"Chi Yao, I treated you as my true love. Why did you kill me?"
Zhang Ruochen shouted loudly, lunging forward. The gilded bed creaked, and he suddenly sat up.
Realizing it was only a dream, Zhang Ruochen exhaled deeply, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.
No!
That wasn't just a dream!
How could everything that happened between him and Princess Chi Yao be a dream?
Zhang Ruochen was the only son of "Emperor Ming," one of the Nine Great Emperors of the Kunlun Realm. At just sixteen, he had cultivated to the peak of the Heavenly Extreme Realm, defying all odds.
However, just as he was becoming the leading figure of the younger generation in the Kunlun Realm, he was killed by his childhood sweetheart and fiancée, Princess Chi Yao.
Princess Chi Yao was the daughter of "Emperor Qing," one of the Nine Great Emperors.
Emperor Ming and Emperor Qing were close friends, and Zhang Ruochen and Princess Chi Yao were betrothed since childhood. They grew up together, trained together—one gallant and the other stunningly beautiful—an ideal couple, destined to be a legend in the cultivation world.
Zhang Ruochen never could have anticipated that Princess Chi Yao would turn against him!
After being killed by Princess Chi Yao, Zhang Ruochen awoke to find himself eight hundred years later.
The once Princess Chi Yao had quelled the Nine Emperors' Rebellion, unified the nine kingdoms, established the First Central Empire, and became the ruler of the entire Kunlun Realm—the Empress Chi Yao.
Eight hundred years ago, the once-dominant Nine Emperors had faded into history, disappearing into the annals of time.
The Nine Emperors were dead, and the Empress had risen.
In this era, there was only one ruler, Empress Chi Yao, who ruled the world with absolute power.
"Why did she kill me? How could her heart be so cruel? Or are all women this heartless?"
Zhang Ruochen's eyes were sharp, and his heart was like iron, filled with countless questions. However, there was no one to answer him.
Eight hundred years had passed. The world had changed completely. Everyone he had known was gone, except for the peerless Empress Chi Yao, who remained youthful, ageless, and immortal. All his old acquaintances had long turned to dust, reduced to bones.
Even the once-mighty Nine Emperors had vanished, leaving only stories passed down through the generations.
Creak!
A gentle, delicate woman dressed in palace attire pushed open the door and entered, her concerned eyes falling on Zhang Ruochen, who sat on the bed. "Chen'er, did you have another nightmare?"
This graceful woman was the consort of Yunwu Commandery Prince and Zhang Ruochen's mother, Lin Fei.
The original owner of this body had died three days ago after being bedridden for a long time due to illness.
After being killed by Princess Chi Yao, Zhang Ruochen woke up in this body, bringing the dead boy back to life. Coincidentally, this body's original owner was also named Zhang Ruochen.
When Zhang Ruochen first regained consciousness, he was resistant to Lin Fei. After all, to him, Lin Fei was a stranger.
But after three days of interaction, Zhang Ruochen gradually realized how much Lin Fei genuinely cared for him, showing him every possible tenderness. When she heard he was awakened by a nightmare, she immediately rushed to his room, disregarding the cold weather.
In his previous life, Zhang Ruochen had never seen his birth mother. It was said that she had passed away when he was born! Unexpectedly, after being killed by Princess Chi Yao and reborn into this body, he now had a mother and could feel the warmth of maternal love.
"Perhaps she still doesn't know that her son, Chen'er, died three days ago from illness!"
If he told her the truth, she might not be able to handle the devastating news.
Looking at the gentle woman in front of him, Zhang Ruochen's gaze softened, and he smiled slightly. "Mother, there's no need to worry about me. It was just a dream."
Lin Fei, wearing a maroon mink cloak, sat by Zhang Ruochen's bed and touched his forehead, worriedly saying, "It's been three nights now. You've been waking up from nightmares, always shouting 'Chi Yao's' name. Who is she?"
Naturally, Lin Fei couldn't connect the name "Chi Yao" to the Empress of the First Central Empire.
Moreover, since Empress Chi Yao had unified the Kunlun Realm and established the First Central Empire, she was honored as the "Sovereign Saint Empress." Few dared to even mention the name "Chi Yao," as it was considered taboo.
Zhang Ruochen replied, "It's nothing, Mother. You must have misheard."
Lin Fei sighed softly. "From now on, never speak the name 'Chi Yao,' not even in your dreams. It's disrespectful to call the Empress by name, and if someone with ill intent hears it, they could have you executed."
Zhang Ruochen nodded, clenching his fist tightly and speaking meaningfully, "I won't. From now on…"
From now on, I will be her nightmare.
Lin Fei looked at Zhang Ruochen, who was pale and frail, and sighed deeply, her heart aching.
Although he was born into a prince's family, Zhang Ruochen had been weak and sickly since childhood. At sixteen, he was still bedridden most of the time, and it seemed he would remain so for the rest of his life.
Outside, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed.
"What are you doing? This is the Yushu Palace! Who dares to barge in here?" A beautiful maid tried to block the intruding Eighth Prince, but with a light push, she was thrown more than ten meters away.
The Eighth Prince was a martial artist, already in the later stages of the Yellow Extreme Realm. With one palm strike, he could send a 300-pound stone disc flying ten feet, let alone a maid weighing just over a hundred pounds.
A flick of his fingers was enough to send her flying.
The maid screamed in pain as she hit the ground hard, breaking her left arm.
