Jian Zhen did not quite remember how he returned to Spirit Mountain.
He only felt the world was dim and heavy, and he seemed to be in a stretch of darkness. In the darkness there was faint light; that light flickered bright and dim, and the entire sky was dyed blood red.
Loneliness, boundless loneliness.
He wanted to leave this darkness but could find no way.
In the distant horizon, the sky suddenly brightened greatly. A voice descended: “I can help you out.”
“Out? You really will help me?”
“Of course. We can make an equivalent exchange. I help you out, and you must also help me with a small favor.”
“What favor?”
“Help me suppress the Demon Clan’s destiny, prevent their Demon God from descending into the world. As long as you help me, I will help you…”
The increasingly distant voice dissipated from the horizon.
Jian Zhen’s heart suddenly grew flustered. He anxiously wanted to chase that light and ask what it meant. “What are you talking about? What Demon Clan? What destiny? You…”
Stumbling forward, he opened his eyes, only to break out in a cold sweat.
Before his eyes was Spirit Mountain’s great hall.
A faint scent of sandalwood drifted into his nose. Jian Zhen gasped violently, finally recovering from the shadow and suffocating sensation of that darkness.
Until a voice came from the side. “Awake?”
Jian Zhen inexplicably felt that the voice was somewhat familiar. For a brief moment, he thought he was still trapped in the dream of the past and had not yet regained his senses.
He lifted his head.
Not far away by the pavilion stood a man dressed in cyan robes. He stood with his hands behind his back; the hair at his temples was somewhat gray.
Jian Zhen said, “Grandmaster Ancestor.”
The man nodded lightly. He stroked his beard and parted his lips. “Wangyou brought you back. He said you had a Heavenly Punishment curse mark on you and were unconscious, so he sent you to me.”
Jian Zhen murmured, “Heavenly Punishment…”
It was because he had changed Ye Jisheng’s fate. He had altered the destiny of a god, so he had to bear the price of karmic consequence.
Grandmaster Ancestor stood high upon the spiritual platform. Snowflakes drifted in from outside, yet indoors remained verdant. He lowered his eyes to look at Jian Zhen. In those calm, rippleless eyes seemed the ability to see through everything in this world.
Jian Zhen lifted his gaze and felt as if he had already been seen through.
Grandmaster Ancestor slowly said, “Doing this, was it worth it?”
This was the second time Jian Zhen had been asked this question.
The first time was by Senior Brother. This time, it was by the only god in the world, the God of Nature.
Jian Zhen did not directly answer the question. He only looked at the person before him, at the one standing in wind and snow with hair streaked white, and said softly, “When I first met Grandmaster Ancestor, your appearance was still youthful. Does Grandmaster Ancestor think it was worth it?”
And now, he was already aged.
As a deity, he should have been undying and unaging.
Grandmaster Ancestor said, “I did it for the Immortal Clan’s people and disciples. Naturally, it was worth it.”
“It can be seen that in Grandmaster Ancestor’s heart, if it is for something one cherishes, then giving everything is worth it.” Jian Zhen’s figure was somewhat thin. He lifted his pale face and said, “I do not have Grandmaster Ancestor’s great ability to shelter all living beings under heaven. I only want to protect the one I love.”
Grandmaster Ancestor said, “Even if that person is the Demon God.”
Jian Zhen smiled lightly, his eyes clear: “To Grandmaster Ancestor or to the people of the world, he is the Demon God, but to me, he is only Ye Jisheng.”
Grandmaster Ancestor said, “Do you know how your parents died?”
Jian Zhen shook his head.
“Your parents were killed by the demons.” Grandmaster Ancestor said, “Even so, do you not care in the slightest?”
Jian Zhen’s hands at his sides tightened somewhat. He could more or less guess some things about the original body, yet he had not known it would be like this. If he were the original owner, he would probably already hate the Demon God to the bone at this moment.
“What does Grandmaster Ancestor hope I will do, kill the demons to avenge my parents?” Jian Zhen looked up at him and said, “But Grandmaster Ancestor, do you know how many demons have been killed by the immortals during these years of enslavement, and how many people’s children, how many people’s parents have died? Grandmaster Ancestor, do you think this is correct?”
Grandmaster Ancestor’s eyes sharpened; it was rare for him to show anger. He said, “Are you blaming me?”
Jian Zhen said, “This disciple would not dare.”
