Towering peaks rise 7,000 meters above sea level, piercing the clouds like a sharp sword. Cold currents surge around the peaks, and clouds and mist swirl around them. Although the air at the summit is thin, the biting cold feels like a sharp blade on the skin, piercing to the bone and unbearable. Ordinary people would find it extremely difficult to endure such extreme low temperatures.
Chen Nan wrapped all the clothes in the bundle around Xiao Chenxi, making her look like a chubby rag doll. At the same time, Chen Nan sat back on the little dragon's back, using his own back to shield Xiao Chenxi from the cold wind. His internal energy circulated continuously, and golden light filled his body, enveloping Chenxi and blocking the harsh cold from the outside world.
To Chen Nan's surprise, Xiao Chenxi seemed completely unaffected by the cold air; she appeared to feel no chill at all. Upon closer inspection, one could see that her body was filled with a barely perceptible seven-colored radiance, blocking the cold air and repelling his golden true energy. This discovery truly astonished Chen Nan; Xiao Chenxi's constitution was extraordinary, shrouded in mystery like her origins.
The snow-capped peaks were covered in a blanket of white, with snow falling heavily. Little Morning Light, who had suddenly entered this icy world from the ancient immortal ruins where flowers bloomed, was filled with wonder, her big eyes blinking incessantly. Then, as if sensing Chen Nan looking at her, she said sweetly, "Brother, I'm not cold at all, don't worry."
Chen Nan affectionately stroked her soft hair and said, "Don't talk, lest you catch a chill." Chen Xi nodded vigorously and stopped talking, looking very obedient. However, the more innocent and lovely she was, the more heartbroken Chen Nan felt, because she had a striking resemblance to Yu Xin in her qualities.
As expected of a fifth-tier holy dragon, the little dragon flew with lightning speed, leaving the majestic Kunlun Mountains far behind in the blink of an eye. After leaving the high-altitude area, the air currents gradually warmed up, and at Chen Nan's command, the little dragon slowed down its flight speed, allowing the curious Xiao Chenxi to better overlook the scenery on the ground from the air.
At heart, Chen Nan is a free-spirited person who dislikes being bound by external forces, as evidenced by his refusal of Ruth's various attempts to entice him. The vice-principal had some leverage over him, forcing him to participate in the four academies' warm-up tournament at the Immortal Martial Academy, something he deeply resented. Although Chen Nan knew the cunning vice-principal wasn't as bad as he appeared, he still strongly opposed his methods.
As he retraced his steps, Chen Nan pondered several questions, considering whether he should return to the City of Sin. Perhaps he no longer needed to go back; he could simply live in seclusion in Jin, raising Xiao Chenxi to adulthood and watching her grow up happily. However, he also felt that this idea was too depressing; life shouldn't be so gloomy, and he shouldn't be so despondent.
Along the way, Chen Nan thought a lot, carefully recalling everything from his resurrection to the present. He himself found it hard to believe that he, a person from ten thousand years ago, had actually been resurrected from an ancient divine tomb.
Besides burying the strongest humans and top cultivators among the superhumans, every other grave in the Cemetery of Gods and Demons contains the remains of an ancient god or demon. However, before his death, his cultivation was mediocre; there must be a hidden reason why he was buried there. Even his low, unmarked grave suggests that this "deceased" is different from the others. The mystery is shrouded in mist; he cannot see clearly, cannot understand, and cannot comprehend it!
After living in that small town in the western border of Chu for a year, he constantly adjusted his mindset. He gradually got rid of the shadows of the past and began to see himself as a modern person.
However, deep within his heart lay a trace of vicissitude, but in order to survive better, he could only bury everything deep in his heart.
To make a living, he had to act, concealing his true self and packaging it with pretense; perhaps that's just how life is. Chen Nan sometimes felt weary, but he had to do it, suppressing his true nature.
He wreaked havoc in the capital of Chu, fled to the City of Sin, and entered the Valley of a Hundred Flowers, an ancient land of immortals...
Now, with a little Chenxi by his side, looking at Chenxi's innocent smile, he decided to change, to stop running away, and to face reality, because he now bore the responsibility of being a father and an older brother. He needed to pull himself together; he needed to start anew.
