He had been to Heaven.
He had returned to the human world.
He was either a former Sword Immortal or an Exiled Immortal.
The seemingly absurd records in the Record of Sword Immortals were, of course, somewhat true.
For example, the Heavenly Fire and the Extraterrestrial Demons.
The Exiled Immortal had seen those scenes with his own eyes, but no one believed him because he was the only one who had been there.
So when he returned to the human world, he was still alone.
"He is … a person like you?"
Zhao Layue stared at Jing Jiu and asked with her eyes wide open.
"Yes. That person had succeeded in Ascension and then came back like me."
Jing Jiu said, "The difference is that I didn't want to, but he wanted to, just like Bai Ren who is still outside."
Zhao Layue thought of the middle-aged lunatic's words and suddenly felt a chill. She asked, "Is it … very dangerous up there?"
Jing Jiu said, "I'm more used to calling it the outside."
Whether it was above or outside, it was the other side of the Great Path.
Whether it was called the Immortal Realm or some other realm, it was the world after Ascension.
Zhao Layue and Ada quieted down.
This was the first time Jing Jiu had talked about that world, except for what he had said to Zhao Layue.
"It's really dangerous there, because everything changes very fast."
Zhao Layue didn't understand, wondering what he meant by 'everything changes very fast'.
Ada vaguely thought of something, but he couldn't grasp it.
Jing Jiu said, "I didn't go out for a long time, so I didn't have any contact with the so-called Immortals. I only saw them from a distance."
Tens of thousands of flying swords were burning among the stars.
This was the scene he had described to Zhao Layue.
Zhao Layue had a deep impression of it, so she didn't forget it.
Those flying swords would eventually disappear in the torrent of time, but they themselves were a torrent at that time.
If every sword light was an Immortal who had succeeded in Ascension, how powerful would the torrent be?
Even Jing Jiu felt a sense of awe and trepidation when he saw those sword lights from a long distance back then.
If the torrents formed by the flying swords of the fairy men came from the outside world, the swordsmen of Chaotian and those Alien Lands would be destroyed instantly without any chance to fight back. Even if the Queen of the Snowy Kingdom could kill a few of them, it would be of no use.
Thinking of that scene, Jing Jiu understood that Banished Immortal's fear of the outside world. He also roughly understood why Bai Ren came back and some other deeper things.
As far as the people in the Underworld were concerned, the human Cultivation practitioners were the heavenly demons of the outside world; and as far as the people in Chaotian were concerned, the immortals in the outside world were the same.
Zhao Layue asked with a pale face, "Aren't those immortals the seniors who ascended from our place?"
"There aren't so many ascendants in Chaotian."
The meaning of Jing Jiu's words was very clear. Those sword lights that he had seen from afar definitely did not belong to this world. It was very likely that they were ascenders from another world.
"But we can't be sure that they are the enemy."
"In the unknown world, anyone can be an enemy."
"It's just a possibility."
"Once a possibility happens, it's a definite fact."
"But why … do you still want to go out? Is it worth the risk? "
"If we want to talk about the meaning of life, it's to explore the unknown, find the destination, and understand the purpose of our existence. This is the only meaning."
Jing Jiu said, "It's something we have to do; it's not necessary to consider the risk."
After a moment of silence, Zhao Layue asked, "This is the last question. What about the question you wanted to ask Taiping Zhenren? Do you have the answer? "
"Yes," replied Jing Jiu.
He reached out his hand to destroy the Record of the Sword Immortals, but he gave up on it after some thought and put it back into the ocean of books in the air.
…
…
The peaks of Aoyama were shrouded in the clouds, but they were also in front of them. Yet, Jing Jiu asked Zhao Layue to land outside Cloudy Town.
It was the same old restaurant.
With the help of the Gu Clan, as long as this restaurant continued to serve hotpot, there was no need to worry about the business.
In fact, it was hard for the Yuanyang Hotpot to look like a pair. It was more like a battle between two armies.
The red soup was boiling over there, and the white soup was quiet over here. Both had their own insistence.
Zhao Layue ate two plates of tripe first. When the white soup began to bubble, she threw a green vegetable into the pot.
Years ago, the disciple of the Underworld that Yin San possessed was tied up by her and killed by Master Meng with a sword.
Master Meng should have died in the Sword Jail as well.
That night on the Ice Storm Sea, Jing Jiu said he was sad. It seemed that he didn't come here to reminisce about something. Then what was the reason?
The white soup kept bubbling, and the green vegetable floated in it like duckweed.
Jing Jiu watched this scene in Silence and didn't say anything.
Ah Da lay on the windowsill, looking at the direction of the Ice Storm Sea in the distance, also silent.
The white soup gradually cooled down, and the green vegetable became very soft. Jing Jiu fished it out and put it on the table.
It was then that Jing Jiu realized that that person might have passed away.
Everything was normal in Chaotian. Nothing was out of the ordinary, no matter whether it was windy or rainy.
The Sword Peak was still standing quietly amid the moving clouds and fog.
The reason Jing Jiu knew it was because the jade egg of the Rosefinch had suddenly emitted an energy.
It was not a sign of hatching; it was because the spiritual soul of the Rosefinch inside the egg had sensed something.
Jing Jiu walked to the windowsill and looked in that direction with Ah Da. Zhao Layue was still eating the hotpot behind them.
She didn't intend to show that she was more of a foodie than Zhuo Rusui; she merely thought that Taiping Zhenren might not be able to eat hotpot anymore.
The fog in Cloudy Town was as thick as ever.
Looking at the other side of the fog, Jing Jiu thought that he had at least confirmed that that person didn't intend to kill him.
At least that person didn't intend to kill him before he and Liu Ci and Yuan Qijing attacked.
