No Good Travelers on the Road to Immortality; Many White Bones Before the Gate of the Great Dao

After relinquishing control of the body, Burning Ruin Venerable quickly revealed the true identity of the middle-aged man before him to Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan was filled with shock and entered the body with his Divine Sense.

The stinging pain all over his body made him gasp, his head spinning.

Just as I regained some consciousness, I saw a long sword thrusting towards me.

Holy crap!

After exclaiming in surprise, he immediately shouted out Zhang Xuanchen's name!

"Brother Chen Xuanchen! Stop! It's me, Xiao Yan!"

The sound was loud and echoed throughout the area.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xuanchen stopped and watched as Xiao Yan's long hair turned from crimson back to black.

He chuckled inwardly.

He deliberately feigned surprise.

He asked, "Are you really Brother Xiao?"

No, Brother Xiao couldn't possibly have seen through my disguise!

Tell me, who are you?

Xiao Yan stared intently at the sword tip, which was 0.01 centimeters away from him, cold sweat pouring down his face.

The sweat on my back soaked through my clothes.

Seeing Zhang Xuanchen still pointing his sword at him, Xiao Yan didn't dare to make any rash moves, fearing that he would be killed by a single sword strike.

He quickly explained, "It really is me, I am Xiao Yan."

It wasn't me who recognized you; it was my master.

He told me that.

Zhang Xuanchen raised an eyebrow, looking on with a hint of disbelief, and asked, "Your master?"

As he spoke, he withdrew the Dragon Abyss Sword that had been pressed against Xiao Yan's neck.

This made Xiao Yan breathe a sigh of relief.

Then he quickly recounted to Zhang Xuanchen how he met his master and what he had experienced over the past three years.

It turns out that after the parting at Fire Maple Mountain, Xiao Yan went to the Azure Nether Mountain Range for training, but was stopped by the Bandit Cultivator as soon as he entered the mountain.

At that time, Xiao Yan was not even at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, so how could he possibly be a match for this group of Bandit Cultivator? He was immediately beaten and forced to flee in terror.

Forced to jump off a cliff.

Then, after a near-death experience, he successfully refined a Second Stage Yao Fire.

This Yao Fire was the remnant flame of a Second Stage Demon Beast, the Fire Spirit Python, after its death. It was extremely ferocious, and I almost died while trying to refine it.

Fortunately, he survived with his master's help.

His strength has also increased to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.

After that, they lived a wild life in the mountains for two years.

It wasn't until a year ago, when he broke through to the seventh level of Qi Refining and gained a sliver of self-protection ability, that he chose to leave the Azure Nether Mountain Range and stumbled his way to Daojian Immortal City.

They wanted to kill demons to obtain some rare and expensive heavenly materials and earthly treasures.

I recently visited the Task Hall and saw a Spirit Jade Mine on Spirit Jade Island.

He was thinking of stealing a few pieces so his master could refine some Law Artifact and sell them for Spirit Stones.

However, just as he successfully stole the Spirit Jade and was preparing to leave, he accidentally stepped on a small twig.

Then they were discovered and chased all the way here.

Listening to Xiao Yan's description, Zhang Xuanchen felt a surge of emotion.

This is the life of the vast majority of cultivators in the cultivation world. Without a background, they can only rely on their own hard work to earn Spirit Stone to exchange for Cultivation Resources.

One wrong move and you could die.

Of course, Xiao Yan is an exception.

Although he suffered greatly, he was protected by Burning Ruin Venerable, and as long as he didn't court death, there was no possibility of him dying.

He was born as the young master of the Golden Core Family, which means his starting point was the endpoint for 90% of cultivators in the cultivation world.

Although their family didn't have many Spirit Stones at the start, their strength was formidable. Several of them traveled together through the Azure Nether Mountain Range and the outer reaches of the Purple Cloud Mountain Range —where couldn't they go?

