"You have a karmic connection with the Heavenly Court?"
Yang Jian's refusal did not surprise Di Xin. On the contrary, this was precisely the opening Di Xin had prepared to break through Yang Jian's defenses.
Yang Jian was an intelligent man, possessing both wisdom and courage. Having endured a great upheaval in his youth, he had become even more sensitive inside. If Di Xin had immediately said that he could rescue Yang Jian's mother, Yang Jian would certainly have guessed that Di Xin had come specifically for him, rather than "happening" to encounter him because of the huge waves in the East Sea.
"That's right. Yang Jian has an irreconcilable enmity with the Jade Emperor. If I join the Great King's command now, I fear I will implicate the Great King. The East Sea coast suffered disaster for a hundred li because of Yang Jian. I already feel guilty in my heart, and I cannot do something that would make matters even worse." Yang Jian spoke righteously.
"In that case, Yang Jian, you should join Yin Shang all the more."
Di Xin laughed heartily. He took a table and chairs and several jars of fine wine from the Human Seed Bag, then beckoned Yang Jian to sit.
"Yang Jian, do you consider yourself a member of the Human Race?"
"Yang Jian is naturally a member of the Human Race."
Yang Jian's expression tightened. Under the concealment of the Heavenly Eye, his background had actually been seen through. How could this Human King possess such a Supernatural Power?
"Great King, although Yang Jian is a member of the Human Race, joining Yin Shang will only bring disaster upon Yin Shang. Moreover, Yang Jian bears a blood feud and cannot serve the Great King. I can only disappoint the Great King's good intentions."
"Yang Jian, if this is all you can see, then you have truly disappointed me."
Di Xin took a sip of wine, his gaze toward Yang Jian carrying a hint of amusement.
Yang Jian also possessed the Heavenly Eye. The Kongtong Seal's Supernatural Power of amplifying emotions could not be used recklessly, so Di Xin could only proceed little by little.
"What does the Great King mean?"
Yang Jian repeatedly considered his words, but he could not find anything wrong with them.
"Do you know how powerful the Heavenly Court is?"
Di Xin spoke casually, but to Yang Jian, his words were no different from an inner storm.
"Even a Saint cannot overthrow the Heavenly Court, let alone you.
"I do not know who your master is, but you should be a third-generation disciple of a Saint's great sect. Even your master would have to lower his head and call Haotian 'Martial Uncle.'
"Yet after only a few decades of bitter cultivation, you want to risk your life for revenge. Yang Jian, should I praise you for your courage, or call you an idiot?"
"This... Why has my master never told me this?"
All his fantasies were ruthlessly shattered by Di Xin. Yang Jian's entire heart trembled. If what Di Xin said was true, then what had all his preparations been for?
To become a laughingstock for others?
"I have only said this much, and your heart is already in disorder. Yang Jian, you are disappointing me more and more. Someone like you truly has nothing worth valuing."
"Woof! Woof woof!"
Yang Jian's whole body trembled. Howling Celestial Dog let out a furious barrage of barks at Di Xin. When it tried to rush forward and bite the bastard who had struck at its master to death, Yang Jian held it back with all his strength.
"Master?"
"Don't act."
Yang Jian suddenly raised his head. Cold glints shone in his eyes as he looked at Di Xin, who was casually swirling his wine cup. He spoke slowly, as though every word weighed ten thousand jin:
"Thank you for the Great King's guidance! But what else does the Great King wish to tell Yang Jian?"
"My true body possesses only the combat strength of a Golden Immortal. Yet with merely the blessing of the Cheng Tang realm and Human Race Destiny, I can already fight a Great Overarching.
"Yang Jian, tell me: Can an emperor above the Great Overarching realm, possessing the Thirty-Three Heavens and the blessing of the entire Heavenly Court's destiny, fight those supreme existences?"
A feverish light flashed in Di Xin's eyes, as though Haotian was his future self. Moreover, like Haotian, he was not satisfied with merely standing below the Saints.
