WARS BETWEEN GODS_EMBER SOVEREIGN

‎‎The Dreamy Lake was the only place in the entire Long Clan that felt like peace. ‎ ‎Nestled between three jade peaks, the water glowed faintly at dawn. Lotus petals floated on the surface, each one holding a trace of spiritual energy. Outer disciples were forbidden to enter. Inner disciples rarely came. ‎Which was why Long Yang came here every single day. ‎ ‎He was 16 years old. ‎And he was trash. ‎ ‎Not a single wisp of qi could enter his body. Pills did nothing. Manuals did nothing. The clan healers called his dantian "dead". ‎In a clan where a 10-year-old could already be at Qi Layer 3, Long Yang was still a mortal. ‎ ‎“Useless son of Long Hai,” the other disciples whispered. ‎“Waste of food.” ‎“The Chief position? Hah. With a son like that, Long Hai has no chance.” ‎ ‎Long Yang’s fists clenched at his sides. ‎His father, Long Hai, was currently one of the 3 contestants fighting for the Clan Chief seat. A proud man at the 2nd Golden Core Layer. ‎His mother was "dead". No one ever spoke of her. ‎ ‎So Long Yang came here. To dream. ‎ ‎He dreamed of standing tall beside his father. ‎He dreamed of not being called trash. ‎And he dreamed of her. ‎ ‎Long Mei. ‎ ‎15 years old. 7th Qi Layer. ‎The crown jewel of the Long Clan. Disciple of the mighty Snowkill Sect. ‎Hair like moonlight. Eyes like frost. Sword that cut through 3 Qi Layer 9 disciples at once in the last tournament. ‎ ‎She was also the one who once called him "the stain on the Long name" to his face. ‎ ‎Long Yang sighed and sat on his favorite rock by the lake. “One day,” he whispered. “One day I’ll—” ‎ ‎A splash cut him off. ‎ ‎His eyes went wide. ‎ ‎In the center of the Dreamy Lake, steam rose. ‎And in the water stood Long Mei. Speak of the devil..... ‎ ‎Her white robes were to the side. Her long hair was down, dripping. Water ran down pale skin in the morning light. ‎ ‎Long Yang’s brain short-circuited. ‎ ‎“I... I didn’t... I’m sorry, I—” ‎ ‎The words died in his throat. ‎ ‎The water stilled. ‎ ‎Long Mei’s eyes snapped open. Frost spread across the lake surface in an instant. ‎ ‎“What are you looking at, p*****t?!” ‎ ‎Her voice was ice. Her killing intent locked onto him. ‎ ‎Long Yang finally moved to run, but it was too late. ‎ ‎“Snowkill Palm!” ‎ ‎A blast of blue-white qi shot from her hand. The air froze. ‎This was a cultivator’s technique. A 7th Qi Layer attack. ‎ ‎TABOO. ‎Clan Law Article 1: No cultivator shall raise a hand against a mortal. Punishment: Expulsion and 100 lashes. ‎ ‎But Long Mei didn’t care. To her, Long Yang wasn’t even human. He was trash. ‎ ‎BOOM! ‎ ‎The palm struck Long Yang square in the chest. He was lifted off his feet and slammed into a boulder 15 meters away. ‎ ‎Crack. ‎Blood sprayed from his mouth. His vision spun. ‎ ‎The last thing he saw was Long Mei wrapping herself in qi and floating out of the lake, face disgusted. ‎ ‎“Guards! The trash of the Long Clan was spying on me! Kill him if he wakes up!” ‎ ‎And then everything went black. ‎ ‎As consciousness faded, Long Yang had only one thought: ‎ ‎So... this is how it ends. The trash dies in a ditch. ‎ ‎But deep in his chest, where his "dead" dantian was... ‎Something cold and ancient stirred. ‎ ‎As if it had been waiting for him to almost die. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