“Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan, how do you believe one can break this predestination?”
Lu Xuan offered a faint smile, turning the question back on him. “What do you think?”
Chen Changsheng gazed outside the thatched hut, watching the fine rain fall and merge into tiny rivulets on the ground. He pondered for a moment. “If the heavenly rain falls and gathers into a stream, the destiny changes, and one seeks life from death. What is your opinion, Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan?”
Lu Xuan chuckled. “Your vision is too limited.”
Chen Changsheng froze, then cupped his hands respectfully. “Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan, what profound insight do you possess?”
Lu Xuan replied, “Rain flowing into a stream is merely a fleeting reprieve, a gasp for survival. Rain flowing into a great river, surging across the earth, offers a truly enduring time.”
Chen Changsheng’s eyes lit up, as if struck by enlightenment. “A river, though long, eventually reaches its end and can run dry. Look at the Great Emperors of the Southern Wilds; the long River of Time has seen countless rivers dry up, eventually vanishing from the land. The heavenly rain must flow into the vast ocean to truly break predestination! That is the path to Longevity.”
Lu Xuan remained silent.
Chen Changsheng, however, was immensely satisfied. “Listening to your words, Fellow Daoist, is worth a thousand years of cultivation.”
Though they spoke of rain, rivers, and the ocean, they were truly discussing the Dao of Life and Death and the Dao of Longevity. If an ordinary person failed to grasp the depth, it simply meant their own Dao was too shallow.
It was then that Lu Xuan slowly shook his head. “Still too limited.”
Chen Changsheng was speechless.
Lu Xuan continued, “The ocean is vast, but even the great seas turn into fields of mulberry. The passage of time is cruel; one day, the ocean will also wither and die.”
Chen Changsheng felt his mind go blank. “Then how can one achieve true Longevity?”
Lu Xuan said, “The Dao of Longevity is the power of time itself. Look at the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone; many Great Emperors fight against the power of time, refusing to die, refusing to be reborn, and thus they become tainted by Ominous Power. Only by standing outside of time, transcending the River of Time, can one achieve Longevity.”
Chen Changsheng was stunned. “The River of Time?” Was such a thing truly real?
Lu Xuan’s gaze was deep and mysterious, like that of a transcendent magnate. He spoke casually, “I came from the River of Time. The one you see is merely a clone.”
Chen Changsheng felt his scalp prickle. It was common knowledge that above the Great Emperor realm was the Supreme Realm. But what lay beyond the Supreme Realm?
Chen Changsheng asked, “Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan, what is beyond the Supreme Realm?”
Lu Xuan looked utterly mysterious. “Telling you is meaningless. You are too far off.”
Chen Changsheng felt a wave of frustration. Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan was becoming more mysterious by the second.
“What does the River of Time look like?” Chen Changsheng asked.
Lu Xuan’s eyes sparkled with starlight, as if the River of Time itself was reflected in their depths, making him seem profoundly enigmatic. Lu Xuan spoke slowly, “The River of Time is formless yet has form, traceless yet leaves traces. You have not transcended; even if I told you, you could not comprehend it.”
Chen Changsheng was utterly overwhelmed. Everything Lu Xuan said transcended his knowledge of the Southern Wilds’ cultivation system. He immediately fell into deep contemplation.
This contemplation lasted half a day. Lu Xuan, meanwhile, lay down beside him and fell asleep.
Half a day later, Chen Changsheng slowly opened his eyes, only to see Lu Xuan sleeping soundly. He had no defenses whatsoever, even turning his back to Chen Changsheng.
Chen Changsheng’s pupils contracted. He realized that Lu Xuan, at this moment, appeared like a mere mortal. All traces of cultivation had vanished, yet his body was perfectly aligned with the Heavenly Dao, as if he had already achieved transcendence.
This is the state I have been pursuing all this time! Chen Changsheng thought.
Moreover, he sensed the profound ‘Dao and Essence’ of being one with the Heavenly Dao emanating from Lu Xuan. In an instant, Lu Xuan’s status in his heart soared even higher.
