INTRO If he cannot survive in this Realm and ascend to the Higher Realms, then he is not worthy of being my son!” *** Xiao Tian, the child abandoned by his own parents. He once lived a happy life as the crown prince of the Wang Kingdom. But a great tragedy struck his family—his beloved uncle staged a coup, killing his mother, father, and all those loyal to them. However, the death of his parents was a lie. It was merely a scheme—to leave him behind in the Tianwu Realm, the lowest realm in the Universe. Alone, he rose. Step by step, he walked a path filled with hardship. When he discovered that his parents were still alive, anger filled his heart. But it was not blind rage—it became the fire that forged his resolve to become stronger. With unwavering spirit, he climbed from the lowest realm, ascending through each realm—until he surpassed even his father and became the ruler of the entire Universe! “I, Xiao Tian, swear to overturn this injustice. I will reach immortality and create true peace—so that no one will ever be oppressed again across the Universe. Strength shall no longer be the only measure of justice. And if strength is the key—then I shall become the strongest and be the one who defines justice for all of existence!”

Son Of The Universe

INTRO

If he cannot survive in this Realm and ascend to the Higher Realms, then he is not worthy of being my son!"

**

Xiao Tian, the child abandoned by his own parents.

He once lived a happy life as the crown prince of the Wang Kingdom.

But a great tragedy struck his family—his beloved uncle staged a coup, killing his mother, father, and all those loyal to them.

However, the death of his parents was a lie.

It was merely a scheme—to leave him behind in the Tianwu Realm, the lowest realm in the Universe.

Alone, he rose.

Step by step, he walked a path filled with hardship.

When he discovered that his parents were still alive, anger filled his heart.

But it was not blind rage—it became the fire that forged his resolve to become stronger.

With unwavering spirit, he climbed from the lowest realm, ascending through each realm—until he surpassed even his father and became the ruler of the entire Universe!

"I, Xiao Tian, swear to overturn this injustice. I will reach immortality and create true peace—so that no one will ever be oppressed again across the Universe. Strength shall no longer be the only measure of justice. And if strength is the key—then I shall become the strongest and be the one who defines justice for all of existence!"

CHAPTER 1 Rebels

In Wuyu City, a large city of the Ming Dynasty, its ruler was the Wang kingdom.

However, the current king did not bear the Wang surname but instead bore the surname Xiao.

The current king was Xiao Jian, the son-in-law of the previous Wang king.

Xiao Jian's wife was the eldest daughter of the previous Wang king.

Now, Xiao Jian, along with his wife and son, were surrounded by generals of the Wang kingdom itself, assisted by influential figures from other forces.

Xiao Jian stood with his wife, Wangmei, while behind them was their seven-year-old son, Xiao Tian.

"Xiao Jian, now I will take your life and also the lives of your wife and son. I will take the throne that rightfully belongs to me!"

The person speaking was Wang Chong, the younger brother of Wangmei.

But now, the brother she loved most was rebelling, daring even to kill everyone loyal to Xiao Jian.

"Brother Wang Chong, why are you doing this? If you want the throne, I won't hesitate to give it all to you. After all, I do not desire the throne. I have only been governing and waiting for you to come of age. Once you are of age, I will give it to you," Xiao Jian said firmly to his brother-in-law.

"Ha ha ha," Wang Chong laughed heartily.

"Xiao Jian, don't be naive. Do you think I'm a fool? Who wants to step down from the throne after feeling comfortable in that position? No one! I cannot allow you to step down with an unwilling heart. I will eliminate all of you!"

Wangmei, Wang Chong's older sister, was very disappointed with her brother's actions.

"Wang Chong, now let your sister go! I promise not to interfere with your rule in Wuyu City."

"Ha ha ha, forgive your brother, Sister; I cannot let you go," Wang Chong replied, then looked at all his troops who had already slaughtered all of Xiao Jian's loyal followers.

"Kill them all!" he ordered with a fierce face.

Thousands of kingdom soldiers in armor, led by the kingdom's generals, surrounded Xiao Jian and his son.

"You three must die! You are not worthy to lead the Wang kingdom!"

Everyone ran, dragging their weapons.

Xiao Jian, Wangmei, and their son Xiao Tian were attacked from all directions.

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

The sound of footsteps rumbled, shaking the earth.

Seeing so many troops coming from all directions, Xiao Jian looked at them with a murderous gaze.

"Mei'er, protect our son; I will clear a path so you can escape," Xiao Jian said in a heavy voice.

"My husband, I cannot leave you to die alone. If you want to die, we will die together," Wangmei said firmly, without fear, facing the thousands of troops that were getting closer.

Wangmei saw one of the imperial members of the Ming Dynasty.

But unfortunately, the person from the Ming Dynasty just sat and watched without caring about them.

"No! If you and Tian'er die, no one will seek justice for us. But if you survive, you can seek justice for me and my people who died at their hands!"

Xiao Jian drew a jet-black sword. Then he raised his sword.

"Kill!"

Without waiting for Wangmei's response, Xiao Jian tied his wife and son with his inner energy; then, he ran towards the troops before him.

He channeled his inner energy into the sword with great force, then slashed it fiercely.

Xiao Jian was like a rampaging beast; every time he swung his sword, several heads were decapitated.

However, even though the number of enemies was large, several stabs and slashes had already wounded him.

Clang ~~~

Clang ~~~

The sound of weapons clashing continued.

"Don't let him escape!" Wang Chong shouted from afar.

"Your Majesty need not worry; no one will leave this place. The three of them will die!" The kingdom general responded confidently.

Shot ~~~

A weapon pierced Xiao Jian's chest.

However, Xiao Jian did not scream; he became more ferocious and terrifying.

Plof, plof, plof ….

Xiao Jian decapitated several heads. He continued running while killing anyone who blocked his path.

After killing many people, Xiao Jian finally broke free from the siege of many troops.

However, though he had succeeded, many troops were still chasing him.

His body was full of wounds, continuously bleeding.

His once pristine white robe turned red from the flowing fresh blood.

