Lu Changsheng didn't immediately reprimand him.
He reached out and gently stroked Lu Ping'an's trembling back, then sighed.
"Go ahead and cry. It's all right to let it out. There are no living creatures here anymore. No one will hear you."
"This is the cruelty of the Tribulation of Measure. No matter how glorious you once were, ruling over the Primordial Land, one wrong step and you'd become entangled in the karma of Heaven and Earth. In the end, you couldn't escape being reduced to tribulation ash."
Lu Changsheng looked up at the broken peak of Qilin Cliff, his voice heavy and distant.
"Ping'an, remember what you're seeing now. Your ancestors failed to see the great tide of Heaven and Earth. They foolishly tried to seize that illusory dominion over the world, and that's why their entire clan was wiped out."
"After today, bury this sorrow deep in your heart. Never entertain thoughts of revenge or restoring your clan."
"Staying alive matters more than anything."
Lu Ping'an clenched his teeth as tears pattered onto the scorched earth.
He nodded firmly, forcing down his grief and returning to his usual cautious self.
"Master, I understand. I'll never involve myself in that karma."
"Good."
Lu Changsheng put aside his reflections, his expression turning solemn in an instant.
With a single gesture, the Mysterious Yellow Shield gathered around him, forming a thick curtain of light that kept out all the deathly and baleful energies trying to seep in.
At the same time, the Merit Golden Wheel behind his head flickered into view, radiating a faint but exceptionally pure aura of creation that protected Lu Ping'an beside him.
"Come on. Let's head into the mountain."
The master and disciple moved like two ghosts through these ruins, steeped in death and desolation.
Lu Changsheng walked