Chapter 75

"Speaking of which, it's embarrassing, but there are hardly any legends on this immortal vessel."

"After all, with eternal life and longevity, where is there any room for legends?"

The man's voice, full of vigor, was like that of a storyteller, excitedly introducing something to the crowd.

And as his voice sounded, a glowing lantern slowly appeared in the light curtain, with papercut figures of various kinds flowing with the light of the chosen lantern pillars.

"However, when talking about the story of the Cloud Cavalry General, we have to start from the distant Legend..."

This history began eight thousand years ago, when an ancient kingdom's emperor craved immortality and eternal achievement.

Thus the ancestors of the immortal vessel set sail across the heavenly sea, enduring a bitter and distant journey. At that time, one could say: "The Star River spans ten thousand li, a lone boat with no four shores."

The catchy verses accompanied by a heroic opera tune, a shadow puppet resembling an ancient emperor waved his hand, and countless immortal vessels set off, heading for the vast Star Sea.

"Huh, weren't we just on the train? This is..." Inside the residence, Tokugawa strangely looked at the somewhat abrupt scene in midair.

It should be some groundwork done by the light curtain before heading to the next world.

Miyamoto Musashi savored the words appearing in the light curtain: "Cloud Cavalry General, immortal vessel, ancient kingdom emperor, and this catchy, exquisite poem... very much of the flavor of China."

"Hmm, he's very like an emperor of our country."

Outside the residence, an old yet vigorous voice suddenly rang out. Everyone knew the comer; Yujiro could guess without lifting his head—it was Guo Haihuang.

At 146 years old, Guo Haihuang is a pure-blooded Chinese; if you ask who in today's China can represent the vast 4000-year history of martial arts, there is no one else but him. Guo Haihuang is not only one of the few who now master the fist principle, but also one of the rare people who forced Yujiro to unlock his demon back and still lived.

Just based on this battle record alone, it's enough to make the martial artists present hold him in awe.

Lie Haiwang also arrived here, but for now he humbly stands behind his teacher, following the Sea Emperor's intent to observe and practice.

"... Qin Shi Huang?" Miyamoto Musashi suddenly said.

"Yo, I didn't expect you to know our history as well."

Guo Haihuang pushed up his sunglasses, and beneath the lenses his narrow, slit-like eyes showed a hint of a smile: "Not bad, kid."

"Hehe, your country's history is quite distant and charming." Miyamoto Musashi showed an expectant expression: "If possible, I hope to replicate my own techniques onto the historical warriors of your country... I very much look forward to crossing blades with them."

"Hehe, kings are not above Xiang, generals not above Li, fists not above Jin... Let's talk about that later." Guo Haihuang casually waved his hand, then pointed to the sky: "For now, we should still focus our attention on this."

After all, the martial arts that have appeared inside have already given us many surprises.

After enduring a lonely voyage of over two thousand years, the people of the immortal vessel finally saw a deity.

In the image, there is the silhouette of the Abundance Star God, who bestowed a branch; after landing on the soil, it quickly grew into a towering tree that covers the sky!

The Longevity Plague Disaster Ancestor manifested its traces, bestowing upon the immortal vessel people infinite longevity.

Isn't this the Abundance Star God?

Filien suddenly recalled that in the star god introduction she had seen before, it had been mentioned. It is a slender, weak, alluring yet eerily feeling deity.

"Hearing the introduction from the light curtain... it seems the people of the immortal vessel are all immortal, and the one who granted all this is this star god." Xiu Ta'er ke envied immensely: "In that case, this Abundance Star God is truly wonderful... I also want to have a long life like Fu Lianlian."

Fu Lianlian, however, noticed something suspicious, frowned and said: "You haven't noticed, have you? The title in the light curtain is…… the Longevity Plague Disaster Ancestor; this phrase sounds unpleasant. If granting eternal life comes without a cost, why then use this nickname to refer to the deity who bestows blessings?"

"Hmm..." Xiu Ta'er ke was pondering, when the scene in the light curtain quickly changed again.

"However, the grace is also a curse."

"Those beings who surpass the limits of lifespan have become the immortal calamity that poisons the universe. How lamentable, how lamentable."

"The immortal contract the longevity plague, alliances break down through slander. External threats flare up, battle remnants scatter."

Accompanied by a sigh, in the image an ordinary man suddenly sprouts countless tree branches all over his body, and as his physique swells, he turns into a completely mindless aberrant monster, stirring up a bloody storm.

"Ah... I want to take back what I just said." The just-excited Xiu Ta'er ke hastily covered his mouth.

"I told you so." Fu Lianlian put her hands on her hips, showing a smug expression, slightly lifting her chin: "There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world; this is the life experience of an older sister, heh heh~"

"But..." Filien asked, puzzled: "Since the star god possesses vast power, why does the star god that bestows blessings not use that power to relieve humanity's suffering?"

A deity need only snap its fingers to grant humanity eternal life; then taking away their suffering should be just as simple.

"With the star god's power, it shouldn't be impossible, right?"

"I also find this doubtful." Fu Lianlian pointed at the humans turned into monsters in the sky, her brows slightly furrowed.

"According to my guess, perhaps the Abundance Star God itself lacks any sentiment; it does not need humanity's faith... it is merely an emotionless tool fulfilling the mission of Abundance."

Star gods each have their own mission; they all possess a certain 'instinct'—for example, the instinct of the Preservation Star God is to forge the walls of a Preservation civilization, while the instinct of the Abundance Star God is to sow Abundance across the universe.

Although it's hard to understand exactly what His Abundance entails... at least in His view, the immortal vessel people, who possess near-infinite life, have already achieved the Abundance He expects; as for what will happen later, He doesn't care at all.

"At the moment of this life-and-death crisis, the Imperial Bow Arbiter descended into the world, protecting the drifting, helpless immortal vessels in the Star Sea."

The Hunt Star God drew bow and nocked arrow; the arrows forged of light shot into the depths of space, illuminating patch after patch of darkness, like lighting a lighthouse of hope in the universe.

"The immortal vessels gallop across the Star Sea, chasing demons and sweeping away impurity, hunting for five thousand eras, obeying the divine edict, to eliminate the Longevity Plague."

"The one who commands these six immortal vessels is none other than the Hunt's vanguard—the Seven Heavenly Generals of the Imperial Bow!"