Chapter 2 Chapter 2 The Beginning of Rebirth

Xiang Tianxing was still in a state of confusion. Vaguely, he thought to himself, "Scold me? Who dares to scold me?" Once upon a time, he was extremely renowned in the realm of cultivation, dominating and causing turmoil, commanding the awe of countless people. But then, that sharp voice pierced through his hazy thoughts like an arrow, suddenly raising its volume and shouting, "Tianxing! Why haven't the spiritual grains for the inner sect's dining hall been delivered yet?!"

This loud voice gave Xiang Tianxing a start and instantly woke him up. Slowly, he opened his eyes. The first thing that came into view was the old and blackened roof beam, on which there was a spider web that had accumulated for who knows how many years. The spider silk swayed gently in the air, as if silently recounting the long passage of time. At the first moment, he realized that this was definitely not on Lianyun Mountain. The rumbling thunder seemed to still echo in his ears, but everything before him gave him an extremely absurd feeling.

He slowly stretched out his hands. The child's fingers were pitifully thin. Due to long-term engagement in rough labor, they looked just like withered chicken claws. He was filled with doubts. Didn't he fail to escape even with his Nascent Soul? How could he have succeeded in body possession? These doubts were like tiny bubbles, constantly emerging in his heart. He clearly remembered the scene of his failure in crossing the tribulation. At the crucial moment of ascension, a fierce sword light came from the west, instantly shattering his Purple Mansion. His Nascent Soul broke apart, and he died on the spot.

Qu Zhenshan, his Dao companion who had been by his side for countless years. Xiang Tianxing knew him inside out. As long as the man moved his eyebrows slightly, he could understand what was on his mind. Qu Zhenshan's sword was extremely sharp. In the realm of cultivation,super killing for sword cultivators was just a means of breaking through one's own barriers. Although Qu Zhenshan's cultivation was inferior to his, there was one thing where he had an advantage. That was, Xiang Tianxing rarely had any defenses against him. Qu Zhenshan was always one who either didn't act. Once he acted, it was a killing move that never missed. Xiang Tianxing couldn't help but sneer in his heart. Qu Zhenshan had learned a thing or two from him. If they meet again one day, he will definitely laugh heartily and applaud that astonishing sword strike on Lianyun Mountain. As for whether there will be a chance to meet again, Xiang Tianxing hasn't thought deeply about it for the time being. In his mind, as long as he wants to, even if Qu Zhenshan ascends, he will definitely be able to dig him out from the highest heavens.

"Tianxing! Tianxing, what are you daydreaming about?" Xiang Tianxing was pulled back to reality by this shout. He saw a child of about ten years old standing in front of him. The child was standing with his hands on his hips and leaning forward, looking at him with dissatisfaction in his eyes. However, with that childish face and this adult-like posture, it looked extremely comical.

Xiang Tianxing sat up, rubbed his temples, and yawned lazily, saying, "I was caught off guard and dozed off." When the child heard his words, he became even more angry. He reached out to poke Xiang Tianxing's forehead and said angrily, "All you do is sleep! You've missed a great matter!"

How many years has it been since Xiang Tianxing was treated like this? Thinking about his extraordinary talent, from forming the Nascent Soul to crossing the tribulation and ascending, it took him a full six hundred and seventy-three years. During his long years in the realm of cultivation, he caused turmoil and had a flourishing life. Who would dare to poke him with a finger? So before the finger could get close, Xiang Tianxing moved aside. His eyes instantly became as sharp as a drawn sword. After an instant, he easily pushed aside that hand and asked calmly, "What great matter?"

The child seemed to be frightened by that fierce look. After a long while, he stammered and replied, "You... you forgot to deliver the spiritual grains to the inner sect's dining hall. Be careful or the elder in charge will scold you." Xiang Tianxing held his forehead and was lost in thought for a while. Only then did he remember that when he was awakened just now, he did indeed hear this matter. Delivering spiritual grains to the inner sect's dining hall was obviously a rough job. From this, it seemed that he should be just an outer sect disciple now.

As he thought about this, he looked down at his clothes. He was wearing a cyan cotton garment. Although it was washed clean, it still showed the frugality of its owner. When he inspected his dantian inwardly, he found that the spiritual energy was extremely thin. Well, with four spiritual roots of metal, wood, water, and fire. Judging by this aptitude, he would probably have to pack up and return home after spending a few decades in the outer sect. Xiang Tianxing's thoughts raced. He looked at the child and saw that he was wearing the same clothes as himself. Then he showed a friendly smile and said, "I'm sorry. I just woke up." When the child heard this, the doubts that had arisen earlier subsided. After accepting this explanation, he hurriedly urged, "Then why don't you go quickly? You are so careless in doing things. How did someone like you manage to enter Linggu Mountain?" There was a tone of deep disappointment in his words. Xiang Tianxing couldn't remember how many years it had been since he was nagged like this. While feeling novel, he also found it amusing. But he still got up very cooperatively and followed the child out, planning to gather some information first.

