Huang Li stepped out of the chamber, his thoughts a storm of conflicting emotions. Old Mo's revelations about his ancestors—the dark, blood-soaked legacy they left behind—sat heavily on his chest. It was as if he'd been given a glimpse into the abyss, only to realize it was staring back at him with the weight of a thousand lifetimes. His footsteps were slow and deliberate, dragging as if his body mirrored the weight of his burden.
Beside him, Lunala and Absol padded silently, their usual alertness muted by the palpable shift in their master's mood. They exchanged glances, understanding that something had shifted within him. But they, too, remained quiet, sensing Huang Li needed time to process what he had learned.
Just then, a familiar chime echoed in his mind, breaking the tension.
Ding! Quest Completed. Reward Distributed.
For a moment, Huang Li blinked, the chime pulling him back to the present. He paused mid-step, the cloud of despair lifting just slightly. The notification was a reminder—a strange, almost absurd reminder—that no matter what horrifying truths about his lineage came to light, he was still bound to a system. And that system came with perks.
"Well, at least there's that," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head. His somber mood gave way to a flicker of curiosity as his eyes fell on the ring he'd found in the chamber.
The ring looked simple enough, its design ancient but unimpressive. He slipped it onto the middle finger of his right hand, half-expecting some overwhelming surge of power or divine revelation. But nothing happened. No sudden influx of energy, no visions of the past or future. Just… silence.
"Well, that's underwhelming." He sighed, rolling his eyes.
But then, something shifted. The ring shimmered briefly and vanished—right into his skin. He stared down at his hand, wide-eyed, as a black tattoo in the shape of the ring formed around his finger.
"That's... new," Huang Li murmured, poking the tattoo in disbelief.
Ding! Obtained Legacy Item: Ancient Ring of the Huang Clan.
Ding! Ring successfully integrated. You have obtained a legacy item: 5 lottery draws have been awarded.
The system's mechanical voice chimed in his mind again, this time brighter, almost as if it were celebrating his achievement. Huang Li's mood lightened as he read the notifications, a smirk forming on his lips.
"Five lottery draws, huh?" He chuckled to himself. "What is this, a carnival?"
Though the reward system felt slightly absurd given the gravity of the situation, the thought of spinning some metaphorical wheel of fortune made him giddy. But before he could revel too much in the idea of winning some random treasure, he focused on the ring—or rather, the tattoo.
Focusing his consciousness on the tattoo, Huang Li felt a pull, as though the ring was more than just a symbol on his skin. And then it hit him—a vast, seemingly endless space opened up before his mind's eye. It was a storage dimension, far larger than anything he could've ever imagined. His eyes widened as he took in the enormity of it.
Mountains of treasures piled high, glistening with power. Heaps of weapons—swords, spears, halberds, and more—radiated potent auras, each one worthy of a legendary warrior. Spirit fruits and roots formed another mountain, glowing softly, brimming with vitality. Technique jade slips were arranged neatly in one corner, holding the accumulated knowledge of countless martial arts and cultivation techniques.
"Holy… I'm in a hoarder's paradise," Huang Li whispered in awe. His fingers twitched, as if itching to grab everything in sight.
Despite the overwhelming array of treasures, one object caught his attention more than anything else. Floating in the air, between the towering piles of treasures, was a single seed. It glowed faintly, almost humming with life, its energy drawing him in like a moth to a flame.
He reached for it, plucking the seed from the air. It was small, no bigger than his thumb, but the power radiating from it was immense, almost suffocating. The moment he held it, the sky above the desolate realm shifted, and a series of visions flooded his mind.
A colossal tree stood in the center of a vast expanse, its branches cradling galaxies, its roots entwined with worlds. Giants, elves, and mythical creatures were born from its energy, their presence shaking the stars themselves.
"What the…" Huang Li muttered, dazed by the sheer magnitude of the vision. "Is this… a cosmic bonsai?"
He shook his head, trying to clear the images from his mind, but his instincts screamed at him. Eat it. The thought was intoxicating, primal. He could almost feel the power coursing through his veins just by holding the seed. Without thinking, he raised it to his mouth.
"Young Master! Stop!"
The voice was loud, booming in his head. Huang Li froze, the seed inches from his lips.
"W-What? Old Mo?!" His heart raced as he spun around, his eyes wide in shock. Old Mo's voice rang through his mind, clear as day. But that was impossible, wasn't it? Old Mo was dead. He had seen him dissolve into mist, his spirit broken.
"Aren't you supposed to be… dead?" Huang Li whispered, his voice barely audible.
There was a heavy pause before Old Mo's voice returned, filled with both exasperation and concern. "Yes, yes, I'm still here in spirit. But that's not important right now! If you eat that seed, Young Master, you'll explode and die!"
