The immortal ship blocked the sun, casting the bustling market into shadow. Meng Qi watched as Gao Lan flew into the city, welcomed by experts from the Luo City government and the Ink Palace. He did not approach to greet them but silently noted the approximate location, deciding to inquire about the exact address later.
He had recently embarrassed the Overlord and incurred the wrath of the Evil Sect, dragging along Senior He Qi in the process. This was precisely the time for discretion and concealment. Having already altered his appearance and aura, how could he now act brazenly? Even though Jue Dao was a hidden ally, it was highly unlikely that the Overlord and Meng Qi would ever meet again. However, should the Overlord arrive in Luo City, it would greatly hinder Meng Qi’s efforts to connect with his “fellow countrymen.”
Shaking his head, Meng Qi turned and walked away, blending into the crowd, searching for familiar faces.
After turning from the long street into a side alley, Meng Qi suddenly brightened as he spotted a Dharma Body dressed in a crimson robe. The man exuded a radiant aura, like sunlight itself—it was Sun Chuci, the “Red Emperor” of the Seven Seas and Twenty-Eight Realms!
…
Sun Chuci strolled leisurely down the street, hands clasped behind his back, casually observing his surroundings. Having arrived in Luo City only the day before, he was still surveying the area to avoid any traps, so he wasn’t in a rush to seek out Su Meng.
Paintings and calligraphy stalls, silver trinkets, and various roughly crafted mechanical artifacts—Sun Chuci enjoyed the ancient atmosphere. Suddenly, he halted mid-step, instinctively turning his gaze toward the street corner where a fortune-teller sat. The old man had snow-white hair, wore a long yellow robe, and exuded an aura of ethereal wisdom. His eyes were half-closed, his long beard flowing gently in the breeze. In his hand was a banner bearing two lines of prophecy: “Before the Human Emperor, I dare not speak; of future events, seven parts are certain.”
What a bold claim! Did it mean he knew everything that happened before the Human Emperor and could predict all future events with accuracy? As a Dharma Body expert, Sun Chuci merely smiled at this, ready to continue walking, when his gaze suddenly fixed on the divination stick in front of the fortune-teller.
Inside the stick container was only one wooden stick. Within it swirled earth, fire, wind, and water—wild and chaotic at first, then gradually forming order, as if a miniature world were being created.
This… Sun Chuci felt a stirring in his heart. He approached solemnly and asked, “What kind of divination is this?”
“The first divination of the world’s creation, from which earth, fire, wind, and water were born,” the fortune-teller replied with a smile.
Sun Chuci dared not treat it lightly. After a moment’s thought, he asked, “Can this divination predict matters concerning me?”
The fortune-teller picked up the stick container and gave it a gentle shake. The previously calming elements of earth, fire, wind, and water surged again, swirling in red, green, white, and black—a beautiful yet dangerous sight.
The container tilted, and the elements vanished. The wooden stick fell out, now bearing a line of prophecy:
“In several ten thousand years, there will be a red sun.”
“In several ten thousand years, there will be a red sun?” A buzzing filled Sun Chuci’s mind. Instinctively, he extended his spiritual awareness to shield the prophecy from others.
Could this man actually have divined that he came from tens of thousands of years in the future?
“Hehe, Brother Sun, please don’t mind. I’m Su Meng. Just a little joke,” the fortune-teller whispered into Sun Chuci’s ear.
Sun Chuci was first startled, then exhaled in amusement. “Brother Su, you truly enjoy playing in the mortal world.”
“I couldn’t reveal my aura or appearance, so I had to resort to this,” Meng Qi replied with a smile.
Though not the only way, Meng Qi clearly enjoyed such methods, Sun Chuci thought wryly before responding telepathically, “Brother Su, is there something important you wish to discuss?”
“We are stranded in this ancient era, far from home, facing countless dangers. Only by uniting our wisdom and strength might we find a safe way back. Therefore, I subdued five sects with a single sword and spread my name far and wide, all to draw you and the others here for a grand strategy,” Meng Qi explained candidly.
Sun Chuci nodded slightly. “That is indeed wise. Where are the others now?”
“I’ve incurred the wrath of the Evil Sect and the Overlord, so this matter must be handled with utmost secrecy. I ask you, Brother Sun, to help contact those you’ve met before and await our reunion,” Meng Qi said.
Incurring the wrath of the Evil Sect was one thing, but to also anger the Overlord and still remain free and unharmed? Sun Chuci had spent some time in this ancient era and had come to understand the Overlord—a peerless Heavenly Immortal, the most likely to ascend to the rank of legend. Offending him was practically a death sentence!
Sun Chuci inwardly marveled but agreed to help contact the others he had met. Then he frowned slightly. “Earlier, I encountered ‘Tai Xuan Tianzi’ Song Jianjia. Even someone as proud as she has submitted to the ‘Demon Sage’ you know. Brother Su, be extremely cautious if you meet her.”
