Jian Zhen swayed as he looked at the person in the portrait. There was no way he could be mistaken about this face, because during the eighteen years he lived in the modern world, it was this very face. Now after taking form, although his little grass body and this face weren’t that similar, there was still a five or six tenths resemblance.
How could it…
How could it be so alike?
The stormy waves in Jian Zhen’s heart were like a raging wind stirred up deep within, lingering and refusing to disperse. Just as he was thinking, a sound suddenly came from the door behind him.
Someone stepped inside.
Sunlight spilled down. Fu Changhuan stood at the doorway. He wore snow-colored robes; his clear, cold brows and eyes under the sunlight seemed tinged with divinity. Standing at the doorway, it was as if the entire dull hall brightened by several degrees.
Jian Zhen turned his head to look at him, not missing the chill that had appeared between Fu Changhuan’s brows at the very beginning.
But that trace of coldness quickly disappeared.
Fu Changhuan stepped forward a few paces and asked gently, “How did you come here?”
Jian Zhen said, “I accidentally got lost and walked in.”
Fu Changhuan said, “It was this Venerable’s oversight. I feared you wouldn’t be used to having someone follow you, so I didn’t arrange anyone at your side, and didn’t expect that it would cause you to lose your way.”
Jian Zhen shook his head and said, “It’s not the Immortal Venerable’s fault.”
Fu Changhuan followed his gaze to the painting and said, “What do you think of this painting?”
Jian Zhen’s fair little face gained a few traces of contemplation. He answered honestly, “Immortal Venerable, may I know who he is?”
Fu Changhuan said, “Of course. He is my junior brother.”
Jian Zhen remembered that the Immortal Venerable had told him his junior brother had passed away ten million years ago. Presumably this was his junior brother’s former residence, and he had inadvertently trespassed into it. No wonder the Immortal Venerable had been displeased.
The little grass said honestly, “I barged in rashly, my apologies.”
Fu Changhuan smiled. He said, “It’s no matter. He was originally someone who liked liveliness. Having someone come to see him, he would surely like it.”
Only then did Jian Zhen set his mind at ease. He raised his head again to look at the gentle-smiling youth in the painting and asked, “Immortal Venerable, is it my illusion? I feel that… my appearance seems somewhat similar to his.”
Fu Changhuan paused for a moment before speaking: “It is not an illusion. You and Zhu’er do indeed resemble each other somewhat.”
Jian Zhen said, “Why has Immortal Venerable never mentioned this to me?”
Fu Changhuan stood inside the room. His dark eyes were as clear as ice and snow, as if they could see through people’s hearts, calm and profound. Slowly, he said, “This venerable feared that if you knew, you would overthink.”
Jian Zhen said, “Why would I resemble Immortal Venerable’s junior disciple in appearance?”
Fu Changhuan said seriously, “If I say that I do not know, would you believe me?”
Jian Zhen blinked. Standing by the window, his ink-black hair lifting lightly, he broke into a gentle smile and parted his lips to say, “I believe Immortal Venerable.”
All around was silent.
Sunlight spilled onto the ground, carrying with it the chill of the ice and snow outside. That coolness wound past the gentle-browed youth in the painting.
In a trance…
Fu Changhuan saw another youth with a jade crown binding his hair. The same relaxed brows and eyes, looking at him full of dependence: “Of course I believe Senior Brother!”
Lowering his eyes…
It was his disciple, Ling Cansheng, his voice choked with tears yet exhausting himself to sneer with a smile: “Of course I am not as good as Master, the number one of the Emotionless Dao, able to achieve complete impartiality and selflessness, to the point that even his own junior brother back then could be watched die without lifting a hand to save him!!”
The cold wind blew in from outside the window, like the ten-thousand-year unmelted ice of Spirit Mountain.
Jian Zhen’s voice sounded: “Immortal Venerable?”
Sunlight fell upon his shoulders, the only warmth in this deathly silent room.
Fu Changhuan raised his head. As though in the long river of endless years, he finally lifted his head and looked at Jian Zhen, opening his mouth to say, “Thank you.”
Jian Zhen was puzzled. “Ah?”
Fu Changhuan said, “You are willing to believe me. I am very happy.”
Jian Zhen said, “Immortal Venerable, I am somewhat curious. Your forebears all cultivated longevity, why did your little junior brother pass away so early? Did some accident happen to him?”
Fu Changhuan lowered his eyes and answered, “He fell ill.”
Jian Zhen suddenly understood. He said, “No wonder this room always seems to have a faint medicinal smell. So he died of illness.”
Fu Changhuan, however, was silent for a long time.
