There were many kinds of affection in the world. Ricky and Soar's bond as best friends and life-and-death brothers had been because of fate.
Ricky firmly believed that Soar could not be absent from his path of martial arts the same way that he could not be absent from Soar's.
He wanted to make constant progress in his training, but he also wanted Soar to be there every step of the way.
After picking the Dark and Light Lotuses, Jasper released Jefferson from his spiritual space tool, but Jefferson's power was still sealed by the Eight-Diagram power.
"Jefferson, I hope you can consider becoming my fighting partner. Otherwise, I would have to kill you," Jasper said.
Ricky and his companions stared at Jefferson as he mulled over Jasper's words.
"You know quite well that my fighting partner will live and die with me. If you accept my proposal, you will be my brother instead of my enemy," Jasper further promised.
Cultivating the Eight-Diagram power made him realize that he and Jefferson would be great and unstoppable together. Jasper was not about to give up such an opportunity to partner with an equal. He patiently waited for Jefferson's answer.
By now, Jefferson had already calmed down. He knew that he had become a captive, and anger and cynicism would not help him now. He had to think reasonably. He could not beat Jasper. Now that Jasper did not intend to kill him, maybe partnering with him was a great opportunity.
"What did you do to the members of the White King Tiger tribe?" Jefferson asked coldly, scanning the field for any sign of his tribe.
"I didn't fight them, and I let them flee. They must be out of the Holy Herbal Garden by now unless they're stupid," Jasper replied.
Jefferson was relieved to hear that. At least his people were safe, and he could trust Jasper enough about not fighting those who were no match for him.
"I'm the young master of the White King Tiger tribe. Why do you even want me as your fighting partner?" Jefferson asked. "I hate you. All I ever wanted was to kill you. Don't you at least hate me for that?"
Jasper smiled. "Hate is a waste of emotion, so I don't waste my time on it.
I've always known your hatred of me is rooted on jealousy, and jealousy is as ugly as hate. I hope you can understand that.
I'm willing to share my knowledge and skills with you if you choose to become my fighting partner. You will be given opportunities you haven't even thought of."
Bang! The next moment, Jasper tapped into Jefferson's mind and showed him something.
Jefferson's eyes widened in awe.
"That's the heritage of the Massacring Holy Tiger tribe. Now I give it to you. I hope you can consider saying yes to my offer," Jasper said and pulled back from Jefferson's mind.
"You gave him the heritage of the Massacring Holy Tiger tribe?" Hugh asked. "You must really, really want him to be your fighting partner. I wonder what you see in him, though."
"It's not what I see. It's fate, and I believe in it," Jasper smiled.
...
After that, they continued to search for the Treasures from Heaven and Earth in the Holy Herbal Garden. Later, they met the Skyward Sword Spiritual King, the Array-shattering Spiritual King, Henry, and the others.
Some of the Skyward Sword Spiritual King's group members had been killed by the members of the Nether Manor. Fortunately, the rest were able to escape. Otherwise, they would have been killed, too.
They continued on their journey with grief hanging over their heads like dark clouds.
They each had a good harvest, though. They believed that the Treasures from Heaven and Earth that they had gotten could help them become demi-spiritual emperors.
"I wonder what the people of the five great dynasties will look like when they come here," Soar mused.
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