The Corridor Forest, a noble’s hunting paradise.

It had its own unique charm.

No magical beasts here—only pure wild animals.

Rabbits, roe deer, deer… harmless creatures filled the woods.

The designers went to great lengths. They built a large barbecue area at the hunting ground’s heart.

A silver-haired youth stood on a tree branch. After a moment’s observation, he leaped to another.

Agile as a monkey, swift and sure.

“This is the forest’s edge already… Where could Dad be…” the youth murmured, gazing past the green canopy.

No stunning seascape awaited—just a towering cliff.

He looked up briefly.

*Impossible. With Dad’s condition now… he couldn’t possibly climb this sheer height.*

The youth lowered his head, thoughtful. Then he gazed skyward again at the cloud-piercing cliff.

*Still… I can’t help worrying…*

At the forest’s edge, the highest treetop swayed gently.

No figure was visible.

At the Corridor Forest’s barbecue area, a nobleman fed his child.

“Hey! Dad, look! Someone’s there!” the child cried suddenly, tiny finger pointing toward the cliff.

“Haha! Must be your imagination! Open wide, good boy…”

“Ahhh…”

The silver-haired youth was none other than Sima Luan Tong.

This sky-high cliff defied even Ryosuke’s inhuman strength. No single leap could conquer it.

Ryosuke carved shallow pits into the rock with Battle Qi. Each became a foothold as he ascended.

The sea wind bit fiercely. Even as the Evil God Dragon, Ryosuke felt marrow-deep chills.

Reaching the summit, his whole body trembled uncontrollably.

Atop the peak sat an old man, cloaked in black.

“Dad… you really are here…” Ryosuke whispered, stepping slowly toward that lonely silhouette.

“Ryosuke… will you hear your old man’s story…”

Ryosuke froze. That aged voice carried echoes of distant times, heavy with sorrow…

“The lost Apsen Giant clan… have you heard of them? Where to begin…”

“A thousand years ago, the Supreme God shaped this world. He birthed two races: humans and the Demon Kind. Wisdom to humans, power to demons.”

“He hoped they’d cooperate, building this world together.”

“But humans grew greedy with wisdom. Demons grew ambitious with power. War erupted—both sides bled heavily.”

“That era was the ‘Fifty Years of Darkness.’ From it rose the Apsen line—the lost giants…”

Apsen sighed deeply, continuing:

“Amid that hatred, a human named Apsen loved a demon maiden. Had they been ordinary, it might’ve passed. But Apsen was humanity’s Commander, its strongest Battle God. The maiden? Daughter of Caesar, first Demon King.”

“They loved—and crossed forbidden lines. Caesar’s daughter carried the child of mankind’s mightiest. When Caesar learned this, she fled alone to protect her unborn babe. Apsen defied all humanity for his family. Both races united, vowing to kill that infant. Because…”

“Human and demon union was utterly forbidden!”

Ryosuke’s heart clenched tight.

He didn’t know why…

Apsen drew a shaky breath. His hunched frame trembled.

“Apsen fled with the demon maiden and their unborn child. To the continent’s end—a valley frozen year-round. Legends say it existed before the Supreme God’s creation…”

“You know this place well…”

Ryosuke’s lips parted slightly. No words came.

“Frostbound Dragon Valley, Ryosuke. Your origin.”

*My origin?*

“No! Dad! I’m not from this world, I—”

Ryosuke clamped a hand over his mouth. His deepest secret had slipped out…

Yet Apsen showed no surprise.

“I know…”

Ryosuke stared. “You… know?”

Apsen sighed softly. “Child, hear me out first…”

Ryosuke nodded silently.

“Frostbound Dragon Valley hid even from the Supreme God. When Apsen and the maiden entered, human and demon armies followed. Their final clash erupted deep within the valley. Even Apsen’s Battle God strength couldn’t withstand Caesar and Jamma I—humanity’s second strongest. Wounded and cornered, Apsen faced doom. Then—it appeared. Nameless then, but now the world calls it—”

Apsen whirled. His rotten eye glowed eerily. Yellowed teeth enunciated each syllable.

“Ice—flow—er—Evil—God—Drag—on”

Ryosuke shuddered despite himself at the familiar name.

“The Creator God avoids war unless extinction looms. But the Iceflower Evil God Dragon forced His hand. Existing unseen for ages, it was already a demigod.”

“It came for the infant in the demon princess’s womb. Gods aren’t defined by power—but by ‘creation.’ Every human is their own god, holding infinite creative potential. That unborn child held the world’s strongest primal force—bond.”

“Two races’ peaks forged the impossible. Their bond could rival gods. The Iceflower Evil God Dragon craved that child—to ascend from demigod to true god.”

“And you… Sima Liangjie… were that infant.”