Chen Nan has always been searching for the earth-shattering secret of ten thousand years ago, and he will continue to do so. He wants to know what exactly happened ten thousand years ago, why the supposedly immortal god-demon died, why he was buried in the God-Demon Cemetery, and how he was able to be resurrected…
Even Xiao Chenxi's true identity seems to date back ten thousand years. Yes, he doubts Chenxi's true identity; Chenxi doesn't seem to be Yu Xin. But she reflects certain traces of Yu Xin, seemingly hinting at something, urging him to keep searching...
"Did Yuxin deliberately leave behind some clues, instructing me to explore along a certain path?"
Too many secrets, too many unsolved mysteries! Chen Nan's current life is inextricably linked to the events of ten thousand years ago, and the truth of that time is of paramount importance to him! He must uncover every detail of the past, trace the remains of gods and demons, explore that lost history, and reveal the truth completely!
Chen Nan thought about many things, his mind wandering, jumping from one issue to another, until he himself felt somewhat confused. Finally, he made a decision: not to run away, but to return to the City of Sin. Life shouldn't be too negative, and one shouldn't be too despondent; challenges are what ignite fighting spirit.
Flying at high speed in the sky greatly satisfied Chenxi's playful nature, eliciting constant laughter and exclamations of wonder. Although Kunlun Mountain was very far from the capital of Jin, the little dragon shrank the distance by a mere inch. Half an hour later, the little dragon landed in a forest outside the capital of Chu.
If the baby dragon were to enter the capital of Jin, it would surely cause a sensation. Dragons from the West are rarely seen in the East, and the appearance of such a colossal creature in the capital would definitely attract a huge crowd. Only after Chen Nan's repeated "persuasion" did the little dragon give up the idea of going into the city with him and reluctantly walk into the forest.
The reason Chen Nan didn't immediately go to the Immortal Martial Academy to meet up with Long Wu and the others was that he wanted to go into the city to buy some clothes for Xiao Chenxi, as her small, delicate body was really unsightly wrapped in his large clothes.
Although the territory of the Jin Kingdom was not vast, its national strength was not weak, and its people were able to live and work in peace and contentment. Its capital, Kaiyuan City, was extremely prosperous and could be considered a famous city in the Eastern Continent.
Chen Nan carried Xiao Chenxi into Kaiyuan City. The city was bustling with activity, and shops lined both sides of the streets. Crowds gathered at corners and other places, mostly with street performers and entertainers, which aroused Xiao Chenxi's curiosity, and she kept looking inside. Chen Nan patiently explained things to her, just like when he first brought Yu Xin from the mountains into the town.
Chen Nan carried Xiao Chenxi through the crowded streets and into a tailor shop. Inside, everyone, from the owner to the tailors, was amazed by Xiao Chenxi's beauty. Looking at this adorable little girl, as if carved from jade, everyone in the shop couldn't help but praise her.
After carefully taking Chenxi's measurements, the tailor told Chennan that he could come back in an hour to pick up his clothes. Chennan carried Chenxi out of the tailor shop and said to her, "How about I take you to get something delicious to eat?"
"Okay," Xiao Chenxi replied sweetly.
Kaiyuan City, a famous city in the Eastern Continent, was naturally incredibly prosperous, with numerous restaurants lining the streets. Chen Nan carried Xiao Chenxi into a three-story restaurant, and with a gold coin as a reward, the head waiter personally and politely led them to a private room.
The private room was decorated in an antique style, with a curtain made of interwoven purple bamboo blocks and tables and chairs carved from pear wood. Several landscape paintings hung on the walls. Overall, the restaurant's decor was quite sophisticated, unlike the common and tacky style of ordinary restaurants.
Although Chenxi's intelligence far surpasses that of children her age, her knowledge of daily life is relatively limited, as the old demons had only taught her so much. Since entering the city, she has been incredibly curious about everything, including in the private room, asking all sorts of questions innocently, which Chen Nan patiently answered one by one.
Chen Nan stayed silently in Hundred Flowers Valley for three days without eating or drinking anything. His stomach was now completely empty. Although he knew he should eat something light, he couldn't resist the urge to eat meat and ordered more than a dozen different dishes.
