Eternal Tale

Three days later, Chen Xun returned to the Endless Mountains, sitting down with the four beast ancestors over a cup of tea.

While tea-drinking wasn’t a custom among the beast clan, these days, they had secretly begun comparing teacups, planting tea bushes, and partaking in all sorts of refined hobbies.

Chen Xun had developed a love for reading and exploring history, and the beast ancestors had provided him with quite a few ancient texts. The writing, however, was in the unique script of the beast clan, vastly different from that of the human sects. It had taken Chen Xun two days to decipher it, but his efforts were well rewarded, broadening his understanding of the realm’s lore.

In ancient times, the beasts of the Endless Mountains were a powerful force, a formidable presence across the lands. Unlike most creatures, however, they had little interest in flesh and blood; instead, they were fiercely protective of natural treasures, collecting and guarding them obsessively.

As the realms began to close off and the spiritual energy of the world dwindled, countless treasures became extinct. The beast clan gradually declined, confined to their mountainous home, guarding their precious Celestial Tree as their days passed by.

To Chen Xun, their history resembled that of miserly hoarders, though they certainly surpassed spirit beasts in strength, possessing mastery over both physical and spiritual cultivation. They could rival any creature of the same tier.

If they were to leave the Endless Mountains, the Qian Country’s cultivation world would be hard-pressed to withstand their strength. However, their cautious nature kept them from taking unnecessary risks, and their instincts leaned toward shrewdness and keeping their wealth hidden.

The amusing tales of their past brought a laugh from Chen Xun. Truly, the diverse creatures born of the world added richness to its tapestry.

Meanwhile, the four beast ancestors eyed Chen Xun cautiously, trying to gauge his reactions to the old stories. They were wary of revealing too much about the Beast Ancestor Hall’s legacy, fearing that this powerful cultivator might demand their secrets by force.

They had even prepared contingencies: in the event of danger, their ancient texts would be destroyed, and a group of young prodigies would quietly leave the Endless Mountains. Though they were cautious allies of the Five Elements Sect, they trusted no one fully.

Suddenly—

"Moo! Moo!"

"Arf! Arf!"

A mighty black ox came charging, carrying a large red dog on its back as they stormed into the Endless Mountains.

Their booming cries shook the skies, leaving many beastly guards trembling, eyes wide in astonishment. What was going on?! Why were so many powerful beings suddenly showing up from the human sects?

Hearing the familiar thunderous bellow, the four beast ancestors quietly wiped their brows, relieved yet tense. It seemed the legendary Ox Ancestor from the Five Elements Sect had arrived.

“Welcome, honored elder!”

“Welcome, honored elder!”

…

The Endless Mountains’ beasts had a knack for reading the room, their eyes sharp with awareness.

With only one life to live, no one wanted to throw theirs away in front of these god-like figures. Even the lesser beasts made sure to avoid confrontation.

“Brother Ox, Xiao Chi,” Chen Xun greeted warmly, a smile lighting his face. It appeared the two had completed setting up the teleportation arrays.

“Moo~~~!”

“Brother Xun, we’re here!”

Xiao Chi stretched its neck, howling and barking gleefully, its aura deliberately restrained to its Foundation Establishment level to avoid unwanted attention.

“Moo!” The Black Ox charged forward.

Chen Xun laughed heartily, wrapping his arms around the ox as it nuzzled him happily.

"Everyone, meet Brother Ox, the Ox Ancestor of the Five Elements Sect, and Brother Chi, the Ancestor of the Northern Territory's Spirit Beasts. They’re like family to me." ṘÂŊȯＢĘⱾ

“Greetings to Elder Ox! Greetings to Elder Chi!”

The four beast ancestors flinched, struggling to ignore Xiao Chi’s Foundation Establishment aura as they promptly bowed to greet the newcomers.

Spirit Beasts from the Northern Region were known for their strength, and rumors had spread far and wide about their terrifying prowess. That this “mutated red dog” was actually the Ancestor of the Northern Territory's Spirit Beasts was beyond anything they could have guessed.

“Moo-moo~~!”

“Hehehe!”

The Black Ox and Xiao Chi exchanged amused glances, scanning the odd forms of the great beasts before them. Though monstrous in appearance, they were far easier on the eyes than the foul Corrupted Beings.