Chen Changsheng watched Lu Xuan sleep, meticulously savoring every word the man had spoken. He felt the insights were too profound, too subtle. There was a feeling of he said something, but also nothing at all.
But Chen Changsheng decided this was not Lu Xuan’s fault; it was his own lack of comprehension.
Lu Xuan slept soundly until the next morning. He slowly opened his eyes, looking around in a slight daze. It took him a moment to realize where he was. Right, not Azure Mystery Peak. This is Baiya Prefecture. I actually fell asleep.
Lu Xuan quickly adopted a profound demeanor and began to softly recite a poem.
“Who first perceives the great dream?
In this life, I know myself alone.
Spring slumber fills the thatched hut,
The sun lingers long outside the pane.”
As the words fell, Chen Changsheng frowned slightly. He felt that the poem contained immense, subtle mysteries. Every word and action of Lu Xuan now carried an aura of transcendence.
After a moment, Lu Xuan asked, “Fellow Daoist, where were we?”
Chen Changsheng replied, “The Dao of Life and Death, and the Dao of Longevity.”
Lu Xuan feigned confusion, slightly furrowing his brow. “Fellow Daoist, have you still not grasped it? I once spoke those words to other Fellow Daoists, and they understood instantly.”
Chen Changsheng was stunned. Was I truly that dull?
After a moment of silence, Chen Changsheng bowed respectfully. “Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan, I am too slow-witted. I beg you to discuss the Dao once more.”
Lu Xuan sighed. “Fellow Daoist, it is not that you are slow-witted, but that you have chosen the wrong path.”
Chen Changsheng was puzzled.
Lu Xuan continued, “Do you believe the Martial Emperor Secret Realm and the Bronze Ancient Palace hold the Longevity Opportunity? You are mistaken.”
Chen Changsheng fell into deep thought.
Lu Xuan said, “The Martial Emperor Secret Realm and the Bronze Ancient Palace are merely a great tomb. To seek Longevity within a great tomb—you have chosen the wrong path.”
Chen Changsheng was shocked. “Seeking Longevity in a great tomb!”
Lu Xuan spoke plainly, “All beings in the world can gain experience from failure, but when it comes to Longevity, you must seek wisdom from the living, not the dead. The dead are merely failures on the path to Longevity. The defeated eat dust!”
The defeated eat dust!
Boom! A bolt of lightning seemed to strike Chen Changsheng’s mind. He is right! When seeking Longevity, do not consult the dead!
Chen Changsheng silently repeated the phrase for a moment, then looked at Lu Xuan. “Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan, in your view, how does one attain the Dao of Longevity?”
Lu Xuan’s gaze was profound. He raised a finger and wrote two characters in the air.
“Life!”
“Death!”
After writing them, Lu Xuan looked at Chen Changsheng mysteriously and spoke slowly, “The last stroke of ‘Life’ is the first stroke of ‘Death.’ The last stroke of ‘Death’ is the first stroke of ‘Life.’ This is the cycle of Samsara! Life and death, an endless cycle! Fellow Daoist, you currently stand on the very edge of the realm of life and death.”
The last stroke of ‘Life’ is the first stroke of ‘Death’!
The last stroke of ‘Death’ is the first stroke of ‘Life’!
Chen Changsheng’s body trembled. He was utterly dumbfounded. Had Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan truly seen through his body? He did indeed have a fundamental problem with his physical constitution, a secret involving a terrifying hidden truth of the Southern Wilds. But only he knew about it!
In that moment, Chen Changsheng revealed a flaw, a flicker of shock in his eyes as he looked at Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan smiled faintly, watching Chen Changsheng’s reaction. He knew he had guessed correctly. Since Chen Changsheng was so obsessed with the Dao of Longevity, he must be facing a severe existential problem. A simple probe was all it took to confirm it!
In this Literary Battle, Lu Xuan’s Stance had already completely suppressed Chen Changsheng. Chen Changsheng felt that his most crucial secret had been exposed to Lu Xuan. This entire meeting was a game of chess, and he had already lost half a move.
Chen Changsheng fell back into contemplation.
Lu Xuan smiled, pleased, and asked the System internally, “System, how was my performance?”
