Villain : After Slacking Off, The Protagonist Collapse

Chapter 31 - Some People’s Starting Points Are Endpoints Others Can Never Reach!

Seeing Du Guyun constantly exhaling, Canglao felt helpless inside. He thought he should have been more conservative, as then Du Guyun might not have been so deeply affected. “Disciple, you don’t need to think too much about it,” Canglao advised.

“Throughout the long history, there have been countless geniuses known as Young Emperors. These geniuses, bright as the morning sun, often fall like shooting stars. Do you know why?”

Canglao’s tactic was effective. Quickly calming Du Guyun down, he also piqued his curiosity, steering his thoughts away from the previous matters. “Why is that?” Du Guyun asked, intrigued.

“It’s because they shine too brightly,” Canglao explained. “The tree that stands out in the forest is the first to be cut down. It’s the same with people. Being famous is good, but it often makes you a target.”

“Especially Jiang Chen, who has killed two geniuses of ancient royal clans, is bound to be targeted by them. Additionally, various powers won’t let him off easily. The moment Jiang Chen shows weakness, powerful individuals from these clans will act.”

“Throughout history, too many geniuses have fallen, countless in number. In my early days, like you, I was a nobody. But in the end, when most of my contemporaries had perished, I was still alive and even stepped into the Great Saint realm. If not for some mistakes, I might have already broken through the limits of the Saint realm and embarked on the much-coveted path of an Emperor.”

“So don’t be misled by Jiang Chen’s current fame. An existence like him is bound to face numerous dangers and attract the attention of countless powerful individuals.

“Even for the Primordial Holy Son, surviving these is no small feat. The position is esteemed, but it doesn’t make him immortal. I’ve seen two Primordial Holy Sons fall in my time. Even though they weren’t quite at Jiang Chen’s level, they were still killed.”

Canglao spoke somewhat disdainfully. This was something he took pride in: rising from an unknown to one of the top powers in the Nine Heavens, something nobody could have predicted, not even Canglao himself. He naturally harbored some pride and looked down on those so-called top talents of powerful factions. In his view, being too conspicuous was tantamount to courting death.

“You’re right, teacher!” Du Guyun contemplated, finding Canglao’s words reasonable. Fame is good, but it also brings danger and resentment.

“Do you know about the Eternal Emperor?” Canglao continued, seeing Du Guyun receptive to his guidance.

“Of course!” Du Guyun responded immediately. “The Eternal Emperor was also a nobody in the past, unknown to all. But he grew stronger with each battle, eventually defeating everyone and achieving the status of an Emperor.”

Du Guyun knew of the Eternal Emperor, a name that resounded throughout the Nine Heavens and a unique figure among emperors.

“He had no unparalleled talent and was just an ordinary person,” Canglao said about the Eternal Emperor. “Yet, with his ordinary body, he forged a bloody path and ultimately ascended to the highest throne of Emperor.”

“Do you think if the Eternal Emperor had been as conspicuous as Jiang Chen back then, could he have made it to the end? The Eternal Emperor only became widely known and renowned across the Nine Heavens when he reached the realm of Saint King.”

“But he ended up the winner. It doesn’t matter if one is unknown in the beginning, or if the journey is arduous and tedious. What matters is the outcome. What use is a wonderful journey if it ends badly? Do you want a good outcome, or a beautiful journey that ends in regret?”

Canglao’s voice, carrying a certain power, resonated within, shaking the soul. “Of course, a good ending!” Du Guyun immediately replied. He was extremely self-confident and firmly believed he would become a supreme cultivator.

If anyone asked what level of a cultivator he would become in the future, Du Guyun would confidently say an Emperor, even an unparalleled true immortal.

“I understand, Master,” Du Guyun said. “I won’t be influenced by Jiang Chen anymore. Even if he has the position and fame that I now envy, it’s not important. What matters is who reaches the end. Even if I am unknown now, as long as I reach the best in the end, people will only remember me, not Jiang Chen.”

Du Guyun spoke confidently, his face beaming. “A teachable student indeed,” Canglao said, very pleased. He had managed to bring this young man’s mentality back on track. Although this made Du Guyun more self-important, it was more crucial that he didn’t lose direction after being hit hard.

“Don’t worry, Master. I will become an Emperor, renowned for all eternity, revered by billions of beings. Even after eons, I will be remembered, while Jiang Chen will just be a forgotten wave in the sands of time,” Du Guyun proclaimed more and more confidently, as if foreseeing the future.

“I believe in you,” Canglao said outwardly, but sighed inwardly. He still had some things unsaid. While the Eternal Emperor’s story was inspiring, he was just one in many. Throughout the ages, other Emperors had shown extraordinary talents from the start. Most Emperors were invincible from beginning to end, unmatched in their realms.

“My disciple, although countless geniuses have fallen like shooting stars, most of the exceptional beings ultimately remain etched in the stars, shining eternally, never dimming. Most people never shine from the start to the end, only a few briefly shine before completely dimming. I am one of those people,” Canglao thought internally.

His earlier words were meant to motivate Du Guyun, but deep down, he wasn’t very optimistic about his disciple. With more experience and knowledge, one understands that some people’s starting points are unreachable destinations for others, and overtaking on a curve is improbable.