In the dead of night, a bitter wind swept down from the St. Ancestral Mountain, carrying with it a bone-piercing chill. It slammed against the towering walls of Glory City—the final bulwark separating its people from the merciless wilderness beyond.

  Above, drifting clouds swallowed the moonlight, smothering the sky and casting the world into an uneasy darkness.

  Beneath that heavy veil of shadow stood two cloaked figures atop the city wall.

  They were none other than Chen Zhenlong, the Patriarch of the Divine Family, a Black Gold rank Demon Spiritualist whose strength stood second only to Lord Ye Mo, the protector of Glory City.

  Beside him was a much smaller figure, a young boy named Xue Hui, the adopted servant of Chen Zhenlong. On the surface, the boy appeared utterly ordinary. Yet hidden beneath his flawless soul-concealment technique lay a spiritual strength that had already reached the level of a three-star Bronze rank.

  But they were not alone.

  Strapped securely to Chen Zhenlong’s back was a golden iron box, Roughly four and a half feet tall, eighteen to twenty-two inches wide, and eighteen inches deep. Its surface was inlaid with an array of precious gems and demon crystals, while layers of protective talismans and intricate inscription arrays covered every inch of it. The box emitted a solemn, majestic aura—each treasure embedded within it serving a single purpose: to ensure the safety of the one resting inside.

  Within that box lay the little princess of the Divine Family, Chen Zhenlong’s beloved daughter—Chen Linlin.

  The three of them were about to embark on a year-long journey beyond the safety of Glory City, venturing into the vast and perilous outside world.

  Their goal was to obtain two unparalleled treasures.

  Items that could cure Chen Linlin’s illness and rebuild her Soul realm.

  It was a journey destined to be extraordinarily dangerous. Such was the inevitable cost whenever one stepped beyond the protection of the city walls.

  That was why Chen Zhenlong and Xue Hui had spent an entire month preparing for their departure.

  A month ago, after their private conversation…

  Chen Zhenlong had not slept that night. Instead, he remained awake until dawn, contemplating every step he would take next after Xue Hui laid out the plan to save his daughter.

  The plan was both perilous and seemingly impossible.

  a year-long expedition into the outside world, through territories teeming with demon beasts, while carrying his daughter with him.

  He rubs his forehead once more.

  He could not help it. He wanted to obtain those treasures for his daughter’s sake.

  Yet pursuing them would also place her life in even greater danger.

  The very hope that could save her might also become the cause of her demise.

  He looked to his side.

  Xue Hui sat cross-legged in silence, immersed in cultivation.

  He was currently refining the residual of Chen Zhenlong’s aura, which was sealed within a concealment array.

  The chaotic aura was being purified into raw spiritual energy before being steadily absorbed into Xue Hui's soul realm.

  At this moment, Xue Hui had already stepped into the Two-Star Bronze rank.

  The Penta Soul Enrichment Pills had pushed his Soul realm to breakthrough to one star bronze rank.

  And continue to increase his Soul force, leaving him only a step away from the second star before their effects were exhausted.

  By absorbing Chen Zhenlong’s released Soul force, he had managed to cross the threshold.

  “Xiao Hui,” Chen Zhenlong called, sensing that the boy had already withdrawn from his meditative state. “Are you certain that you can escort us safely when we travel to retrieve those treasures?”

  Xue Hui slowly opened his eyes. A calm yet unwavering light flickered within them.

  "Lord Patriarch," Xue Hui replied firmly, his eyes gleaming with conviction, "I made a promise to Linlin—both in my previous life and in this one. I will bring the three of us safely to those ruins."

  Hearing the boy's resolute words, Chen Zhenlong fell silent for a moment before nodding decisively. His hesitation vanished, having finally made up his mind.

  He rose to his feet and stood towering before the boy.

  “Tell me everything we need to do”

  Xue Hui nodded, a trace of relief and determination flashing across his face. He was glad that Chen Zhenlong was finally willing to go with his plan.

  Over the following month, the two of them were constantly on the move within the Divine Family mansion, making meticulous preparations for the journey ahead.

