Guang regained consciousness as the sun began to show its light from behind the dark clouds. He opened both his eyes. They were completely red, not just from exhaustion, but because the immense pressure of the Vajra power had burst the blood vessels within them. Guang tried to stand with great difficulty due to his severe injuries from last night's battle. He managed to get up, his left hand gripping tightly onto a ruined pillar of the sect. He walked incredibly slowly, his body overwhelmed by a mixture of fatigue and agonizing pain. His cloak was torn to shreds. Even the lotus symbol on his cloak, which represented a Great Officer of the Golden Lotus, had been torn in half. He reached for his Vajra sword that was stuck in the ground within a nearly dry pool of blood. The blood was now a dark reddish black, surrounded by an aura of red and black lightning. Just as he extended his hand and reached for the Vajra sword with his five fingers, it suddenly felt as if something was crawling through his bones. It was like a root growing at the very foundation of his soul. Guang vomited blood.

  "Damn it! What is this? Is this another one of the world's jokes?"

  He stared at the sky while groaning in pain. The clouds looked gloomy, blocking the warmth of the sun behind them.

  Guang suddenly felt his legs grow heavy and collapsed to the ground. His bones felt as if they were entangled by thorny roots. He bit his own lip until it bled profusely to hide the sheer agony in his bones. Guang screamed and groaned in pain as he tried to stand. Slowly, he leaned on both his hands, which were covered in wounds and mixed with dust, then gradually lifted his right leg. His hand grabbed the ruined pillar again. He tried to stand while fighting the increasingly unnatural pain in his bones. Slowly, he approached his Vajra sword because he no longer had the strength to summon it. Slowly but surely, inch by inch, he bit down harder on his mouth. Both his hands held tightly to the pillars and ruined walls of the sect. Finally, his index finger almost touched the Vajra sword, but the sword's energy was greater than ever before. He forced himself closer. Both his hands firmly gripped the hilt of his Vajra sword. He roared as he forcibly pulled the weapon with his remaining strength, enduring the torture ripping through his body. Blood seeped from his pores, staining his already ruined cloak. Red and black lightning thundered as the ancient character for '1' appeared on the Vajra sword's blade. His body was tormented even further, but he rebelled against it. Ultimately, the lightning roots merged completely with his bones. His body emitted an aura of red and black lightning that incinerated the remaining sect debris around him.

  "Branch 1, finally. The Roots of Vajra!"

  Guang chuckled at the sky with an indescribable smile. His eyes stared sharply as the starting drizzle washed over his face.

  Meanwhile, at the Golden Lotus Palace.

  Feng Haoran was sitting on his throne, accompanied by his beautiful concubines. He was being fed grapes by the women sitting beside him. Suddenly, a messenger arrived with news that an envoy from their arch-enemy nation had arrived and was waiting for permission to enter at the gates.

  "Forgive me for disturbing you, Your Majesty Emperor Feng."

  "Speak. What is it?"

  "I merely wish to inform you that the envoy from the Eagle Kingdom is waiting at the gate, Your Majesty."

  Instantly, Feng Haoran's smile twisted into a terrifying, hollow expression. He stood up, unleashing an overwhelming aura of darkness. Objects around him, including his concubines, tumbled and rolled down the steps of the golden lotus throne. Their heads struck the floor, causing severe bleeding. Feng Haoran glared at the messenger with a demonic gaze, his eyes glowing red. Instantly, the worship incense was extinguished. He immediately descended the golden stairs, stepping on the pools of blood and the heads of his concubines. He walked right past the messenger, who remained forcefully bowed.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  "Eagle Kingdom, what is it that you truly want?" he muttered as he stepped out, his golden robe fluttering in the wind.

  Finally, Feng Haoran stood at the main altar and was greeted by his people as usual.