“Carry on, everyone. We’ve got some preparations to make before we leave.”

Chen Xun smiled, but then his expression grew thoughtful as he turned to the four beast ancestors. “Tell me, are there any Red Lightning Wolves among your ranks?”

“Ancestor!” one of the beast leaders stepped forward with an indignant tone. “Our clan is no mere gathering of transformed beasts. I hope you won’t take any baseless slander from the cultivation world to heart!”

“Quite right!” the other three beast ancestors chimed in, equally outraged. There was no way their noble kind would ever be confused with ordinary spirit beasts.

“Oh…ah…” Chen Xun cleared his throat, feeling slightly awkward. That theory from years ago was clearly misguided. “I see, then.”

The Black Ox and Xiao Chi snickered quietly. Their Brother Xun seemed to be accidentally insulting entire lineages!

“Well, we’ll be off then. We’ll discuss the plans with the Five Elements Sect later on.”

“Our sect retains my incarnation for emergencies. If calamity should strike, rest assured, we will come ourselves.”

The four beast ancestors took in a sharp breath, profoundly respectful of this seemingly effortless claim. A deity-level figure indeed! They promptly left with deep bows, vanishing into the depths of the mountains.

Once they were out of sight—

“Moo?”

“Brother Xun… we don’t have an incarnation…”

“You think I can’t bluff a little?”

Chen Xun raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Are you doubting me?”

The Black Ox promptly turned its head downward, nibbling on grass as if thoroughly absorbed. Xiao Chi looked skyward, scratching its head nonchalantly.

Their big brother was all about appearances.

Seeing them both fall in line, Chen Xun’s voice softened with excitement. “Brother Ox, Xiao Chi—I’ve acquired a spiritual herb that can extend our lives. It’s from the Taiwei Purple Celestial Tree!”

At that, everything fell silent; even the wind stilled.

The Black Ox was so shocked that it dropped the grass from its mouth, while Xiao Chi scratched itself so vigorously that a small tuft of fur came loose.

Watching their stunned faces, Chen Xun felt a quiet satisfaction and began explaining the unique properties of the Celestial Tree.

The Black Ox’s eyes glowed with fascination, its mind turning to their own Chaoyuan Scarlet Tree. Nine thousand years might be needed for one, but with the right nurturing from their treasures, they could cultivate it in only nine.

Xiao Chi gasped in awe, though some details flew straight out of its mind—it had a habit of ignoring specifics.

Over the past few days, Chen Xun had also traded for two drops of blood essence from the great beasts and casually passed one to the Black Ox.

Their journey to cultivate the rootless essence flowers was still a challenging one. Chen Xun continued his research diligently, his small notebook filled with meticulous observations.

Half an hour later, their plans were set, and the Black Ox cheerfully recounted their latest work to Chen Xun.

“Brother Ox, you and Xiao Chi went all the way to the Southern Dipper Mountain? And you left behind some gifts too? Ha!” Chen Xun chuckled. It seemed they had been thinking along the same lines. “Then Qian Country’s cultivation world won’t be lacking in Foundation Establishment herbs.”

The Black Ox gave a satisfied shake of its tail, a nostalgic glint in its eye. Those early days as a rogue cultivator had been rough—now he could help some of the newer generations.

“Brother Xun, the Ox Ancestor even set up two hidden large-scale teleportation arrays, five mid-sized ones, and ten smaller ones!” Xiao Chi exclaimed, his voice bubbling with excitement. “There’s even one for the Eastern Region!”

“Good.” Chen Xun’s gaze turned contemplative. “Brothers, this is the last part of our journey in this realm.”

“Moo!”

The Black Ox straightened, standing by Chen Xun’s side, while Xiao Chi crouched on its back, his eyes fierce with resolve.

A powerful hum filled the air, and the wind surged as the skies darkened.

A massive ship slowly materialized in the sky, an immense black-and-white tree adorning its prow, spreading delicate branches that glowed faintly, casting an ethereal light.

The Endless Mountains’ beast clans erupted in surprise, rushing to the peaks, all eyes fixed on the sky.

A deep, resonant hum filled the air, echoing for miles as the colossal ship ascended.

The sun shone brightly in a clear sky, and the massive ship sailed across the heavens, carrying a glimmer of hope and grandeur.

