It had been thirty years since Li Yuan ascended, and yet his name still carried weight in every corner of the continent. To some, he was a legend, a savior who changed the fates of countless mortals. To others, he was a dangerous anomaly, a man who disrupted the natural order and then abandoned the world.
But one thing was undeniable—
his disciples had become titans.
---
The Emperor of Dawn
The imperial city of Wei Yun was unlike any other, its walls inscribed with glowing qi patterns that kept enemies at bay. At the heart of the throne room sat Wei Long, the Emperor-disciple, now a man in his fifties, yet he looked barely thirty thanks to his cultivation.
Dressed in regal golden robes, his calm eyes scanned the room as ministers knelt before him.
> "Your Majesty, rumors are spreading again," a minister said nervously.
"They claim Master Li Yuan ascended only through luck, that his teachings were flawed. Some sects are gathering to denounce him publicly."
The temperature in the hall dropped. Wei Long's voice remained soft, but there was steel beneath it.
"Prepare the army."
The ministers gasped.
> "But, Your Majesty—these are sects, not kingdoms…"
Wei Long's golden qi flared like a rising sun.
"Any who dare insult my master are enemies of the empire. Root them out."
The ministers bowed deeply, not daring to argue.
As they left, Wei Long stood by the throne window, gazing at the horizon.
"Master… wherever you are, I will not let your name be dirtied."
---
The Sword That Cuts Heaven
Far to the east, Ye Chen, the Swordman-disciple, stood alone atop a dueling platform surrounded by thousands. His long black hair whipped in the wind, his sword glowing faintly blue.
Across from him knelt the sect leader of the Azure Peak Sect, defeated and trembling.
> "Y-You dare challenge me just because of rumors?!" the sect leader spat blood.
"Li Yuan isn't a god. He was just—"
Ye Chen's sword sliced through the air, cutting the man's words off—literally. The sect leader's weapon shattered before him, and Ye Chen's cold eyes burned like stars.
"Say my master's name with respect, or say nothing at all."
The crowd roared, chanting his name as he turned and leapt into the sky, vanishing like a blade through clouds.
---
The Farmer's Quiet Power
In the southern farmlands, Tian Mu, the Farmer-disciple, knelt in the dirt, planting seeds with quiet focus. But these weren't ordinary crops—each sprouted into herbs with faint divine energy.
Villagers gathered around him, bowing as if to a saint.
> "Master Tian Mu, will these herbs really help us fight the sects?"
Tian Mu smiled softly, wiping soil from his hands.
"Plants grow where there is life. If they choose to harm you, these same plants will defend you."
As if hearing his words, vines curled protectively around the nearby fences, glowing faintly. The villagers stared in awe.
---
The Saintess of Brews
Inside a grand alchemy hall, Mei Xian sat cross-legged, brewing pills that glowed like tiny stars. Her beauty hadn't faded with time; instead, she carried a divine, untouchable air.
Her assistant whispered nervously.
> "Saintess, some sects have stopped buying your pills. They claim you're misleading people with Master Li Yuan's teachings."
Mei Xian's hands didn't stop moving as she replied calmly.
"Then let them fall ill without my pills. Those loyal to Master will always find my doors open."
She poured the golden liquid into a cauldron, whispering almost to herself.
"You promised to return someday, didn't you, Master? I'll wait… even if it takes a lifetime."
---
The Spark of Conflict
Across the continent, similar scenes played out. The disciples carried Li Yuan's name like a banner, their power reshaping the world. But tension grew as sects and old enemies united, whispering in secret halls.
In the shadows of an abandoned temple, a group of cloaked figures sat in silence.
> "We cannot allow his disciples to control the world. If Li Yuan ever returns, we will have no place left."
Another voice hissed.
> "Then we erase him from history. The disciples must fall first."
Their leader's eyes glowed coldly.
> "Prepare the hunters. It's time to kill the legacy of Li Yuan."
---
A Breeze Across Worlds
That night, across the mortal realm, a strange breeze passed through forests, cities, and mountains. Farmers reported seeing glowing herbs sprouting overnight; cultivators sensed faint divine qi where none should exist.
The disciples felt it too.
Wei Long looked to the sky, Ye Chen gripped his sword tighter, Mei Xian's heart skipped a beat.
"Master… is that you?"
For a brief moment, they all felt as if Li Yuan was watching them, quietly smiling from a distant realm.
(END OF CHAPTER)