Chapter 560: The Eternal Primordial Flame
Chapter 560: The Eternal Primordial Flame
Outside the remote mountain city of Li Yang, a group of cultivators had set up their camp. The once bustling site now lay quiet, with dead and injured cultivators scattered across the area.
These cultivators had fallen prey to the sinister Demon Heart Seed planted by the mysterious Daoist, driving them to kill each other in a frenzy.
Realizing the danger, Master Situ, a powerful alchemist and cultivator, performed complex calculations and illuminated the camp with the Heavenly Void Clear Radiance Lantern, a mystical artifact that dispelled the demonic presence and ensured no hidden threats remained.
As the surviving cultivators tended to their wounded and prepared the deceased for their final resting place, Master Situ retired to his room, his brow furrowed in deep thought.
Suddenly, a figure flashed, and a young woman dressed in white, named Bai Qingcheng, burst into the room. Her face was etched with urgency as she pleaded, "Master Situ, I beseech you to lend me your aid in a matter of utmost importance."
Master Situ was taken aback, his eyebrows knitting together as he anticipated the gravity of the situation. Accompanying Bai Qingcheng back to the center of the camp, they entered a secret chamber where Mr. Zhuang lay on the brink of death, his vital energy (Qi)
nearly depleted.
"This..." Master Situ stammered, his finger trembling as he pointed at Mr. Zhuang.
"The 'Return to the Ruins' map has been taken by the sinister Daoist, and my senior martial brother's life force is quickly ebbing away. I implore you, Master, to save him!" Bai Qingcheng begged earnestly.
Master Situ offered a bitter smile. This was not a question of whether he could save Mr. Zhuang, but rather, the consequences of attempting to do so. "White True Person, I am not an Alchemist..."
"An Elixir Master cannot save him," Bai Qingcheng asserted.
"Then..." Master Situ trailed off, unsure of what else to suggest.
"I wish to ask you, Master, to use the Qiankun Qingguang Lantern to extend my senior martial brother's life," Bai Qingcheng requested, her voice filled with desperation.
Master Situ's heart skipped a beat at the suggestion, and he immediately refused, "No, absolutely not!"
Seeing the icy determination on Bai Qingcheng's face, he continued, offering an explanation, "It's not that I'm unwilling to help, but this... the Qiankun Qingguang Lantern is not the Seven Star Eternal Lamp. It... it cannot extend life!"
"It can!" Bai Qingcheng interrupted, her voice resolute.
"No, listen to me—" Master Situ began, only to be cut off again by Bai Qingcheng.
"My grandfather once mentioned that in times of dire need, the Qiankun Qingguang Lantern can temporarily extend one's life..." she insisted.
Master Situ's face darkened. He had forgotten about that particular detail.
As a member of the prestigious Bai family, Bai Qingcheng had access to ancient knowledge and secrets, including the true nature of this treasure. There was no point in trying to deceive her.
Still, Master Situ hesitated, unwilling to agree. "And do you know how to use it for that purpose?"
Bai Qingcheng shook her head. "I don't, but you certainly do, Master."
Master Situ was taken aback by her unwavering gaze and the certainty in her voice.
"You are the Great Elder of the Xuanji Valley, revered and accomplished in your calculations. Surely you know how to extend my senior martial brother's life!" Bai Qingcheng pressed, her eyes fixed on him.
"I am but a humble practitioner..." Master Situ demurred, but Bai Qingcheng's unwavering gaze made it clear she would not be deterred.
Sighing, Master Situ decided to be forthright. "It's not that I disagree, but the cost is too high..."
"This Qiankun Qingguang Lantern contains heavenly secrets and has the power to ward off evil and disasters. It has been passed down for over a dozen generations in our Xuanji Valley, and its value is immeasurable..."
"This treasure is unlike the Seven Star Eternal Lamp; it is not meant for extending life," he explained.
"If you use it for that purpose, it will suffer severe depletion. By the time you know it, the lantern itself might have reached the end of its lifespan, all for extending a person's life for a brief period."
"I do not consider myself a selfish person," Master Situ continued, "but even so, I cannot possibly sacrifice our sect's most precious treasure to save the life of someone unrelated to us..."
He shook his head, emphasizing his refusal.
