Repaying a Debt of Gratitude

Xu Changqing quietly watched the Golden Frog vanish into the dense forest, hopping along happily.

Over the following days, he watched the Golden Frog begin cultivating. Its talent was unexpectedly excellent; it took only fifteen days to open its Sea of Bitterness, and its intelligence gradually became complete.

Once the Golden Frog learned to speak, it began wandering everywhere. To repay Bai Li for saving its life, it cultivated Xu Changqing's cultivation technique, one Xu Changqing had created himself.

Several years later, the Golden Frog had gained a name: Xu Jin. Xu Changqing had given it a cultivation technique and told Xu Jin his name.

Originally, he had wanted to take the surname Bai. But after thinking it over, Bai Li was his lifesaver, and without a cultivation technique, he would have no way to repay her.

Xu Changqing had given him cultivation techniques and resources, so he ultimately chose the surname Xu.

Xu Jin began traveling the world in human form. He had also heard of Xu Changqing's reputation, and felt deep admiration. As expected of his master—who would have thought that a mere Mortal Body could kill a Divine Body?

Xu Jin had golden hair and a slender, handsome appearance, yet his cultivation talent was monstrously good. Spiritual Energy had revived, the Dao Marks of Great Emperors had vanished, and all manner of constitutions emerged into the world.

Xu Jin's luck was also exceptionally good. Nearly every expedition brought him gains and opportunities, and in a short time, his cultivation had caught up to the Younger Generation.

Moreover, he was innocent, with clear, pure eyes and the heart of a child.

When he reached the Dragon Transformation Realm, he encountered Bai Li within a Secret Realm. Bai Li was being pursued, and had already collapsed in a pool of blood.

Xu Jin flew into a rage and killed every person surrounding Bai Li. In the end, his not particularly sturdy figure carried Bai Li on his back toward Jade Pool Holy Land.

Though Bai Li was not a saintess, her status was still extremely important.

Xu Changqing did not enter Jade Pool Holy Land. Instead, he waited in Jade Pool City. He wanted to see how things would turn out. He had wasted several years just to wait for this moment.

Though Jade Pool was filled with fairies, Xu Jin was exceptionally allowed to stay there for three years. He spent those three years caring for Bai Li.

In the end, he walked out of Jade Pool utterly dejected, consumed by profound disappointment, as though he had lost his soul.

"I have repaid the debt of saving my life. I cared for you for three years, but in the end, I only moved myself."

"Yes, just as people say—I am merely a toad. What right do I have to fall for a swan?"

With a bitter smile, Xu Jin left the Eastern Wasteland and continued his travels. Yet at this moment, his childlike heart had changed.

He was still cultivating the technique Xu Changqing had given him, but the later portions left Xu Jin deeply hesitant. The further he cultivated, the more insight and experience he needed, along with unimaginable emotional torment.

Yet it was truly powerful. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for a Mortal Body to kill a Divine Body.

Xu Changqing had already attempted to create his own cultivation technique back then. Though it was weak, it was still something he had created himself.

Now, he continuously refined it. The technique became increasingly complete and increasingly powerful.

Back then, in order to create a Dao technique suited to himself, he constantly searched for Secret Realms and followed groups of wandering cultivators. Wherever there was a Secret Realm or a great event, he would go.

He had even robbed extremely weak cultivators for the sake of cultivating his technique.

Only after more than two hundred years did he barely create the rudimentary form of the technique.

"Xu Jin only wanted to repay a debt of gratitude back then, yet now he too has fallen into love. But after giving three years, he gained nothing. Perhaps his only gain was that Jade Pool Holy Land had an excellent cultivation environment. Still, his State of Mind has ultimately been shrouded in haze."

The depths of Xu Changqing's eyes grew ever brighter. He stopped observing Xu Jin and instead traveled across the Big Dipper, beginning to adjust his own condition.

He had been comprehending the Dao for a very, very long time. From the moment he descended the snowy mountain, he had already entered a state of Dao comprehension.

His way of comprehending the Dao was unique. A single scene could often draw him into enlightenment, so he began walking through the Mortal World, revisiting things he had already experienced and examining his memories.

Xu Changqing walked through the Feathered Dynasty. During the decades he had spent comprehending the Dao, he had rarely paid attention to the outside world. He had even cut off his senses from it, so now he did not know what the situation was like.

As he walked through a city of the Feathered Dynasty, watching people stream along the bluestone streets, he opened his senses.

As everyone knew, passersby in Covering the Heavens were practically omniscient.

Today, Xu Changqing wore dark green robes. He casually found a tavern, entered, ordered several jars of wine brewed from spiritual herbs, and drank by himself.

The tavern of the Feathered Dynasty was enormous, built from precious materials. It was filled with cultivators, many of whom came here to gather information.

