Chapter 1 Death, but not completely dead.
"You old scoundrel, prepare to die!"
A streak of light pierced through the clouds and landed directly on the head of the white-robed cultivator.
"A mere trick." The white-robed cultivator, who was being targeted, swept his long sleeves, creating a barrier around himself that blocked the attack.
"Is this all you've got? Li Tiansheng, it's not too late for you to beg me to spare your body."
"Li Qingyun!" Li Tiansheng was enraged, and the speed at which he gathered spiritual power in his hands began to increase.
Then, with another forceful strike, unlike the spiritual energy barrier that appeared after Li Qingyun cast her spell, a rain of fire covered the sky, and everywhere one could see was a concentrated burst of flames.
Li Tiansheng was preparing his ultimate move, muttering incessantly, "Arrogant old thief, let's see how you dodge this time!"
Li Qingyun's expression changed drastically.
"Thousand Flames—" Li Tiansheng shouted, unleashing his ultimate move, "Explode!"
"What?!" Li Qingyun tried to stop it, but it was too late.
Boom—Boom—Boom—
A series of explosions occurred at Li Qingyun's location, with layers of flames piled up, completely obscuring his human form.
The sky had already been burned red.
Outside the battlefield, a thousand meters away, someone gazed into the distance, constantly watching the changing situation of the battle.
When Li Tiansheng's clusters of fireballs appeared, Chang Yubai's breath hitched, and he had already judged who would win and who would lose.
His hand holding the sugar painting was trembling, yet he muttered a calm expression that belied his demeanor: "Just as I thought."
The day has finally come.
Chang Yubai was not surprised by Li Qingyun's fate today; in fact, he could foresee it at a glance.
Although Chang Yubai was Li Qingyun's beloved disciple, it did not affect the fact that this disciple was not optimistic about his master's future.
After all, who would bet their entire fortune on cannon fodder who opposes Long Aotian?
Chang Yubai didn't accumulate much wealth, and his cultivation was far more relaxed than ordinary people could understand. It could be said that his food, drink, and daily necessities for most of his life came from his master's financial support.
For example, the candy he was chewing to calm his nerves was bought with the spare change his master gave him.
“Master, please leave in peace. Your disciple will collect your body,” Chang Yubai said sadly. “Your disciple will certainly not let you die without a burial place.”
He couldn't be filial to his master while he was alive, so he can't just do nothing after his death.
At least the grave-digging, filling-up, and worship should not be neglected.
Chang Yubai walked towards the now quiet battlefield.
He could no longer tell how many years he had spent in the vast world of cultivation. From the very beginning of his memories, Li Qingyun had been by his side.
Becoming an apprentice, learning skills, and undergoing trials—on one side of every major memory, there is the lingering presence of the master.
The master and disciple were inseparable, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that they were the most important people in each other's lives.
At least for Chang Yubai, there is no one closer to him than Li Qingyun.
"I tried, Master, but I couldn't stop it." Chang Yubai then realized that he hadn't suffered enough; a single separation was enough to make him heartbroken.
"I tried my best to stop you several times, telling you not to go against Long Aotian. Li Tiansheng was able to come back alive from Ghost Island. Not only did he have a Ghost City Saintess by his side, but he also broke through three major realms. He's definitely got the makings of a protagonist."
"Master, you won't listen to my advice."
Chang Yubai looked at his master, who was blasted to a dark color, and remained silent for a long time before raising his hand to close his eyes.
When did it start?
It seems to be an auction in Penglai. The precious item that Li Qingyun wanted to buy was snatched away at a high price, and he uttered a line that was completely out of character—"How dare you, you brat, steal my treasure!"
From then on, Li Qingyun was like a gunpowder addict, never stopping talking about Li Tiansheng, and clashing with him at least once every five days, practically begging to be his ATM.
Chang Yubai couldn't stand his master's worthless appearance, but was angrily scolded with "What do you know?" and was locked up for more than a month.
When he was released from confinement, he learned that Li Tiansheng had issued a challenge to his master to a life-or-death duel, and the two agreed to settle their differences here.
“If it weren’t for the fact that you still treat me like family even after Li Tiansheng was gone, I would probably think that you had been possessed.”
"Or perhaps, you have actually been possessed, but it wasn't some old demon who took you, it was the plot."
"..."
"Master, if there is a next time, please don't go against Long Aotian again."
After rambling on and on, Chang Yubai suppressed his heartache, put his master's remains into his mustard seed space, and prepared to find a beautiful place to bury them.
When I turned around, a face that I knew all too well was looking at me.
Chang Yubai: "..."
Chang Yubai's mind went blank, and he stammered, "Young Master Li."
Li Tiansheng? How did he get back? Could it be that some magical artifact was left behind during the fight?
“I had a feeling there was a third person from the very beginning of the battle.” Li Tiansheng raised his longsword. “Sure enough, you and that old thief Li are in cahoots. You killed the old and the young. When will this ever end?”
"Wait. I don't..." Chang Yubai couldn't finish his sentence.
He watched as the protagonist's sword flew towards him, piercing his chest in an instant, his mind seemingly rusted and unable to function.
A single drop of blood fell to the ground, yet it attracted a cascade of even more crimson blood.
"When will this finally end?"
A low, muffled complaint crept past Chang Yubai's ears.
That was the last sound he could catch before he closed his eyes.
...
This place is called Guanwu Continent, which is divided into seven regions. It values martial arts practitioners, and the stronger one is, the more one can roam freely.
