Cultivating with Bragging System-Chapter 505 - 253: Repay Grievances Directly! Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night! (7600 words)_4

Chapter 505: Chapter 253: Repay Grievances Directly! Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night! (7600 words)_4

Xiang Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, his tall figure looking down at Xiang Shan with unsurpassed arrogance.

He certainly had every right to be arrogant. To put it bluntly, among the younger generation of the major Pureblood Families in Three Origins City, no one could match him. The purity of his bloodline and the strength of his power were a rarity in the Earth Magic Elephant Clan, unseen for hundreds of years.

Xiang Shan might have been qualified to battle him once, but ever since he was severely injured that year, his strength had fallen far behind. He could no longer pose a threat.

Xiang Shan didn’t speak, but calmly took a step forward.

BOOM!

In an instant, Xiang Yuan vanished, taking the initiative. As if teleporting, he appeared above Xiang Shan’s head with an indifferent expression. He was swathed in Demonic Qi like an Ancient Demon, bathed in vast Demonic Light as his palm descended.

His strength was overpowering, and his palm seemed to seal off the heavens and the earth, with unimaginable force compressing from all directions, as if to completely crush Xiang Shan.

BOOM!

Just then, Xiang Shan raised his hand and threw a punch.

Towering Demonic Qi gathered behind him, transforming into a terrifying prehistoric Demon Elephant that obscured the sky. It wielded supreme power as the mists of Chaos emerged. The Demonic Qi was overwhelming, like bolts of lightning tearing across the heavens in an act of creation.

Xiang Yuan’s pupils constricted as he felt a terror unlike any he had ever known.

Before he could react, a gigantic force struck. He was blasted away with no time to resist, smashing into the ground and creating a deep pit.

"How is this possible?" Xiang Yuan lifted his head from the rubble, his expression filled with disbelief as he watched the approaching Xiang Shan.

How could his strength be so formidable? That punch clearly wielded an unimaginably terrifying legacy.

Xiang Yuan’s mind went blank, a single thought flashing through it like a bolt of lightning.

Xiang Shan had a fortuitous encounter. An immeasurable one. Enough to change his fate.

"Nicholas once said, ’Repay kindness with kindness, and grievance with directness!’ Back then, you relied on your own fortuitous encounter to greatly increase your strength and grievously injure me. Today... I too have had a fortuitous encounter, and with it, I have grievously injured you. The grudge between us... is now settled!" Xiang Shan approached, his body glowing and his gaze clear. His presence was so dignified that he seemed not like a demon, but more like an ancient Buddha or a great sage.

"Don’t get too pleased with yourself! The clan’s esteemed elders will be here soon, and no matter how strong you are, you will be brought to justice!" Xiang Yuan coughed up a mouthful of blood. His body was covered in deep wounds that had split open gruesomely, and his eyes blazed with resentment.

"Is that so?" Xiang Shan remained calm, speaking slowly. "Why are you so sure that between the two of us, the elders will definitely choose you?"

Xiang Yuan’s pupils shrank.

Back then, he was stronger than Xiang Shan, so he became the clan’s number one prodigy, the most dazzling member of the younger generation, shouldering the hopes of the Ancient Clan. But now that he had been defeated by Xiang Shan’s hand, that status was naturally not so unshakeable. The clan only needed one sufficiently brilliant individual to inherit the glory of the Ancient Clan and ensure its prosperity. They didn’t care who that person was.

Realizing this, panic flickered in Xiang Yuan’s eyes. Only now did he discover that everything he possessed was as fragile as a willow catkin, ready to disperse with a single puff of wind.

Xiang Shan slowly raised his hand, about to finish him off. Suddenly, his movements stalled. He looked up at his surroundings, his expression subtly shifting.

After pondering for a moment, he approached Xiang Yuan and squatted down. He took out several mystical fruits and brought them to Xiang Yuan’s mouth.

"Open your mouth!"

Xiang Yuan was still in shock and hesitated for a moment before the fruits entered his mouth.

"What did you give me?" Xiang Yuan’s eyes widened. He suspected Xiang Shan had poisoned him as revenge, wanting to make him suffer excruciating pain.

"Can’t you feel it for yourself?"

"..." Xiang Yuan felt it. The medicinal power was spreading, soothing and gentle as it circulated through his body. It brought waves of warmth, reducing his pain by more than half.