Jian Zhen’s clear eyes looked at him. Those eyes were so clean, as if not a speck of the world’s dust should fall into them, making others feel ashamed of themselves.
Fu Changhua slowly spoke: “He died by his own hand.”
Jian Zhen was shocked. His eyes widened, and his heart suddenly felt heavy and panicked. “By… his own hand?”
Heavens, that truly scared the grass to death.
How could it be by his own hand?
How helpless must a person be to choose to end their own life?
Fu Changhuan said, “Back then, I did not manage to save him. It is my eternal regret.”
Jian Zhen said softly, “Since he chose to end his life himself, there must have been his reason for doing so. Immortal Venerable should not blame yourself too much. Your junior brother certainly would not wish to see you like this.”
Fu Changhuan quietly looked at him. His brows and eyes, usually cold and lofty, were tinged with a circle of red. He smiled, a bitter smile never seen before, yet carrying a trace of relief. Then his gaze returned to stillness.
The wind outside the window blew in with a chill.
Fu Changhuan stepped forward. He reached out and helped Jian Zhen draw his somewhat loosened cloak close, lowering his eyes to look at him. “No matter what happened in the past, but now, this venerable will absolutely not make the same mistake a second time.”
Jian Zhen looked at him somewhat puzzled. “Ah?”
“I will definitely protect you,” Fu Changhuan lowered his eyes to look at him. “And even more so, I will not harm you.”
Jian Zhen smiled. “I know.”
Fu Changhuan raised his hand and rubbed his head, saying warmly, “Jian Zhen, stay in Spirit Mountain. This venerable will protect you, protect the child in your womb. The demon clan is fraught with danger. Demon Venerable Ye Jisheng possesses a divine body. Now that Wanmie Mountain is stirring, it means Ye Jisheng’s second heavenly tribulation is about to arrive. If he cannot successfully pass the tribulation, the demon clan will inevitably stir up bloody storms. Staying by his side is very dangerous for you.”
He had thought the youth before him would be afraid.
But Jian Zhen anxiously asked, “If he fails to pass the tribulation, will he die?”
Fu Changhuan looked into his eyes, his gaze gradually growing solemn. He said, “I once told you, even gods can fall.”
Jian Zhen somewhat flustered grabbed Fu Changhuan’s hand. He asked, “Then… then is there not even a single way…”
Fu Changhuan was silent.
His little grass had accompanied him for the past two hundred years. Later, it took human form and left Spirit Mountain. When they met again, he was bullied by the demon clan and pitiful indeed. Yet even at that time, he had never shown weakness to him, nor had he ever panicked and begged him for anything.
And now, for Ye Jisheng, his eyes were full of pleading.
Such familiar eyes..
Fu Changhuan had thought he had already forgotten. Yet when he met those eyes, he still clearly remembered that year, when his junior brother knelt before him, grasped his hand, and said: “Is there not even a single way, Senior Brother? I beg you, save him…”
Ye Jisheng. Again Ye Jisheng.
Fu Changhuan looked at him directly and said, “Jian Zhen, the gods of this world possess power beyond mortals; thus they must bear the corresponding price. This is also their fate. Ye Jisheng is cruel and inhumane. The demon clan is sinister and cunning. Back then, when Spirit Mountain’s living beings were plunged into misery, that is ironclad proof.”
Jian Zhen had never seen such an Immortal Venerable before and was somewhat stunned by fright.
Fu Changhuan realized this, loosened his hand, and said, “Apologies. I… was only worried you were being deceived by them.”
Jian Zhen had not expected that the Immortal Venerable, who for a hundred years had always been calm and unruffled, would also have a moment of such agitation and loss of composure. So he was somewhat startled at first. But thinking about it, it made sense, since ancient times the immortal and demon clans had been mutually hostile, with seas of blood and deep enmity. How could it be erased?
The one at fault was it.
The little grass honestly said, “Immortal Venerable need not apologize. In truth, they have not deceived me. I feel that the demon clan is not as you think…”
Fu Changhuan had already adjusted his emotions. He held Jian Zhen’s hand and said, “Let us not speak of this for now. You have been outside all day and must be tired. I will send you back to rest.”
Jian Zhen obediently nodded.
In truth, everything that had happened today had indeed been overly exhausting.
When they returned to Wanyou Hall, the young attendant was inside arranging the newly added furniture and items in the room. Upon seeing Jian Zhen, he happily introduced them, saying, “Honored guest has returned. These are all the items you wanted to add two days ago. Please see if you are satisfied?”
New bedding had already been laid out on the couch, and soft carpets had been spread across the floor.
