Changing his clothes quickly, Meng Qi tried to hide his embarrassment and bowed his hands together, saying, “Thank you, immortal lady. I will certainly repay you handsomely in the future.”
Without waiting for Bi Jingxuan to speak, he turned and walked away. After taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped, scratched his head, turned back, and with an awkward smile said, “Ah, that is, my lady, do you think you could lend me a bit more silver? My possessions are all locked away. Without Dao power or spiritual energy, I simply cannot retrieve anything…”
He couldn’t possibly swim back to Central Plains from the overseas immortal island, could he?
Without martial cultivation abilities, everything seemed rather inconvenient. Even the Myriad Worlds Universal Symbol could not be retrieved, leaving him temporarily out of contact.
Bi Jingxuan remained silent for a moment, then finally tossed out another bag of gold leaves. It was bulging, and the gleam of gold shone through the seams, clearly of considerable value.
Meng Qi took the bag of gold leaves, let out a dry chuckle, and thanked her once more, “Once Su某 returns to the Jade Void Palace, I will repay you without delay.”
This trip to Sankyo Island had been utterly humiliating and awkward. Fortunately, he had always had a thick skin and could pretend as if nothing had happened.
Bi Jingxuan remained silent, still quiet.
Meng Qi tucked the bag of gold leaves away and turned to leave. In front of him, waves crashed against the rocks. Behind and on both sides, cliffs rose steeply. Without desire, one becomes strong. In short, he had arrived by stepping on the waves, intentionally avoiding landing at the harbor. Now he was in a deserted, boatless area of Sankyo Island. It seemed there was no way around it other than swimming.
“Haha,” he laughed dryly, his back to the misty clouds, then turned his head and scratched the back of his head, “My lady, perhaps you could conveniently send me to the harbor? I would be eternally grateful for such a great kindness.”
If his martial arts abilities were intact, he could easily solve this problem by simply stepping on auspicious clouds. Even if he only retained the Open Heaven ability, traversing mountains and valleys would still be simple.
Unfortunately, within the Yellow River Formation, below the Primordial Unity level, his Dao power was gone, and his true energy was difficult to maintain. Not only had his divine body reverted to an ordinary one, but all the acupoints he had opened were sealed. His dantian was completely empty, making him merely a physically strong ordinary person.
Bi Jingxuan remained silent, still motionless. Suddenly, a fierce wind howled, accompanied by white clouds that gently swirled and lifted Meng Qi into the air.
His vision blurred for a moment, and he found himself at the harbor of Sankyo Island, where numerous large ships were docked. Voices of greetings, vendors hawking, bargaining, and casual conversations filled his ears in a chaotic jumble, lacking the clear, distinguishable quality he was used to.
His ear acupoints were closed, making it impossible to discern so many sounds clearly.
Meng Qi had no time for reflection. He turned his gaze in all directions, searching for a passenger ship to board, eager to leave Sankyo Island and put the embarrassment of the past behind him.
Damn, why hadn’t he thought to ask Bi Jingxuan to send him near the long-distance teleportation array? This bag of gold leaves should be enough to return near the East Sea Sword Manor… He inwardly cursed himself. Without martial cultivation, faced with embarrassment, he had lost his usual calmness, acting in a flustered manner and failing to make the best decision. Now, how could he face Bi Jingxuan again for help?
Could it be that the perfect mindset and tranquil spirit he had cultivated through countless trials was truly so illusory, entirely dependent on his martial cultivation strength?
What about the insights gained in life-and-death situations? The generosity in facing difficulties head-on? The patience without agitation?
As these thoughts arose, Meng Qi’s mind gradually calmed, no longer in a state of panic.
Even without martial cultivation, could all the experiences and trials over the years be in vain?
If, without cultivation, he became a flustered novice, then all those years of life would have been wasted.
His mind settled, like gentle ripples on a calm lake. Meng Qi clasped his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance. Even amidst the bustling crowd, he felt a leisurely ease, as if walking at a relaxed pace.
Forget it. He would treat this as a trial, a journey to rediscover his true self.
Before long, having regained his calm and analytical mind, Meng Qi found a departing large ship and became the last passenger to board. It wasn’t long before a long whistle signaled the ship’s departure, its bow cutting through the clear blue waves as it slowly set sail.
Standing on the deck, watching the seagulls scatter in alarm, Meng Qi pondered his next steps.
At that moment, he heard a voice beside him sigh, “The mechanical ships of the Ink Palace are truly remarkable. Not only are they fast, but also incredibly sturdy. In just a few years, they’ve already begun replacing traditional sailing vessels.”
Glancing sideways, Meng Qi saw a man in his early thirties. He was dressed plainly, looked energetic, and showed no signs of martial prowess in his movements.
“Yes,” Meng Qi smiled slightly and replied casually, drawing on his extensive experience of chatting idly on trains. “Who could have imagined things would be like this just a dozen years ago?”
The man nodded vigorously, “Exactly! A dozen years ago, I never dreamed we’d have devices to connect with strangers across thousands of miles. I never imagined that without leaving home, one could still feel the entire martial world in their heart. I never imagined the world would become so fascinating. Who needs the Hundred-Knowledge Sage when everyone can be one?”
Many nearby people joined the discussion, sharing their own experiences of the changes over the years. A small portion came from the Ink Palace, but most were due to the Myriad Worlds Universal Symbol. Listening, Meng Qi couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride and even shifted his posture slightly. But suddenly, his foot slipped, and he nearly fell. Fortunately, the man beside him caught him just in time.
