Chapter 419: Old Folks

"Mu'er, you must not go to intercept the gods from Heaven this time," Grandma Si whispered. Qin Mu, busy refining spirit pills to feed his dragons for his long journey, paused slightly at her words. He smiled and replied, "Grandma, I'm the one who invited them. How can I not go?"

Grandma Si shook her head. "You are the foundation. If you don't go, they won't gossip. This battle, I fear, Heaven will send everyone—not just the Four Monarchs, but other gods too. If we lose, you must return to the Great Ruins and never leave it again."

Qin Mu's expression darkened, and he was about to speak when the Village Chief's voice suddenly drifted from afar: "Old Lady Si, don't mind him. Let him come along!"

Grandma Si glanced over, seeing the Village Chief laughing joyfully with a group of old men and women. She couldn't help but exclaim in anger, "Mu'er's cultivation is still too low; he'd be useless there!"

"Useless, you say?" The Village Chief looked back, smiling. "Someone has to collect the bodies, right, Grandma?"

Grandma Si froze for a moment, then fell silent.

Someone always had to collect the bodies, whether they belonged to enemies or their own comrades.

From a distance, a chorus of laughter from the old men and women reached them. The Village Chief was chatting animatedly with his old friends. Tu Xingfeng recounted their embarrassing moments from years past, causing everyone to burst into hearty laughter, their faces flushed with mirth.

They had countless stories to share: tales of facing life and death together, fighting side-by-side. There were always many fond memories to reminisce about. After the Village Chief became disabled and his ambition waned, he had settled into Disabled Elder Village, an unyielding, immovable invalid. With no trace of the Human Emperor in the world, his former comrades had also become disheartened, no longer appearing among people or keeping in touch with each other.

Now, the Village Chief had returned, and they, too, had come at his invitation. Though aged, the reunion with old friends seemed to transport them back to their passionate, bygone years.

Qin Mu watched them. These joyful elders each had distinct personalities; some weren't typically cheerful, like the Quiet Mountain Man, who usually looked as if everyone owed him money, yet now he was beaming with delight.

Each of them held an exceptionally esteemed position: some were chiefs of subterranean races, others were exalted immortals, some were powerful spirits worshipped in temples, and still others freely roamed the seas with their people on their backs.

People who would ordinarily have nothing to do with each other had gathered because of a Human Emperor's Seal.

The Village Chief, full of vigor, declared to everyone, "Let the blood in your hearts burn! Relive the past years and together, let's turn the world upside down!"

The Quiet Mountain Man laughed until tears streamed down his face. "Burn what?! Your lifespan is up next year, isn't it? Can you even still burn?"

"Do even immortals from Little Jade Capital use such language? If you're so bold, try saying it again! Quiet Mountain Man, you won't last many more years either; you'll be finished soon, just like me!"

The group of old-timers roared with laughter, stomping their feet. Willow Immortal's eyes narrowed into slits from his chuckles, and he panted, "Remember back then? The moment a fight was mentioned, Little Qingzi was the fastest to run—not to join the fight, but to hide!"

"You weren't much better than me! You always curled up into a ball!"

The old-timers burst into laughter again, exposing each other's past embarrassments. "Little Qingzi even had a crush on Fairy Xueqi! He pursued her so ardently back then!"

"Oh yes, I remember that! That fellow was absolutely shameless! Hmph!"

"The day Fairy Xueqi died in battle, Little Qingzi cried like a baby."

No one laughed after that remark. Suddenly, the Quiet Mountain Man burst into wails. Tu Xingfeng, who had created the awkward atmosphere, scratched his disheveled hair and suddenly sighed, "I just remembered Daoist Lu Feng. He and I were the closest. He died for me, blocking a fatal blow meant for me..."

Silence fell upon the group. After a moment, however, the old-timers' joyful laughter resumed, and the previous awkwardness vanished without a trace.

