Immortal Travel of Longevity

"What happened?"

"When the state of the world suddenly shifted, Tianji Mountain took the lead, calling upon the major immortal sects and Daoshan to join forces against the tide. Yet, for some unknown reason, a rift formed several decades ago. From then on, the major immortal sects ceased gathering to discuss affairs, each acting independently. Some even forged bitter grudges and fought openly. The Daoist practitioners of Tianji Mountain and the cultivators of Lingyue Immortal Island arranged a battle at the Dark Water Pool, which ended in mutual devastation. This left an opening that the Demon Gate later exploited."

Chen Changsheng shook his head as he listened.

Yun Hengzi smiled. "Tianji Mountain was supposed to be a secluded immortal sect. Who would willingly share a portion of the world's qi destiny with them? An outcome like this was bound to happen sooner or later."

"Now that the qi destiny of the immortal path is scattered, those demons have an opportunity to strike. It is a pity," he continued. "I currently lack the strength to contend for it. I will wait until the matters of the Mortal World are resolved, accumulate my strength, and then step into this grand game."

"The situation has become rather chaotic," Chen Changsheng said.

"Indeed."

"But it suits my intentions perfectly," Yun Hengzi said. "If things weren't chaotic, how could one find an opportunity?"

"You seem very confident, Fellow Daoist," Chen Changsheng said.

Chen Changsheng looked at him, falling into deep thought.

For some inexplicable reason, he found himself hoping that Yun Hengzi might actually throw this Heavenly Dao into chaos.

At this moment, Chen Changsheng shared the same desire to seek death as that Demon Sovereign.

Everything in this world had already lost its reason to exist.

Soon enough, it would all be replaced by something new.

Chen Changsheng then asked about Zhao Yuqing's inner demon.

"Speaking of him..."

Yun Hengzi said, "He left a few hidden pieces in Hongyuan Tianxia before departing. He should have gone to the Cultivation World. Perhaps he saw an opportunity in all this and plans to gamble on it."

"Heh." Yun Hengzi chuckled. "He and I are people walking the same path. I am quite curious to see what state he will be in when we next meet."

Chen Changsheng nodded, seemingly understanding the true reason behind Zhao Yuqing's departure.

He did not stay long at Yun Hengzi's place. After expressing his gratitude, he departed toward the south.

It seemed like a hurried departure, but in truth, wasn't everyone in the world just as hurried?

He arrived at the Southern Domain Coastal Land.

Chen Changsheng's gaze fell upon the several Formations he had set up back then.

Sixty years had passed. The writing on the cliff face had been washed by the rain, and some of the ancient characters had slowly begun to fade away.

It seemed that this Formation would be completely destroyed before long.

Chen Changsheng withdrew his gaze and shook his head. Looking back at this Mortal World, he felt that the changes were too drastic; it was no longer the place he remembered.

After a moment of silence, Chen Changsheng suddenly remembered his Geographical Map.

He patted his sleeve, only to freeze.

"This Chen's..."

"Where is the Geographical Map?"

Chen Changsheng stood rooted to the spot.

He suddenly realized that his Geographical Map was nowhere to be found.

The only explanation he could think of was that Chen Qi had discarded the Geographical Map as a useless object while inhabiting this body.

This made Chen Changsheng somewhat anxious.

After all, it was a work forged from his painstaking efforts.

After pondering for a long time, Chen Changsheng took out three copper coins from his sleeve.

He cast a divination hexagram.

When the hexagram fell, Chen Changsheng's gaze shifted toward the Cultivation World.

"As long as it wasn't destroyed, it's fine."

Chen Changsheng immediately set off to find the Geographical Map.

...

On the Eastern Domain Immortal Island in the Cultivation World, an immortal clan engaged in merchant trade.

Many years ago, they had stumbled upon an incredibly accurate Geographical Map that mapped out nearly every region and location in the Cultivation World.

It even clearly marked the exact location of the Demon Gate.

Initially, the clan members had planned to hand this Geographical Map over to the major Immortal Sects of the region.

However, after some deliberation, they realized that this Geographical Map held a heaven-defying stroke of fortune.

Following the Geographical Map's guidance, they indeed found the location of the Demon Gate.

Venturing deep into the tiger's den, they reached a trade agreement with the Demon Sovereign of the Demon Gate. From then on, they supplied all the necessary provisions, and the Demon Gate paid them handsomely in return.

Under these circumstances, the clan rapidly rose to prominence. Relying on the Geographical Map, they navigated the Cultivation World and reaped countless opportunities.

Yet on this particular day, a person arrived at their doorstep.

He claimed he was there to take back the original Geographical Map.

"What a joke. It's one thing for a stranger of unknown origins to show up here, but to demand the original copy of our clan's Geographical Map right off the bat? Truly laughable."

