Could it be that I am the cruel villain?-Chapter 850 - 484: Your Path Has Gone Astray (Part 2)

The plan was perfect; not only was Ao Qing tempted, but even Cen Yueyue herself felt a little envious. She realized that sometimes opportunities and fortune always seemed to favor Jiang Feng. The things ordinary people pursued their entire lives came easily to him.

But the man's reaction beside her was unexpected. The person who was cultivating didn't even lift his eyelids.

"Yue Yue, you're overthinking."

"Ao Qing was never my mount, strictly speaking, nor was it senior sister's steed. Senior sister mentioned that she saw Ao Qing as a pitiable Spiritual Beast while on her demon-slaying journey, so she brought it back home, hoping it could heal and return to its homeland."

"Since you can see its nature, I believe senior sister can also see it."

"Senior sister mentioned that regardless of where Ao Qing plans to go in the future, whether it intends to return to the Demon Domain, do its own thing, or seek revenge, it's all its freedom. Moreover, this matter is also a blessing for senior sister in regards to Ao Qing."

"Someone offered it a place to cultivate, was willing to build a family around it, to establish its own power, with its own followers. However, with its temperament, it might find it difficult to endure. Even if it runs off to Dongyue, does it mean it will no longer listen to my senior sister?"

Pouting slightly.

It was obvious that Cen Yueyue was somewhat displeased, but Jiang Feng's words, deep and magnetic, continued without pause.

"As for the so-called Immortal Fortune and blessings, there's no need to worry."

"Relying on nothing external, not dependent on others, cultivating one's true self, nurturing one's foundation, solidifying one's realm, without greed, without impulse, without worry, without annoyance, without resentment, without regret. This is why I have been able to cultivate to this point within just three years."

"The stream rushes forth and ultimately enters the sea, the ravine naturally forms without guessing. Maintaining one's original intention and not being swayed by external things, I believe, this is the best way to cultivate."

"It's not about blindly cultivating without turning back when you hit the wall. Rather, be flexible, find ways to overcome obstacles on the way, give your all to repair broken bridges, enhance your strength when it's not enough, sharpen your character when it's insufficient, seek opportunities when they're lacking, and snatch fortune when it's scarce. In doing so, pave this challenging path of cultivation."

"But this treacherous path, in the end, must be walked by oneself, others cannot do it for you."

At this point, Jiang Feng's tightly closed eyes slowly opened.

It was a very unfamiliar gaze, not indifferent, but extraordinarily focused and serious. When he looked at Cen Yueyue, she even felt a slight sense of oppression. It wasn't ferocity, but the stern and harsh expression she felt from her elders when she was young and practicing cultivation.

But unlike the elders, Jiang Feng's voice remained gentle.

"If one relies on what others give, if one depends on what others bestow, then cultivating loses its meaning, reversing cause and effect. I do not believe this is a long-lasting path."

"Seeking the path to immortality is originally for stepping outside the Three Realms to seek peace and freedom, but now being trapped by the path itself is turning means and ends upside down. If there's no grace from others you can't step on the path of cultivation? Don't forget, cultivation is about defying the heavens."

"Senior sister is like this, and so am I. The disciples of Swordmaster Peak are the same."

"Even if you do not gain it by your own hands, what use is there in increasing your realm, even if you possess heaven-defying opportunities? Did you not see the previous lesson of Xuan Yinzi? Another lesson is far in the distance yet close before your eyes."

Mouth twitching slightly.

Unable to utter a word of contradiction, the expression was earnest because the other lesson Jiang Feng referred to was the Qingluan right in front of them.

The gentle, kind, and very feminine beautiful lady, even Cen Yueyue had to admit this woman indeed had a lot of charm, appealing to both men and women.

Yet such a good lady, whom she couldn't find any fault with, was forced to bow and scrape for survival, to escape from the so-called "fortune" and "opportunities". She had to suppress the blood flowing in her veins.