“The deck was just cleaned not long ago. You must be careful,” the man said with a smile.
Meng Qi’s lips twitched. He wanted to laugh but couldn’t. He sighed inwardly. He had clearly sensed the slippery deck, but after so many years, he had never paid much attention to such trivial matters. In the past, even in such slippery conditions, he could easily maintain his balance with his eyes closed and even fight nimbly. But now, things were different. Except for his knowledge, he had no martial skills at all. He had to be vigilant about things he previously ignored.
Therefore, not only could he no longer rely on martial cultivation, but he also couldn’t fully apply his past experiences anymore.
“Thank you. I was so absorbed in listening that I didn’t notice where I was stepping,” Meng Qi bowed in gratitude. “May I ask your honorable name, sir?”
The man laughed it off, “My name is Huang Chang. I’m a local from Sankyo Island. I tried learning martial arts but failed. I tried business but wasn’t successful. I’ve been mediocre for over a decade…”
Hearing him say this, everyone knew there would be more to the story and turned their attention to him, waiting eagerly.
Huang Chang continued, “At first, I thought that was how my life would be forever. But then came the Yuan Emperor and the Myriad Worlds Universal Symbol, which broadened my horizons and revealed many opportunities.”
“It was fortunate that I had attended a private school in the past and could read and write. Otherwise, even with the Myriad Worlds Universal Symbol, I would have treated it merely as a communication device, unable to utilize its true potential, just like most people. Recently, I discovered in an online forum that the Ink Palace has plans to develop the Southern Sea’s uninhabited islands but lacks manpower. I saw this as an opportunity. So I sold my ancestral home and prepared to go there to seek fortune.”
The surrounding people nodded in agreement, some even adding, “In the past, traveling between islands to sell goods, we were exploited by tolls, rents, and boatmen. Now, the Myriad Worlds Mall is convenient and has fewer burdens. There are many buyers, and the income in a single year exceeds what we earned in ten years before. The only downside is the courier fees, but at least long-distance shipping is rarely free.”
With heartfelt sincerity, he placed his hand on his chest and said, “Praise the Yuan Emperor.”
“I’ve even built a shrine for the Yuan Emperor at home. Truly, the Yuan Emperor is a genuine immortal, one of the mightiest in this world. He once ventured deep into the Nine Nether, slaying malevolent deities with unrivaled power. It’s only natural to worship him…”
They began to talk about the Yuan Emperor, and Meng Qi listened nearby, feeling a complex mix of emotions. It was as if he were hearing someone else’s story. In their tales, he was mighty and heroic, kind-hearted, upright, compassionate, and revered by all. Yet the real him was just an ordinary man who had nearly slipped on the deck in front of them.
Even if he admitted that he was the Yuan Emperor, they would certainly not believe him.
The sharp contrast stirred unexpected emotions within Meng Qi. He couldn’t help but sigh and, using fatigue as an excuse, headed toward the cabin. Instinctively, he scanned the surrounding passengers, categorizing them in his mind.
Some were merchants, others were martial artists. There was a man in a black robe worth noting. His eyes were tightly shut, seemingly blind, yet he walked without any hindrance, as if he had inner vision, cultivating some kind of ocular technique similar to closed-mouth meditation.
As Meng Qi passed him, two small figures suddenly darted past him. Because the deck was too slippery, they slipped with a screech and fell beside him.
They were twins, a boy and a girl, about six or seven years old, fair-skinned and adorable, their mouths quivering as if about to cry.
Kneeling down, Meng Qi helped them up, patted the dust off their clothes, and warned, “Don’t run around. Be careful not to slip. Where are your grown-ups?”
“Our mom wouldn’t tell us a story, so we ran out,” the little boy said unhappily.
The little girl handed him a book and blinked her big eyes, saying, “Uncle, tell us a story.”
Thinking of how he used to beg his parents for stories when he was little, Meng Qi’s heart warmed. He took the book and planned to do a good deed, but as he looked at the title, his expression changed.
“The Yuan Emperor vs. the Transformers”
What the hell… What kind of book is this? How come I’ve never heard of it? Meng Qi’s lips twitched. Although many people in the Myriad Worlds Universal Realm had heard of these strange beings due to the loss of a Myriad Worlds Universal Symbol in the Transformers universe, whoever wrote “The Yuan Emperor vs. the Transformers” must have had an incredibly wild imagination…
After a while, Meng Qi put the book down, smiling and said, “That part of the story is finished.”
“Uncle, uncle, can you tell another one?” the twins begged in unison.
Meng Qi thought for a moment, then said solemnly, “Then I’ll tell you a true story. It’s from my own experience.”
“In a place called the Three Mountains and Four Rivers, a meteorite once fell from the sky…”
…
“I thrust my sword, striking a certain spot on the monk’s staff, using a clever force of four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds, causing him to stumble forward. Then I sidestepped, taking advantage of the momentum to deliver a final blow, ending his life. The person on his back didn’t even have time to warn him…”
Clap, clap, clap! The twins clapped their hands and praised, “Uncle is so awesome!”
Just then, the little girl paused, then pouted and said, “Uncle is bad. Mommy says you’re lying. You don’t have such abilities. You must have taken someone else’s story and made it your own to brag.”
This really was his own experience… Meng Qi smiled helplessly. Suddenly, he remembered how, back then, Xuan Xin had bragged about stopping the Ice Fairy and Flying Garuda’s fight, only to be exposed by someone and mocked by him. Truly, karma was a cycle.
Recalling this, he couldn’t help but laugh again, almost to the point of tears.
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