CHAPTER 280: CHAPTER 280: REGRETFUL YAO LAO

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"...Are some successes destined to be unrepeatable? Just be yourself... and stand at the peak..." Xiao Yan murmured softly, falling into deep thought.

In his heart, he silently recalled every step of the journey he had taken to get here. As he remembered his original intentions, his eyes gradually became dazed and unfocused.

Seeing this, Wei Yang smiled slightly and didn’t interrupt. Instead, he slowly picked up his teacup, gently took a sip, and savored the taste.

He knew that his appearance had, indeed, changed some things.

It could be said that Xiao Yan had always been suppressed by him, completely overshadowed. Unlike in the original story, where Xiao Yan was the brightest and most dazzling presence wherever he went, now things were different.

From Wu Tan City all the way to the Black-Corner Region, Xiao Yan had actually performed quite well.

But unfortunately, that layer of aura he once had seemed constantly shrouded by Wei Yang’s shadow, making him appear less brilliant, less outstanding.

If Wei Yang didn’t exist, Xiao Yan would be the most exceptional.

But facts were facts, and there was nothing Wei Yang could do about that. He couldn’t possibly hold himself back just to spare Xiao Yan’s feelings, right?

Whether Xiao Yan could come to terms with it or not—that was up to him.

If he couldn’t even endure this kind of setback, then Wei Yang wouldn’t have any more to say.

For someone like that, even if they came from the same hometown, Wei Yang would not hesitate to abandon them and seize all of Xiao Yan’s opportunities to quickly strengthen himself—so he could figure out a way to stand against Hun Tiandi.

It might sound harsh, but this was the brutal, naked reality.

Those who are destined to fall behind you—there’s no need to care too much about them. Because they’re simply not meant to be in the same world as you. No matter how good the relationship once was, in the future, the distance between you will only grow wider.

Of course, Wei Yang figured that this step might never need to happen.

Because Xiao Yan’s mental resilience and determination... those were truly unshakable.

And sure enough—

Just a short moment later, as Xiao Yan slowly closed his eyes, the aura around him began to grow hazy and ethereal—there, yet not quite.

Wei Yang was momentarily stunned. Though he kept his expression calm, his eyelids twitched uncontrollably several times. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

In his heart, he couldn’t help but marvel: As expected of you... you never disappoint, Xiao Huohuo.

At this moment, Xiao Yan had actually entered a state that resembled enlightenment.

This situation was very much like what happened during the Alchemist Grand Meeting in Jia Ma Sacred City.

Back then, faced with immense pressure, Xiao Yan didn’t collapse. Instead, he entered a mysterious and profound state, undergoing a transformation that dramatically increased his soul power.

It was a transformation in both mindset and soul.

Under immense pressure, some people collapse. Others, however, break through in adversity and evolve.

Right now, Xiao Yan was once again unleashing his hidden potential, undergoing another intense transformation.

Not far away, Ah Da was watching wide-eyed, full of envy.

This kind of enlightenment-like, mysterious state—Ah Da naturally understood it.

Because back in the day, he had the rare fortune to enter that state once himself. It was precisely that experience that laid the foundation for him to step into the Ling Realm in soul cultivation.

However, recalling that during the Alchemist Grand Meeting, Xiao Yan had already entered that kind of state once and unlocked potential...

To think that in just over three years, he could do it again... and dig even deeper!

Unbelievable!

...

At that moment—

Yao Lao’s somewhat illusory soul form drifted out gently.

He hovered in the air, stroking his long beard, looking at Xiao Yan—now deep in enlightenment—with a face full of comfort and satisfaction. His smile was as radiant as a blooming chrysanthemum.

"Senior, congratulations." Wei Yang greeted with a warm smile and even poured him a cup of tea himself as a sign of respect.

"Haha, this is all thanks to you, Brat Wei. Your one sentence was more effective than a thousand from me. You’re truly a blessing to both me and my disciple." Yao Lao laughed cheerfully as he accepted the tea.

