Black Myth: Starting from the Destined One
Chapter 220 - 180: The World’s Foremost Talented King Tianran! _2

Chapter 220: Chapter 180: The World’s Foremost Talented King Tianran! _2

"Master, your disciple understands,"

After Mahaparinirvana, the Monk Who Broke Precepts, had spoken, Emperor Tathagata addressed both Li Ping’an and Mahaparinirvana together:

"In youth, one does not understand Maha. After experiencing myriad ventures, only then does one realize how rare it is to meet Mahaparinirvana. Isn’t that why you two are bonded by fate?"

"Remember the most important phrase!"

"A man with a True Cultivation Heart and no wicked thoughts naturally subdues demons!"

"Your disciple will remember it!"

Li Ping’an and Mahaparinirvana firmly kept the words of Emperor Tathagata in their hearts and finally bowed deeply in thanks.

"By the way, little benefactor, this old monk understands your current predicament. If you have nowhere to stay in Chang’an for the time being, you may temporarily reside at True Buddha Temple and share quarters with Mahaparinirvana. Once your affairs are in order, you can choose to stay or leave as you wish, just so long as you do not disturb the other monks’ quietude."

"Thank you, Emperor Tathagata, for your understanding!"

Li Ping’an bowed repeatedly to express his gratitude, while Defrocked Monk Maha hugged Li Ping’an joyfully and said:

"I told you earlier; my master, Emperor Tathagata, is a good man. He would surely take you in, haha. How about that? Now you live with me, right?"

Just as Li Ping’an was about to respond, he suddenly heard a voice from the front courtyard:

"Old monk, there was a magical duel today, and I couldn’t sleep at home, so here I am to discuss it with you!"

"Hmm?"

Both Li Ping’an and Mahaparinirvana were taken aback, and Mahaparinirvana angrily said:

"Who dares to call my master an old monk? Are they seeking death?"

"Hahaha!"

Emperor Tathagata Dragon Tree Divine Monk laughed and said:

"Any name is just a means of address. You two can call this old monk the same way. That individual is a dear friend of this old monk; it doesn’t matter what he calls me."

"Your dear friend?"

Li Ping’an and Mahaparinirvana then turned to see who Emperor Tathagata Dragon Tree Divine Monk’s so-called dear friend might be.

Suddenly, at the entrance connecting the front and back courtyards, Li Ping’an and Mahaparinirvana saw a richly dressed chubby young man swaggering in.

He appeared to be only about seventeen or eighteen, draped in wealth yet noticeably chubby—not from gluttony, but from a lazy, idle lifestyle. Though not overly obese, he seemed like a lazy hound that shirked all responsibilities. Yet, his lazy physique and opulent attire made it clear he was the scion of a wealthy family.

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"Yo, everyone’s here."

When the chubby boy reached the back garden and saw Li Ping’an and Mahaparinirvana sitting in front of Emperor Tathagata Dragon Tree Divine Monk, he greeted them as if they were old friends, despite having never met them before, referring to them as brothers upon their first encounter.

"What fortunes have you two brothers been chasing lately?"

"Who the hell are you?"

Mahaparinirvana gave the presumptuous chubby boy a disdainful glance, while Li Ping’an simply observed silently. Given that this was a friend of Emperor Tathagata Dragon Tree Divine Monk and likely an important figure, Li Ping’an thought it best not to act rashly.

"Hold on, brother, don’t rush,"

The chubby boy approached Li Ping’an and Mahaparinirvana, wrapping his arms around them cheerfully as he explained:

"Brother, I’m Wang Tianran. Have you two forgotten?"

"Wang Tianran?"

After exchanging glances, Li Ping’an and Mahaparinirvana confirmed they didn’t know this person. Li Ping’an felt the name sounded familiar but couldn’t remember where he had heard it, while Mahaparinirvana bluntly stated:

"I don’t know any Wang Tianran!"

"Oh, right! Right! If I just mention my name, you definitely won’t know me, but you must know the Prime Minister of the Great Tang, Wang Hong, right?"

The plump boy had just finished speaking when Mahaparinirvana, the Monk Who Broke Precepts, suddenly became alert and stared at him from head to toe:

"Wang Hong, the petty man who is the current Prime Minister? What do you mean by that? What is your relationship with him?"

"Oh, I am his son. Now you know who I am, right?"