Finally, Xiao Jian stopped running. "My wife, you must take Tian'er and leave Wuyu City, go as far as possible, and remember, it was your brother, our child's uncle, who did all this. You must avenge my death!"

"My husband, no! I will stay here with you! We will live and die together!"

Wangmei did not want to leave her husband, who was already pale from losing so much blood.

"No, you must live. Go!" Xiao Jian threw his wife and son away.

Then he turned and faced the Wang clan general and all his troops.

"I will slaughter you all."

Xiao Jian leaped while swinging his sword.

Now, he no longer held back his inner energy.

As a level 6 royal warrior, Xiao Jian's cultivation was relatively high.

At the same time, the Wang clan general was only a level-four royal warrior.

But he had the advantage of numbers.

Shoott ~~~

Xiao Jian slashed his sword, and the sword energy shot out at high speed.

"Aah!" The pitiful cries continued. Many members of the Wang clan had their bodies sliced in two.

Shoott ~~

Plof ….

"Brother-in-law, I can no longer let you live!"

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Xiao Jian stood still, continuously coughing up blood.

He saw a poison-laced sword piercing through his body; even his heart had been destroyed.

Wang Chong had appeared behind Xiao Jian and stabbed him directly.

"No... Father!"

CHAPTER 2 Perverted General

Xiao Tian, seeing his father stabbed, screamed hysterically.

Xiao Tian wanted to go back, but his mother stopped him. "Tian'er, we must go. Don't waste your father's sacrifice, who wants us to live!"

"No, Mother, I must save Father!" Xiao Tian struggled to break free from his mother's grasp, but his mother held him tight, and they ran faster.

Xiao Tian's eyes had turned red; he was crying tears of blood.

He kept staring at his father, who now had no chance to live.

Dozens of spears and swords had pierced his father's body from front and back.

Xiao Jian stood with his sword as support.

He looked at Wang Chong with a murderous gaze. "Wang Chong, your death is not far. My son will surely avenge me."

Wang Chong sneered coldly. "Don't hope too much. They won't be able to escape! I will send them to hell to accompany you!"

Wang Chong looked at his troops. "Capture them and bring them back, dead or alive!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wang Chong's face turned red, his anger reaching its peak, his eyes emitting a terrifying murderous aura.

"Xiao Jian. Now, I will end your life first. Don't worry, you won't be lonely. Soon, your wife and child will follow you to Hell!"

"Wang Chong. You're truly barbaric! My wife and child are your sister and nephew. How can you treat them like this? People like you will soon face a calamity far more painful than this!" In his heart, Xiao Jian hoped that karma would soon catch up with Wang Chong and give him the punishment he deserved.

"Enough talk!"

Bang—

A sword instantly sliced Xiao Jian's body into two parts, and the man died in a gruesome manner.

"My poor brother-in-law, I won't let anyone threaten my position. To me, there are no relatives or friends. Anyone who has the potential to take my position will meet a gruesome death!" said Wang Chong with a sinister and hateful tone.

Wang Chong's face looked terrifying, his eyes ablaze with rage, his lips curled into a sadistic smile, and his face appeared more cruel than a demon's.

Wang Chong clenched his fists tightly as if wanting to destroy everything in front of him.

Wangmei and Xiao Tian kept running, gasping for breath, trying with all their might to leave the Wuyu Region.

However, their journey stopped when they reached the bank of a vast river that separated them from their destination.

The river was known as the Wang River, famous throughout the Wang Kingdom.

It was fille d with various ferocious beasts of extraordinary strength.

Some were even known to possess power equivalent to that of a royal warrior.

The Wang Kingdom had built a suspension bridge to facilitate crossing this dangerous river.

At this moment, Wangmei and Xiao Tian stood in the middle of the bridge.

They couldn't continue their journey because several Kingdom soldiers were blocking their way ahead, and they couldn't go back either, as Kingdom soldiers were chasing them from behind.

"Empress, it's better if you surrender! Your deaths won't be too painful," the Kingdom General sneered with a lustful look in his eyes.

Seeing no way out, Wangmei drew a short sword from within her gown.

"You want me to surrender? Keep dreaming!"

Slash—

Wangmei cut the ropes holding the bridge; then, she pushed Xiao Tian into the river.

"Mother, no!" Xiao Tian didn't want to be separated from his mother.

But Wangmei pushed her son's body with great force until Xiao Tian fell into the river.

The river was large and had a very strong current, and the flow carried away Xiao Tian.

"Mother, mother!" Xiao Tian kept calling for his mother, but Wangmei only smiled bitterly.

"Son, you must live. No matter what happens, you must live." Wangmei shifted her gaze.

She looked at the Kingdom General with sharp eyes.

"Traitorous scoundrels, I will kill you all!" A cold aura emanated from Wangmei's body.

She was a woman known to possess powerful ice energy.

She began to attack using the short sword coated with ice.

The sound of clashing weapons echoed as Wangmei fought against the General.

Puchi—

Suddenly, Wangmei spewed blood with a loud noise.

Several spears had pierced her from behind.

Xiao Tian watched his mother with eyes as red as blood.

He saw his mother smiling at him with a face covered in blood.

Xiao Tian could no longer resist the river's strong current, and the boy was swept away.

Whether he was alive or dead, no one knew.

The Kingdom General and the other soldiers didn't care about Xiao Tian's fate; they only looked at Wangmei's lifeless body.

"It's such a pity; the Empress's beautiful body is now full of wounds," the General said with a sad tone.

One of his subordinates dared to speak to their General.

"General. If possible, you shouldn't touch the Empress's body. After all, the Empress is our King's sister. If His Majesty finds out, we could all face his wrath."

The man spoke while bowing because he knew their General was very passionate and had slept with countless women.

"Hmm, you don't need to worry; I still have limits. Now, let's return and present the Empress's body to His Majesty."

"But General, what about Xiao Tian? He was swept away in the river. Should we search for him?"

Hearing his subordinate's words, the General snorted coldly.

"Search for him? Why waste time? The boy is surely dead; this river is filled with wild beasts. There's no need! He must have already become their food. Now let's go back!"

CHAPTER 3 XIAO JIAN IDENTITY

The General took Wangmei's body back to the Kingdom.