If you're really starving, just wipe out a few Evil Cultivator factions or some Bandit Cultivator.

Acquiring resources is not difficult.

He patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder, looking at the young man who was only three years older than him with a very complicated expression.

A hint of admiration flickered in his eyes.

Is this the chosen one?

Only through hardship can one achieve greatness.

Fortunately, I have a cheat code and the protection of my Lineage.

Brother Xiao, do you regret it? Are you tired?

If you had known this beforehand, would you still have chosen to embark on the path of cultivation?

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan fell silent.

Slowly raising his head, he looked up at the sky and began to speak:

"When I first awakened my Spirit Root at the age of seven and began cultivating, I was exceptionally gifted and full of vigor. I cultivated to make my father proud and to satisfy my own vanity."

After that, my cultivation level regressed instead of progressing. I endured the disdain and insults of my clansmen, but I gritted my teeth and continued to cultivate, just to prove that I was not a waste and to make my father, the Lineage Clan Leader, hold his head high in front of the clansmen.

When I was eighteen, Liu Ruyan the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect came to my door to break off our engagement, humiliating me, my father, and the Xiao Clan!

It is I, Xiao Yan, who have brought shame upon the Lineage. At this moment, I have made up my mind to cultivate in order to protect the Lineage and allow everyone in the Lineage to live with dignity.

And now, besides all of these, I have another dream.

That is... to resurrect my master.

Therefore, I have no regrets! I don't mind the hard work! And I'm not afraid of death!

On the road to immortality, there are no kind guests; before the gates of the Great Way, there are many white bones.

If one does not strive, Spiritual Qi will dissipate, fortuitous opportunity will be lost, and the path to enlightenment will be lost.

Only by risking one's life can one carve out a path to immortality amidst the fierce competition of countless paths!

Xiao Yan's words were firm and powerful, his tone full of confidence and determination.

No matter how many difficulties and obstacles lie ahead, my heart remains as firm as a rock, and I will brave the wind and waves!

Within his sea of consciousness, Burning Ruin Venerable felt a profound tremor run through his heart, which had been dormant for thousands of years, upon hearing Xiao Yan's heartfelt words.

A warm feeling washed over me.

Yan'er...

Don't worry, even if it costs me my life, I will protect you and do everything in my power to train you into a top expert!

Burning Ruin Venerable made a silent vow.

Even with his Divine Sense extremely weak, he was already devising a subsequent cultivation plan for Xiao Yan.

Zhang Xuanchen stared at him blankly, not expecting Xiao Yan to say such a thing.

The saying "On the road to immortality, there are no kind guests; before the gate of the Great Dao, there are many white bones" perfectly encapsulates the cruelty of the cultivation world.

It seems that during the years when his cultivation regressed, and the three years he spent cultivating with Burning Ruin Venerable, he gained a lot of insights and learned a great deal.

You can write this down to encourage the younger generation in the clan later.

With Xiao Yan as a role model, their enthusiasm for cultivation will definitely be ignited!

Brother Xiao, I am ashamed to admit that I cannot match your character.

I believe that you will surely become a top expert in the Xuanqiong Cultivation World in the future.

Don't forget me then, brother.

As he spoke, Zhang Xuanchen winked at him.

Everyone has their own path; Xiao Yan has his, and so does he.

Xiao Yan's experiences cannot be replicated, but that does not mean that one cannot become a top expert without these hardships.

Hearing Zhang Xuanchen's words, Xiao Yan scratched his head sheepishly.

"Brother Chen, I'm just glad you don't laugh at me for boasting. I got a little carried away just now."

I'm just a Qi Refining cultivator right now...

"So what if you're a Qi Refining cultivator? Nobody's born a powerhouse; everyone climbs the ranks step by step, right?"

You must first trust yourself; only in this way can you ensure your invincibility from the outset!

As he spoke, Zhang Xuanchen patted him on the shoulder, his eyes full of encouragement!