Chapter 1266: Time Always Drives Change

Here for the List of Deification?

Upon hearing Qi Zhengyan’s question, Zhao Heng’s mind buzzed, and as he looked at Meng Qi before him, he felt both familiarity and strangeness.

When he abandoned Gao Lan and embarked on this path, he knew his friendship with Meng Qi could never return to what it once was. Their differing stances and pursuits would inevitably drive them further apart.

However, this was primarily a conflict between him and Gao Lan. Though he and Meng Qi were on opposing sides, there had been no direct confrontation between them. A broken ship still has three pounds of iron, let alone the bond forged through life-and-death battles—some remnants of camaraderie would surely remain!

But now, Meng Qi had fully aligned himself with Gao Lan, actively pressuring him and Qi Zhengyan. Were they to transition from friends to enemies?

Faced with Qi Zhengyan’s question, Meng Qi was overwhelmed with emotions. Memories of their past—”Do you remember?”—flooded his mind: from their first meeting to familiarity, from familiarity to friendship, from friendship to unwavering trust, and finally to risking their lives for one another. Every scene, every conversation resurfaced. The titles “Senior Brother Qi,” “Cousin,” and “Old Fifth Zhao” echoed in his mind, only to be frozen by Qi Zhengyan’s words: “Our paths diverge; we cannot walk together.”

Back then, he thought it was just a passing remark. Who knew it would slowly become reality?

After a moment of contemplation, setting aside emotions and examining his thoughts, Meng Qi spoke calmly: “This is a mutually beneficial arrangement. For a long time, you won’t have any use for the List of Deification. Your immediate threat comes from the Nine Nether.”

At a time and place like this, reminiscing about past bonds would only tarnish their memories. The best approach was to analyze the pros and cons and negotiate rationally.

Zhao Heng heard Meng Qi’s detached words as if they were the sound of something intangible shattering—the collapse of their shared past.

The Meng Qi who never abandoned his comrades, who faced danger head-on without flinching, who grew from wariness to genuine trust, who was witty and humorous, who loved to tease—had now fully become the leader of the Jade Void Palace, the strongest Immortal Venerable of the era, the supporter behind the Human Emperor, and the aloof, inscrutable supreme expert before him.

He probably rarely heard the name “Xiao Meng” anymore, surrounded instead by titles like “Immortal Venerable” and “Sect Leader.”

And of course, he himself was no longer the “Old Fifth Zhao” of the past.

Time changes all, turning old friends into strangers, yet claiming it is their hearts that have changed.

For some reason, the image that stood out most vividly in Zhao Heng’s mind was their first meeting in the Divine Capital years ago: a quiet, dilapidated courtyard overgrown with weeds, sunlight filtering through the trees to cast golden patches on the ground. Meng Qi leaned lazily against a broken wall, carefree, a blade of grass between his lips, his face half-hidden in shadow, only his mouth and chin clearly visible, faintly shadowed by stubble.

Back then, he was just a man. Now, he had become an immortal.

Looking at Meng Qi now, Zhao Heng felt an insurmountable chasm between them—one that buried everything they once shared.

“Are we supposed to hand over the List of Deification to Gao Lan, watch him unify the heavens through the Human Path, grow exponentially stronger, and let the gap between us become unbridgeable?” Zhao Heng’s voice sounded distant, as if coming from beyond the heavens.

Meng Qi’s eyes were pitch-black, like a starless universe:

“Once the Human Path unifies the heavens, the current Human Emperor will become a target for all. The rewards may be great, but so too will be the costs. Top factions like the Buddhist Sect, the Demon Race, and the Luo Sect will never tolerate it. There will be prolonged and repeated struggles, leaving him no time to spare for you. Moreover, I’m not taking the List of Deification for nothing. I’ll offer you other benefits—ones that will help you grow rapidly. For you, trapped in the Nine Nether surrounded by wolves, these will be far more valuable than a List you can’t currently use.”

Pausing, he added, looking at Qi Zhengyan’s expressionless face and unchanging eyes: “The Nine Chaos Heavenly Venerable, the Dark Ghost Emperor, the Black Heavenly Emperor, the Nine Nether Blood Demon, the Peerless Demon Lord, and the Seven Slaughter Daoist—all are eyeing the Crimson Mountain Range. Though they hesitate to act aggressively for now due to mutual wariness, given their natures, this stalemate won’t last long. Sometimes, a single pebble can trigger a storm. If you don’t strengthen yourselves and the Crimson Mountain’s barriers soon, how will you withstand what’s to come?”

Qi Zhengyan stood motionless, his robes fluttering in the wind, the crimson star on his forehead flickering. His voice was devoid of emotion: “What they covet is the Demon Emperor’s Claw. For me, it’s currently a burden, not an aid. Once I attain the Legendary realm and can temporarily suppress its influence, I’ll discard it—using it to sow discord among them, throwing the Nine Nether into chaos and buying time for my own growth.”