While explaining some common sense about life to Xiao Chenxi, Chen Nan listened carefully to the conversation in the next private room. In fact, he had been listening attentively ever since he entered the room, because the people eating next door seemed to be of great importance, and they were discussing the upcoming warm-up competition for strong individuals at the Immortal Martial Academy.
A sweet, seductive female voice came from the next room, giggling as she said, "I never expected that the young marquis's elder brother would be so brave and actually defeat that powerful magician."
The man referred to as the "Young Marquis" spoke with a domineering air, clearly displaying his usual arrogance and overbearing manner: "Hmph, how could my elder brother, a dignified third-tier dragon knight, possibly lose to that mage from the Divine Wind Academy? Although that mage has also reached the third tier, he could never possibly defeat a combatant among cultivators—a dragon knight. Even among the four major academies, there are few young masters who can rival my elder brother's cultivation!"
The woman chuckled, "Young Master Marquis's cultivation is no weaker than the Eldest Young Master's; if he were to participate, he would surely display his divine might as well!"
...
Chen Nan frowned. Kevin had suffered a crushing defeat, and Shenfeng Academy had actually lost. From the conversation next door, it was clear that the four academies were full of hidden talents. In the warm-up matches for the strong, each academy had sent one third-tier cultivator. In the end, the young Marquis Shenwei of War God Academy decided the outcome with a single battle, leading War God Academy to victory.
Chen Nan didn't think much about Shenfeng Academy's defeat, but he was somewhat disdainful of the young marquis next door. From their conversation, it was clear that this person was arrogant, conceited, and incredibly conceited, as if, apart from his elder brother, the young marquis Shenwei, he was the most powerful young expert in the world.
There seemed to be five or six people in the next room. From their polite and slightly flattering words, Chen Nan learned his identity: he was from a prestigious family in a small country in the East. He and his elder brother were training at the War God Academy in the West and had come to Jin Kingdom to participate in the warm-up competition for the strong.
Chen Nan held this arrogant and ignorant spoiled brat in utter contempt. After learning the outcome of the battle at the Immortal Martial Academy, he had no interest in listening anymore.
Before long, the waiter brought in the dishes one by one. Chen Nan carefully removed the bones from a piece of fish and gave it to Xiao Chenxi, saying, "Here, have a taste." But Xiao Chenxi spat it out as soon as she put it in her mouth.
"What happened? Did you get pricked?" Chen Nan asked anxiously.
"No," Chenxi said with a pained expression, "Brother, I can't eat. I feel a little nauseous..."
"Ah!" Chen Nan thought there was something wrong with the dish, so he quickly picked up a piece of fish to taste, only to find nothing wrong with it. He looked at Xiao Chenxi strangely, thinking she didn't like the dish, and changed it for her a few more times. But just like before, Xiao Chenxi spat it out as soon as she put it in her mouth.
She wrinkled her nose and said, "Brother, I really can't eat this."
Chen Nan was stunned. He hurriedly called in the waiter and kept changing the dishes, but each time Xiao Chenxi would just smell them and then shake her head. After repeatedly asking her how she felt, Chen Nan finally discovered a shocking fact: Xiao Chenxi couldn't eat any food at all. In the end, she only ate a few grapes from the fruit plate.
Unable to eat human food! Little Chenxi really can't eat human food!
Chen Nan was incredibly surprised. He tenderly stroked Xiao Chenxi's soft hair and asked, "Chenxi, aren't you hungry?"
Little Morning Light shook her head and smiled brightly, "Brother, don't worry, I don't feel hungry at all."
"Ah..." Chen Nan was stunned again, and asked, "What kind of food do you feel you want to eat?"
Chenxi tilted her head and thought seriously for a moment, then took out a crystal-clear, strange fruit from her bosom and said, "Eating this will do the trick."
Chen Nan felt a headache coming on. That rare fruit was a gift from Long Baobao when he was taking care of Xiao Chenxi; it was a rare and precious treasure from the ancient immortal heritage! If she had to rely on this kind of immortal mushroom and ginseng fruit for food, then…
"Brother, don't worry about me. I'm really fine. I have a feeling that I just need to eat one of these fruits for a very, very long time."
