Chapter 222

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Jiang Xuan

"Before you stepped into this place, I sensed a faint, barely perceptible reincarnation qi upon you." The Ruthless Emperor raised her gaze to look at Jiang Xuan, a trace of hard-to-detect faint light flashing through her eyes.

Jiang Xuan understood in his heart; this was still the first time he had captured a ripple of emotion from the Ruthless Emperor's indifferent gaze.

"Without this reincarnation qi, I fear it would have been difficult to see the Great Emperor's true visage this time……"

He pondered inwardly; perhaps that previous splendid and unparalleled discussion of the Dao was intentionally conducted by the Ruthless Emperor precisely because of this mysterious reincarnation qi on him.

This reincarnation qi was precisely a strand of magic treasure divine ability he had refined, named the Reincarnation Disk, possessing the meaning of reincarnation and rebirth; however, within the Hongmeng Treasure Mirror, this magic treasure's rank was relatively far behind the Xuanhuang Pagoda, the Eight Trigrams Furnace, and such magic treasures, so Jiang Xuan had not devoted his primary energy to cultivating this divine ability.

"Does the Great Emperor find the talk of reincarnation credible?" Jiang Xuan asked in return, his gaze looking at the Ruthless Emperor.

The Ruthless Emperor was briefly silent, then lightly nodded.

"Does reincarnation truly exist in the world?"

Ye Fan, at the side, could not suppress his curiosity and asked. After all, in this world, reincarnation was a taboo topic; no one could be completely unconcerned about it.

Jiang Xuan, the Ruthless Emperor simultaneously looked at Ye Fan.

???

Ye Fan felt his hair stand on end from being stared at.

The Female Emperor's expression was serene; her peerlessly beautiful countenance was like a tranquil deep pool, not stirring the slightest ripple; her pair of eyes were clear like an icy spring, quietly gazing at Ye Fan.

Seeing this, Ye Fan's heart suddenly relaxed; he cast aside all distracting thoughts and reservations, calmly meeting the Female Emperor's gaze; for a while, the bronze hall was silently still, time seeming to freeze.

After a long time, Ye Fan captured scene after scene in the depths of those eyes like a clear spring.

In an instant, his heart violently trembled; his calm heart-lake was struck by a boulder, rippling layer upon layer.

In the scene, a little girl came into view; she wore tattered, patched clothes, her small face covered in grime, only a pair of large eyes were jet-black and bright, like precious black gems, making one unable to help but feel pity.

She had no father or mother; by her side was only a youth with whom she leaned on each other for support; though the days passed in bitter poverty, their faces brimmed with innocent smiles.

A ghost-face mask was their only toy; there were no luxurious jewels; to win the little girl's delight, the youth carefully crafted a ring from a bronze piece; though the workmanship was crude and simple, the little girl treasured it as a precious object.

The gears of fate turned ruthlessly; the youth was discovered by a discerning person to be a rare talent with exceptional gifts, and was actually forcibly abducted, ultimately taken to the Five-Colored Altar.

The little girl was grief-stricken to the extreme; her crying caused her worn-out shoes to fall off; under her bitter pleading, those people only reluctantly agreed to let her go see him off.

Before the Five-Colored Altar was the moment of their eternal parting.

As the youth departed, he took away the ghost-face mask, leaving only that ring; the little girl wept heartbrokenly alone, collapsed on the ground, her small hands also scraped raw, bleeding profusely.

Later, a Great Emperor rose horizontally into the world, her mighty reputation shaking the past ages for a thousand autumns!

Who could have imagined that she originally possessed no cultivation talent, yet relying on a defying-heaven-and-changing-fate tenacity, she broke through the shackles of heaven and earth, ascended to the position of Heavenly Emperor; her glorious achievements surpassed ancient and modern times, becoming a legend sung by the world.

Ye Fan lightly sighed; his gaze once again fell upon the Female Emperor before him. In the depths of his heart, another frail silhouette quietly emerged, gradually overlapping with the Female Emperor's silhouette.

That was a little girl wearing tattered rags, even her shoes revealing toe holes; when scolded and berated, she would fearfully lower her head, timidly shrink back, her large eyes brimming with tears, lonely and wronged turning to leave; that tiny back figure appeared so pitiable and helpless……

"Xiao Nian Nian!"

