Chapter 274

The two of them recuperated overnight. Xie Bi An's spiritual power recovered slightly, while Fan Wu She’s loss was much greater than his. He just braced himself with difficulty, but they still arrived in Jingzhou as fast as they could.

The Chunyang Sect in Jingzhou, which once represented self-respect, purity, and orthodoxy, was a treasure land that attracted countless cultivators from all over the world. It made Xie Bi An’s heart fill with sadness at this time. First, he thought of the big brother he once respected the most when he was a teenager, who turned out to be a two-faced person and did all kinds of evil. Second, he thought of Lan Chui Han spending his childhood here. From a weak and sick child to a famous, lively, and elegant young master, to him finally disappearing into the boiling lava of the infernal hell. Just the words "Luojinwu" already hurt his heart.

"Big brother, you're thinking of Lan Chui Han, right?" Fan Wu She glanced at Xie Bi An and saw that his eyes were frozen with inextricable sorrow.

"He abandoned everything in this life for Jiang Qu Lian." Xie Bi An deeply knitted his eyebrows, "How can he..." Once his words were spoken, they would certainly be filled with resentment, so he held back, but he couldn't bear the resentment and pain in his chest. He hated Jiang Qu Lian very much. He hated Jiang Qu Lian for killing his master, Lan Chui Han, and so many innocent people. But Lan Chui Han died with him. He couldn't forget it for a lifetime. 

"Big brother, this is their own choice. Lan Chui Han did this, so that must be the best ending he could think of."

"'The best ending'......"

"Yes, Jiang Qu Lian's sins are irredeemable. If he was thrown into the Hell Path, he would suffer infinite torture forever. It’s all over now. The Jiang Qu Lian we saw was just a fierce ghost, but in Lan Chui Han’s eyes......" Fan Wu She sighed lightly, "Lan Chui Han had seen his former appearance, so he couldn’t let go."

Xie Bi An was silent and his chest was clogged. How much power did the word "love" have that could make people go crazy? On the contrary, he and Fan Wu She could not step over this barrier. If it was him, what better choice would he have?

During the conversation, the two entered Jingzhou City. It looked depressing and quiet. All the merchants and houses were closed. Not to mention the people in the street, they couldn't even see a few dogs guarding the houses. Jingzhou used to be so prosperous and lively, but now it seemed to be drained of its soul by some demon. This kind of Jingzhou was not surprising to them. Fumenghui, Fengdu city, and Lanxi Town, which one didn’t use to be bustling and crowded?

The immortal cultivation world really seemed to be exhausted. Even if Jiang Qu Lian had died and Xu Zhi Nan had been defeated, who would be able to reorganize the flags and drums*, lead the immortal cultivation world to establish a new order, eliminate the lonely souls and wild ghosts who fled to all parts of Jiuzhou, and return a peaceful and happy human realm to the people in this devastating mess?

Everything made people feel despair.

When they arrived at Luojinwu, unsurprisingly, Xu Zhi Nan was already waiting in front of the monastery. There were many elders and cultivators of Chunyang Sect standing beside him, but there was no sign of his disciple*, Zhao Wen.

The current Xu Zhi Nan has a young and handsome body that belonged to his senior brother Cheng Yan Zhi. Cheng Yan Zhi was already a high-ranking cultivator before he was injured. Even if the refinery of his body was far less than Xu Zhi Nan, who was a generation of immortals at his peak, he’s also a bronze wall*. In addition, Song Chun Gui’s human core helped them fully integrate their soul and flesh and healed Cheng Yan Zhi's injuries. He also had a double armor of ice crystals and the Golden Carved Jade Suit. The strength of this body was beyond everyone's imagination. Even if Zhong Kui was still alive, he probably would not have the confidence to break it with one blow. 

Xie Bi An looked at that familiar and unfamiliar face, and found a few scenes related to Cheng Yan Zhi in his vague memory. In his impression of him, he was a quiet but very reliable man, and had great respect for his senior brother. He was young yet talented and definitely had great prospects in the future. Unfortunately, his fate was unfavorable, and he fell into Lu Zhao Feng’s trap. Not only was he seriously injured by the Thunderfire Stones, but his golden core was also dug out and taken away, and he became a living dead man who needed a magical treasure to hang onto his breath. Finally, he was used by Xu Zhi Nan. He still didn’t know the true face of his senior brother until he died, and also misunderstood his beloved woman. His body was seized by Xu Zhi Nan and became a vessel for his rejuvenation.

What a tragic life.

Xu Zhi Nan saw the duo. Although he looked calm on the surface, his body had already entered a defensive state. His muscles were tensed from head to toe, and his eyes were fixed at the duo, eyeing on their every move.

