Chapter 16- His First Friend

The night wind carried the scent of rain, mingling with the lingering traces of blood and battle. Tianming and Jiang Chen sat by a small campfire in a secluded forest, their bodies exhausted but their spirits still burning. Their recent battles had pushed them to their limits—facing Mu Qingfeng's forces, escaping assassins, and barely holding onto their lives.

Tianming leaned back against a tree, arms crossed, staring at Jiang Chen. This guy had been following him ever since they met in the ruins.

He exhaled sharply. "How long are you going to follow me?"

Jiang Chen, who had been poking at the fire with a stick, paused. He blinked at Tianming before letting out a soft chuckle. "What are you saying?" He smirked. "We're friends now, aren't we?"

Tianming's fingers twitched slightly. Friends?

Jiang Chen tossed the stick aside, stretching his arms. "Think about it. We met in the ruins, survived against an ancient terror, fought side by side against Mu Qingfeng, then got chased by assassins." He grinned. "After all that, you expect me to just go my own way?"

Tianming scoffed, masking the strange sensation rising in his chest. "And your sect? You don't think they'll come after you for attacking a member of their rival sect and travelling with a man whose reputation is in tatters?"

Jiang Chen winced, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, they're probably going to eat my ears out demanding answers. But honestly?" His expression turned serious. "After everything we went through, I realized something."

Tianming remained silent.

Jiang Chen clenched his fists. "I want to get stronger." His voice carried an undeniable conviction. "Stronger than I ever imagined. And the way I see it, you're the best person to travel with if I want that."

Tianming frowned slightly. "I'm looking for a powerful sect to train under. That's my next step."

Jiang Chen nodded. "Then I'll come with you."

Tianming narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

Jiang Chen's grin widened. He reached out and clasped Tianming's hand tightly. "Because we still haven't had a proper match yet, right?" His eyes burned with excitement. "I want to see just how far I can go."

He looked up at the sky, eyes filled with longing. "Besides… I've always wanted to travel the world."

Tianming was taken aback by Jiang Chen's candidness. For a moment, he was at a loss for words. A friend? He had never really had one.

Ever since his fall from grace, the world had been nothing but betrayal and loneliness. Trust had become a foreign concept, and companionship was a luxury he had never considered.

And yet…

Jiang Chen's sincerity was impossible to deny.

Tianming scoffed, shaking his head. "You really don't know when to quit, do you?"

Jiang Chen smirked. "Nope."

Tianming let out a short laugh, something he hadn't done in a long time. Maybe, just maybe, having someone like Jiang Chen by his side wouldn't be so bad.

Beyond the immediate threat, the world was shifting.

The Storm Horizon Sect had begun its internal selection tournament—an event that could shake the balance of power in the region.

The Nether Abyss Sect was rumored to be seeking something ancient, something hidden.

The Grand Lotus Temple's envoys had been sighted moving toward the borderlands.

The Ironblood Warlords continued their brutal conquest, their ranks swelling.

The world did not wait for anyone.

Jiang Chen turned to Tianming. "Where to next?"

Tianming looked to the distant mountains, where new challenges awaited. "Forward. Always forward."

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Up next chapter 17

Tainming and Jiang Chen choose the Storm Horizon Sect as their next destination.

The world shall know soon

Tianming is not just a rougue.

He is the Sovereign of celestial ascent