Chapter 4

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Xiang had her daily routine, diligently completing her tasks. Wen Shia, who had been observing her for some time, slowly began to think about accepting her as a disciple.

One morning, Xiang was busy cleaning and organizing books in Wen Shia's room. She was meticulously arranging everything when Wen Shia quietly entered the room and sat near his wooden table. Watching her for a moment, he softly called her name and asked, "Could you bring me some tea?"

Xiang immediately agreed. She walked over, sat across the table from him, and carefully prepared the tea. When she offered the cup to Wen Shia, he took it, sipped slowly, and said, "Okay."

Xiang, slightly confused, asked, "The tea… is it okay?"

Wen Shia shook his head. "We're not talking about the tea. I'm talking about what you asked me earlier."

At first, Xiang didn't understand, but after a moment, realization dawned on her. Her face lit up with joy as she exclaimed, "Does that mean you accept me as your student?"

Wen Shia didn't reply directly. He simply smiled faintly, his lips curving ever so slightly. That small gesture was enough to send Xiang running to her father in excitement. Hearing the news, her father was overjoyed and proudly gave her his blessings.

From that day, Xiang began living and training with Wen Shia. She started learning cultivation and swordsmanship under his guidance. However, the journey wasn't easy. In the beginning, Xiang struggled with everything. Her movements were clumsy, her techniques lacked precision, and her focus wavered.

Wen Shia was a strict teacher. He woke her up early every morning, made her run long distances, and assigned her challenging tasks. He didn't hesitate to scold her for her mistakes, demanding nothing but her best effort. Despite the rigorous training and harsh reprimands, Xiang always wore a big smile on her face. She respected Wen Shia deeply and willingly obeyed his instructions.

Day by day, she improved. Slowly but surely, Xiang's hard work began to pay off, and her progress became evident. Time passed like this, with her dedication and his mentorship forging a bond of mutual respect and trust.

One day, Wen Shia was summoned to the heavens. Upon arriving, the Heavenly God addressed him with grave urgency.

"I have an important task for you," the Heavenly God said. "Soon, the demons will attack Heaven or Earth. They've learned about the Element Power Stone. I'm not sure how, but they will stop at nothing to find it. We must prepare for their attack, for they will show no mercy. You are the only one capable of defeating the demon king, Zo Huan."

Zo Huan, the demon king, was infamous for his cruelty and ruthlessness. He showed no compassion and would kill without hesitation. His sole ambition was to rule over all realms. His name alone struck fear into the hearts of many.

Despite looking like a young man of 20 or 22 years, Zo Huan possessed immense power. His lean frame belied his magical abilities, which were said to be unmatched. Defeating him seemed nearly impossible.

Upon hearing about Zo Huan's plans, Wen Shia's anger flared. "How dare he threaten us again? This time, we will not spare him!" he declared.

The heavens began their preparations for war, convinced that Zo Huan would strike them first. Soldiers were armed and ready to defend their sacred domain.

However, Zo Huan, cunning as ever, changed his strategy. "We won't attack Heaven," he told his generals, a wicked smile playing on his lips. "We'll strike Earth instead. Let's see how they protect it."

Without warning, Zo Huan sent his army to attack Earth, but he himself stayed behind, blending into the mortal world disguised as an ordinary man. He wandered unnoticed, observing and planning his next move.

On Earth, the cultivators of Ninjing Mountain were among the first to prepare for battle. Masters and disciples alike gathered to defend their homeland. Some were seasoned warriors, while others were novices still learning the basics of cultivation. Yet, all of them shared a common goal: to protect their people and defeat the demons.

Determined and united, they stood ready to fight, even if it meant sacrificing their lives to ensure the safety of their world.

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