WHAT! I Have To Kill Heaven's Son To Live!

Near the lake—

The ground around the shimmering waters had been obliterated for thousands of meters, scorched and cracked where lightning had violently struck.

The disciples who had once slain Xiao Yan—believing the job done—were now running back, drawn by the deafening thunder.

A figure slowly rose from the crater.

Blood dripping, body trembling.

Xiao Yan stood—barely.

His fingers curled around the hilt of the sword still embedded in his chest.

Swoosh!

With a desperate cry, he yanked it free.

"AHHHHHH! It hurts...!"

He dropped to one knee, clutching his chest, his breath ragged.

Teeth gritted, he muttered a familiar incantation:

"Elemental Heal!"

But... nothing happened.

"…What?!"

His expression twisted with fury.

'Damn it! This body doesn't have a trace of Elemental Energy?! What a useless person he was…'

'The basic healing technique I created should've worked—even with just Spiritual Qi. But his Spiritual Qi is completely depleted…'

'Even his meridians and foundation are in shambles! Utter trash!'

'And to think—I, the once-in-ten-thousand-years genius… the Elemental King himself—am now trapped inside this pathetic body?!'

His vision blurred from pain.

'Ugh… shit…! This pain… why the hell was there even a sword in his chest to begin with?!'

He sighed.

"Haa... I suppose I have no choice but to use that technique..."

Placing one hand over his chest, he whispered softly,

"Natural Elemental Heal!"

Whooosh!

In an instant, a surge of pure natural energy swept through his body.

The air shimmered faintly as his deep chest wound began to knit itself back together, threads of life weaving through broken flesh.

'Haaah... this technique never fails...'

'A technique I forged through decades of relentless struggle...'

'It draws in the abundant natural energy from the surroundings when one's body is completely depleted... and heals any wound.'

'Its only drawback is that it can be used just once a month.'

"Now… let's sort things out. I've retur..."

But then—

The words caught in his throat.

WHAM!

A torrent of emotion, pain, sorrow, and regret surged into his mind like a crashing wave.

"AHHHHHHHHH!"

Xiao Yan clutched his head, screaming in agony, his voice echoing through the vast secret realm like a beast being torn apart.

'W-What… what is this?! Are these… memories? The memories of the body's original owner…?'

...

Visions flashed—

A little girl stood before him, her smile like spring sunshine, holding a wildflower in her hand.

"Brother Yan, when we grow up… let's get married, okay?"

—

Two figures turning away at the gate of a grand estate.

"Son… take care of your younger sister. We've been summoned by the Royal Family for a vital mission."

—

Another little girl sobbed into his sleeve, clutching his arm tightly.

"Wuwuwu… brother… everyone bullies Xiao Jin…"

"Don't cry. Your elder brother will protect you—no one's allowed to bully my younger sister."

"Hehe… My brother is the best!"

—

Getting beaten up by a bunch of kids.

"E-Elder Brother, no… no… Someone please help! My brother's been beaten up!"

—

A boy of about fifteen slightly bowed before him, tears welling in his eyes.

"Thank you for saving my life from those bastards, Brother Xiao. I'm Ling Xing… from now on, I'll call you my big brother!"

—

"AHHHH!"

"UGHHH!"

Flames consuming the Xiao Family estate.

His clan members—burning, screaming, dying—one by one.

—

A pale girl lying on a sickbed smiled weakly.

"E-Elder B-Brother… don't worry about me. Xiao Jin is fine… j-just take the money and focus on your cultivation…"

—

Cruel voices echoed.

"Hah! You're just a loser. Why would the Supreme Dao Sect ever let trash like you into the Inner Sect?"

"Just because you share the Elemental King's name doesn't make you him!"

"You think you deserve Miss Ling? Dream on, pathetic worm."

And then—

Betrayal.

"Kill him."

Spoken coldly by the one he once called brother.

And finally—

"Die, Xiao Yan."

As the sword pierced through his chest.

...

"Hahh... Hahh...!"

Xiao Yan gasped for breath, clutching his head as a torrent of foreign painful memories crashed into him—memories not his own.

Tears streamed down his face, unbidden.

'What a painful… miserable life he lived.'

'He bore the same name as me, yet didn't possess even a fraction of my talent.'

'His childhood friend forgot him, and still… he clung to the hopeless dream that she remembered.'

'His little sister lies ill, and he's powerless to help her.'

'His best friend… betrayed him—killed him.'

'He died begging the heavens to let someone—anyone—take revenge in his place.'

He grit his teeth, a bitter laugh forming at the edge of his lips.

"Hah… what cursed luck! How utterly pathetic…"

Then, he smirked.

"And yet, perhaps it's for the best that you died and gave me this body. It might be the greatest honor you ever achieved in your worthless life."

He ran a hand over his face, wiping away the tears.

'You may have lacked talent… but in many ways, you're just like me.'

'The one who once soared above all—hailed as the greatest talent of the continent, destined to become the youngest Immortal...'

'...was betrayed and slain by none other than his most beloved—his cherished lover—and her master, driven by envy and jealousy.'

'...All to steal my Celestial Elemental Heart... and claim my Bound Dao Artifact as their own.'

A low chuckle escaped his lips, growing louder until it became a crazed, echoing laugh.

"Hahaha… Xiao Yan, rest in peace. Now that I've taken over your body, your grudges are mine to bear."

"I'll personally exact your revenge—on your behalf."

His eyes burned with unyielding fire as he vowed—

"And as for you—Old Bastard of the Azura Dragon Sect… and Zhao Jin…"

"Just wait. One day, I'll come for both of your heads."

He pushed those thoughts aside for now, turning his focus to the matters at hand.

'Anyway… to think two hundred years have passed since my death. And now, I find myself in the Supreme Dao Sect… the very rival of the Azura Dragon Sect since time immemorial.'

A faint smirk curled on his lips.

'How ironic. But perhaps… this is a blessing in disguise. A perfect place to rise again… to rebuild my power.'

'But one thing keeps bothering me… why are there so many monstrous geniuses in this generation?'

'Another once-in-ten-thousand-years prodigy has emerged on this continent—born with the Heavenly Peerless Sword Body.'

'I wonder… how strong is he?'

Suddenly—

A familiar voice called out from behind him.

"Xiao Yan… you're actually alive."