Chapter 87 – Half a Month Forging a Strong Soul (Nineteen)

Only eleven days remained until the end of military training.

At a certain mountain peak in N City.

Ye Kuang and the Elder met for the first time in their lives.

It could be said that he knew nothing about this old man—neither his name nor his background—but he deeply understood that this person was astonishingly powerful beyond imagination.

It was only at this moment that Ye Kuang realized his survival was owed to the Elder sacrificing thirty years of his own cultivation.

This was a debt of gratitude, akin to a rebirth.

Ye Kuang: “Elderly Gentleman, have we met before?”

As he asked this, he couldn’t help but feel perplexed because his Dantian had become unusually active, as if it held an indescribable sense of familiarity toward the old man before him.

Hearing this, the Elder’s turbid eyes cleared slightly, and he smiled faintly, saying, “We have never met.”

Upon hearing this, Ye Kuang couldn’t help but feel somewhat disappointed, though inwardly he remained deeply puzzled.

The Elder: “Young man, do not overthink it. The reason you feel this way is simply because you have absorbed my power. Today, I brought you here to make you understand what you must do now and in the future, and what you should or should not do.”

“Huh?” Ye Kuang was momentarily stunned upon hearing this.

This was the first time he had ever heard someone pose such a question—what exactly should he do?

Right. In the past, he had simply acted on whatever came to mind. There had never been a reason behind his actions, and now, as well as in the future, he found himself at a complete loss.

What should he do?

What should he not do?

It could be said that Ye Kuang was truly stumped by the question.

Become stronger?

That wasn’t all there was to it.

Lead and guide others?

Not entirely either.

Shoulder great responsibilities?

Perhaps that was part of it.

So what exactly did he want to do?

At this thought, Ye Kuang found himself stuck.

It could be said that when a person lacks a reason to do something, it becomes a meaningless endeavor, perhaps even a foolish one.

Ye Kuang: “Please enlighten me, Elderly Gentleman.”

“No… no… no…” The Elder’s eyes grew turbid again as he spoke, “You should ask yourself.”

Hearing this, Ye Kuang immediately sank into deep contemplation.

On the other side, the Chief also fell silent upon hearing this. Though the question seemed simple, it was, in fact, a challenge to one’s very purpose in existence.

Only by understanding the meaning of one’s existence could one find a reason to continuously grow stronger…

Naturally, the Chief was also deeply concerned about Ye Kuang’s existence.

Thus, in the room, two of the three individuals were intently watching him alone.

Moreover, since existence itself held meaning,

Ye Kuang, on the contrary, repeatedly denied his own worth, remaining utterly unaware of it. He dared not jump to conclusions.

For a moment, he scratched his head in frustration, as if trapped in a quagmire from which he could not extricate himself.

Seeing this, the Chief couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: He is still too young.

The Elder shared the same sentiment and couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed as he asked, “For example, what are your thoughts on the term ‘insignificant ant’?”

Ye Kuang was inexplicably startled by this question.

Insignificant ants?

In the eyes of all living beings, ants might be considered insignificant and easily trampled upon.

Little did they know that ants, too, were lives. They were unyielding and resilient, and for the sake of survival, they were willing to sacrifice themselves for righteousness!Ye Kuang: “Buddhism speaks of all beings as equal, Daoism says those who don’t attain sagehood are mere ants, Confucianism says even ants cling to life – naturally they too have their aspirations… No wild claims, no frivolous words, nor need for excessive speech. Perhaps in the eyes of ants, we are the strong ones, while in our eyes, ants belong among the myriad existences. As for opinions or their absence, what significance do they hold?”

Speaking thus, he suddenly experienced a moment of profound realization.

By the same token, aren’t humans born like ants? Yet in their allotted time, they too can grow robust and become powerful individuals.

As wisdom awakens, they continue this innate capability, constantly exploring and advancing within their limited time, able to express, radiate, and release their inherent value.

The Elder, observing the shift in Ye Kuang’s expression, couldn’t help but chuckle: “It seems you’ve understood.”

Hearing this, Ye Kuang felt a sudden tremor through his entire being. Only at this moment did he comprehend the Elder’s intention, startling him to his feet as he prepared to kneel in formal respect.

As the saying goes, a noble person knows what to do and what not to do.

Though one should only kneel to heaven and earth, and to one’s parents, how many truly sincere mentors does one encounter in a lifetime?

And this Elder had achieved it with just a few words!

To Ye Kuang, this felt no different from a sudden spiritual awakening.

Now, it was as if he had gained instant enlightenment, like clouds parting to reveal the sun.

The Elder, witnessing this, made no apparent movement yet suddenly stood before Ye Kuang, supporting him with both hands while saying: “We are but passing acquaintances – no need for such formal courtesy.”

“But…”

“You only need to know how to proceed on your path.”

“Understood!”

Though Ye Kuang’s response was but a single word, it conveyed the full commitment of a gentleman.

Seeing this, the Elder straightened his expression and turned to another seated figure: “Old Chen, what do you say?”

The Chief lightly tapped the armrest, smiling as he countered: “Haven’t you already found your answer within?”

No sooner had these words been spoken than both men recognized their respective reasoning.

Regardless of how Ye Kuang had cultivated his abilities, the mere fact that he possessed lost Ultimate Techniques indirectly indicated he was a man of great fortune.

The Elder: “Young man, since you’ve found your answer within, I must properly instruct you. Don’t undervalue yourself, nor aim unrealistically high. Remember: there’s always a mountain beyond the mountain, and among the strong, there are always stronger…”

Hearing this, Ye Kuang rose to his feet. He naturally understood the Elder’s meaning – the two were about to engage in a contest.

This could be considered an exchange of techniques between youth and experience, equally a physical comprehension of the concepts of strength and weakness.

For Ye Kuang, this was precisely what he desired – an opportunity that comes by chance, not by search.

It would allow him to clearly see the extent of his own power while simultaneously serving as a warning to himself.

Ye Kuang: “I beg for the Elderly Gentleman’s guidance.”

“Follow me.” The Chief took the lead after speaking, guiding both through the main gate directly to the spacious Martial Arena outside.

Along the way, Ye Kuang couldn’t help feeling astonished. Though he had glimpsed the outline of this place when entering, only now while walking through did he realize how extraordinary it truly was.

At this moment, two figures already stood poised in the Martial Arena.

They were unmistakably the Masked Figure and Feng Mingxue.

Seeing this, Ye Kuang couldn’t resist greeting them, but was met only with a disdainful glance and complete disregard.He also realized he was being met with cold indifference despite his warm advances. Letting out an awkward chuckle, he then looked squarely at the Elder across from him!