Chapter 1327: Chapter 1325: Deficiencies in Fate
The battle was a success.
Many Supreme Lords from East Victory came forward to pay their respects.
This time, it wasn’t because of Shi Xiaole’s identity, but rather his own strength that commanded their reverence. Without exaggeration, Shi Xiaole was now the number one expert in the world of East Victory.
Although the Supreme Lords held high positions and were proud and arrogant, they knew whom to respect. In front of Shi Xiaole, they had no confidence to act pretentiously and expressed their gratitude one after another.
"Little junior brother, where have you been these years? In just a few decades, you’ve caught up to what others couldn’t achieve in hundreds of thousands of years. You must have endured a lot of hardships, right?"
After everyone had spoken, Fairy Xinluo couldn’t help but ask with emotion.
Her question immediately piqued everyone’s curiosity. They also wanted to know what Shi Xiaole had gone through to achieve such a miracle.
"I drifted into the endless void, entered the Life-and-Death Unfounded Cave, and then went to a place beyond the heavens..."
Shi Xiaole gave a brief account of his experiences, but that was enough to make everyone’s hearts race with excitement.
The majestic Moral Mount, the powerful guardians, the more comprehensive world beyond the heavens, along with Shi Xiaole’s nearly broken-through advancement, and his ultimate turnaround after breaking through... Each event made the crowd’s hearts flutter uncontrollably.
Outsiders only knew to envy Shi Xiaole’s legendary journey, never considering that if it had been them, they probably couldn’t have overcome even the most basic challenges.
Even the present Supreme Lords, when imagining themselves in Shi Xiaole’s shoes, felt far inferior, and thus it was fitting that he was so powerful.
Aside from the three Sorcerer Lords, the other Supreme Lords were also injured. Not wishing to delay, Shi Xiaole proposed that everyone should heal on their own, and they all agreed.
Frequent use of the Life and Death Path in a short period had taken a great toll on Shi Xiaole, making his soul feel overstretched. He wouldn’t be able to help others heal for the time being.
Once he had recovered, then he could consider lending a hand.
After the Supreme Lords left, a group of people eagerly stepped forward. Looking at their faces, Shi Xiaole felt a rare surge of excitement and warmth.
The group opposite him, too, full of varying emotions, remained silent, and the atmosphere was momentarily quiet.
"What’s the matter, Brother Shi, don’t you recognize us now that you’ve become a Supreme Lord?"
Mu Ling, still in his gold robes and looking as heroic as ever, was the first to step forward, punching Shi Xiaole hard in the chest.
"How could that be? I just didn’t know what to say for a moment."
Shi Xiaole looked at Mu Ling with sincere eyes, eliciting a warm current in Mu Ling’s heart that washed away his last concerns, and he laughed heartily, hugging Shi Xiaole tightly and saying, "Brother Shi, I’m so glad to see you again!"
"Me too, I’m very happy to see you all again."
Shi Xiaole turned his gaze towards Zhang Xiangfeng.
This life-and-death friend was still clad in white, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes. He looked much the same as before, except for a new mustache that lent him a more mature and composed appearance.
Meeting Shi Xiaole’s gaze, Zhang Xiangfeng smiled casually, "I certainly won’t come forward to hug you; I reserve my hugs for my wife." As he spoke, he covertly used his internal energy to clear the mistiness from his eyes.
In Zhang Xiangfeng’s eyes, Shi Xiaole had clearly changed from the past. The old Shi Xiaole was outwardly aloof and inwardly passionate, always hiding his feelings with pride, not letting anyone know.
Seeing him now, Zhang Xiangfeng could see the warmth and care emanating from deep within Shi Xiaole’s eyes, emotions that almost made Zhang lose his composure.
How could such a Shi Xiaole not be considered a close and dear friend?
Standing beside Zhang Xiangfeng was Gui Zhihang, clad in red brocade. Once a renowned beauty in the world, he now possessed a regality that only a sovereign would have, but this imperial demeanor was reserved for others, not for Shi Xiaole.
Gui Zhihang smiled and said, "Brother Shi, welcome back."
His gaze then shifted to an orange-clad woman. She was about 1.75 meters tall, with slightly broader shoulders than average, upward-tilting eyes at the corners, and a beautiful yet domineering air of valor. It was none other than Duanmu Keren.
Duanmu Keren masked the flicker in her eyes and said coolly, "You returned at the right time. From now on, I won’t have to worry about finding an opportunity to spar with you."
Shi Xiaole couldn’t help but smile, "Then, I ask Master Duanmu to show mercy."
There were also Hua Yiyun, the Master of the Illusion Orchid Tower, Mu Qianji, Xin Zhuliu, Han Yanfa, Chou Hentian, Qi Yuanzheng, and others, each greeting Shi Xiaole in their own way. For a while, there was constant laughter and chatter, and the atmosphere was filled with joy.
After the peers had finished their greetings, Zhang Xiangfeng raised an eyebrow and called out, "Mengyun, what’s the matter with you all? Why haven’t you come forward to greet Uncle Shi?"
Zhang Mengyun stuck out her tongue and, after exchanging glances with a few young men and women of extraordinary temperament, finally moved forward, stopping three steps in front of Shi Xiaole, and formally greeted, "Hello, Uncle Shi!"
Having grown up surrounded by stories of Shi Xiaole and later venturing into the Martial World themselves, they couldn’t help but be full of curiosity and admiration for this Uncle Shi they hardly knew.
Especially now, having witnessed Shi Xiaole’s divine prowess and become part of a legend that would be passed down through the ages, they had become his ardent admirers.
They had long wanted to speak with Shi Xiaole, but his formidable aura, coupled with their fathers and uncles stepping in front, had kept them quietly to the side.
