Chapter 15 – The Heart Of The Strong
Translator: Mr Voltaire
Editor: Master Shadow
“Such strong shockwaves!” Xiao Yun’s eyes lit up as he stared within the box in his hands, unable to contain the emotion on his face. He felt as if he had discovered a priceless treasure.
Beside the bright red pearl was a small, black tower that was as big as a finger, which also gave off some strange shockwaves.
These shockwaves made Xiao Yun’s heart tighten.
Xiao Yun felt that this bright red pearl and black tower definitely weren’t ordinary, and looked at the old man by his side.
“Grandpa, did father really leave these behind for me?”
Although Xiao Yun didn’t know what the bright red blood pearl and black tower were, he knew that they were things that ordinary cultivators would not be able to possess. Thinking about his father could have obtained such treasures made his heart race.
Xiao Yun was filled with curiosity towards the father who he had never met before.
“That’s right, these are treasures left for you by your father,” the Xiao family’s old patriarch said with a slight look of sadness. “Before, grandpa planned to give these things to you after you stepped into the Innate realm, but it’s a pity that this was delayed by your cultivation which stopped progressing for 8 years.
“Now that the Fang family has forced us into such a situation, grandpa can only give this to you and hope you can increase your cultivation.” The Xiao family’s old patriarch gave a light sigh. He was no longer that domineering lion, and instead had traces of worry on his face.
“Is grandpa worried about the matter with Fang Hao?” Xiao Yun asked.
“If that Fang Hao really does enter the Heaven Origin Sect, we’ll be in quite some trouble!” The Xiao family’s old patriarch’s voice was filled with worry.
Even though he was an extremely powerful expert within the Violet Cloud County, he was nothing in front of the Heaven Origin Sect. They could casually send an expert to destroy the entire Xiao family. Only when Fang Hao had revealed this did the Xiao family’s old patriarch stay his hand, despite his anger at the time.
“Don’t worry grandpa, your grandson won’t lose to Fang Hao.” Seeing how anxious his grandpa looked, Xiao Yun tightly gripped his hands into fists as he said resolutely, “If he can be chosen by the Heaven Origin Sect, so can I. When that happens, you won’t need to be afraid of them anymore.”
“Grandpa believes in you,” the Xiao family’s old patriarch said as he nodded, but there were still traces of worry within his eyes.
Although Xiao Yun had started to break through again and displayed tremendous talent, but they were only 3 months away from the compet.i.tion. Could he really climb from the Eighth Layer of Body Tempering into the Innate realm within that time?
The Xiao family’s old patriarch still felt a bit doubtful, but he didn’t express it.
Although it was undetectable and only lasted for a brief moment, Xiao Yun saw that trace of doubt.
He himself knew that stepping into the Innate realm within 3 months would be incredibly difficult.
Within the Body Tempering realm, breaking through a single Layer was incredibly difficult. It took some people a whole year to break through a single Layer after the Sixth Layer, and for some talented people who stepped into the Ninth Layer quite early on, it would take them years to take the next step.
Stepping into the Innate realm wasn’t something that could be done as one wished.
“I must step into the Innate realm as soon as possible and defeat Fang Hao at the compet.i.tion. That way, grandpa won’t have to worry anymore.”
The youth silently expressed his resolution to himself. However, he kept it inside and didn’t say it out loud.
This was because Xiao Yun knew that without sufficient strength, saying all of this was meaningless. It would be better if he expressed it through his actions.
“Don’t feel too pressured.” Seeing how determined the youth looked, the Xiao family’s old patriarch patted his shoulder.
“Mm.” Xiao Yun nodded and asked with a look of expectation in his eyes, “Grandpa, is my father still alive?”
Over the years, when Xiao Yun had fallen from being a genius to trash, he felt as if he had fallen from G.o.dly clouds to an abyss. He felt that he had been abandoned, and spent countless days and nights thinking about his parents.
Maybe if father and mother were still here, they would comfort me.
That was the thought that came to Xiao Yun’s mind the most over the past years.
Although as he grew up, matured and understood that complaining was meaningless, the youth still continued to think about his parents. At times, he even wanted to go and find them.
“Your father…” Seeing the hopeful look in the youth’s eyes, the Xiao family’s old patriarch paused as the look of sadness reappeared in his eyes.
Xiao Yun’s heart tightened as he felt that something was off and hurriedly asked, “Grandpa, what happened to my father? Why hasn’t he come to see me over the past 10 or so years? Could it be that he doesn’t want me anymore?”
“Silly child, how could your father not want you anymore? He would even give up his own life for you!” The Xiao family’s old patriarch gently stroked the back of Xiao Yun’s head, as his teary eyes glistened. He lightly sighed before continuing, “Now that you’ve grown up, I should tell you these things.”
Xiao Yun nodded as he stared at his grandpa, silently listening.
“Your father’s name is Xiao Zhan Tian and also possesses immense talent. He awakened his Martial Spirit when he was 6 years old.” The Xiao family’s old patriarch deeply breathed in, as a nostalgic look appeared in his eyes. He continued, “Our Xiao family’s ancestor had a Battle Spirit legacy. Once awakened, the person would be able to sweep across the land. Your father performed extraordinary feats with his Martial Spirit, amazing the entire Moonwind Kingdom.
“In the end, he was chosen by a supreme expert who brought him away, and left to the vast Heavenly Capital Domain,” the old patriarch said.
