Cheat God
17. Past Secrets

The warm fragrance of lotus tea slowly faded as the room settled into silence. Outside, cranes called faintly beneath the moon.

After the engagement surprise and a few cups of spiritual tea, Liu Chen finally looked toward his father with narrowed eyes.

“All right. What’s the real reason for dragging me into this marriage now?”

Lin Tianyuan chuckled, setting his jade cup down gently. “You’re not completely clueless, boy. This isn't just a family matter—it’s about preparing for the Great Land of Bliss.”

Liu Chen’s expression sharpened slightly.

“You mentioned it before. It’s opening in two months.”

Lin Tianyuan nodded.

“And you’ll be among the candidates to enter. Which is why you need to prepare. Especially with what lies within.”

Liu Chen crossed his arms. “So what’s the big deal about this place? A training ground? Forbidden zone? Secret ruin?”

His father’s smile faded slightly.

“No. It was once… a paradise.”

Lin Tianyuan’s voice lowered as he spoke, almost like he was reciting from history itself.

“Thousands of years ago, in the distant northeast of the Immortal World, there floated a magnificent landmass known as Dark Star Island. It wasn’t just any territory—it was one of the pillars of prosperity and power in the entire cultivation realm.”

Liu Chen’s brows lifted.

“Never heard of it.”

“Most haven’t,” his father said. “Its name was scrubbed from history. But in its time, it was the only land that connected all major worlds—Immortal World, Demon World, Underworld, Elf Domain, Beast Realm… all had portals or spatial paths to Dark Star.”

Liu Chen leaned in. “A multi-realm hub?”

“Exactly,” Lin Tianyuan confirmed. “It was a marketplace, a sanctuary, and a battlefield all at once. Cultivators, dark merchants, demon traders, soul tamers, assassins, and even gods passed through it.”

Yan Ruyan added softly, “It was said—there was nothing you couldn’t buy, sell, or find in Dark Star. Techniques, rare bloodlines, slaves, forbidden fruits, even divine beasts.”

“Of course,” Lin Tianyuan continued, his gaze turning solemn, “a place like that… had its dark side. It was the birthplace of the most ruthless killing organization in the entire continent: God Slayer Hall.”

Liu Chen’s eyes flickered.

That name.

Even in his previous life’s fragments… it was considered a myth.

“They say those who bear the black flame sigil of the God Slayers can erase the name of a celestial god from the stars,” Yan Ruyan whispered. “No protection, no karma, no fate laws can shield you.”

Liu Chen exhaled slowly. “So what destroyed it? A war?”

Lin Tianyuan looked at him directly.

“No. It was a treasure.”

Liu Chen froze. “...a single treasure?”

“A single fruit,” his father said calmly. “It appeared one night in the core of Dark Star Island. A heavenly phenomenon followed—nine rings of golden lightning, a rain of spirit flowers, and ancient runes descending from the heavens.”

Yan Ruyan added, “It was said that whoever consumed the Great Dao Fruit… would instantly comprehend Dao. Not a concept. Not an affinity. But an actual law of Heavenly Dao.”

Liu Chen felt a strange tightness in his chest. His previous soul—the original Liu Chen—had read something similar. A fruit said to contain a fragment of Heaven’s will. A mythical treasure that no one had truly seen. 

He murmured, “I thought it was just a fantasy. A parable.”

“No fantasy,” Lin Tianyuan said gravely. “The night it appeared, the continent cracked. All races—immortal emperors, abyss monarchs, god beasts, void saints—they all fought for it. Tens of thousands died in one night. The spatial barriers collapsed as continent's most powerful being fight there. At last these place become full of curse aura. No matter how powerful one have as in few moments, your body, spirit or soul become effected in curse aura that slowly but painfully kill you. That's why its name erased from the Heaven's scroll.”

A long silence followed. Yan Ruyan poured him more tea. “That shattered land… is now what we call the Great Land of Bliss.”

“Sealed for two thousand years as open in every few hundred years,” Lin Tianyuan said. “And now, it’s opening again. It has filled with cursed aura in thousands of year. But because of Great Dao Fruit, there is still Heavenly patterns. There heavenly pattern make Great Land of Bliss paradise for training. Heaven and earth treasure and great amount of pure ancient aura filled in every corner. It have great benefits for all kinds of races. This also make hard for any cultivator to reach there. So major forces make arrangements to send young generation to compteat for treasure."

Liu Chen muttered, “And Su Nanying and I happen to tick every box.”

“Exactly,” Lin Tianyuan smiled. “There are fixed slots for all forces. Such as Second class forces have only three slots, first class forces have five spot and super forces like them have ten slots. Any lower rank forces don't have any chances. It is great opportunity for you."

Liu Chen chuckled bitterly. “Or is dragging me into another death trap. He stood slowly, the tea still warm in his hands. His eyes—golden-black and ancient—flickered with thought.

Great Dao Fruit… God Slayer origins… unknown inheritance…

It was no longer a question of desire. The path had already begun to shape itself.

“I’ll prepare,” he said quietly. “Have the Jade Spiritual Nectar Pool ready.”

Yan Ruyan stood and smiled. “We already did. It’s waiting for you.”

Liu Tianyuan nodded. “you can't take your guardian puppet with you in those cursed land, so prepare well.”

---