Hou Yu stood at the edge of the ancient altar, high above the ruins of what was once a mighty civilization lost to time. The air around him shimmered with latent energy, the faint glow of countless stars reflecting in his determined eyes. The multiverse itself seemed to pulse in response to his presence, as though recognizing the significance of this moment.
Dark clouds swirled far below, crackling with thunder and the distant echoes of forgotten wars. The ancient glyphs etched into the altar's surface glowed faintly, resonating with his heartbeat—a rhythm of power born from sacrifice and unwavering resolve.
His thoughts were clear.
Strength wasn't just about overwhelming force.
It was about willpower.
About the heart.
A voice, barely audible, whispered from within the void, as if testing him:
"Are you worthy, Hou Yu?"
He clenched his fists. The fire within him did not waver.
"I am," he answered, his voice echoing across dimensions.
"I will not fail."
Memories of his family flooded his mind—his wife Sheng-Hou, and their three children, their faces innocent yet filled with untapped potential. His purpose was simple: protect them from the growing darkness that threatened to consume the universe.
The glyphs began to pulse faster, reacting to the strength of his will. The air grew heavy, thick with power that defied understanding. Ancient forces, lost for eons, stirred as if awakening from a deep slumber.
A blinding light erupted from the center of the altar, enveloping Hou Yu in a radiant glow. The power of the multiverse converged toward him, responding not merely to his cultivation, but to the purity and resolve of his heart.
At that instant, Hou Yu transcended a boundary unseen by others—a boundary that separated ordinary cultivators from those destined to shape the universe's fate.
He did not seek power for pride.
He did not seek power for conquest.
He sought power for love.
For family.
For the fragile hope that light could survive in a universe drowning in shadow.
The words of the ancient prophecy echoed faintly in his mind:
"Only the heart of flames can illuminate the dark."
And so, with a final surge of energy, Hou Yu's path was set.
The journey to become a Lord had begun.
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