Black Myth: Starting from the Destined One
Chapter 258 - 199 What is a Real Man! _2

Chapter 258: Chapter 199 What is a Real Man! _2

"When I met the right person, because I missed the timing and had no future, I was no longer worthy of the right person."

"When you’re still young, choose to strive when it’s time to strive. True infatuation alone cannot sustain life."

"Don’t foolishly give up your future for the sake of choosing love; instead, seek love while you’re on the path to your future."

"You still ask if I’m a man? I’ll tell you! I am a real man! What is a real man?"

"A real man is one who chooses from many women, and those who stick with one woman for life are mentally challenged, intellectually impaired, incompetent, deceived, and manipulated. If you reverse the phrase ’building a family and having a wise wife and good mother,’ you’ll understand!"

"Your career is to earn a great reputation for Mount Longhu through this Grand Ritual of the Heavenly Master, and with this renown, more people will join Mount Longhu. With these people, Mount Longhu can grow stronger. I believe with your qualifications, talent, temperament, and intelligence, you’re destined to be the next Heavenly Master of Mount Longhu!"

"As long as enough people join Mount Longhu because of your fame from today’s battle, when you become the next Heavenly Master, you will have enough support to stand on your own in this world!"

"You think I’m helping myself? You think I’m helping Mount Longhu? Silly boy, I’m actually helping you!"

"..."

Li Ping’an looked awkwardly at the Ghost Taoist, wanting to say something, but couldn’t muster the words.

Thinking that the inexperienced Li Pingan hadn’t understood, the Ghost Taoist softened his tone and earnestly taught:

"Li Ping’an! Don’t you understand yet? A real man doesn’t need love; only the eternal admiration and worship of women are enough!"

"If you lose to Zixia today, it won’t be a big loss for Mount Longhu, but what about you? In the future, everyone in All Taoist Sects Under Heaven will laugh at you, Li Ping’an, for not being able to even defeat a woman. How could you face living on? Huh?"

"Also, even if Zixia is grateful to you for intentionally losing to her, will she definitely marry you then?"

"Have you ever considered, if someone more famous and stronger than you proposes to Zixia at the same time, who would her master or parents choose?"

"This world is like this: survival of the fittest, the weak are preyed upon by the strong, people hate yet admire the powerful!"

"I can tell you from my own experience, if you lose to Zixia today, you will lose everything in the future!"

Li Ping’an was stunned by what the Ghost Taoist said, seeing him so impassioned, he immediately replied:

"I understand the reasoning, but still..."

Yet Li Ping’an still didn’t say the words:

The key thing is I’m damn not a cultivator of Mount Longhu!

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Although the Ghost Taoist was detestable, malicious, and filled with evil, he genuinely cared for Li Ping’an from the start, taught him life lessons, and truly saw him as a disciple.

Honestly, Li Ping’an couldn’t bear to hurt him either, nor to tell him this ridiculous fact, and partly for fear of dying, therefore, Li Ping’an ultimately decided to defeat Zixia for Mount Longhu.

Even if Zixia lost, her sect, Qingyun Sect, still had a reserved slot, specifically, a challenge by the Senior Brother of Qingyun Sect, Taishi Bao, after four rounds of competition.

So, Li Ping’an finally nodded seriously at the Ghost Taoist and said:

"Old man, I understand, I can agree to defeat Zixia, but there is one thing you can’t force me to do!"

The Ghost Taoist nodded with satisfaction and said:

"Finally, you’ve taken my words to heart, go ahead, state your condition!"

"That is, you can’t force me to defeat Wang Tianran!"

Li Ping’an said helplessly;

"Because I really can’t beat him! Even if you kill me, I still can’t beat him!"

"No need to say that, I already understand!"

Finally, the Ghost Taoist gently patted Li Ping’an on the shoulder and advised:

"After this battle, I won’t force you anymore, and I will leave you alone, never to trouble you again."

Li Ping’an joyfully said:

"Okay, you said it!"

The Ghost Taoist confirmed:

"Yes, I said it!"

Only then did Li Ping’an slowly make his way to the arena.

