Chapter 606: The World Drifts On

Is this what Feilai Mountain looks like?

Immortal mountain…

The voices on the boat fell silent; all passengers stared upward, gazing at the immortal mountain before the shore.

The girl formed from Fuyao also reached out, poking the little flower beside her, signaling her to look at the immortal mountain; the little flower poked her back, and soon the two were playfully poking each other along the boat’s edge.

We’ve reached Feilai Mountain Ferry…

The passenger boat slowly docked, the boatman said dully.

Yet most on board remained motionless.

Most people are like this: they yearn for such immortal mountains and paradises, dreaming of them day and night, yet when paradise truly appears before them, they hesitate and dare not advance.

Only three Daoists pushed forward through the crowd.

Leading them were a man and a woman, both young; the yang Daoist carried nothing, while the yin Daoist held a long sword. Upon closer look, each had a small Daoist acolyte beside them—both delightfully cute.

Behind them followed another Daoist, respectfully trailing; under the moonlight, a fleeting glimpse revealed him to be Wang Zhenren, now famed throughout Huizhou.

The group stepped off the boat and onto the Feilai Mountain ferry.

Looking up, the towering mountain stood right before them.

Then, under the gaze of all passengers aboard, the group stepped forward without hesitation, walking straight toward Feilai Mountain.

There lay a forest of immortal fruit trees, breathing mist and radiating spiritual light, shimmering like stars fallen to earth; within the grove, terrifying serpents slithered.

Strangely, as the group stepped forward and entered the grove, a breeze swept in, blowing fog over everything—hiding the towering mountain, the waterfall, the bright moon, and the glittering immortal fruit trees.

Only when they vanished from sight did someone regret it, frantically leaping off the boat and sprinting toward Feilai Mountain.

But when they pushed through the mist, they saw only a few ordinary homes and an odd mountain—no trace of paradise remained.

…

Within Yuanqiu Immortal Realm.

Master Gu was still playing chess with Old Heavenly Weng , frowning in deep thought; his wife stood beside him, accompanying him and aiding him—both had regained their youthful appearances.

In truth, the couple was jointly facing Old Heavenly Weng .

Old Heavenly Weng didn’t mind, only chuckled, holding his chess piece as he watched them strain.

At that moment, the child quietly approached:

“Master, Zhenren Lin has arrived.”

“Oh?”

Old Heavenly Weng and the woman turned their heads toward the distance; only Master Gu remained gripping his chess piece, lost in thought.

Several Daoists descended on clouds.

“Immortal Weng , long time no see.”

Thunderclouds touched ground; Lin Jue bowed to Old Heavenly Weng , then pointed to his disciple: “This is my young disciple, named Wang Ran. Immortal Weng , your complexion has improved greatly—company for chess clearly beats solitude.”

“Greetings, Immortal Weng .”

“Greetings, Elder.”

Wang Ran and his junior sister bowed.

Fuyao and the little flower reverted to their true forms, each turned to glance at Old Heavenly Weng once, then resumed their carefree play.

“No need for formalities,” Old Heavenly Weng chuckled. “Thanks to you, young friend, for finding me a chess partner.”

“Master Gu, Madam Gu, how do you find it here?”

“Thank you, Immortal,” Madam Gu bowed first in reply. “My husband and I play chess with Old Immortal Weng daily, drink from the spiritual spring, eat immortal fruit—this place feels like a paradise beyond the world.”

“This spiritual spring turns white hair black and preserves youth; these immortal fruits grant a century of extended life—yet you treat them as mere drinks and snacks,” Lin Jue smiled.

“Zhenren Lin has come!”

Master Gu snapped out of his thoughts, turned to Lin Jue, and immediately rose to bow in thanks.

“Master Gu, how many games have you played with Immortal Weng ? What’s the score?”

“Including today, five games,” Master Gu answered, then blushed in shame. “To be honest, Immortal, my wife and I play as one—she observes, I move—and we’ve yet to win a single game.”

He shook his head with a sigh:

“The world always tells tales of chess masters battling heaven—but now that an immortal chess master stands before me, I realize how impossibly hard it is to play against heaven.”

“No rush, no rush—you’re about to win, you’re about to win,” Old Immortal Weng still chuckled.

“Master Gu, do you know how long you’ve been here?” Lin Jue asked.

“This paradise has day and night; I recall my first game with Immortal Weng took over ten days, the second seven or eight, the third another ten or so, then I rested a few days; the fourth was shorter, followed by more rest—altogether, perhaps several dozen days.”

“That’s decades in the mortal world.”

“Decades…”

Master Gu had clearly anticipated this, yet most people live only a few

decades—upon hearing this, he knew the mortal world outside had likely become unrecognizable, and how could he not feel dazed?

“Young friend, since you’ve come, the mortal realm’s Nine Heavens must be nearing its end,” said Old Heavenly Weng .

“Indeed.”

Lin Jue nodded beside him:

“The current mortal dynasty is in its final years. In my view, it will fall within no more than a decade or two, at most thirty or forty years, replaced by the next dynasty.