Bai Qingcheng clenched her teeth and said, "I will find a heavenly treasure of equal value and offer it to the Xuanji Valley in exchange for the Qiankun Qingguang Lantern."
"A heavenly treasure is not so easily found..." Master Situ objected.
"Then consider it a great favor owed by the Bai family," Bai Qingcheng proposed.
"Is it a debt owed by the Bai family, or by you, True Person Bai?" Master Situ asked.
If it were a debt owed by the influential Bai family, he might consider it. But if it were merely a personal debt of a single True Person, no matter how valuable, it would not be enough to warrant exchanging the Xuanji Valley's most prized treasure.
Master Situ remained steadfast in his refusal, causing Bai Qingcheng's gaze to turn sharp.
Realizing her implication, Master Situ's heart skipped a beat. Surely she wasn't considering forcing the issue?
He had heard tales of this young lady's headstrong nature and impulsive behavior, but that was over a century ago...
Now, as a True Person herself and a mother of two, she ought to have matured. Yet, he couldn't shake the worry that she might attempt to take the lantern by force.
Even if she dared to try, he would never surrender it!
The Qiankun Qingguang Lantern was simply too important to lend out.
Just as Master Situ was about to firmly refuse, his thoughts turned once more to the sinister events involving the Demon Heart Seed.
He recalled the black pupils of the afflicted disciples, the slaughter of cultivators under the influence of the demonic thoughts, and the brazen stride of the mysterious Daoist in their midst. That overwhelming sense of heavenly machinations and sinister calculations sent a chill down his spine.
If Mr. Zhuang were to perish, who would be able to restrain the mysterious Daoist? Without the power of heavenly calculations, how could they hope to counter the sinister machinations they faced?
Master Situ understood that knowledge of heavenly algorithms was just as crucial as one's cultivation base. A powerful cultivator who lacked insight into heavenly secrets could still fall prey to a cunning scheme.
While the Xuanji Valley was renowned for its profound consciousness algorithms, they were no match for the dual-method, heaven-defying calculations of the mysterious Daoist.
And what if, one day, that Daoist became a great demon, using his sinister calculations as a foundation and the Demon Heart Seed as his instrument of destruction to slaughter the cultivators of Xuanji Valley and wipe out their algorithms? The mere thought filled Master Situ with a sense of foreboding dread. (End of Chapter)
A chilling realization dawned on Master Situ, causing him trepidation.
This thought wasn't baseless; it was a premonition.
For one who could fathom the heavens and master complex calculations, the myriad thoughts that flitted through their mind like fleeting shadows were all omens.
They were fleeting glimpses of possible futures, like illusions reflected in a mirror, caused by the intricate web of cause and effect.
Vaguely, Master Situ felt he could foresee the mysterious Daoist slaughtering the members of Xuanji Valley.
An eerie aura shrouded the valley's gates, twisting and coiling like a sinister mist.
The disciples' eyes turned pitch-black, their bodies reduced to mindless shells as they slaughtered each other...
Annihilation!
Master Situ's heart trembled with fear at the prospect.
In the face of such formidable schemes, even a single Qiankun Qingguang Lantern, let alone ten, would be useless...
Master Situ glanced at Mr. Zhuang, whose vital energy was faint and fading, and sighed deeply.
If there was anyone in this world who could rival the mysterious Daoist, it would be Mr. Zhuang, an exceptionally talented individual from the same sect as the Daoist.
"Let's take a gamble..."
Master Situ thought to himself, "Even if I may not live to see that day, I must strive to bring welfare and forge a benevolent connection for the future generations of Xuanji Valley."
"Alright!" Master Situ nodded, "I agree."
Bai Qingcheng was taken aback, as she had been prepared to forcefully take the lantern, but now the master had changed his mind.
"However, I have a few conditions..." Master Situ added.
Bai Qingcheng nodded, "Please speak, Senior."
Master Situ sighed, "Consider this a favor that your Bai family, or at least you, White True Person, owe to our Xuanji Valley..."
"In the future, if Xuanji Valley faces peril, I hope that White True Person will lend your aid!"
Bai Qingcheng readily agreed, "Of course."
Master Situ continued, "As for the heavenly treasure that will serve as a replacement for the Qiankun Qingguang Lantern, if you obtain it in the future, please bestow it upon me to make up for Xuanji Valley's loss..."
