A surprise?

Without even thinking, one could tell this so-called “surprise” probably wouldn’t be anything good. After all, regarding what had happened between Jian Chou and Xie Buchen in the Hidden Realm of Qingfeng Nunnery, Wang Que didn’t believe for a moment that nothing had occurred.

However, what did it matter?

Though relations between Kunwu and Yashan weren’t what they used to be, appearances still had to be maintained.

Junior Brother Xie’s Core Formation this time was extraordinary, and with the great calamity calculated by True Master Hengxu approaching, they had to be especially careful.

In the Hidden Realm of Qingfeng Nunnery, no matter how they fought, outsiders couldn’t interfere or see.

But if it were at Kunwu…

No matter how capable Jian Chou was, she actually couldn’t cause much of a disturbance. Moreover, Wang Que didn’t think Jian Chou was the type who didn’t use her brain.

So he studied Jian Chou for a while, then smiled: “Then let’s travel together. I happen to have the intention of discussing dao with Fellow Daoist Jian Chou.”

When masters cross hands and heroes meet, they often develop mutual admiration.

Wang Que was undoubtedly a person of noble character and integrity. If Jian Chou didn’t know this when she first met him, after this battle, she was crystal clear about it.

There was always a type of person in the world who made others unable to resist the desire to befriend them.

Here, Jian Chou was one, and Wang Que was another.

When two such people came together, it was simply impossible for them not to get along well.

They had chosen their battlefield in the uninhabited mountains and forests at the edge of Mingri Xinghai, which was quite close to the Left Three Thousand.

So the two simply gave up on going to the Western Sea to use the teleportation arrays, directly flying on their artifacts westward.

Along the way, the two talked about everything under heaven, from the strange events of recent years in the Nineteen Continents, to the various figures of the Central Region’s Left Three Thousand, and even to all sorts of interesting tales from the Southern and Northern Regions.

Of course, discussions of dao were also indispensable.

Wang Que had cultivated for a long time with extensive knowledge. His understanding of various techniques and myriad magical artifacts always opened Jian Chou’s eyes wide.

Jian Chou’s cultivation time was insufficient, but regarding battle and mental state, she far exceeded ordinary people. Her occasional striking words often brought Wang Que sudden enlightenment.

One was the current first of the Fourth Heavenly Tablet, the other was the former first of the Fourth Heavenly Tablet. Both had late Nascent Soul cultivation. After such deep conversation, each gained benefits.

And Jian Chou finally took this opportunity to gain a general understanding of the current situation in the Nineteen Continents.

In the Central Region, due to the Hidden Realm incident at Qingfeng Nunnery, secret grudges had developed between the Left Three Thousand’s Yashan and Kunwu—this she had known long ago, so no need to elaborate. The Right Three Thousand’s Mingri Xinghai had undergone major changes and power reshuffling due to Qu Zhengfeng’s appearance—this Jian Chou had just experienced, so nothing to discuss.

But speaking of the Northern and Southern Regions was quite interesting.

Compared to the Central Region, the Northern Region was extremely vast, but the sects distributed across it numbered only four, and these four sects belonged to two lineages.

Western Sea Chan Sect and Snow Region Esoteric Sect belonged to Buddhism; Yin Sect and Yang Sect belonged to Daoism.

The Yin and Yang sects had always been at odds with accumulated grievances, and these past two years they were openly fighting. The Western Sea Chan Sect remained peaceful as always, but the Snow Region Esoteric Sect was experiencing hidden turmoil.

“I heard that not long ago, Kunwu and Yashan had already detected various anomalies in the Snow Region and sent people to investigate.”

“At that time I was still wandering outside and didn’t inquire much, only knowing it involved the Extreme Domain.”

“It seems the reincarnation order of the Extreme Domain has fallen into chaos, thus triggering conflict between the New Esoteric and Old Esoteric factions of the Snow Region. Combined with the reemergence of Saint Son Jiye, it’s truly unpredictably dangerous.”

Matters concerning the Snow Region’s Saint Son and the Way of Reincarnation were no longer secrets for someone of Wang Que’s status and realm.

With sufficient cultivation and position, one naturally had the right to know.

Standing on the Hermit Sword beneath his feet, his eyes revealed some vague worry.

“Calculating carefully, it’s been eleven cycles of sixty years since the Yin-Yang Realm War between the Nineteen Continents and the Extreme Domain. The cultivators of the Nineteen Continents have developed and grown stronger, but the Extreme Domain also has no shortage of those with wolfish ambitions.”

