PROLOGUE

"This war should never have started! Entire villages of my nation were devastated because of this!"

"You speak as if it were someone's fault here." A cold and indifferent voice echoed through the hall. "If you can't protect your own territory, that's your problem."

"What?! You damn—!"

"Enough."

The deep and calm voice resounded through the hall like distant thunder, dissolving the tension in the air. The gentle breeze carried his words, silencing the discussions in an instant. "The Imperial Court will compensate for the losses caused by the battle. We will not speak of this matter any further for now."

The Celestial Hall was attended by the other important beings of the heavens: Gods, Emperors, renowned Masters and even simple servants who were in the service of their superiors, who were surrounded by a luxurious but cozy space. Luxury was evident in even the smallest details: gold leaf decorated the small details of the columns, while scented candles spread a sweet aroma through the air.

In the center of the altar, a male figure walked with calm steps. His robe, embroidered in gold threads and deep blue, shone under the celestial light. The moment he approached, silence soon dominated the place.

"Your Majesty."

Strong, deep voices filled the hall, as everyone bowed before the imperial figure.

"Your Majesty, we understand your desire to have him back, but if we continue this war, more nations will fall!"

"I already said—" The Emperor's voice remained firm. "We will not stop the battle until he returns."

"With all due respect, do you really believe in a coward like him?" A sarcastic laugh cut through the silence. "Tsk... He would never come back here."

"I know him well, and I am sure he will return."

A young man approached the staircase hesitantly. "Your Majesty... Why do you still accept him back?"

"Even if he is on the wrong path now, I believe he will soon—"

Before his sentence could be finished, a trembling voice burst into the hall.

"M-Majesty...!"

A young boy ran in, panting, his face pale as snow.

"Your Majesty... Lei Lian... he... died."

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. The hall was plunged into an oppressive silence.

Wide eyes turned to the young man.

"What?! How?!"

The Emperor's previously calm expression was filled with shock and fury.

"What do you mean Lei Lian is dead?!"

"I saw it! That young man... he murdered him!"

"Young man? Who are you talking about?" asked one of the Gods.

"I-I don't know his name... but he had hair—"

"Enough."

The Emperor sighed deeply, closing his eyes for a moment before decreeing,

"I order the battle to cease immediately. I want you to search for Lei Lian's body. Bring him back without a single scratch!"

The attendees bowed before quickly dispersing. Some left in silence, willing to carry out the Emperor's order, however, others left whispering and laughing.

 .

 Wenxin Jie – Main Street

LiangLe's Main Street was once again flooded with people, workers coming and going, carrying materials on carts or using their own strength. Merchants shouted their offers, trying to stand out above the noise of the crowd.

 After the destruction of several buildings, the people of LiangLe had gathered together with distant Nations in hopes of recovering their losses. It was clear how much dedication the people of LiangLe were putting into each small construction; the speed at which they finished houses or even simple commercial buildings impressed those outside.

"The people of LiangLe are truly hardworking."

"Mhm, impressive."

"Aah… where is Ren Ning?…"

A young man sighed, laying his head on the small table.

"Jie Zhen."

"Hm?" He raised his head lazily.

"Manners. We're in public."

"Of course, Mr. Jian..."

The other man just gave him an impassive look before turning his attention back to the movement on the street.

"You look like a younger copy of Mr. Jian..."

"Quiet."

Suddenly, a young man ran into the café, panting.

"Sorry for the delay! It's chaos outside..."

"Typical LiangLe... Have a seat!"

 The young man just nodded and joined the two.

"So... ah... what did you want to talk about?"

"Have you found Lei Lian's body yet?"

The young man let out a low laugh.

"The people of LiangLe haven't found a trace of his soul, let alone his body."

"Has his soul also been lost?"

"Apparently so. They called Emperor Zhi Wei, but even he couldn't find any traces."

A silence hung over the table.

"This... is worse than we imagined."

"Even if he reappears, the people of LiangLe won't accept him back. Now, everyone hates him."

"We noticed. On the way, we saw people celebrating his death." Jie Zhen crossed his legs, watching the street through the window. "I thought they were afraid of him."

"And we still are! Well... only a few people..." The young man rested his arms on the table. "But now that he's dead, they say LiangLe is finally free."

"Why are you so afraid of him?"

The young man sighed, taking a small sip of tea.

"He sank, and took his nation with him."

The silence at the table deepened.

"Before, he helped everyone, regardless of class or status. He said he wanted to protect the common people." He laughed bitterly. "But then… he chose the path of demonic cultivation. And he changed. Little by little, he lost those who followed him. And in the end… he almost destroyed the nation itself."

Jie Zhen looked away at the newly erected buildings.

"The situation here has gotten complicated…"

"Almost everything has burned down." The young man followed his gaze. "Main Street was one of the worst affected places, but with the help of other nations, we are rebuilding quickly."

He smiled and bowed slightly.

"I thank you for your nation's help."

Jie Zhen smiled back, while his colleague simply nodded.

The nation of LiangLe, which had long been dominated by fear and terror, was beginning to taste freedom.

The name Lei Lian would fade away over time, becoming just another legend.

But legends... they never disappear completely. They just wait for the right moment to return, right?