Endless snowflakes fell. The pressure of a god was not something an ordinary person could withstand. The curtains hung down, and Jian Zhen’s face turned deathly pale.
“This disciple only feels that this endless hatred, when will the confrontation between the two races ever end? Today you kill me, tomorrow I kill you. If this hatred does not cease, it will not only be my parents; more people will continue to die.” Jian Zhen raised his head, his gaze clear. “This disciple begs Grandmaster Ancestor to spare the demons, and I also dare to guarantee to Grandmaster Ancestor that Ye Jisheng will absolutely not make a move against Spirit Mountain.”
The air fell into silence.
Grandmaster Ancestor was silent for a long time.
Just when Jian Zhen thought he also did not trust what he had said,
Grandmaster Ancestor’s voice finally descended. He said, “It is too late.”
Jian Zhen suddenly looked up at him. Grandmaster Ancestor stood in the wind and snow and said, “Heaven’s mandate is thus; it is not something that the power of one person can reverse. I originally only wished to sacrifice myself in exchange for peace under heaven, but now, I need you to assist me.”
Jian Zhen said, “Me?”
Grandmaster Ancestor nodded. He said, “You come from Wanmie Mountain. You and I are the only ones who can open Wanmie Mountain.”
Jian Zhen’s pupils trembled slightly as he looked at him in disbelief.
Grandmaster Ancestor said slowly, “Even if your body is that of this world, your soul still carries the aura of Wanmie Mountain. Wanmie Mountain is an ancient divine mountain. Every ten million years it erupts once; all gods undergo tribulation and are born there. It’s aura, I will never mistake it.”
Jian Zhen gripped the quilt tightly. He pressed his lips together and finally said, “Since Grandmaster Ancestor knows that I am not a soul of this world, you should naturally also understand what I have come here to do.”
Grandmaster Ancestor said, “You must help us, because this is your fate.”
Jian Zhen looked up at him.
Grandmaster Ancestor lowered his eyes. His green robe was particularly striking in the snow, like the last touch of green vitality upon Spirit Mountain. He said, “You revealed heavenly secrets and suffered heavenly punishment. Your soul has already been severely damaged. If you still interfere with the Heavenly Dao, you will surely die.”
Jian Zhen fell into a coma again.
When he woke up once more, the first thing he saw was a pitch-black, overcast sky, like a man-eating beast. Jian Zhen only felt sore and weak all over. He slowly sat up; desolate wind surrounded him.
A pair of hands reached over to support him. “Be careful.”
Jian Zhen looked at the snow-colored brocade in his sight and said softly, “Senior Brother.”
Fu Changhuan said, “You bear the mark of heavenly punishment. Your body was not good to begin with. Grandmaster Ancestor circulated his power and transferred qi to you. Are you feeling better?”
Jian Zhen still felt heavy and stifled all over, but he did not wish to make the person beside him worry. He said softly, “Thank you, Senior Brother. I am much better. Where are we now?”
Fu Changhuan was silent for a moment before saying, “Wanmie Mountain.”
Jian Zhen’s whole body stiffened.
He had long heard the name Wanmie Mountain; this was his first time coming into contact with it. Ten thousand li of dark clouds were shrouded in thick fog. This place was a famous mountain; it should originally have been lush with forests, yet as far as the eye could see it was barren. For ten thousand li there was only desolate black earth. The high mountains were majestic yet bleak.
Jian Zhen said softly, “Wanmie Mountain…”
Fu Changhuan said, “Mm. This place is the most secret divine mountain of the Three Realms, Wanmie Mountain. Every ten million years Wanmie Mountain opens a fissure. The mountain contains an immense amount of spiritual energy; it is the origin of all spiritual energy in the world.”
Jian Zhen sat on a stone. He looked at the barren land not far away and said softly, “Senior Brother brought me here because of Ye Jisheng?”
Fu Changhuan stood at his side, looking down at him, his face cold and aloof. “The Demon God must absolutely not manifest in the world. Grandmaster Ancestor has already set up the God-Slaying Grand Formation here. We disciples are merely here to guard the formation. You are Grandmaster Ancestor’s disciple, so naturally you must come.”
Jian Zhen let the cold wind brush against him and smiled lightly. “Guard the formation…”
All along, he had known that he was not clever.
He also knew that he always thought of things too simply. He hoped everyone could be well, yet he had overlooked that people’s hearts are complex.
“Senior Brother had me come,” Jian Zhen said, “in order to draw Ye Jisheng here?”
