I Outworked the Entire Cultivation World

Chapter 134: Chapter 116: You Are Not Worthy

Facing Zhao Fuyi, Lii Jiuchuan was no longer the person who only knew how to retreat. He stood calmly, hands behind his back, meeting Zhao Fuyi’s gaze.

”Senior Sister Zhao, are you here to talk about the past with me?”

Their gazes met in mid-air, Fuyi retreating three steps.

Lii Jiuchuan nodded to a few people around them, raised his hand, and set up a barrier, isolating himself and Zhao Fuyi within. Outsiders could see the two but not hear them.

The matter of the past was between the two of them, and only they could discuss it.

Ling Guanghan stepped back, the chubby True Monarch Cang Huo rushed to Wenn Miao’s side, repeatedly asking, ”What’s happening, did I miss something big? Oh, why couldn’t you let me out earlier, I missed a good show for nothing.”

Wenn Miao ignored him, waving him away, ”Go, go, you’re everywhere, watching the fun all day and not afraid of making things worse, go ask someone else.”

True Monarch Cang Huo pulled Lu Yinghuai aside, ”Quick, quick, tell me what’s going on. Wasn’t Lii Jiuchuan a waste? How did he suddenly reach Nascent Soul, and why is he publicly disgracing Zhao Fuyi today...”

Shi Zhongshan rose from below the Heavenly Gang Peak to Wenn Miao’s side and sighed, ”True Monarch Jiuchuan is indeed superior in skill. I wanted to break the array with force just like him, but he was one step ahead.”

No one responded, everyone stretched their necks, tilting their ears, trying to know what Lii Jiuchuan and Zhao Fuyi were saying.

Unfortunately, Lii Jiuchuan’s barrier was very solid. Outsiders could hear nothing, only vaguely seeing the two facing each other.

Yun Shang stood beside Jiang Yuebai, mumbling, ”They seem like those lovers who used to look down on each other, but today I am in the spotlight while you are frustrated...”

As soon as she finished speaking, several gazes shot over, Yun Shang shivered in fright and hurriedly hid behind Jiang Yuebai.

Jiang Yuebai was also startled, ”What nonsense are you talking about, how could my master possibly like True Monarch Fuyi? Do you do nothing but read storybooks at home all day, besides nurturing Spiritual Beasts?”

Yun Shang laughed awkwardly, ”I haven’t read much, just a little... just a little...”

Jiang Yuebai frowned, looking at the two high in the sky, and wondered if Yun Shang’s influence made her see some lingering feelings for True Monarch Fuyi in her master’s eyes.

Behind the barrier.

Zhao Fuyi looked around coldly and sneered, ”Why set up a barrier? What do I have that can’t be spoken openly?”

Lii Jiuchuan didn’t answer, just reminisced about the past.

”Senior Sister Zhao, I still remember that scene on Netherworld Sea Wentian Island. The Ghost Clan was unstoppable, and the Human Clan’s defense line completely collapsed. Everyone was fleeing, all were retreating. Only you stayed, guarding the pass alone for the people’s sake, waiting for reinforcements.”

Lii Jiuchuan looked at Zhao Fuyi.

”On that day, you stood alone, shining brightly. It was at that moment that I fell for you.”

Zhao Fuyi looked at Lii Jiuchuan in surprise. Over the years, there were always rumors in the sect that Lii Jiuchuan admired her, but she never took it seriously.

Lii Jiuchuan laughed at himself. The feelings from back then were too shy to speak of, but now, having let go completely, he could finally speak freely.

”So, staying to help you, I did so willingly, and to this day, I have no regrets.”

Zhao Fuyi’s lips moved, but no words came out.

She also remembered that day, running alone on Wentian Island, feeling nervous and afraid, but knowing she couldn’t retreat.

She was just at Mid-Stage Nascent Soul back then, risking her life to set up a Great Array that only a Peak Nascent Soul could control, hoping for a chance to fight back. But she overestimated herself. When the ghost tide hit, the array was on the verge of collapse due to excess water vapor within half an hour.

”True Monarch Fuyi, Jiuchuan is here to assist you!”

That voice, like a heavenly melody, she still couldn’t forget today. Amid the blustery winds of a hundred ghosts crying and roaring, Lii Jiuchuan’s body still carried the rebelliousness and wildness of youth, truly dazzling.

Lii Jiuchuan’s Lifebound Magic Treasure was unique, capable of quickly converting the Five Elements. It was because of him that she could balance and stabilize the array by converting the excessive water aura from the sea.

And it was also because of him that they managed to hold on for three days, though he was only at Late-Stage Golden Core.

”Lii Jiuchuan, you can’t hold on, you go first, I’ll hold on a bit longer.”

”No matter, just keep the array steady, I... can still...”

”Are you trying to get yourself killed? Leave now!”

”I...”

”Lii Jiuchuan!!”

The tragic events of that day were vivid in Zhao Fuyi’s mind. She closed her eyes and frowned, forcing herself to endure the bitterness and guilt in her heart.

Lii Jiuchuan looked toward the distant mountain and softly said, ”The shattering of my Lifebound Magic Treasure, I’ve never blamed anyone. After all, it was my choice. These years, you’ve suffered the Supreme Elder’s anger because of it, and that’s my fault. I still owe you a word of thanks.”

