Zhou Yan stepped foot into the forbidden grounds of the Zhou Household.

Upon stepping foot into these grounds, Zhou Yan was gobsmacked as he was absolutely captivated and overwhelmed by the sight of its majesty. It felt like a dream for him.

It was just moments ago that the lad’s father assigned him a task in seeking a cure for the ailment that plagued him for ages. However, in only four hourglass’ cycle of time, there his father laid, atop cotton woven sheets.

Staring at the blood-soaked body that was drowning in its own blood was indeed terrifying.

The silence in the forbidden grounds was deafening. Not a single hum could be heard in the room.

A slight twitch of the head was noticed as the body laid, completely drained of strength in the pool of blood. It took every ounce of strength that remained from that person to turn his head. With a coarse and deep voice, the person muttered softly, “Little’ Yan, is that you, my child?”

“Yes, father.”

Zhou Yan felt a sting at the corner of his eyes that was intensifying as he tried to remain focused by mustering every ounce of will to fight back the ferocity of his incoming tears. The young lad dared not show any emotions as he feared his father would be able to sense it.

Thus, the young lad inched slowly beside the blood-soaked middle-aged man and knelt beside his father.

As the middle-aged man opened his blood-covered eyes, a wave of ferocity filled to the brim with extreme killer intent and blood lust emanated from his own blade’s essence through his eyes.

However, the predaceous nature of his sharp, menacing gaze faded away the moment his eyes drifted to meet Zhou Yan. That ferocious gaze instantly morphed into unparalleled warmth filled with love. It was a gentle and kind love that was impossible to describe in words.

This kind of gentle love was a first for Zhou Yan. Never before in the countless conversations and experiences, he shared with his father did he ever felt his father’s love. This paternal bond he shared was undeniably deeper than the trenches of any ocean that ever existed in this realm. The fatherly love that was showered unto Zhou Yan topped even the highest peaks of any mountains of this realm.

As the young lad, Zhou Yan, knelt, his young heart wrenched as he focused on the horrific state his father currently was in.

At this very moment, Zhou Yan was plagued by the questions bombarding his mind. Who could it possibly be to have harmed his own father to the state of such horror? Who could have robbed his father of the glimmer of hope he worked so desperately hard to regain by harming him to such a degree, to have obliterated all hopes of the entirety of the Zhou family?

Even though, through the many failures that befell the Zhou family, how could such a majestical family stand idle and remain ignorant in such a dire situation?

Zhou Yan almost lost his composure at the instant these plaguing thoughts surfaced in his mind.

“Heed my words child, my dear Little Yan. Rely only on the abilities of your own two hands, and never in any instant will you beg for any form of assistance from any living soul. Do you understand, child?”

The man spoke with a soft but deep mutter under his breath as he laid still in his very own blood.

Zhou Yan said nothing and reflected upon his growing regrets, ‘Throughout these years, I have seen all the mockery and judgments from the common-folk which befell our family. Would there possibly be a living soul left to beg from, even if begging was my only intention and option left…?

‘The very moment I was so gracefully blessed from the unique encounter and inherited the will and essence of the ancient sage, I have decided to never again beg from any living soul,’ thought Zhou Yan to himself.

In Zhou Wangchen’s trembling, frail grasp was the hand-carved effigy. The lad gifted the carving to his son in his extremely weakened state after he made his last statement. Without hesitation, Zhou Yan immediately received the carving from his father’s hands.

The young lad, Zhou Yan, lowered his head and glanced at his father’s sad face upon receiving the carving. He was stunned at what he saw.

Zhou Wangchen noticed the mildly stunned expression on his son’s face. He focused his weakened gaze onto his son. He had a look of glee and contempt. He whispered, “You noticed, child?”

“Yes.” Zhou Yan nodded.

Zhou Wangchen was always blunt in his words. He made no exception even at this dire moment.

“I know with every passing moment; I draw closer to death. However, there is still value in my life. The majesty of our Zhou family will soon arrive to preserve what little remained of my life’s breath.”

“If there is a future, one day, if you succeed in gaining honor from the magnificent majesty of our Zhou family, you may request that my plaguing ailments be healed by the majesty.”

As Zhou Wangchen spoke to his son, he took a deep breath as his piercing eyes gazed at his beloved child. There was pain and remorse in his eyes. “There were things, things that I can’t possibly explain to you. However, you must remain determined with an unbending will of steel.”

“As I am your father, I do not fear death, but now, however, I can’t die just yet. My only hope now is for you, my beloved child, to reach the peak of a blade’s heart.”

