Chapter 1944: Double Fall

“Woo—”

The heavens mourned.

Not only the Sheng Shen Continent, but also the Xing Jie, the Ruins of the Gods, the Void Island, the Sheng Di Secret Realm, and other worlds not within this plane, yet connected and interacting with the Sheng Shen Continent, all felt this sensation.

The fall of a Zu Shen was known to all realms, but they were powerless to intervene, only able to watch.

The blossoming brilliance from Ling Yu Mountain fed back into the heavens and earth, with streams of light pouring into various parts of the Sheng Shen Continent.

Some fell on barren land, nurturing abundant spiritual lakes; some fell into desolate forbidden zones, giving birth to unowned holy power…

Grass and trees revived, withered branches sprouted green.

Everyone felt nourished by the spiritual feedback, their vital energy and spirit significantly improving.

Yet, they simultaneously felt an inexplicable sorrow, their eyes welling up with tears, as if Bei Huai had descended again.

“Hua Zu, fallen…”

As the first cultivator to achieve godhood and become a Zu in the Spirit Refining Era, He should have been eternally celebrated, leaving behind countless achievements, and ranking as the Eleventh Zu.

Unexpectedly, the glory was fleeting.

Ba Zun’an brought everything to naught, ending the imminent glorious era of Hua Zu.

Was this the end?

Discerning eyes, however, could see that this was not the end; on the contrary, it was likely just the beginning of the Zu Shen struggle.

After all, after Hua Zu, several other Zuz were lurking, each waiting for this crucial turning point.

But that was a story for later.

On a distant mountain range of Ling Yu Mountain, atop a snow-covered peak, a lone young figure stood, eyes filled with sorrow.

“Master…”

Hua Changdeng spent thirty years in the Screen Candle Land.

Xi, from wielding a sword to being noticed, to receiving teachings from Hua Changdeng, had only been a little over ten years.

During this period, his sword practice was intermittent; sometimes he couldn’t visit the Screen Candle Land once a month, unable to see his Master.

However, each meeting brought immense benefit.

Even though his Master Hua Changdeng never publicly acknowledged him, and never looked his way until death, when the Sheng Shen Hall still existed, only Dao Dianzhu and a few others knew his identity.

Xi was still grateful.

He knew that before he grew up, “not acknowledging” him was the greatest protection.

When his Master achieved Sheng Di status, the day before leaving the Screen Candle Land, Xi went for a final visit.

After that teaching session, Xi vaguely sensed a farewell and couldn’t resist asking the deepest question that had remained in his heart throughout more than a decade of sword practice:

“Master, why did you choose me back then?”

There was no lack of sword dao prodigies in Yun Shan Di Jing, and Bei Bei had grown up there since childhood, with far superior talent than his own.

Looking at the young generation of ancient sword cultivators in the Five Domains, he, Xi, was not a phoenix among men, and when he first emerged, he was completely unknown.

However, due to Dao Dianzhu forming a rudimentary “Sword Department,” secretly selecting talents began.

Xi was passable and was chosen as a “seed.”

But there were many similar seeds.

Xi could only rank within the top ten, incomparable to those surnamed Yue, Hua, or Rao, or to the descendants of nobility on Sheng Mountain.

“You have no name, but your talent is decent.”

This was his Master’s reply, as if from the very beginning, he had no intention of choosing people from the Sheng Di Secret Realm or the upper echelons of Sheng Mountain?

“But for so many years, you didn’t initially have the idea of ‘accepting disciples,’ and it seems… well, you still don’t. Why did you choose me then?”

“Because of the inheritance.”

Xi vaguely remembered that when his Master said this, there was a hint of regret in his eyes.

He naturally pressed for an answer, but his Master did not respond directly.

Inheritance?

The inheritance of ancient sword dao?

Did his Master, who midway switched from Gui Jian Shu to the Dao of Soul, want to make up for the regret of not persisting in Gui Jian Shu?

Or was it…

Generally, if it’s a “single lineage transmission,” it seems old folks only choose disciples when they sense their end is near, right?

To this day, this remains Xi’s confusion.