Lii Jiuchuan’s gaze shifted back to Zhao Fuyi’s face, where she was trying hard to suppress her emotions.

Years ago, when his Lifebound Magic Treasure shattered, and his life force was about to be severed, it was Zhao Fuyi who sacrificed half of her Cultivation to forcibly save his life. She fell to the Early-Stage Nascent Soul because of it, almost losing even her Nascent Soul.

So, no matter what others said over the years, he endured it; it was his choice, and he would bear it himself.

Thinking of this, Lii Jiuchuan calmly cupped his hands in respect.

”Jiuchuan, thanks Senior Sister Zhao for saving my life back then!”

Zhao Fuyi clenched her fists within her sleeve, maintaining her expressionless demeanor.

Lii Jiuchuan straightened up, the emotions in his eyes gradually fading. ”As you said, the past grievances are over. You and I will discuss the future.”

In a slow voice, Lii Jiuchuan asked, ”May I ask Senior Sister Zhao, after the Ghost Tide, why is it that the world claims you alone defended the pass, with no mention of my contributions? You became the Earth Spiritual Realm’s first Array Master, while I was deemed an unknown waste waiting for death?”

Zhao Fuyi trembled all over. ”I told them, I told everyone in the alliance that without your help, I could not have succeeded in defending the pass. I explained, but they did not listen.”

”Ha~” Lii Jiuchuan sneered, ”You did say it, just casually, ’This time, it was Lii Jiuchuan who helped me array the formation, allowing us to defend the pass,’ only this one sentence! You are solitary and unrivaled, too proud to say much to others. On that day, your radiance overshadowed everyone, they all praised you, lavished flattery upon you, and you accepted it with peace?”

Zhao Fuyi was speechless, her fists clenching tighter.

Lii Jiuchuan bitterly smiled, a fleeting vulnerability flashed in his eyes.

”These years, I’ve endured countless grievances and dared not fight for the reputation I deserved because I kept telling myself you explained, but they didn’t listen or believe! I’ve been telling myself that it wasn’t your fault; it was the law of the Heavenly Dao, where the world acknowledges only the strong and disregards someone whose Immortal Cultivation path is severed!”

”I told myself you were protecting the common people, my help was willing, and compared to the common people, I only cared about false fame. For this false fame, I harbored resentment and anger, I’m not as good as you!”

Zhao Fuyi bit her lip hard, suppressing the bitterness in her heart, leaving only her cold and hard side to Lii Jiuchuan.

Lii Jiuchuan took a deep breath to calm his emotions. ”I’ve been tormented by this Heart Demon for many years, until it ground down my arrogance, ground down my self-respect, and wore out the heart-stirring emotions I once felt for you. Only then did I gradually clear away the veil of love and desire, and finally see the heavens and earth.”

”Zhao Fuyi, forgive my bluntness. On that day, you weren’t protecting the common people, but rather using the pretext of the common people to protect your own name as a strong one. You don’t even acknowledge the servants of the Sect, protect the common people? You couldn’t bear it and don’t deserve it!”

”I didn’t!”

Zhao Fuyi raised her head angrily, her gaze defiant.

Lii Jiuchuan looked at her calmly and slowly asked, ”If that’s not the case, during the affair at Yinfeng Creek, why, when you had the strength, did you only protect Lu Nanzhi and not see Jiang Yuebai who was nearly dying not far from her?”

Zhao Fuyi’s eyes widened, finally remembering why Jiang Yuebai seemed familiar. She was that... servant from back then!

Lii Jiuchuan observed her reaction. ”You look at the earth and see only towering peaks and giant trees, not the stones and seedlings. You look at the sky and see only white cranes and swans, not the young eagles and fledglings, yet you don’t know the towering peaks rise from stones, seedlings can become trees, and white cranes and swans also had their youth.”

”In your eyes, there has only ever been yourself and those you deem strong. You don’t see the faces of the common masses. You only cherish your own wings, never sheltering ordinary people from the storm. You yourself have felt the rain, yet you overturn others’ umbrellas. Someone like you is unworthy of being a teacher!”

”The grievances of the past are all wiped today, and I shall no longer mention them. My words end here.”

Zhao Fuyi stood as if struck by lightning, every word from Lii Jiuchuan pierced her heart, leaving her temporarily unable to regain her senses.

Lii Jiuchuan no longer looked at her. The several years of pent-up emotions in his heart dissipated with the wind. He waved his hand to remove the barrier and faced the members of the Heavenly Interence Sect behind him.

”Today, due to my faults, I disturbed my fellow sect members. I hereby apologize. I hope you bear no blame against me, Jiuchuan. Today, I have taken Jiang Yuebai as my disciple, and I am overjoyed. I ask all fellow sect members to look after my beloved disciple from now on. The Nascent Soul ceremony and the apprenticeship ceremony will be held on the same day. Please grace us with your presence to witness it. Jiuchuan would be endlessly grateful.”

Lii Jiuchuan bowed, and after rising, his gaze fell on Jiang Yuebai’s face, whose eyes were bright with excitement, and he smiled.

Little girl, what Master can do for you is only this much. From now on, it’s up to you!