Different in Essence (Please Follow)

Early the next morning, Liu Yueling came to find Zhuang Hong.

"Zhuang Hong, though I'm reluctant in every way, it's time to say goodbye. I just don't know whether we'll ever have a chance to meet again after this parting."

Zhuang Hong said, "We will. As long as we're both well, there will always be a day when we meet again."

"You're right. We're both doing what we love. As long as we live well, we'll definitely meet again someday. If we meet next time, you have to take me to see Earth. I'm so curious about the world you described. It sounds like a place where immortals live, and everything you mentioned sounds so unbelievable."

"We might not be able to go to Earth, but I'll show you what it looks like."

Liu Yueling left with a backpack similar to Zhuang Hong's on her back, setting off on a journey that seemed to have no end.

A girl like her was destined to belong not to any patch of land, but to all of nature.

Zhuang Hong watched Liu Yueling's back gradually disappear at the end of the road. He found a cool, comfortable spot to sit down, took out his notebook, flipped to a fresh page, and wrote a title on the first line: Daughter of Nature—Liu Yueling's Dream.

Then, unhurriedly, he wrote down everything from meeting Liu Yueling to parting with her.

Xiao Bai walked over to Zhuang Hong, let out a huge yawn, hugged his foot, rested its chin on it, and dozed off.

As the sun slanted westward, Zhuang Hong wrote at last: "She will meet more and more people and experience more and more things. She will come to understand more and more knowledge, until she sees through the desires and struggles of every person in this world, sees through the rules by which the world operates, and sees through the cycles of fate...

She is alone, yet there is not a trace of loneliness in her eyes. She travels the world, yet there is not a trace of fear in her eyes.

For her knowledge has formed wisdom, and wisdom can dispel all loneliness and fear. Her soul is exceptionally full."

Zhuang Hong closed his notebook with satisfaction, feeling a flicker of joy in his soul, as though his own soul was as full as Liu Yueling's.

Just then, a man carrying a longsword approached and stopped ten paces away from Zhuang Hong.

He studied Zhuang Hong and the dozing Xiao Bai by his feet, then asked gently, "Are you Zhuang Hong, the one who defeated Thousand Shadow White Dragon?"

Zhuang Hong said, "That's me. What is it?"

The sword-bearing man curled his lips into a smile. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Spring Light Sword Zhu Tianming."

Zhuang Hong nodded. "Hello, Mr. Zhu Tianming. May I ask what you want with me?"

Zhu Tianming looked surprised. "You don't know me?"

He was Spring Light Sword Zhu Tianming, one of the Anlan Ten Great Experts. His name was known throughout the entire Anlan Continent. By all reason, Zhuang Hong's reaction should not have been so indifferent after hearing his name.

Zhuang Hong said, "This... should be our first time meeting, right?"

Zhu Tianming chuckled. "It is indeed our first meeting. But it doesn't matter if you don't know me. I imagine that after today, you'll remember me."

Just as Zhuang Hong thought Zhu Tianming wanted to befriend him, Zhu Tianming drew the longsword from his arms and pointed it straight at Zhuang Hong.

In a soft yet piercing voice, he shouted, "I hear that Zhuang Hong bears the title of Number One Expert Under Heaven, and that your martial arts are unfathomable as gods and ghosts. I, Spring Light Sword Zhu Tianming, have come to seek instruction in your skills."

His shout carried far into the distance, immediately drawing quite a few onlookers over.

Most of them were ordinary people, though there were also several well-informed martial artists who excitedly explained things to the crowd.

Before long, a large crowd had gathered, and the atmosphere became extremely lively.

Zhuang Hong said helplessly, "A challenge is a challenge. Was there really any need to shout so loudly? You've drawn everyone over."

Zhu Tianming chuckled. "You don't understand. A duel without an audience is meaningless."

Zhuang Hong did not resist Zhu Tianming's challenge. On the contrary, he admired people like Zhu Tianming, who had the courage to challenge others.

