Chapter 97: Leaving, Again Leaving

Since the beginning of selecting formation bases over ten thousand years, Qi has only truly discovered the myriad forms of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains; many mountains he thought beautiful were casually plucked from the earth by Panwang.

In the end there was no choice; they could only become material for the formation base. Qi once curiously asked, 'We've taken away so many beautiful mountains like this—don't you feel heartbroken?'

Panwang then laughed and said, 'You think those mountain peaks are precious and beautiful because you rarely see them.'

In my view, this is merely an unremarkable peak among the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, a part of what hinders human development here.

After that, Qi stopped asking those questions and focused on pulling up mountains, trying to connect their ruins into a great road as much as possible.

Seeing this, Panwang smiled without speaking.

Qi did not begin refining the formation base in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains; he was merely collecting mountain peaks, intending to return to Yunmze Marsh to start the refining.

After all, this is not Qi's Dao Chang; the delay has been too long, it's time to go back. Calculating the time, the project of diverting water to flood the Undying Volcano should also be starting soon.

With a tremendous roar, twelve super‑massive mountains, roots and all, were pulled from the earth, floated in the air, and kept shrinking until they were less than a foot tall, whereupon Qi stored them in his sleeve.

At this time and place only Qi was present; Taiyi and Panwang did not follow but remained in the cave abode to discuss techniques.

Both loved this Dao, their techniques were extraordinarily strange; even some of them, if Qi were unaware, would inflict heavy harm on him.

For example, Taiyi has long held the idea of nurturing divine power into a ray of spiritual light, through constant sacrificial refinement and nurturing, to transform it into a sword shape.

Adding some spiritual materials to form its spiritual body, once spirituality is cultivated, it will undoubtedly be a top‑rank attack technique in the world.

Unfortunately, nothing currently exists that can bear his conception; he once used Nüwa's medium‑grade innate spiritual treasure, the Washing Jade Bottle, as a vessel, but it shattered even at the prototype stage.

In the end it broke through space and fell into Chaos; Taiyi went to look for it, but found it had already dissipated in Chaos, devoid of spirituality—all his effort was wasted.

Qi is now genuinely worried that the two might devise a technique that could surpass even the highest divine abilities.

"Panwang Daoist, affairs here are settled; Yunmze Marsh still has important matters, and now is the time to return. Qi has come specially to bid farewell."

Qi found the two in conversation; seeing Qi about to leave, Taiyi also knew this trip had been delayed too long, and now the return time was severely overdue.

Although Taiyi was reluctant to part with this fellow Daoist who shared his interests, he could only rise and say:

"Panwang Daoist, after this parting we won't know when we'll meet again; I look forward to the next time you and I continue our Dao discussion."

Panwang merely laughed and said:

"Since you Daoists still have matters at hand, Hu will not detain you; I wish the two of you a smooth journey, and look forward to the day the three of us can sit and discuss the Dao."

"Good." Qi and Taiyi said in unison.

They lingered no longer, their forms turning into clear and golden light, vanishing within the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.

"We should continue opening the way, after all—there will surely be a time to meet again."

Panwang rose, changed back into his usual short attire, grabbed a short axe, and walked into the mountains.

"Panwang Daoist is truly a wonderful person; his countless technique ideas are wild and unrestrained."

During the flight, Taiyi continually explained their gains to Qi, who then smiled and asked Taiyi:

"The harvest is abundant?"

What he heard was Taiyi's affirmative reply.

"The harvest is abundant."

Yunmze Marsh.

Nüwa, bored in the Heart‑of‑the‑Pond Pavilion, unconsciously turned to Fuxi beside her and said:

"When will Qi and Taiyi be able to return? They just ran off to play without a word, not even waking us—this is really excessive."

"What's more, they've far exceeded the expected return time, and we have no idea where they are now."

Nüwa was not worried about Qi and Taiyi's safety; given their combined strength, she supposed that unless the ancient great gods intervened, no one could detain them.

"It's fine, don't worry; they must have encountered something interesting and lingered a while. With their abilities, in the vast Wilderness, where could they not go?"

Fuxi's words sounded like they were comforting Nüwa, but in fact he was emphasizing to her that Qi and Taiyi had gone out to play, lost track of time, and hadn't brought her along.

The two suddenly sensed something, and both looked toward the Lotus Pond, where two figures emerged—none other than Di Jun and Yangmei.

Yangmei appeared relaxed, as if he had cast off some heavy burden.

Di Jun's breath was full, his eyes gleamed with divine light, as if he had shaken off his former shackles; his whole person became confident and uplifted.

"Congratulations, Di Jun Daoist, on your rebirth."

Nüwa's words left Fuxi somewhat doubtful, while Di Jun and Yangmei were rather surprised.

"You little girl, I had misjudged you before; I never expected you to be the first to notice. I thought I had already rated you highly enough, but I didn't anticipate your spiritual perception would be so keen—I had actually underestimated you."

Yangmei's words made Nüwa lift her head a little, as if expressing how excellent she now felt.

"However, since my affairs are finished, I too should return. Everyone, farewell until we meet again."

Before the trio of Nüwa, Fuxi, and Di Jun could react, Yangmei's figure vanished before their eyes, as if he had never existed.

The three stared at each other, and since Di Jun did not see Taiyi and Qi appear, he finally said:

"Where are Qi and Taiyi? How come I've been out of seclusion for so long and they still haven't shown up?"

Nüwa, upon recalling this, felt annoyed and said bluntly:

"Your younger brother was lured away by Qi, who sneakily abandoned us and went to play in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains."

Di Jun was somewhat speechless, not knowing how to respond.

Fuxi stood aside with a strange expression, wanting to laugh but feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Di Jun Daoist, how did your harvest turn out this time?"

Seeing no movement among the three, Fuxi offered Di Jun a way out to change the subject.

"The Supreme Emperor Great Dao is vast and profound; it cannot be fully digested in a short time."

"But merely catching a glimpse of a scale or claw has already filled me with gain; from now on I just need to wait quietly and watch the changes of wind and clouds."

"The era that belongs to us will also eventually arrive."

As Di Jun spoke to this point, the confidence and ambition in his eyes flared up, as if he had learned of some destined future, giving him the confidence to command the Wilderness.

Di Jun actually knows little; Yangmei merely told him that in the struggle of the Three Clans, there will be no victor, let alone a winner.

Your era will eventually arrive, and that era will be the strongest period since the birth of the primordial wilderness.

Talented people will emerge in abundance, everyone like dragons; the older generation of innate divinities will all retreat into seclusion, and only then will it be your time to show your talents.

Di Jun believes that at that time, they will be the trailblazers riding the waves of the era, and he fears no competition with any of their peers.

PS: Previously, during the third watch, I felt the quality had dropped too much; I discussed it with the group members, and I still write 4000 words a day now, hoping to guarantee better quality, hoping everyone can understand, thank you for your support.

(End of chapter)