Outside the ancestral mansion of the Wang family, the atmosphere was frozen and chilling. Zhuo Chaosheng instinctively called out, “Old fraud, you…”
Before his words faded, the Five Sages waved a hand, “Regarding Wu Daoming, old man will inform them shortly.”
He turned around, his back solitary and desolate, step by step walking into the grand gate weathered by time.
“Tsk, the Jiangdong Wang clan is always so mysterious and cryptic,” Zhuo Chaosheng muttered after a brief pause.
Meng Qi slightly furrowed his brows, his thoughts churning. The Wang clan’s depth ran far deeper than he had imagined.
Bang! The Wang family’s gate shut. Sunlight filtered through green trees, casting dazzling golden patches on the ground, creating a strangely serene afternoon ambiance. Meng Qi and Zhuo Chaosheng stood silently for a while, each lost in thought, before departing separately.
Returning to Luo City and entering their hideout, Meng Qi first saw Su Wuming in his green robe, whose presence felt eerily hollow. He had finally arrived in Luo City.
Hmm… As Meng Qi was about to greet him, his mind suddenly paused in surprise. Su Wuming’s heavenly fate was no longer so chaotic but had become somewhat traceable, unlike Meng Qi himself, who relied on the “Cause of All Results” to disguise himself.
Such chaos usually stemmed from “being a stranger in a foreign land,” a trait not belonging to the Mid-Ancient Era. The change in Su Wuming’s fate indicated that he had already found his past self, leaving certain imprints and forming a definite connection with the Mid-Ancient Era.
Indeed, he moved with practiced ease, far more accurate and swift than the jester elder brother. At least the jester elder brother’s fate remained chaotic, suggesting his imprints were still slowly forming… As Meng Qi’s thoughts turned, He Qi, increasingly exuding an “Unmanifested” aura, interjected, “Daoist friend Wuming arrived in Luo City two days ago and met with this old man. Unfortunately, I was captured by the Supreme Heaven Demon shortly after and only today managed to inform Daoist friend Wuming to come here.”
Because both Su Meng and Su Wuming shared the surname Su, they could privately refer to each other as “Little Su” and “Big Su.” However, publicly, such casualness was inappropriate. Therefore, for distinction, He Qi changed his address for Su Wuming.
“Senior Su is truly omnipresent, indeed the first to arrive,” Meng Qi smiled and bowed respectfully.
Su Wuming’s legendary trait originated from enlightening “Other Selves,” accumulating small bits until a qualitative change occurred, granting him an essence surpassing the Real World, nearly reaching the Ninth Heaven’s level. Although after arriving in the Mid-Ancient Era, without the “Cause of All Results,” he could no longer sense his “Other Selves,” his fundamental nature had already transformed and wouldn’t regress. He remained omnipresent, though lacking the special trait of “Projection Immortality, Self Immortality.” Meng Qi wasn’t entirely sure whether, if Su Wuming committed suicide, he would revive in the future through his projection, completing his return, or whether his true soul would still be eroded by time, utterly annihilated, severing all connections with his “Other Selves,” resulting in true death.
Su Wuming, holding a long sword, slightly nodded, “No one has attempted to steal the Xijian Pavilion’s secret heritage. After arriving in Luo City, I’ve already slain two White Hair imposters.”
He never wasted words, always getting straight to the point.
“It seems they heard the commotion and came seeking opportunities,” Meng Qi wasn’t particularly concerned about the White Hair imposters, knowing that under Moonlight Bodhisattva’s protection, they couldn’t cause any real trouble.
Seeing Meng Qi so confident and concise, Su Wuming shifted topics, “Although your paths are unique and do not seek past lives, if you find your past selves and observe their interactions with the River of Time, the connections formed can serve as references for leaving your own imprints and forging connections.”
Only when discussing cultivation did his speech become slightly more detailed.
Meng Qi glanced at Master Lu, smiling self-deprecatingly, “My past life is unique, likely not existing in the Mid-Ancient Era. Senior Lu and Senior He Qi might want to try instead.”
