第35章 第35章

**Chapter 35: The Confrontation**

White Xiaopu's face contorted in a mixture of shock and anger as the truth dawned on him. How could he have forgotten that his target was none other than his own mentor, Chen Lingzi? The man who had taken him under his wing and taught him the ways of the cultivation world.

"Chen Lingzi, what's going on?" White Xiaopu demanded, his voice trembling with rage. "Why did you hide this from me? Why did you let me think you were-"

"Ah, Xiaopu, don't be like this," Chen Lingzi said, his voice calm and soothing. "I'm afraid I have some bad news. Your cultivation has reached a critical juncture, and-"

"You're telling me I'm not good enough?" White Xiaopu's anger boiled over, and he took a step closer to Chen Lingzi. "Is that what you're saying? That I'm not worthy of being your disciple?"

Chen Lingzi held up a hand, his eyes filled with a deep sadness. "Xiaopu, please listen to me. Your cultivation is indeed flawed, but it's not because of your worth as a person or a cultivator. It's because of the aura around you. You have...an anomaly."

White Xiaopu's eyes narrowed. "An anomaly? What are you talking about?"

Chen Lingzi took a deep breath. "Xiaopu, you have a fragment of the Eternal Soul within you. It's a rare occurrence, and I've never seen it before. But it's also a curse. The fragment is slowly draining your life force, and if it's not removed, it will consume you completely."

White Xiaopu's world came crashing down around him. An Eternal Soul fragment? How could this be? He felt like he was being pulled down into the depths of despair.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he demanded, his voice cracking with emotion.

Chen Lingzi sighed. "I was waiting for the right moment to reveal the truth. I thought that once you understood the nature of the fragment, we could work together to remove it. But...I see that I was wrong. You're too consumed by your anger and pride to listen."

White Xiaopu's anger flared up again, and he raised his hand, ready to strike. But as he looked into Chen Lingzi's eyes, he saw something there that gave him pause. It was a glimmer of hope, a hint that there was still a way out of this darkness.

"Fine," he spat. "I'll listen. But only because I have no choice. Tell me what I need to do to get rid of this curse."

Chen Lingzi nodded, a small smile on his face. "Good. Then let us begin our journey to save your soul."

And with that, the two men set off on a path that would lead them down the darkest depths of the cultivation world, where only the strongest would survive. But White Xiaopu had a feeling that this journey would change him forever, and that the outcome was far from certain.

To be continued...