In the echoing palace, no one heard those quiet words—except Li Hao.
They pierced through the noise like a whisper in still water. Crystal clear and precise.
Li Hao's narrowed eyes glinted. The seething hatred that once poured from his body like an unrestrained tide suddenly faltered. The trembling ground beneath him stilled. That bone-deep rage—fueled by jealousy, wounded pride, and love twisted into obsession—began to simmer into something colder.
Calculation.
His mind churned. 'That phrase. Son of Heaven… He knows. He shouldn't. Who is he?'
'Is he like me? Could he… no. Could he also be from Earth?'
His gaze snapped toward Zheng Xie, whose figure stood calmly amidst the shifting tensions of the room, composed and entirely unaffected, as if none of this pertained to him.
'That look in his eyes…'
Li Hao was going to snap his fingers—invoke a domain technique that would temporarily sever the world around them, creating a sealed pocket of space just for them to converse. He needed answers. He had to know.
But Zheng Xie moved before him.
A glance.
Subtle.
But absolute.
It was not a look of fear nor one of aggression. It was quiet, firm, and carried the unspoken weight of someone who understood far more than he let on.
Don't.
That single glance held that message with unwavering clarity.
Li Hao's brows furrowed, his posture stiffening. High and mighty as he was, his pride screamed at him to ignore the silent warning. To proceed. To dominate.
But Zheng Xie remained unmoved. Calm, cold, composed. That persistence unnerved him.
With a light snort, Li Hao lowered his hand.
He could wait.
For now.
There were still things he wanted. No—needed—to know. And besides, if that man truly held the same origin as him, then it was far too early to sever their connection. If anything… it made him far more valuable.
At that moment, a wave of calm qi surged across the palace like the breeze before a storm, stifling the lingering tension. All eyes turned.
It was Tianren.
His presence alone quieted the unrest, his gaze firm yet measured as it swept across the crowd, then landed on Li Hao.
"Li Hao of the Profound Sword Sect," he said slowly, his voice carrying a weight that demanded respect. "You are a man with a formidable future. One whose talent has long been acknowledged as worthy of ascending to the upper realms."
He paused, tone gentling slightly but with an undertone of reproach.
"But one must never forget their roots. To lose control over your emotions in such a manner… it ill suits a man of your standing."
The implication hung in the air like a blade.
Li Hao met Tianren's gaze. He gritted his teeth, but there was no retreat in his stance. No apology in his eyes.
Instead, he said, voice steady, "If I may be honest, Elder Tianren—right now, I am simply a man in love. Your son… Brother Xie… is trying to obstruct that path."
His voice dropped lower, sincere and direct.
"Surely… surely I cannot be blamed for feeling this way. It only proves how much I care for Ling Xue."
Tianren studied him in silence.
Then… a smile crept onto his lips, distant and unreadable.
"Well said. You are not wrong to feel. But I ask only one thing: express those feelings mildly. This is a sacred gathering. Your strength may kill someone unintentionally."
Li Hao nodded. He cupped his fists and gave a short bow.
"Then, with your permission, I would like to request a fair duel with Zheng Xie."
The words sent a ripple through the palace. Many looked between the two young men—one renowned for his sword mastery, the other… known for his cunning and his incompetence in cultivation.
Tianren's eyes flickered with intensity he was going to retort. But it was Ling Xue's voice that shattered the air next.
"No!" she cried, horrified.
She turned to Li Hao, eyes wide, her body trembling slightly.
"Li Hao… what are you saying?" Her voice was soft, fragile. "You know how powerful you are. Brother Xie can't match your cultivation. Do you… do you intend to kill him?"
Li Hao's lips curved into a smirk, arrogance gleaming in his eyes.
"See? Even you admit it. You know he's weak, Ling Xue. He's not someone worthy of you. He's cunning, yes. Has a powerful background, yes. But strength? Potential? He has none. Only I am worthy of standing by your side."
She stared at him—no, through him.
Her voice came out like glass cracking.
"Who are you to decide who is worthy of me?"
He blinked.
Her next words were even sharper.
"Do you think I'm your possession? A pet to parade around? Or a doll you can dress up in your fantasies? Your pride… your arrogance… I hate it, Li Hao."
Her rejection landed like thunder.
Li Hao staggered back a step, breath caught in his throat.
"I…" he muttered, trying to find footing. "I suppose… you're right. But I speak only from love. My vision for you… is always the best. I want only what benefits you—what uplifts you."
Ling Xue's eyes dimmed.
"Even if it crushes me?"
He froze.
She took a step forward, her voice trembling with honesty, with conviction.
"You never asked me what I wanted. Never once. Not even today."
