“Six thousand years ago…” Feng Xiang’s pupils constricted as she clenched her fists tightly, her expression suddenly turning cold. “I entered Luo Wu Mountain less than three days ago. How could it have become six thousand years ago?”
Mu Xuanling clutched Xie Xuechen’s sleeve, murmuring, “What does she mean… Could she be someone from six thousand years ago? But humans can’t possibly live to be six thousand years old…”
Feng Xiang overheard Mu Xuanling’s whisper and demanded harshly, “Who sent you? What’s your intention in deceiving me with such words?”
Xie Xuechen’s heart sank as he suddenly remembered who Feng Xiang was…
Feng Xiang was a great cultivator from six thousand years ago, from the same era as Qian Guang Jun. She was a Peak Fashen Venerable and one of the founding masters of Ling Ji Island. She had also participated in the formation of the Ten Thousand Immortals Array, but she had disappeared before the founding of Ling Ji Island.
When he first heard her name, it only sounded familiar, possibly someone with the same name. He never imagined it could be a person from six thousand years ago. Moreover, from Feng Xiang’s words, she hadn’t been living here for six thousand years. For her, she had only entered Luo Wu Mountain three days ago, yet six thousand years had passed in the outside world…
Xie Xuechen’s thoughts were mirrored by Mu Xuanling, whose face turned slightly pale as she whispered, “Could there be something strange about this place? Did we travel back six thousand years, or did she come six thousand years into the future?”
Feng Xiang also felt a strong sense of unease, realizing that the two people before her weren’t intentionally lying. She recalled the images she had seen when she invaded Xie Xuechen’s spiritual consciousness earlier… People had called him Sect Master, and everything in this world seemed vastly different from what she knew.
Her mind exploded with countless thunderbolts of realization, causing her to tremble violently, her face turning deathly pale. “How can this be…”
Xie Xuechen cupped his hands respectfully and said, “Venerable must be the founding master of Ling Ji Island, Venerable Feng Xiang.”
Feng Xiang frowned deeply, clutching her forehead as her breathing became rapid and erratic. She muttered, “What exactly happened? This isn’t right, none of this is right…”
Mu Xuanling’s heart tightened as she trembled, “She seems to be going mad.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, they saw Feng Xiang’s body emit a dazzling golden-red light. Her Fashen behind her let out a phoenix cry, seemingly experiencing a great shock to her divine apertures. Xie Xuechen’s expression turned grave as he quickly wrapped his arm around Mu Xuanling’s waist and swiftly retreated, rapidly leaving the area.
— It was a sign of Fashen’s collapse…
The two fled like the wind through the forest, not daring to stop as they left the valley and returned to the purple bamboo grove.
Shortly after they left, a terrifying aura erupted from the valley, causing the earth to tremble instantly.
Xie Xuechen looked gravely towards the direction of the valley. “It’s an explosion caused by the collapse of her Fashen.”
Mu Xuanling, still shaken, asked anxiously, “Xie Xuechen, who exactly was that person?”
“From what she said, she’s Feng Xiang, one of the founding masters of Ling Ji Island,” Xie Xuechen replied, his heart heavy with unease. “Her strength surpasses mine; she’s not someone an ordinary person could impersonate. Moreover, the Fire Phoenix Fashen is a unique manifestation that can only be cultivated through Ling Ji Island’s exclusive techniques.”
Mu Xuanling said, “Even the longest-lived humans only live for a thousand years. No matter how strong she is, she’s still human. How could she have lived for six thousand years? Could time in the valley be different from the outside world? Ten days there equals six thousand years here…” This speculation sent chills down her spine. “So those who entered Luo Wu Mountain, no one saw them leave because even if they stayed in the mountain for just one day, thousands of years would have passed in the outside world… What about us…”
“Not necessarily,” Xie Xuechen’s steady hand pressed on her trembling shoulder. “Luo Wu Mountain certainly has its mysteries, but we can’t jump to conclusions based on just a few words from Feng Xiang. Judging from the commotion earlier, Feng Xiang may have perished. It’s getting late now; let’s rest in the purple bamboo grove for the night and investigate further tomorrow.”
Mu Xuanling frowned, “Luo Wu Mountain is too bizarre. Do you have an absolute reason for obtaining the Longevity Lotus? What if we also perish here? Look at Feng Xiang, she was stronger than you, yet she met such a fate…”
“I must obtain the Lotus Heart Seed,” Xie Xuechen said firmly. “It’s a matter of life and death.”
