The other matter he mentioned was helping Xiao Liuzi find his father's soul. The old man in red was the ghost king of this place, so he naturally had the ability and means to help. Since he liked Ye Tiancheng very much and wanted to assist him, it was merely a small gesture. Therefore, he smiled indifferently, then asked Ye Tiancheng to command him whatever help he needed, and he, the old man in red, would definitely help him to the end.
Hearing him say this, Ye Tiancheng couldn't help but become happy. Of course, he hoped for others to help him and wished to be the one who could accomplish this matter simply and directly.
He didn't want to waste too much time here. He wanted to return to his own city because many people were waiting for him. He didn't want to waste too much of the time he originally didn't want to waste here. He didn't know how they were doing during his absence, and thinking about it made him feel a little sad. Sometimes, even if you really want to face certain problems, you can't, and even if you don't want to face them, they will find you.
Time passed very slowly. Everything would be executed according to your original requirements. Everyone who wanted to become very powerful and formidable within this time would always follow facts that you could not accept, yet they would make you change. Everything would make you feel awe-inspiring.
Everything would change your initial thoughts. Whether you were willing or not, Ye Tiancheng harbored much negativity in his heart – selfishness, dirtiness, evil, and complex thoughts continuously spread within him. It was precisely because of these thoughts that the old man in red looked up to him. This old man in red felt that Ye Tiancheng perfectly matched his own views.
Evil people naturally liked to pass on their thoughts to evil people, allowing them to continue to exert their specialties. In this chaotic and evil world, anyone who desired a powerful soul would never fail to make decisions that made people feel regret and fear.
It was impossible to settle down peacefully in this environment. As time went by, all changes became meaningless. Time would not wait for you, nor would fate. When you wanted to make everything simple, you would realize that it was all just an illusion.
"Forget it. Some things are better not to insist on. If you want to insist, you will pay a great price. Think back then, you even wanted to bring down the Jade Emperor. You didn't know how many heavenly soldiers and generals were protecting him. At that time, you would have cried your eyes out. If you wanted to deal with him, it would be like being an enemy to the entire divine realm."
He was truly worried that Ye Tiancheng would continue to become more evil.
"I've thought about the time of eternal damnation long ago. Let's talk about it later. Everyone has something they want to pursue and must pursue." Saying this, he no longer insisted, feeling that persistence was useless. Many things that seemed unrelated to him were actually very related. Many things that seemed to have no great connection with him actually had a great connection, a single move affecting the whole.
No matter what, as long as he wanted to achieve something, he had to persevere relentlessly, even if it meant eternal damnation later. Ye Tiancheng had already decided to do so, so he was indifferent to the persuasion.
Therefore, he was a very resolute person. No matter what difficulties or setbacks he encountered, he would unswervingly stick to his ideas, even if the price paid was very heavy one day.
He no longer cared, nor did he change. Death was a form of归宿 (guīsù - destination/end). For Ye Tiancheng, it was just closing his eyes and thinking about nothing.
If he continued to be so dispirited and degenerate, it would truly be a disservice to his ancestors' expectations.
When a person is muddled, their vision is very short-sighted. They cannot see that far or think that much. Naturally, they would also view their ancestors' instructions very lightly. Time would always become very understated. No matter how persistently you pursued, in the end, it would all become desolate.
Therefore, Ye Tiancheng's ultimate pressure and determination were very strong. He had long since become indifferent to this pressure and determination, completely disregarding any changes.
What everyone pursued in their hearts, in the end, was nothing more than an illusion. When you stop insisting and pursuing, there is truly nothing left to pursue. The reason Ye Tiancheng pursued what he wanted to pursue was simply to be responsible for himself, regardless of what the future held.
His pursuit of himself had never changed. The souls of all adults, in the end, would only become like that. Time would always pass quickly, and fate, whether you liked it or not, would greatly influence your future, stemming from your decisions about this future. Ye Tiancheng's heart was constantly pursuing those things, even though he felt they were far out of reach.
