Chapter 612 - 610: Unswerving Until Death

"No, Benefactor, I will not get up."

Wen Liang clung to Jiang Chen’s leg, utterly unwilling to let go.

He was an orphan with no other family besides his sons and grandsons.

After Jiang Chen saved him all those years ago, he had come to see Jiang Chen as his only true family in this life—the elder he respected most in his heart.

Although he didn’t know why Jiang Chen only had a Martial King’s Cultivation, none of that mattered.

The most important thing was that Jiang Chen was the person he respected most.

He was his family.

"I was an orphan. You were the one who taught me to grow, the one who changed my life."

"Benefactor, please accept my bow."

With that, Wen Liang kowtowed deeply to Jiang Chen.

It was a gesture to express the reverence he held for Jiang Chen in his heart.

Only then did Jiang Chen help Wen Liang to his feet.

"Alright, there are too many people here. Let’s find somewhere quiet to talk."

Wen Liang finally came to his senses and quickly stood up.

"Benefactor, please. The Fire Sparrow Kingdom is my home, which means it is also your home."

Without paying any mind to the others, Wen Liang respectfully led Jiang Chen straight toward the Royal Palace.

He left everyone else standing there, completely stunned.

The turn of events had been too sudden.

No one could process what had just happened.

"No, how could this be?"

The father and son, Lord Wen and Wen Shixi, had already collapsed to the ground.

Even their ancestor was so deferential to Jiang Chen. They had never seen the old man cry, yet he had shed tears for Jiang Chen.

They had a very bad feeling about this.

Third Prince Wen Shiren was the most bewildered of all.

"This... this..."

’Grandfather not only knows Jiang Chen, but what’s this about a little beggar?’

Suddenly, he recalled the legend of his grandfather, Wen Liang. The stories said that he was once merely a beggar who suddenly rose to power and founded the Fire Sparrow Kingdom.

You could say that his grandfather’s legend was well-known not only in the Fire Sparrow Kingdom but throughout the entire Divine Wind Empire.

It was a legendary tale of a man rising from nothing.

Flame Dragon, Mr. Qiu Shui, Xiaotian, and the others were all equally confused.

However, it was clear that the ancestor of the Fire Sparrow Kingdom was no longer their enemy.

They had no choice but to wait for Jiang Chen outside the city.

Inside the luxurious grand hall, only Jiang Chen and Wen Liang remained.

THUD!

Wen Liang knelt before Jiang Chen once again.

"Benefactor, I have searched for you for so many years. It has been agonizing."

"Your sudden departure caught me completely off guard. I thought I would never see you again in this life."

"When you left, I felt as if I had been abandoned—lonely and helpless."

Wen Liang continued to pour out his heart. The emotions he had suppressed for nearly a thousand years finally found release.

He had always suppressed these feelings and never told anyone about how he met his benefactor.

Everyone thought he was a legend, but in truth, he had only become a legend because of Jiang Chen.

Without Jiang Chen, there would be no him.

He felt he could only express such emotions to an elder.

When facing his own descendants, he was always stern.

But in front of Jiang Chen, he couldn’t hold back.

Jiang Chen said lightly, "That’s enough. You’re an old man. Stop crying like this."

"Get up and speak properly."

Only then did Wen Liang rise to his feet again.

He looked at Jiang Chen, grinning foolishly.

"Benefactor, where have you been all these years?"

"Why is your Cultivation so low right now?"

This was what confused him. Of course, he had no doubt that the Jiang Chen before him was his benefactor; he could not be mistaken.

In fact, Jiang Chen’s appearance hadn’t changed at all in a thousand years, a fact that puzzled even Jiang Chen himself.

’Could there be two people in this world who look exactly alike?’

Putting that aside for a moment, seeing Wen Liang again, Jiang Chen also felt a wave of nostalgia.

He said lightly, "I am merely an incarnation, tempering myself in the mortal world. There is nothing strange about it."

Wen Liang stared blankly. ’An incarnation, tempering itself?’

He knew Jiang Chen’s Cultivation had to be incredibly high; he had realized that much after he began his Cultivation of the Vermilion Bird Seal.

’To think that even his incarnation has already reached the level of Martial King Cultivation!’

He didn’t doubt it for a second.

"Benefactor, no matter what, you are my benefactor. You gave me a new life."

"I call the shots in this Fire Sparrow Kingdom, which means it is yours."

"It’s just a pity that I don’t have much time left to repay you."

Wen Liang was thrilled, yet also a little resigned.

His lifespan was now drawing to a close.

Unable to break through to the Martial Saint realm, his lifespan was limited to a thousand years.

Although he had used some rare treasures to extend his life by a few decades, for a Martial Cultivator, such a short time would pass in the blink of an eye.

A few decades was nothing at all.

Jiang Chen looked at Wen Liang.

He could see that Wen Liang did not have much of his lifespan remaining.

He said lightly, "You don’t have to worry. Since you’ve met me, I can help you break through in your Cultivation."

If Wen Liang had been disrespectful toward him, Jiang Chen naturally would not have bothered with the man any longer.

But after recognizing him, Wen Liang’s respect was genuine.

He was very satisfied with that.

He decided to give Wen Liang some guidance.

Wen Liang’s breakthrough seemed difficult, but for Jiang Chen, it was not difficult at all. In fact, it was quite simple.

"Really?"

Wen Liang looked at Jiang Chen, his face flushed with excitement.

He had never known Jiang Chen’s name, but he only remembered that he was his benefactor.

Everything he had was given to him by Jiang Chen, and now, Jiang Chen was actually able to help him break through.

’When the time comes, I will follow my benefactor’s side without fail.’

"Of course, it’s true."

"A thousand years ago, I could turn you from a mortal into a Martial Cultivator. Now, I can just as easily help you break through to the Martial Saint realm."

Jiang Chen was completely nonchalant, as if he were talking about something incredibly simple.

THUD!

Wen Liang knelt again, tears streaming down his face.

"Benefactor, I have no way to repay you."

"Once I break through, I will stay by your side and protect your incarnation until the day I die."

He didn’t dare to dream of following Jiang Chen’s true self. After all, for Jiang Chen to have lived over a thousand years, his Cultivation must be far beyond his imagination.

’Even his incarnation has a Martial King’s Cultivation. It’s truly unimaginable.’

"Let’s not talk about other things for now. Let me help you break through."

Immediately, Jiang Chen once again sent a message to Wen Liang via his Divine Thought.

"This is an improved version of the Vermilion Bird Seal. It will be enough for you to break through. If there are no surprises, you should be able to reach the Martial Emperor realm at the very least."

BOOM!

As he received the improved Vermilion Bird Seal from Jiang Chen, Wen Liang’s entire body trembled, and his mind roared.

Just from perceiving the improved Vermilion Bird Seal, he could clearly feel that his Cultivation was on the verge of a breakthrough.

It was simply miraculous.

"Thank you, Benefactor."

"Thank you, Benefactor."

Wen Liang knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly to Jiang Chen.

"Alright, stop kneeling at the drop of a hat. Have some backbone."

Jiang Chen waved his hand with a sigh.

Wen Liang was truly moved beyond words and began to cry again.

An old man, whimpering and crying... it would be a laughingstock if word got out.

But in truth, Wen Liang felt like he really, truly needed to cry.

He just couldn’t hold it back.

Now, Jiang Chen had once again guided him in his Cultivation. His breakthrough was not far off.

He only needed a period of seclusion to finally achieve the breakthrough that had eluded him for hundreds of years.

Such was the importance of a master’s guidance.