The Eighth Prince, dressed in golden robes with a jade belt around his waist, was tall and muscular. His gaze was cold as he entered the Yushu Palace. Glancing at the maid, he sneered, "A mere servant dares to block my way? You're asking for death."
Six guards clad in scaled armor followed behind him. They were tall and powerfully built, obviously formidable martial cultivators and palace guards.
Hearing the commotion outside, Lin Fei calmed Zhang Ruochen before closing the door and stepping outside.
She stared at the Eighth Prince and frowned slightly. "Eighth Prince, this is Yushu Palace. Even if you're a prince, you can't just barge in like this."
The Eighth Prince, Zhang Ji, looked at Lin Fei and said loudly, "The Queen has decreed that both you and Ninth Brother's living quarters are to be moved to the 'Ziyi Side Palace.' From now on, the Yushu Palace will belong to my mother, Consort Xiao."
Lin Fei's expression changed slightly. She had anticipated this day, but not so soon.
With a bitter smile, Lin Fei said, "The Queen is already driving us out of the Yushu Palace? Very well! Tomorrow, Chen'er and I will move to the side palace."
The Eighth Prince replied, "I'm sorry! My mother wishes to move into Yushu Palace tonight. Please move to the side palace now!"
Lin Fei knew that Zhang Ruochen's weak health couldn't handle the stress of moving, so she pleaded, "Eighth Prince, you know your Ninth Brother is ill. It's late, and the weather is cold. If..."
The Eighth Prince laughed coldly, "Lin Fei, there are many pitiful people in this world, but not all deserve pity. If Ninth Brother is so weak, why is he even alive?"
"He's your Ninth Brother!"
Just as Lin Fei was about to say more, the door behind her opened.
Zhang Ruochen, weak and barely able to stand, leaned against the doorframe. Staring at the Eighth Prince not far away, his frail body seemed to contain an unyielding spirit. "No need to beg them. We'll leave now."
"Chen'er, why are you out of bed? It's cold outside, hurry back in." Lin Fei rushed forward to support Zhang Ruochen, afraid he might catch a cold.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head stubbornly. "Mother, we don't need to beg anyone. One day...we'll return here."
Moved by Zhang Ruochen's determined eyes, Lin Fei nodded tearfully.
With Lin Fei helping Zhang Ruochen, they left Yushu Palace step by step. Aside from the maid whose arm had been broken by the Eighth Prince, no other servants followed them.
Everyone knew that Lin Fei and the Ninth Prince had lost favor and would find it hard to survive in the palace.
Most servants were smart enough to stay in Yushu Palace and curry favor with the Eighth Prince, its new master.
The Ziyi Side Palace was a place reserved for concubines who had fallen out of favor. It was remote and covered in fallen leaves, seemingly abandoned for a long time.
The night deepened, and the cold wind whistled.
Sitting on a cold stone bench, Zhang Ruochen wrapped his frail body in an outer robe but still felt the chill.
"This body is too weak. Only by practicing martial arts can I gradually strengthen it. Otherwise, even as the son of a prince, I'll still be at the mercy of others," Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
Eight hundred years had passed, and Zhang Ruochen didn't know where else he could go. Since fate had allowed him to be reborn in this body, whether for revenge against Empress Chi Yao or for the sake of his caring mother, he had to grow stronger.
The humiliation and mistreatment he suffered today were entirely because he was too weak to resist or control his destiny, unable to even protect his own home.
If he wanted respect and a comfortable place to live, he had to become a martial artist and prove his abilities.
In the Kunlun Realm, becoming a martial artist first required awakening the "Divine Martial Imprint."
The "Divine Martial Imprint" was a qualification bestowed by the gods for cultivating martial arts. Without it, one could never produce true energy or become a powerful figure in the world.
Zhang Ruochen was already sixteen but had yet to awaken his "Divine Martial Imprint."
After sixteen, one missed the prime age for martial cultivation, and even if he did awaken it, he wouldn't be able to achieve much.
Why was it that, despite both being sons of the Yunwu Commandery Prince, the Eighth Prince could act so superior? Why was he able to drive Zhang Ruochen and Lin Fei out of Yushu Palace?
It was because the Eighth Prince had awakened his "Divine Martial Imprint" at the age of ten and was now a martial artist in the later stages of the Yellow Extreme Realm.
"As long as I awaken the 'Divine Martial Imprint,' I can cultivate the 'Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture.' With its profound teachings, I might still be able to catch up to other talents, even though I've missed the best age for training, and become a powerful martial artist again."
The Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture was the supreme cultivation manual of Emperor Ming. Aside from Emperor Ming, only Zhang Ruochen knew its complete instructions.
"Tomorrow is the sacrificial ceremony. I hope to gain the recognition of the gods and awaken my 'Divine Martial Imprint,'" Zhang Ruochen clenched his fist, filled with anticipation.
After Lin Fei finished tidying up the room, she came to help Zhang Ruochen. "Chen'er, you should rest early. Tomorrow, you'll have to attend the sacrificial ceremony."
"Don't worry, Mother. I'll definitely awaken the 'Divine Martial Imprint' tomorrow!" Zhang Ruochen replied.
"Yes! Mother believes in you!"
Lin Fei looked deeply into Zhang Ruochen's eyes, sighing quietly in her heart.
In truth, she had no hope that Zhang Ruochen would awaken the "Divine Martial Imprint." After all, he was already sixteen, and once past that age, it was nearly impossible to awaken it.
But as a mother, she had to encourage her child and give him confidence.