Qin Mu shook his head and activated the Imperial Dragon Art. The flood dragons' bodies began to transform, growing into colossal beasts several miles long. One by one, everyone climbed onto the dragons' backs.

The manor was left empty.

They rode the dragons, soaring towards the Great Ruins. On the dragons' backs, the Butcher tossed over jars of wine. These powerful elders embraced the jars, drinking heartily, their laughter echoing periodically. The Butcher raised his own jar high and roared with laughter, "We must drink three hundred cups!"

On another dragon's back, the Cripple was crying profusely. "I'm not a grand figure like you all! I'm just a petty thief, what heroics am I performing with you?"

Old Rulai looked at Old Ma and whispered, "Great Thunderclap Temple still needs you. You should go back; I am sufficient here."

Old Ma calmly replied, "You are a Rulai, and I am also a Rulai. You understand my intentions."

Old Rulai paused, then said, "What if neither you nor I return? What will become of Great Thunderclap Temple? What about the Buddhist teachings?"

Old Ma pressed his palms together, his face displaying twenty auspicious forms as he declared, "I will neither fail the Buddhist teachings nor abandon my comrades."

Old Rulai immediately understood his resolve. "Excellent. Whether a Rulai is present or not, the Dharma endures. It does not exist because of a Rulai, nor does it perish without one. If one comprehends it, one is a Rulai; if one does not, one is merely a false monk."

Qin Mu, on the same dragon's back as the Village Chief and the others, kept glancing at the Village Chief. Finally, he couldn't hold back and whispered, "Village Chief, has the divine bridge been repaired?"

A faint smile appeared on the Village Chief's deeply lined face. "How could it be that easy? Repairing the divine bridge is a three-step process, each step exceedingly difficult. The first is the Magpie Bridge Art, the second is the Profound Attraction Art, and the third is the Divine Ferrying Art. I've already cultivated to the Profound Attraction Art, which is quite fast. Quiet Mountain Man, has your divine bridge been repaired?"

The Quiet Mountain Man shook his head. "I'm still at the Profound Attraction Art."

The Village Chief's eyebrows danced as he jovially teased, "We might die trying to intercept the gods from Heaven this time!"

The Quiet Mountain Man, annoyed, cursed, "You old geezer, always wishing me ill!"

The Village Chief burst into laughter. "That old rascal, the Ancestor of the Heavenly Demon, is still rushing this way!" Everyone else joined in, their laughter echoing joyfully.

The sun set in the west, and dusk began to settle.

Heaven.

From above the altar, an obscure, guttural sound emanated—the language of gods, its intonation rising and falling in ways no human voice could replicate. Star Lord Qiao, Star Lord Hua, and Star Lord Yan listened with utmost reverence. When the divine speech ceased, the three Star Lords each took a few steps back, bowing respectfully, and declared in unison, "Your decree shall be obeyed."

All was calm on the altar.

Below the altar, the three Star Lords' expressions were grave, and they remained silent. After a moment, Star Lord Yan couldn't help but speak. "Must we truly do this? If we do, I fear very few people in Yankang Nation will survive..."

"We have no choice but to do this," Star Lord Qiao said grimly. "Yankang Nation has grown too powerful. Emperor Yanfeng forged a divine weapon to slay the Jade Monarch, the Human Emperor has changed generations, laws are being altered, and paths are being revised. This has already enraged the higher powers. If we don't act, we cannot guarantee our own safety. Compared to those lowly beings in the lower realm, our own lives are what matter most!"

Star Lord Hua interjected, "But those are countless lives..."

"There's nothing more to discuss," Star Lord Qiao said expressionlessly, raising a hand. "We simply fulfill our duties; we will not question right or wrong, or cause and effect. Awaken the gods of Heaven. There will be a battle in the lower realm."

Star Lord Yan and Star Lord Hua exchanged grim glances. Star Lord Yan approached the horn at the edge of the altar and blew it, and a deep, long blast echoed throughout Heaven.

