From the future mories of the Martial Sanctuary, Igaris already knew of several hidden prodigies—individuals whose greatness had not yet awakened in this tiline. Their talents lay dormant, buried beneath years of obscurity and doubt.
And one of them was Ren Wen.
That was why Igaris had co to this place. To et the boy before fate could bury him beneath diocrity. To recruit him, mold him, and ignite the spark before it was too late.
But Igaris had not co alone.
Beside him walked Evernight, tall and resplendent even in the plainest of robes. She had donned a simple gray garb to suppress her overwhelming beauty, yet her elegance could not be hidden. Her face remained partly concealed beneath a soft hood, but the poise of her steps and the delicate outline of her figure betrayed a beauty so radiant that even restraint could not veil it.
As they passed through the training ground, heads turned.
Whispers filled the air.
"That woman... is she with the Dao Child too?"
"But didn’t he just appear with Senior Sister Tian Yue yesterday?"
"So fast? Truly a womanizer!"
"Unforgivable. He already has one goddess, now he’s collecting another?"
Envy and jealousy churned beneath hushed voices. They could not deny Igaris’ aura, nor Evernight’s mystique. Yet their pride and bitterness forced them to twist admiration into suspicion.
Igaris heard their murmurs, but his expression did not change. His steps remained calm, his gaze unwavering as he walked toward his target.
Evernight, walking beside him, narrowed her eyes slightly. She heard the crowd as well, and her lip curled in disdain.
"Pathetic," she whispered. "These mortals understand nothing of loyalty or bonds."
"Leave them be," Igaris replied softly, as if speaking to the wind. "Their opinions don’t matter."
Then, his eyes locked on Ren Wen.
The boy was drenched in sweat, his fists cracked and bleeding from relentless training. Others had stopped. He had not. In that stubbornness, Igaris saw the seed of greatness.
And today, he would nurture it.
"Da–Dao Child, do you need sothing from ?" Ren Wen asked, his voice trembling as he fumbled for composure.
Igaris gave a slow nod and extended his hand.
"Yes. I want you, Ren. I want you to beco my loyal follower—my sword. Together, we will build a better world."
Gasps echoed throughout the training ground like ripples on a pond disturbed.
"What? Did I hear that right? The Dao Child wants him? That useless loser?"
"Impossible! Why would he choose Ren Wen? There are many of us far stronger and more talented."
"Yeah. This Dao Child must be out of his mind," sneered another voice. "And to think people believe he’s our future leader. What a joke."
The last remark ca from a young man with a bobcut and a crooked face, his tone heavy with disdain.
But before the poison of his words could spread further—
Boom!
Evernight moved. Her eyes narrowed in contempt, and with a flick of her hand, the Chains of Judgnt slithered through the air like serpents.
Bang!
The chain cracked against the mocker’s body with rciless force.
Awooh!
He scread, a shrill howl of agony, before his body slamd into a stone wall nearby. Blood spurted from his lips as he collapsed, unmoving.
Silence fell.
"Ruthless... she’s so ruthless!"
"And terrifyingly strong!"
The crowd recoiled in fear, scattering like frightened rats as Evernight stood motionless, her expression cold.
"I have no tolerance for worms who dare bark at lions," she said with icy disdain.
Ren Wen, still frozen, looked from Evernight’s smoldering eyes to Igaris’ calm face.
"Dao Child... are you sure? I—I’m nothing special," he muttered nervously, unsure why the Dao Child chosen him.
"No need to get nervous, Ren. I can see your potential. One day you will be a great Martial Warrior," Igaris said, his voice resolute. "What you are now is not what you will beco. Follow , and I will show you your worth."
Ren Wen stood still, breath caught in his throat. The words echoed inside him like a bell tolling across a silent plain.
"Follow , and I will show you your worth."
He looked down at his calloused hands — hands that had known only rejection, ridicule, and failure. He had dread of strength, longed for recognition, but he was always told he had no talent. No future. He was destined to remain in the shadows of greater n.
Yet now, the very Dao Child — the one prophesied to stand at the peak of the Martial World — was offering him a hand. Not out of pity. Not out of obligation. But with belief. Genuine, unshakable belief.
His lips quivered. His knees threatened to give way.
But he stood firm.
With both hands, he grabbed Igaris’ outstretched palm and knelt.
"I—I don’t know if I am worthy. But if you truly believe in ... then I will follow you. I will beco your sword, your shield. No matter what the world says... I will walk your path."
Igaris nodded, flashing a satisfied smile. "Good. Then rise, Ren Wen. From today onward, you are no longer a forgotten disciple. You are one of my pillars upcoming legacy."
A hush fell over the training ground.
Even those who had mocked and sneered found themselves strangely subdued. The boy they thought worthless... had been chosen.
And suddenly, the air around him felt different.
It was not that Ren Wen had changed.
It was that Igaris’ words had changed how the world would now see him.
---
"Yuhan!"
Just as the trio was heading toward another training ground, an enraged voice echoed from their left.
They turned to see a handso young man approaching with a spear in hand and hostility in his eyes.
Igaris could not imdiately recall who he was, though sothing about him felt vaguely familiar.
It was Wei Zixuan, his supposed love rival. But Igaris had already forgotten such a man. Still, perhaps the ti had co to teach him a lesson. One that he would never forget.
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