"You win, Junior Brother Zai!" Shin Xuanji shouted with all his might.
Every last one of Yan Zaizen's blows were like hell-crushing meteors, and the infiltrating power within his body was already lowering his combat abilities. Even his strongest state was hard to maintain with his soul besieged by this consuming power.
"Oh?" Yan Zaizen stopped his elbow from connecting with Shin Xuanji's skull. If this blow had connected, who knows if Shin Xuanji could've escaped without sustaining severe injuries, his laws be damned.
Yan Zaizen held back and placed his arms behind his back, his eyes containing samsara light. "You challenged me, now you concede?" Earlier, when Yan Zaizen arrived at the capital, Shin Xuanji had noticed him and sent him a direct challenge.
This was why he was feeling itchy!
Shin Xuanji's expression turned stern and unnatural. He had felt Yan Zaizen's aura and heard of his return long ago, but he quietly waited for him to come. He knew he would, he had to.
For so many years, he remained unrivaled and wished to test his mettle against the man who saved him all those years ago, so he issued the challenge without any hesitation in his heart. Who would've known that Yan Zaizen's strength far exceeded his imagination. His ability to die and return was mind-boggling and heaven-defying. Even now, he hadn't understood it.
He calmed his beating heart, his Dao of Sovereign Slaughter reined in, and his aura and technique dispersed. He shifted his body to face Yan Zaizen. His mind shook slightly, emotions welling up on his heart.
Yan Zaizen warmly smiled. He didn't have any true hostility towards this Senior Brother of his or belief that Shin Xuanji wished him harm. This was reinforced by his chaotic reaction when Yan Zaizen was 'killed'. This was obviously not his desire, and his reaction verified this.
"It's been a while, Senior Brother Xuan."
Standing in the Deep Expanse, amongst the distorted and shattered spatial fragments were two brothers of the same master, who've become Sovereigns in their lifetimes. They walked different paths, suffered their own way, and yet they persisted and remained to topple the world.
Shin Xuanji became the Realmlord of his world, the absolute foremost expert. Yan Zaizen traveled the heavens and earth free and without regard, killing gods and determining fates.
Yan Zaizen withdrew his Dao and Samsara Light within his eyes, the Herculean Avatar Art was cancelled, and his vital energies became calm as a windless sea. The power within Shin Xuanji was extracted, exiting from his pores and entering his body. With his renewed amber-gold eyes, he smiled.
Shin Xuanji sighed in his heart in both relief and admiration. Yan Zaizen hadn't disappointed him. Even without his Heavenly Path cultivation, he could push him into defeat.
As if remembering something, Shin Xuanji's expression became dignified and solemn. "There's much I need to tell you, Junior Brother."
Witnessing this shift, Yan Zaizen expected as much. However, he didn't allow such a shift to change his attitude, but kept his casual and warm smile. "There sure is, but first...let's celebrate our reunion!"
His smile became sly as a crafty light flashed in his eyes. Shin Xuanji paused for a moment, an uncertain feeling emerged in his heart...as if...as if he was about to be used.
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In the Xiantu Capital, there was a castle called the Blood Heaven Castle. It was decorated in a grand victorian fashion, with all sorts of regel decor befitting a king, and colored in a soft sanguine color. While it emitted a sense of vicious death, it also gave its people an assured aura. After all, that sense was reassuring them that all their enemies would experience a vicious death.
It was a point of pride for many. And, it was Shin Xuanji's personal residence. It was rumored that he, the Xiantu Emperor, cultivated in this very castle. There was a form of prestige to even guard its gates or sweep its floors. In truth, Shin Xuanji did live here, including his family.
He had a wife and descendants. He had grown into a family provider, protecting his and his family's interests with an iron fist.
In the Xiantu Capital Blood Heaven Castle. The foot traffic within was abnormal. Countless men and women with sweet scents ran up and down, here and there, traveling at an absolutely insane pace as they prepared food in the castle's three kitchens. They brought every ounce of food prepared, enough to start a feast to feed the entire noble regime, to the dining hall.
From this dining hall, sounds that could make these chefs and servants go pale resounded without end. Loud chewing and crunching sounds, accompanied by bouts of burps and exclamations of satisfaction were emitted. However, what was frightening was the constant incoming of food and outgoing of empty plates in record time.
In fact, the empty plate was coming out faster than the food could be made.
