Chapter 783 - 786: Donghua the Immortal

Seeing Ling Tian’s peculiar expression, Wu Tian knit his brows slightly. "You’re not thinking of something impure, are you?"

"No... no." Ling Tian quickly shook his head, but in his heart, he couldn’t help feeling resigned. How could I, a man, have any fate with another man?

"Fate can mean many things, including the bond between father and son or master and disciple, not just between husband and wife." Wu Tian, perceiving Ling Tian’s thoughts, spoke with gravity. "Besides, in this lifetime, you might not have a wife."

"Not have a wife?"

Ling Tian was puzzled. How could that be possible? As a Great General, he was wholeheartedly devoted to the people. Surely, when the day came to hang up his armor and retire, to let his horses roam free in the south mountains, he would find a wife. How could he not?

"You must feel that what I am saying is nonsensical." Wu Tian shook his head. "Are you still wondering what kind of fate you have with that man in white? And why you won’t have a wife in your future?"

"Yes." Ling Tian shuddered, stunned that Wu Tian had so easily discerned his thoughts.

"I can only say that you and that man in white shared the bond of master and disciple in a past life." Wu Tian sighed. It was like the philosophical question of two similar people: if a Divine King reincarnated as a mortal, could the mortal’s consciousness be considered the same as the Divine King’s? Is this one person? Or two?

Wu Tian knew that among the myriad gods and buddhas, some had perished while others had reincarnated. The countless gods and buddhas had once invaded the Immortal Emperor Realm, only to be defeated by a single man. Some died in that conflict, while others chose to start anew. When a soul reincarnates as another person, they become like two similar flowers. It is incredibly difficult to say they are the same individual.

Wu Tian continued, "In a past life, you and that man in white were fated to be master and disciple. He was your master who guided you onto the path. After he reincarnated as a mortal, you became his master, guiding him onto the path in turn."

Hearing this, a gate seemed to open in the depths of Ling Tian’s mind, and he caught vague glimpses of his past life.

In that life, he was still a general, but not of the Immortal Emperor Realm. He had been born with a broad forehead and wide face, thick ears and long brows, deep-set eyes and a high nose, a square mouth and large cheeks, with lips as red as cinnabar—all signs of a man blessed with great fortune. From a young age, he could accurately gauge the weight of any object just by holding it, as if his hand contained an ancient counterweight. Thus, his father named him Zhong Liquan. He grew to a height of eight feet, with handsome eyes and a beautiful beard. Not long after entering government service, he became an Advisory Doctor. Later, when the Qiang people rebelled, his elder brother, Zhong Lijian, recommended him for the position of Great General. The Emperor, struck by his extraordinary appearance and brilliant courage, put him in command of the western campaign. However, a powerful courtier named Liang Ji grew jealous and assigned him only "twenty thousand weak soldiers." As soon as Zhong Liquan’s troops arrived at the front, they were ambushed in a night raid by the Qiang. The defeat was disastrous. Zhong Liquan fled in a panic, losing his way in the deep mountains and dense forests.

By a stroke of fate, he stumbled into the immortal estate of Master Donghua. With the master’s guidance, he too became an immortal.

"I..." Snapping back to reality, Ling Tian’s face changed dramatically, shocked by the revelation of his past life. At that moment, sweat had already drenched his face. He vaguely understood that Wu Tian’s words were true. Master Donghua bore a resemblance to the young man in white from earlier.

The only difference was that Master Donghua was solemn and rarely spoke, exuding the dignified air of a Divine King. The young man from earlier, however, was far too amiable. He was more like a scholar, entirely lacking any trace of majesty. Their temperaments were different, but their appearances were similar.

Initially, Ling Tian had felt some discontent toward the Ancestor of Blood Refinement for making him stand in the rain. But now, he felt nothing but gratitude. Gratitude for allowing him to meet someone connected to his past life.

"Thank you, Senior." Ling Tian moved to bow.

"There’s no need. Do you want to know about your other fated opportunity, the one beyond your talent for judging weight? Bring that young man inside with you, and I will enlighten you both at once," the Ancestor of Blood Refinement said with a wave of his hand.

"Yes." Ling Tian nodded, still unaware of the young man in white’s current renown. But because of their shared past, he felt an inexplicable closeness to him. Without delay, Ling Tian went out to find him.

After he left, Wu Tian smiled, knowing that from this day forward, the Blood Refiners Guild would truly begin to build its reputation.

"Bo Gu, Meng Tian." Wu Tian suddenly turned to the two men. "I believe it is time to teach you the Art of Blood Refinement."

"..." Bo Gu and Meng Tian were stunned. It took them a moment to react, their faces filled with joy. "Yes, yes, yes! Thank you, Ancestor!" They were so excited they were at a loss for words.

Wu Tian immediately recited the mental method for the Art of Blood Refinement. After listening, Bo Gu and Meng Tian frowned, their expressions awkward.

"Ancestor, could you please say it one more time? I couldn’t remember it all."

"Yes, we are a bit slow-witted." To learn the Art of Blood Refinement, they had no choice but to be honest.

"I understand." Wu Tian nodded. He extended a finger and lightly tapped each of them on the forehead.

This was a technique from the Cultivation Realm. Suddenly, Bo Gu and Meng Tian felt information flooding into their minds.

"You should remember it now, correct?"

"Yes!" Bo Gu and Meng Tian looked at Wu Tian with gratitude. They hadn’t expected Wu Tian to possess such a technique. They had never even heard of such a method before.

How could they know the difference between Cultivation and Fantasy?

"Next, you will need to..." In the main hall, Wu Tian began his instruction.

At that moment, Ling Tian walked out of the courtyard, but the young man in white was nowhere to be seen.

"Do you remember the young man who held the umbrella for me earlier?" Ling Tian asked the mansion guards.

The guards all nodded in affirmation. The General was the most important figure in an army and, as such, was often the target of assassination attempts. When Lv Baicha was holding the umbrella for Ling Tian, the guards had watched him like hawks, afraid he might try to harm their General. They remembered his face clearly.

"Find him. Notify me the moment you do," Ling Tian ordered.

"Yes." The soldiers didn’t understand why the General wanted to find a young man in white who seemed so frail. Still, an order was an order, and they had to obey. They immediately set out to search, unaware that their target was in a nearby tavern.

"What kind of person could create the Art of Blood Refinement? It must be some monster who has lived for hundreds, if not thousands, of years," Lv Baicha murmured to himself as he drank. He was a scholar, so even when drinking alcohol, he took small, slow sips.

All of a sudden, Ling Tian found him.

"You’re still here? I’ve missed you so much! Come with me, quickly." Without another word, Ling Tian grabbed Lv Baicha’s hand and began to pull him away.

Lv Baicha froze, completely stunned. Can someone please tell me what is happening? I’m not that familiar with General Ling Tian, am I? Where is he taking me? Why is he holding my hand so tightly? The way he looked at me just now was so intense...

Lv Baicha’s legs clamped shut involuntarily. He had heard rumors that some powerful nobles had a preference for handsome young men. He began to tremble all over, pleading, "General Ling Tian... I am but a humble scholar! I can’t possibly withstand such... rough handling. Please, just let me go."