After hearing this, Mahaparinirvana pushed away Wang Tianran, who was hugging him, and immediately said angrily:

"So you are that dog Prime Minister Wang Hong’s son! You beast! I have long heard that the current Prime Minister Wang Hong is a big corrupt official who torments the people. Being his son, you must be no good either. You beast, it’s quite timely that you’ve come, just wait and see as I rid the people of a scourge!"

Mahaparinirvana took up a stance ready to immediately execute Wang Tianran right then and there, but was firmly held back by Li Ping’an. Looking at Li Ping’an who was stopping him, Mahaparinirvana questioned:

"Why do you stop me? Could it be that you see he is the son of the current Prime Minister and you deliberately want to curry favor with him, hoping he could use his father’s influence to secure you an official position?"

"Brother, why do you think the worst of people? I have something to ask him!"

After explaining, Li Ping’an looked at the smiling Wang Tianran and asked:

"May I ask if you are the one acclaimed as The World’s Foremost Talented, Wang Tianran?"

"It’s me, it’s me."

Only then did Wang Tianran take Li Ping’an seriously, squinting his eyes and after observing, he exclaimed:

"This brother is young, but his cultivation is no small feat. Could it be that you also want to challenge me? To take my title and be the world’s foremost talented individual?"

"Indeed, it is you!"

When Li Ping’an heard the name Wang Tianran, it felt incredibly familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before. Just now he remembered that during his previous battle in the Fallen Dragon Pit with The Second Most Talented Under Heaven, Pei Yuanjing, Pei had mentioned The World’s Foremost Talented, Wang Tianran. Now, upon asking, it turns out it was indeed the man before him.

However, what greatly disappointed Li Ping’an was that he had thought The World’s Foremost Talented, Wang Tianran, would be an ethereal and exceptionally handsome young hero, not necessarily more handsome than the second most talented Pei Yuanjing, but at least more profound and inscrutable. Yet, upon meeting him, he turned out to be a vulgar, talkative fatso. Truly, reality does not live up to the fame!

"Are you done talking? If you’re done, then I will kill this corrupt official’s son!"

Mahaparinirvana clenched his iron fist, ready to kill Wang Tianran on the spot.

"Hey, hey, hey, you monk, you’re so reckless, why resort to fighting and killing upon meeting? There’s a saying, ’Don’t strike a smiling face.’ I haven’t wronged you, so why do you want to kill me?"

Frightened, Wang Tianran retreated to the bottom of the tree pit next to Emperor Tathagata Dragon Tree Divine Monk, and he continued resentfully:

"Besides, do you think it’s easy being a treacherous official? Having to not offend this person, not provoke that person—if you’ve got what it takes, you become the Prime Minister"

"You beast, you are definitely of the same kind as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue Cen Wenjin and Secretary Cen Fuda. Being the son of the current Prime Minister, that’s your sin! Take one of my punches!"

Mahaparinirvana spoke and raised his fist to strike, but was still firmly held back by Li Ping’an, who whispered in his ear:

"Brother, this fat man is The World’s Foremost Talented. His strength must be above Pei Yuanjing’s. I’m afraid we can’t beat him!"

"Exactly, exactly, I am The World’s Foremost Talented!"

Wang Tianran seemed to have heard Li Ping’an’s words and raised his thumb to boast:

"Since my rise to fame, there have been challengers every day, not a hundred then eighty, but I have never been defeated till now. The two of you are quite strong, but together you’re still not my match. Why don’t we just sit down and have a chat instead? Let’s avoid hurting the harmony!"

"Pah! You, you talk way too much!"

Mahaparinirvana spat at the ground below Wang Tianran and continued to shout:

"So what if I can’t beat you, I just despise you sons of corrupt officials, even if I can’t beat you today, I still have to fight!"

"If you can’t beat me and still want to fight, isn’t there something wrong with your brain?"

Wang Tianran casually retorted, thoroughly infuriating Mahaparinirvana:

"You little beast! Today I shall rid the people of you, the son of a corrupt official!"

"Mahaparinirvana, Ping’an, both of you calm down for a moment."

Emperor Tathagata Dragon Tree Divine Monk spoke on behalf of Wang Tianran:

"This young man is quite exceptional, with excellent comprehension and has studied Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. As the foremost talent of today’s world, although he possesses impressive qualities, he remains kind, benevolent, and sincere."