"Hey, brother, are you sure you don't want to participate in the Tournament of Strength?" Kulas asked Tian Yang as the tournament day drew closer.
"How many times do I have to decline before you get it?" Tian Yang sighed. "But don't you want to show off your skills to the world?"
"Why the hell would I care about something like that? And it's not like the world isn't aware of me already. Have you forgotten who brought the downfall of the Immortal Clans?"
Tian Yang's war against the Immortal Clans had once made his name infamous across the Divine Heavens. However, with thousands of years having passed, his name—though not forgotten—was rarely mentioned anymore.
"Also, I am technically a criminal, you know?" Tian Yang said with a slight smile.
Kulas laughed out loud and said, "Who'd dare hunt the man who pretty much single-handedly defeated the Immortal Clans? If anyone were to go after you, it'd be the Three Pillars of Heaven, but seeing how they've ignored you, you don't have to worry about such a thing." "..."
After a moment of silence, Tian Yang spoke, "Now that you mentioned it… Why didn't the Three Pillars of Heaven do anything? They basically allowed the Immortal Clans to fall."
If the Three Pillars of Heaven had intervened with his revenge, the Immortal Clans would've likely still been as powerful as before.
"The Three Pillars of Heaven are not babysitters, nor do they have any reason to help the Immortal Clans. While they may have been on friendly terms, it's not like they were actual friends with each other."
Kulas paused briefly before continuing, "Speaking of the Three Pillars of Heaven, I received some interesting information about them yesterday. It appears that some of their people will be present at the tournament."
Tian Yang raised his eyebrows at this news.
"The Three Pillars of Heaven will be participating in the tournament?" he asked with a dumbfounded face.
"No, they won't be participating. They will only be spectating."
"I doubt they'll only be here to spectate."
Kulas nodded, "I'm sure they have business with me, but we know too little about them to make any speculations."
"Anyway, if you're not going to participate, what are you going to do? Just spectate?"
Tian Yang nodded.
"What a pity. The champion of the tournament will get to fight me, too."
"You make it sound like we haven't fought each other thousands of times by now. And I'm sure you wouldn't want to lose before so many people in public."
Kulas chuckled, "Now that you've mentioned it, we haven't sparred in a few hundred years, and I still haven't beaten you yet."
"If you want to fight, we can do it after the tournament."
"Sounds good." Kulas nodded.
Tian Yang then said, "By the way, how have you been feeling lately? I haven't seen any mood swings since you mentioned it nearly fifty years ago."
"I'm actually confused myself. I'd have mood swings several times a year, but after I spoke to you, it hasn't happened once. If I had known it would be like this, I would've told you soon."
"Regardless, this is a good thing."
"Of course." Kulas agreed with a smile.
As time passed and the tournament day drew closer, more and more people flocked to the Giant's Continent. Cultivators of great power and members of influential families alike arrived in droves, all eager to witness the prowess of the Giant Race firsthand.
Although rumors circulated that members of the Three Pillars of Heaven might appear, no one knew their identities—or if they would truly show up—leaving the crowds to speculate.
"It's been a while since I left the palace, so I'm going to leave for a bit." Tian Yang said as he approached the door.
"Where are you going? I'll go with you." Ren Xia said.
However, Tian Yang shook his head and said, "Sorry, but I want to go alone. I have been wanting to visit this place ever since I returned to this continent, but I never found the courage to do so."
Ren Xia realized where Tian Yang wanted to go and calmly nodded, "Alright. I won't bother you then."
"Thanks."
After leaving the palace, Tian Yang made his way to the place where he had first met Kulas… and where he had lost Huang Xiao Li.
Yet the continent had changed beyond recognition, its land expanded many times over. It took him considerable time to find the location, and when he finally stood there, it bore no resemblance to his memories. Given the thousands of years that had passed, that was only natural.
After standing motionless for many hours, Tian Yang finally reached into his pocket and retrieved a spatial ring.
"If reincarnation is real… are you somewhere in this vast world right now, living a vastly different life? Are you living a happy life? Would I even be able to recognize you?" he muttered.
Some time later, he put away the spatial ring and began walking a certain path.
Eventually, he reached an empty stretch of land. Once the entrance to Han Zexian's Tomb, it was now utterly barren, with no sign that the tomb had ever existed.
According to what he'd heard from Ren Xia, the Immortal Clans had taken full control of Han Zexian's Tomb after he entered the cavern. However, they soon realized that the trials no longer functioned, reducing the tomb to nothing more than an empty world.
After he escaped from the tomb, the Immortal Clans were forced to abandon the tomb as well because it started to collapse on itself. 'Kulas told me that he'd tried to find Han Zexian's Tomb again but to no avail… hmm?'
Tian Yang's thoughts were abruptly interrupted when he sensed a faint presence approaching from behind.
He turned around, and his eyes widened in shock and disbelief. It was someone he recognized.
Not only did he recognize them, but despite the thousands of years that had passed, they hadn't changed in the slightest.
However, before Tian Yang could snap out of his daze, the individual spoke first, "Tian Yang…?"
"Elder… Sun?" he responded.