The sky above Wushian burned crimson.

Thunder rolled across the heavens as countless cultivators watched the battle that would determine the fate of the world.

Floating above the shattered battlefield, Ren Jushang stood alone.

His once-pristine black robes were torn beyond recognition, stained with blood. His sword trembled in his hand as his cold silver eyes stared at the smiling young man before him.

The so-called Child of Destiny.

The hero everyone adored.

The man who had taken everything from him.

Ren Jushang laughed bitterly.

"So... even after reaching the Sovereign Realm... I still lose?"

The hero smiled gently.

"You were never meant to win."

Those words pierced deeper than any sword.

Never meant to win.

Indeed.

Since the beginning, fate had never been on his side.

He had been born as the heir of the mighty Ren Family, blessed with talent that astonished the world. On his sixteenth birthday, he summoned a Divine Phoenix, a creature hailed as one of the strongest summons in generations.

Yet within months, that same summon abandoned him.

"I choose someone stronger."

Those had been its final words before it broke their contract and willingly became the protagonist's companion.

The world mocked him for not being able to keep his summon.

His enemies laughed at him , rejoicing in his humiliation.

Even his allies questioned whether he had ever deserved such a powerful summon.

Despite the humiliation, Ren Jushang refused to surrender. He cultivated relentlessly, climbed through countless realms, survived life-and-death trials, and forged his own strength.

Still...

No matter how hard he fought...

No matter how much stronger he became...

The protagonist always won.

Miracles happened.

Enemies betrayed him at the perfect moment.

Treasures appeared before the hero whenever he needed them.

Even the heavens themselves seemed determined to keep Ren Jushang from victory.

The hero raised his glowing sword.

"It is over."

A beam of heavenly light descended.

Ren Jushang closed his eyes.

"So this... is fate."

BOOM!

The world dissolved into blinding white.

...

Drip.

Drip.

The sound of water echoed softly.

Ren Jushang slowly opened his eyes.

He blinked.

An ornate wooden ceiling greeted him.

The familiar scent of sandalwood filled the room.

His heartbeat quickened.

"No..."

He shot upright.

"This room..."

It was his bedroom.

Inside the Ren Family Manor.

Exactly as it had been ten years ago.

A hurried knock came from outside.

"Young Master!"

A servant's anxious voice sounded.

"The elders are waiting."

"It is time for your summoning ceremony."

Ren Jushang froze.

His pupils shrank.

"...The summoning ceremony?"

He rushed toward the bronze mirror.

Looking back at him was a sixteen-year-old youth.

Smooth skin.

Sharp silver eyes.

Long black hair tied neatly behind him.

He touched his own face with trembling fingers.

"I..."

"I've returned..."

A laugh escaped his lips.

Then another.

Soon, the room echoed with uncontrollable laughter.

"Hahaha..."

"Heaven..."

"You finally made one mistake."

His eyes gradually became ice-cold.

This time...

He would never trust anyone so easily again.

After changing into ceremonial robes embroidered with silver dragons, Ren Jushang left his room.

The servants immediately lowered their heads.

"Greetings, Young Master."

He simply nodded.

Everything looked exactly as he remembered.

The winding corridors.

The lotus ponds.

The ancient spirit trees.

Every familiar sight reminded him of his previous life—and of all he had lost.

Soon, he reached the grand plaza.

Thousands of family members had gathered.

At the centre stood a magnificent jade formation that glowed with ancient runes.

Today...

Every sixteen-year-old descendant of the Ren Family would summon their lifelong companion.

Upon noticing him, whispers spread through the crowd.

"The Young Master's finally here."

"They say he'll summon something extraordinary."

"Of course. He's Ren Jushang."

His expression remained unreadable.

The Grand Elder smiled warmly.

"Jushang."

"Step forward."

Ren Jushang obeyed.

The Grand Elder raised both hands.

"The ceremony begins!"

Golden light erupted from the formation.

One by one, young cultivators stepped forward to summon their companions.

Spirit Wolves.

Flame Lions.

Storm Eagles.

Even a rare Crystal Unicorn.

Elders of the Ren Family smiled happily at the various great summons that the new generation had summoned.

