C4 Nangong Fan and Hei Ze

"Your name is Nangong Fan, and you take your surname from your mother," said an elderly man with graying hair, holding a baitless fish hook. The hook was entwined around the body of a blue-haired young man, wrapping him up like a silkworm cocoon as the old man led him forward at a seemingly slow pace that was, in reality, just an illusion.

Beneath the old man's feet, there was no path, only the endless void. The pair walked through this void, stars keeping them company. With each step, the colossal planets nearby were pulled away in an instant, shrinking to tiny specks behind them.

"In this vast expanse of space, there's a planet called Earth, the origin planet of this realm. I will send you there, seal your memories, and alter the color of your bloodline.

It's up to you to awaken in your own time.

Your father's bloodline is somewhat shameful, but luckily, you've been cleansed by the blue blood, making you less conspicuous.

Hei Ze, the sole heir of the Hei family from Dragonstone on Earth, went to Pluto to capture a young Sub-Dragon with an impure bloodline. I intervened and saved him, and you will take his place.

For now, your personality and habits will mirror his, allowing you to either rise or fall in the starry sky. Meanwhile, he will temporarily forget his past life, which is a stroke of luck for him."

The second senior brother explained, while Nangong Fan listened in silence.

"Your parents are safe for now, but a calamity looms. Whether it can be averted will depend on the strength you possess at that time.

Even after awakening, you must continue to assume Hei Ze's identity in this realm.

Play your part well in this space, and I will reward you.

This journey is akin to entering the rivers and lakes of martial adventure. Junior brother, take good care of yourself.

And one last piece of advice: It's better to rely on oneself than on others, and when cutting grass, be sure to remove the roots."

...

Upon awakening, Nangong Fan found himself in a dark cave.

Perhaps even he did not know his name was Nangong Fan anymore.

Apart from the phrase "It's better to rely on oneself than on others, and when cutting grass, be sure to remove the roots" swirling in his mind, all other memories belonged to Hei Ze. He remembered them even more clearly than Hei Ze himself, who certainly wouldn't recall the embarrassing details of wetting the bed at a certain age or the childhood antics that prevented him from cultivating.

The cave reeked of blood. A monstrous creature, two meters in length, with wings, four legs, and a horn crowning its head, resembled a lizard. It had a gaping, fist-sized hole in its side from which blood gushed.

The lizard's menacing visage and eyes, as large as ping-pong balls, stared out lifelessly, reflecting a profound sense of unwillingness. It had met its end before a creature it deemed no more significant than an ant, dying with eyes wide open in defiance.

Yellow talismans littered the ground, each inscribed with curious patterns that radiated an otherworldly power.

Nangong Fan licked his lips. Still sprawled on the ground, he paid no heed to the talismans that many would consider sacred. Instead, he burst into a wild laugh. "I never thought the Dark Alliance's riffraff would be truthful. There really was a sub-dragon here with Black Dragon lineage, and I've slain it. With this beast's blood, I can fortify my family's Black Dragon bloodline. It might even heal my 'Body of a Thousand Leaks.' Then, Huo Wushuang, Jin Tai'an, and Ao Bing will be no match for me. Qing Lian'er will be mine, without question."

Lost in his triumphant reverie, Nangong Fan imagined a future where he bested Huo Wushuang with his fists, kicked Ao Bing aside, and had Jin Tai'an trailing behind him like a eunuch. He would marry his dream lover, Qing Lian'er, and ascend to the pinnacle of life, basking in bliss.

A flicker of doubt crossed his mind, "But I remember being defeated."

Defeat in battle against demonic beasts usually spelled death. Yet the still-bleeding wound in the ground served as a stark reminder that he was the victor.

Nangong Fan rose to his feet, dusting off his clothes, and glanced at the talismans strewn about. Perhaps their formidable power had granted him a narrow escape from death.

Hei Ze had always been somewhat timid. In a world that esteemed martial prowess, a person unable to cultivate, even as the legitimate heir of the Hei family, would inevitably face scorn and opposition.

