Chapter 455: Strange Baidiaosheng (Two-in-One)

Time flew, and years passed.

In the blink of an eye, six hundred years had passed since the great war erupted in the Three Realms.

The ruins of the former Blood Domain Great Realm remained stained crimson, a color so deeply ingrained in the soil that it was difficult to alter. Fine, vibrant clusters of Higanbana, a special plant unique to the underworld—flowers of life and death—grew abundantly there, appearing only where death energy was exceptionally strong.

This place had become a historic site, with a town called Blood Domain Town established there. Taverns and inns were bustling with business.

At that moment, a white-haired elder from the Shu Mountain Sect, with a long sword strapped to his back, was leading a group of young disciples through the crimson land. They gazed at the blood-red walls of the sky.

"Back then," the elder began, "the Demon Realm, plagued by the constant barrenness and disasters of its own lands, began to invade the Celestial Realm and the Mortal Realm. That war was earth-shattering; countless Celestial Emperors perished, and the land was scarred.

"Eventually, the Earth Mother Qing Teng, unable to bear the suffering of sentient beings, ventured alone into the Demon Realm. This most ancient sage traveled across the land, calling out passionately, and ultimately established the Earth Dragon Vein, miraculously reversing the conflict and preventing further war between the two realms."

The surrounding Shu Mountain disciples listened intently.

Earth Mother Qing Teng had, in these lands, already earned the title of "Mother of the Earth," nourishing and warming all things.

Legend had it that since ancient times, she had never killed a single sentient being, showing compassion for all. From the Western Era, she had existed as the Primordial Jianmu, protecting all beings. Later, she took the Heavenly Dao as her disciple, resisted the Great Ancestral Witch Tribulation, established the Primordial Heavenly Court, and then repelled the Demon Realm's invasion. She was truly the most sacred ancient existence in all the heavens and earth.

Among the disciples, some discussed with admiration and respect, "Legend says that back then, Bai Xiaosheng took Liu Wenjian and Hu Rennong as his two disciples. They each founded major factions to guard the Mortal Realm. Now, the Mortal Realm is led by two dominant forces: the Shu Mountain Sword Sect, whose status transcends all others, and the Great Zhou Dynasty, which governs the mortal populace. Each fulfills its respective duties."

The group fell silent. Six hundred years had passed. Perhaps some ancient beings still endured in the Heavenly Court, having experienced that brutal war, but for mortals, it felt like an eternity.

For Shu Mountain, in particular, which experienced the cycles of birth, aging, sickness, and death like ordinary mortals, there had already been thirteen generations of Shu Mountain Sect leaders, now reaching the 'Wan' generation.

With the passage of long years, Liu Wenjian, the first leader of the Shu Mountain Sect—that supreme mortal Celestial Emperor who had once suppressed the Celestial Emperors of the Heavenly Realm as a mere mortal—had grown old and infirm, disappearing into the annals of time. She was a stubborn individual, unwilling to enter the Heavenly River and accept the worship of the populace, refusing to become the figure they envisioned.

Hu Rennong, the former Prime Minister of the Great Zhou, had long since retired from public life and lived in seclusion.

This was a new Three Realms; all the ancient existences had retired to the background.

Talents among the younger generation emerged endlessly across the Demon, Mortal, and Celestial Realms. A magnificent era was burgeoning, suppressing the strange phenomena that afflicted the entire land. However, these strange occurrences had grown increasingly severe in recent years.

"The Dragon Vein, while indeed resolving the war between the two realms eight hundred years ago, allowing one to ascend to divinity and sainthood without needing to slaughter sentient beings, now, its side effects are growing increasingly immense."

A terrifying shadow seemed to loom over the hearts of all the Shu Mountain elders, as if a storm was brewing.

Suddenly, the sound of wind carried from a distance, and a white mist rolled in, obscuring everything. Hazy figures of ancient beings gradually emerged within it, emanating a terrifying aura.

"It's the Martyrs," the Shu Mountain elder spoke, recalling his wandering thoughts. "They've appeared again, as expected. They are our objective for this journey."

"New disciples, pay attention," he continued, "these are anomalies formed from the collected aspirations of sentient beings. They are immortal; as long as people remember and fear them, they will not be destroyed. This is the new disciple's grand examination. We come to clear them out every three years to prevent the 'Martyrs' from continuously gathering more collective aspirations and becoming even more powerful anomalies. Each of you must find an opponent; this is a one-on-one assessment."

