Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Apology

"You're lying!"

True Monarch Changye's abrupt exclamation, infused with the pressure of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, immediately startled the middle-aged man.

"Father..." The middle-aged man's complexion changed, and he quickly lowered his head.

"Tell me, do you recognize Yang Ji? With you being so guilty, did you have a grudge against him in the past?" True Monarch Changye glanced at him, his expression intensely serious, as his voice also grew heavier.

"Father, I truly don't know Brother Yang." The middle-aged man felt bitter in his heart and swallowed his saliva quietly, trying to appear calm.

"You still dare to lie in front of me?" True Monarch Changye's face showed a trace of light anger, with a tone expressing disappointment in failing to meet expectations, "I ask you to confess not to anger you, but to help you, and you still conceal the truth in front of me?"

"Father..." The middle-aged man looked up, hesitating in his expression.

"Speak!" True Monarch Changye commanded coldly.

The middle-aged man exhaled and, feeling guilty, stole a glance at True Monarch Changye. Then, with trepidation, he revealed the incident of snatching the Beast Flame from before.

The more True Monarch Changye listened, the darker his expression became, his eyebrows occasionally furrowing in anger.

The middle-aged man was extremely anxious, and with a flicker of his expression, he hastily lowered his voice to add, "Father, on that day, I changed my appearance, and he was only at the stage of Qi Cultivation; he absolutely couldn't recognize me."

"Couldn't recognize you?" True Monarch Changye glared at him, "Are you so certain that Yang Ji couldn't recognize you? How can you estimate such a naturally talented individual blessed with fortune using common sense?"

"At this point, you still harbor naive hopes? Not considering facing the issue directly but still attempting to avoid it!"

"It's one thing to take someone else's Beast Flame, but you actually abandoned that person below to fend for themselves. To put it lightly, it's stealing someone's opportunity; to put it seriously, it's tantamount to robbery and attempted murder."

"Your methods are too poor, acting without leaving room for maneuver, such behavior easily leads to misfortune."

True Monarch Changye sighed, "The path of cultivation is ever-changing and unpredictable, and retribution often starts with the theft of opportunities."

"I've taught you long ago, competition must be measured; if it's not your opportunity, we don't take it; if it cannot be exchanged for, we don't desire it."

"Don't rely on your cultivation level to bully the weak. When traversing the world, keep kindness in your heart; it can avert disasters for you, and for the clan as well. Have you forgotten the teachings of our Chang family?"

"I, Changye, have lived a life without guilt, open and transparent in all my dealings. How did I end up with a child like you who acts without considering the consequences?"

True Monarch Changye was both irritated and puzzled as he looked at the middle-aged man before him, his eyes lowered, and suddenly shot a thin thread of sword Qi at his arm.

A drop of blood suddenly splattered out, which he then gathered into his palm.

"Father, what are you doing?" The middle-aged man exclaimed in surprise.

True Monarch Changye ignored him, pricking his own fingertip and drawing out a drop of blood as well.

Then, he performed a spell, causing the two drops of blood to merge in mid-air, and as they fused, strange interwoven patterns surfaced on the blood.

"It's my seed, how does it not follow me at all?" True Monarch Changye murmured as he looked at the merging blood, his eyebrows half-furrowed.

"..." The middle-aged man stood there, stunned.

"Let's go, accompany me to Sword Peak to apologize, and let's hope that Yang Ji will forgive you," True Monarch Changye suddenly looked up and said.

"Father, is that really necessary?" The middle-aged man's face showed great reluctance.

"It is!" True Monarch Changye glanced at him and said sternly, "Yang Ji has shown an understanding and talent comparable to a Spiritual Body, and perhaps even not weaker than a typical Sacred Body. Like Chang Xiao, he has an eighty percent chance of staying indefinitely with the Dao Sect. Do you realize what this means?"

"It means Yang Ji has a limitless future, implying he will bring a vast amount of cultivation resources to the Sect, which you may benefit from in the future."

