Without disturbing anyone, because he knew that if those from the Pure and Muddy Gate knew his thoughts, they would definitely obstruct him in every way.
This time, upon returning to his hometown, Kong Xiaotian suddenly discovered that the voice lingering in his mind began to wane.
Especially when he was about to reach his hometown, the voice in his mind completely disappeared.
Without that voice surrounding him, Kong Xiaotian suddenly felt a wave of relief.
When Kong Xiaotian arrived at his hometown, his figure froze.
Kong Xiaotian’s hometown was merely a small village.
But now, before his eyes was a scene of broken walls and ruins. The once small village had turned into a complete wasteland. Over time, little blades of grass had started to peek out from the broken houses.
At this moment, Kong Xiaotian’s mind went blank.
He placed the ashes of the Foundation Establishment Disciple at the village entrance and quickly walked to his home’s old location, only to find that the once cozy courtyard had also turned into ruins.
A wave of sorrow silently enveloped him. He wanted to cry loudly, but no matter what, he couldn’t shed a tear.
It was as if... he had lost that function altogether.
Kong Xiaotian’s lips kept trembling. Although there was no expression on his face, he seemed to go mad, digging continuously through the ruins.
Finally, beneath the endless debris, he found two skeletons tightly holding each other.
Despite the erosion of time, which had left only bones and no flesh, Kong Xiaotian instantly recognized the aura belonging to his parents.
At this moment, Kong Xiaotian noticed that the two skeletons were tightly clutching a red Peace Talisman.
The instant he saw the Peace Talisman, Kong Xiaotian’s mind exploded.
It was as if a bomb had fallen into a pond, stirring up wave after wave.
No matter how complex his emotions were in his mind, Kong Xiaotian’s expression remained indifferent.
He stood by his parents’ skeletons, making hand signs with his fingers, beginning to deduce the reason for the village’s destruction.
Finally, after exhausting most of his cultivation, a sharp glint flashed in Kong Xiaotian’s eyes.
"The village... was destroyed after my last return."
"Someone... specifically exterminated my hometown and killed... my parents!"
Kong Xiaotian murmured, a rare wave of emotion appearing in his usually calm voice.
At this moment, the emotions Kong Xiaotian had suppressed for an unknown period rushed forward, breaking through all barriers along with the destroyed village and his deceased parents.
Kong Xiaotian’s own will at this moment broke free from the control of the Insect Eggs and took over his body once again.
As Kong Xiaotian regained these emotions, he finally noticed something was off.
"Something... is suppressing my emotions!"
Kong Xiaotian spoke softly, sitting cross-legged among the ruins, staring at the sky, questioning.
Kong Xiaotian began a thorough examination of himself and finally found the source of his suppressed emotions.
At this moment, all the clues in his mind converged.
"Yes, even during the Foundation Establishment, I could maintain my human emotions. But ever since I swallowed the Golden Core gifted by the elder... I began to suppress my emotions."
"Clearly, I didn’t do it deliberately, yet a force was disturbing my mind, forcing me to suppress my feelings!"
"It all stems... from this Golden Core!"
"Hahaha... so that’s how it is!"
Seated on the ruins, Kong Xiaotian looked up at the clear moonlight in the night sky. The cold rays of light shining on him caused his skin to break out in goosebumps.
"It was all... a conspiracy!"
A ruthless look appeared on Kong Xiaotian’s face. In one hand, he channeled the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, transforming it into a sharp blade that began to cut into his own stomach.
Blood gushed out from the wound continuously.
He reached his hand into his abdomen, finally grabbing hold of that Golden Core.
Chirp chirp chirp chirp!!!
The moment Kong Xiaotian grasped the Golden Core, it started to violently tremble. From within it came the shrill cries of an Insect Beast, attempting to stop Kong Xiaotian.
However, Kong Xiaotian had already made his decision.
He started to pull the Golden Core, trying to extract it from his body. But after so many years of cultivation, the Golden Core had bonded with his flesh.
Extracting the Golden Core would inevitably bring immense pain.
However, seeing the ruins around him, seeing his parents’ skeletons, all these scenes dulled Kong Xiaotian’s nerves.
It was as if he couldn’t feel the pain, even though his face twisted horribly.
The Golden Core was forcibly extracted by Kong Xiaotian.
Blood drenched Kong Xiaotian’s hand. He panted heavily, staring at the Golden Core Insect Egg in his grasp. Finally, he saw what was inside.
Within the Golden Core Insect Egg, a grotesque and hideous insect was writhing, attempting to break free from the egg.
Even... its gaze toward Kong Xiaotian was filled with brutality and greed.
"So... this insect was the root of everything?"
Kong Xiaotian’s face contorted with mixed emotions, a blend of tears and laughter, making his feelings extremely complex.