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墨書 Inktalez
Xu Xiaofei sat on the couch.
He urged Spirit Sword Destiny to rest and returned to his residence, locking the door behind him, wanting no one to disturb him.
He needed to grasp that faint glimmer of spiritual light.
A dull pain began to throb in his head. The first image that surfaced in his mind was that of the boy he had seen several times in his dreams—the one who had initially rejected him upon their first meeting but later endured hardships to seek him out. He envisioned a scene where this person lay in bed, seemingly gravely ill, gazing at him with focused eyes, lips moving as if saying something. It was likely not a pleasant matter… As he recalled this moment, Xu Xiaofei's heart tightened.
The scene shifted, and he saw himself sitting in a vast and unimaginable array deep underground. Countless intricate runes fell from above; numerous flickering candle flames were distributed within the array, subtly illuminating his closed eyes and calm expression.
The headache intensified, yet Xu Xiaofei continued to struggle with his memories. Just as he felt he could no longer hold on, a clear memory suddenly surged into his heart.
Dream Sequence Five
As soon as he fell into the dream, he realized this was the very scene he had just recalled.
The person lay sick in bed while he kept vigil by the bedside.
The youthful boy from before now appeared much older, his once black hair turned frosty white, and there was a hint of weariness in his expression. However, being a practitioner, his face bore no wrinkles and did not show signs of aging.
He still remembered that this person's name was Xue Yin.
He was the reincarnation of the one he loved.
"Stop overthinking," he urged Xue Yin. "I have summoned Purifying Medical Immortal to treat you; he will be here soon."
"You don't need to... comfort me," Xue Yin replied with a bitter smile, his voice weak and trembling like a candle flame swaying in the wind. "I know my body well; it’s useless no matter who comes. No one can save me..."
He interrupted his own thoughts and said softly, "I know this is all my doing. The last time I attempted to break through to immortality and failed, I ended up severely injured and bedridden for over sixty years. You took care of me all that time, trying every means to heal me. But I..."
Xue Yin paused for a moment, slightly calming his breath before continuing, "But after I recovered, despite your objections, I still wanted to break through the pass, which led to my current near-death situation. In fact, I understand... what you advised me has always been clear in my heart. Ever since my last failure, I have almost lost all hope of ascending to immortality in this lifetime..."
He could only sigh lightly, "There is nothing wrong with seeking the Dao wholeheartedly; it is just that I did not teach you well enough."
"You didn't teach poorly?" Xue Yin shook his head, raising his voice and vehemently retorting, "Who would dare say that! As my master, you have been so dedicated to me; who below you can compare?" His voice gradually lowered again, "It is I... it is my lack of talent and the absence of a soul that makes attaining immortality a mere delusion..." He closed his eyes, tears suddenly rolling down from his trembling eyelashes.
Xue Yin gazed at him with tearful eyes and suddenly asked, "After I die, will you... still seek my reincarnation?" He smiled through his tears, carrying a hint of sorrow. "Will you still look for me? Whether it is me or in the next life, I will always be 'his' reincarnation; what you truly want to find has always been 'him'... So even if my death brings you temporary sadness, it cannot compare to the pain left in your heart by 'his' death. You and I share a temperament similar to his; I have not completely forgotten you. It is... I vaguely remember some things, but the remaining parts I have tried to recall for a lifetime yet cannot remember at all. I once foolishly hoped that if I could ascend to immortality and enjoy eternal life, perhaps there would be a way to recover those past memories..." But there was not even a shred of luck in ascending to immortality.
"Do you know that ever since you found me and began teaching me the Dao, I often think about how to deal with this matter? And if 'he' were in the same situation, how would he respond? What should I do to be more like him and make you happier? I love you, but I am constantly afraid—afraid that I will reveal differences from him and disappoint you."
Xue Yin's breath was growing weaker; his chest rose and fell sharply as bright red blood gushed from the corner of his mouth. Watching him rise to wipe himself clean, he suddenly grasped his hand tightly with a trembling hand. Deep regret was evident in his eyes.
"I'm sorry; this matter... I shouldn't have." These thoughts and pains were something he had originally refused to express even at the cost of his life. But now, at this brink of death, both his body and spirit had weakened to the extreme, unable to suppress himself any longer.
Why should you be afraid? You are indeed him...
But he knew it was too late for explanations now; this Inner Demon had become an obsession that tormented Xue Yin throughout his life. Could someone who often harbored fears still cultivate with a clear mind?
