Chapter 2 THE KONG BROTHERS
7th Heaven. Iron Root Town.
8 years later...
"What happened next, Uncle Lao?" Asked a black-haired youth, eyes dark like the abyss and starry like the night sky.
Uncle Lao chuckled as he took a sip from his jade wine cup, watching the fire with calm amusement.
"That's for you to find out… once you've finished your body tempering routine," he teased.
A soft groan came from the nearby bed, where a thin, pale boy lay wrapped in a patchwork quilt. His silver eyes were dim, but hopeful.
"Big Brother Tian, hurry up and finish your training so Uncle Lao can finish the story!" The boy called out weakly.
"Fine, fine," Tian replied with a grin, stretching his arms.
"But Uncle, don't go back on your word again."
He turned and jogged off toward the courtyard's edge, where a worn stone training pillar awaited him.
Lao watched him go, a quiet smile curving on his lips. "Brother Shen… he takes after you in every way," he murmured to himself.
Then came a more hesitant voice. "Uncle Lao…"
Lao Shenwu turned to see the sickly youth, Kong Ming, looking up at him with uncertain eyes.
"What is it, Ming'er?" he asked gently.
"Do you think… I'll never stop being a burden to you and Big Brother?" Ming'er's voice trembled, barely above a whisper.
Lao set his wine aside and walked to the boy's bedside, kneeling beside him. He ruffled the boy's hair softly, chuckling.
"A burden? The only burden here is this old man," he said lightly. "I was in charge of protecting you boys, and because your uncle is lacking, you ended up in this state."
"And because of our identity, I have to avoid using my resources aggressively."
"Once I make a trip to the upper heavens, I'll return with high-grade treasures and medicines."
They should help your recovery greatly.
"Your body is still healing, everyone's Dao path is different, and you'll succumb to heart demons if you aren't patient with yourself."
Ming'er looked away, ashamed.
"I know what you're thinking," Lao continued.
"You were born with a weak physique, struggling just to stand… while your brother was blessed with monstrous strength that would make even emperors envious."
The boy nodded silently.
"You must think the heavens are unfair, don't you?" Lao asked.
"I don't need to be blessed," Ming'er whispered. "Just… strong enough to be of use."
Lao sighed, looking up at the drifting clouds.
"Your brother inherited the power mostly from your father's line, but you… You're likely something different."
"I think you're a rare mutation between the two powerful bloodlines."
He took another sip of wine.
"I refuse to believe any child of Kong Shen and Yu Xuelan would be ordinary."
Uncle Lao sighed as he refilled the wine in his jade cup.
"If it wasn't for that incident, you probably wouldn't be in this state."
"Your 5-year coma cost you a lot of precious years of development." He shook his head dejectedly, taking another sip of his wine.
Ming'er looked up in surprise.
It was rare to hear Uncle Lao speak of the past.
"Uncle Lao, I don't remember our parents, but I know big brother Tian misses Mom and Dad."
Uncle Lao nodded. "That boy also carries a lot of his emotions inside."
"That's why it's important for you to get better and share your brother's burden."
"There are a lot of powerful forces moving in the upper heavens, and the guardian clans need my help."
He said, gulping another mouthful of wine.
"This old man won't always be here to protect you."
He paused.
"I wish I could..." he mumbled.
Ming'er swallowed hard.
"But I'm already behind a lot of kids; all I've done since waking up three years ago is read and lie in bed."
"I can't imagine catching up to brother Tian."
"I've tried to train my body a little, but it often leads to bone breaks or minor injuries."
"I've finally been able to move my legs, but…" Kong Ming hesitated, his eyes becoming moist.
His small hands gripped the blanket tightly.
"But if I break another bone or get injured, it will set me back months of progress."
"I don't know what to do anymore..."
Uncle Lao's eyes shone with resolve.
This condition won't last forever. It's subtle, but you are gaining strength, and this old man will make sure you reach peak condition soon.
"Your body isn't like the others in this lower heaven, we have to be cautious..."
Kong Ming fiddled with the sheets in his little hands.
This Kong believes in Uncle Lao.
Lao Nodded. "Your brother's progress has been slowed, but he's already ahead of most kids in town."
"He's opened thirty-one meridians already, out of the thirty-six required to complete the Body Tempering Realm."
He chuckled.
"And that's with me trying to slow him down." He said, smiling wryly.
"In your case, your bones, muscles, and meridians are starting from a point less than zero, so it will be tough, but if you can overcome this, you will have a will far stronger than other kids your age."
