Chapter 37: Are All Protagonists Lone Stars of Doom?

At the very center of the Tiger Fiend Sect’s headquarters in Yanggu County stood a spacious mansion.

The mansion’s outer walls featured red walls and green tiles, with carved beams and painted rafters; within its courtyards, deep and layered, were artificial hills, ponds, rare flowers and exotic grasses, all concealing great wealth.

Almost any disciple who had been in the sect for more than a short while knew this was the residence of Master Yang Duan.

According to Yang Duan’s routine, after spending five hours daily in martial training, he would return to his mansion to handle sect affairs.

Today, as usual, after meditating for half a day before the waterfall, Yang Duan slowly walked back to his mansion, escorted by several guards.

Before he even drew near, he sensed from afar a man in his forties or fifties waiting outside his gate.

With a question in mind, Yang Duan took a single step—his figure seemed to shrink space, crossing dozens of meters in the blink of an eye to stand before the man.

The man waiting patiently felt his vision darken; a tall, muscular figure had already blocked his path: “Yang Lie, you’re not in the training hall—why are you here?”

Yes, the man waiting at the gate was Yang Lie, here to report on Fang Can’s condition.

Seeing Yang Duan return, Yang Lie beamed: “Grandfather, you’re finally back! Your grandson pays his respects.”

Yang Duan regarded Yang Lie’s bow with a calm expression.

He appeared barely in his thirties, tall and powerfully built, with a jade thumb ring on his right hand—he looked even younger than Yang Lie.

Yet as a Second Transformation powerhouse who had taken two steps on the Ascension Path, he had extended his lifespan by three hundred years; at his true age of ninety, he was still in his prime, so having a grandson in his forties or fifties was perfectly reasonable.

If he could take a few more steps on the Ascension Path in his lifetime, living another few centuries would be no challenge.

Precisely because they were blood relatives, Yang Lie, despite being only at the Xuanguan Fifth Layer cultivation, had been entrusted with the critical role of overseeing the Training Hall, where the sect’s future direct descendants were nurtured.

“Speak,” Yang Duan said calmly, gazing at the bowing Yang Lie. “What brings you to me?”

“Grandfather, I’ve found a once-in-a-millennium genius,” Yang Lie said solemnly.

“Oh? A once-in-a-millennium genius?” Yang Duan’s voice sharpened slightly.

“Yes. This man has only been in the sect for a few days, yet he has already sensed Qi, his cultivation is nearing Xuanguan First Layer, and he defeated every disciple in the Training Hall merely by observing them. Even more terrifying is…”

Yang Lie’s tone grew grave: “He formed a Heart Image before reaching Xuanguan First Layer.”

As Yang Lie spoke, Yang Duan’s brow twitched with each phrase; when he heard “Heart Image,” he could not help but question: “Are you mocking me? You’re telling me this is a human being?”

“Grandfather, it’s absolutely true!” Yang Lie nodded vigorously. “He was brought in by Master Li. His name is Fang Can—he’s still in the sect. If you don’t believe me, summon him immediately.”

Watching Yang Lie’s earnest expression, Yang Duan’s brow knotted tightly.

If this were true, even the Great Expansion Divine Lord himself would have to sit at the children’s table—was this some ancient monster pretending to be young?

Thinking of this, he turned to his guards and ordered: “Bring me Li Fengtian. I’ll question him myself.”

A stick of incense later, Li Fengtian arrived at the mansion, bewildered, to find Yang Duan seated on a master’s chair, staring at him: “What is Fang Can’s origin?”

Yang Duan added irritably: “Why do you always bring strange things back into the sect? Last time you went out, you got tricked by the Transformation Sect and brought back a spy—I haven’t settled accounts with you yet, and now you’re bringing in another person?”

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?” Li Fengtian, subdued before Yang Duan, scratched his head awkwardly. “Is that kid a spy? He doesn’t look like one.”

“Of course he’s not a spy. What sect would use a prodigy like this as an infiltrator?”

Yang Duan, watching Li Fengtian’s blank expression, repeated Yang Lie’s explanation.

Seeing the man’s mouth gaping open as if it might never close, Yang Duan realized: this brute truly understood nothing.

“Tell me everything,” Yang Duan said. “Every detail of your encounter with Fang Can.”

Soon after, as Li Fengtian recounted roughly the events of Chapters Two and Three, Yang Duan grew even more bewildered.

Unknown origin, bizarre attire, extraordinary talent, striking appearance, found wandering in an alley…

Each detail reeked of strangeness. How could you casually bring someone like this into the sect? Has the Ascension Path granted you power while robbing you of your wits?

“So, big brother, what should we do now?” Li Fengtian grinned nervously, scratching his head. “Fang Can really is exceptionally gifted—we can’t just kick him out, can we?”

“Of course we kick him out. What, keep him for the New Year?” Yang Duan snapped. “Someone like this? Our Tiger Fiend Sect is too small a temple to hold such a great Buddha. Best to get rid of him as soon as possible.”

“Why? Big brother, his talent is so rare—throwing him away is a waste!” Li Fengtian exclaimed.

After all, he was the one who brought Fang Can in; he couldn’t help but defend him.

“Precisely because his talent is so rare,” Yang Duan said, “if he doesn’t die young, his future achievements will be immense—but so will the troubles he brings. Such a person is like the King of Hell himself: wherever he goes, death follows.”

“If he draws the attention of a Third Transformation or higher cultivator, our Tiger Fiend Sect won’t survive. Are you waiting for him to master his divine art before he avenges us?”

“Moreover, with this kind of talent, his name will surely appear on the next Heavenly Mechanism Tower’s Dragon List. If we don’t drive him out now, are we waiting for righteous sects eager to recruit talent to come and purge us as demons?” Yang Duan laid out the stakes plainly to Li Fengtian.

“This… this…” Li Fengtian scratched his head, embarrassed. He neither dared to agree nor refuse.

Seeing his subordinate’s indecisive demeanor, Yang Duan waved wearily: “Enough. Leave. I’ll handle Fang Can myself.”

Watching Li Fengtian depart dejectedly, Yang Duan turned to his guard: “Go summon Fang Can. I’ll meet him personally.”

As his guard left, Yang Duan closed his eyes lightly; no one knew what he was thinking.

Elsewhere, in his own small mansion, Fang Can awoke from sleep, rising and stretching gently.

His eyes gleamed with vitality; this rest had fully restored his Heart Image, depleted that morning, and even strengthened it further.

Without hesitation, he stepped outside, swallowed a pill, and resumed practicing his fist techniques, striving to further refine his body toward the Great Transformation threshold.

As his cultivation broke through to Xuanguan First Layer, his fist techniques grew even more forceful; the Qi surging from his swings made willow branches dozens of meters away thrash wildly.

After practicing for a while outside, Fang Can suddenly froze—far off, a man was racing toward him at high speed.

The man arrived in an instant, then halted sharply: “Master’s order: summon Fang Can to the mansion.”

‘So it’s finally here,’ Fang Can thought, pausing his movements. “Thank you, senior brother, please lead the way.”

(End of Chapter)