“Heavenly Capital Domain?” Xiao Yun’s eyes became serious as he remembered this name, looking as if he was planning to go there to find his father.
“That place is a vast domain filled with martial experts. There are hundreds of powerful families there, and experts fill the land. Even the Heaven Origin Sect need to bow before many of the factions there. You can imagine how amazing that place is. After leaving, your father was gone for 10 years and no news came from him, which made us all worry.” Hearing the Xiao family’s old patriarch’s sighs, one could imagine just how anxious he had been back then.
Xiao Yun continued to silently listen, feeling incredibly curious about that Heavenly Capital Domain. Just what sort of place could keep his father away for so many years?
“When he returned, he was covered in serious wounds and almost his entire body was dyed red with blood, as if he had just been through a life-and-death battle. Back then, you and your little sister were still babies. You were almost a year old, and continuously cried on his back.” The Xiao family’s old patriarch’s face was filled with sorrow, and one could feel his heartache from looking at his eyes.
Xiao Yun’s heart clenched.
It seemed that his father had been in quite a bad situation!
“Your father only stayed for a day and after giving some instructions, he hurriedly left, as if he was worried that his enemies would chase him here.” The old patriarch’s face was full of worry as he continued, “More than 10 years have pa.s.sed, but we’ve received no information from him. We have no idea where he is now.
“If you want to find out more about your father, you’ll need to go to the Heavenly Capital Domain,” the Xiao family’s old patriarch said.
“I’ll definitely go!” Xiao Yun declared as he clenched his fists.
“Very good.” The Xiao family’s old patriarch smiled, feeling quite comforted by the youth’s determined gaze.
However, his heart also ached – would this youth be able to return safely after going to the Heavenly Capital Domain?
At this thought, the Xiao family’s old patriarch somewhat regretted telling him about this.
However, if he hid this matter, how would he know if his son was dead or alive?
Moreover, this youth had grown up, and had the right to know about this.
“We’ll let the heavens decide how things play out,” the Xiao family’s old patriarch inwardly sighed.
“Grandpa, I’ll be going now,” Xiao Yun said as he held the box.
“Alright, you can go,” the Xiao family’s old patriarch said as he waved his hand. “Have a look over the things in the box.”
“Mm.” Xiao Yun nodded and left with the iron box.
After this talk, Xiao Yun now knew a little more about his father.
His father, Xiao Zhan Tian, was also an amazing genius and was incredibly powerful. However, it was unknown why he had been attacked so severely.
“I’ll definitely become stronger.” After returning to his room, Xiao Yun became extremely determined.
Not only was there pressure from the Fang family, but he also needed to go to the Heavenly Capital Domain to find his father. He needed to become stronger to deal with both of those things.
Without sufficient strength, he wouldn’t be able to do anything.
“These are all things left by father; I’m sure they’re not ordinary.” After thinking to himself, Xiao Yun picked up the ancient ma.n.u.script. As he picked it up, a piece of paper fell out, on which vigorous characters were written.
“This is a letter from father!” Xiao Yun was delighted and began to read it.
However, when he read what the letter contained, Xiao Yun began to deeply frown.
His father explained what the things inside the box were, but also warned him not to go and look for him.
“Could it be that father’s enemies are too powerful, so he doesn’t want me to risk the danger?” Xiao Yun felt his heart warm as he thought inwardly, “Father probably doesn’t want me to go to the Heavenly Capital Domain out of concern for my safety. However, as a man, how can I sit by, knowing that father’s in trouble?”
“I must go to the Heavenly Capital Domain!” Xiao Yun decided.
Afterwards, he picked up the ancient ma.n.u.script and opened the first page.
Heaven-Devouring Divine Art. When practised to completion, one will be able to devour all Essence Qi in the heavens and earth, and destroy primordial spirits…
“This Heaven-Devouring Divine Art is so domineering that it can devour all Essence Qi in the heavens and earth, just like my Martial Spirit. However, it can even destroy people’s primordial spirits, which makes it much more powerful. Legends say that only supreme experts can cultivate primordial spirits, which make them incredibly G.o.dly. As long as their primordial spirit never dies, they will never die. And yet, this Heaven-Devouring Divine Art can destroy primordial spirits – it’s simply too powerful,” Xiao Yun thought inwardly, feeling shocked.
“Perhaps even the Moonwind Kingdom and the Heaven Origin Sect don’t have such a art.”
“As long as I learn this art, I’ll definitely become strong.”
Xiao Yun’s confidence in succeeding was bolstered.
“This art can also fuse with all Martial Spirits, making it one’s own… are all divine arts so powerful?”
When Xiao Yun read the later pages, he became even more shocked.
Martial Spirit usually came from legacies that were inherited.
For example, over the past few hundred years, Xiao Yun’s father, Xiao Zhan Tian, was the only person who had awoken the Battle Spirit.
Wanting to acquire a legacy was simply too difficult.
Some people took another path – they found ancient or spiritual beasts to obtain their remnant spirits, then fused with them. However, the success rate of making spirits fuse was almost one in ten thousand.
In fact, there were often severe consequences, which could cause them to die.
However, the Heaven-Devouring Divine Art that Xiao Yun had was different.
According to its descriptions, after achieving basic mastery of that art, one would be able to fuse similar Martial Spirits and make them into a support, as well as boost similar abilities. In the future, Xiao Yun would be able to have his own Battle Spirit.
With a Battle Spirit, why would he need to fear Fang Hao?