The Ancient Realm's Peach Blossom Paradise
Within the Ancient Realm.
Green peaks and verdant valleys, lush forests and flourishing trees formed a paradise apart from the world.
"I never thought I'd one day come to the place where the Ninth Ancestor lives!"
Li Cangtian obediently followed Li Xunyuan, strolling through the Ancient Realm with a wistful expression and a voice full of wonder.
Every ancient place he passed filled him with emotion.
Over the years, Li Cangtian had spent all his time outside of cultivation carefully tending to his younger brother.
He simply couldn't spare the time to see the world outside.
He could only buy a few ancient books from the library pavilion and leaf through them when he had time, gaining a rough understanding of the people and geography of the Primordial Dao Domain.
There were many wondrous treasures recorded in those ancient books that he had never seen with his own eyes.
"Five-thousand-year-old Autumn Moon Spirit Bamboo! What a shame it was cut down and harvested early, robbing it of its medicinal properties. What a reckless waste of heaven's gifts!"
As they passed a lush bamboo grove, Li Cangtian stopped in his tracks.
Looking at the bamboo cut off halfway up its stalks, the young man couldn't help sighing in dismay.
He looked so heartbroken that it was as if he were cursing whoever had cut down the bamboo as a complete and utter idiot.
Li Xunyuan merely gave him a sidelong glance and said expressionlessly, "I cut it down!"
"Mm... huh?"
Li Cangtian's expression froze. Even the bamboo leaves drifting leisurely down from the sky seemed to slow a little.
He quickly recovered and scratched his head awkwardly. "Well cut, Divine Son! A bunch of bad bamboo like that deserved to be chopped down!"
His face darkening, Li Xunyuan said, "I brought you to the Ancient Realm so you could remember where it is, not to look at the scenery!"
"Besides, this isn't where that old fellow the Ninth Ancestor lives. It's just a small world that was created separately!"
"Understood!"
Li Cangtian nodded solemnly, then suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
It wasn't that he was afraid of Li Xunyuan, but rather the way he had addressed the Ninth Ancestor.
Probably only the divine son would dare call him that!
If anyone else did, wouldn't the Ninth Ancestor scatter their ashes to the winds?
"Have you memorized the coordinates leading to the Ancient Realm?" Li Xunyuan asked.
"Etched them into my heart."
Li Cangtian thumped his chest in assurance. It was just a set of coordinates; naturally, he remembered them.
"Good. That'll save you from going out and not being able to find your way home later."
Li Xunyuan nodded slightly and continued, "Now you can tell me about the request you mentioned at the Immortal Pavilion. If I can do it, I'll grant it!"
As long as it was within his capabilities, Li Xunyuan didn't mind lending a hand.
Li Xunyuan understood perfectly well the principle of giving someone a sweet date after a slap.
That was called wielding kindness and authority in equal measure!
"Thank you, Divine Son!"
At those words, a flicker of excitement suddenly appeared on Li Cangtian's resolute, composed face. He then gave Li Xunyuan a deep, solemn bow.
Li Xunyuan raised a hand and said, "Don't get excited just yet. Tell me what it is first. I'm not all-powerful; there are things even I can't do."
After composing himself, Li Cangtian took a deep breath and said hopefully, "If possible, I'd like to ask you to consult the Lineage's ancient ancestors..."
"Ask them to examine my younger brother and see if the Power of Calamity of the Fate and Karma Physique can be completely dispelled!"
"Power of Calamity?" Li Xunyuan frowned slightly.
It was the first time he had heard that unfamiliar term.
"Yes, the Power of Calamity!"
Li Cangtian clenched both fists, his eyes reddening as he explained in a hoarse voice, "It's a curse that comes naturally with the Fate and Karma Physique, similar to the ten shackles of heaven and earth imposed on the Ancient Sacred Body."
"Unlike the Ancient Sacred Body, which cannot cultivate, the curse of the Heavenly Dao brought by the Fate and Karma Physique causes its bearer to suffer the torment of calamity every moment until death."
"Death is the ultimate fate of the Fate and Karma Physique. For millions of years, no one has been able to break this curse!"
The claim that heaven never barred every path and that a way to break it would surely be found...
Those were just things Li Cangtian had said to comfort his younger brother, and pressure and motivation he had placed on himself!
He had sought help from the Li Lineage's ancestors many times, but they were all helpless against the Calamity Curse of the Fate and Karma Physique.
But Li Cangtian still wanted to fight for a sliver of hope for his brother amid a fate of certain death!
Perhaps... the ancient ancestors might have a way!
Sensing the heavy, oppressive emotions weighing on Li Cangtian and hearing his account,
No wonder this fellow challenged me for my position as divine son. He wanted the Li Lineage elders' approval so they would treat his brother.
He values his bonds, and his intentions aren't bad. He's worth nurturing. Not bad, not bad.
"Just that little matter?"
Li Xunyuan merely smiled.
The divine ability Miraculous Healing Hands happened to come with a healing function.
Whether it was a stubborn ailment of a physique or a side effect, it could all be cleared away with a single click.
He had certainly come to the right person!
He was known as Hua Tuo reborn. As long as a person still had a breath left, no matter how severe the injury, he could snatch them back from the King of Hell.
"A... little matter?"
Li Cangtian froze at those words, staring dumbstruck at the smiling, utterly confident young man before him, who looked like an immortal descended to the mortal world.
From the divine son's tone just now, it wasn't hard to guess that he had a way to persuade an ancient ancestor to act?
The ancient ancestors would not emerge unless the Lineage faced a threat to its survival.
After all, every time they emerged, it meant consuming a vast quantity of Immortal Source.
The cost was immense. Even with the Li Lineage's foundations, it couldn't withstand too much of that.
(Note: This is only what the Li Lineage's younger disciples think. The ancient ancestors aren't taking the blame for it; they're having a great time in the ancestral mausoleum!)
"Cangtian thanks you again, Divine Son. From today on, Cangtian's life belongs to you alone. I am willing to be the sharpest sword in your hand!"
Li Cangtian's voice choked. He wiped away his tears and bent both knees, about to kneel and kowtow to Li Xunyuan.
Before he could kneel, Li Cangtian felt a pair of strong hands catch his arms and lift him up.
"A man has gold beneath his knees. Don't kneel before others so readily again."
Li Xunyuan patted Li Cangtian on the shoulder and smiled calmly, brimming with confidence. "I can cure your younger brother's Calamity Curse!"
"Wh... what?"
Those words left Li Cangtian utterly shocked, and even his voice trembled.
For millions of years, no one had ever broken the curse of the Fate and Karma Physique.
Now someone was telling him he could cure it. How could Li Cangtian not be shaken? For a moment, he even thought the divine son was talking nonsense.
After all, their divine son was more than a little abnormal, so it wasn't surprising that he would say something like that.
If he were normal, how could that sort of thing have happened at the Immortal Pavilion?
The moment Li Cangtian thought of what had happened, a chill ran through his entire body, and his face turned deathly pale!
"Lead the way!" Li Xunyuan instructed.
At a time like this, making grand boasts was fucking useless.
Practice was the sole criterion for testing truth!