After exiting the Shanmen of the Sword-Cleansing Pavilion, Meng Qi was about to fly away when suddenly his vision blurred and a figure appeared before him. Dressed in a light blue robe, the young man’s handsome features gave an impression of standing infinitely far away, his entire being empty and detached, as if neither self nor others existed.
Meng Qi was momentarily startled, then bowed respectfully and said, “Senior Su.”
This person was none other than “Heavenly Sword from Beyond the Heavens,” Su Wu Ming. His deeds, reputation, and strength needed no elaboration—three words sufficed: Su Wu Ming!
Ever since Meng Qi first learned of this name, this was the first time he had faced the legendary figure directly.
Su Wu Ming let his hands hang naturally at his sides, turned his body, and slowly walked ahead of Meng Qi. His voice carried a detached and weathered tone, as if he had seen through the mortal world. Unexpectedly, he asked, “Do you know the difference between ‘Other Self’ and ‘True Self’?”
Why is he asking this? Meng Qi felt puzzled but after a moment’s thought, he replied, “Generally speaking, only beings within the Realm of Reality can be called ‘True Self.’ Their reflections or manifestations across different universes are known as ‘Other Selves.’ Initially, these reflections were merely projections, which is why ancient beings were all considered legends. Later, as the world changed, these reflections became detached from the ‘True Self,’ gaining independent consciousness and becoming real beings. Therefore, no matter what kind of cultivator one is, to attain legendary status, one must communicate with them and unify all selves into one.”
“But Heaven gives birth to all things, and all beings possess consciousness. If one can perceive one’s own reflection, then the ‘Other Self’ is also the ‘True Self.’ It is not necessarily a mere appendage of the ‘True Self’ in the Realm of Reality.”
He spoke from reflection.
Su Wu Ming made no other gestures or expressions, continuing to walk slowly, leaving only his back to Meng Qi, “Understood is sufficient.”
“Once detached and independent, the ‘Other Self’s’ memories of past lives will not trace back to the ‘True Self.’ However, this does not prevent the ‘Other Self’ from being contacted and integrated by the ‘True Self.’”
A thunderclap echoed in Meng Qi’s mind, shocking and enlightening him. No wonder, during his mutual awakening of past-life memories with the Living Buddha in the world of the Sword Emperor and Demon Queen, everything turned blank at the end—he saw neither A-nan nor any other great beings!
So I really am an “Other Self,” not a Dao Marker… After the incident at Eternal Valley, Meng Qi had originally been fairly certain that he was a ‘fish’ caught by the Angler, a ‘Other Self’ of the latter. But after learning of the Dao Marker’s existence, he began to suspect whether he was a Dao Marker for the return of some great being, such as a manifestation of the Black Mountain Demon King.
Was Su Wu Ming’s sudden appearance, seemingly walking casually beside him, meant to enlighten him on this very matter?
How could he know that Meng Qi had once awakened his past-life memories?
A vague feeling rose within Meng Qi, and suddenly, inspiration struck. Looking at Su Wu Ming again, he found something oddly familiar. He blurted out:
“Senior Sword Emperor!”
The Sword Emperor who had once guided him in sword cultivation, the Sword Emperor who loved nurturing younger generations, the Sword Emperor from the Living Buddha’s world!
So the Sword Emperor Senior was actually the “Other Self” of Senior Su Wu Ming! That explained how he could know about Meng Qi’s battle with the Living Buddha!
Su Wu Ming nodded slightly, his hands behind his back, his presence ethereal and distant, as if illusory. He spoke casually, “Being able to connect with some ‘Other Selves’ and integrate them into the ‘True Self’ means one has already opened the door to becoming a legend. The ‘Heart Sage’ belongs to this category. When all ‘Other Selves’ return and one can naturally project one’s presence into countless newly born universes, leaving imprints without omission, then one becomes a legend, unique across all realms.”
He used the “Heart Sage” as an example because Meng Qi had seen one before? Meng Qi listened intently.
If integrating some “Other Selves” already meant opening the door to becoming a legend, then didn’t that mean Su Wu Ming himself had already opened that door?
