Dongfang Changfan's memories continued to unspool.
……
The heavenly tribulation and earthly disaster slowly dissipated.
He was covered head to toe in wounds.
A newly ascended Gu Immortal of the Dongfang clan bowed to him in midair: "Thank you, Grand Elder, for your great assistance!"
And he stroked his beard: "Hahaha, your ascension to Gu Immortal is what I wished to see most. Our Dongfang clan has grown stronger still!"
……
The gambling duel ended in defeat, and the Righteous Path Gu Immortals sighed one after another.
"Alas, the Dongfang clan can no longer be contained."
"Fighting five on one—he actually did it!"
"This wisdom path killer move will surely go down in history in the Northern Plains. What kind of move is this?"
Surrounding starlight bloomed brilliantly, dazzling and radiant. He stood proudly in the sky and smiled lightly: "This move is called Ten Thousand Stars Like Fireflies."
……
"Oh? You killed disciples of my Immortal Crane Sect, yet you still want to cooperate with us?"
"Hahaha, in this world there are only eternal interests—no eternal enemies or friends. I have already perceived some of your Central Continent's arrangements in the Northern Plains. Since my Dongfang clan is being squeezed by the Righteous Path, how could I turn things around relying on just myself as a lone Gu Immortal? My grand ambition is to elevate my clan and restore its former glory. You can surely feel my sincerity." He spoke with grace and composure.
"Hmph, a destitute Gu Immortal like you—what right do you have to cooperate with our Immortal Crane Sect?"
"I possess a method for Gu Immortals to extend their lifespan, called Body Seizing. It was created by Immortal Venerable Juyang."
"What? Are you telling the truth?"
……
Eighty-Eight True Yang Building, True Inheritance Secret Realm.
He was vomiting blood. Within the deadly web woven by the interlacing True Inheritance meteors, he fled in a wretched panic.
Yet despite exhausting every scheme, he still could not obtain what he wanted. He couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Fine. I can't force it. I'll have to choose you then."
……
In his youth.
"Spare my life!" The opponent who had brought him memories of humiliation knelt on the ground, crying and begging.
"You shouldn't be like this." He slowly shook his head and sighed.
"I was blind—I was reckless beyond all measure! Spare my life, spare my life! Young Master Dongfang!" The opponent lay prostrate on the ground, pleading desperately.
"Had you been defiant—facing death without flinching—I would have spared your wretched life. But now!" He suddenly roared and struck the killing blow!
The head flew up, crashed to the ground, and rolled three times.
Dead with eyes wide open.
He turned and walked away: "What a disappointment. How did I ever lose to someone like you?"
……
And then, that chance encounter.
"Young man, what is your name?" The old beggar smiled warmly, his purple hair messy and unkempt, resembling wild mugwort.
"Dongfang Changfan," he replied.
"Changfan... that name doesn't quite suit you." In the deep, fathomless eyes of the purple-haired old beggar, his own reflection was cast.
The old beggar gazed at him for a moment. Then he spoke: "You are a good child. I shall entrust to you the most important inheritance I possess. I believe that, barring any accidents, you will surely bring it to greatness."
……
The Dongfang clan, the Meng family, and the Gong family—the three great superpowers—held a joint grand martial competition.
He knelt on the ground, utterly defeated.
The opponent mocked him with wild laughter: "Hahaha, Dongfang Guangyao—someone like you wants to bring glory to the family? Your Dongfang clan has long been nothing but an empty shell! With only a single dying old Gu Immortal. In a few years, your Dongfang family will drop out of the ranks of the Northern Plains' great powers. That's just as well—sharing the same Juyang bloodline, I'm truly embarrassed for you."
"You!!" He glared with fury, struggling to rise.
Before everyone's eyes, the opponent casually walked up and ground his head against the arena platform with a foot.
"Hahaha, Dongfang Guangyao—per our bet, you must agree to one thing! Hmm... your name is too hateful. You don't deserve it at all. I want you to change your name—for the rest of your life, you must use this name. From now on, call yourself Dongfang Changfan! Gahaha, now that suits you!" The opponent taunted with cold sarcasm.
He clenched both fists, his eyes bloodshot, the fury inside him seemingly about to burst his blood vessels.
But his will was willing while his strength was lacking.
"Fine... from now on, I will change my name to Dongfang Changfan." These words were squeezed through clenched teeth.
"Hahaha, obedient, good! Everyone heard that, right? From now on, he goes by Dongfang Changfan!" The opponent released his foot and strutted away.
He lay sprawled on the arena, too gravely wounded to move.
But in his heart, he roared—"I!"
"Even if my name is changed to Dongfang Changfan!!"
"I will still achieve the extraordinary—dominate the world, and control the fate of all living beings!!!"
"I swear this day—I will repay this grudge with my own hands. In this life, I will restore the Dongfang clan to its peak. This is my, Dongfang Changfan's, grand ambition—witnessed by heaven and earth!!!!"
……
The nine strands of will, swept up in this vision, experienced the entirety of Dongfang Changfan's life in that single moment. In that moment, they understood Dongfang Changfan, and came to know the grief and anguish buried deep within his heart—over the tragic deaths of his clansmen and the fall of Bitan Blessed Land.
"This man..."
"Dongfang Changfan!"
"Even as his enemy, I have to say—incredible!"