Chapter 444 - To Control the Heavens and Earth, You Must Bear Their Weight!

Tian Chen opened the Bag of Holding, spilling out some objects that shimmered with white light.

A dozen or so pieces, upon closer inspection, revealed tiger stripe patterns.

"This..." Lian Xi trembled, turning around abruptly. The items that had fallen to the ground were a complete set of armor, including a helmet, breastplate, arm guards, shoulder guards, a battle skirt, and boots.

It somewhat resembled the armor found within the Primordial Pagoda of the Primordial Academy, but it was clearly of a much higher grade. Despite the marks of age, it still exuded an awe-inspiring majesty and a domineering aura!

This full set of armor, each piece adorned with white tiger patterns, especially the breastplate, resembled a tiger's head, its eyes fiercely glaring at the world, imposing without anger!

"How could the Martial Emperor's Armor be in the hands of a descendant of the Three Immortals?"

Yun Xiao heard a white-robed elder beside him whisper, his expression extremely shaken.

And for a moment, most people around did not recognize what it was!

BOOM!

In the next instant, the entire set of White Tiger Armor suddenly emitted a mournful roar, as if bemoaning its fate, then flew towards Lian Xi!

CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!

It wrapped around Lian Xi automatically, even altering its shape to fit her, transforming into a set of female armor. Upon wearing it, she did not appear cumbersome but rather perfectly matched, her valiant elegance enhanced!

Clearly, only a top-tier treasure could possess such an effect!

Once it reached Lian Xi, the armor, dormant for years, finally awakened. It roared, absorbing the power of heaven and earth, with runes emerging and the desolate power surging forth, creating an earth-shattering sensation!

"What's happening? Did Tian Chen give Lian Xi a set of top-tier magical armor?"

"I have no idea..."

This scene left many cultivators of the Primordial Ruins baffled.

Until some elders and veterans widened their eyes, pointing at Lian Xi with trembling fingers and a voice filled with horror, they shouted, "That is the Martial Emperor's Armor!"

This name awakened many memories.

Legends told that hundreds of years ago, the Martial Emperor Clan ruled over the Primordial Ruins. The Emperor possessed an armor that could conquer heaven and earth, slay demons and devils, and instill fear in monsters and evil beings!

In the battle against the Devil Ark, the Martial Emperor's Armor had shown its might.

However, as the heinous acts of the Martial Emperor Clan, including the harvesting of young girls' hearts, were exposed, the clan fell into decline. The Three Immortals descended, rebuilding the then-tattered world... And the Martial Emperor's Armor, it seemed, had also vanished into obscurity.

After that, no one remembered it anymore.

It could be said that this set of Imperial Armor bore the glory of the Martial Emperor Clan's 10,000 years of history!

"It really is the Martial Emperor Armor!"

Tens of thousands of cultivators from the Primordial Ruins witnessed this scene, and their hearts stirred. But soon, they realized something terrifying!

In that moment, their inner rage exploded!

Tian Chen stepped forward, roaring in the most furious tone, "Historical records state that only the direct bloodline of the Martial Emperor Clan can activate the Martial Emperor Armor!"

With these words, everyone who was clueless understood at that moment.

BOOM!

It was as if the entire Primordial Ruins exploded. In an instant, the eyes of all those around bled with a fury that could not coexist under the same sky.

Tian Chen, standing amidst the rage, proclaimed in a grand voice, "Lian Xi, the Primordial Ruins have always suspected you as a child of disaster, yet many have defended you. But now, with irrefutable evidence, not only do you consort with devils, but you are also the descendant of an ancient clan of sinners. On behalf of the people, I ask you, do you acknowledge your guilt?!"

A single piece of irrefutable evidence had determined everything.

The appearance of the Martial Emperor Armor proved that the descendants of the Three Immortals had long had a way to prove Lian Xi was a child of disaster... they merely chose the most opportune moment to reveal it. And that moment was now!

Lian Xi, in her attempt to save her family and oppose the Heavenly Order Temple, had caused a great uproar, which still left a bit of room for mitigation. But now, the opposition had truly played their trump card with one goal: to nail her firmly to the column of sin, leaving her no chance of redemption.

Moreover, the most crucial point was—

Once branded a child of disaster, even if the Primordial Academy continued to protect her, the nature of their support would be completely altered!

