Ningxi was a place of picturesque beauty, with verdant mountains undulating in layers and four rivers flowing around it.
Master Lu and He Qi descended from their flying lights and entered the city. Following the guidance of the fragments of the Hao Tian Mirror and the Dong Huang Bell in their hands, they walked slowly, searching for Master Lu’s incarnation from the middle ancient era.
The Hao Tian Mirror could illuminate all the heavens and help one sense “another self.” However, since it was not an artifact related to the flow of time, it couldn’t reveal past or future. Normally, it would be difficult to use it to seek one’s past life. But due to a fortunate twist of fate, everyone had returned to the middle ancient era, placing them in the same time period as their past selves, which was nearly equivalent to sensing “another self.” Thus, a subtle connection was formed. With the aid of the fragment of the Dong Huang Bell, a time-related artifact, the clues were no longer completely elusive.
Moreover, Meng Qi possessed the “Three Eras Bright King Wheel,” a divine artifact. While Master Lu and He Qi were off guard, it enabled them to glimpse their current incarnations. With these factors combined, the task naturally became simpler, and they had already locked onto their target.
Zhu Buxuan, fanning himself lazily with a folding fan, strolled slowly out of his courtyard toward the lavish Luofang Street.
He was a disciple of the Ningxi Sword Sect, hailing from an ordinary family. Outwardly honest and simple, he appeared harmless and was generally amiable, leaving elders in the sect with the impression of being loyal and trustworthy. Leveraging this perception, he managed to navigate the sect skillfully, gaining favor and trust. Now at the ninth aperture, he was close to achieving the Outer View.
Most people along the way recognized Zhu Buxuan and greeted him with nods and smiles. However, a few individuals showed displeasure and turned to other streets upon seeing him from afar.
“Zhu Buxuan may look loyal, but he’s actually full of ill intentions. I myself was a victim of his, which is why I ended up guarding the sect’s martial arts hall,” a man carrying a long sword said resentfully.
A short swordsman beside him looked puzzled: “Zhu Buxuan has always been known in the sect for his loyalty and honesty. Could he really have wronged you?”
Could appearances truly be deceiving?
The senior apprentice snorted: “If he were truly as loyal and honest as he seems, why would most of the sect’s senior apprentices and elders favor him? How could he have opened nine apertures so smoothly without any setbacks? Although our Ningxi Sword Sect may not rival the top sects, it’s still filled with talents, and the internal competition is fierce. Yet time and again, he’s the one who reaps the greatest benefits—merely pretending to be weak while hiding his true strength!”
“I once directly voiced my concerns to Senior Master Zuo. Do you know what he said? He said, ‘Outwardly honest, inwardly cunning. Very good, very good!'”
As he vented his frustration, he suddenly sensed something and turned his head. At the mouth of an alley stood two elderly men. One had slightly graying hair and an intense gaze, exuding a captivating aura. The other seemed ethereal, nearly imperceptible, his eyes brimming with the boldness and confidence of a once-unrivaled martial hero.
The senior apprentice abruptly stopped talking. Seeing that both elders were extraordinary, he hurriedly pulled his junior apprentice and left. He had merely spoken ill of Zhu Buxuan; surely, these high-level figures weren’t connected to him!
“It’s unexpected that your past life would appear so honest outwardly but be cunning inside,” He Qi chuckled.
There was absolutely no resemblance at all.
Master Lu remained silent. He turned out of the alley and back onto the street, following Zhu Buxuan’s retreating figure.
Crossing the left street and walking through a corridor, Zhu Buxuan reached Luofang Street and entered the “Jinyage” with practiced ease.
“Oh my, Master Zhu! It’s been so long! The girls in the house have been thinking of you all this time!” The madam greeted him with a fragrant breeze.
Zhu Buxuan smiled bashfully: “My seniors have been keeping a tight rein on me, so I haven’t been able to leave the sect often. I wonder if Miss Yue Xia is available? Ever since we last met, I’ve been thinking of her constantly.”
