"Are they okay?"
Father and Mother. For Hong Yu, these words held an imnse allure.
In his previous life, he had been all alone. Whenever he saw other children being taken to school by their parents, cared for by them when sick, or comforted by them when tired and weary, he would feel incredibly envious. In his heart, even though he had never experienced the warmth of kinship, it did not stop him in the slightest from placing family above all else.
It was because of this that, after being reborn in this world, his love for his sister, Yun ngyao, bordered on a fanatical doting.
He would absolutely not allow her to suffer even a hint of harm!
As for the father and mother whose mories were gradually fading, Hong Yu's heart still held a sliver of anticipation and longing.
"We paid a terrible price in that battle back then. In the end, it was only because the Master broke through to an extrely powerful realm mid-battle that he was able to annihilate the pursuers and escape that calamity. But during that battle, the Mistress was grievously injured, which thoroughly enraged the Master."
The Tiger Instructor took a deep breath, his eyes filled with a look of reverence and fervor. "An enraged Master is a fearso thing. He fought his way back to that land all by himself. He cut down countless experts and re-established his own faction. Relying on this faction he built with his own hands, the Master has dedicated himself to his revenge all these years."
"As for the Mistress, ever since that battle, she has never woken up."
The Tiger Instructor's expression grew dim.
Thump, thump, thump!
Hong Yu staggered backward, the look of joy and hope on his face instantly freezing. His heart twisted in agony.
A child is their mother's whole heart.
And how could parents not be an inseparable part of their child's own heart?
Upon suddenly hearing that his mother had been unconscious for more than ten years, an overwhelming rage surged through Hong Yu for reasons he couldn't explain. He gritted his teeth. "Who was it that sent people to hunt down my father and mother?"
"Young Master, please calm your anger."
The Tiger Instructor gave a wry smile and tried to console him. "The powerful expert who grievously injured the Mistress back then has already been slain by the Master, and his soul is imprisoned in the Demon Prison, enduring endless punishnt and torture. As for the mastermind behind it all… that is an existence that even the Master cannot contend with. Even if I told you, what could you do?"
Hearing this, Hong Yu fell silent.
He lowered his gaze and said nothing.
But the Tiger Instructor saw Hong Yu's hands clench into tight fists, his five fingers squeezing so hard that his knuckles had turned white.
His shoulders trembled slightly.
This was a sign of extre anger.
Power. It was always about power!
Without power, he couldn't even protect Yun ngyao. Without power, he knew his parents had a great enemy but was helpless to do anything about it. Without power, if the Tiger Instructor hadn't suddenly appeared, he would have nearly lost his own life here…
Everything ca down to power!
Hong Yu took a deep breath, his gaze growing ever more resolute. He said in a low voice, "Uncle Hu, please tell , how can I see my father?"
The Tiger Instructor let out a bitter laugh. "The Master forbade from revealing these things to you."
"Then can you at least tell if he is doing well?"
Looking into Hong Yu's earnest eyes, the Tiger Instructor sighed. "No, he's not. He's doing very poorly."
"Ever since the Mistress was injured and fell into a coma, I have never seen the Master smile again. His temperant changed drastically; he's completely different from how he was a thousand years ago. Although the Master never says it, we all know that he lives a very tiring and bitter life. He wants to see you very much, it's just that he…"
Hong Yu was taken aback and pressed, "What's wrong with Father?"
"It's… it's nothing!"
The Tiger Instructor's expression changed slightly, as if he had touched upon so taboo, and he quickly changed the subject. "Young Master, please make your decision!"
Hong Yu knew that pressing further would be useless, so he didn't make things difficult for the Tiger Instructor.
He asked hesitantly, "Is it truly that difficult just to et him once?"
The Tiger Instructor hesitated for a mont before sighing softly. "If the Young Master is truly determined to find the Master and Mistress on your own, then let's speak of it again once you have the power to travel to the Desert North Wilderness!"