Still not turning around, Su Wu Ming continued walking forward, “A legendary being leaves imprints across all universes and all worlds. As long as one imprint remains undestroyed, the legend does not perish. Therefore, many legendary beings secretly leave behind more than the usual projections and imprints, existing in the form of ‘Other Selves’ yet to be integrated, and severing causal connections with intricate deceptions to fool their enemies. When they are destroyed or sealed away, they can return through these imprints.”
A sudden realization struck Meng Qi’s mind as the four characters surfaced clearly: So that’s how it is!
Am I a contingency plan for the Angler’s revival or escape?
It serves the same purpose as the Dao Marker of the Dao!
Only someone like Su Wu Ming, who had opened the door to becoming a legend, could truly understand and explain such matters!
After saying this, Su Wu Ming continued walking silently, offering no further words, his demeanor calm and eternal.
Meng Qi suddenly felt inspired, realizing that Su Wu Ming was waiting for him to ask a question. Thus, he asked, “Senior Su, how does one sever the connection between the ‘Other Self’ and the ‘True Self’?”
Would techniques like “Past Events Fade Away Like Smoke” work?
It was early morning, the sunlight not yet strong, with a thin mist lingering along the forest path. Su Wu Ming seemed like an immortal walking through the mist, speaking plainly, “Either follow the path of Master Da Lu, seeking the ‘Self,’ making oneself the sole existence, seeing no other, and the connection will naturally fade. When one can once again project the ‘Self’ across countless universes, leaving imprints without omission, appearing instantly wherever one is born, then one truly becomes a legend…”
He casually mentioned the future of Master Da Lu’s path, because it clearly suited Meng Qi’s situation better.
Master Da Lu’s path of the “Self” could not be achieved without at least ten years of focused dedication… After the incident at Eternal Valley, Meng Qi had already considered his own path. While he could learn from Master Da Lu, he could not rush to become him immediately—it was a gradual process with no shortcuts.
“Or one could use a blade of causality to sever all connections and obtain the ‘Self’ through external means,” Su Wu Ming continued.
Meng Qi quietly exhaled, relieved—his path was correct!
Dressed in a blue robe, Su Wu Ming left only his back to Meng Qi, faintly visible in the mist, “The connection between the ‘True Self’ and the ‘Other Self’ originates from the Dao itself, subtle and hard to perceive. It is one of the greatest obstacles to attaining legendary status. Even with control over the Heavenly Mirror, I spent over ten years risking the danger of losing myself before I could grasp its faintest trace. Without that much time, there is only one way to perceive it: when the Angler tries to reel the fish back in and descend, that moment will reveal the connection clearly.”
“Senior Su, would the Dao Unity Seal work?” Meng Qi’s pupils constricted, surprised at this revelation.
Su Wu Ming paused briefly in his steps, “If it is the Cause of All Causes, perhaps it could. But I don’t know much about the Dao Unity Seal, so I cannot be certain.”
Anyway, I don’t have that much time left… Meng Qi sighed lightly.
Su Wu Ming resumed walking, his tone indifferent, “If the Angler is a being attempting to return from the other shore, then it’s not only necessary to sever the connection between the ‘True Self’ and the ‘Other Self,’ because every lifetime of your past rebirths will become him, merging into the ‘True Self,’ thereby using the River of Time to trace back to your very essence.”
No wonder the saying goes, ‘Past events vanish like smoke’… Meng Qi was momentarily stunned, suddenly grasping the true intent behind the Overlord’s naming of this strike!
It wasn’t merely severing the connection between the Angler and himself, but also cutting off all past lives, leaving only this life and the next.
Of course, this was only if the being behind him was a great figure from the other shore!
At that moment, a breeze blew through, dispersing the mist. Su Wu Ming took a step forward, his figure becoming ethereal and instantly vanishing from Meng Qi’s sight, as if their entire conversation had been an illusion.
Meng Qi turned around and sincerely bowed toward the Sword-Cleansing Pavilion.
But Senior Su’s words seemed to carry something left unsaid.
What was it that he dared not say outright?