Martial arts practitioners are divided into seven major realms: beginner, intermediate, advanced, profound, and divine. Each major realm is further subdivided into one to nine minor realms.
Chang Yubai had been lazy in his studies for nearly a hundred years, and only reached the seventh level of the High Martial Realm before his death. His master, Li Qingyun, had long been at the eighth level of the Venerable Martial Realm, just one step away from breaking through to the ninth level of the Venerable Martial Realm and stepping into the highest level of the entire continent.
As for the most prominent and most peak Divine Martial Realm?
That's a realm only the protagonist can reach; don't even think about it until Li Tiansheng reaches the top.
Chang Yubai: "..."
So why is he still able to think about these initial settings?
Oh, because he's not quite dead yet.
Or rather, he never died at all.
Chang Yubai lowered his eyelids, watching the ever-changing flow of people in front of him, with no familiar faces among the bustling crowd.
He wore it again? What did he do with it?
Is this still the Guanwu Continent he knows?
"Guest, would you like to see our newly arrived materials? The price is reasonable, only three hundred spirit jades."
Oh, it's Guanwu again. Only this desolate place would use spirit jade as currency.
"Materials?" Chang Yubai slowly turned his head.
The shop assistant exclaimed, "Hey! You're a new customer, right? You were recommended by a friend, weren't you? Don't worry, this shop is the most reputable old brand within a hundred miles. We offer guarantees that other shops don't, and our prices are very reasonable. If we didn't have such a solid reputation, who would dare to offer these prices?"
Chang Yubai: "..." Is this your reason for asking for three hundred spirit jades?
"No." It was too expensive, so he turned and walked away.
"Hey, hey, hey, sir, at least take a look! I know you came here specifically for this store, but since you're already here, checking out other stores will give you more options, and you might even find something you like."
"Don't worry, if our store doesn't have any good items to your liking, it's definitely because our stock is insufficient, and we will never make things difficult for you. If you like our store, please mention my name, Wang Huang, when you come again, and we will give you a discount for our loyal customers."
The shop assistant, Wang Huang, was so quick-witted that he rattled off a string of clever remarks, leaving no room for him to interrupt or refuse.
Chang Yubai stared at the shop assistant for a while, thinking that this man was really good with words, managing to persuade him to pay up.
I'm sorry, Three Hundred Spirit Jade, perhaps today we will part ways forever.
"Mm." Chang Yubai nodded.
"Alright! This way, please, sir. I'll show you the way."
Chang Yubai followed.
"Guest, judging from your attire, you're not a local of Tiansha City, are you?"
Tiansha City? This is actually Tiansha City?
The Heavenly Sand City of the Great Wilderness?!
Why did I end up in this godforsaken place?!
“Zhongzhou,” Chang Yubai said.
Wang Huang was surprised for a moment: "You actually came from Zhongzhou, that's quite a distance."
Chang Yubai knew, of course, that the Great Wilderness and the Central State were separated by two domains and thirteen cities, with constant defenses. Even flying through the air would take three days and three nights, not to mention that the spiritual power in the body of a martial arts cultivator could not be abundant forever, and the constant stops and starts would take up a lot of time.
If it weren't for the treasure, no martial arts practitioner would be willing to travel such a long distance to the Great Wilderness.
Wang Huang's gaze sharpened, and his movements became cautious as he quietly approached: "Sir, would you mind revealing whether something is about to happen in the Great Wilderness?"
Chang Yubai: "..."
Chang Yubai: "No."
Wang Huang breathed a sigh of relief and immediately returned to his previous obsequious demeanor.
"Guest, we've arrived. This is our shop's signboard. I dare say you won't find another piece of this quality in Tiansha City."
Chang Yubai stopped in front of a magic array.
The white-patterned array glowed faintly, trapping the prisoner in the center, who was covered in chains.
Chang Yubai was a pure martial arts practitioner and had never heard of terms like "materials" before. He didn't think he would be interested in such things. He thought that he would encounter some divine weapons along the way, and he wouldn't throw away his three hundred silver dollars for some nonsensical material.
I couldn't bring myself to say no.
"This child has exceptional talent and natural wood-attribute spiritual energy. His bone age is no more than eight years old. He has been nurtured with medicinal baths since birth. Whether he is used as material or for making puppets, he is a first-class candidate."
"Moreover..." Wang Huang lowered his voice, "Wood elemental essence is mild. Although it is not as gentle and nourishing as water elemental essence, it is still a top-notch candidate for a furnace. This child is still ignorant of human affairs. If we raise him from a young age and gradually train him, he will be a completely different experience when he grows up."
Chang Yubai: "..."
"Guest? Are you interested?"
Chang Yubai: "Cough!"
Li Tiansheng, you bastard, where did you get that sword from?!
"I think I'm seeing things," Chang Yubai said calmly.
How strange, he seemed to see his master.
But not the elegant and refined master who had preserved his youthful appearance before his death.
Instead, it was an eight-year-old child, chained in the center of the formation, who was introduced as a commodity to be used as a furnace.
"Uh, sir, I don't quite understand what you mean?"
"What's his name?" Chang Yubai pressed.
"This..." This question touched on Wang Huang's blind spot. "Sir, this is just a piece of material. What to call it is entirely up to you."
Wang Huang chose to throw the question back to Chang Yubai.
So he nodded and looked at the eight-year-old boy in the center of the formation: "What's your name?"
A note from the author:
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