Chapter 1

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

Zhang Ruochen roared and lunged forward, pressing down on the gilded bed, which creaked under the sudden weight, as he abruptly 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 what 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 peak of the Heavenly Extreme Realm with his heaven-defying constitution.

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 rebellion of the nine emperors, unified the nine countries, and established the First Central Empire, becoming the supreme 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 annals of history.

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

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

"Why did she want to 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 heavy with questions. But no one could help him find the answers.

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

Even the once mighty nine emperors had vanished from the world, leaving behind only glorious stories that were passed down through generations.

"Creak!"

A frail, beautifully dressed woman pushed the door open and walked in, looking at Zhang Ruochen sitting on the bed with a concerned gaze. "Dust, did you have a nightmare again?"

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

The original owner of this body had been bedridden due to illness and died three days ago.

After being killed by Princess Chi Yao, Zhang Ruochen woke up in this body, bringing the originally deceased youth 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 met 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 Dust died three days ago!"

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

Zhang Ruochen looked at the woman in front of him, his eyes softening, 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 "Greatly Virtuous and Powerful Empress." No one dared to mention "Chi Yao" in her presence, as it would be considered a taboo.

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

Consort Lin sighed. "In the future, never call 'Chi Yao' by name, even in your dreams. It is a great disrespect to the Empress, 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 sorrow.

Although born into the house of a marquis, he had been weak and sickly since childhood. At sixteen, he could only lie in bed, and it seemed he would remain that way 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 maid tried to stop the Eighth Prince, but was pushed away by him and thrown 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 meters, let alone a maid weighing a hundred pounds.

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

The maid screamed as she hit the ground, her left arm broken.

The Eighth Prince, dressed in a golden-threaded robe with a jade belt around his waist, was muscular and tall, walking steadily into the Yushu Palace. He glanced coldly at the maid. "A mere servant dares to block my path, truly asking for death."

Behind the Eighth Prince were six guards in scaled armor, tall and broad-shouldered, clearly powerful martial artists and members of the palace guard.

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

She looked at the Eighth Prince standing outside, frowning slightly. "Your Highness, this is the Yushu Palace. Even as a prince, you cannot barge in here!"

The Eighth Prince, Zhang Ji, raised his head and stared at Consort Lin, speaking 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 not so soon.

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

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

Consort Lin knew that Zhang Ruochen was weak and could not withstand the strain, so she pleaded, "Your Highness, you know your Ninth Brother is weak and sickly. It's late and the weather is cold. If something happens..."

The Eighth Prince laughed coldly, showing no mercy. "There are many pitiful people in this world, but not everyone deserves pity. If the Ninth Prince is so weak, why is he still alive?"

"He is your Ninth Brother!"

Before Consort Lin could say more, 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 from a distance. Despite his frail appearance, his body seemed to exude a will of defiance. "No need to beg them. We will move now."

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

Consort Lin, seeing the determination in Zhang Ruochen's eyes, seemed to be moved by his emotions and nodded with tears in her eyes.

Consort Lin supported Zhang Ruochen as they walked out of the Yushu Palace step by step. Except for the maid who had been thrown and had her arm broken, none of the other servants followed them out of the Yushu Palace.

Everyone could see that Consort Lin and the Ninth Prince had lost all their influence and would no longer have a place in the marquis's mansion.

They were originally servants of the Yushu Palace and now wisely chose to stay and curry favor with the new master, the Eighth Prince.

The Ziyi Side Hall was generally where fallen consorts lived, a remote and desolate place, covered in fallen leaves, 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 garment, still felt the chill.

"This body is too weak. Only by cultivating martial arts can I make it stronger. Otherwise, even as 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 did not know where he could go now. Since heaven had given him a second chance 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 or control his own fate, even losing his own living space.

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

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.

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

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

"Once I 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 cultivation manual of Emperor Ming. Besides Emperor Ming, only Zhang Ruochen knows the complete cultivation method.

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

After tidying up the room, Consort Lin came to support Zhang Ruochen. "Dust, 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 fact, she had no hope that Zhang Ruochen would activate the 'Divine Martial Mark.' After sixteen, it was almost impossible to activate it.

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

(Weibo: Feitianyu5, Sina Weibo: Feitianyu's Weibo)

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