Amid the endless black void, a small serpent drifted slowly. A faint stellar glow surrounded its body, and its silvery scales shimmered as though reflecting the light of distant constellations. There were no planets, asteroids, or even a familiar starry sky around it. Only endless darkness, in which every point of reference was lost.
Suddenly, the serpent stopped. Its vertical pupils narrowed as it looked ahead. Several dozen meters away stood a human figure.
At least, it resembled a human. Its outline wavered slightly, as though it were a mirage appearing in the middle of a desert. There was no surface beneath the figure, nor anything to support it, yet it stood in space so naturally that the void itself seemed to obey its will.
The little serpent immediately lowered its head. The next instant, its body began to grow rapidly. Its silvery scales flashed, the starlight surrounding it grew brighter, and the space around it filled with a faint crackling sound.
A dull crack rang out.
The serpent's body shuddered. Its scales began to recede beneath its skin, while its elongated head gradually took on human features. Within moments, a man stood where the serpent had been.
Mo Tong.
He swayed almost imperceptibly and lowered his gaze to his own body. His condition was far from ideal. One eye remained closed, an unhealed wound gaped across his neck, and numerous injuries sustained in his last battle were hidden beneath his clothes.
However, Mo Tong did not allow himself to show any weakness. He bowed deeply to the figure standing before him.
"My Lord…"
He wanted to report the failure of his mission, but he did not have time to utter another word.
The illusory figure moved its hand slightly. A small, ancient-looking vial flew from its palm. It crossed the space between them and stopped in front of Mo Tong.
Inside was a thick black liquid. However, upon closer inspection, it became clear that this was no ordinary liquid. The finest beams of light continuously flashed in its depths. They intersected, dissolved, and reappeared, as though a tiny starry sky had been sealed inside the vial, trapped within a black shell.
"Consider this payment for the work you've done," the figure said.
Mo Tong froze for a moment. He looked at the vial and then, without raising his head, said, "Lord of Storms… The Tree of a Thousand Stars failed to take root in time. It was unable to establish control over the core of the Elf Planet. Furthermore, because of the Spirit Masters' interference, I had to devour the tree myself. Do I truly deserve a reward?"
He spoke cautiously, carefully choosing his words and tone. Mo Tong understood perfectly well whom he was addressing. Even if the figure before him was merely an incarnation rather than the Lord of Storms' true body, a single thought from the latter might be enough to annihilate Mo Tong without giving him any chance to resist.
The Tree of a Thousand Stars was supposed to gradually spread its roots into the depths of the Elf Planet, absorb its energy, and subjugate the entire planet step by step. It was a long-term process that required time and suitable conditions.
Instead, he had devoured the tree himself. He had gained tremendous power, changed his very nature, and acquired abilities he could never have dreamed of before. However, the planet remained beyond his control, and he had nearly died in his confrontation with his enemies. From his perspective, the mission had ended in complete failure.
"Serpent," the Lord of Storms said calmly. "Did you truly believe we could conquer a planet belonging to the Federation so easily?"
Mo Tong involuntarily shuddered.
There was neither disappointment nor anger in the Lord of Storms' voice. It seemed that what had happened had nothing to do with him and caused him not the slightest concern.
"You do not need to know everything that lies beyond your capabilities."
The Lord of Storms spoke slowly and unhurriedly.
"Do not waste time on what has already passed. The Elf Planet is no longer your target. Your next destination is the Planet of Sin."
"The Planet of Sin?" Mo Tong repeated.
"Correct. This time, your task is not to subjugate the planet. Build a temple to the Lord of Storms and establish the foundation of your own influence. Gather followers, find suitable beings, and make use of the resources available to you. Gradually build a force that will answer to you."
Mo Tong listened attentively, not daring to interrupt.
However, before he could fully consider the order, the Lord of Storms continued:
"And remember one more thing. Every day, at dawn, you and your followers must offer me a prayer. Every single one of you, without exception. You will recite the same words."
The voice of the illusory figure grew as deep as the ocean.
"Remember them."