Jian Zhen’s mood suddenly improved greatly. He smiled and nodded, saying, “Thank you very much.”
The young attendant said, “It is all as it should be. Does the honored guest need anything else?”
Hearing him repeatedly call him “honored guest” made Jian Zhen almost break into a cold sweat. He hurriedly said, “Really, really, you can just call me Jian Zhen! Back when I was still a little blade of grass, didn’t you often chat with me? We already count as friends.”
The young attendant had not expected Jian Zhen to still remember those things and said somewhat embarrassedly, “But your current status…”
Jian Zhen said, “No matter what my status is, a friend is a friend. Don’t call me something so distant in the future.”
The young attendant felt warmth in his heart. Having been here for a hundred years, where would he have any friends? Whether true or not, he was somewhat moved, and he nodded, saying, “Yes. Then if you have any problems on Spirit Mountain in the future, just come directly to me. I’ve stayed on Spirit Mountain for a hundred years, I basically know everything!”
At this moment, there was no one around.
The Immortal Venerable had already returned to the main hall’s resting quarters. Here there were only him and Jian Zhen.
Jian Zhen sat on the couch and looked at him. Hearing this, inspiration suddenly struck. He looked at the young attendant and gently asked, “Then may I ask you a question?”
The young attendant said, “What is it?”
“Grandmaster is the God of Vegetation. How many times did he undergo tribulation?”
“Three times.”
Jian Zhen asked, “For what reason did Grandmaster fail his tribulation?”
The young attendant frowned and thought for a moment before saying, “The version circulated within the Three Realms says that Grandmaster failed his tribulation because he went astray in cultivation while in seclusion. But there are also those who say that Grandmaster calculated a heavenly secret that should not have been revealed, and suffered heavenly punishment, thus failing the tribulation.”
Jian Zhen said, “Then what is the truth?”
The young attendant said, “I don’t know the specific reason either. But on Hidden Peak there is a Wentian Pavilion. That is where all our treasure troves and books are kept. All the archives and records are stored there, there may be records.”
Jian Zhen became interested. Since Grandmaster had once succeeded in passing tribulation and also failed before, those records might be precious experience. If he could take a look, perhaps in the future he could help Ye Jisheng.
The young attendant asked, “How did you become interested in this?”
Jian Zhen of course could not state the reason. The little grass panicked and quickly found an excuse: “Because I went to Wenjun Platform and saw Grandmaster’s remnant soul, so I’m very curious about him.”
The young attendant suddenly understood and said somewhat enviously, “That is an opportunity ordinary people do not have.”
Jian Zhen smiled and said, “Then can I go to Wentian Pavilion?”
“That place is a forbidden ground of our immortal clan,” the young attendant said. “Without the verbal permission of the various peak masters and the Immortal Venerable’s token, no one can enter.”
Jian Zhen: “…”
What a coincidence.
He actually did have one.
Seeing his eager expression, the young attendant quickly said, “Wentian Pavilion has levels. The lower five floors can be entered by ordinary disciples. The upper five floors require a token. The very top floor is the residence of the Prophet Elder. There is a formation set up by Grandmaster there. Without Grandmaster’s power or the incantation of the formation, even with a token one cannot enter.”
Jian Zhen only wanted to look up some information, so he said, “Don’t worry. I’m not going to the top floor. Why would I go there for no reason?”
Only then did the young attendant feel at ease. “That’s good.”
After settling this matter, Jian Zhen’s mood could be said to be exceptionally bright.
Early the next morning, Jian Zhen woke up very early. Perhaps because something was on his mind, he rarely did not sleep in. After getting out of bed and putting on his clothes by himself, then drinking jade dew, he came to the main hall, just in time as Fu Changhuan was about to go out.
Fu Changhuan was somewhat surprised to see Jian Zhen.
Jian Zhen smiled and said, “Yesterday I got lost and didn’t finish strolling around. Today I’d still like to go take a look, may I?”
Seeing that he was in good spirits, Fu Changhuan said, “Very well. It so happens that I also need to go there today. You may accompany me.”
Jian Zhen had not expected it to go so smoothly and quickly nodded.
After arriving at Hidden Peak, Fu Changhuan summoned a disciple and said to Jian Zhen, “This is Xuanji, the chief disciple of Hidden Peak. Today he will accompany you to stroll around.”
Jian Zhen performed a salute and said, “Greetings, Senior Disciple.”
Xuanji was a man who looked very upright. He said, “No need for such courtesy. This disciple will certainly not fail Immortal Venerable’s entrustment.”
Fu Changhuan said to Jian Zhen, “Once I finish handling matters, I will come find you.”
Jian Zhen obediently nodded.