In the dining hall, the sounds of giggling resounded. It originated from a young woman. She was as pretty as a flower in spring, and charming as a fairy from the immortal world. Her jade-like skin, brilliantly bright blue eyes, glimmering blonde hair, and thin, curvy figure caused her to stand out as a beauty that could topple a nation.
There was a table which she and a few others sat at. Shin Xuanji was sitting beside her, his eyes wide and unnatural. He couldn't believe what he was watching. "He's a monster...a true monster…" he muttered softly, his stately and grand aura was marred by his disbelief and shock.
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At this moment, Yan Zaizen was downing food and drink faster than it came. Every bit consumed a chunk, every slurp finished a drink or soup laid before him. He was the picture of gluttonous greed as he feasted without care for his image.
After that fight, Yan Zaizen felt his body carve an insane amount of sustenance. He devoured whatever was before him instantly while his Herculean Physique digested it all in the matter of seconds. Even after an hour of eating, he felt only hungrier.
This was the first time he felt so hungry. Perhaps it was because his three revivals had consumed an absolutely astronomical amount of energy and power. Regardless, he needed to eat.
Lin Feilin sat beside him, the snow-white puppy held in her arms, but unlike Shin Xuanji, she was smiling with a hint of admiration and pride. There was a saying that a man that could eat was capable in many things. Seeing Yan Zaizen consume so much caused her mind to go awry.
Old Man Bo wasn't here. Yan Zaizen sent him off to cultivate somewhere.
After finishing an entire turkey and a jug of wine, Yan Zaizen turned his amber-gold gaze towards this young woman beside Shin Xuanji. He knew that this young girl wasn't his wife, but his great-something granddaughter. Her life aura was just slightly older than this body of his.
She couldn't be more than twenty.
"So, you're going to introduce me or you too embarrassed of this Junior Brother of yours?" Yan Zaizen said, his smile was sly as he picked up a chicken leg and waved it at Shin Xuanji.
Shin Xuanji's expression darkened a little. He sighed and said, "this is Shin Feiyu. She's my great-great-great-great Granddaughter."
Hearing herself being introduced, she rose and performed a respectful bow meant for a senior. Since Yan Zaizen was Shin Xuanji's Junior Brother, he was worthy of being her senior.
"Oh?" Yan Zaizen perked, taking a hefty bite of his chicken leg. "Yu? Not your family line?" In the Xiantu Realm, the naming structure typically went Clan Name -> Name, Family Line.
Yan Zaizen. Yan Clan. Zai. And, originated from the Zen lineage.
This held true for Lin Feilin and Shin Xuanji, even Han Genji. They all had their names define their origins. For example, with those familiar with the Yan Clan, they could gather that Yan Zaizen was a part of the Main Family. And as the grandson of the Clan Head, they would be correct.
For Shin Feiyu to be named after a different family name was quite odd, especially if she was Shin Xuanji's granddaughter.
"I renounced my family line, starting a new one with my wife's." Shin Xuanji calmly explained. While this was highly unconventional, and this meant Shin Xuanji was likely renamed Shin Xuanyu, Yan Zaizen had no intention of changing how he addressed him, but he respected the choice.
"Mm. Good on you, starting anew." He had already finished off the entire chicken, not just the chicken leg, by the time Shin Xuanji had finished talking. The most shocking thing was that, regardless of how much Yan Zaizen ate or how greasy the food, he was still as clean as always.
This level of skillful eating and awareness of self was admirable.
"You named her?" Yan Zaizen said to Shin Xuanji, looking at Lin Feilin. As if she read Yan Zaizen's thoughts, she also turned to Shin Xuanji. Her name was Fei, so she would feel honored if a descendant of her Junior Brother was named after her.
Shin Xuanji didn't deny it. Lin Feilin was similarly an important figure in his life, and for some reason, when she was born and he held her in her arms, he felt this name was appropriate.
Yan Zaizen smilingly said, "Master would be proud."
The three went silent for a moment. Han Genji was their Master, and he had given each of them an invaluable opportunity for change. He saved Shin Xuanji, Lin Feilin, and Yan Zaizen. While his methods were forceful, his intentions were good and true.
"I hope he is," Lin Feilin and Shin Xuanji simultaneously said, even synchronizing their vocal cadence. Yan Zaizen's heart thumped.
Would Han Genji be proud if he knew that his three disciples gave birth to three Sovereigns? He must be.
"Milord, the cake is prepared." A soft, melodious voice sounded. Yan Zaizen's ears perked as his eyes shone a brilliant glimmer.
Cake!