Wang Chong welcomed their arrival.

After hearing the whole story, Wang Chong didn't care about Xiao Tian, as he also believed that wild beasts indeed ate Xiao Tian.

"Prepare a funeral for my sister! As for Xiao Jian's body, throw it into the soul-tracker dog kennel."

Wang Chong was genuinely ruthless, letting his brother-in-law's body become food for his pet dogs.

After Wangmei's body was buried and Xiao Jian's body was thrown into the dog kennel, they didn't know that both bodies had transformed into a tree branch.

***

In a place far away, not in the Ming Dynasty nor Wuyu City, a middle-aged man stood with a wonderful woman on a mountain peak that reached beyond the clouds.

The man and woman bore a striking resemblance to Xiao Jian and Wangmei.

The woman gazed at the vast sea of clouds spreading out before her.

Even though she looked at the sea of clouds, her vision could penetrate everything in every direction.

She sighed softly with a sad face.

"Husband, aren't we being excessive, leaving our child like that?"

The man smiled faintly, though his body trembled slightly at the question.

"He'll be fine. If he can't survive in such a small world, he's not worthy of being my son."

"Husband, why didn't we take Tian'er with us? He could grow better, especially if he received your guidance; he could surely become a great expert in this universe."

It turned out that the man and woman talking were Xiao Jian and Wangmei.

The bodies killed in the Wang Kingdom were just replacements, not their natural bodies.

"Tian'er must find his path in cultivation. The hatred in his heart will make him grow faster. If he follows me, he might increase, but it would diminish his potential. Moreover, those who become true experts have lived through various hardships. Without hardship, pain, and humiliation, one cannot ascend to the peak of glory. Only those who have endured numerous challenges can stand at the pinnacle of cultivation. Now, it's time for us to go. I can't leave my clan any longer, or else a great catastrophe will occur in the entire universe."

No matter what, Wangmei was a mother, and a mother's worry was far more significant than a father's.

However, she couldn't oppose her husband's decision, who held the status of the Supreme God Emperor.

Xiao Jian held his wife's hand and then walked across the stars.

After reaching a certain height, he tore through space and disappeared.

Xiao Tian sank into the great river, unconscious.

Various ferocious beasts approached to devour him.

However, when the beasts were just a few meters away from him, Xiao Tian's body suddenly shone.

The light was so intense that it blinded the approaching beasts.

They seemed confused and frightened, quickly retreating from Xiao Tian.

The scene was astonishing because these beasts were known to be extremely powerful and fierce.

The weakest among them were level two beasts, equivalent to third-class warriors in the human realm.

The strongest were beast kings, equivalent to earth king warriors in the human realm.

The beasts fled in fear from Xiao Tian's weak body.

The light emanating from the minor child's body drove away all the ferocious beasts.

How could a child make such fearsome beasts retreat?

What happened to Xiao Tian's body that allowed him to emit such powerful light?

After the beasts fled, the light disappeared from Xiao Tian's body.

***

At the calm riverbank, two figures were practicing together.

One was a small girl, about eight years old, with her hair tied in a ponytail, fluttering in the wind.

The other was an older man, standing tall and wise, watching the girl's every move intently.

The little girl was practicing sword techniques.

Although the sword she wielded was just a wooden toy, her swings were lively and unpredictable.

The wind complemented her swings, creating a mesmerizing rhythm.

"Ziyan Rouxi, it's time to go home. You've been practicing from morning till near sunset, making Grandpa waste a lot of time watching you," the old man sitting on a rock grumbled at the little girl.

"Grandpa, you finally have time to watch me practice, but you're already complaining so much. It seems you don't care about me at all!" the little girl pouted.

Despite her young age, she looked lovely.

Before the older man could reply, he saw a small child's body drifting in the river's current.

"Wait, Grandpa!" the girl shouted.

"Where are you going? Don't...." Before Ziyan Rouxi could finish her sentence, she saw the child's body being carried by the current, not far from a high waterfall.

The older man ran into the water, retrieving the minor child's body—Xiao Tian.

After bringing him to the riverbank, the older man still heard Xiao Tian's heartbeat.

"This child is not dead." He immediately channeled his internal energy into Xiao Tian's body.

Xiao Tian suddenly coughed, expelling a lot of water from his mouth.

After continuous internal energy transmission, Xiao Tian began to open his eyes slowly.

When he fully opened his eyes, he saw the little girl's face very close to his.

Their eyes met.

"Are you the angel of death? Why isn't your face scary?"

Slap—

Ziyan Rouxi immediately slapped Xiao Tian's face.

"Ahh.... Why did you slap me?" Xiao Tian didn't understand why the angel of death slapped him.

"What did you just say? Angel of death? Do you want me to kill you?" Ziyan Rouxi was annoyed with being called the angel of death by Xiao Tian.

Xiao Tian tried to get up but felt his whole body ache as if it were shattered.

After a while, he realized an older man was channeling his internal energy to heal his injuries.

"Don't move too much! Your body has suffered severe injuries. Let me heal you first."

CHAPTER 4 FA WA

Xiao Tian felt warmth as the older man continued channeling his internal energy into him.

The older man frowned, astonished by Xiao Tian's healing ability.

Even if he hadn't treated him, Xiao Tian would have healed alone.

If he had continued drifting in the river, his body could have been torn apart by the fierce water.

After some time, Xiao Tian woke up and clasped his hands.

"Senior, thank you for saving me."

Xiao Tian didn't call the old man grandpa because he felt that was only appropriate for his relatives, so he just called him senior.

Hearing Xiao Tian's thanks, the older man didn't immediately respond.

He was still amazed by the child's healing ability.

Moreover, he was perplexed; he couldn't discern the type of bones and specific areas in Xiao Tian's body.

The older man was sure this child was not ordinary.

An ordinary child would have indeed died in that great river.

Not to mention the ferocious beasts; even the fierce river current and hitting the rocks should have killed him.

Instead of answering Xiao Tian's question, the old man asked, "Child, how did you end up in this river? And where is your home? Let me take you back."