After Fu Changhuan left, Xuanji asked Jian Zhen, “May I ask where honored guest wishes to stroll?”
Jian Zhen was an honest little grass and said frankly, “I want to go to your Wentian Pavilion to take a look.”
Xuanji hesitated somewhat. “Wentian Pavilion is a place only immortal clan disciples may go. I’m afraid…”
Jian Zhen took the initiative to say, “I grew up on Immortal Mountain, and I also have a token. Immortal Venerable said that with this, I can go anywhere on Spirit Mountain.”
As he spoke, Jian Zhen took out the token at his waist and showed it to him.
Xuanji hurriedly said, “So that is the case. Honored guest, please follow me.”
Jian Zhen had not expected this token to be so useful. It seemed the Immortal Venerable truly would not deceive him.
The two of them walked one before the other to the towering Wentian Pavilion. Only upon arriving did Jian Zhen realize that it truly lived up to its reputation, lofty as the clouds, majestic and magnificent.
Many disciples were going in and out.
Xuanji said, “What books does the honored guest wish to see? I will help you find them.”
Quite a few disciples cast curious glances when they saw the chief senior brother with a cute-looking youth by his side.
Jian Zhen said, “Oh, I want to look at some archives about Grandmaster.”
Xuanji’s expression changed. “Grandmaster?”
Jian Zhen nodded and asked, “Is that not allowed?”
“Not exactly,” Xuanji said. “It’s just that the scrolls regarding Grandmaster have always been kept very well hidden. Only on the ninth floor can one find a portion of them. To be honest, I have always been widely read. I have read most of the archives in this Wentian Pavilion. Only the scrolls on the ninth floor are mostly sealed, so I have never read them.”
Jian Zhen said, “Then wouldn’t I also be unable to see them?”
Xuanji thought for a moment and said, “Not necessarily. Many of the archives on the ninth floor can only be consulted by Immortal Venerable and the elders. The token you carry is Immortal Venerable’s token. The authority it exercises is the same as Immortal Venerable’s. With this token, you may not necessarily be unable to see them.”
Jian Zhen grew interested. He said, “Then shall we go try?”
Seeing his rising enthusiasm, like a child tasting the world for the first time, Xuanji could not help but smile. “Let’s go. I’ll take you.”
Jian Zhen eagerly followed behind Xuanji.
The steward of Wentian Pavilion saw them and saluted. “Senior Brother Xuanji has come today, are you here to borrow books?”
Xuanji returned the salute and said, “Today I have brought a distinguished guest to visit. I ask Martial Uncle to grant some convenience, we wish to go to the ninth floor.”
The steward’s expression changed. “To the ninth floor?”
Xuanji glanced at Jian Zhen. Understanding at once, Jian Zhen took out his token. After receiving it, the steward gave Jian Zhen a meaningful look before saying, “Follow me.”
Jian Zhen and Xuanji walked to a formation array.
To activate this formation required a specific incantation, and spirit stones had to be pushed according to order and specification. Each procedure was extremely complicated. Jian Zhen secretly felt fortunate that he had not come on his own, otherwise he would have been stuck at the very first step.
The formation shone brightly.
With only a momentary sensation of weightlessness, they arrived at the ninth floor.
When Jian Zhen opened his eyes again, everything before him had changed. There were no disciples coming and going like on the first floor. It was frighteningly quiet all around, with only towering bookshelves reaching to the ceiling, upon which different scrolls were placed.
Xuanji said, “As for the scrolls about Grandmaster, we’ll have to split up and search. The year Grandmaster fell was Immortal Calendar Year 89. We need to find the archives from that year.”
Jian Zhen listened in a daze but still obediently nodded.
It was truly the right arrangement for Immortal Venerable to have Xuanji accompany him, this was far more orderly than if he searched alone.
Weaving through rows of bookshelves,
Jian Zhen worked hard to find the archives from Immortal Calendar Year 89. But there were simply too many scrolls here, like looking for a needle in the sea. Just as his eyes were beginning to blur, he suddenly saw scrolls labeled Immortal Calendar Year 98.
For some reason, Jian Zhen pulled the scroll out. He had originally thought he would not recognize the immortal clan’s script and would need Xuanji’s help. Yet unexpectedly, after opening it, when the characters came into view, he was able to read them fluently without a teacher:
Immortal Calendar Year 98.
The Time Mirror foretold that the first-generation Demon God would descend upon the world.
The immortal clan and the yao clan gathered together to discuss a grand plan to slay the demon.
Disciple of the demon clan, Ye Jisheng, personally went to Wanmie Mountain. The two clans joined forces to activate the God-Slaying Formation, sealing half of the Demon God’s power.
