I created an extraordinary era

Chapter 722 In this world, who can stand shoulder to shoulder with me?

the other side.

After parting ways with Ji Xuan, Xia Yuan returned directly to Panlong Town.

As soon as I got back, I saw Ding Yan and Zhang Yao.

The two were chatting with Zhang Changsheng.

Although Zhang Yao's face was full of smiles, Xia Yuan could still notice the sadness that was hard to hide in her eyes.

Xia Yuan sighed silently.

Despite years of using traditional Chinese medicine to improve Zhang Changsheng's health, the mortal body has its limits and cannot withstand the erosion of natural laws.

Zhang Changsheng is now 105 years old. Based on his current physical condition, he has at most one year left to live.

106 is old.

For an ordinary person, this is actually a remarkably long life!
He lived two years longer than Uncle Ding did back then.

The image of Uncle Ding's cheerful face flashed through Xia Yuan's mind, and a wave of bitterness washed over him again.

Uncle Ding has been gone for nearly twenty years, and now Zhang Changsheng's life is also coming to an end.

In a few years, perhaps it will be the turn of Liu Peiqi and other classmates who failed to embark on the path of extraordinary success.

Even those who have embarked on the path of the extraordinary, such as Wang Wenjun and Fu Hongkang, probably only have a lifespan of two hundred years at most.

In the future, he will eventually witness the departure of many familiar people.

Ultimately, even younger generations like Ding Yan and Zhang Yao, if they cannot continue to break through on their cultivation path, will eventually leave before him.

A thousand years from now, it will be difficult to find another person in this world who can reminisce with him about the past.

Immortality, at times, is more like a long and lonely punishment.

Thinking of this, Xia Yuan felt an indescribable loneliness welling up in his heart.

On the path to immortality, he was like a lonely traveler, destined to watch those around him depart time and time again.

This is not being pretentious.

Rather, it is the intuitive understanding of the differences in the levels of life and the ruthlessness of time that comes with increasingly profound cultivation.

This is why he hopes that Ji Xuan and the others can go further.

After all, a thousand years from now, perhaps only these top geniuses will still be around.

Xia Yuan took a deep breath, suppressing these chaotic thoughts.

A gentle smile returned to his face as he stepped into the courtyard.
"I could hear your laughter from far away. What are you talking about that's making you so happy?"

"Uncle Xia!"

Ding Yan and Zhang Yao quickly got up.

Zhang Changsheng turned his head and smiled when he saw Xia Yuan.

The best thing he ever did in his life was meeting Xia Yuan.

If it weren't for meeting Xia Yuan, Zhang Yao, her daughter, would never have had the opportunity to enter the Origin Academy.

He was just an ordinary person with mediocre talent, and it was impossible for him to live to be a hundred years old and witness the success of his descendants with the help of precious primordial medicine.

This kindness is as heavy as a mountain.

Patting the empty seat next to him, Zhang Changsheng said with a smile:

"You're back just in time! Yao'er was telling us about the interesting things she encountered while teaching students at the academy. Young people these days have so many ideas!"

He looked even better than he had a few days ago, and his voice was full of energy.

But Xia Yuan keenly noticed that the grayness in the depths of Zhang Changsheng's eyes had deepened.

This is a sign that the source of life is about to burn out. Even the best extraordinary medicine can only delay the passing of life, but cannot reverse the final outcome.

Zhang Yao poured hot tea for Xia Yuan with gentle movements, trying her best to maintain a relaxed atmosphere.

"Really? Then I'll have to listen carefully."

Xia Yuan readily agreed and sat down, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and glanced around the courtyard.

The early summer sun shines through the gaps in the grape trellis, casting dappled light and shadow on the bluestone slabs.

In the courtyard, the flowers and plants that Zhang Changsheng carefully tended grew lush and vibrant.

Zhang Yao picked up the conversation and continued recounting the blunder that occurred during the Lingxiao Academy freshman trials, trying to liven up the atmosphere again.

Ding Yan also smiled helplessly and occasionally added a few words.

Xia Yuan listened with a smile, nodding occasionally.

Looking at Zhang Changsheng's seemingly focused expression, he knew that the other man's mind was probably no longer on this matter.

At this age, knowing that time is running out, one spends more time reminiscing about the past and enjoying the last moments of peace with family.

Meanwhile, his gaze lingered briefly on Ding Yan and Zhang Yao.

