Chapter 3: The Hidden Legacy
After his breakthrough, Fen Hao sought an audience with his father, hoping to discuss his unprecedented progress and the dangers it entailed. But when he arrived at his father's chambers, he was told that his father had departed on an urgent errand—he had gone to find a suitable fiancée for Fen Hao, determined to secure his son's future.
Standing in the empty hall, Fen Hao's expression was solemn. "Father… your son might not survive long enough to marry your chosen daughter-in-law," he murmured under his breath. With a heavy heart, he turned away.
Determined to seek answers, Fen Hao made his way to the Fen Family Library, a vast archive housing countless ancient tomes and cultivation records. He methodically sifted through the yellowed scrolls and brittle manuscripts, focusing on anything that spoke of foundation cultivation and inner world refinement.
After hours of careful study, Fen Hao found what he sought. The ancient text stated plainly:
"If a cultivator wishes to fortify their foundation land without external assistance—without relying on spiritual treasures, elixirs, or natural treasures—they may refine it by repeatedly cutting away portions of the land and reattaching them, again and again, until they feel ready for the Golden Core breakthrough."
Fen Hao paused, reflecting on this radical method. This is dangerous, he thought, but it might be the only way to ensure my foundation is truly solid. If I rely on external resources alone, my foundation will be shallow. This… this might just be the path I need.
Resolute, he returned to his palace. He lay down on his bed, letting himself drift into the ethereal palace he had come to call his own—his mysterious dream domain, the majestic white and gold hall with seven thrones.
Here, in this palace, time itself could be accelerated. And here, he could push himself beyond his limits. Fen Hao seated himself on the central throne and closed his eyes, channeling his will into the depths of his inner world.
With a deep breath, he began the brutal process of refining his foundation land. He visualized the vast, overgrown jungle within his inner world. Slowly, with excruciating effort, he began to sever small portions of this land—then, with equal care, he forced them to rejoin the whole, again and again.
But as the process continued, he felt an indescribable pain. It was as though his entire being—body and soul—was being torn apart. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his limbs trembled violently. His consciousness blurred, and he found himself unable to open his eyes.
At that moment, the dream palace itself began to vibrate, as if in resonance with his agony. A low hum echoed through the main hall. Then, for the first time, a door opened within the grand palace—a door that had never existed before.
From this hidden chamber emerged a woman of ethereal beauty. She wore a flowing white and gold dress that seemed woven from the same light as the palace itself. Her silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, her crimson eyes glimmering with both joy and sorrow. She was like a living embodiment of the palace's grandeur and mystery.
Fen Hao forced his mind to focus, even as the pain threatened to consume him. "Who… who are you? Are you the owner of this palace?" His voice was ragged. "I… I'm sorry, but can you… save me first? I don't think I can talk anymore…"
The woman's expression softened. With a graceful motion, she produced a crystalline bottle from within her flowing robes and pressed it gently to his lips. Fen Hao drank without hesitation, instinctively trusting her.
As the liquid touched his tongue, a surge of warm energy flooded his body. Instantly, the tearing pain subsided, replaced by a stabilizing force that filled every fiber of his being. His cultivation surged, propelling him from the third layer of the Foundation Realm directly to the ninth. His inner world land solidified, becoming a bastion of power and stability.
Gasping, Fen Hao looked up at the woman, eyes wide with disbelief. "Who are you…? And why am I here? Is this your palace?"
The woman bowed her head slightly, her voice clear and melodic. "This humble servant's name is Fina," she said with quiet dignity. "And you… you are the master of this palace. Have you truly forgotten, Master?"
Fen Hao took a deep breath, his gaze never wavering from the mysterious woman standing before him. "What are you saying?" he asked, his voice firm yet laced with curiosity.
Fina's crimson eyes softened, and she inclined her head slightly. "Master, you will find all the answers once you unlock this entire palace," she said calmly. "It has another fourteen rooms, three gardens, four training grounds, and one library. Each time you break through to a new realm—beginning with the Golden Core realm—you will unlock an additional room. Until you have opened them all, I cannot answer your questions. That is the condition if you wish to retain dominion over this realm. But rest assured, I will assist you in any situation."
Fen Hao exhaled, his brow furrowed as he considered her words. "I… I do not know who created this realm, or why it was entrusted to me," he admitted with quiet determination. "But I will use it to become strong and continue my journey."
His attention drifted back to Fina as he asked with a faint smile, "Fina… so, what is the room you came out of?"
Fina's lips curved slightly in response. "It is the Alchemy Room," she said. "I am its controller and the guardian of this palace. I will pass on the complete authority over this palace once you open the eighth room."
Fen Hao's thoughts shifted instantly. If she can produce another bottle like the one she gave me… then I could become rich beyond measure, he mused, his mind whirring with possibilities. Hehehe…
Fina observed the glint in his eyes and let out a rare, gentle smile. Sensing his focus, Fen Hao asked directly, "Is there any elixir that can instantly strengthen a Golden Core-level technique?"
Fina's expression grew solemn. "Indeed, Master, there is such an elixir—one that can instantly amplify a Golden Core's strength. However," she continued with a pointed tone, "your dual bloodlines are constantly clashing within you. If you had not refined your body as you have, you would already be dead. Why are you ignoring this, Master?"
Fen Hao frowned. "What bloodlines? I know I carry the Fen Clan's bloodline, inherited from my father. So what is this other bloodline?"
Fina's gaze turned apologetic. "I cannot confirm the identity of the second bloodline until I test it, Master."
"Then test it," Fen Hao commanded with unwavering resolve.
Fina nodded once. With a swift, graceful motion, she produced a slender blade and made a shallow cut on Fen Hao's palm. As his blood pooled into a small vial, he watched her with a mixture of suspicion and awe. She's certainly powerful, he thought, noting the precision and calm in her actions.
Fina raised the vial to her lips and tasted a single drop. Her eyes flared with an otherworldly light. "This is the bloodline of the Chaos Universe's second-ranked lineage: the royal bloodline of the Devil Clan. The other bloodline is of divine level—truly rare. I can assess the abilities of these bloodlines if you permit me to continue."
Fen Hao's breath caught in his throat. A devil bloodline? The truth struck him like thunder. His mind raced—if his mother was of royal devil lineage, then she might have been a princess. My father… a traitor? And I… a half-devil?
He steadied himself and gave a curt nod. "Whatever it is… proceed."
Fina continued, her voice even and measured. "Your divine bloodline has the ability to open the Sea of Knowledge early—an exceptional advantage. Your devil bloodline grants dominion over time and space. I believe your devil ancestor was none other than the Time and Space Devil King—first among the eight thrones of the Devil Clan. Congratulations, Master. You possess the most noble bloodline of the Devil Clan."
Fen Hao felt the weight of her words, a long exhale escaping his lips. "…Haa… So… before anything else, if these bloodlines are in conflict, what do I have to do to survive? Will I… will I explode?"
Fina's expression turned serious. "You must find a balance between the bloodlines or merge them. To merge them you must seek the number one bloodline of this chaos domain—the Tyrant Bloodline of the Spirit Clan. They alone can merge all things without backlash. If you can obtain it, you will be able to unify your bloodlines."
Fen Hao raised a hand, stopping her. "Stop—stop… I need to leave for now and cool my head. We can discuss this later. There's no need to rush into this."
Fina bowed slightly, her red eyes reflecting a deep understanding. "As you wish, Master."