The Former Genius—Xiao Zhongtian

In front of the small building, an old man and a young man sat together. 

The old man, blind, gazed into the distance as if reminiscing about days long past. 

"Once upon a time," the old man began, his voice steady but tinged with emotion, "there was a boy who became famous at a young age. He was the most talented disciple in his family." 

"To learn stronger spells and reach greater heights, he decided to leave his home and join a Sect." 

Xiao Xuan listened quietly. From the very first words, he knew that the boy in the story was none other than his grandfather, Xiao Zhongtian—the once high-spirited genius. 

Glancing at the old man's profile, Xiao Xuan could almost picture that proud, ambitious youth from long ago. 

"After many struggles, he finally joined the Haoran Sect and became an Outer Sect disciple," Xiao Zhongtian continued. 

"With his unique Spiritual Roots, his cultivation advanced rapidly, far surpassing his peers. Before long, he was accepted as an Inner Sect disciple and, eventually, a direct disciple of one of the Sect's elders." 

"He even learned the Sect's most powerful technique—the Haoran Sword Technique." 

Xiao Zhongtian's voice carried a hint of pride as he described the skill. 

"This Sword Technique is extraordinary. Those who practice it can fight opponents at a higher Realm. At its peak, it allows cultivators to cut mountains and rivers with a single strike, and shatter the heavens with their blade." 

"Moreover, it can be cultivated all the way to the late stage of the Nascent Soul Realm." 

Xiao Xuan listened intently, but he felt an unease growing within him. The story couldn't be so simple. If things had gone as smoothly as his grandfather described, why had he returned home blind, with his cultivation regressed? 

As the old man paused to sip his tea, Xiao Xuan tilted his head, resting his chin on his hand, and asked casually, "What happened after that?" 

A faint smile crossed Xiao Zhongtian's weathered face. His unseeing eyes seemed to gaze north, lost in memories. 

"Later, that boy met someone—a lover he could never forget for the rest of his life." 

Hearing this, Xiao Xuan felt he already knew the answer. 

"They didn't end up together, did they?" 

------

Xiao Zhongtian didn't speak immediately. His frail body trembled slightly, and two silent tears escaped his blind eyes, falling onto the table with a soft but piercing sound. 

"Despair..." 

The sound of his tears hitting the table echoed in the stillness near the small building. 

"Later, that young man thought his life had reached its peak," Xiao Zhongtian began, his voice heavy with emotion. 

"Guided by his master and accompanied by his companions in cultivation, he believed everything was falling into place." 

"But then," he continued, his tone shifting, "he met the nemesis of his life." 

Xiao Xuan listened intently as his grandfather's voice grew more agitated. 

"That man, came from a Sect as renowned as the Haoran Sect—a genius disciple of the Burning Flame Sect. Born with Earth Spiritual Roots, he also possessed the rare dual attributes of Wind and Thunder Spiritual Roots." 

"He was tall, proud, and unbearably arrogant," Xiao Zhongtian added, his voice choking slightly. 

"And worst of all, he too had set his sights on Baguio." 

At the mention of the name, Xiao Zhongtian's emotions visibly surged. His voice, usually steady and calm, betrayed the storm raging within. 

Xiao Xuan couldn't help but feel shocked. The grandfather he had known his entire life—always serene and unshaken—now seemed consumed by emotions he had long buried. 

"Baguio..." Xiao Xuan murmured. "Was she the one Grandpa could never forget?" 

Unable to hold back his curiosity, Xiao Xuan asked, "And then? Did you have a duel for her?" 

He felt it was the most likely outcome, a common development in such stories. 

But Xiao Zhongtian slowly shook his head, his expression weighed down by years of regret. 

"At that time," he began, his voice carrying the bitterness of helplessness,

"The Nascent Soul Ancestor of the Haoran Sect was nearing the end of his life. He had less than two hundred years remaining, and no new Nascent Soul powerhouse had emerged within the Sect to succeed him." 

"In contrast, The Nascent Soul Ancestor of the Burning Flame Sect was at his peak. For the sake of the Sect's survival and future benefits, the Haoran Sect made a decision." 

"They agreed to a marriage between Baguio and the Burning Flame Sect," Xiao Zhongtian said, his words trembling with sorrow. 

"They sacrificed her to strengthen the alliance between the two Sects." 

Hearing this, Xiao Xuan couldn't help but feel a deep sense of helplessness. 

The power of a Nascent Soul cultivator was something a mere Qi Refining cultivator could never hope to contend with. Even a Gold Core cultivator would pale in comparison before the might of a Nascent Soul expert. 

"Didn't that boy try to do something?" Xiao Xuan asked, his voice filled with uncertainty. 

Xiao Zhongtian let out a bitter laugh, his tone laced with self-mockery as he continued the story. 

"Later, on the day of her wedding, that young man, full of defiance, challenged the genius disciple of the Burning Flame Sect," he said. 

"With the Cultivation Base of the Foundation Establishment early stage, he thought his mighty Sword Technique would be enough to defeat him." 

Hearing this, Xiao Xuan couldn't help but interject, curiosity burning within him. 

"What was his Cultivation Base?" 

Xiao Zhongtian's expression turned somber as he answered, "At the age of eighteen, he was already in the Foundation Establishment late stage." 

Xiao Xuan inhaled sharply at the revelation. 

"Hiss!" 

As expected of a genius nurtured by a Nascent Soul power. Already in the late stage of Foundation Establishment at eighteen? 

By comparison, Xiao Xuan felt his own progress insignificant. His sixteenth birthday was just a month away, and he had only reached the seventh level of Qi Refining. 

For a moment, Xiao Xuan's heart sank. He had been feeling proud of his recent breakthrough, but that pride seemed to evaporate in the face of this harsh reality. 

Noticing the shift in Xiao Xuan's expression, Xiao Zhongtian spoke gently, his voice filled with wisdom. 

"It's good to feel joy when you make progress in cultivation, but never let that joy cloud your original intention. Hold onto that, and you will always find your way forward." 

Xiao Xuan silently nodded, taking the advice to heart before asking again, though with some hesitation. 

"What happened then? What was the result?" 

The question seemed to bring a shadow of pain to Xiao Zhongtian's face, a flicker of disappointment and regret that Xiao Xuan immediately noticed. 

"Later," Xiao Zhongtian said with a heavy sigh, "that boy lost. And he didn't just lose—he lost utterly." 

He paused, his voice trembling as he continued.

"His eyes were destroyed by lightning. Ironically, the thunder attribute he once took pride in became the very thing that sealed his fate." 

"Not only that, but he fell from the Foundation Establishment early stage all the way down to the third level of Qi Refining." 

"And after wandering aimlessly for years, he finally returned to his family, broken and defeated." 

The Hidden Mist Peak fell silent. The air was thick with sorrow as though the moment itself had frozen in time. 

The old man and the young boy sat quietly, side by side, saying nothing.