23: Three times ended

【In the 42nd year, Xue Miaoyun practiced the two High Grade Cultivation Techniques you gave her to Perfection in just three years.】

【In the 45th year, you finally reached Major Achievement in the two High Grade Cultivation Techniques Xue Miaoyun gave you. However, by comparison, the familiar feeling of frustration welled up in your heart—as expected, you are still a Trash!】

【In the 52nd year, Xue Miaoyun made a Breakthrough to the Great Grandmaster Realm, which made you doubt life even more.】

【In the 56th year,】

【After years of closed-door cultivation, you finally made a Breakthrough to Grandmaster Perfection, and all your Cultivation Techniques reached their limit.】

【Half a year later, you finally made a Breakthrough to Great Grandmaster.】

【You felt like a new person, and the power within your body underwent earth-shaking changes—】

【Your original True Qi transformed into True Yuan, which could not only condense phantom images for attacks but also wrap around your entire body, allowing you to briefly fly through the air for over a hundred breaths!】

【What surprised you even more was that the power of all your Cultivation Techniques had increased by several levels.】

【"No wonder they say a Great Grandmaster can live for two hundred years," you realized suddenly, "So it was all thanks to this True Yuan!"】

【Three days later, Xue Miaoyun rushed over.】

【Her expression was grave: "Something big has happened."】

【"What is it?" Your heart tightened.】

【"Cheng Wenbo... is dead."】

【It turned out that when the Cheng Family was exterminated, Cheng Wenbo rescued Cheng Tianrui and defected to the Jin Dynasty.】

【"How could a Great Grandmaster..." You suddenly thought of something, "Could it be that Xiao Tianci took action?"】

【Xue Miaoyun nodded heavily.】

【You immediately understood—Xiao Tianci had obtained the heaven-plundering pill over fifty years ago; he had likely already made a Breakthrough to the Heavenly Human Realm.】

【"Isn't it said that if someone in the Heavenly Human Realm takes action, they will suffer an unknown backlash? Why would he take the risk?" You were very confused.】

【"Cheng Wenbo's time was running out, so he deliberately went to assassinate Emperor Xiao Rui, forcing Xiao Tianci to take action," Xue Miaoyun sighed.】

【"Does the Jin Dynasty have anyone in the Heavenly Human Realm overseeing it?"】

【Xue Miaoyun smiled bitterly: "How could the Materials for the heaven-plundering pill be so easy to gather? We in the Jin Dynasty only have three Great Grandmasters."】

【"Then, knowing you can't win, why do you still stir up trouble at the border?" You were even more puzzled.】

【Xue Miaoyun looked at you meaningfully: "When you have time, go around the city and listen to what the common people here say. You will find that it is... the complete opposite of what you heard in the Yan Dynasty."】

【You were stunned for a moment, then smiled knowingly.】

【Three days later, you and Xue Miaoyun strolled through the streets of White Emperor City.】

【The streets were bustling with people. The common people didn't care about state affairs; they were busy making a living and thinking about what to eat that night.】

【Watching families enjoying their time together on the streets, you couldn't help but think of your own family.】

【"Is there any news about my parents?" you asked suddenly.】

【Xue Miaoyun paused, hesitating for a moment: "There is something... I never dared to tell you. Now that you are a Great Grandmaster, you should know."】

【"Your Qin Family... was executed a long time ago."】

【This sentence was like a thunderclap, leaving you dizzy and stunned.】

【The True Yuan in your body instantly went out of control, and the surrounding air trembled.】

【"Calm down!" Xue Miaoyun hurriedly pressed down on your shoulder.】

【You took a few deep breaths, suppressing your anger: "I understand. The dead cannot come back to life... Impulsiveness won't solve the problem."】

【After saying this, you turned and left.】

【In the dead of night, you quietly slipped out of the city gate.】

【Under the moonlight, outside the city gate, Xue Miaoyun stood with a spear, blocking your path: "You are still leaving?"】

【"If this knot in my heart is not untied, I will make no progress in this life." Your tone was calm.】

【She seemed to regret telling you.】

【She did not try to keep you, instead tossing the silver spear that had accompanied her for many years to you: "This Cangxue Dragon-Singing Spear has been with me for many years; take it with you."】

【You accepted it solemnly, thanked her, and left.】

【Watching your retreating figure, she shed two lines of tears—this was the second time she had cried.】

Looking at the simulation, Qin Chen was filled with emotion.

Although there were no details about his time with Xue Miaoyun, these dozen or so years of companionship must have contained many stories.

From rivals at daggers drawn to soulmates who cherished each other...

In the end, they could only forget each other in the Jianghu.

