In previous years, the Dou Family Shop in the Divine Capital had always been a place where dragons and snakes mingled, abuzz with rumors and gossip. Many martial artists passed through, some sipping tea, others drinking wine, creating a lively and noisy atmosphere. But recently, over the past six months, the place had suddenly become much quieter. Even today, with the new Earth and Human Rankings being released, there were still many empty seats.
“It’s not like before, not like before at all,” the shopkeeper muttered, his hands tucked into his sleeves, exhaling white breath as he stood at the corner of the staircase, shaking his head repeatedly with deep sighs.
A newly hired assistant looked at the shopkeeper in confusion and asked, “Why has business dropped so much?”
The shopkeeper, burdened with thoughts, began to speak once prompted: “You’re from the countryside, a recent hire, and haven’t been in contact with the martial world much. Naturally, there are many things you don’t know.”
“What happened, boss?” the assistant asked curiously.
“This story is long and starts two years ago when Golden Turtle Island in the Eastern Sea surfaced. They sent a Celestial Envoy to deliver invitations,” the shopkeeper gazed out the window, lost in memory, as if he himself had experienced that event that shook the martial world. “A Celestial Envoy! Golden Turtle Island actually used a Celestial as an envoy! Do you know what a Celestial is? They possess an innate cavern heaven within their bodies, capable of opening heaven and earth within a single leaf, their power as vast as the stars. Such divine beings being reduced to mere envoys is beyond our imagination.”
“What were the envoys doing?” the assistant’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
The shopkeeper paused before continuing, “They invited all the High Beings on the Heaven Ranking to a banquet. No one dared refuse a Celestial’s invitation. All the High Beings attended, but none returned. Rumors say they were either imprisoned by Golden Turtle Island or killed for refusing to submit. Since then, Golden Turtle Island has vanished without a trace, and that banquet became the biggest mystery in the martial world.”
The assistant shivered, finding it scarier than the ghost stories told by the village shaman.
“With all the High Beings missing, only the Grand Masters remained to uphold the martial world. Major sects with protective arrays and sacred treasures were relatively unaffected, but other factions became restless. Meanwhile, alongside Golden Turtle Island’s emergence, the Immortal Realm from overseas also appeared. Their divine figures also vanished after attending the banquet on Golden Turtle Island. The Heaven Dao Alliance and the Three Devils and Four Marvels factions, with many near-High Beings among them, became increasingly aggressive.”
The shopkeeper recalled that great battle, “At that time, both sides agreed to fight in the Eastern Sea. The righteous sects sent their finest. ‘Supreme Divine Sword’ Jiang Zhiwei defeated seven near-High Beings in a row. ‘Frost Immortaless’ Ye Yuqi also took on two Grand Masters who specialized in joint attacks, defeating them both. With just these two victories, the overseas immortals realized their difficulties and withdrew. From then on, the Central Land and overseas realms could finally interact normally.”
“Awesome!” the assistant was excited but soon puzzled again, “But how does that affect our business?”
The shopkeeper chuckled, “After that battle, everyone realized the importance of High Beings. Various Grand Masters either secluded themselves or honed their skills, striving to break through first and dominate the martial world. They’ve become less involved in worldly affairs, making it hard to contain the Devil Emperor. With the Devil Emperor consolidating power in the Southern Wilderness…”
His voice lowered unconsciously, “The Southern Wilderness has been thriving. There, any martial artist can obtain the introductory chapters of supreme martial arts. As long as they work hard and endure, no matter how long it takes, once they pass the physical and mental trials, they can receive even more advanced supreme martial arts. Supreme martial arts! Sects and families have fought tooth and nail for ages without obtaining even one, yet in the Southern Wilderness, everyone can practice them. Before, there were Grand Masters to suppress this trend, but now countless young talents, unknown disciples, and veteran martial artists who’ve long been stuck have gone into hiding, secretly heading to the Southern Wilderness. Do you think our business can thrive under these circumstances?”
“I see…” the assistant licked his lips, his heart burning with desire.