Huang Li blinked, his hand trembling as he lowered the seed. "Wait... what? Explode?"
"Yes, explode!" Old Mo repeated, almost exasperated. "Your body is strong, Young Master, but this… this is beyond you. That seed is meant to grow, not be consumed in your current state. You would never survive the backlash."
Huang Li exhaled slowly, his heart still racing from the near-disaster. "Alright, alright. I won't eat it. Geez, Old Mo, you could've warned me a little sooner."
Old Mo's voice softened, a mix of relief and weariness creeping into his tone. "I didn't expect you to be so reckless. Boldness is a strength, but it can also lead you to ruin."
Huang Li rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a bit sheepish. "It wasn't boldness… I just thought it might taste good. How was I supposed to know?"
"Curiosity can lead to discovery, but it can also lead to destruction," Old Mo said gently. "There are some things that must be approached with caution, Young Master. This seed is one of them. Its time will come, but for now, it must remain dormant. Keep it safe until you are ready."
Nodding, Huang Li slipped the seed into his storage ring, feeling the weight of Old Mo's words settle over him. "Fine, I get it. But what about you? You're supposed to be dead. I saw you dissolve… what's going on?"
There was a pause, and then Old Mo's voice softened. "I never truly left, Young Master. I wanted to watch over you, to see how you would grow. But I did not expect you to find something as dangerous as the World Tree Seed so soon. You truly are your father's son… always finding trouble."
A wave of emotion washed over Huang Li as Old Mo's words sank in. He had thought the old ghost was gone forever, that he would have to navigate this terrifying world without him. But now, Old Mo was back, and it stirred something deep inside him—a sense of relief, of safety, that he hadn't realized he was missing.
"I thought I'd lost you," Huang Li whispered, his voice barely audible.
Old Mo's response was gentle. "You will never be alone, Young Master. I swore to your father that I would protect you, even in death. And I intend to keep that promise."
"What was my father like, Old Mo?" Huang Li asked quietly, his voice trembling slightly. "You've mentioned him before, but... I need to know more."
There was a long pause, and Huang Li could almost feel Old Mo's hesitation. Finally, the ghostly servant spoke, his voice tinged with sorrow. "Your father... was a man of unmatched strength. He was feared and revered by all who knew him. The world trembled in his presence, and his enemies... well, they didn't last long enough to become legends. He was known as the Slaughter God, and with good reason."
Huang Li's breath caught in his throat. He had expected his father to be powerful, but the title "Slaughter God" carried a weight that he wasn't prepared for.
"You called him the Slaughter God. What was he like?"
Old Mo hesitated, the silence stretching out uncomfortably. "You'll learn in time, Young Master. For now, you are too weak to know certain things. But your father… he was a fearsome man. Your father was a man of ambition, and his methods were... ruthless. He established what you now know as the Immortal Ranch—a place where immortals were kept, not for protection, but for slaughter. Their life force, their spirit energy, was harvested to fuel your father's conquests. And this realm we are in now is just one of his… ranches."
Huang Li felt a chill run down his spine. "A ranch for immortals... a slaughterhouse?"
Huang Li's blood ran cold. The weight of those words settled over him like a lead blanket. Immortals kept like cattle, bred and raised only to be killed? He had known his lineage was dark, but this… this was madness.
The room felt smaller suddenly, more oppressive. Huang Li's mind raced, his thoughts a jumbled mess. How could anyone do such a thing? And more importantly, how could he be descended from someone who would?
Before he could ask more, Old Mo's voice interrupted his spiraling thoughts.
"Wait, Young Master… something is wrong."
"What now?" Huang Li asked, he could feel that Old Mo does not want to continue the topic and he was also eager to change the subject.
"This realm… it's empty. There's no spirit energy left," Old Mo murmured, his voice growing distant as if he were probing the air around them. "I was certain this realm was full of spirit energy, even after my body was destroyed. But now…"
Huang Li raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, no kidding. This place has been a wasteland since I got here. How else do you think I ended up talking to ghosts for company?"
"There's energy here," Old Mo continued, ignoring Huang Li's sarcasm. "But it's gathering in the west… where the dragon veins of the land are located."
"Dragon veins?" Huang Li asked, his curiosity piqued. "You mean there's a power source hidden somewhere around here?"
"Yes. The dragon veins are the lifeblood of the land, responsible for generating spirit energy. If they're blocked or disrupted, it could explain why this realm is barren. You must find the source of the disturbance, Young Master."
Huang Li nodded, his determination returning. "Got it. Let's go check it out."
And so, with a renewed sense of purpose, Huang Li turned westward, prepared to uncover the secrets of his father's ranch and the mysteries that lay hidden within the desolate realm. But as he walked, his mind lingered on Old Mo's words—the darkness of his ancestors, the terrible legacy of the Slaughter God.