Xiao Tian shook his head until the old man asked again, "Do you not remember what happened?"

Xiao Tian shook his head again. "No, I remember. But I no longer have a home to return to. My village was attacked by bandits who not only looted but also slaughtered all the villagers and burned our houses. Both my parents were killed in that incident. I managed to escape by jumping into this river. Now, I have nowhere to go."

Xiao Tian's face, still that of a child, looked very sad.

His sadness was genuine.

Although he didn't tell the whole truth, fearing the older man might be a subordinate of the Wang kingdom, the mix of anger and sorrow on his face was not fabricated.

The older man understood Xiao Tian's feelings.

Judging by his expression, the child wasn't lying.

Besides, he was just a child, unlikely to be good at making up stories.

The older man decided to take him. "If you have no home, come with me. I am the head of a Sect not far from here."

"If the senior allows it, I won't refuse." Xiao Tian saw this as an opportunity.

If he lived in a Sect, he could train to become strong.

"Hahaha, good. However, in the future, don't call me senior; call me Grandpa Fa Wa. From now on, I'll take you as my grandson. Since you no longer have a family, there's no harm in me becoming your family. Now, tell me, what's your name?"

Initially, Xiao Tian didn't want to call him Grandpa.

But Fa Wa's words were true; he no longer had relatives.

As for Wang Chong, even though he was a relative, he was someone Xiao Tian wanted to eradicate from the world.

"Thank you, Grandpa. My name is Tian." Xiao Tian didn't want to mention his clan name, fearing the Wang kingdom would discover his identity.

"Hahaha, good, good. How old are you, Tian?" Fa Wa asked, smiling with his wrinkled lips.

"I am six years old." Xiao Tian answered honestly.

Fa Wa didn't expect the child in front of him to be only six years old because Xiao Tian's physical appearance was almost that of a ten-year-old. "This little girl is my granddaughter; her name is Ziyan Rouxi. You can call her sister when you are younger. Now, please wait a moment; Grandpa will catch some fish for us. Tian must be hungry."

While Fa Wa was catching fish in the river, Xiao Tian stared blankly at the blue sky, his fists tightly clenched around painful memories.

Suddenly, tears began to flow from the corners of his eyes, falling to the ground and forming a small puddle.

However, these were not ordinary clear tears but tears of blood, deep red, reflecting the depth of his pain.

Xiao Tian recalled the moment his parents were killed by enemies from the Wang Kingdom and the Ming Dynasty, who had destroyed his family.

In his heart, he vowed to avenge his parents. "Mother, father. Tian'er swears to avenge you! Tian'er will not let the Wang Kingdom and the Ming Dynasty, who caused your deaths, go unpunished. I will make them pay a hundredfold, and if I cannot, I swear not to live as a human!"

Ziyan Rouxi saw Xiao Tian shedding tears of blood. "Tian, you must calm your emotions. If you want to avenge your parents, there's only one way—you must grow stronger than anyone else!"

Xiao Tian did not respond; he merely nodded his head.

***

Fa Wa arrived with a large fish he had just caught from the river; then, he cooked it over a fire.

Once ready, Fa Wa invited Xiao Tian and Ziyan Rouxi to return home.

When they arrived at the sect's gate, Xiao Tian noticed the large inscription above it.

He paused for a moment, reading it carefully. "Supreme Sword Sect," Xiao Tian murmured, trying to recall if he had ever heard of a sect named Supreme Sword.

However, he could not remember any Supreme Sword Sect in the Ming Dynasty.

Xiao Tian was surprised to realize he was in the territory of the She Dynasty. "Did the river's current carry me to the She Dynasty?" he wondered, confused and shocked.

Xiao Tian inhaled the cold air that enveloped his body.

Recalling the knowledge he had gained from reading books, Xiao Tian understood the vast distance between the Ming Dynasty and the She Dynasty.

Xiao Tian was an avid reader, and his mother always encouraged him to read books on various subjects.

Not just martial arts but general knowledge as well.

Although he was still young, Xiao Tian had a broad understanding, especially since he had a unique memory that allowed him to remember everything he saw without forgetting.

CHAPTER 5 SUPREME SWORD SECT

"Respect to the patriarch." The gatekeepers immediately bowed in respect upon seeing Fa Wa.

Fa Wa merely smiled and led Ziyan Rouxi and Xiao Tian inside.

Xiao Tian arrived at Fa Wa's residence.

Fa Wa looked at Xiao Tian. "Tian, you will stay here now. However, although I have adopted you as my grandson, you will not be exempt from duties. Your task is to clean the entire courtyard and the training area. You must also take care of all the books in this house; do not let a single book gather dust! When you turn ten, I will register you as a disciple of this sect. Even though I am the patriarch, I must follow the sect's rules. Do you understand?"

Xiao Tian clasped his hands together. "Grandfather, I understand."

***

Every day, Xiao Tian diligently performed his tasks.

Every morning, Xiao Tian diligently swept the courtyard, removing the scattered dry leaves.

The morning sunlight reflected off the sweat on his innocent face.

After that, he moved on to his next task, dusting off the books during the day.

His small but nimble hands wiped each book carefully, not wanting to damage the precious pages.

At night, Xiao Tian took advantage of the opportunity without Fa Wa's knowledge, sneaking into the library.

In the silence of the night, he read the books with great interest, absorbing the knowledge within.

Despite his young age, his determination and passion for learning never waned.

Three years had passed since Xiao Tian had been living in the Supreme Sword Sect.

He was now nine years old.

"Tian, let's go to the martial arena. There's an interesting event to watch," said Ziyan Rouxi.

She was now eleven years old.

Although she had turned eleven, her beautiful face already looked more mature.

Xiao Tian nodded; he was also very interested in the battles of the talented disciples.

He watched the competition to find the strongest disciple in the Supreme Sword Sect.

When they arrived at the martial arena, no one dared to stop them, as everyone knew that the two children were the patriarch's grandchildren.

"Look! Is that the patriarch's adopted grandson named Tian?" one disciple asked another.

"Yes, that's Tian. Unfortunately, he doesn't like martial arts; he has never been seen training."

