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墨書 Inktalez
On the summit of Yin Mountain, the void split open, and the Old Scholar fell heavily to the ground, his form disheveled.
Once a robust figure, the Old Scholar now hunched over, his skin wrinkled and sallow, resembling the bark of an ancient tree swaying precariously in the fierce winds of Yin Mountain, on the verge of toppling. His left arm hung limply, the flesh torn away to reveal protruding bones, while in his other hand, the Great Zhou Compass was riddled with cracks, looking as if it might shatter at any moment. Blood dripped continuously from his right arm onto the Great Zhou Compass.
The Old Scholar collapsed wearily into the secret chamber of the Underground Palace, where the tendrils of the Blood Tree quickly enveloped him, mending his injuries.
At the foot of Yin Mountain, the Snake Goddess had transformed into a girl who appeared to be around seven or eight years old. She had attempted to confront the Old Scholar several times, but with him wielding the Great Zhou Compass and employing the Great Void Technique, it was exceedingly difficult to kill him. Thus, she waited at Yin Mountain for his return.
The Snake Goddess opened her eyes and sensed the Old Scholar's presence. A smile crept across her face as hissing sounds echoed around her; numerous snakes of varying sizes slithered toward Yin Mountain, swiftly occupying it and burrowing into both the Imperial Hall and Underground Palace.
Within the Eastern Wilderness Pavilion, a middle-aged man with slightly furrowed brows gazed out at seabirds over a tranquil azure sea. The setting sun cast a blood-red hue upon the water.
Behind him stood a seaside pavilion with a chess table that was covered in dust, suggesting it had not been cleaned for many years.
“Mr. Solitude, the Divine Hero Couple has arrived,” said Luo Yun, the Grand Elder of Ocean Viewing Pavilion respectfully.
The middle-aged man did not turn around but spoke softly, “Let them in.”
Luo Yun acknowledged and soon brought in the Divine Hero Couple. Yang Sanqian lifted his head and looked toward the pavilion behind him, noticing an ancient plaque inscribed with four characters: Ocean's Edge Pavilion.
“What’s wrong?” Jiyao asked telepathically upon seeing Yang Sanqian's puzzled expression.
Yang Sanqian shook his head as if trying to recall something but could not remember anything clearly.
The Eastern Wasteland had always had little interaction with the Central Plains and never engaged with the Western Regions, Southern Seas, or Northern Domains. According to records from the Central Plains, there were three major sects in the Eastern Wasteland: Ocean Viewing Pavilion, Star Observation Pavilion, and Sea Viewing Pavilion. The Star Observation Pavilion was originally part of one family before branching into two sects; however, Ocean Viewing Pavilion never interacted with any sects and its members were shrouded in mystery.
The middle-aged man turned to Yang Sanqian and Jiyao and said, “As esteemed guests arrive without prior notice, I apologize for not welcoming you properly.”
Yang Sanqian and Jiyao looked at the middle-aged man, startled by what they saw. His face was somewhat blurred, seemingly obscured by a layer of Purple Qi. From the surface, it appeared as if a mist was blocking their view, making it impossible to discern his features. Even with Yang Sanqian's cultivation having reached the late stage of Great Ascension, he could not penetrate this layer of fog to understand what was happening.
"This is our Master, Mr. Dugu from the Ocean Viewing Pavilion," Luo Yun introduced.
"Greetings, Mr. Dugu," Yang Sanqian clasped his fists, setting aside any feelings of disdain.
The middle-aged man waved his hand and said, "I have heard for many years about the young Divine Hero from the Central Plains. After more than twenty years, I finally see him in person. The Divine Hero is refined and elegant, with an extraordinary demeanor; he resembles an old acquaintance of mine."
"Mr. Dugu flatters us. My wife and I are truly honored to meet you. However, we are curious about your current realm; not only can we not see through you, but we cannot even make out your features. Have you perhaps transcended the Tribulation Realm and reached the realm of immortals?" Yang Sanqian inquired.
"Immortal?" The middle-aged man's brows furrowed slightly as if recalling something. "What immortals exist in this world? If you cannot see me clearly, it may simply be that I am unworthy to be seen."
"Mr. Dugu is jesting," Jiyao said. "According to Elder Luo, you wished to meet us; may I ask what this is regarding?"
