Ling Tian arrived at the village with Lian Qiu, he seemed a little frustrated as he looked at his wet robes. He was clearly uncomfortable wearing wet clothes. Lian Qiu on the other hand seemed fine and had a pleasant smile.
When they reached the middle part of the village, Ling Tian exclaimed in surprise as all the villagers had gathered there. They had thrown a party in their own way. They all clapped their hands and cheered when they saw the duo.
The village chief stood on a chair and shouted, "Okay, Everyone Quite Down! We have always been plagued by the danger of the ghosts at the lake. Now, these young heroes have saved us by dealing with the ghosts. So, we will thank them by throwing a party!"
The villagers clapped their hands and cheered even more.
Lian Qiu's face had a fake smile but his eyes showed his annoyance, he whispered to Ling Tian, "They knew there was more than one ghost yet they didn't tell us..."
Ling Tian replied quietly as he nodded towards the villagers with a smile, "You never asked them. Remember this, Always investigate and gather information before doing something because I will from now on."
Lian Qiu nodded, "I am quite tired so please forgive me, dear friends, I need to rest."
He swiftly left after that.
The villagers became disappointed but Ling Tian would not have that, he stepped forth, "What's with the disappointed faces? I did most of the work so the party is going to happen. Bring me the food! Also, I need dry clothes!"
Lian Qiu's lips twitched in the distance as he heard Ling Tian's shout.
The lively atmosphere returned as the villagers began partying and dancing, celebrating in their own way. Old Wang and his granddaughter approached Ling Tian, Wang Luan held on to dry Black robes.
"Hello, I see you are well. Let's head inside so you can change your clothes and party with everyone. These black robes are the best ones I own. Consider them a gift." Said Old Wang kindly.
Ling Tian happily accepted and changed his clothes inside a nearby building. When he returned, the partying stopped as many people gasped in surprise.
His long black hair was in a low-pony tail with two portions hanging loosely at the sides of his face. The black robes had small silver designs that made them seem luxurious. He was originally very handsome but wearing great clothes multiplied his charm and brought out his good looks even more to the point people gawked at the sudden change. As they say, clothes make the man. He appeared like a handsome, noble, and easy-going swordsman since Wave Repulser was strapped to his back. His personal aura was hard to see through so the new aura on him appeared natural.
Due to Lian Qiu's presence, he hadn't put it back in inventory to not arose suspiciously. He also felt more confident and at ease with the sword by his side so he had decided to carry it on his body. The sword looked elegant and exquisite, it only added to his charm.
The female villagers regardless of age immediately approached him but he politely left them and returned to Old Wang's side.
"So, does it suit me?"
he stretched his hands and feet with a smile, "This is extremely comfortable and It's very flexible too! Where did you get this?"
Old Wand kindly replied, "I wore that when I was younger and traveled the kingdom, seeking to break through to new realm."
Ling Tian nodded with gratitude, "Thank you, I will treasure it."
"I am sure you will, my old bones feel tired so accompany Luan for me, okay? I need to rest." He said as he left the party. Ling Tain turned to look at Wang Luan who was staring at him with a smile.
"I would have never believed cultivators could become immortals if I hadn't seen your recovery with my own eyes, Brother Ling, you have opened my eyes."
He smiled, "Well, it's nothing special. How about I get to know the one who tended to me when I was unconscious?"
She nodded and began walking in a direction and said, "Follow me, I know a great spot; It would be a pity to not see it on a clear night like this."
He followed her out of the party silently and they reached a spot on top of a barren hill near the village. The sky was extra clear, Ling Tian was mesmerized by its beauty.
"Brother Ling, Do you know of that big celestial body? I have heard stories about it..." she said with a dazzled look as she sat down to look at the sky.
He sat near her, "I am all yours, tell me."
She smiled and said with a tone filled with hidden melancholy, her voice melodious and pleasant to the ears, "It is said that once upon a time, Three great immortals wandered the stars; Two were brothers and one was the elder brother's lover. The younger brother was deeply in love with his brother's lover; Day by day his desire grew and one day, he challenged his elder brother. The two fought and the younger brother won by trickery, he killed his brother. He expected the lover to fall for him and be with him but she grew sad and became grief-stricken; she didn't return his love. He grew mad and split the body of his brother into 72 pieces and created 72 moons to seal them. He then sealed the girl unto a great world and had the moons scattered around that world so that the girl would see her lover's corpse and mourn for all eternity."
She picked a piece of grass and made a ring with it then continued as she looked at it, "He was so in love with her that he had even created a holy ring for her. When he sealed her he saw the ring as nothing but a reminder of his failure to be with her; So he had the ring remain with her, that ring enveloped the world. It is said that the younger brother still wonders the stars in search of love. The world you see is that world. It is called the Blue Dream Immortal Realm for it is a world that is immortal. It is called 'blue dream' because all dream of going there for the true path to immortality is said to be there. Alas, The only way to go there is to ascend the heavens and that is impossible..."
Ling Tian listened intently and the sudden change in the atmosphere made him feel a little melancholic, 'Despite being a mere fairy tale, it holds certain emotions...'
He suddenly stood up feeling a little heroic, "Not only will I go there, but I will also become the king of that world. Who can stop me?"
Wang Luan smiled in humor, "Is that a joke?"
Ling Tian smirked as he grasped the handle of his sword and drew it to point it at the sky, "I am serious, I have been blessed with a great inheritance; So I will aim as high as I can, I will ascend the heavens and become the Emperor of all Immortals in that world." he said solemnly.