“If it weren’t for my old age and lost hopes, who knows, who knows…” the shopkeeper didn’t continue but changed the subject, “Moreover, the intense clashes between different martial arts styles from the Central Land and the overseas immortals have sparked new flames. Currently, the preferred destination for cultivation isn’t Jiangdong or the Divine Capital, but the overseas realms.”
He lowered his voice again, “Also, with so many High Beings missing in the Eastern Sea’s Golden Turtle Island, if they truly perished, wouldn’t finding their remains reveal treasures, martial arts, and secret legacies?”
“With the possibility of such a tremendous treasure at the edge of the Eastern Sea, despite the disciples and old friends of the High Beings searching diligently, it couldn’t stop martial artists from flocking to the area. The number of seafarers has grown at an astonishing rate, and among our regular customers at the Dou Family Shop, over a dozen have already gone to the Eastern Sea.”
“Now there’s a popular saying: ‘Go, go to the sea, go on an adventure, go seek the treasures left behind by the High Beings! Don’t waste this opportunity!'”
The assistant was captivated by the thought, yearning to immediately find a ship and become a sailor.
…
Inside the imperial palace, Zhao Heng, the Emperor of the Jin Dynasty, exuded a deeper sense of solemnity and nobility.
Sima Shi paced back and forth in front of him, seemingly a bit unsettled: “Has Prince Qin reached a critical moment?”
Zhao Heng nodded slightly, appearing calm on the surface, but his hands unconsciously gripped the armrests tightly: “Since the High Beings from across the land attended the banquet on Golden Turtle Island and vanished, the shadow hanging over our Zhao family in the Divine Capital has completely dissipated, and the situation has suddenly become wide open. My uncle, having overcome his previous setbacks and filled the gaps in his heart, has regained his confidence. Combined with the vast power he has cultivated from the masses, his foundation is now unparalleled in the world. Therefore, after two years of arduous cultivation, he aims to be the first to break through, thus suppressing and rallying the other factions.”
“This is heaven’s mercy, giving our Jin Dynasty a chance for survival and hope,” Sima Shi sighed. If a High Being were to dominate, aside from whether Prince Zhao Jingshi could achieve spiritual completeness, even the breakthrough would involve a struggle, like the previous Qionghua Banquet.
Who would have thought that the sudden appearance of Golden Turtle Island would result in all the High Beings from across the land never returning, presenting an unprecedentedly favorable situation for the Zhao family in the Divine Capital.
If they couldn’t seize this opportunity, it would mean the end of their fate! Sima Shi glanced at Zhao Heng, seeing the tension and anticipation hidden in his eyes, just like his own.
…
At the Xijian Pavilion, Jiang Zhiwei’s residence.
Dressed in a yellow dress, she sat cross-legged, her breath and body giving off a hollow feeling, as if she were here yet also as if she were at the edge of the sky.
Time passed, and the world changed, but Jiang Zhiwei remained in this state, forgetting the mundane world, unaware of how long had passed before she finally opened her eyes.
Those dark eyes were deep and boundless, as if containing layers of universes, drawing anyone who gazed into them into an abyss from which they could not escape.
As the divine aura receded, Jiang Zhiwei summoned an ancient book with a wave of her hand, intending to relax her spirit, recover from fatigue, and continue her cultivation.
This ancient book had been accidentally discovered by a junior disciple of Xijian Pavilion in an ancient ruin, chronicling the stories of sword immortals from the era when all sages contended, perfectly suiting Jiang Zhiwei’s tastes, so she borrowed it to read.
“‘Sword Shaking the Star Sea’ Zhuo Chaosheng, the leader of the Heaven and Earth Sword Sect, a celestial swordsman whose ‘Infinite Eight Trigrams Sword’ approached the Dao through martial law. Though his appearance was ugly and his stature short, he was unbothered, always composed. In his youth, he was addicted to drinking but was scolded into awakening. He often carried a gourd of wine but only filled it with water. He perished during the siege of the Hegemon…” Jiang Zhiwei read with great interest, occasionally flipping the pages.
Suddenly, she smiled, revealing a bright and charming expression: “This swordsman’s name is the same as that little monk’s.”
