My Descendants Are My Power

"I…"

Samuel and Mary stared blankly, their minds struggling to comprehend the sheer horror of that day.

Thousands undergoing the tribulation, their combined might amplifying the celestial fury a thousandfold.

It would have been a storm of unimaginable power, far exceeding any natural phenomenon.

Could anyone have survived such a cataclysmic event?

Even those mighty masters, witnessing their disciples march towards certain death, could only watch in helpless despair.

Samuel shuddered, the memory sending chills down his spine.

He finally understood his master's reluctance to take on new students, why Crystal Crest, despite its power, remained sparsely populated.

But one question lingered.

"Master, with thousands undergoing the tribulation, Heavenly Path… how could he…"

"That day," Phil said, his voice a hollow whisper, "every master, every elder at Crystal Crest, wanted him dead."

He shook his head, his eyes filled with lingering terror.

"We watched as our disciples were consumed by the storm. No one could have survived such a tribulation, not even Heavenly Path. He perished with the rest. But I couldn't believe it."

"I saw him. As the tribulation raged, he looked at me… and smiled.

I remember that smile. When I doubted his ability to break through Competent Force, when he summoned the Three-Nine Thunder Tribulation, he wore the same chilling smile! I had never… never before witnessed such a terrifying expression."

Phil exhaled, a long, trembling breath.

"I knew then that he lived. For ten thousand years, I've searched for him."

"And I found him. But the truth… the truth is far more terrifying than I could have imagined."

"He lives?!" Samuel's eyes widened in disbelief.

He clenched his fists, a mixture of fear and rage coursing through him.

How could such a ruthless monster still exist?

"Master, he's hiding in the Heavenly Path Psychic Sanctuary, isn't he? We have to find it, open it, and end him once and for all!"

But Phil's next words sent a chill down their spines, their blood turning to ice.

"No," Phil said, his voice devoid of emotion.

"The Heavenly Path Psychic Sanctuary is merely a fragment of his being. For ten thousand years, he's been striving for something far greater: Ability Master."

"And now… he could be anyone, anywhere within Sunshine Mansion."

"There are many of him!"

…

As his words echoed through the air, figures emerged from the heart of Sunshine Mansion.

From the Bright Light Institute, Kylin Mountain Roberts, Fortune Sanctum Parker, and other powerful factions, individuals stepped out of their secluded domains, their gazes drawn towards Crystal Crest.

A chilling smile spread across their faces.

"Master, you brought the Blackwood clan into Crystal Crest, just as I suspected. You have been searching for me all these years."

"Azure Cloud Blackwood… clever, very clever.

My reincarnation, Michael, died by your hand, disrupting my plans."

"The Blackwood clan's rapid rise to power… intriguing. And now, you and my dear master have finally caught up to me."

"Thirteen Blackwood juniors wreaking havoc within my Basic Mastery Psychic Sanctuary… and yet, even I couldn't detect anything amiss. Fascinating."

Their voices dripped with malice.

"Very well. Azure Cloud Blackwood will be eradicated!"

Figures shot across the sky, a wave of malice surging from Sunshine Mansion towards Cloudview County Blackwood.

…

Beneath the Primordial Blood Tree, Olivia, who had been meditating, suddenly opened her eyes.

The ancient tree mirrored her action, their gazes meeting in a moment of shared terror.

They turned towards the horizon, sensing the approaching darkness.

"Run! Run!" Olivia screamed, her voice hoarse with fear and desperation, a sound she never thought she'd utter.

…

In Cloudview County, life went on as usual.

Common folk from across the Emerald Empire flocked to Azure Cloud, seeking refuge from the ongoing war.

On the borders, the three Azure Cloud armies clashed with the Druids.

Skirmishes were frequent, but the tide seemed to be turning in Azure Cloud's favor.

Phillips had even reclaimed a portion of Cedar County.