Meng Qi inhaled deeply, silently acknowledging the warning before thanking Sun Chuci. They then agreed on a method of communication and parted ways.
…
Late at night, Meng Qi appeared at the northern inn of the city, where Gao Lan was staying.
The courtyard was deep, the buildings numerous. Protective enchantments were partially activated, and various mechanical devices and guards from the Human Emperor’s lineage were scattered throughout. Yet none of this posed any difficulty for Meng Qi. He moved with ease, as if entering an empty space, and reached the “Myriad Splendor Pavilion,” where Gao Lan resided.
Returning to his original appearance, Meng Qi straightened his green robe and leisurely walked toward the door, gently knocking.
With a creak, the door opened. Gao Lan sat behind a desk by the window, dressed in a bright yellow robe. On the table before him were two jars of wine.
“You’re here,” Gao Lan said, his gaze deep and unfathomable, nodding slightly in greeting.
Meng Qi smiled as he walked over. “Brother, you knew I’d come?”
“Call me Imperial Brother,” Gao Lan corrected sternly.
“Haha,” Meng Qi chuckled. “Imperial Brother, you knew I’d come?”
Gao Lan’s expression softened slightly. “You’ve been making quite a spectacle in Luo City. Wasn’t it all to spread your name and draw me here?”
“Imperial Brother, as always, perceptive beyond measure,” Meng Qi, thick-skinned as ever, praised as he took a seat opposite Gao Lan.
Gao Lan pointed at the two jars of wine on the table, a faint smile appearing. “‘Drunk Immortal’ wine. Our brotherhood was largely thanks to it. Now that we’ve come across two rare thousand-year-old jars, let’s share them together.”
“Imperial Brother, where did you get this from?” Meng Qi asked with interest.
“The descendants of the Human Emperor,” Gao Lan replied with a slight smile, exuding imperial pride and restraint.
Meng Qi clicked his tongue. “With the Human Emperor’s Sword, the descendants of the Human Emperor naturally bow in submission. Truly enviable.”
Gao Lan broke the seal on the jar, and wine poured forth like a spring into their bowls. He continued, “One must do something meaningful upon arriving in this ancient era.”
“Brother, what have you done?” Meng Qi asked casually after taking a sip.
Gao Lan replied calmly, “I found my past life and left some marks.”
“My past life? Marks?” Meng Qi was puzzled.
“Whether or not I can become the Human Emperor or reach the other shore in the future, having chosen this path, I must do my utmost. When the opportunity arises, I must be prepared. Since I was fortunate enough to return to this ancient era using the power of the Green Emperor’s Sword and the Donghuang Bell’s collision, naturally I must seek out my past life and leave historical marks, laying the foundation for the future passage to trace back through time.”
As he spoke, Gao Lan exuded the bearing of a king surveying his domain.
Meng Qi listened in astonishment, momentarily lost in thought.
Laying the foundation for the future passage to trace back through time… Brother and Han Guang were indeed alike—both men of grand vision, true emperors and heroes, no wonder they were once equals, shining side by side as the twin stars of their age.
Compared to them, he was clearly better suited to the image of a reclusive sage…
As Meng Qi indulged in such shameless thoughts, Gao Lan continued, “Then I found the descendants of the Human Emperor and, with their help, set up a grand formation. As long as we find the core power, it will protect us and allow us to return safely to the future. As a reward, I advised them to divide their bloodline and go into hiding, to re-emerge as the descendants of the Human Emperor tens of thousands of years later, surviving the chaos of the Demon Buddha.”
“Brother, Imperial Brother, aren’t you afraid of the forces of correction? Aren’t you afraid of being cast back to the future?” Meng Qi asked in astonishment.
Gao Lan took a sip of wine, looked at him calmly, and said, “I have the Human Emperor’s Sword.”
“If even Gourdo isn’t afraid, why should I worry?”
This… Meng Qi was momentarily at a loss for words. Indeed, this was a brother brimming with reckless confidence.
Thinking thus, he asked curiously, “Imperial Brother, you know about Gourdo?”
“The memories from Pure Yang Sect and Chong He were blurred, then clarified again. If I couldn’t figure out what happened, I’d deserve to die,” Gao Lan’s gaze turned deep and unfathomable.
Meng Qi sighed, “Unfortunately, Imperial Brother, you couldn’t go to help. Otherwise, things would have been much easier.”
“I guessed what Gourdo would do, but I wanted him to try,” Gao Lan’s voice suddenly turned low and hoarse.
Meng Qi stared in shock, seeing the darkness in Gao Lan’s eyes, deep within which lay a hint of pain.
Without Pure Yang Sect and Chong He, would Yan Ran have survived back then?
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