Chapter 2778 I’ve Been Battling Myself For Eighty Thousand Years

第2778章八万年我与我周旋

Chapter 2778 I’ve Been Battling Myself For Eighty Thousand Years

“I didn’t expect you to actually achieve a breakthrough in only half a year.”

Xuan Feiling sighed in amazement. It had only been a little over two years since Lin Xun joined the sect, yet he had already reached the advanced Heavenly Longevity Stage. The speed of his progress was undoubtedly astonishing.

Not to mention that his cultivation path was very special and unique. Xuan Feiling suspected that at the Lin Xun’s current combat strength, he could probably sweep aside any expert from the past and present, making him the sole supreme who walked this realm under the heavens!

Lin Xun smiled and clasped his hands together. “Elder, you flatter me too much.”

He didn’t mention that he had already reached the advanced Heavenly Longevity Stage three months ago, and after three more months of training, his cultivation was gradually beginning to approach the perfect Heavenly Longevity Stage!

“Come, I’ll take you to meet someone.”

Xuan Feiling chuckled as he departed with Lin Xun.

......

Origin Emptiness Pavilion, Wuxuan Forbidden Land.

Upon realizing where Xuan Feiling was bringing him, Lin Xun couldn't help but be taken aback and said, "This seems to be..."

Xuan Feiling said with a sigh, "That's right, it’s where the Origin Emptiness Pavilion Master went into secluded cultivation. That old man has been in seclusion for...almost eighty thousand years."

Eighty thousand years!

Countless seasons would have passed in the outside world. It was an extremely long time even for the oldies on the Immortal path. Lin Xun was shocked. How could he have not heard of this most mysterious and low-key Origin Emptiness Pavilion Master?

In the Origin Sect, the Origin Clarity Pavilion Master You Beihai sought to prove his dao worthy of eternity and challenge the Eternal Stage. Before entering seclusion, he agreed to relinquish his position as pavilion master after a hundred years.

The Origin Sky Pavilion Master was said to have encountered a major problem during cultivation, leaving him with only a wisp of primordial spirit.

Finally, the Origin Emptiness Pavilion Master had been cultivating in the Wuxuan Forbidden Land for eighty thousand years. He was so far removed from the rest of the world that no one knew what enlightenments he was seeking in his seclusion.

Upon realizing that the person Xuan Feiling wanted to introduce was the pavilion master Origin Emptiness, Lin Xun couldn't help but feel strongly curious. The entrance to the Wuxuan Forbidden Land was covered in a mysterious sword dao restriction.

Xuan Feiling stepped forward, coughed softly, and announced, "Old man, I've brought him."

"Wait a moment." A clear and clean voice sounded. Although only three words were spoken, they gave off an immense air of dignity.

Xuan Feiling rolled his eyes and muttered, "He’s getting more and more pretentious."

His current appearance bore an uncanny resemblance to Xuan Jiuyin... This gave Lin Xun a strange feeling, and he couldn’t help but inwardly feel that they were indeed from the same Xuan Clan.

"I became friends with the old man in my younger days. We roamed the Ancient Nebula Road together, crossed the cosmos together, and traveled the Eternal True Realm together..."

Xuan Feiling's eyes were filled with reminiscence as he sighed, "Just like how you and Little Nine are fellow practitioners, peers, and even brothers. A relationship that will never be eroded no matter how many years pass or how the world changes."

He chuckled. "Of course, I’ve refused to lose to him, like how Little Nine always refuses to lose to you. However, that’s the fun of cultivation, it's endlessly enjoyable to compete with others."

Lin Xun was surprised. Only now did he realize that there was such a deep friendship between Xuan Feiling and the Origin Emptiness Pavilion Master.

"What’s the use of refusing to lose? After so many years, isn’t that still all you can do?" The clear and clean voice rang out again, containing a hint of mockery and amusement this time. Next, the sword dao restriction swiftly dissipated.