*Toot, toot…*

Within Heaven, majestic mountains soared, and countless exotic beasts roamed among the peaks. Yet, what was most striking were the colossal, imposing statues scattered throughout the landscape.

They were statues of gods, bizarre and varied. As the horn calls reverberated, the surfaces of the statues suddenly began to crack. The stone rapidly deteriorated; some flaked off like dead skin, while others transformed into intricate textures of flesh and muscle.

Suddenly, one stone statue half-bent, half-knelt, its massive fist striking the ground, then slowly began to rise.

Following that, amidst the towering mountains, one by one, the stone statues reanimated, opening their eyes, from which divine light shot directly into the sky.

Star Lord Qiao's gaze, sharp as lightning, swept across the awakened gods. He then gravely commanded, "Reception Officer, lay the bridge!"

In the sky above Heaven, a golden, resplendent bridge materialized. A Reception Divine Official stood upon it, turning a golden compass before him. The compass grew increasingly bright, and suddenly, a beam of golden light shot from its center, transforming into a golden rainbow bridge that pierced through the barrier between Heaven and the lower realm.

Star Lord Qiao's eye twitched, and he suddenly gritted his teeth, commanding, "All gods, heed my order: descend to the lower realm!"

One by one, the gods ascended, transforming into streaks of light that soared along the light bridge, flying out of Heaven. Immediately, in the sky above the Western Lands, bright, dazzling stars began to streak across the firmament.

That night, eighteen streaking stars, trailing long beams of light, pierced through the air and headed eastward.

In the Great Ruins, as night fell, heavy snow began to descend. The Young Ancestor and the Elder of Law Enforcement sat amidst ancient ruins, a bonfire flickering and casting light on the surrounding darkness.

"It's snowing," the Elder of Law Enforcement remarked, looking up. He watched as snowflakes drifted from the darkness and settled around them. "This winter seems particularly long."

The Young Ancestor used a fire poker to stir the firewood, making the flames burn brighter. The bonfire crackled and popped, sending sparks dancing upwards with the smoke.

"It's not bad," the Young Ancestor chuckled. "The New Year has passed, hasn't it? After the New Year, it will slowly start to warm up."

Just then, a voice called out with a chuckle, "Make the fire stronger; I'll come warm myself as well."

The two looked back to see a figure wearing a bamboo hat emerge from the darkness and enter the ruins. This person had only nine fingers, and wisps of mist exhaled from beneath their hat.

"Daoist Ling," the Young Ancestor quickly rose to greet.

Daoist Ling returned the greeting, took off his hat, and extended his hands towards the fire, his eyes glinting. "Daoist Heavenly Demon, are you also here in response to the Human Emperor's Seal's call, heading to the gathering?"

The Young Ancestor shook his head. "I'm not going to meet them; rather, I already know what's happening and am waiting here. Even if I can't wait for them, I can at least intercept the gods from Heaven first. And you, Daoist Ling?"

Daoist Ling smiled. "I hesitated for a long time. I don't get along with many people, and I certainly don't get along with the Old Sword God. See this finger? He's the one who cut it off. But then I realized something: if I don't uphold the promise made by our human ancestors, I would be ashamed to call myself human. So, I decided I would still attend the gathering."

"Then you needn't bother," the Young Ancestor said with a smile. "Just wait for them here. If they don't make it in time, we can buy some time."

Daoist Ling nodded. The three fell silent.

By midnight, the snow had stopped. Suddenly, brilliant streaks of starlight appeared in the sky, moving from west to east.

The Young Ancestor smiled at the Elder of Law Enforcement. "Take my ashes and Daoist Ling's back with you, if you can still find our remains."

The Elder of Law Enforcement knelt and bowed. "Farewell, both of you!"

He looked up, and the Young Ancestor and Daoist Ling were gone. Two streaks of light appeared in the sky, ascending diagonally to intercept the eighteen moving stars.