…
Outside Langya, Yu Lake stretched wide, a small boat floating upon its surface.
Ruan Yushu, dressed in a white dress, sat at the bow of the boat, her ancient zither resting across her knees. She looked at Meng Qi before her and asked seriously, “You want to treat me to fish?”
With the current season, there weren’t many edible things in the lake, but fish was one of them.
Meng Qi couldn’t help but smile, feeling that his mood, which had been quiet and slightly somber lately, had improved somewhat. He then took out a pale green seed and handed it to Ruan Yushu, transmitting his voice, “I’ve completed the Zhenwu Chain Mission. This is the mission reward—the general outline of the Seven Heaven-Cutting Sword Techniques. It embodies the Dao itself, encompassing all things, not merely sword techniques. It will be useful to you as well.”
Ruan Yushu was younger than him, with a cold and lovely personality. Watching her grow day by day was like seeing one’s own younger sister blossom into womanhood. Coming to bid farewell, Meng Qi couldn’t help but offer a few words of advice.
Ruan Yushu lightly furrowed her eyebrows, glancing at Meng Qi with a hint of confusion in her eyes, though she did not ask.
She accepted the seed, absorbed its contents, and prepared to return it to Meng Qi, but he waved his hand, his expression calm, a slight smile on his face, “Keep it for me first. If you ever have the chance to meet Senior Qi, remember to give it to him.”
Ruan Yushu, with her clear, bright eyes, looked at Meng Qi for a long moment before finally blurting out, “You have something on your mind? Are you in danger?”
“There are things one must face eventually,” Meng Qi replied sincerely with a smile. “If you want to help me, play a zither piece to see me off. Perhaps we’ll meet again on the path someday.”
A breeze blew across the lake, gently rocking the small boat. Ruan Yushu pursed her lips slightly, her teeth lightly biting her lip, her beautiful eyes misting over. Then she adjusted her zither and gently began to play.
Meng Qi placed his hands behind his head, slowly lying back on the boat, gazing at the endless blue sky above, the beautiful and exquisite sound of the zither echoing in his ears.
Suddenly, Meng Qi stood up, his feet treading lightly on the lake’s surface, his sleeves fluttering, walking away into the distance to the sound of the zither, softly singing, “A laugh across the sea, waves rolling on both shores…”
…
“The breeze laughs, yet brings loneliness; the boldness remains only in the evening glow…”
As the song played, Ruan Yushu watched Meng Qi’s blue robe disappear into the distance. Her zither music changed, echoing the same melody across the lake.
…
Leaving Langya, Meng Qi headed straight for Guangling.
Although he himself was also skilled in divination, he still fell short compared to Wang Da Gongzi, who specialized in it!
“Heh, when people reach a critical moment, they always end up seeking comfort from fortune-tellers…” Meng Qi shook his head with self-mockery, appearing before the ancestral home of the Wang family in Guangling.
The gatekeeper rubbed his eyes and approached, “Is it Master Su Meng?”
“Yes,” Meng Qi was unsurprised by the Wang family’s supernatural awareness.
The gatekeeper quickly smiled, “The master is not at home, only leaving a letter for you.”
The fortune-teller Wang had avoided him… Meng Qi frowned slightly, accepting the letter. It read, “Too soon, certain death.”
Too soon, certain death… Meng Qi’s heart sank slightly. He asked again, “Did Master Wang say anything else?”
“All past matters must fade away like smoke,” the gatekeeper replied without hesitation.
Still the same phrase. Meng Qi turned to leave, when suddenly, he saw a stone tablet erected at the entrance of the Wang family’s mansion—it was the family precept left by the Sage Forebears:
“A divination must not be fully revealed, matters must not be pushed to extremes, and words must not be spoken completely.”
Words must not be spoken completely… Suddenly, inspiration struck Meng Qi. He stopped in his tracks. Could it be that Wang Da Gongzi’s constant emphasis on “Past Events Fade Away Like Smoke” was actually revealing too much, violating the family precept? Or perhaps his words were not fully spoken, and the true meaning lay between the lines.
Where was the unspoken meaning behind “Past Events Fade Away Like Smoke”?
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