  Every talisman, pill, weapon, and protective formation that could increase their chances of survival was carefully selected and secured by Xue Hui.

  With them running around, their unusual activity did not go unnoticed.

  Chen Zhenlong’s wives soon began asking questions.

  The first thing they noticed was how… lively Xue Hui had become.

  “Madame Yinying, please stop. If you keep smooshing my face, it might stay smooshed for the rest of my life,” Xue Hui helplessly protested.

  The one holding his cheeks in an oddly familiar manner was Chen Yinying, the biological mother of Chen Linlin. Her eyes were wide with disbelief as she examined the boy’s face from every angle.

  “Husband! How is this possible!?” exclaimed Chen Wenrou, Chen Zhenlong’s first wife. She stood beside him, clutching his sleeve while staring at her sister-wife, who was still thoroughly “inspecting” the small boy.

  Before revealing their plan, Chen Zhenlong and Xue Hui had already agreed that it would be far more convenient for everyone involved if they first fabricated a believable story—one that explained everything coherently. From Xue Hui’s sudden “awakening” to the necessity of their journey, every detail had to sound reasonable enough to withstand scrutiny.

  At first, both mothers were utterly astonished when they heard that Xue Hui supposedly had a mysterious Legend-rank master guiding him from within his mind.

  Naturally, they refused to believe it.

  Such a claim was simply too absurd.

  However, the moment Xue Hui revealed his cultivation level, the two women experienced the shock of their lives. They both knew very well how poor Xue Hui’s innate talent had once been. Yet now, at only seven years old, he had already reached the Two-Star Bronze rank. Wasn’t that level of progress not the least bit inferior to Chen Linlin’s talent back then?

  But Chen Linlin possessed the rare Nine Crystal Yin Physique, along with the abundant resources of a major family. With such overwhelming advantages, her rapid cultivation had always been considered natural.

  The boy standing before them, however, had none of those advantages.

  Worse still, he possessed a red soul realm.

  Indigo, Azure, Cyan, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red.

  Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

  Everyone knew that a red soul realm was regarded as the lowest grade among all talents.

  slow in cultivation, weak in power, and almost impossible to advance beyond the Silver rank. For most spiritualists, it was a dead end.

  And yet, Xue Hui’s aura felt anything but weak. In terms of pure soul strength, it was not even inferior to that of a Silver-rank expert.

  Faced with such undeniable proof, even their doubts began to crumble.

  With calm explanations and carefully chosen words, Chen Zhenlong and Xue Hui gradually convinced the two women about the existence of Xue Hui’s mysterious Legend-rank master.

  Despite their careful and thorough explanation, they still faced the wrath of the two women after they heard the part about venturing outside to obtain the cure to Chen Linlin’s illness.

  “THAT WON’T DO, BABE! I’M COMING WITH YOU — IT’S SAFER THAT WAY!”

  “Husband, just the three of you going is far too dangerous. At the very least, bring Father-in-law. With him, you’ll have two Black Gold Rank experts accompanying you!”

  Chen Zhenlong and Xue Hui found themselves crushed beneath the combined spiritual pressure of Chen Yinying and Chen Wenrou. One was a One-Star Black Gold Rank demon spirualist, the other a Two-Star Gold Rank demon spiritualist. It was painfully clear that neither approved of sending their daughter on such a dangerous journey.

  The air trembled. Invisible force pressed down like a mountain.

  “Ying’er… Rou’er… I forgot to mention — Xiao Hui’s master will be coming with us as well. That makes the trip much safer.”

  Under the relentless fury and spiritual oppression, Chen Zhenlong hurriedly fabricated the lie, hoping to calm the two women before their anger spiraled further out of control.

  Throughout the confrontation, Xue Hui sat beside Chen Zhenlong, his body faintly glowing as he resisted the overwhelming pressure. Unlike Chen Zhenlong, he lacked the strength to endure such force directly.

  Fortunately, he had prepared in advance.

  Before meeting Chen Zhenlong’s wives, Xue Hui had anticipated this very situation. When powerful cultivators lost control of their emotions, their soul force could surge unpredictably. He had no intention of gambling with his life.

