Chapter 996 - Astral Domain Path

Liu Wuxie held firm to his resolve. He refused to leave without seeing Han Feizi today. As Liu Wuxie approached, he noticed the reactions of the surrounding Han Clan disciples.

The majority looked at him with resentment, and only a few carried a hint of helplessness in their eyes. Perhaps that was the fate that Han Long had spoken of.

Han Shanzi let out a heavy sigh after hearing Liu Wuxie's words.

"Senior Han, my Master, told me I have a deep connection with the Han Clan. I have come today, not just to see Brother Han, but also to learn about my connection with your clan," Liu Wuxie informed.

Since he had come, he was resolved to learn the truth.

"Come with me if you wish to know. But you have to prepare yourself," Han Shanzi said after a pause. It was time for Liu Wuxie to learn about some things.

With that, Han Shanzi led Liu Wuxie out of the hall. The Han Clan's elders had gathered, their sharp gazes focused on Liu Wuxie.

Liu Wuxie felt the Heaven Profound Realm's pressure head-on for the first time. The crushing force easily overwhelmed any cultivators at the Spirit Profound Realm.

The Heavenly Dao Book unfolded in his soul sea, dispersing the pressure, a sight that surprised the elders.

"As expected of the chosen one," someone murmured in the distance, and Liu Wuxie heard it.

He had long known about the so-called chosen one. Though Han Shanzi had kept his aura well restrained, Liu Wuxie still felt the faint pressure of an expert at the Heaven Profound Realm.

They ventured deeper into the Han Clan and stood in front of a massive underground chamber.

Liu Wuxie frowned, his heart clenching with dread.

Darkness and stillness filled the chamber, rendering it unfit for the living. Its only virtue was the airtight seal that perfectly preserved anything placed within.

A biting chill gushed out from the chamber when the stone gate lifted.

Han Shanzi took the lead and entered the chamber.

Liu Wuxie followed, and the gate shut behind them, sealing off the chamber.

The interior wasn't large, roughly a hundred square meters. A massive rectangular block of ice lay at the chamber's center, with a person lying on it.

Liu Wuxie hurried to the ice and frowned, looking at the old man lying on it.

"Senior, this is...?" Liu Wuxie trailed off. He didn't recognize the man on the ice block.

"That's Han Feizi," Han Shanzi replied.

The ice made it hard to see the person's facial features.

Liu Wuxie's mind blanked. He stepped forward to take a closer look. Despite looking aged and shriveled, he still bore the familiar features Liu Wuxie remembered.

"What happened to him? Why is he like this?" Liu Wuxie roared. He wanted to shatter the ice and question Han Feizi about how he had turned into his current state in just six months.

Liu Wuxie sensed no life from Han Feizi—only his primordial spirit lingered. Han Feizi had entered a state of suspended death.

The only reason had stopped Liu Wuxie from shattering the ice. Destroying the ice would only accelerate Han Feizi's death.

His eyes turned red, and he walked over to Han Shanzi, grabbing him by the shoulder.

"Tell me, who did this to him!" Liu Wuxie growled. He swore to avenge Han Feizi, even if he was an expert at the Heaven Profound Realm.

"You," Han Shanzi replied.

Liu Wuxie froze. He had imagined countless possibilities but didn't think he was the reason.

He said, "Please, tell me everything!"

"Let's talk outside," Han Shanzi said, not wanting to disturb Han Feizi's rest.

Before leaving, Liu Wuxie took one last look at Han Feizi, tears rolling down his cheeks. They had forged a bond comparable to that of biological brothers when they were together.

To see Han Feizi in this state tore Liu Wuxie's heart. Liu Wuxie felt like a heavy boulder pressed against his chest.

They didn't return to the main hall. Instead, Han Shanzi led him across the valley to a mountain's summit.

"Blood runes!" Liu Wuxie whispered.

𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Han Shanzi had brought Liu Wuxie to the Celestial Astral Stage. It looked like any ordinary stage until it was activated. But Liu Wuxie instantly recognized the patterns on the stage.

He finally figured everything out. He recognized the blood runes as the ones he had memorized in the void realm.

"Brother Han opened the astral teleportation array to guide me home," Liu Wuxie muttered.

Han Shanzi nodded.

"I'm sorry!" Liu Wuxie cried, dropping to one knee in guilt.

As his brother, Han Feizi's father was no different from a family member to him. He had brought disaster to Han Feizi's family.

"It has nothing to do with you. This is the fate of our Han Clan," Han Shanzi said, helping Liu Wuxie back to his feet.

In the past, he had blamed Liu Wuxie. Han Feizi wouldn't be in his current state if not for him.

