Chapter 284

Chapter 284: Winning You With Indifference

Illuminate the Heavenly Realm!

At this moment, Zhang Yang felt an intense realization. Initially, he had sensed nothing unusual. The Shattered Heavenly Realm within his bloodline had always been clear to him. But now, with this new illumination, he finally understood that the previous Shattered Heavenly Realm had been shrouded in darkness, only discernible through the clarity of his bloodline.

Now, the Heavenly Realm was almost completely revealed.

Every detail became visible.

Yet, the "Xiao" palace remained a mystery—difficult to completely comprehend.

Moreover, the Shattered Heavenly Realm now radiated a faint warmth, no longer carrying the chilling coldness of before.

Other than that, for now, he felt nothing else.

Zhang Yang was curious.

What exactly would this tiny flame bring?

Before he could dwell on it further, the black tiger’s voice suddenly echoed in his ears.

"This tiny flame holds great mysteries."

"I have lived for two thousand seven hundred years, watching it, and in all that time, it has only changed once—on a rainy night, it reflected the Falling Star Mountain Range."

"Other than that, it has remained completely unaffected by its surroundings, untouched by any force, unmoved by any element."

The black tiger spoke with deep conviction.

"I believe this flame appeared here for a reason. It reflected the Falling Star Mountain Range, so it must be deeply connected to it."

"If you wish to unravel its mysteries, if you seek to understand its magic and its purpose, then you must search within the Falling Star Mountain Range."

Zhang Yang’s heart pounded.

A flame that had remained motionless for two thousand seven hundred years, and the only change it had ever undergone was…

Its reflection of the Falling Star Mountain Range?

His mind raced with endless possibilities. Just as he opened his mouth to ask more questions, the black tiger was gone.

A strange silence filled the air, yet the black tiger’s presence seemed to linger everywhere—in the air, in the grass, in the stones, even in the smallest petals drifting on the wind. His voice echoed through every corner of this space, an unseen force that refused to fade.

"I should go and see the magnificence of this world."

The black tiger was gone. Zhang Yang felt a sense of helplessness, yet he understood. His claim of advancing from zero cultivation to the sixth level of the Ascending to Heaven Realm in just ten months, combined with the black tiger’s absolute trust in the tiny flame, meant that there was only one thing left to do, prove rapid growth.

After all, no one desires immortality more than those who face death.

No one fears death more than those who glimpse eternity.

Taking a deep breath, Zhang Yang cleared his mind, and devoted himself entirely to exploring the changes brought by the illumination of the Heavenly Realm.

The outcome surprised him. His Roots, talent, comprehension, and even bloodline remained unchanged.

In summary, the tiny flame had no apparent effect other than illuminating the Heavenly Realm.

Yet, Zhang Yang knew that this tiny flame held great significance, perhaps even extraordinary importance.

"It seems I need to search for the role of this tiny flame in the Falling Star Mountain Range or find a way to awaken it. Moreover, I have a strong feeling that this tiny flame can, at the very least, fully awaken my bloodline. My intuition cannot be wrong."

The more Zhang Yang thought about it, the more he accepted his intuition as fact.

Without hesitation, he stood up and walked out, retracing his steps.

On his way back, though he traveled at full speed, the vast number of powerful Beasts lurking in the mountains caught his attention. Along the way, he also discovered many peculiar and mysterious places hidden within the terrain.

Since he sought the wonders of the tiny flame, it was only natural to begin by exploring these strange places.

Thus, he set off once more.

The immediate vicinity—spanning two to three thousand miles—was filled with immeasurable-stage Beasts, far too dangerous and unsuitable for him at his current strength.

So, he pushed forward rushing over five thousand miles in a single breath.

Then, he suddenly stopped. He looked around, feeling a sense of confusion.

"Have I been here before? Why does this place feel completely unfamiliar?"

Climbing a high mountain, he surveyed the land. All he saw were endless mountain ranges, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Rubbing his forehead, he muttered, "As the Battle God of the Southern Region, I must maintain my image. Since I can’t find my way back… I might as well wander around instead."

Only then did he remember that he had a serious case of directional blindness.

Since he wasn’t in a hurry to return to Green Sparrow Palace, he decided to take his time exploring the unknown terrain.

Half an hour later, dusk fell.

He found a cave and stepped inside to cultivate.

After a night of intense training, he made some progress, but once again realized that Spirit Stones were becoming increasingly ineffective for him.

