Kael couldn't move.
His father's voice was still echoing in his mind.
“Do not trust the man who raised you.”
Master Jian.
Kael clenched his fists.
“No.”
He shook his head.
“That can't be true.”
Jian had raised him.
He had taught him how to fight.
He had protected him for seventeen years.
There was no way—
Kael stopped.
A thought entered his mind.
Then why had Jian never told him about his past?
Why had he hidden the truth about his father?
Why did Black Lotus fear him?
And why did Jian know about his previous lives?
Kael looked toward the mountain peak.
He didn't have enough answers.
But he had one clear goal.
Find his father's message.
He started climbing again.
The Moon Hall stood at the top of the mountain.
Its massive doors were covered in cracks.
Kael pushed them open.
Creeeeak.
Dust filled the air.
Inside was a large training hall.
Broken weapons lay scattered across the floor.
Old paintings covered the walls.
Kael walked slowly.
Then he saw it.
A stone platform stood at the center of the hall.
Behind it was a simple wooden table.
On the table sat a small box.
Kael's heartbeat increased.
He approached it.
His hand reached for the box.
Click.
The box opened.
Inside was a jade slip.
Kael picked it up.
The moment his fingers touched it—
BOOM!
A wave of energy entered his body.
Kael dropped to one knee.
His vision blurred.
A familiar figure appeared before him.
A young man wearing a black robe.
Kael knew him immediately.
His father.
Ren Hao.
“Kael.”
The figure wasn't real.
It was only an image left inside the jade slip.
But hearing his father's voice still made Kael's chest tighten.
“I don't know when you will find this.”
Ren Hao looked serious.
“If you are seeing this, then the Black Lotus has already found you.”
Kael's expression changed.
His father continued.
“Do not fight them.”
Kael frowned.
“Why?”
“Because you are not strong enough.”
The image paused.
Then Ren Hao said,
“Go to the inner grounds of the sect.”
Kael's eyes narrowed.
“The inner grounds?”
“There is someone there who can teach you how to control your power.”
The image began fading.
Kael quickly asked,
“Who?”
Ren Hao looked directly at him.
“Find the old man beneath the Moon Well.”
The image disappeared.
The jade slip cracked.
Kael stared at it.
“That’s it?”
His father's message was gone.
But at least he had something.
A direction.
Moon Well.
Kael stood.
He was about to leave when—
BOOM!
The doors of the Moon Hall exploded.
Kael jumped backward.
A figure walked through the smoke.
The gray-robed cultivator.
The same man from the forest.
Kael's expression became serious.
“You followed me.”
The man smiled.
“You didn't really think you could escape?”
Kael stepped backward.
His eyes moved around the hall.
No exit.
The gray-robed man slowly drew his sword.
“Your master isn't here this time.”
Kael's hands tightened.
“Who are you?”
“My name is Han Wei.”
He raised his sword.
“Remember it.”
Kael lowered his stance.
Body Tempering — Second Layer.
Han Wei's cultivation was far higher.
Foundation Establishment.
The difference was enormous.
Kael knew he couldn't win.
So he didn't intend to fight him head-on.
His eyes moved toward the broken window.
Then toward the mountain slope behind it.
Han Wei noticed.
“You're thinking about running.”
Kael smiled.
“Maybe.”
Han Wei disappeared.
The sword came toward Kael's chest.
Kael moved.
CLANG!
He blocked with his arm.
Pain exploded through his bones.
He was thrown across the hall.
Kael crashed into the wall.
Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Han Wei walked toward him.
“You have talent.”
He raised his sword.
“Unfortunately, talent means nothing without strength.”
Kael slowly stood.
His legs were shaking.
He remembered Jian's words.
Strength isn't everything.
But sometimes...
it was the only thing keeping you alive.
Kael looked at his palm.
The golden mark began glowing.
His Human Flame surged.
Han Wei's eyes narrowed.
“Again?”
Golden energy spread through Kael's body.
His heartbeat became faster.
His muscles tightened.
The second layer of Body Tempering began shaking.
Something was changing.
Kael gritted his teeth.
Not yet.
His body couldn't handle another breakthrough.
But he pushed anyway.
The golden energy rushed through his meridians.
Boom!
A wave of Qi exploded from his body.
Han Wei took a step backward.
“What?”
Kael raised his head.
His eyes were burning with determination.
Body Tempering — Third Layer.
Kael had broken through.
Han Wei's expression became cold.
“You're becoming troublesome.”
Kael wiped the blood from his mouth.
“I've heard that before.”
Han Wei attacked.
This time—
Kael moved first.
He didn't try to overpower him.
He waited.
One step.
Two steps.
Then—
Kael slammed his fist into the floor.
BOOM!
The stone beneath them shattered.
Han Wei's balance broke.
Kael turned and jumped through the broken window.
He landed on the mountain slope and immediately began running.
Behind him, Han Wei climbed through the window.
“RUN!”
Kael smiled.
“I am.”
He disappeared into the trees.
Han Wei stared after him.
For the first time, he looked genuinely angry.
Several minutes later, Kael finally stopped.
He leaned against a tree.
His entire body hurt.
But he was alive.
He looked toward the mountain.
Somewhere inside the ruined sect was the Moon Well.
And beneath it—
Someone was waiting.
Someone who knew how to control the power inside him.
Kael pushed himself away from the tree.
“I'm coming.”
He took one step.
Then—
CRACK.
The ground beneath his foot opened.
Kael fell.
“WHAT—?!”
He dropped into darkness.
His body slammed against stone.
He looked around.
A faint blue light illuminated the underground chamber.
At its center stood an ancient well.
Kael slowly approached it.
Water reflected his face.
Then the reflection changed.
It wasn't Kael anymore.
It was an older version of him.
The same face.
The same eyes.
But covered in blood.
The reflection smiled.
And whispered—
“You found me earlier this time.”
Kael froze.
The water suddenly turned black.