Chapter 1017: A Chance Encounter?

“Go back?” Meng Qi pretended to be confused and replied through voice transmission.

Could it be that Zhuo Bitin knew he was from the future?

After experiencing so much, Meng Qi was no longer the kind of person who would expose his weaknesses at the mere utterance of another. Who knew what Zhuo Bitin actually meant by “go back”? Returning to the hometown of emptiness or the arms of one’s mother could also be called “going back”!

Therefore, it was very likely that Zhuo Bitin was merely proselytizing, trying to recruit a Dharma Body not yet aligned with any faction. There was no need to be overly alarmed.

Yet, thinking about Wu Sheng Laomu behind Zhuo Bitin, the ancient Golden Emperor, one of the Five Emperors of antiquity, and very likely a figure from the other shore, Meng Qi felt it couldn’t be that simple.

Zhuo Bitin slowed her pace, passing Meng Qi as her voice carried a clear tone of piety and reverence: “Your arrival here was due to the aftershock of the collision between the core of the Green Emperor and the Dong Huang Bell. Laomu also awakened slightly and bestowed a bit of divine might to assist the latter. Do you think she wouldn’t know of your plight?”

The collision between the Green Emperor and the Dong Huang Bell’s core? Wu Sheng Laomu’s involvement? Suddenly, Meng Qi had an epiphany, recalling the divine light descending from the sky and the gathering of willpower he saw before falling into slumber induced by green light, as if a celestial realm had opened its gates.

So that was the power of Wu Sheng Laomu!

So the bell sound he originally heard came from the Dong Huang Bell’s core, which had fallen into the hands of Mei Shan Da Sheng Yuan Hong!

And their enemy turned out to be the Green Emperor, the very one Lu Ya wanted him to seek out!

He actually roamed the world directly, without entering chaos to slumber, leaving only a Dao marker, nor did he bury himself to avoid the erosion of time. Just this ability alone was breathtaking, like the only deity walking among mortals during the final days of the Dharma. What level of cultivation had he reached now?

“What exactly are you trying to say?” Meng Qi asked bluntly.

More accurately, what did Wu Sheng Laomu want to say?

Zhuo Bitin walked slowly toward the gate, surrounded by holy radiance, solemnly transmitting: “Laomu awakened slightly before her true return due to the Green Emperor, which consumed some of her strength. She needs to replenish it to ensure her full power when the great calamity erupts completely. Therefore, she needs you to do something for her. Then, protecting you back to the future will be a trivial matter, costing nothing.”

“Wu Sheng Laomu is one of the few great figures in the world, with numerous allies and the Luojiao sect under her, filled with talents. Why must this task be done by me?” Meng Qi asked while casually exchanging greetings with Qiu Han, the master of the Ink Palace here.

Zhuo Bitin answered solemnly: “It’s not necessarily you, but because of your connection to the Demon Buddha, Laomu wishes to help you, to discard past grievances and turn conflict into peace. This is your honor and fortune. In today’s world, the only one capable and willing to help you is Laomu. The task she asks you to do is not very dangerous, and I can tell you about it right now.”

Her voice was calm, filled with certainty, as if offering such favorable cooperation was practically a gift.

Meng Qi’s expression changed several times before a faint smile appeared on his face, his voice carrying a hint of weariness:

“I refuse.”

“You refuse?” Zhuo Bitin halted in her steps, her tone filled with shock and disbelief.

Someone actually refused the goodwill of one of the few great figures in the world!

Such goodwill was something others could only dream of, requiring thousands of years of sitting before the Buddha and countless wooden fish to attain!

And he hadn’t even heard the conditions!

Was he mad?

Forgetting that Qiu Han was still there, Zhuo Bitin turned around, transmitting in a voice no longer calm and serene: “Think carefully. If you miss this chance, even if you are cautious, the accumulating forces of correction will grow with time. Within a year or so, you will have to return, and without protection, you will be torn to dust by the erosion of the river of time.”

“I still choose to refuse.” Meng Qi maintained his smile, his tone unwavering.

Zhuo Bitin’s voice turned bewildered and anxious: “You won’t even hear what the task is before making a decision?”

“No matter what the task is, I refuse, because she is Wu Sheng Laomu, and because there is a girl named Gu Xiaosang.” Meng Qi still smiled, as if he had already forgotten pain, sorrow, and hatred. “I know the best and most rational choice would be to feign cooperation temporarily, setting aside other matters to work together until returning to the future and then turning against her.”

He paused: “But I can’t do it. I know this choice seems foolish, but I’d rather be foolish. Some grudges are irreconcilable, let alone cooperation.”