Her eyes shone, fierce and resolute.
"I don't care if it's you, or some exalted immortal from the upper realms—my decision is final. I will marry Brother Xie."
She turned to face Zheng Xie now, her voice softening with a warmth that had never once been directed at Li Hao.
"He… is better than anyone I've ever known in my entire life."
And with that, the silence fell again—deafening, damning.
Out in the corner of the grand palace, under the flickering lanterns and watchful eyes of nobles, Ling Kong stood silent. His gaze lingered on Ling Xue, the jade of his heart. But right now, all he could feel was a cauldron of complex, brewing emotions.
He furrowed his brows, clearly unsettled.
'What kind of demonic techniques has this snake used on her? She wouldn't—she couldn't have fallen for that man. Not someone from the Zheng Family. Has she truly lost her mind?'
The more he thought about it, the more absurd it felt. His daughter—his pride, the blooming orchid of the Ling Family—choosing Zheng Xie of all people? It felt like a personal betrayal.
Then, as if the Heavens were mocking him, a familiar and all-too-giddy laughter echoed through the palace like a gong.
Tianren, his aura regal and domineering, placed a hand on Ling Kong's shoulder. His smile was warm and light-hearted—perhaps too light-hearted.
"Looks like the young lady has chosen," Tianren said with a honeyed voice. "Surely, you wouldn't have a problem now, Friend Ling Kong?"
Each word dripped with hidden malice. There was no 'asking' in his tone. There was only an unspoken command. Ling Kong may have been the family head of the Ling Clan, but in front of a Pillar of the Central Continent, his status was nothing more than a flickering candle in front of a blazing sun.
He clenched his fists but smiled anyway, his teeth grinding behind his lips.
"Haha, why would I have any problem?" he said, his voice pleasant yet hollow. "My daughter has chosen her husband. I will support her wholeheartedly. After all, I do love my daughter… and only want her happiness."
Tianren's laughter rang out again, louder this time, like a drum of finality. He patted Ling Kong's back—firm, authoritative, and condescending.
"If that's the case," he said, "how about we accommodate this marriage right now? Let's make them genuine partners."
Ling Kong blinked, stiffening. "…You mean an engagement today?"
Tianren's smile widened, as if it was only natural. "Yes. There are too many eyes watching today. I wouldn't want some brash cultivator foolishly trying to lay their hands on my daughter-in-law, after all. We'll let them take the Oath of Binding, and on an auspicious day, we'll hold the marriage."
Ling Kong's thoughts spun.
He had originally planned to delay the matter. Maybe throw some dirt on Zheng Xie's name, plant seeds of doubt in Ling Xue's heart, pull her away from the boy before anything irreversible happened.
But now…
He thought back to Zheng Xie's words. Those veiled warnings wrapped under a layer of gentle pleasantries. Whether the boy truly knew something or was simply bluffing—didn't matter. That sensation—the chill that crawled down his spine—was real.
He could not afford to make Zheng Xie an enemy. Not now. Not until he had tangible evidence.
He swallowed his rage and smiled.
"Haha, such a grand idea! We should surely proceed." He turned toward his daughter. "What do you say, Xue'er?"
Ling Xue was silent for a moment. All eyes shifted to her.
Then, she nodded, her voice steady and pure. "I am ready," she said, her cheeks dusted pink but her gaze unwavering. "I accept the engagement."
A wave of applause thundered through the crowd.
Some clapped out of genuine joy, some out of courtesy, and others just to appease the powers watching. Yet, amidst it all, Ling Xue stood firm—unlike a child being forced, she resembled a bride walking her own chosen path.
Zheng Xie turned, taking her hand, and leaned in ever so slightly.
His whisper was almost a sigh, soft and velvet-smooth like warm silk.
"Xue'er… you are truly brave. I love that part of you the most."
Her body stiffened as if struck. Her face went crimson.
She opened her mouth to reply, but no words came out—only the fluttering of her heart.
Then, a gentle cough interrupted the moment.
They both turned.
Mei Xiu, Zheng Xie's mother, stood at a dignified distance, a soft smile on her lips. Her bearing calm and poised.
"You two can flirt later," she said teasingly, "Let's complete the engagement first."
The two immediately separated, awkward and flushed Their youthful awkwardness made several of the elders chuckle fondly.
Somewhere in the crowd, an old cultivator wiped his eyes.
"Ah… the joy of youth," he sighed, his ancient heart swelling with nostalgia.
Tianren, however, merely smiled wider. He watched everything with calculating amusement, but no one could read what truly hid behind those crescent-shaped eyes.
