Fateful Encounter with the Spirit Beast

As Brother Tianxiang and Yu Ying were chatting, Yutian’s voice came from behind, saying, “Ying’er, why haven’t you invited Tianxiang to our house yet? You’re still chatting here.”

Yu Ying stuck out his tongue and, taking Tianxiang’s hand, said, “Let’s go! Otherwise, I’ll get scolded by Father.”

When the two arrived at the front of the house, they found the table set with simple vegetarian dishes and wild produce, alongside a pot of hot soup emitting a rich fragrance that greatly tempted them. Surprisingly, the table was set for six people.

Upon seeing Tianxiang, Yutian happily exclaimed, “You finally made it out.”

Tianxiang responded, “Thanks for the concern!”

At that moment, another person came out of the house holding two dishes. Yu Ying immediately ran up and exclaimed, “Mother! It smells so good!”

A graceful woman looked at Yu Ying with maternal affection and softly said, “Ying’er, won’t you help Mother carry these over?”

Yu Ying promptly replied, “Yes, Mother!” and took the dishes from her.

Yutian introduced, “Tianxiang, this is my wife, Avery.”

Avery warmly said, “So you’re Tianxiang! Ying’er has told me so much about you. Don’t worry, make yourself at home here!”

Tianxiang thanked her, “Thank you!”

Suddenly, Yutian announced, “Old Ning and Old Que are here!”

Two figures approached from a distance. As they drew near, it became apparent that both were elderly men with white hair and wrinkled faces. One was surprisingly seated in a wheelchair, having both legs amputated below the knees, while the other was blind, his eyes gouged out, relying on holding onto a specially made handle next to the wheelchair to guide his movements.

Upon seeing them, Yu Ying immediately shouted, “Grandfather Ning, Grandfather Que, you’ve arrived! Come, join us for the meal.”

The legless Old Ning smiled and said, “Alright, but who is this with the village chief?”

Yutian explained, “This is Tianxiang. He’ll be staying in our village for a while.”

Old Ning and Old Que nodded simultaneously and didn’t ask any more questions.

At the dinner table, Tianxiang finally understood why the villagers, regardless of age, referred to Yutian as the village chief.

It was because, four or five years ago, the family of Yutian, who had traveled all over the world, came here and fell in love with the tranquility, seclusion, and uncontentious nature of the place, deciding to settle down here. Some villagers had fled due to scattered skirmishes on the borders, which led to their homes being destroyed and families torn apart, forcing them to leave their homelands in search of a place untouched by war to rebuild. Others had their own unfortunate experiences and stumbled upon this place while wandering around. With Yutian’s persuasion, they decided to settle here, gradually forming the present village.

Yutian’s selfless acceptance and assistance allowed everyone who arrived to rapidly rebuild their homes. Yutian also encouraged everyone not to delve into each other’s pasts, but to let go of the past and start anew. This is why the village exuded harmony and contentment, and everyone was grateful for Yutian’s benevolence and care, unanimously choosing him as the village chief to manage all the village affairs.

Through conversation, Tianxiang learned that he had somehow wandered into the Kingdom of Haifis, only in the opposite direction of Sunset City.

After a joyful meal, Yu Ying pulled Tianxiang along to escort the two elderly men home. Tianxiang couldn’t refuse Yu Ying’s insistence and went along. The house was filled with lifelike carvings, depicting the emotions of people, the lively movements of animals, and the serene stance of plants. Each characteristic of the sculptures was vividly clear, every line filled with the sculptor’s meticulous thoughts, and each stroke carried an indescribable spirituality and flow that deeply moved Tianxiang.

While Tianxiang was deeply entranced by this enchanting world of sculpture, Yu Ying promptly said, “Grandfather Que, what did you carve for Ying’er this time?”

The blind Old Que chuckled, “I knew you had that in mind. Old Ning, could you please pass the one I carved yesterday to Ying’er?”

Old Ning took out a wooden carving of a proud eagle standing tall, its expression one of unrivaled majesty. Upon seeing it, Yu Ying exclaimed joyfully, “It’s an eagle, so beautiful!”

Listening to Yu Ying’s delighted voice, the two elders chuckled from the side, while Tianxiang was startled awake by Yu Ying’s excitement.

