Chapter 292: He Didn’t Come Back, Did He?
Chapter 292: He Didn’t Come Back, Did He?
Qing Tianyou felt the fading Dao Essence.
He was deeply shaken, staring dumbly at Chen Changsheng who had returned. He asked, “That just now, was…”
Qing Tianyou’s breath suddenly became chaotic.
Chen Changsheng reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder.
Only then did the disordered energy within Qing Tianyou slowly settle.
“Guard your mind,” Chen Changsheng said.
Qing Tianyou reacted immediately. He closed his eyes. A moment later, he slowly regained his focus, and the feeling of fear completely vanished.
Chen Changsheng said, “The sky is high and birds can fly freely. But if your heart is full of fear, how can you ever take flight?”
Qing Tianyou let out a soft breath and cupped his hands respectfully. “Thank you, Brother Chen.”
His gaze turned towards the sword hanging in the sky.
The figure of that man flashed in his mind.
“That elder just now… it was Jiang Shouyi,” Qing Tianyou said.
“A Remnant Soul.”
Chen Changsheng exhaled slowly. “To leave a wisp of a Remnant Soul in Heaven and Earth—that is truly hard to achieve.”
Now they could explain why the sword seemed to possess intelligence.
This was Song Gudao’s doing, and also the moment Jiang Shouyi had been waiting for all along.
These master and apprentice had poured untold effort and pain into this whole game.
Qing Tianyou asked, “Connecting to the Mortal World… is it to borrow the strength of mortals?”
“That should be it.”
“Isn’t the gap too huge, though?”
Chen Changsheng smiled gently. “Ants are weak, but they can decay big trees. Sand grains are tiny, but they can build city towers and high walls. A mayfly moving a tree… that’s not impossible either.”
After hearing this, Qing Tianyou felt deeply moved. He looked once more at the path cleaved by the Sword Qi. Only now did he truly understand what he had witnessed.
Song Gudao had long ago planted seeds in the Mortal World.
During this past year, he journeyed through the Mortal World. At the appointed time, he revealed the Divine Domain, the City Platform, the Demon Race… everything to the world.
When Chen Changsheng left North Cloud Path, chaos had already erupted within the Mortal World.
“North beyond the North Pole… it was not the land of Immortals?”
“Someone suffered for the Mortal World for millennia!”
Inside the Sword Forge on North Cloud Path.
Chen Zhengdao recalled the words once spoken by the Tea Valley Gentleman.
‘Where does the Immortal Realm come from? It’s nothing but a tomb.’
“It was actually true.”
Chen Zhengdao felt dazed. He had thought it was just a joke back then.
“The tomb of Heaven and Earth!”
Chen Zhengdao snapped out of his thoughts brought on by the rumors.
A Jun noticed her master spacing out and asked, “What’s wrong, Master?”
Chen Zhengdao looked at her. “Your master… I’m afraid I must take a long journey.”
This time, he absolutely had to see it!
…
Warriors on the South Barbarian Path were already mounting their horses, setting foot onto the Tea Valley Great Dao. Whips cracked as they raced swiftly north.
“Hyah!”
“Who cares if it’s true or false? I’m definitely going to see for myself! If it is real, I’ll draw my blade and kill demons, making a name for the ages!”
In that instant, countless figures across the world turned towards the far North Pole.
They came from all corners, speaking different languages, but their destination was the same.
Within the Jianghu, people were good or evil. But they never forgot they were human beings, living upon this earth.
Some went for great righteousness in their hearts. Some went out of curiosity. Some simply went to kill demons.
.
.
Chen Changsheng and Qing Tianyou didn’t linger long outside the Snow Mountain. With the current progress, it would still take several days for the Mortal World warriors to reach the Divine Domain.
This was now the most perilous moment for the Divine Domain.
Outside the city tower, endless cries of battle filled the air.
Sword Qi cut through the skies, and Demonic Qi blotted out the heavens.
A sword cultivator killed a Fifth Realm great demon with a single stroke. A strongman shattered a demon’s head with his fist. A blade master swung his Long Saber, painting the ground with demonic blood.
The Seventh-Realm great demon standing atop the high platform finally made its move.
Demonic Power condensed into a peak of ice, hurtling directly towards Mazi.
Mazi thrust his sword, shattering the ice spike.
“Go to hell!”
He cursed, then raised his sword and charged, facing off against the Seventh-Realm great demon.
“I’ve killed more than one Seventh Realm piece of trash! What are you?!”
Mazi roared fiercely, Blood Qi surging from his sword.
The battle between this one man and one demon shook all the Cultivators and demons present.
Everyone stepped back to avoid the fallout.
The Seventh-Realm ice python spoke: “Lv Chengfu! The Demon Sovereign’s hatred from years past… I will avenge it today!”
“Oh? You still recognize me?”
Mazi laughed harshly. “Good! I’ll kill you along with the rest!”
The fight between this one man and one demon split the battlefield.
It was too dangerous to stay near.
Seeing this, Lao Bazi shouted, “Fall back!”
The remaining few hundred Cultivators retreated, clearing a path.
The remaining near-thousand demonic beasts also didn’t advance, withdrawing to the side.
The chaotic melee transformed into a death-duel between the Seventh-Realm ice python and Mazi.
The Desolate Plain outside the city trembled violently under the force of their battle.
Mu Cang watched, his heart gripped with awe.
‘This is a Seventh-Realm great demon…’
He tightened his grip on his spear. He vowed that one day, he too would reach such heights.
…
All Cultivators had left the city within the Divine Domain.
Now the city lay silent and desolate, feeling profoundly lonely.
Du A’niang sat at the entrance of her tavern.
She listened to the overwhelming noise flooding in from outside the city walls, her heart growing heavy.
No one walked the streets.
She suddenly realized this time was utterly different from before.
Du A’niang abruptly saw a figure approaching.
She stood up and looked towards the Green-Robed Gentleman.
“Senior,” Du A’niang called out.
Chen Changsheng looked at her. “This time is unlike any other. It might be dangerous for a Mortal to stay. I can send you back to the Mortal World, for now.”
Du A’niang’s lips parted. “What happened outside the city?”
Chen Changsheng said, “This battle will decide the fate of Heaven and Earth.”
Du A’niang understood. She pressed further, “Song Gudao? Has he come back? Is he outside the city too?”
Chen Changsheng looked at her. He paused, unable to answer.
Even if he didn’t say it aloud, Du A’niang would learn the truth sooner or later.
Seeing his silence, Du A’niang understood.
She lowered her head, appearing calm, but her hands began to tremble uncontrollably.
“He didn’t come back… did he?”
Du A’niang asked softly, her eyes suddenly losing their light.
Chen Changsheng said, “Everything was his plan. Including his death. You know well the kind of man he was.”
Tears fell.
This usually bold, brash woman now sat powerless on the ground.
Deep down, Du A’niang had already known this would happen.
She had just been holding onto a sliver of hope.
She understood Song Gudao’s thoughts better than anyone. She wanted to hate him, yet didn’t know how to begin.
Du A’niang’s gaze drifted into the distance. Her tears reddened her eyes. Finally, she only managed to say, “I know…”
After saying that, she stood up and walked back into the tavern.
She stumbled, as if having lost her soul.
Chen Changsheng stood at the tavern’s entrance. “In life, we must all face separation and death. I hope you can find some peace in it.”
Du A’niang didn’t answer. She reached out, pulled the tavern door shut, leaving no further sound or sign of life.
Chen Changsheng shook his head with a sigh, then left the place.