“Is it for yourself or someone else?” Mu Xuanling asked.
Xie Xuechen was silent for a moment before answering, “For someone else.”
Mu Xuanling sneered, “Must be someone very important to risk your life for. But what does it have to do with me? You’ve dragged me into this mess. Since you’re going to die anyway, why not just let me go now?”
Xie Xuechen had been clinging to a sliver of hope that if he could obtain the Longevity Lotus by chance, he could quickly have Mu Xuanling consume it. That’s why he had kept the connection between them. He couldn’t tell Mu Xuanling that the Longevity Lotus was for her, fearing she might become wary and resistant, potentially ruining everything.
“Just now… why did you come looking for me?” Xie Xuechen asked. “Did you encounter some danger?”
Mu Xuanling pursed her lips, frowning, but remained silent.
She hadn’t encountered any danger at all. She didn’t know what had gone wrong, but her legs had moved of their own accord as if some mysterious force had drawn her towards Xie Xuechen. As soon as she got close, she sensed that terrifying aura. Seeing the wind blades heading toward Xie Xuechen, she instinctively took out a Heaven-grade magical artifact from her storage bag to shield him. When she came to her senses, she immediately turned and ran…
Of course, she couldn’t tell Xie Xuechen about these strange occurrences. She was also angry with herself. Fortunately, she had escaped. If she had perished there, she would have been filled with regret even as a ghost.
Seeing the irritation on her face and her silence, Xie Xuechen couldn’t guess her thoughts. He could only sigh softly, ruffling her hair as he said in a deep voice, “I’ll go back there early tomorrow morning to see if the Longevity Lotus has been affected or destroyed.”
Mu Xuanling turned her face away, avoiding his hand, and said coldly, “Go if you want, it’s none of my business.”
She turned and walked to the other side, sitting down against a bamboo stalk with a displeased expression.
Xie Xuechen stared at her, his eyes gradually softening. He slowly walked over and sat down next to her. She moved away with a look of disgust, patting the shoulder he had touched, and said harshly, “Get lost!”
Xie Xuechen chuckled softly but didn’t move away. Instead, he leaned closer.
“Ling’er, are you worried about me?”
Mu Xuanling choked for a moment, then gave him a cold glance. “You’re quite presumptuous. We’re mortal enemies. I can’t wait to get rid of you.”
Xie Xuechen had thought the same. She had drunk the Heart-Awakening Water and should have cut off her feelings for him. Her words were always harsh, never saying anything kind, yet her body seemed to crave his closeness without her realizing it.
His heart softened suddenly. He took her hand in his and said gently, “Don’t worry, I’m not that easy to kill.”
Mu Xuanling struggled a bit but couldn’t free herself. She turned her face away and muttered, “That makes me even more worried.”
She felt stifled in her heart but didn’t know why. Frowning, she looked at their shadows on the ground, leaning against each other. Suddenly, she saw Xie Xuechen raise his hand to her hair, gently inserting a hairpin.
Mu Xuanling was slightly startled. She raised her hand and felt a jade hairpin that was still warm from body heat. She pulled it out and saw that it was the one she had left at the noodle shop as collateral. It had been broken into two pieces in Mirror Flower Valley, but now it had been repaired and reconnected.
“I fixed it last night,” Xie Xuechen said.
Mu Xuanling immediately realized that after she had fallen asleep, Xie Xuechen had secretly repaired the broken hairpin. She slowly gripped the mended hairpin, not understanding Xie Xuechen’s intentions.
“After you left that night, I went back to the noodle shop to redeem this hairpin,” Xie Xuechen’s hand covered hers, his warmth slowly seeping into her blood. “At that moment, I understood my true feelings. I wanted you to stay, not just as a demon servant. What Yunxiu Manor can give you, what Nan Xuyue can give you, I can give you too.”
Mu Xuanling’s heart trembled, feeling both sour and painful.
“But when the Demon Flood Dragon attacked Yongxue City, I had to prioritize the city, causing you to fall into Sang Qi’s hands…” He sighed softly, filled with regret and self-blame.
Mu Xuanling clutched the hairpin, saying woodenly, “I’m just a lowly half-demon, unworthy of Sect Leader Xie’s affection.”
Xie Xuechen said bitterly, “It’s I who am unworthy of your sincere heart.”
“I don’t have a sincere heart,” Mu Xuanling flatly denied.
“Do you remember what happened in the Cage of Greed?” Xie Xuechen suddenly brought up the past. Mu Xuanling was slightly startled and shook her head gently.
