Chapter 692: Only the Original Intention Must Never Change

Chapter 692: Only the Original Intention Must Never Change

"Greetings, Forefather."

"Ah, no need for such formality."

Amid a vast landscape of ice and snow, Wang Sheng saw his forefather standing before him. The man looked handsome and refined, his grace effortless and his charm free-spirited. Moreover, his face shone with the clarity of polished jade.

Looking at him made a wave of emotion rise in Wang Sheng's heart. A strong sense of security followed soon after. He stepped forward and prepared to offer a full formal salute, but Chun Yangzi stopped him by holding him in the air.

Chun Yangzi then extended a finger and tapped Wang Sheng's forehead. The withered-wood mask covering his face immediately broke apart and scattered into gray fragments.

Huai Jing smiled and softly intoned, "

Amitabha...

"

"Oh? Aren't you the Dragon-Subduing Arhat?" Chun Yangzi cupped his hands in a Daoist greeting. "Many years have passed since we last met, and the world has changed greatly since. Thinking about it makes me want to just sigh deeply."

He then turned to Hu Chang.

"And this strong, young fellow is?"

"J-Junior Hu Chang!" Hu Chang straightened up with obvious tension, then stiffly returned the greeting. "I recently became Big Brother Wang's follower. I pay you my respects, Senior!"

Chun Yangzi studied him briefly and then smiled. "Not bad. Very few physique-focused cultivators manage to reach the Golden Immortal Realm. Your foundation appears solid, and you practice an excellent body cultivation art. You will make worthwhile achievements one day."

He then turned the pagoda in his hand around.

"The Haotian Pagoda?" Huai Jing exclaimed softly. "How did that end up in your hands?"

Chun Yangzi gazed at the pagoda with a hint of nostalgia. His smile grew warmer. "When the Immortal Emperor passed away, I stood nearby with one of the royal princes. This pagoda landed before that prince."

"Later, the Heavenly Palace collapsed, and the Heavenly Court was breached. Since the prince refused to escape, he entrusted this pagoda to my care before he passed away quietly at the Jade Pool.

"Hundreds of thousands of years have passed in the blink of an eye, yet thinking about my old friends still stirs my emotions. The sorrows of the ancient ages cannot be fully spoken. The bitterness in the heart has no clear end."

That treasure belonged to the Immortal Emperor?

Wang Sheng looked closely at the Haotian Pagoda. Perhaps because of what Chun Yangzi had told him earlier, hearing the emperor's name now made him feel strange.

Still, this matter did not truly concern him in any direct way. There was no reason to tie himself to Haotian.

Chun Yangzi raised his left hand, took the black sphere, and traced a line through the air. A crack appeared within heaven and earth, beyond which stretched a brilliant sea of stars. He tossed the black sphere straight into the rift and then casually removed the dark curtain that surrounded it.

Afterward, he clapped twice. In front of everyone, he transformed from an elegant and young figure to a somewhat relaxed old man. His white robe's temperament also changed with his form.

Chun Yangzi pointed at the glacier under them. "Do you know where we are?"

The three lowered their gazes. Far below, they could faintly see a town sealed in thick ice.

"This place serves as a refuge for immortals of the Heavenly Court." He sighed quietly. "Several hundred severely injured individuals sleep in there, with most suffering from the Five Heavenly Declines. Divine Guardian Wang previously guarded this place. Since it's quite far from the Immortal Saint Realm, it remains quiet and isolated. Fei Yu."

"Yes, Forefather?"

Chun Yangzi pointed casually. "Look."

The Haotian Pagoda rose several

zhang

into the air, then a streak of light flew out of it. Wang Shan appeared in the light, seated cross-legged. After expanding until he returned to his normal size, he sat before them with his eyes closed.

Golden chains were wrapped around him. The pillar of light surrounding him had a profound Dao rhythm that completely prevented him from moving.

Not only did he look rather miserable, but a trace of blood also remained at the corner of his mouth.

Observing the scene, Huai Jing looked at Chun Yangzi with mild surprise. He could not help but sigh. "Only a few hundred thousand years have passed, yet you have already reached the ranks of the most powerful beings in existence. Even in the Primal Era, such quick progress was rare."

"I merely relied on treasures to gain an advantage." Chun Yangzi waved his sleeve. Dozens of treasures enveloped with immortal light appeared faintly behind him before vanishing again. "If I were to rely solely on divine abilities and cultivation, Divine Guardian Wang and I would have an equal shot at victory."

Huai Jing's mouth twitched slightly. Smiling, he teased, "The last time I saw Fei Yu display the treasures his forefather gave him, they all seemed somewhat—"

Wang Sheng coughed dryly, interrupting Huai Jing's teasing. He clasped his fists toward Chun Yangzi. "Forefather, I have a request."

"Oh?" Chun Yangzi smiled. "What is it?"

A short while later, Wang Sheng sat cross-legged in the air. With tribulation clouds circling him, he formed one hand sign after another before finally rising into the sky. He then grasped the Heavenly Tribulation Sword Intent and plunged downward. Countless divine lightning bolts followed behind him and crashed straight at Wang Shan, whom the pagoda restrained.

Lightning flashed, and thunder roared endlessly. Chun Yangzi released a veil of white light that shielded the glacier below, ensuring the sleeping immortals inside it would not be disturbed.

When the lightning finally faded, Wang Shan and the pagoda remained exactly as they had been before. Even though Wang Sheng had used every bit of his strength and made use of all the heavenly tribulation power he could command, he still failed to even scratch Wang Shan. All he managed to do was make one strand of hair drift slowly beside the divine guardian.

Hu Chang wiped sweat from his palm and muttered, "Big Brother, that man is frighteningly powerful. Why would you dare attack him?"

