Chapter 1982: Is Me, Not Me

“Mortal lands, forbidden to immortals and demons!”

Qin Sang’s tone was calm, his voice not loud. Yet, this single sentence seemed to contain boundless spiritual power, spreading beyond the mountain and across the mortal realm, from Yun Continent Mountain all the way to Twilight Mountain. All who possessed cultivation could hear it. Though devoid of any celestial phenomena, its power resonated in the ears of all beings like a thunderclap. This thunderclap echoed in their hearts, instilling boundless terror, akin to a divine decree! All cultivators felt their minds shake, an invisible pressure descending upon them, pressing down until they could no longer breathe. Divine authority flowed from his lips; his words became law!

***

**The Yan Kingdom Capital**

The Prime Minister’s Residence.

Having successively witnessed strange phenomena—from pervasive light to dense, dark clouds and rolling thunder—the mortals, oblivious to the truth, were filled with panic. They wondered if their prayers had been effective. Fortunately, the sky hadn't truly collapsed. Mortals couldn't hear Qin Sang's voice. As the celestial anomalies gradually vanished, the clear sky reappeared, and the sun set, everything returned to normal. They hesitated, wondering whether it was safe to venture outside. However, the Prime Minister had just given an order for everyone to remain inside the residence.

The clatter of hooves.

The arrival of a fast horse at the residence, bearing an imperial decree, instantly plunged the Prime Minister's household into disarray. No one knew where the Prime Minister had gone.

Inside the Imperial City.

The Yan Kingdom’s monarch stood before his bedchamber, having watched the entire celestial phenomenon unfold. He squinted, gazing at the hazy evening glow. “Has the Prime Minister arrived?”

Yu Lang had departed hastily, unable to attend to every detail. The eunuch, still reeling from the shock, trembled as he replied, “Your Majesty, the imperial decree should have just arrived at the Prime Minister’s residence…”

The monarch grunted. Immortals frequently entered the mortal world, interfering in its disputes. It was no longer a secret that cultivators existed in the world. He glanced east of the Imperial City, where Deer Park, an immortal's dwelling, was located. Could such astonishing celestial phenomena be man-made? What terrifying power! A shadow fell over the monarch's heart. Could such a vast Yan Kingdom not be wiped out in the blink of an eye? Little did he know, cultivators with such power were exceedingly rare. The cultivators in Deer Park were, at that very moment, trembling in fear, desperate to understand what had truly transpired.

“General Qin is not at the residence.”

Someone whispered, “General Tao has also left the city, saying he was going to visit Immortal Master Yun.”

Tao Teng received Yu Lang’s message and sought help from his master. Being closest to Immortal Master Yun, they were his conduits for delivering decrees to the Yan Kingdom’s cultivation world. Everyone was indecisive. The decree forbidding entry into the mortal realm made their hearts pound, leaving them torn between staying and leaving. They all looked towards the tallest pavilion in Deer Park. At the top of the pavilion stood a person, none other than the Nascent Soul patriarch overseeing the capital—Old Ancestor Kuang.

“Leave the city!” Old Ancestor Kuang said in a deep voice, being the first to fly out of the city. Hearing that decree, his mind was restless, and he no longer dared to remain in the mortal realm. In an instant, Deer Park stood deserted.

***

**The Yan Kingdom's Old Capital**

A refined small courtyard.

In the courtyard stood an apricot tree, with lush branches and leaves, still as verdant as new, even in late autumn, with subtle hints of yellow among its leaves, indicating ripe apricots. Under the tree were a stone table, stone stools, and an ancient well. A scholar stood with a book closed, gazing up at the celestial phenomena. After listening intently for a moment, the scholar's expression suddenly changed. He swept his gaze across the courtyard, a look of reluctance on his face, and sighed softly. “The sages often say: the greatest hermits live in the city. But I fear I can no longer remain hidden!”