“Eleven cycles—sufficient time for them to recover and restore their strength.”

“Perhaps a comeback is not impossible…”

The Yin-Yang Realm War…

Before being trapped in the Extreme Domain, Jian Chou had known very little about this matter. But after a sixty-year separation and returning to the Nineteen Continents, this matter frequently appeared in the mouths of those around her.

Thinking optimistically, perhaps this represented that her current realm had qualified her to know more things?

She was a cultivator who had participated in the Extreme Domain’s Cauldron Contest, possibly one of the few among current Nineteen Continents cultivators who understood the Extreme Domain.

She had even fought against the First Hall’s Yama King, Lord Qin Guang.

All the events and mysteries from back then in the Extreme Domain flashed through Jian Chou’s mind—

The nine-headed bird’s remnant soul at the Black Wind Cave entrance in the eighteen levels of hell; the strange and vicious Buddha statues standing in each level’s prison office and the countless corpses and bones buried beneath them; the extremely mysterious Snow Region Saint Son Jiye; and…

Zhong Lanling.

That Extreme Domain ghost cultivator who went barefoot holding a qin like a wanderer.

Jian Chou still remembered how he had felt something familiar about her and pursued the origins of her identity, thus telling her everything he had seen and heard since he had memory.

By the Yellow Springs, on the shores of the Netherworld.

Across the long bridge, countless bones and coffins.

“Fellow Daoist Jian Chou?”

Wang Que had finished speaking some time ago, but hearing Jian Chou beside him remain silent for a long while, he turned back to see her brows tightly furrowed, as if thinking of some difficult matter, and couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

Only then did Jian Chou return to her senses, saying: “I was just thinking of some other matters and became lost in thought. If according to Fellow Daoist Wang Que’s words, I fear the day when the Nineteen Continents again experience upheaval is not far off.”

“Let’s hope there won’t be too much trouble.”

After all, these were things that hadn’t happened yet, so Wang Que couldn’t say for certain. But with the various anomalies in the Snow Region Esoteric Sect beforehand, the heavenly secret’s prediction of Kunwu’s century-long calamity, and considering the stirring Extreme Domain, even the most open-minded person probably couldn’t feel very relaxed.

“It’s just that even the Southeast Wilderness hasn’t been peaceful lately.”

This point Jian Chou was aware of.

A thousand years ago, Kunwu’s Eight Extremes Dao Venerable had cleansed the Southeast Wilderness, severely damaging the three paths of demons, monsters, and devils, so that for many years after the Eight Extremes Dao Venerable’s ascension, the Southeast Wilderness could recover its vitality.

But recently, the Hero’s Tomb among the three demon paths had been taken over by Young Sect Master Yongzhou, not to mention the Puppet Faction had produced a formidable figure in Shen Wenxing.

Besides this, that Shen Yao who had emerged from nowhere also didn’t seem like someone easy to deal with.

In these Nineteen Continents, calculating it all, chaos really was about to arise.

Thinking this, Jian Chou couldn’t help but shake her head, her gaze distant as she looked ahead.

The waning moon in the sky had already set.

The continuous mountains of the Left Three Thousand looked extremely blurred in this fading night. The long-missed Nine-Head River was like a glowing ribbon in the darkness, reflecting the cold moonlight from above, winding and flowing through the myriad mountains and valleys, eternally unceasing.

Kunwu’s mountain peaks, located at the easternmost part of the Left Three Thousand, stood quietly towering within the largest bend of the Nine-Head River.

The central Kunwu Main Peak rose far above the surrounding ten peaks, naturally displaying a transcendent bearing.

A long mountain path extended upward from the foot of the mountain. Some early-rising Kunwu disciples were already walking along the path, either practicing breathing exercises or sword forms.

A streak of pale white brilliant light came from the distance and landed on the mountain path.

The Kunwu disciples on the path, seeing the arrival, all bowed respectfully.

“Senior Brother Wu Duan.”

“Senior Brother Wu.”

“Greetings, Senior Brother.”

…

Wu Duan, whose snow-white robes bore the dust of travel, having just returned from the Fengmo Sword Sect, put away his White Bone Dragon Sword and directly asked: “Where is Master currently?”

“Today Senior Brother Xie is forming his Core. The Sect Master should be in the Heavens Hall.”

A disciple quickly answered.

Wu Duan’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Though Master had spoken of some century-long calamity for Kunwu, he simply couldn’t bring himself to like this Xie Buchen who supposedly could turn the tide and stop the calamity.

“What about Senior Brothers Zhao Zhuo and Yuehe, and Junior Brother Wang Que?”

