“Now that Senior Sister is out there, I’m still worried the Heavenly Net Hall will try something insidious!” Chen Changsheng said, his brow furrowed with concern.
Lu Xuan replied calmly, “No worries. I’m keeping an eye on Fuyao.”
But Chen Changsheng’s face remained etched with anxiety. If he were the master, he thought, he would simply seal Ji Fuyao on Azure Mystery Peak and tell her to cultivate in seclusion for five hundred years until the storm passed.
Lu Xuan asked, “How much do you know about the Silent Destruction Sect?”
Chen Changsheng pondered for a moment before answering, “The Silent Destruction Sect has existed for an extremely long time, and its Old Ancestor, the Silent Destruction Old Man, is a truly ruthless figure. Back then, he was a Nine-star Great Emperor Late-stage Great Perfection, but his lifespan was running out, and he was tainted by Ominous Power. Since he didn't have any Ancient Great Medicine to extend his life, he was forced to hide in the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone.
“But he didn't go alone. He lifted his entire sect—a landmass spanning thousands of miles—and carried it into the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone.”
Lu Xuan paused, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. That ruthless? He was dying, so he made his entire sect suffer with him?
Chen Changsheng continued, “The Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone is a self-contained world. Over countless years, numerous Half-step Supreme and Quasi-Dao Supreme magnates carved countless Dao patterns into it, allowing it to resist the power of the Heavenly Dao and slow the loss of lifespan. Initially, there were only a few magnates there, but as more and more powerful figures arrived, Eerie Power and Ominous Power became ubiquitous, forming terrifying Grand Terrain Stances that are even more horrific than the ‘True Dragon Bloodshed Stance’ in Tianluo State.”
Lu Xuan frowned slightly. The Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone sounded truly ancient and terrifying.
“Who was the original creator of the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone?” Lu Xuan asked.
Chen Changsheng’s eyes grew distant, lost in memory. “It was most likely the Xuanji Holy Lord and a few others who first entered. They were also tainted by Eerie Power and Ominous Power and planned to seal themselves there to resolve this forbidden power. They never expected to attract so many Twilight Emperors later on.”
Lu Xuan frowned. “The Xuanji Holy Lord. Is she still alive now?”
“She should still be alive,” Chen Changsheng confirmed, “but having been tainted by Eerie Power and Ominous Power, her situation is not good. As far as I know, she is one of the few magnates in the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone who rejects cultivating by consuming the life force of living beings.”
Lu Xuan nodded. “Duan Hunsheng is merely a blade wielded by the Silent Destruction Old Man. His wanton slaughter across the Southern Wilds for the past ten thousand years has been to collect life force for the Silent Destruction Old Man.”
Chen Changsheng agreed. “Exactly. Once you start consuming life force, there is no turning back. It can indeed suppress the Eerie Power and Ominous Power, but from then on, you are dependent on it.”
Lu Xuan was silent.
Chen Changsheng continued, “However, there are magnates who refuse to consume life force, such as the Xuanji Holy Lord. Because she has been resisting the Eerie Power and Ominous Power, her cultivation has been steadily dropping!”
Lu Xuan praised her, “She sounds like a tough character!”
Chen Changsheng blinked. “Uh... Master, the Xuanji Holy Lord is actually a stunning woman. She’s known as the Ancient Era's Number One Beauty.”
Lu Xuan was speechless.
Chen Changsheng chuckled. “The Xuanji Holy Lord was also tainted by the forbidden powers, but she voluntarily left her own Holy Land and personally created the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone. Compared to the Silent Destruction Old Man, the difference in their character is immediately apparent!”
“That is true,” Lu Xuan conceded.
Chen Changsheng analyzed the situation. “I estimate the Silent Destruction Old Man will definitely send a Half-step Supreme from his sect to test the power of the Heavenly Dao—though the result is destined to be failure. This will only enrage him further, and his wrath will be aimed at us.”
Lu Xuan smiled faintly. “No matter. Let him come.”
