MTLNOVEL Chapter 695: The Mortal World
Chapter 695: The Mortal World
The people of the Black Family felt as if they were facing a great enemy; after losing a few lives, they dared not approach Fang Chen and Zhao Jixiang.
They looked at the old blind man in front of them with terror-filled eyes.
Why can this half-dead old man be so dangerous when holding that deadly stick?
Soon, the head of the Black Family arrived with a young nobleman and a large group of henchmen.
“It’s really you!” the young nobleman roared with fury.
“Shut up.” The head of the Black family glared at him, then looked at Fang Chen with great trepidation. “Elder, who are you?”
Fang Chen smiled. “Is Third Master Black still alive?”
Third Master Black?
Everyone suddenly recalled that the Black family’s ancestor had been called Third Master Black during his younger days. They were taken aback—could the old man be an acquaintance of Third Master Black?
“It’s really... you...”
A servant wheeled an old man toward them. The old man had lost all his hair, and his body was covered in dark spots.
“Ancestor, do you recognize this person?” the head of the Black Family whispered.
Third Master Black ignored him and fixed his murky gaze on Fang Chen. “Why haven’t you been executed after you were captured by the officials all those years ago?”
Everyone was perplexed, and the young nobleman quickly interjected, “Ancestor, he’s a wanted criminal!?”
“Forty-odd years ago, King Wei Nan rebelled. At that time, dozens of soldiers came to our Stone River County to hunt down Blacksmith Zhao’s son, Zhao Hu, who is this girl’s great-grandfather.”
Third Master Black spoke slowly. “Unfortunately, Zhao Hu had already died by then. Those soldiers wanted to wipe out the Zhao Family, but it was this blind man who intervened and took care of them.”
“A single stick killed dozens of soldiers. No one would believe it unless they saw it with their own eyes.”
A look of shock flashed across everyone’s eyes.
Could this old blind man really have killed the subordinates of King Wei Nan before!?
Zhao Jixiang instinctively looked up at Fang Chen, her eyes filled with admiration.
So everything was true.
“However... so many years have passed. Old blind man, you’re not young anymore. Even if you can still wield that stick today, how many people can you kill?”
Third Master Black calmly observed Fang Chen. “My Black Family is very different now from what it was back then. While you were gone, I dealt with the Bu siblings as well. Nowadays, even the officials in Stone River County have to give me some face. Do you know why?”
Fang Chen smiled. “Why?”
Third Master Black didn’t respond verbally but simply nodded slightly. The head of the Black Family immediately made a decision. With a single command, the surrounding henchmen drew the crossbows, aiming them at Fang Chen and Zhao Jixiang.
Zhao Jixiang exclaimed in shock, “Grandpa, they have crossbows!”
These are banned weapons; which family would dare to conceal such things!
“The lineage of King Wei Nan has not been completely eradicated. My Black Family is now helping prepare various arms for them. One day, when this lineage returns to the throne, my family will also have made a contribution.”
Third Master Black smiled. “Unfortunately, I am old and may not see that day. But it’s fine; my descendants will witness it for me. I, Third Master Black, am no longer the hoodlum I once was on the streets.”
“Ancestor, there’s no need to say so much to them.” The head of the Black family smiled, his gaze falling on Zhao Jixiang. “Your great-grandfather helped the current emperor with a major task back then, and he rewarded your great-grandfather with something. If you can hand it over, both you and your grandfather can leave safely today.”
Zhao Jixiang was shocked, realizing for the first time that her great-grandfather had actually served the current emperor.
Fang Chen suddenly said, “Jixiang, I’ve been comprehending this move for sixty years... How much you can understand depends on you. Just watch closely.”
Zhao Jixiang was slightly taken aback. She watched as Fang Chen gently raised the wooden stick in his hand, a faint smile on his face, and lightly pointed at the void.
“The mountains and rivers are vast, the world is full of life, laughter and anger, hidden cities in the mountains... All of this is merely—this mortal world.”
Suddenly, one of the henchmen screamed in terror, “What’s happening to me...?!”
He dropped the crossbow in his hands and reached for his face, but his face quickly crumbled like yellow sand.
This scene unfolded before everyone’s eyes, and in an instant, the place was filled with terrified screams.
Third Master Black was momentarily taken aback, his eyes wide in disbelief. What kind of power is this?!
“Father, save me! Ancestor! Save me!” the young noble screamed in panic.
Unfortunately for him, no one could save him; even the head of the Black family was disintegrating to ash. In almost no time, aside from Fang Chen and Zhao Jixiang, only Third Master Black was left.
“Are you... a demon or an immortal!?” Third Master Black stuttered, his lips trembling and his chest rising and falling rapidly.
Fang Chen smiled gently. “Do you see me as a demon or an immortal?”
His appearance and demeanor turned youthful again, and his stooped posture turned upright.
In just a few breaths, he had regained the looks of his youth. Not only that, but his cultivation began to rise back rapidly, his aura steadily rising from the first stage of the Qi Refining Realm to the grand completion stage of the Golden Core Realm.
The barrier between the late Golden Core Realm and the grand completion stage was as fragile as paper mache.
When Third Master Black witnessed this scene, he took his last breath on the spot, his eyes not even closing as he died, still etched with fear.
Zhao Jixiang stared at Fang Chen in disbelief. “Grandpa, you....”
She had witnessed Fang Chen transform from a frail old man to a young man. Such miraculous feats were things she had read about only in stories.
She couldn’t help but wonder whether immortals truly existed in the world! If so, could her grandfather, whom she had been with for years, be one of those immortals?!
“Jixiang, remember, no matter how high you stand in the future, don’t forget the mortal world. Keep a shred of humanity in your heart. Only then will you be able to comprehend what I just spoke of—the mortal world. It can become your support in the future. Live well.”
Fang Chen smiled at Zhao Jixiang, and his figure began to fade away, along with the tea house.
“Grandpa really is an immortal...” Zhao Jixiang murmured to herself.
Before long, she turned and left, departing from Stone River County, with only the wooden stick in her hand for company.
In the tea house, figures opened their eyes in unison. Their eyes were filled with confusion. It took them a few breaths to snap out of their stupor.
Zhu Kui touched his face, then looked at the nearby Gu Shuai and others. He suddenly broke into a bitter smile. “So I’ve aged. Living like this, so muddled... It seems that aging, illness, and death are not as frightening as I thought....”
Bu Qingchen had a grim expression and remained silent.
Gu Shuai glanced at him, then touched his neck, remaining silent.
Bu Qingyu and Fang Yunmeng lowered their heads, lost in thought.
“Daoist Ji Liang.” Zhu Kui looked at Fang Chen with sincere gratitude. “Thank you for seeing me off and taking care of me for so many years.”
“Ji Liang... have you never forgotten your true identity?” Gu Shuai suddenly asked. “Just before my execution, I almost remembered. If I had remembered then, would I have passed the trial?”
Everyone turned to look at Fang Chen.
Did he pass the trial?
At that moment, a figure slowly walked up to the tea house. Everyone looked up and saw that the figure was made up of countless fragments, resembling a puppet.
“The three great immortal intents of the Reincarnation Sect: the past, the future, and the mortal world. You have comprehended the mortal world; take this pill and you will become the Immortal Seedling of the Reincarnation Sect.”
The puppet approached Fang Chen and handed him a pill.