Chapter 350 Enlightenment
The furnishings inside the room were extremely simple—a wooden table, two rattan chairs, a tea set in the corner, and water boiling on the stove with the scent of tea curling up softly.
Chen Chang'an sat in the rattan chair by the window. The warm afternoon sun spilled through the lattice, casting mottled light and shadow upon his body.
He held a yellowed book in his hands. The pages were already somewhat brittle, yet he turned them with extreme gentleness. Seeing him enter, Chen Chang'an raised his head.
Zhao Xin stood frozen at the door.
This time, he finally saw that true appearance he had dreamed of.
The man before him looked to be only in his thirties. He wore a simple cyan gown; the fabric was as ordinary as the coarse hemp seen everywhere in the market, yet it inexplicably gave people a sense of harmony, as if "this is how it should be."
His black hair was casually tied up with a wooden hairpin, with no carved decoration on the head.
His face was handsome, his features picturesque, yet he possessed no overwhelming aura. He was like a scholar commonly seen in the mountains. But when he looked into Chen Chang'an's eyes, the entire world seemed to instantly invert.
Reflected within those seemingly ordinary black eyes were the movements of the galaxy, containing the chaos of the beginning of heaven and earth.
Zhao Xin felt his spiritual consciousness being stretched infinitely. In an instant, he saw the birth and annihilation of endless seas of stars, and the surging and stagnation of the river of time.
Even more terrifying was that he seemed to see his entire life—from the first meeting at sea, to the bloody battle in the imperial city, to the kneeling at this moment. All these scenes flashed before those eyes.
His legs went soft, and he nearly fell to his knees.
"You have come."
These three simple words were like a clap of thunder from the nine heavens, exploding beside Zhao Xin's ears, shaking his entire body.
He raised his head, and his gaze met that figure. In an instant, it seemed as if time had frozen.
"Immortal Venerable..." Zhao Xin's throat was dry, his voice so hoarse it was unrecognizable, as if all the strength had been drained from his body.
He wanted to kneel and pay his respects to the Immortal Venerable before him, but he found his knees were as if pressed down by a thousand-pound burden; no matter what, he could not bend them.
"Sit." Chen Chang'an's voice was very soft.
Zhao Xin felt a gentle force rise from below, supporting his body so he would not fall to the ground.
He staggered to the rattan chair opposite and slowly sat down. The weight of his body seemed to press entirely on that chair, emitting a slight creaking sound.
"Disciple..." Zhao Xin lowered his head. His gray-white long hair fell like a waterfall, covering his face. "I have failed the Immortal Venerable's expectations."
His voice was filled with self-blame and remorse.
Chen Chang'an shook his head gently and said slowly, "Where is the failure? The path you have walked is your Dao."
Zhao Xin abruptly raised his head, his eyes filled with confusion.
"Come with me."
With a wave of Chen Chang'an's sleeve, the two of them stood above the nine heavens.
The mountains and rivers of the Spirit Realm below unfolded like a scroll. Cities were like chessboards, and rivers were like silver belts.
"Look."
With a light tap of Chen Chang'an's fingertip, the time of the Spirit Realm suddenly accelerated. Zhao Xin widened his eyes, watching the mountains and rivers change, and dynasties rise and fall.
The imperial city of the Great Yan Dynasty turned into ruins over a hundred years; the pillars of the Golden Throne Hall were entwined by vines, and the dragon throne was filled with bird nests.
The palaces of the Qingxuan Dynasty had their foundations pierced by crazily growing ancient trees. Glazed tiles scattered all over the ground, becoming a habitat for beasts.
The Cold Moon Sect established by Zhao Xue spread its branches; the figures of white-robed cultivators were scattered throughout the Spirit Realm like sparks.
On the homeland of the Heaven Frost Dynasty that he once destroyed, new nations rose like bamboo shoots. The commoners plowed, sang, and reproduced upon the bones of the past.
"This..." Zhao Xin's voice trembled. "Is this the scenery beyond the Longevity Realm?"
Chen Chang'an did not answer; he only quietly watched the seas turn into mulberry fields below.
His gaze was calm as water, yet it seemed as if he had already witnessed such cycles thousands of times.
Zhao Xin suddenly understood something; the confusion in his eyes gradually turned into relief. He straightened his clothes and bowed deeply to Chen Chang'an.
"Disciple understands."
His body began to turn transparent. The obsession of eight hundred years melted away like ice and snow.
Those hatreds, unwillingness, and regrets all seemed so insignificant after witnessing the mighty power of the river of time.
"Immortal Venerable, Disciple still has one question." Zhao Xin's figure was already as faint as thin mist. "Can you tell me why you chose me back then?"
A hint of a smile flashed in Chen Chang'an's eyes. This smile made the surrounding starlight a bit brighter.
"There is no why. Can you accept this answer?"
"No reason?" Zhao Xin was stunned.
"Yes, no reason." Chen Chang'an nodded to confirm.
Then—
"I see. No reason is the best reason..." Zhao Xin suddenly understood something and laughed up at the sky. His laughter carried relief, but also self-mockery.
"Thank you, Immortal Venerable. Disciple has enlightened..."
Amidst his laughter, his figure completely dissipated, leaving only a single True Spirit floating like a firefly.
Chen Chang'an looked at the True Spirit filling the sky and was instantly dumbfounded.
Enlightened my foot. I was just too lazy to make up a reason to fool you...
However, even as he complained, he still reached out to catch that final glimmer of light, casting his gaze toward a small city in the distance.
That small city looked ordinary and peaceful, with the bricks on the city wall appearing somewhat old.
In a courtyard within the small city, a woman seven or eight months pregnant was sitting on a chair basking in the sun.
The sunlight spilled onto her body, making her face appear exceptionally gentle.
Her hand gently stroked her raised abdomen, feeling the movements of the fetus within.
Suddenly, a slight fetal movement came from the woman's belly. The fetus seemed to be kicking her stomach.
"Go." Chen Chang'an said softly. "This time, live a different way."
The True Spirit turned into a stream of light and entered the woman's abdomen.
At the same time, peach blossoms suddenly bloomed in the city, attracting passersby to stop one after another.
That woman was also attracted by the beautiful scene. She stood up, looked up at the blooming peach blossoms, and her face was overflowing with a happy smile.
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