Chapter 165: A Single Flaw in a Flawless Plan, Chen Changsheng and Fu Yao’s Mutual Understanding

Chapter 165 – A Single Flaw in a Flawless Plan, Chen Changsheng and Fu Yao’s Mutual Understanding

Seeing that Chen Changsheng had already made his decision, White Marsh found it hard to argue.

Having accompanied the man for so many years, the beast knew him all too well.

If he could brave the perilous depths of the Nether Forest alone for the sake of a mere “dog,” then he would certainly not sit idly by when his only remaining old acquaintances in this world had vanished.

No matter how many years it took, Chen Changsheng would scour the earth to find them.

With this in mind, White Marsh asked, “Then how do you plan to track them down?”

“The Ascension of the Purple Mansion Holy Land was witnessed by everyone in the Middle Heavens. The two of us can’t possibly just keep flying up into the vault of heaven forever, can we?”

Hearing this, Chen Changsheng shot White Marsh a massive, exasperated eye-roll and spoke.

“You are supposed to be the divine beast, White Marsh.”

“According to the ancient texts, you can comprehend the nature of all living things and possess knowledge of everything under heaven. You are a rare and auspicious beast of this world.”

“Logically speaking, a creature of your stature shouldn’t be coming up with such idiotic ideas.”

Facing Chen Changsheng’s blatant disdain, White Marsh immediately bristled with indignation.

“Then why don’t you come up with a better method!”

“Everyone saw them soar into the heavens. If we don’t fly up, how else are we supposed to find them?”

Casting a sidelong glance at White Marsh, Chen Changsheng replied indifferently, “Do not merely judge a matter by its surface.”

“Wu Li and the others absolutely did not undergo a simple Ascension. If they were truly departing for a higher, more comfortable realm…”

“…do you really think they wouldn’t have left a clue behind for me?”

“When we were in the Nether Forest, Wu Li came to see me. That encounter was clearly a final farewell.”

“If we deduce from that premise, my old friends never intended to leave me any trace to follow.”

“But even with a hundred flawless precautions, a single omission will ultimately reveal a flaw.”

At these words, White Marsh’s eyes darted around as realization struck, and he immediately blurted out a name.

“Nalan Xingde!”

“Exactly. It’s him!”

“Back then, your injuries and Nalan Xingde’s were equally dire. I entered the Nether Forest, firstly to save you, and secondly to save him.”

“The Nether Forest is a place heavily favored by nature’s profound laws. I do not believe there is a second place like it in all the world.”

“If they took Nalan Xingde away with them, then he would be walking a dead-end path.”

“Do you think Gongsun Huaiyu would sit by and watch such a tragedy unfold?”

Hearing this, White Marsh’s eyes instantly lit up.

“There is not a single flaw in that logic. Gongsun Huaiyu loves Nalan Xingde to the point of absolute obsession.”

“She would absolutely never allow Nalan Xingde to be severed from his final glimmer of survival.”

“More than likely, she even left behind a clue for Nalan Xingde to find her.”

“But this isn’t a certainty, is it? Wu Li wouldn’t overlook this possibility. He probably restricted Gongsun Huaiyu’s actions.”

“Indeed,” Chen Changsheng nodded. “Wu Li can absolutely keep his disciple in check.”

“But I have another helper, and this is a person he cannot control.”

“Who?”

“The former Yaoguang Saint Son, Fu Yao!”

“By saving Nalan Xingde, Fu Yao will forever owe me a karmic debt.”

“He understands my nature perfectly. He knows that I would absolutely never agree with Wu Li’s methods, so he is the one who would leave a clue.”

“Huh?”

Hearing this name, White Marsh’s face wrinkled in utter confusion.

“But the rumors say that Fu Yao has been dead for over a millennium.”

“A mere blindfold over the eyes of the world. A man like him could not possibly die such an unremarkable death.”

“As to whether he is truly dead or not, we will know once we dig him up, won’t we?”

With a flick of his wrist, Chen Changsheng pulled out a shovel from his void-pouch.

Kunlun Holy Land, Butterfly Valley.

“Wait, what are we doing at the Kunlun Holy Land?”

“Fu Yao is from the Yaoguang Holy Land. If we are digging up his grave, shouldn’t we go to the Yaoguang Holy Land?”

Staring at the desolate landscape surrounding them, White Marsh’s eyes were brimming with doubt.