【In the 57th year,】

【Holding the Cangxue Dragon-Singing Spear, you walked towards the city gate of the Yan Dynasty capital, full of Killing Intent.】

【The city guards saw that you were up to no good and immediately surrounded you.】

【"Those who block me die!" You swept your spear, and your True Yuan transformed into a silver Dragon, instantly tearing the soldiers into pieces.】

【You walked step by step toward the imperial palace; the patrolling soldiers along the way were killed by your spear as soon as they raised their weapons.】

【In front of the imperial palace, the Imperial Guard Commander, Tie Shanhe, stood ready with a squad of men.】

【This new Imperial Guard Commander was also from the Martial Arts Academy, graduating more than a decade after you. Your wanted posters were plastered all over the streets, so he naturally knew about you.】

【"Qin Chen! Are you trying to rebel?" Tie Shanhe shouted sternly.】

【You sneered: "The vengeance for my parents is irreconcilable!"】

【Before the words left your mouth, the Cangxue Dragon-Singing Spear in your hand thrust out like lightning.】

【Tie Shanhe was only at the Grandmaster cultivation level; his Protective Aura was like paper, pierced through by your spear.】

【You flicked your wrist, and his corpse was sent flying.】

【The other imperial guards were even more vulnerable; in the blink of an eye, you killed your way into the Golden Throne Hall, leaving a trail of corpses behind you.】

【Emperor Xiao Rui stood on the dragon throne holding a sword, his gaze cold.】

【You knew that Emperor Xiao Rui was now at the Middle Stage of the Great Grandmaster Realm, but you had long since put life and death aside.】

【"I didn't expect that the person who would pose a threat to me in the end would be you," Emperor Xiao Rui chuckled.】

【"You dog emperor, die!" You shouted angrily, and the Cangxue Dragon-Singing Spear let out a shrill hum, thrusting out like lightning.】

【Emperor Xiao Rui raised his sword to block, and a True Yuan shield formed instantly.】

【"Clang!" He retreated three steps, his expression changing slightly.】

【You keenly noticed—he had been injured!】

【Otherwise, how could an opponent at the Middle Stage of the Great Grandmaster Realm be knocked back by your single strike?】

【You immediately understood that this was a hidden injury left by Cheng Wenbo's assassination attempt a year ago.】

【If not for this, given Emperor Xiao Rui's previous strength as a Martial Champion, you might not have been able to gain the upper hand.】

【The two of you exchanged blows, and in the blink of an eye, you had fought over a hundred rounds.】

【Emperor Xiao Rui was gradually unable to keep up, but you were not doing well either—he was trading injury for injury every time, which was extremely ruthless.】

【In the end, the two of you fought until you were exhausted, covered in blood and riddled with wounds, standing opposite each other.】

【Just at this critical moment of life and death, Emperor Xiao Rui suddenly shouted: "Still not taking action?!"】

【Before the words fell, a cold light flashed—】

【"Pfft!"】

【A long sword pierced through Emperor Xiao Rui's chest from behind!】

【Emperor Xiao Rui turned his head in disbelief, only to see the smiling face of Jin Lili.】

【"You..." His eyes were spitting fire.】

【With a flash of sword light, Emperor Xiao Rui's head rolled to the ground, his eyes still glaring fixedly at Jin Lili.】

【Jin Lili looked at the corpse and laughed loudly: "This throne should have been sat on by my son long ago!"】

【You steadied yourself by leaning on the Cangxue Dragon-Singing Spear, looking at this young girl who once entered the capital with you, and couldn't help but lament how easily people's hearts change.】

【"Do it," you said calmly.】

【Jin Lili raised her eyebrows: "How do you know I won't let you go?"】

【"We've been fighting in the hall for so long, yet there are no reinforcements; you must have sent everyone else away, right?" You sneered.】

【Qin Chen understood—after his death, he would take the blame for regicide for Jin Lili.】

【But it didn't matter; he didn't care.】

【Jin Lili approached you and chuckled: "I used to think you were a Genius, then I thought you were faking it, but now I realize... you are indeed a Trash!"】

【With a flash of sword light, your head fell to the ground.】

【The familiar feeling of Soul Emergence struck again.】

【You floated into the air and saw countless Souls flying toward the ancient bronze mirror like fireflies.】

【After being sucked into the ancient mirror, you saw inside: countless Souls slowly dissipating in the void, turning into nourishment for this ancient mirror.】

【This ancient mirror was actually refining Souls, not even giving them a chance for Reincarnation!】

【Ten breaths later, your consciousness completely dissipated...】

【You are dead!】

【Ding! Simulation ended, please choose a reward:】

【1. Personal Strength: Early Stage Great Grandmaster cultivation, seven Cultivation Techniques at Perfection.】

【2. External Object: Cangxue Dragon-Singing Spear.】

【3. Special Reward: Cultivation insights, combat experience, detailed memories.】