Chapter 321: 321.Chapter 321 Qi: Ao Xing, in this life there is no affinity

321. Chapter 321 Qi: Ao Xing, in this life there is no affinity.

Outside Chaos, the prolonged wear between the two sides has left the gods with no interest in watching; after all, although they are top-tier, they lack the means to secure victory.

Or rather, their means of victory do not apply to each other, ultimately forcing them into a primitive struggle comparing life force and cultivation.

Moreover, the two sides' life force and cultivation cannot be distinguished, lacking a decisive effect; thus, the present Chaos, aside from the gods occasionally glancing and inquiring about the situation, has returned the Wilderness to tranquility once more.

As for the undercurrents surging beneath this calm, they cannot be revealed to the world.

After Qi set the tone for handling this matter again, he once again went into the Wilderness; he faintly sensed that Ao Xing seemed to have reached a critical moment.

On the Eastern Continent, the Azure South River is a vast expanse of connecting waves; the river water is swift yet unfathomably deep, originating in the southeast and flowing into the South Sea.

It traverses the eastern and southern continents and is one of the few major river systems in the world; although it cannot compare to the Four Great Rivers, it is not far inferior to the Eight Streams.

However, the water's condition is quite perilous, with the regions it passes through mostly being lofty mountains and steep cliffs, so living beings are relatively scarce and there is little human traffic, yet it still retains the reputation of a spiritual mountain and blessed land.

Qi followed the river downstream until entering a small tributary, where a waterfall hangs high like a silver chain dropping, the air currents surge, and a rainbow bridge is suspended amidst it.

Water mist drifts, hazily obscuring vision; if one approaches, one can see the deep pool beneath the waterfall, secluded and profound, its bottom unseen.

Qi arrived here, looking around at the green mountains and clear waters, fruits growing abundantly, white apes moving through the forest, their cries unceasing on the cliffs on both banks; he could not help but sigh: 'This is indeed a fine place to go, a deep mountain secluded valley, a place to nurture the mind.'

But when Qi reached the pool's edge and saw the scene before him, his face suddenly darkened and his heart flared with anger.

Only to see in the deep pool, two giant serpents coiled around each other; though they had not coupled, they were rubbing their necks, clearly both aroused.

The serpents were one white and one red; the white resembled fine jade, the red like a carnelian bead, as they entwined, silk and jade mutually binding.

Seeing this, Qi even felt a hint of killing intent arise; the world has its constant principles, and such an act violates human ethics—how could Qi not be angry upon seeing it? The white apes' cries on both banks, the same sound as before, reached Qi's ears, but became noisy, losing their former elegance.

As the two serpents were entwined, the red serpent suddenly lifted its head, happen to gaze toward Qi, and the entire giant serpent instantly froze.

The white serpent was somewhat puzzled, not knowing why the red serpent had suddenly stopped; following its gaze, it saw Qi standing at the water's edge.

The white serpent was instantly startled, opening its massive mouth in a threatening gesture, while the red serpent exerted force with its waist and abdomen, pressing the white serpent into the water.

Although the white serpent was doubtful, it offered no resistance, yielding and sinking into the deep pool; the red serpent then transformed, becoming a man clad in a red-black long robe.

The man's visage was handsome, bearing a three-part resemblance to the Ao Xing in Qi's memory, though his eyes revealed a strange feeling.

Seeing Qi not move, the man stepped forward a few paces, arriving at Qi's side, his eyes hazy, and asked: 'Poor Daoist Qiong Yu, fellow Daoist, have we met before? Why, in my impression, I have clearly never seen you, yet I feel a hint of closeness?'

Qi gritted his teeth, suppressing his inner anger, and forced calm:

"You and I have indeed met before, and can even be considered acquainted."

Qiong Yu blinked slightly, somewhat puzzled, and said:

"But fellow Daoist, Qiong Yu has dwelt in this unnamed tributary of the Azure South River since birth, and even the Azure South River itself sees few visitors."