"Today, I take you to apologize first to clear any resentment from Yang Ji's heart, and second, as an old father, I seek a bit of peace of mind." True Monarch Changye sighed deeply, his expression growing more haggard.

The middle-aged man felt a surge of guilt and said, "Father, do we need to prepare some gifts to offer as an apology?"

"Go fetch the Sifang Venerable Dragon Ding and the Orb of Myriad Mysteries," commanded Changye True Monarch.

"Wouldn't that be too valuable?" the middle-aged man asked hesitantly.

Changye True Monarch's expression froze, and he pointed at him, annoyed, "You really are short-sighted. How do you not take after me at all? What status does Nephew Yang now hold? A candidate for Void Refining, what does he lack? It's not even certain whether he'll accept your apology gifts."

"Hurry up, what are you dawdling for?"

"Oh."

"Wait!" Changye True Monarch furrowed his brow and suddenly stopped him, "This is too vulgar. Go fetch the Immortal Spirit Tea and we'll bring that as our offering."

"Once we get to Sword Peak, remember to be clever."

"Yes, yes, yes." The middle-aged man nodded repeatedly.

"By the way, Father, should I transform back into my original appearance when we get there?"

"Are you foolish? What if... what if Nephew Yang really can't recognize you? If you transform back into your original appearance, wouldn't you be exposing yourself?"

"Father is more experienced in handling these matters," the middle-aged man said, breaking into a cold sweat for himself.

"Speak less and be more astute when the time comes!"

"Understood, Father!"

Two streaks of light flew out from Chang Dao Peak and headed straight for Sword Peak.

...

At Sword Peak, within the Sword Pavilion.

Jian Yuanzi and Changye True Monarch sat opposite each other, with Yang Ji seated beside Jian Yuanzi.

"Brother Changye, what wind has brought you here today?" Jian Yuanzi said with a warm smile.

While preparing the tea, Changye True Monarch replied with a smile, "I have here a batch of Immortal Spirit Tea from the Immortal Cultivation Continent. Drinking it can enhance cultivation and also refresh the mind and clear the thoughts. Seeing as Nephew Yang is working hard to comprehend the Sword Dao every day, I thought I'd bring some over." Searᴄh the nôvelFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Ah, Immortal Spirit Tea. I've heard of it; it's said to have effects similar to the Enlightenment Pill—it's indeed excellent tea. Disciple, hurry up and thank your Uncle Changye," Jian Yuanzi said, smiling.

"Thank you, Uncle! Uncle, let me prepare the tea, there's no need to trouble yourself. Please take a seat," Yang Ji offered as he stood up.

"The preparation of Immortal Spirit Tea is quite nuanced, and you haven't had experience with it, nephew. It's probably best that I handle it, no inconvenience at all," Changye True Monarch said with a light smile.

Upon closer inspection, Yang Ji noticed the intricate techniques and nodded in agreement.

Afterward, he turned his gaze towards the middle-aged man standing beside Changye True Monarch.

Although his appearance was altered, that gaze was unmistakably recognized by Yang Ji; who else could it be but Zheng Changlin?

Yang Ji had been observant of him from the moment he entered and now appeared somewhat bemused.

Noticing Yang Ji's scrutinizing gaze, Changye True Monarch glanced at the man beside him and smiled, "This is my son Chang Yuan, the eldest in our family."

"Oh? So, you are Brother Chang Yuan, please, have a seat!" Yang Ji stood up, made a polite gesture, and smilingly urged Chang Yuan to sit down.

However, Changye True Monarch shook his head and chuckled, "Jian Yuanzi and I are Nascent Soul elders, and the nephew here is a candidate for Void Refining. For a tea gathering of this sort, Chang Yuan is not qualified to sit down. His presence today is only to pour the tea, as there are subtleties to it as well."

Yang Ji's actions paused as he saw the characters "offering an apology" above their heads, and he had a fair idea of the situation.