Xia Yuan had always seen Ding Yan's feelings for Zhang Yao, but Zhang Yao kept avoiding them.

Especially after Ding Yan entered the Myriad Manifestations Heavenly Road, the gap between the two widened invisibly.

Although Zhang Yao gained a foothold in Lingxiao Academy through her own efforts and Xia Yuan's support.

But after Ding Yan returned from the Heavenly Road, the sharp edge he possessed, honed by trials, and the strength that subtly surpassed hers, made her feel a complex pressure.

She was happy for Ding Yan's progress, but she also subconsciously avoided Ding Yan's hints.

There's no way around it; the difference in their talents is just too great.

Zhang Yao was nearly eighty years old when she finally broke through to the eighth level of the Transcendent Realm, and her martial arts realm was only at the late stage of Dark Force.

Based on her aptitude, even with Xia Yuan's help, she would be at least 100 years old by the time she reached the peak of the ninth level of the Transcendent Realm.

A 100-year-old at the peak of the ninth level of the Transcendent Realm is indeed quite remarkable in the context of the entire human race.

Ding Yan is only 55 years old and has already reached the same level as her. Given his talent, he is very likely to break through to the Unity Realm before he turns 70.

That would mean truly entering the ranks of the human race's strongest, and one's lifespan would increase significantly.

There is even hope that they will break through to the True Spirit Realm in the future.

In contrast, Zhang Yao's future is almost predictable.

It was precisely this disparity that made Zhang Yao unwilling to accept Ding Yan's feelings.

"Teacher, lunch is ready!"

As the group was talking, Hua Changfeng's voice came from the kitchen.

The call broke the delicate atmosphere in the courtyard at just the right moment. Xia Yuan was the first to stand up, greeting him with a smile:
"Let's go!"

Ding Yan immediately stepped forward and carefully took Zhang Changsheng's other arm.

Zhang Yao also composed herself and walked to the other side of her father. The three of them walked towards the restaurant together.

Inside the restaurant, the aroma of food was irresistible; almost without exception, it was all made of spirit rice and monster meat.

The atmosphere in the courtyard has become warm and natural again.

As the afterglow of the setting sun was gradually replaced by the night, starlight began to twinkle in the sky.

after eating.

With the help of Zhang Yao and Ding Yan, Zhang Changsheng slowly returned to his room to rest.

The days after.

Xia Yuan often accompanied Zhang Changsheng in the yard to bask in the sun, tend to the flowers and plants, or play a few games of chess.

With his daughter by his side, his spirits seemed to have improved considerably.

Zhang Changsheng became more talkative than ever before.

But often, the conversation would veer towards Zhang Yao and Ding Yan.

As someone who had been through similar experiences, he could naturally tell that Ding Yan liked his daughter.

He saw all of this kindness.

Now that his days are numbered, he hopes that after he passes away, his daughter will have someone reliable to keep her company.

Ding Yan was undoubtedly the most ideal candidate in his mind.

One day.

With Zhang Yao and Ding Yan out, only Xia Yuan and Zhang Changsheng remained in the courtyard.

The sun was shining brightly, and Zhang Changsheng squinted as he looked at the spot where Ding Yan had just stood, as if he could still see the boy's steady figure.

He stroked the warm teacup in his hand, and began to speak as if in casual conversation, his tone carrying a casual sigh:

"Xia Yuan, look at Xiao Yanzi, he's really becoming more and more promising!"

"Young people who are steady, loyal, and highly talented are truly rare these days."

Xia Yuan didn't respond, but just listened quietly.

"Yao'er is a bit stubborn, but she has a good heart."

"Sometimes I'm too strong-willed and like to shoulder everything myself."

Zhang Changsheng's voice was slow and gentle, with the characteristic rambling of an old man.

"I just can't let her go in my heart."

"If... if she had someone who cared for her and treated her sincerely like Xiao Yan, then I could die in peace."

His cloudy eyes looked at Xia Yuan, filled with unspoken words and a father's deepest concern.

"Old Zhang, what's the point of telling me all this?"

Xia Yuan couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"The two of them are the ones who should be listening to these words!"

"You can nag me a thousand times, but it's better to find an opportunity to have a proper talk with them."

Zhang Changsheng opened his mouth, but ultimately let out a long sigh:
"How could I not want to? But with Ke Yao'er's personality, she avoids me whenever I bring this up."

