From the Metropolis to the Strongest in the Cosmos

Zhao Qianxing wore a look of self-reproach, and beside him, Zhao Kun was also wracked with guilt. ”Rou, Guohai,” he said, ”you know the status Cultivators hold. Dad really had no other choice. He’s getting old, and his health isn’t what it used to be. If you have any complaints, direct them at me. I swear I won’t fight back. I... I’ll kneel before you.”

Zhao Kun made a move to kneel.

”Brother.”

Seeing this, Zhao Rou couldn’t help but soften. Back when they were living at home, she and her brother had been close, but their relationship had deteriorated over the years.

’How can I let my own brother kneel to me?’

As a member of the Zhao family, Zhao Rou’s emotions were the most tangled. She harbored resentment toward them, but it was mixed with other complex feelings, including self-blame.

Zhao Qianxing and Zhao Kun were exploiting this very weakness, using it as an opening in an indirect attempt to mend their relationship.

Li Guohai stood to the side, watching with a placid expression. In the end, he didn’t tell them to leave.

And so, Zhao Qianxing and Zhao Kun came into their home, showing no intention of leaving whatsoever.

Finding a spare moment, Li Guohai had no choice but to call Li Yang and let him know.

...

”Zhao Qianxing... Zhao Kun...” Hearing his father’s words over the phone, Li Yang’s expression darkened.

’The Zhao family is truly shameless. They were cold and heartless before, even going so far as to wish for my father, Li Guohai, to die.’

’When I revealed my status as a Cultivator, the Zhao family didn’t react, eager to sever all ties with me.’

’When I revealed my Celestial-Level strength, they finally showed a flicker of interest.’

’And now that I’ve shown King-Level strength, the Zhao family has immediately sprung into action.’

Li Yang knew exactly what they were scheming.

The only way to describe the Zhao family was utterly opportunistic, and Li Yang was thoroughly disgusted by it.

”Li Yang, what’s wrong?” Beside him, Zhou Yao noticed the change in his expression and couldn’t help but ask.

Li Yang didn’t hide anything. ”Members of the Zhao family are at my house,” he said.

”The Zhao family...” Zhou Yao instantly understood the implications.

She knew about Li Yang’s relationship with them from Zhou Xiaoyun. She had also witnessed the tension when Li Yang and Zhao Kun met before.

”Zhou Yao, I have to go home,” Li Yang said.

Zhou Yao nodded quickly. ”Go, your family matter is more important.”

After they parted ways, Li Yang immediately boarded a flight to Coastal City.

...

「Three hours later.」

Li Yang returned to the residential complex where he lived.

”Wow, look at all the luxury cars parked downstairs from Li Guohai’s apartment.”

”Who do you think they are?”

Having reached the King Level, Li Yang’s physical attributes were many times greater than that of a normal person, and his hearing was no exception. The moment he stepped into the residential complex, he could already hear the distant chatter of his neighbors.

His expression was placid as he walked up to his apartment.

The door was open, and as he approached, he could see several people inside. Among them, Zhao Qianxing and Zhao Kun were seated on the sofa, speaking with Zhao Rou.

Li Guohai stood off to the side, mostly in silence.

”Yangyang, you’re back.”

Seeing Li Yang, Li Guohai immediately shot to his feet.

At the same time, Zhao Qianxing and Zhao Kun did the same, their faces plastered with smiles. ”Li Yang.”

’Looking at that youthful face, Zhao Qianxing was filled with bitter regret.’

’Come to think of it, I’ve only met Li Yang once. I barely even remember him.’

’And yet, this grandson of mine has actually embarked on the path of a Cultivator, progressing at an unbelievable speed to the point where he’s now reached the King Level!’

’A King-Level expert! One of the top ten powerhouses in all of Hua Country! An existence that even the highest echelons of the nation must treat with the utmost caution!’

’Sigh, if only we had gone all-out to mend our relationship before he revealed his King-Level strength—or even when he first revealed his Celestial-Level strength—the situation now would be completely different.’ This thought had crossed Zhao Qianxing’s mind countless times.

’Even though our relationship with Li Yang was strained, if I had just softened a little earlier... if I had started trying to fix things as soon as I found out he was a Cultivator...’

’Back then, Li Yang was still under threat from the Zheng family. Offering a helping hand in his time of need would have actually meant something.’

’But we missed one opportunity after another, waiting until he revealed his King-Level strength—until even the Zheng family’s King-Level expert, Zheng Hu, was utterly powerless against him—to try and fix things.’

’Now, Li Yang is in no danger at all. Trying to curry favor at this point is just gilding the lily.’

Zhao Qianxing sighed internally. He hadn’t been willing to take the gamble, constantly worrying that Li Yang would be crushed by the Zheng family before he could fully mature. That hesitation had led to this very situation.

Li Yang walked into the room, completely ignoring Zhao Qianxing and Zhao Kun.

Li Yang had ignored Zhao Kun before, and back then, Zhao Kun had been silently fuming with rage. But now, he didn’t dare show any anger, his face just a mask of smiles.

”Dad, Mom.” Only when he looked at his parents did a hint of a smile appear on Li Yang’s face.

”You still haven’t fully recovered. What’s this about opening a supermarket again?”

He had heard about his father’s plan to reopen the supermarket.

Li Guohai smiled. ”It gives me something to do.”

As he looked at his son, his eyes filled with relief and pride.

He recalled the words his son had once spoken to him.

”Dad, I swear I’ll win back your dignity in front of the Zhao family! I’ll make every single one of them see that Mom didn’t make the wrong choice!”

’Now, here was Zhao Qianxing, all smiles. This scene, being accepted by the Zhao family, was something he had once only dreamed of.’

’His son had truly kept his promise, and he had done it so quickly.’

’He, Li Guohai, might not have any great abilities, and the Zhao family might look down on him, but he had a son—an incomparably outstanding son whom no one else could ever hope to match!’

’And because of his son, even the Zhao family was now treating him with smiling faces.’

Looking at the sickly pallor that still lingered on his parents’ faces, Li Yang knew that even though the Anticancer Agent had cured their cancer, their bodies were still weak.

Even though his mother, Zhao Rou, hadn’t been sick with cancer for very long, she had spent over a year consumed by worry. The mental exhaustion had taken its toll, leaving her with countless gray hairs.

With that thought, Li Yang didn’t hesitate. He grabbed a stockpot, then pulled an herb from his backpack and placed it inside.

”Bone Marrow Cleansing Grass!”

Li Guohai and Zhao Rou had no idea what Li Yang was doing, but Zhao Qianxing recognized the herb instantly, a clear flicker of desire in his eyes.

Of course, he knew what Bone Marrow Cleansing Grass did. It cleansed the body’s marrow, nourished the internal organs, and expelled all manner of diseases.

Any ailment in the body, including cancer, could be cured with it!

It could also heal any internal injuries.

In short, a single stalk of Bone Marrow Cleansing Grass could restore one’s body to its absolute peak condition!

In that state, living to be eighty or ninety would be a simple feat.

Ever since Zhao Qianxing had learned of this herb, he had coveted it more than anything!

However, a single stalk of Bone Marrow Cleansing Grass cost 10 contribution points in the Celestial Origin Palace!

To accumulate that many points, one had to be at least an Earth-Level Cultivator. To this day, even Zhao Xiang hadn’t managed to save up 10 contribution points.