He had transmigrated into this world without being discovered by the Saints. That meant power above the Saints existed. If he borrowed that power to pull the Saints from their thrones, why should it be impossible?
"Is this his true strength?"
Yang Jian's Dao heart, which had just recovered somewhat, shattered once more. He lowered his head and looked at his hands, covered in bloody calluses, recalling the path of cultivation he had walked through with blood and sweat...
If he could not rescue his mother, then what had everything he did been for?
With his Dao heart shattered, Yang Jian fell into deep self-doubt. The magic power he had painstakingly cultivated began dispersing from his body strand by strand. If he could not awaken on his own, he would directly die in meditation here.
This was the cruelty of cultivation...
"Master, what's wrong with you, Master?"
Howling Celestial Dog was frantic. It waved its claws wildly around Yang Jian, trying to grab the magic power spilling from his body, but in the end, it merely drew water with a bamboo basket.
"Woof woof! What did you do to my master? Villain, you're a villain too! I'll beat you to death!"
Tears welled in Howling Celestial Dog's eyes. It charged viciously at Di Xin and opened its jaws to bite.
"What a vicious dog. Let me help you."
Di Xin laughed heartily. With a sweep of his sleeve, he pinned the leaping Howling Celestial Dog beneath him. Magic power surged across both his hands, covering them completely as he pried open Howling Celestial Dog's bloody maw:
"Eat quickly, eat quickly. It would be a waste if it dispersed."
"Woof woof woof, whimper, whimper."
Howling Celestial Dog struggled with all its might, but the difference in strength was too great. Di Xin seized complete control of its body and actually activated its Supernatural Power, directing it at Yang Jian.
Amid its whimpers, Yang Jian's dispersing magic power was seized by Howling Celestial Dog's innate Supernatural Power and swallowed into its belly, becoming nourishment for its own cultivation.
This was: Heavenly Dog Swallows Moon.
Looking at Yang Jian now, his flesh was withering little by little. The loss of magic power was also taking away all the essence of his body and shortening his lifespan, causing his hair to turn gray strand by strand.
If this continued, it would truly damage his origin.
Di Xin frowned, calculating how he should train Yang Jian in the future. But for now:
"Yang Jian, are you willing to accept this? Is there no one left for you to protect? Are you really going to fall like this?"
Di Xin's voice rang like thunder. It exploded abruptly within Yang Jian's state of mind, like rolling furious thunder tearing open the heavens and earth.
"Accept it? Haotian killed my father and brothers and imprisoned my mother. How could I accept it?
"Protect someone? I still have my third sister, and I still have Howling Celestial Dog. I still have people who need my protection!
"Fall? How could I, Yang Jian, fall?
"How could I, Yang Jian, dare to fall?"
Yang Jian's voice grew louder and louder until his eyes were bloodshot and he let out a furious roar!
As his roar rang out, the Heavenly Eye between his brows opened instantly. Pure spiritual energy from all directions surged toward him, continuously pouring into his body. It circulated through his extraordinary meridians before transforming into magic power and condensing within his dantian.
Those who survived great disaster were destined for great fortune. After this restoration from the brink of collapse, the Heavenly Eye between Yang Jian's brows completely unleashed its might, stirring the divine blood within him and bringing forth his full potential!
As his body transformed, the third and fourth stages of the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts were breached in the blink of an eye, stopping only at the threshold of the fifth stage.
"Yang Jian, today I appoint you Guardian General of the Human Race. Are you willing?"
Di Xin activated the Kongtong Seal. A mighty current of destiny instantly circled above Yang Jian's head. As long as he nodded, it could help him advance another step.
Yang Jian stood in midair. His gaze shifted from hesitation to determination. He dropped to one knee and spoke word by word:
"This subject, Guardian General of the Human Race Yang Jian, thanks the Great King for his gracious reward!"
—Boom!
Human Race Destiny entered his body. The fifth stage of the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts was breached!
Before you continue