It was just that Zhu Tianming seemed to have chosen the wrong opponent.

He and Zhu Tianming were not even on the same track. Win or lose, there was no comparison to be made between them.

Thus, he said, "To be honest, as a pure martial artist, you are stronger than me in every respect. But we are fundamentally different. This challenge is meaningless."

Zhu Tianming said, "That is precisely why I came to try."

Zhuang Hong nodded. "If you lose, don't take it to heart."

Yet in Zhu Tianming's eyes, that sincere consolation carried a hint of condescension. Some embarrassment and anger rose in his heart. Seeing that the surrounding spectators were already in place, he said, "We won't know who wins or loses until we fight. Be careful."

With that, he thrust his sword toward Zhuang Hong.

The sword seemed both fast and slow. Gentle warm light bloomed from its edge, giving the feeling of a spring breeze brushing one's face. Yet beneath that endless spring warmth hid a sharp killing intent.

Zhuang Hong's expression did not change as he stepped forward.

In an instant, the two passed each other.

There was no violent collision, no dazzling effects. Heaven and earth seemed to freeze.

Zhu Tianming remained in his thrusting posture, while Zhuang Hong stood behind him with two fingers pressed together, pointing at the center of Zhu Tianming's back.

With a single move, victory and defeat had been decided.

The hand holding Zhu Tianming's sword trembled slightly, and his eyes were filled with shock. "How is this possible..."

His aura had clearly locked onto Zhuang Hong completely. There should have been no chance of missing. Yet the instant he drew his sword, the target locked by his aura vanished, and his sword lost all sense of measure.

He had truly lost.

Zhuang Hong lowered his fingers. "There's nothing impossible about it. I told you our essences are different. There was no need to compete. Don't take it to heart."

With that, he turned and left.

Xiao Bai trotted after Zhuang Hong on its short legs, but not before turning back to bark at Zhu Tianming contemptuously twice. "Woof woof!"

All the meat was its. No one could snatch it away.

The sword in Zhu Tianming's hand slowly lowered. He turned to look at Zhuang Hong's departing back and muttered, "Different in essence?"

He looked at the longsword in his hand and, for the first time, felt that the sword he held was so powerless. "What exactly is different?"

Meanwhile, half the surrounding spectators were thrilled, while the other half were bewildered.

The thrilled ones had witnessed Hand of God—Zhuang Hong defeat Spring Light Sword Zhu Tianming in a single move. The bewildered ones had no idea what had happened.

"Why did Hand of God suddenly leave? Has their duel already ended?"

"What just happened? It seems... Spring Light Sword Zhu Tianming lost!"

"As expected of a duel between the greatest experts. Victory and defeat were decided in a single thought. Today has truly opened my eyes."

"Spring Light Sword really did lose. This seems to be the first time Spring Light Sword has lost so completely and without suspense. Hand of God—Zhuang Hong's strength is truly unfathomable."

"That was Spring Light Sword Zhu Tianming."

"Perhaps Hand of God has already reached the legendary realm. Yet no one knows who his master is or what sect he comes from..."

Before long, news of their duel spread like wildfire.

Only then did everyone realize that Zhuang Hong had subdued the famous Thousand Shadow White Dragon not through luck, but through strength a level above the Ten Great Experts.

It was only after this incident that the title Number One Expert Under Heaven was accepted by most people.

At the same time, countless people suspected that Zhuang Hong had reached the legendary realm—the Heaven Treasury Warrior.

While countless people discussed Zhuang Hong with fervor, Zhuang Hong was already heading north with his backpack on his back.

Behind him followed a little puppy that wanted to eat meat.

White Dragon Assault!

Zhuang Hong casually flicked his foot.

Lord Thousand Shadow White Dragon traced a graceful arc through the air and landed in the grass. Before long, it whimpered and chased after him again.