Chapter 873: The Toughest Route

Fatty Qian Duoduo rolled his eyes and said, "How would I know what you should do? All I ask from you now is that we partner up during this period of time. I've felt rather fond of you and I believe we were fated to be since I saw you..."

"Pardon? Partner up? Fond and fated?"

Yun Yang turned to stare at him, his eyes widening abnormally. He was expecting a certain amount of refuge-seeking, but what vocabulary was he using?

Could he be more shameless? Was he secretly addicted to his beatings?

Fatty looked a little bashful as he said, "I... cough... Actually... I'm just a little lonely. I want to find a partner..."

A chuckle almost escaped Yun Yang.

'Lonely? Why don't you say that you've been cold and empty? Your father has a strong embrace, but it's not for you!'

"You're scared are you? Scared that someone will finish you off anytime by being on your own?"

Yun Yang looked at Qian Duoduo mockingly.

"Following me means that you have conveniently gained a bodyguard! You can chat and dispel boredom during normal days, and you can get protection and help during critical times, too, right?"

"This - this isn't embarrassing, is it?" Fatty was flushed.

Yun Yang smiled and replied in a low tone, "Of course it's not embarrassing."

Fatty cheered, "Boss, you just came here anyway. You have my introduction, but there's been no practice. You know the outline of the situation, but not the entire picture. Partner up with me; at least you have a well-informed guide, right?"

"You make absolute sense and I acknowledge it deeply. Alright! I'll be your partner," Yun Yang agreed, nodding his head.

Fatty was elated.

"Fatty, your family background must be significant as well, I believe?" asked Yun Yang.

His question seemed to have struck Fatty's sore point as his delight waned immediately. He sighed silently and said, "You're right, but it's too bad... my house isn't mine anymore now. My dad was the household leader, but he passed away last year and my second uncle succeeded his position. Just three months ago, he chased me out of the family and robbed me of my Celestial Luck Banner spiritual meridian... Right now, I'm nothing more than a rogue cultivator."

Menace took over Fatty's expression as he spoke, the muscles in his face twitching violently. He took in a few deep breaths and held his tears in, speaking slowly, "Not only am I homeless now, but I also have no shelter. The reason I risked my life for the Effervescent Rimed Orchid was actually to repair my spiritual meridian. It's just that... even if I recover it, I won't be able to share the benefits of my family's Celestial Luck Banner anymore..."

His laughter was forlorn as he said, "Honestly, I'm left with less than a hundred spiritual jade pieces now after buying the Rimed Orchid. And a little gold and medicinal pills. I don't have anything else."

"When they chased me out of the gate that day, I wasn't even allowed back to my own home to pack some of my belongings..."

"I see," Yun Yang commented after a moment of silence.

He had thought that Qian Duoduo's behavior was bordering the extreme. He was like a terrified bird that was panicky and anxious, a floating piece of driftwood. It was actually due to his insecurity.

It was also due to this that he was now so warm to a stranger that he had just met.

Fatty's lonely confession seemed plausible then, but it was more believable now, supported by the isolation, resentment, helplessness, and hopelessness he had experienced.

Based on these factors, Qian Duoduo had flung himself over like a plaster, without regarding the fact that Yun Yang had just ascended without any knowledge or foundation upon confirming that the latter had no ill intentions - at least, not someone who bore ulterior motives against him.

It was like a traveler who had been trapped in ice and was desperate to find another person for warmth.

It had nothing to do with profit or benefit.

"Alright, alright. This is not the time to grieve and be sentimental. Tell me quickly, where's the place to register for a sect?" Yun Yang asked flatly as he stood up.

Glittering radiance shot from Fatty's eyes, his voice quivered slightly as he replied.

"Boss, are you sure you want to pick this path?"

The future route Yun Yang disclosed was considered the hardest option out of the given cultivation journey directions.

Yun Yang stared into the sky and answered softly, "I don't want to be under someone nor do I want to become someone else's slave... At least, before I completely lose hope, I must try a path of freedom first!"

He mentioned 'try' but his gaze spoke volumes of his determination.

Attaching himself to a sect or a clan could make things far easier for him. It would not even be a challenge to find himself an attachment given his current cultivation base and capability. However, doing so would unavoidably plant the idea of acquiring safety by anchoring oneself to others. That would be the fall of a master's spirit.

From then on, no matter how great the achievements he attained, there would always be a prick in the heat. Yun Yang was at least sure that it would be an undeniable challenge to ascend to the pinnacle of this world with such a mentality!

Succeeding by depending on others was not something Yun Yang would do!

In fact, he had formed this plan since he heard everything related to the Celestial Luck Banner.

He would depend on himself and fight for the flag on his own!

If the Celestial Luck Banners were not unique to this realm, Yun Yang even had the thought and confidence of creating it! He admitted the flag's existence as the milestone of this realm's cultivators and its significance as an incomparable treasure, but did he truly lack the items and genius required?

Be it Emmie, the Divine Edge or the Endless Divine Art, anyone among them was a rare godly item. Yun Yang was positive that what he had would not pale in the light of the so-called Celestial Luck Banner.

"I have one last question," said Yun Yang.

"I loved..." Fatty answered subconsciously.

"What are you saying?" Yun Yang was bewildered by his answer. What?

Fatty seemed to wake up from a trance and tried to salvage the situation.

"Pardon, what are you asking?"

"The Celestial Luck Banner, where does this flag come from? It's so mystical, its origin must be extraordinary too!"

"The Celestial Luck Banner, by its very name, is, of course, a gem gifted by the heavens."

Fatty was taken aback by Yun Yang's question, only providing a vague answer after several moments of thought.

"Gifted by the heavens? If it's truly the case, it should be destined. However, for a sect to snatch another sect's banner, it's obviously due to their own doing and forces. How can it be gifted? Isn't it a lie to ourselves to say that?" questioned Yun Yang.

"This really isn't the case," said Fatty as he exhaled deeply, "The so-called gifted by heavens and the contest among schools and sects contain a contrast in nature. This contrast will have to be explained from the very source of the Celestial Luck Banner..."