Chapter 8

The white clouds in the sky are so white,

I on the ground am so miserable;

Truly, very white,

Truly, very miserable;

Extremely white,

Extremely miserable,

Very, very, extremely white,

Very, very, extremely miserable;

Incredibly white,

Incredibly miserable;

Filthy white,

Filthy miserable;

Simply white to the extreme,

Simply miserable to the extreme;

Ah—

A nonsense poem of the 21st century, breaking the tranquility of the mountains.

It was early summer in April, but in the Yunzhou region, it was already unbearably hot. Fortunately, the high altitude and the early morning brought a rare coolness.

The morning mist, like smoke, gradually thinned under the sunlight, revealing a thousand-year-old cypress forest. The ancient forest, due to years of logging, had a touch of ancient charm, but it had lost some of its wild and harsh nature.

Here, the cliffs jutted out, the moss was moist, and the flowers and grasses were lush.

A young, tender voice echoed through the greenery, which seemed like a fairyland.

Following the sound, after turning a few tree shadows, a small Taoist child, about eight or nine years old, wearing a blue cloth robe, was found lying on a crooked old locust tree.

This small Taoist child looked like a guardian spirit from a painting, with clear and bright eyes, a graceful demeanor, and a unique appearance that set him apart from ordinary people. His hair, like silk, was slightly shiny and tied into two buns; his skin, like warm jade, was smooth and shiny, making him as adorable as a porcelain doll, tempting one to pinch him. His eyes were especially bright and lively, indicating a quick and agile mind.

The Taoist robe was slightly loose but spotless, making him look even more ethereal. Just his appearance alone was enough to make people extremely fond of him.

However, at this moment, this heavenly child was lazily leaning against the tree branch, one leg dangling in the air, swinging back and forth. He held a teapot in one hand and a piece of cake in the other, sipping tea and eating cake, enjoying himself. The other hand was closed in a meditative pose, and he kept muttering to himself.

The child's Taoist name was "Qingxuan," a second-generation disciple of the Qingyun Temple on this mountain. His secular surname was Ye, and he originally came from a well-known family in Qingyang Town, twenty miles away from the temple. Unfortunately, he had offended some unknown enemy, and in one night, all eighty family members were killed, leaving only this child, who was not yet a year old.

Seeing the weather was quite hot, Qingxuan, the young Taoist, casually opened his robe, exposing his pale chest. On the left side of his chest, near his heart, there was a noticeable scar.

He brushed off the cake crumbs on his chest and gently traced the scar with his right hand...

The scar was originally very thin and fine, but as time passed and his body grew, it had become more noticeable.

The murderer did not show mercy because he was an infant, piercing his heart with a sword without hesitation. However, the murderer seemed to be very confident in his martial arts, and after the strike, he did not look back. Unbeknownst to him, the child's heart was slightly to the right, near the Zhongshan point on the chest.

The sword pierced through Ye Qingxuan's lung but did not damage his heart. Due to the thinness of the sword, the child, Qingxuan, narrowly survived.

It was unclear whether to thank or hate the murderer. Looking at the scar on his chest, Qingxuan couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Qingxuan's soul was not his original soul but that of a college student from a different world, Earth, named Ye Feng. After a sudden car accident, he woke up in this body. Unfortunately, he didn't have time to marvel at his rebirth or appreciate the changes in his new life before he faced death again due to the sword wound.

At the age of 23, Ye Feng, with the tiny hands of a one-year-old, desperately tried to cover the wound on his chest, his eyes filled with fear as he watched his life slowly slip away.

After a grueling hour of struggling, just as Ye Feng's consciousness was fading and he was about to give up all hope, luck smiled upon him again.

A group of bailiffs from Qingyang Town, who had heard the news, found the child, who was still alive amidst the pile of bodies. After providing some basic first aid, the abbot of Qingyun Temple, known as "Old Immortal" Lingxu, who had a deep connection with the Ye family, arrived at the scene.

