Chapter 73: Chapter 51: Illusion (Overslept, Rushing to Work Now)

Translator: 549690339

Time slips away swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, two hundred years have passed.

Another cold winter month.

Chang’an, snow swirling about.

Having expanded several times over two hundred years, Chang’an, once the capital beyond the city walls, now encompasses the former Qu River, making it a rather ordinary sight within the city.

By the Qu River, there stands a tavern called Lucky Building.

A woman sits by the window of Lucky Building, gazing down at House-riding Bridge below, swallowed by the blizzard.

Every day, tens of thousands of pedestrians and carriages cross the bridge in the heart of Chang’an, but few know that a century ago, this bridge had changed her, changed the world, changed the fate of countless people.

As the snowstorm intensifies, foot traffic dwindles, all in a vast expanse of white.

Suddenly…

A figure emerges, trudging through the snow.

It is a woman, dressed in white, her beauty surpassing the frost and snow, ethereal, as if not of this world.

“Hmm!”

The woman props her chin, regarding this person with a somewhat amused expression.

The stranger seems to notice her gaze, crosses the bridge with a measured stride, and enters the tavern. She ascends to the upper floor and sits down opposite her.

“It has been a long time since we last met.”

“Hmm… a long time indeed!”

A calm greeting, without a ripple.

Dudu toys with the wine cup, eyeing the person before her with interest, “You’ve gone out again; did you gain anything?”

“Nothing.”

Shi Feixuan shakes her head, her demeanor calm and composed beneath the veil.

“Oh, I thought you’d bring back a little girl to take over your duties as the Head of the Temple,” Dudu says with a smile, looking around. “But I understand. After all, Emperor’s Step Peak is gone, Mercy Sailing Silent Temple is no more. The pretty nuns have scattered, those who could run did, and the loyal fools have either perished or been wounded. It’s all over now. Why bother with a successor?”

“Loyal fools?”

Shi Feixuan frowns slightly.

“You don’t know?”

Dudu, ringing a bell with a playful look, teases, “It’s the latest slang. You’re a bit behind the times, aren’t you, little Xuan Xuan!”

This cringeworthy nickname makes Shi Feixuan fall silent, before finally asking, “What brings you here?”

“What do you mean by that? Why can’t I be here?”

Although there was no hostility in Shi Feixuan’s words, picking a quarrel seemed to be someone’s instinct; Dudu shrugs and plays along nonchalantly.

“The Yinkui Sect is gone, the Demon Sect is exterminated, and even the brothels were swept clean two hundred years ago. I wanted to be a Huakui but had nowhere to go. If I don’t come here to drown my sorrows in wine and indulge in food and drink, where else can I go?”

As she finishes speaking, she suddenly notices something, scrutinizing Shi Feixuan from head to toe. She sees a few strands of white at her temples.

Instantly, she falls silent.

Shi Feixuan glances at her, still serene and composed, “What’s wrong?”

Dudu falls silent for a moment, “You’ve aged!”

“Everyone ages,” Shi Feixuan says without changing expression. “I am human, so naturally, I will age, just like you, right?”

“That’s true, but…”

With furrowed brows, Dudu looks uncertain, “It’s been just over two hundred years.”

“Over two hundred years?”

Shi Feixuan smiles, replying, “Isn’t that long enough?”

At these words, Dudu is again rendered speechless.

Two hundred years earlier, the True Dragon had soared into the cloud-shattered rain over Emperor’s Step Peak!

Mercy Sailing Silent Temple, nine Grandmasters, annihilated in a single battle.

Even Emperor’s Step Peak itself was destroyed in the great war, becoming dust in history.

Henceforth, the world submitted; the lands were united.

Heaven Martial established the dynasty, commencing a new era.

Martial prowess spread throughout the land, everyone as mighty as a dragon.

An era of prosperity, an era belonging to the Martial Path, officially began.

The teachings of the Martial Arts Scripture spread through the land, coursing throughout the world.

With collective wisdom, innovations flourished, reaching divine levels of nonqtprv

To this day, rooted in the Martial Arts Scripture, a complete system of martial cultivation has been established.

First Realm Inner Strength, Second Realm True Qi.

Third Realm True Gang, Fourth Realm Condensing Spirit.

