Chapter 2178: Don't Miss Me, You Idiots

Bitter Awareness alone facing the Jing Tian Six Friends should have been a battle sufficient to be recorded in the annals of history. After all, one True Person against six True Persons is something rarely heard of in the world.

But because the battle occurred on the Long River, coinciding with the Dragon Palace banquet, the beginning of the Tai Xu alliance, and the Nine Dragons Hold Up the Sun Eternally Suppress Mountains and Rivers Seal suppressing the Long River…

This shocking heaven and earth great war, both its beginning and end were confined within the Long River, never disturbing the world.

No matter how shocking the waves and terrifying the surges, in the end, all calmed to clear waves… making the water's light reflect the sky like a mirror. Reflecting a few idle clouds in the sky, gathering and then scattering.

On the Long River's ten thousand li of rippling waves, almost all of the Jing Tian Six Friends were wounded.

The yellow-faced old monk lay on his back on the river surface. The True Person's blood spread in all directions.

The river wind blew quietly, dispersing the thick fog that had formed during the battle. Vaguely visible ahead was the Town Bridge — a structure of enormous and ancient grandeur. It had remained unchanged for millions of years, yet they had altered the Long River.

In the inverted reflection of the water, like a flowing painting, the Jing Tian Six Friends walked on water, passing by the yellow-faced old monk in single file.

"Ah, not as easy as expected." Cang Shen, the old Daoist, walking in front, gave his assessment: "Everyone underestimated him."

Serious Gan Cao expressed approval: "Bitter Awareness… is very strong."

"Hiss…" Bai Shu, covering his right cheek, took out a bronze mirror and walked while looking in it: "Seems disfigured."

"It's all your fault for being incapable, completely unable to keep up with me." Chen Pi, wrinkling his ugly face, said: "Otherwise, why would it take so much time?"

"Got it!" Bai Shu said disdainfully: "Don't think you can talk nonsense just because you look ugly. Just now, if I hadn't helped quickly, you would have been beaten to death!"

"This is slander!" Chen Pi's focus wasn't on this at all: "Who looks ugly? I am a strange person with a strange appearance!"

"Cough, cough, cough!" Female Daoist Fu Ling put away the handkerchief stained with coughed blood and sighed lightly: "Don't know how that side is. Wasted so much time, won't they have finished fighting already?"

"Zhuang Gao Xian has strength, shouldn't be so useless…" Ban Xia, walking at the back, thought of the battle just now, and the firmness in his tone gradually wavered.

He casually picked up the sinking yellow-faced old monk. The tattered monk robe clung wetly to the old monk's body, revealing jagged, thin bones — truly a withered, thin body. One couldn't imagine where his previous power had come from.

Water drops fell da da da, interspersed with a few points of blood color, but there wasn't much left. The blood had almost flowed dry…

Ban Xia carried this True Person's remnant body in his hand, finally looked at the Long River that had dissolved the blood energy, and followed the steps of the people in front.

The route of the True Person they were slaying wasn't complicated. No matter how Zhuang Gao Xian dodged left and maneuvered right, his final purpose was very clear. So although many traces were lost, tracking him wasn't difficult.

But indeed, too much time had been delayed. Zhuang Gao Xian had already successfully escaped back to Zhuang Country.

What does it mean for a legitimate emperor to return to his own country's border?

Every True Person present was very clear.

"Perhaps we really came late." Bai Shu raised his eyebrows and said.

Gan Cao said gravely: "Not necessarily. From the traces along this road, Zhuang Gao Xian couldn't shake off the pursuit from beginning to end. The fact that he could still escape back to Zhuang Country, perhaps this is the tomb Jiang Wang chose for him."

"You overly value him. To be able to force little Zhuang to this extent is already beyond imagination, and you still want—" Chen Pi calmed his breath and recovered: "I told you all not to go so fast. I blocked in front, bearing most of the attacks. Won't you take care of me?"

Cang Shen looked oldest, but was the most direct: "Past is past, just deal with it."

Fu Ling raised a hand to stop him: "We still need to pay attention to some influence, don't make it too obvious. I'll look at the situation first—"

Saying this, her pupils turned, and her gaze was already distant.

Escaped from the suppression range of the Nine Dragons Hold Up the Sun Eternally Suppress Mountains and Rivers Seal, the True Person's eye could again see through heaven and earth.

"Zhuang Gao Xian's situation doesn't seem wonderful." She murmured.

"What did you see?" Gan Cao asked.

