Chapter 483: Thousand Years

Jiangzhou City, within the Meng Mansion’s inner courtyard, stood the Lake Heart Pavilion.

“That’s beautifully drawn,” Liu Qiyue said, watching from the side.

Meng Chuan, seated at the drawing table, smiled at his wife, then continued to draw.

Liu Qiyue watched intently. The painting depicted a white-haired Meng Chuan and a white-haired Liu Qiyue nestled together, gazing at a scene where heaven and earth were splitting apart, where purple lightning tore through darkness, and a new world was being born.

It was as if, whether the world was being born or breaking apart, these two would always be together.

“It’s finished,” Meng Chuan said, putting down his brush and moving aside.

Liu Qiyue stood before the table, appreciating the painting. The scenes of ‘heaven and earth splitting,’ ‘purple lightning tearing through darkness,’ and ‘a world being born’ were inherently awe-inspiring. Even without deliberate emphasis, such grand spectacles conveyed a sense of immense power. Yet, the heart of the entire painting remained the white-haired man and woman.

They sat nestled together, seemingly destined for eternity, a sense of timelessness clearly palpable.

“It’s beautiful, truly beautiful,” Liu Qiyue murmured, tears welling in her eyes.

Meng Chuan embraced his wife, looking at the painting before them.

“A’Chuan,” Liu Qiyue said softly, “since we married, you’ve painted a picture for me every year. And counting the three you drew before we wed, that makes seventy-two paintings in total. In the past, whenever I had free time, looking at these paintings always made me so happy.”

Meng Chuan held his wife a little tighter.

“When I fall into slumber, a thousand years will pass in an instant,” Liu Qiyue said, looking at her husband. “For me, a blink of an eye will be a millennium later, and I won’t feel any pain or torment. But you, A’Chuan, will have to endure the passage of time all alone.”

“Time passes quickly,” Meng Chuan said with a gentle smile.

“Please keep these seventy-two paintings for now,” Liu Qiyue said, smiling at her husband. “You can give them back to me when I wake up. When you miss me, you can look at them.”

Meng Chuan nodded, smiling, “Alright.”

In the final days, they bid farewell to Meng Dajiang and his wife, Liu Yebai, and others in Jiangzhou City. After all, Meng Dajiang, Liu Yebai, and the others were not permitted to enter the ‘Hall of a Thousand Years,’ a sacred site within Yuanchu Mountain.

Within a Grotto-Heaven on Yuanchu Mountain, white mist permeated the quiet, desolate air, and a distant palace could be seen.

Meng Chuan, Liu Qiyue, Li Guan, the phantom of Qin Wu, the phantom of Luo Tang, Meng An, and Meng You arrived together at this place.

On the quiet, desolate plaza in front of the palace, two figures sat cross-legged: a man in black robes and a woman in black robes with red hair. These were the two Protectors of Yuanchu Mountain. With the defensive pressure eased, they were temporarily resting here.

“Hm?” The two Protectors sensed their arrival and simultaneously opened their eyes. Seeing Li Guan, Meng Chuan, and the others, they naturally did not obstruct them.

Meng Chuan and the others continued onward.

“Rumble.”

Meng Chuan, Li Guan, the phantom of Qin Wu, and the phantom of Luo Tang simultaneously reached out and pushed the palace gates. The doors rumbled open, and an endless cold air permeated the space. Inside, numerous figures could be seen lying, each frozen within blocks of deep blue ice.

“You two wait here,” Meng Chuan instructed.

“Yes, Father,” Meng An and Meng You replied. Even the weakest, Meng You, was a Marquis Godfiend and Liu Qiyue’s daughter, which was why she was permitted to enter this significant location.

“Meng Chuan, we won’t go inside,” the phantom of Qin Wu said.

“Alright.” Meng Chuan nodded and then led his wife, Liu Qiyue, into the Hall of a Thousand Years.

Currently, seventeen figures slumbered within the Hall of a Thousand Years. With the defensive pressure eased, many ancient King Godfiends had resumed their deep sleep.

“Whoosh.” Meng Chuan walked to a spot, waved his hand, and the prepared jade bed was set down. Liu Qiyue smiled faintly, sat on it, then slowly lay down.