Chen Xun and his companions saw the familiar sights of Pan Ning City, Old Sun Mountain, and the Yuzhu Mountains—all the places they had once traversed...

Countless cultivators looked up in awe, their gazes fixed on the ship as it passed. For reasons unknown, they felt that this magnificent vessel was bidding farewell.

...

On a towering peak within the Yuzhu Mountains, five figures stood watching the skies, their robes fluttering in the wind, gentle smiles on their faces.

Liu Han, Shi Wujun, Ji Zhao, Qi Hao, and Jiang Xuechen.

“Their spirits were never meant to be tied down by the sect. Nor should the Five Elements Sect be their burden.”

“Their departure suggests that the Da Li Kingdom faces some monumental shift—one they didn’t want us entangled in.”

“Regardless, we will lead the Five Elements Sect forward... and beyond.”

“With all plans in place, we won’t disappoint them.”

“Ancestors’ ship... it’s here.”

Jiang Xuechen looked into the distance, her eyes glistening with tears. She would never forget the ship built on Nine Palaces Mountain—a memory forever etched in her heart.

The sky trembled slightly, scattering light clouds, as the massive ship painted a glowing trail across the heavens—a vision both surreal and powerful.

The five disciples took a deep breath, their gazes resolute as they bowed deeply. “Farewell, Ancestors!”

“Farewell, Ancestors!”

“Farewell, Ancestors!”

...

Within the Yuzhu Mountains, countless disciples murmured farewells, eyes alight with respect and admiration. Their hearts burned with an unstoppable passion—this was what a true cultivator should be.

Aboard the golden ship, bathed in sunlight, Chen Xun and his companions leaned against the railings, watching the familiar landscapes pass below. No longer was there any excitement—just a deep tranquility and gentle smiles.

Thousands of years in cultivation had taught them much about the world’s fickle nature, and yet, some places would forever stir warmth in their hearts.

Chen Xun and the Black Ox nodded quietly at the disciples of the Yuzhu Mountains, offering no parting words.

With a deep, resonant hum, the ship ascended, drifting toward the rising sun until it grew distant, finally vanishing from the Qian Country’s skies.

Xiao Chi, feeling conflicted, suddenly spoke, “Brother Xun, Brother Ox.”

“Hm?”

“Moo?”

“Based on my analysis over the years… the path to the War Realm… might be underground.”

Xiao Chi took a deep breath, raising his voice, “That inverted Celestial River, and the cataclysm down there… it might be trying to show us the way—the path could be right under our feet!”

“Moo?? Moo?!!” The Black Ox snorted in shock, staring wide-eyed at Xiao Chi.

Xiao Chi took deep breaths, his heart pounding. He had kept this theory to himself for ages, unsure whether Brother Xun would believe him.

“Hmm… we’ll give it a shot,” Chen Xun replied thoughtfully, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “It seems Da Li’s warriors are prepared… for a final stand.”

Xiao Chi was stunned. Brother Xun actually believed him?! He had only mentioned it offhandedly, but there was no sign of doubt from either of them.

He chuckled to himself, his heart warmed by the feeling of unwavering trust.

Chen Xun slowly withdrew his gaze, walking to the ship’s deck. A powerful aura surged from him, waves of five elements energy erupting and encircling his form, his eyes growing cold with determination.

In that moment, the skies darkened, thunderclouds gathering as lightning crackled across the heavens—a wrathful display of celestial might.

The realm’s spiritual energy thinned, replaced by an oppressive force that blanketed the ship. Silence fell, the air thick with a sense of foreboding.

Standing atop the figurehead, his dark hair whipping in the wind, Chen Xun’s voice rang out, calm and commanding: “Brothers… let’s set forth.”

“Moo~~~!”

“Arf~~!!”

The Black Ox stomped a hoof against the deck, activating the five-element formation. Divine lights wreathed the ship, gathering the world’s energies as its power surged.

Brilliant lights enveloped the ship, forming a vast, multicolored array that rotated beneath it like a grinding millstone. With each rotation, space itself trembled in response.

With an ear-shattering roar, the ship rocketed forward, breaking through the heavens. Reality itself seemed to fold around it as it vanished from the realm.

And with that, the legendary battle between the Da Li’s cultivators and the corrupted beings drew ever closer.

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