Chapter 243

Changan.

As soon as the group entered the West Market of the capital, they were shocked by the bustle before them. Shops stood in great numbers, the noise from wine shops and teahouses was incessant, and Persian glass, Western horses, and many other things were all available.

Jingtian took Long Kui and Xu Maoshan to wander around, but by the time night was about to fall and the curfew was not far off, he discovered that one person was missing from his side.

Tang Xuejian said indignantly:

"You're supposed to be Long Kui's brother, yet you didn't even notice when she got lost."

"This is my first time in Changan City. Where have I ever seen such a bustling and prosperous scene?"

Jingtian looked left and right with a full face of anxiety:

"White Tofu, your Mount Shu should have magical artifacts for finding people. Hurry and help..."

Before he could finish speaking, a voice entered everyone's ears:

"Young man, don't be anxious. Come to Room 1 of the Heavenly Grade at the Yuelai Inn, and you will be able to know about Long Kui."

"Fine! The villain who kidnapped my sister actually jumped out on their own." Jingtian said angrily.

Zhuang Buran's eyes shifted, and he said lightly:

"This spiritual energy aura has no evil intent. The visitor seems to be from the Saintess lineage that has guarded the descendants of Nuwa for generations."

Seeing that the others were puzzled, he explained while walking toward the Yuelai Inn:

"There are still descendants of Nuwa in the human world. They are compassionate and have the world in their hearts, generations taking the salvation of the common people as their own responsibility. The Saintess lineage is equivalent to the protectors of each generation of Nuwa descendants."

"Because they have lived in the Miao territory since ancient times, they are not known to outsiders."

Jingtian suppressed the anger in his heart and said:

"Since they are like Mount Shu, taking the protection of the human world's righteous path as their responsibility, why kidnap my sister?"

"Once we meet this Saintess elder, everything will naturally come to light."

The young man in white carrying a sword led the group into the Yuelai Inn, then pushed open the door and stepped into Room 1 of the Heavenly Grade, where they saw the Saintess sitting on the couch.

As soon as Jingtian saw her, he could no longer suppress the anger in his heart and said:

"I heard from White Tofu that you are an elder who is devoted to goodness. How could you do such a base thing as kidnapping a young girl?"

"Daoist Qingwei gave you a helmet. As long as you put it on, you will know everything." The Saintess said calmly:

"I know Daoist Qingwei told you that you shouldn't put on this helmet casually, otherwise your life would be in danger. However, don't forget that he also told you that only at the appropriate time can you put it on."

She suddenly increased her tone:

"Now is the most appropriate time, because it involves not only Long Kui, but also you."

"Brother Maoshan, take out the helmet from the knapsack." The young man in white carrying a sword said lightly:

"The Saintess elder would not deceive us."

"Oh, I'll take it out right away."

Xu Maoshan hurriedly took the silver helmet from the knapsack and handed it to Jingtian:

"Boss."

Jingtian didn't know why, but the moment he sat at the table and put on the helmet, his heart suddenly panicked.

"As long as you hold hands, what Jingtian sees, you will also see."

Upon hearing this, Xu Maoshan and Tang Xuejian sat down, both curious about what kind of story was inside, while the young man in white carrying a sword remained standing where he was.

"Hero Changqing, why are you still standing?"

After Tang Xuejian finished speaking, the Saintess also said:

"Xu Zhangqing, aren't you curious at all?"

"The elder has profound cultivation, can calculate heavenly secrets, and knows the affairs of the human world. I, Changqing, am untalented, but I am also adept at deducing heavenly secrets."

"Could it be that you have already figured out Long Kui's origin?"

"I didn't intend to investigate deeply, but her unexplained disappearance and the elder's arrival couldn't help but make me perform a slight deduction in my heart."

Jingtian interrupted:

"White Tofu, what kind of riddle are you and this Saintess elder playing?"

"If you want to know everything, hold hands."

As the Saintess spoke, she pinched a spell with both hands and struck a ray of light onto the helmet.

Xu Maoshan, Tang Xuejian, and the Five Poison Beast Huaying all grabbed Jingtian's hands, their faces full of curiosity.

