Volume 1 Chapter 3 — Rebirth

Old Man was as fast as a beam of light which made Xin An unable to utter any words during the flight. The wind blew his face like he was facing the Winding Peak Mountain, but he could finally stretch his muscles when they landed into a seemingly dull and concrete cave.

Old Man shook his sleeve and the dim area shook, flames started to lit.

Xin An was rendered speechless by the mystical ability, and at the same time, he could finally have a closer look at this expert; he had a pointy nose, brown eyes, and a white beard. He wore elegant blue robes, but the battle ruined his dress, and he seemed to have a scar on his forehead.

Old Man laid behind a boulder, his breathing was rough and blood was escaping on his lips. He said, his voice hoarse. "Sit."

Xin An sat opposite him and looked at him with uncertainty. "How's your condition?"

Old Man looked at his stomach and replied, "Living beings are controlled by Heavens. I have yet to leap above the heavens; everyone inside it will die someday...not even who have the fate essence could escape from death nor I'm excluded."

"Fate...Huh?" Xin An murmured. It's fate again. Yu Ruyan has the fate essence and could divine, so she could predict her life and death. But according to the old man's words, she isn't capable of escaping death too.

"Child, you don't have to worry about fate. Fate is merely a ground law set by heaven. If you're capable of defying heaven, you're capable of freeing yourself from it. Anyway, let's not talk about that. I reversed time to witness your growth and I found something startling. I never thought the son of that 'Man' would be here in this small land - Truly unexpected!"

Xin An was taken back. "By your words...It seemed you know of me?"

Xin An had no recollection of his real parents. His foster father only told him years ago that he wasn't his real son.

Because of that, Xin An continued living without learning his true identity...but know this old man claimed he knew Xin An?

"Of course I know you. Why don't I?"The old man sincerely said. "Do you still have that scar on your arm?"

"Scar?" Xin An pondered the scar and remembered something. He lifted the clothes in his arm, revealing a scarlet-like scar that seemed to look like a birthmark. "You mean this?"

"You truly are...." The old man appeared surprised, his two eyes widened.

Xin An failed to notice the warmth and complexion hidden in his eyes.

"As his son, you're more than qualified to inherit my legacy. Are you willing to accept it?"

"Is this destiny?"

"Yes, it's just destiny."

Xin An closed his eyes. This confirmed Yan'er divination. According to her, his destiny will not do any harm but only benefits. This is his hope and he had to accept it. But he hesitated. He was willing to defy fate, change his destiny, but there are many questions he wanted to consult.

Xin An politely asked, "Broken foundation have no chance of recovering. This is fate. But can I ask you? Tell me, who exactly are you referring to that 'Man'?"

"You're weak, very weak. It's meaningless knowing that right now. Since he left you in this desolated land, I assume, he has his reasons."

The old man waved his hand. True essence formed a visualization map. He pointed to a small habitual planet. "This is where we at. A tip of an iceberg. In the history of martial civilization, many treasures could recover the foundation. Sadly, I never brought one with me."

"And why is that?"

"Because we are from the Defying Clan. We can recover our self-cultivation base, but we're not invisible."

Xin An was rendered speechless. "Defying Clan? That seemed to be a fantastical tale."

"That's natural. People who haven't venture into the outer world tend to be ignorant." The old man said. "Just forget that. So, are you gonna inherit the legacy of defiers?"

Xin An couldn't help but ask, "Now that you mention that. You said 'we' instead of 'I'. So, you mean I'm also from Defying Clan?"

"Smart kid.' The old man laughed. "Just like your father. You're truly worthy to be my—"

He cleared his throat and shut his mouth. After a while, the old man repeated the words, "Will you inherit the legacy of defiers?"

Xin An was confused by his action, but he didn't mind, and instead lifted his hand and spread open his palm. "I notice when you fighting with that bulky man. You tore the void and said something like 'Law'. What's that?"

The old man replied, his voice growing weaker. "At the moment, that realm is far of your reach. Knowing it will only harm you."

Xin An was silent and sighed. "Can you explain everything slowly?"

.....

There were many matters Xin An did not know but the old man earnestly told him a lot. For instance, that the Defying Clan was not from the Wasteland Domain and instead located in the Holy Horizon Planet, or that the Defying Descendants needed the Defying Manual to cultivate.

The old man also said that man was the brightest star of his era.

He was the son of that man.

Sooner or later...

He would eventually leave this land and learned who is that man.

.....

The cave was quiet. Xin An's hair swayed and his skin was brushed by the wind.