Little Chenxi's innocent words reminded Chen Nan of some legends. Powerful immortals and terrifying demons—legend has it that these supreme beings no longer need to eat, as the essence of heaven and earth absorbed during cultivation is sufficient to sustain their bodies. Their occasional meals consist of rare and precious herbs like celestial mushrooms and ginseng fruits.
Chen Nan stared at Xiao Chenxi in silence for a long time until Xiao Chenxi shook his arm, at which point he finally came to his senses.
"Oh, so you only like to eat these things? No problem, Long Baobao has plenty. Besides, a certain despicable old scoundrel at Shenfeng Academy has even more." Chen Nan remembered the medicine storehouse controlled by the vice dean of Shenfeng Academy, where the precious herbs collected by the academy over the years were stored. This was also the reason why Long Baobao valued Shenfeng Academy; he could obtain what Dawn needed through Long Baobao.
Chen Nan hadn't eaten for three days, so he was inevitably wolfing down his food. Xiao Chenxi watched him eat with great interest.
After dinner, Chen Nan took Xiao Chenxi back to the tailor shop. The tailor handed Chen Nan several finished children's clothes. Although Xiao Chenxi was young, after a simple makeover, she became even more adorable, like a cute little angel descended to earth, making everyone in the shop want to hug her.
Seeing many people surrounding her and praising her, Xiao Chenxi smiled sweetly and then greeted everyone in turn: "Hello, Uncle, Brother, Sister..." making everyone beam with joy and constantly praising her for being sensible.
Suddenly, the shop door was pushed open with a loud bang, and a young man's voice, carrying a hint of arrogance and domineering tone, rang out: "Boss, is my custom-made clothing ready yet?"
This was a group of young people. The leader was tall with a slightly dark complexion and large, bell-like eyes; his appearance was quite fierce. Beside him was a beautiful woman in her early twenties, incredibly alluring, clinging to him like a little bird seeking shelter. However, no matter how you looked at it, it gave off a beauty and the beast vibe.
The people next to him were dressed in expensive silks and satins, clearly from wealthy families. Judging from their auras, they were all highly skilled martial artists. However, they all seemed to follow the lead of the tall, fierce young man.
The moment the tall young man spoke, Chen Nan recognized him from his voice—it was the young nobleman from the private room next to his at the restaurant. He had no liking for such an arrogant spoiled brat, and after quickly paying the bill, he led Xiao Chenxi outside.
Little Chenxi, having just put on her new clothes, was very excited. She didn't let Chen Nan carry her and skipped ahead on her own. As she brushed past the fierce-looking young marquis, she accidentally touched the hem of his robe. A powerful force surged towards her, and before Chenxi could understand what was happening, she was knocked away by the young marquis's outward-released energy and fell to the ground.
Little Chenxi rubbed her knee, groaning in pain, as she got up from the ground, her large eyes brimming with tears that seemed ready to spill at any moment. Chen Nan was shocked; he hadn't expected this arrogant young master to be so domineering, actually attacking a child. He quickly stepped forward to Little Chenxi's side, but didn't dare touch her until he could determine where she was injured.
"Where is Chenxi hurt?" he asked anxiously.
"I'm not hurt, I just fell and it hurts a little, don't worry, brother..." Xiao Chenxi said softly, trying to hold back her tears.
Chen Nan wiped away a few tears that rolled down her cheeks with his sleeve and said softly, "Chenxi, be good, don't cry. It's your brother's fault for not protecting you."
Chen Nan stood up, turned around, and glared angrily at the young marquis. A fire burned within him. This arrogant spoiled brat was utterly despicable, actually using such force against a child. If Chen Xi hadn't possessed an extraordinary constitution, she would have been seriously injured long ago.
The young marquis gave Chen Nan a cold glance, then looked down at Chen Xi and scolded, "Little girl, don't you know how to watch where you're going?!"
Chenxi lowered her head and whispered, "I'm sorry, big brother, it was my fault..." However, her little face was full of grievances, and a few crystal tears hung on her long eyelashes, making her look both pitiful and heartbreaking.
He was furious! Chen Nan was truly furious! His anger flared up instantly. In the past, there were three people in his heart whom he could not tolerate the slightest desecration. His parents, who gave him life and raised him, were the people he respected most; their kinship was eternal and could not be desecrated! Yu Xin, who understood him and saved his life with her own, was the person he loved most; their deep affection could not be erased even by a thousand years, and she could not be desecrated!