In the next instant, Mo Tong felt an unknown force touch his consciousness.
"O Lord of Storms, Master of Thunder and Heavenly Retribution.
Hear the voices of those who bow before Your will.
May Your thunder crush our enemies, and may Your lightning illuminate our path through the darkness.
We acknowledge Your authority and follow Your path. Grant us the strength to overcome our own limits, the will to endure our trials, and the courage not to yield to fear.
As long as storms rage across the world, our faith shall never fade.
As long as thunder resounds, Your name shall never be forgotten.
May the will of the Lord of Storms be with us."
This was not merely a voice that Mo Tong heard with his ears. Every word penetrated deep into his Mental Sea, leaving an indelible mark. Mo Tong could feel the prayer somehow taking root in the depths of his consciousness. The words came together into a single whole that seemed impossible to forget or distort.
He did not understand what exactly was happening to his consciousness. The unknown force continued to act upon him, and before Mo Tong could make sense of what was happening, his body suddenly shuddered.
Boom!
It was as though a storm had erupted inside Mo Tong's chest.
A powerful surge of energy rushed through his body, causing every cell to tremble. A faint stellar glow flared around him, while thin strands of dark blue light burst from deep within his chest. They coiled around his limbs and torso, penetrating the damaged areas and restoring the destroyed tissues.
The wound on his neck began to close rapidly. The edges of the torn flesh drew together, the bleeding stopped, and the pain that had tormented Mo Tong since his last battle quickly began to recede. The injuries hidden beneath his clothes gradually disappeared as well.
Everything happened so quickly that Mo Tong did not even have time to react.
He could feel his body filling with power. But this was not merely energy—there was something within it that lay beyond his understanding. It felt simultaneously majestic, oppressive, and ferocious, as though it concealed a power capable of devouring everything around it.
Mo Tong's legs gave way, and he involuntarily sank to his knees, breathing heavily. His one open eye widened, genuine astonishment reflected in its depths.
Only a moment ago, he had been gravely injured and barely able to maintain his human form. Now his wounds were rapidly healing, and his body seemed to be growing stronger than before.
Mo Tong did not know what the Lord of Storms had done to him. He could explain neither the nature of this energy nor the reason for what was happening. But one thing was perfectly clear to him: the being standing before him was fundamentally different from the gods he knew.
"Lord of Storms!" Mo Tong said, bowing his head even lower. "I will carry out your will!"
As he spoke, he did not fully understand what had changed in his attitude toward the Lord of Storms. Previously, Mo Tong had obeyed him primarily because he understood the difference in their strength and feared the consequences of disobedience. Now, however, he felt a sincere willingness to follow the Lord's commands.
He still did not know what the Lord expected from his followers or why he attached such importance to prayers. Nevertheless, Mo Tong was now prepared to carry out this order without asking unnecessary questions.
The Lord of Storms gave a brief nod.
"Once you fulfill all the requirements, you will become my Apostle. Then I will grant you even greater power."
Mo Tong did not know exactly what the word "Apostle" meant, but he understood that this status would allow him to draw closer to the Lord of Storms. He could not explain why the Lord's words inspired such trust in him. He simply felt that there was not a trace of falsehood in them and that he could trust those words as unreservedly as he trusted his own feelings.
"This is Stardust Essence," the Lord of Storms continued. "When you arrive at the Planet of Sin, find a secluded place and drink it. Do not let anyone interfere with you."
Mo Tong looked carefully at the vial in his hand.
The black liquid inside rotated slowly. Whenever it touched the glass, the finest silvery flashes rippled across its surface, as though reflecting countless distant stars.
Mo Tong did not know how this substance had been created, but its appearance alone was enough to tell him that he was looking at something extraordinary. The energy inside the vial was incredibly dense. And yet, it did not seem crude or chaotic. Every flash appeared to follow a specific order, forming a complex, almost imperceptible structure.
"This essence should be enough to bring you to the Ascendant level," the Lord of Storms said. "In your system of cultivation, it roughly corresponds to the power of a Titled Douluo."
Mo Tong's heart skipped a beat.
