Xu Xian emerged from seclusion, yet he did not leave the mountain or receive guests. Many of those close to him within the mountain were naturally worried.
His senior sisters and brothers.
Li Qingshan,
Yao Xiaoxiao,
Chu Yi, and Tu Kongkong...
As for Lin Qianqian and Zhang Yang, after four hundred years of time, the former companions of the past had long since drifted onto different paths.
They could no longer reach him, and they didn't even know if he was still within those mountains.
Those mentioned above often discussed Xu Xian's situation in private.
There was worry,
There was curiosity,
But they couldn't quite put it into words.
They only knew that his everlasting lamp was burning brightly.
In the words of Lu Yuan, as long as he wasn't dead, it was fine.
In any case,
Since his world-traversing sword inquiry, Xu Xian's temperament had changed drastically. He was no longer flamboyant or showy, becoming more like a reclusive grandmaster.
He was like a divine dragon, seen only by a glimpse of its head or tail.
This was the norm in cultivation.
Once one reached a certain realm, life consisted only of meditation and attaining the dao, devoid of much other interest...
A hundred years,
A thousand years,
They were merely numbers.
The affairs of the world are but floating clouds, not worth the inquiry; better to sleep soundly and eat well.
...
One night, deep in the late hours, under the persuasion of the little book spirit, Xu Xian finally stepped out of his grotto-heaven and stood beneath the moonlight.
The moonlight was cool, casting a pale glow over the green mountains.
Gazing upon it,
There was a sense of sudden clarity, as if the dust had been cleared and a light had been born, illuminating ten thousand peaks.
Xu Xian revealed a long-lost smile. “The moonlight at the Wendao Sword Sect is still so beautiful...”
Seeing its master smile, the little book spirit’s mood improved significantly. It said cheerfully, “See? I told you, Master. People shouldn't trap themselves in circles. You need to get out more, look around...”
Xu Xian glanced at it from the corner of his eye and shook his head with a smile. “You, oh you...”
He looked up at the sky.
The stars were quiet.
Xu Xian’s thoughts were still submerged in the search for a way to break the deadlock.
The green mountains were so enchanting;
All the more reason to protect them.
He took a step forward, riding the wind beneath his feet as he merged into the moonlight, leaving the Ancestral Peak.
The little book spirit was caught off guard and hurried to catch up.
“Master, where are you going?”
Xu Xian said calmly, “Just strolling...”
“Eh!”
...
Xu Xian said he was just strolling, and he truly was. He left the Ancestral Peak grotto-heaven and silently returned to Zuiwan Residence.
Li Qingshan was not home.
There was no one in the residence.
However, his own room was clean and tidy, and the meditation mat was brand new.
In the backyard were ten acres of spirit fields.
The immortal plants were growing exceptionally well.
Beneath the night sky, they emitted a ten-colored immortal essence. Xu Xian approached them, feeling an inexplicable sense of comfort.
These...
These were the territories he had carved out in his earlier years.
Looking at these immortal plants, he couldn't help but think back to those hundreds of years.
He missed it dearly.
Back then, he didn't have to think about anything except building the Sword Tower.
Now...
It truly lived up to what his senior sister had said: with great power comes great responsibility.
And with great responsibility,
Comes less happiness.
He had originally thought that as long as he worked hard and became invincible in the world, he could eat, drink, play, travel, and live a long, joyful life.
To be an immortal on the mountain,
Occasionally wandering through the mortal realm.
But reality was like this.
Sometimes he thought his younger self was right. Cultivation... there wasn't much good to it...
An ordinary life might be short, but there weren't many regrets.
A cultivator's life was long, but it was filled with nothing but regrets upon regrets.
It was truly frustrating.
Just like now.
It was true he was invincible in the world, but he also bore the weight of all living beings. He knew of the cataclysm, yet he couldn't break it.
He seemed to understand the mindset of the ancestors of the Three Sects, the demon immortals, the saints, and the old monsters of the spirit race.
They clearly knew,
That their lifespans were ending,
And they knew the Sky Gate was hidden beneath the Wendao Sword Sect, but they were simply powerless.
Because they couldn't defeat him.
It was the same reason he couldn't kill the Twilight Emperor right now.
No wonder,
Four hundred years ago, they had gone mad trying to storm the Wendao Sword Sect.
If he were in their position,
He would have done the same...
...