As an Earthling, Meng Qi’s past lives all existed on Earth. Within the Real World, only his “True Self” had past incarnations: Anan’s imprint and Invincible Tyrant. He had encountered both, but due to significant cultivation gaps, he couldn’t discern their interactions with the River of Time or the connections formed. Moreover, his “True Self” past differed from his “Self” past, requiring gradual progress, starting with leaving a legend in the Mid-Ancient Era.
After saying this, he changed the topic, “However, let’s not rush into seeking past lives. Besides Yun He Zhenren, our side is mostly assembled. We can now meet with the Dharma Bodies from the Seven Seas and Twenty-Eight Worlds to discuss returning.”
…
The next day, in the Feixian Valley southwest of Luo City.
“Red Emperor” Sun Chuci, “Immortal Elder Never-Aging” Zhongli Mei, “Seven Seas Immortal Lord” Xun Yin, and other Dharma Bodies from the Seven Seas and Twenty-Eight Worlds quietly arrived. Just after passing through the breathtaking scenery of swirling clouds and radiant mists, they saw Meng Qi in his green robe standing with his hands clasped behind his back, Su Wuming—whose presence was as elusive as a sword in one’s palm—Master Lu, who perpetually exuded an aura of unparalleled uniqueness, He Qi, whose eyes concealed formless sword intent, and Gao Lan, clad in resplendent yellow imperial robes, seated loftily upon a rock overlooking the valley.
An invisible aura spread, causing the Seven Seas Immortal Lord and the others to grow increasingly cautious as they landed opposite them.
“Daoist friend Su, did you summon us here to discuss returning?” Xun Yin, the Seven Seas Immortal Lord, spoke first, directly addressing Meng Qi. Among the Seven Seas and Twenty-Eight Worlds, he ranked just below Hunyuan Fairy and alongside Tai Xuan Tianzi, one of the Four Marvels.
Meng Qi smiled, “We’ve already found the method to return. Whether you’re willing to cooperate depends on you.”
As he spoke, the Dao Yi Glazed Lamp manifested in his eyes, meticulously examining the other party to confirm that no White Hair impostors had slipped in.
“Found the method to return?” Xun Yin, Zhongli Mei, and others exchanged astonished glances. Returning to the Mid-Ancient Era already exceeded their comprehension, feeling almost unbelievable. Yet the present Su Meng and his companions had found the return method so quickly? Shouldn’t this be the domain of Cosmic Perfection or even Shore-level experts?
After the Dao Yi Lamp disappeared and confirming no White Hair imposters had infiltrated, Meng Qi heard Sun Chuci’s question but deliberately didn’t answer, instead asking, “Have you seen any other Daoist friends?”
Suppressing his anxious and puzzled excitement, Xun Yin hesitated slightly before replying, “‘Chaotic Golden Immortal’ Qin Yue seems to have followed the Peacock Demon King. He once tried to recruit me, saying they would head to the Eastern Sea, returning through the Demon Emperor Hall and Demon Saint Spear.”
“It’s normal for Qin Yue and other Dharma Bodies to follow Tai Li since he possesses the antidote to the Nine Transmutations Li Xuan Pill,” Meng Qi nodded, “I’m just surprised they could return through the Demon Emperor Hall.”
“By the way, according to the Peacock Demon King, that nagging fate-obsessed Daoist didn’t come to the Mid-Ancient Era. It’s quite strange,” Xun Yin added.
The Fate Daoist hadn’t been sent to the Middle Ages? Meng Qi pondered silently. He now understood that he had been specially dispatched by the Green Emperor, while most others were merely manipulated by the Virtue Tianzun—mostly serving as diversions. The Fate Daoist’s absence must have been because he wasn’t sent in the first place. His origins likely traced back to the Ask-Body Sect, one of the Six Heretical Masters, whose founding ancestor once sought the Dao alongside the Buddha but later diverged due to philosophical differences. Their lineage was ancient and seldom interfered in worldly affairs. Perhaps the Virtue Tianzun had shown some courtesy to the Ask-Body Sect, thus sparing the Fate Daoist from involvement?
“Tai Xuan Tianzi and two other Dharma Bodies have become subordinates of your ‘Demon Master,’ apparently having another method to return,” “Red Emperor” Sun Chuci repeated what he had told Meng Qi before.
