The cultivators immediately raised their weapons.Tian Xuan stepped forward,golden spiritual energy burning around his sword."If you intend to enter Heaven..."His gaze hardened."...then you will have to pass through us."Shou Heng slowly looked at him."So be it."Tian Xuan's expression changed."Everyone!"He raised his sword. "Attack!"The cultivators moved at once. Xiao Ren rushed forward with his sword wrapped in golden lightning.Mu Chen followed from the left while Shen Kai attacked from the opposite side.Their combined spiritual energy tore through the darkness.
ShouHeng raised one hand and countless Threads surged upward like a black ocean. The first wave collided with the Heavenly attacks,creating an explosion that illuminated the entire village.Xiao Ren was thrown backward."Ugh!"Mu Chen caught him by the shoulder."Stand up!"Xiao Ren gritted his teeth."I'm not finished!"He pushed himself forward again.
Tian Xuan vanished into the storm and appeared directly before Shou Heng.His golden sword descended with tremendous force.Shou Heng caught the blade between two black Threads.The impact cracked the ground beneath them.Tian Xuan's eyes narrowed."You still refuse to face me yourself."Shou Heng looked at him calmly."I have faced Heaven once already."He twisted his fingers and threads violently threw Tian Xuan backward.The Grand Elder crashed through a broken stone wall,but immediately rose again,his robes torn and blood running from his forehead."Then I'll make you face it again!"He charged once more.
Meanwhile,ChenYu threw talismans across the battlefield."Formation!"Golden symbols appeared beneath the cultivators,one after another,forming a vast circular formation that covered the cracked earth."Everyone, move into the formation!"Lin Chen rushed toward the nearest opening."Chen Yu!How long can it hold?!"Chen Yu gritted his teeth as spiritual energy surged through his fingertips."Long enough if nobody breaks it!"Yan Luo stepped forward.His flame sword erupted with blazing crimson fire."Then nobody breaks it."He slammed the blade into the ground and massive wall of fire exploded outward,forcing the incoming Threads away with a deafening roar.
Lin Chen moved beside him,sword raised. "They're coming from above!"Yan Luo looked upward and saw hundreds of black strands descending like spears."Then cut them!"Lin Chen leaped into the air.His sword flashed through the darkness again and again,each strike severing a thread before it could reach the formation.He landed hard on one knee and immediately looked upward."More!"Yan Luo swung his flame sword in a wide arc."I've got them!"
A wave of fire swept across the sky,turning dozens of Threads into burning fragments that dissolved into black sparks."They're surrounding us."ChenYu glanced toward the sky."No..."His expression changed. "They're not surrounding us."He looked toward the shrine entrance."They're driving us somewhere."Xu Yang followed his gaze.His eyes narrowed."The entrance."
Shou Heng heard him.His Thread-formed figure slowly turned."You understand." Xu Yang tightened his fists."I understand that you're trying to reach Heaven."ShouHeng's expression became cold."I am trying to finish what my brother could not."Xu Yang stepped forward despite the pressure crushing against his body."And if Heaven tries to stop you?"The black Threads behind Shou Heng slowly rose."Then Heaven will learn what it means to lose something twice."
The Threads suddenly erupted and black wave surged across the battlefield.The group scattered.Xu Yang was struck by the edge of the wave and thrown backward.He crashed against the broken stones and slid several feet.ChenYu immediately rushed toward him."Xu Yang!"Xu Yang pushed himself up,his breathing heavy."I'm fine."Chen Yu grabbed his shoulder."Don't lie to me."Xu Yang looked toward Shou Heng."I can't let him destroy everything." Yan Luo stepped beside him,his flame sword burning fiercely."Then we stop him together."Lin Chen raised his sword."Again?" Yan Luo's flame glowed brighter in his hand. "Until he stops."
The group charged once more.Shou Heng's Threads struck from every direction while the Heavenly cultivators fought desperately to maintain the formation.Tian Xuan's golden sword collided with a mass of black threads, each impact sending sparks of spiritual energy across the battlefield.Mu Chen and Shen Kai fought back-to-back, cutting through strands that slipped past the formation.
Xiao Ren protected the wounded while Chen Yu continuously replaced shattered talismans.talismans.Yan Luo suddenly released his grip on the flame sword and let it disappear into sparks."I don't need a blade for this."He spread both hands,and the flames around his body suddenly surged outward.The fire no longer looked like ordinary flames.It twisted around his arms like two enormous burning serpents,then spread across the ground in glowing lines. "Come."