"Maybe he's waiting until he turns ten to start training."

"Hahaha, he's indeed the useless adopted grandson of the patriarch. Unlike Miss Ziyan, even though she hasn't turned ten yet, her fingers are always busy with training, so when she turns ten, she won't just start training, but she'll already be able to defeat disciples older than her."

"Maybe that's the difference between a real grandchild and an adopted one. After all, he is adopted, so it's normal if his martial arts talent is lacking."

Xiao Tian heard the disciples' remarks.

However, Xiao Tian never took them to heart.

He was used to the insults from the sect's disciples.

Despite his status as Fa Wa's adopted grandson, people did not hesitate to mock him.

Ziyan Rouxi wanted to reprimand them, but Xiao Tian stopped her. "There's no need to respond to them; let's go see grandfather."

"You're too lenient with them. If you keep this up, they'll keep mocking you!" Ziyan Rouxi was displeased that her adopted brother was being belittled.

"No need to be angry. Besides, I'm not hurt by their insults." Xiao Tian smiled slightly.

However, behind that smile lay a hidden meaning.

They both sat behind Fa Wa.

They listened as Fa Wa laid out the rules for the competition to find the strongest disciple under seventeen years old.

Fa Wa looked at everyone present. "You all know why this competition is being held. It's to find the strongest talent. Whoever wins will represent the Supreme Sword Sect in the She Empire tournament. So, use all your abilities so I can determine the best resources for you. I will personally train the strongest disciple for a year. By the time the tournament is held, you will be ready to compete with disciples from other sects and kingdoms in the She Dynasty. Do you understand?"

Fa Wa's voice carried inner energy, so his words were heard by everyone present.

"Patriarch, we understand." All the disciples answered in unison.

"Good, as long as you understand!" Fa Wa looked at one of the elders. "Liu Qingyun, lead the event!"

Liu Qingyun was an elder with high status in the sect.

Although he was not young anymore, his muscles and fierce face showed he was very strong.

"Yes, patriarch." Liu Qingyun immediately stepped into the martial arena.

He began the competition.

Xiao Tian continued to watch the fights.

However, his eyes were always drawn to one male disciple.

That disciple's name was Daniel.

Xiao Tian murmured, "Daniel has an internal energy of 230 rings; he's already a third-class warrior. But he's sealing his internal energy and showing that he only has 100 rings. This guy is very cautious; it seems he's the one who will win this competition."

CHAPTER 6 Circle of Energy

Xiao Tian learned about the warrior realms from the books he read.

The levels of warriors were measured by the number of internal energy circles they possessed.

A first-class warrior: had 30 circles of internal energy.

A second-class warrior: had 100 circles of internal energy.

A third-class warrior: had 200 circles of internal energy.

A fourth-class warrior: had 300 circles of internal energy.

After that, they progressed to the realm of king warriors.

King warriors were divided into earth king warriors, sky king warriors, and martial king warriors.

An earth king warrior had levels from one to nine.

Level 1: had 500 circles of internal energy.

Level 2: had 700 circles of internal energy.

Level 3: had 900 circles of internal energy.

Level 4: had 1,100 circles.

Level 5: had 1,300 circles.

Level 6: had 1,500 circles.

Level 7: had 1,700 circles.

Level 8: had 1,900 circles.

Level 9: had 2,100 circles.

Sky king warriors also had levels from 1 to 9.

Level 1: had 2,400 circles of internal energy, and each level added 300 circles.

Martial king warriors also had 9 levels.

However, they no longer referred to it as internal energy; those who managed to become martial king warriors had transformed their internal energy into Qi.

'My uncle Wang Chong is at the level of a sixth-rank martial king warrior. Rumor has it that even people in the empire have achieved the level of a half-martial emperor. My journey is still long. Right now, I only have 430 circles of internal energy; I need 70 more circles to break through to an earth king warrior. Currently, I'm still a fourth-class warrior. It seems I no longer need to hide my strength, as the best resources of the sect are only given to the strongest disciples. After this event, I'll speak to Grandfather so I can start training with the other disciples!'

While Xiao Tian was contemplating various things, Liu Qingyun announced the final match. "Now, we enter the final round. Whoever wins will be the best disciple of our Supreme Sword Sect. Use all your abilities, but killing each other is forbidden. Daniel, Lu Xuan, step forward and show your strength!"

Daniel and Lu Xuan were the disciples who had made it to the final; they were the most talented disciples under the age of 17 in the Supreme Sword Sect.

Both immediately entered the martial arts arena.

Daniel cupped his hands towards Lu Xuan. "Brother Lu Xuan, please guide me."

"Hahaha, I will."

Bhuzz—

Xiao Tian noticed that the disciple named Lu Xuan was also hiding his true strength; he had 210 circles of internal energy but only showed 140 circles. "Hmm, this is really interesting."

Xiao Tian's murmur was heard by Ziyan Rouxi. "Brother Tian, are you now interested in becoming a warrior?"

Hearing Ziyan Rouxi's question, Xiao Tian smiled slightly. "Sister, you must train diligently! Otherwise, when I start training, I will surpass you immediately."

"Hahaha, I look forward to it. Start training soon." Ziyan Rouxi did not get angry; instead, she smiled sweetly.

Fa Wa felt happy seeing his biological granddaughter so close to his adopted grandson.

He hoped both would grow and become pillars for the Supreme Sword Sect in the future.

***

In the center of the vast martial arena, Lu Xuan and Daniel stood facing each other with their swords drawn, ready to fight.

The audience around the arena held their breath, waiting for the exciting duel between these two warriors to begin.

"BEGIN!" shouted Liu Qingyun.

As soon as his voice was heard, Lu Xuan and Daniel immediately launched their attacks.

Both warriors moved swiftly, their swordplay displaying high skill and cunning.

The sound of clashing swords between Lu Xuan and Daniel echoed through the arena, captivating the audience even more.

After several exchanges of blows, Lu Xuan began to feel something was wrong.

Daniel's internal energy seemed endless, and each of his attacks grew stronger.

Lu Xuan realized he had to use his full strength if he wanted to defeat his opponent.

