Azure Cloud Xiaofan

Meanwhile.

The Kunlun Mountains stretched like a vast painting wreathed in clouds and mist, with no known beginning and no known end.

After leaving the Three Peaks Valley of the Three Luminaries Divine Water, Yang Xuan planned to find a place to consolidate his cultivation.

After flying on a rainbow for who knew how long, he finally landed on a mountain peak more than eight hundred thousand li away.

Yang Xuan sighed softly to himself.

He had originally intended to take all three divine peaks with him.

But when he tried to do so, an unknown Great Dao had nearly knocked his cultivation down a realm and blasted out even his true body's phantom.

After that, Yang Xuan obediently collected only the Three Luminaries Divine Water, and the process went incomparably smoothly.

Still shaken, Yang Xuan descended onto an open space at the summit. With a casual wave, he set up an isolation barrier before sitting down cross-legged.

Within his body, a three-colored vortex slowly revolved, intertwining with the original seven-colored power of creation to form an even more complex structure, like a miniature chaotic universe.

Yang Xuan closed his eyes and sank his divine sense into his dantian.

The power of the Three Luminaries deeply fused with the power of creation. Sunlight merged into the Dao of flames represented by the crimson gourd flower, moonlight merged into the Dao of flowing water represented by the blue gourd flower, while starlight dispersed into the remaining five gourd flowers.

Who knew how much time passed.

Yang Xuan opened his eyes and let out a long breath of stale air.

"Next is finding the Nine Heavens Breath Soil."

Yang Xuan rose to his feet and gazed deeper into the Kunlun Mountains.

"Ding! A new member has joined the chat group."

Without realizing it, another thirty years had passed, and the group had voted in another newcomer.

Yang Xuan sank his consciousness into the group chat interface.

A system notification popped up on the screen.

"Welcome new member 'Azure Cloud Xiaofan' to the group!"

Azure Cloud Xiaofan?

Yang Xuan raised an eyebrow.

The name sounded somewhat familiar. The four words "Azure Cloud Xiaofan" instantly reminded him of a world—Jade Dynasty.

The cultivation system of the Jade Dynasty world differed from the Primordial World. It had only Yuqing, Shangqing, and Taiqing, with the Taiqing Realm being the highest realm, roughly equivalent to a Human Immortal or Heavenly Immortal in the Primordial World.

The group had already exploded into chatter.

Xiao Yan: A newcomer?! Finally, a newcomer is here! Welcome, welcome!

Huang Rong: Azure Cloud Xiaofan? That name sounds like a cultivator's. Fellow Daoist Xiaofan, why don't you introduce yourself?

Sun Wukong: Newcomer! Can you fight?

Huang Rong: ...Big Brother Wukong, could you stop asking everyone you meet whether they can fight?

White Snake Successor: Welcome, new fellow Daoist. I am Bai Suzhen, and I joined the group later as well. Everyone here is quite friendly, so there is no need to be nervous.

Luo Ji: Welcome. If you have any questions, you can read the group announcement or ask directly.

Senior-Year Powerhouse: Welcome.

Messages flew through the group, yet the newcomer called "Azure Cloud Xiaofan" remained silent.

Yang Xuan opened the newcomer's profile and quickly scanned it.

Nickname: Azure Cloud Xiaofan.

World: Jade Dynasty.

Cultivation: Mid Yuqing Realm (roughly equivalent to mid Qi Refining).

Identity: Disciple of Great Bamboo Peak, Azure Cloud Sect.

Timeline: Azure Cloud Sect's Seven Peaks Martial Tournament.

Yang Xuan's gaze settled on the words "Seven Peaks Martial Tournament," and his heart stirred slightly.

He remembered this point in time clearly.

The Seven Peaks Martial Tournament was the first turning point in Zhang Xiaofan's fate.

Before that, he had been the dull-witted junior disciple of Great Bamboo Peak, mocked by his senior brothers. Afterward, he rose to fame in a single battle with his firewood stick in hand and entered everyone's sight.

But the more important turning points still lay ahead.

Mount Kongsang, the Ancient Bat Cave, the Blood-Drop Cave, the Abyss of the Dead... Bi Yao.

That woman who had left countless readers with lingering regret—the Holy Maiden of the Demon Sect, who had taken the Immortal-Slaying Sword for Zhang Xiaofan.

If things followed the original story, Zhang Xiaofan's fate would be one long ordeal of suffering.

The massacre at Grass Temple Village, the torment of cultivating both Buddhist and Daoist arts, the tearing apart of his identity between righteousness and evil, Bi Yao's death, Lu Xueqi's vigil, Gui Li's return ten years later...

When Yang Xuan had read it, Zhang Xiaofan and Bi Yao's love had left him with a lingering ache.

However, since Zhang Xiaofan had joined this group, those hardships presumably would not happen again.

Yang Xuan thought to himself.

He did not intend to interfere proactively.

Everyone had their own road to walk and their own tribulations to cross.

He preferred to be a spectator and not disturb any of it.

Zhang Xiaofan had only just joined the group and still needed time to adapt. Letting the other members talk with him would be the most natural way for him to fit in.

Sure enough, after roughly the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, Zhang Xiaofan finally spoke.

