Transcending the Nine Heavens

Chu Yang sighed, recalling the immense pressure that Tie Butian had endured back then. Even he, someone who had suffered countless hardships, couldn't help but feel a sense of gloom!

At that time, Tie Butian, as a fragile woman, was able to withstand the weight of the world pressing down on her, which was nothing short of a miracle!

A unique miracle in the Nine Heavens world!

Even the legendary hero of Iron Dragon City had already lost hope; how could a weak woman like Tie Butian have persevered?

Aside from Tie Butian, in the entire Nine Heavens world, it was likely that no other woman could have held on under such circumstances.

"My name is a man's name! My father had already named me before I was born, yearning for a prince, a man of great talent, to restore the collapsing sky for Iron Cloud! But after my birth, I remained a daughter!"

"In despair, my father placed all his hopes on me! But he didn't know that a man and a woman are different! No matter how strong I am, I am still a woman!"

"But here I am, growing up just like that!"

Tie Butian smiled sadly, "Raised as a man... You know, when I was twelve or thirteen, I firmly believed that I was a man! Chu Yang, do you think that’s funny?"

Chu Yang lowered his head and sighed deeply.

As an outsider, merely listening to her made him feel overwhelmed, but for the protagonist, Tie Butian, she had endured this for over a decade.

How had she managed to get through it?

Tie Butian paused for a moment before continuing, "Iron Cloud is gradually declining, and I have lost hope! I can see no light ahead! But then, you appeared. Outside Iron Cloud City, you showed up for the first time, dressed in black, like a whirlwind sweeping across the land. I still remember the moment our eyes met; it was a strange feeling. It was as if I was not meant to see you, yet I did. Strange, isn’t it?"

Chu Yang's heart trembled as he vividly recalled that moment.

At that time...

Chu Yang had separated from Du Shiqing's group and ventured north alone!

It was outside Iron Cloud City that he met Tie Butian for the first time!

Their gazes clashed from afar.

At that time, Chu Yang's eyes were calm, sharp, proud, and wild, akin to the wolf king of the far north grasslands. They were as piercing as a sword, as cold as ice. In those eyes, there was a sense of ruthlessness!

In such a gaze, all lives seemed like ants, ready to be slaughtered; the Nine Heavens Pavilion seemed like grass, ready to be trampled!

But Tie Butian's gaze was gentle, warm, and tranquil, like a vast ocean embracing countless rivers. High above, it held the aura of a ruler looking down upon the world, spreading like a gentle breeze.

Here I stand, as if I am the sovereign!

Across the land, there is no territory that is not the king’s; along the shores, there are no subjects that are not the king’s servants!

One with intent, the other without, yet both gave their all!

This was a contest!

But there was no winner or loser in this contest. If Chu Yang's gaze were the waves, Tie Butian's gaze was the reef. The waves surged, creating mountains of snow. The reef stood tall and unmoving.

Did the reef shatter the waves? Or did the waves drown the reef? Who could clearly say who triumphed and who failed?

But after that single glance, Chu Yang was like a gust of wind, sweeping past Tie Butian and her entourage, stopping neither once nor hesitating, disappearing into the direction of the city gate. Throughout, his gaze remained unchanged.

Tie Butian also withdrew her gaze calmly, lost in thought.

At that moment, it seemed as though a fragmented reflection of time appeared before Chu Yang; it was a feeling of profound mystery.

This was a meeting that completely transcended fate!...

…………

Chu Yang found himself reminiscing about that moment; a nostalgic expression appeared on his face.

He hadn't realized that at that time, not only he felt that way but Tie Butian did as well.

Two people who should never have met, meeting outside of destiny.

Only Chu Yang knew how inappropriate their meeting had been: in the previous life, Tie Butian had been defeated and died, and Iron Cloud had fallen; it was his foresight in this life that had changed it all, leading to their encounter!