He gently patted the tree trunk beside him. The apricot tree swayed slightly, its apricots bobbing like lanterns, emitting a strange fragrance, seemingly possessing sentience. “You gained sentience by listening to my readings; this is our shared fate. Come back to the mountain with me.” Uncertain of the decree's strictness, he feared that if the apricot demon remained, it might be discovered and chopped down for firewood. The scholar used magic to move the apricot tree, then reluctantly left the small courtyard.

***

**At the Foot of the Mountain**

The village had only a few dozen households, making a living by hunting. The wealthiest household was at the eastern end of the village. The man was named Wang Hanzi, or ‘Simpleton Wang’. He wasn't from this village; he had drifted here, and an old hunter, pitying him, took him home, gave him a few meals, and even married his daughter to him. Wang Hanzi was robust and immensely strong. He always returned from the mountain laden with game, though he also ate a great deal. He would only offer a simple, silly grin when meeting people and never grew angry when teased, earning him the nickname ‘Simpleton’.

With the arrival of the celestial anomaly.

Wang Hanzi, who had been busily shoveling food from a basin, suddenly dropped it and rushed out the door. The clouds dispersed and the thunder faded, but Wang Hanzi remained standing there, motionless as a pillar. Clinging to his side was a spirited, chubby boy, frightened by the celestial shift. He hugged Wang Hanzi’s thick leg tightly and asked tremblingly, “Dad, are you still going to the mountain today?”

Wang Hanzi let out a soft breath, looked down at his son, then at his wife beside him—far from naturally beautiful, but incredibly gentle and dependent on him. His expression was completely different from before. His wife and son noticed his change and stared at him blankly.

“My master sent me down the mountain to overcome a trial of love. I’m afraid I failed to comprehend it, and cannot now.” Wang Hanzi patted his son’s head, embraced his wife, and said softly, “Come back to the mountain with me.”

***

Immortal Master Yun stared intently towards Azure Ram Monastery. He had already sensed that Azure Ram Monastery was the source of the celestial change.

“Daoist Master Qingfeng…” As the ethereal, transcendent figure appeared in his mind, Immortal Master Yun suddenly shivered, cold sweat beading on his back. He had actually dared to contemplate making Daoist Master Qingfeng his pawn! When the decree came, Immortal Master Yun was abruptly awakened. There was no mistake; that voice belonged unmistakably to Daoist Master Qingfeng. But why was it coming from the east? The east, could it be…

Immortal Master Yun’s face drained of color. Leaving a message talisman behind, he hurriedly rushed back to Yun Continent Mountain. Tao Teng, en route to visit his master, received a message talisman ordering him to swiftly meet Yu Lang, leaving him utterly bewildered.

As Immortal Master Yun departed, a streak of light also soared from the country of Liu, north of the Yan Kingdom, heading in the opposite direction. The gray streak of light, emitting an ominous aura, belonged to the cloaked figure who had once played chess against Immortal Master Yun. The cloaked figure also discovered the various anomalies, becoming extremely panicked. How could he dare to remain in the mortal realm any longer? He nervously watched Azure Ram Monastery, and only after flying a great distance without any thunder striking him did he feel a little calmer, though he still dared not stop. The cloaked figure looked west, towards the direction of his sect's mountain gate. Even now, he hadn't received a decree from his sect. Was such a monumental change not enough to alarm his master and prompt his emergence from seclusion? An inexplicable unease stirred within him.

***

**The Yuan Ding Kingdom**

Within the country flowed a river named Sky River. The Yuan Ding Kingdom's terrain sloped from high in the west to low in the east, featuring many perilous and towering peaks impassable to mortals. This river originated there, its waters seemingly descending from the sky, thus earning its name. More often, however, people referred to Sky River as the 'Evil River'. This was because Sky River was frequently windy and turbulent, often overflowing its banks. Each time, it would transform both shores into a flooded land, devouring countless lives.

This river was not without a water god, but the water god was an evil flood dragon that had attained divinity by connecting with the water veins, rather than through incense offerings. How could even the strongest river embankment withstand the water god's forceful impact? Rather than incense offerings, the evil flood dragon preferred to devour living creatures itself. Every time the river burst its banks, it signaled the dragon's awakening to feed. Furthermore, the more the river flooded, the more fervent the incense offerings became.

