What is this brat's true identity?

"Old man, why do I feel a bit tense around you?" Su Xiaobai asked cautiously, his voice tinged with unease.

Directly asking if the old man intended to kill him felt too rude and dangerous.

"It's killing intent," the old man admitted nonchalantly.

Su Xiaobai's eyes widened in shock. "!"

He instantly tensed, ready to trigger his invincible body if the old man were to attack.

Though he didn't know the limits of his own ability, he wondered, 'Would it be able to defend against this old man?'

Not to mention, it had restrictions, and he couldn't use it for more than a few seconds at his current strength.

Pretending to be calm, Su Xiaobai asked dubiously, "You want to kill me...?" His tone was provocative, trying to mask his fear.

'To confuse oneself was to confuse the enemy,' he thought.

The old man must be as wary of him as he was of the old man.

As long as he played mysterious enough, the old man wouldn't dare to make the first move!

Old Man Ning broke into a grin. "Killing intent doesn't always mean I want to kill you, boy," he explained. "Killing intent is not only about murder. It is also an aura, an evil aura. Like an unsheathed sword, it causes others to feel fear even without being drawn. There are devils who grow flowers and play with fishes in carefreeness, but their killing intent never lessens. They simply hide their sharp edges, becoming even more deep and profound. Once utilized, their evil aura becomes even stronger."

Su Xiaobai absorbed the old man's words.

The cave seemed to grow darker, the flickering light casting eerie shadows that danced to the rhythm of their conversation.

Old Man Ning continued, his voice now a low, resonant whisper. "An aura of killing intent can be cultivated, refined until it becomes a force in itself. It can be an instrument of intimidation, a cloak of darkness that wards off enemies without lifting a finger. Your own aura is still fledgling, but with time and experience, it can become a powerful tool."

"Do not fear the killing intent within or around you," Old Man Ning advised, his eyes now like twin stars in the void. "Embrace it, understand it, and it will become your ally rather than your enemy."

"But why do you carry such a heavy killing intent?" Su Xiaobai asked, his curiosity overcoming his fear.

Old Man Ning's eyes glinted with a mixture of amusement and melancholy. "A lifetime of battles and bloodshed leaves its mark," he said softly. "Every fight, every kill, imprints upon the soul, shaping one's aura. It's not something that can be easily erased. It's a part of me, as much as my cultivation or my memories."

Su Xiaobai nodded slowly, understanding the hidden meaning behind those words.

He deduced, 'The old man has killed a lot of people and has been through numerous battles of life and death.'

After hearing Old Man Ning's explanation, Su Xiaobai's wariness began to dissipate, though the old man seemed indifferent to Su Xiaobai's opinion. "Tell me about yourself, young man. How did you end up in this forsaken place?"

Old Man Ning turned around once more, his fingers tracing the ancient script he had inscribed on the cave wall, as if caressing the essence of its profound beauty.

Su Xiaobai hesitated, unsure how much to reveal.

Sensing his reluctance, Old Man Ning added without looking back, "There is no evil that can frighten these old bones. Whether you have tried to refine this world for your Dao or dared to defy the heavens, the old man is ready to listen."

Su Xiaobai realized the old man's curiosity mirrored his own.

After all, it was the first time Old Man Ning had encountered such an imperfect body. 'Two conflicting veins... A mutated demonic bloodline... A draconic heritage that clashes with his constitution... clearly doesn't belong to him... And another thunder bloodline... Above all, a mutated demon? What is this brat's true identity?'

Feeling reassured, Su Xiaobai decided to share his tale, feeling he had no one else to confide in.

He recounted the events with Long Lifen.

After hearing his story, Old Man Ning nodded, his eyes gleaming with understanding. "You are truly the Cursed Son of the Heavens. Not only is your constitution a chaotic mess, but so is your fate. Since when have the cultivators of White Cloud Star become so cowardly as to imprison someone in the Heavenly Prison merely for a trifling matter like rape?"

The old man spoke as if such matters were insignificant in the grand scheme of the Dao.

"I don't understand either..." Su Xiaobai frowned, frustration evident on his face. He couldn't fathom why his crime had warranted such a severe punishment.

"If you don't understand, then you are a fool," Old Man Ning retorted, his tone sharp and unyielding.

Su Xiaobai blinked in surprise. "Huh?"

Old Man Ning chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Is the punishment for slaying a mortal and an emperor the same?"

Su Xiaobai's mind raced. 'Obviously not. The punishment for slaying an emperor can't even be washed away by nine generations...'

As if reading his thoughts, Old Man Ning smiled knowingly. "You must have offended someone powerful, and he has put you here for revenge! Remember, young man, this world is ruled by the strong, and the weak have no say!"

"Put here by someone?" Su Xiaobai frowned, trying to piece it together. 'Who could it be? Aunt? No, she doesn't have enough authority...'

As he calmed down, the realization dawned on him.

To imprison him in the Heavenly Prison, Long Lifen alone wasn't powerful enough.

"Don't think about laws, about what can or cannot be done. As long as the strong desire something, they can achieve it. And if they can't, then they aren't strong enough—that's the rule of existence!"

Su Xiaobai scowled, a fire igniting in his eyes. "They can do anything? And I would just sit and watch?"