“Mother.” Meng An and Meng You watched from outside the hall, reluctant to part. This slumber might last a thousand years. If Meng You couldn't become a King Godfiend, this could possibly be their last meeting.

After lying down, Liu Qiyue looked at her children outside the hall, then turned her gaze to her husband before her.

“A’Chuan,” Liu Qiyue said. Meng Chuan looked at his wife.

“The happiest thing in my life,” Liu Qiyue said, smiling at Meng Chuan, “was marrying you and becoming your wife.”

“It was also my great fortune, Meng Chuan’s fortune, to be able to marry you,” Meng Chuan said, tears welling in his eyes.

“Begin the ‘Thousand Years in an Instant’ now,” Liu Qiyue said with a smile. “The next time I open my eyes, I must see you.”

“You will.”

Meng Chuan’s True Yuan power flowed into the secret patterns on the floor of the Hall of a Thousand Years. The ‘Thousand Years in an Instant’ array had long been inscribed within the hall, requiring only activation. As the power was activated, an intense cold air instantly gathered. This boundless chill converged around Liu Qiyue’s body, gradually forming a layer of deep blue ice on her surface. In just a few breaths, a massive block of deep blue ice had completely encased her.

For Liu Qiyue, she was completely frozen, her life force suspended at the moment of freezing.

Meng Chuan watched, feeling an overwhelming emptiness in his heart.

Outside the hall, Li Guan, Qin Wu, and Luo Tang did not urge him, simply waiting in silence.

A moment later, Meng Chuan finally turned and silently left the Hall of a Thousand Years.

“Rumble.” The doors of the Hall of a Thousand Years began to close. Meng Chuan turned his head, watching his wife among the many slumbering King Godfiends within the hall. Finally, the doors closed completely.

The group left the Grotto-Heaven and arrived before the Grotto-Heaven Pavilion.

“Father,” Meng An said, “come with us to Jiangzhou City. My sister and I, and Grandpa and Grandma, are all there.”

“Father, you could also guide Yuan’er in his cultivation. He’s taking the Yuanchu Mountain entrance examination at the end of the year, and he even said Grandpa teaches best.”

“You two go back to Jiangzhou. I still have matters to attend to,” Meng Chuan said, glancing at his children and nodding slightly. With a whoosh, he transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the horizon.

Meng An and Meng You exchanged glances, helpless.

Meng Chuan returned to the residence he shared with his wife in Fengxue Pass. This had been their home for the past few decades, the place where he had lived with his wife the longest.

“Whoosh.”

Returning to the ordinary courtyard, Meng Chuan sat in the pavilion. His heart felt utterly empty, a sensation he had never experienced in so many years.

Before he knew it, night had fallen.

Meng Chuan returned to the familiar inner room, lay down on the bed, and looked to his side. This time, he was sleeping alone.

“Sleep,” he murmured, closing his eyes. Gradually, he drifted into a state between sleep and wakefulness.

When he opened his eyes again, outside, dawn was just breaking.

After waking, Meng Chuan felt a little more invigorated. He rose, walked into the living room, and approached the dining table.

Meng Chuan’s body trembled, and he stared blankly.

In the past, his wife, Liu Qiyue, loved making porridge and flatbreads. He, too, loved to eat them heartily. Every day they were home, they would eat breakfast.

But now, the dining room was silent. Meng Chuan sat alone at the table, with no porridge, no flatbreads, and the familiar scent was gone forever.

“Qiyue…” Meng Chuan whispered.

They had known each other since childhood.Growing up together as childhood sweethearts.Cultivating together on Yuanchu Mountain.Defending Northern River Pass together through fierce battles.Living in seclusion in Gushan Prefecture, fighting demon races and rescuing people from all directions.Raising their children together in Jiangzhou City.His wife defending the city, while he patrolled the world hunting down demon kings…

For so many years, their longest separation was the decade he spent fighting in the World Gap. Other times, they had been almost constantly together.

“We promised to walk this life together, to fight on the battlefield side by side, risking our lives to defeat the demon race,” Meng Chuan murmured. “But now, you’re asking me to walk on alone.”

At that moment, an intense wave of loneliness erupted, completely engulfing Meng Chuan’s heart. For the long millennia ahead, he would have to walk alone.