“Oh my, Miss Yue Xia has a distinguished guest right now. She’s, she’s…” The madam pointed toward the direction of the Ningxi Sword Sect, implying that the guest was a senior from the sect.
Zhu Buxuan’s expression flickered between red and green, but he forced a smile: “What a shame! Please convey my greetings to Miss Yue Xia.”
As he turned to leave, his gaze fell upon the two extraordinary elders. Before he could process this, the madam blocked his path: “Oh, my dear Master Zhu! If not Miss Yue Xia, there’s still Miss Yue Lan and Miss Yue Qiu!”
“I only have eyes for Miss Yue Xia,” Zhu Buxuan shook his head.
“How romantic,” He Qi murmured with interest, while Master Lu’s gaze deepened, lost in thought.
The madam twisted her handkerchief, hesitated for a moment, then whispered: “Miss Yue Xi will be free tonight…”
Yue Xi was the top courtesan of Jinyage, far surpassing Yue Xia in beauty.
Zhu Buxuan paused, thinking of that peerless beauty with fair skin and charming expressions. The memory of Yue Xia instantly blurred in his mind, and his breathing quickened: “May I have the honor of being close to her?”
“I’ll introduce you, but whether you succeed depends on your own efforts,” the madam said with a smile.
Zhu Buxuan nodded eagerly and followed the madam into the inner courtyard.
Watching this scene, Master Lu suddenly sighed, seemingly filled with emotion. Without hesitation, he turned and left Jinyage.
“Are you leaving already? Aren’t you going to observe your past life, to understand its interaction with the river of history and the connections it has formed?” He Qi sent a surprised mental message as he followed.
Had Master Lu already completed his observation and understanding?
That didn’t make sense! This required the aid of the Dong Huang Bell fragment to observe carefully, which couldn’t be done in a short time!
Even if Master Lu still had the “Three Eras Bright King Wheel,” it wouldn’t be possible so quickly—at least He Qi hadn’t sensed him using either artifact.
Master Lu’s gaze was calm, his tone serene: “No need.”
“No need? Fellow Daoist Lu, although you and Daoist Su have unique paths, severing your ‘other selves’ and not seeking past lives, you still need to project into myriad worlds and trace back the past. Observing more past lives and understanding their interactions with the river of history helps you leave your own mark. Why are you giving up now?” He Qi knew Master Lu wasn’t an impulsive or reckless person; his words and actions always had their own purposes, so he was more confused than anything else. Borrowing words Su Wuming had previously spoken, he asked.
Master Lu turned into a quiet alley, walked slowly, and smiled: “Although young Master Su and I seem to follow the same path—neither of us seeking other selves nor pursuing past lives—there’s actually a significant difference. Only today have I truly understood this.”
“What difference?” He Qi was even more puzzled. To him, they were both following the “Only Self” path.
Master Lu strolled with his hands clasped behind his back, smiling: “Young Master Su practices a cultivation method that embraces infinite transformations, upholding the self while experiencing worldly affairs. Only by seeing through all appearances can one understand the true nature of the self. Thus, he can portray different people, experience different lives, leave behind legends, create imprints, and adjust his image based on feedback from heaven, earth, and the river of history. Even if this image differs greatly from his true self, it won’t trouble him.”
“Embracing all appearances, accepting changes without losing the self—indeed,” He Qi nodded slightly, affirming Master Lu’s explanation.
During their discussions, Meng Qi had once mentioned the marvels of his own Eight-Nine Mystical Art.
Master Lu’s voice became even gentler: “But I am different. I am Lu Zhiping—the husband of Ye Yuyan and the lord of Huamei Manor. My unique past experiences have shaped my essence. I cannot become ‘others,’ whether it’s my ‘other self’ or ‘past life.’ If I must imitate them to leave an imprint in heaven and earth, I simply cannot do it.”
