Old When Young

The daylight was fading, and the night was deepening.

Emperor Zhou and Zhou Jia had mainly come to visit Chen Xia, so they didn't say much and seemed a bit reserved in their speech. After exchanging greetings, they didn't want to disturb Chen Xia further and took their leave.

Bai Lu was left standing there, confused, scratching his head and still not quite understanding the situation.

He turned to Chen Xia and asked quizzically, "Is she really your senior sister?"

Chen Xia nodded and replied, "We've been old friends for hundreds of years. When I first met her, I was still a young boy."

"Aren't you still one now?" Bai Lu asked, looking at Chen Xia's youthful face.

"Back then, I was a pure-hearted youth," Chen Xia clarified.

"Aren't you pure-hearted now?" Bai Lu frowned and asked.

"I'm still pure, but not a youth," Chen Xia shook his head, deciding not to continue the conversation with the argumentative Bai Lu.

"But aren't you just a you-" Bai Lu persisted, about to ask again.

"How about a game of chess?" Chen Xia interjected.

Bai Lu instantly fell silent and turned to leave. He still had some questions in his mind, but he didn't voice them.

For instance, why Zhou Jia, as Chen Xia's senior sister, seemed so reserved in front of him.

Not just Zhou Jia, even Emperor Zhou appeared reserved in Chen Xia's presence.

Bai Lu couldn't figure it out and didn't dare to think too deeply about it. So he began to focus on his meditation and cultivation.

He now realized that he and Chen Xia were not really "cut from the same cloth."

But he comforted himself with a saying: cultivators without umbrellas must run harder in the rain.

That's what he needed to do now. Not necessarily to run ahead of everyone else, but at least not to fall behind.

Bai Lu still held onto a glimmer of hope, a characteristic aspiration of youth.

He was growing, but he hadn't yet matured.

Outside the small house, a spirit tree swayed, its buds beginning to bloom.

Night fell.

The moon shone faintly.

Beneath All Heavens.

The first inter-realm war officially broke out, involving six realms.

Compared to this war, the battles between the realms and the Heavenly Rain Realm seemed like child's play.

This conflict involved seven Great Emperors, and beneath them, over a hundred Zhun Di and Great Saints!

It was said that the instigator of this great war was a newly risen Great Emperor, known for his extremely hot temper and exceptionally strong combat prowess. He was even able to overpower some veteran Great Emperors.

This Great Emperor was named Vast Boundless, the current ruler of the Ten Thousand Demons Realm. He led the previously oppressed Ten Thousand Demons Realm into battle, igniting the prelude to this war.

It also thoroughly established Vast Boundless's reputation.

Most of the great cultivators across the realms had heard of his name and knew him to be an unparalleled fierce warrior.

Currently, the six realms were fighting their own battles, locked in fierce combat. The realms with two Great Emperors had a slight advantage, but they didn't dare to be complacent, fearing that the other realms might join forces to eliminate them first.

Besides these, two Great Realms were also eyeing them covetously, hoping to play the role of the fisherman and swallow up these realms.

However, given the current progress of the battle, it seemed unlikely that the Great Realms would have a chance to intervene.

Because among the six realms, apart from the Ten Thousand Demons Realm, none were truly fighting with murderous intent.

But Vast Boundless was different. This guy was truly reckless. He didn't care which realm you were from or which Great Emperor you were; he would beat you up mercilessly if he caught you.

If you were of equal strength to him, it was still okay; at least you could retreat safely.

But if you were slightly weaker than him, you were in for a brutal beating.

The other Great Emperors' evaluation of Vast Boundless was quite succinct.

"Mad dog, he's just a mad dog, biting anyone he catches. Don't call him Great Emperor Vast Boundless anymore, call him the Mad Dog Emperor!"

Actually, it wasn't a bad fit, considering his identity as a big yellow dog.

Vast Boundless had a strange habit during battles. While fighting, he would frantically ask:

"Have you seen my brother Chen Xia? Have you seen him? Have you? If you haven't, take a beating!"

How the hell am I supposed to know who your brother is?!

All the Great Emperors had been beaten by Vast Boundless for this reason, so they not only resented the big yellow dog but also had a deep impression of this Chen Xia.

Chen Xia hadn't even shown up, but the big yellow dog had already drawn hatred towards him.

When it comes to being a dog, you're truly unparalleled, Big Yellow!

The sun shone brightly.

It was a good day.

Outside the small house, the spirit tree had long since borne bright red fruits, weighing down its branches, which swayed gently.

Bai Lu got up early today, tidied himself up nicely, and hurried outside. He smiled at Chen Xia and said,

"Today, Dragon Riding Mountain is coming to the city to recruit cultivators. Do you want to come and watch? You could cheer me on too."

Chen Xia thought for a moment but still shook his head, "Not interested."

Bai Lu wasn't disheartened; at least Chen Xia had considered it for him.

So he set off alone towards the city center, heading for the towering recruitment and selection site that looked like a small mountain.

Many other cultivators were heading there too, and he was among the older ones.

Bai Lu lowered his head, feeling a bit embarrassed, and didn't want to talk with the other cultivators.

The selection queue was very long, stretching all the way to the top of the "small mountain". He stood in line, watching the sun move across the sky, slowly moving forward with the crowd, constantly reviewing the new techniques he had learned.

Finally, as evening approached, it was his turn.

Bai Lu stepped forward excitedly, ready to demonstrate what he had learned over the years.

But he froze on his first step forward.

In front of him were many examiners dressed in luxurious robes.

Among them, he saw two familiar faces.

Hao Lin and Yu Jun.

They were his childhood friends, his former best friends.

But it seemed that was all in the past now.

The two also glanced at him, perhaps with a slight flicker of emotion, but it quickly faded to indifference.

"Begin," came the flat voice of the examining elder.

Bai Lu stiffly demonstrated the mystical techniques he had learned. They weren't particularly impressive, just familiar.

His expression was still somewhat dazed.

"Average talent, average comprehension, average techniques..."

Three "averages" completely shattered Bai Lu's dream.

He didn't know how he made it back, only that he walked in a daze the entire way.

Late at night.

He stood on the empty street, staring at the vacant road, unable to utter a word.

When even the moon had hidden away,

He slowly pushed open the door, looked at Chen Xia, and voluntarily reached behind him to produce a jug of wine, asking,

"Care for a drink?"

Chen Xia understood.

Outside, the heavy fruits from the spirit tree fell, sinking into the muddy soil.

With a soft thud.

He had finally matured.