Black Myth: the Supreme Sword

Chapter 2

Nicholas stood frozen in shock.

In the Evergreen World, there existed a group of people called the Chosen Ones. Often young and unremarkable at first, they would one day "awaken". Those awaken would be like a different person. This awakening transformed them, significantly accelerating their cultivation speed and leading to innumerable fortuitous encounters. They were the favored ones of the Rule of Heaven.

There were three continents in the Evergreen World, one of which was the Green Continent. There were hundreds of big and small countries on the Green Continent. In Amberland, fewer than ten Chosen Ones have emerged over the past few decades, and all of these people would become immensely important in the future.

Nicholas slowly clenched his hands. He realized that the Ye family was about to abandon him. Not only would they give up on him, but they might also kill him.

Just then, Jonathan sneered suddenly and declared, "Elders, Nicholas has committed murder in public and even assaulted the Great Elder. According to the rules of the clan, he should be flogged to death, right?"

The Elders nodded in agreement. Jonathan was the Chosen One, and he was also the grandson of the Great Elder. At this moment, they naturally would not offend Jonathan and the Great Elder.

The Great Elder glanced at Nicholas coldly. "Guards!"

Soon, dozens of guards of Ye Manor appeared outside the family assembly hall. The moment the Great Elder gave the order, they would rush into the family assembly hall and subdue Nicholas.

At this moment, Nicholas suddenly said, "In Ye Manor, there is a rule. To convince everyone of his might, the Young Master cannot refuse the challenge of anyone in the younger generation of the Ye family."

Locking eyes with Jonathan, Nicholas declared, "I challenge you."

Jonathan narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Challenge me? Sure, but let's fight in the Death Arena. Do you dare to accept it?"

When the Death Arena was mentioned, there was an uproar from the people present.

Within the Ye family, if there was an irreconcilable conflict, one could go to the Death Arena to resolve it. Once one step on it, their lives would be put on the line.

Nicholas sneered. "Let's go to the Death Arena then."

Jonathan shook his head. "Not now," he countered. "A month from now, we'll meet in the Death Arena. At that time, the Clan Leader will have just finished his cultivation. He can be a witness, so as to avoid saying that we secretly harmed you."

Nicholas thought for a moment, and then said, "Deal."

After that, Nicholas didn't say anything else. He picked up Victoria and walked out of the family assembly hall.

As Nicholas and his sister left, the Great Elder looked at Jonathan. "He has been fighting outside all year round, and his combat strength is quite. Are you confident of this?"

Jonathan's mouth curled into a sinister sneer, his eyes glowing with a tangible murderous intent. "I have just awakened; my soul and this body are not yet fully integrated. Otherwise, killing him would be as effortless as squashing an ant. In a month, no one in Green City will stand a chance against me!"

Hearing this, the Great Elder nodded slightly and said with a smile, "That's good."

The Great Elder then turned to another Elder next to him and whispered, "What are those sent to assassinate Nicholas doing? A bunch of losers! Have them to report back on the extent of Nicholas's injures at South Mountain."

The Elder nodded and turned to leave.

***

Nicholas returned to his room with Victoria in his arms, carefully placing her on the bed before slowly peeling back her clothes to reveal the startling wounds on her back.

"Those bastards. How dare they hit you so hard?" Nicholas was so angry that his eyes turned red. He wanted to rush out to avenge Victoria.

Victoria quickly grabbed him, pleading urgently, "Nicholas, it doesn't hurt anymore. Please, don't go after them."

Nicholas clenched his teeth and said, "It's my fault for not protecting you well enough to prevent this!"

Victoria shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears. "No, I'm the one to blame. I can't assist you at all. I'm just a burden to you."

Nicholas gently tapped Victoria's nose. "Little silly, it's my duty to protect you. Understand? For today, I'll hold off. But after I deal with Jonathan in a month, we'll settle today's score."

Victoria rose and kissed Nicholas's forehead earnestly. "Nicholas, once I'm healed, I will also train and protect you!"