"Now you know?" Old Man looked at Xin An and said. "Without Defying Manual, even if you're a genius with two different essences, you'll remain mediocre. In this desolated land, perhaps you'll be a top expert. But in the wider world, you don't stand a chance. In that planet, without Defying Manual, you'll be placed amongst the cheap grasses."

Xin An had not imagined that the world he was staying to be very small. There are dozens of experts here but to the old man...he described them as if they were ants! He asked, "It seemed that this is truly my destiny. But Senior, you said you didn't bring any mystical treasure that can help recover foundation nor you can recover my foundation. From your words earlier, Defying Descendants can only recover their foundation not others. So how?"

The old man nodded his head indicating that he agreed with his logical reasoning and said, "Then do you know why we're called Defying Clan? And why many revered us?"

Xin An slowly shakes his head. This was his first time hearing about such a clan; how could he know?

"You have been growing up on this desolated land, so there are many things you aren't aware of." The old man didn't blame him and said. "Defying Clan have a special, powerful bloodline which we called 'Defying Bloodline'. Our first-generation Ancestors invented the Defying Manual and divided it into nine segments. For many years, our clan grew into one of the formidable clans in the Holy Horizon Planet with the usage of the manual. We are known for our fast comprehension, fast cultivation, and repairing our broken foundation, and so on, so forth. Through many eras, we have gained the title Heaven Defying."

"So are we cool?" The old man laughed proudly before saying. "However, you can't do it. Not cultivating Defying Manual, there's no hope for success."

Xin An was merely a youth with 18 years of experience; no matter how calm his disposition or how he matured earlier than his peers, he still couldn't help but be excited. Hearing the simple introduction of Defying Manual, Xin An could only say one word, and it was formidable!

"Can I cultivate the manual even if I have a broken foundation? Can that manual recover my foundation?"

Old man shook his head and said. "You can't. Your Defying Birthmark has yet to undergo Seven Transformation. Only when you passed third transformation, you'll be able to repair your broken foundation."

"Seven Transformation? I have no clue."

"That's not important for now. Only when you leave this planet you can transform. Thus, knowing ahead has no benefits." Old Man looked at Xin An and raised his three bloody fingers. "You have to know that the nine segments are called three mains, three supplementary, two daos, and one forbidden. You can learn any of the eight segments, but not the forbidden one."

"Forbidden?"

Old Man nodded his head and unequip a ring on his finger. "My time is almost up. Before I leave, this spatial ring is yours."

A spatial ring! Xin An almost leaped with shock. Getting a spatial ring was much harder than getting a spatial pouch! In the Sword Star Sect, perhaps only Sectmaster and Great Elder had them. His eyes shone with luster. "A spatial ring?!"

Old Man understood what was going inside Xin An's head and he laughed. "Don't get too happy. Because I was chased by my mortal enemy, I have to consume Violet Sun Jades and Pills, so the wealth inside the ring is only so-so. But there are still valuable things inside like martial skills, formulas, treasures, and so on. It should be enough to sustain your cultivation."

Xin An finally understood and he gradually composed himself. He said. "I understand. But how can I cultivate Defying Manual if I'm hopeless?"

"Child," Old Man coughed, blood trickled down his lips. "If I just find you earlier, everything will be fine. But in my current state, only the forbidden segment can help you."

"Forbidden Segment?" Xin An muttered and realized that it was part of the nine segments of Defying Manual! He looked at Old Man to stop him, but he was a step late and only heard him saying 'Defying Time and Space!'

A flash of brilliance appeared as if a terrifying light essence emerged to devour the area. Xin An could only close his eyes as he noticed some traces of warm energy revolving around his broken dantian. As these energies entered his dantian, his foundation was rapidly restoring. From a crippled, his cultivation base risen to Profound Realm 5th layer, restoring half of a small portion of his former cultivation!

"Senior...You..." Xin An looked at the fading figure and his emotions stirred up. He was finally clear why Old Man was dispersing like a pale ghost! It was because of him! Specifically, because of the process of rebuilding a broken foundation!

"Child, stop crying, be a man. As his son, you are bound to be extraordinary. Someday, when you leave this small planet, everything will slowly unfold."

Xin An tears began falling. He hadn't been so touched before, not even when he was evicted from his home. But this old man who was a stranger had the generosity of a buddha. The grace is too boundless!

"Crying is useless." Xin An wiped his tears and looked around. The old man figure had long vanished. He sighed and said. "I may not capable of repaying you today, but there will be a day I can repay you. As someone who changed my destiny, I'll not disappoint you. Someday people will learn of the name Xin An, the Defying Practitioner!"