Chapter 2209 — Chapter 2209 Meeting the Asura Clan(2)

While Yuan waited for the Patriarch of the Asura Clan to finish with his business, he recalled Tian Xian's past with them.

After avenging Xiu Mei's death, Tian Xian did not stop his rampage. Since the Celestial Emperor was the true reason behind Xiu Mei's assassination, he swore that he would not stop until he killed the Celestial Emperor.

Aware of Tian Xian's desire for his life, the Celestial Emperor had no choice but to dispatch the Asura Clan—his strongest allies at the time—to confront him.

Before the Asura Clan betrayed the Celestial Emperor and joined Tian Xian's side, they were the most powerful family in the Divine Heavens with influence that surpassed even the Celestial Family.

However, as powerful as they were, they still obeyed the Celestial Emperor. While most people swore their loyalty to the Celestial Emperor out of fear or desire, the Asura Clan assisted the Celestial Emperor mostly because their ancestor, their first Patriarch, Xiao Xin, was a close friend of the Celestial Emperor.

At the Celestial Emperor's orders, the Asura Clan sent elite warriors to deal with Tian Xian, but alas, not even they were able to stop Tian Xian. If anything, it ignited his fury and onslaught even further.

When even their most seasoned warriors failed to halt Tian Xian's rampage, Xiao Xin commanded his son, Xiao Cangming, and his daughter-in-law, Fei Zhen'er, to confront him.

Xiao Cangming and Fei Zhen'er were the most powerful in the Asura Clan, only slightly weaker than Xiao Xin himself individually. Together, not only were they stronger than Xiao Xin, but they would even be able to give the Celestial Emperor a fair fight.

With such a powerful combo going after Tian Xian, everyone figured that it was only a matter of time before Tian Xian took his last breath.

Yet, after Xiao Cangming and Fei Zhen'er finally clashed with Tian Xian, the outcome sent ripples of shock throughout the entire cultivation world.

Not only did they fail to defeat Tian Xian, but the battle also claimed the life of Fei Zhen'er. Her death struck Xiao Cangming especially hard, as he had opposed his father's decision to aid the Celestial Emperor from the start, and he had never wanted Fei Zhen'er to be involved.

Many expected Xiao Cangming to pursue Tian Xian—the murderer of his wife—just as Tian Xian had once hunted Supreme General Mo for slaying Xiu Mei. Yet, to everyone's shock, Xiao Cangming turned his fury and blade not toward Tian Xian, but toward his own father, Xiao Xin.

After killing his own father, Xiao Cangming turned his attention to the Celestial Emperor, who was baffled and enraged by this betrayal.

After a series of fateful encounters, Tian Xian and the Asura Clan eventually began working together. Naturally, their relationship was strained at first—after all, Tian Xian had slain Fei Zhen'er. Yet, as time passed and their cooperation deepened, the hostility between them slowly began to fade.

In time, Xiao Cangming came to forgive Tian Xian completely. However, Xiao Cangming had two daughters with Fei Zhen'er, and they still hated Tian Xian even after their father forgave him. Although they, too, would eventually come to forgive Tian Xian, it would take much longer, especially the youngest daughter.

A few days after Yuan began delving into Tian Xian's memories, Xiao Cangming—who had been calmly cultivating atop the lake—suddenly opened his eyes and unleashed a deafening roar that shook the entire world. Snapping out of his trance, Yuan quickly assessed the scene: Xiao Cangming, once serene, now writhed in agony, veins bulging across his face and body.

"Meilin, is this normal?!" Yuan turned to look at her for answers.

"Yes, it's normal," she calmly responded. "He'll be done in a few minutes."

Witnessing her calmness—even nonchalance, Yuan quickly calmed down, and he continued to analyze Xiao Cangming's state.

As time passed, blood started bleeding from Xiao Cangming's eyes, nose, and ears. 'He looks poisoned, but it cannot be something that simple… A curse, perhaps?' Yuan tried figuring out Xiao Cangming's condition but came up empty-handed.

A few minutes later, Xiao Cangming slowly calmed down, just as Xiao Meilin said.

After splashing his face with the cool water below, Xiao Cangming rose from the pond in a single motion, landing before Yuan with effortless grace.

"Thank you for waiting, my lord. How long has it been since we last met?"

"I'm not sure, since I have yet to restore all of my memories," Yuan shrugged.

"Is that so… Well, the last time you visited, you were called Tian Yi."

"Tian Yi…? The Immortal Monarch?" Yuan was surprised to learn that he'd visited the Asura Clan as the Immortal Monarch.

"That was several eras ago—at least a hundred million years."

"In that case, it's definitely been a while. Anyway, let's return to my residence first. We have a lot to talk about, after all."

"Alright."

Yuan followed Xiao Cangming back to the Asura Clan's residence.

As Yuan, Xiao Cangming, and Xiao Meilin entered the room, Xiao Chen escorted Mu Xuelian to the guest room to relax.

Once they were seated, Xiao Cangming looked at Yuan and asked, "Where do we begin?"

"Why don't we start with your condition? Are you poisoned? Cursed? Even though Xiao Meilin has managed to reach the peak of God Ascension, you, on the other hand…" Yuan said.

Unlike Xiao Meilin, Xiao Cangming's cultivation was only at the first level of God Ascension—far weaker than before he entered the Primordial Realm. Rather than advancing, his cultivation had actually regressed.

"My condition is neither poison nor a curse. It's something akin to an illness," said Xiao Cangming.

"What?" Yuan raised his eyebrows in a puzzled manner. "An illness? I don't recall you ever being sick."

"Well, it started after your last visit. More specifically, after I started growing the Spirit Tree," he explained.

"The Spirit Tree? You grew it? I thought it was something that originated from the Primordial Realm."

Xiao Cangming shook his head and said, "No, it was entrusted to me by Tian Yi—by you during your last visit."

"What?!" Yuan exclaimed at this revelation.