Rebirth-Transcending All Beings-Chapter 74: Huanglong Domain [1]

The morning sky was still bathed in the dim glow of twilight as the boy began his ascent. The cool breeze of the Huangoong Dominion bit into his skin.

His long jet-black hair, whipped behind like a stream of shadow, his bare chest a testament to the struggles he endured, pushing forward with each stride.

He ascended with well-honed ease despite the mountains towering over him, their summits obscured by the vast sky.

Moving with deliberate steps, the mountain had grown to become an extension of himself.

Metal plates fastened to his wrists and ankles yet he didn’t slow down.

They were there for a reason.

Li Yuxin moved without hesitation. His hands and feet gripped the rock face with confidence that could only come with practice.

He had no ropes or tools, his body alone was his anchor.

The starry night had passed and with the stars disappearing, only the light of dawn approached.

Clang.

As he scaled the cliffside, the sound of his weights hitting the rocks reverberated like a scream through the mountainside.

Yet Li Yuxin focused solely on his next step and the next challenge the mountain presented to him.

Before he knew it, he had reached the mountain peak.

Despite the exhausting ascent, Yuxin’s breath remained slow and steady. His chest rising and falling with a controlled rhythm.

The wide swath of undulating hills made up the horizon in front of him. To him the world appeared inconsequential from his vantage point.

But he had climbed an innumerable times to get to that view.

Briefly closing his eyes as the morning wind blew through his hair. He relished the feeling, as if he was the representation of the calmness before the inevitable storm.

Before long, his eyes opened slowly.

He never came to appreciate the scenery, nor was he here to simply train.

He was here to test his limits. To push past the point where others would give up.

What remained at the top was only the quiet introspection and untapped potential that awaited at the mountaintop. While the world below him was filled with desire.

He found clarity here.

Standing tall, he allowed the weights to settle before moving towards the edge. His hands reached for the heavens, as if the storm would naturally come to him.

A voice broke the silence, breaking him out from his trance.

"Senior Brother," a voice spoke from behind him.

Li Yuxin didn’t turn at first. His face was unreadable, his thoughts still fixed on the horizon

He didn’t need to turn his head around.

He could already feel his qi, it carried youth and resolve but lacked the depth of his own.

The young man, dressed in a simple blue robe, approached him steadily. Despite the difference in cultivation. He showed no fear–only respect.

"Senior Brother," the voice repeated, now closer. "You’ve been climbing all night."

At last, Li Yuxin turned and looked directly into the young man’s eyes. Although he had a sharp and focused face, his face softened when he saw his younger disciple.

Zhao Huan. His blue robes fluttering from the morning breeze as he carried a neatly folded towel which he handed to Yuxin.

"You’ve been at it again," Zhao Huan chuckled though his voice was one of concern. "The sect head said that you need rest.–your body can’t endure forever.

Yuxin only nodded, his movements methodical as he felt the coldness of the fabric against his forehead.

"Rest is unnecessary," his voice was low.

Zhao Huan moved closer, handing him a blue robe. "There’s nobody your age who’s your match," his voice was one of admiration.

"Not many push themselves as you do. But even then, the storm inside doesn’t need to be fed at every moment."

Taking the robe, the smooth fabric touched his calloused hands, before dropping it over his shoulders but didn’t fasten it.

Instead, his gaze returned to the distant horizon as another breeze made his robe flutter.

"Transcendence."

He spoke louder than this. "A fleeting thing, a goal that can never truly be reached.’

The silence lingered.

"There is no end. Only the next challenge."

Zhao Huan observed his senior brother closely, attempting to comprehend the significance of his words.

He had a great deal of respect for him, but also felt sorry for him.

Zhao Huan hesitated. It wasn’t just the training, but how Yuxin distanced himself from everyone. As if the world itself disgusted him.

"Senior brother, do you not wish to rest?" He asked with a hint of frustration. "Do you not wish to enjoy the meaning of life?"

Li Yuxin directed his gaze towards the younger disciple, his eyes softening.

He didn’t know how to live without this, without always wanting more.

The storm inside only wanted to be fed, and he found peace in pushing past his limits and fighting those stronger than him.

Yuxin spoke carefully, "I live?" With a firm tone. "Only when my limits don’t chain me. Thats when I’m really alive–when I surpass them."

Zaho Huan could only let out a sigh, placing a hand on his senior brother’s shoulder. "I understand," his voice tinted with respect.

"But please keep in mind– transcending is not only about what your body can do. It’s about finding balance."

He paused for a moment.

"Don’t forget what you’re fighting for." Zhao Huan added.

Yuxin didn’t say anything for a moment while he thought about what the younger disciple had said.

He nodded slowly, and his lips curled into a small, almost invisible smile. "I’ll think about it," he said in a low voice.

They stood in silence while the wind howled. The sun began to rise from the east, casting a golden glow over the mountains.

Then, from below the slope, quick footsteps approached them

Another disciple, with a red face and ragged breath, ran to the top–almost falling over his own speed. He was a lot younger, only fourteen, and when he finally reached them. His forehead dripped sweat and he was out of breath.

"Senior Brother Yuxin!" he gasped, bowing hurriedly. "The Sect Leader... he requests your presence. Immediately. He said... he said it’s urgent!"