"Young man, it's just going to Wangjiang Terrace. This old man will lend you a hand and ensure you reach it easily and pleasantly, and master all the interpersonal relationships you wish to master. Although it might be very unfair to you, I believe that as long as this old man can do it, I will definitely help you achieve it. As long as this old man can accomplish it, I will definitely help you accomplish it."
His demeanor was very sincere, without any pretense, which made Ye Tiancheng feel extremely excited. Regardless, he was truly grateful for his help. Therefore, Ye Tiancheng nodded and gladly accepted his request. No matter what, he still needed others' help. No one could be eternally undefeated. Only by seeking help could one achieve easier progress.
Ye Tiancheng smiled indifferently, then glanced at Li Longji and the bull-headed monster. Those two were covered in dust and could only glare resentfully at him as he left with the old man in red.
Powerful people naturally attract powerful cultivators to their side. Others can only envy them. This is the inherent nature of destiny intertwined. Heaven only allows a small portion of people to succeed; the majority can only stare blankly and envy. Therefore, successful people can look down on everyone with a condescending gaze.
On the surface, they still have to pretend to be humble and subservient. In reality, in their hearts and expressions, they are extremely arrogant. They do not look highly upon any person or any matter. This is a natural occurrence. As long as you can reach this level, as long as you are favored by heaven, you will naturally behave this way.
This is human nature; there is nothing to be sad about, nor anything to be ridiculous about.
Some things and some people can always be observed with the eyes. No matter what, the future and time will always be immersed in others' imaginations. What everyone pursues and all matters seem to have become ethereal and elusive. Therefore, whatever everyone pursues, it is likely that after countless changes in the next step, it will ruthlessly tell you: some people succeed without effort, while some people try their best but do not succeed.
When you ruthlessly disrupt this rule, you are essentially challenging it.
Heaven will help you. Successful people do not need you to work hard. Just like Ye Tiancheng before you, from the moment he obtained the divine stone, the trajectory of his destiny had already changed.
This change was very displeasing to Ye Tiancheng because he still wished to survive in his previous state.
Although he was looked down upon by Hou Mingzhu, he still felt that this state of life was the one he desired. No matter what, he did not want to become more powerful, because the more powerful people become, the more powerful the people they encounter, and the fiercer the struggle becomes. This is because the path to the top is filled with people who have boundless desires and infinitely intelligent minds. They are insidious and cunning, and will stop at nothing to achieve success.
Ye Tiancheng greatly disliked such people, but now that it had become this way, even though he was unwilling to face it, he had to. Thinking back to his leisurely and carefree lifestyle, it was actually more enjoyable than cultivation. Now that he had become like this, it was entirely not the life he wanted. He felt very stifled but was helpless. Sometimes, a mistake in destiny can last for many years, and if it cannot be changed, it cannot be changed.
At this time, he could not face his original intentions at all. Time flew by, and everything became unrecognizable. After spending many years in this struggle, he felt that the world had become extremely hateful to him. For this feeling, it was simply like the experience of hell. This was not the life he pursued, nor was it what he wanted to obtain.
Despite this, he still reluctantly accepted all these unfair things.
Ye Tiancheng detested his current self, but he had no way to change the status quo. He could only wholeheartedly accept this change. His heart was filled with all sorts of complex emotions, which made his mood very depressed. As time went by, his mood became worse and worse.
Sometimes, when he needed to vent, he found that although he knew many people, no one could understand him. Perhaps this is called loneliness. Lonely people always appear very desolate in the most bustling places.
Seeing his expression, the old man in red laughed.
"Young man, you are still young. Why do you burden yourself with so many things you cannot bear? If you learn to be more carefree, you will gain more. Once upon a time, I was also like you, but later I found that living without a care in the world is the best state. Do not be bound by others' emotions, nor be confused by them. You always live for yourself. When you die, nothing you possess will belong to you."