Ever since his Coming of Age Ceremony, when he was diagnosed with the 'Body of a Thousand Leaks,' the number of friends by his side had noticeably dwindled.

Aside from the little photon that always followed him, no one else paid much attention to him, despite being the legitimate son of the Hei family.

He decided not to dwell on things he couldn't understand. At the very least, he had triumphed, securing a Black Dragon! This was indeed a stroke of luck for the Hei family, and his aunt, who had always been concerned for him, would surely be more at ease now.

"How long have I been asleep?" Nangong Fan mumbled, seemingly not considering how he would manage to bring the Black Dragon back on his own.

Suddenly, a persistent voice from outside broke through his contemplation, "Young Master Hei Ze... Young Master Hei Ze..." disrupting his idyllic plans.

Nangong Fan's gaze shifted as he laboriously dragged the Black Dragon, which was taller than a man, out of the cave.

It was odd; when the Black Dragon was alive, even a faint groan from it was too much for him to bear. In his panic, all he could do was hastily throw out the talisman papers he held, barely recalling that even the most potent of these papers had only left a superficial white mark on the Black Dragon. Overwhelmed by fear, he had passed out.

Upon awakening, though his body was sore and numb, more so than after a full day of martial training, he was unscathed. Conversely, the Black Dragon now bore a punch mark that went clean through its body. Its once formidable presence had vanished, and now he could drag it along with ease.

As Nangong Fan pulled the Black Dragon, he bellowed with determination, "I am right here!"

Reaching the cave's entrance, he was met with a landscape of silver sand, devoid of any signs of life.

Legends spoke of an ancient kingdom that once stood here, but now, one would be hard-pressed to find even a speck of bird droppings.

Looking up at the sky, he could see straight through the planet. A dazzling starry expanse unfolded before him, with the occasional meteor streaking by and ships droning on their course.

This was, after all, the gateway to the solar system and one of Earth's guardian stars. Had the planet's protective layer not vanished, making it inhospitable for human life, the scene here would have been vastly different.

"I'll never set foot in this godforsaken place again," Nangong Fan murmured under his breath. Given his current abilities, enduring the harsh conditions of this uninhabitable planet was a tremendous strain.

His pride had gotten the better of him. A few taunting words had been enough to make him stealthily board a spaceship and venture here. Had the spaceship not belonged to the Hei family, he would have been crying and pleading for a return trip by now.

He regretted boarding the spaceship the moment he did!

In an instant, more than a dozen figures converged from all directions. Nangong Fan lifted his head with a haughty air and declared, "I've had a successful hunt on Pluto and was just about to head back. What brings you all here?"

The group, consisting of men and women clad in black, assembled neatly in front of the cave. Each one was armed with a large saber, a bow slung over their shoulder, and a quiver at their waist. They moved with the agility of cheetahs and the stillness of maidens. Their collective presence was as formidable as an army of thousands, yet they paid no heed to the young master's bluster.

In less than a moment, a woman in a black dress descended from the sky. She appeared to be in her late twenties, with a figure that was the epitome of grace and eyes that twinkled like a multitude of stars. A scar, inflicted by a blade that ran from the crown of her head down her face, marred her otherwise delicate skin, which would have made her a beauty capable of bringing nations to their knees.

Nangong Fan's pupils dilated with fear as he watched the woman approach. The gentle breeze vanished as if it had never been, and his voice emerged weakly, "Aunt, what are you doing here?"

It was Hei Ze's aunt, Hei Yushang.

The Hei family's lineage had always been sparse, with only the Qing family of the five great houses of Dragonstone being a match.

Of the five great houses, the Ao family was the most esteemed, and the Qing family, the most enigmatic.

The Ao family had long held the position of City Lord, with influence permeating every corner of Dragonstone. The Hei family was well-regarded in the military, the Huo family managed internal security, the Jin family oversaw domestic affairs, and the Qing family's businesses flourished throughout the city. Rumor had it that the Qing family's commercial reach extended even beyond the borders of Dragonstone.

