Chapter 21

Li Nianfan looked at his appearance, unable to bear seeing him go astray, and said, "The rising and setting of the sun, the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death—these are the laws of heaven and earth. If you don't understand the real world, how can you pursue your own path?"

"Over ten years, one can see the change of seasons; over a hundred years, one can witness the cycle of life and death; over a thousand years, one can lament the rise and fall of dynasties; over ten thousand years, one can see the shifting of the stars. Can these be understood in a day or two? If mortals try to glimpse the vast expanse of a million years with the perspective of a single day, it is no different from trying to catch the moon in a well."

The scholar's whole body trembled, his expression constantly changing, sometimes excited, sometimes bewildered.

Li Nianfan didn't pay him any more attention and walked back into the mountains.

He could only help so much; whether he could understand it all depended on himself.

Though immortality is a dream for everyone, if one goes mad pursuing it, it's not worth it. It's better to recognize reality.

Back at his residence, Li Nianfan threw two large carp to Xiao Bai, reported the dishes he wanted for the day, and quietly enjoyed his lunch alone.

At this moment, thousands of miles away, an old man with white hair and a young boy were heading towards the Ten Thousand Sword Immortal Sect.

They were also sword cultivators who could fly by riding their swords.

On the way, the old man sighed deeply, his eyes filled with sorrow.

The young boy finally couldn't hold back and asked, "Master, the Ten Thousand Sword Immortal Sect probably no longer exists. Why are we still going there?"

The old man sighed and said, "Chong'er, we cultivators defy the heavens, seemingly transcending the mundane, but in reality, we are surrounded by danger. If one day we face a life-or-death situation, there might not even be someone to collect our remains."

"I and Bai Wuchen were both sword cultivators, and we fought each other for a hundred years. Only I would go to help that old guy collect his remains."

"Master, what if we encounter the Sword Demon?" the young boy asked worriedly.

The old man said indifferently, "If we do, so be it. I don't have many years left anyway. When the time comes, you run, and I'll buy you time."

His eyes were somewhat dim, filled with a hint of world-weariness.

Five years ago, the sword cultivators were so glorious, but now, in the blink of an eye, most of them have been destroyed by the Sword Demon. I am old and my strength is far from what it used to be, not even worth the Sword Demon's attention, or I would have died long ago.

With Bai Wuchen's stubborn personality, he definitely wouldn't run. His body is probably already cold.

The two of them drew a long rainbow in the sky and soon arrived at the territory of the Ten Thousand Sword Immortal Sect.

At this moment, the old man sensed something and looked into the distance.

Three long rainbows approached from afar, arriving in the blink of an eye.

They were Bai Wuchen and his two companions, who had just finished listening to Li Nianfan's story and were returning home.

Seeing the old man, Bai Wuchen was slightly taken aback, "Old Zhao, why are you here?"

Old Zhao was also stunned for a moment, then glared at Bai Wuchen and said, "Bai Wuchen, why aren't you dead? I was planning to come and collect your remains!"

Bai Wuchen wasn't angry at all, and smiled, "Hahaha, you're so old, I'll definitely outlive you, just to collect your remains."

"Hmph." Old Zhao didn't argue, but asked curiously, "Didn't the Sword Demon challenge you? Did you hide?"

"Hide? Old Zhao, who are you looking down on?" Bai Wuchen puffed up his cheeks and glared, then a teasing smile appeared on his lips as he released a bit of his aura.

Old Zhao's whole body trembled, his pupils dilating in shock, "You, you've reached the Soul Departure stage?"

Bai Wuchen didn't speak, just closed his eyes smugly.

"How did you break through? This doesn't make sense! I'm not that much worse than you!" Old Zhao kept looking at Bai Wuchen, his voice tinged with envy.

"Can't help it, I just broke through." Bai Wuchen said smugly.

Old Zhao's face became somewhat unnatural, and he bowed dejectedly, "Congratulations, Senior Bai."

His voice was filled with bitterness. Starting from the same point, suddenly finding a friend far surpassing him was a hard pill to swallow.

"Old Zhao, we've been friends for hundreds of years. Calling me senior feels strange. Let's stay the same as before," Bai Wuchen said hurriedly.

But Old Zhao insisted, "In the cultivation world, strength is paramount. Calling you senior is no loss to me."

Bai Wuchen looked at Old Zhao and sighed inwardly.

With Old Zhao's personality, even if he had broken through to the Soul Departure stage or even become an immortal, he wouldn't care much.

But now he was bowing to him, and there was only one reason.

His lifespan was probably not long.

He was hoping that Bai Wuchen would look after his disciples and grandchildren in the future.

Cultivators pursue immortality, but how many truly achieve it?

At the Foundation Establishment stage, one has a lifespan of two hundred years; at the Golden Core stage, four hundred years; at the Nascent Soul stage, eight hundred years; at the Soul Departure stage, sixteen hundred years, and so on. Only by passing the three calamities and nine tribulations and becoming an immortal can one truly achieve immortality.

It's difficult, harder than ascending to the heavens.

Old Zhao's remaining lifespan probably wouldn't exceed fifty years.

Bai Wuchen saw through Old Zhao's thoughts and sighed inwardly at the sight of his old friend.

After a moment of contemplation, he finally decided to help his old friend and said, "Even if I've broken through to the Soul Departure stage, do you think I can be a match for the Sword Demon?"

Old Zhao's brows furrowed, not understanding Bai Wuchen's meaning.

Bai Wuchen said solemnly, "Actually, the reason I broke through is because I received guidance from a great person, and the Sword Demon was also killed by that great person!"

"What?!"

Old Zhao's voice became sharp, his face filled with disbelief.

The young man behind him also changed expression, as if he had heard the most unbelievable thing in the world.

To help a Nascent Soul cultivator break through to the Soul Departure stage, this great person must be incredibly powerful.

Old Zhao said urgently, "You're not joking with me, right? This must be the power of an immortal."

"Actually, I think the person is far more than just an immortal," Bai Wuchen said with reverence, then recounted his encounter.

Old Zhao's expression kept changing, from shock to reverence, and then to a daze.

A purifier that generates spiritual energy, a filter that produces spiritual water.

A painting containing sword intent, and it was just a draft.

A jade pendant with the will of a phoenix, a single breath turned the Sword Demon to ashes.

Rice porridge containing the essence of the Dao.

These sounded like fairy tales.

When Bai Wuchen started to marvel at the story Li Nianfan told, Old Zhao's face suddenly darkened.

"Bai Wuchen, I admit you are stronger than me, but that's not a reason to play tricks on me!" Old Zhao said angrily, "Are you just telling me a story? Are you playing with me?"

Bai Wuchen smiled bitterly, "Old Zhao, I'm not lying to you. Wait until tomorrow, and you'll hear the story yourself."

Not just Old Zhao, but even Bai Wuchen himself found it hard to believe when he recounted it. These things were too incredible. If he hadn't seen them with his own eyes, no one would believe them.

"Go with you to hear a story? Do you think I'm a three-year-old child?" Old Zhao was furious, his face red.

I'm an old man on the verge of death, and you want me to sit with a bunch of kids to hear a story? Isn't that insulting?