"Agreed," replied Bai Qingcheng.
"And one more thing..." Master Situ's gaze turned solemn, "Do not tell anyone about my involvement in saving him..."
Mr. Zhuang had too many enemies and too much cause and effect tied to him.
Master Situ feared he might not be able to bear the consequences.
Bai Qingcheng nodded gravely, understanding the weight of his words.
Reluctantly, Master Situ let out a sigh and, despite his hesitation, took out the Qiankun Qingguang Lantern. Turning to Bai Qingcheng, he said, "You and Mr. Zhuang are from the same sect, so you should know that his qi sea is depleted and his consciousness is shattered. Neither pills nor human intervention can save him..."
"I can only use the Qiankun Qingguang Lantern as the focal point and expend its lifespan to set up the Eternal Primordial Flame Array, sealing away Mr. Zhuang's cause and effect."
"Without the 'cause' of death, the 'effect' of death will not come to pass."
"By sealing away the cause and effect, Mr. Zhuang will temporarily not be considered 'dead'."
"However, you must understand that this is merely prolonging his lifespan through heavenly secrets, not saving his life, nor can it rescue him from death."
"Once the lantern goes out, the array breaks, and cause and effect resume their course, Mr. Zhuang will still perish..."
Bai Qingcheng reluctantly agreed, her heart heavy, "Alright."
Even if it was just sealing away the cause and effect, not truly dying, at least there was a glimmer of hope...
It was better than having no hope at all...
Master Situ sighed and began to ignite the Qiankun Qingguang Lantern, setting up the array, lighting the eternal flame, and temporarily sealing away the cause and effect, thus preserving Mr. Zhuang's life.
Bai Qingcheng breathed a sigh of relief and kept watch over Mr. Zhuang for several days. Suddenly, she recalled that she had seemingly forgotten about Mohua.
Using her divine sense, she scanned Mount Dali and spotted Mohua walking aimlessly on one of the mountain roads, looking lost and forlorn.
Feeling a pang of sympathy, Bai Qingcheng brought Mohua to Mr. Zhuang's side.
Upon seeing her master, who had once taught and cared for her so devotedly, now lying cold and unconscious, Mohua's tears flowed uncontrollably.
In the following days, Mohua refused to eat or drink, choosing instead to remain by her master's side.
...
Within the Qiankun Lantern, a radiant light overflowed.
The array of the Eternal Primordial Flame was intricate and profound.
Mr. Zhuang lay within the array, his vital energy faint like mist, ethereal and insubstantial, hovering between life and death, with only a slender thread of life force remaining.
He had assumed that he was already dead and would forever remain in slumber.
However, in his hazy consciousness, he faintly sensed a familiar presence, one that evoked a sense of longing.
Mr. Zhuang opened his eyes one last time and looked at Mohua.
She sat before him, her head drooping, her figure dejected, her eyes red and puffy from crying, as she continuously wiped her tears with her sleeve.
Mr. Zhuang felt a mix of sorrow and comfort.
At least someone truly cared for him...
He imprinted Mohua's figure in his mind and silently whispered, "Live well..."
"Cultivate well, study arrays well..."
"Study hard..."
As Mr. Zhuang's thoughts wavered, he felt his life force stagnating. These thoughts seemed to be nothing more than a fleeting glimmer, the lingering remnants of his dying consciousness...
But it was enough...
Mr. Zhuang looked at Mohua, his heart content, and closed his eyes for the last time.
Mohua suddenly froze, lifting her head as if to check whether her master had opened his eyes, whether he had looked at her.
...
Three days later, Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi arrived, their faces filled with grief. Upon seeing Mr. Zhuang, their sadness deepened, and their eyes turned red with unshed tears.
It was only after they confirmed that Mohua was safe and sound that they felt slightly better.
The two siblings sat by Mohua's side, refusing to leave Mr. Zhuang's side no matter what.
Bai Qingcheng was exasperated but helpless.
She never expected that her children and little disciple Mohua would have such deep emotions for their master.
She could only instruct Xue Yi to prepare some nourishing food and blood-replenishing pills, making sure that the three children took them daily to maintain their energy.
Aside from this, what concerned Bai Qingcheng the most was the sinister Daoist.
