Chapter Three: The Goldenridge Family

In an unknown expanse, countless clusters of white mist drift aimlessly, their sizes varying wildly. Though this nameless space stretches on without end, the white mist clusters are so densely packed that collisions between them are constant and inevitable. When two clusters meet, there is no sound of impact; instead, they merge swiftly and eerily into a larger mass. Yet, even the largest of these mist clusters is no bigger than an adult’s head.

A cluster, the size of a fist, floated through this space, devouring smaller clusters as it went, growing quickly until it matched the size of an adult’s head. At that moment, another fist-sized cluster collided with it. They fused rapidly, surpassing the size of an adult’s head, and without warning, the large mist cluster flared with white light and vanished, as if it had never existed. Scenes like this played out endlessly in that nameless space—every instant, an uncountable number of white mist clusters flashed with light and disappeared. Yet, the number of clusters seemed never to diminish.

Suddenly, a gray, translucent mist cluster, about the size of an adult’s head, appeared in this space, strikingly distinct from the rest. Unlike the aimlessly drifting white clusters, the gray one remained motionless, though the white clusters continued to collide with and merge into it. As more white clusters joined it, the gray cluster’s size hardly changed; instead, its color lightened toward a dense gray-white, far richer than any other cluster.

In no time, the white mist clusters fused within it had amassed to nearly the size of an adult’s head. Then, a half-head-sized white cluster drifted unconsciously into the dense gray-white mass. Moments later, the gray-white cluster flashed with white light, about to vanish from the void. But at that instant, the gray-white mist began to churn, and an eye—confused and bewildered—formed within it. Carrying that gaze, the gray-white cluster disappeared from the space.

The Tianxuan Continent was a land of marvels. Though lacking advanced technology, it boasted magic and battle energy that rivaled any feat of science. Through cultivating magic and battle energy, people acquired tremendous power; it was said that the rare Sanctuary-level experts could not only soar through the air but also shatter mountains with a wave of their hands.

A thousand years ago, the Brewster Empire rose swiftly, and now stood as one of the five great empires of the Tianxuan Continent. The Jinge family was the preeminent clan of the Brewster Empire, second only to the royal family. Much of the empire’s current glory was owed to the Jinge family, who had played a decisive role in its founding, securing half the empire’s territory.

Among the direct descendants of the Jinge family, every male was gifted in cultivating gold-element battle energy, destined to become powerful warriors; every female possessed an innate talent for gold-element magic, qualifying them to be noble magicians.

Tonight, however, the Jinge family’s estate—usually a symbol of grandeur—was in chaos. Figures dressed entirely in black swept through the grounds, mercilessly dispatching the Jinge family’s guards and their magical beasts. Bursts of magic and battle energy erupted amid splatters of blood, casting a mesmerizing, ghastly light over the gardens.

High above the estate, a black barrier enveloped the entire property. Suspended in midair was a black-clad figure, gazing intently at two shifting beams of light—one gold, one blue-green—that darted and collided repeatedly. Each collision sent a thunderous rumble echoing through the night.

With another resounding crash, the gold and blue-green lights struck and then quickly separated. The next moment, the blue-green light flashed and appeared beside the floating black-clad figure, revealing itself to be a person clad head-to-toe in azure armor. The golden light stopped at a distance, revealing another figure in golden armor, this one riddled with cracks.

As the golden figure halted, the armor vanished abruptly, exposing an elderly man in a white warrior’s robe, wielding an enormous sword. His face was flushed, marked with grief and rage.

“No matter who you are, you will pay in blood for daring to attack the Jinge family!” the elder roared.

Suddenly, a massive golden eagle, twenty meters long, materialized beneath his feet. Letting out a mournful cry, it carried the elder, transforming into a streak of golden light as they charged toward the black-clad figure and the blue-green armored one.

The blue-green armored figure prepared to intercept, only to realize the black-clad companion had vanished, a mocking voice lingering in the air: “Self-destruction?”

Seeing the black-clad figure reappear near the golden light, the blue-green armored one halted, armor fading away to reveal black garments beneath. He watched silently as the distant battle began.

As the golden light drew closer, the black-clad figure’s expression remained unchanged—eyes cold, lips curled with disdain.

When the distance shrank to thirty or forty meters, the black-clad figure uttered, devoid of emotion, “Domain.”

The blue-green armored figure glanced at the now-empty sky, then turned and flew toward the estate, where chaos reigned after the golden elder’s disappearance.

“What was that place? What were those white clusters? Hadn’t I died?” Wang Luo’s mind echoed with countless questions, but no answers came. Suddenly, his vision brightened.

He felt stifled, his throat blocked by something. He tried to cry out, but no sound emerged. At that moment, someone delivered a firm slap to his backside, clearing the obstruction in his throat. Desperate for breath, Wang Luo let out a piercing wail, shattering the unseen blockage.

A baby’s loud cry resounded through the Jinge family patriarch’s bedchamber.

“Where is this place? Why am I a baby? Have I been reborn? Is this woman my mother? Why is it so noisy outside? And what is that smell of blood?” Wang Luo wondered, his gaze darting around.

He found himself in a room of distinctly Western style, filled with elaborate furnishings and attended by maids. He lay on a bed, or more precisely, in the arms of a beautiful woman whose eyes brimmed with tears as she gazed down at him.

Thus concludes Chapter 3 of Azure Dragon of a Different World: The Jinge Family.