Zhuo Bitin’s holy and serene demeanor seemed to falter slightly: “Aren’t you afraid of death? If your hatred makes you fearless of death, what about others? Don’t you care about others, your companions, your seniors and brothers?”

Meng Qi smiled: “If they wish to cooperate with Wu Sheng Laomu, I won’t stop or resent them. I can risk my life for them, but I won’t compromise my heart for them.”

“Some people can be killed, but never conquered.”

Zhuo Bitin shook her head in bewilderment, murmuring: “Madman, you’re a madman.”

Meng Qi was unfazed, smiling as he looked at her: “Losing your holy and solemn appearance, you now have a bit more of a living presence. But in the future, when you can’t control your emotions, just smile. If you were about to lose control and laugh, then get angry instead. Don’t let your joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness be directly exposed to your enemies.”

What exactly was he saying? Zhuo Bitin was filled with confusion, barely regaining her composure after a while, pursing her lips and returning to seriousness: “I believe you will regret this.”

Having said that, she turned and left, her steps much larger than before, her maid following closely behind, frequently glancing back in puzzlement at why the holy maiden was so discomposed.

Meng Qi withdrew his gaze, looking at Qiu Han, who had long been silent, and smiled: “Master Qiu, if I wish to visit the Artisan Sage, to whom should I submit my visiting card?”

“Just give it to this old man; the Artisan Sage should not refuse your request, Master Su.” Qiu Han wisely avoided mentioning the previous matter.

“I have to go out for a while. I’ll come back here to submit my visiting card.” After saying this, Meng Qi turned to ask, “Why did the Luojiao Holy Maiden suddenly appear at the Ink Palace?”

Qiu Han chuckled: “The Luojiao wanted to exchange something with the Ink Palace. She had just arrived when you came.”

So Zhuo Bitin had been waiting for him… Meng Qi nodded thoughtfully before discussing mechanisms and crafting with Qiu Han.

…

An hour later, Meng Qi left the flower hall and returned to the area set up with numerous teleportation formations.

Before him, light flashed and dimmed constantly. Each time it lit up or faded, it brought various goods, letters, or martial artists capable of enduring the teleportation force.

After finding the teleportation formation near the Zhenwu Secret Treasury, Meng Qi was about to step in when he suddenly saw the adjacent formation flash brightly, a figure quickly emerging directly out of the light without waiting for it to fade.

This was an elderly man with a tall hat and ancient robes, his silver hair like snow, his eyes carrying the wisdom of years.

Meng Qi had seen this person before, and sensed his aura.

Shu Sheng? Meng Qi was slightly surprised. Had Shu Sheng arrived at Luo City only after the incident where the Sages surrounded him?

The old man was indeed the ancestor of the Wang family, the “Shu Sheng” Wang Daolin, who had died under Ananda’s blade, leaving behind the family motto: “Don’t calculate everything, don’t do things to the extreme, don’t say everything.”

Shu Sheng noticed Meng Qi’s gaze, turning his head with a smile and nod: “Could it be the young Su Meng, who subdued five sects with a single sword?”

Hmph, indeed a charlatan… Meng Qi bowed his hand: “It is indeed this junior. Why is Shu Sheng so late?”

“An old man was delayed by other matters. I didn’t expect to completely miss the capture of the Supreme Heaven Demon.” Shu Sheng replied with a smile.

Meng Qi’s mind stirred, and he smiled faintly: “This junior thought Shu Sheng had deduced that the Overlord was involved and considered it unnecessary to confront him directly, so you deliberately made an excuse to arrive late.”

Shu Sheng raised his right hand, shaking his index finger: “You seem to understand this old man quite well.”

He admitted openly, narrowing his eyes: “Your heavenly fate is in chaos; this old man can’t see anything.”

“There are special circumstances.” Meng Qi humbly replied.

Shu Sheng didn’t press further, sighing: “Since I’m already late, this old man has other matters and won’t enter Luo City.”

He glanced around, choosing another long-distance teleportation formation, nodding to Meng Qi in farewell, preparing to leave.

Meng Qi glanced at that teleportation formation, his heart suddenly stirred, frowning as he asked: “Where is Shu Sheng heading?”

Shu Sheng turned his head, half-smiling: “Jade Emperor Mountain.”

…

Somewhere in Luo City.

The pale-faced Demon Sword Heaven King stood by the window, as someone behind him reported:

“Su Meng’s whereabouts are unknown; even He Qi is missing.”

The Demon Sword Heaven King said indifferently: “Continue searching. Absolutely do not allow such a promising swordsman to grow.”