Ye Fan could not restrain his emotions and cried out involuntarily.

Right at this moment, the Female Emperor's gaze shed its former clarity, turning instead profound and unfathomable; nine-colored immortal light faintly circulated within it, instantly penetrating Ye Fan's entire body, even probing into the depths of his sea of consciousness.

Ye Fan had not the slightest intention to resist; he had taken many treasures from the Female Emperor, like that rare Nine Marvelous Divine Medicine Fruit, the incomparably precious Mother Qi of All Things, and the mysterious Immortal Treasure Diagram, and so on; if the Female Emperor therefore wanted to act against him, he would willingly accept it.

However, facing Ye Fan's such affectionate call, the Female Emperor still remained calm as water, making no response whatsoever, as if this call had never fallen into her ears.

The nine-colored immortal light slowly circulated, finally quietly submerging, leaving not a single trace behind.

Ye Fan stared blankly at her, his heart full of doubt, unable to fathom the intention behind her actions this time. At this moment, the Female Emperor's eyes were deep like the vast boundless starry sky, mysterious and unfathomable.

Until this moment, Ye Fan was certain in his heart: Xiao Nian Nian and the Female Emperor were originally one body; could this be the Dao fruit spoken of by the Ancient Supreme?

But in the depths of his heart, he was more willing to believe that Xiao Nian Nian represented that segment of the Female Emperor's happy, carefree, innocent, and simple childhood; although life was poor, it was filled with simple happiness.

She had always silently persevered and cultivated alone in this rolling red dust. How many heroes and outstanding talents, even peerless heaven's prides with unparalleled talent, were unable to become emperors due to being entangled by obsessions, let alone transcend to become immortals.

But the Ruthless Great Emperor was different; relying on that obsession in her heart, she rose against the age, cutting through thorns and brambles all the way, achieving the supreme position of Heavenly Emperor.

Inside the Bronze Immortal Palace, at this moment it was silently still; the Female Emperor was like a fairy carved from mutton-fat jade, her surroundings without a single ripple; she stood quietly there, unmoving, her eyes like the deep ocean.

Ye Fan threw out several more questions in succession; the Female Emperor acted as if she had not heard, her vermilion lips tightly closed, not uttering another half-word.

Seeing this, Ye Fan no longer pursued questions; he straightened his body, slowly stood up, and solemnly bowed to the Female Emperor. In his heart, besides blood relatives and closest friends, in this vast world, perhaps only an existence like the Female Emperor was worthy of receiving this bow from him, only she could bear the weight of this reverence.

Ye Fan ultimately still could not help but turn and ask: "Great Emperor, along this path you have come, experiencing countless years, one lifetime after another of reincarnation struggle, in the end what was it for?"

"Waiting for you to return."

Unexpectedly, the Female Emperor actually spoke again; four short words, yet like a heavy hammer striking Ye Fan's heart.

Ye Fan's figure violently shook; in an instant he froze on the spot.

In his mind involuntarily emerged the youth from that blurry scene earlier; that youth's appearance was actually extremely similar to himself, as if carved from the same mold.

Ye Fan stood in place for a long time; his mood gradually calmed down. He understood in his heart: the one the Ruthless Great Emperor bitterly waited for was not him; that "you" from beginning to end was only one person — the youth in the memories.

As a Great Emperor-level figure standing at the cultivation peak, Ye Fan pondered slightly and then perceived the truth within.

To say the Ruthless Emperor was waiting for him was also not entirely without reason; perhaps it was waiting for him to ascend the absolute peak, to display his brilliance fully, and see whether he could reflect that flower-soul that had slumbered for so long.

What an intensely persistent belief this is!

Ye Fan sighed inwardly.

The Female Emperor's gaze was deep like the sea; what it contained was probably not merely obsession, but also involved the most hidden, most core mysteries on the path to longevity.

Not for the pursuit of longevity itself, merely to guard a heaven-and-earth of waiting in this rolling red dust, only hoping that that youth could return.

Suddenly, Ye Fan's heart stirred.

