The ocean of knowledge is endless- its depth is beyond imagination.
Life cannot be understood without knowledge, for life is the greatest miracle of this world. Knowledge and life are interconnected, both dependent on each other. It is nature's most wonderful creation, an endless cycle of discovery and existence.
**A Quiet Morning in the Garden**
The morning sun rose in the clear blue sky, a dazzling mix of red and orange, and spread its warm glow across the garden. A delicate curtain of white mist flowed in the air, bringing peace all around. On the side of a small hill, a lush garden was blooming, full of greenery. It also had a small pond, the water of which was transparent and clear. Tall trees stood proudly, their leaves like deep emeralds, while flower beds were full of colorful flowers, whose sweet scent wafted in the air.
Near the top of the hill stood a beautiful cherry tree, its branches laden with delicate pink flowers. The tree trunk, weather-damaged and dark brown, was showing the marks of time. Under its spreading canopy lay a smooth black stone chair, on which a lone boy sat in quiet contemplation.
Lost in thought, he remained still until the cheerful chirping of birds woke him up. Their melodies flowed like a gentle symphony in the morning air, drawing him out of his reverie. His gaze moved towards the horizon, where the red sun was rising, colouring the vast sky in shades of fire and gold. Its divine light was spreading to the earth, giving consciousness to life in the world below.
Tang Zhiyuan sat alone in the garden, the warmth of the sun seeping into his skin. Strands of mist swirled around him, lending an ethereal beauty to the scene. The rising sun, a breathtaking spectacle against the blue expanse, was a testament to nature's unrivalled grandeur. Bits of white clouds drifted lazily by, completing the serene picture of the morning.
As Tang Zhiyuan looked up, the sunlight fell into his alluring deep blue eyes, causing a golden glow to sparkle within them. If anyone had witnessed this moment, they would have been surprised at the rare peace that pervaded his face - a peace that seemed almost otherworldly.
Dressed in delicate royal clothes of blue and white, he was a handsome man. His jet-black hair, smooth as silk, framed his face, enhancing his already attractive features even more. Renowned as the most handsome young man in the city, his beauty was the subject of both admiration and envy. His muscular body exuded strength, and his fair skin seemed to glow under the gentle touch of the sun's rays.
The dawn had now fully arrived, sweeping away the last remnants of the night's cold and darkness. In its place, warmth and light reigned, promising a new day full of possibilities.
Tang Zhiyuan had a round black stone table beside him, with clay pots filled with fragrant beverages arranged on its smooth surface. He picked up the kettle and poured the steaming liquid into a nearby cup, enjoying its warmth as he drank. A wave of refreshing energy rushed through him, as if the essence of the beverage itself brightened his day. He sighed in deep appreciation—this medicinal tea carefully prepared by the Tang Sect elders was truly extraordinary.
His mind drifted into the past. Since his childhood, he had consumed this tea, a tradition that was linked to the extraordinary world in which he lived - a world where evolution reigned supreme. Here, every being, no matter how small, could develop power, harness the energy of heaven and earth, and rise to greatness. Yet to him, such a path seemed impossible. He lacked the spiritual veins needed to absorb the energy, and without them, he could never break free of his mortal constraints to become a great sage.
The thought weighed heavily on his mind. At sixteen, his peers had already embarked on their journeys toward immortality, striving to transcend earthly limitations. Meanwhile, he remained stagnant, mocked since childhood as a "useless boy" - some people pitied him, others ridiculed him.
He took another sip of tea, the bitterness lingering on his tongue. "If only I could cultivate," he whispered to himself. "I wish I could become a great saint."
Outside, the morning sun was steadily climbing into the blue sky, painting the garden in golden light. Drops of dew glittered like pearls scattered on the emerald grass, while droplets slid off the leaves, spreading a sense of calm in the air. Yet the calm was fleeting.
Nearby, another group of tall bushes stood against the sky, their old leaves having fallen off and new ones beginning to grow. Tang Zhiyuan was lost in thought when suddenly there was a shrill sound of a wooden twig breaking from the dry bushes. His ears perked up, his body tensed. In one swift movement, he stood up from the stone chair, his eyes fixed on the rustling bushes.
"Who is it?" he called out. "Come out. Stop hiding behind those bushes."
The rustling grew louder, a dry symphony of shaking branches, as a few yellow leaves fell to the ground. Then, two figures emerged from behind the bushes, their presence almost radiant against the silent surroundings. Both were slender, dressed in gorgeous royal attire, their fair complexions glowing in the soft sunlight. One had blonde hair that accentuated his aristocratic demeanor, while the other had black hair that gave his face a charming glow. They looked like princes from a noble family.
Tang Zhiyuan was calm on the outside, though surprise was evident behind his calm demeanor.
"So, it's you," he said in his balanced voice. "Were you spying on me?"
One of the boys, Zhang Boya, replied coolly, "No, your highness." Both boys were remarkably calm and playful. The blonde-haired young man's name was Zhang Haotian, while the other was Zhang Boya, his cousin. Both were from a royal lineage.
In Star Dragon City, two powerful sects dominated—the Tang Sect and the Zhang Sect. These boys were members of the Zhang Sect, while Tang Zhiyuan was from the Tang Sect.
Zhang Boya looked at Tang Zhiyuan and furrowed his brow. "What are you doing in this garden so late?"