Cheers erupted throughout the plaza.

Finally...

The Grand Elder called,

"Ren Jushang."

Silence descended.

Everyone watched with anticipation wondering what the famous talented Young Master would summon.

Ren Jushang stepped into the formation.

He knew exactly what would happen next.

The light enveloped him.

A massive golden magic circle appeared above the sky.

A majestic Divine Phoenix descended amidst blazing flames.

Gasps echoed throughout the plaza.

"A Divine Phoenix!"

"As expected of the Young Master"

"What incredible luck!"

The phoenix landed gracefully before Ren Jushang.

Its golden eyes studied him for a long moment.

Then...

Just as before...

It turned away.

Its gaze shifted toward a distant mountain.

"I refuse."

The phoenix's voice rang throughout the heavens.

"I have sensed another."

"Someone more worthy."

Without waiting for anyone's response...

It spread its wings...

And flew away.

Complete silence filled the plaza.

Every face froze in disbelief.

Exactly as it had happened in his previous life.

Some elders looked horrified.

Others looked embarrassed.

Many disciples tried to hide their laughter.

Ren Jushang merely watched the disappearing phoenix with emotionless eyes.

"...Good."

He had not wanted it anyway.

He slowly raised one hand.

Ignoring the stunned crowd, he bit his fingertip.

Drops of blood fell onto the summoning formation.

The ancient runes suddenly changed.

Their golden glow turned pitch black.

The heavens darkened.

Cold wind swept across Wushian.

The Grand Elder's face paled as he realised what Ren Jushang was about to do.

"W-Wait!"

"That's the Forbidden Second Summoning!"

"You'll destroy your Soul Gate!"

Ren Jushang ignored every warning.

His voice echoed calmly across the silent plaza.

"If fate wishes to abandon me once more..."

"Then I shall summon something that even fate cannot control."

Black lightning split the heavens.

The sky cracked.

Something ancient...

Something impossibly terrifying...

Opened its eyes beyond the void.

And smiled.

Black lightning split the heavens.

The bright morning sky over the Ren Family estate vanished as an endless darkness spread across the clouds. It was as though the world itself had been swallowed by an ancient abyss.

A terrifying pressure descended upon Wushian.

Mountains trembled.

Rivers reversed their flow.

Across the Nine Continents, countless powerful cultivators looked toward the heavens.

"What... is happening?"

Inside hidden sects, secluded ancestors who had not opened their eyes for centuries suddenly awakened.

"This aura..."

"It cannot be..."

Even ancient summons hidden within secret realms lowered their heads instinctively, as if greeting a sovereign.

The Ren Family plaza had fallen completely silent.

The disciples who had laughed moments earlier now struggled to breathe beneath the overwhelming pressure.

The Grand Elder's legs trembled.

"This... this is impossible..."

The forbidden Second Summoning should have destroyed Ren Jushang's Soul Gate.

Instead...

It had opened something else.

The black summoning array expanded until it covered the entire plaza. Strange runes, older than any known language, rotated within its centre.

A deep voice echoed from the void.

"Who dares summon the Abyss?"

The words reverberated through every soul present.

Many cultivators coughed blood.

Several weaker disciples fainted instantly.

Ren Jushang remained standing, his silver eyes unwavering.

"I do."

The voice fell silent.

Moments later, it spoke again.

"Interesting..."

"A mortal who does not kneel."

The darkness twisted.

A colossal golden eye slowly opened beyond the rift, larger than an entire mountain.

It stared directly at Ren Jushang.

For a heartbeat...

Time itself seemed to stop.

Then the eye narrowed.

A soft chuckle echoed through the abyss.

"Very well."

"I shall grant your wish."

The enormous eye disappeared.

The pressure vanished.

The rift began shrinking.

Everyone released a sigh of relief.

"It... it's over?"

"Did the summoning fail?"

Before anyone could celebrate—

A single foot stepped out of the darkness.

Silence.

Then another.

The figure emerged completely.

Long silver hair flowed like moonlight.

Snow-white fox ears twitched gently atop his head.

