"Good, this is good, the energy stored within my body has taken me to the peak of Golden Core cultivation, at the age of almost 19 years old even. I can almost begin the first trial to enhance my body." I say, with a smirk on my face. "Yuiren, I think it's time I get back to work, when is the next sect initiation exam?"
"You would like to take the examination to become an outer disciple, Master? Why not announce your return?", she says in confusion.
"My return would only cause more confusion within the sect and judging by our earlier walk through the sect grounds, I shouldn't cause more commotion. Besides, I don't have all my memories yet.", I say concerned, "I should enter as an ordinary disciple and attract as little attention as possible, while I recollect my past experiences."
"Yes, that's a good plan, Xu!", Lei exclaims with excitement, understanding finally that the old and the new Xu are one and the same. "This way you could also enter the Demonic Grounds during their next opening.", she says, explaining further, "The Demonic Grounds have only started opening about 100 years ago and since you weren't alive yet in this body, because of your special reincarnation method, you wouldn't know about it with your current memory. Essentially, these special spaces only open once every 15 years or so and the rewards for adventuring deep within these areas are immense. But, there is a catch, these places are populated by demonic beasts and they're pretty strong, or so I've been told by the elders of our sect. Mer Xia should be there this time as well and since we're all within the realm limit, we should enter together!".
"Demonic Grounds? Interesting, and you say Mer Xia will enter as well? This could be a great opportunity for both a reunion and some benefits on top!", I say in excitement, "Yuiren, let me know when the next sect initiation begins, Lei and I should head back now and announce the completion of our mission."
As Lei and I made our way back, my mind buzzed with the possibilities. The Demonic Grounds presented a unique opportunity, not only to test my newfound strength but also to gather resources and allies. The thought of reuniting with Mer Xia added an element of personal excitement to the upcoming challenge.
"Lei," I began, "tell me more about the Demonic Grounds. What kind of demonic beasts are we likely to encounter?"
Lei pondered for a moment before answering. "From what I've heard, the Demonic Grounds are home to a variety of beasts, each more formidable than the last. Some are known for their brute strength, while others possess cunning intelligence and magical abilities. It's said that the deeper you go, the more dangerous the beasts become. But with danger comes greater rewards."
I nodded, absorbing the information. "We'll need to be prepared. Our training will be crucial."
"I have no doubt we will be ready, Xu. With your current strength and the power bestowed upon me by Buddha, there is nothing we cannot achieve. There's also Mer Xia, of course!", Lei said playfully and full of confidence.
Our arrival at the Hao Ren family was met with nothing but disappointment and shock, as the entire area had been razed to the ground, not a person in sight.
"What happened here?" I whispered, teary eyed, "Where is my family!?"
"What is this!?", said Lei shocked, "Where are the buildings? Where are our elders?" she yelled in pain, mourning the loss of the upper echelon Buddhists from the Zhòuyǔ sect, that were taking residence within my home.
"Wait, Lei, do you feel this?" I said, while removing the tears from my eyes, "There's a battle in the neighboring city, it's grandpa!", grabbing Lei from behind, I rushed towards the scene, "I'm sorry Lei, bear with me, there's no time!".
"W- what are you doing!? Hold on, wa- waaait!" She yelled, taken by surprise.
Lightning formed underneath my feet, I pushed the ground as hard as I could, taking flight in an instant. "We're lucky the city is very close, I can feel grandpa's aura, but what about the rest? What about my parents?" I whispered to myself, just loud enough to worry my friend who I was frantically dragging along without her consent.
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"Xu, we need to prepare for the worst, you saw the area, it was razed to the ground." She said, her voice full of concern," Buildings gone, ponds evaporated, not even the bricks and cut stone blocks of the outer walls remain...".
Minutes later, before even arriving to the city, I notice a remote area between the city and my destroyed home, an area so destroyed that only craters are left in the aftermath of a gruesome battle. The stench of blood fills the air, a heavy red mist lingering in the area, a side effect of one of the abilities used in battle, no doubt.
As we walk through the mist, Lei stumbles and falls on a pile of corpses, her scream echoes loud. Upon closer inspection, they are the elders of the Hao Ren family, my elders, the Trinity Force. "The future looks grim...", she says with a hushed tone.