Was this confirmation important?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
…
…
The blood-red sword light illuminated the Shenmo Peak. Gu Qing led Yuan Qu and Ping Yong-Ka bowing to welcome them.
Jing Jiu said, "Ask the Gu Clan to find a place in Cloudy Town to build a manor house with more rooms, a good view, and a quiet environment."
Upon hearing this, everybody, including Ah Da, felt it odd, thinking that the scenery in Cloudy Town was not as good as the peaks in Aoyama even though it was beautiful.
And why did he want to build a manor house over there? To build a side manor? It was the human world, with mortals everywhere. Didn't he think it was too noisy?
Jing Jiu of course didn't want to explain the reason. He said after some thought, "One of the rooms can be shaded, but there should be a few more night lamps in the room to provide a better illumination."
Gu Qing was even more baffled, wondering what Jing Jiu intended to do. "When do you want it?" he asked.
"Four years later," Jing Jiu said.
Gu Qing agreed. Later, he would send a message to the Gu Clan so that they could make the necessary arrangements.
But it wasn't over yet. Jing Jiu tossed the Sword of the Universe to Jing Jiu, saying, "Here you are."
In fact, this famous flying sword of the fairy state had been in Gu Qing's hands many times; but it was borrowed by Jing Jiu for temporary use each time.
Jing Jiu's intention was clear. From this moment on, he would not use the Sword of the Universe anymore.
Holding the Sword of the Universe with both hands, Gu Qing suddenly felt that the sword was heavier than before. Somehow, his mood became heavy as well.
Everybody felt the heavy atmosphere, but they didn't know why. Even Zhao Layue and Ah Da didn't know what Jing Jiu was doing.
They were all a bit nervous. Zhao Layue even began to suspect that Jing Jiu was about to leave Aoyama, her face turning pale.
"Tell Yuan Qijing that the Grand Ceremony for the enthronement of the Sect Master will be held in four years."
Jing Jiu glanced at the Shanghai Peak and said, "I'm going to stay behind closed doors. I won't see anybody."
Having said that, he turned around and walked into the manor cave. The heavy stone walls fell down one after another, stirring up some dust.
The top of the Shenmo Peak became a bit cold. It wasn't a psychological feeling, but the reality. It was because the Three-Foot Sword had arrived along with the wind and snow.
"Where's the Sect Master?"
Yuan Qijing's solemn voice came out from the Three-Foot Sword.
Zhao Layue, Gu Qing, and Ping Yong-Ka turned to Yuan Qu at the same time.
Yuan Qu walked forward with a bitter face and bowed to the Three-Foot Sword, telling it what Jing Jiu had told him.
Hovering in the wind and snow, the Three-Foot Sword turned around and returned to the Shanghai Peak. Yuan Qijing didn't say anything.
"Master, I can't always do this kind of thing, can I?" Yuan Qu asked innocently while looking at Zhao Layue.
Zhao Layue said, "The Immortal Sect Master has found a sword for you, and it's being nurtured in the Sword Peak. It should be ready to use in a few years."
Yuan Qu was so surprised that he couldn't care less about what had happened before.
Ping Yong-Ka was taken aback. Glancing at the Sword of the Universe in his Big Brother's hand, he asked innocently, "What about me?"
…
…
In the manor cave in the deepest part of the manor cave, the starlight sprinkled down from the ceiling, just like it had been for tens of thousands of years. Even the angle of the light didn't change.
Jing Jiu sat on the cattail hassock with his eyes closed, his white robe illuminated by the starlight. He looked like a fairy man who had drunk too much and was dozing off.
Hearing the footsteps, he opened his eyes and looked at Zhao Layue.
Zhao Layue came before him and knelt down on her knees. "Is it so hard to pursue the path toward heaven?" she asked while looking at him.
Jing Jiu said, "It's the same with love and plowing the land. Everything is hard."
Zhao Layue felt sad, asking, "But why do people like you have to suffer so much?"
Jing Jiu said calmly, "People like me have been worshipped by the world, but I've never thought of giving anything in return. Why can't I have to suffer? Moreover, it's not a hardship at all. "
…
…
The wind and snow brought by the Three-Foot Sword disappeared in an instant.
The early spring arrived.
The Great Formation of Aoyama was opened again, ushering in the spring rain. The wildflowers on Qingrong Peak were in full bloom.
Many disciples of Aoyama were discussing this matter, indicating that Senior Master Nan Wang's sorrow had lessened a bit.
Unexpectedly, Nan Wang rose up against the spring rain and left Aoyama through the passage opened by the Great Formation.
A few days later, she came back from the east. Hundreds of sword strings formed an invisible bridge that brought her to the top of Shenmo Peak.
Gu Qing came up hastily to greet her.
Nan Wang arched his eyebrows slightly, asking, "Where is Jing … the Sect Master?"
Gu Qing said, "My Master is behind closed doors, and so is Senior Master Zhao."
Nan Wang arched his eyebrows even higher. Suddenly, he saw the white cat lying in the wildflowers. He waved his hand to signal for Gu Qing to leave, and walked forward to pick up the white cat.
Ada was about to pounce on the cat and play with it, but he was annoyed at being disturbed by her. As he was about to reach out his paw to stab the cat, he suddenly found her energy was a bit unstable. Feeling startled, he asked through his spiritual awareness, "What's wrong with you?"
Nan Wang said, "I went to Shui Yue Nunnery."
Ada was startled, thinking that she actually went to Shui Yue Nunnery; wasn't she seeking defeat?
"It's impossible for a person like me to lose."
Nan Wang said proudly. Suddenly, her face turned pale and she spat out a mouthful of blood.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
