C3 Crown Prince Xiao Yao Ling Dao

Day in and day out, Ling Dao remained trapped beneath Immortal Sword Mountain. A relentless onslaught of sword qi tormented his body, and over time, his consciousness began to blur.

Then came the day when a figure of great might and majesty stormed into the Purple Vine Holy Land. Tragically, Ling Dao's vision had dimmed to the point where he could only sense the presence of this newcomer. A battle of epic proportions erupted within the Holy Land, dwarfing any skirmish Ling Dao had previously encountered. Despite his muddled senses, he could feel the very fabric of the Purple Vine Holy Land quaking, time and space thrown into disarray.

After what seemed like an eternity, a familiar face appeared before Ling Dao. He tried to speak, but his voice failed him; all he could do was listen to the heavy sigh of the figure, a sound laden with fury and sorrow.

With a single palm strike, the Immortal Sword Mountain was sent soaring, freeing Ling Dao from its oppressive weight. Yet, his condition was indistinguishable from death itself. No level of cultivation, no matter how profound, could bring him back from the brink.

"It's too late; there's no saving you now. But as the Path Lord of the World, I can grant you passage into the cycle of reincarnation, to be reborn in the realm of mortals."

The man before him was middle-aged, with a broad forehead and a commanding presence. His every action exuded an air of grand authority. His black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and within his eyes, minor worlds seemed to be born and perish.

"The Path of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, open!"

Within the three realms, there were only six paths of reincarnation, no matter the number of worlds. At most, only six beings could wield control over these paths. This middle-aged man was the Path Lord of the World, the master of the Path of Man's cycle of rebirth.

His eyes were unfathomably deep as his hands moved swiftly, forming intricate seals. Before him, the Path of Man's reincarnation began to take shape, a colossal vortex that appeared capable of ensnaring the souls of all beings.

With a heavy heart, he gazed upon Ling Dao in his arms before gently placing him into the channel of reincarnation. The Path of Man would allow Ling Dao to be reborn into the mortal realm, though where exactly remained a mystery, for the ways of reincarnation are enigmatic and immeasurable.

"I hope you can rise from the ashes, reborn anew. Consider this ordeal a test of your mettle. As the Path Lord of the World, I can assure you that your memories will remain intact. That will be your edge going forward!"

...

In the Great Luo Dynasty, at the bustling Free and Unfettered Wangfu, excitement was in the air. The King Carefree's Consort had reached the end of her ten-month pregnancy and was finally about to deliver. Nine midwives in total had been summoned to the Free and Unfettered Wangfu to ensure the safe arrival of the Crown Prince.

King Carefree was the only prince in the entire Great Luo Dynasty not of the royal bloodline, yet he wielded the greatest power. The current golden age of the Great Luo Dynasty owed much to King Carefree. His repeated military campaigns had expanded the empire's borders and brought about its current splendor!

Officials from all ranks flocked to celebrate, and even the Emperor of the Great Luo Dynasty made a personal appearance. King Carefree was beaming with joy, warmly hosting everyone who came to share in the festivities.

"Carefree, have you decided on a name for your child, whether it be a son or daughter?" inquired the Emperor of the Great Luo Dynasty, sitting across from King Carefree with genuine interest. After all, King Carefree's achievements were so legendary that there were those in the Great Luo Dynasty who might not recognize their own emperor but would certainly know of King Carefree.

"I haven't given it much thought yet. Let's wait and see whether it's a boy or a girl!" King Carefree replied. He was the only one in the Great Luo Dynasty who did not have to kneel before the emperor. Sitting there, he was the picture of ease, as if it were his birthright. Unnoticed by all, a flicker of murderous intent passed through the depths of the emperor's eyes.

"Prince, you have a son!"

The voice of a maidservant rang out, bringing a surge of joy to King Carefree's eyes as he quickly rose to his feet. In this era, the birth of a son was celebrated far more than that of a daughter.

"Your Majesty, please excuse me," said King Carefree, turning to leave. The Emperor of the Great Luo Dynasty offered him a smile, but as soon as King Carefree left, his expression grew grim. The emperor had been hoping for the birth of a daughter to King Carefree, but fate had delivered a son instead.

"Hahahaha, Rou'er, you've done wonderfully!"

King Carefree's laughter filled the room as he gazed upon the young woman and the newborn boy on the bed. With a casual wave of his hand, the midwives and maidservants filed out, leaving just the three of them alone.

"Carefree, our son is here at last. It's time to name him!"

At the sound of the queen's words, the infant stirred. King Carefree swiftly cradled his son, whose clear eyes sparkled with an intelligent light—a rarity for a newborn, but this was Ling Dao, whose memories remained intact.

"My son deserves a name that commands respect. What to call him? Ling Tian? Ling Xiao? Ling Zhan?"

The baby boy wrinkled his brow at these suggestions, clearly unimpressed. King Carefree chuckled; the idea that a newborn could understand him was preposterous.

"I think we should name him Ling Dao!"

Rou'er, still reclining on the bed, spoke up. The baby boy's laughter followed, and Rou'er's conviction in her choice of name grew stronger. King Carefree arched an eyebrow but offered no resistance.

"Very well, we'll go with what Rou'er suggests!"

The baby boy's joy was evident. He had no desire to change his name, having been known as Ling Dao for many years. Why Rou'er had suddenly thought of it, she couldn't say—perhaps it was a stroke of inspiration.

From that day forward, the Free and Unfettered Wangfu was graced with a new His Highness, Crown Prince Ling Dao. With King Carefree's immense power and influence, the prince was assured a life of luxury. Yet, King Carefree was troubled by Ling Dao's frailty.

King Carefree, a prodigy with formidable strength, believed in the adage 'like father, like son'—his own child was destined to be a martial arts prodigy. But fate had other plans. Though Ling Dao had been reborn into the Path of Man, the sword qi within him endured.

With an overwhelming amount of sword qi coursing through his body, he was left in a state of extreme weakness. No amount of replenishment could turn the tide; the only solution was to completely purge the sword qi from within him. Regrettably, despite his formidable powers, King Carefree was incapable of accomplishing this feat.

As time marched on relentlessly, Crown Prince Xiao Yao grew older with each passing day. Yet, the persistent sword qi within him never waned, leaving him perpetually frail. King Carefree exhausted countless methods in an attempt to alleviate his son's condition, to no avail.

"It seems that my only option is to venture into the Celestial Dragon Forbidden Area and take a chance on fortune!"