As Yu Ying played lovingly with the carved eagle, Tianxiang focused on it, slowly closing his eyes. In his mind, he imagined an eagle gazing disdainfully at all beneath it, soaring alone through a clear sky, crossing rugged mountains and deep oceans, flying through the endless seasons. Occasionally pausing, but soon spreading its wings again towards the boundless heavens, indifferent to everything else, only aiming for greater heights and distances. Tianxiang felt as if his heart had transformed into that flying eagle, roaming in this infinite world, and his spirit lifted. Suddenly, a gentle pat on his shoulder brought Tianxiang out of his contemplation.

Old Ning said, “The village chief was right! You are no ordinary person!”

Old Que added, “I believe you have gained some insight from my carving. This means the village chief’s task for us is more than halfway accomplished.”

Tianxiang responded, “You!” and fell silent afterward.

Old Ning chuckled and said, “The day you arrived, the village chief came and told us! To help you rebuild hope, we devised this method. As the saying goes, ‘untie the knot by knowing how it was tied,’ and only you can resolve the knots in your heart. Otherwise, no amount of words from us would help.”

Old Que said, “Here, no one will ask about your past or future. If you wish for a simple and carefree life, you can continue living here. But if you still yearn for the outside world, then go for it! Like the eagle I carved, lift your head, spread your wings, and the world is at your feet. Remember, a disabled body does not mean a disabled heart, and hope is boundless. A heart in despair, on the other hand, renders the body useless, leading to a life wasted.”

Old Ning said, “Although Old Que and I are nearing the end of our days, we still hold on to hope every day. Each new day brings us hope. You are young and have a wonderful life and bright future ahead of you. If you give up, how are you any different from the dead in the cemetery?”

The words from Old Ning and Old Que resonated deeply within Tianxiang, like a morning bell or evening drum, awakening him to reality.

He realized that his previous thoughts and mindset were no different from those of a dead person-just a living corpse with a breath left. If he continued this way, there would be no reason for him to exist in this world. What about Xiaoxue, Xuan’er, Yingdie, and even Youni, who had already become a part of his life? Only now did he recognize how much he still cared for them. Leaving was simply an escape-a way to avoid them seeing his current state. Ultimately, it was his pride that was causing this. So what if he no longer had martial arts? He still had the medical skills his Master taught him and the knowledge of ores from Old Rick! There was still plenty of hope and many things he could do. He had simply been avoiding facing the reality of his current state. As Tianxiang pondered, he was drenched in cold sweat from the relentless regret.

A gentle breeze made the cold sweat on Tianxiang’s body cause him to shiver, and he realized that the two elders before him were also examples of people who were physically impaired but not defeated. Old Que’s carvings had reached a masterful level. Although he couldn’t see the world with his own eyes, everything was vividly present in his heart. Tianxiang understood that only by not caring about his outward appearance could he become someone who is impaired but not defeated.

With this realization, he bowed respectfully to the two elders and sincerely said, “Thank you, Grandfathers, for enlightening me. You are my benefactors of rebirth. I know you do not ask for any repayment, but if you don’t mind, I would like to serve you for the rest of my life.”

Old Ning replied, “That won’t be necessary. If you really want to repay us, all we ask is for you to promise us one thing.”

Tianxiang, puzzled, asked, “What is it?”

Old Ning said, “No matter what the situation, never give up hope!”

Tianxiang was surprised and said, “Just like that?” Looking over at Old Que, who nodded with a smile.

Tianxiang solemnly stated, “I swear that as long as I have breath in me, I will never give up hope.”

Hearing Tianxiang’s words, Old Ning and Old Que praised him repeatedly. This vow led Tianxiang to win several battles against overwhelming odds in his uncertain future and laid the foundation for the empire he eventually built-all because he never lost sight of his promise to never give up hope.

Time passed swiftly, and three months flew by like the wind.

During these three months, the renewed Tianxiang worked tirelessly to reinvent himself, starting from scratch with his cultivation. Though his meridians were destroyed and he could no longer cultivate internal strength, it was as if a blessing in disguise. His mental power broke through the bottleneck that had been present before his injuries. Tianxiang found this puzzling, but he didn’t dwell on it too much. Moreover, his steady and methodical training strengthened his physique significantly, and even his eyes regained a hint of vitality.

In addition to his training, Tianxiang became the villagers’ family doctor. His excellent diagnostic skills, adept use of medicine, and meticulous care healed many villagers who had sustained hidden injuries during their past hardships. This earned Tianxiang growing respect among the villagers.

