Chapter 490: Immortal

Whoosh…

Amidst the dying wails of the ghost beast, the Stone Sword plunged into the earth, transforming into a small mountain. The flesh giant collapsed to its knees, its life extinguished.

The crimson pavilion drifted silently to the ground, its scarlet lanterns still burning brightly. Only the red-robed young woman, who had been leaning against the window, was gone.

Ming Hui emerged from the Mist Sea, cradling the corpse of his Senior Brother Mingliao. Bloodstains marred his wide monk’s robes, lending him a desolate air.

The Mad Daoist sat atop the flesh giant’s head, his hair disheveled, guzzling wine. A sword wound pierced his abdomen, slowly healing.

The Dragon-Taming Daoist sat beside Daoist Qing Xin’s corpse, coughing violently. A dark bruise marked his sunken chest, radiating a sinister aura.

The Golden Silk Embroidered Fan and the Ice Crystal Dagger lay side by side on the ground. A figure stepped forward and bowed to retrieve them.

Xu Sanyan sheathed the Holy Ancestor’s Sword, gazing at the two magic artifacts in his hands. He sighed softly.

He finally made his move.

Of the six sages, three had died and three were wounded. Patriarch Zuoqiu, Grandmaster Mingliao, and Daoist Qing Xin of the Source Worship Sect had all fallen beneath the Ice Crystal Dagger. The Mad Daoist, Ming Hui, and the Dragon-Taming Daoist were all at their last gasp.

Though Yu Anwei was also in dire straits, Xu Sanyan knew that if he didn’t act now, she would truly exhaust them all to death.

Taking advantage of someone in their weakened state was hardly the act of a gentleman, but fortunately, he was no gentleman.

The great battle had drawn to a close, leaving over a thousand dead or grievously wounded. Less than half of the original combatants remained.

The Mist Sea had ceased its expansion and now showed signs of slowly dissipating.

Xu Sanyan entered the pavilion to investigate. It contained numerous treasures, but the most valuable find was the collection of jade slips on the second floor—over a thousand different types!

“Lost legacies…” Xu Sanyan smiled and waved his hand, claiming them all. The Mad Daoist and the others were too weak to stop him, forced to watch helplessly as he departed.

Amidst the crowd, Zuoqiu Zhen took a deep breath. After long deliberation, she finally set off in pursuit of Xu Sanyan.

After this battle, the calamity in the Mist Sea completely dissipated. The demonic path demonfolk, who had once stirred up storms and chaos, fell silent, and the world finally found a rare moment of peace.

Three years later,

The holy son of the Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect broke through to the Sage Realm. Shortly after, the former Sect Leader died unexpectedly, and Qi Yuanzhu assumed the position of Sect Leader, while his younger brother, Qi Liang, disappeared.

In the same year,

King Xia ascended the throne and established a new capital at Heavenly Treasure City. He even changed the dynastic name to “Xia,” signaling the beginning of a new era of governance.

Stepping into the capital, Tang Huanhuan felt as if she had traveled to another world. In just three short years, the dynasty had changed.

She wondered if the current court would still recognize her official position from the previous regime. She hadn’t even collected her last month’s salary—over thirty spirit stones!

Sigh…

Tang Huanhuan returned to her old trade, renting a shop in the Market District to sell wine. She saved money while waiting for an opportunity.

Half a year later, Tang Huanhuan was dozing in a recliner, a strand of viscous saliva slowly dripping from her mouth. Bathed in the afternoon sunlight, the droplet shimmered with a crystalline clarity, drawing frequent glances from passing youths who surreptitiously swallowed.

Tap, tap, tap~

Hiss~

The light tapping on the table startled her awake. Tang Huanhuan sucked the saliva back into her mouth and opened her eyes to see who had come. Her face lit up with surprise, and her voice brightened considerably.

“You’re here!”

Yang Qiyuan set down his longsword, grumbling, “Why did you hide here? You didn’t even send word. I had to search everywhere for you.”

“Heh heh…”

Tang Huanhuan only smiled, offering no explanation.

She had been embarrassed to face Yang Qiyuan, feeling she hadn’t made much of herself. But seeing him again today, all her worries vanished.

