Chapter 161: A Cicada's Life, A Single Autumn (Part 2)

Chapter 161: A Cicada's Life, A Single Autumn (Part 2)

"

Yin Tianping slowly revealed a smile and stood up to leave.

Behind him, Zhang Yitong's face was filled with anxiety. Wasn't it possible to postpone the trip to Pure Yang Dao? That was the Seventh Shuai's inheritance!

As Yin Tianping passed by, he said indifferently, "The Seventh Shuai's inheritance is a heavenly opportunity, and even more so, a heavenly cause. A small family like the Zhang Clan from Jinxing can't afford to covet it, so don't harbor any thoughts."

Zhang Yitong really wanted to say, But what about Pure Yang Dao?... But the next moment, his body was covered in goosebumps, as if he had entered an ice cellar in the heat of summer. A premonition of death surfaced in his mind.

Only then did he understand that this was a warning!

...

...

"I've already contacted them, and the Ji Clan confirmed that the Daozang is still there."

Liu Zhong cut off the communication and looked at the leaders of several important departments, speaking slowly.

Everyone's expressions remained unchanged, but their hearts were filled with mixed emotions.

They were glad that the Daozang was still there, giving the young ones in the department some hope.

But they were also worried... Even Ji Jingqiu wasn't chosen?

Was it because he happened to be away, and the Daozang hadn't been opened at that time? Or was it simply that he wasn't chosen?

If so, what kind of genius warrior would be favored by that person?

Could it be that the person was judging by appearance? Then he... might also have a chance!

Liu Zhong scanned the crowd and shook his head slightly, knowing what these guys were thinking. He solemnly concluded, "As long as they are from our Federation, anyone will do!"

Everyone nodded; this was naturally the case.

"Has Ji Jingqiu already left?" Liu Zhong suddenly asked.

This news from the Ji Clan made him reconsider Ji Jingqiu once again.

"Yes."

This news made Liu Zhong feel quite regretful.

A generation's genius might be lost, and this would be a loss for the Federation!

...

...

Dragon Tiger Dojo.

"This rumor turns out to be true. I always thought it was the 'unofficial history' recorded by the dojo's seniors."

Long Qingyang and Shi Xuanzhen sat facing each other.

Shi Xuanzhen frowned. "Our junior brother is already in the sleep pod of the sightseeing tour group and won't be able to return for at least ten days!"

Long Qingyang's mouth twitched. "Why are you worried about him? Do you fear someone will snatch the Daozang within ten days?"

"Tsk, it took the Ji Clan ten thousand years to make it public, but who knows how many more years it will take to pass down the news of the Daozang's chosen master."

Shi Xuanzhen gave him a puzzled look.

Long Qingyang remained silent, gazing into the distance. After a long while, he said softly, "In the autobiography of the first Dao Master, there were many accounts of that person's deeds. If the records are true, then..."

"Hey, with that person's temperament, not to mention you young ones, even if the Sixth Shuai reincarnated, he might not be chosen!"

Shi Xuanzhen was stunned, was it really that exaggerated?

...

...

Holy Temple Kingdom.

The Holy Temple Kingdom has twelve temples, which are the true rulers of the kingdom.

Throughout history, there have always been twelve Holy Sons, but this generation has only produced one Holy Daughter, known for stealing all the glory of the Holy Temple.

In a temple standing amidst the stars...

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

Here is the First Temple.

In this highest hall, a white-robed, barefoot woman knelt with her eyes closed before a statue, bathed in artificial sunlight streaming from the dome into the church.

She was a tall woman, her beauty resembling that of a goddess, causing everyone who saw her to sigh at the gods' favoritism.

Yet, between her brows, there was a trace of wildness and pride that didn't match her beauty.

This arrogance diminished some of her beauty but added a unique charm.

The temple's tranquility was broken by the sound of clashing armor.

A knight in full white armor entered the hall, standing silently like a solemn and dignified statue.

"When I'm lost, I calm myself and listen to the prayers of the gods." The woman spoke softly.

"Lady Chi, the Twilight has returned, and he brings bad news," the knight said respectfully.