The System replied with clear disdain. “You actually managed to pull off the act!”
Lu Xuan smiled faintly. The time had come to lay his cards on the table. The entire discussion was meant to break Chen Changsheng’s mental defenses first. For someone as driven by Willpower as Chen Changsheng, attacking the heart was paramount. If he then subdued him with ‘virtue’—or rather, overwhelming power—Chen Changsheng would have no choice but to submit.
Chen Changsheng finally asked, “Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan, since you have seen the River of Time, how can one achieve Longevity?”
Lu Xuan revealed the smile of one whose true intentions are finally exposed. “Take me as your Master, and you shall achieve Longevity.”
The words dropped like thunder. Chen Changsheng was utterly astonished.
What? Did I hear that correctly? Lu Xuan wants to take me as his disciple?
I treat you as a Fellow Daoist, and you treat me as a disciple?
No wonder Lu Xuan had adopted the posture of a ‘Master’ since they first met. Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan had been discussing the Dao with him as a potential disciple!
This was unacceptable! A massive wave crashed in Chen Changsheng’s heart. He had considered ten thousand possibilities for this meeting, but never once did he imagine Lu Xuan was here to recruit him!
He naturally couldn’t take Lu Xuan as his master. Why? Lu Xuan carried too much Causality, and joining the Grand Dao Sect would only increase that burden tenfold.
Thinking this, Chen Changsheng decided the best strategy was to run away! He immediately activated a Supreme Secret Art, and his true body bolted, executing the escape flawlessly. However, he left behind a Wooden Puppet Clone, which was virtually indistinguishable from his real self, still pretending to be deep in thought. The clone looked at Lu Xuan. “Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan, that is an interesting suggestion. Let me consider it.”
Lu Xuan’s lips curled into a slight smirk. He had activated his Insight Eye long ago, specifically anticipating this move.
He spotted a nearly imperceptible stream of light floating out of the thatched hut and heading toward a hidden location on the nameless mountain range. Chen Changsheng’s true body immediately activated a teleportation array—an Emperor-tier teleportation array!
In a flash, Chen Changsheng’s true body vanished.
Lu Xuan’s face twitched. Seriously? Which cultivator builds an Emperor-tier escape array right at their cultivation spot, ready to run at any moment?
However, Lu Xuan wasn’t worried. The System had already marked Chen Changsheng’s location. He could let Chen Changsheng fly a little longer.
At that moment, the Wooden Puppet Clone asked, “Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan, what are you looking at?”
Lu Xuan smiled faintly. “Old Third, stop acting. Hasn’t your true body already run away?”
Chen Changsheng’s Wooden Puppet Clone froze. How is that possible? How did Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan discover it?
His scalp went numb. For the first time, he felt that someone in the Southern Wilds could genuinely threaten him!
Lu Xuan smiled lightly. “We were discussing the Dao, weren’t we? Since we’ve finished the Literary Battle, let’s move on to the Martial Battle.”
As his voice fell, Lu Xuan crushed the Eight-star Great Emperor Experience Card.
Boom!
Lu Xuan’s cultivation began to surge explosively.
Saint King Realm!
Half-Emperor!
One-star Great Emperor!
...
Eight-star Great Emperor!
The terrifying, absolute Emperor Realm pressure poured out like a tidal wave, crushing the surrounding space. Lu Xuan’s white robe billowed, and brilliant divine light flowed over his body. With every movement, the ‘Dao and Stance’ of a supreme magnate spilled outward.
Lu Xuan took a slow breath. This is Eight-star Great Emperor power! He felt his body filled with overwhelming strength. His internal world was like a vast continent, like a massive star, brimming with boundless power. Indeed, One Star, One World!
Lu Xuan could clearly sense the massive gulf in power between the Seven-star Great Emperor Experience Card and the Eight-star Great Emperor Experience Card!
Seeing this, Chen Changsheng’s Wooden Puppet Clone immediately waved its hand. “Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan, wait!”
Lu Xuan ignored the clone and started walking toward the thatched hut entrance.
Suddenly, the Wooden Puppet Clone swept its sleeve toward Lu Xuan. “Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan, forgive me!”