Among the six True Persons, Fu Ling's pupil technique was the strongest. So the others didn't look themselves.

Fu Ling's tone was very complex, unclear if it was shock or doubt: "They are now in the present world's gap. I also can't see clearly, but Zhuang Gao Xian's 'qi'… is rapidly weakening."

"You all wait here and rest a little." Ban Xia paused: "I'll go see the situation first."

Among the six True Persons now, his condition was the best, and he was most capable of handling accidents.

Suddenly, a withered hand grabbed his sleeve.

Ban Xia wasn't startled, just lowered his head, looking at the old monk using his last remaining strength to grab him, indicating a question with his eyes.

Bitter Awareness's breath was already very weak, spitting blood foam: "Don't let him… see!"

Ban Xia thought for a moment: "Alright, if you feel it's necessary."

Bitter Awareness then closed his eyes, but that withered hand still tightly grabbed Ban Xia's sleeve, as if in this way, he could delay Ban Xia's steps a little.

Semi-transparent flames then began from this unwilling hand, spreading towards the entire Dao body.

Da da da da…

Blood rain fell from the sky.

Knocking on whose heart's window.

Bitter Awareness's eyes were closed. He could finally rest.

Jiang Wang's eyes were open. He still had to face this world.

The so-called shadow of fate, thus transmitted in the eye light.

Suspended Temple's Abbot, Grandmaster Bitter Fate, with world-shaking means, allowed him to walk into Bitter Awareness's fate and observe Bitter Awareness's last moment. He saw that story submerged in the Long River, which should have also sunk in the river of time.

He had never felt Bitter Awareness at such a close distance, and also never… so distant.

Four years ago, when he walked out of the Birth Spirit Stele, the sky was floating, and unexpectedly, it was this blood rain.

That Daoist named Ban Xia, holding an oil-paper umbrella, walked out of the blood rain. That was the posture of an Upper Country True Person.

At that time, he still thought, could it be related to Zhuang Gao Xian's heaven and earth sorrow, falling from the netherworld to the outside?

Originally, that day rained two rains.

One rain fell in the story, one rain fell in the memory.

He, Jiang Wang, became famous in the world with a battle of slaying a True Person, sufficient to be recorded in the annals of history.

That yellow-faced old monk, with one against six… unknown to anyone, unknown to anyone.

Only a lonely blood rain.

Green smoke coiled, and in the smoke, the two people sitting opposite each other were somewhat vague.

The Abbot of Suspended Temple was Bitter Fate's Zen.

San Bao Mountain's Jing Shen was also like a mud sculpture.

The Abbot saw that Jiang Wang's eyes were deep, not reflecting emotions at this moment, like a bottomless black hole that swallowed all light.

He wanted to say something, but still remained silent.

"Jing Li, huh?" Jiang Wang's voice was somewhat hoarse.

Bitter Fate said: "After Bitter Awareness had his accident, Bitter Disease went to Dragon Palace and brought Jing Li back to the mountain gate. He cried for a few days and then began to impact Cave True, wanting to go alone for revenge. I locked him up, not wanting him to go and seek death — do you want to see him?"

"No need. Also, don't tell him I came." Jiang Wang slowly said: "Let him continue his closed cultivation. He is too naive. True Persons in this world are still small."

"Bitter Awareness still has one last letter. He said to give it to you when he really couldn't hide it anymore." Bitter Fate said, taking out a thin letter from his chest and placing it on the long table.

He said earnestly: "Not just True Persons, huh? I was lucky enough to attain Derived Dao and walked onto the so-called absolute peak, but I often feel small as well."

Jiang Wang of course heard clearly.

Jiang Wang was also very clear about what kind of colossal entity the Central Great Jing Empire was.

In this world, whether it was the various powers of Qin and Chu, or the eternal great sects, who wasn't under its shadow?

That year, Meng Tian Hai was impacting transcendence in Calamity Water. Song Po Ti just said that if Meng Tian Hai dared to forcibly seize the Cloud Dream Boat, even if he transcended and left the Red Dust Gate, they would have to beat him to death.

Chu Country still had such confidence, what kind of grandeur should the world's first Central Jing Country possess!

How Meng Tian Hai ultimately failed, he also saw clearly at the front line of Calamity Water. That Emperor Jing Wen, who left his name on the Red Dust Gate, was the first to revere transcendence since the beginning of the Dao Calendar.

Jing Country's strength was suffocatingly strong, so strong that the world was silent.

