They sat in a private chamber adjacent to the sect's main hall, where dim lights flickered and a heavy silence hung in the air.
Zhang Lingji, leader of the Dark Heavenly Wing Sect, stared at Long Tian for a long moment before finally speaking. His voice was quiet, yet laden with the weight of years of cunning leadership:
"I once told you that you were fortunate, but luck alone isn't enough here... You carry a complicated legacy, Long Tian."
Long Tian raised his eyebrows, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
"I know little about my parents—only that they were killed by the Drakan Clan. That's all I've been told."
Zhang Lingji exhaled slowly.
"The Drakan Clan... is not what it seems. Their story is no mere tale. On the day you were born, you awakened something... unusual. A physique they call the **Crimson Moon Demon Physique**."
He paused, studying Long Tian's reaction.
"This physique... does not belong to the righteous factions of the East. That is why you and your mother were hunted by your own clan—to the death."
Long Tian shuddered slightly, grappling with the revelation.
"But... how? Why?"
Zhang Lingji continued:
"Your mother, in a desperate attempt to save you, sacrificed her arm to tear open a spatial rift and send you far away—to the Central Continent. I was among the first to sense your presence there."
Long Tian's breath hitched as the sect master went on:
"When I saw your physique, I took you in and named you my successor. But there's something else... the black hole on your right palm."
Long Tian glanced at his hand, then back at Zhang Lingji in shock.
"This... hole?"
Zhang Lingji nodded.
"Yes. A curse—and a scourge—of the Drakan bloodline. It can devour techniques, artifacts, even spiritual weapons... and assimilate their power. But it's dangerous."
Long Tian frowned.
"What's the catch?"
"If you don't break through to the **Golden Core Realm** before turning twenty, the hole will never function properly. It will grow inside you, consuming you slowly... until you meet the same gruesome end as your Drakan ancestors."
A weighted silence followed before Zhang Lingji added:
"One of your ancestors devised a sealing technique—a lifeline for those doomed to never reach the Golden Core in time. It traps the black hole in a static void, freezing its progression."
The old master locked eyes with his disciple.
"But this technique demands a price: You must **abandon cultivation** entirely. Any further advancement will shatter the seal and awaken the hole's hunger. The choice is yours."
Zhang Lingji straightened, his posture echoing the dignity of a warrior who'd weathered countless battles.
"Ling'er, you must decide now—strive for the Golden Core before twenty, or renounce your path and leave the sect. Whatever you choose, I will support you."
*But was it truly that simple?* Long Tian mused:
*'If I even hint at leaving, this old fox won't hesitate to crush me into dust. The allure of the Crimson Moon Demon Physique is no joke.'*
With that thought, he clenched his fists and declared fervently:
"Master, guide me. The sect's future rests on my shoulders—I won't abandon those who've believed in me just to fear a sealed void. I will lead us to unprecedented heights!"
He watched the flicker of approval in his master's eyes and smirked inwardly:
*'Enjoy your little game, old man. It won't last.'*
Zhang Lingji exhaled in relief.
"Good. I've never doubted my judgment. But what of your clan? What will you do?"
Long Tian cursed internally:
*'Pushing your luck, aren't you? I'll avenge my mother—but not your way.'*
Instead, he let a flash of murderous intent surface before suppressing it.
"A life for a life. They took my mother—I'll take what they cherish most. I won't share this sky with them. This debt will be paid in blood."
His words rang with sincerity, but Zhang Lingji—recognizing the same ruthless ambition he'd once wielded—knew his disciple's loyalty was now irrevocably bound to the Dark Heavenly Wing Sect.
"Tian'er," he said coldly, "rage can fuel greatness, but unchecked, it will consume you. You'll lose yourself—and achieve nothing."
Long Tian bowed his head, feigning contrition.
"I'll remember your teachings, Master."
"Then rest. We're done here."
With that, Zhang Lingji dissolved into an ominous black mist.
Alone, Long Tian collapsed to the floor, exhaling sharply.
*'The peak of the Mahayana Realm... Hah. I've got a long way to go before I'm strong enough to protect myself. Until then... I'll play the role you want me to.'*