A Letter of Divorce

Three years without cultivation—now, as he relived the feeling of raging flames burning through him, ten days had passed in the blink of an eye.

Over those ten days, with the Eternal Purgatory Phoenix as the main cultivator and Li Tianming observing and learning, they split the fruits of cultivation evenly. By today, man and chick possessed Beast Essence of the same quality and quantity.

In ten days, he had broken through to the third level of the Beast Pulse Realm!

Though he was rebuilding his cultivation, such speed was an unprecedented marvel throughout the entire Vermilion Bird Kingdom.

The reason was likely closely related to the heaven-defying excellence of the Eternal Purgatory Scripture, as well as the fact that his body had already been transformed by this Primordial Chaos Giant Beast. His constitution could now be called the Eternal Purgatory Body. In terms of innate physique, he was scarcely different from his companion beast, Little Yellow Chick.

Such a constitution itself possessed heaven-defying strength and speed. Its room for growth was simply immense.

"Damn it, the Beast Essence at the third level of the Beast Pulse Realm feels even stronger than the fifth-level Mystic Gold Beast Essence I forged back then with the Mystic Gold Art!"

Li Tianming circulated the Beast Essence power through his three beast pulses. This Eternal Purgatory Beast Origin was like underground magma—scorching and violent. As it flowed through his body, he was like a volcano with dark tides surging within it. The temperature of the whole room rose, and once it erupted, it would be a volcanic explosion.

"I'm just an ordinary person from Lihuo City. Why did my Companion Space give birth not only to Jin Yu, but also contain so many Primordial Chaos Giant Beasts? What is so special about me?" He was deeply puzzled by his origins.

"There are still nine eggs in the Companion Space. One of them is still making cracking sounds, though it has not yet cracked. It will probably hatch soon. I just wonder what kind of Primordial Chaos Giant Beast it will be?"

Li Tianming was filled with anticipation for the second egg, and even more imagination for all the remaining eggs!

He wondered whether there was a possibility that he could have ten Primordial Chaos Giant Beasts as companion beasts.

Then he could ride ten Primordial Chaos Giant Beasts, dominate the world, reign supreme over the cosmos, and build a harem of three thousand...

Just thinking about it a little more made drool spill from his mouth.

"Though I've received an extraordinary blessing, equivalent to being reborn once, in this new life, I will take every step ahead properly. I will never again give anyone the chance to humiliate me." He stared at the world beyond the window with blazing eyes. From this day onward, he knew perfectly well what he wanted to do.

"More importantly, I can't let Mother get hurt again." His mother, Wei Jing, had already been terribly unlucky in this life. Then, after he was crippled at Yanhuang Academy, her lonely and helpless state over the past three years had been carved deeply into Li Tianming's heart.

When this cultivation session ended, Little Yellow Chick was still snoring soundly in the room. Li Tianming, meanwhile, ended his cultivation. He remembered clearly that today was his mother's birthday. Having survived catastrophe, it was time for him to take better care of her.

"Ming'er, have you finished cultivating?" The moment he opened the door, he saw his mother had moved a chair over and fallen asleep against the doorway. The sound of him opening the door woke her.

That was how she was. Over the past three years, fearing that he might commit suicide in despair, she had watched over him every moment of every day, even though her physical condition had already become extremely poor.

"Mother, let me tell you some good news. My companion beast is absolutely beyond a Fifth-Order Companion Beast. Your son will soon rise again and command the wind and rain." After three years, Li Tianming had never felt so relaxed as he did at this moment.

As for the secret that his Companion Space contained ten eggs, his mother was the only person in heaven and earth who knew. When he was very young, she had reminded him never to tell anyone else.

The facts proved that Mother was forever the person least likely to betray him.

"You little rascal, you're boasting without even drafting a script. I saw it through the window—it's just a little chick. You'd better keep a close eye on it, or someone might stew it." Wei Jing smiled.

"You saw it? How about we stew it tonight? It was only just born, so maybe it'll taste quite fresh." Li Tianming helped her up and led her into the courtyard to bask in the sun.

"Don't fool around, you naughty child. That little chick is quite cute." Wei Jing scolded him.

"Haha, I'm just teasing." Li Tianming had her sit down in the courtyard, then boiled a bucket of hot water and squatted down to wash Wei Jing's feet.