One day, before dawn, Yu Ying accidentally discovered that Tianxiang was leaving his cottage and entering the forest alone. Driven by curiosity, Yu Ying secretly followed him, wondering what Brother Tianxiang was doing. To his surprise, Yu Ying found Tianxiang running through the forest, weaving between the trees. Thinking Tianxiang was playing some fun game, Yu Ying asked him the next morning to take him along.

Tianxiang couldn’t resist Yu Ying’s persistent pleading, and to his surprise, Yutian agreed to come too. So, Tianxiang took Yu Ying to run in the woods early the next morning. However, Tianxiang paid no attention to Yu Ying behind him and ran alone ahead. After the first day, Yu Ying felt utterly exhausted and plopped himself on the ground, his legs weak and unwilling to stand up again.

That afternoon, the village children saw Yu Ying’s state and couldn’t help but tease him. Feeling provoked, Yu Ying challenged them in return. The other village children, unwilling to back down from Yu Ying’s goading, all insisted they would join the run the next day.

The next day, when Yu Ying showed up with a group of village children, Tianxiang was taken aback. Seeing the eager kids, he couldn’t help but chuckle to himself-what a spectacle! After understanding the reason behind their presence, he wordlessly dashed into the forest. As soon as Tianxiang set off, the kids followed suit, like soldiers chasing a fugitive.

Tianxiang didn’t pay attention to how the kids were doing and maintained his own pace. Once he exited the forest and caught his breath, he noticed Yu Ying and a little boy named Lin Long emerging, drenched in sweat. As soon as they reached the clearing, they collapsed onto the ground, gasping for fresh air.

Tianxiang ignored them, shook his head slightly, and proceeded to jot down notes on their training.

The next day, Tianxiang assumed no one would return, but to his surprise, Lin Long and Yu Ying showed up again.

Day after day, the two consistently came to report to Tianxiang and accompany him on his runs. Tianxiang was puzzled by their determination. However, their perseverance and potential sparked a fondness for talent in him. Yet, he reminded himself that this place was free from war, and besides, Uncle Yutian was a master of unfathomable martial arts. It wasn’t his place to teach them martial arts, so he suppressed the idea.

Little did he know, the children’s competitive spirit was strong. None of them wanted to appear weaker than the others. Lin Long and Yu Ying were no exception. Despite their efforts, there was always Tianxiang ahead of them, which left them in awe yet feeling challenged. Thus, the two continued coming to meet Tianxiang every day.

The night was refreshingly cool as Tianxiang practiced the Jialeng Na Divine Method, simultaneously cultivating his mental power and absorbing the moon’s essence to heal his body’s injuries. Suddenly, waves of mental fluctuation emanated from his Niqiao Acupoint-it was Yates and Yesace reaching out to him. Suppressing the excitement of reconnecting with old friends, Tianxiang immediately channeled his mental fluctuations into the Niqiao Acupoint.

Two waves of mental fluctuations suddenly came through, speaking in unison, “Master Xiang, you’re finally here.”

Yes, my long-lost friends, I have arrived. Tianxiang responded internally with his own mental waves.

Before Tianxiang could reply, the impulsive Yesace quickly asked, “Tianxiang, what happened to you? Why is your body so severely injured? We almost had to pack up and find a new landlord.”

Tianxiang explained, “At the Phoenix Mountain Summit, I was ambushed by assassins from the Five Dragon Tower. Exhausted and gravely injured, I managed to endure the ultimate move of their fourth-in-command, the Purple Thunder Flame Extinction, and I fell into the Phoenix River. When I regained consciousness, I found myself on the riverbank, but my meridians were completely destroyed, my appearance unrecognizable, and my martial arts and magic were lost.”

Suddenly, with a hint of surprise, golden radiance lit up before him, revealing the spirited Yates and the mischievously rogue Yesace. Tianxiang asked in confusion, “Why can I see you guys?”

Yates responded, “It means our recovery has significantly progressed, and we can now absorb external energy to heal ourselves.” Yesace added, “Of course, Master Xiang, if you’d like to continue contributing your kindness, we’d be even more grateful. But how about reducing the rent a bit?”

Seeing Tianxiang’s slight smile, Yates continued, “Based on what I’ve felt within you, the Purple Thunder Flame Extinction is a magic martial skill with both thunder and fire attributes. Fortunately, you had an abundance of the thunder element in you, giving you resistance to it. Falling into the river saved you from what would have been a fiery death.”