"Although your appearance is friendly, Qiong Yu dares to guarantee that this is indeed our first meeting."

"Why is this? I hope fellow Daoist can clear up my confusion; Qiong Yu will be eternally grateful."

Qi, however, did not open his mouth to explain, merely asking:

"The white serpent in the pool—what is your relationship with her?"

Qiong Yu showed a hint of shame and hesitation, but eventually spoke to explain:

"This is Qiong Yu's mother."

Seeing this, Qi could not help but feel some anger and said: "Since you know and care about propriety, feeling ashamed, why then do you act this way?!"

Qiong Yu's face grew even more ashamed; although he did not wish to explain, a thought in his heart urged him not to conceal.

Finally, Qiong Yu gritted his teeth and replied: "This is Qiong Yu's inner desire, lacking self-restraint; for the sake of human ethics, having fallen in love with his mother, after repeated entanglements, the mother could not bear to refuse, hence this."

Upon hearing this, Qi became even more angry and shouted:

"Your conduct violates human ethics, desiring to point at your own mother—can you be called a son? Can you be called a seeker of the Dao?"

Qiong Yu nearly buried his head in his chest, dare not speak, and did not know how to answer.

While Qi was still angry, about to continue speaking, the white serpent in the pool was unwilling; it leapt out of the water, transforming into a white-robed woman—none other than Wusheng of former years.

Clad in plain clothes, her face bearing some anger, she fiercely pulled Qiong Yu behind her, then stepped forward two paces, facing off against Qi.

After Wusheng shielded Qiong Yu, her gaze toward Qiong Yu was filled with pity in the depths of her eyes; turning to Qi, it shifted to a cold demeanor.

Facing Qi before her, Wusheng's tone was full of chill as she spoke: "Fellow Daoist, we have never known you; Qiong Yu is an honest person, why must you deceive with words?" "Moreover, what business of ours has any relation to you? Furthermore, Qiong Yu is usually quiet, never venturing out; how could your claim of acquaintance arise?"

"Now we dwell in this mountain hollow, not entangled with external karma."

"Lingering in the deep pool, the white apes on both banks walk about, yet we have never taken their lives as bloody food; we normally eat only vegetarian fruits, not staining the Wilderness with karmic debt."

"Now residing in our small home, we neither spoil external morals nor intrude upon others' lives; even the Heavenly Court does not impose its laws upon us—why do you put on this guise of defending the Dao?"

"In the Wilderness, those in high positions are even more chaotic than us; yet you do not investigate them, but come to seek misfortune from us—why is that?"

"Could it be that you bully us for our low cultivation, daring not to approach the powerful?"

Qi was nearly left speechless by Wusheng's retort; if not for his connection to Ao Xing, he would hardly have involved himself in the Wilderness' chaotic affairs at all.

But now, facing Wusheng's words, he cannot break through the crux, lest it ruin Ao Xing's reincarnated cultivation; Qi at this moment also does not know how to resolve it.

After all, as Wusheng said, the current cultivators are all beasts who have become immortals, naturally seeking freedom and lacking much restraint.

Bestial nature remains within them, and given their atmosphere, although this act is greatly contrary to the Way, it is also not utterly intolerable; they have little chance of attaining the Dao, so desires naturally run rampant.

Qi simply waved his hand, sealing Wusheng in place, rendering her unable to move, then turned and continued questioning Qiong Yu: "Is that also what you think?"

Qiong Yu's face was full of turmoil, his gaze toward Wusheng also full of worry; knowing the person before him was not someone he could match, he could only answer honestly:

"Replying to Your Excellency, although I know this is wrong, in the Wilderness it is indeed not considered a major transgression."

"As for attaining the Dao, how many of us ordinary beings can truly achieve it? At least I have never seen such a person."

"That goal is ultimately too distant for Qiong Yu; his cultivation is also fairly diligent, but so far he has only reached the Golden Immortal realm."

