Chapter 860 - 333: The Chosen One (Part 2)
If we discuss the causes, most perspectives suggest: The Imperial Dynasty’s Knocker for the Great Li Dynasty is Fan Wubing.
Shangjing itself collapsed because of Fan Wubing, so its national fortune proactively running to Great Li is indeed normal.
Over in East Continent He Yue Village, on the day the Terminal Daoist system collapsed, they announced lifting the bans on major forces, and actively supplied large support materials to help stabilize internal and external situations.
While the major forces in Little South Continent didn’t miss this rare opportunity and hurried to Immortal Continent, attempting to seek new development opportunities amid the heavily hit forces of Immortal Continent.
Meanwhile, from the Fan Family, Fan Qi personally led a team and rushed to Immortal Continent.
Little South Continent is still too small, incapable of nourishing anything significant.
The world’s situation is undergoing tremendous changes all the time.
...
In Changning City, Yushan Daoist and Zhuge Hong stood on the street, watching Jiang Ran’s funeral procession slowly pass overhead.
Zhuge Hong wasn’t usually sentimental, but now her eyes were red,
"In the end, I can’t do anything."
Yushan Daoist chuckled and asked, "What do you want to do?"
Zhuge Hong said softly,
"I don’t know what I want to do either. But this outcome is not good at all. Everyone has their own things to do, only I don’t even know where to go."
"Do you truly not know what you should do?"
Zhuge Hong raised her head and asked confusedly, "What should I do?"
Yushan Daoist said,
"Think about why you chose Wubing as your master."
"To learn the method of nurturing life."
"Have you achieved that?"
"No."
"Exactly, isn’t that what you should do? Nurture life for your universe in the box."
Zhuge Hong took out her universe in the box. From the outside, it just looked like an ordinary wooden box, but inside, it was a complete universe, though small and missing only the miraculous element of ’life’ compared to a real universe.
She was somewhat puzzled,
"What should I do?"
"Trust your intuition."
Zhuge Hong’s gaze gradually became clear, confirming a certain thought, and instantly she became spirited,
"Grandmaster, I know what to do now!"
Yushan Daoist chuckled, "You’re a strong child."
Afterwards, Yushan Daoist sent Zhuge Hong back to the Fan Family in Little South Continent.
Full of anticipation, she plunged into her private treasury and started focusing on cultivating. For her, this was the best form of practice, the activity most capable of realizing her value.
...
Yushan Daoist returned to Enlightenment Peak of the Eternal Immortal Sect.
No matter what happens, no matter how much time passes, this place always brings him peace.
Perhaps because it holds traces of Fu Ming and Fan Wubing’s presence.
Standing by Little Moonfall, with closed eyes, he could envision young Fan Wubing, practicing here day after day. Watching Fan Wubing grow steadily stronger, a tender smile naturally appeared.
As a master, not being able to witness his disciple’s growth has always been a significant regret for him.
Yushan Daoist can’t help but ponder, if he hadn’t secluded himself early, but instead accompanied Fan Wubing while growing... What would this disciple be like today?
He couldn’t help but think, perhaps this is the most suitable path for Wubing?
Yushan Daoist mused,
"I’ve spent my whole life seeking truth, yet in the end, I can’t even understand my disciple."
During his contemplation, Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable quietly appeared beside him.
She, as before, wore a half-wing mask, holding a silver-white short staff.
However, this time, she didn’t stop time.
This surprised Yushan Daoist a bit,
"Why appear like this?"
Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable answered lightly,
"Because he has already comprehended the Eternal Cosmos Dao, I no longer need to pause time."
"It’s quite baffling," Yushan Daoist said.
Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable didn’t delve into this topic, but switched to saying,
"Jiang Ran sought me out before her death."
"What did she say?"
"She knew what her fate was, so she asked me to remember her."
Yushan Daoist chuckled, "You are friends after all."
Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable shook her head,
"She is still too obsessed. If she had listened to me, she wouldn’t have reached this extent."
Yushan Daoist said,
"Everyone has their pursuits. Some things must be done personally, even if unsuccessful, it’s better than doing nothing. Isn’t she such a person? When she first learned that heaven isn’t truly the heavens, she chased me with countless questions. The supposed compensation or repair is merely an excuse she gave herself. Even if she hadn’t made mistakes before, she would still resolutely proceed with this."
He looked at Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable and asked,
"So, what caused the rift between you two?"
Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable casually replied,
"She blamed me for knowing that heaven isn’t truly the heaven, and despite having the ability to rise directly to confront the Heavenly Dao, doing nothing. When she found out the truth and confronted me, I saw her fate then, hence always trying to stop her. Maybe I spoke too harshly, as she not only didn’t listen but furthermore broke ties with me."
"So what’s your view?"
Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable gazed into the distance,
"I’ve done these things countless times. Ultimately, nothing changes. I’ve gradually realized that perhaps I am not the fated one. Hence, I can only halt, in countless ages, to search for the true destined one."
"Is Wubing the destined one?"
Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable said,
"I don’t know."
"Even you don’t know?"
"How can someone who sees the sky from the narrow confines of a well know anything?" Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable remarked, "As long as one cannot escape the cage of destiny, the truth will forever remain unknown. The last realm was like this, and so is this one. I wandered for so long, yet realized upon stopping, that I am still at the starting point."
"The Immortal Su Saintess is like you, coming from the last world?"
Upon hearing this name, Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable’s tone slightly changed,
"Yes. But she... I don’t quite understand."
"Her actions?"
Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable thought for a while,
"Probably."
Seeing her tone full of uncertainty, Yushan Daoist refrained from asking more.
He took a deep breath and gazed at the sky, asking,
"Do you think Wubing will succeed?"
Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable said,
"It doesn’t matter."
"It doesn’t matter?"
"Whether he succeeds or fails, as long as he can’t escape the cage of destiny, he’ll return to the starting point."
Yushan Daoist said bitterly,
"Better than failing at least."
"Even if he fails, it’s alright; I will help him through everything. Until he can escape destiny’s cage."
The words were spoken lightly, but Yushan Daoist had nothing to rebut.
Because she is Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable, she is Si Jiuyou.
She is the foremost in the world.
Yushan Daoist asked,
"Do you know what kind of person Wubing is?"
Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable replied softly,
"No one knows better than me. After all, I’ve watched him grow up."
Yushan Daoist’s shoulders slightly shuddered, his inner suspicions now confirmed.
"So Ming’Er is indeed your avatar?"
Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable shook her head,
"No, Fu Ming is not my avatar. She is me, just me from the previous realm."
Yushan Daoist found himself unable to comprehend the essence of this statement, or discern its true meaning.
Yet, staring at Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable, he couldn’t bring himself to equate her with his disciple Fu Ming.
"The last realm..." Yushan Daoist murmured, "Indeed, the truth remains distant."
Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable asked,
"Do you think I am using him?"
"..." Yushan Daoist didn’t answer the question.
Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable suddenly chuckled,
"Why do you think Fu Ming was willing to sacrifice everything for him?"
"Why?"
"Because, in the previous realm, he was my junior disciple."
Yushan Daoist’s heart nearly stopped, uttering in disbelief,
"It’s all predestined then!"
Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable, after a long pause, replied,
"So, if one can’t escape destiny’s cage, everything will return to the starting point."
"..."
Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable quietly arrived and departed, leaving no trace.
Yushan Daoist stood like a statue by Little Moonfall, for a long time.
...
Seven days later,
The name "Jiang Ran" and all it encompassed was ruthlessly erased by the Destiny Dao.
No traces of her remain in this world.
And Fan Wubing,
has not yet returned.