In a flash, the group of disciples swiftly engaged the shadowy figures. Long swords were drawn, and flashes of sword light gleamed.

Shu Mountain, having developed to its current state, already possessed profound foundations, becoming one of the largest powers in the Three Realms. Not only had it established the Demon Suppressing Pagoda to subdue some manageable anomalies, but it had also founded the Shu Mountain Sword Mound, where the personal swords of past Shu Mountain masters were kept.

They no longer needed to sever an arm; upon receiving recognition from a senior's sword, they could wield it. Furthermore, successive generations of sword masters cultivating these blades had made the immortal swords increasingly powerful.

Currently, Shu Mountain possessed thousands of ordinary mortal swords, left behind by disciples who had died of old age. There were also three hundred renowned immortal swords, each with its own name. Among these, thirteen were top-tier immortal swords—Purple Cloud, Sorrowful Mist, Jade Aura, Immortal Slayer—each with a contemporary master, all of whom were extraordinary talents and pillars of Shu Mountain!

Shu Mountain was already one of the most formidable and powerful factions.

Of course, there were also ambitious individuals who disdained the swords left by their predecessors. After all, they weren't forged by themselves and didn't perfectly suit them. These individuals would directly sever an arm to forge their own long swords, which they would then leave for future generations upon their deaths.

Clang, clang, clang!

Immortal swords streaked like bolts of light.

There were seventeen Shu Mountain sword-wielders present, but only fifteen Martyrs. The remaining two disciples had no opponents and stood by watching. After a flurry of colorful sword lights, three of the fifteen who engaged in battle were defeated and failed the assessment.

The Shu Mountain elder spoke calmly, "Three of you were unable to defeat your opponents, and two of you had no opponents... In total, five disciples have not passed this assessment. Tomorrow, you will return to Shu Mountain, pack your belongings, and go back to your hometowns."

The five instantly grew anxious.

The two Shu Mountain disciples who had no opponents immediately protested, "Elder Cheng, we had no opponents! The assessment hasn't even begun, how can you declare us defeated out of nowhere? And send us back home!"

Elder Cheng calmly replied, "Do you know how many malevolent spirits and strange creatures there are in the Three Realms? Why are these anomalies called Martyrs?"

The surrounding disciples' expressions tightened.

Elder Cheng gazed at the crimson land. "That war back then was incredibly terrifying... Countless powerful individuals left their homes and rushed to the front lines, willing to sacrifice their lives for their families and the land they lived on. The bloodshed was too horrific. Earth Mother Qing Teng could not bear it, so she went alone to the Demon Realm, built the Dragon Vein, and altered the Great Dao's rules to allow powerful beings to contend amongst themselves in the future, without harming ordinary people.

"But even after that war subsided due to her intervention, the number of heroic sacrifices was still too great. The Blood Domain Great Realm, its sky and land, turned crimson. Many families of those who died came to this land, unable to even find the bodies of their loved ones. Clasping the red earth, mixed with blood and soil, they wailed in agony. Their tears, mixed with flesh and dirt, turned into sorrow and rage, leading them to resent their loved ones becoming heroes...."

The Shu Mountain elder's voice was calm.

His voice seemed to travel through time, carrying an ancient weariness, mingling with the wailing wind over the desolate, crimson land.

The disciples felt as if they witnessed that ancient battle of the Three Realms, a faint sense of loneliness and sorrow weighing on their hearts.

Elder Cheng continued, "Those families who lost loved ones, from then on, forbade their children and relatives from embarking on this path... Perhaps some Shu Mountain disciples present here have similar ancestral injunctions?"

"Yes!" a disciple replied, lowering his head. "Our ancestral temple in Mi Family Village has an ancestral injunction carved on a stone tablet: 'Do not ascend Shu Mountain, do not enter the Dynasty, do not venture into the Jianghu (martial world); live as a mortal, marry, and have children.' But I still..."

The disciple looked ashamed. Six hundred years had passed, enough time for many things to be forgotten.

The Shu Mountain elder did not look at him, continuing, "At that time, those tens of millions of families harbored deep bitterness. The reason they forbade you from entering the Jianghu and the path of cultivation was because a pessimistic thought had erupted in their hearts: Any hero will become a martyr... This uncontrollable belief caused the anomaly known as 'Martyr' to appear in this land."

