Chapter Thirty-Two: Xiaotianji's Memories

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Faced with the gazes of the assembled elders, the Grand Elder acted as if he had heard nothing, trembling slightly as he seated himself in the position of authority. As soon as the Grand Elder took his seat, the expressions of the other elders grew grave. The atmosphere was silent for a moment before a weary, timeworn voice resonated within each person's heart.

"All of you are elders held in the highest esteem. Now that the Celestial Evolution Sect is facing an unprecedented crisis, I imagine you are curious—has this old man broken through the barrier above the Golden Immortal realm?" The Grand Elder swept his gaze across the elders before him, his face calm as he spoke.

"Grand Elder!" At these words, the elders' faces revealed agitation, their demeanor growing even more solemn. Those seated closest to the Grand Elder looked particularly troubled. Although the Grand Elder remained inscrutable, they knew that if he had truly surpassed the tenth tier of Golden Immortal, he would not be consulting with them. The Grand Elder had always been solitary and decisive; though the elders had prepared themselves for the worst, they were still reluctant to face it.

"Enough. Today, I am here to announce three matters of great importance, matters upon which the very survival of our sect depends. You must listen carefully." The Grand Elder sighed as he looked at the assembled elders.

A hint of reluctance flickered in the Grand Elder's eyes. In truth, he too wished he could transcend this calamity, but since the era of antiquity, the immortal energy of this world had gradually faded, until today it had vanished entirely. To break through beyond the Golden Immortal was now a distant dream.

"Yes, as you command, Grand Elder!" The elders stood with heavy hearts and bowed deeply toward him.

...

Within Heavenly Lake.

While two formidable forces clashed upon the field, a dark shadow in the region of darkness silently dissolved into black mist, retreating from the golden and silver domain and transforming into a stooped, white-haired old man...

"Heh heh heh... Xiao Tianji, oh Xiao Tianji, you can't even deal with me, yet you think you can thwart the plans of that lord from the Black Demon Clan?" A sinister voice echoed in the air.

Above the pavilion, the black mist drifted before the golden phantom, confronting it from a distance.

Xiao Tianji?

Hearing this name, Tianming was bewildered. He didn't recognize it; was this perhaps the one who had just granted him power?

While Tianming was mired in confusion, the phantom above him suddenly opened its mouth.

"Hmph! Han Anshan, you are greedy and ungrateful, betraying the sect and forsaking all loyalty. Now you wield only a half-divine artifact—what right do you have to speak with me, the Sect Master?" The golden phantom raised a finger, Xiao Tianji's resounding voice exploding like thunder throughout the space.

"As I thought," muttered Suo Yangcan quietly from the shadows behind the black figure.

At first, he hadn't recognized the intruder, but after witnessing his actions, Suo Yangcan began to suspect. If not a member of the sect, how could one move so freely within the Celestial Evolution Sect? As it turned out, his guess was correct—it was none other than the Second Elder, Han Anshan.

"Heh, a half-divine artifact is more than enough to deal with you," Han Anshan sneered. Though he was only at the peak of the Void tier, with this artifact he could challenge those of the Golden Immortal's first tier. More importantly, to defeat him, one had to overcome him within the artifact's domain; otherwise, not even a tenth-tier Golden Immortal could prevail.

This was why Han Anshan had not acted rashly before—on this continent, there was not a single person who had broken through the tenth tier of Golden Immortal.

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"Oh, is that so? I forgot to mention—he will arrive in one minute!" Xiao Tianji said with a mocking smile.

"What? Who could it be?" Han Anshan's face was filled with disbelief and panic.

He? The rapid sequence of events left Tianming utterly lost, unable to make sense of what he was hearing.

He had never expected that this decrepit shadow was an elder of the sect, one of high rank and authority. A chill went down Tianming's spine as he realized the Black Demon Clan had already extended their claws into every sect. Had he not blundered about earlier, the outer disciple Xie Xin from the Heaven Sword Sect might still be hiding undetected.

