Chapter 5: I’m Not Wrong

“Nian’er!”

Xuanyuan Jiong, filled with joy, wrapped her arms tightly around Xuanyuan Nian from behind as he studied.

“Nian’er, this is a Meridian-Widening Immortal Elixir. Take it quickly.”

She gently placed the small box beside the book he was reading.

Resting her head on his shoulder, Xuanyuan Jiong watched him with expectant eyes as he opened it.

A faint fragrance drifted out, and Xuanyuan Nian immediately recognized the type of pill.

Only two people in the world could refine this kind of elixir.

“Mother, where did you get this?”

“Your great-aunt specifically found it for you.”

Xuanyuan Nian felt a surge of gratitude toward Xuanyuan Mingye, whom he had only met once.

This great-aunt of his was not only beautiful but also kind-hearted.

“I understand. Mother, I will take it… But aren’t you about to break through soon? There’s no need to spend so much effort on me.”

“Nian’er is truly sensible—remember, you must take it, understand?”

“Mm, I understand.”

The fragrance lingering around Xuanyuan Jiong slowly faded as she left.

Along with it went that overwhelming maternal affection—so heavy that Xuanyuan Nian felt as if he could barely lift his head.

After following her instructions and taking the elixir, Xuanyuan Nian felt as if a single drop of dew had fallen into a vast river.

There was no reaction at all.

So… it’s still the same.

It seemed that only a Great Emperor-level expert could truly help him.

A Great Emperor…

Xuanyuan Nian didn’t dare seek one out.

In his current state, the best outcome would be being captured and turned into a plaything.

If that happened, the one who would suffer most would be Xuanyuan Jiong.

He didn’t want that.

Xuanyuan Jiong had said she was about to break through—but what she hadn’t mentioned was that she had already reached the peak of the Spirit Transformation Stage.

Eleven years had passed since she returned to the Xuanyuan Clan.

In that time, she had advanced from the early Nascent Soul Stage to the peak of Spirit Transformation.

Reaching such a level before the age of forty…

These were the makings of a future Great Emperor.

“Xuanyuan Jiong.”

Xuanyuan Lan appeared silently, looking at his daughter with a complicated expression.

“What is it?”

Xuanyuan Jiong gently touched the hairpin Xuanyuan Nian had given her, completely absorbed in it.

Even Xuanyuan Lan’s presence didn’t draw her attention.

“Have you noticed? You’ve changed. The you from before couldn’t have advanced this quickly… If you’ve used forbidden techniques—”

“Everything I’ve done is for my Nian’er.”

Xuanyuan Jiong’s eyes sharpened.

“You, his grandfather, ignore him—and yet you still try to force him into a marriage he doesn’t want!”

She took a slow breath, calming herself.

“This is the result of my own effort. Not some evil art. If that’s all you came to say, don’t disturb me again.”

“…”

Xuanyuan Lan fell silent.

Had he… really been wrong?

After leaving, Xuanyuan Lan walked through the rear mountains of the Xuanyuan Clan.

Among rows of tombstones, he stopped before one grave.

“…”

Now a Tribulation Transcendence expert, he lowered his head and looked at the mound of earth.

Memories surfaced.

The woman he had once met in the Mortal Realm.

She had been ordinary—but he had loved her deeply.

At some point, however, he had begun to distance himself from her.

Even Xuanyuan Jiong’s birth had come from a union he had once resisted.

“I’m not wrong, Zhang Xiaoli. It wasn’t me who harmed you—it was this world.”

That day, thunder roared across the Sixth Heaven.

His wife had been suffering from an incurable disease.

Only one of the Ten Great Emperors could have saved her.

But asking such a figure to act would have cost the Xuanyuan Clan a devastating price.

So he chose not to.

Holding onto hope that her condition wouldn’t worsen, he left to handle clan affairs.

He never expected that on that very day…

She would die.

At that time, only his wife and Xuanyuan Jiong had been there.

Even now, he couldn’t imagine the trauma Xuanyuan Jiong must have endured—watching her mother die in the middle of a storm.

And in the years that followed, he had been too busy for the clan to care for her.

He didn’t even learn she had gone on a training journey until months later.

“That child cannot advance further… Everything I’ve done is for the clan. I have not done wrong.”

“Mother, you don’t need to give me such precious elixirs anymore.”

When Xuanyuan Nian saw her again, he spoke calmly.

He understood the price Xuanyuan Mingye must have paid for that pill.

And yet, even knowing it likely wouldn’t change anything…

They still held onto hope.

That made his heart ache.

“Why? Nian’er, let me see.”

Xuanyuan Jiong placed her hand lightly on his abdomen, sending a thread of spiritual energy into his meridians.

Her emerald eyes were filled with deep affection.

“Nian’er is improving. His meridians have widened again.”

“In nine years, we’ll make your grandfather see you differently.”

Xuanyuan Nian lowered his gaze.

He hated his current self.

Weak. Powerless.

Unable even to clearly perceive his own condition.

All he could do was believe her words.

And he had believed them for years.

Yet nothing had changed.

“I understand.”

“Good.”

Xuanyuan Jiong smiled warmly.

“Oh, right—Nian’er, I really like the hairpin you gave me. Look—”

“…”That night, Xuanyuan Nian couldn’t sleep.

Logically, after transmigrating into this world, he should have had some kind of special advantage.

But he had nothing.

No hidden treasures.

No powerful artifacts.

His past self had never needed them.

At his peak, he could turn anything into a divine weapon.

Only when training others had he ever used such items.

So what did he have left?

Suddenly, countless memories surfaced in his mind—

Supreme martial techniques, alchemy knowledge, and formation arts.

These were things his past self had mastered to perfection.