Xuan Feiling snorted coldly and walked inside. Lin Xun hurriedly followed. Inside the Wuxuan Forbidden Land was a vast starry cosmos. Countless stars spread out within it, endlessly orbiting as starlight sprinkled from them.

A figure sat cross-legged amidst the cosmos. His figure appeared extremely imposing. He was dressed in simple garments and his long hair was scattered around his refined-looking face.

Countless auspicious lights circulated behind him. If one looked closely, they might spot a dao sword floating among the innumerable lights. It was an amazing yet terrifying sight to behold.

Lin Xun’s eyes immediately widened when he saw the figure, displaying an expression of disbelief.

Sword Emperor Taixuan!?

"Haha, the kid seems to have already figured out your identity."

With a hearty laugh, Xuan Feiling brought Lin Xun to the center of the cosmos where the imposing figure sat. He was rather amused by Lin Xun's astonished and shocked expression. After all, he had always appeared so calm and composed; knowing exactly when to advance or retreat. It was very rare to see such a side to him.

Meanwhile, the imposing figure raised his head slightly and revealed a smile as he said, "A disciple of Fangchun, hmm, extraordinary indeed. Old Oddball Xuan has already told me about you, and you’re quite something."

"So it is you, Elder..." Lin Xun's heart churned incessantly.

He had been extremely curious about the identity of the mysterious Origin Emptiness Pavilion Master, but he never expected it to be Sword Emperor Taixuan! This made Lin Xun recall several past events.

Many years ago in the Supreme Realm of the Ancient Wasteland Domain, he obtained the ‘No Return’ inheritance from the Battle Emperor Mo Yang, the ‘life-killing Stupa heart’ from the Saint Buddha Xingjia, and the ‘Taixuan Sword Scripture’ left by the Sword Emperor Taixuan!

Later on, Lin Xun learned that Taixuan was the Number One Sword Emperor of the primeval era, who, together with many other big names of the era, seized a strand of primal chaos origin from the Ancient Nebula Underworld, from which they created the Supreme Realm!

They did so to leave behind inheritances, spread their dao teachings, and gather the luck of heaven and earth to reopen the supreme path for future generations! Lin Xun had nothing but admiration for their lofty vision and grand ambition.

Later on, he also learned that Sword Emperor Taixuan and Sword Exalt Zhukong had once debated the way of the sword in the Ancient Nebula Underworld, and even the Lord of Fangchun Mountain couldn’t tell who was stronger or weaker between them. However, Lin Xun knew that both of them were respectable people.

In the primeval era, Taixuan was known as the Number One Sword Emperor who created the Taixuan Sword Scripture. He was a man with grand ambitions and had influenced an entire era.

Battle Emperor Mo Yang, Saint Buddha Xingjia, Divine Elephant Battle Emperor, Dark Blood Underworld Emperor, Chen Linkong, and many other big names of the primeval era had all accompanied him in battles across the world.

Sword Exalt Zhukong was the Number One Sword Exalt of the Ancient Nebula Underworld. A red snapper born in the chaos nether river, he created the Zhukong Sword Sutra, and was known to be honorable and righteous.

Long ago, Lin Xun inherited both of their sword dao inheritances, and naturally understood how astonishing their attainments in the sword dao were. However, he never imagined that the Sword Emperor Taixuan he knew had long become the Origin Emptiness Pavilion Master of the Origin Sect!

At this juncture, it was no longer appropriate to call the other party Sword Emperor Taixuan.

"Junior Lin Xun greets Elder."

After a long time, Lin Xun finally returned to his senses and clasped his hands together in a gesture of respect, feeling a surge of excitement in his heart. It felt as if he had met the person he admired most in his youth; one who had left a distinct mark on his heart.

"No need to be so formal." Taixuan smiled and beckoned him over. "Have a seat first. Wait while I place another piece."

Only then did Lin Xun notice the chessboard formed by strands of intertwining of sword qi in front of Taixuan. However, there were no pieces on the board.