A Titled Douluo!
The ninth rank—the pinnacle of mortal Spirit Masters, the final threshold before the divine level. And now, he had the opportunity to reach that summit.
Mo Tong's fingers curled involuntarily.
His body trembled slightly, but the cause was not pain. Before him lay an opportunity he had only ever dreamed of. He knew the limits of his own talent very well. The fact that he had managed to reach the Saint rank at all was already a genuine miracle. Yet now, the Lord of Storms was offering him a chance to rise even higher.
Mo Tong did not know that deep within his heart, the sparks of the storm had begun to shine brighter.
"I will not disappoint you, Lord of Storms!"
The Lord of Storms' figure slowly began to dissolve into the void. Before long, not a trace of it remained, as though it had never appeared there at all.
Only after the Lord's presence had completely disappeared did Mo Tong straighten up and look at the vial in his hands. He pressed it against his chest, determination flashing in his eyes.
"The Planet of Sin…"
A wide smile appeared on his face.
Mo Tong transformed back into a small serpent. Starlight coiled around his silvery body, and the vial disappeared into his spatial storage.
In the next instant, the serpent shot into the depths of the void.
Meanwhile, far away from the dark expanses of space, everything continued as usual at the Federation Academy.
Silence reigned in the medical ward. The soft light of the lamps fell across the smooth floor. The only sounds were the steady, barely audible beeping of a monitor and the quiet breathing of someone in the room.
Hao Ming lay on the bed.
His eyes remained closed, his breathing was steady, and his face retained a peaceful expression. Over the past month, he had lost a noticeable amount of weight, and the muscles that had once been clearly defined had become less prominent. Nevertheless, his complexion remained healthy, and according to the examination results, his body was gradually recovering.
And yet, Hao Ming still had not regained consciousness.
Lan Yue and Hu Cheng stood beside the bed. After completing another examination, Lan Yue turned to her teacher.
"His condition is stable. In fact, his body has almost completely recovered. Both his mental strength and Life Force are within normal limits. Most likely, he has entered a state resembling deep meditation. He must have experienced some kind of enlightenment during the battle."
Hu Cheng nodded silently.
Over the past month, he had summoned Lan Yue about ten times, asking her on each occasion to examine Hao Ming's Mental Sea. She was one of the strongest Spirit Masters with a mental attribute, and her knowledge in this field was considered among the most extensive in the Federation. If there had been anything wrong with the young man's mental space, she would most likely have been the first to notice it.
In addition, Hu Cheng had invited Strick Shu to examine Hao Ming's Life Force. However, after conducting his examination, he too had concluded that there was nothing wrong with the young man's body.
Hu Cheng slowly exhaled and looked at the motionless young man.
"Good. You may go. Thank you for your help."
Lan Yue shook her head.
"I didn't do anything special, Teacher."
After finishing their conversation, she headed toward the exit, but her gaze involuntarily lingered on Hao Ming's face.
Ever since their first meeting, she had been unable to shake the feeling that he bore a remarkable resemblance to Fan Huobin. It was not just one particular feature. His facial contours, the shape of his nose, and his other features were so strikingly similar that at times she felt as though she were looking at her husband as a young man.
And the longer she looked at Hao Ming, the more unsettled she became by the resemblance.
Lan Yue frowned involuntarily.
I can't shake the feeling that he looks far too much like Huobin…
She looked away, but the thought had already occurred to her.
Could he have been unfaithful to me?
Lan Yue immediately shook her head, as though trying to rid herself of the absurd suspicion. She knew Fan Huobin well and was certain of his love for her. She did not know where Hao Ming had come from, but she had no reason whatsoever to suspect her husband of infidelity. A mere physical resemblance was not enough to draw such a conclusion.
And yet, the strange feeling did not disappear.
She looked once more at the unconscious young man before finally leaving the medical ward.
When the door closed behind Lan Yue, Hu Cheng was left alone.
For a while, he silently watched Hao Ming before slowly lowering his head. His normally straight back slumped noticeably, and his expression grew heavier. At that moment, he seemed to have aged several years.
