Chapter 94: I Soar and Swagger, Why Pursue Immortality?

Chapter 94: I Soar and Swagger, Why Pursue Immortality?

"Big Sister, please don’t add to the chaos. If it comes to it, I’ll just give you a beating." In the Solar Theocracy, Emperor Hengyu was on the verge of tears.

His past scandals had all been exposed, and now a group of women were blocking the door, probably only held back by the awe of the Sacred Sovereign’s dignity.

"What do you mean, give me a beating?" Shaohua was genuinely confused.

But who else could have such an ability to conjure things out of thin air?

Over the years, her Ever-Constructing Art had become even more refined and powerful, capable of turning the mundane into the miraculous.

Just that moment, conjuring a Quasi-Emperor-grade artifact out of nowhere, had left the newly ascended Emperor Hengyu completely dumbfounded.

"Ah", Emperor Hengyu stepped out of the temple with a sense of resignation.

The great battle in the Exoheavens Battlefield was ultimately stopped by Emperor Hengyu himself. No one knew what happened in the end, but according to historical records,

a month later, Emperor Hengyu reappeared, and people were surprised to find him drinking and discussing the Dao with another person.

"I won’t disturb you, Daoist friend." Xiao Yan, noticing the growing crowd, couldn’t help but laugh.

"Hey, why say that, Daoist brother? Wouldn’t it be a beautiful tale if we discussed the Dao together?" Emperor Hengyu pulled him back.

Those present soon recognized Xiao Yan, the Perfect Saint Body.

No wonder, in this world, only he could match Emperor Hengyu, able to sit and discuss the Dao on equal terms.

"Eight hundred years ago, I set out from the Ziwei Star, beginning my journey to the path of emperors, a one-way road that changed everything. The vibrant scenes of that time are still vivid in my mind", Emperor Hengyu sighed with emotion.

The two discussed the Dao for dozens of days in the Solar Theocracy, elucidating various profound truths of the universe, enlightening many with their insights, like a nectar revelation.

Few knew that in the nearby Solar Temple, a being who had walked the Dao path even further was silently listening, nodding and shaking his head from time to time.

After settling matters, Emperor Hengyu left the Ziwei Star, invited by the Perfect Saint Body, and came to the Beidou Ancient Star.

He traversed all the forbidden realms and, as expected, finally arrived at the Jade Pond Holy Land, the sacred ground of female cultivators and the dream destination of countless male cultivators!

"The Jade Pond Holy Land truly lives up to its name. It’s no wonder it has produced two empresses, the Western Empress and the Eastern Empress, rare and remarkable women indeed." Emperor Hengyu felt a chill run down his neck, and his lips twitched involuntarily.

Heaven have mercy, he really didn’t mean anything by it; he was just filled with admiration.

But it had to be said, the female cultivators of the Jade Pond were indeed a feast for the eyes. If it weren’t for the two divine maidens by his side and the warning glance from the shadows, he might have been tempted to stay.

Using this as a test for the current emperor, who could withstand it?

Upon hearing the news, the people of Beidou flocked to pay their respects to the emperor.

Emperor Hengyu welcomed all, then spent seven days discussing the Dao in the Jade Pond Holy Land before quietly visiting the site of the Jade Pond, personally paying homage to a figure rumored to have long passed away.

"Emperor Hengyu pays his respects to the Eastern Empress!"

This was the first time he had seen the true appearance of the divine sister, and he was immediately struck by her celestial beauty.

"Sit."

Shaohua said this calmly, pointing a finger, and a mat woven entirely of Dao principles appeared on the ground.

By the empty banks of the immortal pond, the two sat facing each other.

It was said that emperors rarely met, but now they were in the same place. If this news ever got out, it would shake the world for ages to come.

The two discussed the Dao, with Emperor Hengyu mainly seeking guidance from Shaohua, treating her with the respect of a half-master. The atmosphere was solemn, devoid of any romantic tension.

"Have you achieved immortality?" Emperor Hengyu asked finally.

"Attaining immortality in the mortal world is incredibly difficult. I am merely on the path", Shaohua shook her head, sighing lightly.

Emperor Hengyu fell silent for a long time, then slapped his thigh and said, "If it’s that hard, I won’t force myself!"

"Why?" Shaohua’s expression remained calm, her peerless beauty showing no ripples, as if she had already anticipated his response.

"I soar and swagger, why should I worry about immortality?" Emperor Hengyu laughed heartily. "I’ve come to this world, and that’s enough!"

He had finally achieved enlightenment; did he really want to continue striving for immortality, a path even more arduous than enlightenment?

And even if he achieved immortality, would the struggles truly end? Not necessarily.

In the end, it was human desire that knew no bounds. As an emperor, he might still yearn for immortality, but why not savor the present and enjoy the blessings of the mortal world?

"It’s not that there’s only one path to immortality. The Immortal Expanse is real, and even if it’s difficult to enter now, there will be opportunities in the future", Shaohua said thoughtfully.

"If all else fails, there’s the Cleftworld, where one can achieve longevity."

Silence filled the Jade Pond.

Emperor Hengyu closed his eyes, then opened them again, his gaze as resolute as ever.

If he had been swayed by her words, he would have admitted it.

A man as carefree as him couldn’t just be carefree for one or two lifetimes, could he?

"Big Sister, you’re my real sister. Just forget what I said earlier, and remember to take me with you when you achieve immortality, Sister!"

Emperor Hengyu could both take and let go. A little bit of pride was nothing to lose, especially when he had already lost much of it with the Eastern Empress.