However, facing White Marsh’s questioning, Chen Changsheng offered no reply, his gaze continuously sweeping and measuring the surrounding terrain.

Ultimately, Chen Changsheng settled his sights upon a remarkably inconspicuous earthen mound.

“Found it at last.”

Pointing at the modest mound before him, Chen Changsheng spoke, “Fu Yao’s journey through life is a story worthy of sighs.”

“To be exact, every tragic misfortune he endured was wrought by the Yaoguang Holy Land.”

“Aside from the brutal extermination of his clan back then, Fu Yao had been chained by the Yaoguang Holy Land for countless years.”

“That Fu Yao could not drag himself free from that quagmire was a choice of his own making.”

“Having thrashed violently within the Sea of Bitterness while alive, why would he ever allow his bones to be buried in that same filth after death?”

“Butterfly Valley was Nalan Xingde’s abode. This place exists solely to heal the wounded and save the dying; it has never soiled its hands in the realm’s conflicts.”

“It would not be an exaggeration to call this one of the few pure lands left in the mortal world. Even if he were merely faking his death, Fu Yao would undoubtedly choose to lay his tomb here.”

With his piece said, Chen Changsheng immediately swung the shovel and began to dig.

He had only excavated a little over five feet of earth when the iron spade struck a hard, unyielding object.

Hauling it out from the dirt, he revealed a stone stele standing roughly ten feet tall.

“After years of separation, Brother Chen remains as free-spirited and unburdened as ever.”

“In the art of plundering graves and unearthing tombs, no one beneath the heavens can surpass Brother Chen. Since Brother Chen has found his way here, then I kindly ask you to erect a stele for me.”

After reading the carved characters upon the stele, White Marsh spoke up.

“Chen Changsheng, this bastard is mocking you.”

“I know. Getting cursed at for digging up another man’s grave is perfectly normal.”

“Furthermore, this fellow is laughing at the fact that I actually had to seek him out for help.”

“I am committing this slight to memory. I will absolutely balance the scales another day.”

As he spoke, Chen Changsheng swept his right hand through the air, and the writing etched into the stele was instantly wiped away.

Immediately following, Chen Changsheng condensed Qi into his sword fingers and carved a new line of text deep into the stone.

“Tomb of the Yaoguang Saint Son, Fu Yao — The Undertaker.”

The moment the final stroke was completed, the stele abruptly erupted with a blinding, radiant light.

A jagged fissure then split across the face of the stone, violently spitting out a mass of black shadow.

Narrowing their eyes at the shape, they realized the black shadow was none other than Nalan Xingde, perfectly encased within a Life Blood Stone.

Chen Changsheng: (͡°͜ʖ͡°)✧

And just like that, the clue presents itself!

Witnessing the profound, almost telepathic synergy between Chen Changsheng and Fu Yao, White Marsh stood by, utterly dumbfounded.

“Wait a minute, not even blood brothers would share such a terrifying level of tacit understanding.”

“Is there some sort of hidden history between you two?”

“Pah!”

No sooner had the words left White Marsh’s mouth than Chen Changsheng spat a spray of saliva right into his face.

“What the hell do you know? This is called recognizing a peerless spirit. True heroes will always cherish the resonance they find in one another.”

“Your failure to understand only proves that you are no hero.”

“Oh, right, you couldn’t be a hero in the first place, because you aren’t even human!”

At this sharp rebuke, White Marsh immediately flew into an agitated frenzy.

“So what if I’m not human? I am by no means inferior to the human race.”

“What’s so magnificent about humanity? One day, I am absolutely going to gather a horde of human pets, and we will see what you have to say then.”

Hearing the beast’s rant, Chen Changsheng cast a bored glance at the furiously pacing White Marsh and spoke indifferently.

“Then go ahead and try. This current epoch belongs to the human race.”

“If you dare to pull such a stunt, you can just wait to be butchered, tossed in a cauldron, and boiled down into medicinal soup!”

“And purely out of respect for our past friendship, I will be sure to gorge myself on ten pounds of your meat!”

“Don’t act so arrogant. Humanity might sit at the apex of the world now, but they cannot hold the throne forever.”

“A day will come when the demon race rises to become the true masters of this realm.”

“Alright, alright, alright!”

Chen Changsheng waved him off perfunctorily. “Then I shall prematurely congratulate the demon race on their supreme dominion over the heavens.”

“Now haul Nalan Xingde onto your back. We need to find a secluded spot before we do anything else.”