Walking further into the mist, we're greeted by the cadavers of the upper echelon of the Zhòuyǔ sect, which leaves little Lei in tears on her knees.
"What the hell is happening...?", I mutter in utter disbelief.
With the dissipation of the mist, we're able to recognize a few more of the corpses...
A thick pool of blood underneath, their bodies bruised, their limbs cut, a gaping hole present in each of their chests.
My mother and father, proud and strong warriors, the strongest of the region, mutilated to the point that recognizing them is difficult even for me.
Mother, impaled through her heart by her own sword, her face bruised and beat.
Father, impaled by his trusty spear, it entered his skull, went through his mouth and pierced his left lung.
"N-n-no, tell me this isn't happening... Lei Zhao, please tell me this is some kind of nightmare!" I yell in disbelief. Falling to my knees, I drop Lei Zhao, my limbs weak because of the shock. "Why is this happening, now of all times? They were my only good parents across all these damned reincarnations... Why them of all people?" I cry out loud, smashing my head against a rock on the ground, utterly breaking it and cracking my forehead in the process.
"Oh... Xu...We- we should go... enemies might still be nearby... your grandfather is still fighting up ahead." Lei said, concerned for my mental state.
Lifting my forehead off the ground, I reply, "That's right... You're right little Lei, let's go." Having said that, while hugging mother, with shaking hands, I pull out her sword from her heart, "I'm taking Red Moon, mother, I'm sorry... You can rest now...".
Pulling the spear from my father's skull, I mutter in tears, "Father, your trusty spear will avenge you some day, rest in peace."
With teary eyes and a bulging vein on my forehead, a bulge so thick that it's about to burst open by the sheer pressure of the blood within, I grab Lei's hand and leave the corpse filled area, rushing towards the location of my grandfather's aura...
Having arrived at the scene where grandpa Mun's aura seemed to be at it's strongest, we notice nothing out of the ordinary, staring for minutes in disbelief, we decide it'd be best if I were to discharge my electric aura, in hope that grandfather would notice it and he would rush over. To our surprise however, nothing happened, grandpa was nowhere to be seen, his aura still having a strong presence in the area.
"This is pointless!" I yell in anger, "Where are you grandpa Mun!?" I ask, without reply.
Minutes pass and a telepathic message from grandfather finally arrives, "Xu, I feel your aura, but I, am no more. This is but the remnants of my power, activated by your aura, it was left in hopes of a message reaching you, my boy.", the voice sounds like grandfather Mun is in pain, "Xu, you need to prepare, powers above our comprehension are in search of your lightning aura, run, hide, train, get strong-..." The voice abruptly fades, taking with it my grandfather's aura.
The message hit heavy, the loss of my entire family over the span of a single day shackling the very core of my soul.
In my anger, crackling noises and sparks of lightning form all around me, pushing Lei Zhao a few feet away, a bulging vein taking form above each eye, "What use is this technique and power if I cannot save the ones I love?", I mutter in disgust with myself, "Lei Zhao... Little Lei, get away... I am losing control..."
"Xu? No, you mustn't! Grab a hold of yourself!" She yelled, scared by my words, "What are you doing?! You will be consumed by your own wrath and this dark aura!".
What was once a pair of draconic bright-yellow eyes, became a bestial crimson, overflowing with the blood from the veins that were rupturing on my forehead, tears of blood dripping on my face, fire exuding from my mouth, with a burning throat, my words echoed loud:
"YOU WILL PAY! WHOEVER YOU ARE, YOU WILL PAY!", the electric aura reaching the sky in the instant I finish my cry.
Lightning aura once bright purple mixed with black from the darkest depths, without my knowledge, my soul was slowly being corrupted by a demonic entity from deep within, scaring Lei Zhao from the distance...
The once docile lightning would push up into the heavens, breaking through the thick clouds.
But, unbeknownst to us, my outburst of energy would attract the worst kind of attention...
"We've found him [https://img.wattpad.com/13a5ae04b72097b7bbf8103dcd158750ac84065e/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f585f3336534c6579413975754c513d3d2d313436323232383138322e313765326232373065363962663530393731343936333333393136382e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
"We've found him."