Chapter 602: Cause and Effect
Chapter 602: Cause and Effect
Cause and Effect.
A term far more profound than creation, ten thousand spirits, various forms, and the like.
Chen Mu's understanding of cause and effect was the shallowest, or one could say, his affinity with it was the worst, and there was a reason for this. The fundamental reason lay in the fact that if he wanted to explore cause and effect, he couldn't avoid the system panel itself!
Looking back at his past, in that small county town, he unexpectedly met Xu Hongyu, gained her recognition, and this was the fruit. But if one traced the 'cause,' it was because he had practiced a sword technique with the help of the system panel, which led to the subsequent outcome.
Similarly,
His first opponent, He Mingxuan of the He family, became his enemy because he joined Xu Hongyu's forces, and he tried to kill Chen Mu several times. In the end, He Mingxuan met his demise at Chen Mu's hands.
The most significant factor in this outcome was that Chen Mu, with the help of the system panel, rapidly enhanced his strength within a short period, gaining the means to eliminate the threat.
Unable to avoid the system panel, his affinity with the mysteries of cause and effect was naturally poor.
The Cause and Effect lineage delved into the fundamentals and origins of things, as well as their outcomes. However, regarding the system panel, he had no idea where its origins lay, nor did he know where its consequences would lead. This was a significant obstacle on his path to understanding.
"So, is this a matter of gains and losses?"
Chen Mu spoke to himself.
With the help of the system panel, he was able to cultivate to his current strength within a mere few thousand world years. Yet, the system panel also hindered his comprehension of the mysteries of cause and effect, creating numerous obstacles.
But in his opinion, his gains far outweighed his losses.
While the system panel caused confusion and obstacles in his understanding of the Cause and Effect lineage, it didn't completely block his path to enlightenment.
The reason was simple. If the system panel's obstacle remained, and he had to rely solely on his abilities to thoroughly comprehend the complete mysteries of cause and effect, it would indeed be extremely challenging, perhaps close to the difficulty of comprehending the mysteries of fusion.
However, it was precisely because of the system panel's existence that he didn't need to fully comprehend the Cause and Effect lineage.
He only needed to understand a portion of it and gain enough experience to utilize the system panel to directly observe the mysteries of cause and effect themselves, thereby directly comprehending cause and effect and understanding its intricacies from the root.
Even though this process might have some twists and turns, it was still smooth sailing for him, and comprehending the complete mysteries of cause and effect was merely a matter of time.
"Cause and Effect, hmm, this lineage is quite unique. Compared to the Dark Abyss, it's even more efficient to explore cause and effect in the Great Xuan World."
Although the Dark Abyss occasionally revealed the essence of some mysteries, including the mysteries of cause and effect, the nature of the Dark Abyss was extremely chaotic. In Chen Mu's judgment, the cause and effect within it were likely in disarray.
On the other hand, the Great Xuan World, with its orthodox order, was more suitable for him to explore cause and effect.
...
The Great Xuan World.
An incredibly long time had passed since Chen Mu, the first martial artist to ascend to the Divine Realm and repel the demons, safeguarding a corner of the world. These events had long become legends that flowed through the world.
Not only Chen Mu but even those close to him, like Chen Yue, Chen Yao, and others, including his disciple Jin Ling'er, and even her disciples... all had become legends in the world.
Today's world was ruled by a holy land and a dynasty, with a hundred sects in between.
The 'holy land' referred to the Seven Mysteries Holy Land, the dream of all martial artists.
The Seven Mysteries Holy Land had evolved from the Seven Mysteries Sect, accumulating power over tens of thousands of years to become the undisputed first among all forces, with a transcendent status, far surpassing all mortal powers, and even surpassing the dynasty itself, capable of altering the imperial lineage with a single word.
The 'dynasty' referred to the ruling dynasty of the world, still the Great Xuan Dynasty, but compared to Chen Mu's era, it had undergone earth-shattering changes.
As the saying goes, when one attains the Dao, even the dogs and chickens rise to heaven.
After Chen Mu became the Realm Sovereign, not only did those close to him develop rapidly, but so did the Yu and Chen families, becoming top-tier clans within ten thousand years.
During their growth, these clans formed close ties with the Ji family, the former royal family of the Great Xuan Dynasty, intermarrying countless times over ten thousand years. By now, it was difficult to say whether the current emperor had more Ji family blood or Yu and Chen family blood.
The Chen and Yu families, due to the presence of Chen Mu and Xu Hongyu, already held a transcendent status, so they didn't care about secular imperial power. No one paid attention to the so-called imperial throne, so it remained in the hands of the Ji family.
However, compared to the 'Ji' surname, after ten thousand years of development and changes, the Chen and Yu surnames were even more prestigious. The Chen and Yu families also had the power to decide the succession of the Great Xuan Dynasty's throne.
