"Grandpa....." Aryia stared at the old man with teary eyes.
The old man ignored Aryia's tears and his face become one of indifference, with a tint of unnoticed sorrow deep in his eyes.
"Aryia, I do not know much about your mother, however I do know that her family resides in the upper realm. Your father, on the other hand, was a sworn brother of mine...."
"Quite honestly, your father's origins are not that extraordinary...he was orphaned at a young age and was risen by a humble family...in the capital of the Axin Empire.."
Aryia stopped crying and stared at the old man innocently.
"Your father showed talent in cultivation, a genius among geniuses...and his martial spirit was unusual too, of course not as unusual as yours..."
"Your father was a daring fella, and never betrayed others, especially himself. He was loyal and had just as much willpower that you show...He was truly extraordinary..."
The old man, hands behind his back, looked up at the sky, reminscing the past...
"Your father one day sent me an urgent message asking me to take care of you...Based on the urgency of his message, I knew something had occurred. He asked me to wait a specific time at the realm gate...and then you emerged..."
"...however, I have not heard a message from him for the past 8 years...and his jade slip that he handed me that depicts his life source has broke..."
Aryia's face became one of sadness. Although Aryia had never met his father since he arrived at the mortal realm, any 8 year old would be clearly saddened by the death of their father...
"I need to go to the upper realm to find out what happened...He was my closest brother and now your martial spirit has awoken, I have less to worry about..."
The old man may have seemed quite indifferent about Aryia's future, but inside he was extremely worried, similar to a child leaving their parents when joining a sect.
The old man did not look at Aryia this whole time...
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"Aryia...I will be leaving now...you have always called me grandpa...my real name is Azrael....."
The old man instantly vanished, leaving an astonished 8 year child, not knowing what to do. Unnoticed to Aryia, the old man had tears running down his face. The relationship between the old man and Aryia was quite deep. Before Aryia had come into his life, the old man had been suffering from depression. Aryia was the light he needed, and they both mutually supported each other till the present. He resisted the urge to turn his head around, because he knew if he saw Aryia's beautiful, pitiable face, he would instantly return. He knew his departure had to be sudden too, or he could not bear to leave later. He hardened his heart and disappeared...
"Linley....your son...I fufilled your promise, however that boy has grown on me too..." the old man thought disappearing into the horizon.
Aryia was surprised for a moment...and started crying...
No matter how abnormally mature Aryia was for his age, he was still an 8-year old child left by the only figure in his life.
He cried....
and cried...
until he could not cry anymore...
"Grandpa...."
"Are you done child?" the pendant said inside his mind.
Aryia did not answer. The pendant spirit appeared next to Aryia's body...He stroked Aryia's jade like face...
" He fell asleep...Poor child...."
***
Aryia awoke the next morning still at the mountain top. He looked around confused, and suddenly remembered the events that occurred...
His martials spirits awoke...
He learned about his parents....
And most importantly, his grandfather left...
"Are you done, child?" the pendant spirit asked.
"Yes, Mr. Pendant Spirit." Aryia's expression was still one of depression, unbecoming of his divine face.
"Call me Uncle Aldwin, child."
"Yes, Uncle Aldwin"
"To be honest child, your father and grandfather did not want you to cultivate, however a resolute soul like you is something I cannot restrain...I know you want to go find your parents so you must cultivate dilligently and become powerful...:"
"This world has an expression of "highest under heaven", however, in my opinion this is just saying the heavens are your limit...you cannot stop rising, child, you are a future sovereign...are you willing to let the heaven's control you...?"
"No...Uncle Aldwin...I will not.." A spark of determination flashed through Aryia's golden eyes.
"Good then sit down, and practice that nameless breathing technique I provided you..."
Aryia proceeded to sit down, but just before he began to meditate...he looked at up the sky... and silently vowed in his heart..
"Grandpa...I will get stronger...I will come find you...and reunite with my parents.."
Suddenly, unnoticed by the pendant spirit, Aryia's golden eyes that resembled the stars themselves became blood red, as if reflecting a massive slaughter.
"...and I will kill those who harmed them.."
Unbenowst to all, the sword Oblivion in Aryia's soul sea gave a flow of killing intent... a killing intent so powerful that it would make the killing intent of a legendary Asura seem like a joyful occasion..