As soon as he stepped out of the room, there was a small courtyard outside. At first glance, it was very neatly arranged. Xiang Tianxing looked around, trying to find something familiar. But after a while, he gave up. Linggu Mountain. Just listening to this name, one knew that there were no good things here. Since there were no good things, how could he have been here before? He also didn't know what sect this was. Had he been here before? If he had, it would be easier to handle. This meant that this sect still had some resources, and he could at least make some plans. If he hadn't been here before, it would be troublesome. He didn't even know which small sect in a remote corner this was. It was really a difficult situation. Xiang Tianxing sighed helplessly. Following the child, he walked half a mile in the ravine before finally seeing a third person. At a glance, it was also an outer sect disciple. Xiang Tianxing immediately lost interest and looked away. At this moment, he found that the child who had led the way was staring at him. He curled his lips and said, "Why are you looking at me?" The child's eyes widened and he was almost angered. He said, "Why am I looking at you? You should help instead."

Only after hearing these words did Xiang Tianxing realize. He glanced to the side and saw a large pile of sacks on the ground. Beside the sacks were two spiritual beasts. The beasts were huge in size and looked like oxen. They were a kind of yak-like beast, probably used for carrying heavy loads. That strange outer sect disciple was not very old. His skin was swarthy and his appearance was honest. He was rolling up his sleeves and moving the sacks. While doing so, he said to the child with a smile, "Tianxing is weak and can't move these. Yan Chi, you step aside. I'll do it." Yan Chi retorted angrily, "Just because he's weak, he doesn't have to work? If he hadn't woken up late, why would we be sweating under this hot sun? I say, Senior Brother Zhou, don't bother with him either. Let him deal with it on his own. If the elder in charge finds out, he'll be sent to plant grass in the fourth-grade spiritual herb garden again!"

The fourth-grade spiritual herb garden? Xiang Tianxing paused slightly. In other words, in addition to this fourth grade, there are also first, second, and third-grade spiritual herb gardens ahead... He subconsciously narrowed his eyes. Generally speaking, for ordinary sects, the spiritual herb gardens are divided into upper, middle, and lower grades at most. But this sect actually has four grades. It can be seen that its scale is still quite large. Thinking about this, Xiang Tianxing was slightly relieved.

The sun was so scorching that everything in front of people was a dazzling white. Sweat kept flowing down. Xiang Tianxing bent down and grabbed a corner of the large sack. He thought to himself, having a tribulation-stage ancestor like him move spiritual grains for you. I wonder if those who eat these grains will choke. Thinking about this, he felt a little resentful again. He planned that when Qu Zhenshan falls into his hands in the future, he will definitely make him carry sacks every day to vent his hatred.

Yan Chi was wiping sweat. When he looked up, he saw Tianxing on the opposite side showing a creepy sneer. That smile, against Tianxing's delicate face, was very discordant. In this hot sun, for no reason, a chill rose on his back. He subconsciously stepped back a little and opened his mouth, "You... don't move anymore!"

Xiang Tianxing obediently let go. With a loud thud, the sack fell heavily to the ground again, raising a cloud of dust. He smiled and happily stepped back, hiding himself in the shade beside and began to enjoy the cool. Yan Chi looked at his calm and self-possessed appearance, his eyes widened. He wanted to say something but didn't. He even felt as if he had seen a ghost just now. But since the words had come out of his own mouth, he had to stick to them even if he gritted his teeth. All his anger could only be vented on the sack of spiritual grains. He was extremely frustrated.

Xiang Tianxing leaned against the side with his arms crossed. His eyes were half-closed. His gaze seemed to be on the person who was busy working, but in fact, his thoughts had already drifted far away. Ascending and crossing the tribulation is the lifelong pursuit of every cultivator. Hundreds of years of cultivation were lost in an instant, and he became an ordinary person again, with nothing. It would be a lie to say that he wasn't angry. However, in his last life, he was able to cultivate to the tribulation stage. His state of mind was long beyond what ordinary people could compare. So after the anger subsided, he still had to think about future matters, such as how to quickly improve his cultivation and strength and then personally kill Qu Zhenshan.

Qu Zhenshan was a sword cultivator. In fact, Xiang Tianxing was very reluctant to deal with sword cultivators. But there was no way. After all, the other party was his Dao companion. Thinking of all the past events, Xiang Tianxing only felt that he had been blind. However, he rarely had the emotion of regret. Since things had come to this, he just had to accept it. When he kills Qu Zhenshan for revenge in the future, he will be a great hero again. As for why Qu Zhenshan wanted to kill him, Xiang Tianxing wasn't particularly interested and didn't dwell on it. In his opinion, the process was not important. Moreover, for sword cultivators, he always thought that they were a bit abnormal. The higher their cultivation, the deeper the holes in their minds. Moreover, Qu Zhenshan was also a leading figure among sword cultivators. If he committed suicide one day, Xiang Tianxing wouldn't find it strange at all. However, Qu Zhenshan better not commit suicide. Otherwise, who would he seek his debt from? Thinking of this, Xiang Tianxing smiled. That smile was full of meaning and made people feel a chill in their hearts when they saw it, as if they were being stared at by something not to be trifled with.