He had a premonition that it was their last meeting, so Xi went all out and asked the question every ancient sword cultivator was concerned about:

“Will Master and the Eighth Sword Immortal have another battle?”

“Yes!” The answer was resolute.

“Master, how confident are you?”

His Master fell silent.

Xi’s first reaction was that his Master no longer regarded Ba Zun’an, considering him insignificant.

But observing his expression, something felt off.

He guessed it was probably “fifty-fifty,” if the Eighth Sword Immortal had a way to deal with the Sword Ghost, then his Master wouldn’t have been idle for thirty years.

But now…

His Master’s silence at that time seemed to contain more information?

His Master did not answer directly; instead, he proactively brought up another matter that Xi was curious about but never dared to ask:

“Do you know why I turned away from ancient sword dao back then, and cultivated from Gui Jian Shu to the Dao of Soul?”

Xi shook his head; he truly didn’t know this.

“Because of this object.”

His Master took out a black wooden box, larger than a human head, and what was inside aroused curiosity.

He opened the box, and a rich soul power surged out. When he saw it clearly, he realized it was a giant character: “鬼” (Ghost).

“Ben Yuan Zhen Jie.”

Before Xi could ask, his Master explained proactively, though somewhat vaguely: “I don’t know its specific function, only a few conjectures.”

Xi was stunned but could only take the box, staring at the ancient script, his mind full of thoughts.

His Master continued to speak to himself: “Ba Zun’an has unparalleled talent. When it comes to Gui Jian Shu alone, he is inferior to me; when it comes to ancient sword dao, I am inferior to him.”

“However, few know that I could become the sole ‘Lord of Fengdu’ entirely because when I obtained this Ben Yuan Zhen Jie, I also acquired the Yin Cao of the Divine Court, borrowing three parts of external power.”

Xi remained silent, unable to agree.

Who hasn’t relied on external power in cultivation?

Background, resources, opportunities, luck—all can be understood as external power, without good or bad, intertwined with blessings and misfortunes. He, Xi, from a humble background, could also borrow the external power of the Screen Candle Land.

The Eighth Sword Immortal was indeed extraordinary, but was the sword dao he cultivated created from nothing, purely from his own comprehension?

In fact, he also stood on the shoulders of the Sword Ancestor!

His experience in the Buried Sword Mound, and his acquaintance with You Tu, must also be partially related!

They all walked the path by borrowing, the Eighth Sword Immortal just didn’t mention his other opportunities, while his Master revealed more to him.

“I hesitated,” his Master pondered for a long time before speaking:

“My hesitation was that I saw the upper limit of Gui Jian Shu. Even if the sword revealed profound mysteries, its height was limited to the Sword Ancestor.”

“Perhaps further transcendence is possible, but my chances of making even a slight advance are minimal, and it wouldn’t be much.”

“At most, I would only be on par with Ba Zun’an, who is about to become a Zu Shen, if he can achieve that.”

After a pause, his Master said with absolute certainty: “And if he can become a Zu, any ‘slight advance’ in my comprehension, he will also be able to achieve.”

It was then that Xi finally understood.

The Eighth Sword Immortal’s talent, in fact, also placed immense pressure on his Master, who came from Yun Shan Sheng Di and had been defeated by him once.

He pressured everyone in that era to be unwilling to improve just a little; they had to take big, big steps forward, without seeing an upper limit.

Only then could they walk the path with peace of mind.

It seemed that only by doing so could they avoid being left far behind by Ba Zun’an.

“So Master also cultivated the Dao of Soul, and after the fusion of sword and soul, the upper limit became higher,” Xi said, as if suddenly enlightened.

These slightly flattering words did not elicit more from his Master; instead, they seemed to make the atmosphere awkward.

Xi finished speaking and looked up.

He saw his Master staring at the “鬼” character in his box, his expression somewhat complex.

Is there a problem…

Xi was about to ask, but then remembered that his Master had just said he didn’t know much about this Ben Yuan Zhen Jie, so he stopped himself.

“Is Master planning to pass this on to me?”

The box had already been handed to him, so Xi’s redundant question was essentially asking how to use this thing.