The Hei family's prestige had reached its zenith a decade ago, with Hei Ze's father, Hei Yuqing, donning a black robe that overpowered all the contemporary heroes of Dragonstone. His strength was such that even some of the veterans paled in comparison.

Unfortunately, ten years ago, Hei Yuqing ventured off Earth to the Galaxy Alliance, perhaps even to the Milky Way Alliance, for a period of cultivation. It was rumored that he was ambushed by the Ao, Huo, and Jin families, and barely made it back to the Hei family, grievously injured. Tragically, Hei Ze's mother perished beyond the confines of our world.

Since that fateful time, Hei Yuqing has confined himself to the ancestral hall in the Hei family's backyard, drowning his sorrows in a pot of wine and the pages of ancient books, living a life of decline.

The Hei family's direct lineage dwindled to just two individuals: the currently levitating Hei Yushang, and the infamous Hei Yuqing, known throughout Dragonstone as a broken man.

From that point on, Hei Ze seldom saw his father, with his unmarried aunt taking on the role of his guardian.

Upon seeing Hei Yushang, Nangong Fan was struck by a wave of guilt. He had sneaked onto Pluto, and after avoiding home for four or five days, he braced himself for the inevitable punishment.

"Little Ze, you're growing bolder by the day," Hei Yushang remarked, her beautiful eyes narrowing as a dangerous aura emanated from her.

Hei Yuqing descended gracefully from the sky, as if invisible steps were laid out before her, heralding the queen's arrival.

A dozen members of the Black Dragon Army turned and knelt on one knee before Hei Yushang, their eyes shining with reverence and devotion as they greeted her, "We welcome you, General Hei."

"I merely heard that a Black Dragon had emerged and wanted to make a contribution to our clan," Nangong Fan said with a grin, watching Hei Yushang. But as she reached for his ear, his smile vanished, replaced by a pained shout, "No, Auntie, please! It hurts. Ze admits his mistake."

"You little rascal, I haven't even caught you yet, and you're already squirming," Hei Yushang teased, lifting her hands from Nangong Fan's ear to affectionately tousle his hair. She then turned her gaze to the Black Dragon he was dragging along, "Impressive, a two-meter sub-dragon. This dragon's power might even surpass mine. You must have used up the talisman I gave you, right?"

"Auntie, as a Martial Emperor, taking down this foolish dragon must be child's play for you," Nangong Fan said, scratching his head with a goofy smile.

"Let's head home," Hei Yushang replied, ignoring his comment. She took Nangong Fan by the hand and started walking forward. She truly didn't have the heart to be harsh with her unfortunate nephew unless it was absolutely necessary. "Remember, from now on, you're not to step even half a stride outside Dragonstone without my permission."

If one couldn't cultivate, then so be it. What did it matter? With the Black Family's power and standing, one didn't necessarily need profound cultivation to stand on their own. Even a bit of knowledge in other areas, a touch of cunning, and the support of the elders could easily secure the position of the Black Family's leader.

Yet, they insisted on emulating those snobbish young masters from other families, aspiring to be nothing more than wastrels.

The group of more than a dozen people trailing behind carried the Black Dragon, keeping close.

"The Black Dragon holds great significance for our Black Family. I'll acknowledge your effort this time, you silly boy," she said.

The pleasant exchange between aunt and nephew slowly receded into the distance.

Earth held an extraordinary place in the eyes of the human race within the vast expanse of the starry sky, revered as the cradle of humanity. The influence of this single planet was on par with that of an entire galaxy.

Centered around the Ten Cities, Earth was rumored to have connections with the powers of the Upper World, acting as extensions of those formidable forces. As such, most of the Ten Cities scarcely acknowledged the authority of the dynasty.

The dynasty, known as Forestvale, was led by the Ten Cities, which were spread far and wide, ruling over Planet Source—a world at least ten times larger than any other.

Dragonstone was among these cities, reputed to be either the first or second in prominence within the Ten Cities.