Elder Cheng looked at the Shu Mountain disciples. "The Martyrs will strike down anyone with a heroic heart, turning them into martyrs, because this is... the ultimate fate of a hero! The 'Martyrs' lead heroes to their destined end."

The Shu Mountain disciples around them trembled inwardly.

This anomaly, the Martyr, only attacked knights with chivalrous hearts, those who roamed the Jianghu with their swords!?

They had never imagined this was the origin of the Martyrs, that it was connected to their ancestors and a tragic past.

—A so-called Martyr must have been a hero in life!

Everyone looked at the two Shu Mountain disciples who had no opponents, instantly understanding.

The reason these two were not targeted by the Martyrs was because they were not heroes; they likely harbored ambitions for glory, power, and wealth...

This assessment not only tested combat prowess but also served as a "test of the heart." Using the anomalies for the examination showed that while these strange occurrences had grown increasingly terrifying over the years, they had also gradually integrated into daily life.

"No! I joined Shu Mountain because I have a knight's heart, to champion justice!" the disciple roared.

Elder Cheng spoke calmly, "Shu Mountain is a place of purity, transcendent from the mundane world, where one roams the land with a sword, embodying chivalry... You harbor ambition and impure intentions for joining the mountain. If you desire fame, wealth, and power, you should join the Great Zhou Dynasty and seek official positions. Shu Mountain is not your destination; you have come to the wrong place."

Every generation of Shu Mountain disciples underwent this assessment after one month of training.

This was not merely to inform them of the suffering of their predecessors and the sacrifices made for this land, reminding them how hard-won the present was. It was also because, in the past, Shu Mountain had faced a great catastrophe when the seventh-generation Shu Mountain head disciple, with unstable character, was misled by an anomaly and unlocked the Demon Suppressing Pagoda. That was a very tragic and dark chapter in their history.

"As for you three," Elder Cheng said, "though you possess chivalrous hearts, you were unable to defeat the Martyrs. You too must return home."

Thud!

The three immediately knelt. "Please, Elder, give us another chance! This is our dream!"

"This is not just a test of the heart, but also an initial assessment of combat strength," Elder Cheng sighed. "The Martyrs, having been regularly culled by us, are very weak. If you cannot even defeat them, keeping you here would only mean sending you to your deaths... I know you have pure, innocent hearts, but Shu Mountain cannot do something as cruel as sending you to a futile death in pursuit of your dreams... Please, return."

Silence fell over the surroundings.

The Shu Mountain lineage did not prioritize physical cultivation aptitude; even mortals could join. However, it placed immense importance on comprehension and wisdom. After all, it was the ultimate path of the sword; if one's innate talent and combat skill were insufficient, they simply weren't suitable.

Swish!

Suddenly, a swirl of mist appeared, and another shadowy figure emerged.

"Who's there? Another Martyr? No!" The elder's expression tensed. He immediately unleashed the aura of a Celestial Emperor, gripping his renowned sword, Qinghong, and stepped in front of the Shu Mountain disciples.

"Who is there!?"

A Shu Mountain disciple tried to shout.

The figure in the mist did not respond. It continued to approach silently, somewhat eerie and unsettling.

"Who is it!! Answer quickly! Or we'll attack!"

A disciple's face became completely strained, and his heart thumped.

As it drew closer, the figure in the white mist became clearer: a handsome scholar in white robes, holding a blank heavenly book. He walked and read simultaneously, like a bookworm, expressionless, taking the sky as his blanket and the earth as his mat.

"Oh, it's a living person, not an anomaly, almost scared me to death! In the wilderness, anything strange can happen." A Shu Mountain disciple, seeing how vigilant the elder was, couldn't help but feel a tremor in his heart moments ago.

"You really startled me."

"You new disciples aren't up to par."

"Shameless, weren't you backing away in fear just now?"

The new disciples, whose hearts had been pounding, now relaxed their tense expressions.

One should know that strangeness could occur regardless of power. The Shu Mountain elder had already reached the combat strength of a Celestial Emperor, but if they truly encountered a great supernatural horror, they could all die silently here.

In the Three Realms over these years, countless Celestial Emperors had silently perished in the wilderness. The chilling horrors lurking in the shadows were so vast and unknown that no one could comprehend them.

"It's a living person." The Shu Mountain elder let out a sigh of relief, then looked at the nervous new disciples beside him and couldn't help but sigh again. They were too green; they needed much more rigorous training.