Chen Changsheng said, “The Silent Destruction Old Man’s true body won't emerge until the Heaven and Earth Change begins. As for his Emperor clone, it shouldn't leave the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone either, as it is restricted by the Iron Law set by the Xuanji Holy Lord back then. I predict the Silent Destruction Old Man’s next step will be to find a replacement faction for the Heavenly Net Hall to do his dirty work.”
Lu Xuan shrugged. “Then that just means more practice for Fuyao and Ye Chen.”
Chen Changsheng was utterly dumbfounded. Master’s heart is truly massive. I have a feeling I’m going to be sent out to babysit again.
He couldn't refuse the assignment. Firstly, a master’s command was absolute, and secondly, Ji Fuyao and Ye Chen were his Senior Sister and Second Senior Brother; he was obligated to protect them. But he really wanted to suggest that his master force his senior siblings into indefinite seclusion until this whole mess blew over...
Just then, Ye Chen, who was walking out of his cave dwelling, sneezed.
“Ah-choo!” Ye Chen muttered, rubbing his nose. “Who the hell is talking about me?”
Chen Changsheng offered a dry smile.
Ye Chen immediately entered the thatched hut and began preparing a meal. Today’s dish was Golden Crow Stewed Spirit Mushrooms.
Smoke curled up from the hut. Lu Xuan and Chen Changsheng lay comfortably, relaxing. Chen Changsheng finally managed to capture a wisp of the power of ‘Mortal Transformation.’
What is Non-Action? This is Non-Action. Living in the cultivation world, yet remaining a carefree mortal. He pursues Longevity, yet never asks about the Dao of Longevity. Causality is flowing right beside him, yet it simply washes away like water.
A profound, mysterious aura surged around Chen Changsheng. His Stance was sublimating, and he gained new insights into the Scripture of Non-Action.
Just then, the System’s voice echoed in Lu Xuan’s mind.
“Ding! Host’s third disciple Chen Changsheng has gained insight into the Scripture of Non-Action! Synchronization commencing!”
As the voice faded, an incomparably profound realization flooded Lu Xuan’s mind, scattering into starlight.
Moments later, Chen Changsheng slowly opened his eyes and spoke to Lu Xuan, “Master, as expected, your arrangements on Azure Mystery Peak are truly profound. Every blade of grass and every piece of wood—seemingly unintentional, yet they are all Seeds of Dao Enlightenment.”
Lu Xuan was utterly bewildered. Huh? What arrangements? This thatched hut, the cave, the plants—they haven’t changed in years!
Soon, Ye Chen placed the steaming dishes on the stone table: Golden Crow Stewed Spirit Mushrooms.
“Master,” Ye Chen asked with a grin, “did the Golden Crow Old Ancestor really kill himself?”
Lu Xuan nodded. “Yep. Eat up. I’ll go catch a few more from the Golden Crow Race later.”
Chen Changsheng was speechless. He realized that his master now treated the Golden Crow Race and Fire Dragon Race like his personal pets and food sources. I should probably mourn for them.
***
Near the Blood Demon Race territory, atop a spiritual peak.
Chen Changsheng had arranged to meet several Blood Demon Race Old Ancestors at the peak. The Old Ancestors had already arrived and were waiting.
Chen Changsheng, hidden from sight, sent a message telling the Old Ancestors he would arrive in another hour.
In reality, he immediately began setting up arrays in secret.
Chen Changsheng tossed several sinister black Emperor-tier Array Plates into the spiritual peak and scattered numerous Emperor-tier medicinal powders into the surrounding spiritual woods. A gentle breeze carried these powders directly into the noses of the Blood Demon Race Old Ancestors, who were completely oblivious.
An hour later, having completed his preparations, Chen Changsheng took out several Wooden Puppet Clones, disguised them as the Stone Demon Race Old Ancestors, and tore open the void. The puppets emerged from the spatial rift, feigning a late arrival.
“My apologies, Fellow Daoists! I was delayed by a matter,” the lead puppet said apologetically.
The Blood Demon Race Old Ancestors bowed. “No worries. We are preparing to go to the Grand Dao Sect to apologize to the White Robe Great Emperor. Will your Stone Demon Race be joining us?”