So from beginning to end, he didn't ask a single question — why Suspended Temple did nothing at all. Or alternatively, what Suspended Temple should have done.

Was Suspended Temple willing to admit this matter?

But how could they not admit it?

Bitter Awareness had already become detached from Suspended Temple.

Before setting out, Bitter Awareness was already prepared for death.

He, with the identity of San Bao Mountain's Bitter Awareness, blocked in front of the Jing Tian Six Friends, and did not involve Suspended Temple in any way.

Jiang Wang didn't speak, just silently picked up that letter — the last one left by Bitter Awareness.

That sloppy handwriting now looked so intimate.

And this letter was different from all the previous ones.

The envelope read: Jing Shen personally open.

These four words were written carefully, appearing very polite.

But the first sentence on the letter paper was — Little turtle bastard, aren't you going to act recklessly again?

Jiang Wang could almost see that yellow-faced old monk standing with hands on his hips, scolding, but after all, it was only "almost".

When one is a True Person in this world, it is too difficult to deceive oneself.

Besides these words, there was nothing in front of his eyes.

But could one truly say, nothing?

He looked down —

"From the first day I knew you, the old man has been advising you, advised this, advised that. These years, you haven't listened to a single good word! I checked your zodiac, it's not a donkey, so why are all your bones reversed in your brain? Do you want to anger master to death and seize the foundation of my San Bao Mountain?"

"Alright, alright, let's dismiss everything from before! Master is magnanimous, won't argue with you, this smelly boy."

"Finally, I'll tell you one thing. If you honestly listen to me, the old man can still count you as a prodigal son returning."

"If you still recognize me, you are not allowed to avenge me. The old man came happily and went happily, free in birth and death, unrelated to anyone."

"If you dare disobey, the old man will expel you from San Bao Mountain! While you are alive, you are not my disciple, and after you die, you cannot worship at my grave! Since you are not my disciple, what right do you have to avenge me? Master has no name, just wash and sleep!"

"If you don't follow me in this matter, I will die with my eyes open. Can that brat really be this unfilial?"

"If you listen, place one set of clothing and take me back to your home. Don't leave me at Suspended Temple, we two have no relation with them."

"Take care of your senior brother Jing Li."

"Buddha is tired, words end here."

A thin sheet of paper, not many lines of words. Jiang Wang looked at it for a long time.

He finally folded this letter paper, folded it neatly, properly put it back into the envelope, and then carefully put this letter close to his body. Then he said: "According to True Person Bitter Awareness's last wish… is there any clothing in the temple?"

Bitter Fate took out an old small vine box and gently placed it on the long table: "He wasn't very particular about clothing. He didn't have much clothing, only these few sets. They were sewn for him by Jing Li. Take them all."

Jiang Wang placed his hand on the vine box, stroking it for a while, his tone inexplicable: "Only today did I think of it, I never actually added new clothes for him."

Bitter Fate said softly: "In previous years, you sent him gifts, and he often boasted about them to us."

Jiang Wang put the vine box away and bowed to Bitter Fate: "Jiang Wang is impetuous, I have offended you greatly today… I won't disturb the pure cultivation of the various high monks."

Bitter Fate said: "If Bitter Awareness has spirit in heaven, his biggest hope is certainly for you and Jing Li to be safe and sound."

Jiang Wang nodded lightly, not knowing if he had listened or not.

He stood up, didn't say any extra words, and just left the Abbot's quiet room and left Suspended Temple.

The spring on Star Moon Plain was exceptionally beautiful, with flowers blooming all over the field, their fragrance dyeing the clouds.

White Jade Capital Wine House was filled with a joyful atmosphere today, because Owner Jiang had brought back many gifts, and everyone had a share. Moreover, with Shopkeeper White's discerning eye, these gifts were not simple and not cheap.

As the wine house's account book holder and writer, someone named White could not help but feel some worries. He put that jade waist belt around his waist and compared it, unexpectedly not daring to wear it directly. He cautiously asked: "Suddenly giving me such expensive things, are you not planning to disband and run away?"

"Every day, you have the most problems!" Owner Jiang stretched out his hand: "If you don't want it, give it back to me."

White Yu Xia buckled the waist belt on with a 'pa' sound.

"Eh, is it my turn?" Jiang An An looked for a long time, truly unable to wait. Everyone in the wine house had received their gifts, and Big Brother still had to say a few words to each person — wouldn't it be better to give me, Jiang An An's, gift first and then go chat?

