Junior sister, keep forbear for a while, I almost become invincible as soon!-Chapter 699 - 698: The Ancestor’s Exhortation

The world fell silent, soundless and still, as the powerhouses of the Divine Clan retreated like a swarm of locusts, no longer daring to linger in this region.

Yet, as she departed, the aloof Goddess glanced back several times. Her smile was enigmatic, showing no sign of defeat but rather an air of morbid fascination.

It made Chen Pingping's skin crawl. He cursed under his breath, "Pah, what a freak."

Damn it! Zhang Ziyu could hardly control himself.

Zhang Heng was dead. All he could do was watch helplessly as the formidable enemy left, incapable of taking action. That feeling was suffocating.

"AAAAARGH!" Zhang Luoshan roared with rage, his hair disheveled, pointing his sword to the heavens. "Demon Girl, I, Zhang Luoshan, will surely slay you!"

The departing Goddess laughed lightly, her voice drifting back. "Even the Sword Immortal's Successor dares not make a move. What makes you think you can?"

Her graceful figure gradually vanished beneath the expanse of sky.

Zhang Ziyu, standing tall in the sky, clenched his fists. He was shaking all over with a ghastly pale face; he did not dare to strike.

Yes! As the Son of the Fate Energy and the Sword Immortal's Successor, he was actually very cowardly at heart, timid even. Were it not for the protection of the Fate Energy over the years, he might have long since perished.

But in the past, nobody would speak of it. Putting aside his identity as the Son of the Fate Energy, he was also born into an Ancient Family. This status alone was a massive safety net.

Until the Goddess appeared. This woman had ridiculed him multiple times, leaving him no way to save face.

Though Zhang Ziyu felt humiliated, he had to admit his own cowardice. In that instant, his spirits plummeted. He staggered backward as if struck by lightning, his face deathly pale.

Was he really that weak? Why had he not dared to take action earlier? Did Brother Zhang Heng die in vain?

BUZZ! BUZZ! BUZZ! In his distraction, powerful Sword Intent erupted from within him.

Everyone was shocked. Fortunately, he quickly came to his senses and returned, dispirited, to the Zhang Family. He fell to his knees before the Clan Leader without a word, head bowed low, as if ashamed of his own weakness.

The senior members of the clan were stunned. The Clan Leader looked at him and said softly, "You've already done well."

Zhang Ziyu suddenly looked up. "No, I didn't dare to take action! All these years have passed, and I've never dared. That's why... I could only watch as the formidable enemy left, and I was unmoved!"

His pain was palpable.

"Child, you're not to blame for what happened back then," the Clan Leader consoled. "Even if I had been there, I might have done the same—remaining silent to survive."

"I clearly had an opportunity! If I had run out, even just to shout, or to use a secret technique to notify you all... but I did nothing! I was paralyzed with fear... I watched my parents die before my very eyes! I am a sinner!" Zhang Ziyu exclaimed loudly, tears streaming down his face.

It was true then, and it's true now. He remained as cowardly as ever...

SOB! SOB! Zhang Ziyu trembled as he spoke, "I still don't dare to make a move!"

Unnoticed, Chen Pingping had come up behind him, quietly observing. At that moment, the Elder Ancestor spoke, "What is your name?"

Zhang Ziyu's heart skipped a beat. He calmed down considerably, remembering the presence of an Emperor Realm Elder Ancestor. He respectfully replied, "Elder Ancestor, my name is Zhang Ziyu."

"Come with me." The Elder Ancestor slowly turned.

Once his imperial might dissipated, he appeared as a dying old man, his figure stooped, and even walking seemed strenuous.

The sight gripped everyone's hearts. The Elder Ancestor walked leisurely towards the deeper part of the Zhang Family estate, with Zhang Ziyu following closely behind. Anxiety was apparent in his demeanor, uncertain whether this Elder Ancestor was about to punish him.

It was only when they reached an uninhabited area that the Emperor Realm Elder Ancestor stopped and spoke kindly, "Do you know why the Zhang Family guards this region?"

"Ah?" Zhang Ziyu was taken aback, blurting out, "Is it because of the Sword Immortal's plan?"

The Zhang Family was an Ancient Family. They had protected these lands for eons, never leaving.

In fact, he had begun to suspect this very thing many years ago, but the secret was too shocking, and he did not dare speak of it.

The Four Symbols Land arranged by the Sword Immortal, and the Power of the Four Symbols, all needed powerful guardians.