The Ghost Taoist, gazing at Li Ping’an’s retreating figure, said with fervent anticipation:

"Kid, I hope the next time I see you, you’ll be strong enough to bear all the burdens of this world!"

...

"Zixia, you must win this fight!"

Senior Brother Taishi Bao of Qingyun Sect, exuding the dignity of a master, commanded Zixia, who was preparing to enter the arena.

Zixia, who was neither willing nor ready to fight Li Ping’an, especially after hearing this directive, was even more reluctant. For some reason, she always felt that Senior Brother Taishi Bao seemed to have it out for Li Ping’an, but he had never explicitly said so. Thus, the clever Zixia decided to speak indirectly:

"Senior Brother, I want to ask you, who is stronger between me and Jia Zhengfeng of the Immeasurable Sect?"

"Well..."

Senior Brother Taishi Bao of Qingyun Sect, stroking his chin, said truthfully:

"In terms of strength, naturally, Cultivator Jia Zhengfeng of the Immeasurable Sect is a bit more powerful."

"That settles it."

Zixia saw her chance as Senior Brother Taishi Bao took the bait and immediately revealed her true intention:

"If Cultivator Jia Zhengfeng of the Immeasurable Sect couldn’t defeat Li Ping’an, what makes you think I can beat him? Even if I go all out, Senior Brother, what if I truly can’t beat Li Ping’an?"

"The situation is indeed not optimistic, but..."

Senior Brother Taishi Bao of Qingyun Sect, showing a sly smile, hinted:

"I see that boy keeps looking over here. I guess he likes you, and you might use that to your advantage to make him concede willingly. After all, he’s your disciple. Losing to his master wouldn’t be shameful, and nobody would blame him. Wouldn’t that work well?"

Zixia immediately frowned and replied resolutely:

"Senior Brother, I cannot do that—it’s a despicable act, and I cannot comply!"

"Zixia, you..."

Upon hearing this, Senior Brother Taishi Bao of Qingyun Sect became irate inwardly. He thought to himself, if you can’t even beat your own disciple, do you have the face to be his master? Aren’t you afraid of becoming a laughingstock? Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking; you just don’t want to hurt him!

No matter how furious Senior Brother Taishi Bao of Qingyun Sect felt inside, he did not show it; instead, he gently smiled at Zixia:

"That’s also true. Li Ping’an’s strength is witnessed by everyone. Even if he has guidance from the Ghost Taoist, his own abilities must be substantial. Otherwise, he couldn’t have easily defeated Jia Zhengfeng of the Immeasurable Sect."

Senior Brother Taishi Bao of Qingyun Sect, reluctantly gentle, said:

"Well then, Junior Sister, if you can beat him, do so; if not, then let it be. After all, your Senior Brother is here to support Qingyun Sect. The primary purpose of bringing you to the Grand Ritual of the Heavenly Master was to broaden your horizons. Winning or losing doesn’t really matter. Go ahead, Junior Sister; just do your best."

"Thank you for your understanding, Senior Brother! Hehe."

Zixia was finally happy and quickly entered the arena.

After Zixia entered the arena, Senior Brother Taishi Bao of Qingyun Sect, narrowing his eyes and glaring furiously, muttered under his breath:

"Li Ping’an, you beast who deprives others of their happiness, even if you get past Zixia, you won’t get past Wang Tianran. And even if you surpass Wang Tianran, I will be waiting for you, letting you experience what the Divine Skills of the Taoist sects truly are! Hmph!"

...

After Li Ping’an and Zixia entered the arena, the two of them, one from the south and the other from the north, smiled and looked at each other, unlike other cultivators who would usually start their matches with stern faces and tense atmospheres. Instead, they both possessed the sweet intimacy of old friends or lovers reuniting.

Observatory Master Immortal Fei He of Moyun Temple, still convinced that Li Ping’an’s previous victory over Jia Zhengfeng of the Immeasurable Sect was due to luck and external guidance, promptly stood up and announced:

"Cultivator Li Ping’an of Mount Longhu versus Female Cultivator Zixia of Qingyun Sect, the match begins now!"