A few years later, when Lian Hua was sacrificed to the array and his soul turned into a new Pillar of Heaven, they found out that the replacement for a Pillar of Heaven turned out to be someone’s soul and body.
Yan Tianhen was dumbfounded for a long time before he silently accepted the fact that Dao Zu had started planning the future of the Nine Lands this early behind their backs.
Compared to the Nine Lands, his disciples were naturally less important.
Or it wasn’t that they were unimportant, but he simply didn’t have the time to worry about them.
Yan Tianhen felt guilty for misunderstanding Dao Zu for so long, but Lin Xuanzhi said that even if he felt at fault, it should not be Yan Tianhen or the former Youshan Lingyu. After all, Dao Zu dragged him into the water without telling him the truth. From this point of view, the person who should be at fault was Dao Zu.
Dao Zu’s soul separation took a long time to refine, and it was hard to control that separated soul.
At least, while Dao Zu was still in closed-door seclusion, his separated soul could already wander around Spirit Sect. Thanks to this, Yan Tianhen and Lin Xuanzhi could also follow him around. They first came to Chang Sheng’s courtyard.
Yan Tianhen recognized this scene at a glance.
Chang Sheng was cold as he said to the young lady, “I am dedicated to the Dao, so I have no intention of pursuing romantic affairs. I can’t afford Immortal Fairy’s love, please head back.”
That cultivator looked up at Chang Sheng and looked pitiful with tears in her eyes. She blinked, saying, “Sword Venerable Chang Sheng, did you reject me because you already have a sweetheart, or did you really mean that all your life you will only dedicate yourself to the Dao, ignoring the love and hate of the world?”
Chang Sheng said lightly, “In this lifetime, Chang Sheng is born for the Dao, and will also die for the Dao.”
The female cultivator left, but before she did, she smiled and said, “Sword Venerable Chang Sheng, I will remember what you said. In this life, you will eventually wrong another person.”
Chang Sheng looked at the disappearing figure. Then he suddenly said, “Come down.”
A teenager jumped down from the tree and dragged down another teenager who was hiding next to him and wanted to peek.
Lingyu yelled, “It’s one thing for you to get exposed, but why drag me into the water as well?”
“Tsk, are you an idiot? You’re definitely the one who exposed us. I’m just taking you along to confess together, so he can be more lenient, okay?” Xi He pinched Lingyu’s small face and said to Chang Sheng with a playful smile, “Shixiong is so handsome.”
Chang Sheng looked at Xi He expressionlessly.
Lingyu hurriedly parroted, “Shixiong is so handsome.”
Chang Sheng, “…”
Chang Sheng asked, “Have you finished your homework for today?”
Lingyu and Xi He said at the same time, “We finished it a long time ago.”
Chang Sheng said lightly, “It seems that your schoolwork is too easy. From tomorrow on, your schoolwork will be doubled. Bring it to me for inspection before dinner every day.”
Lingyu was in a state of disorder while Xi He whined, “Shixiong, don’t do it ah. We already have enough homework now. I promise I won’t peek at you again!”
Lingyu said, “That’s what you said last time.”
Xi He glared at Lingyu. “Wasn’t it all because of you?”
Lin Xuanzhi suddenly said, “I shouldn’t have said it so decisively back then.”
Yan Tianhen replied, “It’s not really decisive. Chang Sheng Shixiong was indeed such a person.”
“No.” Lin Xuanzhi shook his head and said, “Chang Sheng is a human being, not a god. Even if he was a god, he would still have worldly desires. Chang Sheng also had his own love and hate, and there were also people whom he couldn’t let go. But he never let the people he really liked know his feelings until his death, so he missed it all his life.”
Yan Tianhen was stunned, “If Chang Sheng liked Lingyu, then why did he never say it?”
Lin Xuanzhi said, “It was just too vague for Lingyu to understand.”
Yan Tianhen was puzzled.
Did Chang Sheng tell me anything that could make me misunderstand?
How come I… can’t remember?
Yan Tianhen didn’t delve into it too much, because after the split soul was refined, Master stepped out of secluded cultivation. After closed-door cultivation, Dao Zu’s face looked paler, as if he was short of blood, and he walked a little unsteadily, but he still hid it well in front of others.
In the middle of the night, Dao Zu quietly went to the disciples’ residence to take a look. He pulled up the quilt that was about to fall to the ground for Lingyu, and gently covered it over Lingyu’s shoulder.
“Little monkey,” he said, and left.
Yan Tianhen was surprised.
He never knew that there was such a side to Dao Zu.
Next, there was Xi He.
Xi He was still awake in the middle of the night. He was sitting by the tree that was his true form, deep in thought. Suddenly, Xi He was blinded by a shining light at that moment.
When he opened his eyes, he saw fireflies flying around. In the bright bleating light of fireflies, Dao Zu stood there and looked at him quietly. Xi He rubbed his eyes and stared hard again.
“M-Master?” Xi He’s chin almost fell to the ground.
Yan Tianhen hummed, “What an idiot.”
Lin Xuanzhi didn’t say anything.
Dao Zu stood among the flowers with the shining silver moonlight behind his back.
“It’s me,” Dao Zu announced.
