Meng Heze knew he was dying. He could no longer clearly see Song Qianji's face, only the bright full moon rising from the drifting clouds in the night sky beyond the cave entrance.
The moon swayed and trembled like a small boat crossing the dark blue sea of night, drifting toward him.
After his death, Song Qianji would become the "Demon-Slaying Hero," earning the respect of the entire Cultivation World, no longer needing to wander and struggle.
With the treasure vault map and key, and the support of others, Song Qianji had enough to establish his own sect and become a grandmaster.
Thinking of this, Meng Heze felt slightly comforted.
Jin Tao, Jin Chai, Jin Lu, and Jin Bi had secretly devised a plan behind his back, intending to seal him within a glacier at the edge of the continent, deep in the snow plains, with the four of them taking turns to guard it. By freezing the Spirit Qi and halting his cultivation, they could preserve his life.
But in Meng Heze's view, that was merely prolonging a miserable existence—a fate worse than death.
The silver moon drew closer, its light transforming into an emerald vegetable patch and an azure sky.
Was this the spring fields of Thousand Canals? As this thought crossed Meng Heze's mind, he suddenly felt his body lighten, as if his soul had left its shell.
The scenes before him shifted rapidly like a revolving lantern—images of labor in Thousand Canals intertwined with battlefields of slaughter in the Western Sea. He saw himself finally mastering the demonic cultivation method but losing his sanity, forced to trap himself in a formation.
Yet once the killing intent arose, it was hard to control. By the time his subordinates broke into the formation, he had already torn himself to pieces...
After his death, a cultivator named Wei Zhenyu emerged, claiming to be Song Qianji's successor, and found his secret Underground Palace vault, refining his Cultivation Method manuals.
Who was Wei Zhenyu? The name sounded so familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before. He should know this person.
The more Meng Heze thought, the more his head ached. What was real? What was false?
Which was the past life? Which was the present?
Truth or illusion, what day is today, life and death.
His soul burned with excruciating pain, as if about to split apart. Uncontrollably drawn to a freezing lake, he sank into it and suddenly saw a massive stone at the bottom, radiating five-colored Gathered Light like a demonic flower blooming in the water.
Just as his soul grew lighter and his consciousness blurred, about to become nourishment for the giant stone, a sudden roar erupted from the depths of his soul:
"Xiao Meng, come back!"
"Come back—"
The familiar voice was like an invisible rope tying around Meng Heze's neck, dragging him out of the icy lake.
"Senior Brother Song?!"
Meng Heze's eyes snapped open, but everything was dark. He gasped for breath like a drowning man returned to land.
So Thousand Canals was real. His friends, family, and senior brother were all real.
"Calm your spirit, focus your mind, guard your essence, and return slowly!" He heard Song Qianji's voice again, this time close at hand. The other seemed to have relaxed, regaining his composure: "It's alright now. You're fine."
Gradually, Meng Heze's vision returned. He saw the lake shrouded in night mist, surrounded by mountains, the full moon still hanging in the sky.
And Song Qianji stood before him, with higher cultivation and a gentler, more composed demeanor than in the illusion.
Meng Heze suddenly turned away, unable to bear looking any longer.
Song Qianji was taken aback. After all I've been through, risking life and death, you don't even greet me when you come back?
But then he reconsidered—the other had absorbed too much information in a short time, not just experiences but also insights into cultivation and understanding of the world. It was normal that he needed time to recover.Inside the domain, Hua Wei Zhenren called out, "The moon has passed its zenith, time is running short. Do we save the next one?"
Song Qianji gritted his teeth. "Save him!"
But then Meng Heze turned around, his face already streaked with tears. "Senior Brother, are you injured?"
Song Qianji felt a headache coming on and scolded, "Men don't shed tears lightly. What are you crying for?"
Meng Heze's tear-filled eyes were red, somewhat resembling Meng Zhengxian in his final moments.
Song Qianji's tone softened. "Enough. The Three Lives Stone at the bottom of this lake is a rare treasure of heaven and earth. You've experienced an illusory world and gained another lifetime of cultivation insights. Consider it a blessing in disguise."
Meng Heze thought of the "Evil Buddha Meng Zhengxian," and his feelings couldn't be described as merely complicated.
It felt like being stripped naked and paraded through Thousand Canal Bazaar, with Ji Chen beating gongs and drums along the way: "Come see, folks! Don't miss this passing spectacle!"
Ji Chen—yes, Ji Chen was still frozen nearby like a statue!
"Senior Brother, how did you bring me back? Let me..." Before Meng Heze could finish, he saw Song Qianji's expression change slightly as he shoved a stack of Sound Amplification Talismans into his hands.
"Go back and contact the Thousand Canals disciples. Lead them out of the secret realm. Use any means necessary to make all cultivators in the secret realm leave."
"But the time hasn't come yet. The secret realm's entrance and exit haven't opened."
"The Underground Palace has a hidden passage connecting to the Dead Sea," Song Qianji said. "There's no time to explain much. Go quickly."
Hearing the seriousness and urgency in his tone, Meng Heze immediately memorized the route firmly. He dared not linger longer, though his heart was filled with reluctance and a touch of bitterness. "I'll do my best. Senior Brother, you must take care."
"Go." Song Qianji nodded.
From within the domain, Hua Wei Zhenren wailed, "Didn't you hear me say the Three Lives Stone is unstable and likely tampered with? Instead of leaving quickly, you still want to save people?"
Song Qianji sighed. "Indeed. Even I find it baffling. I'm not exactly a good person myself."
...
After the dizziness passed, Song Qianji felt a gentle breeze, a few damp, cool touches landing on his cheeks.