His skin was flawless, almost ethereal, while twelve magnificent tails swayed lazily behind him. Their white fur shimmered with streaks of black flames.

He wore elegant white robes embroidered with silver constellations.

His golden eyes slowly opened.

They held no warmth.

Only endless indifference.

The plaza remained frozen.

No one dared speak.

Even the air seemed afraid.

The fox spirit looked around with mild curiosity before his gaze settled upon Ren Jushang.

Everything changed.

His cold expression melted instantly.

A radiant smile bloomed across his face.

Those terrifying golden eyes curved into crescents.

He hurried forward with surprising excitement.

"So it's really you!"

Before Ren Jushang could react, the fox spirit wrapped both arms around him.

The crowd gasped.

The elegant and terrifying being rubbed his cheek affectionately against Ren Jushang's shoulder like an oversized fox.

"I finally found you."

Ren Jushang stiffened in shock.

This...

Had certainly not happened in his previous life.

The fox looked up at him with sparkling eyes.

"You smell exactly how I imagined."

"..."

"..."

The entire Ren Family stood speechless.

Where had the terrifying pressure gone?

Where was the terrifying ancient monster?

Why had it suddenly become... adorable?

The fox smiled sweetly.

"My name is Yun Qingjiu."

"I am your summon."

"And from today onward..."

"I belong only to you."

Ren Jushang stared at him.

Something deep inside his heart trembled.

There was no calculation in those eyes.

No greed.

No hesitation.

No betrayal.

Only pure happiness.

Even so...

His experiences from his previous life had taught him never to trust appearances.

He quietly asked,

"Will you abandon me someday?"

The words escaped before he realised it.

Yun Qingjiu blinked.

His smile slowly disappeared.

The gentle atmosphere around him became frighteningly cold.

His twelve tails stopped moving.

Golden light flashed within his eyes.

"Abandon you?"

He tilted his head.

"I don't understand."

His voice remained soft and sweet.

"But..."

"If anyone tried to separate me from you..."

"I would erase them."

The words were spoken so casually that they sounded like discussing the weather.

Yet everyone who heard them shivered.

Yun Qingjiu smiled again.

"I searched for you for a very long time."

"Now that I've found you..."

"I'll never let you go."

Ren Jushang looked into those sincere eyes.

For the first time since his rebirth...

A tiny crack appeared in the icy wall surrounding his heart.

"...Welcome."

Yun Qingjiu's tails immediately wagged with delight.

His ears perked up showing his happiness.

He clasped Ren Jushang's hand with both of his.

"I knew you'd accept me!"

The Grand Elder finally found his voice.

"C-Can you tell us... what race you are?"

Every eye turned toward Yun Qingjiu.

He blinked innocently.

"Oh?"

"You can actually see me?"

The elders exchanged confused looks.

"What does that mean?"

Yun Qingjiu smiled politely.

"I assumed creatures as weak as you couldn't."

"..."

The plaza became awkwardly silent.

Ren Jushang pinched the bridge of his nose amused.

Already...

His summon had managed to insult the entire Ren Family with a single sentence.

Yun Qingjiu seemed genuinely puzzled.

"Was I rude?"

He leaned closer to Ren Jushang, lowering his voice.

"I wasn't trying to be."

"They're simply very weak."

Several elders who had heard his whisper nearly coughed blood.

Before anyone could respond, a deafening roar echoed across the sky.

A powerful aura rapidly approached the Ren Family estate.

The Divine Phoenix which had left earlier.

It had returned.

Its golden wings blazed across the heavens as it descended before the plaza.

Its proud eyes swept over everyone...

Until they landed on Yun Qingjiu.

The Phoenix froze.

Its pupils shrank in terror.

Its entire body trembled uncontrollably.

Then, before the stunned crowd...

The Divine Phoenix folded both wings, lowered its head to the ground, and prostrated itself before Yun Qingjiu.

Its voice shook with fear.

"Forgive this insignificant one... I did not know Your Majesty had descended."

The entire Ren Family was left utterly speechless.

The plaza was deathly silent.

Thousands of eyes stared at the scene before them, unable to believe what they were witnessing.

The Divine Phoenix...