The disciple replied: “Senior Brother Zhao and Senior Brother Yuehe have both returned and should currently be in the Heavens Hall. As for Senior Brother Wang Que, he should have returned two days ago, but said he had matters to attend to in Mingri Xinghai and needed to stay longer. But calculating the days, he should have returned today regardless.”

Mingri Xinghai…

Hearing these four words, Wu Duan’s heart became much more complicated, sometimes thinking of Qu Zhengfeng who had once fought him at Western Sea’s Great Dream Reef and was now the Sword Emperor, sometimes thinking of Yashan’s eldest senior sister Jian Chou who had recently made her name in Xinghai.

“You may go.”

He waved his hand, indicating the disciple should withdraw, while he himself transformed into a streak of light, heading straight for the Sea of Clouds Plaza suspended high above One Crane Hall.

At some point, a massive formation had been laid out on the plaza.

Deep blue spirit pearls were placed according to mysterious positions, with faint blue streams of light flowing between the pearls.

Wind stirred the clouds.

The snow-white plaza surface, under the dim light of the waning moon, looked as if covered with a layer of frost and snow.

What a tranquil and beautiful scene this was!

Kunwu’s Frost Moon Sea of Clouds had always been a place of renown equal to Yashan’s Eight Scenic Views.

After so many years, such scenes had long been carved into Wu Duan’s heart, though he had become accustomed to them.

Reaching the sea of clouds, his figure descended.

A mass of swirling cloud vapor, startled by the airflow he disturbed when landing, rolled and dispersed in all directions. Thus, that figure standing outside the great formation at the plaza’s edge seemed undisturbed as it turned toward this direction.

Tall and slender, blue robes fluttering.

Between those jade-like elegant fingers, he lightly held what appeared to be an ink ruler of indeterminate material—seemingly metal yet not metal, seemingly jade yet not jade, about a foot long and only two fingers wide. Though it revealed no aura whatsoever, the surrounding wind and cloud vapor seemed to become several degrees quieter when approaching it.

It was Xie Buchen.

He always carried a noble bearing that others lacked, perhaps related to his background before entering the Nineteen Continents.

But it wasn’t disagreeable.

Because the scholarly air between his brows and eyes neutralized that unapproachable feeling.

Wu Duan, now at the Soul Separation stage, could easily discern the other’s current cultivation—completely empty, nothing at all.

Even throughout his entire body, not a trace of spiritual power flowing could be seen!

It was as if standing on this plaza was not the former Xie Buchen, not a cultivator, much less True Master Hengxu’s thirteenth true disciple, but an ordinary mortal.

Wu Duan remembered very clearly that today, he was to form his Core.

But he also remembered that when Xie Buchen was still in the Foundation Establishment stage, he could already cross realms and fly through the air above rivers.

It was better for him to mind his own business regarding matters between Master and this Junior Brother Xie.

“Junior Brother Xie.”

Thinking this, Wu Duan called out somewhat coolly.

“Senior Brother Wu.”

Xie Buchen also nodded in return, greeting with a light voice, then looked toward the Heavens Hall at the far end of the plaza.

“Master and several elders and senior brothers are currently waiting in the hall.”

“Then I’ll go report first.”

Wu Duan also glanced in that direction, vaguely seeing figures in the great hall. He guessed they should be discussing the Left Three Thousand Minor Assembly beginning in a few days and matters concerning the Fengmo Sword Sect.

“Good thing I returned in time to witness Junior Brother Xie’s Core Formation. Today the phoenix undergoes nirvana, rebuilding cultivation—congratulations to Junior Brother Xie.”

Xie Buchen seemed not to hear the certain deep meaning and hostility hidden in these words, maintaining his elegant bearing and smiling lightly: “I’m grateful for Senior Brother Wu’s auspicious words.”

The relationship between Wu Duan and him had never been very good.

Both men who had once fought on the Nine-Head River understood this mutually. A few words of pleasantries were necessary courtesy between fellow disciples.

But as for deep conversation, never mind whether Xie Buchen had the leisure, even Wu Duan couldn’t be bothered.

So after saying these few words, he nodded slightly, said nothing more, and headed directly toward the Heavens Hall at the far end of the sea of clouds.

However, before leaving, he couldn’t help but take another look at the ink ruler in Xie Buchen’s hand.

In his memory, was there such a magical artifact in Kunwu?

Wu Duan’s brows furrowed even deeper, but they relaxed when he entered the Heavens Hall. He walked directly into the hall and bowed respectfully: “Disciple Wu Duan pays respects to Master.”

