Xin Haotian opened the sliding door, allowing Aldrian to finally see inside. His attention was imdiately drawn to the middle-aged man seated behind the table. The man had long black hair tied in a ponytail and retained the handsoness of his younger years. He wore a regal white robe that reflected his position in the Xin family, and his charisma was hard to ignore.
"Xin Guangming—is he Xin Haotian’s father?" Aldrian wondered after reading his information through the Eyes of Heaven.
Xin Guangming appeared to be working, focused on reading a scroll on the table. His calm expression as he read had a soothing effect on anyone who looked at him.
As the door opened, he glanced toward Aldrian and Xin Haotian.
"Father, I’ve returned, and I brought Aldrian with ," Xin Haotian said.
However, his father did not seem to hear Xin Haotian’s words, as his focus remained on Aldrian. Xin Haotian did not mind and looked at Aldrian.
"Aldrian, this is my father, the patriarch of the Xin family," he said.
But Aldrian stayed silent as he looked at Patriarch Xin.
Patriarch Xin seed to be observing and checking Aldrian with his senses, which Aldrian allowed without interference. At first, the patriarch’s expression was calm, but then he narrowed his eyes and let out a sigh.
"Truly amazing. This is the first ti I’ve seen sothing like this. You are truly soone I cannot comprehend," Patriarch Xin said. "How can soone possess that kind of energy? This is already beyond our understanding. No wonder Xin Haotian thinks so highly of you, young Aldrian."
What he sensed was a condensed energy that, to him, felt sowhat similar to a type of energy he had known before—but it was also distinctly different. What astonished him was the feeling that followed—not just from the energy itself, but from Aldrian’s entire being.
It was the urge to worship.
Yes, that was the first emotion that rose within him: a deep, involuntary urge to worship. It ca so suddenly, that his soul felt slightly shaken and his mind trembled. This sensation did not arise from thought but from instinct—sothing buried deep within the soul of every living being.
Anyone who sensed Aldrian’s complete presence, together with that golden energy, would feel the sa. It was a sign. A sign that Aldrian’s very existence triggered a primal response: an unshakable need to revere.
Patriarch Xin slowly stood from his seat and walked toward Aldrian. Then, without hesitation, he cupped his hands in respect.
"My apologies. It seems I’ve already been rude by making you uncomfortable with my observation, but I couldn’t help it. You carry so many stories and achievents—it feels like sothing straight out of a fantasy tale," he said apologetically.
Aldrian smiled at the patriarch.
"It’s fine. I’m already used to it. Many are curious about , so things like this don’t really surprise . Instead, I allow those who wish to understand to see for themselves—to learn what kind of person and existence I am, as long as they bear no ill intent," he said, returning the patriarch’s respectful gesture.
Patriarch Xin smiled and motioned toward the chairs and table prepared for receiving guests.
"Let’s have a seat. I know you have many questions and stories, and so do I. This is the first ti I’ve t soone like you. I’d like to know more."
They sat down, and not long after, a maidservant entered to serve the tea. She stole a glance at Aldrian, clearly intrigued, as this was the first ti she had seen soone from the outside world. In fact, ever since Aldrian stepped into the manor, many had looked in his direction with curiosity, and there were others observing him from behind the scenes.
How could they not? The Xin family had no history of bringing outsiders into the secret realm.
The Xin family was strict about who could leave or enter the secret realm. Only those trusted and granted authority by the patriarch were allowed to leave. But never had soone from the outside been allowed to step foot in this land.
They all knew the reason for this strictness, as they had been taught from childhood that the place they lived in was special and should not be recklessly exposed to outsiders. Their family was a unique one, guarding the central part of the Everlasting Silent Forest, and not many, or perhaps no one, knew that a family like theirs existed within the forbidden zone.
So, when Aldrian arrived, their curiosity was piqued. They had finally seen soone who was not from this secret realm.
After the tea was served, and the maid left the room, Patriarch Xin smiled at Aldrian.
"So, young Aldrian, I believe you’ve already heard about us, the Xin family, and the four guardian families of the forest from my son here?" he asked, to which Aldrian responded with a nod.
