Chapter 2 Xiao Jian's Identity

Xiao Jian's Identity...

Wang Chong's face turned crimson with rage, his fury reaching its peak. His sharp eyes radiated a terrifying killing intent, and with every breath he took, the air around him seemed to tighten, filled with an overwhelming pressure.

His gaze locked onto the man before him, overflowing with uncontrollable hatred. The veins in his neck bulged, and his fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword, ready to claim a life without the slightest hesitation.

"Xiao Jian. I will end your life first," he said coldly, his voice laced with cruel mockery. "Don't worry, you won't be lonely. Soon, your wife and child will follow you to Hell!"

His tone was filled with certainty, leaving no room for his victim to escape his fate.

Xiao Jian stared at Wang Chong, his eyes filled with deep hatred and sorrow. His face had turned pale-not out of fear of death, but because the cruelty before him was beyond anything he had imagined.

"Wang Chong! You are truly a monster!" he shouted, his voice trembling-not from fear, but from a mixture of rage and disappointment. "My wife and child are your own sister and nephew! How could you treat them like this? Someone like you won't escape the fate of suffering a more agonizing downfall than this!"

His words were not merely expressions of anger but a curse born from the depths of his soul. Deep inside, Xiao Jian hoped that karma would soon catch up to Wang Chong and bring him the punishment he deserved.

However, Wang Chong merely let out a low chuckle. His sinister laughter echoed like that of a demon who had just ensured the complete destruction of his victim.

"Too much talking!"

Baang-

Without giving Xiao Jian another moment, Wang Chong swung his sword with full force. The razor-sharp blade slashed through the air at a terrifying speed, glinting with deadly light before splitting Xiao Jian's body in two.

Fresh blood sprayed into the air, mingling with a death cry that was cut off in an instant. Xiao Jian's severed body crashed to the ground, creating a gruesome sight. His life was snuffed out in a blink, without a shred of mercy.

Wang Chong gazed at the mutilated corpse before him, his expression devoid of even the slightest remorse. Instead, deep within his hate-filled eyes, there was a chilling satisfaction.

"My poor brother-in-law," he murmured, his voice dripping with scorn. "I will not let anyone threaten my position. To me, there are no family or friends. Anyone with the potential to take my place will meet a brutal death!"

His tone was laced with arrogance, as if he alone held the right to decide life and death.

His expression grew even more terrifying-his eyes burning with rage, his lips curling into a sadistic smile, and his gaze colder than any demon's.

Wang Chong clenched his fists tightly, his muscles tensing as if he wanted to destroy everything in his path. A menacing aura radiated from his body, creating a suffocating pressure that would instill overwhelming fear in anyone who dared to look at him.

***

Wangmei and Xiao Tian kept running, their breaths ragged, their bodies drenched in sweat, while the shadows of their pursuers grew closer in the distance. Their breathing was labored, but they had no choice but to keep running, desperately trying to leave the Wuyu Region behind.

However, their journey came to an abrupt halt when they reached the edge of a vast and immense river. The water was dark, its current so strong that it created small whirlpools, as if eagerly waiting to swallow anyone who fell in. The rumbling sound of the water crashing against itself only added to the tense atmosphere.

This was the Wang River, the most infamous river in the entire Wang Kingdom. Not only was it extraordinarily wide, but it was also teeming with hidden dangers. Ferocious beasts lurked within, their strength not to be underestimated. Some of them were even known to possess power equal to that of a King-tier warrior. To make crossing this treacherous river possible, the Wang Kingdom had built a suspension bridge stretching across it.

At that moment, Wangmei and Xiao Tian stood in the middle of the suspension bridge. The wooden planks beneath their feet creaked softly, accompanied by the howling wind that blew fiercely, swaying the supporting ropes.

But they could not move forward.

At the far end of the bridge, several Wang Kingdom soldiers stood waiting, their weapons drawn. Their eyes gleamed with arrogance, as if they were certain that Wangmei and Xiao Tian's fate had already been sealed. Meanwhile, when they turned back, the royal troops chasing them had arrived, surrounding them from both directions. There was no escape.