“Her mother had mentioned it to her when she was still alive, but it was never resolved.”

"Wait a minute. You don't mean you want me to tell them, do you?"

Xia Yuan quickly waved his hand.

"I'm not going to be a lobbyist!"

If you bring it up yourself, the nature of the matter changes.

Even if Zhang Yao wanted to refuse, would she really dare to say it when facing him?

Upon hearing this, Zhang Changsheng gave a wry smile.

He did want Xia Yuan to speak.

Given Xia Yuan's status, his daughter would most likely agree.

"I'm afraid! I'm afraid my silly daughter will miss out on someone who truly cares for her because of her stubbornness." "How lonely she will be when I'm gone."

Xia Yuan shook his head helplessly.

Zhang Changsheng's mindset still hasn't changed.

What era is it now?

With Zhang Yao's strength and status, she has nothing to worry about.

He possesses the strength of the eighth level of the Transcendent Realm and is one of the high-ranking members of Lingxiao Academy.

This status has long transcended worldly constraints.

If she wants, she can live a carefree and unrestrained life; why talk about being lonely?
Looking at Zhang Changsheng's worried profile, Xia Yuan ultimately did not say these words.

He understands.

Zhang Changsheng's worries did not stem from distrust of his daughter's abilities, but rather from a father's most basic wish.

She hopes that after she leaves, someone will take her place and continue to protect and accompany her daughter.

He longed to see his daughter get married before he died.

People who came from that era always felt that only by starting a family could they truly settle down, as if only then could their lives be considered complete.

……

As the days went by, Zhang Changsheng's mental state fluctuated.

But whenever his daughter and younger relatives are around, he always has a gentle smile on his face.

That night, after Zhang Changsheng went to sleep, Zhang Yao gently closed her father's bedroom door.

Walking into the courtyard, she found Xia Yuan standing with his hands behind his back in the moonlight, seemingly waiting for her.

"Uncle Xia".

Zhang Yao called out softly.

Xia Yuan turned around, the moonlight elongating his shadow. He looked at Zhang Yao, his gaze gentle yet profound:
Let's take a walk together!

Zhang Yao was stunned for a moment, then seemed to realize something.

The two strolled slowly along the quiet cement path in the courtyard.

The evening breeze carries the fragrance of flowers and grass, which is refreshing and delightful.

Xia Yuan spoke:

"You probably already know what I'm going to say!"

Zhang Yao paused slightly, her profile appearing somewhat tense in the moonlight.

She gave a soft "hmm" in a very low voice.

You should understand your father's thoughts.

Xia Yuan's voice was calm, more like a statement than a persuasion.

He's worried about you.

"I know."

Zhang Yao lowered her head and looked at the two shadows on the ground, elongated by the moonlight.

"But Uncle Xia, I..."

"I'm not here to be a mediator for your father!"

Xia Yuan smiled and waved his hand to interrupt:

"I just want to know, putting aside your father's wishes, and asking yourself only, what is your true feeling towards Ding Yan?"

Zhang Yao raised her head, her eyes filled with confusion and struggle:

"Uncle Xia, I...I don't know."

"Ding Yan is very good, really very good!"

"But I'm not good enough for him! His future is as bright as the stars!"

"And I will achieve only so much in my lifetime! The gap between us will only widen."

"I don't want to be just an embellishment or a burden in his illustrious life!"

That's right.

Zhang Yao cannot accept a partner who is destined to drift further and further away from her and who will look down on her in the future.

She also did not want to become merely a neglected and gradually fading appendage in Ding Yan's long life, someone who needed to be cared for.

What she wanted was a partner to walk alongside her, not a star to look up to.

Xia Yuan listened quietly without interrupting Zhang Yao's outpouring.

Only after she had expressed her biggest concern did she smile and speak:
"Then according to you, who in this world can stand shoulder to shoulder with me?"

Xia Yuan's voice carried a hint of gentle teasing.

The moonlight shone on him, adding a touch of transcendence to his appearance.

Zhang Yao was taken aback and instinctively retorted:

"Uncle Xia, you're different! You're a genius, a prodigy, a true extraordinary person..."

"What is it?"

Xia Yuan looked at her with a smile, his gaze deep.

"Is he destined to achieve immortality and look down upon all living beings?"

