Liang jing city,
Marquis palace—Dining hall.
Pin drop silence is what was left behind after Hanrui's outburst.
Wu Tian looked toward his mother, trying to discern if she was joking, but all he saw was her composed and calm smile.
Internally, he thought, 'Really, Mother? You didn't think it was important for me—the father—to know such a secret?' He cast an accusing glance at her but sighed softly.
Then, his eyes fell upon Hanrui, who appeared calm outwardly but couldn't mask the flickers of fear and confusion in his gaze as he stared at his grandmother for answers.
Wu Tian rose and approached his son, placing a reassuring hand on Hanrui's shoulder."No matter what you think, you are my son. Even if you have memories from a previous life, that changes nothing."
His voice was firm but warm.Hanrui's eyes glistened briefly—a mix of relief and lingering vulnerability—as he nodded gratefully.
Wu Tian continued, "I don't know why you have the fear of rejection.We love you deeply. Remember that, Rui'er. Your father's love is unwavering."
Before Hanrui could respond, Han Mei stepped forward, her voice soft but steady."Rui'er, you've carried this secret for so long. It must have been heavy on your heart. But here with us, you have nothing to fear. We are your family—always."
The atmosphere softened, wrapped in quiet warmth. Hanrui smiled genuinely, as he hugged his father and mother tightly,feeling the steady warmth and strength of his family's acceptance..
Withdrawing from the embrace, he noticed his grandmother smiling broadly, her eyes sparkling as she watched them.
Wu Tian and Han Mei resumed their seats, exchanging curious glances.
Hanrui, puzzled, approached Xue Li.
"Nainai," he asked softly, "how do you know? And why do you care so much—knowing I'm a reincarnated person?"
Xue Li pinched Hanrui's cheek, her affection unmistakable, and began to recount her past.
"Rui'er, have you ever wondered why, despite being the grand-niece of the current Emperor, you've never once met him or any other member of the royal family?" she asked, watching him nod in curiosity.
"I think it's time you knew the truth," she continued.
"When I was young, I doted on my little brother, Xue Ye. He adored me, always following me around the palace.
I was stubborn back then, fiercely proud of my talent as a soul master, and I hated the thought of being used as a mere pawn in a political marriage. My father, who was the Emperor at the time, insisted—but I refused again and again. Eventually, my strength and determination wore him down, especially after I fell for your grandfather.
It strained our ties, but I didn't regret marrying the man I loved. We lived peacefully for a time; I cultivated and looked after the household, occasionally seeing my brother. In those days, I doted on Xue Ye and even recommended your grandfather as his ally. Not long after, I became pregnant with your father, and he was a handful even before birth."
She paused to shoot her son a teasing look. Wu Tian looked away with a sheepish smile, his wife Han Mei on the other hand broke out in full blown laughter at the side, not worrying for her husband's face.
"A few years later, Xue Ye was ready—he rose up and fought for the throne. It was complicated for me, but I supported him and sent my husband to help. Soon after, I learned a secret that shattered my peace."
At this point, her expression grew dark with old pain.
"It turned out your grandfather was in league with Xue Ye from the very beginning. Their plot wasn't just about power, but about using our marriage as a piece of the plan. When I discovered this, I raced to confront them—only to find both my husband and father dead, the coup already won. Xue Ye froze when he saw me, realizing his lies were exposed."
"He confessed everything, tried to apologize, but I could never forgive him. That day, I left the palace with your father and settled here, far from our old life."
She drew a slow breath, her tone softening.
"On the journey home, something unexpected happened: your father was kidnapped. I tracked him down and, in rescuing him, nearly lost my life—but then a young man with red hair appeared out of nowhere and saved us both.
What struck me most was his words when he thought I was unconscious. He murmured, 'I really shouldn't be involving myself in this timeline too much, but it's your fault for being reckless, Grandma.'"
"After the rescue, the young man vanished, but I met some of his acquaintances through his companion at the time, who briefly explained enough for me to piece things together."
She looked at Hanrui with eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Care to guess who that red-haired young man was, Rui'er?" she teased as handy gets lost in deep thought.
Wu Tian, confused by his mother's words, furrowed his brow. "Mother, why do you make it sound like it was Rui'er who saved you? He didn't even exist back then."
Xue Li simply smiled at her son's confusion, her eyes twinkling.
Han Mei's gaze lingered on her mother-in-law as understanding dawned.
"Mother… Are you saying an adult Rui'er traveled back in time?"Xue Li nodded, confirming Han Mei's surprising guess.
Wu Tian grew still, his mind racing as the implications set in.Hanrui, pulling himself out of his thoughts, looked at his grandmother with sudden urgency.
