Ye Chen, do not let sorrow cloud your clarity... the sea holds many fish that remain uncaught, don't let go of the garden for a single blossom.
A soft, serene voice drifted into his mind, as tranquil and soothing as the song of a crane gliding across morning mist.
A gentle pulse of spiritual energy surged from the jade pendant resting against his chest, releasing a breeze that caressed his skin.
That jade pendant was his only inheritance.
The final trace left behind by a family he had never known, he doesn't know his father and mother yet, he hopes that one day, fate would guide him to them.
As for the voice, it was his master.
The Immortal Spirit resting within the jade.
Her origins were veiled in mystery, her cultivation unfathomable, yet, her knowledge of martial arts and ancient sutras was beyond anything in this 7 star realm.
She never revealed her name or background but guided him in times of need.
"But Master..." Ye Chen's voice trembled with fury barely suppressed.
His fingers clenched until his knuckles turned white.
"The hatred in my heart... it festers like a cursed flame. Not even the Nine Heavens Holy Liquid could wash it away. That surname Zhao!!! I want to grind his soul until he screams for mercy. Until that day arrives, my Dao heart will never be at peace,"
A long silence followed.
Then, a sorrowful wind drifts through...
Sigh! Ye Chen… vengeance is not so simple.
Her voice was gentle, yet behind it flowed the gravity of a cultivator who had seen countless stars rise and fall.
This Zhao you speak of... his power is immense, but it's his background that truly warps the heavens. Even if you reach the pinnacle of this world, I fear that vengeance may remain just beyond your grasp.
She paused, then added softly:
He is already a Holy Emperor realm powerhouse, do you know what it takes to be an emperor-level powerhouse beneath the peak of raw age?
(Raw age refers to Daoists beneath the bone age of 50)
His bone age is merely 21 yet the strength is something that even a genius among geniuses of the upper realm, would take at least a few decades.
That level of talent is simply unseen before in the history of nine realms and 13 heavens.
You wouldn't comprehend this but as a woman, I can advise that what happened to Ling'er is for her own good.
"Talent? For Ling'er one good? Hah~ why are you preaching that surname, Zhao, if I was born into his family, if I had the resources, I would have long surpassed him, he isn't a talent, he is just a lucky fool who took birth in prestigious orthodoxy family, what so great about holy emperor realm? I would reach there too,"
Oh? Then please enlighten me, how long would you need to reach the holy emperor realm?
She couldn't help but ask.
This Ye Chen was truly a mudborn, who had eyes but failed to witness the greatness of Mount Tai.
Ye Chen: "..."
Gulp!
How long would I take? How would I know?
Damn, it's all about talent and background.
Even my own master can't help but preach that Zhao.
Ughh, I hate it, I hate it all.
That Zhao... He has become my heart demon, not only did he took away the Dao partner I had set my eyes on, but he even made my master speak for him.
Outrageous... Simply unforgivable.
In what way I am inferior?
Is cultivation all about talent and background?
Who knows how many pills he has taken, it's only a matter of time before his cultivation would start to decline... Yes, his cultivation is all fake.
Maybe he isn't even a holy realm powerhouse and it's just propaganda.
In the long run, he can never match me.
Yeah, I am the true honored one born to dominate all nine realms and thirteen heavens.
That's right... It is me, who will step above everyone else.
Ye Chen believed what he wanted to believe.
Ignorance has no cure.
Meanwhile, his master was unhappy seeing Ye Chen like this.
You should focus on cultivation now, the collective eastern sects will soon open the treasure hunting tournament for raw-age Daoists.
If you are lucky during treasure hunting, your cultivation may increase by leaps and bounds.
Treasure hunting?
Yes, treasure a hunting event... It happens every 50 years, keke, this is perfect opportunity for me.
I heard there is a eight leaf netherfrost soul bloom, that is utilized to elevate the grade 7 spiritual root to grade 8 spiritual root.
There is even a chance to awaken the frost spiritual root... I already have a grade seven sage fire spiritual root, with that, I will have two natural elements.
"I understand master, this Ye chen, will make sure to collect all the rare and precious treasures... I heard the eight leaf netherfrost bloom has been there for ages, I will make sure to seize it,"
******
"Ooh? The treasure hunting event? Netherfrost Soul Bloom? What a fool..."
Young Master Zhao scoffed, his voice laced with disdain.
"Just approaching the Netherfrost Bloom is enough to freeze your soul and mind into stillness, and that brat wants to seize it? Hah! This so-called Son of Qi is going to die by his own stupidity,"
[Ding! Host, you are mistaken.]
[Correction: These Sons of Qi are more durable than chaos cockroaches, able to survive heavenly tribulations, thunder baptisms, and even cosmic inconsistencies.]
[You are making a grave error by underestimating him.]
[System analysis complete: Ye Chen will obtain the Netherfrost Soul Bloom. His spiritual root will ascend without issue.]
[Probability update: There's a high chance the Eight-Leaf Bloom has evolved into a Nine-Leaf over the time.]
[If so, Ye Chen's spiritual root may soar from Grade 7 to Grade 9, possibly forming a rare Dual Elemental Supreme spiritual root.]
[You won't know what fortuitous encounters fate has prepared for him until it's too late....]
"Oh, Is there such a thing?... But no matter how I see it, with his strength alone he won't be able to touch the netherfrost soul bloom, and even his master inside the jade pendant had the last remnants of her soul so, she won't be a help either,"
In order to touch such flower, you need to be at least a emperor level powerhouse.
Forget about touching, how will Ye Chen even refine it?