"To be honest, I was the first to be astonished when I heard the story about you from my son. Soone whose sword will can even harm my son is no ordinary person. Our family’s legacy, the techniques and laws we’ve comprehended, co from the dragon and phoenix that descended from the heavens onto this land," Patriarch Xin said.
"The dragon and the phoenix brought many treasures with them and spread them fairly to the four guardian families of the forest. As for our part, aside from a few artifacts, we received a cultivation technique said to have been created by the God of Light, who, of course, ca from a higher realm. His light laws and cultivation techniques are so powerful that, to this day, there have only been a few tis when our light laws were on par with or even overpowered by other cultivators. And all of them were devils who could do it."
"Our technique allows us to sense another higher-level energy, called divine energy, which is scattered in certain areas within the Forest. Although we can’t absorb it, cultivating near this divine energy makes us much stronger than normal cultivators."
"We’re not saying that the people of this continent have no way of facing our strength, but to do so, they would need to be much stronger in cultivation and foundation than us. At the sa level, I can confidently say that there is no one on this continent who can contend with our technique."
Aldrian thought about what the patriarch had said. What Patriarch Xin implied was also sothing else—that the devil’s technique also ca from a higher realm. He wasn’t too surprised by this, as he had already encountered "that thing"—sothing he believed to be the devil god, or so beings connected to the devils.
Given that, it was no surprise that their technique ca from higher realms and could even rival the light laws of the God of Light’s cultivation technique.
"You know what that ans, right? We know that the devils possess cultivation techniques that, like ours, co from the higher realms. Their overbearing techniques are truly powerful. That is why they nearly conquered the continent, if not for the intervention of the dragon and phoenix, and leaving us as the last surviving guardian family," Patriarch Xin continued.
"As for you, a human born inside the secret realm who was unaware of our presence until Xin Haotian told you, to be able to overwhelm our light laws with a cultivation far lower than Xin Haotian’s, relying only on your sword will, is truly amazing. It’s beyond my comprehension."
"When I sensed you earlier, it confird that there is sothing even more special about you. Believe it or not, the energy inside your body seems similar to divine energy, but I’ve never felt divine energy that made feel the way I did when I sensed yours." Patriarch Xin paused, looking into Aldrian’s eyes with a smile.
"Even as I tell you this story, your eyes remain clear and calm, as if nothing I’ve said surprises you."
"You’re not from the four guardian families, and you’re not one of the devils, yet you possess great power and also the ability to store divine-like energy within your body—sothing we had already deed impossible."
"Xin Haotian also told you’re still a youngster, not even twenty yet, but now, standing before you, it doesn’t feel like I’m facing a teenager. Your bearing and presence are like soone who has lived for a long ti."
Patriarch Xin paused for a mont, his gaze fixed on Aldrian.
"Young Aldrian, what exactly are you? No, more precisely, who are you?"
A silence followed.
Then, Aldrian smiled at the question—a question he had heard several tis before, a question he himself also wanted to know the answer to.
Although he had been powerful in his past life, that still didn’t answer the question. What was he? Who had he been before he beca so powerful? How had he gained the strength to control the cosmos? Had becoming the emperor of all heavens been just one life among many? If that wasn’t his first life, then what had been his first life? What was his true first life?
What was his origin, sothing even the heavens did not know? What was... who was... why was... so many questions swirled within his mind, each one a mystery he longed to unravel.
As for the patriarch’s question, he could say he had been powerful in his past life, but that wasn’t an answer he could give—not one he truly understood himself.
"That is sothing I want to know the answer to," Aldrian finally replied, causing Patriarch Xin to look at him in confusion.
What kind of answer was that?
"Anyway, Patriarch Xin, I need to correct sothing in your information." Aldrian said, catching Patriarch Xin’s attention.
"Actually, the Xin family isn’t the only guardian family to survive the war three million years ago," Aldrian added.
At those words, both Patriarch Xin and Xin Haotian’s eyes widened in shock.
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