8 Determination

Gu Long walked down the busy streets. Many people were rushing to and fro, going to their homes or to their night time jobs. Many merchants were still out on the streets and seeing his expensive robes, they called out to him, shouting;

"Young Master! Over here! We have the best silk!"

"Young Master! We have amulets from other lands! There is one or two here that compliment your robes!"

Thousands of such sentences were thrown at Gu Long but he ignored them all. He wanted to get home as fast as he could.

'Are my parents still alive?'

As he thought about that subject his eyes misted. The image of his parents hugging each other, smiling as they waved at him flashed through his mind.

[Yuzhou Long Shen, or should I say Gu Long. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!]

Suddenly dark red eyes in a sea of black mist appeared in front of him. A malicious aura full of killing intent pressured Gu Long. Cold sweat filled his back. He felt as if he was on the verge of death.

[You don't remember? Ah, I see now. Used a Life Seed, didn't you? No matter because soon you will be in my hands. The bonds have weakened in the past million years. Even the other gods can't stop me from extending my influence beyond that of Hell. I have already sent my minions to the world you so carefully veiled from outside. I think you have already met one didn't you? But those pesky humans sacrificed their lives to protect you. Next time you won't be so lucky.]

Despair filled Gu Long's eyes as he heard what the being said.

[You care about those humans, I see. Good thing i captured their souls then. You will soon join them, don't worry. I will see you soon. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA]

The image faded out and Gu Long saw the cobblestone street in front of him once again but his brain seemed to not have processed it. He started getting disoriented, panic gripping his chest. He stumbled and fell to the ground on all fours as his mind replayed the scenes. Those dark red eyes of that being and the malicious aura as well as those last sentences were burnt into the underside of his eyes. He saw and heard them over and over again even if he closed his eyes and shut his ears tight. He writhed and groaned in mental agony.

'You should have stayed.'

'You abandoned your parents!'

'You left them to die'

A cacophony of noises filled Gu Long's mind. An immense amount of guilt, pain and regret filled his small body, wrecking it from the inside. Just as he was about to fall into the deep abyss of insanity a clear and calming voice sounded above all others in his head.

[Wake up Gu Long! Your parents wouldn't have wanted you to feel so bad and give up! Stop being sorry for yourself! The past is the past, you can't undo it! Forge your future! Become powerful! So powerful that you can kick that guys ass and send him back to where ever he belongs! So powerful that you can save your parents from Hell itself. Don't give up and forge ahead, become the most powerful being in the COSMOS!] The wise yet immature voice of the little lizard drowned the racket of noises in Gu Long's head.

Gu Long felt light. He felt as if he was given a new chance. He would save his parents and become the most powerful being in the COSMOS! He stood up and patted off the dust on his robes. Ignoring the gazes of the people on the street Gu Long started walking forward determinedly. Every step he made would determine his future. He would rise and others would would be mere stepping stones. Nobody knew that what they were witnessing right now was the birth of a prodigy that would overshadow all. He would rise to greater heights than even his past life. He would conquer the Cosmos and beyond. Nobody will be able to stand in his way! Of course, for now he was still at the bottom of the food chain. He had to climb up slowly and never let his determination waver.

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Gu Long soon arrived at the gates of the Gu Family. A guard saw him and recognized him immediately. He hurried over, worried because he saw Gu Long alone.

"Young Master, where are your parents?" The guard asked.

"Call my uncles, the elders and… and my brother. Make sure he arrives as soon as possible. I know he is probably too busy training our soldiers but I need them all to meet in the Ancestral Family Hall in ten minutes. Go NOW!" Gu Long ordered not responding the guards question.

Gu Long then hurried off towards the direction of his home. Five minutes later Gu Long walked out of his home washed and in a new pair of plain black robes. His red robe was soiled from his night in the forest so for this occasion he couldn't put it on. He walked down a long cobblestone trail leading to a big four storied stone building. It had a tall roof which ended in sharp edge. The sides were plain with the only sign of decoration being the arches around the tall double doors. On the double doors, the image of a falling dragon was displayed. The dragon had fire burning around it making it look like a meteor, its eyes were closed and it was falling from some clouds in the sky. Alongside it, a plummeting island slowly dissolved until it became dust, only pieces of some building survived. Towards the bottom of the doors there was a world. Presumably this world[1]. On the world animals, titans, giants and monsters as well as humans stood side by side shouting, howling, barking, screeching towards the falling dragon. The paint had long been weared away by the forces of wind, water and time. Above the door a few characters carved and filled with gold said;

'Gu Ancestral Family Hall'

[1] What should we name this world? Do you guys have a good name?