  Using Chen Zhenlong’s resources, Xue Hui swiftly constructed a protective array beforehand. Now, the formation quietly shielded him, dispersing the oppressive soul pressure that would have otherwise left him injured.

  He was glad he had prepared in advance—because the two women did not hold back in the slightest.

  Xue Hui felt as though an invisible giant had seized him and was slamming him into the ground over and over again. The spiritual pressure crashed down mercilessly, rattling his bones and shaking his organs as if they might burst apart at any moment.

  Even Chen Zhenlong was forced to one knee.

  Despite possessing the highest cultivation in the room, he did not defend himself against his wives. Perhaps it was guilt. After all, he was blatantly lying to both of his wives. The oppressive force pressed him into the ground, his robes fluttering violently under the storm of spiritual power.

  What followed was chaos.

  There was shouting. Accusations. Tears. Pleading. At one point, it nearly turned physical as the two emotional women lunged forward, their grief and fury spiraling out of control.

  Only after a long and exhausting exchange were Chen Zhenlong and Xue Hui finally able to calm them. With persistence—and a great deal of reassurance—they managed to convince the two women to help conceal the truth from the rest of the family.

  “Xiao Hui… you must take good care of my baby, understand?”

  Chen Linlin’s mother’s face was a mess of tears as she grabbed Xue Hui and lifted him off the ground like a doll. Her grip was tight—far too tight for comfort.

  Xue Hui hastily nodded.

  He had no desire to be tossed across the room by an emotionally unstable Black Gold Rank Demon Spiritualist.

  After the talk with the wives ended, Chen Zhenlong brought Xue Hui to the Divine Family’s treasure vault. Earlier, the boy had suggested bringing as many life-saving talismans as possible for the journey.

  It was a sensible idea.

  Chen Zhenlong agreed without hesitation..

  At first, Chen Zhenlong thought the boy would choose something straightforward — a flaming sword, a enchanted shield, perhaps a Silver rank armor.

  He was wrong.

  Instead, Xue Hui walked past the shining weapons and polished armors without a second glance. What caught his attention were the forgotten relics — the strange artifacts piled in the corner of the vault.

  Treasures the Divine Family had long deemed unusable because no one understood their purpose.

  Ancient fragments. Oddly shaped stones. Broken talismans with incomplete runes. Rusted Artifacts.

  Chen Zhenlong could only watch as the boy casually picked item after item.

  Not ten.

  Not fifty.

  But hundreds.

  One by one, the mysterious treasures vanished into Xue Hui’s interspatial ring.

  Chen Zhenlong’s eyelid twitched, yet he said nothing.

  After selecting the treasures, Xue Hui went outside and visited a blacksmith to commission specialized tools.

  stopped by several herb stores to made a purchased, and even ventured outside the city walls to hunt demon beasts.

  Naturally, Chen Yinying accompanied him.

  Before long, they returned dragging a wide variety of defeated demon beasts.

  Chen Zhenlong and his wives watched with stunned expressions.

  While a seven-year-old boy worked with chilling precision of veterans butcher.

  His movements were efficient. Clean. And quick.

  With steady hands, Xue Hui dissected the demon beasts. Blade sliding through flesh. Bones separated at perfect angles. Blood were drained and stored.

  The trio of parents could only stare in silent uneasiness at the child standing amidst blood and carcasses.

  Xue Hui carefully collected every useful part, blood stored in clear bottles, hides preserved with spiritual salt, bones sorted by density and elemental affinity. Nothing was wasted. If he deemed it useful, it went into his interspatial ring.

  By the second week.

  Wooosh! Boom!!

  Flames spiraled upward, but unlike ordinary alchemy fire, they did not burn from wood or coal. The blaze seemed to ignite from thin air itself, twisting and condensing under Xue Hui’s precise control.

  Chen Zhenlong, Chen Yinying, Chen Wenrou, and Chen Linlin watched with rapt attention.

  Before them, the seven-year-old boy continuously refined high-grade pills using a method the trio of parents never knew exist.

  One batch after another formed flawlessly.

  life-saving elixirs capable of stabilizing critical injuries, battle-enhancing pills that boosted strength and perception, recovery pellets that restored Soul force.