Xi He suddenly stood up, paused twice, then ran towards Dao Zu and hugged his waist. Obviously, Dao Zu was overwhelmed by his sudden intimacy, but he also liked the plant aroma on Xi He, which was the best smell in heaven and earth, so Dao Zu patted Xi He’s back and said, “How old are you that you still like to act coquettish?”
Xi He’s eyes were red. He buried his head on Dao Zu’s shoulder and said, “Master, why did you have to enter the kind of closed-door cultivation with only two options — success or death? Do you know how scared I was? I was afraid you’d never come out again. I was afraid I’d never see you again, even until the Nine Lands fell apart and my original body died.”
Dao Zu said, “Even if the sky falls apart, your original body still won’t die.”
Xi He raised his head and looked at Dao Zu with tears in his eyes. “Recently, I keep on having the same dream everyday.”
Dao Zu raised his hand and gently wiped Xi He’s tears with his fingertips. “The dreams are all fake.”
“You didn’t even ask what my dreams were about, but you’re already claiming that they’re fake.” Xi He shook his head. “I dreamed that you were dead, that the Nine Lands were destroyed, that Spirit Sect was falling apart, that I couldn’t find Master anymore, no matter what…”
“Xi He.” Dao Zu’s voice was cold and soothing, “You’ve fallen into a delusion.”
Xi He seemed to be awakened by a blow to the head. He was stunned for a moment, and then gradually calmed down.
Dao Zu rubbed Xi He’s head. “Don’t worry too much. As long as I’m alive, I won’t let anyone hurt you. It will be alright soon.”
It will be alright soon.
Because he will bear everything.
If the Pillars of Heaven collapses — he’ll take care of it.
If Heaven’s Wail appears — he’ll take care of it.
If evil spirits form — he’ll take care of it.
He was precisely this kind of busybody.
Dao Zu went to Chang Sheng last.
Chang Sheng was sitting and meditating. When he sensed Dao Zu coming, he opened his eyes and got up to greet him.
“Master, congratulations for leaving secluded cultivation.” Chang Sheng said, “How does Master feel now?”
Dao Zu said, “Not bad.”
Chang Sheng asked, “Should the invitations to the Daoist Conference in half a year’s time be sent out now?”
Dao Zu thought about it and said, “That’s okay.”
Dao Zu studied Chang Sheng. “Your current cultivation is almost equal to mine.”
Chang Sheng said, “Compared with Master, I still have a long way to go.”
“Child, you’ve always been too modest. You are my first core disciple. I know better than anyone how talented you are. Chang Sheng, if I’m gone one day, Spirit Sect will be in your hands.”
Chang Sheng’s face sank. “Master, don’t say such ominous words.”
Dao Zu said faintly, “Humans have birth, old age, and death, while immortals have the five celestial declines. I will always die one day.”
Chang Sheng said, “You’re wrong, Master. You will become a god.”
“How can I become a god when I have so many worries in my heart? Forget it, let’s not talk about this anymore.”
Chang Sheng suggested, “Then how about we talk about the Pillars of Heaven?”
Dao Zu glanced at Chang Sheng. “Xi He told you that?”
Chang Sheng’s eyes darkened. “Master, if Xi He didn’t tell me, would you not have told me? The Pillar of Heaven is a serious matter. How can you bear it alone? Master, although you are indomitable, sometimes you have to learn to rely on others.”
Dao Zu was pleased. “My family’s Chang Sheng has grown big.”
Chang Sheng said, “I’m being serious with you.”
Dao Zu replied, “How was I not serious? I just said you’ve grown big. It’s not like I said you’re big.”
Chang Sheng, “…”
Chang Sheng became angry from embarrassment. “Master, if you don’t stop behaving like this, I will leave the sect tomorrow.”
Dao Zu laughed. “Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore. My family’s Chang Sheng can’t stand to be teased.”
The little bee hummed and smiled. “I didn’t expect Master to have this side ah.”
Lin Xuanzhi landed on Dao Zu’s shoulder and whispered, “Dao Zu had always been such a person. He was not rigid and unkind, and loved to laugh and be lively. However, after experiencing too many things later on, he became that steady and unapproachable person. I’ve followed him since childhood, so naturally I’ve seen him act like a mortal.”
Yan Tianhen recognized the deep sentimentality in Lin Xuanzhi’s tone.
What could make a person change so dramatically?
I’m afraid it’s because the Nine Lands needed such a god.
And Dao Zu became that god.
After Dao Zu teased his disciple, he felt very happy.
Chang Sheng asked, “What is Master’s plan for the Pillar of Heaven?”
Dao Zu downplayed it, “There’s not really any plan. I have experience in this kind of thing. Anyway, this isn’t the first time those nine Pillars of Heaven have collapsed. I’ve repaired many of them before. This one won’t be a big deal.”
Chang Sheng frowned. “Is there anything I can help with?”
Dao Zu said, “Yeah. Go and guard the Pillars of Heaven. If they are about to collapse, come and tell me.”
Chang Sheng, “…”
Soon, the Daoist Conference began.
People from all walks of life in the Nine Lands gathered in Hidden Spirit Holy Sect. After all, this was the biggest Daoist meeting in all the Nine Lands.
Everyone came for Dao Zu and Sheng Ren. These two were the first ancestors who founded Daoist sects in the Nine Lands. They had profound Dao attainments. Even if other cultivators couldn’t understand their theories, they were satisfied even if they could just catch a glimpse of their immortal figures from afar.
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