"I can't hide my power any longer!" Lu Xuan murmured to himself.

With resolute determination, he unleashed his internal energy that he had been holding back.

A strong aura enveloped his body, surprising the audience and eliciting cheers of admiration.

Now ready to face Daniel with his full strength, the battle between these two warriors grew fiercer.

They fought tirelessly, each trying to prove their prowess in front of the cheering spectators.

When the people felt Lu Xuan's internal energy, the elders began to praise him.

"Brother Lu Xuan, defeat Daniel. Only brother Lu Xuan deserves to win this competition."

Many disciples cheered for Lu Xuan, especially the female disciples.

Lu Xuan, at 15 years old, was very handsome, causing many of the female disciples to idolize him.

Daniel was not as handsome as Lu Xuan, but he had a firm face and the aura of an expert.

His face always looked relaxed, and a slight smile always adorned his lips.

Hearing the praise he received, Lu Xuan's spirit burned even brighter.

He swiftly enveloped his sword with a bright yellow energy.

Meanwhile, Daniel enveloped his sword with a mysterious purple energy.

They exchanged fierce glances, ready to unleash their best abilities in this fight.

This time, Daniel decided to take the initiative to attack.

With quick movements, he launched a slash of his sword towards Lu Xuan.

However, Lu Xuan deftly avoided the attack and immediately countered with a retaliatory strike.

But, who would have thought, Daniel had another plan.

When his sword slash missed Lu Xuan, Daniel immediately took advantage of the momentum to spin his body nimbly.

In an instant, he delivered a powerful kick that hit its target accurately.

Lu Xuan was taken aback; he didn't expect Daniel to attack in such a manner.

Bang—

"Aah…" Lu Xuan screamed in pain. He clutched his ribs, which felt broken.

He looked at Daniel approaching him.

However, he was very puzzled because now Daniel's aura felt different.

CHAPTER 7 DANIEL

"Daniel, have you been hiding your strength?"

Daniel smiled slightly. "If you can hide yours, why can't I?"

"Daniel, don't rejoice yet. I haven't lost to you!" Lu Xuan tried to stand up, but Daniel didn't give him the chance.

He moved very quickly and stood before Lu Xuan, placing his sword at Lu Xuan's neck.

"You've lost!" Daniel smiled, seeing Lu Xuan's face that could not accept this reality.

"How could I lose to you? Please explain to me how you can be stronger than me? I'm not just a talented disciple, but I also come from a strong background. While you, you have no background, so how can you be stronger than me?"

Daniel didn't answer. He just smiled as usual.

However, when Liu Qingyun was about to announce the winner, an old man's voice suddenly rang out.

"Fa Wa, why didn't you tell me there was such excitement happening at your place?"

Fa Wa immediately stood up, frowning.

He saw an old man coming with two middle-aged men and a young man about Lu Xuan's age.

Fa Wa recognized the man; he was the patriarch of the Endless Valley. "Gan Feng, what are you doing here?"

Gan Feng sneered. "I came specifically to see who the winner of your sect's competition would be. Now let the champion fight my disciple! Xing Han, face him."

"Yes, Patriarch." Xing Han did not wait for Fa Wa's approval; he immediately went to the martial arena.

Fa Wa was very angry.

However, Gan Feng stared at him sharply. "Fa Wa, are you afraid your disciple will lose? If you're scared, just say that your sect's disciples are incompetent and admit defeat."

Fa Wa cursed the old man in his heart. 'Damn, if this old bastard didn't have a son working in the empire, he wouldn't dare to cause trouble in my place. I can't refuse this challenge; if I do, I'll lose face.'

Fa Wa was stronger than Gan Feng.

The difference was, Gan Feng had someone in the She Empire, so he acted arrogantly wherever he went in the She Dynasty.

"Daniel, face him and show your abilities!" Fa Wa shouted to Daniel.

Xiao Tian furrowed his brow at the scene. "Daniel is no match for him; that man has 280 inner strength circles, almost breaking through to a fourth-class warrior."

Ziyan Rouxi seemed to mishear; since when did her adopted brother become a keen observer?

Daniel cupped his hands. "Patriarch, I will fight him!"

Xing Han sneered coldly. "Trash, step forward!" he taunted fearlessly.

Without hesitation, Daniel leaped forward, swinging the sword he held.

The blade glowed with a mysterious purple energy.

With swift and agile movements, Daniel launched a series of attacks, both slashes and thrusts.

However, Xing Han seemed unperturbed.

He dodged Daniel's attacks easily as if dancing among the rain of swords.

Clang—

Daniel executed a fast and decisive strike with his sword, but Xing Han calmly and deftly used his scabbard to block the attack.

Xing Han didn't even draw his sword, as if mocking Daniel's efforts to wound him.

On the other side, Xiao Tian felt anxious about the situation.

He turned to Fa Wa and said, "Grandfather, Daniel is not his match. From Xing Han's attacks, he intends to launch a surprise attack and incapacitate Daniel. This can't be allowed."

Xiao Tian's expression was worried while Fa Wa pondered momentarily, observing the ongoing fight between Daniel and Xing Han.

"Tian, I know that. But no other student can compete with him under the age of 17. I hope Daniel surrenders before he gets hurt." Fa Wa smiled bitterly at this one-sided fight.

The boy named Xing Han wasn't even attacking despite clearly having greater inner strength; he was merely toying with Daniel.

"Grandfather, let me fight him! I won't let that old man humiliate you in your own Sect."

"Tian, you haven't even trained. How can you fight?"

Xiao Tian looked at his grandfather with sincere eyes, his face full of determination. "Grandfather, Tian will be honest. I often trained without your knowledge. My strength is enough to drive out that uninvited guest!" he said firmly.

Seeing Xiao Tian's serious face, Fa Wa was slightly confused, unsure whether to believe him.

His brows knitted together as he observed every detail of Xiao Tian's expression.

After a few moments of contemplation, Fa Wa made up his mind, deciding to trust Xiao Tian.

After all, he knew his adopted grandson's character; he wasn't one to joke, especially in such a situation.

