Chapter 1

"Chi Yao, I have treated you as my beloved, why do you want to kill me?"

Zhang Ruochen roared, lunging forward, making the gilded bed creak, and suddenly sat up.

Realizing it was just a dream, Zhang Ruochen let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

No!

That was not a dream!

How could everything that happened between him and Princess Chi Yao be just a dream?

Zhang Ruochen was the only son of "Emperor Ming," one of the nine emperors of the Kunlun Realm. At the age of sixteen, he had cultivated to the Great Perfection of the Heavenly Extreme Realm with his heaven-defying physique.

However, just as he became the first among the young generation in the Kunlun Realm, he was killed by his childhood sweetheart and fiancée, Princess Chi Yao.

Princess Chi Yao was the daughter of "Emperor Qing," one of the nine emperors.

Emperor Ming and Emperor Qing were the best of friends, and Zhang Ruochen and Princess Chi Yao were betrothed from the womb, growing up and cultivating together. One was dashing, the other was stunningly beautiful, they were a perfect match, a story that could have become a legend in the cultivation world.

Zhang Ruochen never expected that Princess Chi Yao would actually turn against him!

After being killed by Princess Chi Yao, when Zhang Ruochen woke up again, he found himself eight hundred years later.

The former Princess Chi Yao had quelled the chaos of the nine emperors, unified the nine countries, and established the First Central Empire, becoming the ruler of the entire Kunlun Realm—Empress Chi Yao.

Eight hundred years ago, the nine emperors who dominated the Kunlun Realm had become a thing of the past, disappearing into the long river of history.

The nine emperors were dead, and the empress should be enthroned.

In this era, there was only one ruler, Empress Chi Yao, who ruled the world and commanded all directions.

"Why did she kill me? How could her heart be so cruel, or is it that all women's hearts are so cruel?"

Zhang Ruochen's eyes were sharp, his heart as heavy as iron, full of questions. But no one could help him find the answers.

Eight hundred years had passed, and the world had changed completely. Except for Empress Chi Yao, who remained youthful and immortal, all the old acquaintances had turned to dust and bones.

Even the once mighty nine emperors had vanished from the world, leaving only glorious stories for future generations to recount.

"Creak!"

A frail, beautifully dressed woman pushed the door open from outside and looked at Zhang Ruochen sitting on the bed with a concerned gaze, "Ruo Chen, did you have a nightmare again?"

This beautiful woman was the consort of the Yunwu Marquis, and also Zhang Ruochen's mother, Consort Lin.

The original owner of this body had died three days ago due to a long-term illness.

After being killed by Princess Chi Yao, when Zhang Ruochen woke up again, he found himself in this body, bringing the originally deceased young man back to life. Coincidentally, the original owner of this body was also named Zhang Ruochen.

When Zhang Ruochen first woke up, he was still repelled by Consort Lin. After all, in Zhang Ruochen's eyes, Consort Lin was just a stranger.

However, after three days of interaction, Zhang Ruochen gradually discovered that Consort Lin truly cared for him, almost to the point of being overly attentive. When she saw Zhang Ruochen wake up from a nightmare, she immediately rushed to his room, regardless of the cold weather.

In his previous life, Zhang Ruochen had never seen his birth mother. It was said that she had died when he was born. He never imagined that after being killed by Princess Chi Yao and reborn in this body, he would have a mother and feel the warmth of maternal love.

"Perhaps she doesn't know that her Ruo Chen died three days ago!"

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

Zhang Ruochen looked at the beautiful woman in front of him, his eyes softened, and he smiled slightly, "Mother, don't worry about me, it was just a dream."

Consort Lin, wearing a dark red fur-lined cloak, sat beside Zhang Ruochen's bed, stroking his forehead with concern, "For three nights, you've been waking up from nightmares, always calling out 'Chi Yao.' Who is she?"

Consort Lin naturally couldn't associate the name "Chi Yao" with the Empress of the First Central Empire.

Moreover, after Empress Chi Yao unified the Kunlun Realm and established the First Central Empire, she was known as the "Great and Virtuous Empress." No one dared to mention "Chi Yao" for fear of offending her.

Zhang Ruochen said, "Nothing, Mother, you must have heard wrong!"

Consort Lin sighed, "In the future, never call 'Chi Yao' again, even in your dreams. That is the Empress's name. Calling her name is a great disrespect, and if someone with ill intentions hears it, you could be executed."

Zhang Ruochen nodded, tightly clenching his fingers, and said with deep meaning, "Absolutely not! In the future..."

In the future, I will be her nightmare.

Consort Lin looked at the frail, pale Zhang Ruochen and sighed softly, feeling a deep pain in her heart.

Although born into the house of a marquis, he had been weak and sickly since childhood. At sixteen, he could only stay in bed all year, and it seemed he would be like this for the rest of his life!

Outside, a series of chaotic footsteps could be heard.

"What are you doing? This is the Yushu Palace. Who gave you the nerve to barge in here?" A beautiful servant tried to stop the Eighth Prince, but was pushed away by him and fell more than ten meters away.

The Eighth Prince was a martial artist, having reached the late stage of the Yellow Extreme Realm. A single palm strike could send a three-hundred-pound stone plate flying ten yards, let alone a servant weighing a hundred pounds.

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

The servant screamed and fell heavily to the ground, her left arm broken.

The Eighth Prince, dressed in a gold-threaded robe and a jade belt, with a robust body and long arms, walked into the Yushu Palace with a steady pace, coldly staring at the servant, "A mere servant dares to block my path, truly asking for death."