"Remember to tell others that this companion beast was obtained through the Blood God Contract." Wei Jing instructed him earnestly.

"Understood!"

The so-called Blood God Contract was a secret method used by beastmasters who had lost their companion beasts. If they found an unhatched egg of a ferocious beast or a cub less than a day old, they could use a special blood-sacrifice technique to guide it and forcibly infuse their own bloodline into it, turning the creature into their companion beast.

Ferocious beasts differed from companion beasts. They had no beastmaster to coexist with, lurked in the wilderness, and were savage and violent.

Li Tianming had heard that when Wei Jing was young, not only was she extraordinarily powerful and talented, she was also a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms and cities. Back then, she had basked in limitless glory before marrying his father, Li Yanfeng.

However, after Wei Jing gave birth to Li Tianming, she contracted a "strange illness." This illness accelerated the aging of both her and her companion beast. Though she was only forty now, her hair was already entirely white, and she was like a candle flickering in the wind at the end of its life. Only the outline of her face showed that she had indeed once been an astonishing beauty.

Her companion beast was likewise a Four-Winged Golden-Winged Roc. It was currently lying in the courtyard, nearly all its feathers shed. It moved with extreme sluggishness and was unable to move at all most of the time.

It was exceedingly rare for a beastmaster and companion beast to fall ill together. Rumor had it that she had traveled to many places, yet found no cure for this strange illness. At this rate, she might age to death within another half year.

"Eh, you don't usually wear this outfit. You look far too beautiful today."

"Mhm." Wei Jing smiled gently, but her gaze drifted toward the gate. She seemed to be waiting.

Li Tianming remembered. During the three years since he had returned, his father Li Yanfeng had not visited often, but he did come once every year on his mother's birthday. She had dressed herself so carefully today; she was likely waiting for that man to arrive.

"Li Yanfeng."

Thinking of his father, Li Tianming frowned. Perhaps heaven had been fair—having given him a mother whom others envied to death, it had paired her with a father who was like fire and water with him. Especially since he had returned crippled, they had spoken no more than three sentences in total.

Whenever he thought of that man, he recalled the way he had looked at him over the past three years: always disappointment, followed by contempt, and finally indifference.

He had come on Mother's birthday last year, but merely glanced at Wei Jing before hurrying away.

To put it bluntly, he had probably come just to see whether Wei Jing was dead yet!

Poor woman. She was still waiting for Li Yanfeng to give her an answer.

What surprised Li Tianming was that it was only morning when sounds came from outside. Judging by the noise, someone was heading toward the Rain-Listening Pavilion where they lived.

Mother and son had lived in the Rain-Listening Pavilion for many years. It was the most elegant courtyard in the City Lord's Mansion of Lihuo City, proof of Wei Jing's former status within the City Lord's Mansion.

That was right. Li Tianming's father, Li Yanfeng, was the city lord who controlled Lihuo City, while Wei Jing was Li Yanfeng's first wife and the lady of the City Lord's Mansion.

"He's here." Upon hearing the footsteps, Wei Jing pushed herself up with a hand on his shoulder, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on the gates of the Rain-Listening Pavilion.

"It's not him." Li Tianming had recovered some cultivation, and he could tell that the aura behind those footsteps was not heavy enough. There were also two sets of footsteps—it should be two other people.

Sure enough, the next moment, the wooden gates were pushed open directly without so much as a knock.

Two women entered from outside. One wore a red dress and was a graceful, luxurious matron. Her eyes were narrow and long, and one could tell at a glance that she was not someone to be trifled with.

The other was a young girl in a yellow combat outfit. Her figure was fit and agile, and she radiated heroic vigor. Every gesture carried the valiant air of a powerful clan's scion, while her brows held the bearing of one accustomed to high status. To put it plainly, she was spoiled and overbearing.

"Third Sister, Xuejiao..." Wei Jing was slightly stunned. She was confused as to why these two had come on her birthday.

The luxurious matron was the third wife of City Lord Li Yanfeng, known as Lady Huang. In the Vermilion Bird Kingdom, men were officially permitted to take three wives and four concubines. Lady Huang was an equal wife and held a lofty position in the City Lord's Mansion. Her paternal family was also an important force in Lihuo City.

