snow, approached slowly, her eyes cold, speaking indifferently.
Her name was Bai Xiaoqi, a Nine-Tailed Sky Demon Fox, an ultimate demon empress of the demon race.
Years ago, the Emperor had massacred the demon race, eradicating the previous Demon Emperor and causing the demon race to lose seventy percent of their population at his hands.
Even her mother had been personally suppressed by the Emperor for over a thousand years!
This was the reason for her enmity with the Emperor.
Hearing these words, Nie Fengyun's once emotional gaze gradually turned icy, looking indifferently at the scenes within the Heavenly Emperor's Mirror.
...
Young Chu Yang, at just seven years old, was already beginning to show his talent for swordsmanship.
Even with just a wooden sword, he wielded it with impressive vigor, displaying the style of a true sword cultivator.
"Yang'er, it's time for dinner!"
A gentle voice called from inside the house.
Chu Yang responded with a nod, put down his wooden sword, and returned to the thatched hut.
Looking at the steaming dishes on the table, Chu Yang's mouth watered.
At that moment, his mother came out holding a baby still in swaddling clothes, feeding it with blended goat's milk.
Chu Yang's father remained silent, eating his meal quietly.
After a long while, Chu Yang's father finally spoke, "We'll leave here later and move to another place."
This puzzled Chu Yang's mother, but the next moment, as if realizing something, she nodded heavily, her expression becoming somewhat suppressed.
"Heh, moving away? I think hell would suit you better. Why don't you all go to hell together?"
A rough voice interrupted. A man dressed in a Taoist robe burst through the door.
Chu Yang's father's expression changed dramatically upon seeing the intruder. He then turned to Chu Yang and his family, saying, "Run, I'll hold him off!"
"Yang'er, take Nan-Nan and run, as far as you can!" Chu Yang's mother's eyes reflected a deep despair as she urged him.
Chu Yang was petrified by the scene before him. The intruding man slapped his father away with one palm, and then his mother was pierced through the chest by the man's iron sword, blood flowing profusely.
"Run!"
His father's near-hysterical roar finally snapped Chu Yang back to reality. Tears welled up in his eyes; he wanted to say something but couldn't make a sound.
He could only carry the less-than-one-year-old Chu Nan-Nan on his back and run frantically.
Chu Yang sprinted towards the back mountain of the village, running without knowing how far he had gone. His mind kept replaying the scene he had just witnessed.
The once happy and warm family had been shattered in an instant.
...
Outside the Heavenly Emperor's Mirror, the cultivators fell silent upon witnessing this scene.
A world where the strong prey on the weak, where strength reigns supreme, such occurrences were all too common.
Ordinary people facing cultivators were no different from ants.
No one had expected that the Emperor, who had oppressed the Three Realms, had endured such hardships in his childhood.
Perhaps it was after this event that the Emperor's nature changed drastically, becoming a bloodthirsty and violent tyrant.
Ye Fan stepped forward at this moment, standing beside Chu Nan-Nan, who wore the ghost mask, and spoke softly, "After this incident, if those people or their sects still exist, I will eradicate them completely!"
Chu Nan-Nan gave Ye Fan a cold look and then said, "Do you think a ruthless Emperor, after gaining power, would spare those with such deep grudges?"
Ye Fan could only smile awkwardly at her words. Indeed, with the Emperor's temperament, those people had likely already been torn apart by him long ago.
...
Inside the Heavenly Emperor's Mirror.
Young Chu Yang, carrying the swaddled Chu Nan-Nan, ran frantically. It was now late, and continuing forward would lead him into a dense forest filled with fierce beasts. Entering unarmed would be certain death.
Suddenly.
"Ah!" Chu Yang exclaimed as he lost his footing in the dark and fell into a deep pit.
Luckily, Chu Yang reacted quickly, shielding Chu Nan-Nan in his arms and preventing her from getting hurt.
However, the pit was about eight or nine meters deep, and Chu Yang, with his mortal body, fell hard, causing a fracture in his lower leg.
The intense pain surged through Chu Yang's body, but he gritted his teeth, not letting himself make a sound.
He had heard the rustling footsteps near the mouth of the pit.
If that man found them now, both he and Nan-Nan would surely die! "Waaah waaah~"
But Chu Nan-Nan on his back started to whimper and cry.
Chu Yang was terrified. He quickly patted Nan-Nan's back, desperately trying to soothe her into silence.
However, Nan-Nan seemed inconsolable, as if starving, and her cries grew louder despite Chu Yang's efforts to calm her.
Chu Yang was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
Seeing his crying sister, a fierce determination flashed in his eyes.
The cultivators outside the Heavenly Emperor's Mirror also noticed this fierce look clearly.
They were all shocked, wondering what the Emperor was about to do.