A Family of Hopeless Romantics, Except for the Evil Little Junior Brother-Chapter 238: A New Beginning

In the wind and snow.

The young man wore an immaculate white robe. The fur lining around his hood danced wildly in the howling cold wind.

Delicate silver cloud patterns were embroidered along the edges of his sleeves. His hair was neatly tied up.

A small silver crown inlaid with jade sat atop his head.

Though the jade was smooth and fine, the overall design of the crown was simple and unremarkable, drawing no attention.

Such an outfit was nothing out of the ordinary—typical attire for disciples of many sects. It was hardly something that would stand out.

Coupled with his forgettable looks...

That was probably why, thinking back to their first meeting in the imperial palace, he hadn’t even noticed this plain-looking young man.

Now the tables had turned—he was the fish on the chopping board!

Total reversal.

“Curious to know?” The old emperor raised an eyebrow.

“Of course.”

“I say I found you because I wanted to help you—would you believe me?” the old emperor asked.

Li Xuanxiao shook his head.

“Heh... but I really just wanted to help you.

No—help both of us.”

The dual torment of body and mind made even speaking a struggle for the old emperor.

Li Xuanxiao said nothing, quietly waiting for his explanation.

“You and I don’t belong in this world. To truly achieve enlightenment and ascend, we must rely on external aid.

The Ascension Platform—ever since I transmigrated into this world, I’ve possessed two magical artifacts. One is this Myriad Soul Banner, and the other is the Ascension Platform.

Only by finding another transmigrator can you prove your Dao and become an immortal!

Now both of them are yours. Before I go, I’ve hidden the Ascension Platform in a secret place. The Myriad Soul Banner... is here.”

As he spoke, the old emperor coughed up the Myriad Soul Banner.

“With these two items, you’ll never have to worry about your cultivation again.”

His voice trembled with sincerity.

“So you’re saying—give me these, and I’ll spare your life?” Li Xuanxiao raised a brow.

The old emperor suddenly burst out laughing. “You really think I’d be that naive? Even if you kill me, these things are still yours. There’s no way you’ll let me walk away today.”

Li Xuanxiao nodded slightly. A smart man.

“Then why tell me all this?”

“Fellow countrymen—our conflict is nothing but a cruel necessity. Now that I’ve lost by one move, I admit defeat! I just don’t want anyone else to discover these things.”

“I understand. Anything else you want to say?”

The old emperor shook his head. After a moment of silence, he suddenly added:

“One more thing...”

Boom—!!

The Li Xuanxiao in front of him exploded.

A fake.

And then...

Bang bang bang!

A chain of explosions. The ground, wind, snow, exposed earth, ancient trees—everything nearby was leveled.

“Hahaha...”

Not good.

Li Xuanxiao’s real body quickly retreated—but it was already too late.

The old bastard was willing to go this far just to strike back.

A stream of light pierced through layer after layer of defense, shattering the small, immature nascent soul inside Li Xuanxiao.

When the old emperor had barged in earlier, he discovered two nascent souls.

Dual nascent souls in one body—it caught him off guard.

But now, the one with the phantom chessboard had fully formed and stabilized its cultivation.

The other, however, was still very weak.

After pushing through all those defenses, the old emperor had little power left—but enough to take the weaker nascent soul with him.

Pfft!

Li Xuanxiao coughed up blood on the spot.

“Hahahaha—this is my final legacy to you. Take it all.”

The old emperor’s maniacal laughter echoed in Li Xuanxiao’s mind.

His plan was simple—he had lost.

So he refused to let Li Xuanxiao win.

Going down together was no longer an option—he didn’t have the strength.

So instead, he handed over everything.

He told Li Xuanxiao the location of the Ascension Platform, gave him the Myriad Soul Banner...

And revealed a secret only he knew—

Only by finding another transmigrator can one ascend and prove their Dao.

In doing so, the old emperor might’ve died—

But he turned Li Xuanxiao into his future self.

He still remembered the first time he used the Myriad Soul Banner.

When he first discovered its power,

The young version of him thought something so evil should never be used. He wanted to seal it away.

He swore never to use it. But then came the beatings, the so-called geniuses surpassing him again and again... while his own cultivation stagnated.

Eventually, he gave in!!

He chose to use the Myriad Soul Banner.

And once you use it once, there’s always a second time... a third...

The power boost from the Myriad Soul Banner was simply too tempting—utterly addictive.

After the first use, there was no going back.

At first, the old emperor only used it on evildoers, seeking out death row inmates from the dungeons.

But gradually, he began to waver. He started defining good and evil by his own standards. Eventually, he couldn’t even be bothered with reasons—

He began ravenously consuming fresh blood and souls.

That was the price of power.

Li Xuanxiao, soon you’ll be just like me.

Soon, you’ll understand the madness that follows power.

That’s why he destroyed Li Xuanxiao’s nascent soul—forcing him to start from scratch.

Only then would he be driven to use the Myriad Soul Banner to regain his cultivation.

Hahahahaha...

I may be dead, but this is your beginning.

Only by using the Ascension Platform and my corpse can you prove your Dao and ascend.

Hurry up and power up—I know you can’t wait.

Ahahahahahah...

The old emperor’s laughter slowly faded.

..........

Deep where the Ascension Platform was buried.

Li Xuanxiao looked at the Myriad Soul Banner beside him, then at the Ascension Platform.

He couldn’t help but recall the old emperor’s final words.

“If you want to ascend, you must use the Myriad Soul Banner to avoid heavenly tribulation, and the Ascension Platform to find the next transmigrator. Wait for your moment.”

The Myriad Soul Banner looked like a street girl beckoning, “Hey handsome, come play!”

But Li Xuanxiao knew—this step would be the point of no return.

He waited for several breaths.

“Hey hey, Master, can you hear me?”

“I can hear you. What’s wrong?”

Lingxu’s voice came through.

“I found the Myriad Soul Banner.”

The other side went silent for several seconds. “Where is it?”

The countless vengeful spirits trapped in the Myriad Soul Banner... could finally be set free.

“..........”

A long silence.

Li Xuanxiao slowly walked out of the cave, into the sunlight.

Step by step, he walked toward the light.

“Nascent soul... hey, are you there?” Li Xuanxiao called.

I’m here. I’ve always been here!!

The nascent soul replied timidly from behind his heel.

Li Xuanxiao nodded gently, exhaling a long breath.

It was finally over... or was it?

He looked up at the rising sun.

Maybe... this was just a new beginning.

.........

“Cough cough cough.”

The old emperor... dead?

Outside the Central Plains.

The Happy Old Man wore a grim expression as he continued divining.

But the results were always the same.

Mount Shushan!!

The Happy Old Man slowly stood.

Looks like his plan to wipe out Mount Shushan would have to change...

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