"Nainai, when I said those words… What kind of tone did I use?"Xue Li suppressed a knowing smile and ruffled his hair gently.
"Don't think too much about it, Rui'er. If and when your power awakens, let things unfold naturally. You'll find the truth in due time."She hugged him close, her tone light but earnest.
"By the way, are you going to show your nainai that second Martial Soul yet? I never got to see it in the past—I've always been a little jealous of your companions." She pouted playfully, breaking the tension.
Seeing his grandmother deftly change the subject and noticing the curious glances from his parents, Hanrui pouted, dissatisfied but still obliged her playful request.
Taking a deep breath, he brought his left hand forward. Slowly, a swirling vortex of black matter began to materialize, coalescing into his second martial soul—the Void Weaver.
The martial soul hovered before them, an infinity symbol glowing faintly within its chaotic form. It radiated a mysterious aura, both terrifying and mesmerizing, as if embodying the very essence of creation and destruction.
Hanrui's eyes gleamed with quiet pride and a hint of mischief as he explained, "This is my second martial soul, the Void Weaver. It can mimic almost any known martial soul perfectly but consumes soul power proportional to the strength it emulates."
To demonstrate, Hanrui focused. The Void Weaver shifted, morphing first into his father Wu Tian's Martial Soul—a Long Sword with an intense blaze of elemental fire.
For a heartbeat, Wu Tian felt the pressure radiating from Hanrui's form, and, to his shock, the sensation was purer and more powerful than his own.
Hanrui then turned to his mother,Han Mei; the Void Weaver shifted, taking on the majestic aura of the Sea Dragon.
The aura of serene power filled the hall—chill waves of ice, cool currents of water swirling around, evoking adaptability and calm force. The essence was purer and more refined than Han Mei's original, almost like looking into an idealized, perfected reflection.
Finally, Hanrui mimicked Xue Li's martial soul—a silvery radiance and dignified ancient energy swept through the chamber as a White Swan materialized behind him.
Xue Li's eyes widened; the Void Weaver's manifestation exceeded even her carefully honed martial soul.
Every time the mimicry unfolded, the true soul master felt a subtle, inexplicable awe—almost as if standing before the legendary version of their own martial soul.
Wu Tian blinked, astonished. "How can it feel... even stronger than my own?"
Han Mei clasped her hands together, awe written on her face. "It's like you call forth the best possible aspect of my martial soul."
Xue Li's gaze held layers of pride and speculation as she nodded. "You don't just copy, Rui'er—you refine. This martial soul has potential far beyond mere imitation."
Hanrui smiled, the satisfaction and responsibility of his power settling on him as his family finally began to grasp its true depth.
"My martial soul mimicry doesn't just copy the forms or innate abilities of others," Hanrui said with pride.
"It literally brings out the best version of the chosen martial soul and its abilities—sometimes even surpassing their original limits. After all, the Void Weaver is a true Divine grade martial soul—far superior to the Seraphim Martial Soul of the Spirit Hall's Qian family."
His casual crossing of that bomb left Wu Tian and Han Mei blinking in astonishment, while Xue Li's smile deepened, clearly pleased with his confidence..
"There are still many abilities I need to explore with my martial souls, so let's end the topic for now," Hanrui said with a smile, his gaze sweeping across his family before stepping toward his father.
An instinctive unease washed over Wu Tian, and he took a cautious step backward.Hanrui's smile deepened into an innocent, playful expression, feigning hurt at his father's reaction.
Wu Tian's eyes flickered with a pang of guilt.Before he could react further, Hanrui gently took Wu Tian's hand. Almost instantly, an ethereal Adamantine Sealing Chain snaked out, wrapping tightly but seamlessly around his father's wrist.
Wu Tian's connection to his soul power and martial soul was sealed off—a sudden, suffocating barrier he could neither sense through nor use. His eyes widened, a mix of fear and awe flickering beneath the surface.
Han Mei and Xue Li exchanged surprised, confused glances."Rui'er, what did you do to your Father? And what is that chain?" they asked in unison, their voices laced with concern and curiosity.
Hanrui simply smiled in response, his expression innocent but knowing.
Wu Tian, sensing the shift in atmosphere, instinctively took a step back, eyes fixed on his son with concern.
"Mei'er, Mother," Wu Tian's voice was tinged with disappointment and helplessness.
"I can't feel my own Soul Power or Martial Soul after that chain wrapped around my wrist. It's probably some kind of sealing chain."
Hearing this, both Han Mei and Xue Li froze for a second before their expressions shifted—then erupted into laughter, their mirth filling the chamber. They knew exactly why Hanrui used Wu Tian as a test subject for his demonstration.
