Chapter 154: Vast Historical Books, Brief Human Lives
“Teacher, even if you don’t stay, at least tell me where I should go.”
“Are you really not going to tell me this?”
“It’s convenient; I really don’t plan on telling you. With your personality, you’ll definitely come looking for me within three hundred years, and I don’t want to be bothered every day.”
“You’re a person of the Heavenly Mandate now, someone who will bear the Heavenly Mandate in the future. The situations you encounter will surely be plentiful.”
“I hate trouble, and you know that well.”
Upon hearing this, Wu Li’s lips trembled slightly, then he took out a jade slip and handed it to Chen Changsheng.
“Teacher, this is some of my cultivation insights. Regarding the third major realm of ‘Body Refinement,’ I’ve already figured out seventy percent.”
“Give me more time, and I’m sure I can perfect this system.”
Looking at Wu Li’s pitiful expression, Chen Changsheng took the jade slip, displeased.
“At least you’re from the number one sacred ground in the world, yet you always act like a child.”
“Although books say that ‘there are no eternal feasts under heaven,’ they also say ‘people will meet wherever they go.'”
“I just left, not died. If you keep making that face, do you believe I won’t hit you?”
Facing Chen Changsheng’s words, Wu Li felt even more aggrieved.
“I can wait, but others can’t!”
“Uncle Yuanshan, Aunt Wanyan, and many other people you know, aren’t you afraid you might never see them again?”
“Maybe you should…”
“Nonsense!”
Before Wu Li could finish, Chen Changsheng interrupted him.
“You’ve gone the furthest with the new cultivation system, but I’m its founder as well.”
“How long the lifespan of this system can last, do I not know?”
“They reached the Lamp of Life Realm some time ago, and the Lamp of Life Realm certainly isn’t their limit.”
“Even with the worst estimate, they won’t have lifespan issues for two to three thousand years.”
“Now you tell me they can’t wait, do you think I’m easy to fool?”
Seeing that Chen Changsheng had seen through his little trick, Wu Li awkwardly smiled.
Looking at Wu Li’s face, Chen Changsheng’s emotions suddenly calmed down.
“Don’t worry, I promised to collect their remains. When the time comes, I’ll definitely return.”
“Not only will I collect their remains…”
Chen Changsheng paused here.
“I’ll collect yours too.”
The last half-sentence was said very softly by Chen Changsheng, as if he feared this matter would become reality.
Hearing this, Wu Li fell silent.
Though the teacher had never mentioned how long he could live, those around him had already guessed this truth.
They didn’t speak of it because no one wanted to accept such a cruel reality, nor did they want Chen Changsheng to carry more pain.
As a cultivator in the world, no one dared to say “long life.”
Even if he bore the Heavenly Mandate himself, he didn’t dare boast about everlasting life.
When he himself reached his end someday, what sorrow the teacher would feel.
The two remained silent for a long time, and Wu Li’s laughter broke the silence first.
“Hehe!”
“I absolutely trust your craftsmanship, Teacher. When the time comes, you must help me choose the best burial site.”
Hearing this, Chen Changsheng’s face also showed a smile.
“No problem, I’ll definitely help you pick the best burial site.”
“But my appearance fee is quite high, so you must prepare enough compensation when the time comes.”
With that, Chen Changsheng picked up Little Black and left the Sea of Learning.
Wu Li stood there quietly, even afraid to turn back for one last look at Chen Changsheng.
He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to let go.
…
Outside the Purple House Sacred Ground’s entrance.
Chen Changsheng left, and as he did, snowflakes began to fall.
Only a few people stood far away watching him leave.
Though the number was small, these were the only people in the world who truly remembered Chen Changsheng.
Watching Chen Changsheng’s back, Ziling’s lips curled into a smile as she spoke.
“I suddenly wish I could turn into snow, so I could land on Xiancha’s shoulder.”
Hearing this, Gongsun Huaiyu also smiled, “But Xiancha is holding an umbrella; you can only land on his umbrella.”
“That’s fine too!”
“Then I can accompany Xiancha for another walk.”
“If Xiancha sweeps away the snow…”
“Let him sweep it away,” Ziling interrupted, “being able to stay in his palm for a moment is enough!”
Upon hearing this, Gongsun Huaiyu fell silent, as did Ziling.
Cultivators have extremely long lifespans, but the years Chen Changsheng spent with them were merely fleeting decades.
Yet, these few decades had deeply etched themselves into their hearts.
Thinking of this, Gongsun Huaiyu spoke again, “You’re responsible for recording the history of the Purple House Sacred Ground. Have you finished writing about Xiancha?”
“Yes, take a look.”
With that, Ziling handed Gongsun Huaiyu a beast skin book.
After carefully flipping through it, Gongsun Huaiyu asked in confusion, “Why is there so little written about Xiancha?”
“Given Xiancha’s talent, the historical records should occupy a hundred times more space!”
Hearing this, Ziling turned to look at the somewhat melancholic Gongsun Huaiyu.
“Xiancha’s talent is so great that all my knowledge cannot describe even a fraction of him. If I were to write it in words, my admiration could fill the entire Sea of Learning.”
“But what can that do?”
“Can all the books in the Sea of Learning together capture Xiancha’s human life?”
“The historical records are too small to contain his heroic life.”
“The historical records are too large, a casual flip revealing his long and unforgettable past.”
Hearing this, Gongsun Huaiyu looked up at the distant Chen Changsheng, who had long since turned into a “dot.”
Over twenty years ago, he brought a sickly white dog to participate in the Heavenly Heroes Conference.
Over twenty years later, he left with a sickly white dog.
During this time, the world had changed, but he remained as he once was.
It seemed he possessed everything, but in reality, he had nothing.
The only thing that could accompany him was a white dog named “Little Black,” which must be a kind of loneliness.
How did Xiancha endure such a long period of loneliness?
…
“Are you really not going to accompany him for another walk?”
Zuo Xinghe came to Wanyan Yue’s side, looking at the direction Chen Changsheng had left, Wanyan Yue replied indifferently.
“I don’t have the courage to chase after Changsheng; I’m afraid I’ll collapse halfway.”
“Rather than letting him have a painful ending, it’s better to never begin.”
With that, Wanyan Yue turned and returned to the Purple House Sacred Ground.
Looking at the footprints soon to be covered by heavy snow, Zuo Xinghe smiled.
“Father Emperor!”
“I surpassed your former self, but I still lack the courage to pursue Changsheng knowing the situation of d*ath.”
“When you forcefully entered the Ancient Forbidden Ground back then, how much courage did you have in your heart?”
…
A hundred miles away.
“Little Black, it’s all your fault. If you weren’t here, I wouldn’t need to pretend to be aloof.”
“From here to the Eastern Wastes is over a million miles. Without relying on teleportation arrays, how long will it take me to fly there?”
Facing Chen Changsheng’s complaints, Little Black gave him a cold look, then flipped over and continued sleeping.
It seemed to say, “You’re acting tough yourself, yet you make me, a dog, take the blame. Are you human?”
Ignoring Little Black’s disdain, Chen Changsheng turned his head to look at the Purple House Sacred Ground behind him.
“Fine, I’ll fly back.”
“Returning now by teleportation array would make me lose face.”
“Anyway, there are still four hundred years left. It’s just passing the time.”
With that, Chen Changsheng transformed into a streak of light and disappeared.
Little Black’s condition was getting worse, and Nalan Xingde, Ziyu’s husband, had already been sealed away.
For the sake of this man and dog, Chen Changsheng had to make a trip to the Underworld Forest.
…
