Arc 2: Chapter 9 — The Chaos Inheritance
As the secret realm opened with a blinding light, demons and humans alike were drawn into the swirling portal, their forms vanishing into the unknown. Each was teleported to a different place within the realm—some to peaceful meadows, others to deadly forests where shadows seemed to whisper.
Fen Hao's Arrival
Fen Hao opened his eyes to find himself in a dense jungle, black smoke curling around ancient trees like dark spirits. The air was thick with a presence he could not name.
He took a breath, calming his racing heart.
"Dragon," he said, his voice low. "What do you mean by Chaos Qi here?"
The dragon's voice was a murmur of amusement.
"I think there's a Chaos Qi vein here."
Fen Hao's brow furrowed.
"What? But that's something that only exists in the Chaos Realm, right?"
The dragon snorted softly.
"Let's see, boy… but if this really is a Chaos Qi vein, then you're lucky. Chaos Qi… it's both a curse and a gift. Be careful."
He turned his senses outward, feeling a pull—like a heartbeat in the darkness.
"Let's go. The Chaos Qi's direction… it's close. But why is this place so twisted, even with Chaos Qi here? Be cautious, Fen boy… there's more here than you know."
The Ruins of Chaos
Following that pull, Fen Hao stepped deeper into the jungle. At the heart of it, he found a ruin—crumbling buildings half-swallowed by the earth, ancient stones etched with images that time had nearly erased.
He walked slowly to the center of the ruin, his breath catching as the world around him seemed to blur.In a single step, space itself twisted—he was pulled into another place.
Before him stood a tall figure—white hair flowing like silk, a face half-hidden in shadow, and eyes that glowed with an otherworldly light.
"Who are you?" the figure's voice was low, ancient. "How are you able to avoid annihilation and come here?"
Fen Hao's brow furrowed, his heart steady despite the fear clawing at him.
"Annihilation? I just walked here," he said.
The old man's voice was calm but laced with disbelief.
"It can't be… there are thousands of traps outside this place. Hmmm… boy, you carry Chaos Qi within you. That's why the traps did not activate."
Fen Hao's eyes widened in shock.
"What?"
The dragon's voice echoed in his mind, equally stunned.
"What…?"
The Chaos of Blood
The old man's eyes burned brighter, his voice slow and deliberate:
"Don't you know? When an immortal bloodline and devil bloodline merge with demon Qi, dragon Qi, and phoenix Qi… they create Chaos Qi. It is the fundamental force of the Chaos Realm."
The dragon growled softly.
"The hell with that fundamental! Fen Hao—ask him how he knows this."
The old man's expression was distant, as if staring through the veil of time itself.
"I know… because I am a cultivator of the Chaos Emperor. I fell in the midst of a war—our war. Dragon… what happened to our war?"
The dragon's breath caught in Fen Hao's mind.
"He can see me… no, he can see through you, Fen Hao. Interesting.I don't know about your war… but if you speak of the war that shattered the Ancestor Realm… that was millions of years ago."
A faint sigh echoed from the old man.
"So… we failed in the end. We chose to self-destruct. But you, boy—one who carries the breath of Chaos—listen well:Grow stronger. Do it quickly. I can feel it… it is close. Very close.When the stars fall to the gate, it will appear with rage and no reason."
The Chaos Realm's Gift
The old man's eyes glowed brighter as he lifted his hand.
"You… I will give you my Chaos Realm. It is nothing impressive… but remember, you must grow stronger.I don't know what happens when a cultivator's body carries Chaos Qi and gains a Chaos Realm. Be careful."
He pressed his hand to Fen Hao's forehead. In that moment, a sphere of shimmering light—pulsing with an ancient, chaotic power—emerged from the old man's palm and merged into Fen Hao's brow.
The light ball seemed alive, swirling with colors that defied description, carrying the memory and knowledge of an entire realm. Fen Hao felt his soul tremble as the sphere dissolved into him—a new realm, the Chaos Realm, seeding itself deep in his soul.
In that instant, knowledge flooded into Fen Hao's mind—how to control a Chaos Realm, how to shape its boundaries and forge its power. Time itself seemed to stand still as he absorbed the inheritance, feeling the weight of the old man's legacy settle into his bones.
The Old Emperor's Secrets
The old man's voice was a soft echo in the darkness:
"Dragon… this boy… he hasn't even broken through to the Foundation Realm, yet he already has a Chaos Realm and Chaos Qi. I can feel it—he will need a Chaos Realm in every cultivation realm to break through."
He paused, then spoke with quiet urgency:
"Go to the east… find the Golden Dragon Emperor's inheritance. In the north… the Empress of Time's inheritance. To the south… the Emperor of the Sword. And to the west… the Emperor of the Spear. Seek them all."
The dragon's voice was sharp.
"Who are you, old man?"
The old man smiled faintly.
"I am the Emperor of Devourer… some call me the Destruction of Chaos."
The dragon's breath caught.
"So… you're not human."
"No," the old man said softly. "I am a demon… the demon of gluttony. The owner of the Gluttony Throne of the Nine Hells. If you ever reach the Nine Hells, give a hand to my tribe—the Gluttony Tribe."
The dragon was silent for a long moment. In his thoughts, he whispered:
"Demon… Nine Hells… what does this all mean? Bah… I will live my life facing each problem as it comes. That is how we survive."
The Final Words
Fen Hao opened his eyes slowly, power humming in his veins.
"Why did you choose me?" he asked quietly. "There must be better people out there…"
The old man's smile was faint but warm.
"You are the one I chose. So hold your head high and go forward.Also, remember to claim the upstream inheritance—the inheritance of the Celestial Race woman. She is still alive… I did not have such luck.I stored all the knowledge you need in this Chaos Realm. You can see it later."
The old man's voice grew softer, a final whisper:
"Now you have broken through to the Foundation Building Realm… and you stand at the beginning of nine realms.You will need to claim a Chaos Realm in each stage to keep growing. Work hard… the world will not wait for you."
The Secrets of Blood
Fen Hao's eyes narrowed.
"Celestial… what is that?"
The old man's voice echoed like a memory.
"In the Origin Domain, the races are divided and always at war—humans, celestials, demons, and devils. The strongest among them… are the devils.Humans created their so-called divine blood and immortal blood. But it's all the same… each race has its strengths and weaknesses.Humans can refine almost any bloodline into their bodies and gain a portion of its power—ten percent at best. But you… you're different.You carry many bloodlines… and they merge perfectly. Normally, humans can only refine one or two bloodlines before their bodies collapse.Yet you carry devil blood, human blood, demon blood, dragon blood, phoenix blood… and they merge within you.Remember—each time you break through to a new realm, your blood will also grow stronger. Be careful. That's why I tell you: go and obtain the Celestial inheritance. The Celestials… they can balance and heal all things in this world."
His voice was a final echo, fading like the last light of a dying star:
"My time is up… work hard, boy."
End of Arc 2: Chapter 9