About Several Eons Ago…
A man stood tall at the edge of a cliff, his hand gripping a bright red sword that shone like a crimson gem. When the light struck it at the right angle, the blade radiated a brilliance so intense it made the air tremble. His long black hair danced wildly in the wind, unbound by the rules of the universe itself, as his piercing eyes stared at the figure floating above him. Those very eyes carried a lethal mixture of murder, hatred, and desire.
Yet, the figure in the sky remained unphased. Upon closer inspection, one would notice an individual of unimaginable beauty. Her perfect pale face seemed to defy nature itself, her plum-red lips and radiant golden eyes sparkling like the finest gems. Her beauty was so ethereal that the air around her seemed to warp under its influence. Her golden hair flowed like liquid sunlight, a stark contrast to the fury that emanated from the man on the cliff.
And yet, she appeared unbothered, her hand casually extended, summoning a golden vortex above her. The spiraling force was uncontrollable, its power capable of destroying entire worlds—and its target was none other than the man standing below. This was Wen Ran's past self.
"Foolish mortal," the woman spoke softly. Her words were sharp, carrying an undeniable weight yet devoid of malice. "You dare stand before this goddess, obstructing the work of the heavens? How long do you plan to defend that person? Are they so important to you that you've blinded yourself to reason?"
Her words carried mystery, but Wen Ran simply smiled in contempt.
"Why would I not dare?" he spat back, his tone filled with defiance. "Even a mortal like me can make you pay for your sins—sins you're too blind to see. This world is ours to forge. Our fates are ours to weave."
His words were domineering, a testament to the unyielding strength that resided within him.
"So be it," she said, her tone calm, even as the vortex of golden light intensified. The air around it bent and shifted, tearing through the very fabric of space. "You've been blind your entire life. You haven't yet reached the level of transcendence, and so, you remain ignorant of the truth. Then die now, and in your next life, do not challenge those you can never reach, you blind human."
The golden vortex descended with overwhelming might, crashing toward Wen Ran. Yet, he stood his ground, fearless. His eyes gleamed with unshakable determination as the air around him grew unstable. A wave of crimson power surged forth, much stronger than the golden vortex. For the first time, the goddess's expression faltered, revealing shock and fear.
"Such power in a mortal body is impossible! Who are you!?" she cried out. But her question came too late. The massive red sword in Wen Ran's hand tore through the vortex with ease, the blade cutting through the fabric of space itself. It struck her, sending her flying further into the sky.
Her golden aura flared brilliantly, protecting her from injury, but her heart was in disarray.
Regaining her composure, she prepared to counterattack, but her target had vanished. The world fell silent for a moment, and then, without any warning, Wen Ran appeared above her. His killing intent was so perfectly hidden that she hadn't noticed his presence until his massive red sword descended from above.
How did he get there so fast? For the first time in her existence, the goddess felt true terror.
The battle that followed was a clash of unimaginable power, a display of divine and mortal might. Yet, Wen Ran held the upper hand most of the time. His combat skills surpassed even those of the God of Battle himself. Despite her divine strength, the goddess was overwhelmed, her attacks failing to land, her defenses slowly crumbling. She began to panic. The protective fate granted to her as a goddess was cracking, and she found herself unable to escape the plane. It was as if the world itself had deemed her unworthy to return to the heavens.
The battle raged on for years, but in the end, Wen Ran's blade severed her in a brilliant explosion of golden light. Her body shattered into countless fragments, scattered like fallen stars. His power was too great, a force no mortal should have wielded. But in the end, it was true—this mortal was stronger than the gods. And for that, he would eventually have to die by their hands.
Present Day
Wen Ran stared at the girl before him, her aura unmistakable. It was the same as the goddess he had once slain. Amusement flickered in his eyes. To think the arrogant being of the heavens is now a mere mortal. This is great. That divine power is so pure, and one day… I can use it against the gods themselves if I have her by my side. His thoughts raced, calculating his next moves. He knew the risk. If she ever regained her memories, things would go south quickly. For now, he would keep her close.
Despite being held aloft in the old man's crushing grip, Wen Ran showed no fear. He knew the man wouldn't dare kill him—not in front of his golden goose.
"Grandfather, this is your last warning!" Fang Jinyao yelled, her voice trembling with anger.
The old man's expression turned uglier, but he finally threw Wen Ran to the ground with a force that made him cough up blood.
Just you wait, Wen Ran thought as he wiped the blood from his lips, his eyes gleaming with cold determination. I'll kill you slowly soon. Give me ten days, and I'll repay this humiliation a hundredfold.
The old man fumed, his rage palpable. "You foolish brat! Just wait. These events will reach my father, and when they do, he'll see reason. As for that worthless slave by your side," he snorted derisively "I'll have him skinned alive in the main square for all to see. Both of you will pay dearly for this humiliation!"
Before leaving, the old man cast one last glare at Wen Ran. His expression said it all: You will die soon, you filthy slave.
Wen Ran didn't flinch. Instead, a sly smile tugged at the corner of his lips.