Chapter 032: Grand Ambitions

As Song Ye continued to tidy up the battlefield, he thought to himself: if only that Bone Demon Lord could return once more and engage in a fierce battle with one of the Celestial Lords right here—how magnificent that would be! Of course, the chances of such a thing happening were minuscule. After all, those three young disciples from the Moon Embracing Sect had lived on this continent for more than a decade and had never before witnessed a battle of such exalted rank. For most people, encountering such an event even once in their life would be a story to boast about forever.

Song Ye, on the other hand, had only been in this world for a year and had already stumbled upon such a spectacle—indeed, fortune had smiled upon him. Yet, for Song Ye, these twists of fate seemed almost commonplace by now. Had he not, by chance at a humble teahouse, picked up a female Demon Lord, become inexplicably engaged to her, and now found himself witnessing a clash between exalted beings? It was as if nothing could surprise him anymore.

At that moment, Zhou Nongshan and Duan Ling approached. They, too, wished to lend a hand in clearing the battlefield. Together, they gathered all the puppet remains into one heap and set them ablaze. Flames leapt several yards high, releasing a stench so foul it was nearly unbearable.

Chen Huaiyin hid inside the distant teahouse, pressing her nose with her hand; even the faintest whiff made her want to retch. Qin Xuanxi, meanwhile, turned and walked into the backyard, indifferent to the task of cleaning up. She had no intention of helping, nor any interest in such matters. Although both she and Nangong Lengyu held the title of Demon Lord, power and status still varied greatly even among equals. That Bone Demon Lord, so aloof before others, would still have to kneel and speak respectfully in the presence of her, the Abyssal Demon Lord. Given her pride, how could she possibly stoop to cleaning up the refuse left behind by Nangong Lengyu?

"Teahouse keeper, now that the village is in ruins, what do you plan to do next?" Duan Ling’s eyes glimmered with the reflection of the flames as he posed the question to Song Ye.

Song Ye smiled faintly. "I own nothing and possess no special skills. I can only remain here—where else would I go?"

Duan Ling patted Song Ye on the shoulder. "Teahouse keeper, you and I are about the same age, so let me call you Brother Song. Brother Song, have you truly never considered venturing out to see the vast world beyond? That battle we just witnessed—it was spectacular, wasn’t it? Surely you've never seen anything like it in your life."

"To be honest, my heart is still pounding with excitement. I’ve told myself, one day, I must climb Mount Xuanji, earn a title of honor, and become someone admired by multitudes—a Celestial Lord, protector of the people!"

In that moment, the young man seemed to set a grand goal for his life.

"Brother Song, why don’t you leave this place and seek your own immortal fate? Who knows, the next time we meet, we might both be standing atop Mount Xuanji!"

Song Ye shook his head. "No, I think I’ll stay right here. Besides, most of the houses in the village have collapsed. Someone needs to rebuild, and as the last guardian of Qiuyu Village, it falls to me to restore our home. There’s too much work to be done; how could I find time to wander?"

When Duan Ling heard Song Ye refuse once more to leave the little village, a faint trace of contempt flashed in his eyes. He thought Song Ye simply lacked courage—the will to venture beyond the familiar. In his mind, Song Ye would likely live out his days just as he was.

Though he did not show it, Duan Ling looked down on Song Ye. They were the same age, yet Duan Ling was already a promising young cultivator, his strength having reached the Bone Tempering stage, and he’d even been chosen to represent the Moon Embracing Sect in the Five Sects Tournament at the Xuanqing Palace. If his path of cultivation continued smoothly, perhaps with a stroke of fortune, he might truly one day claim a title atop Mount Xuanji.

Song Ye, by contrast, was but a simple villager, tending an unremarkable teahouse, ignorant of the wider world and timid besides. In Song Ye’s presence, Duan Ling naturally felt superior. Yet, precisely because he deemed Song Ye no rival, no threat, he was willing to open his heart and speak candidly—a show of the strong’s pity for the weak.

Of course, Duan Ling’s belief that he was the stronger one in Song Ye’s presence was merely wishful thinking. Even when Song Ye was only level forty-four, his strength had already far surpassed Duan Ling’s. Now, having reached level sixty-eight, the gap was even wider.

"Brother Song, it is fate that we have met here," Duan Ling continued. "Let me swear before you now: I will not rest until I win a title on Mount Xuanji. Let you be my witness. A mortal’s life is but a century, so I hope I fulfill this vow before you, my witness, return to the earth!"

Song Ye laughed lightly. "Very well, I’ll be your witness. No matter how many years pass, I will be here. When you return from—what was it, Chicken Mountain?—with your title, don’t forget to come tell me!"

Duan Ling laughed. "Brother Song, it’s not Chicken Mountain, it’s Mount Xuanji! Mount Xuanji is the sacred ground for all cultivators. To become a Celestial Lord, one must pass the Celestial Lord’s trial on Mount Xuanji to earn the official title. Just as Mount Youyi is the sacred ground for all demon cultivators, who must pass the Demon Lord’s trial there to be granted a title."

Song Ye shrugged. "Whether it’s called Mount Xuanji or Chicken Mountain, it makes no difference to me. I doubt I’ll ever set foot there in this life."

"Brother Song, since fate brought us together and we get along well, let me give you a piece of heartfelt advice," Duan Ling said, changing tone. "I know you have no intention of pursuing the path of cultivation, nor perhaps the talent for it. But you have such a lovely young lady at your side. If you wish to protect her and keep her with you, you ought to learn a little self-defense, at least."

As he spoke, Duan Ling took a book from his storage pouch. The title read: "Body Refinement: From Beginner to Mastery."

"This book is essential reading for all novice cultivators. The first five chapters focus on fundamental body strengthening techniques—perfect for you. The latter five are more advanced; you needn’t bother with those. Just study the first five chapters!"

"Thank you," Song Ye replied, stowing the book away. It was of no real use to him, but since it was a kindly gesture, he accepted it—if nothing else, it could serve as a makeshift table prop in the future.