Ming'er clenched the edge of his blanket, his fingers shaking.
Lao met his gaze.
"The world is ruthless. Ming'er. Every creature, every clan, every cultivator fights to survive."
"But it's not the most talented who always reach the peak…"
"It's often the ones who never yield."
Kong Ming looked at his brother in the distance, training.
"Would I really be able to do that one day?"
Lao Shenwu's gaze shifted to a tree.
"Ten thousand leaves, but not one of them is the same."
Your path is your path to walk, Ming'er, never forget.
"You will need a stronger will for the times of hardship that will inevitably come." He sighed.
For a moment, the boy was silent.
Then, deep within, something stirred, his blood warmed, his chest tightened.
"I will make this useless body submit to my will… and then, the heavens!"
Seeing the fire return to Ming'er's silver eyes, Lao smiled.
"Brother Kong, this old man really isn't suited for his." He sighed inwardly.
The moment passed as footsteps echoed across the courtyard.
Kong Tian returned, dragging a wild boar over his shoulder. His tunic was soaked with sweat, and his arms bore a deep red flush from overexertion.
"He slayed a rank 7 mortal beast with ease." Shenwu's eyes widened slightly.
"I see you brought dinner, Tian'er." He smiled, stroking his beard.
I wanted to enjoy some food while you finish the story.
"How's your progress with the Profound Fist Technique?"
"Have you reached the Completion Stage?"
Tian smirked. "See for yourself."
He walked to the crumbling courtyard wall, focused his breath, and struck. His knuckles glowed faintly black as his fist slammed into the stone.
CRACK!
The wall shuddered. A web of fractures spread outward from the impact point. Even the fire flickered from the sudden release of force.
Lao raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Not bad. You're able to circulate large amounts of physical qi with your strikes."
Kong Tian nodded. "With this technique, no one of the same cultivation should be my match! Once I get strong enough, I won't let anyone bully my brother or me ever again!"
Seeing his nephew boast Lao Shenwu chuckled.
"Make sure to think about the martial arts you want to walk."
"You will break through to the spirit apprentice realm soon."
Tian sat beside his brother, wiping sweat from his brow. Ming'er beamed at him.
Putting his gloves on the shelf, he turned to Uncle Lao.
"I think I want to be a sword or spear cultivator. I still haven't yet."
Uncle Lao nodded in approval.
"That's why I've made a decision," Lao said.
"I'll be leaving for a short time to find an old acquaintance who might know how to treat your brother's condition and provide higher-grade medicines than the ones here."
The boy's eyes widened.
"Now that your brother is strong enough to go to the forest for food, I know I can trust him to look after you while I'm gone." Lao continued.
"But before I go, I've arranged something."
"You and your brother have both been accepted into Iron Root Martial School."
"It's not much, but it's the first step to getting an understanding of this vast world."
"But you must remember, boys."
The room suddenly became colder.
"You must never use your bloodline or reveal your true background."
"Only if it's a true life-or-death situation should you access 'that' power."
Kong Ming tilted his head in confusion.
Kong Tian's face turned serious.
"Promise me."
I promise, Uncle. Kong Ming said in a unsteady tone.
"It won't happen", Kong Tian said, clenching his fist as he looked at his crippled brother.
Seeing the brother's confirmation, Lao Shenwu nodded.
"Good."
"Next year, the Cloud Seeking Sect will host its recruitment trials, and it will give you guys an opportunity to refine your martial wills."
"If I don't return before the cloud seeking sect trials.. You can follow your brother into the sect."
Kong Tian's eyes widened. "Uncle, what exactly is a sect? And how is it different from Iron Root Martial School?"
Uncle Lao stroked his beard as he organised his thoughts.
"A martial school is primarily for children to learn the basics of cultivation and skills to survive in the martial world. It is often how towns train cultivators to protect them.
The boys' heads nodded in understanding as the campfire glow reflected on their focused faces.
Uncle Lao continued.
"A sect is similar to a school, but most importantly, a Sect is its own power that operates with its own will in the martial world. There, you boys will have the opportunity to receive a deeper understanding of techniques and how the martial world works."
Uncle Lao's face turned serious.
"Boys, you must remember not to stay in any sect too long, or it will hold back your growth in this lower heaven. I truly believe in the talent you boys have, and being complacent will limit your growth."
The boys nodded.
Then the moment turned quiet.
Ming'er looked up again. "Uncle Lao… you promised to finish the story."
Lao's eyes darkened, the fire's glow dancing in his irises. He nodded slowly.
