Perfect: Many children, many blessings! Join the chat group!

Seeing that Wang Lin politely declined his suggestion, Xiao Yan suddenly felt a pang of emotion, and the topic shifted accordingly.

[Xiao Yan: My second brother's unwavering resolve to revive my sister-in-law truly impresses me. Compared to him, my initial reasons for starting cultivation seem far less compelling.]

[Lin Dong: Oh? Then what was your reason for cultivating so desperately back then, Fourth Brother?]

Lin Dong had been paying attention to Xiao Yan, and upon hearing what the other party said, he immediately became interested.

[Xiao Yan: To be honest, I'm ashamed to say that I was humiliated when Nalan Yanran came to my door to annul our engagement. I was so ashamed that I thought I would definitely defeat her at the Yunlan Sect in three years. That's why I started cultivating like crazy. I can't compare to my second brother's ambition to defy the heavens for his beloved.]

[Han Li: The humiliation of annulment is a matter of dignity, and this reason is quite valid.]

[Xiao Yan: Hahaha, it seems Third Brother understands me best. But now that I think about it, if Nalan Yanran hadn't come to break off the engagement, I might still be a spoiled young master in Wutan City. Speaking of which, I really have to 'thank' her, otherwise I wouldn't have met my teacher, nor would I have met everyone and witnessed the wonders of these myriad worlds.]

Xiao Yan's magnanimous remarks instantly lightened the atmosphere in the group chat.

[Lin Dong: Fourth Brother, your reason is somewhat reasonable. My reason for cultivating was much simpler: to defeat that bastard Lin Langtian fairly and squarely in the clan competition!]

Lin Dong spoke through gritted teeth, and even through the chat group, one could feel the long-suppressed resentment he harbored towards Lin Langtian.

[Xiao Yan: Brother Lin Dong, your perspective is still too narrow. Lin Langtian injured your father, that's a huge grudge. According to our Exploding Heaven Gang's style of 'repaying grudges on the spot, never letting them linger overnight,' now that you're strong enough, why don't you just go and kill him? Or go and settle accounts with his father. The son pays for the father's debts, and the father pays for the son's debts—it's all the same principle, that's what makes it real!]

Xiao Yan said angrily, looking as if he wished he could personally take up a knife and help Lin Dong kill people.

[Lin Dong: Fourth Brother, you don't understand. I don't just want to kill him. I want to defeat him honorably in front of the entire clan, in front of all those who looked down on me and my father back then. I want to crush him under my feet and make him taste the bitterness of humiliation. I want him to know that the bloodline of our branch family is no less than that of their main family!]

[Xiao Yan: Tsk tsk, you young people are too concerned with rituals. If you ask me, if you can fight, don't talk. It's much more satisfying to settle scores quickly. But... your idea is quite to my liking. When we get to him, remember to stream it live!]

[Lin Dong: Don't worry, it will definitely open...]

Just as Xiao Yan and Lin Dong were talking, Luo Feng, who had been lurking in the group chat, sent a message.

[Luo Feng: Hearing you say that reminds me of my initial reason for cultivating. Back then, I didn't have such complicated grudges and entanglements as you. My idea was very simple: to earn money to buy a big house so that my parents and younger brother could live a good life.]

[Xiao Yan: Huh? Buying a house? Sixth Brother, your reason is a bit... too plain and simple! It's seriously inconsistent with your usual style and strength!]

[Luo Feng: Back then, my family was poor, and we could only squeeze into a low-rent apartment. After I became a martial artist, I took on missions to hunt monsters. My first goal was to buy a detached villa in Yangzhou City so that my family could have a place to live. Later, as I continued to cultivate, my horizons broadened, and my responsibilities became heavier. I just couldn't stop myself and ended up where I am today.]

[Han Li: Fighting for family is a basic human instinct, a very real reason.]

[Qian Renxue: It seems that everyone's starting point on the path of cultivation is different.]

Once the topic was started, everyone chimed in with their own comments, creating quite a lively atmosphere.

Just then, Xiao Yan suddenly remembered something.

[Xiao Yan: By the way, Third Brother, we've been talking about us, what about you? Why did you start cultivating immortality in the first place? Don't tell me you were also jilted at marriage? Or did you have some deep-seated grudge?]

The group chat fell silent immediately, everyone seemingly waiting for Han Li's reply.

A few seconds later, Han Li's comment finally appeared in the chat group.

[Han Li: There was no dramatic reason why I embarked on the path of cultivation. When I first left home to join the Seven Mysteries Sect, it was simply to make a living. Later, I accidentally stepped onto the path of immortality. My initial thought was also very simple... just to live, to live better, and to... achieve immortality.]

[Xiao Yan: Immortality?]

[Lin Dong: You did this for nothing?]

Han Li's answer was so simple that it surprised both Xiao Yan and Lin Dong.

They never expected that Han Li's initial reason for cultivating would be so simple.

[Han Li: Longevity and immortality—having witnessed the methods and lifespans of cultivators, we mortals naturally do not wish to return to the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death of ordinary people. Therefore, I must proceed with extreme caution, planning carefully before acting, with everything aimed at this goal. Grudges and affections, unless they jeopardize the path to immortality, can all be temporarily set aside.]

After a moment of silence, Han Li sent another comment. [Xiao Yan: Third Brother, now I understand why you were so cautious. Longevity—that's the best reason ever!]

[Lin Dong: Indeed, compared to your grand ambition, Third Brother, our reasons for fighting and killing seem rather mundane.]

[Luo Feng: The pursuit of the limits and eternity of life is one of the ultimate goals of all cultivators. Third Brother's initial motivation for cultivation was simple, yet also grand.]

[Wang Lin: The Great Dao is ruthless, yet those who seek immortality are also compassionate. My third brother's path is also one of the Great Daos.]

Han Li: You all flatter me...

……

a perfect world.

Inside the secret chamber of the Fire Kingdom's royal palace.

Seeing that there was nothing important going on in the group for the time being, Zhu Chen had an idea and decisively left the chat group.

"After three months of seclusion, I've finally made a breakthrough."

Feeling the surging power within his body, like a rushing river, Zhu Chen was in a very pleasant mood.

During this seclusion, his cultivation level successfully broke through from the early stage of the Venerable Realm to the middle stage.

In the cultivation system of Perfect World, every advancement in a minor realm signifies a qualitative leap in strength, far exceeding the mere accumulation of energy.

Zhu Chen calmed his mind and focused on carefully experiencing the changes within himself.

His sea of ​​consciousness had nearly doubled in size compared to before, and his spiritual power had become increasingly refined and pure. Now, with a single thought, he could easily cover the entire vast capital of the Fire Kingdom.

Every blade of grass and every tree in the city, whether cultivator or mortal, is as clear as the lines on the palm of one's hand.

Even when faced with a probe from a cultivator of the same realm, he could instantly detect it and immediately take countermeasures.

Besides.

Zhu Chen also felt a significant improvement in his physical strength.

Even without using any special techniques, he can suppress ordinary late-stage Venerable cultivators with just his physical body.

"--call!"

Zhu Chen stood up, runes flowing naturally around his body, surrounded by crimson clouds.

A powerful aura emanated from it uncontrollably.

He pushed open the heavy stone door to the secret chamber and stepped out.

"--boom!"

The moment he stepped out of the secret room.

An invisible pressure suddenly emanated from him, spreading out like ripples on water, instantly enveloping the entire capital of the Fire Kingdom.

This was not intentional on his part, but rather a result of his recent breakthrough and the surge of power, which he was unable to fully control at that moment.

However, this aura was no less than a terrifying storm to the cultivators inside and outside the capital!

...(End of chapter)