After all, those ancient emperors had gone mad in their quest for immortality, even to the point of causing the Ebon Tempest to extend their lives. What was wrong with clinging to a powerful figure?

And, to be honest, those legs were truly white and long.

Wait, why were they getting closer?

"Ah!!!"

The emperor’s vital qi disturbed the Beidou region, and the masses saw Emperor Hengyu retreating from the northern domain of the Eastern Wasteland, finally disappearing in the Central Plains.

At this moment, a great sage was following in Emperor Hengyu's footsteps and happened to witness the scene. He immediately inscribed it on his ancestral bone tablet: "I have seen Emperor Hengyu depart to Central Province."

Jiang Hengyu stood atop a mountain, paused to gaze into the distance, brushed off the non-existent dust from his clothes, and smiled faintly, his achievements and fame deeply concealed.

The deed was done!

Ten years later, he refined an imperial armament with Phoenix-Blood Crimson Gold at Five Finger Mountain, hoping to lure out the Undying Heavensovereign, but to no avail.

A hundred years later, he adopted the pseudonym Gu Hua and established a royal dynasty in Central Province, bestowing the title of concubine upon his beloved women.

A thousand years later, he returned to the Northern Region, choosing a location not too far from the Jade Pond Holy Land, and founded a family.

This took many by surprise, as no one expected Emperor Hengyu to establish his legacy in his homeland but instead chose Beidou.

Moreover, he did not found any sect or holy land but created a family to carry on his lineage.

On the day he founded the family, he also got married, taking the two most radiant jewels of the Ziwei Star—Taiyin and the Solar Theocracy's Holy Maiden—as his brides.

Countless people came to offer gifts, and even standing by the gate to share in the emperor's good fortune could give one's descendants something to boast about for years to come.

Even Shaohua herself emerged to present a gift, nothing particularly rare—just two seedless peach fruits.

Yes, they were for the two brides, not for a certain rascal.

In a sense, she could be considered an elder of both families.

Five thousand years later, the Perfect Saint Body reached the end of his life. Not being a true emperor, ten thousand years was his limit.

Emperor Hengyu personally attended the memorial, deeply moved.

In reality, Xiao Yan was nearing the end of his life and had been sealed in the Immortal Source by Shaohua, carrying an Elixir of Immortality to the Huanggu Forbidden Realm to accompany his two masters.

As for his wife and his most beloved children, they had long been sealed in the Divine Source and taken into the Huanggu Forbidden Realm with him.

The other descendants chose to leave Wangcheng and head south to Five Finger Mountain, where they established a new Mountainside Sect.

A thousand years later, a female sage with white hair arrived at the Solar Theocracy of the Ziwei Star.

Liu Ruyan, with her cranefeather youthful complexion, wearing the Yinyang Imperial Violet Robe, still retained her charm, now with a touch of fragility that evoked pity, her every smile and frown tugging at the heartstrings.

But she had not smiled for seven thousand years.

First, she worshipped the Sun Holy Sovereign like any other believer, kneeling before the statue and bowing her head in devout prayer.

Then, she knelt before the high priestess who had stood by the statue for a thousand years, her face obscured, and trembled as she said, "Your humble servant, Liu Ruyan, humbly requests the Immortal Master to allow me to see him once more."

"You are a great sage; it should not be difficult for you to go to Beidou. Why come to me?" the embodiment of Shaohua said.

"I am about to die and only wish to see him one last time", Liu Ruyan knelt there, tears streaming down her face, saying nothing more.

For thousands of years, she had confined herself to the Ziwei Star, never leaving, knowing that even if she went to Beidou, she would not see him, and why bring shame upon herself?

"Ai", after a long pause, Shaohua sighed softly and reached out to lift her frail body.

Longing had made her condition worse, weakening her to the brink of death.

"As I said, it is almost time", Shaohua said.

"My existence is a message he gave, in fact, you could have come to me earlier", Shaohua continued.

"I dare not, lowly servant", Liu Ruyan lowered her eyes and said.

"Do you know who I am?" Shaohua asked.

"L—lowly servant does not know", Liu Ruyan began, but Shaohua lifted her chin, interrupting her, "No need to belittle yourself."

Liu Ruyan's heart trembled; this gesture was just like their first meeting.

This was the first time Shaohua's embodiment left the temple. She reached out, grasping boundless stellar radiance and refining it into primordial essence to restore Liu Ruyan's depleted vitality.

"I will let you see him."

It was her initial decision that led to this outcome.

"Can you, can you transform into your former appearance?" Liu Ruyan suddenly spoke, mustering all her courage.

Shaohua was puzzled but still granted her wish. The youthful sage appeared, in a black robe, as if time had left no mark on him.

At the same time, Shaohua's true form emerged from Beidou, went directly to the Jiang family, and without a word, knocked out Jiang Hengyu, binding him and sending him to the Ziwei Star.

An emperor of eight thousand years was in his prime!

If it had been anyone else, they would have died a thousand times over.

Jiang Hengyu and Liu Ruyan, after thousands of years of separation, met again, momentarily mute.

Then, like the golden breeze and jade dew, their reunion was like kindling meeting an inferno, unstoppable.

Three years later, Emperor Hengyu leaned against the wall, leaving for the expanse of the stars, while Liu Ruyan resolved her heartache and ascended to the rank of Quasi-Emperor.

"Pah, what kind of Emperor Hengyu, not much to write home about."

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—From the song "Our Unfettered Generation"

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Health and longevity to all, love you all!!

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(End of Chapter)

Chapter end