This was true “Only Self”—the thought suddenly flashed through He Qi’s mind, followed by a frown. “Then how can you project into myriad worlds and trace back the past?”
Would he be stuck at the level of a Celestial Immortal?
Master Lu shook his head with a smile: “I can only keep exploring.”
“There are vague ideas in my mind. The normal path is to enlighten other selves, accumulating quantity to achieve a qualitative change, thereby elevating one’s essence to become a legend. Young Master Su’s path is to create ‘false other selves,’ leaving imprints and accumulating quantity to achieve a qualitative change, becoming a legend. The latter half of his path aligns with the normal one. As for me, I’m thinking whether it’s possible to ‘purify the self,’ gradually changing, first elevating my essence to the level of a legend, then naturally projecting into myriad worlds and tracing back the past.”
“This path resembles that of the Primordial Great Beings, but They were born as legends,” He Qi still frowned. Master Lu’s path seemed extremely difficult—extremely, extremely difficult.
Master Lu smiled peacefully: “I will do my best without betraying my heart. Even if I die, I will have no regrets.”
He gazed tenderly at the Xinyi Sword in his hand and murmured softly: “Yuyan, my beloved, I have felt the ‘other selves,’ seen the past lives, and only now do I understand—my path does not rely on others.”
“My path does not rely on others…” He Qi felt shaken and bewildered, the words echoing in his mind.
The path of the Xinyi Sword does not rely on others.
…
In the Ink Palace.
As soon as Meng Qi entered the grand hall, his gaze was drawn to a frail, withered old man. The man’s Dharmakaya was flawless, his Daoist power abundant, and his vitality vigorous. If Meng Qi closed his eyes and didn’t activate the “Karmic Fruit,” he would unquestionably believe the man was in his prime, at the height of his power—not a metaphor, but an accurate description. Yet, seeing him directly now, he noticed the traces of time etched all over the old man, an aura of inner decay radiating outward.
Under the passage of time, who can remain immortal?
The old man’s hands were changing seals as he concentrated on forging a puppet before him—one that looked exactly like himself. From the ceiling, various arms occasionally descended—dragon claws, demonic hands, and mechanical constructs—each wielding different flames to assist in the creation. The entire process exuded a precise, mechanical beauty.
After a while, the old man completed a phase of forging and lifted his head. His weathered gaze fell upon Meng Qi: “Young Master Su, I’ve kept you waiting.”
“It’s nothing. I’ve benefited greatly,” Meng Qi was unfazed, smiling as he asked, “Master Qisheng, are you forging a substitute body?”
This old man was indeed Qisheng of the Ink Palace, rivaling Rensheng and ranking among the foremost of the Sages. He was among the oldest Celestial Immortals.
Master Qisheng’s gaze shifted to the puppet, his expression tinged with sentimentality and dreaminess: “You could call it a substitute body. Though the soul, Yuan Shen, and True Spirit vary in rank, none can achieve immortality without reaching the other shore. Eventually, we will age and decay. Therefore, I wish to use machinery to imitate the characteristics of the soul, enabling the puppet to think and explore, almost like a newly created life that can endure in the world.”
He sighed, a trace of yearning in his smile: “Perhaps when I have decayed into myth, and even the Ink Palace has become weathered, this puppet will still be traveling through the myriad worlds, continuing my quest for the Dao…”
Meng Qi listened with reverence. Regardless of whether he agreed with the Sages’ views, he deeply respected their unwavering pursuit of the Dao.
After a while, Meng Qi composed himself and began discussing the concept of the “Multiversal Awareness Sphere” with Master Qisheng.
As time passed day by day, Meng Qi gradually formed a clear idea of the “Multiversal Awareness Sphere.” Just as he was about to thank Master Qisheng and take his leave, the solemn and ethereal voice of the Moonlight Bodhisattva echoed in his ears: “Gurdo, Su Daji, and the Hegemon have separated and are heading toward Yu Huang Mountain.”
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