"My forefather is here. Why should I fear him?" Wang Sheng answered.

He dispersed the Heavenly Tribulation Sword Intent in his hand and exhaled softly. Afterward, he glanced once more at Wang Shan. Wang Sheng cupped his fists toward him in salute, turned, and walked back to stand beside his forefather.

Chun Yangzi smiled. "Is that all?"

Wang Sheng replied calmly, "Right now, I am only a Heavenly Immortal who relies on your prestige, Forefather. If I reach the peak of cultivation one day, I will settle this account with him myself."

Wang Shan opened his eyes slightly and looked at Wang Sheng with a blurry gaze. After a moment, he slowly closed his eyes again.

Wishing to say something, Wang Sheng steadied his mind. "My forefather has already explained in detail why you targeted me. To be honest, I still find the matter difficult to believe. It sounds extremely absurd. Even if the story were true, I remain only a junior who inherited the Daoist heritage of the Heavenly Court and cultivated step by step from my home planet to this day.

"The Immortal Emperor wasn't just the ruler of the Heavenly Court; he was also Yaoyun's father. I deeply respect him. My connection with the Heavenly Court will probably never be severed.

"Whether it concerns Yaoyun, my senior sister, or the planet I have to protect, they all remain tied to the Heavenly Court. Still, no matter what happens, I will never raise myself by belittling others or lift a sword against my own people merely to preserve some empty reputation!"

Divine Guardian Wang opened his eyes again and looked straight at Wang Sheng. Calmly, he said, "You simply have not reached that position yet.

"'People change. The Dao changes. However, all that matters is that your objective remains the same.'" Wang Sheng smiled faintly. "My master taught me these words. He may not have the highest cultivation, but he understands the principles of life very well. Divine Guardian Wang, I am only a junior. Still, I wish to ask you one question. What was your original intention? Do you still remember it?"

Original intention...

Wang Shan's brow furrowed slightly, a trace of nostalgia appearing in his eyes. After a long silence, he laughed bitterly, slowly lowered his head, and quieted down once more.

Chun Yangzi burst into laughter. "

Hahaha!

"

With a flick of his sleeve, another rift appeared before them, clearly splitting open space itself, revealing a stretch of starry sky. Strangely, though, the planet below them remained completely unaffected. Even the surrounding air didn't seem disturbed.

Beyond the rift was an unfamiliar solar system.

"Inside lies the Eastern Sky Region. Arhat, please escort this young fellow back. I will take Fei Yu for a walk and help him clear his mind."

Huai Jing intoned Buddha's name while gesturing at Hu Chang to come with him.

Hu Chang quickly bowed several times toward the two powerful beings. Afterward, he turned to Wang Sheng. "Big Brother, I will take my leave first."

"

Mm.

If you wish to visit your home, take the opportunity now. Leave your contact method with Buddhist Master Huai Jing."

Hu Chang answered happily, "Understood!"

He grinned so widely that his gums showed. He then stepped into the spatial rift together with Huai Jing.

Wang Sheng originally planned to follow them and return as well. However, his forefather seemed to be in high spirits. Since Chun Yangzi had just rescued him, refusing outright would feel improper. He decided to think of it as keeping an elderly man company.

"Let's go." Chun Yangzi grabbed Wang Sheng by the wrist and turned toward Wang Shan. "Please forgive any offense we might have caused you today. I will visit again in the future. For now, take care of yourself."

He stepped forward. Wang Sheng followed him as they shot away from the celestial body.

Chun Yangzi opened a passage through space, then gestured at the celestial body below. The Haotian Pagoda turned into a streak of light and flew back to him.

Confirming that Wang Shan did not pursue them, Chun Yangzi quietly relaxed. Without a care in the world, he entered the spatial passage with Wang Sheng. The rift closed soon after.

A single step carried them across multiple space regions. Eventually, they stopped near a brilliant sun.

"Your divine ability truly feels miraculous," Wang Sheng said.

"This ability belongs to the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. Every cultivator who reaches the Grand Dao Golden Immortal Realm has to study this Dao." Chun Yangzi smiled. "In truth, though, a treasure also assists in this process.

"I have left markings in several locations beforehand. When I have to travel quickly, those markings help determine the direction. I then tear open heaven and earth and use the Great Dao as a bridge that connects both sides. One step is enough to cross the distance.

"However, this technique works only when the surrounding space is stable, which makes it less useful in combat. I also only have a small number of marked locations."

Wang Sheng did not fully understand. Even so, it sounded extremely impressive.

"Let Yaoyun come out for some fresh air as well," Chun Yangzi said while glancing toward Wang Sheng's Qiankun Ring. He muttered, "Young people often fail to understand something simple. Communication matters. Speaking openly prevents misunderstandings."

Wang Sheng mentally called out to Yaoyun twice, but the only reply he received was a cold snort. He could only smile helplessly at Chun Yangzi.

"She feels a little shy."

"Very well. I will first take you to an excellent place." Chun Yangzi narrowed his old eyes slightly. "Change into a clean Daoist robe first. Present yourself properly. Do not claim that I failed to look after you. Very few people know about this wonderful place in the mortal world!"

Wang Sheng was rendered speechless.

Perhaps returning home first would be wiser. Standing beside his forefather gave him the strange feeling that he would soon be sold to a female fiend.

***

After Chun Yangzi and the others departed, the celestial body fell quiet once more.

The Haotian Pagoda had flown away, yet Wang Shan remained cross-legged. He lowered his head and looked at the strand of gray-white hair resting beside his leg.

Original intention...

His brow furrowed slightly, yet for quite some time, he remained motionless. Before long, the winds across the glacier grew louder and more restless.