"Jiang Xuan, does reincarnation truly exist in the world?" Ye Fan could not suppress the curiosity in his heart; this topic of reincarnation was mysterious and captivating, hooking everyone's interest.

Jiang Xuan's expression was calm; he first shook his head lightly, then gave a slight nod, leaving Ye Fan with a face full of confusion, his gaze bewildered.

"There is, yet there isn't," Jiang Xuan said peacefully.

The Ruthless Emperor gazed quietly at Jiang Xuan, waiting for his further explanation.

Seeing this, Jiang Xuan no longer beat around the bush and spoke directly: "I do not believe there is innate reincarnation in this world. But I firmly believe that by one's own power, a person can create reincarnation."

Hearing this, the Ruthless Emperor's eyes flashed with astonishing brilliance, and she said: "I have searched for many years, unable to create reincarnation; even exhausting all my power to speculate, an Immortal would likely find it hard to open the path of reincarnation!"

"If an Immortal cannot do it, then what about an Immortal King? If even an Immortal King fails, then how about the Immortal Among Emperors who stands at the peak of Immortals?!!"

Jiang Xuan's words were steady and powerful, like a great bell; instantly thunder rolled across heaven and earth outside, as if he had touched a taboo of heaven and earth. At this moment, Jiang Xuan's originally peaceful eyes transformed into a pair of sharp, soaring Flying Immortal Eyes, radiating a transcendent, overlooking aura, yet still retaining calmness.

"Immortal King? Immortal Among Emperors?"

The Ruthless Emperor murmured softly, her tone full of doubt and shock. This entirely new concept brought a tremor to her heart that far surpassed hearing of the Tribulation-Crossing Heavenly Venerate or the Undead Emperor Venerate.

"I have another inheritance; Immortal is not the end of the Way." Jiang Xuan's expression was as usual, his tone flat, as if he were merely a messenger conveying an unimportant piece of information.

"Immortals are not the ultimate destination of cultivation; above them there is still the Immortal King realm that can open a world with a single thought, and even the existence of Immortal Emperors who rule the heavens, supreme and unrivaled!"

Jiang Xuan's voice was steady and powerful, echoing clearly in this quiet space.

"What we cannot achieve does not mean an Immortal Emperor cannot achieve it. After all, existences standing at the cultivation peak possess unimaginable greatness and divine abilities."

Hearing these words, the Ruthless Emperor slowly closed her eyes, her chest rising and falling slightly; clearly her heart had stirred up shocking waves, unable to calm for a long time.

These words were like a beam of light shining into the road she had been groping forward in darkness for a long time, opening a brand new Gate for her, letting her see a vast heaven and earth she had never touched before.

"Thank you."

After a long time, she softly said thanks to Jiang Xuan. For her, these new cognitions and information were extraordinarily significant, even surpassing what she had gained from her previous discussions of the Dao with Jiang Xuan.

As long as there is still a glimmer of hope ahead, still a road that can be walked, she will rush toward it without hesitation. That obsession rooted deep in her heart is as hard as steel.

Jiang Xuan revealed a faint smile, then rose, cupping his fists in farewell.

The information that needed to be conveyed was already clear; continuing to linger here held no more meaning.

"Your method is very strong, but complicated and mixed."

"Your method has heavy demonic nature, surpassing the Swallowing Heaven Demonic Art!"

Like the light sound of an immortal bell, it drifted into Jiang Xuan's ears.

Jiang Xuan's steps paused slightly, then resumed; he did not turn back, merely giving a slight nod in acknowledgment, and strode outward, his robes fluttering, exuding a carefree, casual air.

In truth, if Jiang Xuan had looked back, he would have been startled to discover that ever since he rose, the Ruthless Emperor had kept her eyes lightly closed, never opening them.

This pointer to Jiang Xuan was merely out of gratitude for his earlier mention of the favor of reincarnation.

Ye Fan likewise rose, cupping his fists in farewell.

This trip, his gains were great.

……

Fenbao Cliff.

Jiang Xuan sat alone in meditation on a cliff, refining treasures.

The refining of the first magic treasure "Chaos Banner" was arduous and long.