"Heh, must I spell it out for you? After all, that old man is our shared master," Xiao Tianji's voice was icy and tinged with disappointment. He gazed at the decrepit elder before him, his enormous golden fist clenched so tightly that the lake water surged skyward.

He recalled their childhood training together, memories Xiao Tianji would never forget, for they were his greatest pride...

Beneath an ancient towering tree.

"Xiao Tian! Xiao Tian!!"

A child's voice rang out as an adorable boy, perhaps seven or eight, ran cheerfully from behind the tree, a blue aura shimmering around his otherworldly form.

"Han Anshan?"

Preparing to meditate beneath the tree, Xiao Tianji's face lit up with joy at the sight of the boy, and he stumbled forward on small feet to greet him.

"Surprised?" Han Anshi asked, grinning as he showed off his vital energy.

"Wow... How did you break through to the Foundation-Building stage so quickly? That's amazing!" Xiao Tianji circled Han Anshi, his eyes full of envy.

"Xiao Tian, if anyone ever bullies you, just mention my name. If they don't back down, I'll deal with them myself!"

"Really?"

"Of course!"

...

Many years later, in a certain pavilion.

A white-haired old man leaned on a cane, gazing at a painting on the wall. Had Tianming been present, he would have recognized his own likeness in the portrait.

"Master!" a young man entered timidly, kneeling on the floor.

"You know why I summoned you?" the old man asked, not turning around.

"I do not, Master," the young man replied, his voice trembling.

"From now on, you are the Sect Master of the Celestial Evolution Sect," the old man said calmly.

"What about Han Anshan?" the youth asked, bewildered.

...

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As the youth spoke that name, a figure quietly appeared outside the door.

"He is too proud by nature, unfit to lead the sect. He would only bring trouble in the future. Xiao Tianji, do you understand?" the old man said gravely.

"I object! Han Anshan's talent surpasses mine—why?" Xiao Tianji protested bitterly.

"Sigh, come in," the old man interrupted with a sigh just as Xiao Tianji was about to continue.

Creak!

As Xiao Tianji puzzled over this, a youth about his own age entered. Xiao Tianji's face brightened with delight at the sight.

"Master is right, Xiao Tian. Just accept it. At worst, we'll develop the sect together—it's just a title," the youth said.

Han Anshi bowed to the old man, then helped Xiao Tianji to his feet.

"Very well," Xiao Tianji nodded reluctantly. In truth, he longed for a free, unrestrained life, but he knew he had no right to refuse.

...

Xiao Tianji was not the only one lost in memory; Han Anshan too seemed caught in the past, his expression shifting with emotion.

Suddenly, a cold voice shattered the silence.

"Master? I was the most talented of all, yet Master entrusted all the cultivation resources to you. Why am I still only at the peak of the Void tier? Why? Tell me why!" After a moment of silence, Han Anshan roared in fury at the golden phantom.

"Why didn't you protest at the time?" Xiao Tianji asked.

"Did I have a choice?" Han Anshi shot back.

"Enough of this. One who knows how to adapt is wise. Xiao Tianji, for old times' sake, let me give you one last piece of advice—it's best you surrender to the Black Demon Clan along with me. That lord is not someone you or I can defy!" Before Xiao Tianji could respond, Han Anshan transformed once more into black mist, his evil laughter echoing in the air.

"Han Anshi, remember the choice you make today! One day, I will drive you and the Black Demon Clan from the Southern Wilderness, and then I will show no mercy!" Shaking his head, Xiao Tianji looked at the black mist, his tone resolute.

"Very well, I await that day!"

As Xiao Tianji finished speaking, the black mist dissipated into the distant sky.

Watching the direction in which it vanished, Xiao Tianji fell silent. He knew these were not empty words—their future battle would decide the fate of the continent.

"Poor child... you've suffered enough," he sighed deeply, his gaze falling upon the body ravaged by darkness. Then, transforming into golden energy, he enveloped Tianming.

As the surroundings returned to normal, Tianming felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Seeing Xiao Tianji gaze at him before turning into light, he too, burdened by exhaustion, collapsed in a haze, his consciousness slipping away.