“The struggle for legitimacy of the Nine Heavens’ incense is also ending. The Heavenly Monitor and the Southern Jade Mirror Immortal Lord each hold half the Nine Heavens’ authority; their outcome may coincide with the mortal world’s. I asked Purple Emperor to remain in a secluded paradise for dozens of days—though I’ve now brought him back, he cannot reverse fate, nor purge demons and monsters again.

“Thus, I’ve come here to fulfill my promise.”

Lin Jue spoke, gazing at Master Gu and the woman, especially at her abdomen:

“May I ask, when do you plan to leave?”

Hearing this, both fell into daze again.

That once-mighty Da Yu, in its early golden age when disaster first struck—has it now reached its end?

They exchanged glances, silently communicating.

“One day here equals one year outside. Though Immortal’s lifespan is long, it should not be wasted. Since you’ve come, we cannot idle away your time,” the woman said. “Allow me to gather my things, bid farewell to Immortal Weng , and accompany you out.”

“Take your time.”

Lin Jue nodded, smiling as he waited.

As the woman turned back toward the bamboo hut, he stepped closer, studying their chessboard.

After a moment, he suddenly spoke:

“When we first met, Immortal Weng , you knew Fuyao was one of Yao Hua Niangniang’s tails, didn’t you?”

“Hehe, naturally. The nine-tailed fan has always possessed this ability.”

“Immortal Weng , your chess skill is extraordinary.”

“Young friend, you’re mistaken. Heaven and earth are not a chessboard, and mortals are not lifeless pieces. Though I’ve aided you, your own destiny and talent are the true keys to victory.”

Lin Jue looked at him, then at this world.

Though Yao Hua Niangniang is known for benevolence, she also used you to rapidly nurture her final tail, aiding her return to great power.

Think carefully—if you lacked the strength to oppose Fuchi Shenjun or Yao Hua Niangniang, you would have been erased the moment Fuchi Shenjun struck—and Fuyao would have been reclaimed instantly. Yao Hua Niangniang, that great demon, would have immediately reemerged—she who could rival Purple Emperor.

Lin Jue’s ability to oppose Fuchi Shenjun and Yao Hua Niangniang clearly stems from the help of this Old Heavenly Weng .

“Truly worthy of being an old friend and old enemy…”

Undoubtedly, Old Heavenly Weng has declined—forgotten by mortals, though preserved by Yuanqiu Immortal Realm, still versed in Dao’s mysteries and wielding supreme powers, his strength is a shadow of what it once was, utterly incapable of challenging Purple Emperor or Yao Hua Niangniang reborn with her nine tails.

Yet he still severed Yao Hua Niangniang’s path to resurrection—effortlessly.

Is this not also a form of divine power?

As they spoke, Madam Gu returned.

They had little luggage—only a few garments.

“Husband.”

“Husband…”

“Husband!”

The woman called thrice; only then did Master Gu snap back, rising quickly:

“Coming, coming.”

He placed down his chess piece and bade farewell to Old Heavenly Weng .

“Thank you, Immortal Weng , for your hospitality.”

“Thank you, Immortal Weng .”

“Hehehe, nonsense—I should thank you both. You’ve kept me company, played chess to pass the time, and made these long years feel lively again… I haven’t had such fun in many years,” Old Heavenly Weng said, shaking his head, his voice tinged with loneliness; he sighed, glanced at them, then rose to see them off—

“May you both enjoy a full, happy life and soon welcome a child.”

Lin Jue listened nearby, his gaze shifting slightly—he wondered whether this retired Old Heavenly Weng still possessed the power of words becoming law.

“Let’s go.”

A cluster of thunderclouds had already gathered beside Lin Jue.

Master Gu supported his wife, turning back three steps at a time, staring at the chessboard as if trying to memorize it.

All had stepped onto the thundercloud.

“Immortal Weng , I’ll visit you again.”

No sooner had he spoken than the thundercloud rose, carrying them away in a flash, leaving the immortal realm behind.

Only Old Heavenly Weng remained seated, looking profoundly lonely.

He looked down at the chess piece Master Gu had just placed, then swept his gaze around—frowning in thought, then smiling in release.

……

The outside world remained shrouded in thick fog, the moonlight hazy, with the faint sound of trickling water audible.

“Mr. Gu, Mrs. Gu, now that the Nine Heavens are in conflict and the Fomen have withdrawn, no one should come to trouble you further,” Lin Jue said to them. “You may find a peaceful, quiet place and spend the rest of your lives as you wish.”

“Thank you, Immortal.”

“Thank you, Immortal.”

“You’re too kind—I have thanks to offer you as well,” Lin Jue said. “My three disciples are now serving in the heavens: one is Xu Yi, another is Pu Mei, and the third is Xian Zhu. If you are still troubled by divine beings, call out their names—or call upon the name of the Imperial Lord Who Monitors Heaven and Subdues Demons.”

He then bowed to them:

“Let us part here.”

With a sweep of his sleeve, the fog dispersed, revealing a bamboo raft on the riverbank.

The husband and wife stepped onto the raft in turn; the woman pointed with one hand, channeling her power, and the raft slowly drifted away from shore, carried downstream.

Suddenly the woman frowned and placed a hand on her abdomen.

“What is it, wife?”

“Nothing—just the baby moving. Perhaps… perhaps the birth is near.”

Beneath the moonlight, the bamboo raft turned with the current and vanished.