A legendary summon recorded in countless ancient texts...

A creature that possessed one of the purest bloodlines in Wushian...

Was kneeling.

Not before the Family Head.

Not before the Grand Elder.

Not before the heavens.

It was kneeling before the silver-haired fox standing quietly beside Ren Jushang.

Its magnificent golden wings were folded tightly against its body, while its head remained pressed against the jade floor. Every feather trembled violently as though it were facing the embodiment of death itself.

No one dared utter a single word.

Even breathing felt dangerous.

...

Ren Jushang narrowed his silver eyes.

This was nothing like his previous life.

Back then, the Divine Phoenix had looked down upon him with utter disdain.

"You are unworthy."

Those four words had haunted him for years.

It had abandoned him without hesitation, flying toward the so-called Child of Destiny.

Yet now...

That same arrogant creature didn't even dare raise its head.

Something wasn't right.

His gaze slowly shifted toward Yun Qingjiu.

The fox looked genuinely confused.

He blinked his beautiful golden eyes before lightly scratching his cheek.

"Hm?"

"Why is it lying on the ground?"

The innocent question almost caused the Phoenix to cough blood.

Why?

Because every instinct within its soul screamed at it to kneel.

Before it had even seen Yun Qingjiu clearly, the overwhelming pressure from the fox's bloodline had forced its body into submission.

It wasn't fear.

It was instinct.

The instinct of every beast when standing before their absolute sovereign.

...

The Grand Elder swallowed nervously.

His robe was soaked with cold sweat.

"You..."

"What exactly are you?"

Every elder secretly wanted the answer.

Never in their thousands of years had they heard of a fox capable of making a Divine Phoenix kneel.

Even Heavenly Dragons would struggle to accomplish such a feat.

Yun Qingjiu tilted his head.

"What am I?"

He seemed to think carefully.

After a few seconds, he smiled.

"I'm Qingjiu."

The Grand Elder nearly stumbled.

"...That's not what I meant."

Before Yun Qingjiu could answer again, the Divine Phoenix suddenly spoke.

Its voice shook with reverence.

"I dare not reveal His Majesty's true title."

Gasps echoed across the plaza.

His Majesty?

The Phoenix continued,

"Even speaking His true name carelessly would attract Heavenly Tribulation."

The elders stared blankly.

A name...

Forbidden by Heaven itself?

What sort of existence possessed such authority?

The Phoenix slowly lifted its head just enough to glance at Yun Qingjiu.

Its golden pupils were filled with respect...

And terror.

"There were once twelve Primordial Sovereigns who ruled before Heaven established order."

"Their existence was erased from history."

"They are not gods..."

"They are older than gods."

Cold chills ran down everyone's spine.

Older than the gods?

The Grand Elder felt his worldview shattering.

...

Yun Qingjiu let out a small sigh.

"You always exaggerate."

His expression remained calm.

"I've been asleep for a very long time."

"I'm not nearly as impressive as you make me sound."

The Phoenix wanted to scream.

Not impressive?

If Yun Qingjiu merely released a fraction of his aura...

Entire continents would collapse.

Fortunately...

The terrifying fox seemed to have no interest in displaying his strength.

Instead...

He turned around.

His previously indifferent expression disappeared instantly.

His eyes sparkled like a child discovering candy.

He looked directly at Ren Jushang.

Then smiled.

A breathtaking smile capable of making flowers bloom.

"I'm just Qingjiu."

He took a few steps closer.

"...Your Qingjiu."

The entire Ren Family watched as the terrifying being who had just shaken Heaven smiled so sweetly that his eyes curved into crescents.

Ren Jushang remained silent.

For a brief moment...

He almost forgot to respond.

"...Mm."

That single syllable was enough.

Yun Qingjiu's fox ears perked up happily.

His twelve tails swayed so enthusiastically that several disciples had to dodge them.

"Master acknowledged me!"

"I'm so happy."

His voice contained pure joy.

The disciples exchanged strange looks.

This...

Wasn't what they expected from an ancient monster.

...

Unfortunately...

Not everyone possessed common sense.

A middle-aged elder slowly stepped forward.

