Chapter 6

Chen Xi was stunned, his mind a blank.

The graceful and lively woman before him, who was actually claiming to be his mother, left him... left him...

Chen Xi's heart was in turmoil, his hands and feet at a loss, unable to find any words to accurately describe his current feelings.

When he was two years old, his mother, Zuoqiu Xue, had disappeared without a trace, leaving no impression in his mind. Moreover, since he was young, he had heard some rumors about his mother, and his grandfather had always avoided discussing the matter. Even though he yearned to understand his mother's past, he had to deeply bury this emotion in his heart.

Yes, buried in his heart.

Because he was afraid that his mother was indeed as the rumors suggested, that she had abandoned his father, himself, and his younger brother to elope with a young nobleman.

He was afraid that if the truth were indeed so, he would lose control and go completely mad.

Over the years, he had thought about his mother more than once, then forced himself to forget her, the pain and conflict of which were something others could not imagine.

"Darling, seeing how young and beautiful your old mother is, are you very surprised? Can't accept it?"

The woman in white clothes winked with a smile, "Well, if I were in your shoes, I wouldn't be able to accept it either. Who can blame me for having the skill to maintain my youth?"

"Alright, I don't have much time left." The woman in white paused, her smile fading, and continued, "Listen carefully, son. You must remember the following words, or we may never meet again."

Hearing this, Chen Xi's heart trembled, and he snapped out of his chaotic thoughts.

The woman in white's eyes showed a look of reminiscence, her face changing, no longer playful and lively, but filled with anger, helplessness, bitterness, resentment... a myriad of emotions.

"I was taken away by your uncle. They didn't agree to my marriage to your father. Because of me, and to protect the reputation of the Zuoqiu family, they were willing to destroy the entire Chen family to erase this disgrace."

So, his mother didn't elope with someone; she was taken away by her uncle...

Chen Xi felt as if the shackles that had bound him for over a decade had been removed, and his mood relaxed. However, the next words made him fall into a deep abyss of despair before he could even rejoice.

It was the Zuoqiu family, his mother's family, that destroyed the Chen family?

Chen Xi's breathing became rapid, his chest feeling as if it were weighed down by a thousand-pound stone. The emotional rollercoaster made him almost faint.

For these past years, he had constantly pondered who had destroyed the Chen family, and he had resolved to kill all the culprits, no matter how difficult or dangerous it might be. He never imagined that the truth would be so absurd and cruel!

"Son, are you angry? I am too. I had already severed ties with the Zuoqiu family and paid the price, but they wouldn't let me go."

Zuoqiu Xue's voice grew lower and heavier, "The reason is simple. Your father and I obtained a remarkable treasure during our travels. Look, it's this."

She pointed to the jade pendant glowing with white light, her eyes filled with endless pain and hatred.

Chen Xi looked up, his gaze vacant. His thoughts were numb, and he relied on the last bit of rationality to listen to Zuoqiu Xue.

"Have you heard of the River Map? It is the most mysterious painting from the ancient era. With it, many ancient deities and demons comprehended their own paths, saw through the mysteries of the universe, and mastered the profound truths of the Dao, reaching the pinnacle of the Dao. Therefore, every time the River Map appears, it is accompanied by bloodshed and chaos, causing the three realms to tremble and the six paths to be in turmoil. The great powers fight over it, and the scenes are like the end of the world, making one shudder just thinking about it."

"Fortunately, after the end of the ancient era, the River Map disappeared, and the terrifying scenes of chaos and battles among deities and demons no longer occurred. It has been a million years since then. If it weren't for my reading the family records as a child, I wouldn't even know the name of the River Map."

Zuoqiu Xue's voice was low and filled with reminiscence.

But to Chen Xi, it sounded like an ancient legend, leaving no ripple in his heart. A million years ago was too distant, too far for him to even have a hint of interest.

He only knew that the River Map was a treasure, a treasure that could make everyone go mad with desire.

"In the jade pendant before you, there is a copy of the River Map, containing a trace of its imprint. Don't underestimate this trace. With it, you can find the hiding place of the River Map. The reason I was taken away and the Chen family was destroyed is because of this jade pendant!"

Zuoqiu Xue's next words were like a bomb, completely stunning Chen Xi. His eyes were fixed on the jade pendant, his gaze filled with shock.

If he had previously thought of the River Map as a distant story, now he suddenly realized that he had a connection with it!

He didn't know whether to be relieved or sad. He now understood everything: the destruction of the Chen family, his mother's departure, his father's disappearance... even the nickname 'Broom Star' was due to this jade pendant. If it weren't for the desire to seize it, how could his family have suffered so many tragedies?

This must be the case of a commoner being innocent but guilty for possessing a treasure!

Chen Xi sighed deeply, feeling lost.