Fifth Realm Co-Dao, shattering the void.

Through the ingenious application of the Martial Arts Scripture, national strength, people’s strength, and productive forces all saw unprecedented enhancements. Population, quality, average lifespan, and cultivation levels soared to remarkable heights.

Grandmasters with the Four-Realm Condensing Spirit, spiritually fulfilled, are granted a lifespan of three hundred years and can retain their youth and vitality until the end of their days, only showing signs of aging as their time draws near and they’re about to relinquish their power.

This is the mystical application of the Martial Arts Scripture, combined with Longevity Jue, Heavenly Demon Strategy, Mercy Sailing Sword Scroll, and countless other secret techniques and classic teachings of the Three Teaching Sect.

It can be said to seize the essence of heaven and earth itself.

Dudu is one such example. Using the Martial Arts Scripture to achieve the Grandmaster Realm, she remains, after two hundred years, the same graceful, fairy-like girl.

But Shi Feixuan…

Although she still possesses a youthful appearance, the whiteness at her temples tells a different story, leaving Dudu speechless.

Though she too cultivated according to the Martial Arts Scripture, it seems she did not reach the Grandmaster Realm, holding only the ordinary Condensing Spirit cultivation level.

Without reaching the Grandmaster Realm, one cannot attain fulfillment. The lifespan of a Martial Artist at the Condensing Spirit stage is at most between two hundred and two hundred thirty years.

She…

With thoughts in disarray and emotions unspeakable,

All Dudu could do was remain silent.

It wasn’t for outsiders to comment too much on her relationship with that person.

Observing the silent Dudu, Shi Feixuan also refrains from speaking further, standing up with a light laugh.

“I need to visit the palace. Will you come with me?”

“That…”

Dudu looks at her, then quickly shakes her head.

“You should go by yourself. I don’t want to be a third wheel and disturb your time together. Give my regards to the King, and tell him little Dudu will come to dance for him in the palace after a while.”

Shi Feixuan glanced at her, shook her head, and turned to leave.

“Hey, what’s that look supposed to mean? Although I’m over two hundred years old, both mentally and physically, I’m still a girl. Not like you, with a body that doesn’t age but a spirit that’s already withered. So detached from worldly affairs, are you trying to become an immortal?”

After some back-and-forth, Shi Feixuan had already drifted into the distance, and Dudu could only helplessly sit down and continue to drown her sorrows in wine and song.

In Changan City, within the Tai Chi Palace, atop Heaven Martial Mountain.

At the very summit, surprisingly free of wind and snow, it was like an immortal realm isolated from the rest of the world.

A Bodhi Tree, growing at the peak of the mountain, in a climate not suitable for its existence.

Yet, it miraculously thrived, with lush branches and vibrant green leaves, completely unaffected by the external wind and snow.

Beneath the Bodhi Tree, one person leaned against its trunk, reclining for a short rest.

Suddenly, another person ascended the mountain, stopping before the Bodhi Tree.

Only then did the person resting beneath the tree open their eyes, smiling and saying, “You’re back?”

Shi Feixuan nodded, remaining silent, and quietly sat down beside him, her already calm heart becoming even more at peace.

The Bodhi True Seed, the treasure of the Tianzhu Country.

Fifty years ago, the Li Clan, rulers of the Tianzhu Country, submitted to their conquerors, presenting this item as a token of sincerity.

Since then, this tree on Heaven Martial Mountain had appeared, capable of cleansing the spirit, nurturing the divine soul, and aiding one in achieving the realm of Grandmaster.

Shi Feixuan sat beside him, leaning against the Bodhi, at a very close distance to him, yet they never touched.

Just as their relationship had been for two hundred years.

Shi Feixuan remained silent, and so did Xu Yang. After an unknown span of silent moments, Shi Feixuan finally broke the silence.

“I heard that Shi Zhixuan has entered the Fifth Realm and will soon break through the Broken Void.”

“Indeed!”

Xu Yang nodded, chuckling as he said, “Both he and Song Que are extraordinary talents. Song Que has long since cast aside the affairs of the Song Clan, focusing solely on cultivation. Apart from the sword, there is nothing else, and so he was able to take a step ahead thirty years ago.”

