Sen Yan reminisced with a sigh.
"We had already been at the academy for two years when I first met your mother. From the very first day, she had me completely captivated."
He glanced at Meng E as he spoke.
Meng E muttered the word "rogue" under her breath.
"However, during one of the secret realm explorations, your mother and I were randomly transported to different locations. While searching for her, I discovered a young girl trapped. By chance, I saved her." At this point, both Sen Yan and Meng E's eyes darkened.
"From then on, that girl followed your father everywhere!" Meng E said, still a bit upset at the memory.
Sen Lei, sensing a revelation, asked, "Don't tell me that girl was the Grand Elder's daughter, Qing Ling?"
"Yes," Sen Yan replied solemnly.
Sen Lei continued, "And then? Did she confess to you in front of mother?"
Meng E gave a wry laugh.
Her thoughts drifted back to those days.
"Meng E! I challenge you! If I win, you will marry me. If I lose, I will live alone in the back mountains for the rest of my life!" The beautiful girl with her eyebrows raised high brandished her gleaming sword.
"Qing Ling, stop this nonsense! I only regard you as a friend. You know that Meng E practices auxiliary techniques and cannot compete with your Luo Yan Swordsmanship!" Sen Yan pleaded, holding Meng E's hand.
"I don't care! I insist!" Qing Ling lunged at Meng E.
Onlookers, including the then Wind Sovereign, watched with bemused anticipation.
It was a snowy day, and the training grounds were covered in a thick blanket of white. Many had gathered to witness the spectacle.
Sen Yan intervened, shouting, "You need to curb your impulsiveness!" As he spoke, a massive 'Solemn' character appeared in the sky, immobilizing Qing Ling. He then whisked Meng E away.
The world fell silent, snowflakes fluttering gently down.
Qing Ling, seeing such a decisive man, felt her heart turn cold. She had vowed that the man who saved her in the secret realm would be her lifelong partner, absurd as it seemed. But she was determined. When two headstrong people clash, no one can mediate.
From that moment, Qing Ling lost her lively spirit.
That same moment, she shut down her emotions, walking despondently toward the back mountains, clad in a crimson hooded cloak.
The crowd watched her lonely figure in silence.
"It was on our graduation day, in front of everyone, and I refused her outright, taking your mother's hand and leaving," Sen Yan sighed.
"Besides, I felt no romantic attachment towards Qing Ling. To me, she was just a dear friend. I already had your mother, Meng E!" Sen Yan said, his voice trembling.
"And the Grand Elder came out and challenged me to take a blow from him. At that time, the Grand Elder was a powerful Reincarnation Realm expert. I couldn't withstand his strike.
"Thus, your grandfather, my father, took the blow for me, suffering severe injuries. He never fully recovered and passed away a few years later." Tears welled in Sen Yan's eyes. During that period, the Wind Kingdom took advantage of the chaos and seized lands north of Linjiang, forcing them to retreat to the current boundary, guarded by the mighty General Wei Wu.
Meng E embraced Sen Yan, trying to console him.
Sen Yan then turned to Sen Lei, "Later, when you were born with a spiritual body but were ignored, and then your spiritual root was forcibly taken, the news spread quickly. Do you think that was a coincidence?"
Sen Lei finally understood the cause and effect: it was all because of "emotion."
Sen Lei now realized why no one cared about him during his time as a prodigy. Other kingdoms were merely wary.
But when the "substitute prince" appeared, the Rad Academy swooped in and took Feng Wuya away for training.
Watching his parents, Sen Lei vowed, "I will never let you down! I will find Aunt Qing Ling myself and personally apologize on behalf of my father. But as for my own debts, I will make them pay with blood!"
Having endured humiliation and indifference because of his lack of power, unable to control his fate, and having his natural gifts taken, Sen Lei resolved to strengthen himself.
To survive and thrive in this world and beyond, power was essential.
Rad Academy was his next goal.
At the Rad Academy, in the Xuanyao Hall
A young man stood at the entrance, hands behind his back, appearing to be in his early twenties, dressed in a blue-purple brocade robe, looking elegant and formidable.
Just standing there exuded a powerful aura, causing the nearby scholars to tense up.
"No wonder he's the top genius of Xuanyao Hall. Even I feel a bit pressured, and he's only been training for a few years!" A Dao Realm elder remarked from afar.
This young man was none other than the Crown Prince of the Wind Kingdom, Feng Wuya!
Approaching him, the elder stroked his beard and greeted warmly, "Greetings, Your Highness."
Feng Wuya quickly responded, "Elder Wang, you are one of the six elders of Xuanyao Hall. If you honor me like this, my father will certainly scold me when I return to the Wind Kingdom."
Xuanyao Hall had six elders in total, and Wang Hai was one of them.
Wang Hai, staring at the Crown Prince, was slightly surprised. "With your current strength, you could probably rank on the Rad Continent's Young Strongmen list."
The Young Strongmen list featured individuals under thirty who could contend with Dao Realm One or Two experts.
Given Feng Wuya's spiritual prowess, making the list seemed well within his reach.
Feng Wuya smiled, "Compared to you, Elder Wang, I still have a long way to go."
Wang Hai laughed, "At your age, your potential is boundless. In a few years, you might surpass us old folks."
Feng Wuya then bowed slightly, "I actually have a request."
"Oh?"