The middle-aged man replied, "Firstly, I wanted to meet the talented individuals of the Central Plains today. Secondly, I have heard that chaos has erupted in the Central Plains and wish to inquire whether some old friends' sects have encountered disaster."
"Which sects do you refer to?" Yang Sanqian asked.
The middle-aged man responded, "Longhu Mountain and Emei Mountain."
Yang Sanqian said, "The Daoist Catastrophe has led to the complete destruction of the Serpent Cult, Wudang Mountain, Emei Mountain, Yin Mountain, and Sword Pavilion. It seems there is still one disciple alive from Longhu Mountain; as for Emei, they should be hiding away from the world at this moment."
The middle-aged man remarked, "In times of chaos and superficiality, no matter how hard one strives, they ultimately cannot resist the tide of fate. Years ago, I heard that Miao Zhongjian from Emei swept through all heroes; has he also passed away?"
Yang Sanqian was shocked and replied, "I have heard that Sword Saint Elder passed away sixty years ago. Were you an old friend of Sword Saint Miao Zhong?"
The middle-aged man approached Yang Sanqian, who showed a look of caution and stepped back. Jiyao took out the Water Moon Mirror and asked, "What does this mean, sir?"
The middle-aged man reached out to touch Yang Sanqian, who attempted to resist but found himself unable to move. Sweat poured down his face as fear gripped his heart.
What kind of power could impose such a realm suppression on him, rendering him nearly immobile?
At the moment Jiyao took out the Water Moon Mirror, he saw another visage of the middle-aged man within it—an elderly figure with white hair, his face aged and frighteningly worn.
The middle-aged man curled his fingers, drawing the Water Moon Mirror from Jiyao's grasp. He then lightly placed his right hand on Yang Sanqian's wrist. In an instant, the middle-aged man's eyes shifted, revealing a series of memory fragments that played out before him.
After a moment, he withdrew his hand. Yang Sanqian and Jiyao felt a weight lift from their shoulders as the pressure dissipated. The middle-aged man returned the Water Moon Mirror to Jiyao and turned to gaze at the sea, sighing, "Success and failure are but fleeting illusions..."
Yang Sanqian was taken aback. He sensed that in just a brief moment, this middle-aged man seemed to have glimpsed the events that had transpired in the Central Plains over the years. He said, "Senior, my wife and I have come here. If we have offended you in any way, please forgive us. The current chaos is dire; Song Qianqiu possesses both the Great Wilderness Scripture and the Demon King's Scripture. It must have escalated to a critical level by now. We hope you can emerge from seclusion to help eliminate Song Qianqiu or at least provide information about the whereabouts of the Sun-Shooting Divine Bow."
The middle-aged man replied, "Another battle between good and evil. But in the end, what is good and what is evil? The Great Wilderness Scripture is an ancient text; even if the Taoist Ancestor were alive, it would be difficult to contend with. I am powerless against it, especially since my body can no longer fight. You should return; your son has some potential."
Jiyao said, "If you cannot intervene directly, please at least tell us where we might find the Sun-Shooting Divine Bow. After my husband and I restore order to the Daoist Sect's chaos, we will certainly return it intact."
The middle-aged man responded, "It's not that I don't want to tell you; it's that I don't know where the Sun-Shooting Divine Bow is either. It was indeed buried in the Eastern Wasteland during ancient times. For ages, no one has been able to move its bowstring, and it has become a legend over time. Long ago, someone did uncover clues about the Sun-Shooting Divine Bow from Ocean's Edge Pavilion—a map—but it sparked a war and was destroyed by the previous Master. I have never seen it myself. Moreover, even if you find the Sun-Shooting Divine Bow, what then? Even a Supreme being capable of moving mountains cannot wield its ten thousand tons of force; not to mention the heavy price of drawing its bowstring."
Yang Sanqian asked, "Is it true that there is no solution to the Great Wilderness Scripture?"
The middle-aged man replied, "From a certain perspective, it is indeed quite troublesome. However, no Daoist Art is flawless. Before the Great Wilderness Scripture appeared, during the Early Period of Dark Turmoil, there was a Dao Sovereign named Wu who created an art called Dark Moon Secret Art—its ultimate technique also pertained to time. Later on, Wang Yang Daozun learned it and nearly fell into madness before it dissipated along with the Daoist Command Token's dissolution. No one else inherited it after that. I will take you to meet someone."
