Arc 3: Part 21
If someone should ask who, in the realm of cultivation, is considered a child of destiny, whose luck, talent, and life experiences are unparalleled in the world...
Most people would unanimously mention one name:
Tian Xuanzi.
He was originally the supreme elder of the Ziwei Palace and the sect leader of Jing Yang Peak. Now, he is the lord of the Demon Realm. Merely one thousand two hundred and thirty-six years old, he is recognized in both the righteous and evil paths of the cultivation world as the foremost Mahayana cultivator.
Born into a royal family in the mortal world, he entered the mountains to cultivate at the age of six, built his foundation at ten, formed his golden core at sixteen, entered the nascent soul stage at one hundred eighty, became a transcendent being at four hundred eighty-eight, and ascended to the Mahayana stage after surviving the tribulations at nine hundred fifteen.
Tian Xuanzi rarely reminisces about his past, as he does now.
Recalling it always brings to mind the acquaintances from his past, those who have departed from his side during these thousand years of solitary cultivation. Some fell in battle, some reached the end of their natural lives, and others parted ways on different paths. Few are still alive; most have died and their souls scattered across the six realms. However, it's not as if he was particularly close to any of them.
Cultivation doesn't mean cutting oneself off from human emotions completely. Jealousy, greed, and caution... cultivators are not free from these either.
From his birth to his first steps on the path of cultivation, from refining his qi to reaching the Mahayana stage and aiming to ascend to immortality, his journey has been incredibly smooth, so much more successful than others that he's naturally drawn countless envious and jealous glances.
A few sentences intended to incite envy, several phrases filled with obvious praise yet concealed criticism. They pontificated that a strong person should possess the demeanor of a leader, that one who was capable of vanquishing demons ought to lead others from the front, and that it was proper for him to step in during dangerous situations.
Tian Xuanzi couldn't be bothered to dispute with these people. When faced with perilous situations, he saw them as personal tests and stepped forward with his sword. Upon his solo return from resolving these situations, he would hear their insincere adulation; this, too, he never acknowledged more than necessary.
Yet...
Even though they showered him with praise, lauding his wisdom, righteousness, efforts, and claiming that without him, the world would cease to operate as it currently did...
Not one of them.
Not like her.
She was of low cultivation, yet had the audacity to rise against him, a Mahayana cultivator, with fierce defiance. As a protector, she boldly confronted the elders who had achieved unity with their divine spirits, standing tall and questioning sharply.
“On what basis do you demand that he alone sacrifice for you all? During those years he fought battles in every direction, exterminating countless demons. Has his contribution, once regarded as extraordinarily meritous, now faded like smoke in thin air? Just because he switched paths and pursued the way of the demon, you label him a demon. Doesn't that mean you parasitic creatures, who enjoy the safety brought by others' righteousness and calculations from the backlines, are even more abhorrent than demons?”
At these words, Tian Xuanzi felt an inexplicable warmth surging in his heart.
He never paid mind to others' defamation, yet at this moment, watching her persist through her grief and anger, he strangely felt, for the first time, a sense of being protected by someone.
A warm feeling, not awkward at all, but instead comforting to his heart and lungs.
Tong Su was unaware that behind her, the usually indifferent Tian Xuanzi, was dealing with a whirlwind of intense emotions within his heart.
She still glared furiously at the Spirit Mirror image and revealed a cold, sarcastic sneer to Lu Han Yuanjun and the others. Her lips parted slightly and she spoke a few words slowly and deliberately.
“Even a rat has its hide, how could a human lack dignity! If a human loses their dignity, what is the point of living!”
“Bai Tong!”
Lu Han Yuanjun and the others trembled with disbelief, glaring at Tong Su. The murderous intent within them instantly reached its peak!
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