Doing whatever it takes to survive.

She received the Immortal's fortune and blessings, possessed enviable top-tier talent, and had unimaginable opportunities and cultivation resources. But the result was that for these things, she had to risk her life, instead becoming her...no.

Becoming the bane of death for her entire clan.

"Pull on one strand and it affects the whole body."

"These so-called East Sea clan members enjoyed the enviable blessings, but when that giant tree falls, none can escape, none can hide."

"They are unwilling to abandon their hard-won statuses, unwilling to forsake their rare bloodlines, unwilling to give up their hard-earned realms of cultivation. None can bear the aftermath of the giant tree's collapse; everyone wants to continue hiding under this tree cooling off, enjoying the mature fruits falling from it."

"Once they accept this reality, what awaits the East Sea Clan is the reckoning."

"When the Immortals fall, what awaits the East Sea clan is the complete depletion of the Immortal Beast bloodline. Up to now, only the second and third generations are left with nothing but frail and weak skills, such that in a large nation, not a single adept can be found. According to Qingluan itself, among the younger generation of the Upper Three Sects, she could easily rank in the top ten."

"And this is only at the Peak of Core Formation."

"The second generation is like this, and the third even more so. The talent for cultivation becomes weaker with each generation, and the bloodline more diluted. Eventually, they will blend into the crowd, revealing their true forms. Receiving Immortal's favor, the way to cultivation is smooth, but without the process of seizing and understanding, such cultivation is self-deception."

"And what's waiting for the East Sea Clan...likely isn't just the revealing of their true forms."

"But also the reckoning, don't you agree, Yue Yue?"

Although Jiang Feng's tone was extremely gentle, somehow, Cen Yueyue felt a chill on her back listening to these words. She could sense the weight of these words, as they were not only meant for Qingluan but also for herself.

It was only then that Cen Yueyue realized that her path of cultivation seemed to increasingly stray, increasingly relying on the Li Fire and the wisp of Divine Soul the Fire Phoenix had left in her. Especially after being defeated by Wu Mingsheng a few years back, her reliance on Li Fire had heightened. Upon reflection, her once-vaunted Daoist skills and the prideful Gu Technique from the Southern Border had long been neglected.

She couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

Yet Jiang Feng just looked at Ao Qing with compassionate eyes, who was snoring and rolling lazily on its back, and he couldn't help but shake his head with a smile. The smile carried a hint of helplessness, and also a hint of pity and sorrow, which Cen Yueyue clearly caught in Jiang Feng's gaze.

Compassionate for all living things.

Sometimes, she really felt that Jiang Feng was not someone of his age, or even not human.

Not in a derogatory sense, but occasionally there appeared on Jiang Feng's face... a divinity not belonging to a human, a divinity that overlooks all living things from above the skies.

————

Although Jiang Feng's tone was extremely gentle, somehow, Cen Yueyue felt a chill on her back listening to these words. She could sense the weight of these words, as they were not only meant for Qingluan but also for herself.

It was only then that Cen Yueyue realized that her path of cultivation seemed to increasingly stray, increasingly relying on the Li Fire and the wisp of Divine Soul the Fire Phoenix had left in her. Especially after being defeated by Wu Mingsheng a few years back, her reliance on Li Fire had heightened. Upon reflection, her once-vaunted Daoist skills and the prideful Gu Technique from the Southern Border had long been neglected.

She couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

Yet Jiang Feng just looked at Ao Qing with compassionate eyes, who was snoring and rolling lazily on its back, and he couldn't help but shake his head with a smile. The smile carried a hint of helplessness, and also a hint of pity and sorrow, which Cen Yueyue clearly caught in Jiang Feng's gaze.

Compassionate for all living things.

Sometimes, she really felt that Jiang Feng was not someone of his age, or even not human.

Not in a derogatory sense, but occasionally there appeared on Jiang Feng's face... a divinity not belonging to a human, a divinity that overlooks all living things from above the skies.