"No, you should come out." He held Xue Yin's hand back firmly. "I have always seen that your heart is heavy but could never help you; now I finally understand that your troubles arose because of me—it was my fault."
"Fleeting Water is hard to chase; what has been lost cannot ultimately be made up for."
He smiled as well: "Don't worry; I will no longer disturb your reincarnation."
"You... really won't come looking for me again..." Xue Yin stared at him blankly, seemingly reluctant. He couldn't help but reveal the deep pain hidden in his heart regarding their entanglement in this lifetime but had no regrets.
"I won't." His voice was firm; once he made up his mind, it was always difficult to change it.
He said to the beloved Xue Yin, "Do you remember? When I found you back then, I read your fortune and predicted that you would have a life of wealth and peace. This prediction was not made lightly; you were destined for a smooth path, surpassing most people in the world. It is because of me that everything has been disrupted. Without me, your life would have been more tranquil and joyful."
"At least at the end of your life, you can look back on the past with a peaceful mind, rather than feeling the many unresolved regrets you have now."
"But... even a peaceful and joyful life would mean nothing without you..." Xue Yin still wanted to hold his hand but was gradually losing strength. The last glimmer in his eyes was fading away. "Without you, what would it all mean..."
Xu Xiaofei woke up.
So this was the conclusion for "him" and Xue Yin.
This time, the duration of his unconsciousness seemed very short, without even a bright light. He lay on the couch, feeling lost.
That was truly not a complete ending.
After lying still for a long time, he slowly sat up, his eyes shining brightly in the darkness. He remembered—he finally remembered—
Who he was and how he came to be here!
To complete that "art," he sought advice from friends, focused on calculations, gathered celestial materials, and spent a thousand years.
In the end, within the formation he had set up himself, he Sacrificed his own flesh and blood, soul, and a millennium of accumulated cultivation along with everything he had once possessed.
When the light of the formation ignited, countless different pains simultaneously afflicted him; in just an instant, it surpassed all the pain he had endured in the past combined.
His friend Nine Nether Dragon Lord once asked him, "Why can't you let go? Is it really so unbearable that you must seek death?"
I am not seeking death nor am I unable to let go.
I am aware that Fleeting Water is difficult to pursue. Everything I have done—amidst extreme pain, he suddenly opened his eyes and initiated a self-detonation from within. In the final moment of his life, his gaze remained clear: everything I have done was merely to retrieve Fleeting Water!
The power of extinction quietly yet violently began to emanate from him, spreading outward. He knew that after his death, this desolate and remote dead land he had deliberately sought would reveal a deep pit spanning a thousand feet, where everything would turn to ash.
His immortal name was “Wanlan,” and from that moment on, there would no longer be a Wanlan Immortal in the world.
Such powerful magic ultimately caused the eternal river of time to manifest for a brief moment. The last trace of his spiritual energy, carrying a wisp of Residual Soul, swiftly flowed upstream along the river.
He arrived a thousand years ago.
The shattered soul gazed down from above the river of time. He saw countless life threads rising and breaking in the starry depths of the river, intertwining with one another; each segment of a life thread represented a living being's life. Through intuition, he quickly found his own life thread, as well as that of the person he had missed for a thousand years.
The two life threads intertwined and almost ran parallel to each other; one would soon break downstream, leaving only the lonely other extending into the distance.
Through the eyes of an immortal, he saw a particularly prominent third life thread in the river, constantly swirling and repeatedly resonating with the previous two life threads. This was a vibrant life thread, full of changes and possibilities, containing the power to change everything.
He quickly made up his mind and transformed into a stream of light, diving into that third life thread. At the moment he entered, this life thread also split into two, giving rise to two branches.
The river of time stirred up several splashes.
Struck by the cold and merciless river water, the already weakened Residual Soul shed another wisp, taking away his remaining memories.
In the world a thousand years ago, in a certain town, a young boy suddenly appeared.
The last remaining spiritual energy of “Wanlan Immortal” Shen Jinglan condensed into his **.
His appearance completely mirrored that of Shen Jinglan, and deep within him also lay the traits of “True Martial Physique.” This was a mark and also a clue for recognition.
He opened his eyes and looked around in confusion.
He couldn't remember who he was or where he came from, but there was a vague thought in his mind: there was something extremely important waiting for him to do.