All kinds of discussion, noise, and clamor continuously reached him. Though chaotic, Xu Changqing could still catch the important information.

"Not long ago, a Human King Body claiming to be from Ziwei Star was defeated by the Female Demon. His origin was absorbed, and from then on, his king body fell into a Mortal Body. His cultivation did not decline, but he could not accept his defeat. He repeatedly challenged the Divine Bodies of our Burial Emperor Star, though no one knows how those battles turned out."

"The Female Demon is truly formidable, but no one has ever seen her face. She possesses a secret treasure that conceals it. Still, judging by her figure, she must be a peerless beauty."

"The Emperor's Road has opened, and cruel battles are arriving one after another. Recently, many holy sons have begun Severing Dao."

"Yet Wuqing, one of the Twin Demons of the Era, has remained unwilling to show himself. It has already been more than twenty years."

The moment everyone mentioned Wuqing, many people joined the discussion. After more than twenty years of rumor and retelling, they increasingly felt that Wuqing was truly strong.

They had also learned some hidden details. Back then, Wuqing and the Holy Master of Misty Holy Land had been husband and wife. In the end, however, his wife was discovered by an elder of Misty Holy Land and brought back to the Holy Land to cultivate.

Wuqing waited painfully for a very long time, but his wife never returned. In the end, he stepped onto the path of cultivation.

"Someone specifically investigated Wuqing's rise and found it incredibly difficult. During his Mortal Period, he wandered with his parents. Later, his parents died, and he was captured and forced to mine. He had been a slave, been captured by others, and even watched his Dao Companion get killed before his eyes."

Xu Changqing had been enjoying the gossip, but he never expected that this gossip would land on himself.

Hearing others discuss his past, seeing their pitying expressions and their exhilarated looks, his face remained expressionless.

People were simply like that.

When they learned that someone had accomplished what others could not, discussing that person's past could become a stain against them, dinner-table gossip, or even a source of faith for some.

"Although more than twenty years have passed, Wuqing's spirit is enough to be passed down for a very, very long time. He never gave up on life."

A golden-haired young man sat silently in the tavern, quietly drinking as he murmured inwardly, "No wonder Master wrote this in the scripture when he passed it on to me."

"Once living beings gain intelligence, they inevitably possess Seven Emotions and Six Desires. With Seven Emotions and Six Desires come attachments, and attachments become troublesome. Yet some people turn their attachments and longings into motivation for cultivation."

"And I am deeply disappointed in love."

Xu Jin greatly admired Xu Changqing's ideas. If a person had no attachments and no emotions, what would they become?

He did not know. In fact, no one knew what a person without feelings would be like.

"Only by enduring endless suffering can I cultivate to the Immortal Platform Realm. But I could choose to cultivate a more advanced technique. Still, I believe the Dao technique Master taught me is useful."

Although Xu Changqing had never acknowledged him as a disciple, Xu Jin had already regarded Xu Changqing as his master in his heart. Even if one day Xu Changqing sacrificed him for some purpose, he would not hesitate in the slightest.

Back then, he had only been a golden frog, with absolutely no possibility of cultivating. Every day, he had lived in fear, terrified that some Fierce Beast in the Great Wilderness would eat him.

But once he began cultivating, he witnessed the beauty of the world and experienced beauty and suffering his frog body had never known.

All of it had been bestowed upon him by Xu Changqing.

"Something huge has happened! Something huge!"

Suddenly, cries of alarm rang out from beyond the tavern. The sky abruptly darkened, and everyone leaned out the windows, staring dumbfoundedly at the cloud-covered heavens.

"Rumble!"

Thunder tore through the dark clouds, illuminating the Feathered Dynasty. No one had expected someone to undergo tribulation above the Feathered Dynasty.

"The Female Demon has appeared in the Feathered Dynasty! She is undergoing tribulation and Severing Dao above the Feathered Dynasty, trying to drag the entire Feathered Dynasty into her tribulation!"

Xu Changqing was surprised as well. He had not expected her to be so crazy. But then again, this era had no method for evading the perception of Heavenly Tribulation.

"Since that is the case, it is time for me to Sever Dao as well. After decades of accumulation, my Dao has become clear."

Xu Changqing rose from his seat, his deep gaze fixed on the white figure beneath the dark clouds.

Vaguely, he also sensed several powerful Auras shooting out from within the Feathered Dynasty.

He believed that woman would not be so reckless. Her daring to come already said everything. She was confident she could escape from the hands of the Feathered Dynasty's people.

Moreover, her luck was extraordinarily good—so good that even a protagonist would doubt their life.

And building a good relationship with her would make his future path a little easier.

"My Dao has also reached completion. Since that is so, I will join in as well."

Xu Changqing murmured. As he spoke, he stepped out through the nearby window. The void seemed to contain a staircase, and he walked step by step toward the high sky.

For no other reason than the plan in his heart.