The woman slowly stood up, her figure extremely tall, almost two meters, with a perfectly proportioned body, and her voluptuous curves couldn't be hidden even by the white robe.

She gazed directly at the divine statue, an act of great disrespect for any believer, yet no one dared to reproach her, just as no follower would question the decisions of the divine.

"Is this related to the Mu family?"

"Yes," the knight replied respectfully, "Twilight says that in this generation of the Federation, it is highly likely that a human incarnation of Mu Shitian has appeared."

The woman's eyes curved in a subtle smile, "Didn't the Sacred Affairs Department say they hadn't received any news?"

The knight remained silent.

Unbothered, she whispered, "I have heard the whispers of the gods; the Federation will participate in this battle for inheritance."

"Tell those old folks that the warriors of the Holy Temple will follow me into battle in the ancient realm."

"I will meet the descendant of Mu Shitian in the ancient realm and offer his blood and bones as a sacrifice to my father."

...

...

The world was in turmoil, and as the great tide that swept across the land was about to rise, those standing at the forefront could only anticipate the grandeur of holding the heavens and earth in their hands.

And on this day.

Ji Jingqiu stood before the porthole.

Countless stars filled the vast universe, an endless sky with stars like an ocean. Was this scene similar to that of ten thousand years ago?

Was the scene he witnessed at this moment the same as what his ancestors saw ten thousand years ago?

Before this starry sky, the rise and fall of countless lives were but fleeting clouds.

Standing before this boundless universe, Ji Jingqiu was suddenly moved.

It was a moment of emotion, not enlightenment.

Under this starry sky, life seemed so insignificant. Nothing was eternal, not even time.

But the splendor that life carried granted it another form of eternity.

They were the most insignificant dust in this universe.

Yet they were also miraculous.

And at this very moment.

After the delay, the neutron star three hundred light-years away exploded, releasing energy in an instant that exceeded the total energy emitted by hundreds of suns in their lifetimes. The brilliance was like dazzling fireworks, turning the once dead universe into a boiling ocean!

Numerous Federation citizens wearing special glasses to witness the event exclaimed in awe, astonished by the beauty of the universe and the vastness of the world.

A tour guide nearby continued to explain that this explosion would likely produce several planet-sized gold and platinum masses that would scatter into the universe.

For heavy metal elements like gold and platinum to form naturally in large quantities, the Federation's current exploration showed that it could only come from the most splendid funerals in the universe, such as neutron star collisions.

The guide said it was a grand funeral.

And when this dreamlike scene appeared before Ji Jingqiu's eyes.

It was like a rising red sun, shining brightly in his eyelids.

He said it was a rebirth.

At this moment.

Ji Jingqiu was calm and composed, knowing he was ready.

He slowly closed his eyes.

A strand of sharp light emanated from his body, a powerful aura, pure and flawless, deep and thick, stemming from his past, intangible and formless, causing everyone around to subconsciously retreat.

Years later, they would consider what they witnessed today as the honor of their lives. Even the rising and setting sun would pale in comparison to the brilliance of this young man! At this moment, the Heaven Man Grandmaster made his move, drawing a clear boundary between the crowd.

The Heaven Man Grandmaster, sitting in silence, seemed to witness a brand new martial arts sun rising, illuminating the ten directions.

He sighed lightly,

"It is indeed a grand era giving birth to a monster; the ancients did not deceive me."

...

In the boundless abyss, his spirit slowly descended, passing through layers of hazy mist and intertwining light and shadow, crossing the boundary between this shore and the other.

Ji Jingqiu followed the opportunity of Reversing Innate, once again seeing the true self.

This time, he was prepared, using Star Remains to suppress the power of the foreign god, stabilizing his mind to suppress this realm, and then using the sharpness of Eternal Blades to sever the curse net!

Under the sharpness of Eternal Blades, the curse net was cut apart, and the true self broke free!

Everything went so smoothly, just as he had envisioned.

But he wasn't elated; instead, he gazed towards the boundary of this realm.

A majestic and chilling aura was slowly blowing into this realm through the cracks in the windows, making it difficult to breathe.