Demon Yuan Fruit! It’s a Precious Medicine from the Demon Realm, renowned for its healing properties. Demonic Element trees only grow in places where the Demonic Qi is at its purest and most concentrated, and even then, each tree’s yield is small. On Demon Sea Island, this Precious Medicine is even more valuable. Even with the Earth Magic Elephant Clan’s deep foundations, they didn’t have many. Only core members could enjoy them. The one Xiang Shan had must have been quite old.

Xiang Yuan was stunned. Staring at the brother before him, he felt he couldn’t understand him at all. "Why... did you save me?"

Xiang Shan smirked noncommittally. "I’ve said it before, the grievances between us are cleared! If I can sacrifice myself for strangers, why not for you? After all... we are brothers from the same bloodline!"

Hearing this, Xiang Yuan fell silent. He had completely dismissed this theory when Xiang Shan had mentioned it before. But now that it was happening to him, he found... he wasn’t so resistant.

"Besides," Xiang Shan continued, "you just keep being the top prodigy of the Earth Magic Elephant Clan and go attend your Divine Demon Ritual! If the clan elders knew you lost to me, they’d probably swap me in your place. I have no desire to die like that!"

"You! What nonsense are you spouting? To attend the Divine Demon Ritual is our clan’s greatest honor! Countless people beg for such an opportunity in vain!" Xiang Yuan nearly burst with anger as he glared furiously.

"Honor?" Xiang Shan slowly stood up and chuckled with indescribable scorn. "You’ll die for those Demon Gods, but besides our own clansmen, who will remember your name?"

Xiang Yuan was taken aback.

Xiang Shan added, "In this world, nothing... is greater than life and death! For the living beings of any clan, life should be the most important thing! One should live with clarity and die a worthy death!"

Xiang Yuan argued, "Dying for the Demon Gods is worthy!"

Xiang Shan looked down on him. "Do you remember the name of the black-boned chicken you ate tonight? Or are you grateful, thanking it for providing you with a delicious meal?"

Xiang Yuan fell silent, puzzled.

Xiang Shan stated, "In the eyes of those Demon Gods, sacrifices like you are just a meal, albeit a richer one than usual! And in the eyes of those high and mighty figures, you are even less significant. You’re just an ant used to achieve their goals, a tool to borrow the Demon Gods’ power! So why would you think yourself glorious?"

Hearing this, Xiang Yuan’s mouth hung open. He wanted to retort but found himself at a loss for words, his face flushing red. Inexplicably, he felt Xiang Shan was making a lot of sense.

"Is it really worth exchanging your life for false glory?" The question struck Xiang Yuan’s heart directly.

His expression flickered and his breath grew ragged. His heart was in turmoil as his once-steadfast faith in the Demon Gods began to waver. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Xiang Shan watched his expression and spoke again. "Let me tell you another story. A story... about the origin of the Demon Realm!"

He then narrated the story of the Demon Ancestor, the Immortal Ancestor, Bu Ou, and Nicholas to Xiang Yuan in great detail.

After he finished listening, Xiang Yuan’s head was buzzing. His mind was blank, finding it all impossible to believe, yet he didn’t know where to even begin his doubt.

But he still bit back stubbornly, "You think you can fool me just by making up a story?"

Xiang Shan calmly replied, "Believe it or not, the Demon Ancestor is there. I will respect your choice. The Demon Ancestor doesn’t need to force anyone to become his follower. I’m only doing this out of brotherly concern. I don’t want you to die in ignorance, believing to the very end that your death is an honor, when in reality, you’re just an expendable ant in the eyes of others! Just like those Foreign Demons are in your eyes."

Xiang Yuan clenched his fists. "The Divine Demon Ritual is already set. No matter what I think, it can’t be changed. Otherwise... our clan will face annihilation!"

His heart had clearly been severely shaken, otherwise he never would have said such a thing.

Xiang Shan turned and walked toward his house, leaving a final, quiet remark. "The choice is yours. But if it were me... facing death whether I comply or rebel, why should I step so gently into that night? Even the smallest person has the right to cry out!"

BANG!

The door closed, leaving the courtyard in silence.

Xiang Yuan slumped in the ruins, Xiang Shan’s words echoing in his mind, leaving him dazed for a long time.

His thoughts were in complete disarray. He hadn’t even considered why the clan’s experts never arrived despite the huge commotion from their fight.

...

Standing by the window, Xiang Shan gazed out at the silent figure in the night and suddenly asked, "Elder Nicholas, can he really be made to understand?"

My original intention was to kill him and prevent any future trouble. But a telepathic message suddenly reached my ear, stopping me. It told me... to try and enlighten Xiang Yuan.

"We can only do our part. As for the rest... we leave it to fate."