"So I did."
He gazed into the flames, and the courtyard seemed to fade away.
⸻
"After I escaped, the rest of our team stood alone against the golden commander of the Heaven Supremacy Clan."
"He was no longer human in any true sense."
"He had used the Primordial Tome to rebirth his physique; his body was a fortress, his qi corrupted and deep."
"They clashed."
"They fought with everything."
"Your father, Kong Shen, unleashed his Shadow Void Collapse, a technique that devours light and heaven itself."
"It cracked the palace, distorted the space… for a moment, I thought it was enough."
"But the golden one emerged from the void, missing an arm, laughing."
"'Clever trick,' he said, as his flesh regrew before our eyes. His vitality was beyond comprehension."
"He's...an abomination..." the masked man with purple eyes shouted.
"The purple-eyed man immediately activated his unique bloodline art."
"Shadow Art!"
"9 shadows constrain the heavens!"
Nine shadow phantoms appeared surrounding the Golden armor man as he regenerated.
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
"Each phantom chained the Commander using powerful shadow chains."
Seizing the opportunity, Kong Shen, circulated his bloodline to its limit.
His face was solemn.
"There's no room to hold back."
"Void Art."
"Void Dragons Supremacy!"
"A Giant Nightscale Dragon made of the purest void energy in the 9 heavens. Appeared over the palace of the Heaven's supremacy clan, ready to devour it whole."
The Golden Armored man slowly broke each shadow chain as he gazed up at the Void Dragon.
He laughed menacingly.
Good! Very Good Kong Shen!
"This move!"
"It won't end like last time..."
A Dark liquid, like qi, oozed from the man, breaking his bindings.
He raised his spear with the tip towards the void dragon.
"I prepared this technique for this very moment." The commander said with a frenzied smile.
"SPEART ART!"
"CHAOS ENTERS THE VOID!"
"Rawr"
The Dragon crashed down onto the man, meeting his spear in mid-air.
The others were blown away by the impact.
fragments of jade and dust filled the air.
"Half of the peak of the sacred mountain vanished, destroying not only the palace...but most of the estate of the Heavens Supremacy clan."
Yu Xuelan protected the others with a defensive power technique.
Kong Shen's face was deathly pale.
Cough! Cough!
He spat out a mouthful of blood as he flew down and landed on one knee.
"Shen!" Yu Xuelan rushed to his side, helping him up.
The others moved to his side.
"I think you did it, Lord Shen," a masked man said.
"Even I paused my flight."
Just in that moment, the ground rumbled.
"As expected of the Kong Clan," A voice appeared in the heads of Kong Shen's.
A ball of black chaotic energy appeared in the sky.
Chunks of black sludge started to float in the sky, causing the ball to grow.
Soon, the black ball took the shape of the commander.
His armor was destroyed and his clothes annihilated by the void.
He stood above in the sky like a primordial ancestor sent to judge mankind.
"This is where our fun ends!"
Lao Shenwu's voice trembled as he gazed at the fire.
"One by one, our comrades fell."
"Not from lack of caution, but because the enemy they faced had surpassed the boundaries of this world."
"He wielded a celestial inheritance, his body forged anew."
"Your father and mother were the last ones standing. Bloodied, exhausted, but unbent."
"Even from afar, I could feel his will burning."
Lao's voice slowed.
His hand trembled slightly.
"Then… the golden one raised his hand and, "
He stopped.
Ming'er and Tian leaned forward.
"And?" Tian asked.
Lao shook his head slowly.
"That's where my divine sense ended. I was too far. I saw the explosion… but not what came after."
"The next time I returned, the palace was gone, collapsed into a pit of scorched jade and fractured space. The Heaven Supremacy Clan claimed it was a forbidden technique backlash."
"But… your father's and mother's Soul Jade was never shattered."
The fire popped.
Ming'er's breath caught in his throat. "Then he might be…"
Lao's expression was unreadable.
"Hope is a dangerous thing, little ones," he said quietly. "It can lift you to the stars… or shatter you when you fall."
"In the future, you'll be strong enough to leave this small town and begin your own adventure."
"If I'm fated to find them, I will." Lao Shenwu said, gazing at his reflection in the wine cup.
"In order for you guys to truly grow, this old man must let the martial world temper your wills."
"Only when we allow the heavens to temper the Golden Generation will they reach maturity."
Above them, the clouds passed over the moon. A faint wind rustled through the trees as silence settled over the courtyard once more.
Get plenty of rest, boys, I'll see you in the morning..