Not one, but three.

That crow-mouthed La Jiang, she had guessed it right.

Severing the curse net was just the beginning; the struggle with the three demons was yet to come!

If there's a chance in the future, I must find an opportunity to bully her!

Ji Jingqiu's mind was calm, without joy or sorrow. Since he had already guessed this scene, he was naturally prepared.

That is... to summon the Sea of Suffering. Although he didn't know why that Sea of Suffering was pressing down on his "head," he indeed had the qualifications to summon it.

These qualifications were not granted by the Bodhi Tree.

The relationship was completely reversed.

This answer surprised Ji Jingqiu when he found out.

But now wasn't the time to dwell on these matters.

He had already discussed this with the Divine Lord, and it was indeed feasible, but... it was a bit of a loss.

Ji Jingqiu sighed slightly. According to the Divine Lord, summoning the Sea of Suffering would cause it to overturn completely, and the power contained within was not comparable to the illusory blood rain.

The latter didn't even deserve to carry the former's shoes!

If this happened, his Inner Scene World would undoubtedly be destroyed.

Many things would have to start anew.

And what the three gods offered... might be just a divine clone, posing no threat to their main bodies.

But some things were non-negotiable.

He would lose a lot, and might even completely lose the Bodhi Tree and his own life, as even the gods weren't confident they could protect him from the overturning Sea of Suffering.

But he could truly gain freedom.

He also asked for the Bodhi Tree's opinion, and the little tree's branches and leaves swayed, showing no fear, just like him.

Black fog seeped through the boundaries of the world, slowly infiltrating the gap between this shore and the other.

An immense and invisible force was turning the essence of this world upside down. Black rain poured down, drowning the entire world in the sound of a heavy downpour.

Ji Jingqiu raised his head, and a certain flame gradually ignited in his eyes. The rain poured down on his hard face.

He grinned, "Look at me, you brats!"

Just as he was about to completely summon the power of the Sea of Suffering and as the gods in his Inner Scene World silently awaited the "final calamity"—

A figure stood before him.

Like an ancient, immovable divine mountain, unshakable, blocking all wind and rain.

...

Time rewound slightly to a moment before...

Someone approached Ji Jingqiu and gently tapped his chest.

Knocking politely on the door, he then rudely barged into the boy's Mind Form world.

The man looked up. There was no majestic waterfall cascading from the heavens, no blazing sun dominating the world, nor a throne standing tall amidst the scorching heat.

It was just a peaceful summer afternoon.

The breeze blew through the path, and the sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a watery glow on the ground.

The sun scorched the earth, and the air seemed to shimmer with heat waves.

There was also an ordinary street lined with food stalls.

The man's smile grew wider.

He walked along the street, making his way towards the boy, sampling various snacks along the way. Finally, he held an overly chilled cup of mung bean soup, tapping his head as he did so, feeling the chill on his forehead.

At the end of the path, he spotted a young man sleeping soundly on a bench by the road and sighed.

"You're lying on a throne, and he's lying on a bench by the road? What a fall from grace."

He endured it for the sake of the mung bean soup.

"Come on, show me what you've got."

The ground near the sleeping boy's feet began to stir as if something beneath the earth was stirring, finally gathering enough strength to break through the soil.

It was a plain-looking cicada.

It crawled up the boy's pants leg, slowly making its way up to his shoulder. Behind it, transparent wings began to flutter, and it flew leisurely into the sky.

The man looked up, following the cicada's path with his gaze.

The glaring sunlight made him squint, and he could only make out the golden-red outline of the sun and the cicada flapping its wings towards it.

Time passed, and the man waited for what seemed like an eternity, as if the world had aged and he had never left, unsure if it was reluctance or anticipation that kept him there.

Until he heard a cicada's song.

Daring to sing freely under the heavens.

So faint, like the countless tiny creatures beneath the vast sky, yet brimming with freedom and vitality.

Not insignificant, just humble.

The man suddenly burst into laughter, laughing louder and louder, bending over with mirth, filled with joy, as he had finally found the person he sought.

