They were truly speechless after meeting these four young masters.
Honestly, these experts of the four noble families did not hold high regards for Dong Tianleng and his cohorts. They only felt that these four men were fortunate to have been born as direct descendants of a noble line and enjoyed the benefits of it. The experts’ cultivation base, combat ability, experience, and knowledge were much higher than the four young masters, but it was their status that held them back.
Upon spending more time in close proximity with these young masters, their misgivings were further cemented. The four young masters had really obtained a good streak of luck, having the opportunity to get to know a genius like Yun Yang, acquiring, even more, benefits in the process.
Basically, all these experts had thought that if they were the ones to have such opportunities, they would grow much better than the four popinjays; it was only a waste of resources to have those chances given to them.
There were even some who were thinking ill of the young men; how could Dong Tianleng be worthy of the treasured sword, Spiritual Kau? He was tasteless, and such an item of fantasy should be passed on to someone more remarkable, like themselves; only then would it be put to good use.
As for Dong Tianleng, his mouth alone would have easily offended some vicious character and gotten himself killed instantly. With Lei Dongtian as the precursor, he still did not know how to be cautious and had almost provoked Venerable Lord Sword today. It was like he would not rest until he got himself killed!
Be a daredevil by yourself. Glory to God, do anything you want, just don’t involve us!
All said and done, Dong Tianleng’s decision to return to Tiantang and to Yun Yang's side, as well as his insistence that he did not require any guards, was somewhat touching!
Qiu Yunsan and the other two who followed after stunned the experts as well. No matter how reluctant the experts were about this trip back and how much they felt that they did not have hope for any advantages they could gain, it was undoubted that every one of them could clearly feel another kind of emotion growing in their heart, surging and soaring.
It was a passion, taken away from them a long time ago.
It was their young, vivacious pride they possessed when they first entered the martial world.
It was the heroic, martial world dream that they once had.
Brotherhood!
"This old man has roamed the martial world my entire life and was once passionate. Once, I believed that there was brotherhood in this martial world, that there were inseparable and sincere ties between men."
An expert of the Chun Family sighed in resignation, "Yet the many years of drifting in the martial world have long distinguished this passion. Ever since then, I thought that the only constant in this world was greed and gain. However, this old man is greatly comforted today to encounter brotherhood again in this martial world of slowly eroding moral and justice."
"My young master is a popinjay. He’s quite the troublemaker, insensible, and utterly undependable…" The elder of the Chun Family smiled faintly. "However, this old man suddenly feels that it was worth it to have followed such a young master in my lifetime!"
He then sighed and said, "Since the young master I’m following is resolute on seeking death, then this old and useless one has decided, for once, to act on instinct as well. I’m not asking for anything else, I just want to be passionate once more and to feel gratification once again!"
As he finished, he began to speak while walking, "This is entirely on my own disposition. We understand if there is anyone who is unwilling to go. It is your own decision, no one else can decide upon your life and death!"
The elder’s words had everyone thinking with their heads lowered. The elder’s silhouette was gradually swallowed in the snow, losing its clarity.
"My Dong Family’s young lord was the one who suggested this course of action and moved first. Could I allow only the Chun Family to brave death alone? There’s no reason for the Dong Family to be left behind." An expert of the Dong Family stepped out from the crowd and gave chase with a loud laugh.
"There’s someone from the Qiu Family who’s not afraid of death either!" Someone from the Qiu Family chuckled easily and followed suit.
"I’ll go on behalf of the Xia Family." Someone from the Xia Family chortled softly and left at once.
When these people began to move, the remaining ones became increasingly entangled in their thoughts. There were people who left the group while there were also people who remained rooted to the spot.
Finally, there were seventeen men who left to chase after the people in the snow; they were all moved by passion and had no regrets about their seemingly inane decision. However, there were even more people who stayed as still as statues.
After a while, there were no more sounds from the other side of the snow; those who had decided to return had gone afar. Those staying on had finally moved as well.
"Since I didn’t follow suit, this old man has no honor to return to the family."
An elder chuckled bitterly. "This old man has decided to be a recluse in the forest, for the rest of my days. I’ve always thought that I still had some passion in me, but due to circumstances, I can’t do anything. Who would have known that when things got real, I still can’t brave death? Saying that I am ashamed does not suffice to describe this old man’s feelings. I bid my farewell here, we shall never meet again."
There were plenty of people who appeared ashamed and bowed deeply before dispersing into the snow without a sound, disappearing in different directions. There were, however, still some thirty people remaining.
Watching everyone else leave, someone in the remaining group burst out laughing and said, "They knew they were going to die, but they’ve still chosen to greet death like a friend. They really think that this martial world emphasizes brotherhood so much; how hilarious to think that there are so many idiots coming from these noble families."