Shi Feixuan smiled, taking over the conversation, “So you let him leave, to devote himself entirely to cultivation, and that’s how he reached the Fifth Realm, breaking the Broken Void!”

Xu Yang nodded, “He’s dedicated and had labored diligently for many years. The evil deeds of his past as the Evil King have all been redeemed. I shouldn’t still be confining such a talent of this generation. Perhaps, one day, we might even hear legends about them.”

“That’s true.”

Shi Feixuan smiled, turned her head to look at his profile, “What about you then, when will you leave?”

Xu Yang shook his head, murmured, “I still have some matters to deal with. I can’t just leave like that.”

“Really?”

Shi Feixuan murmured softly, then asked, “Qingyang, you once told me that one should live a life without regrets, so do you… have any regrets?”

Xu Yang turned to look at her, her expression forlorn. After a long silence, he finally replied, “I do!”

Shi Feixuan’s curiosity piqued, “What are they?”

Xu Yang shook his head, “Many. That’s why I must keep seeking, keep progressing until I control everything, until I’ve redeemed all.”

Shi Feixuan looked at him, also without saying a word. After a long while, she smiled, “Don’t forget about me!”

Xu Yang remained silent, wordless.

Shi Feixuan then looked up at the flourishing Bodhi Tree, a trace of reminiscence appearing in her eyes.

“Life in this world is like a dream, an illusion, like dew, and like lightning. Master, Xuan Er has failed to live up to your expectations, but… has no regrets in this life!”

After speaking, she turned her gaze back to Xu Yang, “Although I know you don’t care for Buddhist law, could you recite the Rebirth Mantra for me just once?”

Xu Yang shook his head, speaking calmly, “It’s not that I dislike Buddhist law, just the false Buddhist law. If the Buddha is true, if the law is solid, what harm is there in belief?”

Having said that, he began to recite the Brahma Sound.

“Do-ta-ga-do-ya, Ami-li-duo-po-pi…”

With the chanting of the Brahma Sound, the mantra of rebirth began, and a golden light gradually appeared.

In the midst of the golden light, Shi Feixuan became astonished, then relieved, and raised her hand, which slowly turned into an illusion. Yet she didn’t care, only speaking to the person close in front of her. “If there’s a next life, if there’s reincarnation…”

“You don’t abandon me, I won’t leave you…”

“Qingyang, take care!”

“Bang!”

With her words, the golden light shattered, and the illusory figure dissipated into nothingness.

A hand reached out, as if to grasp something, but ultimately caught nothing. It was futile.

The Brahma Sound suddenly stopped, the chanting abruptly ended.

Underneath the Bodhi Tree, all was silent.

Just then, in the real world…

The closed eyes suddenly sprang open, and the slumbering person also suddenly awoke.

Xu Yang sat up, looking around at the familiar yet unfamiliar surroundings, momentarily disoriented in spirit.

But this was not the reason for his awakening.

The reason he awoke from his dream was that…

Had he been dreaming (Zhuanzhou Mengdie, the cycle of life and death)?

“Reincarnation… Rebirth?”

Looking at the skill characteristics in his skill bar, shining with a faint golden light just like Zhuanzhou Mengdie, Xu Yang fell silent.

Had he been dreaming?

He had been dreaming all along, through lifetimes in Great Zhou; in Sui and Tang; over five hundred years in total.

Thus, the appearance of a second skill trait seemed only natural, right?

Zhuanzhou Mengdie, Reincarnation Rebirth…

Xu Yang raised his head, looking into the endless dark sky, speechless for a long time, but ultimately, he laughed.

Several months later, in a mysterious place out of the reach of mortals.

“Head of the Temple!”

A gray-robed nun, cradling an infant, approached another nun dressed in white, sitting motionless in meditation on a cushion, and joyfully said, “It’s a girl.”

“Is that so?”

The nun smiled, took the baby, her eyes strangely gleaming, “In that case, it must be fate.”

After saying this, she reached out and touched the child’s forehead, leaving a red dot there.

“Last night, when you were born, I could hear the sound of Brahma chanting in the darkness, like a dream, like an illusion, like lightning, like dew. Thus, I grant you a name, to be called—Meng Fanying!”