Chapter 218: I Refuse

“Inviting me to join the Temple of Time and Space?”

Dongbo Xueying smiled. The Temple of Time and Space carried an immense reputation. Whether it was the information from the Blood Blade Tavern or the messages passed down from the ancestors of the Xia Clan from the Divine Realm, all had allowed Dongbo Xueying to understand some of the most basic rules long ago.

With its mastery over time and space, the Temple of Time and Space could probe countless worlds and uncover events from the past across those worlds…

Of course, given the sheer number of worlds and the vastness of the Divine Realm and Abyssal Realms, even the Temple of Time and Space could only learn about past events in a specific location if they actively investigated it. If they didn’t investigate, they wouldn’t know.

Even so!

The Temple of Time and Space remained the most adept at uncovering talented individuals! They could discover countless gifted beings across countless worlds. If they were allowed to forcibly take them, the Temple of Time and Space would long ago have become the sole dominant force. This was something the powerful factions of the Divine Realm and Abyssal Realms were unwilling to see, so long ago, they had reached an agreement with the Temple.

There were limits on the number captured each year!

How many mortals could be captured? How many cultivators?

There were restrictions on capturing cultivators with low-grade, mid-grade, and even high-grade Intent. For the cultivators of high-grade Intent, those with the rarest three-tier Intent were still allowed to be captured, though the numbers were strictly limited!

As for the legendary two-tier Intent, and even the legendary “first-tier Intent,” such cultivators were absolutely forbidden from being forcibly taken! They had to join willingly!

“Invite me?” Dongbo Xueying mused inwardly.

The Temple of Time and Space wasn’t being particularly courteous—it was bound by the rules and could only invite. If they could capture him, they would have done so already. Come on, in such a desolate place as the Xia Clan’s world, someone so young mastering three types of two-tier Intent! If nurtured fully under the Temple of Time and Space, there was a real chance of evolving to master first-tier Intent.

First-tier Intent represented the most fundamental and core essence of the rules. Dongbo Xueying’s current strength was already extraordinary, and first-tier Intent would be even more terrifying!

“Sorry, I decline!” Dongbo Xueying said.

“Decline? Are you worried that the missions assigned by my Temple of Time and Space will be too dangerous?” That calm, indifferent voice continued, “You needn’t worry about that. Your potential is immense, and our Temple would never allow a cultivator with such potential to perish easily. I can make you a Silver-Edict Divine Envoy, granting you many privileges! The chance of your death would be extremely low!”

Dongbo Xueying smiled.

He already knew this. The cultivators invited by the Temple of Time and Space were treated very differently from those forcibly captured.

“I still decline,” Dongbo Xueying continued. “I have no interest in joining the Temple of Time and Space.”

“Fine then,” the voice said, still calm, “I can make you a Golden-Edict Divine Envoy! This is the highest level of cultivation support we offer. Even those legendary cultivators with first-tier Intent who are invited by our Temple become Golden-Edict Divine Envoys! You are so young and already possess three types of two-tier Intent. Our Temple has countless great experts, infinite resources, and countless treasures. I believe you will surely achieve first-tier Intent.”

“And as for death, you needn’t worry too much. Our Temple will protect you with all our might. Even if you perish, we will safeguard your soul and help you regenerate a new body.”

Golden-Edict Divine Envoy.

That represented the highest level of privilege!

Even if you died, your soul would be protected and resurrected! Naturally, the rarest cultivators with first-tier Intent were carefully protected by every top faction in the Divine Realm. No one would willingly send them to their deaths. The Temple of Time and Space was no different. If Dongbo Xueying joined, they would go to great lengths to protect his life.

Although Dongbo Xueying had not yet mastered first-tier Intent!

However, the three types of Intent he possessed—Piercing Extremity, Stars, and Illusory Realm—complemented each other! If he had mastered three purely offensive Intents, or three balanced ones, his strength wouldn’t be as great as it was now.

Dongbo Xueying’s three represented three different directions! Especially the Illusory Realm, which was extremely difficult to comprehend. A master of the Illusory Realm was already a terrifying assassin or killer… though weaker in direct attacks, when combined with the ultra-offensive Piercing Extremity. And with the life-preserving power of the Star Intent, it could be said that Dongbo Xueying already showed signs of a first-tier Intent cultivator.

Even if he never mastered first-tier Intent in the future, he was still worthy of the Golden-Edict Divine Envoy status!

Most importantly!

He hadn’t undergone much life-or-death trials! Nor had he experienced extreme cultivation methods! And he was still very young! This meant Dongbo Xueying still had immense potential.

Take, for example, the deceased young man “Flame,” who had only mastered one three-tier Intent when captured. After undergoing countless trials and intense cultivation, he eventually mastered four three-tier Intents before evolving into one two-tier Intent, “Vibrating Space.” It could be said that Flame’s potential had been nearly exhausted. The stimulation brought by life-or-death threats could make cultivators unleash their primal instincts, but after experiencing it too many times, they became numb!

Yes, numb!

The fear of life and death could cause a cultivator’s primal instincts to erupt, but after too many experiences, the effect of such trials would diminish, leaving little potential. A cultivator with just one two-tier Intent like “Vibrating Space” might be extremely valuable to the Xia Clan, but to the Temple of Time and Space—the most powerful faction in the Divine Realm—they would rather continue squeezing out whatever potential remained, hoping for further progress!

No matter how many weaklings there were, they wouldn’t provide much help.

Only the birth of a great expert could significantly enhance the Temple of Time and Space’s power!

“Golden-Edict Divine Envoy?” Dongbo Xueying smiled and shook his head. “From what I’ve heard, even with your Temple’s protection, you might still be slain by some great experts of the Divine Realm.”