  Each pill was round, smooth, and carried a dense spiritual aura far purer than any elixirs they knew.

  There was no furnace.

  No cauldron.

  Only flame and control.

  “You have to teach me how to do that! Please!, pretty please!!”

  The moment he finished an entire batch, Xue Hui was suddenly yanked off the ground.

  By Chen Wenrou the usually composed, soft-spoken, and dignified women was now gripping his shoulder tightly, her eyes shining like a child who had discovered a treasure trove of candy.

  Only then did Xue Hui remember.

  Chen Wenrou was an Alchemy Master.

  Alchemy was divided into three ranks:

  Apprentice, Master, and Grandmaster. Throughout Glory City, there were only a handful of Masters and no Grandmasters.

  Chen Wenrou was one of them. Even as a full-time wife and mother, she had never abandoned her pursuit of alchemy.

  So it was no surprise that witnessing a completely different pill-refining method shattered her composure.

  What shocked her most was the flame.

  It was not an ordinary fire.

  it was ignited directly from spiritual energy itself.

  After much pleading, Xue Hui finally promised that he would write down an introductory guide to the method of alchemy flame ignition. Furthermore, once they returned safely from their journey, he would personally teach her the process of refining pills using this flame.

  Only then did Chen Wenrou reluctantly release him.

  Xue Hui let out a sighed of relief when he was free from her grasped.

  ‘Honestly… the women of the Divine Family are all terrifying’ he thought while rubbing his bruised shoulder.

  By the third week, preparations had reached their final stage.

  “This is…?” Chen Zhenlong asked, circling the object before him with narrowed eyes.

  It was a rectangular structure forged from dark alloy, its surface covered in intricate inscriptions. Spirit stones were embedded along its edges, faintly pulsing with energy.

  “This is called a Fuzhuang Box,” Xue Hui explained calmly. “With this, we can carry Linlin without worrying about harsh weather or demon beast attacks—anything below Legend Rank won’t be able to break it. It’s also comfortable inside.”

  To prove his point, Xue Hui stepped into the box and shut the lid from within.

  A faint humming sound followed.

  “Lord Patriarch, go ahead—use your full strength. We need to make sure this can truly protect Linlin.”

  Chen Zhenlong hesitated.

  Even knowing the boy’s craftiness, attacking the box while Xue Hui was inside of it, felt Dangerous to him.

  But after a moment of hesitation, his gaze hardened.

  Releasing his Soul force, He summoned his demon spirit.

  his features went change as he fused with his demon spirit.

  the Wind Dragon Blood Buffalo.

  His frame swelled to nearly three times its original size. Muscles bulged beneath thick white fur that spread across most of his body. His face twisted into that of a red-eyed buffalo, and a pair of massive golden horns curved upward from his skull.

  The transformation gave him the imposing presence of an ancient white minotaur.

  savage, powerful, and awe-inspiring.

  Opening his jaw, Chen Zhenlong gathered his soul force within his mouth. The energy compressed rapidly, emitting a sharp buzzing sound that echoed throughout the entire training hall.

  The air trembled.

  With a thunderous roar, he unleashed his full-powered White Wind Blast straight at the Fuzhuang Box.

  The moment the attack struck,

  The box erupted with brilliant light.

  Its protective array quickly activated. The embedded energy gems flared, the inscription talismans shimmered in unison. A translucent barrier materialized around the box just as the White Wind Blast collided against it.

  Instead of stoping the attacked, the barrier bent.

  To redirect the force.

  The condensed wind force was deflected to the side, shooting like a howling beam toward the northern wall of the training room.

  Boom!

  A violent explosion shook the compound. The impact obliterated the wall entirely and destroyed a large section of the training room. Equipment shattered. Stone debris scattered everywhere, Dust and smoke filled the air.

  Not far from the destruction, the Fuzhuang Box remained completely untouched.

  Hearing the low hum of the Fuzhuang Box as its glow gradually dimmed, Xue Hui opened the box, sounds of escaping air can be heard from it.

  Stepping outside,. Xue Hui looked at Chen Zhenlong, and gave him a proud grin.