Standing on a balcony overlooking his newly acquired territory, Phillips turned to Daniel, a wide grin on his face.

"My dear Daniel, I had the strangest dream last night.

I dreamt that these war-torn lands would flourish once more, that Sunshine Mansion itself would fall into our hands!"

"Imagine it, Daniel! Azure Cloud, more prosperous than ever before, surpassing even Sunshine Mansion and the Imperial Capital! We would be kings in our own right! And when Azure Cloud produces more Basic Mastery, even Advanced Mastery experts, even the ancient god himself wouldn't dare to trifle with us!"

Daniel shrugged.

"You certainly have a way of looking ahead, Bryce. I'm not so ambitious."

"Oh?" Bryce raised an eyebrow.

He had always considered Daniel to be the more ambitious of the two.

"Surely you don't aspire to usurp the ancient god himself?"

Despite their initial mistrust, their years of working together had forged a strange sort of friendship.

They might constantly scheme and plot against each other, but they could at least be honest about their ambitions.

"You're thinking too far ahead, Bryce. My goals are far simpler: to eliminate all our enemies."

"Is that so?" Bryce chuckled.

"You control the armies of three counties, Daniel. A single word from you could move legions. Even the old ancestor in Gonzalez warned me to be wary of you. But rest assured, my friend, I know you well enough to know that you'll always leave a place for me in your grand vision for Azure Cloud. At least publicly."

"You give me too much credit, Phillips." Daniel smiled wryly.

"We come from different worlds, you and I. You grew up in the lap of luxury, in Duke's Mansion, your heart filled with dreams of ruling nations. I, on the other hand, come from humble beginnings. "

"To call it a village would be an overstatement. I was just a child when my aunt urged my brother and me to flee. I didn't understand why. Our family was doing well. Why would we run? Later, I learned that they wanted to preserve the last of our lineage."

Phillips frowned.

Everyone spoke of the Blackwood clan's strength, their influence, their ambition.

But listening to Daniel, he realized just how much they had endured to reach their current position.

"You might find this hard to believe, Phillips, but I was a naive fool as a child, easily tricked and manipulated. My family called me simple. They didn't understand that I simply chose not to concern myself with such trivial matters. "

"All I cared about was honing my skills, becoming strong enough to protect myself, to protect my family. I never wanted to run again. I wanted to stand my ground."

"When I became the head of the Blackwood clan, I endured the most difficult period of my life."

Daniel exhaled, his gaze distant.

"I had always been surrounded by good people, kind souls who bathed in the light. But I knew that for them to remain in the light, someone had to operate in the shadows. To lead the Blackwood clan, I had to become the darkness. I took lives, I ordered executions, I crushed anyone who dared to defy us."

"It was the only way to ensure our survival, to secure a future for our clan."

He turned to Bryce, a sad smile on his face.

"We might have moments of compassion, Phillips, you and I. But our responsibilities, the burdens we carry, force us to make difficult choices, to embrace the darkness. I care not for your ambitions, Phillips, for your Duke's Mansion dreams. "

"My only desire is the continued survival and prosperity of the Blackwood clan. As long as you don't threaten that, I'm willing to keep my hands clean."

Phillips stared at him, speechless.

All of Azure Cloud feared Daniel Blackwood, but even he hadn't realized the simplicity of his desires.

He had expected a kindred spirit, someone driven by the same insatiable hunger for power.

But Daniel's ambition was far more profound: the preservation of his family.

After a long silence, Phillips laughed and extended his hand.

"Very well, Daniel. Let us hope our paths don't cross. I, for one, am eager to witness the dawn of a new era for Azure Cloud."

But before their hands could meet, a chill ran down their spines.

They turned, their faces pale with terror.

A figure hovered in the air behind them, his face hidden behind an iron mask.

He radiated an aura of menace, as if he had been there all along, observing their every move.

"Eternal peace, you say?" His voice dripped with amusement.

"Time to wake up."