Chapter Four: Reunion After a Long Time

Beneath the azure sky lay the yellow earth, nurturing all living beings.
This land was known as the Azure Gift Continent.
In the Age of the End of Law, a hundred children descended from the heavens, spiritual energy revived, and the Era of Immortal Awakening began.
Ten thousand years into Immortal Awakening.
At the heart of the four great continents of Azure Gift, there was the Valley of Prodigies.
At this moment, it was a sea of people.
From East Qian, West Kun, South Tian, and North Di, every power, great and small, had sent representatives to gather here.
...

Xu Zhe slowly opened his eyes.
It was very dark before him; only a faint light filtered through something, shining into the space.
"Where is this?"
"Didn't I die already?"
His eyes were filled with confusion; his head throbbed painfully, yet he realized he was lying in a narrow, enclosed space.
No, calling it enclosed didn’t seem quite right.
A strange sense of familiarity arose within Xu Zhe. He reached out, gently caressing the smooth, transparent material before him, riddled with cracks and one distinct fissure.
Fresh air seeped in through the split.
"Spiritual energy? Such thin spiritual energy!"
He frowned.
"Outside... are people talking?"
The next moment, his ears twitched slightly, catching sounds from beyond—the murmur of conversation, and not just a few voices.
"The Awakening Day of the Prodigies comes once a century. I can't wait!"
"Since ten thousand years ago, ninety-nine children of heaven have awakened, each bearing extraordinary bloodlines and spiritual roots. Now, the hundredth is finally about to emerge."
"This is the last one!"
"Indeed, but for me, this is the first time witnessing such an event."
"It's my second. A hundred years ago, Qi Ming awakened the Zhu Yan bloodline and entered the world with a Heavenly Fire root. I remember it as if it happened yesterday."
"That's nothing. My father said he once saw the Blade God Li Chungang awaken."
"Ha! My grandfather witnessed the Valkyrie's awakening of the Vermillion Bird bloodline."
"The Valkyrie? You mean Chu Xiaotong, the Martial Goddess who once single-handedly repelled the Nine Demon Kings beyond the domain?"
"Exactly."
"Hah, you all are nothing. My great-grandfather, this is true, came here when he was at the fifth level of Qi training and saw the awakening of the Azure Luan bloodline, the current Saintess of the Jade Pool Sanctuary, Lin Keyi."
"Are you insane, addressing Saint Lin by name? I hear the Jade Pool has sent people today, and everyone is recording the event with spiritual talismans. Watch your mouth, lest you be punished later."
"Nonsense. Saint Lin is gentle and magnanimous; she wouldn’t care about nobodies like us."
"Rumor has it that the last awakening prodigy today is named Xu Zhe, who, ten thousand years ago, was in love with Saint Lin."
"No way."
"Shh, don't spread rumors. If the North hears, they'll be displeased."
"Pfft, what’s there to fear? Can North Di meddle in East Qian’s affairs?"
"You never know."
"But still, they say Blade God Li Chungang, Martial Goddess Chu, and Master Wang Jianguo were close to Xu Zhe, yet none sent representatives—only Jade Pool Sanctuary did."
"Master Wang disappeared centuries ago, so it’s normal he didn’t send anyone. Chu is still fighting demon beasts beyond the domain, so she’s busy. Li Chungang’s Prodigy Pavilion sent a manager, didn’t they?"
"Relax, with Jade Pool people here, no one will dare lay a hand on Xu Zhe."
"True, but I doubt any of us can compete with Jade Pool. Xu Zhe will likely join their ranks."
"Don’t lose hope. If there’s any chance at all, we can still persuade him to join our sect."
...

Various voices, clamorous and loud, poured into Xu Zhe's ears.
He caught many fragments, yet everything felt muddled and confusing.
Still, some names seemed strangely familiar!

...