"Hey, are you here to steal Elder Yu's meat pies too?" The first person he saw was an ordinary-looking boy, grinning at him; this was the beginning of his memories.
They were hiding behind the wall of someone's house, and the boy held a large bundle of pies wrapped in oiled paper. He whispered, "You're late! Come earlier next time!"
A roar came from nearby, indicating that their plan had been exposed. The boy's expression changed, and he hurriedly stuffed a few pies into his hands before climbing over the wall and running away.
He was caught by Elder Yu. He wanted to explain but, due to an inexplicable flash of thought, said nothing more. Elder Yu punished him by making him clean the house, which he did. As he was leaving, he accidentally saw the old man practicing swordplay in the woods beside the house...
Xu Xiaofei stopped reminiscing.
So he was Shen Jinglan, and Shen Jinglan was him!
No wonder there was always a strange connection between them, as if they had known each other for a long time and were intimately familiar with one another.
No wonder he could empathize with the suffering that Shen Jinglan endured.
Xu Xiaofei pondered that it seemed the answer to curing Shen Jinglan's illness lay within himself. He must have brought this method back from a thousand years later.
But what kind of method was it? He couldn't grasp it at the moment.
However, it seemed that the more often he saw Shen Jinglan, the more it stirred his memories. Perhaps if he talked to Shen Jinglan again, he would remember.
He immediately got up and headed out to Shen Jinglan's residence.
The residence of the Absolute Cult Leader is not particularly grand or imposing. It consists of several courtyards, quiet and serene, with no visible guards.
Of course, it is not unguarded; there must be Shadow Guards silently monitoring his movements.
Shen Jinglan has already entered seclusion. How can he meet him?
Xu Xiaofei can sense that Shen Jinglan is not far from him.
"What are you looking for here?" Not long after, Spirit Sword Destiny appears before him.
His expression reveals suspicion.
Regardless of who it is, wandering near the leader's residence without reason would prompt an inquiry, even if he is resting.
Seeing him again, a wave of indescribable emotions and gratitude suddenly surges within Xu Xiaofei.
He is still alive; there is still time!
This is not a wishful thought or a delusion born from countless restless nights, but a tangible reality before him.
Things are still not too bad for him.
He can't help but smile, though his vision is already blurred by moisture.
Xu Xiaofei smiles and says, "You came at the right time; I urgently need to see the leader."
Spirit Sword Destiny first looks puzzled, then gazes deeply at him: "The leader never sees anyone during seclusion, not even me."
"It's okay, he will see me. I really have something extremely urgent to discuss," Xu Xiaofei said. "It's good news. I'll tell you once I've met him."
He thought about how to save Shen Jinglan before informing Yan.
Spirit Sword Destiny fell silent for a moment, then flicked a finger, sending a message in the form of light to him, which was the method to access the underground secret chamber.
Xu Xiaofei activated the Incantation and realized there was a tremendous force resisting him from afar.
Shen Jinglan refused to see him.
After a few exchanges, this force quietly retreated, and when it reappeared, he was already in the secret chamber.
He saw Shen Jinglan's current state.
He immediately felt the excruciating pain that Shen Jinglan was enduring.
No wonder he refused to see anyone. Continuous lightning struck down, relentlessly piercing through his body. Every inch of his skin was torn and bleeding; even his bones had fractured, blood flowing like a waterfall, pooling beneath him into a shocking lake of blood.
A person could reach such a tragic state and still be alive.
So much blood could flow from one person's body...
This was not refinement; it was torture. His mind was already in a daze, and it would be difficult for anyone to communicate with him.
But Xu Xiaofei was different.
Their souls were already intertwined; there was no need for words. With just a thought, Shen Jinglan could sense him. He conveyed everything he remembered to Shen Jinglan.
So that's how it is...
So you are me, and there is no barrier between us.
With eyes tightly closed, Shen Jinglan, deeply immersed in pain, though his body could not move, his consciousness sighed in response to him.
They both recalled where he would hide the clues.
The answer was actually quite clear; since nothing could be brought from a thousand years later, there was only...
Xu Xiaofei suddenly extended his left arm, pulling up his robe sleeve to reveal his arm.
With his right hand forming a seal, he tapped several points on his arm.
A faint white light emanated, illuminating the dark underground and brightening his eyes.
He saw a topographic map along with several lines of annotations glowing white, floating on his arm.
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