“No need for excessive courtesy. How are things at the Fengmo Sword Sect?”

True Master Hengxu sat in the high seat, his clean and neat dao robe exuding an otherworldly feeling even in its creases. However, his expression wasn’t very relaxed at the moment.

Wu Duan rose and replied: “Five dead, three severely injured, eleven lightly injured, mountain protection formation intact. But no one saw who the culprit was. After tracking for several days, I suspect it was Xia Houshe, who was previously expelled from the sword sect.”

“Sigh, the Fengmo Sword Sect was too confused in this matter!”

True Master Hengxu didn’t speak, but an elder nearby sighed, his words carrying considerable sympathy for Xia Houshe.

“The Fengmo Sword Sect’s Ten Thousand Weapons Master inheritance hasn’t been activated for over a thousand years. This young man also obtained the inheritance through fortunate coincidence. It’s just a pity they did things too absolutely before, no wonder this child developed rebellious thoughts. Moreover, suffering the humiliation of expulsion, if not for Lu Xiangleng of Baiyue Valley’s rescue, he would have already perished.”

True Master Hengxu saw things very clearly. Though a leader of the Three Thousand Sects, his words showed no favoritism.

“Currently it’s the critical moment for Buchen’s second Core Formation. Since the person wasn’t caught, this matter will be temporarily concluded. Let’s focus on what’s before us.”

“Yes.”

Everyone responded in low voices.

Wu Duan naturally had no objections. After reporting, he naturally stepped aside, standing next to Second Senior Brother Yuehe on the right side of True Master Hengxu.

Compared to First Senior Brother Zhao Zhuo’s steadiness and unremarkable appearance, Second Senior Brother Yuehe had a handsome face with a rather cold bearing. The silver markings winding from his neck to his ears subtly matched his famous “River Flow Sword Intent,” slowly flowing with his surrounding aura.

Sixty years ago he had been sent on a journey by his master’s command, originally supposed to return much later.

But with storm clouds gathering over the Nineteen Continents and no one knowing what might happen next, he had returned early.

Aside from Wang Que who was temporarily delayed in Mingri Xinghai and hadn’t yet returned, almost all thirteen true disciples under True Master Hengxu were present in the hall.

Zhao Zhuo, Yuehe, Wu Duan, Situ Xing, Shu Yiwang, Fang Yu, Dong Zhui, Cui Shisan, Jin Feng, Xue Zong, Duan Hong…

Not one had cultivation below Nascent Soul!

True Master Hengxu’s gaze swept over each of these disciples.

Those who could enter Kunwu and be chosen by him could be said to be one-in-ten-thousand peerless geniuses. But speaking honestly, not one among them could compare to “Qu the Second Fool” whom Fudao always mentioned teasingly.

Even that Jian Chou who had just entered Yashan had surpassed Wang Que, faintly showing signs of later exceeding earlier achievements…

Yashan, ah, Yashan.

These two words, like some kind of burning brand, through the flowing of many years, had left deep marks in the bottom of his heart, deep…

Shadows!

Behind him, the massive Zhou Tian Star Formation still flowed with silver light.

When the first ray of light cast from the east, True Master Hengxu finally rose slowly in complete silence, walking to the front of the Heavens Hall.

The broad Sea of Clouds Plaza had brightened in this instant.

Xie Buchen sat cross-legged at the plaza’s edge.

That carefully prepared great formation had completely unfolded behind him, its glass-like blue radiance almost tinting his entire figure pale blue.

His gray-blue robes hung loosely scattered on the ground.

His hands rested on his knees, one hand’s fingers lightly pressing that ink ruler, the other forming a mysterious hand seal.

As the eastern sunlight gradually emerged, the changes in his hand seals also became faster and faster.

In an instant, only afterimages remained.

The formation behind him grew even more intense.

When the red rising sun completely emerged from the horizon, Xie Buchen’s ceaselessly turning hand seals finally stopped simultaneously, as if the timing had been perfectly calculated!

“Buzz!”

The formation covering most of the Sea of Clouds Plaza burst forth with thousand-zhang blue light, shooting straight toward the heavens as if to destroy them!

The enormous Sea of Clouds Plaza trembled continuously under this terrifying power.

Only Xie Buchen’s cross-legged figure at the edge remained unmoved.

People say purple qi comes from the east.

When the sun rises in the east, purple qi permeates the sunrise.

Though most people didn’t understand the mystery within, at this moment they all witnessed with their own eyes that after the formation fully activated, countless streams of purple qi flew from the east, interweaving with the formation’s blue radiance.

