Many people were stunned when they saw the little beggar in tattered clothes and filthy appearance, looking remarkably similar to Nie Fengyun.
"Does anyone else think this little beggar looks a bit like Emperor Nie?"
The group of cultivators couldn't help but voice their doubts, and soon, everyone's gaze turned to Nie Fengyun beside them.
At this moment, Nie Fengyun awkwardly said, "Indeed, that is me!"
Hearing his confirmation, the cultivators were even more shocked.
What was Nie Fengyun's background?
In the Immortal Realm, he was currently the First Divine General of the Heavenly Court. Even before the Imperial Sovereign rose to power, he had the backing of the Nie family, an ancient family.
The Longevity Nie family was considered a prestigious family in the entire Immortal Realm, and Nie Fengyun was the apparent heir of the family.
How could he end up in such a miserable state while training in the lower realm?
This was beyond mere misfortune.
The cultivators were curious about what could have happened to bring the once formidable Emperor Nie, whose very presence could shake the All Spirits Continent, to such a state.
If Nie Fengyun hadn't admitted it himself, they would never have believed that this little beggar would one day become such a terrifying figure.
Seeing the expressions of the crowd, Nie Fengyun's face was filled with embarrassment.
"At that time, I was arrogant and frivolous. My father specifically sent me to the mortal world to gain some experience. He gave me a lot of gold, silver, and jewels. I thought they had finally decided to let me enjoy myself in the mortal world."
"Who would have thought that as soon as I left the mountain, I was robbed of all my possessions."
The cultivators covered their mouths, trying not to laugh.
At that time, Nie Fengyun had not yet begun his cultivation and was naturally arrogant, carrying so many valuables on him. How could he not stand out?
Seeing such a fat sheep, how could the bandits and robbers not rob him?
It must be said that Nie Fengyun was somewhat naive back then.
With such a character and lack of scheming, as the heir of the Nie family, it was natural for them to be worried, which is why they harshly sent him to the mortal world for training.
...
Chu Yang looked at the pitiful figure in front of him, feeling compassion, and decided to share half of his buns with Nie Fengyun.
Nie Fengyun, who hadn't eaten for several days, was almost fainting from hunger.
Not only were his clothes tattered, but he also had numerous injuries, clearly having been beaten.
Seeing Chu Yang willing to share his food, Nie Fengyun grabbed the hot buns as if he were a starving ghost, devouring each bun in one gulp.
In just a moment, he finished seven or eight buns, leaving Chu Yang dumbfounded.
This guy could really eat!
Seeing that he was still not satisfied, Chu Yang didn't hesitate and took Nie Fengyun to an inn in the small town for a proper meal.
Nie Fengyun, having not experienced such fullness in a long time, was incredibly satisfied.
"How many days has it been since you ate?" Chu Yang asked, his mouth twitching as he looked at the mess on the table.
Nie Fengyun was genuinely grateful for Chu Yang's help, but he still maintained a haughty demeanor.
Nie Fengyun replied, "Probably four or five days!"
"However, my friend, since you helped me, Nie Fengyun, I won't let you down! To tell you the truth, I am the heir of the Longevity Family, the Nie family in the Immortal Realm. In three years, I will return to the Immortal Realm. Follow me then, and I guarantee you will soar to great heights!"
Nie Fengyun said proudly.
Chu Yang couldn't help but laugh and asked, "If you have such a prestigious background, why have you been starving for three days?"
Hearing this, Nie Fengyun's face turned red with embarrassment, clearly not wanting to dwell on the painful past, and quickly changed the subject.
The two chatted sporadically, quickly becoming familiar with each other.
Although Nie Fengyun was the heir of a great family in the Immortal Realm and had yet to begin his cultivation, he had sharp eyes. He could see that Chu Yang was not an ordinary person, possessing a strong foundation that had unfortunately been destroyed beyond repair.
During this period, Chu Yang's injuries showed little improvement.
His Dao Palace had collapsed, his foundation was damaged, and his cultivation had completely dissipated, leaving him in an extremely weak state.
He was even weaker than an ordinary person, frequently falling unconscious for days or even weeks at a time.
Nie Fengyun sighed, and each time Chu Yang lost consciousness, he took care of him meticulously.
Every time he noticed Chu Yang's condition, he couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness.
"I thought my life was miserable enough, but it turns out you've had it even worse!" Nie Fengyun remarked.
However, he was not ungrateful. Chu Yang had helped him in his most difficult and dangerous time, so he couldn't abandon him now.
Chu Yang remained unconscious for a whole month.
During this time, Nie Fengyun lived a miserable life. Accustomed to luxury, he knew nothing about hunting or survival skills.
The fact that he managed to take care of Chu Yang and not starve himself was a miracle.
Nie Fengyun thought to himself, he was, after all, the heir of a supreme sect in the Immortal Realm. How could he not have a servant to take care of him in the mortal world? As an heir, he shouldn't have to resort to such degrading activities just to survive. Wouldn't it be great if a servant could take over these duties?
During this time, Nie Fengyun often heard Chu Yang muttering a girl's name in his sleep, but he didn't pay much attention.
Three more months passed.
Finally, Chu Yang's terrifying wounds began to heal step by step.
Seeing this, Nie Fengyun was so excited he almost cried.
Brother, you're finally getting better. If you don't wake up soon, we'll both be done for!
Outside the Heavenly Emperor's Mirror, the cultivators watched in silence.
They never expected the encounter between the two to be like this.
They had assumed that after the Imperial Sovereign's severe injuries and destruction of his foundation, he was brought back to the Nie family by Nie Fengyun for full recovery.
But now it seemed…
Back then, Nie Fengyun didn't have any semblance of an heir to a great sect, did he? He really was starving for three days and eating one meal every four days.
Moreover, he had to beg and rely on others' charity to survive.
It had to be said, Nie Fengyun's self-sufficiency skills were extremely poor.
In their eyes, the Imperial Sovereign was quite pitiful, having to rely on such an unreliable person.
Three months passed just like that.
"Meridians shattered, Dao Palace collapsed, foundation destroyed—this pain lasted for more than three months."
"Even compared to having the Supreme Bone dug out, this pain is no less. I really don't know how the Imperial Sovereign managed to wake up later!"
The cultivators were continuously amazed.
To wake up under such conditions required an extremely strong will to survive. Forget that the young Imperial Sovereign was just a fifteen-year-old child; even they might not have been able to endure it.
"Perhaps it was his concern for his sister and his overwhelming desire for revenge that sustained him."
A cultivator speculated.
After all, during this time, the Imperial Sovereign constantly muttered Chu Nannan's name, which they all noticed.
They couldn't think of any other explanation.
"Maybe the Imperial Sovereign's current status and power are largely due to this strong will."
Ye Fan couldn't help but say, "It's this very will that twisted him, turning him into a scourge of the world!"
"Indeed, if the young Imperial Sovereign had perished, it might have been a perfect ending for him."
Nie Fengyun, standing by, looked conflicted and muttered, "If I hadn't saved him then, would my sister still be alive?"
Inside the mirror.
Chu Yang finally woke up, slowly opening his eyes.
At that moment, Nie Fengyun was overwhelmed with excitement, almost crying.
Finally, the tough times were over!