The tall, dark-skinned woman, Ren Bai, looked on with shock at Ren Hong's figure: the boy's red eyes, previously lifeless, were now blazing with life, as if two flames were actually, truly, burning within the boy's eye-sockets.

"Foolish Sister, what are you trying to do!" The red-skinned boy scolded, his tone harsh as his grip around the woman's wrist tightened "Why would you want attempt to divide your soul in half?!?"

The woman gritted her teeth, the anger in her heart rose as the pain blinded her. Her whisker marks wavered as the woman began to tremble.

"You... It was your fault that he is in this condition right now! You have no right to talk, you overgrown chicken! Let me go so I can save brother! Stand aside!"

Ren Bai glared at the young boy, trying to shake her brother's grip off. She wasn't successful in any of her tries: the boy's grip didn't flinch a bit! A vein popped on the woman's forehead as her anger was on the verge of exploding.

"I said..." The woman stomped her foot on the ground, an illusory white tiger appearing behind her:

"STAND! ASIDE!"

Strange vibrations appeared together with the woman's words. It was as if, by uttering them, she had activated some kind of strange power.

However, whatever this weird power might have been, the red-skinned body didn't even seem to register it.

Seeing that, Ren Bai felt disbelief as she suddenly panicked: how did Ren Hong resist her order, the command issued by the Divine King of all Beasts? 

Each of the four kings had a domain that they could control as they pleased: Ren Hei had the Earth, Ren Long had the sea, lakes and rivers, Ren Hong had, apparently, Fire. As for Ren Bai, her domain... Was every single living Beast!

Although she would not be enough to control those who had enough willpower or were from an earlier generation, and thus Primordial Beasts, most Beasts would still show some sign of struggle as long as theiy breathed and their heart pumped blood, because this would be the order of their ruler! Even Tian, had he not received the power of the first Ancient, Hundredth Xu, would have had to comply with her every demand!

However, Ren Hong showed neither trait as he clearly was not being controlled nor was he struggling to retain his clarity. Instead, he simply stood there, as if nothing had happened. Finally, he took a step back, lifted his right arm...

SLAP!

The clear sound of skin-hitting-skin reverberated in the clearance. 

What!

It was as if thunder had struck Ren Bai as her head went blank, her thought processes thrown into disarray.

"My fault? Who was the one who rushed straight into the middle of the enemy's army all by herself? Wake up, you bloody idiot!" In Ren Hong's body, Cheng Hao gritted his teeth as he spat out venomous words.

"Furthermore, dividing your soul in half will result in the both of you getting weakened severely! Even though brother might survive, most of your vitality will be exhausted! Do you think Brother Long would agree to that? Wouldn't he want his sister to live on?" The boy shook his head as he walked past the tall, exotic woman.

Under the other's onslaught of words, Ren Bai could only stare in shock, her hand rubbing against her cheek where a bright red palm mark had appeared. Her eyes filled with tears and hatred as she turned around.

However, although her pupils burned with fiery rage, the flames of her anger, no matter how tall and bright they appeared, were already on the verge of being extinguished at the slightest breeze.

Like a candle in the wind, it was only a matter of time.

"I-I... I am his big sister!" Unyielding pride appeared in her eyes "As an eldest sibling, it is my job to-"

"And he's your fucking smaller Brother! A brother who almost sacrificed his life to save you!" Cheng Hao yelled. His loud words rocked Ren Bai's mind even more as the girl staggered backwards, struggling to stay on her feet and not to fall on the ground.

"What? Don't tell me that you didn't ponder wether all of his efforts would have been in vain, had he woken up to find you severely wounded as well?" Disbelief as well as anger flashed deep within Ren Hong's pupils "Don't tell me you didn't think how he would fall in depression, knowing he unknowingly hurt the very person he wanted to save?"

He gritted his teeth grabbed the girl's head with his hands, bringing her face closer until their forehead and noses touched. The boy banged his forehead against the girl's "Once again..."

"Open!"

Bang!

"Your!"

Bang!

"Fucking!"

Bang!

"Eyes!"

Bang!

Cheng Hao panted, a bruise had formed on top of his forehead as well as the woman's.

"You are a goddamn Divine Beast, for Heaven's sake!" The boy yelled once again, his crimson hair fluttering and his red, ruby-like eyes burning with passion and determination.

Having said that, he turned to gaze at the oncoming golden feathered bird: its claws were sharp to the point they seemed able to cut apart whole mountain chains with a simple wave and its pressure was enough to make the Earth tremble and the Heavens rumble.