A village stood on the hillside along the riverbank. The villagers were prostrating themselves before the heavens. Suddenly, a child pointed at the river surface, shouting, “Look! Look!” The villagers all looked and witnessed another unforgettable scene following the celestial anomaly.

Rumble…

The river water surged violently, as if a legendary flood dragon were moving, and countless fish leaped from the water. The villagers seemed to sense the fishes' terror and exchanged bewildered glances. Then, they noticed the river level actually falling, gradually exposing the stones on both banks. The rate of descent accelerated, eventually revealing the muddy riverbed. Even the village elders only now realized the true depth of the Sky River.

“There!” someone shouted. The river water flowed towards a single point, where a whirlpool appeared at what was once the river's widest section.

Gurgle…

The river water receded, exposing the riverbed, which was, in fact, a vast, bottomless chasm. This chasm swallowed all the river water; in reality, the evil flood dragon had escaped into the underground water system, fleeing the mortal realm. Suddenly, more river water gushed forth from the chasm, and the river surface gradually returned to normal. The villagers stared blankly at this scene, sensing an unprecedented calmness in the river water. Decades later, almost no one living along the banks of Sky River remembered the name 'Evil River'.

***

**The Western Regions of the Mortal World**

The Yinluo Kingdom shared a border with Twilight Mountain. Demons and monsters frequently descended from the mountain to cause havoc, leaving the populace in destitution. To counter Yun Continent Heaven in their strategic game, a nation had been established here, which, paradoxically, brought stability.

Outside the capital of the Yinluo Kingdom was West Mountain. After the celestial anomaly, West Mountain suddenly emitted a yellow glow, accompanied by sounds of cracking stone. The main peak of West Mountain shook violently, and huge boulders rolled down. It was as if a layer of its outer casing had been peeled away.

Crack!

Massive stones detached from the mountain body, but instead of falling, they connected to form a single stone pillar, pushing outwards on both sides. The pillar bent slightly, resembling a colossal arm with distinct fingers. Two arms powerfully braced the peaks on either side, and the mountain body gradually rose. As the earth trembled, a figure slowly rose. Its body, as massive as a mountain and clearly defined, was constructed from piled stones. Its head was a square block of stone, from which two stone faces cracked open to reveal a pair of deep, profound eyes.

It was none other than the Mountain God of West Mountain! He looked east, and a moment later, with a forceful grasp of both hands, mysterious yellow light burst from his fingertips, enveloping West Mountain.

Rumble!

The peaks of West Mountain were actually uprooted. The stone figure hoisted the entire mountain range onto its shoulders and sprinted wildly towards Twilight Mountain. Each stride spanned several mountain ranges. Its astonishing momentum startled countless living beings. Birds and beasts leaped about in chaotic disarray. Some demonic beasts and evil spirits also jumped aboard, using its momentum to escape into Twilight Mountain. The stone figure paid no heed, simply continuing its wild dash.

On a mountain ahead, a human face materialized on a stone at its peak. It looked at the rushing stone figure and asked in a muffled voice. “Hey! The decree forbids immortals and demons. You’re not an evil god, so why are you running?”

The stone figure grunted, said nothing, and strode over the mountain in a single step.

***

**The Gates of Hell and City Gods**

The Gates of Hell. The Yin-Yang Pass. Once this pass was sealed, Yin and Yang were separated, and ghosts and gods no longer meddled in mortal affairs. Today, across various locations in the mortal realm, the Gates of Hell opened one after another, and countless ghosts and gods returned to the Yang world.

The mortal world was in great chaos. Many City God Temples, overseen by the capital's City Gods, were no longer strictly confined to the capital city. Within a single country, with multiple capital City Gods, it would take time to sort out their relationships. The capital City Gods had long anticipated that once the mortal world was unified, there would only be one capital City God, who would, however, still be subject to the commands of either Yun Continent Heaven or Soulfall Abyss. No one could have predicted such an unexpected turn of events. The capital City Gods were all bewildered and uncertain, unsure whether this decree portended good or ill for them. But as they heard the decree, a figure simultaneously appeared before their eyes: a Daoist priest, clad in a Daoist robe, ethereal as an immortal.

