The Rich Cultivator-Chapter 436. Curse (1/2)

"Even though we never used it..."

"We’re still Dragon Descendants, after all."

"Come on, brother! I was trying to say something cool—don’t interrupt!"

"Huh? Why do I even listen to you, you bastard?"

Long Tianhao and Long Tianxie bickered mid-air, completely ignoring the serious tension in the atmosphere. Their golden battle armor shimmered in the sunlight as they hovered in the sky, preparing for combat—yet they still found time to argue like children.

Before them floated a young woman with striking silver hair and piercing blue eyes. Her robes fluttered gently in the wind, and the sword in her hand radiated a chilling aura.

"So... these are the last descendants of the Long Clan?" she asked, her voice calm but laced with disappointment.

"Yeah, that’s us," Long Tianhao replied proudly, scratching the back of his head. "Even though we lost our Dragon Ancestor Arts—ouch!"

Long Tianxie smacked him on the back of the head. "Idiot! Don’t go around telling the enemy about our weaknesses!"

"Seriously?" The silver-haired girl raised a brow. "These two clowns are the remaining heirs of the once-mighty clan that ruled the Feng Grotto Heaven in ancient times?"

"R-right?" another voice suddenly chimed in beside her. "I also wonder sometimes... Are we really once ruled the Long Grotto Heaven? I mean... it’s now called Feng Grotto Heaven, so..."

Her eyes widened in alarm. In an instant, she spun and dashed backward, her sword raised defensively.

"Whoa, whoa— easy there, beautiful lady!" the newcomer said, raising both hands in surrender. "I’m not your enemy. I’m the oldest of those two dumbass brothers—Long Tianzhi."

She blinked in shock. When did he get there? She hadn’t sensed even a ripple of his qi until he spoke.

"I didn’t even notice him appear beside me..." she muttered under her breath, her brows furrowed in surprise. After a brief pause, she composed herself and offered a graceful bow. "This lady’s name is Bai Ying’er."

And that— unexpected, chaotic, and slightly embarrassing— was how Long Tianzhi and Bai Ying’er met.

Now, many years later, that memory echoed in Long Tianzhi’s mind as he soared through the skies toward the Bai Family’s secret realm. Wind howled past him, his speed tearing through clouds. But his mind was far away.

He didn’t know why, but he kept remembering those early moments. That awkward first meeting. Her silver hair catching the sunlight. Her poised strength. The fire in her eyes.

"She was always stubborn," he muttered to himself. "But always right."

Flying beside him was the current Master of the Bai Family, his face grim and eyes locked ahead.

"As rulers of this world, they’ve restricted all teleportation techniques," he said, irritated. "We’ll have to get there manually— it’s annoying."

Tianzhi didn’t respond. His fists clenched tighter as he accelerated.

He didn’t care if the heavens themselves tried to stop him.

They had taken his Bai Ying’er.

And there would be hell to pay.

┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉

A small child appeared out of thin air, his figure flickering with residual energy. In his hand, he held a glowing core— shimmering, fragile, yet powerful.

"Young Master, no—!" someone shouted from behind, their voice choked with panic.

But the boy didn’t turn back. Without hesitation, he crushed the core in his palm.

A soft hum echoed through the air as ancient runes lit up around the mountain. The protective barriers of the secret realm reactivated, sealing it once again.

"Oh... magnificent. How touching." Matriarch Feng’s voice broke the silence. She hovered in the sky, her eyes gleaming with twisted admiration. "The little boy sneaks out just to save everyone else... admirable, truly."

She clapped slowly, mockingly.

"If not for that man, you would’ve made a fine son-in-law for the Feng Family," she muttered darkly.

Then, without warning, she extended her hand.

Little Tyler’s eyes widened as the world seemed to tilt. Space twisted, air vanished, and before he could comprehend what was happening, he found himself trapped within Matriarch Feng’s grasp.

Her fingers began to tighten, purple flames dancing around her palm. She was preparing to compress his body, to seal him away—just as she had done to his mother.

But suddenly—

A blinding white palm slammed into her with earth-shaking force.

The impact sent a shockwave through the sky, forcing her back. She snarled, staggering mid-air.

In the same moment, a figure streaked through the sky like lightning, grabbing Little Tyler mid-fall. The child was swept into strong arms as the figure vanished without a trace.

"Dad..." Little Tyler muttered weakly, eyes half-lidded. "Save Mom..."

Then, everything went dark.

Tyler— now watching the scene unfold from a strange, third-person perspective— stood frozen. He saw his younger self, barely able to stand, ignoring all danger just to save his mother.

He clenched his fists.

"That version of me... didn’t even hesitate," he whispered. "He didn’t care about himself at all. Just... saving her."

A pang of pity struck him.

He wasn’t just watching a memory. He was witnessing the sheer desperation, love, and courage of a boy who had nothing but hope.

Then—

The world around him glitched.

Lines of reality distorted, flickered, bent like a broken screen. He stumbled slightly as the dreamscape trembled beneath his feet.

Tyler understood that the dream realm is about to end.

"No— no, not yet!" Tyler shouted. "Let me watch just a little longer— please!"

The scene before him sped up, as if someone had pressed fast-forward on the world. Voices blurred, colors streaked, and moments passed in seconds.

He reached out, trying to hold onto something— anything.

But the past was slipping away.

"Stop... stop...!"

Zrrr zrrr...

Static buzzed as the scene abruptly froze. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

Tyler stood frozen, watching his father holding his unconscious mother and Little Tyler in his arms.

Above, Matriarch Feng clashed with Patriarch Bai, their powers tearing the sky apart. All around them, members of both families were locked in brutal combat.

Then— Tyler’s breath caught.

In the background, behind his grieving parents, he saw a shadowy figure silently approaching.

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