After Tianxiang acknowledged this with an “Oh,” he asked, “Lately, since my body can’t cultivate internal strength, my mental power has increased rapidly through the cultivation of the Jialeng Na Divine Method. It’s even exceeded my pre-injury level. Why is that?”

Yates explained, “Actually, the Jialeng Na Divine Method is a rather remarkable technique. It can simultaneously enhance both your mental power and internal strength. However, it’s limited by a person’s natural talent and constitution, which means the growth in each area is not as pronounced as it would be if you focused solely on one. The fact that you can balance both so well and still experience significant growth makes you exceptionally gifted. Now, because your meridians are damaged and you can’t cultivate internal strength, your focus on developing mental power has caused it to grow by leaps and bounds. Another point is that Yesace and I no longer rely entirely on the mental power you provide. We can now self-repair our mental states, which also contributes to your improvement.”

Upon hearing Yates mention this, Yesace, worried that Tianxiang might raise the rent, quickly added, “For example, if the essence produced by your Jialeng Na Divine Method is like a cup of water, typically it needs to be divided between your internal strength and mental power, with a small portion set aside to repair the mental states of Yates and me. Now, you only need to pour that ‘water’ into the mental power cup. So, your mental power grows incomparably faster. Additionally, after your defeat at the Phoenix Mountain Summit, your transformation from a despondent state to rising anew has made your spirit stronger. This mental fortification has also contributed to the stability and refinement of your mental power.”

After listening to Yates and Yesace’s explanations, Tianxiang continued to inquire, “Is there any way for my nearly destroyed meridians to recover?”

This question plunged both the spirit and the demon into deep thought. Suddenly, Yesace exclaimed, “I thought of something, but I doubt you’ll go for it.”

Tianxiang replied, “Tell me!”

Yesace said, “Alright, I remember there’s a soul transformation magic within the mental magic system. It involves sacrificing their Soul Energy to repair your meridians. However, once they perform this magic, they will completely vanish. Given your character, you’d never agree to something like this. Am I right?”

After hearing this, Tianxiang murmured, “Is there really no other way?”

Yates slowly said, “I have two methods, though both are quite challenging.

The first is to use the Dragon’s Essence to restore your damaged meridians. However, the key condition is that you must have no contract with the dragon race providing the Dragon’s Essence, and they must be willing to offer it voluntarily. This condition seems tied to some secret of the dragon race, so I’m not entirely sure why. It’s said that Xing Feishi, one of the three great Sword Saints of the human realm, greatly increased his internal strength and ascended to become one of the three after acquiring a Dragon’s Essence.

The second method involves the Rebirth Staff left in the human realm by the Deity of Life, Xina Silan. This staff is rumored to have the power to revive even those on the brink of death. The difficulty, however, lies in two aspects: first, the artifact must choose a master, and second, its master must possess sufficient magical power and be well-versed in the resurrection magic circle. Unfortunately, the staff’s whereabouts have been unknown for a long time.”

Tianxiang said, “Let everything take its course. By the way, Yesace, could you elaborate a bit more on the soul spirit magic you mentioned?”

Yesace, excited for the chance to be consulted by Tianxiang, eagerly replied, “No problem! In addition to element magic, there are other specialized types such as space, soul spirit, summoning, and undead magic, along with auxiliary magic like illumination and healing. Each type has its unique characteristics. For instance, summoning magic allows a mage to call forth exotic beasts they have tamed from other realms for attack, defense, or various tasks, depending on the beast’s traits.

Space magic focuses on creating subspaces and spatial transformations.

Undead magic is somewhat similar to summoning magic, but it summons undead beings like corpses and skeletons, which are typically despised by humans. As for soul spirit magic, it emphasizes using mental power to control everything, essentially functioning as a form of supernatural ability. At its pinnacle, it can even grasp the thoughts and intentions of others.

Furthermore, it allows communication with Soul Energy and lets one’s soul spirit parasitize other creatures, though the abilities are limited by the host creature. Because these mages can communicate with souls, some can even dispel malevolent spirits with intense grievances, so they are often referred to as mediums or exorcists.”

Upon hearing this, Yates immediately praised, “Yesace, I’ve known you for so long, and I never imagined you had delved so deeply into soul spirit magic. Your few simple words captured the essence of soul magic. I’m truly impressed.”

