Human relationships were surely fleeting.
Many things can result in an unexpected separation between a couple or even a group.
Even familial love can, at times, be like the dazzling lights of a firework. Impactful and full of positivity at first, before fizzling out of existence and welcoming the descent of darkness.
Permanence was a concept that was never set in stone. The human heart was truly fickle and ever-changing.
When Lord Guanjun came to himself, he soon realized that he was no longer in the Spiritual Martial Hall.
Lord Guanjun shook his head dejectedly.
It wasn't even supposed to be called the Spiritual Martial Hall since it was utterly ruined into fragmented rubbles.
When he reminisced about his short but intense fight with Quan Chen, Lord Guanjun unconsciously clenched his hand in silent hatred before letting go.
It wasn't worth it, Lord Guanjun thought after exhaling his inner turmoil.
He was simply too weak while Quan Chen, a bastard with an unsavory personality, was stronger than him.
His potential was greater than his. His comprehensive skills were better than his.
Quan Chen, a junior of his long-term rival, was just better.
It was really humiliating and a slap to his face.
A self-deprecating smile formed on Lord Guanjun's weary face. He felt all along he had been a fool.
Yeah, truly a fool.
What love for geniuses?
His misguided ambitions had been shattered by two betrayals of his so-called hope.
His core disciples had been poached right under his nose.
He was powerless. The weak had no say and he could only remain indignant.
"In this world, one can only depend on oneself. Depending on others would only create a loop of severe disappointment." Lord Guanjun came to a sudden realization.
His thirst for revenge and pursuit of self-gratification against his mortal enemy had surely clouded his reasoning.
He only concentrated on his own bigger picture, unaware that there were small pieces of the puzzle that he needed to take note of.
"But I can blame my own fate and lack of potential. The gap between me and Hai Yun is currently like a bottomless chasm."
Lord Guanjun felt anger, sadness, helplessness, and hatred toward his very existence, toward his fate.
The world was truly unfair and in front of its mechanization, Lord Guanjun truly felt miniscule.
With an overdrawn conclusive sigh, Lord Guanjun looked through the window and into the night.
There was no light, everything was bleak.
A cold glint flashed inside his eyes as a risky thought flashed in his mind for a moment.
"Embrace the demonic path and take full grasp of my revenge!" A visible frown crossed his face before he erased such thoughts off his mind.
The demonic path was a dead end and it wasn't truly worth it.
It didn't align with his personality and additionally, there was a probability that even if he became a demonic master, his future would surely be one of death.
He wouldn't be hunted down by the Thirteen Clans which he could never dream of facing against.
It was really stupid to even consider it.
Lord Guanjun didn't have such guts.
So only one thing remained for him, and that was to swallow all of his misgivings and let go of his petty quest for revenge.
He couldn't do sh*t to the current Hai Yun.
Finally, Lord Guanjun completely gave up!
Yeah, what else could he do?
There might be a better approach to his problem, and various paths to take but at that moment, everything didn't matter.
His only choice was to give up.
And with such a firm resolution, Lord Guanjun felt as if the chains of revenge that had been tightly wrapped up around his body, began to fall.
Lord Guanjun felt that his body had become light and his mind had never felt more clear.
The feeling was almost illusory and it surprised him.
"So this is what it means to let go and swallow a predicament." Lord Guanjun immersed himself in that momentary feeling of freedom, of tranquility.
Lord Guanjun had humbly accepted his own fate. It was better to pursue his Martial Dao and improve on it.
Hai Yun was a mountain that the current him couldn't ever hope to climb and that was the current state of reality.
During that night as Lord Guanjun nursed his own wounds while meditating in peace and silence, he unknowingly broke through his 10-year-long bottleneck at the Second Sky of Ascended Realm.
Fate was constant but the existence of variables and anomalies in its intricate web would eventually lead to unforeseen events.
Lord Guanjun's fate was slightly altered and even though it wasn't as impactful as Zhao Yufei's change since she was a major player in the Fan Universe, the change was still there albeit subtle and easily ignored.
Zhao Wei was unaware of this and even if he knew, given his personality, he wouldn't care much as it didn't coincide with his goals.
Zhao Wei had long ago understood that change was inevitable and constant and variables were huge driving factors of the universe.
To him, it only made things interesting. The more, the merrier.
Unless he becomes an absolute and eternal existence, then not everything will always be under his control.
***
Broken Moon Clan, Sky Moon Mountain,
Dawn had already arrived when Quan Chen, Zhao Wei, and Bei Moi arrived at the mountainous region where the prestigious clan resided.
The morning sun cast its golden, almost yellow, radiance onto the Sky Moon Mountain which was surrounded by thick white mists that clouded one's vision of the beautiful scenery beyond.
At the foot of the Sky Moon Mountain, the three figures looked insignificant.
That was the might and wonder of nature!
Bei Moi looked at the entrance miles away, up the mountain and he couldn't help but feel extreme excitement inside his heart.
He was happy.
"Brother Bei, you look happy." Quan Chen smiled at Bei Moi, knowing what was inside the latter's mind.
Bei Moi showed an embarrassed expression. "I can't wait to meet other geniuses."
Of course, he had other reasons to be happy.
He really wanted to know if there were other geniuses comparable to the monster beside him.
Would he find someone like Zhao Wei inside the Broken Moon Clan?
Bei Moi had some hopes as Zhao Wei was too much of a deviant.
"Haha, don't worry. Soon, you will meet them. The hidden dragons and soaring phoenixes up the mountain will surely not disappoint you," Quan Chen said with confidence before casting a glance at Zhao Wei who had been unusually silent for the entire journey.
"Brother Wei, aren't you excited?"
Zhao Wei looked to be absent-minded but many hidden places of the Broken Moon Clan were being mirrored in his mysterious pupils.
His focus seemed to be on a Floating Palace thousands of miles high in the sky.
Azure green lightning that seemed capable of incinerating even a top expert of the Ascended Realm constantly flashed and encircled the enormous, mysterious palace.
It was a terrifying yet beautiful view.
''Is it possible to steal the whole Floating Crest Palace?' An unrealistic thought cropped up inside his crazy mind.
It was then that Zhao Wei heard Quan Chen's inquisitive voice that disrupted his insane line of thought.
'Is he asking if I am excited?'
"I am just amazed by the enormity of the whole place," Zhao Wei casually replied.
"Oh, okay." Quan Chen didn't know how to continue further as he led the two up the mountain.
At the majestic entrance, the huge gate had a pristine silver plaque placed at its center, and written on it were bold and domineering letters - BROKEN MOON CLAN.
And surprisingly, those at the 2nd Sky of Ascended Realm merely served as guards!
'Here I am.' Zhao Wei thought as he sneaked a glance at the Floating Crest Palace.
''It seems the Path of Thieving would also be something that I might dabble in." An obscure smile lingered on his lips before disappearing in a moment.
What? He was a secret fan of Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable!
Spare me some slack, okay?!
***
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