I acted too hastily…
Hu Cheng clenched his fists.
He knew about the seals placed on Hao Ming and understood that they could pose a certain danger. However, at the time, he had decided that the upcoming mission would not result in any serious consequences. After all, Hao Ming was no longer a helpless child, and his abilities had surpassed all expectations.
However, Hu Cheng had underestimated the dangers of this world.
Now Hao Ming had been lying unconscious for an entire month, and no one had been able to determine the cause. All the examinations indicated that there was nothing wrong with his body or his Mental Sea, yet the young man still had not woken up.
Hu Cheng slowly exhaled and looked at the young man again.
During this time, he had grown much more attached to Hao Ming than he had expected. The young man had always kept his distance, sometimes even treating him with noticeable coolness, but that did not stop Hu Cheng. In his eyes, Hao Ming was not merely his student, but also his grandson.
That was precisely why the situation affected him so deeply.
Hu Cheng could not rid himself of the guilt he felt. He had never intended to put Hao Ming in danger, but that did nothing to ease his mind. Good intentions did nothing to change what had actually happened.
He looked once more at the young man's motionless face.
"Hurry up and wake up, boy…" Hu Cheng said quietly. "Don't make this old man regret what he did."
Naturally, there was no answer.
"Get some rest," Hu Cheng murmured.
He was about to turn around and leave the ward when he noticed the slightest movement.
Hao Ming's fingers twitched faintly.
Hu Cheng stopped.
For a moment, he thought he had imagined it, but then the young man's eyelids slowly fluttered. Several more seconds passed before Hao Ming finally opened his eyes.
His gaze was clear, although the world around him might have seemed unfamiliar after being unconscious for so long. A white ceiling, soft lamplight, medical equipment…
Hao Ming stared silently ahead.
Despite having been unconscious for a month, his thoughts remained remarkably clear. There was none of the familiar sluggishness that followed a long sleep, nor was there any confusion. It was as though he had simply closed his eyes for a moment and now opened them in a slightly unfamiliar place.
Hu Cheng had been standing motionless all this time.
"Hao Ming?" he called cautiously.
The young man slowly turned his head toward him. Their eyes met.
For several seconds, Hao Ming simply looked at the old man, as though trying to remember who he was. Then the corners of his lips lifted almost imperceptibly.
"It seems I made you worry quite a bit… Grandpa."
Hao Ming's voice was hoarse and weak after such a long silence. However, there was something in it that Hu Cheng had hardly ever heard before: a hint of embarrassment and awkwardness.
Hu Cheng froze. He stared at Hao Ming, unsure of what to say. It seemed that something about the young man had changed.
But what exactly?
On the surface, everything remained the same. The same face, the same features, the same voice, albeit weakened after his long sleep. And yet, Hu Cheng had the strange impression that the person before him was both familiar and entirely different.
Had his manner changed? Or was it that barely perceptible smile?
No, it was more than that.
Hu Cheng could not precisely explain his own feelings. They were too vague to take shape as a definite thought. However, what struck him most was Hao Ming's eyes.
Previously, his eyes had often seemed distant, cold, and utterly empty. At times, his gaze had appeared lifeless, as though an invisible barrier existed between him and the world around him.
Now, that emptiness seemed to have receded.
Something alive had appeared in Hao Ming's eyes. It was not overt joy or sudden affection, but rather a barely perceptible softness that Hu Cheng had never noticed before.
This simple change stirred a strange feeling in the old man. He did not understand what had happened to Hao Ming while the young man had remained unconscious. But now, looking into his eyes, Hu Cheng somehow felt that the young man had become a little more connected to the world around him.
"You…" The old man faltered, then gave a quiet laugh, trying to conceal the emotion that had overwhelmed him. "You really gave me a scare, you brat."
He wanted to say something more, but the words never came.
Hao Ming merely gave him a slight smile in return.
And Hu Cheng unexpectedly realized that he no longer wanted to ask any questions. At least, not right now.
The important thing was that Hao Ming had finally woken up.
Everything else could wait until later.