Just as Zhong Zhengyuan had suspected, Chen Changsheng had actually foreseen this as an act already on his way to Tianji Mountain.
But he still went, even though he was being used…
Because in his view, Zhong Zhengyuan was a foolish yet intriguing person. If he truly died, Chen Changsheng might feel a bit displeased.
Tianji Mountain had its own destiny. The people there constantly did one foolish thing after another, not just for the Immortal Mountain, but for all living beings under heaven. Of course, that would all co later…
Chen Changsheng rode his Immortal Sword through the sea of clouds. Below the sword lay the vast and boundless Mortal World.
He thought about ‘Chen Fan’ and what he had seen inside the Fate Stone.
“Mayfly… thirty-three years old…”
Was that vision he saw inevitable, or just chance?
Did it vary from person to person, or…
Chen Changsheng frowned in thought. He vaguely felt that the Fate Stone had been waiting for him. This feeling was profound and elusive, leaving him puzzled.
“A bit too wild…”
Chen Changsheng recalled Yu Xuan seen within the Fate Stone.
That little girl.
Chen Changsheng raised his sleeve and asked, “I have a question for you.”
The Black Pagoda, finding the seal lifted, seed reluctant to engage.
Chen Changsheng said, “If you stay silent, I’ll cut you down.”
The Black Pagoda sighed helplessly. “You’ll get what’s coming to you soday, Chen.”
Unfazed by the words, Chen Changsheng pressed on. “How many years have you existed in this world?”
Hearing this, the Black Pagoda began to ponder. “It feels…
“Long ago. I don’t recall clearly, but it was definitely a long ti.”
A thought struck Chen Changsheng. “What about the Ancestral Master of Tianji Mountain from eight thousand years ago? Any impression?”
The Black Pagoda paused. “Heard bits here and there. Wasn’t he so kind of fortune-teller? Don’t rember more. Too much happened, it’s fuzzy.”
Chen Changsheng nodded and changed the subject. “The world is vast, changed by ti. Once, there was a place called Nanjun. Do you know when that was?”
The Black Pagoda considered again. “Why ask?”
“Just answer,” Chen Changsheng insisted.
“That much I know,” the Black Pagoda replied. “In those days, kingdoms hadn’t ford yet. Mortals exalted martial might. Factions like clans claid domains, dividing all land. Nanjun was one such domain. When conflicts ended over a century later with a new dynasty, those nas faded. Very long ago now… have to think… when was it exactly…”
Recall proved difficult for the Black Pagoda. Too ancient.
Chen Changsheng raised his hand, calculating briefly. Eyes widened. “Nine thousand years ago…”
“Seems so.”
The Black Pagoda couldn’t fathom why Chen even asked; nine millennia felt impossibly distant. Cultivators living beyond millennia already stood rare.
Chen Changsheng’s brow furrowed as he gazed into the distance.
Thick storm clouds gathered there, threatening to pour rain upon the Mortal World.
“ssy…”
Chen Changsheng’s lips moved silently while thoughts raced. Things felt deeply strange.
The Yu Xuan he knew should have lived within the last thousand years.
So who was that ‘Jade Xuan’ girl from Nanjun nine millennia past?
The Black Pagoda sensed confusion. “What’s ssy?”
Shaking his head without explanation, Chen Changsheng raised a hand to reseal the pagoda—but paused mid-action.
Seeing this, the Black Pagoda guessed the intention.
Protests flew hotly. “Hey! You do that again, Chen, and you’ve got no honor at all!”
Chen Changsheng lowered his hand. Suddenly said, “Take to the Desolate Sea.”
A pause. “Can’t you go yourself?”
“To Sword Immortal Yu Xuan’s tomb.”
Doubt piled in Chen Changsheng’s mind. Answers felt near within her resting place. Though never t, this ‘forr acquaintance’ stirred strange familiarity. Seeing just seed necessary now.
The Black Pagoda guided Chen Changsheng toward the Desolate Sea. The Immortal Sword cut across the sky, landscapes shifting swiftly beneath. Green forests yielded to endless grey sea horizons.
Aghast, the Pagoda blurted, “You’re not flying us across that on sword?!”
Chen Changsheng countered mildly. “Problem?”
The Black Pagoda nearly shouted. “Touch the edge only! Her tomb lies beyond the boundaries! Not even she flew direct; used a Sky Skiff! Magic power fails midway? Trapped amid Desolate Sea? Not joking—a True Immortal might not save us if attempted!”
Chen Changsheng simply answered in calm asure. “Magic power is the one thing I possess abundantly.”
Frantic warnings died unspoken as the Pagoda rembered escape from those borders was bitter. Never again was barely enough feeling.
Against all sense, Chen Changsheng charged forward, sword humming straight toward Desolate Sea expanse.
A terrified murmur escaped the Pagoda. “Finished, finished…”
Endless gray waters filled vision below, letting icy dread slip darkly back. Landing here with that lunatic Chen—fate crueler than eight lifetis combined!
“Guide !”
Chen Changsheng’s command brooked no further talk.
Trapped aboard madness itself, the Black Pagoda saw little choice. Fingers pointed grimly; better slowly choked by Desolate Sea than instantly by Chen’s sword.
…
Outside Autumn Moon Market, fields wore their usual quiet.
A carriage rested at mountain’s base.
Yun Xiang stepped down. Eyes climbed the hill toward the Taoist temple at peak.
Peach Sister said last year when Huai Xu season blood, Sir Huai Xu would return. Mid-Sumr Solstice brought Yun a check only yesterday—’Two days more,’ the word went. Thus today returned her.
Servants and maid heaved firm steps beside ascending Miss Yun.
The climb proved steep. Even youth strained in maiden’s feet.
At gate now open, Yun instructed team plainly: “All outside stay waiting.”
Alone footsteps carried forward across Taoist Temple grounds.
Within, Tong Zhihuan offered incense at Truth Martial Might Statue. Turning slight, his vision caught Yun Xiang traversing the inner yard.
Through fra he called: “Miss Yun!” Stepping vital across stones towards courtyard eting point.
Cloudfragrance swiftly asked: “Has Mister Chen returned?”
The attendant paused softly. “But a mont gone.” Expression held regret certain.
Miss Yun echoed low besides: “Missed path…”
Tong then hastened certainty show: “No fear attend you. Duties quick requires absence yet end sees him back soon.”
Casting upward look penned urgency deep mixed unspoken waiting pressing. Recalling child stance sa pressing lips firm. Voice leapt: “Might wait…here… ’til Master Chen walks doorway?”
Tong watched expressions unfold subtle depths response carry decisive nod inford:
“Naturally yes.”
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