"The world's threads originate from me, and until now, all causes are within my grasp."
The Great Xuan World, under the influence of Chen Mu's Realm Sovereign, had expanded to nearly three times its size compared to ten thousand years ago, and the density of the world's energy had doubled! Chen Mu gazed down upon the entire Great Xuan World, his eyes sweeping over the countless towns and people, as if seeing countless intertwined threads, twisting together, forming strands, and then merging into a golden thread that reached the heavens, with Chen Mu himself at its end.
He was the Realm Sovereign of the Great Xuan World, rising from within its boundaries. Naturally, he occupied all the cause and effect of the Great Xuan World.
Even those unrelated and without blood ties were, in essence, his descendants. All things are nurtured by heaven and earth, and he was the embodiment of these forces. As the saying goes, heaven creates all things to nurture mankind, so all living beings in the world share an unbreakable bond of cause and effect with him. Unless one transcends heaven and earth and cultivates to the Divine Realm, they cannot escape his influence.
Observing his own cause and effect was meaningless; he needed to observe the lives of the world.
"I have an unbreakable bond of cause and effect with the world, allowing me to foresee future destinies. If I interfere, even slightly, what impact will it have on cause and effect and fate?"
Chen Mu looked down upon the lives below.
...
In a remote mountain forest, an elderly servant, accompanied by a boy of fifteen or sixteen, was fleeing.
Behind them, dozens of men in black pursued, their eyes cold and blades drawn. One of them nocked an arrow, releasing it with a sharp twang, the arrowhead shimmering with lightning as it shot towards the boy.
"Hmph!"
The old servant snorted, lifting the boy with one hand while the other swiftly intercepted the arrow, grasping it firmly in his palm.
The arrow exploded, emitting a burst of lightning, but it eventually dissipated in the servant's hand.
However, when the servant tossed the arrow aside, his palm revealed scorch marks, indicating he hadn't escaped unscathed.
"Uncle Wu!"
The boy, named Yu An, noticed the injury and voiced his concern.
The servant, addressed as Uncle Wu, didn't pause, continuing to carry Yu An through the forest. "Young Master, rest assured. Although this Thunderbolt Arrow contains some thunder power, the archer's skill is lacking, unable to unleash its full potential. It poses no significant threat to me. Just ahead is the Nectar River. I've practiced the Water Gate Lineage for many years, and once we reach the river, I'll ensure your safety from the pursuers."
The boy, Yu An, was from the Yu Family, a distant branch.
In the current world, the Yu Family stood at the pinnacle of the Great Xuan World. Even distant branches rarely faced such bold attacks.
The pursuers, also from the Yu Family, belonged to another branch.
Where there are people, there is conflict. The Yu Family, having developed for tens of thousands of years, had become the world's foremost clan, and internal strife was inevitable. Resources and status were at stake, turning even brothers into enemies.
Yu An's branch faced a similar fate. His father, Yu Xin Yuan, was a rising talent from a distant branch, once dominating his peers. He even challenged the main branch for the rightful position but ultimately failed.
Factional struggles were ruthless, especially in smaller regions. The clan leader held near-imperial power, and attempts by side branches to seize control often ended in brutal consequences.
Yu An's branch was nearly annihilated!
Yu An himself was hunted by the main branch. Fortunately, a loyal servant, Wu Nan, protected him, allowing them to escape and hide their identities. However, they were recently discovered, leading to this pursuit.
Wu Nan shielded Yu An, deflecting arrows from behind as they fled. After escaping for several dozen miles, a mighty river finally came into view.
The Nectar River! Despite its name, the river was dry and murky, its waters turbulent. Even martial artists who had trained their sinews and bones would hesitate to enter. Only those who practiced the Water Gate Lineage and reached the Five Organs Realm could do so with ease.
Just as Wu Nan approached the riverbank, his expression changed.
On the riverbank stood a middle-aged man in a blue robe.
Wu Nan recognized the man, Yu Chen, from the main branch. He was a Six Halls Realm cultivator, a top-tier expert in this remote area. The strongest expert from the main branch in this region was merely a Grandmaster, far inferior to the main branch in the Central Plains.
In fact, the main branch here was just a side branch of the Central Plains, and they were a side branch of that side branch.
"This farce ends here," Yu Chen said, his voice calm as he addressed the fleeing Yu An and Wu Nan. "You've endured enough after running for so many days. There's no need to struggle further. Yu An is my nephew, and I won't take his life. I'll only cripple his roots, and the clan will provide him with a shop to live out his days."
"My young master, like his father, has a strong will," Wu Nan replied calmly. "Such a fate would be no different from death for him."
Wu Nan knew Yu An's temperament; this was not an outcome he would accept.
"Can you escape?" Yu Chen asked indifferently.