Fu Changhuan was silent for a moment and said, “Even if you were not here, if he wishes to undergo tribulation, he would still come.”
Jian Zhen listened quietly. The wind blew through his hair. His fair little face carried a trace of loneliness. The one who usually loved to smile most now appeared exceptionally calm. He said softly, “Senior Brother, if Ye Jisheng enters the God-Slaying Grand Formation, what will happen?”
Fu Changhuan said, “If it were an ordinary God-Slaying Grand Formation, with our power he might not necessarily die. But this formation was laid by Grandmaster Ancestor using the blood from his heart as the catalyst. He will undoubtedly die. This is his destined fate.”
Jian Zhen said softly, “He will not come.”
Fu Changhuan said, “No. He has already come.”
Before Jian Zhen could speak, thunder and lightning roared within the clouds. A bolt of lightning split the sky.
Fu Changhuan said, “His heavenly tribulation has arrived.”
Jian Zhen said somewhat unexpectedly, “Didn’t he just reach the Golden Core stage? How could he be so close to the Soul Transformation stage so quickly?”
Fu Changhuan lowered his eyes to look at the foot of the mountain and said, “That he could walk out alive in the first place was already a kind of miracle.”
Jian Zhen’s heart trembled. “What… do you mean?”
“Boom!”
Another huge thunderclap crashed down.
Jian Zhen turned his head, only to see soul-fire filling the sky, burning the entire mountain.
At the other end of the road, he saw someone step by step walking up along a path dyed red with blood. Ye Jisheng seemed to be covered in blood all over. The moment his figure appeared, Jian Zhen’s eyes widened; between heaven and earth, it seemed as if only his figure remained.
Jian Zhen subconsciously moved to run over.
But Fu Changhuan grabbed his hand.
Jian Zhen’s eyes had already turned red; his voice carried a sob: “Senior Brother, I want to go see him…”
Fu Changhuan’s usually aloof face seemed at this moment to finally show cracks. He tightened his grip on Jian Zhen’s wrist and said loudly, “He is about to undergo tribulation! From the moment he stepped in here, he had already entered the God-Slaying Grand Formation. You already bear the mark of heavenly punishment. If you interfere with causality again, your soul simply will not withstand it. You will have your soul scattered and dissipated. You are my junior brother. I am unwilling to watch you lose your life for him!”
For a moment, Jian Zhen felt as if what appeared before him was the Immortal Venerable’s figure thousands of years later.
During those two hundred years, it had always grown in front of their window. Sometimes it listened to the Immortal Venerable telling him where the various cave dwellings and treasures were hidden; sometimes it listened to the Demon God telling him of the rare wonders and strange tales of the Three Realms. At that time, it had truly been very happy, even thinking that was forever.
At that time, he had imagined becoming human.
He imagined that after taking human form he could travel throughout the Three Realms, how free and happy that would be.
The Immortal Venerable and the Demon God had shown him kindness.
Both were the most important people in his life.
Tears fell from Jian Zhen’s eyes. He grasped Fu Changhuan’s hand and said, “Senior Brother, stop. Don’t continue anymore. I came back from the future using a magical artifact. The God-Slaying Grand Formation cannot kill him. Grandmaster Ancestor will die. The immortal clan’s disciples will all die. Let him go, and let yourselves go too. If this continues, all of Spirit Mountain will be buried with it. Ye Jisheng truly will slaughter Spirit Mountain!”
As soon as the words fell, Jian Zhen felt intense pain throughout his body. He could not hold back and spat out another mouthful of blood. The pain was so great it felt as if he had lost all sensation. Thunder rolled again and again in the sky. Crossing time and space was already defying the heavens; interfering with causality was even more an unforgivable crime. Bolts of heavenly lightning crashed down, as if the Heavenly Dao were expressing its fury.
Amid the rumbling thunder, an extremely cold wind swept past the two of them.
Jian Zhen knelt before Fu Changhuan. “Senior Brother… please, give up. Don’t use the God-Slaying Grand Formation anymore…”
Fu Changhuan’s eyes slowly reddened. He looked at Jian Zhen, his gaze more complicated than Jian Zhen had ever felt before, and finally said slowly, “So, Ye Jisheng truly will kill our clansmen. Even Grandmaster Ancestor’s power cannot do anything to him. Even the God-Slaying Grand Formation cannot do anything to him. Is that right?”