Wang Luan's eyes widened, "But that is impossible! You have to face the tribulation of heaven and maybe even heaven's will itself to ascend."
He said seriously, "I don't care about heaven or whatnot, I have my own will and anything that stands on my path and hinders my will, even if its heaven, I will defy it."
She frowned, "But you will die!"
He shrugged, "So what? Even if I die, at least I aimed the highest and lived to the fullest so I will die without regret."
She looked at him in slight disbelief, "Where do you find the courage to say such things?!"
'I have a system so It's kinda guaranteed?' he thought but he also had other reasons, "I have lost everything once, when that happens you will realize only memories remain that will make you regret many things. And, everybody loses everything someday whether by death or circumstance; I want to be without regret at that moment. Fear of the unknown is unsurmountable but when the unknown unveils itself, the fear can be conquered; That's where you find courage."
She entered a daze as she heard his words, 'Fear of the unknown is unsurmountable but when the unknown unveils itself, the fear can be conquered! Have I lived in fear all my life?' she thought as the disappearance of her parents and her Grandfather's crying at nights flashed before her mind.
'Was I too afraid to face the unknown? The Death of my parents... I never wanted to accept it in my heart. But if I want to move on, then I have to accept it and unveil the unknown truth behind it so that I can find the courage to seek what happened and honor them.'
She was broken out of her thoughts by Ling Tian continuing, "If you want to find courage, just seek knowledge and wisdom. It will unveil the unknown."
She nodded with wide eyes and bowed gratefully. "Thank you."
He put back his sword and smiled, "No need to thank me, I have made a fool out of myself. I am leaving tomorrow so this is farewell, tell your Grandfather that he is truly a good man. And thank you for all you have done for me and the story you told was great; perhaps one day I will be able to pay you back when you need it."
He waved his hand as he turned around to leave, leaving Wang Luan behind. She gazed at his back as many thoughts went through her head, 'Grandpa, you have always taken care of me and taught me all I know but it is time that I know what happened to my parents. Ling Tian, I will remember you...'
Her delicate and pretty face smiled like a blooming flower as she left too.
'Courage...'
A while later and Ling Tian sat on the same spot as the day he broke through the XianTian realm and looked at the sky, deep in thought, 'For some reason, I got a little emotional and said so many of my inner thoughts out in the open. It feels surprisingly refreshing; Maybe that's why people find their special other, to share everything with one another whether burdens or thoughts. In any case, nothing can be accomplished without power, that Xia guy showed me that so let's get to it...'
He opened the system and looked at his EP with satisfaction.
"174,500 EP! haha!" he laughed as he thought of spending it, 'I have a good enough sword art and skill so I don't think I need to level them up yet. It's obvious they can evolve so I don't need to spend on other techniques even if I find them. The water emperor sword art is very powerful as well. Hmm, I will just increase my cultivation and talent and keep some points for emergency situations...'
He added 40000 EP to his Qi and body cultivation, overall 80000 EP was reduced. The Qi in his body moved out and engulfed him in a cocoon that shone in the night. A while passed as a magical transformation happened to him. His body absorbed Qi like a sponge and grew stronger, his Qi reserves increased and his Qi became purer and more potent.
The cocoon opened to reveal him levitating several meters above the ground. His Qi freely manifested out of his body and surrounded him in a protective formation as if it was unshackled and free with a mind of its own. His hair and robes fluttered as his eyelashes trembled as he opened his eyes, they were filled with a strange power that made one hold his breath. The winds generated from his breakthroughs shook the trees as a powerful aura was emanated from him. He seemed as if he was a great sword being unsheathed.
He opened his palm and Wave Repulser flew out and landed in his palm perfectly. A gentle blue light appeared on its blade as he casually swiped in a direction and a thin blue wave shot there and vanished in the distance with immense speed. Dozens of trees and several tall boulders that were on the way moved and fell down, sliced perfect in half. The slice was so smooth that it reflected the light of the world and tiny moons scattered in the sky.
'I can move things with my mind when Qi is focused on the space between my eyebrows, I have minor telekinesis now it seems. I can fly by focusing Qi on my entire body but it feels very draining. I can at most levitate a minute or so...' he thought as he descended on the ground.
He looked at the sight of his sword attack and smiled in satisfaction, wielding such power gave him an addictive feeling to chase more...
He took some time to get used to his new physical power and admired his previous attack. "I don't know how strong I am but I should be strong enough to go to Dark Demon city; However, I will not recklessly charge into something without preparation like the last incident in which I almost lost my life in. I will just go to investigate and remain low-key..." he murmured as he opened the system screen.
He looked at the required points for his next breakthrough and he saw he needed 100,000 EP to breakthrough to the Inner Heaven Realm. Seeing he had not enough points, he focused on talent. 'Let's see how much I can upgrade you... Time for investing. I will save 20000 EP for emergencies.'
On the morning of the next day, Ling Tian and Lian Qiu departed the village; They moved along the river since it was the only clue and Lian Qiu didn't know where the city was for he had not heard of it before.
Old Wang watched them with Wang Luan by his side, "So you now know the fate of your parents, do you dare to avenge them?"
She laid eyes on Ling Tian and said with determination, "I will take back what is mine and avenge them... I will find him after and maybe..."
Old Wang chuckled, "The old generation goes as the young ones rise, Are you sure he is the one for you?"
She nodded with a smile and a light blush, "He is the only man I will ever respect for he gave me courage..."