"I can only try," Wu Nan responded.
In the 1619 version of the book, as the words were spoken, the distance between the two parties narrowed. When they were just a few dozen meters apart, Wu Nan exerted his strength, launching Yu An high into the air, over Yu Chen's head, towards the opposite bank of the Nectar River.
Simultaneously, his frail and hunched body suddenly unfurled, his clothes tearing apart to reveal a withered and decaying form. However, within this decrepit body, a vibrant aura of fiery blood emerged.
"You are indeed loyal."
Yu Chen witnessed this, letting out a soft sigh, understanding that Wu Nan was employing a desperate measure. Such reckless burning of one's vital essence would leave him with severed meridians even if he survived, let alone at this age. Using such a secret technique would almost certainly lead to death.
"Don't even think of escaping!"
The pursuing black-clad figures behind him, upon seeing this, immediately shouted in response. In an instant, numerous arrows tore through the air, not aimed at Wu Nan but at Yu An, whom Wu Nan had thrown across the river.
Wu Nan let out a long howl, and with a mighty step, the river water exploded, creating towering waves that engulfed the arrows. Although they weren't completely shattered, their trajectories were altered.
At the same time, Wu Nan pounced towards Yu Chen.
Yu Chen shook his head slightly, casually waving his sleeve.
In an instant, the weather changed dramatically. Wu Nan's attack, filled with watery light and resembling a surging river, was forcefully halted in mid-air. Strong winds blew nearby, and the raging waters of Nectar River also dissipated.
Wu Nan coughed up blood, his eyes revealing a hint of shock.
"A...domain?"
"Not quite."
Yu Chen shook his head.
Bang!
Wu Nan finally succumbed to the overwhelming pressure, his body emitting a series of bone-breaking sounds as he fell backward like a torn sack. His gaze dimmed.
In the corner of his eye, he saw Yu An, whom he had thrown across the river, being swept up by the raging wind. Suspended in mid-air, Yu An's fall was hindered, and instead of reaching the opposite shore, he plummeted straight into the river.
Although Yu An possessed exceptional talent, having achieved the pinnacle of physical cultivation at the age of sixteen, falling into the turbulent Nectar River meant certain death.
Desperate to save him, Wu Nan was powerless, forced to watch helplessly as Yu An met his demise.
Whoosh! The black-clad figures reached the riverbank, all eyes fixed on the shore.
"That's enough."
Yu Chen glanced at the river.
Yu An's fall into the river meant certain death, and he had no intention of killing him personally.
"Yes."
Some of the black-clad figures initially intended to search the river, but upon hearing Yu Chen's words, they all responded in unison.
Yu Chen stared at the river, lost in thought for a moment before turning and disappearing.
...
Riverbed:
As soon as Yu An fell into the river, a fierce undercurrent swept him into the riverbed. He struggled to stabilize himself, but even with his perfected physical cultivation, he couldn't resist the raging current, which carried him along, crashing into the riverbed rocks.
After colliding with several riverbed rocks, he heard the sound of his bones shattering.
Was this the end?
The thought flashed through Yu An's mind, leaving him filled with regret.
Just then, he felt the raging undercurrent gradually calming, carrying him forward before pushing him into a cave at the riverbed.
Strangely, this cave was devoid of any water. As soon as he was swept in, he tumbled to the ground.
"Cough, cough..."
Yu An coughed up mud, and despite his agonizing pain, he managed to prop himself up and look ahead.
There, in this peculiar riverbed cave, stood a figure in a long robe, calmly gazing at him.
"S-Senior...cough...thank you...for saving my life..."
Yu An's eyes narrowed at the sight of Chen Mu, but he quickly recovered and spoke with difficulty.
Chen Mu observed him for a moment before speaking in a calm tone, "Are you from the Yu Family?"
"Yes..."
Yu An attempted to stand but was hindered by the intense pain in his waist, managing only to prop himself halfway up as he answered Chen Mu's question.
He didn't know who Chen Mu was, but to create such a peculiar cave at the riverbed, isolating all the river water, was clearly beyond the capabilities of ordinary cultivators, even those at the Five Organs or Six Halls Realm. Chen Mu appeared young, seemingly not much older than Yu An, but he might very well be a Grandmaster!
"The Yu Family..."
Chen Mu gazed into the distance, murmuring softly.
His question was rhetorical, as he already knew Yu An's identity and background at a glance.
After more than ten thousand years, the Yu Family had become a formidable force. Although they were all descendants of Xu Hongyu, by Yu An's generation, the bloodline had become so diluted that it was almost negligible.
The Yu Family's success today was partly due to Xu Hongyu and partly to him, or rather, primarily to him.
The cause laid by Xu Hongyu and Yu Jiujiang had led to the Yu Family's current state.
(End of Chapter)
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