The Days of Being Forced to Become the Savior of a Cultivation Civilization

A chill suddenly crept into Zhiyue's eyes, his imposing aura so overwhelming that it was impossible to look him directly in the eye. His eyes revealed a complex mix of emotions: nostalgia, resentment, anger, and above all, sorrow.

Qian Xintong scratched his head: "Didn't you say your name was Zhiyue?"

Zhiyue nodded: "Kunling is my birth name, given to me by my parents. Zhiyue is the new name I gave myself after I came here."

Sometime later, the child's eyes had become vacant, and in a daze, the face of the man in front of him overlapped with the face of another boy in his memory—

"Have you heard? Kun Ziying's nephew, Shuang Yue's son, reportedly killed a three-meter-long Yuan Beast Serpent all by himself just a couple of days ago!"

"Huh? Really? How old is this child? He's just turned four. I wasn't even that bright when I was four."

"You should be content. So many people never become rebels in their entire lives. What can they compare to this monster?"

"Oh my, Kunling, Kunling, you truly have the aura to soar to the heavens!"

At that time, the child's reputation soared, and gradually everyone knew that another genius had emerged from the Yu Wang lineage. Everyone looked forward to his growth, while those within the Kun family hoped that he could restore the Kun family's glory. Ever since the disaster that nearly destroyed the Kun family, the Kun family had been waiting for the day to return to the pinnacle of Pangde for far too long, and now was the best opportunity.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Elder, the Mortel family has swallowed up several of our strongholds; we had no chance to react at all. I think we..."

An elderly man waved his hand, his gaze deep and thoughtful:

"No need to say anything more, I understand. I had already guessed that someone was interfering, but... I just need the right opportunity."

……

"Reporting, sir!"

A soldier, tears streaming down his face, knelt on the ground and reported tremblingly to Kun Ziying:

"Shuangyue Caidu... has perished."

Kun Ziying's pupils contracted sharply, but he quickly regained his composure and helped the collapsing warrior to his feet.

"Don't panic, we'll... turn the tables and find the traitor!"

……

"Really? What a load of rubbish! Shuangyue Caidu is dead? The probability of that is even smaller than if I were resurrected and captured by the three demons of the Qian family and enslaved the next second."

"It's true! Elder Kunziying confirmed it himself, and the obituary has already been posted—and don't spread such rumors."

"Holy crap, they're really dead! Without those two pillars of strength, the Kun family is finished..."

"Hey, don't rush me. I have some inside information. Apparently, they've actually betrayed us!"

"...Don't make me laugh. They could tear the entire Kun family apart anytime they wanted. Tell me, what motive would they have for betraying us?"

"Hey, that's narrow-minded. No matter how strong they are, their son is only ten years old."

"You mean... Kunling kid?"

"No way, the Yu Wang lineage has a deep foundation, and Elder Kun Ziying is on good terms with them. They wouldn't sell out their family for this."

"Well, that's hard to say. Look at that little devil, he's like a human beast. He's only been cultivating for a few years, and now he can already hold his own against some elders. How could he be short of precious natural treasures? Maybe the Kun family really can't afford to support him."

Besides, Ling Shuang wasn't originally a member of the Kun family.

"Hiss, even if you say that..."

"Oh, let me finish. The two of them went to the Empire to discuss things, but they were betrayed by the Mortel family and even bit back, causing them considerable losses. It's said that they destroyed several cities, so they did do something good."

"Serves him right. A traitor will be betrayed in the end. He deserves it."

"Unbelievable, someone from the Mortel family can defeat two Qi Condensation Realm cultivators at the same time."

"It's hard to say. Maybe they're hiding a big shot, or maybe they're using some underhanded tricks."

"But they're all dead. Who in the Kun family can shoulder the responsibility now?"

"Come on, this isn't something we should be discussing. No matter how rich or powerful the Kun family is, what does it have to do with us ordinary people who aren't even rebels?"

"I still can't quite believe it. They protected the Kun family for hundreds of years, and no one in the entire Pangde Continent dared to invade them, yet they just died like that..."

"I already said it's just hearsay, just take it with a grain of salt..."

……

"Child, I am so sorry for your parents' deaths."

"You don't need to apologize. After all, it was your brother and sister-in-law who died."

A young man replied calmly.

"Son, I hope you understand my intentions. In this city, some people are eyeing your parents' resources, and they're also eyeing you. You must leave for a while and lay low for a bit."

"I understand. But Uncle, there's something I want to make clear. My parents, they didn't die in vain, did they?"

The withered old man, his face contorted with pain and sorrow, choked out:

"...Yes, that's right, your parents, they did not sacrifice in vain."

……

"Take this with you. It's a Void Condensation Treasure, an ancestral heirloom of the Yu King lineage. Your father left it to me before he passed away, instructing me to pass it on to you. It can serve as your travel bag. I've had it packed with plenty of water, food, and other necessities—enough to last you for quite some time. Remember its name..."

"Yes, thank you, Uncle."

"You are only ten years old. This desert is vast, so it's best not to venture too deep. Just linger and train on the edge. I can bring you back in a few months and clear your parents' names."

"It's okay, I can take care of myself."

The boy smiled, his eyes filled with unwavering determination, gazing into the distance deep in the desert, as if he had made up his mind.

"I have great confidence in your abilities. Go, child. This is also a part of your growth. Only through brutal real combat can you truly hone your powerful fighting skills."

The child said nothing more and turned to leave.

……

"Still haven't found it?"

"Reporting to the elder, we have searched all the villages around the desert, and even the deeper parts, but we have not found any trace of Young Master Ling."

"...Next time, send more men into the depths of the desolate desert to find the remains of a boy... to retrieve them for identification and confirmation of identity."

……

"My lord, this is the summary report of the third in-depth exploration in the eighth year. To date, we have explored 70% of the solitary desert area. No traces of villages around the desert have been found, and no human settlements have been found deep in the desert. The remains of three teenagers have been found, all of whom were lost children from nearby villages."

The old man was melancholy:

"Eight years have passed, and we still have no clue..."

"Sir, when will we organize the fourth operation of the year?"

"Forget it, there's no need to organize anything this year... no, there's no need to organize anything in the future. So much time has passed, if he were still alive and wanted to return to the Kun family, he would have come to see me long ago. However, this desert is dangerous, how many people can survive for long, let alone a teenager?"

The old man stood up:

"Pass down the order to ensure the smooth running of this conference. This conference is of paramount importance. Whether our Kun family can regain its former glory, or rather, whether we can survive, all depends on this conference."

……

Xiao Kunziying suddenly came to her senses and covered her forehead:

"bead……"

Xiao Kunziying rubbed his forehead, his voice barely audible.