Azure Cloud Xiaofan: Um... may I ask, what is this place? Why did something suddenly appear in my mind?

Xiao Yan: Hahahaha, the newcomer is confused. Don't be afraid, this is the Heavens Chat Group, connecting all worlds! That panel you see now is the group interface.

Azure Cloud Xiaofan: The heavens... all worlds?

Huang Rong: That's right! People from different worlds gather here to chat. For instance, you're from the Jade Dynasty world, I'm from the world of Legend of the Condor Heroes, and Xiao Yan is from the world of Battle Through the Heavens. We're all different, but we're all in this group.

Azure Cloud Xiaofan: ...

Azure Cloud Xiaofan: This really isn't an illusion? Or some kind of evil art?

Huang Rong: No, no. You can try sending a red packet. Send some small item and see whether it can be sent.

Azure Cloud Xiaofan: A red packet? What is that?

Xiao Yan: You use the red packet function to send out an item, and others can receive it. Just find something and give it a try.

Zhang Xiaofan fell silent.

A moment later, a message popped up on the screen.

Azure Cloud Xiaofan has sent a red packet!

Sun Wukong has claimed the red packet!

Sun Wukong: This old Sun got it! A... pill? It's black, and it tastes pretty good.

Xiao Yan: I tested it. Its effect on recovering dou qi is quite good.

Sun Wukong: Newcomer, what kind of pill is this?

Azure Cloud Xiaofan: That is... that is a Great Yellow Pill, used for treating injuries. It's the most ordinary pill in our Azure Cloud Sect.

Xiao Yan: Newcomer, what's your name? I'm Xiao Yan, more or less an alchemist.

Azure Cloud Xiaofan: My name is... Zhang Xiaofan.

Huang Rong: Zhang Xiaofan? What a good name! Fellow Daoist Xiaofan, which sect are you from?

Zhang Xiaofan: Azure Cloud Sect, a disciple of Great Bamboo Peak.

Zhang Sanfeng: Azure Cloud Sect... it must be a major sect in your world. Since you are cultivators, we are fellow travelers on the same path. Fellow Daoist Xiaofan, welcome.

Zhang Xiaofan: Many thanks, seniors...

Senior-Year Powerhouse: Zhang Xiaofan, do you want to know your future fate?

Azure Cloud Xiaofan: My fate?

Zhang Xiaofan fell silent.

The other members of the group tacitly refrained from speaking as well.

The script of fate—this term was no longer unfamiliar within the group.

Every person in the group had seen their own script of fate and changed their predetermined destiny through their own efforts.

Jade Dynasty world.

Azure Cloud Mountain, Great Bamboo Peak.

The night was deep, and all was silent.

Zhang Xiaofan sat alone on the roof of the disciples' residence, his legs crossed, yet he was not cultivating.

In his hand, he gripped that ugly firewood stick—Soul-Eater. His left hand stroked the shaft as he stared emptily into the distance.

Grass Temple Village.

The place where he had grown up—everything there had been swallowed by the bloodshed of that rainy night. Every night, he dreamed himself back into that hell...

And now, he knew who the murderer was.

It was the man called "Daoist Cangsong" in the script of fate, the chief of Chaoyang Peak of the Azure Cloud Sect—a man he had to call Martial Uncle whenever they met.

Wasn't it laughable?

Laughable!!!

He did not even know how to hate.

"Xiaofan."

A voice came from behind him.

Zhang Xiaofan turned around and saw his senior sister Tian Ling'er carrying a bowl of steaming medicinal soup, carefully making her way over the roof tiles.

"Senior Sister, why are you here?"

"I saw the light on in your room, but you weren't there, so I guessed you'd be here."

Tian Ling'er sat down beside him and handed over the medicinal soup. "Master had me brew it. He said it was calming medicine, and that drinking it would help you get a good night's sleep."

Zhang Xiaofan took the bowl and drank a mouthful. The bitter medicinal taste spread across his tongue.

"Senior Sister, tell me... if you knew your future, what would you do?"

Tian Ling'er froze for a moment. "Why are you suddenly asking that?"

"Just... asking."

Tian Ling'er was silent for a moment before saying with a smile:

"I think knowing has its benefits, and not knowing has its benefits too."

"If you know, you can prepare beforehand and won't be caught scrambling when the time comes. But if you know and still can't change anything, wouldn't that feel even worse?"

Zhang Xiaofan lowered his head and said in a muffled voice, "What if it can be changed?"

"It can be changed?"

Tian Ling'er looked at him. "Xiaofan, is something troubling you? You've been spacing out alone all the time lately, and you haven't been putting much effort into cultivation either. The Seven Peaks Martial Tournament is the day after tomorrow. How can you go on like this?"

"Senior Sister, I just miss home a little..."

Zhang Xiaofan raised his head. His gaze grew somewhat firmer as he forced a smile. "I'll definitely fight well in every match."

Tian Ling'er patted his shoulder. "That's good. Don't think too much. Get some rest early. We still have to head to Heaven-Reaching Peak tomorrow."

After Tian Ling'er left, Zhang Xiaofan remained seated on the roof, gazing up at the scattered stars in the night sky.

He clenched the firewood stick tightly, his knuckles turning white.

"No more."

Zhang Xiaofan said softly, "I won't let those things happen again."