"Wait—Li Chungang, Wang Jianguo, Lin Keyi, Chu Xiaotong, this—"
Suddenly Xu Zhe remembered something, his eyes wide as he sat bolt upright.
"Bang!"
With a muffled sound, the glass dome before him was knocked open.
Years of accumulated dust, weathered by wind and sun, clung tightly to the surface but now fell to the ground as the dome was pushed aside.
Blinding sunlight spilled down.
Xu Zhe squinted, his headache intensifying, as if waking from a severe hangover; the sudden movement made him feel unbearably uncomfortable.
"Whoa!"
Almost simultaneously, astonished cries erupted from all directions.
"He’s awake!"
"The last prodigy has finally emerged!"
"Wow, he’s so handsome! The rumors are true—even Zhang Yunfan can't compare."
"No wonder Saint Lin was his companion ten thousand years ago—they were well matched."
"Ha, matched ten thousand years ago doesn’t mean matched today. Remember, Saint Lin is now the revered leader of Jade Pool Sanctuary and soon to be wed to the one from North Di."
"So what? Judging by the emblem on his cabin, he bears the Azure Dragon bloodline, unique in the world. He’s destined for greatness; in a thousand years, he might catch up to Saint Lin’s cultivation."
"Pfft, what’s Saint Lin? Our Southern Tian has Martial Goddess Chu with Vermillion Bird blood, which pairs best with Xu Zhe’s Azure Dragon blood."
"You Southerners, always fighting West Kun for everything."
"What’s it to you, East Qian?"
As the banter escalated into distant squabbles,
Xu Zhe remained seated, his headache gradually easing.
He realized he was in a battered life pod, surrounded by ninety-nine other opened pods, even more dilapidated than his.
All these pods lay scattered in a mountain valley.
Around the valley stood crowds—men and women, all young.
With few exceptions, most had long hair, wore robes and gowns, dressed entirely in ancient garb.
But Xu Zhe was not surprised; his eyes still held a trace of confusion as he observed those around him, sorting through the chaos in his mind.
"He seems unaware, totally confused."
"Haha, that’s normal. Every prodigy awakens this way."
"But something’s off, isn’t it?"
"What’s off?"
"Where’s the bloodline phenomenon? The spiritual root aura?"
"Damn, you’re right. Every prodigy’s awakening comes with heavenly bloodline visions, and their spiritual root aura soars. He has nothing?"
"No way, his cabin emblem is Azure Dragon!"
"For years, every prodigy’s bloodline matched their cabin’s emblem. What’s going on with him?"
"Look, the Jade Pool people are taking out a stone tablet."
"That's not just any tablet—that’s the Bloodline Totem Tablet. It tests bloodlines."
As the crowd discussed, their gazes turned toward the valley’s edge, focusing on several elegant young women.
Draped in gauzy dresses, ethereal and refined, one older woman formed hand seals, her palm-sized stone tablet floating before her, brimming with spiritual energy.
The tablet expanded, shining a golden beam onto Xu Zhe.
A resonant hum began; a streak of red appeared on the tablet, coalescing, nearly forming a totem, but the strength faltered and the red streak collapsed.
With a hiss, the red vanished, the tablet shrank to its original size, and fell from the air.
"This..."
All were stunned, frozen in place.
Incredulity spread across every face—even the Jade Pool women exchanged surprised glances, clearly unprepared for this outcome.
"Mortal bloodline," the elder woman stated flatly, retrieving the tablet.
Those simple words sparked an uproar throughout the valley.

...

"Impossible!"
"The last prodigy is just a mortal?"
"That makes him no different from us!"
"Not quite. We at least have decent spiritual roots and entered the immortal sects. He seems worse off—his spiritual roots are even more chaotic."
"Damn, you’re bold, peering into a prodigy’s roots?"
"What’s there to fear? Just a mortal bloodline."
"Heh, good point. Let me look—whoa, those roots are messy!"
"No way, after waiting hours, the last prodigy is an ordinary mortal barely able to cultivate?"
Some were shocked, some frowned, some laughed it off as a novelty or a joke.
Others exchanged glances and whispered, "Report to our master: Xu Zhe is a mortal bloodline, his roots are mottled and chaotic."
"Should we still make a move?"
"No need. The master said, unless necessary, don’t offend Prodigy Pavilion or Jade Pool."
"Ha, given this, there’s really no need now."
Meanwhile, sect representatives looked troubled.
"This is bad. Before coming, our sect leader insisted we must persuade this one to join, no matter the cost. Now... what do we do?"
"Dammit, how should I know? I’m stunned myself. Our chief threatened to expel me if I don’t recruit Xu Zhe—should I or shouldn’t I?"
"Er, friend, perhaps you’d like to join our Heavenly Martial Sect?"
"Get lost!"
...

The female disciples of Jade Pool glanced at the elder woman, hesitating.
She collected a glowing jade talisman, then spoke coldly: "What do you want to say?"
"Sister, this one is so ordinary. Are we really to give him the treasures the Saintess instructed?" one asked.
"Impudent!" The elder glared, "Whatever the Saintess commands, we obey. Don’t presume to be clever."
"Yes," the disciple bowed her head.
"But..."
The elder’s tone shifted. "We will hand him the things. If they’re stolen from him later, it’s none of our concern."
The disciples’ eyes brightened, smiles spreading, except for one in white, whose brows furrowed slightly.
The elder didn’t notice, her gaze falling on Xu Zhe in the valley, shaking her head with a cold smile. "A hundred heavenly children, all prodigies, yet the last is nothing but a joke!"
...

Soon, the gathering outside the valley dwindled by half.
Many departed—some came merely to see the prodigy’s emergence, some under orders to recruit him, but now all left disappointed.
A mortal bloodline, with spiritual roots so chaotic, how could he be a prodigy? How could he be worth recruiting?
Xu Zhe remained in the life pod, ignoring those around him. Even when some tried to speak with him, he paid no heed.
He sat quietly, as if alone, his eyes gradually deepening, an inexplicable aura emanating from his brows, oddly out of place with his youthful, handsome form.
His headache was gone; his thoughts finally clear.
"Lin Keyi, Chu Xiaotong, Li Chungang, Wang Jianguo... Ha, who would’ve thought there’s still a chance to reunite with you all."
A faint smile appeared on Xu Zhe’s face.
"Ten thousand years—ten thousand years, I, Xu Zhe, once an Immortal Emperor, have finally returned to my own flesh."
He bowed his head, gazing at his reflection on the glass, tears streaming down his face:
"It’s been so long, my damn handsome face, finally free!"
...
...