With the help of a skilled expert, the outcome was different. After a series of treatments, Ye Feng finally survived. The orphaned child was taken back to the temple by Abbot Lingxu and raised as a disciple.

To the entire martial arts world, Qingyun Temple was insignificant, but to the small town of Qingyang, it was well-known. Being taken in as a disciple by the "Old Immortal" Lingxu was a matter of envy.

At first, the bailiffs lamented the tragic fate of the Ye family's orphan, but soon they began to praise the child's good fortune.

However, to protect Qingxuan's safety, Abbot Lingxu and the bailiffs decided not to reveal that the Ye family had a surviving heir. Instead, they announced that all eighty-one members of the Ye family had perished.

Thus, to this day, the number of people who know about Qingxuan, the young Taoist, does not exceed five. Two of them later died in the line of duty during a bandit suppression operation.

Qingyun Temple was originally built by the people of Qingyang Town to house orphans. Ye Feng's being taken in was a natural occurrence. Even being the last disciple of the "Old Immortal" Lingxu, who was famous in the martial arts world of Qingyang, only caused a ripple in the town.

The world only knew that the "Old Immortal" had taken another disciple, but no one knew where the disciple came from.

From then on, the world lost a 23-year-old Ye Feng and gained a young Taoist named "Qingxuan."

Is this the fate of all people who are reborn in another world?

Either they bear deep grudges or are bullied... Is it really that tragic?

If it weren't for that ruthless bastard's sword, would I have been reborn?

From a moral standpoint, the bastard deserved to die for not sparing a child. But for me, that sword seemed to be the cause of my new life.

I can't figure it out, I can't figure it out...

What to do if I can't figure it out? Eat, sleep, and live a carefree life...

Faced with this dog-eat-dog fate of bearing a "blood feud," Qingxuan, who was reborn in another world, didn't feel much resentment. As he had thought before, without that sword, he might not have had the chance to be reborn, and he might have already been a soulless ghost.

Sigh, what a pitiful fate.

He took a big sip of tea, stretched lazily, and sighed, shaking his head.

Besides, in this world, there are the ultimate martial arts techniques that he had dreamed of for so long...

Ultimate martial arts...

Ultimate martial arts...

Ultimate martial arts...

The pitiful Qingxuan was lost in his fantasies, drooling down his face, completely unaware...

It has been more than five years since he arrived in this world called "Shenwu Continent." The things he has encountered and heard are vastly different from his previous life.

The divine birds and beasts hidden in the forests and mountains, the miraculous martial arts techniques... even the lifespan of humans, all amazed Qingxuan.

This is a different world, a world of martial arts.

Here, flying from roof to roof is not a dream, and eternal youth is not an exaggeration.

Apart from the geographical differences, this world is somewhat similar to ancient China, but it is much larger. Even to this day, the borders have not been fully explored.

The people of the Yanhuang race call the land they inhabit "Shenwu Continent."

"Shenwu Continent" is divided into nine provinces: Yan, Ji, Qi, Yang, Jing, Liang, Shu, Yun. Although the names are different from the nine provinces of ancient China, they still correspond to the number nine.

Beyond the nine provinces, the land is called the "Barbarian Wilderness," which is rarely visited. The reasons include the vastness of the nine provinces, which are sufficient for the people to thrive, and the presence of fierce beasts and hostile tribes in the wilderness.

Beyond the nine provinces, there are the Di in the northern grasslands, the Rong in the western deserts, the Yi in the eastern islands, the Yue in the southeastern mountains, and the Man in the southwestern forests...

The barbarian tribes are not limited to these, but this is a general classification by the Yanhuang people.

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Dear readers, this is the first time I am speaking in the main text: The following chapters may be a bit verbose due to the need to explain the world's setting. I find it difficult to decide whether to include these details. If I don't, new readers might not understand; if I do, long-time readers might find it tedious. After much consideration, I have decided to explain the world's background in more detail. I hope you can understand and bear with me! I apologize to the long-time readers! The content will become more exciting after these few chapters. I hope you will support me and give me some time. I will definitely bring you an incredible martial arts experience... Thank you!