Nicholas smiled, affectionately ruffling her hair. "Alright, I will surely cure your illness."

An hour later, Victoria fell asleep.

Nicholas covered her with a blanket, then sat beside her, lifting his robe to reveal a long and bleeding scar on his abdomen.

To protect that mine, he battled against twelve formidable foes. Although he killed them, he was also seriously injured. One of their sharp blades had pierced his abdomen, causing his Spirit Core to shatter.

The Spirit Core was located between the chest and abdomen. It was an internal organ unique to cultivators. It was used to store energy and was the foundation of cultivation. It was illusory and invisible, and could only be perceived by consciousness. With the Spirit Core shattered, Nicholas's progress halted at the level Five Boundless Qi realm, unable to advance the level Six Qi Varying realm.

Nicholas glanced at Victoria on the bed. Victoria's face was still pale. Though she was covered with three blankets, she still felt very cold.

From her youth, Victoria suffered from a rare and chronic illness caused by exposure to mysterious cold, which left her constantly frail

This illness proved exceptionally challenging to treat.

Driven by desperation, Nicholas ascended to become the Ye family's Young Master, and made countless contributions to the family. That was the only way Victoria could have the medicinal cuisine and elixir provided by the Ye family every month. Without these, she would have died long ago.

Nicholas's right hand slowly clenched as he pondered, 'Now that I am no longer the Young Master, will the family continue providing Victoria with the necessary treatment resources every month?'

Moreover, Victoria's condition was worsening. The only hope for a cure lay in the top doctors at Duskwood Academy in Amberland's Imperial Capital, but entry required one to achieve the level seven Qi Harnessing realm before age 18.

Originally, Nicholas had a chance because he was only 19 years old in six months. However, now that his Spirit Core was shattered, he couldn't reach the Qi Harnessing realm.

Thinking of this, Nicholas turned to look at the sleeping Victoria on the bed. "I will cure you at any cost."

A moment later, Nicholas seemed to think of something. He took out a black ring. This ring was left behind by his mother.

Nicholas had a vague impression of his mother because she had left when he was ten years old.

Back then, at the back door of the Ye Manor, her mother hugged him tightly as tears flowed down her face.

Not far behind his mother stood a middle-aged man in a black robe. Actually, the man was not standing, but floating.

In Nicholas's memory, the man said, "Madam, if we don't leave now, the Clan Leader will be angry when he finds out about Nicholas's existence. This world will probably suffer a calamity. Young master won't be able to live either."

Hearing this, Nicholas's mother gently pushed Nicholas away and secretly stuffed the ring into his arms. "Nico, if you ever become desperate, this ring can help you. Take good care of Victoria and yourself. Don't hate me."

After this, she turned and left with the black-robed man.

Nicholas was stunned for a moment and then chased after them wildly. Unfortunately, he could not catch up because the black-robed man and his mother were flying. She did not turn around and disappeared into the horizon with the black-robed man.

After a while, Nicholas withdrew from his thoughts. He held the ring tightly in his right hand. The wound on his hand split open, and a drop of blood fell on the black ring. The ring suddenly shook. Nicholas was shocked and quickly looked at the ring. When he lowered his head, the ring suddenly turned into a black ray that shot into his forehead.

In an instant, Nicholas disappeared. When he reappeared, he saw a wide starry sky.

Not far in front of Nicholas, there was a black tower floating. The tower had 12 floors and was suspended. It was surrounded by four huge black chains as thick as pillars. At the top of the tower, there were three swords.

The entire tower was pitch-black and eerie.

Nicholas suppressed his shock. He looked at the top of the entrance of the first floor, where it wrote "Prison of Infinite Realms".

On both sides of the door, there were two lines of blood-red ancient characters. Nicholas could not understand them, but there seemed to be a mysterious power that transmitted the meaning of these characters into his mind. "This place imprisons the deities and demons of the various realms, rules, and fates."