C1 Heroes All Had Their past(1)

This is a world of chaos, where the earth shatters and time intertwines. A tempest shaped like a phoenix howls past, while a mist resembling a golden dragon swirls in the sky. Occasionally, black stones rise from the ground, forming human-like figures wielding weapons, and massive skeletons erupt with a skyward roar, shaking the earth and mountains.

This place is known by many names: the Human Ancestral Land, the Burial Ground of Gods and Demons, the Land of Death...

Over twenty figures sit cross-legged on an altar bathed in a radiant spectrum of colors, their expressions tense and wary. Whenever the altar glows, it feels as if they are being transported through time and space. They witness a colossal black beast soaring across the sky, casting shadows that blot out the sun. They see beings as large as mountains, with wings and three eyes, surveying the world with disdain.

As the vibrant lights fade, the figures vanish without a trace, taking with them the tranquility of this realm. To break the shackles of heaven and earth, the emperors joined forces to venture into the Land of Death, activating an ancient altar of the early ancestors in hopes of being reborn and reaching the pinnacle of martial arts.

With the rebirth of these emperors, a grand era unfolds. But will it be these resurrected emperors who truly stir the winds of change in this new age?

Profound Heaven Sect, back mountain, Redwood Orchard.

Woo Zhengyang lay on the ground, holding a blood-red fruit in his hand, his eyes vacant. Around him, the orchard was ablaze with vibrant red fruits, each the size of a regular fist. The one he held was also fist-sized, but more like a newborn's tiny hand.

After managing the orchard for over six months, he had finally received this unripe gem. Woo Zhengyang felt like laughing out loud. This fruit, one of the world's mystical treasures, could awaken the Origin Genuine Qi within, allowing one to step into the realm of a Martial Disciple and truly embark on the path of cultivation.

However, even the finest mystical fruit couldn't guarantee the awakening of Origin Genuine Qi, especially not this underdeveloped one that had fallen prematurely. As a new recruit in the Profound Heaven Sect, Woo Zhengyang wasn't one to seek attention. He had devoted nearly a year to tending the orchard, hoping to use the fruit to start his martial journey. But everything was ruined by a careless word from him and a deliberate one from someone else.

Holding the immature fruit, Woo Zhengyang felt his future was blindingly bright, yet directionless. In the end, he lifted the fruit, stared blankly with his vacant eyes, gave a bitter smile, and brought it to his mouth.

“Pop...”

The fruit suddenly burst open, splattering Woo Zhengyang's face with juice as red as blood.

“Haha...”

This time, Woo Zhengyang truly laughed, a loud, unrestrained laugh. His last glimmer of hope was gone, destroyed in such an inexplicable way that it ignited a fire of anger within him, bringing tears to his eyes as he laughed.

A profound sense of tragic heroism began to grow in Woo Zhengyang's heart. No one could understand what that fruit meant to him. Some things are more important than life itself, worth sacrificing everything for. And now, Woo Zhengyang's last hope was lost.

Amidst his laughter, Woo Zhengyang recalled scenes from his past, his timid and kind nature, realizing that none of it could change anything in the end.

Suddenly, his laughter stopped abruptly. After the fruit burst, his hands were still suspended in mid-air. In front of his palms, a pitch-black vortex appeared.

It was a peculiar sight, a black vortex floating in the air, swirling with dark light that captivated Woo Zhengyang, drawing him in until he was lost in it.

Like someone who had lost his soul, Woo Zhengyang slowly sat up, his hands supporting him on the ground, his eyes moving closer and closer to the black vortex until they were nearly touching.

A streak of golden light, like the sun breaking through clouds, flowed out from the dark vortex, threading into Woo Zhengyang's eyes. Unaware of this, he remained in a half-sitting position.

As evening fell, the night enveloped the entire orchard, leaving only the golden threads flickering like lightning, casting a glow on Woo Zhengyang's face, still stained with the crimson pulp of the fruit. Fortunately, no one would come here at midnight; otherwise, they might have been scared half to death by the eerie scene.

Who knows how much time passed before Woo Zhengyang awoke from his slumber, noticing the eastern sky blushing with dawn. He realized he had slept here all night.

Standing up, Woo Zhengyang felt as though something within him had changed. His body was a bit weary, yet his mind was sharper than ever. Most notably, when he thought about the fruit assigned to him yesterday and the inexplicable vortex, he felt surprisingly calm. Perhaps this was the shift in perspective that comes after facing despair.

After wiping his face and brushing off the dirt, Woo Zhengyang headed down the mountain.