Xie Xuechen said, “We were both there because we are each other’s greed. Ling’er, I originally had no greed until I met you. It’s the same for you, but you’ve forgotten it in your heart.”
Mu Xuanling’s eyes widened in surprise as a clear image flashed through her mind – two people embracing and kissing in the wind and snow…
Was that not a dream?
Xie Xuechen gently pressed a kiss to her lips: “But your body hasn’t forgotten.”
Mu Xuanling pursed her lips, feeling the fleeting softness. She looked up to see a gentle and doting smile in his phoenix eyes, a rare smile that made his usually cold and handsome face appear even more tender, leaving Mu Xuanling entranced.
“If I come back tomorrow…” Xie Xuechen said softly, his forehead touching hers.
“What if you don’t come back?” Mu Xuanling asked with a frown.
Xie Xuechen said, “Then it’s better if you forget me…”
So she wouldn’t have to be sad and heartbroken for him anymore.
Mu Xuanling lowered her eyes, feeling inexplicably uncomfortable. She pushed Xie Xuechen away, tossed the hairpin into her spatial pouch, and said coldly, “Then why are you telling me all this? I don’t want to hear it!”
She stomped her feet forcefully, walked to the other side, sat down, and curled up into a ball, sulking.
Xie Xuechen didn’t follow her. He sat quietly not far away, gazing at her for a long, long time…
Early the next morning, when Xie Xuechen was about to set off for the valley, Mu Xuanling followed behind him with an awkward expression.
“Now that Feng Xiang has perished, there shouldn’t be any danger in the valley,” Mu Xuanling said, pausing for a moment. “Even if there is, I’ve already been in there yesterday, so once more won’t make a difference.”
Xie Xuechen smiled upon hearing this, his heart softening. He grabbed her hand and gently squeezed her palm: “Alright if we encounter any danger, you don’t need to worry about me.”
Mu Xuanling said irritably, “You don’t need to tell me that.”
She was so annoyed. Why did she have to follow him? She didn’t understand either. It was all so strange as if she had no control over herself. This Luowu Mountain was indeed bizarre in every way…
The two cautiously returned to the valley. The surrounding vegetation had been damaged to some extent due to the explosion, but because of the abundant spiritual energy in the valley, these damaged plants would soon regain their vitality. The closer they got to the Longevity Lotus, the more severe the destruction became, all indicating how devastating yesterday’s explosion had been.
Xie Xuechen held his breath and focused his mind, finally arriving at the place where the Longevity Lotus grew. The area around the Longevity Lotus was a mess, with a deep crater blasted into the ground, but the Longevity Lotus itself was unharmed, still frantically absorbing the spiritual mist.
“By the looks of it, Venerable Feng Xiang has indeed perished…” Mu Xuanling sighed.
Xie Xuechen nodded heavily, turning his gaze towards the Longevity Lotus. Just then, he heard footsteps behind him. He immediately shielded Mu Xuanling behind him, his gaze sharp as he looked toward the source of the sound.
The footsteps were light, clearly those of a woman. Bathed in the morning light, she slowly emerged from the deep spiritual mist.
A red robe gradually came into focus. Mu Xuanling, shocked at the beautiful and cold features of the woman before her, exclaimed, “Venerable Feng Xiang, you’re alright?”
Mu Xuanling stared wide-eyed at the woman who appeared before them. With such peerless beauty and incomparable aura, it could be none other than Feng Xiang. But the explosion that had occurred here didn’t seem to be fake either; it was indeed the phenomenon that would occur when a Fashen collapsed.
Feng Xiang looked at the two, a hint of confusion and wariness flashing across her cold eyes: “Who are you?”
Mu Xuanling said in bewilderment, “You don’t remember us?”
Feng Xiang looked her up and down, saying coldly, “Who are you? Why should I remember you?”
Mu Xuanling said, “We met yesterday.”
Feng Xiang said, “I’m not so far gone as to forget what happened yesterday. I’ve never seen you before. Who sent you? What’s your purpose?”
Xie Xuechen pressed his lips together in silence. Everything happening before them was too strange. How could someone from 6,000 years ago still be alive today? How could someone who died yesterday reappear? Why had she forgotten yesterday’s meeting…
Seeing that the two didn’t answer, Feng Xiang didn’t mind. She shifted her gaze, looking fervently at the Longevity Lotus behind them. She walked forward in a daze, murmuring, “The Longevity Lotus, there is a Longevity Lotus in this world…”
Longevity?