As for the girl in the combat outfit, she was Lady Huang's daughter, Li Tianming's half-sister, Li Xuejiao. She was a few years younger than Li Tianming, and over the past three years, she had risen rapidly in Lihuo City. Her cultivation talent was quite impressive.

"Elder Sister, are you well?" The moment Lady Huang saw them, a smile immediately piled onto her face as she approached in elegant steps with her daughter.

"She's practically in the grave already. How could she possibly be well?" Li Xuejiao muttered, unable to stop herself, amusement gleaming in her eyes.

"How rude." Lady Huang shot her a glare, though she did not blame her in the slightest. Still smiling broadly, she said to Wei Jing, "I heard it is Elder Sister's birthday. The master specially prepared a gift for you. He has some guests to receive today and is rather busy, so he specifically instructed me to deliver it to you."

"Pfft!" Li Xuejiao could not hold back her laughter, though she still managed to suppress it.

"What is it?" Wei Jing was somewhat bewildered. After all, no matter what the gift was, it should not have required Lady Huang to personally bring it over.

"This is it. Elder Sister, please have a look." Lady Huang took a document from her bosom. She, too, was suppressing laughter as she handed it to Wei Jing.

Wei Jing's fingers trembled slightly. She gently unfolded the document. The words upon it were bold and vigorous, strokes dancing like dragons and snakes. One look was enough to tell that it was Li Yanfeng's handwriting.

Wei Jing swept her eyes over it once, and they immediately reddened, blood vessels filling them. She could not even remain standing and had to rely on Li Tianming's support before sitting down.

Li Tianming also took a look. Though Li Yanfeng's wording in the document was exceedingly polite and roundabout, the core of it was obvious at a glance: this was a letter of divorce!

He expressed gratitude for Wei Jing's companionship over the years and for all she had contributed to the Lineage, then listed a heap of flowery phrases before finally dismissing Wei Jing from the City Lord's Mansion. Not only was she stripped of her position as the principal wife, she was also stripped of her identity as the city lord's wife!

In short, she was being driven out of the City Lord's Mansion.

Li Tianming was mentioned at the end as well. The wording was brief, telling Wei Jing to take Li Tianming with her. This was clearly stripping Li Tianming of his status as the eldest legitimate son! One had to know that Li Tianming had always been the heir to Lihuo City!

This was an even greater matter for Lihuo City, yet it was merely mentioned in passing within this letter of divorce. It showed just how ruthless Li Yanfeng's actions were—discarding his principal wife and disowning his eldest legitimate son!

Three years ago, it would have caused a sensation. But today, perhaps anyone would see it as a trivial matter, too light to even mention!

Because in people's eyes, the only thing still worth discussing about Li Tianming was the scandal of him failing to win Mu Qingqing's affections, drugging her, and attempting indecency. It was a joke for people to laugh over before and after meals.

Li Tianming believed there were many people in this world who would kick someone when they were down. He also knew Li Yanfeng was domineering and heartless. But he had never imagined that the person kicking him while he was down would be his own father—and that his father's knife would stab more viciously than anyone else's. The key was that the one most deeply wounded was actually his mother.

How much had she given for this love, for this Lineage? Li Tianming could not even calculate it. Yet this was the ending she received. It made his fury surge into the heavens!

Meeting the wrong person could ruin an entire life.

When Lady Huang and Li Xuejiao saw the changes in Li Tianming and Wei Jing's expressions, the mother and daughter could no longer restrain themselves. Li Xuejiao clutched Lady Huang's arm, and no matter how hard she tried to hold it in, laughter still burst from her.

"My father really is something. He usually seems so stiff and old-fashioned, but the birthday gift he gave is quite thrilling." Li Xuejiao laughed.

What enraged him even more was that Li Yanfeng had not even shown up himself. Instead, he had sent Lady Huang to deliver it, letting them watch Wei Jing make a fool of herself. That was the cruelest part.

"Elder Sister, you mustn't blame the master. He's doing this for your own good, and for Tianming's as well. To put it bluntly, your current situation is like occupying a latrine without taking a shit—you only bring disgrace upon Lihuo City. Retreating bravely amid rushing currents is also a kind of blessing. Do you understand, Elder Sister?" Lady Huang said, putting away her smile and speaking seriously.