"Allegedly, this jade pendant is actually a cultivation cave of an ancient deity. It has its own world, containing many mysterious places, and the copy of the River Map is just one of them, but it is the most precious. Unfortunately, I have never entered it and only know this much."

"You can awaken the mental imprint I left behind, which means you have reached the innate realm. You can now make the jade pendant recognize you as its master. Take it and work hard!"

The image of the woman in white gradually became dim and blurry, as if about to shatter. Her voice became urgent, "Son, remember, before you become strong, don't tell anyone about this jade pendant, not even your younger brother. Otherwise, it will destroy all the hopes of the Chen family!"

"Don't worry about my safety. Once you reach the Celestial Immortal realm, you will naturally be able to see me."

Her voice faded, and the image of the woman in white, formed by white light, shattered and disappeared. The jade pendant hanging from her chest returned to normal.

The room fell back into darkness. Chen Xi felt as if he had just had a dream, but the lingering voice in his heart and the jade pendant hanging from his chest told him that this was real.

He sat silently in the darkness for a long time. His lips trembled slightly, and he whispered softly, "Don't worry, Mother. Your child will find you!"

...

Chen Xi had no more sleep. He washed his face with cold water, and his mind became clear. He then focused his gaze on the jade pendant hanging from his chest.

After everything that had happened, he understood that the reason he had been stuck at the third level of the innate realm for five years was because of this jade pendant.

It had silently absorbed his true essence until today, when his power reached saturation, awakening the mental imprint left by his mother, allowing him to see her image and understand the things he had been puzzled about.

Chen Xi was elated. He finally understood that he was not a 'Broom Star,' and his talent was not bad. More importantly, he knew that his mother was still alive, and as long as he became strong, he could find her!

The Celestial Immortal realm?

As long as I don't die, I will eventually open the Purple Mansion, break through the Yellow Court, condense the Two Instruments Golden Pill, break through Nirvana, become a Netherworld Immortal, endure the heavenly tribulation to become an Earth Immortal, comprehend the Dao to ascend to the Immortal Realm, and finally become a Celestial Immortal!

As long as I don't die, the enemies who killed my grandfather, maimed my younger brother's right hand, and slaughtered over a thousand members of the Chen family will not escape!

Chen Xi took a deep breath, his gaze firm and pure.

"This jade pendant is actually a cultivation cave of an ancient deity, and the copy of the River Map is inside. I wonder what mysteries it contains. According to Mother, the seal on the jade pendant has been lifted, and my innate realm cultivation should be enough to make it recognize me as its master. I wonder if this is true..."

Chen Xi recalled his mother's words, hesitated for a moment, and then resolutely channeled a stream of true essence from his body into the jade pendant.

A gentle light radiated from the surface of the jade pendant, forming a deep, dark hole.

Almost simultaneously, an irresistible suction force emerged from the hole. Before Chen Xi could react, he was pulled into the hole.

Buzz!

The hole shattered and disappeared.

The room fell back into darkness, as if nothing had changed, except that Chen Xi was gone.

...

Chen Xi stood in a vast, expansive space. The stars above twinkled and danced in the sky, like a swarm of fireflies, their silver light cascading down like a waterfall, creating a dreamlike scene.

Beneath his feet was a soft, green meadow, stretching endlessly into the distance.

Standing alone under the starry sky, surrounded by starlight like fireflies, he felt as if he were in a vast wilderness, so ethereal and intangible.

Is this the cultivation cave of the ancient deity?

Chen Xi looked around but found no buildings that could be called a cave. Feeling puzzled, he became cautious.

The unknown is the root of fear. Therefore, Chen Xi did not move recklessly, staying alert and cautious.

After standing for a long time, his legs felt sore, and the surroundings remained silent, as if there were no other living beings besides him.

"Could it be that this cave doesn't exist?"

Chen Xi lay down on the grass, his eyes fixed on the twinkling stars in the sky, unable to understand.

No!

In this space, not everything is lifeless. The stars, which seem to have a life of their own, are constantly moving. The stars in the outside world don't move like this.

Realizing this, Chen Xi opened his eyes wide and carefully observed the dancing stars.

The sky was like a curtain, with countless brilliant stars scattered across it, moving in various trajectories, each with its own speed. They traced intricate and mysterious paths, rushing forward and dancing away.

An ordinary person would probably be dazzled by this scene, but Chen Xi gradually became engrossed.

"Using countless stars as the tip of a pen, and the night sky as the paper, the strokes seem chaotic but are actually orderly, ensuring the smooth operation of each star, coexisting harmoniously, full of vitality, truly marvelous..."

Immersed in the scene, Chen Xi did not notice that the cold, clear starlight falling from the sky was gradually forming a picture...

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