But just as death seemed inevitable, the pendant around Yuan Hao's neck came to life.
A blinding golden light erupted from the small, seemingly ordinary trinket. The warmth it emitted was both comforting and overwhelming, like the embrace of a long-lost parent. The guard froze mid-strike, his expression shifting from confidence to pure terror.
The light surged outward in a violent wave, engulfing the guard. His body convulsed as an invisible force crushed him from within, his armor splintering like brittle glass. A second later, he collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
The remaining guards stumbled backward in shock, their weapons clattering to the ground.
"What... what just happened?" he whispered, his voice hoarse.
But he had no time to dwell on the answer. The guards hesitated, their confidence shattered by the inexplicable death of their comrade.
Yuan Hao's shock lasted only a moment. His grief morphed into a simmering fury, his hands tightening around the hilt of the blood-stained sword he had taken from the fallen guard.
The queen's icy voice cut through the chaos. "What are you fools waiting for? Kill him!"
Her words reignited their resolve, and the guards advanced. Yuan Hao's grip on the sword tightened. The blood roaring in his ears drowned out his fear.
The guards regained their composure and lunged at him, but Yuan Hao was already moving. Fueled by anger and the inexplicable power that still coursed through his veins, he met them head-on.
One by one, the guards fell. Their training and superior numbers meant nothing against Yuan Hao's raw determination. He fought like a cornered beast, each swing of his sword more precise and deadly than the last.
The bodies of the fallen guards lay scattered across the forest clearing. The cool night air carried the scent of blood and iron, but Yuan Hao felt none of it. He stood over the trembling figure of Prince Bei Lejian, his sword dripping crimson.
"You... you can't do this!" Lejian stammered, clutching his chest as he backed away. His once-arrogant demeanor was replaced by sheer terror.
Yuan Hao didn't reply. His expression was devoid of mercy as he stepped forward, driving the blade into the prince's chest. Lejian's screams were short-lived, his lifeless body crumpling to the ground.
A gasp drew his attention to the queen, Bei Yuzhen. She had retreated several paces, her icy facade cracking as she realized her precarious position.
"Wait!" she blurted, raising her hands defensively. "There's no need for this to continue. Let me go, and I swear no harm will come to you."
Yuan Hao laughed bitterly, his eyes narrowing. "Let you go?"
"Yes." Her voice regained some of its cold confidence. "You're still young, impulsive. If you kill me, the king will hunt you to the ends of the earth. But if I live, I can ensure this matter is forgotten. No one needs to know what happened here."
Yuan Hao stared at her, his grip on the sword tightening.
"You truly are cold-hearted," he said, his voice laced with disdain. "The death of your own son doesn't move you. Even after killing your own daughter, you feel nothing."
Bei Yuzhen sneered. "Do not speak as if you know me. Think rationally. What will killing me achieve? Nothing but more powerful enemies. Let me live, and this ends here."
A chilling laugh escaped Yuan Hao's lips, one that sent a shiver down the queen's spine.
"You said I'd gain nothing by killing you?" he asked, his voice calm yet menacing. "You're wrong. I'll gain my revenge. I'll gain the satisfaction of seeing your blood spill, just as Xueying's was spilled. Even if it brings me nothing but more pain, even if it invites the wrath of the entire Bei Kingdom, I will still kill you."
Bei Yuzhen's composure shattered as Yuan Hao advanced. "No! Stop—"
Her words were cut short as the blade plunged into her chest. Yuan Hao held it there, his eyes meeting hers with a cold finality.
With a swift pull, the sword was freed, and Bei Yuzhen collapsed alongside her son.
Yuan Hao stood in the clearing, his chest heaving as the enormity of what he had done began to sink in. His gaze lifted to the heavens, the stars above seeming distant and indifferent.
"This is just the beginning," he whispered, his voice resolute.
Unnoticed by Yuan Hao ,there was a faint shimmer in the air where the pendant's earlier attack had torn through reality. A black bead emerged from the tear, landing softly on the blood-soaked ground ,The tear left by the pendant had healed completely, as if the heavens themselves sought to conceal what had transpired. The bead lay there as if watching all this scene and as if it found all this interesting.
As the adrenaline faded, Yuan Hao staggered to the base of a nearby tree and slumped against it. His hand instinctively reached for the pendant, which still radiated a faint warmth.
Before he could examine it, a soft sigh echoed in his mind. He froze, his heart racing.
"Hao'er..."
The voice was soft and feminine, filled with love and sorrow. It was followed by another, deeper and steady.
"Son, if you're hearing this, it means the pendant has protected you as we intended. We are your parents."
Yuan Hao's breath hitched. His parents? He had never known them, never even thought to question his origins. Yet, hearing their voices now stirred something deep within him—a longing he hadn't realized he carried. Yuan Hao's heart raced. His fingers instinctively gripped the pendant as he listened intently, his breathing shallow.