He had secretly tried with sword intent, spiritual念, etc., but there was no reaction.

Blood?

He would have to wait until his Master left to try.

“It’s not for you to use now.” His Master rarely smiled, but it was a wry smile.

He gazed into the distance, explaining little, only commanding in an unquestionable tone:

“Do not show this object to anyone, including Dao Dianzhu.”

“Later, if I succeed, you will naturally understand how to use this object and can convert to my Dao through it.”

“If I fail, you will give this object to the one who slays me… give it to Ba Zun’an.”

“Ah?” Xi was greatly surprised. “Why? The Sword Ghost has already formed, isn’t Master’s work considered successful yet? Then how should I define success and failure?”

“I don’t know…”

His omnipotent, omniscient Master, whenever discussing this Ben Yuan Zhen Jie, had eyes filled with bewilderment and ignorance, like a golden bird in a cage.

He could only say in a speculative tone, gravely:

“But by then, perhaps, he will know.”

Under Fù Sāng City, ghost spirits transformed.

Next to a dilapidated low wall, Xi appeared, holding a wooden box wrapped in black cloth.

There was no one else around.

The aura here was terrifying and bizarre, instinctively making people want to retreat.

Xi suppressed the urge to turn and leave; he did not retreat.

His gaze swept over Sword Immortal Liu Fuyu, nodding slightly in greeting.

He then quickly surveyed the slightly unfamiliar woman with cloud-like hair bun beside her, pondered briefly, and recognized that this should be the legendary figure.

Yue Gongnu…

Suppressing his shock, he dared not speak rashly, pretending not to know her.

Xi looked at the black-dressed woman in the center of the three women. The black chicken perched on her head was staring intently at him… and the wooden box in his hand!

“Long time no see, Miss Zhiwen.”

Xi did not engage in pleasantries, quickly getting to the point, and offered the wooden box wrapped in black cloth:

“My name is Xi, and my Master is Hua Changdeng.”

“My Master commanded that this object, at this moment, should have been presented to the Eighth Sword… Ba Zu, but I cannot approach him, so I can only take the liberty of bothering you all.”

Even if one of his guesses was that this object was for his own protection after his Master’s death, to prevent the Sheng Nu from settling scores with him later, Xi was not interested in that anymore. He laid everything bare, knowing that under the keen observation of that person, nothing could be hidden.

Naturally, it was the sword-holding chicken perched on Miss Zhiwen’s head!

“Ba Zun’an’s…”

Yu Zhiwen muttered, turning her pretty face to the side, “Then it should be for Sister Yue?”

Yue Gongnu didn’t move.

As shrewd as she was, she could see the young man’s determination and intelligence.

This wooden box, from beginning to end, was not meant for Ba Zun’an or herself, but for Yu Zhiwen, or rather, Xu Xiaoshou, who was on her head.

“Excuse me.”

As expected, Xi’s gaze was unwavering, his tone soft yet firm: “This object, perhaps, needs to be opened by Master Shou personally.”

Yue Gongnu remained motionless and did not get angry.

The black chicken then lifted its wing and pointed at Yu Zhiwen below it.

Taking the lead.

Yu Zhiwen took the wooden box, her expression becoming extremely serious. As she unwrapped the black cloth, she asked:

“What else did He instruct?”

As soon as she spoke, Xi knew that the person speaking to him was definitely not Yu Zhiwen, the head of the Dao Department, but Master Shou.

No matter how intelligent Miss Zhiwen was, her first question wouldn’t be so profound, nor could it be so incisive.

But Xu Xiaoshou…

Xi suddenly felt a sense of trance.

If Ba Zun’an was a foot higher, how should Master Shou be evaluated?

The reason he came here, disregarding even Ba Zun’an and Yue Gongnu, was precisely because the situation had evolved to this point, with the winds and clouds intensifying, yet Master Shou was still nowhere to be seen.

And taking Ba Zun’an as his first move, Master Shou had already defeated the three Zu outside the borders!

He was only a few years older than himself…

Xi dared not let his mind wander and quickly collected himself, saying: “My Master said he doesn’t know.”