Yan Luo's eyes sharpened."Let's see how many of you can survive the fire."The Threads descended from above like a black rain.Yan Luo slammed one palm against the ground.A circle of blue-white fire exploded beneath his feet,and dozens of flaming pillars erupted into the sky.The incoming Threads struck the pillars and immediately began burning from the inside out."They're adapting!"Lin Chen shouted.Yan Luo grinned."Then I'll give them something new to adapt to."He clenched his fist.
The pillars suddenly bent sideways,turning into a giant ring of fire that swept across the battlefield.The Threads tried to escape,but the flames split into dozens of smaller streams and chased them through the air.Some Threads twisted around the fire and attempted to pierce through it.Yan Luo raised two fingers."Too slow."The flames suddenly changed direction.They wrapped around the Threads like chains and pulled them downward before exploding into brilliant blue sparks."Left!"
Chen Yu shouted.Yan Luo turned instantly.A group of black Threads shot toward the wounded.Xiao Ren stepped forward,but Yan Luo moved first.He thrust his palm outward."Flame Vein!"A narrow stream of fire shot from his hand and split into several branches midair.Each branch struck a different Thread before they could reach the wounded.The flames didn't burn the ground or the people nearby.They followed only the Threads,curving through the battlefield like living serpents."How are you controlling them that precisely?"
Chen Yu shouted.Yan Luo laughed."I've had practice."Another wave descended.Lin Chen raised his sword."Yan Luo!"Yan Luo looked toward him."What?"Lin Chen pointed upward."Above you!"Yan Luo glanced up and saw several Threads already surrounding him.He smiled."Good."He inhaled deeply.The flames around his body suddenly disappeared.For one second,the entire battlefield went dark."Yan Luo?"Xu Yang shouted.From the darkness came his voice."Don't blink."
A tiny flame appeared between his fingers. Then another.Then hundreds.More and more points of fire appeared around him until the entire sky above Yan Luo looked like a field of burning stars.He snapped his fingers.Every flame shot outward at once. The Threads were struck from every direction,and the black strands twisted violently as the flames burned through their spiritual cores."Now!"Yan Luo shouted.Lin Chen rushed forward and cut through the weakened Threads while Chen Yu's talismans sealed the broken ends."One down!"Lin Chen shouted."Try saying that after another thousand!"Yan Luo called back.The Threads suddenly stopped attacking
A faint sound had appeared beneath the silence."Dad..."Everyone froze.Xu Yang's eyes widened.He recognized it immediately. "Hei Long..."Chen Yu slowly turned toward the voice."He's here?"The voice came again,clearer this time."Dad..."A pause. "Please..."The entire battlefield seemed to hold its breath."Stop."The Threads froze completely.Shou Heng slowly turned his head toward the sound.The black Threads surrounding him trembled like frightened leaves.He stared toward the distant figure coming through the drifting smoke.A pale figure stood at the edge of the ruined battlefield.His expression was exhausted, and tears glistened in his eyes.He took one slow step forward."Dad..."His voice broke slightly."Please...don't do this."
Qing Li stood beside him. Hei Long raised one hand protectively in front of him.The sight made Shou Heng completely motionless.The black lotus above the village stopped rotating.The black threads hanging from the sky slowly lowered themselves. Shou Heng stared at Hei Long as though he were seeing a ghost from another lifetime. "Hei Long."Hei Long's lips trembled."You heard me."ShouHeng's voice became painfully quiet."I heard you."Hei Long took another step forward."Then please..."He looked at the threads surrounding Zhao Ming's absence."He's already gone."His eyes filled with tears. "Don't make his death become another reason for someone else to disappear."
For several seconds,Shou Heng did not answer and threads surrounding him remained suspended in the air.Their sharp edges had softened,as though even they were listening to Hei Long's voice.Xu Yang looked from Hei Long to the figure of Shou Heng.His eyes widened."Wait..."He took a step forward."Hei Long called him...Dad?" Lin Chen turned sharply toward Xu Yang. "You heard it too?"Xu Yang nodded slowly. "He really called him Dad."Chen Yu's expression tightened as he stared at Hei Long."Then everything we've been told..." He glanced toward the Heavenly cultivators. "...was incomplete."Yan Luo looked towards Qing Li and said,"If Shou Heng is really his father..."His eyes narrowed."Then why was that never mentioned?"Hai Long remained silent.