He wasn’t unwilling to rid himself of the Demon Emperor’s Claw, but his current strength, even with the help of the Great Freedom Heavenly Son and the Black Armored Demon Sage, could only suppress its corruption, not remove it entirely. Either an external force would kill him and take it, or he’d have to reach the Legendary realm and, with others’ aid, suppress it to the limit for a brief reprieve.

Hearing Qi Zhengyan’s response, Meng Qi’s first thought wasn’t admiration for his rationality—his lack of greed for a Transcendent-level divine weapon, instead using it to his advantage—but the icy, impersonal tone of their conversation, as if they were strangers negotiating over interests.

Who would have thought these were once friends who would die for each other?

Fate loves cruel jokes.

“Though you possess the Demon Lord’s insights and are in the Nine Nether, granting you strength equivalent to the Legendary realm and a glimpse into its mysteries, breaking through within a year or two will still be difficult. From what I’ve observed, the Nine Chaos Heavenly Venerable’s patience won’t last that long. Without external aid, the outcome is predictable,” Meng Qi pointed out bluntly.

Qi Zhengyan fell silent, as if holding something back, before finally asking: “What can you offer?”

Listening to their exchange, Zhao Heng understood the situation. Though handing over the List of Deification might make Gao Lan unstoppable in the future, that was a problem for later. Right now, they faced imminent dangers that demanded solutions.

A man without foresight will find trouble at his doorstep—but when immediate perils clash with future threats, the choice is clear: survive the present to worry about the future.

Closing his eyes, Zhao Heng felt an inexplicable sorrow.

Ever since the Ancient Bodhi Buddha scattered the List of Deification, the Deification Platform, and the Ghost and God Spirit Diagram, rendering all their efforts futile, he should have realized one truth: his dreams of imperial glory were over.

Now, his only path was to fully support Qi Zhengyan and strive for an alternative realization of their ideals—as far as he could tell, Qi Zhengyan himself had no lust for power.

Seeing Qi Zhengyan relent, Meng Qi smiled faintly: “First, the Wisdom Pure Land of Manjushri Bodhisattva—a Creation-level pure land. It can resist the Nine Nether’s influence, enlighten demons and evil gods, granting them reason. Merged with your Crimson Mountain barriers, it will lift many of the Nine Nether’s restrictions. Under the Great Freedom Heavenly Son and the Twelve Demon Sages, it can withstand attacks at the peak of the Creation level. Even if it can’t hold against the Nine Chaos Heavenly Venerable or the Black Heavenly Emperor, it will protect you from the fallout.”

“More importantly, with this, your path will be smoother, achieving twice the results with half the effort. Your chances of breaking through to the true Legendary realm within a year or two will greatly increase.”

Turning to Zhao Heng, he added: “Second, this calligraphy by the Human Emperor—each character embodies the essence of the Kingly Path. Studying it day and night will accelerate your cultivation and enhance your strength.”

Zhao Heng had now reached the Earth Immortal realm.

Examining the ethereal Wisdom Pure Land and the majestic calligraphy, Qi Zhengyan and Zhao Heng exchanged a glance, then nodded, producing the faintly glowing List of Deification.

Trusting Qi Zhengyan’s integrity, Meng Qi dispensed with oaths and proceeded with the exchange.

Handing over the Wisdom Pure Land and the calligraphy, he grasped the List—a manifestation of heaven and earth. He considered cracking a joke to lighten the mood, to pretend nothing had changed, but the weight of the moment stifled his words.

Some things couldn’t be ignored by pretending they never happened.

In the cold, awkward silence, Qi Zhengyan held the Wisdom Pure Land, Zhao Heng the calligraphy. They gave Meng Qi one last look before turning toward the depths of the Crimson Mountain Range, their backs straight and resolute.

Meng Qi watched them go, a sorrow brewing in his heart.

Just as Qi Zhengyan was about to disappear, he turned back, expressionless: “Transcendent seals possess a certain sentience. If the external environment and the holder both change, the seal’s creator may sense it. You’d best mimic my aura or that of this place.”

Surprised, Meng Qi blinked—but by then, Qi Zhengyan and Zhao Heng had vanished into the Crimson Mountain’s heart.

Mulling over the words, Meng Qi’s lips curled into a smile.

Channeling the Eight-Nine Arcane Art, his aura shifted rapidly, transforming him into a mirror of Qi Zhengyan as he stored the List of Deification.

About to leave, he frowned, a shadow of worry crossing his face.

Though he had the List, the road ahead would be even more perilous. With his aura altered, he could no longer employ the Primordial Chaos Dao to conceal his traces and slip unnoticed out of the Nine Nether back to the Jade Void Palace.

Outside lurked the Nine Chaos Heavenly Venerable, the Dark Ghost Emperor, the Black Heavenly Emperor, and other ancient terrors—any one of whom he couldn’t currently match. Worse, any major conflict would alert other factions.

Though he could leave all contingencies to the Green Emperor, that wasn’t Meng Qi’s way.

Gazing beyond the Crimson Mountain Range, he felt the presence of six malevolent, formidable beings.