The closer Chen Nan got to the mountaintop, the more arduous his steps became. It felt as if he were carrying a mountain on his back. He knew this was the divine might emanating from the talisman at the summit.
With every step, the ground beneath his feet cracked, unable to bear the immense power.
"Are you truly a Golden Core cultivator?" the mountain guardian asked, trailing behind him like a lost soul. Although just a phantom, his eyes revealed profound shock. He understood that cultivators were not meant to venture this far, yet Chen Nan displayed terrifying talent.
Chen Nan replied, "I don't know my own realm. If you say I'm Golden Core, well, I do have a Golden Core. If you say I'm not, I've endured the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation."
The guardian exclaimed, "Are you an Abandoned by Heaven?"
"I suppose so..." This was the second time Chen Nan had heard this term.
The guardian was incredulous, "Impossible. Those Abandoned by Heaven cannot survive the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation. No one can live through the heavenly wrath."
Chen Nan grinned, "If I shatter the tribulation clouds, won't I survive the heavenly wrath?" He paused, then asked, "Senior, what is an Abandoned by Heaven?"
The guardian inquired, "You have no parents, do you?"
Chen Nan frowned, "Are you insulting me?"
The guardian blinked, "Those Abandoned by Heaven have tragic destinies. They are separated from their parents in infancy. If you are one, you would not have parents."
"My mother is a stepmother. But my father... he's definitely my biological father, and he's in this realm!"
The guardian looked at Chen Nan, trying to discern his fate, but the destiny of an Abandoned by Heaven was inherently mysterious and unpredictable. After a moment of contemplation, he stated, "Your father is not in this realm."
"If I believed you, I'd be an idiot!" Chen Nan retorted, his voice filled with annoyance. His father, Chen Shan, was in Bai Di City. This old man was cunning; his words couldn't be trusted.
The guardian, perplexed, asked, "What is an idiot?"
Chen Nan ignored him and, after a brief rest, continued his ascent towards the summit. According to his calculations, the divine talisman would flash again in about twenty minutes. He needed to reach the peak of the Undying Mountain in one go.
Time flowed by. Chen Nan was only a dozen meters from the summit. He could now clearly see a palm-sized divine talisman, its golden paper covered in mysterious crimson runes. Yet, these last few meters felt incredibly arduous. Each step was a struggle, even after enduring the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation. His physical body began to crack, small fissures appearing, oozing golden-red blood.
"There's still half an incense stick's worth of time until the talisman lights up. If you regret it now, I can still let you leave," the guardian offered. He could see Chen Nan was at the end of his rope. It would be difficult even to get close, let alone remove the talisman.
Chen Nan took a breath, "No big deal."
The guardian was bewildered. "Your body is cracking, and you say it's no big deal? Young man, you shouldn't show off like this."
Chen Nan stopped, needing to adjust his condition before making a final push to remove the talisman. Seeing Chen Nan's body rapidly heal, the guardian was astonished. "Such terrifying recovery!" He knew this place was not meant for cultivators. Not even immortals could withstand the talisman's power here; their bodies would likely disintegrate, leading to their demise. Yet, Chen Nan not only endured it but also healed his injuries quickly. Truly, the Abandoned by Heaven were formidable.
However, even so, the guardian didn't believe Chen Nan could remove the talisman. The moment it lit up, even an Immortal Emperor would have their soul scattered.
"Now!" As the divine talisman's glow completely extinguished, a sharp glint appeared in Chen Nan's eyes. He knew the talisman was dimming only to erupt with dazzling light moments later. This was his chance. Without a second thought, he gritted his teeth and dashed towards the summit.
But just as he reached out to touch the talisman, it suddenly unleashed a blinding divine radiance. The light illuminated the surroundings, freezing Chen Nan in place, his mind going blank, as if time had stopped.
The guardian sighed, "I told you to leave, but you wouldn't listen. A pity, a pity."
"Wait!"
"Why does he possess a familiar aura?"
"What is that yellow light enveloping him?"
"Power of Merit?"
"Heavens! What is happening?"
"Why does an Abandoned by Heaven have the power of merit by his side?"
"This child has the makings of a saint!"
The guardian's form flickered, like a lamp about to extinguish. His inner shock was palpable. He never expected Chen Nan, a mere Golden Core junior, to possess the power of merit. This was an immense fortune, but it shouldn't appear on someone Abandoned by Heaven.
"Indeed, the power of merit can offset the divine might of the talisman." Chen Nan regained his senses. While he wasn't afraid of death, he wasn't reckless either. If he hadn't had absolute confidence, he wouldn't have risked coming here. He dared to come and remove the talisman for two reasons. First, he had a life-or-death bond with Long Ao. Although it was merely a guardian spirit beast of Kunlun Mountain, if Chen Nan had to choose who he trusted most, it would be Long Ao. The immortal mansion on his person was a gift from Long Ao. Since Long Ao told him to retrieve the talisman, it must have a purpose. Second, the power of merit. He didn't know why he possessed it, but it was the power of merit that helped him overcome the heavenly tribulation. If it could defy the laws of the mortal world, what was removing a divine talisman?
He smiled and extended his hand, removing the talisman before the guardian's astonished gaze. Instantly, auspicious clouds drifted in the night sky, multicolored and resembling a human paradise. Heavenly phenomena appeared: phantom images of true dragons and divine phoenixes soared through the air. Simultaneously, the Undying Mountain trembled. All cultivators within this realm simultaneously looked towards the direction of the Undying Mountain, feeling an inexplicable tremor. The spiritual energy in the world seemed to have become much denser.
"Senior, what is the use of this divine talisman?" Chen Nan asked the guardian.
The guardian's expression was complex. "This divine talisman is actually a curse. Even if you remove it, there isn't much benefit."
"No use?" Chen Nan was dumbfounded. If that were the case, what was the meaning of Long Ao telling him to remove it? Suddenly, a seven-colored radiant cloud appeared in the distance, tearing through the sky and instantly enveloping Chen Nan.
The guardian said, "The divine talisman is of no use to you at present, but it will bring you many blessings. For example, the recognition of this world's heavenly laws."
Chen Nan's lips twitched. This was truly stating the obvious. Just then, bathed in the seven-colored radiance, Chen Nan saw the embodiment of this world's heavenly laws. It took the form of a boy, about five or six years old, wearing a red bellyband, looking at him nervously. "Can I call you Daddy?"