Roars of rage and curses, like a tsunami, crashed down upon the girl.

"Descendant of sin, you deserve to be hacked to pieces!"

"Chop her into mincemeat, to atone for the Martial Emperor Clan's crimes, and give an explanation to the people of the world!"

"Three hundred years! You, a child of disaster, have survived to this day, even becoming an Immortal in the Primordial Ruins. What exactly do you intend to do? To make a comeback and poison the people once again?"

Three hundred years! Those from that era had mostly passed away.

Yet, in this world, the hatred for the Martial Emperor Clan, nurtured generation after generation by the Gu, had seeped into their bones. The deep-seated curse had become their instinct!

As they roared madly, the scarlet insects in their eyes almost fell from their eyeballs. This scene was shockingly gruesome, yet, sadly, they themselves could not see it clearly.

Only Lian Xi stood alone in this cursed tsunami, letting the blood-like storm batter her body over and over again, causing her internal organs to rupture.

Looking at such snarling faces, she was reminded of her childhood... Back then, she had no friends because every touch with other children would hurt them. And so it was rumored she was cursed, condemned, and could only hide in corners to cry. Until her grandmother appeared and took her away.

She asked her grandmother, "Why do I always irritate people and hurt others just by existing?"

Her grandmother, kind and gentle, said, "You should ask why your talent far surpasses others."

"Why?" she asked.

"Because you were born to be an Empress above the clouds, destined to dominate the fate of humankind," her grandmother said meaningfully. "And such people are often misunderstood."

"Misunderstood?"

It pained her; she yearned to be understood.

Her grandmother stroked her head, smiling, "Yes, but it doesn't matter. You just need to do your duty. One day, people will recognize everything you've contributed. And this is the pursuit of people like us... The truly steadfast in spirit are not brought down by rumors and malevolent glares."

She was too young then, how could she understand all that her grandmother said?

At this moment, viewed by the world as a child of disaster, those inhuman curses pierced her heart over and over. If not for the heavy burden of the Martial Emperor Armor, she felt an urge to kneel and weep bitterly...

This was the treatment a girl deserved, not to endure and stand firm. Childhood memories and the present world swirled in chaos, like demons whispering in her ear.

"What is the meaning of cultivation?"

For the first time, her spirit wavered, filled with doubt.

In that moment of despair, suddenly a hand grasped hers. Lian Xi trembled slightly and lifted her head, only to see a young man in white standing beside her amidst the abyss of curses and sin.

He simply smiled gently at her. Suddenly, it was as if the rising sun broke through the darkness, sunshine spreading everywhere, and all the filth and grievances dissipated like smoke.

"Yun Xiao, do they hate me just because of the Gu?" Lian Xi asked, puzzled.

"Does it matter?" Yun Xiao asked.

"Doesn't it matter?" Lian Xi replied, not understanding.

"It doesn't." Yun Xiao gripped her hand tighter, looking into her eyes, "If you really want to get to the bottom of this, it's not hard. We could just kill the Three Immortals, burn all the Gu in the minds of the beings, and then see."

"What if they still hate me then?" Lian Xi asked.

"Then we'll just kill all these idiots, and the world will be at peace," Yun Xiao said.

Lian Xi was stunned.

So, enlightenment was that simple?

"To love the people, you must bear their ignorance. To control the heavens and the earth, you must bear their weight." The confusion in Lian Xi's eyes faded, replaced by a firm gaze and a surging fighting spirit!

"Stop being sentimental, hurry back to the Primordial Academy. The real battle is about to begin," Yun Xiao patted her head, "On the bright side, today you gained an epic-level treasure armor for free."

"Mhm!" Lian Xi chuckled, her smile blooming like a flower.

Those cursing her were furious to see this! They were cursing her, and here she was falling in love, smiling sweetly?

"What a pair of fiends, utterly outrageous!"

Many were puffing in anger, hearts ablaze with fury.

Meanwhile, quietly in Yun Xiao's embrace, Blue Star whispered to Red Moon, "See that? It's all about cultivating a strong heart in the mortal world. Our brother is simply more awesome than any Primordial Immortal Ancestor..."

Red Moon pouted and protested, "What's so great about that? It's just that the little fairy cares about her face, while our bro can afford not to."