Tang Zhiyuan sighed, his gaze roaming the sunlit leaves around them. "I come here to find peace. I often do." Golden light radiated through the trees, casting a calm glow over the garden, wrapping everything in a tranquil aura.
Zhang Boya sneered. "There can never be peace in this chaotic world. How can someone like you—an inferior person—hope to find it?"
The words hit Tang Zhiyuan like a physical blow. The warmth of the garden seemed to be gone, the once soothing atmosphere turning to despair. The same dark thoughts invaded his mind again, relentless and stifling.
Still, he knew that the two men had already embarked on the path of sainthood. They had broken their shackles, progressed beyond the initial stages of cultivation.
Nearby, Zhang Haotian observed them quietly. His enhanced senses, alert to the subtlest fluctuations of energy, enabled him to sense the turmoil within Tang Zhiyuan's mind. Having reached the fifth level of Core Raising, he understood the uneasiness well. A strange, smile appeared on his lips.
Tang Zhiyuan observed them cautiously and asked, "What are you two doing in the garden so early in the morning?"
Zhang Haotian replied with a smile, "Is this garden your father's property? Anyone can come here."
Tang Zhiyuan was surprised by this answer, and he had not expected such an answer. Despite his refined appearance, Zhang Haotian was arrogant, flaunting his power and the influence of the Zhang Sect. He never spoke to anyone with respect, treating ordinary humans as beneath him.
Still, Tang Zhiyuan forced himself to stay calm. He knew it was useless to argue with such people, and decided not to ruin his morning.
After so many taunts, the boys tried to provoke him even more, to make him believe that he was a worthless piece of trash. They knew he belonged to a powerful sect, yet today, he was standing alone in the garden - without any allies who could save him. So this was their best chance.
The hostility between the Tang Sect and the Zhang Sect was no secret; tensions constantly boiled over, whether between the elders or their disciples. Tang Zhiyuan understood this well. Yet, these two deliberately teased him, knowing full well that his father was the king of Star Dragon City. The Tang Dynasty ruled the Sky River Province, a region within the vast Azure Twilight Continent, and their descendants held sway over the entire region.
The quiet morning air thickened with hostility, sparks flaring up in the atmosphere. At any moment, violence could break out. A devilish smile played on the lips of the two young men, as if they had come to settle a long-standing grudge.
Tang Zhiyuan's voice was cold. "Aren't you afraid of the consequences of your words?"
Zhang Haotian interrupted him sarcastically. "And what 'wrong' are we saying, Your Majesty? If we don't call trash trash, should we call the king trash?"
Every word was like a dagger at Tang Zhiyuan's pride, wielded by an invisible hand, cutting deep into his heart.
A clash of anger and power.
Before, they had mocked him, but now their mockery extended to his family—even his father. The insults stirred up anger within him, so fierce that he wanted to strike them down. But then, the crushing weight of his own inadequacy returned: "He was worthless, useless – nothing but trash.
Yet, he had crossed every boundary.
Unable to control his anger, he threw a kettle – still full of boiling liquid – straight at Zhang Haotian and Zhang Boya. The pot flew into the air, but in an instant, Zhang Boya reacted. With a single, instinctive flick of his hand, he moved the kettle, causing it to fall to one side without causing any damage.
Now, their eyes were burning with anger.
Both men prepared themselves, their power growing. Zhang Haotian's body was enveloped in a light mist, energy emanating from within him. His fists were clenched tight, and red flames burst out around him. Moving faster than sight, he closed the distance in an instant – his fist slammed into Tang Ziyuan's chest.
The impact was devastating. Tang Ziyuan He stumbled, his breathing ragged. A moment later, blood trickled from his lips and his legs faltered. Consciousness teetered on the edge of oblivion.
Then, without warning, a figure in black appeared. Its speed was incomprehensible. Before Zhang Haotian could react, the stranger attacked - a single, brutal slap across his face.
The force was monstrous. Blood spurted from Zhang Haotian's mouth and he stumbled, stunned and knocked down by the slap.
All of this unfolded in the span of a heartbeat.
The black-clothed man suddenly grabbed Tang Zhiyuan, preventing him from falling. Zhang Boya was stunned by his sudden appearance, while Zhang Haotian fell to the ground, blood oozing from his lips. Everything happened so fast that no one could comprehend what had just happened.
Zhang Boya froze, his body trembling as if he had seen a ghost. Zhang Haotian tried to stand on his feet, but he stumbled unsteadily, causing Zhang Boya to step forward and support him. Both men turned pale upon seeing the black-clothed man. The man's cold gaze fell on them, and an invisible force pressed down on them - causing them to be unable to stand. They fell to the hard ground, their breathing ragged, heartbeats irregular, bodies trembling with fear.
Ignoring them, the man laid Tang Zhiyuan down beside the tree and took his left hand and poured pure qi into it, checking for injuries. Finding no major damage, he sighed in relief, taking out a small white bottle with a blue lid from his storage ring. When he opened it, a sweet scent filled the air. Inside were several purple pills, which he poured into Tang Zhiyuan's open mouth. As the pill went down his throat, the divine medicinal pills took effect, miraculously restoring his energy in no time. His eyelids fluttered, and his blurry vision focused on the man holding him.
"Fu... Ling..." he murmured, the name bringing him back to full consciousness.
Fu Ling - the Third Elder of the Tang Sect - looked no older than thirty, his fair skin almost glowing in the sunlight, giving him an ethereal, godlike aura.
"Are you okay, young master?" Fu Ling asked.
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