They were trapped.

From the ranks of soldiers ahead, a large-built man clad in black and gold battle armor stepped forward. He was the Wang Kingdom's General-a man known for his cruelty and cunning. A sinister smirk curled on his lips, his gaze filled with arrogance and undisguised desire.

"Your Majesty, it would be wise for you to surrender! Your deaths won't be too painful," he sneered, his eyes shamelessly scanning Wangmei from head to toe, as if assessing a valuable prize he was about to claim.

Wangmei glared at him with pure hatred. Her heart churned with rage and despair. There was no way out, but surrender was not an option. If she gave up, her son, Xiao Tian, would surely be killed.

Without a word, Wangmei reached into her dress and pulled out a short sword she had been hiding. The cold gleam of the blade immediately made several soldiers tense.

"You want me to surrender? Keep dreaming!" Wangmei shouted, her voice filled with unwavering determination.

Without hesitation, she swung her sword to the side-

Slash-

The ropes of the bridge were cut cleanly!

In an instant, the bridge's balance was disrupted. Wangmei then turned to Xiao Tian, and before her son could protest, she pushed him with all her strength.

"Mother, no!" Xiao Tian cried out, trying to grab her hand, but Wangmei's push was too strong.

His small body was flung into the air, falling straight into the raging river below.

Splash!

The icy water engulfed him, and in an instant, the powerful current of the Wang River dragged him far from the bridge. Xiao Tian struggled to move his arms, desperately fighting against the relentless current, but he was not strong enough. He could only scream, his eyes still searching for his mother's figure above.

"Mother! Mother!" his small voice echoed amidst the deafening roar of the river.

Wangmei looked down at him, her eyes brimming with tears-but she held them back. She only gave a bitter smile.

"My son, you must live. No matter what happens, you must survive."

Her gaze turned sharp as she shifted her attention to the Wang Kingdom's General. Her eyes now burned with fury and murderous intent.

"You treacherous bastard, I will kill you all!"

A terrifyingly cold aura erupted from her body. Wangmei was no ordinary woman. She was a renowned warrior, possessing an extraordinary ice-based energy. Her short sword now glowed with a brilliant blue light, a thin layer of frost coating its blade, radiating a chill that cut through the air.

The battle began.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The clash of weapons echoed in the dead of night. Wangmei fought like a lioness protecting her cub. Every slash of her sword was swift and sharp, forcing the soldiers to take a step back. Her blade, coated with ice, could freeze the enemy's weapons in an instant.

But the enemies were too many.

Puchi!

Suddenly, Wangmei's body jolted. Fresh blood spurted from her mouth, staining her gown.

Several long spears had pierced her from behind.

Wangmei trembled, her body gradually weakening. Yet, she remained standing with the last of her strength. Gasping for breath, she turned toward the river. In the distance, she could still see Xiao Tian slowly sinking into the raging current.

Her face was covered in blood, but she still tried to smile.

"Xiao Tian..." she whispered softly before her body finally collapsed, lifeless.

In the distance, Xiao Tian's eyes turned red. He had just witnessed his mother's death before his very eyes, yet he could do nothing. The river's current was too strong, dragging his body farther and farther away.

Whether he lived or died, no one knew.

On the now nearly collapsing bridge, General Wang stared at Wangmei's lifeless body.

"What a waste... Such a beautiful empress, now covered in wounds," he said, his tone regretful, though his eyes still gleamed with depravity.

One of his subordinates gathered the courage to speak. "General... if possible, please do not touch the empress's body. After all, she was our king's elder sister. If His Majesty finds out, we could all face his wrath."

The soldier spoke with his head bowed. He knew all too well the perverse nature of his general, a man who had defiled who knew how many women.

General Wang scoffed before replying, "Hmm... You don't need to worry. I still have my limits. Now, let's return and present the empress's body to His Majesty."

Another soldier hesitated before asking, "General, what about Xiao Tian? He was swept away by the river. Should we search for him?"

