What was going on?
As the man in the golden robe departed, Lin Xuan and Lin Chu looked at each other, utterly bewildered and unable to fathom the situation.
"This is bad! Uncle Wang, Lan'er!" Lin Xuan suddenly remembered the direction from which the golden-robed man had come and stood up in alarm. The next moment, Lin Xuan and Lin Chu rushed towards Lin Family Village in a panic.
"Uncle Wang, Aunt Lian, Lan'er!" More than two hours later, as Lin Xuan and Lin Chu's figures reached the edge of the village, they saw that the thatched hut had been reduced to dust. In their panic, they immediately shouted loudly.
Around them, only echoes replied, nothing else.
"Huh? Could it be that Uncle Wang and the others left earlier?" After searching for a while, Lin Chu's panicked heart gradually eased.
They found no trace of blood around the collapsed structure, nor any bodies. It was clear that Wang Zhai and the other two had left before the man in the purple robe and his companions arrived.
Not seeing Wang Zhai and the others, Lin Chu felt much more at ease. Although there was still some disappointment and sadness, it was a great comfort compared to misfortune.
"Uncle Wang and the others must have left earlier. Brother Chu, Uncle Wang and they will be fine," Lin Xuan said, patting Lin Chu's shoulder.
"Mm!" Lin Chu nodded vigorously.
Time passed, and as Lin Chu gazed at the familiar trees and plants around him, a sense of inexplicable desolation slowly welled up in his heart.
Ever since their grandfather died, he and his elder brother Lin Xuan had lived with Wang Zhai. Although they didn't have much to rely on, at least they had a sense of home. Now, everything had turned to dust, and the feeling of helplessness and loneliness was naturally hard to bear.
What's more, the world was so vast, where were his relatives? Could he find them with just a jade pendant?
Thinking of this, Lin Chu's face darkened, and he looked bewildered. Having never left the great mountains, where should he go now…
Hoo!
Lin Chu took a deep breath, his mind stirred, and he reached for his waist. A crystal-clear purple-gold jade pendant instantly appeared in his hand.
"Dad, Mom, where are you…" Lin Chu muttered softly, gently stroking the jade pendant and looking into the distance. He didn't notice that as his tears fell, the jade pendant in his hand slowly turned crimson.
"Brother Chu, don't be afraid. I'll always be by your side." Lin Xuan saw this and quickly wiped away Lin Chu's tears, then held him in his arms.
"Ah!"
As the jade pendant became increasingly bright, Lin Chu finally reacted. The scorching heat instantly pulled his thoughts back. With a shake of his hand, the jade pendant flew into the sky.
Buzz!
Just as Lin Chu was about to catch the jade pendant, it suddenly erupted with a ball of fire that enveloped him. Within the ball of fire, Lin Chu's coarse clothes were completely burned away.
In less than three breaths, Lin Chu seemed to have fallen into a coma, allowing the grey light to manipulate him and float in mid-air.
Then, with a flash of fire, it turned back into a jade pendant and fell beside Lin Xuan, who had also fallen unconscious. A faint red light silently flowed into Lin Xuan's body and disappeared.
At the same time, Xiao Jingren, who was in the Heavenly Venerate's palace, suddenly looked up and frowned, muttering, "Sixteen years have passed, and they can't hold back any longer?"
"Come!"
"Heavenly Venerate, what are your orders?" As Xiao Jingren's voice faded, two figures quickly flew in from outside the palace, bowed, and clasped their fists in response.
A cold smile curved Xiao Jingren's lips as he slowly said, "Order Emperor Dragon Divine King to descend to the lower realm immediately. The Imperial Son has appeared. Bring him back alive, or his corpse!"
"Yes!" The two celestial generals immediately responded upon hearing this, then moved their figures and vanished from the great hall.
As the two celestial generals departed, a cold smile reappeared on Xiao Jingren's face. "Brother Emperor, Brother Emperor, did you think that by sending away the Imperial Sword and your rebellious son, I would worry forever?"
Just as Xiao Jingren was arranging for people to descend, Lin Chu, enveloped by the ball of fire, appeared in a dark space. Then, Lin Chu's eyes suddenly opened, and flames flickered within the reflection of his pupils.
In an instant, it transformed into a human-shaped figure and floated in front of Lin Chu.
"Who, who are you?" Lin Chu asked fearfully, looking at the figure covered in flames.
When he realized he was in a strange space, he became even more flustered.
"Child, don't be afraid. I won't hurt you. I, am the jade pendant on your body. You can call me, the Heart of Fire Spirit." Seeing Lin Chu's panicked expression, the humanoid figure within the flames slightly raised its head and said in a hoarse voice.
"Jade pendant?" Lin Chu was immediately shocked. A jade pendant transforming into a human figure completely overturned Lin Chu's understanding of this world.
"Child, don't be surprised. This world is far more different than you imagine. You are not yet qualified to witness all of this. When you become a cultivator, the veil of this world will gradually be lifted for you."
As if sensing Lin Chu's surprise, the Heart of Fire Spirit spoke again.
Lin Chu nodded blankly. As if recalling something, he immediately asked, "Then, Heart of Fire Spirit, since you are transformed from the jade pendant on my body, you must know about my origins and where my family is. Can you tell me?"
The Heart of Fire Spirit looked at Lin Chu with a complex expression, but finally shook its head. "Child, you are too weak now. When you become strong, you will know everything you need to know. My existence is merely to be a guide for the beginning of your cultivation path."
Lin Chu looked at the Heart of Fire Spirit in confusion and asked, "Guide?"
The Heart of Fire Spirit nodded slightly. "If I hadn't sensed their appearance, I wouldn't be here before you now. Alright, child, regarding your origins and the whereabouts of your family, I cannot answer you."
"Only when you become strong will you know what you need to know. Now, remember carefully what I am about to say. All of this depends on what height you can reach in the future. Child, are you ready?"
"I... I'm ready." Although Lin Chu wanted to ask the Heart of Fire Spirit if "they" referred to the man in the purple robe and his companions, seeing the Heart of Fire Spirit's appearance, he could only nod slightly.
"Settle your mind and stabilize your heart, all things begin anew. The Way of Heaven is to diminish the excess and supplement the insufficient. Act from the heart, follow your nature, and this is natural. Chaos engenders all things, and all things condense into chaos. This is one, one is the beginning, and the beginning encompasses the end."
"The Way of Man is the spirit of the multitude of heroes. Yet the common people rise and fall, governed by the Way of Heaven, which cannot be resisted. The path of cultivation is to change heaven and fate, all for oneself. The Heart of Chaos contains all things. If the heart is strong, then the body is strong. If the body is strong, then all matters will be accomplished."
"The bones and sinews of man are like all things. Refine the sinews and temper the bones, and strive unceasingly. Chaos may be greater than heaven, or hidden within the body, all is self-realization."
As the Heart of Fire Spirit's words fell, its entire body was engulfed in raging flames once more. As it flew towards Lin Chu, it slowly transmitted a voice, "My existence is to open the first door for you. Child, strive hard."
As the words fell, the fierce flames instantly enveloped Lin Chu, burning intensely as if they were clinging to his bones.
"Ah!"
Lin Chu, who was still pondering the meaning of the Heart of Fire Spirit's words, let out a scream. After enduring for only a moment, he fell heavily.