[Return to Dedication Series 4] Soaring Original Novel 'Heavenly Secrets Broken' Side Story (Supplement · 'Bonus')

Although my version's preview plot differs significantly from the original, in the spirit of providing reading enjoyment for my friends, as long as someone wants to read it, I will continue to release or add necessary side stories. So while supporting the original, friends might as well take some time to check out my alternative, movie-version-like side stories that might extend the plot.
\=========\_____Actually… (whispering) on 7723 it's not allowed to post things that are misleading… so… the real 'bonus' is—the detailed depiction and explanation in the shocking preview following the first side story “Yu Zizhong Chapter”! Absolutely worth it, absolutely complete! (You're not saying this just because you couldn't find 'bonus pictures,' right? Also… isn't what you're doing also in the realm of 'misleading'!?)
\_____Originally, this side story was planned as a ‘package' with two parts, one mentioned above, the other supplementing my version of 'Yu Zizhong's conquest of Wanlei.' However, since Ao Xiang has already written that part, although mine is different, to avoid conflict, I won't post that content. Also, a reminder to those who forgot the previously mentioned content or are reading for the first time: please review the previous content , otherwise you might not understand my version's early preview later.

\_____Yu Zizhong gathered his hands to his chest, stretched from a crouching posture, slowly stood up, and did not look back at what was happening behind him, just letting out a calm breath. Behind him, the 'Earth Shield,' executing a 'flawless' defense, soared into the air. Its head and limbs simultaneously broke apart, scattering everywhere, and from the broken spots, the strange thread-like weapon recoiled back toward its owner. Unexpectedly, at the critical moment, the outcome could be decided with just one move.
\_____The villagers huddled together were almost all dumbfounded, intimidated by what they saw. Although the previously ferocious madman was now dead, they did not feel they could relax, because the mysterious person who killed him was even stronger. Judging from his appearance, it seemed like mutually destructive forces of the same evil group. The threat remained, and it seemed even more intense.\_____“‘Shield of the Earth,' your defense is no better than this. I actually thought you might really be able to block ninety percent of my attacks. Hmph, it seems that even the most comprehensive defense cannot withstand a more densely applied attack. I had too high expectations for you. However, you did make me take things seriously, and you even managed to damage my clothes, so you're not too bad. Unfortunately, you haven't improved much, not in skill, nor in character…”\_____Yu Zizhong said lightly, reaching out to brush off the dust stuck to his body, then fiddled with the small missing piece of his robe on his chest, showing a helpless expression. At the same time, he also walked toward the villagers standing nearby.\The villagers, seeing him approach, all quickly took a step back, except for the elder who remained standing in place and even stepped toward Yu Zizhong. “Why are you saving us?”\_____Yu Zizhong slightly raised his eyes and said, “Saving you? I never save people. You are simply useful to me, so I leave you alive.” Some of the villagers let out low snorts when they heard Yu Zizhong's words, and someone else said, “Elder, don't speak to that ‘demon' too much, it's too dangerous!” Yu Zizhong glanced at the tense faces of the villagers and then at the furrowed-brow elder, pursed his lips and said, “Huh. ‘Demon,' huh? I suppose so… In that case, why not kill a few irrelevant people?” A stir broke out among the villagers, and one or two could be heard saying, “I told you not to offend him. Now look what's happened to me!” amid the noisy chatter. “You won't actually do it…” At this moment, the elder spoke. “Hmm?” Yu Zizhong noticed the elder was staring at him with an attentive gaze. “Won't I kill them? How is that possible…” Before Yu Zizhong could finish, the elder continued, “Judging from the bloodline I sensed flowing in your body, I don't think you would really harm innocent villagers.” Yu Zizhong suddenly opened his eyes wide, his tone becoming a bit excited: “‘Bloodline'? You can feel what's inside my body? You really do know what happened ten years ago, don't you?”The elder saw the sudden change in Yu Zizhong's cold expression, his eyes half-closed, and said, "That's right. Even though you tried to hide it, I could still sense the familiar aura of 'Zong Yuan' you released just now for protection. It really brings back memories..."

"'Zong Yuan' is the name of the seemingly endless true energy flowing within my body? What exactly is this true energy?" Yu Zizhong caressed his chest, which had been stripped of clothing from the 'Earth Shield' attack earlier, his eyes moving around. The elder, however, closed his open mouth and fell silent. After a long while without a response, Yu Zizhong directed his gaze to the elder again: "Speak. What exactly is this true energy?"

"It's probably better that you don't know. I know your identity based on your appearance, and I think I can't tell you." The elder suddenly went quiet, which enraged Yu Zizhong: "I had no intention of harming you, yet you show no gratitude and refuse to tell me. Give me what I want! If you can't even open your mouth for this, then I'll kill two people at once as a condition to make you speak!" After saying this, Yu Zizhong waved his hand, and threads dragged the two people in front of the elder. "If I just move a finger, these two will be separated from head to foot!"