Qing Li quietly stepped closer to him.Hei Long immediately lowered his hand and rested it protectively on Qing Li's shoulder. "Stay beside me!"Hei Long whispered.Qing Li nodded,but his eyes remained fixed on Shou Heng."Dad..."he whispered.Shou Heng's form became completely still and threads behind him slowly curled inward."I thought..."Shou Heng's voice was barely audible."You should hate me."Hei Long's brows tightened."Don't tell me what I should feel."Shou Heng lowered his gaze."I left you with nothing."His voice was rough."No name.No explanation.No father to guide you when you needed one."Hei Long's eyes slowly filled with tears."Then why did you leave?"
Shou Heng's fingers curled tightly."Because I thought staying would put you in greater danger."Hei Long shook his head."You could have stayed."Shou Heng looked at him."And watched Heaven use you to control me?"Hei Long froze.Shou Heng continued quietly,"I knew what Heaven was capable of.I knew what they would do if they discovered that you were my son."His voice weakened."So I chose the only thing I thought could protect you."Hei Long laughed bitterly."You call disappearing protection?"Shou Heng closed his eyes."No."He took a slow breath."I call it the greatest mistake of my life."
Hei Long stared at him.Shou Heng slowly raised his eyes."There were nights when I wanted to return."His voice became softer. "More nights than you will ever know."Hei Long's lips trembled."Then why didn't you?" Shou Heng looked away."Because every time I came close,I remembered what would happen if Heaven followed me to you."Hei Long stepped closer."I didn't need you to protect me from everything."His voice broke. "I just needed you to be my father."Shou Heng's expression completely changed.He looked at Hei Long as though those words had struck deeper than any weapon."I know."His voice was barely audible."And that is the one thing I could never give you."
Hei Long's eyes filled with tears."Why?" Shou Heng swallowed hard."Because I was too afraid that loving you openly would become the reason you died."Hei Long shook his head."You loved me?"Shou Heng's eyes trembled."Every day."A tear slipped down his face."Even when I couldn't hold you."Another tear followed."Even when I couldn't hear you call me father."Hei Long's breathing became unsteady.Shou Heng slowly lifted his hand,but stopped before touching him."There were times I stood outside your village."
Hei Long looked at him in shock."You did?" Shou Heng nodded."I watched from a distance."His voice became quieter."I saw you grow.I saw you fight.I saw you fall and get back up."A faint,broken smile appeared on his face."You were always stubborn."Hei Long let out a small laugh through his tears. "You don't get to say that."Shou Heng's smile faded,but warmth remained in his eyes."Perhaps not."
Hei Long stared at the hand Shou Heng had stopped halfway. "Then why didn't you come closer?"Shou Heng slowly lowered his hand."Because if I had touched you..."He looked directly into his son's eyes."...I don't think I would have been able to leave again."Hei Long's tears finally fell."Then don't."Shou Heng froze. "What?"Hei Long stepped closer."Don't disappear again."His voice shook,but he didn't look away."I don't care what Heaven wants.I don't care what punishment is waiting for you.I don't care how complicated everything is."He wiped his face roughly."I just don't want to lose you before I even get the chance to know you."
Shou Heng's eyes became red."Hei Long..." Hei Long shook his head."I don't need you to make up for everything tonight."He took another step."I don't even know what I'm supposed to call you yet."His voice softened."But if you're really my father..."He swallowed hard."Then stay long enough for me to find out what that means."Shou Heng stared at him in silence.For a moment,he looked less like the feared figure surrounded by countless Threads and more like a father standing before the child he had been forced to abandon."I wish..."His voice broke.He stopped and looked away."I wish I could have heard you say that when you were little."
Hei Long whispered,"You can hear it now." Shou Heng looked back at him.His lips trembled."I love you."Hei Long froze."I have loved you since before you could remember my face."He slowly lowered his head."But love was never enough to protect you.And I was too afraid to let my love become your death sentence."Hei Long wiped his tears. "Then let me decide whether I'm afraid." Shou Heng stared at him."You shouldn't have to carry my sins."Hei Long answered softly,"I'm not asking to carry them."He reached out and finally took Shou Heng's trembling hand."I'm asking you to let me walk beside you."
For several seconds,Shou Heng couldn't speak.His fingers slowly closed around his son's hand."I don't deserve this."Hei Long gave him a tearful smile."Maybe not."He squeezed his hand."But I'm giving it to you anyway."Shou Heng lowered his forehead against their joined hands."Forgive me."Hei Long's eyes filled again."I don't know if I can." Shou Heng slowly lifted his head.His eyes remained fixed on Hei Long's face,and something inside his expression softened with an old memory."You don't remember,do you?"Hei Long frowned through his tears. "Remember what?"
