Chapter 6: Knowledge

Xu Liang didn't know how to react in this situation but he felt somewhat happy at being called affectionately. He was unable to understand what this feeling was. He had always been alone in a dark world since he can remember. Other than knowing how to speak, he didn't know much about things, especially how to interact with the outside world... what expressions to show and other basic things. 

"Hello" Xu Liang replied to the girl in a low tone as he gazed at her. Heavenly Emperor Tian Zhu was stunned as for the first time he saw a glimpse of happiness on this boy's face. Although he knew that Xu Liang wasn't actually smiling, he could feel that he Xu Liang was happy. 

"Little Liang... This little girl in front of you is my cute little daughter Yue. I hope that both of you will get along well. Treat her well" Heavenly Emperor Tian Zhu said with a smile as he gazed at Xu Liang.

" I Will..." Xu Liang had just let out when something unexpected happened. 

"Ahh.... father it hurts..." Yue started wailing in pain as her expressions distorted. In a short second, She fell unconscious. 

Heavenly Emperor Tian Zhu hurriedly ran towards Yue as he took her in his arms. 

"Damn this Cursed Physique!!! Why did my daughter have to be the one who received this curse of a physique? What crimes had I committed to having my daughter suffer such pain!!! " Heavenly Emperor Tian Zhu roared loudly with a sad look on his face. 

Xu Liang gazed at everything but he just kept standing there without saying anything. 

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That memory ended as well but further memories kept invading his mind. He saw the Heavenly Emperor Tian Zhu getting the greatest of tutors in the Heavenly Realm for him. Xu Liang was taught about worldly matters and the knowledge of this world.

Xu Liang was taught that this universe contained four realms. The Heavenly Realm where they resided and the Demon Realm were counted as the strongest realms. There was also an Immortal Realm where mortals who became immortals resided. Below that realm was the Mortal Realm which contained thousands of civilizations and planets. He was taught about the various civilizations, especially the stronger and the dangerous ones were given priority. He was taught about politics, about warfare and strategies, literature and more. 

Xu Liang's studies continued for 3 years. By the time he was 8 years old, he had already gained all the knowledge the Masters had to offer. Even the Heavenly Masters who had taught Xu Liang were amazed at the talents of Xu Liang towards learning. They couldn't understand how a mortal had such strong memorization power and the intelligence to understand the most difficult of concepts in no time. He was about to answer the toughest of political and war-related questions easily. The masters had already started considering Xu Liang as a prodigy from the Mortal Realm which was even better than the geniuses of the Heavenly Realm. 

Heavenly Emperor Tian Zhu heard all about Xu Liang's achievements and even he himself couldn't help but feel amazed at the talents of a mortal. 

Xu Liang had opened up more towards the Heavenly Emperor and Yue. After their increased interactions and constant care, he had slowly started treating them like family. Although he still didn't gain back the memories of his initial years of existence before meeting Heavenly Emperor Tian Zhu, Xu Liang started feeling like he didn't need those memories anyways. He was happy at the family he had received. 

Heavenly Emperor Tian Zhu treated the date he met  Xu Liang for the first time as his birthday and assumed his age at that time to be five years old. 

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Xu Liang was still stuck in the cycle of memories. It was his 8th birthday as per the date decided by the emperor.

"I want to learn cultivation" Xu Liang said in a soft voice as he stood in front of the man. It had been 3 years and Xu Liang had grown much taller than before, but the man still looked the same. He was wearing a golden robe instead of the golden armor he wore at the time he met Xu Liang in the ancient ruins. 

"Are you sure you want to walk on the path of immortality?" Heavenly Emperor Tian Shu smiled as he asked while looking at Xu Liang. 

" I am... " Xu Liang said with determination. Although Xu Liang was much closer to this man and the little girl who called him brother, he still had a difficult time showing his real feelings towards them. He always talked in a neutral tone making others feel distant but Heavenly Emperor Tian Zhu understood this and knew Xu Liang's real feelings. He knew that Xu Liang had started considering them as a family too. 

"Hahaha, you don't need to be so serious little Liang, I wanted to teach you for a long time but I was waiting for you to gain some knowledge first. Although I had decided to teach you when you turn 8 years old even if you turned out to be bad in studies but you shocked me with your performance"Heavenly Emperor Tian Zhu said with a gentle smile as he looked at Xu Liang. 

"You will... teach me?... personally?"  Xu Liang asked with a doubtful look on his face. 

"Of course I will teach you personally!! How else can you become the best cultivator in the world if the strongest person himself doesn't teach you" Heavenly Emperor Tian Zhu laughed loudly as he let out a proud look on his face. 

"Father, Are you being shameless again? " A cute female voice sounded from behind. Heavenly Emperor Tian Zhu couldn't help but cough a few times as he heard that voice. With a wry smile on his face, he turned around. He looked towards the gate only to see a seven-year-old girl standing there as she looked at him with a curious look on her face. 

"My little darling Yue. Who taught you words like this?" Heavenly Emperor Tian Zhu asked as he gazed at his daughter Yue who was now seven years old. She had a doll-like face with cute blonde hair and was wearing a cute skirt that made her look even prettier.

"Uncle Zhen told me," Yue told Heavenly Emperor Tian Zhu with an innocent expression on her face. As soon as her words escaped her mouth, a light noise of sudden coughing came from outside.