Chu Yao was also looking eagerly at the side, but after all, he didn't dare to urge like the little master aunt. He only walked back and forth in front of his master constantly, hoping to awaken that master-disciple affection.

"Who said you were left out?" Jiang Wang smiled: "Close your eyes, Big Brother will give you a surprise."

Jiang An An closed her beautiful eyes, her face full of happiness: "Good?"

Jiang Wang gently said: "Come, see if you like it."

Jiang An An excitedly opened her eyes and saw… a wall of books.

Big and thick books, like square bricks, piled into a wall in front of her!

"How?" Jiang Wang had a 'you profited' expression: "《History Knife Chisel Sea》 Heavenly Capital collection edition! There is nothing new under the sun, reading history can cultivate wisdom! I spent a lot of effort to get it, isn't it very surprising?"

Chu Yao was already swaying, swaying to the back of the crowd, just trying to sway out the door, when White Yu Xia with a mischievous smile pinched him back.

Jiang An An barely lifted the corner of her mouth: "Ah, truly good surprising."

"Tsk tsk tsk, why does your face look bad? You're a big girl now, why are you still so unable to control yourself?" Jiang Wang teased: "Will Big Brother only prepare 《History Knife Chisel Sea》 for you? You don't think so!"

Jiang An An angrily hit him once, but smiled on her face: "You're really annoying. Quickly take out my real gift!"

"Here, just this set of 《General Prairie Language》!" Jiang Wang took out another stack of books from his storage box, piled them in front of Jiang An An, and smiled: "Your Prairie language still needs supplementary lessons. Last time your brother Ru Cheng said you didn't speak very standardly… This is the deluxe new edition personally ordered to be compiled by the Great Shepherd Empress!"

Jiang An An's smile disappeared, and her mouth slowly pouted.

"Hey, you're not going to cry? You're fourteen years old, oh!" Jiang Wang was still laughing.

Jiang An An hadn't intended to cry, but this time tears really rolled down.

"Eh eh eh!" Jiang Wang's hands and feet became panicked: "Just joking! Joking with you! This child! You!"

He immediately presented an exquisitely carved, ornately decorated sword box: "This is your gift!"

He grabbed Jiang An An's hand and placed it on the sword box: "Knock and see, this material! Touch and see, this carving work! Beautiful? The box is the work of a famous craftsman! Open it and look, I guarantee you'll like it!"

Jiang An An sobbed once, but still took the sword box with both hands.

Jiang Wang continued to eagerly introduce: "This is a sword forged by your brother Lian Que, refined for three years before coming out of the furnace. I quickly brought it to you… Open it and see."

Jiang An An's long eyelashes trembled once, shaking off the last tear drop, then she opened the sword box —

Instantly, the entire room was filled with brilliance.

In the box lay a snow-colored sheathed long sword. The sword guard was like a pair of opened wings, the sword pommel was like a phoenix crown, and the sheath body's lines were very simple, like two crane feathers, elegant and outstanding.

Jiang An An liked it immensely. She slowly drew the sword from its sheath and saw a pool of snow color. On it seemed to be fleeting shadows, but if one looked carefully, it was extremely transparent. Upon a third look, one could discover that the sword ridge was engraved with four Dao characters, faintly appearing, ethereal like the shadow of a wild goose.

The characters read: Illuminate Snow Startling Wild Goose.

"Such a beautiful sword!" Even Yu Chan at the side couldn't help but praise.

This sword was indeed so beautiful it didn't seem like something made in the human world.

Jiang An An sheathed the sword, turning her tears to laughter, and said crisply: "Thank you, Big Brother, and also thank Brother Lian Que! I'll write him a letter later to thank him again!"

Jiang Wang looked at her with a smile: "You were still shedding tears just now!"

Jiang An An hit him once more: "It wasn't because of you, you were too much, deliberately making me angry!"

"Our An An has really grown up." Jiang Wang looked at his sister, inexplicably sighed once, then said warmly: "Originally I thought to wait for you to grow a bit more before giving it to you, but on second thought, my An An is very sensible and will certainly know how to face life.

"Fourteen-year-old Jiang Wang carried a sword and fought desperately with bandits in their nest, only wanting to quickly earn a Pulse Opening Pill, not knowing what was extraordinary. Fourteen-year-old Jiang An An has already completed Zhou Tian and is touching the Heaven and Earth Gate. You are much stronger than I was back then!

"But An An, Big Brother hopes you understand — this sword in your hand is a sword that can kill people, not just beautiful. You have to know its weight, don't treat drawing your sword as too easy a thing."