Yu Zhiwen paused, her cherry lips slightly parted.

The black chicken, however, lay down, staring intently at Xi, so she did not continue speaking.

Xi quickly added: “My Master said that when the Eighth… Ba Zu gets this object, ‘perhaps, he will know’.”

The wooden box opened, revealing the character “鬼” (Ghost) inside.

Yue Gongnu glanced slightly, instinctively about to explain, but Yu Zhiwen had already spoken with certainty:

“Ben Yuan Zhen Jie: Gui?”

“What else do you know about it, tell me everything.”

He really knew… Fine beads of sweat appeared on Xi’s forehead. He felt inexplicably pressured and blurted out without thinking:

“When my Master gave me this object, he mentioned that one of the reasons for switching from Gui Jian Shu to the Dao of Soul was this object.”

“Also, when He obtained this object, He also acquired the Yin Cao of the Divine Court.”

Guidance?

Yue Gongnu’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, sensing something strange.

But if it was Hua Changdeng, even if he realized it later, wouldn’t he know this was guidance? Had he once been guided?

He was able to cultivate even “Yi Gui,” so perhaps he wasn’t skilled in Zu Shen guidance, but at least he had mastered the ability to resist guidance.

Yu Zhiwen’s expression grew serious, unsure of what she had heard, and continued to ask:

“Anything else?”

“No, no more.” Xi came to his senses. There was no need to elaborate on his Master’s apprehension towards Ba Zun’an.

“That’s not enough.” Yu Zhiwen gently shook her head. “Either you swallowed some words, or Hua Chang… Hua Zu held back even from you.”

That’s impossible!

Xi instinctively wanted to retort, but Yu Zhiwen said: “When did Hua Zu obtain this object?”

His Master hadn’t mentioned a specific time for this, but based on speculation…

“It should have been a long time ago. He didn’t go out during the Screen Candle Land period, so that would be at least thirty years ago?” Xi speculated.

The black chicken said nothing, merely cupping Yu Zhiwen’s ears with its wings and gently turning her head towards the “historical figures” nearby.

Why ask this young man?

Ask the old people!

That’s right, time… Yue Gongnu realized what she had overlooked, and her expression grew solemn:

“When Ba Zun’an and Hua Changdeng first fought, he had already mastered the Lord of Fengdu and had manifested a rudimentary form of the Divine Court’s Yin Cao. He should have just been in the stage of integrating with the Divine Court.”

“So as early as thirty years ago, Hua Changdeng had already obtained the ‘Ben Yuan Zhen Jie,’ but this object, even the five great Sheng Di families only recorded its name, not knowing how to use it.”

After a sharp pause, Yue Gongnu spoke as much as possible: “Even if all conjectures are wrong, Hua Changdeng must have received guidance from the Gui Zu thirty years ago!”

Did that sound like a taunt?

Xi opened his mouth, wanting to speak but holding back.

He couldn’t resist, but asked something even more crucial: “May I ask Master Shou, what exactly does this Ben Yuan Zhen Jie represent?”

Xi looked at the “鬼” character in Yu Zhiwen’s hand. Yue Gongnu also looked at Yu Zhiwen, leaving only the black chicken on Yu Zhiwen’s head, flapping its wings very agitatedly.

It seemed hot!

The kind of sudden, drastic temperature increase!

Yu Zhiwen’s face also turned pale, and she murmured, “It’s not guidance from the Gui Zu…”

Did I guess wrong?

Yue Gongnu frowned, that shouldn’t be!

Then she heard the young girl speak with solemnity: “It’s guidance from the Yao Zu!”

What?

At this, Yue Gongnu, Xi, and even Liu Fuyu, who had been silent, all changed their expressions drastically.

How did this get connected to the Yao Zu?

Hadn’t that very weak Zu just manipulated Bei Huai to come over, only to be hammered back by Kuilei Han?

Yu Zhiwen struggled to lift her head, her slender hand gripping the “鬼” character, trembling slightly, and she blurted out:

“The Gui Zu, at least thirty years ago, had already fallen!”