Yesace, feeling proud, responded, “Back in the day, I went to great lengths to study soul magic just to bring my sister from the realms of deities, demons, and humans. I spared no expense to gather every book on soul magic.” Suddenly, with a somber expression, he continued, “Who would have thought that soul magic would conflict with the dark element magic I already possessed, making it impossible to cultivate both simultaneously? So, I had to leave it as just knowledge.”

Hearing this, Yates laughed heartily and then cast a mischievous glance at Yesace. Just as Yesace was about to retort with “What are you laughing at?” he sensed something was amiss from Yates’s look. As he was about to make his escape, Tianxiang said, “Yesace, teach me soul spirit magic!”

Feigning generosity, Yesace replied, “Of course, no problem. I’ve actually been wanting to teach you for a while now, but the time and opportunity just never came up.” Meanwhile, he cursed Yates from head to toe in his mind.

Yates chuckled and said, “Then I won’t disturb you two!” With that, he disappeared in front of them. Faced with Tianxiang’s strong eagerness to learn and absorb information, Yesace had no choice but to put aside his secretive mindset and wholeheartedly teach Tianxiang everything he knew.

In a sparsely populated village, the tranquility made people forget about the changes in the outside world and the passage of time, especially Tianxiang, who was deeply immersed in soul magic.

Yesace originally intended to overwhelm Tianxiang with his intensive, force-fed teaching approach, hoping Tianxiang would back down. However, thanks to Tianxiang’s multitasking ability and exceptional memory, he often grasped the key points of what Yesace taught. This forced Yesace to continually delve into more advanced knowledge to instruct Tianxiang. If it had been someone else, not only would they have struggled to learn, but they might have been driven to madness by Yesace’s relentless methods.

Upon delving into soul magic, Tianxiang discovered that the heaven and earth spiritual technique he had previously learned was intricately connected to soul magic, particularly the Spirit Technique. This was an extension of mental magic, which not only allowed control over others’ thoughts but could also be converted into tangible attacks. He also realized that the energy within the cosmos fluctuates, with cycles of birth and destruction; nothing is eternal. Even Yates and Yesace would need to undergo a phase of oblivion and rebirth at certain times to continue their existence; otherwise, they too would vanish from the universe.

This led to a shift in Tianxiang’s mindset. He began to let go of personal obsessions, acting in harmony with the natural order without forcing anything. He approached everything with his best effort, resulting in a detached grace to his typically aloof personality and a serene composure to his passionate heart. Soul magic fundamentally aimed to expand one’s mental energy fluctuations to align with those of Soul Energy, facilitating communication between the two.

As Tianxiang focused on soul magic, he became increasingly sensitive to external life forms, gradually sensing the sentience in all living things, even trees and flowers, which had their own consciousness. Although they couldn’t express their feelings in a manner understood by humans, they exhibited their affection and reliance on the world in the most primordial way possible. By immersing himself in the sensations of heaven and earth, Tianxiang’s Six Spiritual Senses underwent a transformation, allowing him to detect the presence of other beings without using internal strength, as if he were in harmony with the universe or an extension of it.

On this particular morning, Yutian, along with the reluctant villagers, came to bid farewell to Tianxiang. The heart-wrenching scene of parting brought a lump to everyone’s throats and tears to their eyes.

Yutian, holding two cups of wine, handed one to Tianxiang and said, “Tianxiang, go on! The world outside is waiting for you. Let’s toast to you first.” The group behind him, led by the village chief, drank in unison.

Tianxiang drank half of his cup, then paused, holding the other half as he looked at everyone. The faces that were once unfamiliar had now become so familiar and unforgettable. He slowly raised his cup and said loudly, “Village Chief, Grandfather Ning, Grandfather Que, everyone, my rebirth is all thanks to you. No matter where I am, I will never forget that I was once a part of this place.”

He paused before continuing, “This half cup is for heaven and earth, to thank it for bringing us together and giving us this earthly paradise.” With that, he sprinkled the rest of the wine into the air, the droplets replacing the tears of those present.

Tianxiang bowed deeply and offered a sincere, warm smile. Although the people could not see the smile beneath his face covering, the unspoken understanding in their eyes conveyed everything. Under the blessings and smiles of the villagers, his familiar yet solitary figure gradually faded from their sight.