As the ceremonial altar was prepared and spiritual contracts brought out, no one noticed that Zheng Xie's eyes briefly flickered toward the figure of Li Hao who was sitting with an ashen expression.
Just then, Zheng Xie's eyes went blank.
The world fell away.
His consciousness slipped like sand through fingers, fading without resistance.
And when he opened his eyes again, he found himself enclosed in a place that wasn't a place. A void wrapped in ink, darker than black, stretched endlessly in every direction. The silence wasn't just quiet; it was suffocating.
He took a breath.
Nothing.
There was no air. No wind. No scent.
He turned.
Left. Right. Behind.
Nothing.
No walls. No sky. No ground.
Only darkness.
And then—
A voice.
"Mask..."
It slithered through the void thick, cold and absolute. "Why did you stop Li Hao from creating his domain?" the voice echoed again, deeper now, biting. "Did you forget your command... or are you trying to rebel?"
Zheng Xie didn't flinch.
He didn't bow, didn't kneel. He simply stood in that abyss and chuckled.
A soft, deranged laugh that cracked slightly at the edges.
"Ahah... Yes..." He licked his lips, the grin widening. "I am, Leader. I'm trying to rebel. Do you know why?"
The silence that followed was heavy. "I just need an answer."
The voice didn't respond. Seconds passed. Then minutes.
Still, nothing.
And then—
"What do you desire, Mask?"
Zheng Xie's grin faded into a cold smile.
"I need to know... why you want Li Hao. I need to know what makes him so precious that you'd move every piece on the board just to seize him."
He tilted his head, eyes narrowing in the nothingness. "Surely, it isn't just because you need a body to host. You already have one, don't you?"
Silence.
A different kind this time. Guilty.
Zheng Xie took that silence like a nail in the coffin. He pressed.
"See, you can't deny it. So... tell me, Leader." His tone was still casual, almost friendly. But the undercurrent of threat was unmistakable. "Why do you desire him? Why did you desire all those people you ordered the Syndicate to kidnap? I just need answers. No riddles. Just the truth."
For a moment, he thought the void itself sighed.
A whisper of breath passed through the abyss, soft and tired. "This isn't something you need to know, Zheng Xie." The voice had changed—no longer judgmental, now just... tired. "There was a deal between you and me. I would give you information. You would work for me. I held my end. Now you do yours."
Zheng Xie shook his head slowly. A bitter grin on his face.
"There's just one problem, Leader…" He exhaled. "I'm too shameless for that."
His smile widened.
"I want more. I'm greedy. Always have been. And I know you need Li Hao more than you're letting on. So please…" He leaned forward into the darkness, eyes gleaming. "Indulge me."
And then — a chuckle. Deep. Amused.
"You really want to know?"
"I do."
The voice grew colder again, darker. "Before I tell you… let me give you something. A warning. Do not dwell on the secrets of this world. There exist beings beyond you, beyond anyone. Just knowing their names can unravel your mind. Just sensing their will can erase your soul. Beings of greater intent than the heavens. Do you still intend to listen?"
Zheng Xie snickered, amused. "Try a better excuse, Leader. That one's beneath you."
Silence.
Then —
A laugh. Long, loud, and wild.
"Ahahahahahaha... As you wish, Mask. Then I will give you exactly what you asked for. Just remember—if your mind breaks, if your soul collapses, if your will shatters—it won't be my fault. After this, our deal is done. You will act without question, and you will never again demand from me."
Zheng Xie simply nodded.
And in that moment, the voice whispered:
"The Heavens cry when it awakens…"
And that single sentence—that single fragment of truth—shattered him.
Reality itself warped.
Zheng Xie fell to his knees, clawing at his skull, gauging his eyes. The pain didn't just stab—it devoured. It wasn't physical. It was cosmic. Existential. The idea behind the sentence—the truth it hinted at was too vast.
Something broke.
A thousand souls weren't enough.
His bones cracked. His blood boiled. His flesh peeled. His skin aged, flaked, withered—until only a husk remained. Then even that collapsed into a pool of blood and tissue and raw, writhing pain.
And still—
He felt everything. He felt his own self dying. He watched himself melt. He saw his soul fray, strand by strand. He could not scream. He could not cry. He could only feel.
And then…
Nothing.
…
When he opened his eyes again, he was back at the palace.
Standing in the same position. Surrounded by the same crowd. Time hadn't passed. Not even a second.
But inside...
Inside, something had snapped.
His breath caught.
His heart raced.
But no one noticed.
No one saw the cold sweat on his back. No one saw the tremble in his fingers. No one noticed the glint of madness in his eyes.
Only one thought remained in his skull, echoing like thunder.
The Heavens cry when it awakens…
And now... he had to pretend nothing happened.