Jian Zhen watched as Fu Changhuan pried his fingers away one by one.
Those who cultivate the Heartless Dao hold within their hearts the common people of the world, the Great Dao and righteousness.
Fu Changhuan drew the sword in his hand. He said, “Then I will kill him.”
Jian Zhen’s breath caught.
“This heavenly punishment, I will bear it.” Fu Changhuan lowered his eyes and said, “Using my one life in exchange for the lives of the entire immortal clan is not a pity.”
Jian Zhen was powerless to stop him. He could only watch a snow-white figure disappear before him, rushing toward that blaze of fire. He could only watch Wanmie Mountain, with heavenly tribulation imminent, shrouded in dark clouds, thunder crashing.
Vast spiritual energy surged between heaven and earth.
Two at the Soul Transformation stage and one half-god already in a state of frenzy fought; tremendous spiritual energy roiled around them.
Fu Changhuan’s sword intertwined with Ye Jisheng’s soul-fire, yet he still underestimated Ye Jisheng’s thick killing intent. In just a moment of distraction, endless soul-fire spread up along his arm; his sword slipped from his hand.
Ye Jisheng curled his lips into a cold smile.
Fu Changhuan fell to the ground. Ye Jisheng was covered in blood; his eyes were a scarlet red. He said faintly, “All of you will die.”
The sharp sword was picked up by Ye Jisheng and thrust mercilessly into Fu Changhuan’s chest.
The piercing pain of the soul-fire made Fu Changhuan’s vision blur. He closed his eyes, waiting for the fatal strike, but the expected pain did not come. When he opened his eyes, there was a figure in green standing before him.
His little junior brother had blocked in front of him.
Jian Zhen’s face was pale as he slowly collapsed to the ground. Ye Jisheng’s eyes widened, staring in disbelief at the person before him.
“Clang.”
The sword fell to the ground.
Ye Jisheng almost seemed to have gone mad as he knelt down to catch Jian Zhen. He said, “What’s wrong with you? Why did you block it for him!?”
Blood stained Jian Zhen’s chest, and blood overflowed from the corner of his lips. Even so, he still forced himself to turn his head and look at Fu Changhuan. “Senior Brother, are you alright?”
Fu Changhuan stood frozen in place. Those who cultivate the Heartless Dao are never disturbed in reason by mortal emotions, yet at this moment, his mind seemed to crash. Jian Zhen’s blood was like the sharpest blade in the world, fiercely stabbing into his eyes. It even seemed that this sword hurt more than if it had pierced his own body. He wanted to speak, yet could not recall anything to say.
“It’s good that you’re alright…”
Jian Zhen’s voice was very soft. He smiled and said with some difficulty, “This way, I… can be considered to have repaid you…”
The color drained from his face. Those dark eyes clearly reflected Fu Changhuan’s figure, clean and clear as when they had first met.
Jian Zhen’s voice was very light, yet when it fell into Fu Changhuan’s heart it weighed as much as ten thousand jun. He said, “Thousands of years ago, the Immortal Venerable brought me back from Wanmie Mountain to Spirit Mountain and planted me, using the blood from his heart to heal my wounds. Ten thousand years later, the Immortal Venerable and Grandmaster Ancestor gave me a place to settle. This is what I owe you.”
Fu Changhuan said, “Stop talking. I’ll heal you.”
Jian Zhen’s blood fell. In Ye Jisheng’s arms, he gently shook his head and said, “Immortal Venerable, you… you gave me one life. I also saved you once. Does that… does that count as repaid?”
Fu Changhuan’s heart suddenly turned cold. What overflowed from the bottom of his heart was a despair and panic he did not understand. “Don’t say so much. I’ll heal you.”
Yet Jian Zhen revealed a faint smile. Dark clouds filled the sky above Wanmie Mountain. The person at the brink of death was instead the calmest. He refused him. “Senior Brother, I’m a little tired. I want to say a few words to Ye Jisheng. Is that alright?”
Fu Changhuan looked toward Ye Jisheng.
But Ye Jisheng only held the person in his arms, his gaze always resting on Jian Zhen, not sparing even the slightest glance for Fu Changhuan.
They held each other tightly.
As if no one could separate them.
Fu Changhuan slowly stood up. His body was stained red, yet none of it was his blood. He had not died, yet he felt that at this moment, he had already died once.
A violent wind swept up endless dust storms.