With nothing better to do, Xu Xian lay in the immortal plant field all night, emptying his thoughts until dawn. When morning came, he spent his time weeding and watering to pass the time.
At some point, Lu Yuan arrived uninvited. He sat by the spirit spring, his eyes covered by a ribbon and his red hair swaying.
He initiated the greeting, “You’re quite leisurely, aren't you?”
Xu Xian replied casually, “I suppose.”
“Is the Heart Demon Tribulation over?”
“Mhm.”
Lu Yuan curled his lip and muttered, “You really are a monster.”
Xu Xian glanced at him, continued leaning over to loosen the soil, and smiled. “Aren't you a monster too? Four hundred years and you're at the peak of the eighth stage. You could have crossed the lightning tribulation long ago, right? What, are you like Little Shan, afraid of being struck dead by lightning, so you don't dare to cross it?”
Lu Yuan scoffed and said arrogantly, “Comparing me to him is an insult.”
Xu Xian found it funny. If Li Qingshan heard that, he wondered if the man would be able to laugh.
“Then why? Do you want to settle your foundation further?”
Lu Yuan looked up at the sky and said flatly, “It’s not that complicated. I just simply don't want to cross the lightning tribulation in Fanzhou.”
“Oh?” Xu Xian was intrigued.
Lu Yuan said meaningfully, “Fanzhou is the lower realm. The lightning tribulation here isn't pure enough. Crossing it would be a waste.”
He looked at Xu Xian and asked in return, “You’ve crossed it before, so you should understand. How can such weak lightning temper one's bones and roots?”
Xu Xian was utterly speechless.
Even if it was the truth, who on earth complained about their lightning tribulation being too weak?
People died during those things.
And besides,
Using a lightning tribulation for body tempering?
What was he thinking?
He really was a monster!
He said lazily, “Fine, then keep waiting.”
Lu Yuan raised his voice slightly, “For how long?”
Xu Xian didn't say a word.
Lu Yuan’s voice grew even louder, “I’m asking you, for how long?”
“How long what?” Xu Xian played dumb.
“Stop acting.”
“I don't know what you're talking about...”
Lu Yuan rolled his eyes behind the ribbon. “Is there any need to hide things from me?”
Xu Xian crouched on the ground, put away his small trowel, and sighed.
“Sigh... Heaven and Earth be my witness, I’m perfectly fine staying at home. Why would I want to go up there? Haven't you heard the old saying? Better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big one; better to be a king in the lower realm than fodder in the upper realm.”
“Ha!”
Lu Yuan laughed out of frustration.
Such an excuse...
Xu Xian continued, “Do you think it was easy for me to get to this point? I finally became invincible, and now I should just leave? Am I stupid?”
Lu Yuan waved his hand impatiently. “Enough, enough. I’m not interested in bickering with you. If you truly thought that way, you wouldn't be Xu Xian.”
Xu Xian pouted and gave him a look of disdain.
“As if you know me so well.”
Lu Yuan rubbed the tip of his nose and exposed him. “How could I not? You just can't deal with that fellow, right? You're afraid that after you leave, it will awaken and wreak havoc upon the world.”
It had to be said, this deer actually had some brains.
However...
Xu Xian looked back at Lu Yuan and asked curiously, “Do you know what it’s like Above the Heavens? You want to go up that badly?”
Lu Yuan grumbled, “Nonsense, that's where I came from.”
Xu Xian shook his head with a smile and said something cryptic, “The world changes.”
“What do you mean?”
Xu Xian shrugged. “Nothing.”
He didn't explain,
Nor did he want to.
It was too absurd; Lu Yuan might not believe him, and it wasn't important anyway.
Lu Yuan didn't press him. He stood up and said slowly, “Before I reached the body integration stage, Li Qingshan took me to the Immortal Pavilion.”
“Oh,” Xu Xian grunted.
Lu Yuan continued, “On the sixth floor of the Immortal Pavilion, there is a secret room.”
The movement of Xu Xian's hand unnaturally slowed down.
Lu Yuan walked a few steps away, then paused and looked back, reminding him, “Go take a look. The answer you're looking for might be there.”
Xu Xian didn't pull the trowel back up after it struck the dirt, his gaze lowering.
Lu Yuan left, sighing with aimless emotion:
“You, me, and that guy... none of us were born to belong here. We have to leave eventually... whether you want to or not.”
“If you don't believe me, just wait and see...”
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