The Devil Venerable

ZHAN SHENG SHOOK his head in disbelief. "I don't know what to say," he muttered. "This changes things."

"Yes," Zhan Wei agreed. "It does. But remember, my son, that power is not inherently good or evil. It is what we choose to do with it that determines its nature. You have a choice to make now, a choice that only you can make."

"Is that why I have these urges? To transform into something dark."

"Zhan Sheng," Zhan Wei said. "I wanted you to grow up having all the benefits. I don't want you to think of what's "wrong" and what's "right" I wanted you to just be like a child. You aren't as they say, devils can change. They can be good, they just need to opportunity to."

"Then how do you remain here? You talk about going against the heavens, but how can that be true if you are still here?" Zhan Sheng demanded.

Zhan Wei stood up and walked towards the window, his face bathed in sunlight. "I met your mother in the devil's realm."

Zhan Sheng was stunned into silence.

"Some cultivators believe that one drop of devil's blood could transform a mortal into an immortal, but at a great cost. Some cultivators experience a bottleneck and cannot go further than how they are and remain at the same stage for centuries. Your mother's Shizun was greedy and wanted his disciples to retrain a drop of devil's blood for his own. They broke into the devil's realm and I was the one that they attacked…" Zhan Wei touched the glass window, his mind a million miles away. "Zhan Mei was very young then, only sixteen, but I knew she was my fated mate. I took her but my father found out and it wasn't safe for her to remain in the devil's realm."

"You're father…?"

Zhan Wei sighed through his nose. "Your grandfather, the leader of the five devils Lord Xaio otherwise known as the Unholy Emperor, Zhan Long."

The Unholy Emperor? Zhan Sheng's head spun. The name sounded vaguely familiar and remembered that he was once told about the five rulers of the devil's realm. He didn't know how much more information he could take. If his grandfather was Unholy Emperor, then Zhan Wei would be one of the highest-ranking devils of his generation.

"I won't go into too much detail," Zhan Wei continued. "But there are five rulers of the devil's realm, the first being the Emperor and the second being Lady Sable, Queen of the Abyss. The third, is the Duke Valtor, the Master of the Nine Hells. The fourth, the Baroness Nyx, Mistress of Shadows. Lastly the Countess Malice, the Dark Sovereign. All of them report to my father, as their Emperor. For mortals to receive immortality, they must gain the blood of a devil venerable."

Zhan Sheng's blood rushed through his veins. A devil venerable? Who knew his father was such a high-ranking devil? No wonder he was able to able to help establish this sect for years without going noticed.

"I was able to get your mother out and to safety, but I wasn't able to leave myself, due to the mortal realm being forbidden to devils. Your mother's Shizun disowned her once he learned that she was pregnant and that's how she found her way into poverty at the minor sect… I had to save her. To save you." His fingertips dragged over the glass as if caressing a face. "So…I made a devil's vow…it goes against the will of the heavens and my fate was sealed that day…" Zhan Wei finally turned around. "But these last years with you…I wouldn't trade any of it for the world."

Zhan Wei walked over to him and hugged him, his hand cupping his head. "My son. My Shengzi…we loved you so much."

Zhan Sheng sighed into the hug and wrapped his arms around his father. He wasn't sure how he felt about all the information that was said, but he knew his father loved him beyond anything he could ever imagine. They stood hugging for a long time and Zhan Sheng felt his robes become damp with tears, and he knew his father had risked everything just to give him the life he deserved.

"I love you too."

"Here. Take it before you go." Zhan Wei handed a small pouch to him. "This is Dragon Bone Powder. It should help with your injuries."

Zhan Sheng looked at the pouch with surprise. "Dragon Bone Powder? I've heard of it, but I thought it was just a legend. How did you get your hands on this, Father?"

Zhan Wei shrugged. "I have my ways. But the important thing is that it will help you. You've been through a lot, and your body needs to heal."

Zhan Sheng took the pouch and examined it closely. "Thank you, Father. I don't know how to repay you."