Jian Zhen lifted his eyes to look at Ye Jisheng’s face. Seeing that his clothes were already soaked red from wounds all over his body, he struggled to raise his hand and touched his cheek, smoothing over those blood-streaked wounds, and said softly, “Why are you so foolish? Knowing this was a trap, you still came.”
Ye Jisheng’s red eyes stared unblinkingly at Jian Zhen. His voice was somewhat hoarse. “I came to take you back.”
Tears rolled from the corners of Jian Zhen’s eyes.
Yet his heart was full, steadier than ever before.
A smile gathered in Jian Zhen’s eyes. He said softly, “I thought I was going to die, but being able to see you again, I’m really happy.”
Blood seeped from his wound. Life seemed to be rapidly draining from his body.
Ye Jisheng said, “I’ll take you back. I’ll take you back right now. We’ll return to the demon clan, far away from all of them. I’ve come to take you. My cultivation has improved now. I won’t let them hurt you again.”
Drops of water fell onto Jian Zhen’s face, somewhat cold.
He had seen many sides of Ye Jisheng, arrogant, fierce, untamed; he had also seen Ye Jisheng fallen, inferior, low-spirited, lonely.
This was the first time he had seen Ye Jisheng’s tears. The one who feared neither heaven nor earth, full of pride, as if even broken bones would not make him bend, knelt on the ground holding him, helpless and despairing. Ye Jisheng said, “You won’t die. I won’t let you die.”
He wanted to stop Jian Zhen’s bleeding, but the blood from the wound would not stop.
He wanted to transfer true qi to Jian Zhen, desperately wanting to pour all his spiritual power into the person in his arms. But all the spiritual energy that entered Jian Zhen’s body dissipated. He could only watch the person in his arms grow weaker bit by bit. He held him tightly, yet still could not stop his departure.
Ye Jisheng’s hands were covered in blood. Dense despair spread from his body, helpless like a trapped beast.
Jian Zhen stroked his cheek, wanting to wipe away his tears, but found he did not even have the strength to move a finger. Ye Jisheng grasped his hand and pressed it to his own face. He heard Jian Zhen say, “On this mountain, the God-Slaying Formation has been set. It is not good for you. It will… it will seal half of your power. Your heavenly tribulation has not yet arrived. If you leave now, it’s still in time.”
How wonderful.
Tears blurred Jian Zhen’s eyes.
He thought that this time, he had finally made it in time, before the God-Slaying Grand Formation, to save Ye Jisheng.
Ye Jisheng seemed to hear nothing. Regardless of everything, he held Jian Zhen and said, “I’ll take you to find a physician. Where are your immortal clan’s physicians? Can Grandmaster Ancestor save you? I’ll take you to him…”
Jian Zhen gently tugged at him, the strength very, very small, almost negligible. Yet Ye Jisheng still froze, listening to Jian Zhen’s very soft voice say, “It’s useless. What I suffered is heavenly punishment; what’s injured are my three souls and seven spirits. No physician can save me. I actually don’t… don’t regret it at all. What I did were all things I wanted to do. Don’t blame yourself, and don’t… don’t resent yourself.”
Dark clouds filled the sky and thunder roared.
Tears fell into his palm, so scalding hot. Ye Jisheng’s red eyes were filled with despair and deep sorrow. The young Demon God had thought that the most painful thing about undergoing tribulation was the myriad bolts of heavenly lightning. Only now did he experience the pain of a heart torn apart.
On Wanmie Mountain, the man held the person in his arms, as if in the entire world only the two of them remained.
The mark of heavenly punishment surfaced on Jian Zhen’s body. Nestled in Ye Jisheng’s arms, his entire body felt as if pierced by thousands of needles. Yet when his gaze met Ye Jisheng’s, his brows and eyes curved slightly. The weightless feeling of his soul dispersing made the surrounding sounds gradually fade. He opened his mouth with difficulty and said gently, “Ye Jisheng, I’m a little tired. I want to sleep for a while…”
The person holding him seemed to say something. He tried hard to hear clearly, but could no longer hear anything.
Tears blurred his vision.
The last thing Jian Zhen’s palm could feel was Ye Jisheng’s warmth. With his final strength he said softly, “Actually, I still have so many, so many words I wanted to say to you. If… if there is a next life, I still want to be the little grass by your window. No others, no responsibility for the common people, no hatred, just a blade of grass, together with you…”
Tears fell onto his face.
“At that time, perhaps we would even have a child. We… our family would forever not…”