"Xu Zhi Nan, you finally got what you wanted." Xie Bi An said coldly, "What’s next? Who else do you want to harm and what evil do you want to do?"

"Naturally, I will do what I should do as the leader of my Chunyang Sect; to carry my sect forward and mold a foundation for the ages to come." Xu Zhi Nan said.

"How can you face your disciples?" Xie Bi An gritted his teeth, "You not only violated Chunyang Sect’s doctrine and lost the heart of Dao, but also lost your humanity."

"Zi Heng, it's already meaningless for you to say this." Xu Zhi Nan said calmly, "The law of the jungle* is the real rule for the operation of the three realms. Otherwise, why can celestial beings enjoy Jiutian and immortality exclusively, and we have to suffer from reincarnation repeatedly? I have lived for more than 100 years and have changed into three bodies. What doctrine and heart of Dao? I’ve figured out some things, and I no longer cared about other things.”

"As cultivators, we must first cultivate our heart and virtues, yet you have lost your heart and virtue. You have completely lost yourself in the path to immortality, and you still think that you can convince the world by force?!"

"Heh, what else did you expect?" Xu Zhi Nan looked around, "When you appear before me, that means Jiang Qu Lian was defeated, but you look so weak. What are you going to use to defeat me? Is it the Shanhe Sheji Map that will empty your spiritual power, or the Heavenly Secret Talisman that could backfire on him at any time? I am the top of the mountain, and the mountains can only take me as the peak. If I tell you how to cultivate this path, then you will cultivate it in that way."

"You are absolutely wrong." Xie Bi An said sternly, "Those who do not have justice on their side will get little help. No one will sincerely follow you. No one will really help you build an eternal foundation. Where are all the people who were once willing to trust, follow, and help you? Cheng Yan Zhi's body is occupied by you. What about your first disciple Zhao Wen? Where's Qi Meng Sheng?"

Xu Zhi Nan snorted coldly, "Zhao Wen is a mediocre waste. How can I be willing to hand over this huge foundation to a mediocre person? If I have one useful disciple among my disciples, perhaps I wouldn't be so obsessed. As for Qi Meng Sheng......" The expression in his eyes slightly changed. Like a spark in the endless snow plain, there was a trace of warmth. He said, "She is a smart person and will naturally make a wise choice, right?"

A graceful figure came out from behind a group of tall Chunyang Sect’s cultivators. It was Hua Xiang Rong who was abducted by Jiang Qu Lian in Lanxi Town, but as they expected, the insides of Hua Xiang Rong had been replaced by Qi Meng Sheng.

Qi Meng Sheng's eyes were cold and empty as if they couldn’t be filled even if the whole world was thrown into them.

"Qi Meng Sheng......" Xie Bi An took a deep breath, "We are more or less considered as old friends. Long time no see."

Fan Wu She narrowed his eyes slightly, looked at Qi Meng Sheng with fixed eyes, and said mockingly, "You dared to fight with me in the beginning, but now you succumbed to such a nondescript thing."

Qi Meng Sheng silently swept a glance at Fan Wu She, then looked at Xie Bi An, and then averted her gaze. That look should not be attributed to mere evasion, but ---- she had nothing to say.

For more than 100 years, everything had changed, and the sea had turned into mulberry fields. Who could have imagined that they would be reunited in such a way a hundred years later under the chaos of that time?

The most ironic thing about this was that they were back in the same predicament they were in back then, with no progress, and even worse than a hundred years ago. In this situation, there was really nothing to say.

Xu Zhi Nan naturally took Qi Meng Sheng's hand and revealed a proud smile that could not be concealed: "Thanks to Song Zhen Ren’s core, he’s worthy of being the reincarnation of the Human Emperor. Not only did it heal all the injuries of this physical body, including the golden core that was dug out and taken away, but also helped me to break through the highest state of the Chunyang Sect --- the Indestructible Heavenly Fire. I no longer have to be restricted by the Chunyang Technique anymore. I can leave my own offspring and pass on the Chunyang Sect of my Xu family to generations after generations. Hahahahaha---"

----

PS: XZN is disGUUUUSTing…

reorganize the flags and drums* [重振旗鼓]---correct Chinese word is supposed to be 重整旗鼓. This means: to regroup after a setback / to prepare for new initiatives / to attempt a comeback

disciple* [入室弟子]--- one who learns an art directly from a master

bronze wall* [铜墙铁壁]--- a wall of bronze or iron means impenetrable defense. He’s very strong

The law of the jungle* [弱肉强食]--- The weak will stand as easy prey to the strong/The big fish eat up the small ones

 

Edited on 5 Aug. 21 (Emzie)

 

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