Fa Wa nodded slowly, then patted Xiao Tian's shoulder with confidence. "Go ahead! But, if you can't fight him, admit defeat immediately."

Fa Wa was very worried; even though others hid their strength, he could see everything.

However, he couldn't see Xiao Tian's strength.

***

"Trash, it's time for me to end this fight!" Xing Han suddenly drew his sword and moved swiftly, intending to kill Daniel; he didn't want just to injure him.

However, just as Xing Han's sword was about to reach Daniel's neck and take his life, a shadow suddenly flashed by with incredible speed.

Xiao Tian was already standing before Daniel, protecting him from Xing Han's attack.

With extraordinary strength, he pinched Xing Han's sword with two fingers, stopping the lethal attack in Daniel's face.

"That's enough! Or I'll teach you a lesson!" Xiao Tian said with a bone-chilling tone.

Everyone in the room was shocked by the young man's sudden appearance.

The elders and disciples were stunned; even Fa Wa, Xiao Tian's adopted grandfather, was utterly astonished.

Xing Han furrowed his brow, puzzled by the figure who dared to stop him.

He stared at Xiao Tian, who appeared younger than him.

But what intrigued Xing Han was the cold aura from Xiao Tian as if it could freeze every soul that approached him.

CHAPTER 8 XIAO TIAN

"Do you intend to join the fight? If you want to fight, I don't mind taking on both of you simultaneously!" Although Xiao Tian had stopped his attack, Xing Han still did not take Xiao Tian seriously.

Xiao Tian shook his head. "Do you not understand my meaning? If you don't, then fine, I'll make you understand."

Xiao Tian looked sharply at the Patriarch of the Boundless Valley. "Old man, I don't know where you come from. But your actions in our Sect don't reflect those of a master. If you want a fight between disciples, this isn't the way. My Supreme Sword Sect will satisfy your desire for a battle."

Hearing the sharp comments from a child, Gan Feng's face turned red, anger rising in his expression.

As a patriarch of the Boundless Valley, how could he tolerate the words of a child who didn't understand the martial world?

But before he could unleash his fury, Fa Wa, standing beside him, spoke first.

"Gan Feng, don't you feel ashamed of your childish behavior? Tian's words are true! If you want to see the strength between Boundless Valley and our Supreme Sword Sect's disciples, I'd be happy to fulfill your wish," Fa Wa said teasingly as if challenging Gan Feng. "But for now, sit here, and we will watch the battle between our disciples peacefully," he continued, pointing to the chair prepared beside him.

Gan Feng held back his anger.

The two disciples from the Boundless Valley and the Supreme Sword Sect began preparing for the fight.

Everyone present could feel the tension in the air; they were not only shocked by Xiao Tian's actions but also by Fa Wa's words as their patriarch.

"Will the patriarch let Tian fight that person?"

"I don't know! But from the patriarch's words, it seems so. But you know, Tian's daily activities only involve sweeping the yard; he has never trained. So how could Tian have the ability to fight that person?"

People began questioning Xiao Tian's actions and Fa Wa's words.

In their judgment, Xiao Tian was a child uninterested in martial arts.

This was evident because the child was never seen training.

***

Gan Feng restrained his anger and reluctantly sat beside Fa Wa. "If that's your opinion, it would be better. I can see who the true genius of your Sect is?"

Fa Wa looked at Xiao Tian. "Tian, are you sure you want to fight?"

Xiao Tian smiled faintly. "Grandfather, Tian doesn't want to fight because this person doesn't interest me. But his actions in our Sect are too arrogant, so I can't remain silent."

Xiao Tian looked at Daniel. "Senior Daniel, you can step down; let this person be my concern."

Daniel hesitated a bit because he shared the same thoughts as others.

But Xiao Tian's strength in stopping Xing Han's attack made him think otherwise. "Alright, junior brother, be careful. This person is still hiding his strength."

"Senior doesn't need to worry; leave this to me." Xiao Tian smiled warmly at Daniel.

Xing Han snorted coldly. "Are you done with the pleasantries?"

Xiao Tian smiled slightly. But within his smile hid a ferocity unknown to Xing Han.

Daniel exited the martial arts arena, leaving Xiao Tian to face Xing Han.

Now, all eyes were on him.

They wanted to see if the lazy boy had any martial arts skills.

Xiao Tian stood tall in the middle of the arena, his sharp gaze fixed on Xing Han, who mocked him with a sneering tone. "Boy, don't blame me for being ruthless! Swords have no eyes, so don't blame me if you get seriously injured," Xing Han taunted while gripping his sword tightly.

The people around the arena suddenly realized that Xiao Tian was weaponless, and they began to murmur with concern.

At a critical moment, Daniel moved quickly. "Junior brother, take this!" Daniel shouted as he threw his sword towards Xiao Tian.

Xiao Tian swiftly caught the sword Daniel threw.

He nodded, "Thank you, senior." His words were full of respect, but his tone remained calm and confident.

After Xiao Tian held a weapon, Xing Han looked at Fa Wa. "Can the fight begin now?"

Fa Wa nodded in agreement, then raised his hand as a signal that the match could start.

After receiving Fa Wa's approval, Xing Han didn't want to waste time.

He tried to humiliate the boy in front of him.

Xing Han immediately unsheathed his sword, leaping at high speed.

Xiao Tian didn't move; he still stood calmly.

When Xing Han made a slash, Xiao Tian only lifted his sword, still in its sheath.

The sound of clashing weapons echoed through everyone.

However, seeing Xiao Tian easily block the attack, people were convinced that Xiao Tian had the skills and wasn't just boasting to seek attention.

CHAPTER 9 XIAO TIAN ||

After blocking Xing Han's sword slash, Xiao Tian swiftly twisted his wrist with agility.

The sword, previously used to block Xing Han's attack, became a deadly strike aimed at Xing Han's abdomen.

Bang—

"Ugh..." Xing Han was thrown several meters away.

After stabilizing himself, he suddenly spat out blood from his mouth.

Xing Han glared at Xiao Tian viciously while wiping his blood. "Kid, I underestimated you. I didn't expect you to have such strength. Now, you won't have another chance to defend yourself!"