"You as well, Golden Sky Lord... Quiet down!"He glared as his eyes burned with fiery killing intent.

The Majestic Bird didn't seem like it would listen as it charged with all his might towards Ren Hong's figure.

"Is your stupidity so contagious that even your beasts are affected, Divine Beast King?" The red skinned boy simply glared at the bird, lifted his hand and, shockingly, a faint green character appeared in the air...

SUNDER! THE! IMMORTAL!

Ren Bai couldn't make out what the character was, however the bird screamed in shock as it fell to the ground, completely powerless against this symbol's pressure. The bird squawked, terrified out of his wits.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

"You as well should open your eyes, Golden Sky Lord... Do you not recognise me? You do? Then why do you attack me then?" The boy's gaze resembled that of a sword as he glared at the squawking bird "Do not force my hand!"

The crimson-haired, red-skinned and red-eyed boy then knelt beside the suffering Ren Long. The bald youth looked in disbelief at the red-skinned boy in front of him: a little while ago, this boy had looked like a dying ember on the verge of being extinguished, but now... He was a bright fire that could burn down the sky itself!

"Bro... Ther... Hong... You..." Muttered the shocked Divine Sea King as his eyes widened.

The boy's crimson hair fluttered and his ruby-like eyes gazed upon the bald youth's body. He sighed "Geez... You are always so anxious to show off that you get hurt to this extent! And you wonder why big sister is so stern at all times!"

He tapped the youth's forehead and a bit of colour came back to Ren Long's face as another faint green character emerged, the terrifying pressure making the dark-red marks on the bald youth's body shiver in terror.

"Scatter!"

The boy's loud yell startled Rei Bai awake just in time to see the dark-red curse marks on top of Ren Long's body cower in fear, before immediately trembling and turning into smoke.

The two older siblings stared in shock at the figure of their younger brother: before, he had been on the verge of collapsing, now however, he was the one that saved them from falling into the abyss.

Ren Long gaped when he understood what had just happened.

He looked up and saw the crimson-haired boy was grinning at him and offering his hand. The bald youth sighed and then grabbed the red hand, propping himself up.

"Brother... What happened to you? You look... Different." Ren Long chuckled bitterly.

What happened to me... Uh?

"Ehehehe..." The boy chuckled as his red eyes glowed with bright light.

Nothing. I simply realised. I realised that, as long as I pass this trial, I will see you all again! Until then... I will live in this illusion of reality and do it so I won't have any regret... This time!

Cheng Hao smiled and then turned to look at Ren Bai, whose figure was now kneeling on the ground, unable to get up due to the shock.

The boy sighed and he knelt beside her, patting her head "Sis? Sis? Look, everything is fine." His bright smile and sweet voice startled the woman awake.

"It's time to go. Night is falling!" Ren Long grinned and grabbed the red-skinned boy's shoulder.

After the two distanced themselves enough so that the woman couldn't hear them anymore, Ren Long pouted.

"You little... She's your sister! How could you make an advance on her like that!" The bald youth hissed, his voice barely audible as the veins on his forehead popped "And I had my eyes on her for a longer time than you did! No fair!"

"Ahaha... She's all yours!" Cheng Hao chuckled. Yeah, he had missed this feeling... The feeling of being accepted. The feeling of a family!

So this is why Big Brother and Big Sister had never been able to transform... Second Sister had actually split her own soul in half, giving the other half to Third Brother, this, added on the fact the shadow of the Seal had not disappeared completely, bound them in their human forms...

Cheng Hao pondered.

It looks like... This actually is an alternate reality. This appears to be taking place before I appeared as Xu Ling. But now that I am Ren Hong... What will happen? After all, the prophecy should still be there, but which of us wil it choose? This world's Xu ling... Or me? Actually... Will there still be a Xu Ling at all?

Or... Will everything be changed because of my presence here?

He tightened his trembling fist as he did his best to conceal the look of excitement in his eyes.

Will I... Be able to change what happened here? To change fate and kill Tian when he arrives here, in Worldords Flying Island? Will I be able to do it? If I take him by surprise, there is a chance!

I already changed what happened once, will I be able to do it twice? Thrice? With my knowledge of what is going to happen in the future... Would I be able to save everyone? But then... What would happen to Xu Ling's role as the chosen one?

A sharp glint flashed deep within his pupils. However, as he concealed his expression, nobody took notice of it. The trio simply headed towards the middle of the floating land mass, where the four beasts' homes as well as meditation rooms were located.

