"Heavenly Knowledge? Such a name for a place to throw away unfinished techniques. Why'd you even learn them? And are you sure it's okay to tell me about such a place? Won't you be punished?" Tian Yang questioned.
Sun Rouxi shrugged, "The Heavenly Knowledge is not a secretive place. Anyone within the Three Pillars of Heaven can access it. As for why I learned them… It's a good way to practice."
"Practice?" Tian Yang asked, a puzzled expression on his face.
"Trying to comprehend and complete the unfinished techniques—turning them into your own," she replied calmly.
Although Sun Rouxi made it sound like an ordinary thing, it was anything but. Completing another person's unfinished technique required tremendous talent and experience, an achievement few cultivators could ever hope to accomplish.
"There is not much to do at the Three Pillars of Heaven, so I spent most of my time cultivating and finishing techniques."
"That's how you spent the last few thousand years?"
"It's a bit boring when compared to your little adventure, isn't it? Anyway, enough chitchat. Let's continue." Sun Rouxi went on the offensive this time.
Her movements were swift and graceful, like a dancer on a stage.
As their spar continued, Tian Yang noticed that he was starting to get pushed back by her.
'Even though I am not using any of my main techniques, to be pushing me back…'
Tian Yang was truly surprised that he wasn't able to overwhelm Sun Rouxi despite his vast experience.
'Even though I should have more experience than her… how is she this powerful? This is what true talent looks like?'
He finally understood that Sun Rouxi hadn't been looking down on him. However, that didn't mean he would give up.
"Hm? Looks like you're finally starting to fight seriously," Sun Rouxi remarked as she noticed a shift in Tian Yang's movements.
"Yes, looks like I had been the one underestimating you this entire time." Tian Yang said. "I'll be fighting seriously now, so… try not to get hurt!"
Tian Yang unleashed Limitless Sword Domain and started using other powerful martial techniques, instantly turning the tide.
"..."
'So this is the Immortal Slayer who caused the Immortal Clans' downfall…' Sun Rouxi smiled inwardly after experiencing the legend herself.
However, as much as she wanted to enjoy the moment, she knew that she could no longer take the spar lightly.
Thus, they started fighting seriously. While it wasn't at the level where they were trying to kill each other, they were fighting with the intent of defeating the other, even if it was a little dangerous.
A few hours later.
"You're really something, Tian Yang. Not even the geniuses at the Three Pillars of Heaven could push me this far," Sun Rouxi remarked, her entire body soaked in sweat.
"I could say the same… Not even Kulas could make me bleed this much…" Tian Yang said, his body soaked in sweat and blood.
'I must admit…' Sun Rouxi thought to herself. 'I won't be able to defeat him at this rate. However, if I lose my family's techniques… I might as well surrender.'
Meanwhile, Tian Yang pondered how he could force her to use the Sun Family's techniques.
Then, after a few thousand more exchanges, Sun Rouxi suddenly said, "Hah. I'm tired. I surrender."
"What? Surrendering before you are forced to use your family's technique? That's cheating."
Sun Rouxi smiled and said, "Since I admit defeat, even though I didn't use my family's techniques, I'll owe you a favor."
"Well, if you admit defeat…"
Although he won, Tian Yang wasn't happy. He knew that if Sun Rouxi started using her family's technique, he would definitely have lost.
"I still have a long way to go, huh?" he muttered.
"What?" Sun Rouxi, who heard his mumble, uttered. "You're plenty strong enough already. What are you going to do with more power? Are you going to challenge the Three Pillars of Heaven next?"
Tian Yang raised an eyebrow and replied, "Challenge the Three Pillars of Heaven? I may be reckless, but I am not suicidal. Also, why would I challenge them in the first place? It's not like we have any grudges."
"I guess so…"
Sun Rouxi fell silent, her gaze fixated on him.
"If you have something you want to say, just say it." Tian Yang said, noticing her odd gaze.
"Why… did you go after the Immortal Clans? Is it related to why your outburst on that day?" she asked with some hesitancy in her voice.
This was something she had always wanted to figure out. The reason for his hatred toward the Immortal Clans, and why he'd said such things to her.
