Volume 1, Chapter 21: A Picture Album, Shattering a Lifetime of Pride
Gu Changsheng, lying on his rocking chair, seemed to be dazzled by the piercing golden light. Impatiently, he turned over, facing away from the intruder, and mumbled incoherently.
"So noisy... who turned the lights on? Turn them off..."
As his words fell, the majestic and awe-inspiring phantom of the Heavenly Emperor looming behind Gu Fan, which seemed to swallow the very universe, flickered like a lightbulb with a cut power supply. With a soft "pop," it flashed twice and then... simply vanished.
The golden radiance that filled the sky dissipated without a trace. Peace and clarity returned to the world.
Only Gu Fan remained, frozen in his ridiculously dramatic pose.
The air was deathly silent. The arrogance on Gu Fan's face solidified.
What... what did he just say?
Turn off the lights?
My Heavenly Emperor manifestation... in his eyes... is just a light?
What is going on?
Gu Fan’s brain suffered a brief system crash. There must be a mistake. Perhaps he hadn't pushed his power to the limit? Or perhaps the laws of this mortal realm were too low-level to support the full might of the Heavenly Emperor’s manifestation?
Yes, that must be it!
Gu Fan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock and confusion in his heart, and once again channeled the power of his inheritance.
"Heavenly Emperor descends, divine might like a prison!"
He let out a low roar, and the magic power within him surged out like a bursting flood. This time, he held nothing back, even burning a trace of his primordial essence.
He refused to believe it!
"Hum—"
An even more brilliant and solid golden light erupted from him. The extinguished Heavenly Emperor manifestation re-condensed, appearing even clearer and more imposing than before!
The terrifying imperial pressure descended upon the entire courtyard like an ancient sacred mountain!
This time, he would make everyone see what true power looked like!
However, just as the manifestation was halfway formed, Gu Changsheng, lying on the rocking chair, seemed to be thoroughly annoyed by the noise and the bright glare.
Without opening his eyes, he irritably raised a hand and waved it dismissively in Gu Fan's direction.
It was as if he were shooing away a bothersome fly.
"I said be quiet. Can't a man get some sleep?"
His voice was thick with the grumpiness of someone just woken from a nap, filled with profound impatience.
It was such a simple action, a single impatient complaint.
The next second, Gu Fan felt as if the entire universe had abandoned him.
The connection between him and the Heavenly Emperor’s inheritance—that golden thread he prided himself on and held as dear as his own life—was forcibly snapped by an incomprehensible, irresistible force!
"Pfft!"
Gu Fan was struck as if by lightning. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his body flying backward like a kite with a broken string, slamming hard into the courtyard wall before rolling onto the ground.
The half-formed Heavenly Emperor manifestation behind him, along with the golden light filling the sky, vanished into nothingness like a popped soap bubble, leaving not even a trace.
Silence returned to the courtyard.
Only Gu Changsheng shifted, finding a more comfortable position, and seemed to be drifting back to sleep.
"How... how is this possible..."
Gu Fan struggled to his feet, his face full of disbelief. He looked at his empty hands and felt his dantian, which was now barren, unable to detect even a shred of the Heavenly Emperor's aura. He was completely stunned.
My inheritance... is gone?
Just because he waved his hand?
Just because he found me noisy?
What kind of monster is this?!
He looked in terror at the young man sleeping soundly on the rocking chair. At this moment, he could no longer feel any "mortal" aura from the other party; he only sensed an unknown, terrifying presence that made his very soul tremble.
It wasn't just the sheer strength of power; it was an absolute suppression of the level of existence.
It was like an ant, forever unable to understand why a human could crush it to death with a single finger.
Old Fu walked slowly toward him, looking down with a faint touch of pity on his aged face.
"Young Master Gu Fan, I warned you not to disturb the Young Master's rest."
"You... you people..." Gu Fan’s lips trembled, unable to utter a single word. His worldview, his pride, his everything—all had been shattered in that single moment.
He couldn't figure it out.
He didn't understand.
He desperately needed an answer.
"Who... who exactly is he? What happened to the main branch?" Gu Fan asked hoarsely, using every ounce of his remaining strength.
Old Fu shook his head, not answering his question.
Because some truths were not meant for someone at his level to know.
Just then, as if the commotion of Gu Fan's wailing had disturbed Gu Changsheng yet again, the young man finally opened his eyes slowly.
He sat up, bleary-eyed, rubbed his eyes, and looked at the disheveled Gu Fan sprawled on the ground, his brow furrowed.
"Who is this? Why is he howling in the yard so early in the morning? Do we have guests?"
He was clearly not yet fully awake.
Old Fu replied respectfully, "Returning to the Young Master, this is Young Master Gu Fan from the Sirius Star Domain branch. He just returned."
"Oh, from the branch, I see." Gu Changsheng nodded, looking enlightened. Then, as if remembering something, he said to Old Fu, "He seems quite agitated. Is there something on his mind? Such yelling and screaming is bad for the environment. Go into the house and bring him that book 'Baby Bear' from my bedside. Let him read the picture book to cultivate his character and be quiet for a while."
'Baby Bear'?
A picture book?
Old Fu paused for a second, then immediately "understood" the Young Master's deeper intent.
The Ancestor was using the gentlest, yet most cruel method to completely shatter the last shred of fantasy held by this branch descendant!
He offered a silent prayer for Gu Fan in his heart for a second, then bowed and said, "Yes, Young Master."
Old Fu turned and entered the house. A moment later, he returned with a picture book that looked quite old, its cover slightly yellowed.
The cover of the book depicted a chubby, unidentified species of "bear" drawn with very childish strokes, with a few crooked characters written beside it.
Old Fu handed this "picture book" to Gu Fan, his expression solemn.
"Young Master Gu Fan, this is a gift from the Young Master. He says you should read this picture book to cultivate your character and learn to be quiet."
Gu Fan looked at the book, feeling an unprecedented sense of humiliation rushing to his head.
I!
A descendant of the Heavenly Emperor! A prodigy of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!
You want me to read... a picture book?!
He trembled with rage, snatched the book, and intended to tear it to shreds.
However, the moment his fingers touched the cover, he went rigid.
A familiar and vast aura emanated from the book. It was of the same origin as the Heavenly Emperor inheritance he once possessed, yet it was purer, more ancient, and billions of times more powerful than his!
His hands began to shake uncontrollably as he slowly opened the first page.
There were no words in the book.
Only drawings sketched with the simplest of lines.
The first picture was a tiny figure creating the world out of chaos.
The second picture was that same figure creating the sun, moon, and stars.
The third picture was that figure evolving all life and creation.
...
Though the style was laughably childish, every stroke and every line contained the supreme Dao of Creation!
This... this was no 'Baby Bear'!
These were the original Dao realization diagrams left behind by that ancient Heavenly Emperor when he first established his "Heavenly Emperor Dao"!
This was infinitely more precious than the so-called "complete inheritance" he had received!