  "Everyone, pay your respects to His Majesty Emperor Feng!" commanded Great Officer Mulin. Immediately, everyone paid their respects in unison to Emperor Feng, who was smiling sweetly. However, his gaze was not on his people, but fixed upon the palace gates.

  "May His Majesty the Emperor live for hundreds to millions of years!"

  "My joyous people, our Golden Lotus Kingdom is receiving a special guest today. Open the gates."

  Feng Haoran ordered the palace guards. The moment the gates opened, a young man stood in the center, wearing a beautiful blue robe that shimmered like diamonds. His long hair was neatly tied back. His face was handsome, and a smile formed on his lips. Feng Haoran stared at him sharply from a distance while casting a faint, cunning smile.

  "Eagle Kingdom, you must have a surprise for me."

  The envoy walked toward the main altar with an enigmatic smile. Finally, he arrived right in front of the main altar.

  "Zimo?" Feng Haoran said while smiling and glaring sharply at him. Zimo returned the look with an equally sharp gaze and a sweet smile of his own.

  "May His Majesty Emperor Feng live for hundreds to millions of years!" Zimo paid his respects, yet neither of them broke eye contact.

  "Feng Haoran," Zimo thought to himself as he slowly raised his head.

  "Your Majesty Emperor Feng, where is Empress RuiXue? Why is she not by your side? Forgive me for my boldness towards Your Majesty," Zimo asked with a smirk, observing the surroundings of the main altar, including the people of the Golden Lotus.

  "Zimo, you insolent, lowly creature," Feng Haoran cursed inwardly, his gaze growing even more terrifying beneath his fake smile.

  "I have information that..."

  Suddenly, Feng Haoran began to cry. Tears rolled down his cheeks. He walked toward Zimo, descended the altar steps, and embraced him tightly.

  "My dearly beloved brother. My precious wife has been taken to Nirvana by the Nine Eternal Emperors for the salvation of the Golden Lotus."

  Feng Haoran's eyes turned red from his crying, causing his people to share in his sorrow.

  "We deeply love Her Majesty RuiXue and the Emperor! Do not bring up a tragedy that nearly shattered our hearts!"

  "That's right! You have no right to ask that!"

  The people shouted at Zimo, who was still trapped in Feng Haoran's tight embrace. Their eyes met, and Zimo reluctantly returned Feng Haoran's hug.

  "Quite a good performance," Zimo whispered in Feng Haoran's ear. Feng Haoran simply smiled.

  "You truly have no heart, Zimo. How could you bring up the agonizing pain of a separation I will never be able to forget?" Feng Haoran whispered back, turning to look into Zimo's eyes with glowing, demonic red irises.

  "Emperor Feng does not need to be so sorrowful. Anyone who reaches Nirvana, regardless of the method, achieves the most perfect form of benevolence."

  Tianze interrupted the tearful, grieving moment. He walked from the palace pavilion toward the main altar of the Golden Lotus. Tianze looked at Zimo with a smile on his face, and Zimo returned it with an equally cryptic smile.

  Meanwhile, Guang was still severely injured and trying to walk away from the debris of the ruins. The setting sun plunged the world back into pitch darkness. The only source of light was the flash of red and black lightning in Guang's hand. Occasionally, the lightning illuminated his ruined cloak and his blood-soaked hands. His face was stiff, completely devoid of emotion. He walked with immense difficulty, occasionally collapsing before forcing himself to stand and walk again. A harsh, cold wind blew, piercing Guang's body right down to his bones. The fallen leaves on the ground were occasionally lit by the flashes of lightning. Guang fell once more, then tried to rise again. Struggling to get back on his feet, he began to laugh with a hollow stare.

  "Where should I go? Who would even want to help me? Is there anyone? Impossible!"

  He laughed amidst the heavy rain that had begun to fall. The lightning around him crashed in rhythm with his laughter. His black hair was blown by the freezing wind. His cloak fluttered to the melody of the gale. Only the moon stood as his witness, never hesitating to cast its light upon him.