On this page of the ancient book was recorded a swordsman whose deeds were rarely known before: “‘Sword Sage’ Su Meng, a swordsman whose presence was like a dragon’s head—hidden but legendary. He was close friends with ‘Emerald Moon Swordsman’ Ren Qiushui, and together they guided sword techniques across the world in Luo City, listing the Seven Supreme Sword Techniques, which were…”
“Strange, the views of that time actually align with those of later generations,” Jiang Zhiwei marveled, “Could it be that the great Dao, though approached through different paths, ultimately leads to the same destination?”
“Su Meng, at the level of a Human Immortal, calmly withdrew from the clutches of the Devil Sect’s Devil Sword King, later slaying the Multi-Eyed King in Luo City. He formed a formation with a single sword stroke, subduing five major sword sects, and gained the reputation of ‘The Best Sword Technique.’ Reading this section, Jiang Zhiwei felt a surge of excitement, unable to resist imagining the ancients. At that time, there were actually sword experts at the Human Immortal level who had reached the realm of forming a formation with a single sword stroke. Truly, it was an age of sages contending and heroes emerging.
“I still have a long way to go before reaching that level. In today’s world, perhaps only those who forge their own paths, like the great Lu and young Meng, could achieve such feats. The ancient times were indeed extraordinary.”
“By the time he reached the Earth Immortal level, Su Meng was already capable of challenging the Hegemon, who was unmatched in his time. Although he lost due to a slightly lower cultivation level, he still managed to give the Hegemon a severe setback. What that setback was, even the Hegemon and the Five Generations’ Xuan Nu never revealed. Later, Su Meng confronted the fully transformed ‘Supreme Devil’ Wu Daoming, rescuing Zhuo Chaosheng from the Devil Emperor’s claws. Afterward, he journeyed far into the starry sea, and his whereabouts became unknown. If he had waited until he ascended to the Celestial or Legendary level, perhaps he wouldn’t have allowed the Hegemon to stand alone. Such is the nature of worldly affairs, always filled with regrets and sighs.”
“Su Meng was known for his kindness and humility, never seeking fame, always maintaining a calm demeanor. However, his sword techniques, which surpassed his cultivation level, and his outstanding appearance and demeanor made him a role model for sword practitioners of his time…”
As Jiang Zhiwei finished reading, she suddenly felt a bit awkward, couldn’t help but smile and shake her head: “The little monk’s soul lamp is bright and intense, so there shouldn’t be any major issues. When he returns, I should tell him the story of that Su Meng. It’s really quite interesting…”
…
In a hidden place, the former Crown Prince of the Jin Dynasty was sitting in full lotus posture, with a high platform formed beneath him by clusters of white lotuses.
Around him, white lotuses bloomed, each producing a golden ‘Wan’ character. He pointed one finger to the sky and one to the ground, refining his true spirit.
At the same time, in front of him was a golden statue of the Buddha, with a large belly and a smiling face, constantly absorbing points of wish-power from the void, making the statue increasingly translucent and pure.
“Although my Reward Body and the Yellow Brow were destroyed by the Devil Buddha, the teachings of the White Lotus Pure Land have been scattered and preserved among various Buddhist sects and heterodox branches, so the foundation remains. Once awakened, it will still possess immense power…” the former Crown Prince sighed, having cultivated both Dharma and Reward Bodies over two years, no longer an ordinary person.
His eyes half-closed, he slowly merged the golden Buddha statue with his Dharma body.
“Regarding the Green Emperor, regardless of whether the outcome in ancient times was good or bad, at least for now, we have gained an advantage.”
“Amitabha used the chaos to send away Gao Lan, giving me two years to grow. Now I am no longer the weak being I once was when I first descended into the world, and I no longer need to hide and dodge.”
…
At the edge of the Eastern Sea, many ships raced across the waves, with people occasionally arriving via teleportation arrays to this area, as it was said that Golden Turtle Island had once surfaced here.
On a large warship, many martial artists and seafarers looked around, searching for any signs.
Suddenly, radiant light burst before their eyes, auspicious qi spread in thousands of threads, and a mirage-like scene appeared. Figures emerged, their presences so powerful they triggered tsunamis.
“This…” the seafarers clung to the railings and ropes, drifting with the waves.
Were these the missing High Beings from before?
Had they finally escaped?
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