The night, clung to the grass as Xiao Yan walked alone to his mother's grave. The stone was simple, its carvings worn smooth by weather and time. He knelt, fingers brushing the cold surface, and let the silence settle deep into his bones. This place had always been both a wound and a refuge.
Xiao Zhan's footsteps crunched softly on the gravel path. He approached without intrusion, speaking in the same low, steady tone from the original story. The words — advice, apology, and quiet pride — carried the same weight they always had, a father acknowledging his son's burden and his path ahead.
When Xiao Zhan left, the wind stirred, and a faint ripple of energy passed through the air. From the empty space behind the grave, Yao Lao's figure emerged. The conversation between master and student unfolded just as it had in the true tale — the calm guidance, the probing questions, the seed of resolve planted for the years to come.
But outside the Xiao Clan, another story was playing out.
For two months, Tianzun's ten Dou Ling–level shadow guards had watched the clan from the unseen edges, their vigilance unbroken. On this day, Ling Ying was returning after a long absence. Xun'er had sent him away so she could spend uninterrupted time with Tianzun, but before leaving, Ling Ying had hesitated — only relenting when he saw her aura glowing with golden light. Before departing, he pressed a jade talisman into her hand. "Crush it," he had said, "and I will come."
Ling Ying never strayed beyond the Jia Ma Empire. He spent his time gathering intelligence, and eventually decided to report back to the Gu Clan. After delivering his report, he turned toward Xiao Clan — but as he neared its outskirts, he sensed multiple presences in the shadows.
Dou Ling warriors.
They sensed him as well. Neither party knew the other's intent, and tension thickened until, without warning, the fight began. Ling Ying's strength as a Dou Huang was undeniable, but the ten shadow guards fought with precision and discipline, forcing him to respect their resolve even as they failed to overpower him.
From within the Xiao Clan, Tianzun had already felt the clash. He did not intervene at once — instead, he observed, gauging the guards' willingness to sacrifice themselves. Satisfied, he donned a black robe, activated a power burst card, and surged to Dou Zong level.
He appeared before the shadow guards just as Ling Ying unleashed a powerful strike, dissolving the attack into nothingness. The guards immediately dropped to one knee in silent recognition. Ling Ying, startled, prepared to unleash his full strength — but stopped when Tianzun spoke his name.
"Ling Ying. Enough."
Shock flickered in Ling Ying's eyes. No one outside his clan knew that name. Tianzun's low chuckle followed. "Is the Gu Clan so eager to strike? Do you think the Xiao Clan is as weak as it appears?"
The exchange ended without further escalation. Tianzun explained that the shadow guards were his, placed to protect the Xiao Clan. Ling Ying, still wary but respectful, withdrew.
When he returned to Xun'er, her expression was calm but questioning. "I sensed powerful cultivators. What happened?"
Ling Ying recounted everything, including his brief return to the Gu Clan. She listened without interruption, then asked softly, "Did you speak of me and Tianzun?"
His silence was answer enough. Xun'er's gaze lingered toward the distance. "He's becoming more mysterious."
And somewhere in the shadows, Tianzun smiled.