Where lies the unfulfilled meaning of “All past events, vanished like smoke and clouds”?
“Does it refer to the last strike of ‘King’s Six Cuts’ called ‘Stepping into the Long River, Fate Not Decreed’?” Meng Qi stood still, his thoughts swirling, pondering where Wang Siyuan, the eldest son of the Wang family, had left his words unspoken. “But this strike seems more like an application of some legendary ability, summoning all the ‘other selves’ imprints scattered across various universes and realms to simultaneously attack the enemy. For oneself, it is extremely dangerous, yet also supremely domineering—a desperate, no-retreat final strike, very much in the style of the King.”
“But this strike holds no practical significance for me to escape the karmic bonds of powerful beings and the Six Paths’ shackles.”
“Hmm…” While reminiscing, Meng Qi suddenly uttered a soft “Hmm,” realizing that his previous understanding of the final strike’s vision during his comprehension of the “King’s Ultimate Blade” was flawed. With his current knowledge, his past understanding was clearly incorrect!
At that time, what he saw was: a shimmering illusory long river emerged, its origin unseen and its destination unknown. Though it bore no signs of age or dust, it gave an impression of timeless permanence and the passage of time. From various parts of the river, figures flew out—one was the “King” clad in black armor, another was a spear-wielding man cradling a white-robed woman, and yet another was a boy holding a cauldron with both hands. Such figures were numerous, scattered throughout the void, silently suspended.
This strike clearly stepped into the River of Time, summoning figures from different eras within the river—some connected to other universes, others to the Real Realm. In other words, the summoned “other selves” included many past incarnations of the King!
Damn… Did the King possess characteristics of the Shore prematurely?
Moreover, according to Su Wuming’s description, I had just speculated the true meaning of “All past events, vanished like smoke and clouds”—not only severing the connection between the angler and oneself, but also cutting off all past entanglements, leaving only this life and the next. This premise assumes that the powerful being behind one is a Shore entity.
The King named the fifth strike “All past events, vanished like smoke and clouds,” and the final strike bore hints of Shore characteristics. Does this indicate that the powerful being behind the King is a Shore entity?
But shouldn’t it be the Thunder God? Could He have reached the Shore? Yet during the ancient times, before His disappearance, He was far inferior to the True Martial, although He surpassed legends, He was still far from reaching the Shore. Afterwards, there were no more rumors or deeds of Him—only His remains were left, as if He had long passed away. It makes no sense for Him to suddenly become a Shore entity!
Countless questions surged in Meng Qi’s mind. His speculation based on Wang Da Shenwu’s unspoken words left him both startled and doubtful. To confirm whether his guess was correct, the best approach was to comprehend the “King’s Ultimate Blade” again, learning “All past events, vanished like smoke and clouds” and “Stepping into the Long River, Fate Not Decreed,” to see whether they truly involved the past, rather than being merely poetic names.
If the powerful being behind me is merely a Legendary one, with my current accumulation, if I could create a blade technique based on the “Dao Yi Seal” that severs the karmic connections between “other selves,” “true self,” and the Six Paths, I would have a 50-60% chance of breaking free. But if the being behind me is also a Shore entity, without grasping the mysteries of time and making initial contact with the past, I won’t be able to fully utilize the effects of the “Dao Yi Seal.” Even if the powerful figure behind is in a fallen or sealed state, I would be doomed to die!
Although so far, aside from Yuanshi Tianzun and Daode Tianzun—two great beings who know everything about me and whose intentions remain ambiguous—others don’t seem to be Shore entities. Still, it’s always better to be prepared than sorry.
Moreover, this isn’t entirely unsolvable. Understanding the mysteries of time and making initial contact with the past is extremely difficult for others—even someone as talented as Su Wuming finds it challenging. But I have the Qisha Tablet, a unique treasure. If I study it diligently and use it occasionally, I might eventually break through. However, the biggest obstacle is time!
Even according to my previous idea of creating a blade technique to sever karmic connections, a year might not be enough. I would need a Cycle Talisman and exchanged time to assist me—this is only possible because I already have considerable accumulated knowledge. If I aim for full preparedness from now on, five or six years won’t be enough—ten or eight years won’t be excessive!
Hmph, Meng Qi exhaled, suddenly hearing the voice of the Jiangdong Wang family’s gatekeeper: “Master Su! Master Su!”
Meng Qi turned his head, puzzled: “What is it?”
The gatekeeper smiled apologetically: “Please forgive me, young master. I forgot something earlier.”
“What is it?” Meng Qi’s spirit lifted. Could it be that Wang Da Shenwu left another message?
The gatekeeper glanced around, seeing nothing unusual, then whispered via sound transmission: “Master Su, the external affairs director of the Xuan Nu sect of the Su Nu Dao is looking for you. He originally intended to deliver a message through our Wang family, but since you came here yourself…”
The Xuan Nu sect? What do they want to discuss? Meng Qi felt both joy and surprise: “Where is this director now?”
“Since you destroyed the Shengsi Wu Chang Sect, he has come to our Wang family seeking help. But circumstances have changed. He is not currently in Guangling. Please stay in the guest quarters for now while we inform him.” The Jiangdong Wang family, with tens of thousands of years of heritage, had a gatekeeper whose speech was refined and elegant. As the family’s public face, he knew all but the most important secrets.
The Xuan Nu sect, being neither purely righteous nor evil, posed no concern for the Wang family to maintain contact.
Sharpening the axe doesn’t delay the woodcutting. Meng Qi nodded: “Please lead the way.”
