Chapter 140: Invitation of a Thousand Years
Actually, in the cultivation world, many anecdotes often mention cases where the Friend Invitation Pendant led to malicious intentions against the cave dwelling’s owner, ultimately resulting in tragedy. Being able to safely give it to someone already indicated that the cave dwelling’s owner was prepared even for the possibility of being betrayed by this person and losing their life.
Precisely because of its special nature, such items were extremely rare in normal circumstances.
The reason some could still be seen now was that regarding the Friend Invitation Pendant, there was another rather common situation.
That was when certain high-level predecessors, due to their remaining lifespan nearing its end or other reasons, were about to perish.
They had no attachments, no descendants, and no disciples.
Yet they wished to pass on their cultivation and treasures, so they would leave some Friend Invitation Pendants as tokens and qualifications to enter their dwellings.
They would then set up some trials, hoping that their legacy would be obtained by those destined.
According to Song Yan’s thinking, this jade pendant should belong to the latter category.
“The treasure map shattered into those dozens of ink-colored fragments. Could it be that this senior did it intentionally?”
But…
With just this jade pendant and no additional information, how could he confirm that things were really as he thought?
Song Yan attempted to sink his divine sense and spiritual energy into it, but was repelled by some kind of restriction.
“This…”
What mysteries did this thing contain?
He pondered.
Presumably, that Divine Transformation realm senior named Wu Daoxuan had already passed away?
Otherwise, in the future, dozens of cultivators holding Friend Invitation Pendants would happily enter the dwelling, only to find a Divine Transformation realm powerhouse waiting for them…
Song Yan couldn’t help but shiver.
He turned it over and over, but couldn’t figure anything out.
“Forget it. For now, I know nothing. There’s no need to waste time here.”
The pool water was warm, the fatigue dissolved, and then a wave of drowsiness swept over him.
Song Yan stepped out of the pool, used spiritual energy to brush away the water vapor, and lay down on the jade bed to sleep peacefully.
…
With the conclusion of Changping, many details and information about it began to spread throughout the cultivation world.
However, because the Qi Refining Stage was too low, Song Yan’s name was overlooked during the propagation of events.
They only mentioned “a certain Qi Refining Stage cultivator from Eastern Abyss Sect.”
Only those cultivators who had been present would mention when speaking of the matter, “That Eastern Abyss Sect cultivator was named Song Yan.”
No one cared.
No one believed that a Qi Refining Stage cultivator could change anything on such a battlefield.
It was just good luck at most.
What most people were more concerned about was where the dozens of ink-colored fragments went after the treasure map shattered and scattered.
Among the cultivators present that day, one meticulous cultivator, after careful recollection, made a judgment.
There had been a total of eighty-six ink-colored fragments.
With Changping County as the center, they scattered outward.
On the same day, in the Kingdom of Chu, the Kingdom of Qi, the Central Domain, and other surrounding areas, cultivators mysteriously obtained black jade pendants of unknown purpose.
As for why there were eighty-six fragments and how the ink color chose which cultivators, no one knew.
So far, those who had reported possessing such items had all concealed their identities.
Before the true purpose of these items was understood, no one dared to display them openly.
However, speculation about these items had a vague consensus.
It was probably the location of the tomb of that Divine Transformation realm cultivator, Wu Daoxuan.
This speculation didn’t last long. After about a month, Profound Abyss Sect suddenly conveyed a message from the Wu family of the Central Domain to the entire Kingdom of Chu.
“Senior Wu Daoxuan’s tomb is in Tangting of the Central Domain, properly guarded by descendants of the Wu family. Please do not spread false rumors.”
“The ink jade formed from the Changping treasure map is only related to a former residence of the senior.”
“According to the Wu family descendants, the senior left these clues probably just to allow painting enthusiasts of the world to obtain some of his previous paintings.”
“There won’t be many cultivation-related spiritual items in the old garden.”
These messages seemed to come from a Wu family descendant who had traveled thousands of miles from the Central Domain, using Profound Abyss Sect, the leading force of the Chu Kingdom’s cultivation world, to clarify the matter.
However, once the news of the Divine Transformation old garden was confirmed, it actually made the search for the ink jade even more frantic. Did it really matter how many cultivation-related spiritual items there were?
This was undeniably something left by a Divine Transformation realm cultivator! Even if they were just paintings, who could determine that they didn’t contain hidden mysteries?
From this perspective, not only Golden Core cultivators, but even Nascent Soul cultivators from the Central Domain would probably join this great battle!
But the problem was…
Where exactly was this Daoist old garden?
According to the Wu family descendants, they didn’t know either.
The senior had loved traveling and sketching during his lifetime, contemplating the Great Dao of heaven and earth, so he had many residences.
“Before this, two old gardens had appeared elsewhere. According to the rules the senior left the previous two times, cultivators who entered would have their cultivation completely sealed.”
“Whether one could obtain the paintings left by the senior depended entirely on the cultivator’s attainment in the Way of Painting.”
“It’s unknown whether this time will be the same.”
Information about this Daoist old garden had already spread through the mouths of the Wu family descendants in the Chu Kingdom’s cultivation world.
But where exactly this Daoist old garden was and when it would appear, even the Wu family descendants weren’t clear.
…
Eastern Abyss Sect, Wendao Gorge.
Song Yan sat in the Ink Dao Courtyard, carefully holding a brush and copying calligraphy.
Although he had already become an inner disciple and the Art of Cultivating the Heart could theoretically be avoided through many methods.
He knew that the Art of Cultivating the Heart was by no means a waste of time.
Taking appropriate time to cultivate one’s character had only benefits and no drawbacks for cultivation.
“Hmm…”
He picked up the piece of calligraphy, examined it up and down, and nodded with satisfaction.
He stood up and left the courtyard.
The current Ink Dao Courtyard was much quieter than before.
Mainly because recent discussions about the Daoist old garden had directed many disciples’ attention to the Painting Academy.
Most people knew that cramming at the last minute was meaningless.
However, interest in the Art of Cultivating the Heart was indeed much higher than before.
“When that senior left these clues, he was still alive. This must have been a thousand years ago, right?”
“Who knows… Even a great Divine Transformation realm cultivator has a day of passing.”
“How do you know the senior passed away?”
“Of course. Could there be anyone who could kill a Divine Transformation realm senior?”
Chu was ultimately just a small border country, without even a resident Nascent Soul realm cultivator, let alone a Divine Transformation realm one.
Discussions about these matters were based entirely on personal imagination and stubbornness during arguments.
“A thousand years ago?”
Song Yan listened to the idle chatter of the surrounding cultivators and sighed inwardly. “Has it been that long…”
A thousand years…
It was only two words, but how much had changed through the ages, how much joy and sorrow.
He sighed lightly and walked directly toward his own cave dwelling.
His interest in the Daoist old garden wasn’t particularly strong.
After all, he knew nothing about the Way of Painting.
If he could ensure his own safety at that time, he could go to observe the talents of the painting masters.
Broadening his horizons and improving his aesthetic sense wasn’t a bad thing.
According to the rumors, there were a total of eighty-six jade pendants, and adding the one he had initially obtained.
That made a total of eighty-seven…