Chapter Twenty-Two: Let Nature Take Its Course

“So, you’re the one who brought me into this world?” Yin Seventeen asked tentatively.

“Yes, it was indeed I,” the old man replied without denial, nodding straightforwardly.

“And the reason?” Yin Seventeen pressed.

“Haven’t I already told you?” The old man smiled faintly, his tone unhurried. “I saw that you possess extraordinary bones and an unparalleled talent among millions, so I decided to bestow upon you a great fortune and form a bond of goodwill.”

“Heh, heh heh…” Hearing this, Yin Seventeen couldn’t help but sneer. “As much as I enjoy such praise, don’t take me for a fool.”

“There’s no such thing as a pie falling from the sky in this world.”

“Let’s be direct. Why did you send me here? Or, rather, what is it you want me to do for you?”

If it were merely to form a bond, the old man would hardly have gone to such lengths.

After all, when he was transported here, it wasn’t just him alone—an entire city was brought over.

No matter how one looked at it, this seemed like a premeditated act, not a whim.

“I simply wished to form a bond of goodwill with you,” the old man replied, stroking his long sideburns. “Of course, if you’re willing to do me a small favor, that would be even better.”

“What kind of favor?” Yin Seventeen asked immediately.

Clearly, this was the true purpose.

“I cannot say, I cannot say!” The old man waved his hand and laughed. “In time, you will understand.”

“If you won’t tell me, how am I supposed to know what you want me to do?” Yin Seventeen was bewildered.

The old man chuckled and continued, “Telling you in advance serves no purpose. It would only add to your mental burden and might even lead to unfortunate consequences.”

“To follow the natural course is the way.”

Such a vague answer did not please Yin Seventeen in the least.

“And if I never figure it out, won’t that render your good intentions wasted?” he said coldly.

“I think you misunderstand,” the old man gazed deeply at him, his tone amused. “You’re but one of many seeds I have sown, not the only one.”

“As for what this seed of yours will grow into, I care not in the least.”

“As long as one seed among the countless fulfills my wish, that will suffice.”

Hearing this, Yin Seventeen couldn’t help but laugh. “I thought I was truly a peerless talent among millions, yet in your eyes, I am but a dispensable seed.”

He had perhaps overestimated his importance to this old man.

“That’s not entirely true,” the old man replied with a smile. “Compared to ordinary people, you are indeed one in a million. But when countless such talents are gathered together, none stands out so much.”

“So, besides me, you’ve sown other seeds in this world?” Yin Seventeen ventured.

“That’s right,” the old man nodded. “But you’re unlikely to ever meet the others.”

“Why is that?” Yin Seventeen was surprised.

The old man looked at him intently. “Sowing seeds is not as simple as you think. When you reach a certain realm, perhaps you’ll understand.”

At these words, Yin Seventeen let out a cold laugh. “Since you’re unwilling to say anything, why bother showing up?”

The old man wasn’t angered; he replied carelessly, “Naturally, it’s to remind seeds like you.”

“To let you know your existence isn’t an accident, but has a specific purpose.”

“How tedious,” Yin Seventeen said, shaking his head.

“Well, my purpose is fulfilled. It’s time for me to depart.” The old man’s form began to fade, dissipating bit by bit into the sea of stars.

“Depart?” Yin Seventeen asked, surprised. “Since you can come here yourself, why not do what you want directly, instead of going to the trouble of sowing seeds like us?”

The old man cast him a sidelong glance. “If I could come here in person, would I need you at all?”

“What you see now is but a wisp of consciousness I left with you.”

“So that’s how it is,” Yin Seventeen realized.

As if recalling something else, the old man hastily added, “By the way, once my consciousness disperses, that sword energy will be yours to command.”

“But it’s only good for a single strike; you’d best consider carefully before using it.”

“How powerful is it? What can it do?” Yin Seventeen asked, curious.

Clearly, it was a protective charm left for him.

The old man thought for a moment and replied seriously, “By this world’s standards, it should be able to slay any being below the level of Lord God.”

“Below Lord God? That’s good enough,” Yin Seventeen nodded.

“One more thing—you should find it easier to practice sword techniques, now that your body has been attuned by my sword energy.”

With those last words, the old man’s consciousness shattered completely, dissolving into the starry sea.

“Sword techniques?” Yin Seventeen pondered for a moment, then realized the old man must have meant moves related to the sword.

“A most baffling fellow.”

Casting thoughts of the mysterious old man aside, Yin Seventeen turned his attention to the ancient sword before him.

“I thought it was some kind of legendary weapon, but it’s only a wisp of sword energy,” he observed, feeling a touch of disappointment as he examined it.

It was nothing more than a one-time consumable—once used, it would be gone.

“Well, one use is better than none,” he consoled himself.

Setting his thoughts in order, Yin Seventeen withdrew his consciousness from the small cosmos.

Now that he had mastered the power of the small cosmos, he would never again lose himself in the endless sea of stars; he could enter and exit at will.

As his awareness returned, his neglected five senses gradually revived—the sea breeze caressed him, the sound of waves remained unchanged.

But now, at his side, stood a man in a copper mask.

So absorbed had he been in igniting his cosmos, Yin Seventeen had not even noticed when the man had arrived.

“Sir…” he began, ready to greet the newcomer, but before he could finish, the man suddenly attacked, throwing a punch.

Without thinking, Yin Seventeen instinctively burned his cosmos with his sixth sense. Empowered by the cosmos, he easily broke the sound barrier and leapt far back.

“Hey, what do you want?” he demanded, steadied on his feet, his tone annoyed.

This man had watched him for two years for no apparent reason, and now, out of nowhere, launched a sudden assault. It was baffling.

Had he not detected any foreign cosmos power intruding, Yin Seventeen would have thought his recent encounter with the old man had been exposed.

The copper-masked man gave no answer, but charged once more.

Yin Seventeen had thought that, having ignited his cosmos, dealing with the masked man would be far easier than last time.

But to his shock, he found the man’s strength far exceeded his expectations.

He had barely begun to throw a punch, his arm not yet fully extended, when his opponent, moving even later, struck first and knocked his fist aside.

So much for answering moves with moves—this was as far as he could go.

Only then did Yin Seventeen truly realize that, in front of the copper-masked man, he couldn’t even throw a punch.