Zhan Wei's lips pulled into a smile. "Just take care of yourself. And don't be too reckless in battle. You're important to our clan, and we need you healthy and strong."

Zhan Sheng nodded, tucking the pouch carefully into his robes. "I'll remember that. Thank you again, Father."

●

ZHAN SHENG SAT QUIETLY in the corner of the training hall, his eyes closed in meditation as he listened to the sounds of the disciples practicing their swordplay. He was lost in thought, thinking back to everything his father had said earlier. Zhan Sheng felt that there were still things his father was choosing not to tell him and he wasn't sure what to make it all. Lei Bo had been smuggling half-devils into the mortal realm. His father was actually a devil venerable, here secretly against his grandfather's orders? All that information was making his head hurt. Not only was there a devil realm, but there was also a hierarchy…?

Fuck. When will it end? If he truly got involved with Lei Bo he'd have to make certain that Lei Bo was aware of all of these things in case they came back to haunt him.

Zhan Sheng knew nothing about his devil heritage and he didn't want to know. He was busy contemplating when the voices of two disciples caught his attention.

"I heard that Lei Bo has a daughter now," said one of the disciples.

Zhan Sheng's eyes shot open, his curiosity piqued. Impossible. Lei Bo had been one of the strongest omega disciples of the sect, but he had disappeared ten years ago, leaving behind a trail of mystery and rumors.

"Really?" replied the other disciple. "I heard that he refused Lei Xun's proposal to join the alpha sect, and that's why he left."

Zhan Sheng frowned. Lei Xun was the leader of the alpha sect and was known for his ruthless tactics in securing power and influence. It was rumored that he had offered Lei Bo a high-ranking position in exchange for becoming his concubine, but the omega had refused.

"That's just a rumor," said the first disciple. "But I heard from a reliable source that Lei Bo had a daughter with Lei Xun, the alpha sect leader himself."

Zhan Sheng's eyes widened in shock.

"I don't believe it," said the second disciple. "Why would Lei Bo risk everything for a forbidden love?"

"Love makes people do crazy things," replied the first disciple with a shrug. "But if the rumor is true, then Lei Fang, the daughter, must be a powerful hybrid."

Zhan Sheng listened intently to their conversation, his mind racing with questions. Who was Lei Fang? What had become of Lei Bo? And why had he left the sect in the first place?

Zhan Sheng staggered to his feet, his mind reeling from the shocking news he had just heard. His heart was pounding in his chest, his thoughts consumed by the image of Lei Bo with an alpha mate and a daughter. He could feel the rage building inside him, threatening to overwhelm him completely.

Suddenly, Zhan Sheng felt a sharp pain in his chest, and his vision began to blur. He clutched at his chest, gasping for breath as he realized that his qi was almost deviating.

"No," he whispered hoarsely, struggling to regain control of himself. "Not like this."

But it was too late. The pain in his chest intensified, and Zhan Sheng felt his devil's blood begin to stir within him. He could feel the power coursing through his veins, threatening to break free and unleash itself upon the world. With a cry of rage, Zhan Sheng unleashed his power, sending a shockwave through the air. The disciples in the training hall stumbled and fell, caught off guard by the explosion of energy.

"What's that?" voices screamed.

"What's happening?"

Zhan Sheng staggered backward, his body wracked with pain as he fought to contain his power. He could feel the devil's blood surging through him, twisting and warping his thoughts until he could barely remember who he was. Zhan Sheng felt his devil's blood surge within him, overwhelming his senses and driving him to the brink of madness. A group of disciples rushed over, all of them speaking at once but Zhan Sheng felt like his head was underwater. Black miasma seeped from his skin, drifting into the air, causing all the remaining disciples to jerk back as if they'd be stung. The Dragon Bone Powder his father had given him had done nothing to quell the devil's blood surging like wildfire in his veins. Zhan Sheng was on verge of unleashing his power and he could no longer hold it back.