"A blessing, huh?" Wei Yang chuckled freely upon hearing that. "Maybe. We’re just working toward mutual benefit. And all this time, haven’t we cooperated quite happily?"

"Not bad, not bad." Yao Lao nodded, deeply agreeing. "Our cooperation has indeed been very pleasant."

"I’ve lived for so many years and have seen countless outstanding young people. Truly, too many to number. But not a single one of them has ever given me the kind of shock and amazement that you have, Brat Wei."

Yao Lao sighed emotionally. "Moreover, your character and temperament are both excellent—something that’s even more rare and precious."

Thinking back to the first time he met Wei Yang—at that time, Wei Yang was merely a lowly Dou Ling, only eighteen years old. Though his performance was good, Yao Lao didn’t pay him much attention back then.

Now looking back... he had essentially watched Wei Yang grow up along this path.

Step by step, Wei Yang had continually refreshed and redefined Yao Lao’s perception and understanding of him.

From gradually earning his attention, to stunning him repeatedly, to making him conflicted with regret—and now to a point of deep, bitter remorse.

Yes.

Yao Lao admitted it—he regretted it, and he regretted it intensely.

Of course, he didn’t regret choosing Xiao Yan.

What he regretted was that he hadn’t taken Wei Yang as a disciple back then—resulting in missing out on what could have been a divinely fated bond.

Every time he thought about it now, Yao Lao just wanted to slap himself across the face.

Stupid!

Such an outstanding young man—why didn’t I accept him back then?!My mind must’ve been clouded by pig fat!

Why did I insist on choosing between Xiao Yan and Wei Yang back then?

That was the kind of decision only children make!

Only children choose. Adults? They want everything. What’s wrong with that?

Whether you take one disciple or two, you’re still teaching either way.

Why couldn’t I have taken both?

This loss... was too great. It had become a pain Yao Lao could hardly bear. He figured he would probably regret it for a long, long time.

Just imagine—if both Wei Yang and Xiao Yan were his personal disciples...

In the future, when both of them reached their peak... the name Yao Chen would surely shake the entire continent.

He would become the subject of endless envy and admiration, the center of countless legendary tales.

Just thinking about that scene made Yao Lao feel like throwing his head back and letting out three hearty, triumphant laughs.

Revenge against the Hall of Souls?

Returning to the Yao Clan and reclaiming honor for himself and his parents?

Making the Yao Clan regret casting him out?

He believed... all of it might truly become possible.

Because he saw incredible potential in both Wei Yang and Xiao Yan.

He dared to say that as long as neither of them fell prematurely, they would both, at the very least, reach the peak of the Nine-Change Dou Zun realm.

And that’s not even counting their cultivation. On top of that, both of them would definitely become at least eighth-tier alchemists!

With such achievements, if he had been the one to personally teach them—just imagine the honor!

What glory that would be!

Unfortunately... now it was far too late.

Wei Yang had already fully matured. He no longer needed Yao Lao’s guidance. His wings had long since grown strong.

And Yao Lao no longer had the face to shamelessly propose something like "I want to take you as my disciple now."

He couldn’t bring himself to make such an embarrassment of himself.

Now, the only small comfort Yao Lao had was that his relationship with Wei Yang remained fairly good. At least, there was still a bit of that teacher-student connection between them.

And Wei Yang, when facing the outside world, had always been very open about it. He openly acknowledged himself as Yao Lao’s student—half a disciple, at least.

At the same time, Yao Lao couldn’t help but feel a little grateful.

Thankfully, back when he first realized that Wei Yang was a promising seedling, he hadn’t acted selfish or evasive when Wei Yang came to him with questions. Instead, he had answered him earnestly and taught him carefully, never holding back.

"All in all... it was still a missed opportunity."

In his heart, Yao Lao let out an utterly regretful sigh.

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