Meng Qi exchanged glances with Master Lu and others, slightly nodding. “Demon Master” Han Guang indeed had secrets, possibly already connected with the Blade of Time. They would need to be vigilant in the future.
“Have you seen Hunyuan Fairy?” Zhongli Mei, the “Immortal Elder Never-Aging,” asked with concern.
Meng Qi didn’t hide anything, “I encountered Hunyuan Fairy on Jade Emperor Mountain. You should dispatch people to search for her. Hopefully, you can find her soon and not miss the opportunity to return. As for Night Emperor, he has joined the Luo Sect, protected by the Old Mother, so we needn’t worry about him.”
“Good,” Zhongli Mei immediately agreed.
Xun Yin spoke again, “Daoist friend Su, how shall we return?”
Meng Qi smiled, no longer deflecting, “We came to the Mid-Ancient Era due to the residual shockwave from a battle between two mighty beings: Mei Mountain Great Sage Yuan Hong, holding a core fragment of the Donghuang Bell, and the Green Emperor, who still walks among the living.”
“The Green Emperor?” Xun Yin, Zhongli Mei, and others momentarily stirred. Compared to Mei Mountain Great Sage, the Green Emperor’s name was far more renowned—One of the Five Emperors of Antiquity, one of the Nine Daoist Venerables, one of the Three Buddha Worlds, the strongest being below the Shore. This revelation sent tremors through their hearts.
Who would have thought he still walked among the living!
Meng Qi pretended not to notice their emotional shifts, continuing, “My royal elder brother, Gao Lan…”
These five words made Meng Qi feel rather “depressed,” pausing slightly before continuing, “…wields the Human Emperor Sword, heading to Longtai to contact the Human Emperor’s descendants, setting up the Cosmic Light Formation. Only the core power remains to ensure our safe return.”
“The Human Emperor Sword?” Zhongli Mei and others instinctively looked at Gao Lan, staring at the Human Emperor Golden Sword in his hand, their gazes filled with shock.
Actually the Human Emperor Sword?
The Seven Seas and Twenty-Eight Realms were divided after the Great Demon Chaos, so they were no strangers to the Human Emperor or this sword, drenched in the blood of immortals, demons, and deities—unmatched in power.
Who would have thought it had reappeared? Who would have thought another faction within the Real World could attain such fortune, surpassing them all!
Meng Qi coughed slightly, speaking calmly, “And I traveled to the Eastern Lapis World, meeting Moonlight Bodhisattva, paying respects to Bhaisajya-Raja Buddha’s relics, gaining some opportunities, and obtaining a Lapis Amulet, which can serve as the core power for the Cosmic Light Formation.”
“Beginning with the Green Emperor, concluding with Bhaisajya-Raja Buddha, the Dao of Karma unfolds thus.”
He opened his palm, revealing an azure, translucent amulet radiating a hazy glow.
Xun Yin and others listened as if hearing a myth. The Eastern Lapis World, Bhaisajya-Raja Buddha, Moonlight Bodhisattva—all existed only in Buddhist scriptures and ancient records. Who would have thought Su Meng could find them, enter those realms, and converse casually with mythological figures!
“Preparations for returning are complete, only needing to settle the remaining matters…” Meng Qi explained the potential historical changes, concluding, “Please rebuild a tomb for Master Chunyang near Luo City to maintain historical continuity. It must be kept secret.”
“No problem,” “Red Emperor” Sun Chuci immediately agreed.
How could one expect to return by riding on others’ light without making some contribution?
After detailed discussions, “Immortal Elder Never-Aging” Zhongli Mei suddenly asked in confusion, “Daoist friend Su, what have you been doing during this period?”
Meng Qi smiled slightly, “We have other important matters.”
Master Lu and He Qi searched for their past lives, while he, Su Wuming, and Gao Lan awaited Moonlight Bodhisattva’s message. As soon as Guld and Su Daji moved away from the Tyrant, they would strike!
…
During the waiting period, Meng Qi followed the predetermined plan to visit the Ink Palace, seeking guidance from the Master of Artificers regarding the “Multiversal Insight Sphere.”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage