My Descendants Are My Power

Within his secluded courtyard, Austin, the avatar of the Heavenly Path Venerable, maintained his air of serene indifference.

He spent his days cultivating, his power growing with each passing moment, or tormenting the unfortunate souls trapped within his cages.

Each captive was a vanquished foe, their spirits broken, their bodies imprisoned.

The air crackled with their venomous curses, a symphony of hatred directed at their tormentor.

Yet, Austin reveled in their despair. Each insult was a testament to his power, a reminder of his triumphs.

These pathetic creatures were nothing more than caged birds, forced to witness his ascent to godhood.

As he basked in their impotent rage, a flicker of curiosity crossed his mind.

He turned his gaze towards Edward, his feathered form huddled in the corner of his cage.

When Austin had first revealed his intentions to target the Blackwoods once more, Edward had reacted with predictable fury.

Yet, after two days, his rage had subsided, replaced by an unsettling silence.

"Why so quiet today, little bird?" Austin asked, his voice laced with amusement.

Edward remained motionless, his eyes fixed on Austin with unwavering intensity.

"Very well," Austin chuckled. "You may be silent now, but your rage will resurface eventually."

"This Sunshine Mansion... so many families have risen and fallen alongside your precious Blackwoods."

"And their rising stars... they far surpassed anything your bloodline ever produced."

He gestured towards the cages, his laughter echoing through the courtyard.

"There was once a rising star from the Emerald Empire who feasted on the life force of his enemies."

"He reached the Developing Skill realm at thirty, the Competent Force realm by fifty."

He pointed to another cage, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

"This one... his bloodline was blessed by the heavens."

"They are born with the power of lightning coursing through their veins, immune to the wrath of the heavens."

"They, too, sought to claim Sunshine Mansion as their own, just like your Blackwoods."

He moved on to the next cage, his voice dripping with disdain.

"And this one... born with eyes that could perceive the very essence of any technique."

"A single glance, and he could master it."

"And yet," Austin said, his voice laced with a chilling finality, "all they can do is curse my name."

He chuckled softly.

"You Blackwoods... you are but frogs in a well."

"You surround yourselves with sycophants, those foolish enough to claim the Blackwood name as their own."

"They should have perished long ago."

"But it seems their misguided loyalty has led them straight into my trap."

"They believe reaching the imperial capital will guarantee their safety? How amusing."

As Austin spoke, Edward could contain his rage no longer.

He lunged at the bars of his cage, his cries a torrent of fury and despair.

He had lived a long life, witnessed countless horrors.

But he had never encountered a monster like the Heavenly Path Venerable.

It seemed that no matter how talented, how powerful a rising star may be, they were nothing before the might of the Heavenly Path.

He controlled everything.

"Hahaha!" Austin roared, his laughter echoing through the courtyard as he reveled in Edward's despair.

...

Meanwhile, on the shores of the North Sea, Blake and his companions arrived at Coastal Village.

They stood before a familiar sight: the dilapidated tavern where Helen and her family had once sought refuge.

The tavern was deserted, its doors bolted shut, its interior coated in a thick layer of dust.

Undeterred, the group fanned out, their formations, talismans, and divination tools humming with power as they searched for any trace of the Blackwoods.

"I sense lingering psychic energies!"

"I've traced the residual aura on this bed. It's faint, but I see them... the Blackwoods."

"I've searched the memories of the villagers. It's hazy, but I managed to extract an image of the family who lived here."

"The resemblance to the Blackwoods is undeniable! They said another group arrived later..."

"I believe the Blackwoods used some kind of technique to obscure their memories."

"But they were heading... towards the imperial capital!"

"The imperial capital? The Heavenly Justice Hall confirmed it."

"The 'Supreme One,' the one who challenged and defeated the 25th ranked Psychic... they were last seen heading in that direction."

"It's them! It has to be! The Blackwoods are heading for the imperial capital!"

"We've found them! Hahaha! We've finally found them! To the imperial capital!"

With renewed purpose, the group set off towards the heart of the empire.

Three months had passed since Chuck had encountered Donna in the forest near Milltown.

Yet, he feigned ignorance, mirroring the excitement of his companions.

But beneath the surface, his mind raced, his gaze darting between his fellow travelers, searching for any sign, any clue.

"What manner of monster is this?" he muttered under his breath.

"To possess such power... I was a fool to think I had seen all the world had to offer."

He had been oblivious to the true nature of the enemy that hunted the Blackwoods.

When he had intervened all those years ago, he had assumed the masked figures were merely agents of some powerful faction.

It was only recently that he had learned the truth: they were all puppets, controlled by a single, terrifying will.

He had believed the Blackwoods to be a force of nature, their power unmatched.

But that fateful day, he had glimpsed the abyss, and it had stared back.

"Master Chuck, what troubles you?"

Blake's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Once we find the main family, we'll finally know the truth. And I will avenge my father."

"Indeed," Chuck murmured, his brow furrowed.

He couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.

As they journeyed onward, their faces alight with hope, they remained oblivious to the true scope of the threat they faced.

And they were walking straight into the lion's den.

Because among them... walked an avatar of the Heavenly Path Venerable.

"Who? Who are you?"

Ever since his encounter with Donna, Chuck had been plagued by a terrifying realization: their every move, every decision, had been orchestrated by the Heavenly Path Venerable.

They had left Sunshine Mansion, their movements shrouded in secrecy, yet the enemy had anticipated their every step.

It could only mean one thing: the Heavenly Path Venerable had infiltrated their ranks.

No, it wasn't just their group. It was possible that Sunshine Mansion, perhaps even the entire Emerald Empire, was riddled with his avatars.

That was the true terror of the Heavenly Path Venerable: he was everywhere.

This group, this desperate search for the Blackwoods... it was all part of his plan.

Donna's appearance three months ago, the attack on their group... it was all a test.

The Heavenly Path Venerable had allowed them to live, to continue their search, because he needed them to lead him to the remaining Blackwoods.

...

Time marched on, relentless and unforgiving.

[Year 226 of the Blackwood Family]

The imperial capital loomed before them, a sprawling metropolis of grandeur and ambition.

On its outskirts, nestled amidst rolling hills and humble villages, lay Cedar Ridge, an unremarkable mountain that held no significance to the bustling city.

After six months of relentless searching, following the faintest of trails, the group of black-clad figures finally reached their destination.

They ascended Cedar Ridge, their swords humming as they soared through the air.

Before them stood a humble thatched hut, its simplicity a stark contrast to the opulence of the nearby capital.

Outside the hut, a young man sat cross-legged, his brow furrowed in concentration as he cultivated, his hands moving in the intricate patterns of a magic formula.

A woman, her brow slick with sweat, hauled buckets of water, her movements practiced and efficient.

She looked every bit the part of a simple farmer's wife.

A young woman in fine clothes, her laughter echoing through the air, chased after a swirling mist, her demeanor carefree and playful.

It was them. Donna, Helen, and Benjamin. They had found them.

The trio looked up, their expressions wary as they registered the arrival of the strangers.

But as their gazes fell upon the faces of their unexpected guests, their eyes widened in shock and disbelief.

"Donna? Donna, Master has found you!"

Chuck rushed forward, his voice thick with emotion, his eyes shining with a joy he had thought lost forever.

But amidst the joyous reunion, a pair of cold, calculating eyes watched from the shadows of the Azure Cloud contingent.

A cruel smile spread across the stranger's lips as he uttered a single, chilling sentence.

"Yes, we've found them. Hehehe... we've finally found them."