Chapter 260: Sword Mountain’s Twelfth Elder, Jing Wuya

Bai Ziqiu just smiled faintly and did not inquire further into the matter.

Chen Changsheng asked, “From what you are saying, old sir, were you once very well-known in the Cultivation World?”

“I suppose so.”

Bai Ziqiu said, “Among the Sword Cultivators of my era, I led the way.”

After hearing this, Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and asked, “Did you come from Sword Mountain?”

Bai Ziqiu nodded and said, “At the peak of Sword Mountain, nine out of every ten Sword Immortals in the world came from there. But later, the path of the Sword Cultivators declined. Sword Mountain also grew quiet due to some troubles, leaving only six out of ten. Back then, I was the Sword Cultivator with the most potential to revitalize Sword Mountain. Unfortunately…”

He sighed and did not continue speaking.

In those days, he was too young and impulsive, full of uncontrolled spirit. That’s how he ended up falling into this realm. After three thousand years of hardship, the fiery passion from his youth had long since been worn away.

Chen Changsheng recalled someone and asked, “Since you were once a disciple of Sword Mountain, have you heard of a… particular Elder?”

“A particular Elder?” Bai Ziqiu paused and asked, “How was he particular?”

Chen Changsheng said, “I heard him say that he was originally an Elder. But he became enamored with the pleasures of the Mortal World, repeatedly sneaking down the mountain to indulge himself. Yet, he was caught several times. Eventually, he was stripped of his position as an Elder. After that, he traveled the world, rarely returning to the mountain.”

Bai Ziqiu suddenly stopped. “Are you speaking of… the Twelfth Elder?”

Chen Changsheng said, “I never asked for his name.”

“Speaking of sneaking down the mountain to indulge…” Bai Ziqiu looked up. “Then it could only be the Twelfth Elder.”

“So he really was an Elder,” Chen Changsheng said.

Bai Ziqiu suddenly added, “He was also my Master.”

Chen Changsheng’s arm trembled. In an instant, their eyes met.

“What did you say?” Chen Changsheng asked.

Bai Ziqiu looked at him and said, “The Twelfth Elder, Jing Wuya, was my Master.”

Chen Changsheng glanced at him, then frowned.

He found it very strange.

A disciple of that… old philanderer? How could he be so different from his master?

“You are truly his disciple?” Chen Changsheng asked.

Bai Ziqiu said, “My Master only accepted one disciple: me.”

“Let me think…” Chen Changsheng fell silent for a moment, trying to untangle this relationship.

He lifted his head and asked, “Is such a coincidence possible?”

“You know my Master?” Bai Ziqiu asked.

Chen Changsheng nodded. “An old friend.”

Bai Ziqiu’s gaze suddenly shifted, becoming strangely intense.

“You? And my Master?”

“Old friends?”

Bai Ziqiu looked at Chen Changsheng with that peculiar stare.

He too felt it was odd.

Someone who could become friends with his Master… could it mean…

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Seeing the look in Bai Ziqiu’s eyes, Chen Changsheng quickly understood and hurriedly explained, “I do not share the habit of visiting brothels. We merely found common ground in certain… outlooks on things.”

Bai Ziqiu replied, “Didn’t you just look at me the same way?”

“……”

Chen Changsheng coughed lightly. “People say disciple reflects master. It was hard not to make that connection.”

Bai Ziqiu laughed helplessly. “In matters of the sword, my Master indeed had insights unlike others. But it is not written that a disciple must resemble his master.”

“I spoke presumptuously,” Chen Changsheng said, feeling awkward.

Bai Ziqiu lowered his head, also somewhat embarrassed.

Silence hung in the air for a beat.

Bai Ziqiu spoke up, “Earlier you said my Master was stripped of his Elder position for repeatedly getting caught… and then wandered the world?”

Chen Changsheng nodded. “That’s what he told me.”

“Really…”

Bai Ziqiu opened his mouth as if to say something, then thought better of it.

Chen Changsheng said, “At first, I believed him. But later, after sharing a drink, I sensed he might have just been making excuses. That man… he had many secrets hidden in his heart.”

Bai Ziqiu recalled something. “Master, he…”

“You know?” Chen Changsheng asked.

Bai Ziqiu nodded. “I know a little. It also involved some of the other Elders. But since Master never spoke of it, he probably didn’t want it brought up.”

Seeing his reluctance, Chen Changsheng did not press further.

Bai Ziqiu also changed the subject, asking, “By the way… how has my Master been lately?”

Chen Changsheng said, “Quite well. Not long ago, he was living freely and happily in Shangjing City. Later, he headed south. I don’t know exactly where.”

“That’s good…” Bai Ziqiu breathed a sigh of relief. “I worried he might encounter trouble. After all, for many years my Master remained at the Divine Transformation stage. Speaking of… has he entered the Dongxu stage by now?”

Chen Changsheng shook his head. “When I last saw him, he was still at Divine Transformation.”

“Still hasn’t entered Dongxu…” Bai Ziqiu murmured. “Then when will he manage it…”

Chen Changsheng looked at him. “Would something happen if he enters Dongxu?”

Bai Ziqiu snapped back to reality. “Nothing catastrophic would happen. Simply… this specific sword method is different. Sword realms correspond directly to cultivation realms. Entering Dongxu… means entering the next sword realm.”

“The Fourth Sword Realm corresponds to Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Divine Transformation, and Dongxu. It also means… disciples following this path cannot reach the True Immortal stage. Unless they start over.”

Chen Changsheng was stunned. “So that’s how it is… Things did seem strange when I observed him…”

Bai Ziqiu nodded. “That was also why my Master was the Twelfth Elder.”

Chen Changsheng nodded thoughtfully. Then his gaze suddenly sharpened as he looked at Bai Ziqiu. “But you… you’ve reached Dongxu, haven’t you?”

Bai Ziqiu confirmed, “Shortly after reaching Golden Core, I started over. I reached Dongxu only after my new cultivation began.”

“You… started over?” Chen Changsheng asked, surprised.

Bai Ziqiu nodded. “There was no other way. The Elders all believed the Six Desires Sword Code was an inferior method that squandered innate talent.”

Chen Changsheng understood. Four sword realms corresponding to four cultivation stages, closing the path to True Immortal. Such criticism wasn’t without basis.

Chen Changsheng gathered his thoughts. “Your Master seems to accept his situation well enough. What about you? How are things for you now?”

“As for me now…” Bai Ziqiu paused, then sighed heavily. “I have no other ambitions left. Now, I am nearing the end of my lamp’s oil. Even if I escape this place, I won’t live long.”

“To be honest, these past three thousand years… I have relentlessly tried to wash away my memories. Every so often, I chose to deliberately forget some things. Several times… I contemplated ending it. But deep down, I lacked the resolve to fully let go. I remained trapped, unable to choose between life and death.”

Chen Changsheng listened in silence.

Bai Ziqiu noticed his distraction, but couldn’t fathom why.

Chen Changsheng finally lifted his head. A strained smile tugged at his lips. He said,

“Living too long… is itself a kind of agony.”