"The Desert North Wilderness? I understand!"
Hong Yu nodded and took a deep breath. His gaze turned sharp and profound as he stared into the void. "Fine. I'll let her go with you!"
...
The barrier dissipated.
Hong Yu looked at Yun ngyao and gently ruffled the young girl's hair. "Yaoyao, you have to be good. Follow Uncle Hu and get your illness treated!"
"Brother, I don't want to leave you…"
Yun ngyao's eyes widened. Her frail body looked as if a gust of wind could blow her away, yet she gazed at Hong Yu with determination and said in all seriousness, "If I leave, there'll be no one to cook for you, Brother. No one to nd your clothes, and no one to keep you company when you're tired."
Yun ngyao's eyes were so clear they were almost transparent.
She looked at Hong Yu without a trace of impurity.
Her words, so stubborn yet so innocent, were heart-wrenching.
Hong Yu gently caressed her tender cheek and forced a smile. "Don't worry, Yaoyao, Brother will take care of himself! The most important thing right now is for you to take care of yourself. Only if you're strong and healthy can you take better care of in the future, right?"
"Then… will you co find , Brother?"
Yun ngyao asked earnestly.
Hong Yu froze.
The Tiger Instructor's words echoed in his mind: "In the future, if you truly wish to seek out the Master and Miss ng Yao, let's speak of it again when you have the power to travel to the Desert North Wilderness!"
Where was the Desert North Wilderness? How far was it from here?
Hong Yu had no idea. How could he even talk about searching for them?
But seeing Yun ngyao's determined gaze, and with his heart full of concern for his father and mother, this bond of kinship ant that no matter how many obstacles lay between them, Hong Yu would press forward resolutely and without a second thought. Even if it took ten years, a hundred years, or even a lifeti!
Because in that strange and distant place was an emotional tie that he held dear!
There were people he cherished and cared for!
Father, Mother, and his sister…
Wait for !
Hong Yu took a deep breath and nodded. "I will. I will definitely co and find you! When that ti cos, our family will be reunited again!"
"Mhm!"
Yun ngyao nodded seriously and held out her slender little finger. "Pinky promise!"
"Alright—pinky promise!"
A large hand clasped a small one, and the siblings sealed their promise to one another.
Under Yun ngyao's lingering, reluctant gaze, the Tiger Instructor took her and soared into the sky.
"Brother—you have to co find !"
Yun ngyao shouted from high in the air.
Hong Yu nodded seriously. "Don't worry, I definitely will!" His fists clenched, and a resolute light flashed in his eyes. "The Desert North Wilderness… I will definitely go there!"
"I shall take my leave first!"
The Tiger Instructor nodded at the crowd before soaring away, disappearing into the boundless sky.
Hong Yu stared in the direction they had left for a long, long ti…
It was only when White Cloud Peak walked to his side and a soft voice sounded by his ear that Hong Yu was startled back to his senses. "In this life, joys and sorrows, partings and reunions are inevitable. Separation is not the end. We say goodbye only so that we may see an even better version of one another at our next eting. Believe in yourself. As long as you keep each other in your hearts, then no matter how far apart you are, you will be able to see each other again!"
"Master, thank you!"
Hong Yu looked at White Cloud Peak, his emotions in check.
This kind old man before him was so worthy of respect!
After a mont's hesitation, Hong Yu said, "Master, do you know of the Desert North Wilderness?"
"Hm? You want to go to the Desert North Wilderness?"
White Cloud Peak asked, surprised.
Hong Yu nodded.
White Cloud Peak pondered for a mont before saying gravely, "Little Yu, do you have any idea how large this continent is?"
Hong Yu shook his head.