The elder closed his eyes, sighed, and spoke again: "Really? You are willing to exchange blood just to know a 'secret' that would be punishable by death if disclosed? Sigh, never mind, let them go. I will tell you."

Yu Zizhong slightly lowered his gaze: "I have no other way. Since you don't want to tell me, and I finally have such an opportunity to understand the connection between the 'Lost Ten Years' and my own origin, I can't give up no matter what. I have no choice but to force you. I must know! Okay, they're safe now. You can tell me what it is, right?"

"This kind of true energy isn't something everyone possesses. It is a symbol of talent, and I have a deep understanding of this. The fact that you possess this true energy can only mean—you are a descendant of the tribe to which the emperor once belonged."

"What?!" Hearing such shocking truth, Yu Zizhong couldn't help but feel a bit breathless. Emperor—a word so foreign yet familiar... Could it be that having such true energy has something to do with an emperor?

"'Emperor'? Who even has an 'emperor' now?"Elder opened his eyes, and his deep gaze was clearly no longer fixed on Yu Zizhong: "Because now is a chaotic era with various forces divided and battling for supremacy. In the past, just ten years ago, the continent was still a unified and stable country… But the emperor, the outstanding leader of the country, was assassinated… I don't know who it was, but he must have had ulterior motives and some terrifying conspiracy! Because the emperor was an enlightened ruler! That assassin originally intended to take the emperor's place, but after the news of the emperor's assassination spread, the 'Yun Clan,' which had been secretly accumulating power, took the opportunity to rebel. Other forces that wanted to protect the country had to suppress them, and forces with their own agendas got involved… Because no one expected the world to fall into chaos so suddenly, the assassin seems to have realized that replacing the emperor now would only make him the target of all, and the secret objective he initially wanted to achieve could no longer be accomplished. So he left the palace and disappeared. But he definitely would not give up; instead, he probably infiltrated the chaotic forces, scheming for perhaps even greater benefits…"

"Assassin?" Yu Zizhong squinted, analyzing the meaning of such a word. Right, why did the ‘old man' send people to destroy this village, which was unknown to most people? Could it be just to kill one person? And why carry it out secretly?
"Then it should be enough to let an authoritative person ascend the throne. Those people fighting over it is really foolish. Back then, if they had trusted the emperor and let his tribe elect someone, the chaos wouldn't have happened, right?"
"That's no longer possible," the elder shook his head. "The emperor's tribe had already gradually declined, and their influence was no longer what it once was. I'm not quite sure why, but with the emperor's death, the tribe was also wiped out; everyone was killed… I originally thought so, too, but now I see your appearance."

Yu Zizhong was still pondering. The various truths he heard made him both understand and feel puzzled: If I really am the 'descendant' he mentioned, and that is the 'fallen royal family'? Hmph, that's really a bit laughable. Now I am someone opposed to the world. But thinking this way could also explain why I wandered around as a child… But then why am I still alive? Escaped from death?What exactly happened to me and my parents? Also… “Who exactly are you?” Yu Zizhong's crimson eyes shifted as he stared at the elder with a piercing gaze. The elder calmly met Yu Zizhong's stare and said, “There's nothing left to hide. I am a minister by the emperor's side.” The person the ‘old man' secretly wanted to kill was him, but his identity turned out to be… The ‘old man' wanted to eliminate any truth that could reveal his past acts of violence! “I have always believed that the turmoil in the world won't last long; surely someone will come to restore the empire! Warriors from the emperor's clan, which once had the formidable ‘Zongyuan,' should have been the best candidates, but the clan has declined… Although you are the only remaining descendant, I must be honest, I do not believe you will be the ‘hope' to restore the empire.” “Hope? Of course I am not… I am a demon, and a demon does not save the world.” Yu Zizhong said this, feeling a bitter unease in his heart. But suddenly he shifted his words, “However, in my memory, I am not the only survivor of the emperor's clan…” The elder immediately showed a look of astonishment. Brother, although I don't know how we got separated and I can't remember, I remember that when we were young you liked to hide behind me and needed my protection. I must find you; I know that even now you still need my protection! “By the way, speaking of that kind of true energy, the people I have encountered also possessed it…”

Speaking of 'benefits,' there would still be 'attachments':
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“灭” (Organization): Molu (the power chart that the 'old man' deified)
Dragon: 'Old Man'
Dark: Star of Darkness (Yu Zizhong), Charm of Darkness (the 'old man's' daughter, also the saint of '灭'), Dawn of Darkness (praised by the 'old man' as the future of the organization, given such a rank is a person with a handsome exterior and a cruel heart)
Heaven: (destroyed by Dawn, no members left, only in name)
Earth: Shield, Spear, Sword, Halberd (bloodthirsty villains, most are of poor character)
Change: Thirteen Illusion Path Followers (lower-level leaders, relatively strong)

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Continuing the 'font collection' activity~
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