General Wang sneered coldly. "Search for him? Why waste our time? That boy is as good as dead. This river is filled with ferocious beasts. There's no need! He has already become their meal. Now, let's go back!"

With that, they left the bridge, carrying Wangmei's body back to the kingdom.

Wang Chong welcomed them with an icy expression. After hearing the full story, he simply nodded, showing no concern for Xiao Tian. To him, the boy was already dead.

"Prepare a funeral for my sister! As for Xiao Jian's body... just throw it into the Soul-Tracking Hounds' den."

Without hesitation, Xiao Jian's corpse was tossed into the den of the king's vicious hunting dogs.

However, none of them knew... both bodies were slowly transforming into a tree branch.

***

Somewhere far away, neither in the Ming Dynasty nor in Wuyu City, atop a towering mountain that pierced through the clouds, stood a middle-aged man alongside a woman whose beauty rivaled that of a goddess. Their faces bore a striking resemblance to Xiao Jian and Wangmei, yet the aura they emitted was far more terrifying.

The woman stood calmly at the edge of the peak, her mesmerizing eyes gazing at the vast sea of clouds before her. However, her gaze seemed to transcend space and time, seeing something beyond the reach of ordinary vision. Although her expression remained soft and graceful, a deep sadness was evident in her eyes.

"My husband, are we not being too cruel by leaving our child like this?" Her voice was gentle, yet she could not conceal the unease within it.

The man beside her gave a faint smile, but if one looked closely, his body trembled slightly, as though her words had struck something deep within his heart.

"He will be fine." His voice was filled with certainty, yet a hint of forced conviction lingered in his tone. "If he cannot survive in such a small world, then he is not worthy of being my son."

The woman shifted her gaze away from the sea of clouds and looked at her husband. Doubt still lingered in her expression.

"Husband, why don't we bring Tian'er with us?" Her voice carried the sincere concern of a mother who loved her child more than anything in the world. "He would grow stronger under your guidance. With the bloodline he carries, he could become a great expert in this universe."

It was then revealed that the man and woman standing atop the mountain were indeed Xiao Jian and Wangmei. The bodies that had been slain in the Wang Kingdom were merely substitutes, not their real forms.

Xiao Jian gazed into the distance, his sharp eyes reflecting boundless wisdom. He took a deep, steady breath before speaking.

"Tian'er must find his own path in cultivation. The hatred now rooted in his heart will serve as a catalyst that accelerates his growth. If he were by my side from the beginning, he might develop faster, but his potential would never reach its peak."

His voice carried absolute conviction, leaving no room for argument. His eyes reflected a wealth of experience and understanding of the world.

"True experts are not those who grow up in comfort. They are the ones who survive hardships, suffering, and humiliation. Without adversity, one can never grasp the true meaning of strength. Only those who have endured countless trials can stand at the peak of the cultivation world."

Wangmei remained silent, though her heart was still heavy with worry. She understood her husband's reasoning, but a mother's instincts could not be so easily suppressed. Nothing was more painful for a mother than leaving her child alone in a cruel world.

Yet, she knew she could not argue with Xiao Jian's decision. He was not just a husband and father-he was the Supreme God Emperor. The choices he made were not only for his family but for the balance of the entire universe.

Xiao Jian then reached out and gently held Wangmei's hand. His touch seemed to carry the intent to soothe her troubled heart.

"It is time for us to leave," he said, his voice turning more serious. "I cannot remain away from my clan any longer. If I stay here too long, a great catastrophe will descend and shake the entire universe."

Wangmei looked at her husband with resignation. She wanted to say something, but in the end, she could only let out a soft sigh and nod.

Xiao Jian then pulled Wangmei along with him. With every step they took, their bodies slowly ascended into the sky.

Once they reached a certain height, he extended his hand and tore open the space before them. A dimensional rift appeared, connecting them to a place far beyond the reach of ordinary beings.

Without hesitation, the two stepped inside and disappeared into the rift, leaving this world behind as they journeyed to a realm beyond human imagination.