On the surface, the matter seemed to have concluded, but she still felt a lingering sense of unease, as if the sinister Daoist had some hidden agenda.
She consulted Master Situ, who furrowed his brows in confusion.
The sinister Daoist's actions were enigmatic, and it was challenging to fathom his motives.
However, since he had already obtained the Return to the Ruins map, his goal had been achieved, and he probably had no other intentions.
Moreover, Master Situ had made inquiries before.
It seemed that one of the elders from the Seven Pavilions of the Daoting had locked onto the sinister Daoist's aura using the Golden Light Celestial Array and had been pursuing him ever since.
With the sinister Daoist occupied with his own troubles, he was unlikely to take further risks.
Bai Qingcheng breathed a sigh of relief.
Afterward, she prepared to leave.
She needed to ensure Mr. Zhuang's safety, keep the eternal flame lit, and send Zixi and Zisheng back to their clan.
Additionally, she had to find a way to send Mohua back home.
The Daoting camp outside the mountain city and the various Daoting cultivators were also getting ready to depart.
However, on the night before their departure, an unexpected incident occurred.
As they were about to part ways, Master Situ arranged a simple banquet as a farewell gathering.
But before the wine could be circulated three times, chaos erupted in the camp, accompanied by startled cries, fearful shouts, frenzied screams, and the sounds of battle...
Master Situ's heart trembled, "Is this... the Demon Heart Seed taking effect?"
The others also looked alarmed.
They immediately rushed out and saw several Daoting soldiers surrounded by demonic energy, having lost their senses and sanity. Their faces were contorted with malevolence as they seemed to be choosing their prey...
The symptoms were identical to the Demon Heart Seed's influence from the other day.
Master Situ treated the situation as a grave threat and quickly restrained the affected disciples. He turned to warn the others, but as he looked up, his brows furrowed.
There was no trace of the sinister Daoist's presence...
This meant that the sinister Daoist was not present...
Master Situ was puzzled.
Could it be that these soldiers were infected with the Demon Heart Seed before and it was only now manifesting? This type of demonic influence was very weak and non-contagious, posing minimal danger.
Master Situ released his divine sense, scanning the area, and found no abnormalities, finally relaxing.
"I must have been overly cautious..."
The others also heaved a sigh of relief.
They had thought that the sinister Daoist had returned...
As they were about to return to the banquet and calm their nerves, Bai Qingcheng suddenly paused, her steps halting.
Master Situ looked at her questioningly, "White True Person?"
"Something's not right..." Bai Qingcheng frowned, muttering to herself.
Master Situ was taken aback, "What's not right?"
"Master..." Bai Qingcheng said, "The sinister Daoist's every action has a hidden motive. He would never leave these scattered Demon Heart Seeds here without a reason. There must be another purpose behind his actions..."
As Bai Qingcheng spoke, her face paled, and she exclaimed, "Zixi! Zisheng!"
She moved like a falling feather, her feet carrying her swiftly to the secret chamber.
Zixi and Zisheng were being taken care of by Xue Yi, each holding a bowl and drinking the nourishing soup.
Seeing their mother's hurried arrival, the two children looked confused, "Mother..."
Bai Qingcheng pulled them close and carefully examined them, sensing their auras and looking into their eyes. Only then did her worried heart settle.
"Mother, what's wrong?" Zixi asked.
Bai Qingcheng shook her head and was about to say something when her expression changed again, "Where's Mohua?"
Zixi replied, "Mohua was too tired and fainted, so Xue Yi sent her back to her room to rest..."
Bai Qingcheng's face turned deathly pale.
Zixi also sensed that something was amiss, and her voice trembled as she asked, "Mother..."
"Wait here..."
Bai Qingcheng instructed, and then her figure flashed, graceful as a startled swan. In a moment, she arrived at Mohua's room.
Mohua's small body was lying on the bed, sleeping peacefully.
Bai Qingcheng breathed a sigh of relief but still felt uneasy. She gently called out, "Mohua..."
Mohua seemed to be awake, as she adjusted her posture and slowly sat up.
"It's nothing, go back to sleep..."
Bai Qingcheng's words trailed off as she suddenly paused.
At that moment, Mohua had turned her head.
Her face was innocent, but her pupils were pitch-black.
(An additional chapter will be released soon. I've done my best!)
(End of Chapter)
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