Chen Changsheng looked at the man in front of him and said, "That Geographical Map isn't even complete yet. It was indeed drawn by This Chen. I accidentally lost it many years ago, and This Chen merely wishes to retrieve the original."

The clan member waved him off dismissively. "Fellow Daoist, look where you're standing before you speak. This is the territory of the Qing Clan. What cultivator in this world doesn't know our name? Coming here to swindle us—aren't you afraid of having your Dantian crippled and being reduced to a cripple?"

Chen Changsheng frowned. "This Chen only wishes to retrieve his own belongings. Yet you immediately threaten to cripple someone's Dantian? What kind of reasoning is that?"

He cast a glance around the estate. In truth, this place wasn't even as large as the Qingyuan Cloud Manor. Chen Changsheng genuinely didn't understand where these people found the gall to act so arrogantly.

The Cultivation World was filled with experts as numerous as the clouds. Weren't they afraid of offending the wrong person?

Or was this simply how petty clans behaved?

"Heh."

The man stood before the estate's gates and sneered. "You'd better leave right now. Don't make me call the guards to throw you out."

Chen Changsheng paused. He wasn't going to remain polite any longer.

"This Chen will wait for you to call them!"

The man froze for a moment before letting out a scoff.

"Good, very good."

"Men!!"

With that single shout, a large number of Qing Clan cultivators quickly gathered in front of the gates. At a glance, most of their Cultivation Bases were above the Deity Transformation realm, numbering roughly several dozen.

Chen Changsheng merely swept his gaze over them and asked one final question: "I ask you, sir—are you truly unwilling to listen to This Chen's explanation?"

"Scared now?"

The man sneered coldly. "Too late! Trying to pull a scam on my Qing Clan—you really don't know the meaning of death. Beat him down! Cripple him!"

The group of cultivators stepped forward.

Seeing this, Chen Changsheng let out a soft sigh. He brought his index and middle fingers together, and in a split second, the Dharma Manifestation of a giant sword condensed behind him.

At that moment, all the surrounding Spiritual Energy surged toward the area.

The world suddenly shifted in color.

When the people present raised their heads, they could no longer see the sky. The only thing that filled their vision was that colossal sword. It felt as though in the very next second, it would shear off their heads and damn them for all eternity.

The man who had been clamoring at the gates moments ago was now terrified out of his wits. His eyes filled with horror, he collapsed limply onto the ground.

The cultivators who had surrounded him were equally horrified by the sight. The oppressive weight of the Sword Intent crashed down upon them in the blink of an eye. They found themselves utterly immobilized, the weapons in their hands trembling uncontrollably.

It was only at this moment that they finally realized...

This seemingly unremarkable man in a green robe was an existence they absolutely could not afford to offend.

The Qing Clan had never expected such a day to come.

When that massive sword hung over everyone's heads, the terror of facing death was profoundly real. Some were even so frightened they soiled themselves, trembling uncontrollably.

After such a disturbance, the true powerholders of the Qing Clan finally appeared before Chen Changsheng.

"Senior! How has our Qing Clan offended you?"

The newcomer trembled. He wore a green robe and had gray hair, yet his Dao Cultivation at the Dongxu Realm was unmistakable.

Chen Changsheng said, "This Chen only wants the Geographical Map back—the original copy!"

"Go, go get it, hurry!"

The trembling old man ordered his subordinates to fetch the Geographical Map.

Once Chen Changsheng received the Geographical Map, he looked through it. Only after confirming it was his own did he withdraw his Dharma Manifestation.

He didn't say another word. With just a single Dharma Manifestation, he had terrified the entire clan into paralyzed stillness.

This was the 'reason' of the Cultivation World.

Having retrieved the Geographical Map, Chen Changsheng took no further action and left.

As for the Qing Clan, he couldn't be bothered to waste his breath on them.

The clan was already courting its own destruction.

If they didn't change their ways, they would ultimately reap what they sowed.

Countless immortal clans existed in this Cultivation World. Some ruled over a region, while others hid deep in the mountains, but how many truly managed to establish a lasting foothold? With such arrogance, how could they not invite disaster?

...

The events that transpired within the Qing Clan quickly spread throughout the Cultivation World.

Such matters always served as prime gossip for cultivators. Curious individuals learned of what had happened, embellished the details, and passed the tales on to others. Consequently, the Qing Clan's reputation plummeted.

For a time, countless voices of mockery and condemnation surrounded them. This immortal clan, which had risen to prominence for less than sixty years, gradually faded from public view. Whether they retreated into the remote mountains or simply fell into decline, they were no longer known to the world.

This was the world of cultivators. Sometimes, a single event was enough to destroy everything.

It was just like Sword Mountain in the past.