Jian Zhen felt somewhat puzzled. The immortal clan and demon clan clearly intended to kill the Demon God. Ye Jisheng was such an intelligent person, why would he go to Wanmie Mountain himself? Was that not seeking his own death? Could it be that he had some reason he absolutely had to go?
Just as he was about to continue reading,
Xuanji’s voice sounded: “Honored guest, there seem to be scrolls from Year 89 over here.”
Jian Zhen withdrew his thoughts and quickly said, “Coming.”
Xuanji took out a scroll from among them and said, “It should be this one. However, there is a seal on this scroll. I cannot open it. I estimate that only Immortal Venerable’s power can break the seal.”
Jian Zhen’s token could only allow them to enter, but it could not open the scroll. For the moment, he felt somewhat disappointed.
Xuanji looked at him and said, “However, although we cannot view this one, when Grandmaster was alive he left behind quite a few books, all placed on the ninth floor. If you are interested, you may also look for those. Perhaps they will be useful.”
Jian Zhen said happily, “Really?”
Xuanji smiled. “Yes. It will just be somewhat troublesome to find. Let’s split up and search. Grandmaster’s scrolls are actually easy to identify, those bearing the spiritual aura of vegetation are the ones.”
Jian Zhen nodded. “Alright.”
The ninth floor was extremely large. After separating, the two of them each wove through the bookshelves.
Jian Zhen wandered among countless books, yet had not seen any bearing the spiritual aura of vegetation. Just as he was feeling somewhat discouraged and planning to return empty-handed, he suddenly noticed a staircase at a corner not far away, and inside the stairwell were more bookshelves.
Could it be there?
Jian Zhen stepped onto the stairs. As he walked upward, there were indeed more and more books. On one of the shelves, he sensed books carrying the spiritual aura of vegetation. Just as he was about to take one down to examine,
An aged voice suddenly sounded from afar.
“Wangyou, so many years have passed. Since you entered the stage of Soul Transformation, up until now, more than ten million years have already gone by. You are our immortal clan’s most talented and most outstanding disciple.” The elder sighed. “You were originally an immortal god equal to the Demon God in this world. But why have you halted and refused to advance?”
All around was silent.
Jian Zhen had not expected to hear such words and stood frozen in place.
Fu Changhuan’s voice sounded: “My ability is insufficient to become a god.”
The elder chuckled softly. “Is it insufficient, or have you confined yourself, unwilling to let yourself go?”
Fu Changhuan did not speak.
The elder sighed silently. “You have always been unable to let go of what happened back then. Is that hurdle truly so difficult for you to cross? When will you put down this heart demon of yours?”
Fu Changhuan said, “I will no longer cultivate the Emotionless Dao.”
The elder seemed to know he could not persuade him and was unwilling to say more, so he said, “Fortunately, now the Demon God’s great tribulation is approaching. Half of his power has been sealed. It will likely not be easy for him to withstand the heavenly tribulation. If the demon clan no longer has the Demon God, then they will pose no further threat to us. It is only that now the Time Mirror has foretold that a new Demon God is about to descend…”
Fu Changhuan said, “What does Prophet Elder mean?”
“I have, during this period, made inquiries in many places within the demon clan and learned quite a number of things,” the elder said meaningfully. “Wangyou, the demon clan poses no great harm at present because Ye Jisheng’s power has not yet reached its peak. But the little Demon God is a congenital divine body. If the little Demon God truly comes into being, then in the future, the Three Realms will inevitably fall into great chaos.”
Fu Changhuan did not speak. The atmosphere sank into deathly silence.
The elder spoke even more bluntly: “I naturally know that if our immortal clan intervenes in this matter, we may suffer retaliation from the Demon God. But have you considered, if the little Demon God truly survives, with the demon clan’s vindictive nature, how could they allow the Three Realms to remain at peace?”
Fu Changhuan said, “What does Prophet Elder intend?”
“That little grass, I know you are very fond of him. Rest assured, I will not harm his life,” the elder said. “But the child in his womb cannot be kept. He trusts you and will certainly listen to you. As long as this child disappears, it will be for the benefit of the Three Realms and the protection of all living beings. I believe he will also understand.”
Pa,
The book in Jian Zhen’s hand trembled.
From the concealed bookshelf came an extremely faint sound.
The elder’s brows instantly turned sharp. “Whose there?”
He had not expected that this place, being a formation set by Grandmaster, could be entered by anyone else except himself and Fu Changhuan. He had completely not imagined that someone could enter, and that the formation would even automatically conceal that person’s aura!
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