The village had gone silent.
Snow drifted through the air.
Kael stood behind Jian, staring at the sword in his master's hand.
He had seen that sword before.
Many times.
It had always been hidden beneath Jian's old robe, wrapped in cloth and treated like a useless piece of metal.
Kael had never imagined that the moment Jian drew it—
the entire mountain would tremble.
The masked man's expression became grim.
“Jian Ren.”
He slowly drew his own sword.
“I heard you disappeared twenty years ago.”
Jian raised his blade.
“I was hoping you wouldn't find me.”
The masked man laughed.
“You should have known better.”
His eyes moved toward Kael.
“The moment his bloodline awakened, the signal spread across the entire northern territory.”
Kael's heart tightened.
“Bloodline?”
Jian's eyes narrowed.
“Kael, stay behind me.”
“But—”
“Now.”
Something in Jian's voice made Kael obey.
He stepped backward.
The masked man lifted his sword.
“Take the boy.”
Four warriors charged.
Jian disappeared.
BOOM!
The first warrior was sent flying.
Before the others could react, Jian's sword flashed.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Three swords shattered.
The warriors stumbled backward, blood spilling from their mouths.
Kael stared.
He couldn't even follow Jian's movements.
A moment ago, the old man had been standing beside him.
Now he was twenty meters away.
“This...”
Kael swallowed.
“Is cultivation?”
He had heard stories about cultivators his entire life.
People who could break stones with their fists.
People who could move faster than horses.
People who could live for hundreds of years.
Kael had always thought they were exaggerated stories.
Now he was watching one fight in front of him.
Jian turned his sword.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
The masked man's eyes became cold.
“Peak Foundation Realm.”
Jian didn't answer.
The masked man suddenly smiled.
“Unfortunately, you're injured.”
Kael noticed it then.
Blood was slowly dripping from Jian's sleeve.
His master's breathing was heavier than before.
Jian's injury was serious.
The masked man raised his sword.
“Kill the old man.”
The four warriors attacked together.
Jian blocked the first strike.
Then the second.
Then the third.
But the fourth sword slipped through.
Slash!
Blood splashed across the snow.
“MASTER!”
Kael rushed forward.
Jian turned sharply.
“Don't!”
Too late.
The masked man appeared beside Kael.
His sword was already raised.
Kael froze.
He couldn't move.
The blade descended.
Clang!
A golden light erupted from Kael's palm.
The sword stopped inches from his chest.
The masked man stared.
Kael stared too.
The golden mark had returned.
It burned beneath his skin.
The masked man's expression changed completely.
“Impossible...”
He stepped backward.
“What are you?”
Kael looked at his palm.
He had no answer.
The golden mark suddenly pulsed.
A strange voice whispered inside his mind.
Run.
Kael's eyes widened.
It was the same voice from his vision.
The masked man looked toward the golden mark.
His face became pale.
“It's awake.”
He immediately turned around.
“Fall back!”
The four warriors hesitated.
“But—”
“NOW!”
They retreated into the forest.
Kael watched them disappear.
“Why did they run?”
Jian lowered his sword.
His body swayed.
Kael immediately caught him.
“Master!”
Jian leaned against him.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he looked at Kael's palm.
The golden mark had disappeared again.
Jian's expression was complicated.
“You weren't supposed to awaken yet.”
Kael stared at him.
“You knew?”
Jian remained silent.
“You knew this would happen?”
Still nothing.
Kael's voice became louder.
“Who are those people?”
Jian looked toward the forest.
“The Black Lotus.”
“Why are they after me?”
“Because they are afraid of what you might become.”
Kael clenched his fists.
“And my parents?”
Jian's eyes changed.
That question had hit something deeper.
Kael noticed immediately.
“You know something.”
Jian closed his eyes.
“Your father wasn't an ordinary martial artist.”
Kael waited.
“Then who was he?”
Jian didn't answer.
Instead, he reached inside his robe and pulled out a small wooden box.
He handed it to Kael.
“This belonged to him.”
Kael opened the box.
Inside was a broken piece of black metal.
It looked like part of a sword.
A strange symbol had been carved into its surface.
Kael touched it.
The moment his fingers made contact—
BOOM!
His vision disappeared.
A man stood in front of him.
Tall.
Blood covered his clothes.
His face was impossible to see.
But Kael knew him.
A feeling deep inside his soul whispered the answer.
Father.
The man looked directly at him.
“Kael.”
His voice echoed through the darkness.
“If you're seeing this...”
He paused.
“Then I've already failed.”
Kael's heart pounded.
“Failed at what?”
The vision continued.
The man's expression became serious.
“Don't search for me.”
Kael froze.
“Whatever you remember...”
The man's voice became distant.
“Don't trust the memories.”
The vision shattered.
Kael dropped the metal fragment.
He gasped for air.
Jian grabbed his shoulder.
“What did you see?”
Kael stared at him.
“My father.”
Jian's face went pale.
“What did he say?”
Kael hesitated.
Then he remembered the final words.
“He told me not to trust my memories.”
Jian's hand tightened around his shoulder.
For several seconds, the old master said nothing.
Then—
A distant horn sounded from the mountains.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Jian looked toward the northern sky.
His expression became grim.
“They're coming.”
Kael looked around.
“Who?”
Jian picked up his sword.
“Everyone.”
Kael's heart sank.
“What do you mean?”
Jian looked directly at him.
“The Black Lotus wasn't here to kill you.”
He paused.
“They were here to confirm that you had awakened.”
Kael stared at him.
“And now?”
Jian looked toward the mountains.
“Now every powerful faction in the Northern Territory knows you're alive.”
The wind grew stronger.
Snow began falling harder.
Jian placed a hand on Kael's shoulder.
“You have one night.”
“One night for what?”
“To become strong enough to survive.”
Kael looked at his trembling hands.
He remembered the wolf.
The warriors.
The golden flame.
And the mysterious death from his vision.
For the first time, fear wasn't the strongest emotion inside him.
It was determination.
He looked at Jian.
“Teach me.”
Jian stared at him.
“Teach you what?”
Kael clenched his fist.
“How to cultivate.”
For a long moment, Jian said nothing.
Then a faint smile appeared on the old man's face.
“Then tonight...”
He turned toward the mountain.
“Your real training begins.”
Far away, beyond the snowy mountains, a black-robed figure opened his eyes.
A golden symbol appeared in his pupil.
He looked toward Kael's village.
“The eighth one has awakened.”
A voice came from the darkness.
“Should we kill him?”
The figure shook his head.
“No.”
“Why?”
The man smiled.
“Because this time...”
His eyes became cold.
“I want to see how far he gets.”