"If you don't want to tell me, that's fine." After a moment of silence, Tian Yang shook his head and said, "No, you have the right to know after what happened."
"It might take a while, so why don't we do it somewhere more comfortable? I also want to wash up first."
"Okay."
They left the training ground and returned to Tian Yang's room.
After they both washed up, they sat down with some hot tea.
"I will tell you everything from the start."
Tian Yang said, and he started telling Sun Rouxi about everything that had occurred since he left the Immortal Monastery.
From his meeting with the Huang Family to how they survived a mythical beast because of her life-saving treasure, and what happened on the Desolate Continent that led him to Han Zexian's Tomb.
"I see…"
Ever since that incident, she had been trying to figure out the cause and what she had done wrong. Now, after thousands of years of doubt and confusion, Sun Rouxi finally learned the reason behind Tian Yang's anger on that day.
"If I were in your shoes, I would also be angry. However, I must correct you on something," she suddenly said.
"What?" Tian Yang looked at her with a puzzled face.
"That life-saving treasure… even if you had known about it in advance, you wouldn't have been able to save the whole family. After all, life-saving treasures are typically meant for a single person for maximum efficiency." "It was already a miracle that it managed to activate for two people. If you had tried to use it for the whole family, it would've likely picked its target at random, leaving behind the others or… not activate at all."
"Seriously…?" Tian Yang swallowed nervously at her words.
Sun Rouxi took out the life-saving treasure she'd retrieved from Tian Yang in the past and showed it to him.
"If you don't believe me, you can try it."
Tian Yang sighed, "There's no need. I believe you. It's just that… now I feel even more guilty for trying to blame you."
"No point dwelling in the past," she said before suddenly narrowing her eyes at him.
'But still… to think it was all because of another woman…'
Sun Rouxi felt a little annoyed for some reason.
Time continued to pass, and a few days later, the Tournament of Strength officially began.
The tournament was held on an artificial island near the Giant's Continent. Kulas had originally planned to host it within the city, but with thousands—no, hundreds of thousands—of participants registering, he made a last-minute decision to move it elsewhere.
"Wow, there are a lot more people here than I anticipated." Ren Xia remarked after seeing the crowd that had come to spectate.
"This just shows how much influence the Giant's Race now has," Kulas spoke with a satisfied smile.
He turned to look at Tian Yang and continued, "This is your last chance to participate." "Yeah, no thanks."
Kulas sucked his teeth but didn't pursue it any further.
"Where's Elder Sun?" Ren Xia then asked. "I thought she would be watching it with us."
"She's with her family," Tian Yang said. "Is that so…"
Some time later, Kulas left his area and entered the stage. Although he didn't make a single sound when he appeared on the stage, the loud audience instantly halted their movements and stopped talking after sensing the immense pressure he exuded.
"Welcome to the Giant's Continent. I am Giant Emperor Kulas, the ruler of this land."
After a brief introduction, he started listing the rules. Then, without any delay, immediately started the tournament.
Given the sheer number of participants, the majority of whom were human, the tournament was bound to span days—perhaps even weeks—even if the battles continued without pause.
Once the tournament began, multiple matches unfolded simultaneously. Kulas watched from his private viewing area, with Tian Yang and Ren Xia seated beside him—a privilege not even his own children enjoyed. This arrangement drew the attention of many onlookers, especially those from powerful backgrounds.
"Who are those two sitting beside the Giant Emperor? They look like humans. Could they be his children?"
"Doubtful. Look at that area below him. All of his children are there."
"Look at the Giant Emperor. He's laughing with them."
Unbeknownst to a few people, Tian Yang and Ren Xia were actually in disguise, so it was not surprising that nobody recognized them. However, even if they weren't disguised, it was unlikely that anybody would recognize them. Still, they didn't want any unnecessary attention, hence the disguise.
"That's Tian Yang? He looks so different from my memories." Elder Jing remarked after seeing Tian Yang again. "I thought he would be more handsome."
Sun Rouxi smiled and said, "He's in a disguise."
"Hm? Really? Why?"
"He did cause the Immortal Clans' downfall…"
"If the Three Pillars of Heaven aren't going after them, who else would?"
"Who knows? Better be safe than sorry."