Back then, Jian Gu, the thirteenth elder, had single-handedly challenged Sword Mountain, broadcasting a long-buried secret across the Cultivation World. From then on, Sword Mountain's reputation plummeted. For years, very few cultivators came to pay their respects, and the number of disciples joining the sect dwindled to almost nothing.

In this world, reputation was equally vital.

As for Chen Changsheng, the man who had caused all of this, he was currently sitting cross-legged in the wilderness, holding a Geographical Map.

Brush in hand, he filled in the missing sections of the Geographical Map.

Every stroke and line signified that he had once visited this place.

The roads of the world gradually grew complete upon this map.

To Chen Changsheng, this was also a form of Cultivation.

His long journey of Cultivation lay not only beneath his feet, but also within this Geographical Map.

...

Chen Qi roused slightly. After a grand dream, his turbulent state of mind had calmed considerably.

He was currently inside the Demon Sovereign's Dream Method.

The first thing he saw upon waking was the Demon Sovereign, sitting before a Go board, playing a game against himself.

"Haa..."

Chen Qi let out a long breath and looked at the Demon Sovereign.

The Demon Sovereign cast a sidelong glance at him and asked evenly, "You're awake?"

Chen Qi nodded, then asked, "Where is he?"

"He went out to suffer in your place."

Hearing this, Chen Qi said no more. He sat down and stared at the Demon Sovereign.

"We are all the same, aren't we?"

"What?"

"We share the same destiny."

"Not entirely."

The Demon Sovereign said, "I wanted to overturn the heavens and reshape the earth, but Chen Changsheng merely wants to cultivate in peace and observe the myriad things of this world. There is a difference."

Chen Qi paused. "Why can't I achieve supreme detachment from emotions?"

"You, me, him—the three of us are all manifestations of the seven emotions and six desires. How could we ever achieve supreme detachment from emotions?"

A long sigh escaped Chen Qi's lips.

"Do we have to keep living like this forever? Endless stretches of time would drive anyone mad."

"Not necessarily."

The Demon Sovereign smiled. "You must realize that we are not solely the embodiments of the seven emotions and six desires; we are also the eyes of heaven and earth in this world. It wouldn't allow us to go mad. Therefore, we have a fixed lifespan. Every two thousand years, the memories within that physical vessel are wiped clean. Everything fades away with time, and after a certain period, a new person—a new pair of eyes—will emerge."

Chen Qi fell deep into thought. Lowering his head, he asked, "So, what is the meaning of our existence?"

The Demon Sovereign thought for a moment, then shook his head. "There is no meaning. We are nothing more than discarded things."

Chen Qi looked up at him. "How laughable. So everything we do is just seeking death? Where does the Dao come from? And where does the Dharma go?"

"It's meaningless."

The Demon Sovereign placed down a game piece, turning to look at him. "We were a mistake to begin with. Your appearance is similarly a mistake committed by Chen Changsheng. You leapt from one world to another, attempting to uncover the truth between heaven and earth. That is exactly what Chen Changsheng and I used to do."

"Yet, the truth of the matter is so terribly frustrating."

"We are discarded pieces created by the Heavenly Dao, anomalies within this world. We wanted to live in the present countless times, yet in the end, we always wound up living in the past or in the future."

The Demon Sovereign paused before continuing, "It has barely been sixty years, and you are already on the verge of madness. You are even worse off than Chen Changsheng."

Chen Qi frowned slightly. "Are you not hiding in here as well?"

"I simply don't want to go out."

The Demon Sovereign let out a breath and said, "There is nothing good on the outside. Because I have no attachments left, I hold no interest in the affairs of the world. I have already seen it all."

"What are you?"

"What am I?"

The Demon Sovereign considered this and said, "A demon. A demon who once dreamed of reshaping the world, only to fall into a dead end."

"A demon..."

Chen Qi couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

The Demon Sovereign placed another game piece and said, "Indeed, this is our ultimate destination. Those trapped by the seven emotions and six desires will eventually step onto the demonic path. I merely preceded you both."

"Why the demonic path?"

"Because the demonic path centers solely on the self, rather than others."

Sitting there, Chen Qi conversed at length with the demon before him. For the first time, he grasped the true essence of the demonic path—something he had never witnessed before.

The Demon Sovereign's understanding of the demonic path surpassed that of many. Seeing Chen Qi listening so intently, he suddenly stopped and said, "This is my Dao. Hearing more of it is useless to you."

Chen Qi said, "You are me, and I am you."

The Demon Sovereign shook his head. "I am only me, and I am not you. You can only be me."

Chen Qi frowned slightly, but the Demon Sovereign continued, "You are merely a manifestation of a single thought of Chen Changsheng's. Though you share our destiny, you are nothing more than an accident."

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