He finally understood why Mu Ji had chosen this boy.

He slowly sat down next to the boy, holding the overly chilled mung bean soup to his forehead, and closed his eyes contentedly, feeling the summer within the boy.

Another summer had arrived.

Ji Jingu, in this world, nothing is eternal except the splendor of life.

A cicada's life is but a fleeting autumn, and all beings strive to cross over.

Ah, that's right, your name is Ji Jingu?

So greedy...

Is a single summer not enough for you?

The man suddenly pulled five swords from the void.

[Following this arduous journey, to reach the morning star.]



[Today's training, Senior Brother oppressed me with his Power Body, and I took note.]



[Three limits broken, tonight I'll have sour and spicy noodles.]



[Congratulations to Comrade Fat Tiger for winning the advanced individual title in this year's sword sharpening competition.]



[The world's storms and clouds arise from our generation.]



The man stroked his chin, unsure whether to praise someone's literary talent or lament their lack of vision.

But...

Sour and spicy noodles are indeed delicious, and he had just tasted them.

Speaking of which, can one really cultivate five swords?

"How wonderful, Ji Jingu, go and forge your own wild frontier."

The man on the bench reached out, gently placing his hand on the boy's shoulder, and whispered,

"You must go and see that mountain in the depths of the wilderness, hailed as the world's number one wonder, and uncover its secrets."

"You must first become your own mountain before seeking the sea within your heart..."

In truth, he had many things he wanted to say to the boy beside him, but it wasn't the right time.

For example, many years ago, he had sat and discussed with someone, speaking of time, heaven's mandate, and eternity, but that didn't mean mortals were insignificant.

That person didn't believe, so he executed them on the divine seat.

For example, he hoped the boy could be a little more selfish,

Becoming the sun isn't about hanging high in the sky, shining upon the world, but about illuminating the land around you, our own pure land.

He always believed that if a person's greatness was accompanied by the growth of their selfishness, it was pitiful.

But if a person with boundless selfishness began to grow in greatness, expanding their realm of selfishness from the "self" to encompass the world...

Perhaps, that would be a sage? Ji Jingu, isn't the goal of becoming a sage too grand? Then, let's change it.

Ji Jingu, you must be invincible.

Because only then...

Might we have a chance to meet again.

In a daze,

The man saw the sun setting, its last rays fading, and then witnessed the sunrise, spreading its fiery glow.

How wonderful!

He asked one last question in a soft voice:

"Ji Jingu, in your life, has anyone ever stood behind you and truly supported you?"

"What, someone has?"

"Wow, then you're luckier than me... My martial arts journey has always been a solitary one."

He looked at the boy before him, feeling a mix of long-lost sentimentality and joy.

He and the boy were ultimately different.

And that was good.

He looked up.

And saw three detestable figures.

A smile appeared on his face.

Long time no see.

Let's catch up.

He slowly drew the middle sword.

...

...

Ji Jingu saw a figure with his back turned, an ordinary silhouette, yet exuding a suffocating aura that made one gasp, like a deity, serene and unshakable.

It seemed that before him, nothing in this world was impossible.

He said,

Ji Jingu, I've heard your prayers over the years.

So, I've come to answer you.

Then,

It was as if one, two, three brilliant suns rose in Ji Jingu's eyes.

They were three sword lights.

Dominating the world, suppressing heaven and earth, severing time, heaven's mandate, invincible in the mortal realm.

Ji Jingu "saw" that under these three sword lights, three figures standing at infinite heights, surrounded by countless divine nations, overlooking infinite realms, their supreme bodies and nations dimming by more than half!

The sword lights followed the path of time, heaven's mandate, cause and effect... all things that could be traced, flowing upstream and downstream, spreading to the ten directions of the universe, reaching everywhere, delivering to the wilderness, three old friends long unseen...

A slight shock.

...

On this day,

Ji Jingu, reversing the primordial, an unprecedented vitality blossomed within him.

The soil that had suppressed him for so long finally loosened completely.

From then on,

A true dragon enters the sea.

The great sun soars in the sky.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end