With that said, the middle-aged man led Yang Sanqian and Jiyao toward the back of Ocean's Edge Pavilion. In a courtyard stood a shrine adorned with blooming flowers; above hung a portrait of a refined young man. Below it was an inscription that read: "Beloved Master Wang Yang."
“The Last Generation Daoist Master?” Yang Sanqian exclaimed in surprise.
The middle-aged man lit a stick of incense and placed it in the incense burner on the altar, saying nothing as he turned and left the courtyard.
Yang Sanqian and Jiyao exchanged glances, bowing respectfully to the elegantly portrayed young man in the painting. They could hardly imagine what kind of experiences those who survived the Dark Turmoil Period had gone through, or what their state of mind must have been.
There were no historical records of those events, and Yang Sanqian never expected that someone could have lived from that time until now.
What price had he paid?
At that moment, Jiyao suddenly felt an unusual sensation in her heart, a sense of foreboding. She rushed out of the courtyard and called out to the middle-aged man, “Sir, with your immense talent, may I ask how to heal the Injury of the Dao?”
The middle-aged man replied, “There is only one way: Transcending Tribulation.”
“Transcending Tribulation?” Upon hearing this from the middle-aged man, Jiyao felt a chill run down her spine.
Yang Sanqian also stepped out of the courtyard. He looked at the middle-aged man standing alone in Ocean's Edge Pavilion, feeling an inexplicable sorrow rise within him. The man's eyes suddenly became incredibly deep as he gazed at Yang Sanqian. In that instant, Yang Sanqian felt as if he had entered a starry illusion, witnessing scenes from the middle-aged man's enlightenment years ago.
For those who practice Cultivation, those with high comprehension often seek enlightenment in a single moment, ascending during daylight. The middle-aged man was imparting to Yang Sanqian the state of mind he had during his own enlightenment.
When Yang Sanqian came to his senses, he found himself and Jiyao outside Ocean Viewing Pavilion. He turned back to look at Ocean Viewing Pavilion and expressed his gratitude to the elder.
It was as if a certain shackle within Yang Sanqian had shattered. He took a deep breath, and an intense radiance emanated from his body. In the air, stars shifted and moved. A beam of light enveloped Yang Sanqian above Dueling Palace.
Every gesture he made was filled with Dao essence; the Dao Qi within his Qi Sea multiplied exponentially as streams of Spirit Energy continuously flowed into his body. The white light in the sky brightened suddenly, illuminating the entire area as if it were midday.
At the Ocean's Edge Pavilion, Luo Yun stood behind the middle-aged man and said, "Master, although Yang Sanqian has already reached the Supreme level, it may not be enough to deal with the Great Wilderness Scripture."
The middle-aged man replied, "I can only help to this extent. If they cannot stop Song Qianqiu, in ten years, the Eastern Wasteland will also be occupied by Yin Soldiers and Corpse Demons. I'm afraid I, as a Living Dead, won't last until then."
Yang Sanqian comprehended a move and stepped into the Supreme Realm. His Dao Qi was incredibly abundant, and natural forces continuously surged into his body. He tore through the void and, accompanied by Jiyao, entered the emptiness, heading towards the Central Plains.
Before entering the void, not far below, a weary Barefoot Youth was walking towards them. He was dirty and emaciated from hunger. Upon seeing the strange sight ahead, he felt no fear. Soon after, he heard the youth knocking on the door of the Ocean Viewing Pavilion and inquiring within, though his words were inaudible.
After Yang Sanqian and Jiyao left, the youth stood before the entrance of the Ocean Viewing Pavilion and shouted inside, "Junior Zhang Dao'an requests an audience with Master of Ocean Viewing Pavilion."
The middle-aged man on the pavilion frowned. Luo Yun asked, "Without anyone from Ocean Viewing Pavilion to guide you, how did you find this hidden place?"
Zhang Dao'an replied, "I am the last disciple of Longhu Mountain. I have notes from my Ancestor Master that record how to enter Ocean Viewing Pavilion."
The door of Ocean Viewing Pavilion opened, and without hesitation, Zhang Dao'an walked inside.
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