Now, Xiao Chenxi holds a place in his heart no less important than the other three; he treats her like his own daughter. It can be said that Xiao Chenxi is his only concern in this world, and he cannot tolerate anyone hurting her. Xiao Chenxi is his Achilles' heel in this life; he can compromise himself, but he will never tolerate Chenxi suffering even the slightest injustice.
"How could you hit a three-year-old child so hard?!" Chen Nan said angrily to the young marquis, his words harsh.
"Hmph," the young marquis snorted coldly, "I am a martial artist, this was an instinctive act of self-preservation. I had already shown mercy at the time, otherwise such a little thing would have already been broken."
The alluring woman clinging tightly to the young marquis chuckled, "If a child can't walk properly, bumps into someone, and falls to the ground, who can he blame?!"
The wealthy young men standing nearby, dressed in expensive silks and satins, all wore faint smiles, looking on with amusement.
The shop owner, several tailors, and a few customers looked at Xiao Chenxi, whose eyes were filled with tears and whose face was full of grievance, and felt both pity and pain. Although they deeply despised the young marquis's shamelessness and arrogance, they dared not speak out; they could not afford to offend such a spoiled brat from a wealthy family.
"Brother..." Xiao Chenxi called softly, tears welling in her eyes.
Chen Nan suppressed his anger, turned around and went to Chen Xi's side. He lovingly ruffled her hair, then picked her up and asked softly, "Chen Xi, what's wrong?"
"Brother, let's leave here."
The young marquis harbored deep resentment towards Chen Nan. Everyone usually treated him with utmost respect, and Chen Nan's earlier defiance infuriated him. Seeing Chen Nan turn away, he assumed he was afraid and backing down, and coldly said, "Trying to leave? Hmph, not so easy. Apologize to me first!"
The woman beside him said, "This person's cultivation seems extraordinary."
"Hmph, this is more like it. Today, I'll stretch my muscles a bit." The young marquis turned to a nobleman beside him and said, "Now that he's on your turf, find someone to keep an eye on him. Today, I'm going to play with him slowly." The young marquis had a cruel smile on his face.
Chen Nan said softly to Chen Xi, "Brother will be going out for a while. Will you wait for me inside?"
Little Morning Light seemed to know what was about to happen. She hugged Chen Nan's neck tightly and said urgently, "I don't want to leave my brother!" Then she turned to the young marquis and said, "Big brother, I'm sorry, it was my fault. I accidentally bumped into you. I apologize..."
The childish voice seemed to shame even the young marquis, but he was deeply angered by Chen Nan's rudeness earlier. He shouted, "Little girl, this is none of your business. That boy, are you going to apologize or not?"
Chen Nan gently stroked Chen Xi's cheek, wiping away her tears, and said, "Chen Xi, you're too kind. Sometimes being too kind is cruel to yourself. There are all kinds of people in this world. Some people can be reasoned with, but some you don't need to respect at all. The more you respect them, the more they'll take advantage. Reasoning with them is like reasoning with a dog. The only way to deal with such wicked people is to fight evil with evil!"
The young master's face changed drastically with anger, his eyes widening in disbelief. This was the first time he had been humiliated to his face. He said fiercely, "Boy, you're really tired of living!" The glamorous woman beside him and the other rich young men were also extremely dissatisfied, all glaring coldly at Chen Nan.
"Brother, but..." Xiao Chenxi looked at the young marquis and his group, then at Chen Nan, her eyes filled with worry.
Chen Nan said softly, "Chenxi, don't be afraid. As long as your brother can stand, I will never let you get hurt or suffer any injustice." He carried Chenxi to the tailor shop owner and said, "Could you please look after this child for me?"
Although the shopkeeper was frightened, he immediately agreed after seeing how adorable little Chenxi was. Chen Nan put Chenxi down and turned to leave when little Chenxi couldn't help but call out, "Brother..."
He stopped and looked at her, saying, "Some things are unavoidable no matter how much you try to avoid them. Like now, even if we swallow our pride and apologize to them, they'll still bite us like mad dogs. It's better to just beat the dog!"