Han Mei wiped tears of amusement from her eyes, still chuckling. "That's what you get, lǎogōng(husband), for neglecting your cultivation and pushing Rui'er so ruthlessly. Now look—your own abilities are sealed."
Wu Tian's face fell, his heart aching at his helplessness, but he couldn't help but be amused at his son's mischievous grin, clearly enjoying his triumphant prank.
"It's called the Adamantine Sealing Chain," Hanrui began, fixing his mother and grandmother with a steady gaze.
"It's one of my bloodline abilities. My bloodline comes from a different world, and with it comes unique powers. I'll explain in detail later, but for now, I think it's about time all of you level up," he said, his tone serious as he removed the chain from his father's wrist.
On Wu Tian's forearm appeared a seal—an Ouroboros dragon twisting in an infinity pattern. Wu Tian looked at his son, puzzled, about to voice his doubts when he suddenly felt the gravity around him double.
Hanrui continued, "That seal I just placed increases the gravity on your body, helping you cultivate your physical strength. It's powered by your soul energy, and you can increase or decrease the gravity at will."
Reacting swiftly, Wu Tian hurried to deactivate the seal, using some effort. Meanwhile, Hanrui placed the same seal on his grandmother and mother's forearms.
Han Mei and Xue Li curiously tested the new seal like children discovering a toy. Hanrui smiled at their delight and said, "I have other gifts for you, but they'll take some time to prepare. I need to leave and get ready."
With that, he kissed Han Mei and Xue Li on their cheeks before disappearing from the room.
As Hanrui disappeared, a heavy silence settled around the room.
Han Mei stared down at the intricate Ouroboros dragon seal on her forearm, tracing the design thoughtfully.
A mixture of awe and determination flickered in her eyes."Rui'er is beyond extraordinary. We may never catch up with him, but if he's including us in this journey, we cannot afford to slack off or disappoint him."
Xue Li nodded, pride shining in her steady gaze. "If either of you hesitated or doubted him because of his rebirth and caused him pain, I would have dealt with you myself." She gave them a sharp look, warning but loving, then softened. "As Mei'er said, we must renew our focus and follow his lead if we are to stand beside him."
Wu Tian still cradled his arm, feeling the residual weight of the gravity seal. Inner conflict churned within him—pride in his son's power mingled uneasily with feelings of inadequacy.
He looked up at Han Mei and Xue Li quietly. "There's much I need to catch up on. Rui'er's swordsmanship has outpaced me quickly, and even you, Mei'er, have surpassed me in cultivation."
Han Mei placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, warmth in her voice. "You are the marquis who governs this land, and it's natural you don't always have time for cultivation. Don't blame yourself. Rui'er's words weren't criticism but a call—to awaken your true potential. We face this road as a family."
With their resolve silently forged, the three family members rose. The heavy atmosphere of the confession and surprise had been replaced by a focused determination.
Wu Tian was the first to act, his earlier helplessness now fueling his drive. "Right. I'm taking the rest of the day off," he muttered, adjusting the Ouroboros seal on his forearm.
A grunt escaped him as the gravity instantly ratcheted up, his knees protesting the sudden, invisible weight. He shot a look at his son's retreating form.
"If Rui'er can outpace me in swordsmanship, I sure as hell won't let him outpace me in cultivation." He exchanged a final, resolute nod with his wife and mother, already striding toward his private training room.
"Good," Xue Li declared, a faint smile gracing her lips as she adjusted her own seal, the gravity not slowing her regal pace in the slightest. "A bit of urgency is exactly what you needed." She then dispersed, heading to her library, the gravity seal providing a constant, subtle pressure.
Han Mei shook her head, a soft laugh escaping her as she watched her husband lumber off. "He's going to regret that setting in the morning," she murmured, a wicked glint in her eyes. She then turned and headed toward her own study, eagerness radiating from her.
Hanrui, meanwhile, was moving quickly down the corridor toward his room. The slight burn of chakra-boosted exertion felt good as for the first time he got to use chakra based techniques openly.
'Finally. The awkward part is over. I got the truth off my chest, and all they did was love me more. No hysterics, no rejection, just fierce, total acceptance.'
He felt the years of carefully maintained distance and paranoia simply dissolve. The relief was immense.
'I didn't expect to travel back in time in the future though,I wonder what happened in the future that made me mess with time.'
He frowned slightly. 'I felt so tired yesterday, that I completely forgot to prepare their cultivation techniques! And I need to use the System to analyze those herbs I collected so I can synthesize some decent pills for them, too.'
"System, be a dear, analyze the "Fire Ginseng"and "Glacial Lotus" and start making pills combining them.
[Yes Master]
[Analyzing Fire Ginseng and Glacial Lotus]