From the side, Xuan Feiling casually said, "The old man is using his cultivation as the chessboard, and the countless stars in the cosmos as pieces to play a game against himself."

Taixuan’s gaze had already returned to board, his expression calm and unhurried, clearly contemplating something. Lin Xun's heart stirred. He was about to take a closer look, only to be stopped by Xuan Feiling.

He said, "The mysteries on this chessboard are the interpretations of the old man's cultivation. If you try to perceive it, you will surely suffer backlash."

Lin Xun's pupils shrank as he silently dispelled the curiosity in his heart.

Xuan Feiling comfortably plucked his buttocks down in the void and explained, "According to him, this match is ‘a confrontation against myself.’ However, that confrontation has lasted for eighty thousand years. Even until now...it seems that nothing has come out of it."

"A confrontation against myself..."

Lin Xun repeated the words, gradually realizing that Taixuan was probably competing with his own dao. The greatest enemy of a cultivator was often oneself.

As the saying went, it was easy to kill enemies in the outside world, but difficult to defeat the enemy in one's heart.

Without great perseverance and courage, it was very easy to fall into the trap of one’s heart demon, which could lead to problems in one’s heart state. Yet, Taixuan had been doing this for eighty thousand years!

This utterly flabbergasted Lin Xun. What was this elder trying to achieve?

As if reading Lin Xun’s mind, Xuan Feiling lazily said, "When the old man first arrived at the Eternal True Realm, the Origin Sect Master took notice of him and wanted to recruit him as a disciple.

"However, he directly rejected the offer and instead proposed an arrangement with a deadline of ten thousand years. After ten thousand years, he would challenge the Origin Sect Master in the dao."

Lin Xun couldn't help but gasp. He looked at Taixuan, who was still focused on the game, and whispered, "What happened next?"

"I don’t know what the Origin Sect Master was thinking, but he actually agreed." Xuan Feiling revealed a baffled look. "Unfortunately, although the old man reached the Transcendence Realm ten thousand years later, he ultimately lost to the Origin Sect Master.

"Then, the old man obediently followed the Origin Sect Master to the Origin Sect, and became the Origin Emptiness Pavilion Master after several hundred years. However, not many people know that the old man harbored a grudge in his heart, and vowed that he would challenge the Origin Sect Master again. Only this time, there would only be victory and no defeat!"

Lin Xun was shocked but soon began to understand. He said, "So Elder Taixuan has been in seclusion here, constantly competing against him in order to master a power that will ensure victory?"

Xuan Feiling nodded. "That's right. He has been holding this grudge for eighty thousand years now..."

He couldn’t help but sigh deeply. Taixuan was such an extraordinary existence! Yet, even someone as dazzling as him had been struggling here for eighty thousand years in order to defeat the Origin Sect Master! Just how much perseverance was required to do such a thing?

Lin Xun’s thoughts, however, ran in a different direction: how terrifying must the Origin Sect Master be, that even Elder Taixuan couldn’t find a surefire way to win against him? He couldn't help but voice his thoughts.

Xuan Feiling smiled and said, "That’s the question on everyone's minds in the Origin Sect, but even Taixuan probably won't dare to give you a clear answer. I can only say that the Origin Sect Master has already attained the Eternal Stage. As for how high he has climbed, nobody knows."

The Eternal Stage! Lin Xun gasped deeply before he asked, "What realm is Elder Taixuan at?"

A complicated expression emerged in Xuan Feiling's eyes as he said, "Among the three pavilion masters, if things go as expected, You Beihai should have a very high chance of reaching the Eternal Stage within a hundred years. As for Yan Ji, something went wrong with his heart state. Otherwise, he should have attained the Eternal Stage long ago. As for this old man, Taixuan..."

At this point, Xuan Feiling sighed helplessly and said, "He's more powerful than You Beihai and Yan Ji, and has already taken a step on the Eternal path."

Lin Xun was immediately startled.