"Although he has no worries about lifespan, nor the hindrance of the five declines of heaven and man, he still cannot see the path ahead; the way to the Dao is boundless, Qiong Yu creates no killing karma, does not involve external karma, and now merely seeks a carefree life—I suppose that is not a great mistake."

Qi stood in place, his five senses tangled; he wanted to shout a rebuke, yet did not know how to resolve it. After a long while, Qiong Yu timidly asked: "If Your Excellency cannot tolerate this, then let it be solely Qiong Yu's fault; I will bear it alone, for my mother is utterly innocent—could Your Excellency spare her?"

Wusheng, upon hearing this, although unable to move or speak, could not conceal the agitation and concern in her eyes.

Seeing this, Qi knew the two had deep-rooted karmic ties, hard to reverse; after a long sigh, he finally said: "Enough, enough, if so, then let it be as you wish; in this life there is no affinity, to be left for the next."

Qi flicked his sleeves, turning into a wisp of clear wind that vanished between heaven and earth. Qiong Yao looked left and right, not seeing Qi's form, and immediately circled around Wusheng. Just then, as she grew anxious, she saw Wusheng break free of his bonds.

Seeing this, Qiong Yao hurriedly asked:

"Mother, do you feel any discomfort? Is there any part of you that feels unwell?"

Wusheng wore a complex expression, tinged with guilt, and said: "Qiong Yao, sorry—I never thought I would be the one to hold you back."

Qiong Yao looked bewildered, but Wusheng had no mind to explain; he turned and dove into the pond.

Having wandered long in the Primordial Wasteland, Wusheng had seen much and known widely; he was far less simple than Qiong Yao. From Qi's parting words, he had already guessed the general idea.

Her child was likely long gone; Qiong Yao, in her previous life, was probably a disciple of some great deity, merely borrowing her womb to give birth.

Thus, for this very reason, Wusheng now did not know how to face Qiong Yao—as a child or a lover? Yet she was merely the true spirit of a deity's disciple, reborn through a borrowed womb.

Even his own true child might not yet have been born, already replaced.

Regard him as a child‑killing enemy? He could hardly bring himself to do so; after such a long association, he watched Qiong Yao grow up bit by bit.

From infancy to maturity, from cultivation to becoming an immortal—all those little moments—how should Wusheng now conduct himself? Could it really be for the sake of a possibly nonexistent child that he would treat Qiong Yao, who shared countless ages with him, as an enemy?

(Wusheng did not know whether the vital essence he had originally conceived came from Qiong Yao's arrival or from his own coupling with the original black snake.) Thinking that, by his own actions, he had instead ruined those great deities' plans, preventing Qiong Yao from attaining the Dao, his heart felt both satisfaction and guilt, leaving him again unsure how to conduct himself.

Meanwhile, Qiong Yao looked bewildered, able only to follow Wusheng's shadow and voice as they both dove into the pond.

PS: The inspiration comes from the story of Li Jing and Nezha; I had planned it early, though the relationships are a bit more tangled. As for Ao Xing failing to attain the Dao in this lifetime, that was decided long ago.

Cultivation is not easy; within the worldview of Journey to the West, among the Three Realms, the only loose cultivator who became a Great Luo Immortal is none other than the Barefoot Immortal.

This shows how hard cultivation is, how difficult it is to attain the Dao; it is normal for Ao Xing to fail to succeed in this lifetime, and I hope everyone understands.

According to the deeds of the Jie Sect immortals in Fengshen Yanyi, one can roughly infer the general appearance of immortals back then; and since the setting places the even more ancient Primordial Wasteland, it is naturally more primitive.

Moreover, the Heavenly Court will, because of this, begin to value these human relationships and foster proper conduct; these are the origins of later plot developments, which may challenge one's worldview—the Phoenix King apologizes here, sorry!

Furthermore, the cannibalistic phenomena depicted in the story are all well‑researched; I hope everyone can excuse the Phoenix King. (End of chapter)