"So, according to your logic, shouldn't I also grow old alone, since no one can accompany me to the end of time?"

"In this respect, you're not even as good as your father, an ordinary person!"

Zhang Yao opened her mouth, but was speechless for a moment.

Xia Yuan's last words were like a fine needle, gently piercing the shell she had long used to protect herself.

Her father, Zhang Changsheng, was an ordinary person through and through, but he never felt inferior or alienated because of Xia Yuan's extraordinary qualities. He always treated her with the purest heart of a friend.

On the contrary, it is she, who has embarked on the path of the extraordinary, who is now fixated on the gap in their realms, drawing a circle around herself and confining herself to it.

Seeing Zhang Yao's expression, Xia Yuan didn't say anything more.

The environment in which Zhang Yao grew up and her position determined that she could not be as open about herself as Zhang Changsheng.

This is something he can't change no matter what he says.

Xia Yuan only spoke up because he saw that Zhang Changsheng's obsession was growing stronger and stronger and he couldn't bear to see the other party leave with the greatest regret.

As for the final decision, it ultimately depends on Zhang Yao herself.

"All right!"

"Go back and rest. Don't overthink it. Just let things take their course and follow your heart."

Zhang Yao was in a state of turmoil. She responded softly, turned and left, her figure appearing somewhat frail in the moonlight.

In the days that followed, Zhang Yao seemed to remain unchanged, continuing to spend her days with her father.

However, the observant Xia Yuan noticed something different, and her way of treating Ding Yan gradually changed.

As a result, Zhang Changsheng smiled much more and looked more energetic.

He even pulled Xia Yuan aside in private and whispered to him:
"Xia Yuan, don't you think it's starting to look promising?"

Xia Yuan smiled and comforted him:
"Why rush? Let them see how things go on their own. If it's meant to be, it will happen naturally."

"Will it happen naturally?"

Zhang Changsheng sighed sadly and said nothing more in the end.

He knew that this was already the best possible outcome!
"Old Zhang, do you regret not embarking on the path of the extraordinary back then?"

Xia Yuan's question was particularly clear in the quiet courtyard.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Changsheng's smile faded, and his gaze drifted into the distance, as if piercing through time.

In a daze, he seemed to have returned to more than fifty years ago.

The two met while capturing a fugitive, then learned about the superhumans, and later Xia Yuan asked him if he wanted to embark on the path of the superhumans!

More than fifty years have passed, like a long scroll slowly unfolding before his eyes.

Those scenes have all settled into the wrinkles on his brow and the vicissitudes in his eyes now.

Regret?
Zhang Changsheng didn't know.

The answer to this question had been troubling him for decades.

Now it's hard to tell whether I feel more regret or more relief.

But if you were to say it now...
"Xia Yuan, to be honest, I regret it!"

"But Xia Yuan!"

He suddenly laughed, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothed out.

"Isn't a person's life made up of a series of choices?"

"I chose to stay and protect this family, and I chose to watch Yao'er grow up."

"These choices have made me who I am today, Zhang Changsheng. If I had to choose again, I wouldn't be on the same path!"

He picked up the now-cold tea and took a small sip.

It was as if one were drinking in one's own calm yet fulfilling life.

"As for whether I regret it or not,"

He put down his teacup and turned to look at the young man before him, whose appearance hadn't changed in decades. His gaze held a clarity and peace born of experience.

"What's the point of saying all this now?"

"I chose this path myself, and I've walked it step by step."

"Looking back, there may be regrets, but without these choices, there would be no me today, no family, and no Yao'er today!"

His gaze passed over Xia Yuan.

As if she could see through the wall and into the room her daughter bustling about, a kind smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.

"My life, Zhang Changsheng, has been ordinary and unremarkable. I have never been able to embark on the road to heaven like you, nor have I witnessed the magnificent scenery."

"But I protected the family I wanted to protect, watching my husband grow old and my daughter grow up safely."

"As a husband and a father, I feel it was all worth it!"

After saying these words, Zhang Changsheng seemed to have unloaded the last burden from his heart, and his whole body relaxed. He leaned back in his chair, bathed in the warm afterglow of the setting sun.

He squinted slightly, savoring the last warmth of the afternoon sun.

All the regrets and resentments that had haunted him for most of his life seemed to vanish completely with that one sentence, "It was worth it."
(End of this chapter)