Chapter 95: Hengyu's Excesses

Chapter 95: Hengyu's Excesses

Spring had once again arrived, with lush grass and vibrant trees sprouting new leaves, a scene of boundless vitality and hope, a pristine land filled with life.

Devotees prostrated themselves in devout reverence, chanting hymns to the Solar Sovereign, their prayers echoing through the temple and beyond, a continuous chorus of devotion.

A figure in purple reappeared, her gentle demeanor and graceful bearing should have been like the spring waters, radiating beauty that could rival the world.

But now, she seemed to have shed the dust of the world, her skin as smooth as jade, looking as if she had never partaken in mortal affairs, ethereal and sacred.

"I, Liu Ruyan, have come to fulfill my vow, to thank the Solar Sovereign for granting my wishes. May the Sovereign live for eternity", she knelt before the statue, bowing in deep reverence.

Shaohua slowly opened her eyes and looked at the child in Liu Ruyan's arms, remaining silent.

After paying homage to the Solar Sovereign, Liu Ruyan sought out Shaohua, wanting to entrust her child to her care.

"I, a humble woman, am unworthy to raise this child. Please, Master, take care of him", Liu Ruyan knelt on the ground, holding the swaddled infant in her hands.

"This is his child. You should take him to the Northern Dipper Jiang family", Shaohua said.

"I cannot. I have no ties with him anymore, but the child is innocent."

Liu Ruyan lowered her head, tears streaming down her face. She had led a dissolute life, but the child was pure and innocent, and she could not follow in her footsteps, hoping for no connection at all.

After a long while, Shaohua finally took the child.

It was a baby girl, plump and adorable, reminding her of another small figure.

"I will raise her in the Sun God Sect. You need not come here again", Shaohua glanced at Liu Ruyan one last time and asked, "What is her name?"

"Please, Master, give her a name!" Liu Ruyan bowed again.

In truth, she had already named the child. She had once seen the beauty of the green mountains and believed that the mountains would see her the same way. Her name was Liu Ruyi.

"Let's call her Luoyao", Shaohua said.

The clear jade shines brightly, and the pure beauty of Luoyao flows like a stream.

Luoyao had no surname, but her name was clear and beautiful, pure and flawless, and her future would be radiant.

A certain great emperor of the present was unaware that he had become a father.

Speaking of which, this libertine emperor had quite a few offspring, which was why he had the confidence to establish a family.

With a harem of wives and a house full of descendants, this was his true portrayal.

Four thousand years passed in the blink of an eye, and Jiang Hengyu reached the end of his life.

Of course, even in his old age, he only had a head of white hair, his appearance and physique remained unchanged, having diligently practiced the Ageless Aesthetic Art, remaining handsome and elegant even in his old age.

"Damn it, I have lived a life without calamity, and yet I only lived for twelve thousand years. Could it really be that my excessive indulgences in my youth have depleted my essence?"

Jiang Hengyu was so angry that he died, but then he immediately revived.

"Where has the Immortal Sovereign hidden himself? Even in my current state, he still hasn't shown up. I don't believe he is truly dead. Is he badly injured, or is he wary of the Eastern Empress?"

Jiang Hengyu waited, but there was no sign of movement.

He had also searched the edges of the universe, and while he found nothing, he had seen a celestial sword cleaving through chaos, and beneath it, a Primordial Stone Egg.

The Immortal Heaven Sword had drawn the essence of chaos to nurture the egg, and it had already shown some signs of life.

"The Eastern Empress faked her death to escape, and the world believed she was gone. Even if others doubted it, they could only suspect. The Immortal Sovereign must know the truth. He was more severely injured and did not want to face the Eastern Empress."

"The Immortal Sovereign only managed to escape with a sliver of his soul. To fully recover would be extremely difficult. Even the so-called Phoenix Rebirth requires a body. How can one return from the heavens without a body?"

Jiang Hengyu had a thought. Perhaps the Primordial Stone Egg was not the Immortal Sovereign's rebirth body but a means to reincarnate through another body.

His body trembled slightly, the decayed aura dissipating, and he regained his youth, living another lifetime.

Everyone could feel the fluctuations of his Great Dao, and the universe trembled with the power of the cosmos.

People knew that Emperor Hengyu had lived a second life.

"A second life can be achieved with the Elixir of Immortality, but it only grants a new lifespan without any transformation. Ascending to immortality in the mortal realm is incredibly difficult."

Jiang Hengyu let out a long sigh, thinking of the woman who had left him in awe, a celestial beauty.

The gap between people can sometimes be so vast as to be unimaginable.

"Hmm, she didn't come to seek me out, and those two Peaches of Immortality have already been consumed. Where did Jiang Hengyu get the Elixir of Immortality?"

Shaohua was awakened by the disturbance in the Dao, and after a quick calculation, she discovered that the boy had gone to the Deadless Mountains and spent a thousand years meditating under the ancient enlightenment tea tree, eventually picking a rare divine fruit from it.

As for his failed attempt to trick the Immortal Sovereign, it could only be said that his acting skills were lacking and he needed more practice.

