That was not Ruins Spirit, but a figure that looked like a young boy, covered by a thin layer of dark light, as if it had formed a dark cocoon.
His eyes were closed, his face serene, as if he had fallen into the deepest slumber, his breath resonating faintly with the entire Eye of the Nether Sea and even this Land of Returning to the Ruins, becoming one with it.
What is most astonishing is that even in his slumber, the boy naturally exudes an indescribable Daoist aura, as if he were the darling of this deathly wasteland, born to be close to it all.
Its spirituality is simply a marvel of nature, truly astonishing.
"This is..."
Jiang Hao also noticed this strange presence, and felt a chill run down his spine.
The being that can slumber in such a place is definitely no ordinary being.
The Nether Crow's eyes widened even more, and it let out a low cry:
"Good heavens... how can there be a living person here? No, this feeling... doesn't seem like a living person, nor a dead person..."
Just as Han Xuanji and the others approached, the vitality emanating from their bodies seemed to trigger some kind of opportunity.
The dark, faint light that covered the boy's entire body receded slowly like a tide, disappearing into his body.
His long eyelashes trembled slightly, and then, a pair of deep, dark eyes, as deep as the Eye of the Nether Sea, slowly opened.
An invisible pressure suddenly descended as his gaze fixed upon him.
This oppressive aura wasn't deliberately released, but rather emanated from his very existence, as if the will of the entire Land of Returning to the Ruins was bestowed upon him. It caused Jiang Hao to catch his breath instantly, prompting him to ask:
"Who is this person?"
The Nether Crow's eyes were also filled with doubt:
"I don't know. This is actually my first time going this far in. Usually, I'd only go a few steps before it was gone."
Han Xuanji calmly gazed at the awakened boy, a serious look appearing in his eyes for the first time.
[ Son of the Nether Sea: First-Layer Taiyi Golden Immortal, a Son of the Nine Netherworlds, a person of great destiny, One Destined to Face the Tribulation, an innate saint, a primordial being born from endless death, with unparalleled talent and outstanding comprehension, awakened because of your existence, with a childlike nature at birth.]
Son of the Nine Netherworlds?
The name certainly sounds impressive.
Han Xuanji became somewhat interested.
He noticed that the other party was born with the qualities of Taiyi Golden Immortal, which was quite extraordinary.
How many times do I need to simulate the opponent?
Han Xuanji silently asked himself the question.
[One hundred and fifty times.]
"This..."
Upon seeing such a high price, Han Xuanji couldn't help but gasp.
Goodness!
It turns out that the thirty simulations he accumulated weren't nearly enough.
Just as Han Xuanji was secretly amazed by the high number of simulations, the awakened Son of the Nether Sea had already fully opened his eyes.
His gaze, initially filled with a hint of naive bewilderment, swept across the desolate surroundings before finally settling firmly on Han Xuanji, who was closest to him and whose aura was the most enigmatic and unpredictable.
That ethereal and indifferent gaze flickered strangely the moment it met Han Xuanji's eyes.
He tilted his head, his movement carrying a childlike innocence and curiosity.
Immediately afterward, under the astonished gazes of Han Xuanji, Jiang Hao, and Nether Crow, the Son of the Nether Sea slowly stood up.
He took a step forward, ignoring Jiang Hao, who looked like he was facing a formidable enemy, and the trembling Nether Crow, and walked straight to Han Xuanji.
Then, he looked up, gazing at Han Xuanji with pure and innocent eyes, his ethereal voice carrying a hint of uncertainty:
"Father?"
These two words resounded like thunder in this desolate, Land of Returning to the Ruins.
Jiang Hao's eyes widened instantly, and his mouth opened wide enough to fit an egg.
The Nether Crow's feathers bristled, and it leaped off Jiang Hao's shoulder, cawing sharply.
"Huh? Father... Father? Boss, when... when did you leave your child in this godforsaken place? This... this is right next to the Eye of the Nether Sea!"
Its worldview seemed to have been greatly impacted.
Even though Han Xuanji's Dao heart was as firm as a rock, his face twitched almost imperceptibly at this moment.
Even he never expected something like this to happen.
He looked at the extraordinary talent of the Son of the Nether Sea who called him father, and for a moment he was speechless.
Han Xuanji could clearly sense that this Son of the Nether Sea was not joking or pretending; it was a kind of innocent cognition from the very beginning of life, as if he had taken Han Xuanji, the first being to awaken his consciousness and whose aura was incredibly powerful, as his support.
Or perhaps it was the other person's biological instincts that led him to recognize a father figure.
"Cough."
Han Xuanji coughed lightly, suppressing the sense of absurdity in his heart, maintaining a calm demeanor, and said:
I am not your father.
Jiang Hao and Nether Crow both breathed a sigh of relief. They knew it...
Upon hearing this, the Son of the Nether Sea's eyes flashed with a clear look of confusion and disappointment. He frowned slightly, as if trying to understand the meaning of those words.
He couldn't comprehend the complexities of blood relations; he only instinctively understood certain phrases.
But... it was you who woke me up.
His ethereal voice carried a sense of persistence, and his logic was simple and direct.
"You were the first person I saw, and you are also the most powerful. You are my father."
Jiang Hao listened from the side, his lips twitching. He wanted to laugh but dared not, and could only hold it in, his shoulders trembling slightly.
The Nether Crow covered its beak with its wings, making suppressed "coo-coo" sounds, clearly trying its best to hold back its laughter.
It's unexpected that even an unparalleled powerhouse like Han Xuanji would encounter such a predicament.
Looking at this stubborn Son of the Nether Sea, Han Xuanji felt a mix of unease and... strange amusement.
He pondered for a moment, neither outright denying nor directly admitting, but instead asked in a different manner:
Do you have a name?
The Son of the Nether Sea shook his head, his dark eyes still fixed on Han Xuanji, as if awaiting his blessing.
Han Xuanji's gaze swept over the aura that was almost identical to that of the Eye of the Nether Sea, and the essence that had been born from endless death. A slight thought stirred within him, and he spoke:
"Since you were born in the Nether Sea, shall I call you... Han You?"
" Han You..."
The Son of the Nether Sea repeated the name in a low voice, a glimmer of light seeming to appear in his empty eyes. He nodded, seemingly satisfied with the name, and looked at Han Xuanji again, his tone even carrying a hint of barely perceptible admiration.
"Thank you, Father, for giving me this name."
Well, we've come full circle.
Han Xuanji was speechless and could only give the order:
"Just call me Master, don't call me Father."
Having multiple apprentices is fine, but having a son is a different story; it's as if he's some kind of scumbag.
"Yes, Master."
This time, Han You changed her tune quickly, calling her name clearly, and her tone was somewhat cheerful.
They are quite humane.
Han Xuanji nodded secretly; if he continued to call him father, he would indeed get a little angry.
He turned his gaze to the still swaying blue Other Shore beside him and said to Jiang Hao:
"Your goal is here; take it for yourself."
Jiang Hao finally snapped out of his daze at the bizarre scene. He quickly composed himself, looked solemnly at the divine flower that was so close to him, plucked it, and put it into his storage Law Treasure. He breathed a long sigh of relief.
Han Xuanji continued to approach the Eye of the Nether Sea, and a system notification sounded.