"Chi Yao, I treated you as my dearest love. Why did you kill me?"

Zhang Ruocheng shouted loudly, leaping forward, causing the golden bed to creak under his weight. He suddenly sat up.

Realizing it was just a dream, Zhang Ruocheng exhaled deeply and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

No!

That wasn't a dream!

Everything that happened between him and Princess Chi Yao could never have been a dream.

Zhang Ruocheng had once been the only son of "Emperor Ming," one of the nine great emperors of the Kunlun realm. At just sixteen years old, he had cultivated to the peak of the Heavenly Extreme realm with his extraordinary constitution.

However, just as he was becoming the top figure of his generation in the Kunlun realm, he died at the hands of his childhood 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 the best of friends, and Zhang Ruocheng and Princess Chi Yao had been betrothed since birth, growing up together and cultivating together. One was heroic, and the other was extraordinarily beautiful—an ideal couple that could have been a legendary story in the cultivation world.

Zhang Ruocheng never imagined that Princess Chi Yao would strike at him!

After dying at her hands, when Zhang Ruocheng woke up again, he found himself in the world eight hundred years later.

The once Princess Chi Yao had suppressed the rebellion of the nine emperors, unified the nine nations, established the First Central Empire, and became the ruler of the entire Kunlun realm—Empress Chi Yao.

The nine emperors who once ruled Kunlun had all vanished, becoming part of history's distant past.

The nine emperors were dead, and the empress now ruled.

In this era, there was only one monarch: Empress Chi Yao, who commanded the world with her power.

"Why did she kill me? How could her heart be so cruel? Or is it that all women are so heartless?"

Zhang Ruocheng's eyes were sharp, his heart heavy like iron, filled with questions. Yet, no one could answer him.

Eight hundred years had passed, and everything had changed—only Empress Chi Yao remained unchanged, ageless, and immortal. The people he once knew had all turned to dust, their bones scattered.

Even the once mighty nine emperors had all vanished from the world, leaving behind only stories of their glory that would be recited by future generations.

"Creak!"

A weak and delicate woman dressed in palace robes entered, pushing open the door. Upon seeing Zhang Ruocheng sitting on the bed, she looked at him with concern. "Chener, did you have another nightmare?"

This woman was Lady Lin, the wife of the Duke of Yunwu, and Zhang Ruocheng's mother.

The original owner of this body, who had been frail and sickly, had died in bed three days ago.

After Zhang Ruocheng was killed by Princess Chi Yao, he woke up again and found himself in this body, bringing the previously deceased boy back to life. Coincidentally, the original owner of this body was also named Zhang Ruocheng.

When Zhang Ruocheng first woke up, he was repelled by Lady Lin. After all, to him, she was just a stranger.

However, after three days of contact, Zhang Ruocheng gradually realized that Lady Lin truly cared for him, tending to him with meticulous attention. When he woke from a nightmare calling out "Chi Yao," she rushed to his room without caring about the cold.

In his previous life, Zhang Ruocheng had never seen his birth mother. It was said that she had died when he was born. Now, after being killed by Princess Chi Yao and reborn in this body, he had a mother to care for him, feeling the warmth of a mother's love.

"Maybe she still doesn't know that her Chener died three days ago!"

If he told her the truth, she might not be able to bear the shock.

Zhang Ruocheng looked at the woman before him, his gaze softening. He smiled gently. "Mother, don't worry about me. It was just a dream."

Lady Lin, dressed in a thin dark red fur cloak, sat beside the bed and gently touched Zhang Ruocheng's forehead with concern. "It's been three nights, and you've been waking up from nightmares each time, calling out 'Chi Yao.' Who is she?"

Of course, Lady Lin could not associate the name "Chi Yao" with the Empress of the First Central Empire.

After unifying the Kunlun realm and establishing the First Central Empire, Empress Chi Yao took the title "Great Virtuous Female Saint Empress" and no one dared to speak her name openly. Mentioning "Chi Yao" was taboo, and anyone who did so would face severe consequences.

Zhang Ruocheng replied, "It's nothing, Mother, you must have heard wrong."

Lady Lin sighed and said, "From now on, never call out 'Chi Yao,' even in your dreams. It's the name of the Empress. Calling the Empress by name is a great disrespect, and if someone hears it, you could be executed."

Zhang Ruocheng nodded and tightly clenched his fists, his voice full of meaning as he said, "It won't happen again! From now on…"

From now on, I will be her nightmare.

Lady Lin looked at her frail and pale son, letting out a soft sigh, her heart filled with sorrow.

Though born into a noble family, Zhang Ruocheng had always been frail and sickly. Even at sixteen, he still had to lie in bed, and it seemed he would never be able to live a normal life.

Outside, a series of hurried footsteps echoed.

"What are you doing? This is Yushu Palace! Who gave you the nerve to barge in?" A beautiful maid attempted to stop the intruding Eighth Prince, but the prince simply pushed her aside, sending her flying ten meters away.

The Eighth Prince was a martial artist, with cultivation at the late Yellow Extreme realm. A single strike from him could send a 300-pound stone plate flying ten meters, let alone a maid weighing just over a hundred pounds.

With a flick of his finger, he could send her flying.

The maid screamed in pain as she fell to the ground, her left arm broken.

The Eighth Prince, wearing a golden robe with a jade belt around his waist, was tall and strong, his arms long and steady. He walked into Yushu Palace, casting a cold glance at the maid. "How dare a servant block my path? You're asking for death."

Behind the Eighth Prince, six guards in scaled armor followed, their physiques massive and imposing, clearly skilled martial artists from the royal guard.

