The people of the half demon clan were great. Hong realised as he spent time with them. Even though they were easy to be riled up, they were easy to forgive. And cultivation level was inconsequential to them as many of them had only reached the fate soul realm. And with time, he grew attached to them.
They called him Xiao Long, because of his dragon like horns. And even though he had stressed that his name was Hong, and he was not of demon beast blood many times, they merely waved it away. And he found himself growing fond of that name. They called anyone below the fate soul level "Xiao" as a term of endearment. And they were treated as the younglings. But to Hong, it felt like family. The adults were the ones that had surpassed heavenly star realm, numbering at about a few hundred.
Looking at the younger ones playing in the central courtyard, Hong had a blissful expression. After breaking through the earthly fate also known as legend rank, his inner qi had once again increased.
Streaching put his arm, he mobilised his inner qi to catch the ball the young ones were playing before it went into the woods before returning it to them.
"Thanks brother Long!"
"It's Hong, you little brat!! Get it right"
He was already at the origin returning realm. While the draconic ruins realm lacked energy, as an martial artist at the youth retaininging realm, he could mobilise this energy and easily, absorb it to practice martial arts much faster than others. Hong's Ascension into his version of the spiritual god realm had taken care of the lack of the bridge and connected the qi with the heavenly way by using the body of unyielding bronze and his soul realm, which was forged by the baptism of laws, making his soul body connected lightly the with tao. So while others depended on spiritual stones of deity lakes to cultivate from the begining, Hong was free from that burden at the moment.
The quality of the heaven and earth energy was way better than it was in the tiny realm as well. Infact, he could feel it flowing into his body and changing it and his soul body slowly. If he practiced his martial arts, he had confidence to reach the inner completion level within a few months.
But he was not sure if he should. He was nearing the end. After achieving inner completion he saw no path for himself. Even though he had cultivated his soulforce, it wasn't as serious as others had done. To him, it was simply a part of his foundation. And now after finally reaching a single step before reaching the peak, he began to feel fear.
It was the same fear someone feels when he sees no future to himself. Should he even practice? Hong wondered. With his body automatically absorbing the energy of heaven and earth, he was basically immortal. He could live forever as long as there's energy. He could live in the half beast clan until he grows old enough to have a long beard and white hair. Maybe even long drooping eyebrows. Everyone would call him ancestor. And when the time was right, he could choose a disciple, teach his arts to him and watch him grow strong as well.
Hong shook his head with a chuckle, freeing himself from the illusion of faliure, shattering his heart demon. The blissful expression now replaced with one of determination. The same look he had the moment he reincarnated the first time.
So what if the path of Martial arts would end soon. It simply meant that others hadn't reached a level beyond inner completion. Hong clenched his fist as a terrifying battle intent rose from him. His eyes shined with will power . He lifted his fist to the sky as he vowed himself to never give up. So what if there was no path paved in his future? He will make his own path.