The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 264: Truly Trying His Best

Truly Trying His Best . . .

"What a convenient excuse! Protecting your family, you claim?" Cha Eun Xiao furrowed his brows and questioned. "You mentioned that the general merely angered your father, and then your father approached you, and as a result, you slaughtered over ten thousand innocent men? All of this was simply to console your father's anger?"

Nan Tianxing sneered in response, "That's right. What of it?"

"Nothing much," Cha Eun Xiao replied with a slow nod. "Just because of a fleeting moment of anger, your actions led to a devastating loss in that battle, resulting in the failure of the Kingdom of Chen. Hundreds of square miles of land and hundreds of thousands of citizens fell under the brutal reign of the Grassland Wolf. Lives were marred, and people were slaughtered. Does that about sum it up?"

Nan Tianxing retorted, anger evident in his tone, "So what if it does?"

Cha Eun Xiao nodded again, this time with a touch of disdain. "I've reached a conclusion. Both you and your father are nothing more than despicable scoundrels! Like father, like son! It's a perfect match. Nan Tianxing, you are a despicable scoundrel through and through! The general simply irked your father, and you committed such heinous deeds. The general must be regretting not eliminating your old man altogether; it would have been a blessing if he had! Raising such a vile monster for a son! Your father deserved to die! If I were that general, I would have killed your father, the old coot, before dealing with you, the wretched offspring! And if you ever had a son, I'd ensure his demise as well, lest he perpetuate your sinister legacy on the world!"

Nan Tianxing seethed with anger; his beard quivered, and his face darkened as he malevolently grinned. "Feng Monarch indeed possesses a sharp tongue. Lord Cha's position as the number one of the Three Lords is well-deserved. Your words are as cutting as they come."

Cha Eun Xiao responded icily, "A man of honor would withstand such words with ease. Nan Tianxing, do you find my words difficult to bear? Do you understand what that signifies?"

Nan Tianxing's face darkened further as his eyes turned sharp, a surge of murderous intent emanating from him. "Feng Monarch, are you implying that I lack honor?"

Cha Eun Xiao replied calmly, "I didn't mean that."

Nan Tianxing breathed a sigh of relief, but his relief was short-lived as Cha Eun Xiao continued, "I merely meant that you don't deserve to be called a man. You abandoned millions of your own countrymen and your homeland simply because your father was upset. You've forfeited your humanity. How can I expect someone who is no longer human to possess honor?"

Nan Tianxing was on the verge of erupting in fury; his eyes turned crimson, and he trembled with anger.

Cha Eun Xiao had spent an entire day patrolling the area. On one hand, his sect had instructed him to monitor the situation outside, and on the other, his solitary nature had led him to seek solitude. So far, he hadn't detected anything suspicious, which had prompted him to take a break and find a quiet spot for a nap. Little did he know that during this rest, he would stumble upon a monumental secret.

In this moment, Cha Eun Xiao seemed like a treasure trove waiting to be plundered by Nan Tianxing. The opportunity was akin to a massive pie in the sky, hanging just within reach.

However, what Nan Tianxing didn't anticipate was the biting retorts and harsh words that would greet him during their brief conversation. This once tempting pie in the sky now appeared far less appealing, even repulsive.

"Good! Very good! You are good!" Nan Tianxing repeated these words three times, each time with increasing intensity. His eyes brimmed with unmistakable intent to kill, a motive he made no effort to conceal.

The previously mild autumn breeze seemed to transform into a biting winter gust, bringing an unexpected chill to the air.

"Are you praising me?" Cha Eun Xiao's gaze remained icy as he continued, "Receiving praise from someone who no longer deserves to be called a man doesn't fill me with pride. Instead, it fills me with shame."

He didn't mince words. "I have to wonder, is your praise rooted in the fact that I referred to your father as an old bastard and you as the son of a bastard? Or perhaps it's because I mentioned I would kill your little bastard son? Do you derive pleasure from this? Does it bring you satisfaction?"

As he spoke, Cha Eun Xiao began to concentrate his inner energy. The spiritual qi within him swirled, and the power of his soul and spiritual mind intensified. He hungered for greater strength, wishing for an even more potent force. His thoughts raced, longing for the day when he could break through to the Dream Origin Stage, bypassing the need for prolonged buildup and unleashing his might in an instant. If that moment were now, he wouldn't waste any more breath trading words with this despicable adversary; he would have struck already. But for now, he needed to harness his power to its utmost potential.

In the Land of Han-Yang, the term "trying their best" among cultivators meant putting forth every ounce of physical power and spiritual energy. Yet, this level of exertion, where even the lifting of a finger seemed impossible, fell short of what true superior cultivators considered "one's best."

Beyond physical and spiritual power, there existed a multitude of other energies, including soul power, saint soul power, spiritual mind power, and even the elusive powers of luck and the stars. To truly give one's best required the harnessing and utilization of all these forms of energy.

This comprehensive approach was precisely what Cha Eun Xiao found himself employing at this critical juncture. He had opted for a complex strategy because he harbored concerns that his experience in the Land of Han-Yang might not measure up to the formidable Nan Tianxing. After all, Nan Tianxing hailed from the Starlight Sect and practiced martial arts derived from the prestigious super sects of the Qing-Yun Realm.

In terms of background, Nan Tianxing held a distinct advantage over Cha Eun Xiao. While the latter had indeed reached the pinnacle of the Dao Origin Stage at one point, he couldn't bridge the foundational gap that set him apart from the super sects. Even though Cha Eun Xiao had previously defeated Liu Changjun, a cultivator in the middle levels of the Sky Origin Stage while below that level, he wasn't confident in his ability to defeat Nan Tianxing as a Sky Origin Stage cultivator. The disparity in foundational strength was undeniable.

The present circumstances demanded Cha Eun Xiao's best efforts to subdue this formidable adversary. He was acutely aware of his cultivation disadvantage, and even though he might not emerge victorious, he was determined to make his stand.

To execute his best, Cha Eun Xiao required time, but his own stubborn nature prevented him from showing weakness in front of his enemy. He knew that adopting a more cooperative stance might buy him more time, yet he refused to back down, as it went against his unyielding pride.

Nan Tianxing had been explicit in his intentions; he didn't seek to kill Cha Eun Xiao but rather to extract something more valuable—the secret he held. Despite the knowledge that a conciliatory approach might afford him additional moments, Cha Eun Xiao refused to compromise his pride. This unwavering pride was the cornerstone of his character, one that he would never forsake.

For Cha Eun Xiao, to relinquish his pride even once would set a perilous precedent. Thus, he clung to his unyielding sense of self-worth, holding it aloft like a banner, whether as the Xiao Monarch or as Cha Eun Xiao, as a testament to his unwavering resolve.