"When they have been betrayed by these so-called brothers in the future, it’ll be too late for regret!"
"What future? How could there be a future for them? Do you think that they still have the chance to wait for their brother’s betrayal?"
"True." Someone chuckled. "At the very least, the three families’ mystical cubs are still with us. As long as we send them home, we would have done a great service."
"That’s right. However, we can’t be going back now. Let’s stay in one of the caves and take shelter for a while. When everything has passed in a few days and when we receive confirmation of their death or survival, then we head home. We can make some wounds on ourselves and look ill-used; the elders of Spring, Autumn, and Summer Family won’t have much to say then."
"That is a great idea indeed."
"The slope over there is not too bad a place for a shelter. Not only does it face away from the wind, it’s warm as well. We can take shelter there. We have to find some dry wood. Enduring such weather with just mystical Qi is honestly a no-go."
"Alright, we’ll wait for three days."
…
On the other side, Yun Yang, whose cultivation base increased tremendously and whose cultivation realm had advanced vastly, was carefully feeling the flowing energy within him. He had never been so strong yet he had never been as helpless as he was today!
The snow fluttered and fell.
Lao Mei strolled over to stand behind him.
"Lao Mei, how’s your current cultivation base? Has there been any improvement?" Yun Yang asked.
"Very much so. I have reached the level of Tenth Perfection pinnacle," Lao Mei explained simply. "I even feel that with some effort, I can break through this realm and go even higher."
Yun Yang looked at the dense snowflakes before him and said softly, "Lao Mei, life is of the utmost importance. This is the first priority. Do not act impulsively."
Lao Mei chuckled softly with indifference on his face. "Young master, I know."
Fang Mofei’s voice came drifting over. "What do you know?"
He strolled over in wide, flowing, strides.
"Old Fang, what level have you broken through to?" Lao Mei asked.
"Pinnacle of first heaven. Still higher than you, I believe?" Fang Mofei asked, smiling contentedly.
Both of these old men had never stopped competing in the cultivation realm but Lao Mei had never once won.
Bai Yixue drifted out from wherever he was hovering about.
"I’m already in sixth heaven intermediate. If I meet Venerable Lord Saber again, I’m confident that I can kill that despicable one within one hundred steps!" Bai Yixue inhaled deeply. "I even feel that my cultivation base is already at the peak in the Tianxuan Continent. I can even fight Ling Xiaozui if I were to meet him!"
Yun Yang smiled gently and replied, "Pinnacle of cultivation realm… you are still far from it."
"That feeling of yours is only an illusion from an escalated growth of cultivation base. If you were to really meet Ling Xiaozui, he would kill you in a single move." Yun Yang said faintly, "Only when you turn stronger, step by step, will you actually see the real hero of the world!"
Bai Yixue nodded humbly, understanding the logic since he himself was adept in cultivation.
"It is Just like a person’s wealth. Someone who has several hundred silver taels can be well known in a village and feel superior, thinking he is unrivaled and marvelous. This village’s villagers would look up to him as well, recognizing him as the mightiest in their world."
Yun Yang continued slowly, "For someone who has several thousand silver taels, he can feel superior in a town but to go a level higher, he’d need at least several tens of thousands of silver taels; only then could he feel powerful in a small city and superior when faced with most other people."
"However, even when you have hundreds of thousands of silver taels, when you’ve come to a really big city like Tiantang City, you won’t feel like you actually have much. With the widening of experience, you’ll realize your own insignificance gradually. Even if you weren't totally unworthy, you aren’t really standing at the peak."
There was a faintly mocking expression on Yun Yang’s face; it was an ode to the ridiculousness of the foolish people in this world.
"When you really possess the wealth that triumphs certain areas, when no one in Tiantang City could compare to you in terms of fortune, you’ll realize that you still lack power and influence."
"By then, your pursuit will be entirely different from before. Only when you’ve arrived at the end of power and influence would you have the right to know that there is still immortality in this world."
"This is how one’s horizon is widened."
"Bai Yixue, your capability now is akin to only arriving at a small city, the level of a new rich man who has a few million taels in his pocket." Yun Yang said smiling, "When you have realized that you’re actually still very weak… only then can you consider yourself as having improved again."
Bei Yixue chuckled dryly.
The new rich man… Young master, your analogy is wonderfully original! How interesting!
"When the time comes, I will send my orders. We will leave separately." Yun Yang said seriously, "Remember, the main point of this battle is to prioritize your own life. This is of paramount importance!"
"Understood."
Yun Yang watched the surging snow and said softly, "It is here."