Several days later, staying in the Jiangdong Wang family’s guest quarters, Meng Qi met the external affairs director of the Xuan Nu sect. His name was Su Bei, with a pale, smooth complexion and soft features, exuding a scholarly aura. Yet his blood energy was vigorous, his muscles subtly coiled, his aura like molten magma beneath the earth.
Close to a Grandmaster in strength… Meng Qi inwardly judged, bowing slightly: “Director Su, what urgent matter brings the Xuan Nu sect to seek me out?”
Su Bei glanced at Meng Qi, finding him seemingly ordinary, showing no special traits. Yet this very ordinariness was the most alarming—despite his strength and discernment, he couldn’t detect the power of Meng Qi’s physical form!
“Master Su coordinated with the tall figure experts and annihilated the Shengsi Wu Chang Sect, shocking the world with a single battle. The Xuan Nu sect deeply admires you. How could such an outstanding hero not be recruited? The sect leader has decided to entrust you with the ‘King’s Ultimate Blade,’ requiring only that when our sect faces difficulties in the future, you will kindly intervene or mediate!” Su Bei spoke fluently.
To control the “King’s Ultimate Blade”? Without overly harsh conditions? Meng Qi felt both surprised and suspicious. Was it the destruction of the Shengsi Wu Chang Sect that finally made Xuan Nu take me seriously?
He activated the Yuan Xin Seal, sensing Su Bei’s emotional changes, only to discover that Su Bei possessed a unique treasure. His emotions were condensed into a tiny ball, hidden within a state of confusion, allowing Meng Qi to detect only faint traces.
A bit of tension, a hint of hope…
“Is this true?” Meng Qi asked cautiously.
“Absolutely true.” Su Bei chuckled. “Would I dare joke about such a matter? Afraid you’d slice me with a single blade?”
This truly came at just the right time! If both “All past events, vanished like smoke and clouds” and “Stepping into the Long River, Fate Not Decreed” involved the past, it would make things much easier for me. The difficulty of mastering an existing technique and creating a new one cannot be compared. Moreover, this is Xuan Nu’s decision. Although the “King’s Ultimate Blade” has not yet acknowledged me, allowing me to sense it, once it falls into my hands, even if I cannot control it, comprehending it should not be a problem.
Suppressing his surging emotions, Meng Qi smiled cautiously: “Director Su, you hold a high position as an external affairs director in the sect.”
Su Bei shook his head with a smile: “Master Su flatters me. I’m merely fortunate, having a karmic connection with one of the sect leader’s incarnations from a past life.”
Meng Qi glanced at his hat—er, the headscarf—and probed: “I see. Director Su, since your sect is so sincere, why not bring the ‘King’s Ultimate Blade’ to Guangling?”
“No one in the sect can lift this blade,” Su Bei replied with a faint smile. “However, the sect leader knows you are cautious and won’t rashly enter the Su Nu Immortal Realm. Therefore, she intends to personally come to Guangling to establish a pact with you.”
“Where is your sect leader now?” Meng Qi asked.
Su Bei pointed north: “The sect leader is waiting aboard a pleasure boat on the river.”
On the river outside Guangling… Meng Qi kept observing Su Bei’s emotional fluctuations, but due to the presence of that unique treasure, little leaked out, revealing no abnormalities.
Confident in his abilities, Meng Qi considered briefly and decided to go. In the current world, few could detain him, especially after mastering the “Dao Yi Seal.” Moreover, staying near Guangling, any slight disturbance would be sensed by the Wang family—the Luo Shu is no mere ornament!
After informing the Wang family, Meng Qi departed the city with Su Bei, arriving at the riverbank. There, a pavilioned boat lay anchored on the opposite shore, its lights blazing in the dusk.
“The sect leader is aboard,” Su Bei respectfully led the way.
As the two streaks of light approached the boat, suddenly the lights on the pavilioned boat extinguished one by one. Prohibitive spells activated, a faint mist emerged, with holy light points circling within.
Meng Qi’s heart stirred. Looking toward the bow, he saw someone step out from the mist, parting the mist like flowers and willows—a white-robed figure, exquisitely beautiful, ethereal in demeanor, stunning beyond compare. One glance could topple a city, another could topple a nation. Who was this Xuan Nu? It was clearly “Great Luo Demon Girl” Gu Xiaosang!
Pulled by a mysterious force, their gazes met. Meng Qi felt only emptiness and depth within Gu Xiaosang’s eyes.
Su Bei’s body radiated light, attempting to flee into the void—he was actually a Reincarnator!
At that moment, the cold, emotionless familiar voice of the Master of the Six Dao reincarnation sounded: “Confirmed, Zhen Ding has crossed the third heavenly ladder, reaching the upper limit of the third death mission.”
“Confirmed, encounter with ‘Great Luo Demon Girl’ Gu Xiaosang.”
“Confirmed, the third death mission is advanced, with a seven-day deadline. Objective: Kill ‘Great Luo Demon Girl’ Gu Xiaosang. Failure results in annihilation. Success rewards ‘All past events, vanished like smoke and clouds’ from the ‘King’s Six Cuts’ and one Cycle Talisman.”
Meng Qi’s mind buzzed—the mission had been advanced, and he wasn’t even prepared yet!
Dark clouds drifted past, obscuring the last sliver of sunlight.
…
At the Jiangdong Destiny Observatory, Destiny Taoist sat on the roof, watching as the sky darkened. Suddenly, he sighed deeply: “Fate has decreed; ultimately, escape is impossible.”
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