Shou Heng's fingers gently moved across his hand."How you used to hold onto me." Hei Long stared at him in confusion.Shou Heng looked away for a moment,and his eyes became distant.A memory returned to him where hei Long had been so small then that he could barely stand on his own.A violent storm had shaken the old house,and the sound of thunder had filled the room.The little child had crawled across the floor toward Shou Heng,his eyes already wet with fear.He couldn't form proper words yet.He only made a small frightened sound as his tiny hands reached toward Shou Heng's robe.
Shou Heng had immediately crouched down and lifted him into his arms.The child had buried his face against his chest,his tiny fingers gripping the fabric tightly.Another thunderclap had shaken the windows,and the little body in his arms had trembled again.Shou Heng had gently rubbed his back."I'm here."The child couldn't answer. He only tightened his arms around Shou Heng's neck and refused to let go.Shou Heng had stayed awake through the entire night,holding him until the storm finally passed.
Now,the memory slowly faded,and Shou Heng's eyes returned to the grown man standing before him."You were so small..." His voice became unsteady."You couldn't even tell me what frightened you."Hei Long's eyes filled again."But you knew?"Shou Heng nodded."I always knew when you were afraid."Hei Long looked down at their hands."I wish I could remember being held by you."Shou Heng's lips trembled."I wish I had held you longer."
Hei Long looked up."Then why didn't you?" Shou Heng was silent for several moments. "Because I was already afraid of what would happen if Heaven discovered you."Hei Long 's expression slowly changed."You left because of me?"Shou Heng immediately shook his head."Never think that."His voice carried sudden firmness."I left because of the danger around me.You were never the reason I left.You were the reason I had to."
Hei Long's tears slipped down his cheeks. "That doesn't make it hurt less."Shou Heng looked at him with quiet sorrow."I know."Hei Long tightened his grip on his father's hand. "Then don't tell me not to hurt."Shou Heng gently shook his head."I won't."He paused. "You have every right to be angry with me." Hei Long whispered,"I'm not only angry." Shou Heng looked at him."I know."Hei Long's voice broke."That's what makes it worse."
For a moment,Shou Heng couldn't answer. He slowly raised his other hand and touched Hei Long's hair,the gesture hesitant as though he wasn't sure he still had the right."I missed so much.He looked toward the empty space beside them as though he could still see the child he had once carried. "Sometimes I would hear a child's laughter somewhere,and for a moment I would turn around thinking it was you."
Hei Long's lips trembled."Father... Xiao Ren step closer and looked at Tian Xuan."Shou Heng's seal is weakening."Shou Heng didn't look away from Hei Long."The Heavenly member stepped closer."You cannot remain here.The longer the connection continues, the more dangerous it becomes."Hei Long turned toward him."Dangerous for whom?" Xiao Ren hesitated."For everyone."Hei Long's expression hardened."That's always the answer."Tian Xuan stepped forward. "Hei Long,this isn't punishment."Hei Long looked at him."Then what is it?"Tian Xuan's voice became heavy."A boundary.We cannot allow the past and present to remain connected."Hei Long looked back at Shou Heng."And if you cross that boundary?"
Shou Heng answered quietly,"Then I cannot remain here."Hei Long's eyes widened."No." Shou Heng gently squeezed his hand. "Listen to me."Hei Long shook his head."I don't want to listen.I already know what you're going to say."Shou Heng's expression became painful."Then let me say it anyway."Hei Long stared at him."Hei Long..."His voice was quiet."I can't stay."
Hei Long's expression froze. Shou Heng gently released his hand."I have already stayed longer than I was supposed to."Hei Long immediately grabbed his wrist."No." His voice shook."You just promised me." Shou Heng looked down at his hand."I promised I wouldn't disappear without saying goodbye."Hei Long's eyes widened. "That's not what I meant."He stepped closer."I meant stay with me."
Shou Heng's lips trembled into a sad smile. "I know."Hei Long shook his head."Then why are you saying goodbye?"Shou Heng looked toward the dark sky where countless Threads were slowly moving again. "Because if I remain here,they will follow me."Hei Long looked upward."Let them come."Shou Heng immediately shook his head."You don't understand."His voice became firmer."They aren't coming for me anymore."Hei Long slowly went still.Shou Heng looked directly into his eyes."They know who you are now."