The voices alternated, each sentence laden with emotion.
"Hao'er," his mother's voice continued, trembling slightly, "this pendant is a treasure forged for you. It will protect you when you're in danger, but its strength is not limitless. Use it wisely."
The father's voice took over, calm and measured. "Hao'er, the world you know is but a fraction of what truly exists. Beyond this mortal realm lie realms of unimaginable power. Each one is home to cultivators who have surpassed the limitations of mortality."
The father's voice followed, steady but tinged with regret. "We sent you to the mortal world because it was the only way to keep you safe. The reasons... you will understand when you reach a certain level of strength. Knowing them now will only bring you sadness and resentment."
The mother spoke again, softer this time. "Hao'er, the world is vast and filled with wonders and dangers. You are destined for greatness, but the path of cultivation is cruel. You must tread carefully."
As the voices continued, images and concepts flooded Yuan Hao's mind. He saw vast lands divided into realms, each teeming with life and power, He saw towering mountains shrouded in mist, ancient sects built upon floating islands, and cultivators who could split the heavens with a single strike.
The Mortal Realm, a land of ordinary humans, where cultivation was rare and weak.
The immortal Realm, a realm where cultivation flourished, home to immortal sects and divine beasts.
the lower realm which consist of both the mortal and immortal realm as mortals say this.
The Upper Realm ,a name given by the people of lower realm, where the most powerful cultivators and ancient clans resided, their influence shaping the fates of all lower realms.
He learned of the Stages of Cultivation, the path that mortals could take to ascend to the heavens:
Body Refining Realm: The foundation of cultivation, where one strengthens their physical body to endure the strain of qi.
Qi Condensation Realm: The stage where one senses and gathers qi, forming a bridge between their body and the heavens.
Foundation Establishment Realm ,Nascent Soul, Void Transformation, and more. Each step was a monumental challenge, separating the weak from the strong.
"Hao'er," the mother's voice which was filled with anger ,love and longing broke through the torrent of information reassuring him of there love , "we sent you to the mortal world not because we didn't love you, but because it was the only way to protect you. There are truths about your past that you are not ready to know. When you are strong enough, they will reveal themselves to you,the path ahead will be difficult. Cultivation demands strength of body and mind. You must never waver, no matter how harsh the trials."
The father's voice followed, a hint of pride within it. "Your name, Yuan Hao, is your legacy. Never forget it. We may not be with you, but our hopes and love will always guide you."
The voices faded, leaving Yuan Hao in silence once more. He stared at the pendant,
Yuan Hao felt a pang in his chest, an ache that went beyond the physical. Tears welled in his eyes,his emotions a storm of anger, sorrow, and newfound determination.
"Mother... Father..." he whispered, his voice trembling. He clutched the pendant tightly, his fury reigniting as memories of Xueying's death flashed in his mind.
The pendant had given him a glimpse of the world beyond the mundane, but it also reminded him of the danger that awaited him in the Bei Kingdom's palace. He had already made his decision—there was no turning back.
Yuan Hao's moment of reflection was interrupted by the crunch of footsteps nearby. His eyes snapped toward the sound, his body instinctively dropping into a crouch.
Through the dense foliage, he saw several figures approaching cautiously. They were soldiers, their armor glinting faintly in the moonlight. Each carried a weapon, their faces hardened and alert.
Yuan Hao's mind raced. He was still injured and exhausted from the earlier battle. Confronting them head-on would be suicide.
Silently, he moved into the shadows, his footsteps light and deliberate. He climbed a tree, using the thick branches to conceal himself as the soldiers entered the clearing.
"What a mess," one of them muttered, staring at the bodies. "The prince and queen... dead."
"Whoever did this won't get far," another growled. "The king will want their head on a pike."
As they spread out to search the area, Yuan Hao waited patiently. His breathing slowed, his grip on his sword tightening.
When one of the soldiers passed beneath his perch, Yuan Hao struck.
The blade sank into the man's neck, silencing him before he could cry out. Yuan Hao leaped down, using the falling soldier's body to cushion his landing.
The other soldiers turned, but Yuan Hao was already moving. His movements were swift and precise, each strike aimed to kill. Though his body screamed in protest, his mind was calm, focused.
In moments, the clearing was silent once more. Yuan Hao stood amidst the fallen soldiers, his breath ragged. He wiped the blood from his sword and glanced toward the direction of Bei City.
"If this is the path I must walk to gain my revenge," he murmured, "then I will walk it without hesitation."
Behind him, the black bead now nestled beneath a patch of bloodstained earth lay forgotten, its dark surface gleaming faintly as if in anticipation , waiting for its time.