He needed to switch to Spirit Saint Stones.

At dawn, he set out again.

As he stepped out of the cave, his eyes were drawn to a distant figure standing amidst the misty woods.

Soft rays of morning light flickered through the trees, casting a gentle glow around her.

A petite figure, standing motionless like a fairy descending to earth.

Her hair, cascading like a waterfall, danced in the morning breeze.

Her small, delicate face, the size of a palm, resembled a masterful painting.

Her graceful figure, draped in a flowing white dress, exuded an ethereal charm.

She looked as if she could soar into immortality at any moment.

There was no doubt, she was Yaoruoxian.

Zhang Yang narrowed his eyes. Standing at the entrance of the cave, he spoke coldly:

"I thought you were too ashamed after losing to my sister and had run away. Yet, you still dare to show your face before me?"

Yaoruoxian was proud, an innate arrogance woven into every fiber of her being.

She stood amidst the woods and mist, her gaze lowered slightly as she looked at Zhang Yang.

She spoke lightly, "Someone who only wins by relying on their realm is not worth my concern. I don’t need to be at the same level as her, just two or three small realms lower would be enough to defeat her with ease. Why should I care? You are foolish to think you can disturb my peace."

Zhang Yang scoffed.

"You’re truly laughable. Others win due to their higher realm and yet, have you ever asked yourself what your situation is? You were two realms above me, and yet you still fled in desperation. And now, you bring up some ‘Nine Battles Tribulation’ nonsense?"

Yaoruoxian’s expression remained indifferent.

"I am different. I am destined to become an Immortal. I am destined to prove the Immortal Path. A temporary victory or defeat means nothing. In the end, I will be the one who laughs last, and that is all that matters."

Zhang Yang sneered.

Is this the so-called ‘pride’ of a genius?

When others won using their realm advantage, it was just a matter of power disparity.

But when she lost despite having a realm advantage, it was just a temporary setback that didn’t matter.

Disgusting.

He had no interest in wasting more words on her.

"You’re here for a third battle, aren’t you? Then let’s not waste time. I’m ready. Let’s fight."

In the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins, with a gap of two small realms, he had still forced her to retreat.

This time that gap would only narrow further. Because he had never believed that anyone could match his cultivation speed. Yaoruoxian’s lips curled into a faint smile.

"A battle should be interesting. Otherwise, wouldn’t the Nine Battles become far too dull?"

Her voice was soft, like a celestial lark, carrying an air of elegance.

Zhang Yang, however, felt an urge to vomit.

Interesting?

Was it interesting when, in their first battle, she had tried to ambush him using forbidden laws and nearly threw him into spatial turbulence with no way back?

Yaoruoxian ignored his disgusted expression and continued,

"In the Falling Star Mountain Range, there is a stone furnace that has been burning for a hundred years. It was left behind by the Star Flame Saint—one of the three strongest Saints of the Western Desert who attained enlightenment there."

"This legacy stone furnace contains a portion of the Saint Path inheritance left by the Star Flame Saint. Those who obtain it will not only master the inheritance but also be acknowledged as his disciple."

She paused, then smiled faintly.

"But our fight will not be about comprehension nor who can grasp the inheritance first. For a hundred years, this stone furnace has been open only to those under fifty, yet no one has succeeded."

Her tone carried supreme confidence.

"But if I set my mind to it, obtaining it would be easy. My comprehension is unparalleled in this vast world. I have no interest in winning against you through comprehension, it would be too dull and would make my tribulation less meaningful."

She took a step forward.

"Our battle must be fair. Inside the stone furnace lies a martial arts technique, the Star Summon."

"This technique is extraordinary, unparalleled even in the Western Desert."

She met his gaze.

"Are you willing to accept the challenge?"

Disdain to win against me through comprehension?

Zhang Yang felt an overwhelming urge to curse.

This Yaoruoxian was prideful to the extreme.

Just because she had opened the Saints’ laws at the Ascending to Heaven realm, she considered herself the foremost in comprehension in the entire world?

Arrogant!

Far too arrogant!

The worst part was that Yaoruoxian acted as if she had everything under control, leaving Zhang Yang no room to respond. Without waiting for his reaction, she soared into the sky, heading straight for the so-called legacy stone furnace left by the Star Flame Saint.

She was certain that Zhang Yang would follow.

She assumed he would do as she wished.