Soon, the monarchs of various mortal kingdoms all received prophetic dreams from several capital City Gods while they slept. Upon waking, the monarchs immediately issued decrees, commanding the full power of their nations to erect a sacred statue in their capitals!

***

**In the Desert**

Qin Sang’s Dharma Body appeared at the edge of the thunderous storm, forming a sword art with his hand, fully controlling his sword. The Gray Oriole Sword pierced through the storm, located the aura, and mercilessly ran through it. Even if Old Ancestor Minghu had survived the Thunder Oath Chapter, he would certainly be extremely weak. How could he possibly withstand the Gray Oriole Sword?

Just as he was about to eliminate all remaining traces of the aura, Qin Sang's expression shifted slightly, and he changed his sword art.

Whoosh!

The Gray Oriole Sword reversed course and flew back, its sword light enshrouding several items, among them a dark golden skull. The skull was covered in cracks; it was indeed Old Ancestor Minghu's head. When it was on the verge of destruction, Qin Sang snatched it away. Originally, Old Ancestor Minghu could have used his head to reincarnate, but now he had been completely annihilated. Unsure of its purpose for now, Qin Sang put it away along with the other relics.

“No wonder Daoist Master took the lead but chose the white pieces. I, this old man, have become a black piece.” Old Man Guyun looked at the white piece on the 'Heavenly Origin' position of the chessboard, vaguely understanding. It was because Yun Continent Heaven and Soulfall Abyss were playing a game of chess using the mortal realm as their board that the Daoist Master had been drawn here. But why would a supreme expert care so deeply for the mortal realm? Was he attempting to become a saint?

A saint? Old Man Guyun’s heart suddenly stirred. He was certain that the Daoist Master was definitely not a Divine Path cultivator. There had always been rumors that the conflict between the Mahayana and Hinayana paths in the outside world was intensifying. An increasing number of cultivators were changing their ways, pursuing the Mahayana path, which made demons and monsters increasingly cautious, not daring to act recklessly for fear of inadvertently becoming stepping stones for others' enlightenment. The Mahayana path not only included the Divine Path but was also said to be based upon it, further giving rise to several Great Daos, including the Saintly Path. The Saintly Path: enlightening all beings!

***

**The Yan Kingdom Capital**

Upon entering the city gate, people would immediately see a colossal stone statue. The area in front of the city gate had been cleared and transformed into a plaza, where the stone statue stood tall. The statue, white as jade, was carved into the likeness of a Daoist priest—Daoist Master Qingfeng, the abbot of Azure Ram Monastery.

Qin Sang’s true body arrived before the statue and murmured four words. “The Mahayana Killing Path.”

Qingyuan had pointed out the Mahayana path to him, and Qin Sang had gained some understanding. This time, he had followed Yu Lang's wish to protect the common people, using Old Ancestor Minghu and Old Man Guyun to achieve his enlightenment. One must first know whom to protect to then know whom to kill. Ziwei Sword Sovereign walked amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood, his hands stained crimson. He cultivated the Killing Path and, though inherently a lone wolf, he nonetheless established a force and built the Fourteen Sword Pavilions. So that was it.

“But what did he protect?” Qin Sang wondered inwardly. What about himself? He was devoted to seeking immortality. Should he, then, protect the world, willingly bearing countless karma and entanglements, and become a saint? He felt a divergence within his own path, greater than any previous conflict. This was a divergence of Daos! This time, he used his disciple’s heart to clarify his own path. What about in the future? He couldn't take a disciple every time he sought enlightenment. Moreover, if it didn’t stem from his true heart, it would ultimately not be the right path.

“Master?” Yu Lang walked into the plaza and saw Qin Sang standing before the statue. Qin Sang’s true body and the statue bore different faces, but Yu Lang was certain it was his master.

Qin Sang turned his head, looked at his disciple, and said, “Qingfeng is me, but I am not Qingfeng.”