The few of them froze, closed their eyes, and immersed themselves in the various memories within the helmet.

"Xu Zhangqing, since you know everything, and you are a Mount Shu disciple, shouldn't you do something?"

Zhuang Buran asked softly:

"Why doesn't the elder do it herself?"

The Saintess asked in return:

"Are you moved by compassion?"

The young man in white carrying a sword said meaningfully:

"It can't be called compassion; I just feel that the elder seems to be using me to achieve something."

"You are a Daoist who has left the secular world. Maintaining peace in the human world is also your responsibility as a Mount Shu disciple. In this life, as long as you devote yourself to cultivating the Dao, you can become an immortal. What could I possibly use you for?"

Zhuang Buran listened, bowed, and walked out of the room. A trace of doubt appeared in the Saintess's eyes.

Outside Changan City.

Beside a shimmering lake, Zixuan and Long Kui stood side by side.

"You are an immortal person from a thousand years ago. You are unwilling to be reincarnated for your brother's sake. Is this worth it?"

"I don't care. As long as I can reunite with my brother, then everything is worth it."

A trace of bitterness appeared at the corner of Zixuan's mouth:

"What you say is not wrong, but by holding onto the past and being unwilling to let go, aren't you just asking for trouble?"

"This is all my own willingness. The moment I see my brother, nothing will be bitter anymore." Long Kui pleaded:

"Sister, let me go. I just want to accompany my brother; I won't have any intention of harming anyone."

"The Saintess says you must stay here until dawn."

"Why?"

"This is an agreement between me and the Saintess. Before dawn, both of our fates will be clear."

A white figure landed not far from the two. As soon as Zixuan saw the person, she shielded Long Kui behind her without a word.

"Why do you always like to hand over your fate to outsiders?"

"That is not an outsider; it is the person we care about most in our hearts."

Zixuan stared at the young man in white carrying a sword:

"Why have you come?"

"Naturally, for Long Kui." Zhuang Buran's tone was calm.

Zixuan stepped forward aggressively and questioned:

"She is just a young girl who doesn't know anything, and she only wants to come and accompany her brother. Everything she does doesn't hinder anyone. Why not fulfill her wish?"

Zhuang Buran's expression was indifferent:

"Long Kui is a sword spirit, which can be considered the existence of a thousand-year-old fierce ghost. She has always lingered in the human world and is unwilling to be reincarnated. As a Mount Shu disciple, how can I fulfill this?"

Zixuan blurted out:

"Is the order of the human world truly the most important thing?"

Zhuang Buran shook his head gently:

"Miss Zixuan, as a descendant of Nuwa, you also have the responsibility to protect the common people of the world. To think that the order of the human world is not important truly leaves me speechless."

"I just want to say, can't there be a little exception?"

"The withering and flourishing of plants and trees all have their numbers; the waxing and waning of the moon is natural." Zhuang Buran stood with his hands behind his back:

"All living creatures have selfish desires. Who doesn't want to get what they wish? Wouldn't that mean everyone should be an exception?"

"The reason Heaven and Earth can last for a long time is because they do not live for themselves, so they can live forever. Everything in the world has its time; this is nature, and it is also the Dao."

"Don't talk to me about the Dao. Do you know that in the beginning, there were only immortal gods and demons in this world? It was the Heavenly Emperor Fuxi who used the fruit of the Divine Tree to create the gods of today."

Zixuan said coldly:

"It was the Earth Emperor Shennong who used the soil, stone, grass, and trees of the earth as a body to create beasts and insects, achieving the Demon Realm of today."

"It was Mother Nuwa who mixed soil and water, added her own blood and spiritual power, and used willow branches to transform them, shaping them after her own image to create humans."

"The so-called 'not living for oneself' of Heaven and Earth was originally created by living creatures. As long as one is powerful enough, all things can be changed."

She paused and continued:

"Just like the human race or the demon kind in the world—if they cultivate successfully, they can become immortals or demons, thus living forever without aging."

"Hehe, I have a new level of respect for Miss Zixuan. It turns out you can understand the ultimate principles of the world."

(End of chapter)