The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 263: The Ominous Star in the South Sky!

"I have no interest in a friendship with someone like you," Cha Eun Xiao responded coldly. "Are you here alone?"

The man in black chuckled and replied, "Feng Monarch possesses keen discernment and profound knowledge. You've identified the origins of my martial arts, yet my true identity eludes you. If you knew who I was, you'd understand that I always operate alone, without any companions. So, if you believe you can end my life... go ahead. Killing me will safeguard Feng Monarch's secret. Isn't that right, Lord Cha?"

Cha Eun Xiao was taken aback and inquired, "Oh? May I ask for your name?"

With an air of pride, the man in black proclaimed, "In the starlight that spans ten thousand miles, in the southern skies, I have reigned for centuries, living a solitary existence for a hundred years. I am Nan Tianxing! You can decipher my martial arts, so I'm certain you know who I am!"

Anticipating astonishment from Cha Eun Xiao upon hearing his name, the man seemed confident. He expected a reaction of shock or awe.

However, Cha Eun Xiao's response was devoid of any such sentiments. He replied in a serious tone, "Nan Tianxing? I've never heard of you. Are you renowned? Despite your confident demeanor, I'm not familiar with your name. I apologize."

Incensed, the man in black shouted, "How dare you! You just claimed you've never heard of me!"

Cha Eun Xiao shook his head and said, "No, I haven't. Nan Tianxing... It doesn't ring a bell. The poetic lines you recited might sound impressive, but in reality... they're meaningless. Especially the phrase 'with hegemony in centuries, living alone for a hundred years.' It doesn't even make grammatical sense. Do you consider yourself a king? 'Hegemony in centuries'? Or perhaps you're a eunuch? And 'living alone for a hundred years'... that's a simple misuse of words. It seems you lack a proper education."

With an air of mock sympathy, he added, "It's truly unfortunate not to have received an education. Did you ever attend school?"

Nan Tianxing's tone turned icy as he asked for the last time, "Are you absolutely certain you don't know me?"

Cha Eun Xiao reiterated, "Are you famous? I genuinely have no knowledge of you. None at all. Absolutely none. Completely unfamiliar. I don't know you."

Nan Tianxing's expression grew dark as he spoke, "I suppose I must retract my earlier words of praise for you! At the very least, you should be aware of the incident involving the ten thousand soldiers from the Kingdom of Chen who were secretly massacred in the Black Pine Forest! You should also be familiar with the sudden annihilation of the House of Shi and the House of Ming, two of the eight noble clans, in a single night, shouldn't you? If you are completely oblivious to these events, then I can only describe you with a single word — ignorant! Let me be frank, I was responsible for both of those cases!"

Indeed, Nan Tianxing was a name that sent shivers down the spines of those who heard it throughout the Land of Han-Yang. His notoriety was well-deserved, and his atrocities were infamous.

He had committed numerous heinous acts that left people horrified and helpless. Yet, nobody could bring him to justice, and he continued to elude capture.

Nan Tianxing had a peculiar habit. Before ending the lives of his victims, he always made sure to reveal his name and strike fear into their hearts. It gave him immense satisfaction when his victims trembled at the mere mention of his name.

In his youth, he was an unknown individual, but as he reached the age of sixty, he began to gain infamy. Unfortunately for him, it was the kind of infamy that inspired fear rather than respect.

To him, it was fame, but to the world, it was infamy.

However, Cha Eun Xiao remained oblivious to this infamous name. Fame or infamy, it meant nothing to him.

Regardless of Nan Tianxing's reputation for cruelty, he was still just a Sky Origin Stage cultivator in the Land of Han-Yang. He was insignificant in the grand scheme of things, especially when compared to the Xiao Monarch. He was a nobody in Cha Eun Xiao's eyes.

Moreover, even if Cha Eun Xiao had known about him, he would have denied it just to spite his adversary. Cha Eun Xiao had noticed how much Nan Tianxing cared about the recognition of his name, and he had no intention of giving his enemy the satisfaction.

However, one of the two cases Nan Tianxing mentioned did ring a bell for Cha Eun Xiao.

It was a battle that had taken place twenty years ago and had sent shockwaves throughout the Kingdom of Chen. This particular event held great significance for the kingdom.

During that time, the Kingdom of Chen was engaged in a fierce conflict with the Grassland Tribes in the Black Pine Forest. However, in a single night, ten thousand soldiers from the Kingdom of Chen had inexplicably perished, drastically altering the course of the battle. The Kingdom of Chen eventually suffered defeat, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of its citizens.

The truth behind this tragic event had only come to light after the battle. It was revealed that the general leading the ten thousand soldiers had offended the father of a prominent figure in the world. Unable to exact revenge directly, the father had tasked his son with killing the general and his troops, even in the midst of a war, using ruthless methods.

Cha Eun Xiao had knowledge of this incident, thanks to a conversation with ChaNantian. ChaNantian harbored deep resentment toward the individual responsible for the massacre. However, the identity of the culprit remained a mystery, and their whereabouts unknown.

Now, Cha Eun Xiao had inadvertently discovered that the man standing before him, Nan Tianxing, was the very same person who had orchestrated that massacre.

Observing the green pallor that had overtaken Nan Tianxing's countenance, Cha Eun Xiao nonchalantly inquired, "From which kingdom do you hail?"

Nan Tianxing's complexion darkened in response.

Cha Eun Xiao didn't need words to decipher the answer; it was evident in the man's demeanor. With a contemptuous sneer, Cha Eun Xiao remarked, "Well, this is quite unexpected. You originate from the Kingdom of Chen, yet you massacred the Kingdom of Chen's troops! Nan Tianxing, how audacious of you to recount such a tale. Do you realize what you are? You are a treacherous traitor!"

Nan Tianxing retorted with a sneer of his own, "I am a cultivator. Cultivators should not be confined by their national allegiances! How can I be accused of treason?"

Cha Eun Xiao responded with a slow, measured nod. "That is indeed a shameless assertion. A cultivator may transcend national boundaries, but does that mean they can forsake their family? Does it mean they can abandon their parents, spouses, and children as though they are inconsequential? Are they to remain indifferent even when their loved ones face harm or death? Would you simply stand aside if someone were to harm your father?"

Nan Tianxing's anger flared. "What do you understand about this? That general offended my father, which is why I dispatched him and his ten thousand soldiers. What wrong have I committed? If a cultivator cannot protect their family, then what is the purpose of cultivation?"

His words carried an air of self-righteousness, as if he believed his actions were morally justified, even reasonable.