"Besides, the master has considered Elder Sister and Tianming's future livelihood. He specially arranged for me to bring so much Jade. This is wealth that only beastmasters can use. A single piece is worth a great deal of gold and silver—enough for you two to live out the rest of your lives." As she spoke, Lady Huang took out another bundle of heavy objects and dropped it before Wei Jing, as though tossing alms to beggars.

"I'm so jealous of you. So much Jade—I couldn't get it even if I begged." Li Xuejiao said enviously. Truthfully, she did covet this Jade, but since it was something her father had given, she did not quite dare line her own pockets.

As the saying went, petty people were like ghosts.

At a time like this, with two such petty people fanning the flames, it would be enough to anger someone to death. Li Tianming had thought his mother would be so devastated that she could not get over this hurdle, but he never expected that after her initial daze, her expression would become calmer than ever before.

As though in an instant, she had seen through many things.

"Ending things this way is actually quite good. From now on, we owe each other nothing." She murmured, shaking her head as she spoke.

"Elder Sister, if you feel truly miserable, you can cry. Your little sister won't laugh at you." Lady Huang covered her mouth, trying to conceal the smile at the corners of her lips.

"Can you get the hell out now?" Li Tianming's rage had already burned up to his throat.

"What do you mean, get out, Destiny Bro? Do you know why we were sent to notify you? My father has already agreed that the Rain-Listening Pavilion will be ours from now on. You've been divorced and cast aside. The ones who should get out now are you two, understand?" Li Xuejiao crossed her arms, speaking smugly with mockery in her eyes.

"Xuejiao is right, Elder Sister. For the sake of our sisterhood over so many years, I won't make things difficult for you. I'll give you half an hour to pack your belongings. What do you think?" Lady Huang said with raised brows and a smiling face.

Li Tianming laughed instead.

These people truly were more ruthless than the last. If he had not encountered this great fortune, they really would have crushed him to death.

He refused to accept this!

Why should his mother suffer such unfair treatment? Even if they had to leave, he would leave openly and proudly, not like a stray dog cast out of its home.

Just as he decided to find Li Yanfeng and demand an explanation, Wei Jing, knowing her son better than anyone, grabbed his arm. Great strength came from her frail body, enough to show her resolve.

"Tianming, we're leaving. There's nothing worth clinging to. When we are in decline, we should not struggle in vain. When you rise again one day, we will return and reclaim our dignity."

She spoke with utter decisiveness.

Those words shook Li Tianming profoundly. He had always known that his mother was no ordinary person. It was only this strange illness that had tormented her for half her life. If not for this illness, what right did Lady Huang before them have to be so smug?

When it was time to let go, she saw things more clearly and acted more resolutely than Li Tianming had imagined.

Today was the time of their decline. Others had already become so cold-blooded and heartless; what could be more laughable than begging them now to change their minds?

Perhaps she had completely given up on everything in this City Lord's Mansion, including that man. Nothing was crueler than receiving a letter of divorce as a birthday gift, yet she had endured it.

"Rise again? Don't make me laugh myself to death, Auntie. Your son's companion beast is dead, and it was killed by his own shameless, despicable acts. This laughingstock of Lihuo City can still rise again? Then sows might as well climb trees." Li Xuejiao could not help but sneer.

"Is that so? Then today, I'll make sure you climb a tree." Li Tianming suddenly fixed his gaze on her, his eyes burning like the blazing sun.

"Destiny Bro, are you provoking me? I won't show you mercy just because you're a cripple." Li Xuejiao's smile vanished, and her gaze turned icy.

"Xuejiao, do you remember? When you were three, you were abducted because you were greedy for play. I followed those thieves for three days and three nights, leaving clues, before I managed to save you. Otherwise, no one would know which corner you died in now." Li Tianming narrowed his eyes.

Some people simply did not know gratitude in their bones.

Hearing this, Li Xuejiao curled her lips.

"That doesn't change the fact that you're a laughingstock now, Destiny Bro." Li Xuejiao said dismissively.

"So I regret saving you. There are three trees in this courtyard. Pick one—which tree do you want to climb? The orange tree, the locust tree, or this parasol tree?"