Chapter 1344 — Chapter 1344 Defeating Giant Emperor Kulas

Yuan ignored the notifications and approached Giant Emperor Kulas.

"That was an exceptional battle, Giant Emperor. Thanks to you, I now have a clear understanding of my current strength." Yuan extended his hand, offering a handshake with a sincere smile on his face.

Giant Emperor Kulas gripped Yuan's hand firmly and expressed, "I had hoped to finally defeat you this time, but alas..."

Even though he played a significant role in aiding Yuan's achievement of the Golden Immortal Physique, the primary factor in his victory, Giant Emperor Kulas held no regrets and would even do it again if he went back in time.

"I look forward to the wedding," Giant Emperor Kulas suddenly uttered some puzzling words.

"Huh?" Yuan had a dumbfounded look on his face.

"You defeated me, so it's only natural that you will be marrying my daughter. It was part of the tournament's reward, too." Giant Emperor Kulas explained shamelessly.

"That's…" Yuan didn't know how to respond to such words.

"Hahah! I am joking. Here is your real reward."

Giant Emperor Kulas retrieved a glowing orb of light from his body and offered it to Yuan.

"Thank you."

Yuan accepted the orb of light with a calm demeanor, as this wasn't his first or second time receiving such a reward.

The moment he touched the orb of light, it flew into his body, merging with his soul.

Memories immediately began flashing inside his head.

Yuan quickly sat down and began meditating to absorb the memories.

Giant Emperor Kulas silently sat in front of Yuan and stared at him with a profound gaze.

Sometime later, Yuan opened his eyes which had been flowing with tears for a while now.

"That was…"

"That's the real history of events on 'Giant's Continent,' Tian Yang," Giant Emperor Kulas spoke in a solemn tone.

"But that's… no… it can't be…" Yuan was on the verge of a breakdown after remembering what he'd truly experienced on Giant's Continent.

Though he had been aware that the events depicted by the Stairway to Heaven were not true, he never anticipated the stark contrast between its narrative and the actual reality.

"What you experienced in the trial isn't a recounting of real events—it's a manifestation of what Tian Yang wished had transpired instead," Giant Emperor Kulas sighed, confirming his thoughts.

"..."

Yuan went silent, unsure of how he should respond.

"What transpired in the past is behind us. There's no merit in dwelling on those events now, much less beating yourself over it." Giant Emperor Kulas advised as he stood back on his feet.

"I'm sorry," Yuan uttered in a low voice.

"Don't be. I'm grateful for the opportunity to engage in battle with you once more, even if I am but a mere construct of the past," reassured Giant Emperor Kulas with a sense of gratitude.

"I'll see you later, my rival and my good friend," uttered Giant Emperor Kulas as his figure gradually faded into thin air.

Soon, Yuan found himself back in the Stairway to Heaven.

"Congratulations on completing the first trial, Master. Despite my efforts to heighten the difficulty, you navigated through it with remarkable ease. I am truly in awe," commended Tian'er.

"Would you like to start the next trial immediately? You have 6 hours to recover your energy before the next trial begins."

"I will take a break…" Yuan responded in a low voice.

"I understand."

"Wait, can you do something for me?"

"As long as it doesn't break any rules!" she nodded.

Meanwhile, inside the spectators' room, Xi Meili and the others were still trying to calm down after witnessing Yuan's trial.

"His fight with the Giant Emperor was extraordinary! Even I had trouble keeping up with their speed!" Xi Meili sighed with a clear sense of admiration in her tone.

"I couldn't see anything…" Chu Liuxiang sighed in a dejected manner.

"I didn't see anything either." Meixiu tried to comfort her.

"Yuan's gotten a lot stronger. I cannot wait to fight him again." Li Jinxi muttered.

"I wonder why Brother Yuan cried at the end…" Xiao Hua suddenly said.

"I have never seen him like that before, either." Meixiu shook her head.

"I have."

"Eh?"

Everyone in the room turned to look at Chu Liuxiang, who had just spoken.

"This incident occurred during our time in the orphanage. Yuan had formed a close bond with a stray dog that frequently visited us. However, after several weeks of companionship, the dog abruptly ceased to appear. It was later discovered that the dog had been struck by a car. When Yuan learned of the dog's demise, he wept in a manner reminiscent of what you just witnessed," Chu Liuxiang narrated, recounting a poignant memory from their past.

"These trials help him regain his memories of the past, right? He has likely recollected the loss of someone dear to him," she sighed.

Shortly after the room became silent, Tian'er appeared before them and said, "Which one of you is Chu Liuxiang?"

"That would be me." Chu Liuxiang raised her hand.

Without offering any additional explanation, Tian'er flicked her sleeves, causing Chu Liuxiang to vanish from the room.

The next moment, Chu Lixuiang found herself standing before Yuan.

"Yuan?" she subconsciously called for him.

Yuan remained silent, and without uttering a word, he suddenly enveloped Chu Liuxiang in a tight embrace.

Chu Liuxiang couldn't see Yuan's face at that moment, but it bore an expression filled with unwavering determination.

"Eh?!"

His puzzling actions startled her.

"I'm sorry... I promised to protect you, and I couldn't keep that promise..." Yuan whispered in a sorrowful voice, expressing regret and vulnerability.

Chu Liuxiang found herself rendered speechless by his actions, but she refrained from saying anything and instead embraced him back in a comforting silence.

"This time… I will protect you this time for sure…" Yuan continued.

Chu Liuxiang couldn't see Yuan's face at that moment, but it bore an expression filled with unwavering determination.

Eventually, Yuan released Chu Liuxiang and said to her, "I'm sorry if that troubled you. I couldn't help myself."

"Don't worry about it. Though, I hope you could give me an explanation in the future if you are comfortable with it." Chu Liuxiang chuckled.

"I will tell you everything later, I promise." Yuan agreed.

Tian'er sent Chu Liuxiang back to the spectators' room a moment later.

The others bombarded Chu Liuxiang with questions when she returned.

"I had a small talk with Yuan, that's all," she said, keeping the details out of it.

The others could tell that she was purposefully avoiding the details, but respecting her silence, they refrained from pressing further with their inquiries, concluding the questioning there.

Meanwhile, Yuan dedicated the next six hours to calming his mind, seeking solace and clarity amid his thoughts.

Dual Cultivation Prequel