Jiang Xuan first took out the Chaos Stone obtained from Zi Shan; its interior contained endless Chaos Qi, the core material for refining this banner.

He swallowed the Chaos Stone into his abdomen, his hands forming profound seals; as time passed, the Chaos Stone gradually became transparent and pure, emitting a gentle Chaos light.

Immediately after, Jiang Xuan also integrated endless essence Qi collected from the Outer Regions starry sky; wrapped in the Chaos Qi, it slowly melted and transformed, mutually fusing with the Chaos Stone, finally disappearing into Jiang Xuan's body.

Day after day, year after year, on this Fenbao Cliff, time seemed to have lost meaning.

And in Jiang Xuan's world there was only this ceaselessly beating flame and the gradually forming magic treasure.

A full thirty years passed, and the "Chaos Banner" was finally successfully refined.

Boom!

Countless strands of Chaos Sword Qi tore through the universe, rushing toward the Universe Wasteland.

"This is……"

Countless gazes looked toward Fenbao Cliff, their hearts shocked.

Jiang Xuan frowned slightly.

"This Chaos Banner has the function of deducing the limitless Creation, controlling the profound mysteries of all laws, opening heaven and earth and the universe."

"Power has increased, but life essence has still not reached the Immortal realm level!"

Jiang Xuan continued immersing himself in the cultivation of magic treasure divine abilities.

Another ten years passed.

Dozens of Imperial Soldier Fragments emerged; these were fragments of Supreme weapons defeated by Jiang Xuan's hand, all Great Emperor level divine materials, collected by Jiang Xuan.

The Eight Trigrams Furnace fire reached the heavens, illuminating the universe.

The Imperial Soldier Fragments slowly melted, finally forming a long spear.

The spear was about two zhang eight in length, with a red tassel and silver blade.

The spear shaft was entirely blood red, filled with killing qi. The spear blade surface was engraved with Great Dao inscriptions and Green Lotus marks, and the spear heart also bore the two characters "God-Slaying".

Jiang Xuan's whole body surged with violent killing aura; the entire Beidou was like a leaf boat in a sky-reaching giant wave.

The violent power came fast and went fast; the Beidou Land once again returned to calm.

He then took out countless Star Sand grains, these were captured by the Hongmeng Treasure Mirror.

Ten years passed.

Jiang Xuan's left eye released True Solar Fire, his right eye flickered with Taiyin Moonlight.

Three hundred sixty-five major acupoints corresponded to the three hundred sixty-five main stars in the sky, absorbing the power of the myriad heavens' stars as the formation's root; one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred Minor Zhou Tian Star Banners served as the formation's main trunk.

Endless starlight gathered, forming a brilliant light curtain enveloping heaven and earth.

Star power interwove, like substantial starlight chains crisscrossing, weaving a massive and complex pattern.

Zhou Tian Star Array!

"Heavenly Emperor, what law is he cultivating now? It's simply too terrifying!"

Outer Regions, a Quasi-Emperor trembled with fear; even separated by the Star Sea, he could still sense that terror.

Heavenly Court, Ye Fan's gaze was envious.

"Jiang Xuan is undergoing a transformation!?"

Demon Court, the Golden Crow Great Emperor's face was full of bitterness.

"Not enough!"

Jiang Xuan waved his large hand, and another pile of Divine Materials surged forth.

Fifty years passed.

Wuchang Reverse Fate Blade, All-Heavens Life and Death Wheel, Huangtian Origin Dragon Armor, Green Lotus Treasure Color Banner, Thirty-Six Dinghai Divine Pearls...

Another ten Magic Treasures equivalent to Great Emperor Peak weapons fused into his body.

Jiang Xuan had reached his limit; he could no longer endure more Magic Treasure divine power. Forcibly refining them would only result in Body and Dao Extinguished.

"Relatively a hundred years ago, I've grown several times stronger, yet still not an Immortal."

"I roughly equate to a Great Emperor who has lived out five lifetimes; if I could continue transforming, one lifetime would suffice for growth, only regret..."

Jiang Xuan had a premonition that even if he could refine more Magic Treasures, their power's help to him would only become smaller and smaller.

He would advance infinitely toward the Immortal level, yet forever be unable to reach it.

(Chapter End)