Thus, a dark gold ancient seal gradually condensed where the two met.

The entire process seemed slow but actually took only two breaths.

Before everyone could see clearly, this seal descended from heaven, covering Xie Buchen’s entire body through his crown chakra…

A jaw-dropping scene finally appeared before everyone’s eyes.

Xie Buchen, who originally had no spiritual power and seemed like an ordinary mortal, began visibly ascending in cultivation!

Qi Refining Stage!

Foundation Establishment Stage!

Golden Core Stage!

And it still didn’t stop, still accumulating, still ascending. Only the later it went, the slower it became, until reaching the peak perfection of late Golden Core stage did the entire process gradually cease!

What an incredible scene this was!

Even the Kunwu people in the Heavens Hall above couldn’t help but feel their scalps tingle and gasp in shock.

From an ordinary mortal to Golden Core peak in mere moments…

Only True Master Hengxu maintained a calm expression throughout, as if he had known all along.

After this process ended, that dark gold seal reformed and condensed at Xie Buchen’s brow.

“Rumble!”

Between heaven and earth, thunder suddenly moved.

Tribulation clouds covering dozens of li had instantly spread.

Myriad dark gold lightning bolts wandered through the cloud layers, yet as if unable to detect Xie Buchen’s existence, they all struck the plaza, the mountains, the Nine-Head River!

—Not a single bolt fell upon Xie Buchen!

“Is this the legendary ‘Dao Child’…”

An elder behind finally couldn’t contain his shock, sighing with half bitterness, half envy.

Favored by heaven, born carrying the dao.

For others, cultivation was like climbing to a peak, every step difficult; but for so-called “Dao Children,” it was like walking on flat ground, effortless.

Hengxu didn’t answer, only gazed at Xie Buchen’s cross-legged figure at the plaza’s edge, thinking of what the heavenly secrets had shown, thinking of Kunwu’s century-long calamity, thinking of those words.

After a hundred years, this child would replace him.

At this moment, no one could discern anything from his profound and weathered eyes.

Though Kunwu’s peaks had known beforehand that Xie Buchen would reform his Core, no one had anticipated such a great commotion. Those extraordinary dark gold lightning bolts exceeded everyone’s common understanding.

For a moment, all of Kunwu was in an uproar.

And that streak of moon-white brilliant light appeared at this time, coming from beyond the Nine-Head River bend, graceful as a startled swan, flying swiftly!

“Who approaches!”

The alert Kunwu executive elder Gu Pingsheng discovered this shadow almost immediately, pressing his hand to his sword, about to draw it in response.

Others also tensed up, on the verge of attacking.

But unexpectedly, at this critical moment, True Master Hengxu in front calmly waved his hand, actually indicating they should not attack for now.

Everyone became uncertain and suspicious.

That figure was instantly close.

The newcomer made no effort to conceal their aura, openly approaching. Even if Xie Buchen’s cultivation hadn’t recovered, he could clearly sense it, much less now at Golden Core peak.

He remained at the plaza’s edge, his fingers gripping the ink ruler tightened by three degrees, but calmly looked over.

Beautiful as before, black hair like a waterfall.

Jian Chou wore the same moon-white robes as before, her picturesque features carrying dignity and tranquility that could vaguely be traced in memory, yet with added controlling composure and determination.

She flew through the air without reducing speed, only laughing aloud and casually throwing something downward—

“Whoosh!”

A shadow swift as lightning fell, and the indestructible surface of the Sea of Clouds Plaza instantly burst with spider web-like cracks!

A black long sword with sheath had been thrust diagonally into the ground a foot from Xie Buchen’s side!

“Since parting in the Hidden Realm, sixty-some years have passed.”

“Returning today, passing through Kunwu, I happened to hear that Fellow Daoist Xie survived great disaster and formed his Core a second time. Jian Chou is greatly comforted and specially came to congratulate, returning this to its rightful owner.”

“I only hope that when we meet again in the future, I can once more reminisce about old times with Fellow Daoist!”

Her clear voice came from the clouds, and in the blink of an eye she had already gone far.

Xie Buchen looked up, only able to see her figure departing as swiftly as when she came, like a white rainbow piercing the sun, brilliantly sweeping over Kunwu’s peaks before heading toward Yashan further east.

Left behind were only her ethereal echoes still reverberating in the mountain valleys and the Human Emperor Sword still trembling before him.

On the sword hilt, faint warmth seemed to remain…

Reminisce about old times?