“That’s true,” the indifferent voice replied calmly. “After all, I am merely a powerful divine artifact, and I can only protect you from afar across many layers of space! I cannot block every great expert of the Divine Realm, but I will do my best to prevent such things from happening.”

“I still refuse,” Dongbo Xueying said.

“Are you afraid of death?” the voice asked.

“No,” Dongbo Xueying replied.

“Freedom?” the voice continued. “I can even give you the opportunity to choose some missions. You can go to the worlds you desire, experiencing things you can’t even imagine. Your strength will keep growing, your horizons will broaden! Your world is destined not to be a small place like the mortal world, but the boundless realms beyond!”

“I need freedom and time!” Dongbo Xueying said.

“Time?” the voice questioned.

“For example, in the next thousand years, I don’t want to take any missions—I just want to stay at home… you can’t force me. Can you do that?” Dongbo Xueying asked.

“That won’t work! You’re still young, having lived only a few decades. Now is the most crucial time for your development, the best opportunity to evolve and master first-tier Intent!” the voice refused flatly. “The earlier you cultivate, the more important time becomes! You can’t waste it. Once you become a great expert of the Divine Realm, you can squander a million years without consequence. But right now, every single year counts! The rules we’ve set for cultivation and development are strict. Although Golden-Edict Divine Envoys have many privileges, the most basic rules cannot be broken!”

“Then there’s no way,” Dongbo Xueying shook his head.

…

After tidying up the battlefield and collecting the treasures of the fallen Reborn and demons, he tore through the spatial membrane.

Whoosh—

Dongbo Xueying stepped through. Soon, several figures flew toward him from different directions—six in total. They were none other than Grandmaster Sikong Yang, Lord Bu, Master He Shan, Chi Qiubai, Xiyun in his crimson robe, and the portly deputy lord of Yunwu City, Chun Yuan, who looked like a prosperous merchant.

“Did you take care of it?” Chi Qiubai asked.

“Everything’s settled. Not a single one escaped,” Dongbo Xueying replied.

“How were we discovered this time? Was there an unexpected situation?” Grandmaster Sikong Yang asked, puzzled.

“It was the Temple of Time and Space,” Dongbo Xueying shook his head helplessly. “I never expected that my attack on the demon nest would be used by the Temple of Time and Space to train their members.”

“Haha, I’ve heard of the Temple of Time and Space before, but after living over a thousand years, I’ve never encountered anyone from them,” Chun Yuan smiled.

Lord Bu also smiled as he looked at Dongbo Xueying.

Lord Bu was extremely beautiful, yet possessed a rare Domineering (dominating aura) seldom seen in women! Her lips curled slightly as she gazed at Dongbo Xueying with a pleasant smile.

Everyone present was in a great mood, and their gazes toward Dongbo Xueying were different.

“Dongbo, you know, you’ve saved half of our Xia Clan’s cultivators!” Xiyun said.

“This is a tremendous achievement!” Master He Shan also praised.

“Now the news is spreading. Before long, all the cultivators of our Xia Clan will know about this,” Chi Qiubai added. “Then many cultivators will be grateful to you! Ha ha, your communication bracelet will definitely be very busy.”

“What about the other two demon nests?” Dongbo Xueying asked.

“We also sent semi-gods to try to intercept them. The demons from the other two nests indeed retreated, scattering as they fled. We were only fortunate enough to kill two demons who fled together. The rest we didn’t even encounter,” Chi Qiubai explained.

Dongbo Xueying wasn’t surprised. This was all within his expectations.

…

After bidding farewell to the semi-gods, Dongbo Xueying headed toward his hometown.

“Senior apprentice-brother Xueying, you’ve mastered two-tier Intent? Amazing! Haha, I admire you!”

“Senior apprentice-brother Xueying, I’m Zhuoyi! You’re incredible, mastering two-tier Intent and saving many of our Xia Clan cultivators. I rarely admire anyone, but now you’re the one I admire the most. You’re truly extraordinary!”

“Little Brother Xueying, destroying three demon nests? Very impressive! Sometime soon, I’ll come to Xueshi Mountain to drink with you. Don’t reject your older sister, okay?”

Cultivators were already sending messages to Dongbo Xueying one after another.

Whoosh.

Dongbo Xueying appeared above Xueshi Mountain. He immediately spotted the figure of a woman in a green robe standing on the roof of the main tower of Xueshi Castle.

Why did he refuse the Temple of Time and Space?

Because his pursuit was different.

Perhaps other cultivators pursued their own strength, sought to become gods.

But he was different. He pursued protecting those he loved and who loved him in return! The woman before him, his younger brother, father, mother… each of them was worth his life to protect!

Cultivation was important, but compared to family and loved ones, it was insignificant! He cultivated to better protect everything he cherished.

If he wasted time adventuring across countless worlds, chasing so-called strength, while leaving his family behind… that would be putting the cart before the horse! If after tens of thousands of years, he became a powerful being, but by then his family was gone, leaving him alone… what would be the point of his strength?

Even with great power, he would still be alone.

Moreover!

Even if he stayed in the mortal world with his family, he could still grow stronger. Hadn’t he already mastered three types of two-tier Intent?

“Jingqiu,” Dongbo Xueying landed.

Jingqiu’s eyes were filled with tears. She already knew what had happened. The cultivators had already spread the news widely. Although she saw Dongbo Xueying standing safely before her, she still felt a chill thinking about his recent adventure to attack the demon nests. Yet she understood, doing this for the Xia Clan was not wrong!

Jingqiu threw her arms around Dongbo Xueying, hugging him tightly. Dongbo Xueying was momentarily startled. He could feel her emotions, and a warmth spread through his heart as he smiled slightly.

This was what he was willing to protect with his life!