"Senior Han, can you tell me about my connection with the Han Clan?" Liu Wuxie asked. He wished to know what was going on. He had entered the world in Azure Billow City as a member of the Liu Clan. So, what did he have to do with the Han Clan?

"It was our Han Clan that brought you to the True Martial Continent," Han Shanzi said, his gaze fixed on Liu Wuxie.

Liu Wuxie staggered back in shock, nearly falling off the stage.

"I don't understand," Liu Wuxie mumbled.

The fact that he came from the Fleeting Cloud Celestial Realm was a secret Liu Wuxie had never shared, not even with his parents.

"I don't know where you're from, but I'm certain you're not from this continent," Han Shanzi said.

Liu Wuxie froze. He hadn't expected Han Shanzi to know that he wasn't from the True Martial Continent.

He had never revealed his secrets before. How could Han Shanzi know?

Liu Wuxie didn't know what to say. The Han Clan's knowledge of his secret puzzled him. Moreover, he could confirm from Han Shanzi's words that his arrival in the True Martial Continent was no accident.

"I was born in Azure Billow City. Liu Dashan is my father, Yan Yu is my mother. I don't know what you're talking about," Liu Wuxie responded.

He wanted to focus solely on Han Feizi's current condition and nothing else.

"It doesn't matter if you admit to it. What matters is your destiny," Han Shanzi said, his tone suddenly gentle.

"My destiny?" Liu Wuxie repeated.

"That's right. Your destiny," Han Shanzi confirmed.

"Can you go into details?" Liu Wuxie asked.

Though he didn't admit it, his question confirmed that he wasn't from this world. Otherwise, he wouldn't be curious to know the details.

Liu Wuxie needed to know his so-called destiny. Aside from returning to the Fleeting Cloud Celestial Realm for revenge, he only wanted to protect those close to him.

"Open the Astral Domain Path and save the True Martial Continent," Han Shanzi said, gazing into the distant starry skies.

"Senior, is the True Martial Continent a part severed from the astral domain?" Liu Wuxie asked.

He had long suspected it. The laws in the True Martial Continent were incomplete, and it was likely a fractured continent separated from the bigger world. The astral wind constantly eroded this world, and the sacred ground's collapse was proof enough.

"That's right," Han Shanzi nodded. "The True Martial Continent may seem vast, but it's nothing compared to the Astral Domain. In ancient times, a great battle occurred in the Astral Domain, resulting in the True Martial Continent breaking and drifting away."

"You're saying that only by opening the Astral Domain Path can the True Martial Continent return to the Astral Domain?" Liu Wuxie asked.

He had his speculations in the past, but he didn't know what the Astral Domain Path was. He had only heard it from the Divine Race and Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy.

"Not entirely. The Astral Domain Path is the only means to reconnect with the Astral Domain. However, success isn't guaranteed," Han Shanzi replied.

He wasn't sure if the True Martial Continent could return and merge into the Astral Domain again. If it couldn't, it would eventually follow the same fate as the Sacred Ground, leading to its destruction.

"Why me?" Liu Wuxie demanded, his eyes narrowing.

The True Martial Continent had plenty of prodigies, but none could open the Astral Domain Path. So, why was Han Shanzi so confident in him?

"By now, you should know that our Han Clan serves as the Spirit Guardians, right?" Han Shanzi asked, his gaze turning to Liu Wuxie.

"I do," Liu Wuxie admitted.

Elder Madman had told him before he had entered Sacred Ground, but he wasn't entirely sure what the Spirit Guardians were.

"The Astral Domain is vast, with countless sects. The Heavenly Dragon Sect once ruled over the True Martial Continent, where our Han Clan held a high rank. We earned our fame through divination. The Spirit Guardians' mission is to protect spirituality," Han Shanzi explained. His words opened a new world to Liu Wuxie.

The Han Clan had originated from one of the powerful sects, the Heavenly Dragon Sect.

"Don't tell me... were the two academies once part of the Heavenly Dragon Sect?" Liu Wuxie asked.

The names made it too obvious. One consisted of 'Dragon' and the other 'Heavenly.' He didn't believe the names were just a coincidence.

"That's right," Han Shanzi replied with a bitter chuckle.

"So what does that have to do with me?" Liu Wuxie asked.

The world was vast, and Liu Wuxie had only seen a part of it. He suspected that the Fleeting Cloud Celestial Realm was only one of the three thousand worlds, with many worlds remaining unknown to him.

News of the Astral Domain didn't shock him. Had another cultivator heard it, the revelation would have overwhelmed them. But Liu Wuxie remained calm and composed.

He only wanted to know what this had to do with him.