Chapter 429: The Lost True Identity

Young son…

For a brief few seconds of stunned silence, shock appeared on the face of Jiuzhou Di Yi Xian, Tianxie Jianxian, Gao Xiang Hong.

"You are the Departed Wu Shang!!!"

Jiuzhou Di Yi Xian and Tianxie Jianxian could still maintain some composure—they had lived over twenty thousand years, and their cultivated demeanor hadn't yet failed them; but Gao Xiang Hong, who had only lived twenty-odd years and hadn't even entered the workforce, couldn't remain calm.

The next moment.

Realizing he had lost his composure, Gao Xiang Hong quickly covered his mouth.

Shouting loudly before the Wu Shang was extremely impolite—if his subordinates saw this, they'd likely slap him to death.

Fortunately, the Departed Wu Shang didn't mind at all, remaining as kind as ever, as if nothing could provoke him to anger, nothing could spoil his mood.

His smile was always on his face.

"This era's Initial Realm is a good era—more interesting than before."

The Departed Wu Shang, in the guise of a kind uncle, smiled and glanced at Gao Xiang Hong, as if seeing through every experience he had endured, fully aware of the current state of the Initial Realm.

"The Departed Wu Shang flatters us."

Gao Xiang Hong, trembling with reverence, hurriedly bowed with clasped hands.

Joking? This was a Wu Shang existence—transcending time, at the absolute pinnacle of the world's power pyramid, the supreme combat force of the Primordial Battlefield.

Moreover, this Wu Shang before them was one of the most mysterious, even more enigmatic than other Wu Shangs, brimming with unknowns—his level of mystery rivaled that of the legendary Him.

What made them most uneasy, beyond his Wu Shang status, was the suspected connection between him and Him.

Merely imagining a link to Him sent chills down their spines; they dared not take it lightly.

Jiuzhou Di Yi Xian signaled Tianxie Jianxian with his eyes—Tianxie Jianxian was the new master chosen by the "Sword," his weight far greater than anyone else present, making him the most suitable to speak with the Departed Wu Shang.

At least if they accidentally said something wrong, the Departed Wu Shang might spare them out of respect for the Sword Master.

Tianxie Jianxian understood instantly, stepped forward, and bowed: "Departed Wu Shang, we have come at the order of the Group Master—your own offspring—who sensed your presence in the Heaven's Punishment Gorge and sent us to find you."

"The Group Master said that if we met you, we were to deliver a message."

He paused.

Tianxie Jianxian exhaled, composed himself, and said:

"Father, I've completed everything you asked of me and my brother. When will you return? If you don't come back soon, my brother and I won't wait any longer."

He bowed again to the Departed Wu Shang.

"Departed Wu Shang, this is the message the Group Master asked me to deliver."

The Departed Wu Shang smiled and nodded: "Thank you, young friends, for delivering the message. Tell my little son I'll return once I've finished one task—tell him not to wait for me, just begin the arrangements I instructed him to make."

"We will surely deliver your message to the Group Master," the three of Jiuzhou Di Yi Xian said in unison, bowing.

The Departed Wu Shang waved his hand, sweeping his gaze over them: "No need for such formality. Only we few are here—no need for rigid etiquette. You are members of his group, and I am your Group Master's father; by that reckoning, we're somewhat related."

"So don't be so tense—relax. Even a Wu Shang is still human, at most just a little stronger than you."

He raised his hand, extending his left thumb and index finger parallel, with a small gap between them.

"The chat group is quite interesting—I never expected my little son to create something like this. Seems he's got his own little schemes."

Jiuzhou Di Yi Xian and the other two were stunned.

When they first heard the Group Master's message to the Departed Wu Shang, they had assumed the chat group was something the Departed Wu Shang himself had ordered.

They had also connected it to the deeds of the Departed King.

It was the Departed King's uploaded videos that had revealed the existence of the transcendent and mythic beings to the world.

Now, looking back, everything the Departed King had done was ordered by the Departed Wu Shang—but why had the Departed Wu Shang done these things? What was the purpose?

Informing the world of the transcendent, helping them adapt faster—surely there was more to it than that.

"Don't you have many questions in your hearts? Don't you wonder why I did all this?"

At this moment, the Departed Wu Shang spoke plainly.

Jiuzhou Di Yi Xian and the other two instantly felt as if all their secrets had been laid bare—nothing could be hidden from this man.

"Since you are the ones my little son chose," the Departed Wu Shang scanned them, lingering slightly longer on Tianxie Jianxian.

His meaning was clear: he approved of his son's choices—one of them had even become the new master of the "Sword," proving his selections were not arbitrary.

"You have also chosen to stand by my son's side—it's time you learned some truth."

The Departed Wu Shang looked at them, his smile unchanged.

He pointed at himself.

"Do you know who I am?"

"You are the Departed Wu Shang," the three replied in unison—the words were meaningless, yet they had to say them, for indeed he was the Departed Wu Shang.

"And?"

"And?" The three blinked.

The next instant, Jiuzhou Di Yi Xian continued:

"You are one of the most mysterious Wu Shangs in the world—no one has seen you, no one knows whether you come from the past or the future. You were the guide who led Nüwa to attain Wu Shang status, and the only one suspected of having seen Him with your own eyes.

Also, you created the 'Nine Layers of Life, Nine Steps of Divinity' system.

Since then, your deeds and achievements surpass those of any other Wu Shang."

The Departed Wu Shang gave a slight nod: "You know quite a bit—but none of this gets to the point. You know what I've done, but not why I did it. You know I am the Departed Wu Shang, but you have never truly understood who I am."

Jiuzhou Di Yi Xian and the other two remained silent, listening intently.

As he said, they knew only his deeds, never truly understood him—did "Departed" refer to his true name or just a title? Where was he born? What was his upbringing? What was his true strength? They didn't know…

For the Departed, they knew too little—only his accomplishments, nothing more.

To this day, the Departed Wu Shang remains a mystery—unlike Huang Di Wu Shang, whose name, identity, birth, and growth are all known to the world.

Compared to Huang Di Wu Shang, the world truly understands Huang Di Wu Shang.

The Yellow Emperor, supreme and one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors of Chinese mythology, was the cultural progenitor of China and made immense contributions to Chinese civilization, his life brimming with legend.

Yet the Supreme One did not answer his identity, but instead asked in return.

"How much do you know of Him?"

The three of Jiuzhou Di Yi Xian did not conceal anything; before such a great figure, no thought could be hidden — better to lay everything bare and earn sincerity.

The three spoke in turns, sharing all they knew and all their interpretations.

In the end, Xiang Hong added:

"Our current understanding of Him is not much, but our speculations are many.

When I learned that He too was a pawn, yet stepped out of the game to become the player, I believe He may have replaced another player, becoming the new player and continuing the game with that other player."

……