Lady Lin, hearing the commotion outside, reassured Zhang Ruocheng and then stepped outside, closing the door behind her.

She looked at the Eighth Prince standing outside and frowned slightly. "Eighth Prince, this is Yushu Palace. Even if you're a prince, you shouldn't be barging in."

The Eighth Prince, Zhang Ji, looked up at Lady Lin and said loudly, "The queen has ordered that Lady Lin and the Ninth Prince move to the 'Zi Yi Side Palace.' From now on, Yushu Palace will be the residence of my mother, Lady Xiao."

Lady Lin's face changed slightly. She had long expected this day to come, but she hadn't anticipated it would come so soon.

Lady Lin forced a bitter smile and said, "The queen is in such a hurry to move us out of Yushu Palace? Fine, tomorrow, I'll move with Chener to the side palace."

The Eighth Prince replied, "I'm sorry, but my mother has ordered that we move in tonight. Lady Lin, please move to the side palace now!"

Lady Lin, knowing how frail Zhang Ruocheng was, begged, "Eighth Prince, you know that Chener is weak and sick. It's late, and the weather is cold. What if…"

The Eighth Prince sneered coldly, showing no sympathy. "Lady Lin, there are many people suffering in this world, but not everyone deserves sympathy. Since the Ninth Prince is so frail, why is he still alive?"

"He is still your Ninth Prince!"

Lady Lin wanted to say something more, but suddenly, the door behind her was pushed open.

Zhang Ruocheng, his frail body leaning on the doorframe to stand, stared coldly at the Eighth Prince. Despite his weak appearance, his spirit seemed unyielding. "We don't need to beg anyone. We will leave now."

"Chener, why did you get out of bed? The weather is so cold, come back inside," Lady Lin quickly went to support Zhang Ruocheng, fearing he would catch a chill.

Zhang Ruocheng shook his head stubbornly. "Mother, we don't need to beg anyone. Sooner or later… we will return here."

Lady Lin looked into her son's determined eyes, feeling her heart soften. She nodded, tears in her eyes.

Supporting her son, Lady Lin walked out of Yushu Palace. The only one who followed them was the maid who had been sent flying by the Eighth Prince, her arm broken. The rest of the servants stayed in the palace, choosing to side with the new master.

It was clear to everyone that Lady Lin and the Ninth Prince had lost all their influence and had no place left in the Duke's mansion.

Originally just servants of Yushu Palace, the others now wisely chose to stay, flattering the Eighth Prince, the new ruler.

The Zi Yi Side Palace was a place where fallen consorts usually lived, a very remote and neglected area, with leaves scattered everywhere as if it hadn't been inhabited for a long time.

As night deepened, the cold wind howled.

Sitting on a cold stone bench, Zhang Ruocheng, wrapped in a coat, still felt the chill.

"This body is too weak. Only by cultivating martial arts can I gradually grow stronger. Otherwise, even though I am the son of the Duke, I will always be at the mercy of others." Zhang Ruocheng thought to himself.

Eight hundred years had passed, and he didn't know where he should go. Since fate had brought him back to life in this body, whether for revenge against Empress Chi Yao or for the mother who had taken such care of him, he had to become stronger.

The humiliation and cold treatment he suffered today were all because he was too weak to fight back, unable to control his destiny, and even had his home taken from him.

To gain respect, to have a warm and comfortable place to live, he had to become a martial artist and prove his worth.

In the Kunlun realm, to become a martial artist, one had to first awaken the "Divine Martial Mark."

The "Divine Martial Mark" was a divine gift that granted humans the ability to cultivate martial arts. Without it, one could never cultivate true qi or become a powerful force in the world.

Zhang Ruocheng was already sixteen and had yet to awaken his "Divine Martial Mark."

If he didn't awaken it by the age of sixteen, it would be almost impossible to cultivate martial arts successfully. Even if he did awaken it later, his progress would be severely limited.

Why could the Eighth Prince be so superior? Why could he drive Zhang Ruocheng and Lady Lin out of Yushu Palace?

Because the Eighth Prince had awakened his "Divine Martial Mark" at the age of ten, and now, he was a young martial artist at the late Yellow Extreme realm.

"As long as I awaken the 'Divine Martial Mark,' I can cultivate the 'Nine Heavens Ming Emperor Scripture.' With the mysteries of the 'Nine Heavens Ming Emperor Scripture,' even though I've missed the best years of cultivation, I can still catch up to other geniuses and become a martial arts powerhouse again."

The "Nine Heavens Ming Emperor Scripture" was the supreme cultivation manual of Emperor Ming. Only Emperor Ming and Zhang Ruocheng knew the complete cultivation methods.

"Tomorrow is the sacrificial ceremony. I hope to receive the divine approval and awaken the 'Divine Martial Mark.'" Zhang Ruocheng clenched his fists, full of desire to awaken the mark.

Lady Lin finished tidying up the room and came to support Zhang Ruocheng. "Chener, go to bed early. Tomorrow, we have to attend the sacrificial ceremony."

"Don't worry, Mother. I will definitely awaken the 'Divine Martial Mark' tomorrow!" Zhang Ruocheng said.

"Mm! Mother believes in you!"

Lady Lin gave Zhang Ruocheng one last, deep glance, sighing quietly in her heart.

In truth, she had little hope for Zhang Ruocheng to awaken the "Divine Martial Mark." After all, he was already sixteen years old, and it was nearly impossible to awaken the mark at this age.

But as a mother, she had to encourage her child and give him confidence.