  “Lord Patriarch, I didn’t feel anything at all.”

  Chen Zhenlong looked at the destroyed wall, then back at the Fuzhuang Box. His heart shook, A portion of the weight on his shoulders finally eased.

  “You did well, Xiao Hui. That Fuzhuang Box of yours will ensure Lin’er’s safety.”

  Final week.

  Xue Hui stared at the six rusted metal spheres he had taken from the Divine Family’s treasury.

  Chen Zhenlong and the other experts of the Divine Family had no idea what they were used for, so the spheres had been left sitting in the treasure vault for hundreds of years.

  It was a good thing no one knew their purpose. Xue Hui had been absolutely thrilled when he discovered them and had fully intended to keep them for himself.

  The six rusted metal spheres, each the size of a fist, were not separate items.

  They were one complete weapon.

  Not just any weapon—

  A Soul Weapon.

  A Soul Weapon was something that could be drawn into one’s soul realm. A person could only bond with a single Soul Weapon in their lifetime. Once bonded, it became part of the cultivator’s very soul.

  And when the owner died, the weapon perished with them.

  Xue Hui silently thanked his luck for such a treasure.

  This Soul Weapon was called Liu-Jiaren. Once bonded with it, he would be able to telekinetically control each of the six spheres as if they were his own limbs.

  The speed and force they could unleash were enough to give an opponent an entire realm stronger than him a serious threat.

  And that did not even include the unique abilities hidden within the spheres.

  Biting his thumb, Xue Hui squeezed out a drop of blood and let it fall onto Liu-Jiaren.

  The six rusted spheres began to hum softly. The corrosion covering their surfaces peeled away layer by layer, revealing six polished metal spheres of different colors. Each one shimmered faintly, releasing a steady vibration into the air.

  At that moment, Xue Hui felt a connection form deep within his soul.

  Liu-Jiaren had recognized him as its owner.

  With a flick of his finger, the six radiant spheres shot into motion. They circled him at astonishing speed, slicing through the air with sharp whooshing sounds.

  Placing his hands behind his back, Xue Hui strolled forward casually while the spheres whirled around him, missing his body by mere inches as they moved with deadly precision.

  He raised one hand.

  All six spheres halted instantly in midair, hovering silently like disciplined beasts awaiting his command.

  Xue Hui glanced at a stone statue several meters away.

  With another flick of his finger.

  The spheres seemingly vanished Infront of him.

  In the next instant, they reappeared next to the statue.

  BOOM!

  The statue exploded into fragments, shattered into countless pieces before the dust had even settled.

  Satisfied, Xue Hui pulled the Liu-Jiaren back.

  When the six spheres hovered a few feet before him, they dissolved into streaks of light and returned to his soul realm.

  “Well, just one more thing and we’re all set to go.” he said, while leaving the mess he did.

  The night before their departure, Xue Hui secluded himself.

  Seated cross-legged, he recited the [Creation Origin Ancestral Canon], spiritual energy surged through his meridians and poured into his soul realm.

  He compressed the energy again and again, packing it tightly until his soul realm felt completely full.

  It was dense enough that it could not withstand even a trace more pressure without advancing.

  With a deep breath, Xue Hui released his control.

  The condensed spiritual energy detonated within his soul realm, violently expanding its boundaries.

  Boom!

  An explosion resounded in his mind.

  When the turbulence settled, his aura rose sharply.

  Three-Star Bronze Rank.

  His strength had increased significantly.

  opening his eyes.

  He was welcome of the sight of Chen Zhenlong standing Infront of him. The patriarch’s expression was sharp, enough to unsettle anyone who saw him.

  “Everything is set.” he said with serious tone..

  Xue Hui nodded and rose to his feet. Together, they looked toward Chen Linlin’s room.

  Back to the present.

  The two figures stood side by side, gazing toward the distant world beyond the city walls. Both understood that this journey would not be easy.

  They exchanged a silent nod.

  Under the cover of night, their silhouettes rose swiftly onto the towering wall. Without hesitation, they leapt from it—diving into the vast outside world below.

  In the blink of an eye, they disappeared into the darkness.

  End of Chapter 16