With me here... Would Xu Ling still be needed? 

If... If I killed him... I would have more time to prepare and increase my strength, as Tian will not have any reason to come here a thousand years from now! If I kill this Xu Ling... Will I actually be able to kill Tian?

In exchange for this world's Xu Ling... That bastard, Tian, might die!

At some unknown time, a grin had begun to form on Cheng Hao's face... This expression, to those few people who had ever been able to see it, would still be ingrained deeply in their minds. 

Evil Saint. What is the meaning behind this strange title? 

There are many stories about its origin... Some of them true, some false.

However, many people would locate it at one particular time: when he had reached the Saintly stage, Xu Ling had already surpassed the True Earth and the True Heaven's greatest geniuses.

At that time, a certain battle had been fought. Xu Ling's opponents were none other than a certain Clan, known for its swordsmen and blades, the Ran Swordsmen! At the time, as mentioned earlier, he had been a simple Saintly stage cultivator, while the Ran Family's powerhouses were existences at the peak of the Ageless Realm! Had it not been for Tian's Seal, some of them might even have already broken through to the Immortal Realm!

And yet, a single Saintly stage cultivator slaughtered his path into one of the Family's Branches' mansion... And killed every single member present! Rivers of blood had flowed, corpses had been piled into mountains... Truly, a massacre.

This brought countless expert to acknowledge this rising star that shone brighter than most geniuses. At the time however, nobody knew his name. The only thing known about him was his cultivation base... The Saint stage!

Thus, he was dubbed "The Saint", for nobody would refer at himself as a powerhouse of the Saintly stage as long as "The Saint" was in such a stage.

However, his actions had angered the Ran Family's Main Branch. Countless swordsmen, each holding a Ran Blade in their hands, prepared for an all-out war against this mysterious cultivator: the weakest person of the group would have been more than enough to slaughter his way amongst an army of Empiric stage soldiers, let alone a single Saintly stage cultivator!

They had kidnapped one of his closest friend at the time, the Xiao Clan's member Xiao Lan, and had tortured him to the brink of death. By doing that, they had attempted to lure this 'Saint' out. However... all was in vain.

Because... 

While this gigantic army was busy guarding Xiao Lan's prison... 

The 'Saint' marched into the Main Family's Halls and slaughtered each and every member there! 

The Head with a cultivation of the peak God stage and at the very peak of the Ageless Realm! Family Protectors, hidden experts with unfathomable strength! The successors to the Family's Head position! Grown men! Women! Children! Animals! Insects! Weeds at the sides of the road!

Not a single living being would be called 'living' or even a 'being' anymore if he crossed his path! Hearing of what had happened, the massive army of the Ran Family quickly rushed back to the Main Family Mansion... Where they found him. The grinning demon, a nightmare that would haunt the living and the dead alike.

Slaughtered. 

The Ran Family's Main Branch was slaughtered, only deserters and Secondary Branches to the Main Family, located in other planes of existence, survived. In the future, these survivors were able to rebuild the clan, yes, but how could they forget the demon that had slaughtered his way through a whole army of cultivators? Who slaughtered the brethren simply because of the kidnapping of one of his closest of friends, a brother in all but bood?

And all of that... While showing that terrifying grin on his face!

At some point, when a person feels such incredible killing intent, he will be unable to remain sane. After all, how could he? At that time one's only thought would be to slaughter his way through the Earth, tear the Heavens apart and then proceed to slaughter the souls down below in the Underworld! This madness was nothing compared to that demonic grin.

A grin which contained such unparalleled bloodlust and killing intent that it even brought forth the destruction of the Main Branch of a Family that had existed for millennia!

What 'Saint' and 'Saint'! He was a Demon! He was the most accurate representation of Evil! 

However, how could they forget that he did all this while still at the Saintly stage? With the eradication of the Main Branch of the Ran family, the figure known as both a 'Saint' and 'Evil', the 'Evil Saint' rose to prominence!

In the past, this grin, a grin so fiendish it looked demonic, one that could invoke nightmares, would be the sign that Xu Ling, the Evil Saint, had lost all reason and would stop at nothing to achieve his objective. Each time this grin had been shown to the world, rains of blood had followed!

And yet, that strange grin was on another person's face right now, a being that had always shown kindness to the world. A being that had never shown an higher amount of viciousness against his opponents than needed.

Who was this person? It was none other than the Divine Fire King, Lord of the Flames, Ren Hong, the Divine Beast with the blood of two Primordial Emperors running through his veins!