Xing Han released his true aura.

Now, everyone could feel Xing Han's power.

"Damn, this kid Xing Han has a massive amount of inner energy, he's nearly a fourth-class warrior. What do we do? Tian is surely going to be defeated by him!"

"Don't panic, look at Tian's face. Even though that guy revealed his power, Tian is still very calm. It means Tian has a way to deal with him."

Many people doubted Xiao Tian, while some remained optimistic about the boy.

"Kid, now it's time to end this fight!" Xing Han shouted, igniting a burning fighting spirit within himself.

He raised his sword high, channeling all the energy in his body.

Suddenly, a tremendous energy burst from Xing Han's sword, making the wind around the arena chaotic.

His sword gleamed, indicating the power ready to destroy the opponent before him. "DANCE OF A HUNDRED SWORDS!" Xing Han yelled, initiating his ultimate attack.

In an instant, hundreds of sword shadows appeared around him, moving rapidly and unstoppably.

Seeing Xing Han using the sword skill of the Boundless Valley, Gan Feng smiled proudly.

"That boy named Tian is going to die. This is the third most powerful sword technique below the level of a heavenly king warrior. Even an earth king warrior would struggle against this sword technique. Xing Han is very talented; even though he's only 15 years old, he can already perform this technique." Gan Feng grinned evilly.

***

Seeing Xing Han's potent attack, Xiao Tian was slightly intrigued by his sword technique.

His eyes glowed slightly; if anyone could see deep into Xiao Tian's eyes, they would be astonished, for there seemed to be thousands of stars shining within them.

Xing Han attacked fiercely, but Xiao Tian still hadn't drawn his sword.

He could dodge Xing Han's attacks with ease.

Xiao Tian even offered advice as Xing Han attacked. "Your sword skill is strong, but you lack power when using it. You also aren't smooth when changing the rhythm of your attacks, even though the sword technique you mentioned could become deadly."

"Bastard, if you can use a sword technique, do it! Don't just criticize me!" Xing Han was furious; his opponent could always predict the direction of his attacks easily.

He was extremely angry.

At this moment, Xing Han received a lecture from an opponent far younger than himself.

Xing Han's lungs felt like they would explode from his rage.

Seeing Xing Han's increasingly substantial but unsubstantial attacks, Xiao Tian lost interest in continuing the fight.

Xiao Tian, who had only been dodging, now began to attack.

He had lost interest in fighting.

The boy played with his sword still in its sheath, twisting it and then slashing at Xing Han's wrist.

Slash—

"Ahh…" Xing Han screamed in pain, his sword flying out of his hand and landing far away.

Xiao Tian appeared in front of Xing Han with an icy face; his kindness and calmness had vanished, replaced by a gaze that contained a hint of murderous intent.

Splash—

Splash—

Xiao Tian slapped Xing Han's face violently.

He continuously delivered several slaps, and finally, Xiao Tian kicked Xing Han's waist hard.

Bang—

Crack—

Xing Han wasn't just thrown far; his ribs were shattered.

He vomited blood continuously.

All his strength disappeared; he no longer could stand.

Xiao Tian walked slowly toward Xing Han; his cold expression terrified the man.

"What is this?" People stared at each other in disbelief.

Not only Gan Feng, the patriarch of the Boundless Valley, but even the people of the Supreme Sword Sect didn't expect such an outcome.

People have now changed their views of Xiao Tian.

Those who had always thought the boy had no talent and was very lazy about practicing martial arts found out he was not a lazy person.

Xiao Tian said he was skilled but had not wanted to showcase himself until now.

Xing Han looked at Xiao Tian in horror. "Don't come near me! Stay away from me!"

Xing Han tried to stand but was utterly powerless.

Xing Han lay helplessly on the ground, his body full of wounds and blood.

Xiao Tian, who had been walking casually, suddenly felt anger.

In an instant, his body shook, and he appeared before Xing Han with incredible speed.

Baang—

Xiao Tian's hard kick landed on Xing Han's body, sending him flying back several meters.

Xing Han's ribs weren't just broken; they shattered into pieces.

Intense pain flooded his entire body, making Xing Han scream in agony.

After that, Xiao Tian didn't stop.

He ran again and arrived in front of Xing Han once more.

Then he stepped on Xing Han's chest.

"Stop!" Gan Feng stood and shouted.

A fighting aura and a hint of murderous intent emanated from his body.

However, Xiao Tian ignored him.

Instead, he glared at Gan Feng with sharp eyes.

"Old man, why are you stopping me? What did I do wrong?"

Seeing Xiao Tian's gaze, Gan Feng felt he wasn't looking at a 9-year-old boy.

There was a strange feeling seeping into his body.

He felt like a god of death was staring at him.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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The river wants to swallow me whole.

Currents tear at my limbs, rocks scrape my skin raw, and beneath the churning water, golden-eyed beasts circle—jaws wide, claws ready.

I'm barely conscious, ribs cracked, lungs burning.

This should be the end.

But then… light erupts from my chest.

A blinding, silver-white radiance floods the riverbed.

The beasts recoil, shrieking, fleeing into the abyss.

My body feels… different.

Alive in a way it never has before.

Something ancient stirs within me—something that refuses to die.

I wash ashore, coughing blood and water.

Above me, a girl with a wooden sword stares, wide-eyed.

Behind her, an old man kneels, pressing his palm to my back.

'You shouldn't have survived,' he mutters, sensing something in my veins he can't name.

I don't answer.

I just clench my fists.

Because I remember.

My father's last stand.

My mother's smile as she pushed me into the river.

The general's laugh as he called her body 'a pity.'

And the voice—deep, cold, echoing from beyond the stars: 'If he cannot survive in this Realm… he is not worthy of being my son.'

I may be nine years old.

I may have no master, no sect, no strength recognized by this world.

But I swear—on my parents' graves, on my blood, on the fire now burning in my soul—I will climb.

Realm by realm.

Bone by bone.

Until I stand above the gods who abandoned me.

And then… I'll make them beg for mercy.

The old man offers his hand. 'Come with me. You have nowhere else to go.'

The girl waits, silent.

What do I do?