“Take my words to heart, child, do not disappoint me. Before you reach the peak of a blade’s heart, you are not to allow the truth of this event to plague your mind and, even more so, obsess over avenging my death. Lay this matter to rest child, for it has met its conclusion. It will take some time for our Zhou family to regain a stable foothold.”

Zhou Wangchen’s words weighed on him as his breath became weak and shallow.

Zhou Yan’s heart wrenched and throbbed with overwhelming sorrow. Both the lad’s palms bled as he clenched his fists tightly.

Even though certain things mystified the young lad, what he understood about his father was that he was a man with immense powers and for him to be stooped down to such a level of insignificance, he would have to shoulder an enormous burden of unspoken reasons to have made such a choice.

From his father’s words, the young lad deduced confidently that this very choice was probably the product of charity that resulted in him being able to have the opportunity for such power and success.

Ever since his father fell from grace, the majesty of the Zhou family always acted coldly towards the branch of the Zhou family, for that branch never really concerned the matters of the Zhou family that resided in the Canglan City. Why did it worry them now?

Zhou Yan simply inferred his own conclusions as he did not know the truth and reasons for his questions.

No longer was he the same naive, clueless child the lad once was since he inherited the will and collective memories which spanned a lifetime of the ancient sage from a land afar simply known as ‘Earth’!

“I will honor your graceful words, father. Rest well father, all will be well upon your awakening!”

Zhou Yan’s spoken words were filled with resolve and determination.

Not a single hint of sorrow and forced courage was shown on the young lad’s face. However, it was through his son’s unbending resolve that was demonstrated at this moment that Zhou Wangchen felt peace.

“Oh, how you have grown my beloved Little Yan. As your father, I am proud of how you’ve matured.”

As Zhou Wangchen softly uttered those words, his eyes grew heavier as he slowly shut his eyes.

Those eyes were once known for their deadly captivating abilities, for they were responsible for captivating the hearts of countless women. The instant those eyes were shut, gone were the colors of life as his essence of life was drained until nothing was left in the presence of his voided eyes.

Alas, Zhou Yan’s heart shuddered along with his soul as he felt a crushing weight falling unto him.

However, the young lad never succumbed to his sorrow as knelt on the floor, motionless.

…

Several people, too, were present in the forbidden chambers.

They were the Lord of the Zhou family, Zhou Wuzhen, The Elder of Lore, Zhou Wuyan, The Grand Elder, Zhou Wuwei, The Hand of the Grand Elder, Zhou Wujin. They were followed by the Lady Genius of the Zhou family, Zhou Lingyi, the Third prodigal heir of the Zhou family who believed in hard work over natural gifts, Zhou Lingyao.

They simply spectated from the side. Hence, not a single word was spoken.

It was only until Zhou Wangchen was at the brink of death did the Lord of the Zhou family, Zhou Wuzhen sighed as he walked over to Zhou Yan’s side and reached out to pull the young lad up from his misery.

“Grandfather…”

Sorrow was rooted deep in Zhou Yan’s voice, as he assumed deep down that this situation was even more complicated than he had thought.

“Worry not child, your father is simply trapped in a deep slumber, he will recover soon someday.”

Zhou Wuzhen could no longer bear his sadness as that was all he was able to say. However, these spoken words sounded shallow as far as words of comfort and condolences went.

Every inch of Zhou Yan’s body was trembling as he hated himself for the first time in his life. He cursed as he resented his weakness!

If only his skills and prowess were as capable as that ancient sage was for his mastery of the ‘Art of The Formless Fist.’ On top of the sage’s ‘Spatial Destruction’ ability, with a single wave of his hand, he was able to split mountains. If he only was as powerful as the sage, then not a single soul, living or dead, would dare bring any form of harm to his father!

The only thing the young lad could do was to once again clench his fists tightly. The lad felt nothing as his fingers penetrated deeper into his tender palms.

In response to the young lad’s sorrow, Zhou Wuzhen let out a long sigh as he conjured a unique blade of light from the palm of his hand. The edge of his blade stretched as far and as wide as his thumb. The instant this tiny blade of glimmering light was unsheathed, an indescribable concentrated blade’s menace engulfed the entire City of Canglan, instantly filling the city with an aura of death.

Feeling the full brunt of that violent blade’s menace, both Zhou Lingyi and Zhou Lingyao’s expression instantly grew pale. Sensing the imminent dire situation, the Elder of Lore surrounded them with his invisible aura of protection, suppressing the wave of menace.

At the same time, the Grand Elder’s hand unleashed their collective aura of protection on Zhou Lingyi and Zhou Lingyao, suppressing the wave of menace even further.