The spring rain was fine as ox hair, dampening the gray tiles, white walls, and bluestone paths. The long street in the rain was tranquil and beautiful, yet the atmosphere was peculiar.
Most shops on both sides were closed. Pedestrians hurried along with lowered heads under oil-paper umbrellas, their expressions rushed. No one was chatting idly or strolling leisurely, and there were no street vendors hawking their wares.
After walking a few steps, Song Qianji released his spiritual sense to probe his surroundings. Apart from the sound of the slanting wind and fine rain and the occasional footsteps, there was no other movement around.
Yet, just one street away, a tavern was roaring with noise and excitement, as if it had gathered all the liveliness of the entire city.
He carefully examined his own meridians. He had few hidden injuries and was already at the early Nascent Soul stage, so he breathed a sigh of relief.
"This time shouldn't be too difficult. Although Ji Chen was eccentric in his previous life, he wasn't as absurd as the Evil Buddha. At least he wouldn't hold an auction." As Song Qianji pondered, he approached the center of the commotion and looked up to see three flamboyantly written characters: Phoenix Immortal Pavilion.
White Phoenix County was also known as "Phoenix Immortal County," with half the county consisting of the Ji Family's businesses and land.
Phoenix Immortal Pavilion was the tallest building in the county and also operated by the Ji Family.
It was abnormally quiet outside, and abnormally noisy here.
As Song Qianji entered, not a single person in the main hall spared him a glance, as if all their energy was devoted to drinking and merrymaking.
No waiter came forward to ask if he needed a meal or lodging. Only a middle-aged Golden Core cultivator quietly approached him, cupping his hands in salute:
"Esteemed Senior, are you here to find someone?"
"You recognize me?""I naturally can't see through your disguise, but I'm fortunate enough to recognize your sword. Song Qianji, the undefeated warrior who never drinks or gambles—what brings you to a tavern if not to find someone?" the cultivator said smugly. "Since you have no friends, finding someone must mean killing someone. Do you need my assistance? My rates are fair, and I'd be honored to serve you."
Song Qianji asked, "Is Ji Chen here?"
The man pointed upstairs and, noticing Song Qianji's grim expression, wisely took his leave.
But Song Qianji overheard him muttering under his breath: "Why is Song Qianji here too? He must cost a fortune."
The second floor was more crowded, buzzing with energy, filled with beauties singing and plucking strings as they moved through the throng.
Song Qianji's eyes immediately landed on the youth at the center of attention, surrounded like the moon by stars.
The youth declared loudly, "Bring ten more jars of Floating Life Wine!"
He was in a drinking contest, downing bowl after bowl with reckless abandon.
The crowd around him cheered and roared their approval.
The wine shimmered with a pale green hue, served in ice-jade bowls that emitted tendrils of chilly mist.
Song Qianji frowned. Why was it always wine?
Red Dust Wine, Floating Life Wine.
Fine wines indeed, but alas, the mortal world is illusory, life is but a dream—how much joy can one truly find?
"Stop drinking," Song Qianji said as he pushed through the crowd and pressed down on Ji Chen's wine bowl.
At his action, the room fell silent as if struck by a Talisman of Stillness.
Ji Chen stood in silver cloud-treading boots, clad in a purple-gold robe, his hair tied high in a ponytail.
Every inch the arrogant young master from a wealthy family, he even tilted his head back to look down his nose:
"Who are you? What do you want?"
Song Qianji actually felt relieved. Seeing the other well-dressed and radiant, surrounded by companions, he likely hadn't descended into irredeemable madness yet.
"I'm also your friend. I'm here to save you. I know you probably don't believe me, but..."
Ji Chen leaned back in his chair, this time looking at him properly, and quickly cut him off: "Of course I believe you! Why wouldn't I?"
He retained his youthful face, his expression innocent and harmless.
Song Qianji was instantly overjoyed. Did Ji Chen still remember him?
Or was it because of his madness that he more readily trusted others' goodwill?
He pulled out a Soul-Summoning Talisman and slapped it onto Ji Chen's forehead: "Return!"
Ji Chen blinked blankly, completely unaffected: "Return where?"
The room erupted in laughter, wine splashing everywhere.
Of course it wouldn't be that simple.
Song Qianji ripped off the talisman and sighed in resignation: "You believe my foot!"
Ji Chen laughed along with the crowd, slowly rising and circling the wine table to approach him. He whispered:
"Look around this tavern, this city—everyone wants me dead. If you dare come here claiming to be my friend, aren't you just asking to die? So why wouldn't I believe you?"
His smile was innocent, yet inexplicably sinister: "I've always been quite lenient with those rushing to their deaths."
Red Dust Wine is crimson, growing hotter with each drink. Floating Life Wine is sickly green, growing colder with every sip.
As Ji Chen's words faded, the laughter and clamor in the hall ceased abruptly, plunging everyone into an Ice cave-like chill.
The atmosphere grew as strange as the streets outside.
"So it's already reached this point," Song Qianji murmured. "No wonder."
Three days later, on the night of Jingzhe, would be when Ji Chen laid his formation to slaughter his entire clan.
One hundred years after Ji Xing's death, Ji Chen had returned to his hometown and told everyone he was back.
He declared he would return to his ancestral home on the night of Jingzhe to settle old scores.Then he openly walked into the Phoenix Immortal Pavilion to drink, allowing his enemies to send all kinds of people to negotiate and use every means to kill him, while he enjoyed watching their struggles, panic, and desperate, maddened states.
The experts invited by the Ji Family continuously entered the Phoenix Immortal Pavilion, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Ji Chen seemed completely unaware, treating those people like brothers and drinking with them from large bowls.
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