His eyes burned with greed.

His breathing became heavier as he stared at Yun Qingjiu.

Such overwhelming power...

If the Ren Family could control it...

The Four Great Families would bow.

Even the Imperial Dynasty would become insignificant.

Greed completely overwhelmed his reason.

He laughed loudly.

"Hahaha!"

"No matter how ancient you are..."

"You're merely a summon."

"A summon belongs to humans."

The Grand Elder's face turned pale.

"Elder Zhao!"

"Stop!"

The warning came too late.

Spirit chains forged from Heavenly Steel erupted from Elder Zhao's sleeves.

Each chain was covered in sealing runes designed specifically to suppress summoned creatures.

Thousands of links shot toward Yun Qingjiu.

Ren Jushang's pupils contracted.

Without thinking, he stepped forward, placing himself between Yun Qingjiu and the incoming attack.

His hand reached for his sword.

He knew he wasn't strong enough.

Not yet.

But even if he died...

He would not stand aside while someone attacked his summon.

Yun Qingjiu quietly watched Ren Jushang's back.

His golden eyes softened.

"So..."

"Master wants to protect me."

A warmth spread through his heart.

One he had never experienced before.

Then...

His expression became cold.

He slowly raised one slender finger.

The chains froze mid-air.

Crack.

Crack.

Crack.

One by one...

Every chain shattered into glittering dust.

Elder Zhao's confident smile froze.

"What?"

Before he could retreat—

His body suddenly stopped moving.

Completely.

He couldn't even blink.

Invisible force surrounded him from every direction.

Fear flooded his face.

"I..."

"I can't move..."

Yun Qingjiu calmly walked toward him.

Each step echoed throughout the silent plaza.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

He stopped only a metre away.

"You wished to enslave me?"

His voice remained gentle.

Elder Zhao trembled violently.

"N-No!"

"I was mistaken!"

"I apologise!"

"I beg for forgiveness!"

Tears streamed down his face.

Yun Qingjiu smiled.

"I forgive you."

Relief spread across Elder Zhao's face.

Then Yun Qingjiu continued softly,

"So I'll grant you a painless death."

The smile disappeared.

Darkness gathered around Yun Qingjiu's fingertips.

A single black flame floated toward Elder Zhao.

"No—!"

The scream never finished.

The flame touched his chest.

His body quietly dissolved into countless particles of black light.

No blood.

No ashes.

No corpse.

Nothing remained.

The plaza fell silent once more.

One of the Ren Family's strongest elders...

Had ceased to exist.

As though he had never been born.

...

Ren Jushang looked quietly at Yun Qingjiu.

"You killed him."

The terrifying aura surrounding Yun Qingjiu disappeared instantly.

His fox ears drooped.

His tails curled behind him.

"...Master..."

"Are you angry?"

His voice became incredibly small.

"I only wanted to protect you."

His golden eyes nervously observed Ren Jushang's expression.

For the first time...

The Sovereign of the Abyss felt nervous.

Not because of Heaven.

Not because of powerful enemies.

But because he feared disappointing one person.

Ren Jushang sighed softly.

He walked forward.

Then...

He gently placed his hand atop Yun Qingjiu's fluffy fox ears.

The entire Ren Family gasped.

Soft.

Unexpectedly soft.

Yun Qingjiu froze.

His golden eyes widened.

"...Master?"

Ren Jushang gently stroked his ears.

"They're softer than I imagined."

A faint blush instantly spread across Yun Qingjiu's face.

His tails puffed into giant fluffy clouds.

He leaned unconsciously into the touch.

"...More."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

Ren Jushang chuckled for the first time since his rebirth.

"You protected me."

"I'm not angry."

Those simple words completely shattered Yun Qingjiu's composure.

His heart raced.

Master wasn't afraid of him.

Master accepted him.

His ears twitched happily beneath Ren Jushang's fingers.

"If Master pats my ears every day..."

"I'll protect Master forever."

He smiled sweetly.

"No one..."

"Will ever take you away from me."

Behind that gentle smile, a dangerous thought surfaced.

Anyone who tried...

Would simply disappear.

Forever.