White Cloud Peak continued, "This continent is boundless. Our Fengyue Kingdom, and even the entire Southern Ten Nations Alliance, are but a speck of dust under the blazing sun on this continent. The land beneath our feet is called the Southern Border Profound Domain, and it is composed of over three hundred alliances like our Southern Ten Nations. Beyond the Southern Border Profound Domain, there are the East Rock Spirit Domain, the Western Celestial Profound Domain, the Celestial Middle Holy Domain, and the Desert North Wilderness you spoke of is also one of them!"
"The distance between the Five Domains is unknown. This is especially true for our Southern Border Profound Domain and the Desert North Wilderness; one in the south and one in the north, an unreachable distance apart."
White Cloud Peak considered this. "I once heard my own master ntion that only those who have reached the Primordial Spirit Realm are qualified to traverse the distance between domains. However, even for a Primordial Spirit Realm expert, attempting to cross between two domains is a journey of near-certain death, with an extrely slim chance of success. Not to ntion, the distance between our Southern Border Profound Domain and the Desert North Wilderness is just so vast."
"Is there no other way at all?"
Hong Yu asked urgently.
If even Primordial Spirit Realm experts couldn't cross to another domain, wouldn't his desire to find Yun ngyao and reunite his family be more than just difficult?
White Cloud Peak hesitated for a mont before saying, "Actually, there is one other way."
White Cloud Peak began to explain…
It turned out that within the Southern Border Profound Domain, apart from the three hundred-plus alliances of nations, there were also the Four Ancient Kingdoms. These four kingdoms were the true rulers of the Southern Border Profound Domain.
The Southern Ten Nations Alliance belonged to one of the Four Ancient Kingdoms: the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom!
Legend had it that the Imperial Families of the Four Ancient Kingdoms all controlled Teleportation Arrays that led to the other domains. However, the cost of activating a Teleportation Array was exorbitant, so even the Four Ancient Kingdoms were unwilling to open them casually.
Only during the Five Domains Holy Assembly, an event held once every thousand years, would these Teleportation Arrays be activated.
"The Five Domains Holy Assembly?" Hong Yu asked, puzzled.
White Cloud Peak explained…
The Five Domains Holy Assembly was initiated and hosted by the Celestial Middle Sacred Land. It was a paramount holy assembly for geniuses, calling upon all talented experts under the age of fifty from across the Five Domains to compete for the title of the most supre True Dragon Genius of the Five Domains.
"However, participating in this Five Domains Holy Assembly is no easy task. You must first distinguish yourself within your respective Kingdom, then achieve a top-ten result in the Alliance competition, and then enter the Ancient Kingdom for another round of eliminations. Finally, the strongest one hundred geniuses from each of the great Ancient Kingdoms are selected to hold the Southern Border Holy Assembly, where the final one hundred will be chosen from among the four hundred Demon Fiend-level geniuses from the Four Ancient Kingdoms."
White Cloud Peak continued, "These one hundred people represent the strongest hundred geniuses of our Southern Border Profound Domain. If you can beco one of these hundred, you will naturally be able to use the Teleportation Array to travel to other domains. However…"
Hong Yu asked, confused, "However, what?"
"However, wanting to stand out among the many geniuses of the entire Southern Border Profound Domain is easier said than done. Your strength is indeed formidable, but with your current power, you could probably rank in the top ten of the Southern Ten Nations Alliance. And our Ten Kingdoms are considered the weakest in the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom. With your strength, I'm afraid you wouldn't even make it into the top million within the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom."
White Cloud Peak said with a bitter smile.
He didn't want to discourage Hong Yu, but whether it was the Alliance competition, the Southern Border Holy Assembly, or the final Five Domains Holy Assembly, they were all extrely brutal.
Rather than letting Hong Yu strive for a baseless goal only to be t with disappointnt and despair, it was better to let him know the imnse disparity from the start, so he might give up early.
But after a mont of silence, Hong Yu suddenly looked up. "I wouldn't even make the top million in the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom? In that case, I have even more reason to go and see for myself all the various Celestial Pride Sons this world has to offer!"
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