Zhou Wuzhen, being the wielder of such a weapon of majesty, felt indifferent as he was unharmed and untouched by the raw blade’s menace.

Unfortunately for the poor lad, Zhou Yan, he was abandoned by the three elders present.

However, even in the face of such a raw and unchained blade’s menace, Zhou Yan’s unbending will never allow the young lad to fall victim to the majestic blade.

The young lad’s body trembled violently as it resembled a tiny ship trapped in a vicious storm, rocking in the waves of the ocean, entirely at the mercy of the ocean’s unforgiving waves as it would only require a little effort to sink that tiny ship.

However, the young lad was forged with a will of steel as in the process of shaping his unbending will, keeping his back as straight as the spine of a quill, were emotions of sorrow, despair, hopelessness, and guilt. As a product of all the pain he endured, birthed his will of steel, unbending and unbroken.

It seemed that nothing in this realm that befell him could force this young lad to bend!

It was too at this moment, did the Elder of Lore realized the poor lad, Zhou Yan had been left to his own devices with not a single care by anyone present.

His heart fluttered at the sight of this poor lad, as he noticed, painted on this young lad’s face, was an expression of calm, along with a deep, focused gaze into an endless abyss, thus staring into a void of nothingness! His face was pale as it seemed to be plagued by an unnatural ailment. This very scene resembled the lad’s father, Zhou Wangchen, in his years of glory!

The young lad’s tender lips were pursed tightly. It was so unnaturally tight that the seam between both lips formed a straight line. As the edge of his lips cracked open, a single stream of blood flowed out of the crack. It was a horrifying sight, indeed.

His nose was slightly raised, causing this young lad’s pale face to look even more emaciated than ever.

This young lad’s current expression reminded everyone of the shocking event that took place years ago. It was the young lad’s father, Zhou Wangchen’s bold action that echoed volumes as he swore an oath of dilapidation. In the presence of the entire family, Zhou Wangchen boldly shaved off locks of his hair with utmost determination. His very expression on that day resembled how his son currently looked!

It did not matter if it were events of the past of present as without a doubt, in Zhou Wuyan’s mind, his looks were, in fact, the most elegant and stunning beauty he ever laid his eyes on, and it would be forever branded in his mind.

Perhaps, the only distinction was the wave of determination surrounding his father back then. In comparison, Zhou Yan can only be compared to an exhausted pile of mess.

The Elder of Lore stared at the young lad with pity and sorrow. With a silent sigh in his heart, he said, “Little Yan, make haste and come by my side now child, let’s not stall the Lord’s sealing ritual now, alright?”

As simple as what was said, Zhou Yan could not refuse when he heard the last line.

Thus, Zhou Yan silently nodded as he forced every inch of his heavy body to move. Still trembling, the young lad approached the Elder of Lore.

However, in an instant, a wave of mysterious energy swept the young lad, lifting with it the unbearable heavy burden he carried. As Zhou Yan was relieved of that weight, at that moment, the young lad felt a mysterious light and irresistible pulse of energy surging through his body. The young lad felt his body was lighter than ever, almost seemingly gaining the ability of flight as energy coursed deeper into every inch of his body.

The young lad, however, paid no attention to this mysterious energy coursing through his body, as he merely stood idle, observing the bright, blinding light seemingly comparable to the very light of the sun alone, engulfing his father.

As his father’s body was entirely shrouded by this blinding light, his body was absorbed into the very hilt of this blade of majestic light, like a black hole, sucking in his father wholly.

After such a majestic demonstration, the light penetrated the heavens above with a single ‘swoosh’ forcing its way through every layer of resistance, unhindered as it zipped across the boundless night sky like a comet and disappeared without a trace.

The atmosphere in the forbidden chambers was tense, and not a single soul present made a sound.

However, the silence was broken with a series of coughs.

The Lord of the family, Zhou Wuzhen, was coughing blood profusely from his lungs as it dissipated into a pink mist and rose into the air.

“My Lord…”

“My Lord, your health…”

“My Lord, are you…”

The Elder of Lore, Grand Elder, and the Grand Elder’s Hand were genuinely concerned and worried about the Lord of the Family.

“Worry not, I am fine. I am blessed by the great sage of the Majesty of our Zhou family, who is skilled in the art of healing to grace me with his potion of majestic healing. With that, I shall regain my full health in a short time, perhaps I would even be better than I ever was.”

Hence, Zhou Wuzhen waved his hands, gesturing every elder to quell their worry.

Thus, the trio of Elders, the Elder of Lore, Zhou Wuyan, the Grand Elder, Zhou Wuwei, the Hand of the Grand Elder, Zhou Wuji were relieved after hearing what Zhou Wuzhen said.