Behind the Eighth Prince, six guards in scale armor, tall and muscular, clearly powerful martial artists, followed, belonging to the palace's elite guards.

Consort Lin, hearing the commotion outside, calmed Zhang Ruochen and then closed the door and went out.

She stared at the Eighth Prince standing outside, frowning slightly, "Eighth Prince, this is the Yushu Palace. Even as a prince, you can't just barge in!"

The Eighth Prince, Zhang Ji, raised his head and stared at Consort Lin, saying loudly, "The Empress has ordered that Consort Lin and the Ninth Prince's quarters be moved to the Ziyi Side Hall. From now on, the Yushu Palace will be the residence of my birth mother, Consort Xiao."

Consort Lin's face changed slightly. She had long expected this day, but she didn't think it would come so soon.

She smiled bitterly, "The Empress is already making us leave the Yushu Palace? Fine! Tomorrow, I will move with Ruo Chen to the side hall."

The Eighth Prince said, "I'm sorry! Mother said she wants to move into the Yushu Palace tonight. Please move to the side hall now, Consort Lin."

Consort Lin knew that Zhang Ruochen was weak and sickly and couldn't withstand the trouble, so she pleaded, "Eighth Prince, you know your Ninth Brother is weak and sickly. It's late at night, and the weather is cold. If anything happens..."

The Eighth Prince laughed coldly, "There are many pitiful people in this world, but not everyone deserves pity. If the Ninth Prince is weak and sickly, why is he still alive?"

"He is your Ninth Brother!"

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

Zhang Ruochen, weak and frail, supported himself on the door frame to stand, staring at the Eighth Prince not far away. His frail body seemed to contain an indomitable will, and he said, "No need to beg them, we will move now."

"Ruo Chen, why did you get out of bed? It's cold outside, go back quickly." Consort Lin hurriedly went to support Zhang Ruochen, afraid he would catch a cold.

Zhang Ruochen stubbornly shook his head, "Mother, we don't need to beg anyone. One day... we will return here!"

Consort Lin, looking at Zhang Ruochen's determined eyes, seemed to be moved by his emotions and nodded with tears in her eyes.

Consort Lin and Zhang Ruochen, supported by her, slowly walked out of the Yushu Palace. Except for the servant who had been pushed and had a broken arm, none of the other servants followed them out of the Yushu Palace.

Everyone could see that Consort Lin and the Ninth Prince had completely lost their power and influence, and it would be difficult for them to have a place in the marquis's mansion.

Originally, they were servants of the Yushu Palace, and now they wisely chose to stay in the Yushu Palace, all going to curry favor with the new master, the Eighth Prince.

The Ziyi Side Hall was generally where the out-of-favor consorts lived, very remote, with leaves scattered everywhere, seemingly uninhabited for a long time.

The night was deep, and the wind was cold.

Sitting on the cold stone bench, Zhang Ruochen, wrapped in an outer coat, still felt the cold.

"This body is too weak. Only by cultivating martial arts can I gradually strengthen it. Otherwise, even though I am the son of a marquis, I will still be at the mercy of others." Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.

Eight hundred years had passed, and Zhang Ruochen didn't know where he could go. Since heaven had arranged for him to be reborn in this body, whether to avenge Empress Chi Yao or to take care of his mother, he must become strong.

The humiliation and cold treatment he suffered today were all because he was too weak, unable to resist, unable to control his own fate, and even his living place was taken by others.

To gain respect and a warm, comfortable living environment, he must become a martial artist and prove his ability.

In the Kunlun Realm, to become a martial artist, one must first activate the "Divine Martial Mark."

The "Divine Martial Mark" is the qualification granted by the divine for humans to cultivate martial arts. Without activating the "Divine Martial Mark," one can never cultivate true qi and become a powerful being in the world.

Zhang Ruochen was already sixteen and had not yet activated the "Divine Martial Mark."

After sixteen, one misses the best age for cultivation. Even if the "Divine Martial Mark" is activated, it is impossible to achieve much.

Why could the Eighth Prince be superior to others? Why could he drive Zhang Ruochen and Consort Lin out of the Yushu Palace?

Because the Eighth Prince activated the "Divine Martial Mark" at the age of ten and is now a young martial artist at the late stage of the Yellow Extreme Realm.

"As long as I can activate the 'Divine Martial Mark,' I can cultivate the 'Nine Heavens Ming Emperor Scripture.' With the profoundness of the 'Nine Heavens Ming Emperor Scripture,' even though I have missed the best age for cultivation, I still have a chance to catch up with other geniuses and become a powerful martial artist again."

The 'Nine Heavens Ming Emperor Scripture' is the supreme scripture cultivated by Emperor Ming. Besides Emperor Ming, only Zhang Ruochen knows the complete cultivation method of the 'Nine Heavens Ming Emperor Scripture.'

"Tomorrow is the grand ceremony. I hope to gain the recognition of the divine and activate the 'Divine Martial Mark.'" Zhang Ruochen clenched his fists, full of longing for the activation of the 'Divine Martial Mark.'

After tidying up the room, Consort Lin came to support Zhang Ruochen, "Ruo Chen, go to bed early! Tomorrow, you have to attend the grand ceremony."

"Mother, don't worry, I will definitely activate the 'Divine Martial Mark' tomorrow!" Zhang Ruochen said.

"Okay! Mother believes in you!"

Consort Lin looked deeply at Zhang Ruochen, sighing softly in her heart.

Actually, she had no hope that Zhang Ruochen would activate the 'Divine Martial Mark.' After all, he was already sixteen, and it was almost impossible to activate the 'Divine Martial Mark' after sixteen.

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