"That attire... is it Bai Xiaosheng?" a Shu Mountain disciple exclaimed.

They had just been discussing this ancient and mysterious existence who, six hundred years ago, took two disciples, leading to the emergence of the Great Zhou Dynasty and the Shu Mountain Sect Leaders. He could be considered the patriarch of their Shu Mountain.

"No wonder he didn't speak or answer when we asked just now! If it's the legendary mysterious being, Bai Xiaosheng, then that's normal."

Immediately, countless Shu Mountain disciples grew excited.

The scholar continued to read and walk, passing by the group.

"Can we try to communicate with him?"

Someone seemed to recall an ancient legend: Bai Xiaosheng exchanged knowledge for equal value. The systems of the Shu Mountain Sect Leader and the Great Zhou Dynasty had both originated from Bai Xiaosheng—this was an enormous opportunity. A Shu Mountain disciple boldly stepped forward, carefully pulling out a self-written manual on sword forging, which contained some unique ideas.

Bai Xiaosheng took it, studied it intently as if no one else was there, and then suddenly spoke, "Hmm, this can be exchanged for something."

The Shu Mountain disciple's face instantly flushed, and he was overjoyed. "I'd like to know about the smelting of White Snow Steel. I've always..."

"Equivalent exchange, very good," Bai Xiaosheng said.

Bai Xiaosheng meticulously answered, then prepared to leave again.

Immediately, the surrounding Shu Mountain disciples erupted in excitement.

Even the elder was immensely excited, and they each stepped forward to exchange a few words.

The group began to follow Bai Xiaosheng, who continued to sway as he walked. After half a day, they finally felt satisfied. With sighs of wonder, they knelt in deep reverence.

"Do not tell anyone that you met and conversed with me," Bai Xiaosheng said calmly.

"Yes!"

They responded respectfully.

Bai Xiaosheng thought for a moment, then asked, "Do you know when the Heavenly Court's Peach Banquet will be held?"

"Guests will be welcomed at the South Heaven Gate in ten days," Elder Cheng quickly replied.

The Peach Banquet, a grand event held once every few centuries, was where the Earth Dragon Vein, the greatest spiritual root in the heavens and earth, gathered the faith and aspirations of all beings to condense Peaches of Immortality, allowing people to ascend to the realm of deities!

The previous Peach Banquet saw Heavenly Dao and Dao Changsheng ascend to divinity... It was a grand celebration across the heavens and earth!

This time, the Peach Banquet was said to celebrate Earth Mother Qing Teng's imminent ascension to the divine realm—the foremost event in the Three Realms! At that time, ancient beings from across the Three Realms—Demon Gods, the Great Emperor of the Underworld, Mercury the God of Wisdom and Light, Heavenly Dao, the Shu Mountain Sect Leader, and the Emperor of Great Zhou—would all gather, truly making it a grand age for the heavens and earth.

"The Peach Banquet... I understand now."

With a wide smile, Bai Xiaosheng picked up his book again, walking and pausing, absorbed in his reading, until he disappeared from their sight.

"We are truly so fortunate!"

The dozen or so disciples of the Shu Mountain lineage respectfully watched this being depart, unable to help but feel awe. "Even this ancient, mysterious existence, wandering through history, might attend... after all, it's for Earth Mother Qing Teng."

"But, according to legends, Bai Xiaosheng doesn't seem to initiate conversation?"

"It is a bit strange, asking about the Peach Banquet just now,"

"Hmph, six hundred years have passed, enough for many changes to occur."

"Wait, if he was going to speak proactively just now, why didn't he answer us, but slowly walked over and startled us?"

The group, having completed their trial, began their return to Shu Mountain.

After everyone had disappeared, the entire crimson earth suddenly vibrated slightly. The soil slowly peeled back, and a mysterious, black, intricately carved coffin emerged, slowly opening to reveal a young man with a well-built physique who opened his eyes.

"I never thought," he murmured, "that when I entrusted Messiah's body to Xira, she would bury both of us here...." He rubbed his head, sensing a red-haired woman sleeping within his Sea of Consciousness—it was Xira.

"Bai Xiaosheng? Another... me?" He looked in the direction where the group had vanished, reflecting on the bizarre scene. "This world is becoming increasingly terrifying and inconceivable... In the wild, anything outlandish is possible."