Immortal Travel of Longevity

By the time Chen Changsheng woke up, it was already dawn of the second day.

The rain had stopped. A light drizzle had fallen all night, and now the blowing wind carried only a deep chill, no longer feeling so refreshing.

Fog blanketed the surroundings, shrouding the Daoist temple. The mountain peak could not be seen from the foot, nor the foot from the peak; only what lay immediately before their eyes remained visible.

Xiao Dongxu looked out at the heavy fog. It was as if the entire world had shrunk, reducing everything to only what lay right in front of him.

Chen Changsheng slowly opened his eyes. Seeing the figure standing beneath the eaves, he called out softly.

"Fellow Daoist Xiao?"

Xiao Dongxu turned his head, his gaze falling upon Chen Changsheng.

"Mister Chen is awake?"

Chen Changsheng said, "Why didn't you wake This Chen earlier?"

Xiao Dongxu stepped forward and sat down.

Chen Changsheng asked, "Is something the matter?"

"There is something I do not understand—or rather, something I am struggling to reconcile with myself."

"Oh?"

Xiao Dongxu spoke of all he had experienced over the past few years.

He recounted everything concerning the Spirit-Devouring Three Methods and all that Jiu Fengchun had told him, relaying it all to Mister Chen.

Chen Changsheng paused after listening, then asked, "So, what is Fellow Daoist Xiao struggling with?"

"I do not understand."

Xiao Dongxu said, "I actually have a way to stop the Tribulation from continuing. But in the end, I cannot face my own heart. In my view, killing one person to save the world, and killing the world to save one person—fundamentally, there is no difference. More than that, it comes down to Jiu Fengchun himself. I cannot distinguish whether he is ultimately good or evil. As Jiu Fengchun, he is merely an insignificant cultivator trying to eke out a living. But as Taotie, he is that world-devouring calamity that spares nothing. I do not know what to do."

Hearing these words, Chen Changsheng also fell into deep thought.

Xiao Dongxu had thought Mister Chen might be able to offer a different answer.

But the outcome took him by surprise.

Chen Changsheng spread his hands and said, "This Chen no longer has the state of mind to care about such matters. Your trip here was in vain. This Chen cannot offer any advice. When it comes to ideology, This Chen is a weakling, far inferior to you. If you cannot figure it out yourself, you certainly won't find the answer with This Chen."

Xiao Dongxu stared blankly upon hearing this.

Chen Changsheng continued, "This Chen is not as highly esteemed as you might think. As a common mortal, This Chen cannot see through these matters of karma, good, and evil."

Xiao Dongxu lowered his head, lost in deep thought.

Chen Changsheng said, "Sit for a while. It's quite peaceful right now. It might do you good to get some sleep. Who knows, perhaps after you wake, many of your problems will be easily solved."

After a brief moment of thought, Xiao Dongxu pulled up a chair.

He sat down beside Chen Changsheng.

Getting some sleep...

It did sound like a good idea.

Throughout all these long years, Xiao Dongxu couldn't even remember the last time he had slept.

"Huu..."

He let out a breath, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep slumber.

He had a dream. He couldn't clearly articulate what was in it; much like the heavy fog outside, it obscured his vision, leaving everything a blur.

Mister Chen's idea was a good one. At the very least, after this sleep, his mind felt far more relaxed.

But he did not find the answer he was looking for.

Afterward, he took his leave.

Chen Changsheng walked him to the entrance of the Daoist temple, neither of them speaking another word.

For some reason, Xiao Dongxu felt that the Mister Chen standing before him had changed drastically.

He asked, "What are your plans for the future, Mister Chen?"

Chen Changsheng paused for a moment, then said, "Just sitting here in peace and quiet is quite nice."

Xiao Dongxu couldn't understand. He was even more confused as to why Chen Changsheng would speak of such things so casually.

Not long ago, this gentleman had been brimming with fighting spirit.

Parting ways once more, Chen Changsheng watched Xiao Dongxu's retreating figure.

He hadn't judged wrongly. Xiao Dongxu was destined to be a crucial link in this great tribulation.

Up until now, relying entirely on his own strength, he had pushed forward the onset of the Tribulation. But this also meant he possessed the capability to bring it to an end.

Ultimately, it all depended on how he chose to perceive it.

...

Several years later, the Spiritual Energy in the world grew increasingly thin.

Slowly, many cultivators in the Cultivation World began to age rapidly due to the loss of Spiritual Energy.

The spirit fruits and spirit stones left behind in the mountains became exceedingly rare treasures. By now, life and death had become the most important matters to any cultivator.

Without the augmentation of Spiritual Energy, most people could not live past a hundred years.

Fighting and plundering plunged the Cultivation World into unparalleled chaos.

Xuanji witnessed all of this with her own eyes. Someone who had been laughing and joking just a second ago would suddenly draw their blade and murder their close friend over a single spirit stone.

When a Tribulation arrives, human nature gradually turns ugly.

That saying was not false in the slightest.

Affected by this upheaval, she too could clearly see the wrinkles forming at the corners of her eyes.

She still retained a small amount of spiritual power to maintain her Lifespan, but it was merely a drop in the bucket. Her fading youth gave her a lingering sense of crisis.

If this continued, it wouldn't be long before she exhausted her Spiritual Energy and met her end.

She did not want that.

She was afraid of dying.

It was actually a bit ridiculous. As a cultivator, Xuanji was afraid of death. Logically speaking, this was something most cultivators should have come to terms with the moment they began their path, yet she hadn't.

This was likely the reason her Dao Cultivation had never progressed.

With a demon in her heart, she couldn't take a single step forward.

He Qing noticed her inner turmoil and would often offer some words of comfort.

But this only caused Xuanji to overthink things even more. Later on, she simply stopped talking about it altogether.

Xuanji pursed her lips and said, "I want to go back to the Mortal World."

He Qing was taken aback upon hearing this. After thinking for a moment, she nodded and said, "Alright. I'll see you off onto a Flying Vessel."

Xuanji looked at her and asked, "Sister Aqing, aren't you coming with me?"

He Qing shook her head and said, "My mother is still waiting for me to come home."

Xuanji had no way to persuade her further. Ultimately, she stepped onto the Flying Vessel all alone.

The Flying Vessel was now packed to the brim. Without exception, all the passengers were cultivators trying to flee to the Mortal World for refuge.

In their eyes, perhaps that Mortal World was the only true land of peace.

How laughable it was. The Mortal World that no one had cared about before, and had even deeply despised, had now become a highly coveted sanctuary that everyone was desperately scrambling to reach.

"Have a safe journey."

He Qing offered her parting wish. After the Flying Vessel departed, she turned around.

Unsure of where to go.

In this broken and destitute world, it seemed there wasn't a single place worth a second glance.

She also wanted to go home.

Back to Qingyu Mountain. It was just that the Qingyu Mountain of today could never return to how it once was.

Fortunately, however, her mother was still there waiting for her.

She stepped onto the road home, no longer yearning for the vastness of the world.

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