Chapter One: The Battle of the Gods!

An unknown universe...

It is said that gods once appeared in this cosmos, but their divine power spread across the world. The gods fought fiercely to seize each other’s strength, and the world crumbled as a result. In the end, humanity, enslaved and powerless, was saved only by the self-sacrifice of a god of true goodness. However, the powerful humans who cultivated their strength later seized the divine power from the fallen gods, creating false gods. Thus, another war of the gods erupted!

Mountains encircled the land, the sky shrouded in darkness, and the cold wind howled mournfully.

Within a small, secluded cave, there were two figures—a young man and a young woman. The man was strikingly handsome, draped in a shimmering purple robe, about nineteen years old. His brows reflected a maturity and depth that belied his age. The flowing folds of his robe seemed to hold endless power and mystery, his aura so strong that the space around him felt frozen. He stood quietly, like a painting that seized the heart, impossible to look away from. The young woman gazed at him, her voice trembling with the threat of tears: “Brother, please don’t go fight them. You could die. I can’t live without you.”

She was his younger sister, fifteen years old, with a face shaped like an egg and brows as distant as smoky mountains, eyes as limpid as autumn waters—a budding beauty. Her attire leaned toward the masculine, a fitted outfit of pale blue embroidered with silver clouds, accentuating both the grace of a young maiden and her heroic spirit. At this moment, her hands twisted the hem of her clothes, her eyes rimmed with red, tears shimmering but stubbornly refusing to fall. Her gaze was filled with reliance and reluctance, as if she wished to carve this moment into her heart forever. That pure emotion, in the dim cave, was like a weak yet unwavering candle—warm and bright.

The young man shook his head: “No. If I don’t go, the fighting false gods will destroy this place. What will you do then?” As he spoke, he gently rubbed her cheek.

“Yao’er, wait for my return!”

With that, he turned and ran out, his figure instantly swallowed by the blackness of the night, like a purple bolt of lightning streaking across the heavens. The cold wind outside whipped his long hair and robe, his steps firm, as if each stride shattered the void. In the distant sky, a faint light appeared, guiding his path, foretelling the coming storm and upheaval.

In just three breaths, he arrived at the battlefield of the gods. Seeing him, the combatants paused and stared: “Are you the strongest of the human race? They say only one remains—you?”

He folded his hands behind his back and replied, “I am. If you keep fighting, I will intervene.”

“With just you?” sneered a false god named Shen Yu.

“Want to try?” The young man beckoned.

“Try? Let’s try!”

Before the last word had faded, Shen Yu pressed his hands together and flung them open. Flames erupted from his palms and formed a fire dragon, roaring toward the young man with scorching, destructive force. The technique, “Three Thousand Infernal Flames,” could burn mountains and boil seas, distorting space itself. The young man’s expression did not change. A cold light flickered in his eyes as he moved like a specter. His right hand flashed, drawing a simple sword from his waist. The blade glowed with faint purple light and chilling aura. With a sharp cry, he tapped the sword tip, and the sword’s radiance surged like a dragon from the sea, entwining with the fire dragon in midair. Sparks flew, sword and flame weaving a breathtaking scene. The sword’s light flashed by, and Shen Yu was forced back by the sudden, fierce assault, his face pale, the ground beneath his feet cracked from the heat.

“Want more?” The young man glanced at Zhou Shen in the distance.

“Let’s all go together.”

With that, Shen Yu roared like a beast unleashed. More than a dozen false gods surged behind him, a storm of fury sweeping in. Their figures crossed through the air, their mystical techniques blazing like meteors—beautiful yet deadly. The young man’s face grew solemn, feeling unprecedented pressure, as if the whole world pressed down upon him. He shouted, true energy rushing through him, the sword in his hand coming alive, leaving streaks of purple afterimages in the air. Yet faced with the overwhelming assault, his efforts were not enough. Though countless sword energies shot forth, he could barely hold out for a moment. After several breaths, a heavy crash sent him flying back like a cut kite, blood spilling from his mouth, staining his purple robe.

“Hahahahaha! Good, very good! Since that’s the case, let us all die together! Gather! Ignite! Secret technique—unleash!”

As the words fell, purple light surged around him, his aura rising violently like a raging ocean, several times stronger than before. He laughed skyward, his voice shaking the heavens, eyes wild and resolute: “Now die!” With that, he charged forward like a wild horse, transformed into a purple lightning bolt, striking at the fleeing false gods. Sensing the terrifying power radiating from him, their faces turned ashen with terror, each trying to escape the vortex of death. But the young man’s speed was ghostly fast, sword lights like dragons, piercing through the false gods one by one, blood spraying and dyeing the night sky. Each strike was precise and lethal, the sword cutting down lives like a reaper’s scythe—tragic yet beautiful.

After the false gods fell, the young man exhaled deeply. Gods? Just fools who claim the name. He turned to find Yao’er.

In an instant, he arrived at the cave. Yao’er, seeing her brother return safely, burst into tears of joy: “Why did you take so long? You scared me to death!” She cried as she clung to his shoulder.

He gently freed himself from her embrace, gazing at Yao’er with deep reluctance. “Yao’er, my time is short. You... you must go. With a wave of his hand, he opened a rift in space—an entrance to the Spiritual World. Once you arrive, be careful. I can’t let you go.”

His gaze grew determined: “Live as a hero, die as a legend.”

“Hahahahahahahaha!”

And then, he turned into a wisp of green smoke and vanished...

Yao’er, her eyes blurred with tears, stared at the place where her brother disappeared, her heart pierced with pain. But she knew that crying would do no good now. Only by moving forward with strength could she truly honor him. She took a deep breath, wiped her tears, and stepped steadily toward the glowing rift. Each step felt like walking on blades, the pain sharpening her resolve. Crossing into the portal, her eyes grew fierce, as if they could pierce through time and see hope on the other side. Light wrapped around her, her body becoming lighter, ready to drift away with the wind. In her heart, only one thought remained: For her brother, for the pure bond they shared, she would survive—live on, and live well...