The two words flashed through their minds like a thunderbolt, suddenly making everything clear.
Could Feng Xiang’s immortality be related to longevity?
But why had she lost her memory?
Xie Xuechen said, “Venerable Feng, if I may ask, do you know the art of longevity?”
“Are you also here for the Longevity Lotus?” Feng Xiang narrowed her phoenix eyes, showing hostility towards Xie Xuechen.
Xie Xuechen said, “No, we just stumbled upon this place by accident. We don’t know what this is. We only asked because we heard Venerable Feng mention the Longevity Lotus.”
Hearing Xie Xuechen say this, Mu Xuanling immediately understood – he was worried about yesterday’s events repeating, and wanted to reduce Feng Xiang’s wariness and hostility to extract useful information.
Sure enough, when Feng Xiang heard that the two were not here to snatch the Longevity Lotus, her expression eased slightly. Although she felt that the two young people before her were not strong enough to be a threat, she didn’t want to waste energy fighting with others, fearing that it might damage the Longevity Lotus.
Feng Xiang said, “I’ve heard that the Longevity Lotus holds the secret to longevity. Eating the Longevity Lotus can grant eternal life. Unfortunately, this Longevity Lotus hasn’t bloomed yet, but it shouldn’t be long now.”
Mu Xuanling looked at Feng Xiang and asked in confusion, “What’s so good about longevity? Venerable, you’re already a Fashen with a lifespan of a thousand years. Why pursue longevity?”
Feng Xiang glanced at Mu Xuanling and smiled faintly, “Longevity and eternal vision are the lifelong pursuits of cultivators. With enough time, it’s possible to break through the peak of Fashen and reach another realm. Moreover…” Her expression darkened, “I don’t have much time left.”
Although a Fashen body could remain eternally youthful, with no visible signs of aging, there was a difference in the eyes of a person in their twenties and a thousand-year-old person due to their different life experiences. Looking into Feng Xiang’s eyes, Mu Xuanling didn’t feel she was a person nearing a thousand years old.
Perhaps she had encountered some accident that greatly reduced her lifespan, which was why she felt she didn’t have much time left and could only pin her hopes on the Longevity Lotus to extend her life.
Xie Xuechen’s understanding of the Immortal Alliance’s history far surpassed Mu Xuanling’s. He recalled the events from 6,000 years ago and the rumors about Venerable Feng Xiang, making a bold guess: “Venerable, you’re only about two hundred years old now, with eight hundred years of lifespan remaining. Did you suffer an injury in the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation that greatly reduced your lifespan?”
According to the Immortal Alliance’s records, when the demon race invaded the human realm those years ago, demonic energy overflowed from the Void Sea, and the borders of the demon realm were constantly pushed into the human realm. Qian Guangjun, the first cultivator of the human race, gathered the power of ten thousand Daoist sects to form the Immortal Alliance. They paid a huge price to form the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, which not only blocked the invasion of demonic energy but also sealed countless demon gods within the demon realm. These prices included the lives of countless cultivators.
Feng Xiang looked at Xie Xuechen with some surprise, not expecting this cold and handsome young man to have such keen intuition. She instinctively felt that he wasn’t very old, but his cultivation was unfathomable. Such amazing talent, yet he remained unknown. She found it strange but was too lazy to pay attention to other men. She said indifferently, “Your guess is not wrong, but it has nothing to do with you. I don’t know why you accidentally entered Luowu Mountain, but this is not a place you should come to. It’s best if you leave as soon as possible.”
Xie Xuechen and Mu Xuanling exchanged a glance. Seeing that Feng Xiang was unwilling to say more, they didn’t press further and immediately left the valley, heading towards the bamboo forest.
“Sect Leader Xie, are you also suspecting…” Mu Xuanling asked.
Xie Xuechen nodded: “We’ll confirm it again tomorrow.”
The two stayed awake all night, keeping watch at the edge of the bamboo forest. Just as dawn broke, they suddenly heard a familiar set of footsteps.
Xie Xuechen and Mu Xuanling were both startled, holding their breath as they looked toward the approaching figure.
The person wore eye-catching red robes, with sharp eyes, slowly approaching. It was Feng Xiang.
Feng Xiang frowned slightly, looking at the two warily: “Who are you?”
Xie Xuechen’s heart sank – she had lost her memory again…
No, she hadn’t lost her memory. She had restarted another day, day after day, trapped in this valley, repeating for 6,000 years…
A chill ran up their spines, and Mu Xuanling involuntarily shuddered.
Could this… be the secret of longevity?