“I missed you so much…”

Five years later,

Lin Fan sat in a chair, cradling a baby less than three months old in his arms, his face beaming as he cooed at the infant. Beside him, Zuoqiu Yi had shed her youthful innocence, her long hair now coiled into an elegant bun.

To an outsider, this scene would appear to be a picture of domestic bliss. But a closer look at Lin Fan’s eyes revealed an lingering, unshakeable regret.

Just then, a hearty laugh echoed from outside the hall, and a young man strode in, clasping his hands in apology. “Forgive me, forgive me! Family matters kept me from greeting our honored guest sooner. Please accept my apologies.”

Lin Fan looked up and saw a handsome young man with sharp, sword-like eyebrows and bright, starry eyes—a man whose looks far surpassed his own.

But Lin Fan was no longer the timid youth he once was. He wouldn’t let his appearance make him feel inferior.

“It is I who should apologize for intruding,” Lin Fan said with a smile. “I hope the host won’t take offense.”

“Ha ha ha! How could I be offended when the renowned Black Feather Sword, Young Hero Lin, graces my humble abode? I’m overjoyed!”

The Black Feather Sword was the name Lin Fan had earned over the years, known for his mastery of a pitch-black longsword and his lightning-fast strikes. He had become a respected figure among the martial heroes of the Central Region.

Yet, despite his fame and fortune, the woman he loved had long since married another. It was a bitter irony.

Lin Fan often wondered how the holy son of the demonic sect would handle such a situation. He quickly shook his head. The holy son would never face such a dilemma; he would simply seize any woman he desired, leaving no room for regret.

“Brother Lin, since you’ve honored us with your visit, let’s drink until we’re both thoroughly drunk!”

“Agreed,” Lin Fan replied with a smile, casting a covert glance at Zuoqiu Yi, his smile tinged with bitterness.

Many in the Central Region were searching for Xu Sanyan, hoping to obtain the treasures and legacy left behind by Yu Anwei.

However, despite scouring the entire region, they couldn’t find a trace of him.

At that moment, Xu Sanyan was studying a map, frowning in deep thought. After comparing the landmarks, he set off southwest.

This map was included in the Beauty Scroll Compendium. After traveling for several years, he discovered that the terrain had changed drastically, rendering the map inaccurate.

“Could they all be dead?” Xu Sanyan muttered, feeling a pang of regret. The map had been drawn thirty thousand years ago, before the great heavenly tribulation, so significant changes were inevitable. But he hadn’t expected them to be this extreme.

“My beauties… please don’t all be dead.”

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a thousand years had passed. Though Xu Sanyan’s name still echoed in the Central Region, it no longer carried the same thunderous resonance as before.

At the southernmost reaches of this world, atop a towering peak ten thousand zhang high, Xu Sanyan had lived for an eternity.

One day, he summoned the young woman and handed her all the jade slips he possessed. “Go now,” he said. “Take these back to the Central Region. Consider it my final good deed for the cultivation world.”

After all this time, he had long since mastered the contents of the jade slips. Keeping them served no further purpose.

“Father, are you…?” the young woman hesitated.

Xu Sanyan tilted his head back, gazing at the heavens as he murmured, “I want to see what lies beyond.”

Ever since his conversation with Yu Anwei, he had been consumed by curiosity about what lay beyond the Heaven’s Veil. Had the Holy Lord of the Yaotian Holy Sect truly died all those years ago? Were there other worlds beyond this one? All remained shrouded in mystery.

Before the young woman could protest, Xu Sanyan waved his hand dismissively. “Go now.”

“Yes, Father.”

As the young woman departed, Xu Sanyan slowly rose to his feet, his eyes as cold and clear as winter ice.

In an instant, a tempestuous gale swept across the horizon, and the clear sky was swallowed by ominous clouds. He was about to—

Transcend the tribulation and ascend to immortality!

Boom!

A thunderous roar ripped through the heavens, tearing a gash in the Heaven’s Veil. Through that fissure, Xu Sanyan seemed to glimpse a world beyond…

(End of the Chapter)