Hei Long's breathing stopped for a moment. "Because of me?"Shou Heng shook his head."Because of me."Hei Long's eyes filled with tears again."Then take me with you." Shou Heng closed his eyes."I can't."Hei Long's voice broke."Why?"Shou Heng answered softly,"Because I spent all these years trying to keep you away from my fate,and I won't destroy that sacrifice now."Hei Long clenched his fists."You call this protecting me?"Shou Heng looked at him."No."His voice cracked."This time I'm asking you to protect yourself."Hei Long stared at him in disbelief."I finally found my father,and now you're leaving again."
Shou Heng's eyes became wet."I know."Hei Long whispered,"Then don't make me find you twice."Shou Heng looked away for a moment,trying to control his emotions."You may hate me for this."Hei Long shook his head."I already told you,I don't even know if I hate you."He wiped his tears."I just know I don't want you to go."Shou Heng slowly reached up and placed his hand against Hei Long's head."Then remember this."Hei Long looked at him."What?"Shou Heng gave him a faint smile."You were never abandoned because you were unwanted."His voice trembled."You were left behind because you were the one thing in my life I could not allow Heaven to take."
Hei Long's eyes closed as another tear slipped down his cheek."Father..."The word came out so quietly that Shou Heng almost missed it.His hand trembled against Hei Long's hair."Say it again."Hei Long opened his eyes."Father."Shou Heng's expression completely broke.He pulled Hei Long into a brief embrace,holding him tightly as though he had been waiting years for that single moment."That's enough."His voice shook. "That's more than I ever deserved."
Hei Long held onto him."Then come back." Shou Heng slowly closed his eyes."If fate gives me another chance..."He gently pulled away."I will."Hei Long's fingers slipped from his sleeve."You'd better."A faint smile appeared on Shou Heng's face."You sound like your mother."mother."Hei Long's expression softened at once."My mother?" Shou Heng nodded slowly.His gaze drifted toward the moonlit sky as though he could see someone standing there."Your mother used to say the same thing whenever I walked into danger."
Hei Long gave a small,tearful smile."What did she say?"Shou Heng's smile became warmer."She would look at me with that same stubborn expression and tell me," Don't make me wait for you."Hei Long lowered his eyes."She sounds like me." Shou Heng laughed."You are exactly like her."He paused,and the smile slowly faded into something more tender."She loved you more than anything in this world."
Hei Long's eyes filled again."Did she...talk about me?"Shou Heng nodded."Every day." His voice became softer."Even before you were born,she would place her hand over her stomach and imagine what you would be like."Hei Long stared at him silently.Shou Heng continued,"She wondered whether you would have my eyes or hers.She wondered whether you would be quiet or troublesome."A faint smile returned."I told her you would probably be troublesome."
Hei Long gave a small laugh through his tears."And she disagreed?"Shou Heng shook his head."She said you would be kind."His expression became painful."She was right."Hei Long looked down."I wish I could have heard her say that."Shou Heng's eyes reddened."So do I."He took a slow breath."There were nights when we would sit together and talk about the life we wanted for you."Hei Long looked at him."What kind of life?"Shou Heng looked directly into his eyes."A simple one."He smiled faintly."She wanted you to grow up without fear.She wanted you to have friends.She wanted you to laugh loudly enough that everyone around you would complain."
Hei Long's lips trembled into a smile."That sounds like her."Shou Heng nodded."She wanted to watch you grow."His voice broke slightly."She wanted to see the person you would become."Hei Long wiped his tears. "And you?"Shou Heng was silent for a moment."I wanted the same."He looked toward the ground."I wanted to teach you how to walk.I wanted to hear you call me father.I wanted to watch you become stronger than I ever was."His eyes filled."I wanted to be there when you succeeded, and I wanted to be there when you failed so I could tell you that one failure didn't decide your life."Hei Long's tears fell again."You wanted all that?"Shou Heng nodded."More than anything."
For a moment,they simply looked at each other.The sorrow remained,but something warmer had settled between them."We both wanted to see you happy,"Shou Heng whispered."Your mother and I wanted you to have everything we couldn't."Hei Long's voice became small."I don't need everything."Shou Heng looked at him."I know."Hei Long squeezed his hand."I just needed to know that you both wanted me."
Shou Heng's eyes filled completely."You were never unwanted."His voice broke."You were the reason we kept dreaming."Hei Long lowered his head as tears fell onto their joined hands.Shou Heng gently wiped one away."And now I have another reason to keep going."Hei Long looked at him."What reason?"Shou Heng smiled faintly."You." Before Hei Long could answer,the threads around Shou Heng began rising and silver light surrounded his body.His figure slowly became transparent. "Wait!"Hei Long reached forward.