Zhang Mengyun looked up, observing Uncle Shi with the eyes of a young woman, and sneaking glances at someone behind her, she turned and asked, "Uncle Shi, have you really become a Supreme Lord?"
Under the introduction of Gui Zhihang, Shi Xiaole naturally learned about Zhang Mengyun. Noticing her graceful figure and the melon-seed face that closely resembled her mother’s, with exceptionally delicate and captivating features, he smiled and said, "I heard you’ve already reached the Void Origin Realm, even surpassing Brother Zhang from back in the day."
Zhang Mengyun was not shy. Seeing Uncle Shi’s approving look, she was thrilled and quickly responded, "I might be a bit stronger than my father, but compared to you, Uncle Shi, there’s still a long way to go."
Gui Zhihang and the others couldn’t help but chuckle in private.
This girl had been audacious and willful since she was young, appearing delicate and celestial, but her temperament was even wilder than that of men. Even Zhang Xiangfeng couldn’t control her, yet she was exceptionally humble in front of Shi Xiaole.
Shi Xiaole then spoke with a few other young people, igniting their excitement. Among them were the son of Niu Dali, Niu Zheng, the son of Gui Nanyan, Gui Donglai, the daughter of Ai Wenhong, Ai Xiaoci, and the son of Yang Feng, Yang Ting, among others.
Though their parents’ talents and positions within Nine Heavens Mountain varied, under Zhu Ling’s coordination, they had played together since childhood and were very close.
This was precisely what Shi Xiaole had hoped to see, and he couldn’t help but silently praise Zhu Ling for her meticulousness. Suddenly, his gaze sharpened as he looked towards another young man in white who had yet to step forward.
The boy was even half an inch taller than Shi Xiaole, straight as a pine, simply his outline was dashing to the extreme. His beautiful face, capable of toppling the hearts of women the world over, now wore a look of anticipation and nervousness.
He was also the only one who hadn’t approached.
A hush fell over everyone for no apparent reason.
Shi Xiaole’s emotions churned as a scene from their parting years ago came to mind.
He had hidden his mere five-year-old son in a cave amid the chaos of the Martial World. The boy was so young, yet he had to return to Nine Heavens Mountain alone, undoubtedly enduring untold hardships. Shi Xiaole felt a surge of guilt as he looked at the young man in white and sighed, "Wuyou, you’ve grown up."
At the sound of his name, Wuyou, Shi Wuyou’s heartstrings trembled.
"Your strength now surpasses your father’s at that age; indeed, you haven’t let me down. You must have made a lot of efforts to achieve this, I am sorry for what you had to go through."
Shi Xiaole said with regret.
Shi Wuyou closed his eyes tightly, preventing tears from falling.
Night after night of arduous cultivation, dream upon dream at midnight, he had been willing to keep company with solitude, often practicing his swordplay until his arms lost strength, all to earn just a word of praise from his father, a look of pride that told him he had not let his father down.
Today, this god-like man had truly returned from the dead and spoken these words. Shi Wuyou felt all his past pain, pressure, and sadness had received the best recompense.
Drying his tears with his cultivation, Shi Wuyou walked step by step to Shi Xiaole, dropped to his knees, and called out, "Father!"
"My child, let me have a good look at you."
Upon receiving his bow, Shi Xiaole helped him up to take a careful look at his son. Satisfied, he nodded and then took over to the somewhat timid Yao Yuxuan standing aside, patted his head, and said to Shi Wuyou, "This is your father’s new disciple and also your fourth junior brother. You must treat him well from now on."
Shi Wuyou looked at Yao Yuxuan, a flash of surprise in his eyes quickly replaced with a smile, "Fourth Junior Brother."
Yao Yuxuan looked at his master and then around at all the people giving him kind looks, feeling more at ease. At Shi Xiaole’s gesture, he paid his respects to Chou Hentian, Qi Yuanzheng, and Shi Wuyou in turn.
There was a friendly exchange among everyone before they returned to the Nine Heavens Mansion.
...
In the backyard of the Nine Heavens Mansion.
Shi Xiaole wanted to express his gratitude to Shui Lingping for her many years of care, but as soon as he saw her, his heart skipped a beat, his expression dramatically changed, "Miss Shui, your health?"
Shui Lingping smiled weakly, "Brother Shi, there’s no need to worry. Everyone has their own destiny and fate."
Her empty gaze was sorrowful, her face had become much paler than before, almost like a bloodless ice beauty.
Ignoring the strain on his soul, Shi Xiaole hurriedly channeled the Life and Death Path, pouring the essence of life into Shui Lingping’s body, but to his astonishment, the essence didn’t linger, flowing right back out of her.
Shi Xiaole tried multiple times, but no matter what he did, he couldn’t make the essence of life stay. In the end, he himself turned pale with a throbbing headache.
Shui Lingping said lightly, "Brother Shi, don’t try any further. Shui Lingping doesn’t lack vitality, but rather has a deficit in her fate. Not even the Supreme Great Path can heal this."
"How can you be cured?"
Shi Xiaole asked anxiously.
With his insight, he could almost be certain that if not treated in time, Shui Lingping would not survive more than a month.
Shui Lingping smiled faintly, "Fate is the inborn numeration of the cosmos, the foundation of rules, unchangeable. Brother Shi, you needn’t trouble yourself any further."
Already frail, she now seemed even more precarious, leaning against the wall to sit down, barely managing to keep herself from falling.
Shi Xiaole blurted out, "I remember you once swore never to leave Tiantai Cliff, yet you descended the mountain over fifty years ago. Was it to help me that you..."
"Brother Shi! Life and death are determined by destiny. Even without you, Shui Lingping wouldn’t live forever. A day earlier or a day later, what difference does it make? I should thank you for giving me a goal. These past fifty-plus years have been wonderful."