And their Zhang Family was clearly one of them. However, unlike other places, the Tiger Land guarded by the Zhang Family had been shaken several times in ages past, invaded by the Divine Clan, who almost breached that great tomb.

As a result, the Human Emperor came here and swung his sword, condensing the Human Emperor Sword Qi. Later, Wenliang also arrived, leaving behind a wisp of Fate Energy... This referred to the dilapidated temple and the dry well.

In truth, these were not actual physical entities but manifestations of Fate Energy. Wenliang had achieved Enlightenment near the dilapidated temple and beside the dry well, which is why they manifested.

In later generations, Zhang Ziyu, while still a naive child, accidentally stumbled into this place. He received guidance from Wenliang, then fell into the dry well and obtained the Sword Immortal Heritage.

What seemed like an incredible series of events had actually happened. This seemingly unreliable person... in fact, all of this was traceable. Perhaps it could be understood this way: Zhang Ziyu's karma and destiny were particularly extraordinary.

In all the years the Zhang Family had guarded the Tiger Land, no one had ever won Wenliang's recognition and also received the Sword Immortal Heritage.

Zhang Ziyu was the first.

"Elder Ancestor, are you saying that the dilapidated temple and the dry well are manifestations of Fate Energy?" Zhang Ziyu exclaimed in disbelief. "Has it been protecting me all this time?"

"It has not been protecting you. The Fate Energy will not recognize you; the one protecting you is Lord Wenliang," the Emperor Realm Elder Ancestor stated.

Zhang Ziyu was speechless. Fuck! He had always thought his Fate Energy was natural, never suspecting it had an origin. Truly astonishing!

Zhang Ziyu stared with wide eyes, incredulous. "So? I haven't been recognized by the Fate Energy?"

The Elder Ancestor shook his head. "No. It has been living in its own way all along, until one day its destined owner appears."

Zhang Ziyu was silent again. That was a huge blow. His luck wasn't from the Fate Energy; it was merely due to Wenliang's protection.

"If you had been to other continents, you would understand. In those places, you don't have what you call 'luck'..."

Zhang Ziyu remained silent.

"Lord Wenliang used the Fate Energy as a vessel to protect you, limited to the lands of Huangzhou. However, your Sword Immortal Heritage is indeed real." Mentioning this, the Elder Ancestor looked intently at him. "Karma, destiny... some things are closely related to you. Even I, an Emperor Realm cultivator, cannot foresee nor clearly perceive your future."

There was that, too. Zhang Ziyu felt a bit panicked. How come it felt like his destiny had suddenly been arranged by someone else?

The Elder Ancestor added, "There's no need to panic. When that day comes, you will surely draw your sword."

Zhang Ziyu was quiet. Upon hearing these words, he suddenly felt disheartened.

In the past, he was weak, only able to watch as his parents were killed. Now, still weak, he had watched helplessly as the Goddess left.

And now the Elder Ancestor was saying this about him. He felt deeply ashamed, not knowing how to change this timid nature of his.

"Some truths you need not know now; you will find out in time. The karma and destiny that belong to you... perhaps they have already surfaced. But this road is full of thorns, fraught with hardships. No matter what, you must walk it and not look back," the Elder Ancestor exhorted. "Can you do it?"

Zhang Ziyu was stunned, his heart surging with emotions. Looking at the Elder Ancestor before him, seeing the hope and expectation in his eyes, Zhang Ziyu knew he should have confidently answered that he could do it.

But he knew all too well the kind of person he was. If he agreed to the Elder Ancestor, what would he do if he remained timid in the future? Wouldn't that be deceiving the Elder Ancestor?

Yet...? For some reason, a spark of flame was gradually igniting in the depths of his heart. That was the Opening Heaven Sword Intent.

When the Goddess left, the Sword Intent had finally awakened. It was now taking root within him, subtly influencing certain aspects of his character—like courage.

Zhang Ziyu took a deep breath, his gaze firm. "Yes!"

A single word. No more were needed.

The blood within him gradually began to boil. He seemed to sense something as the Opening Heaven Sword Intent burst forth once again, shooting up towards the Heaven Domain.

At that moment, he wished he could throw back his head and howl in fury, to chase after the Goddess and slay her with the Opening Heaven Sword Intent. But he remained exceptionally calm.

When Zhang Ziyu came back to his senses, the Emperor Realm Elder Ancestor before him had already disappeared.

He let out a heavy sigh and declared, "The next time I see the Goddess, I will definitely slay her."