After that, the universe remained peaceful.

After accompanying his two lifelong wives on their final journey, Emperor Hengyu left home, wandering the mortal realm for over a thousand years.

Few people knew of his whereabouts, and he only returned to the Northern Dipper Jiang family a few times.

Each time he returned, he brought back a few new family members, ostensibly to strengthen the clan.

Another few thousand years passed, and the second life of Hengyu gradually came to an end.

Old age had robbed him of his former vigor, so he came to the Yaochi Homeland with a heart full of trepidation.

In his first life, he had defeated all the contemporary geniuses, attained the Dao, and become an emperor, ruling the world with absolute authority. The heavens and the earth were his to command, and he lived a life of unparalleled freedom and ease.

Even in his later years, he had the audacity to try and fish for the Immortal Emperor. Wasn't that bold?

In his second life, he was reborn and once again revered by all. The so-called Forbidden Domain Sovereigns were nothing but a bunch of scoundrels clinging to their last breaths, hiding in their domains awaiting death. Who dared to step out and face him?

That was how confident and spirited he was!

"A mere Immortality Cultivation technique? Anybody with hands can do it. I just don't bother to study it", Hengyu muttered to himself, barely finding a reason to justify his lack of interest.

In truth, he had tried it during his spare time and found it to be incredibly challenging. After several attempts, he finally gave up.

Instead of wasting more energy on studying Immortality Cultivation techniques or Ascension methods, he decided to enjoy the days while his body still allowed it, living the life of a carefree immortal.

"Hengyu requests an audience with the Eastern Empress."

Jiang Hengyu's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the Yaochi Homeland, though no one outside knew of it.

But the response was silence.

He couldn't help but scratch his head, suppressing a growing unease. He took a deep breath and tried again.

"Sis, it's me, Little Jiang. I can't hold on much longer!"

"Good sister, please come to my aid! Otherwise, I might have to take drastic measures!"

Seeing no response, Hengyu's heart sank. Had something gone wrong with his Eastern Empress sister's transformation?

He carefully surveyed the surroundings, sensing the cosmic trends, and finally dug a hole in the ground, breaking the seal to enter the Yaochi Homeland.

"Didn't you have a few hundred years left? What's with this timidity?"

A clear and elegant voice echoed, and Jiang Hengyu suddenly felt a chill down his neck.

A celestial sword appeared silently, and before he could even notice, it was already resting against his throat.

"Ha, ha, a bit nervous, I guess. Now I understand why ancient emperors would change so much in their later years. Facing the end of their days can drive a person to the brink of madness."

Jiang Hengyu chuckled awkwardly, his hand on his waist, turning his physical weakness into nervousness. He gently moved the Mortal Realm Sword away, sighing in relief.

This sword was truly terrifying, with a world-shaking edge and killing aura, yet it was all contained, like a blade sheathed and hidden. It was hard to imagine the awe-inspiring power it would unleash in a battle.

At first glance, the sword appeared as a single, ancient piece, but upon closer inspection, it was revealed to be a perfect blend of six different celestial metals, seamlessly fused together.

There was always a rumor that when various celestial metals were melted together and refined into a perfect imperial weapon, it could potentially transform into a celestial artifact, becoming the most powerful weapon in the world.

To him, this sword was already a semi-celestial artifact, just one step away from the real thing!

"Sorry, this child hasn't tasted imperial blood for tens of thousands of years, so it's a bit excited", Shaohua said lightly.

Jiang Hengyu: "."

"I was just joking about the drastic measures. Even if I die, I would never degrade myself by aligning with the Forbidden Domain Sovereigns!"

Feeling the sword poke his waist again, Jiang Hengyu's face turned grim, and he quickly assured her.

"You can try to walk the Mortal-Realm Ascension path. If you can't reverse your life, at least preserving yourself will give you a chance to ascend in the future", Shaohua said.

"Let me try again. If it doesn't work, I've found a special method to step down from the Imperial Ascension Path, with a much smaller cost", Jiang Hengyu sighed.

"Give it your best shot", Shaohua encouraged him.

"If it really doesn't work, I'll be counting on you to save me", Jiang Hengyu bowed to the woman before him.

"We'll see. But I have a feeling you've already made up your mind, haven't you?" Shaohua raised an eyebrow.

"Even if I can't achieve immortality or enter the Celestial Expanse, I can still bring peace and order to the future, leaving a legacy of grandeur!" Jiang Hengyu smiled freely.

His life had been too smooth, with no significant events to be remembered by future generations. Even after attaining the Dao, he hadn't taken any action.

This was the true reason he changed his mind.

It wasn't about immortality or ascension; he needed to prove his strength at least once!

Jiang Hengyu laughed and left, his demeanor carefree and unbound, having let go of everything.

In his life, he had lived extravagantly, recklessly, and gloriously, and he had no regrets.

His greatest regret was that the celestial maiden was within reach yet unattainable. But it was better this way. May the Great Dao accompany Shaohua, and may Shaohua always be with the Great Dao.

Soon after, a terrifying tremor echoed through the cosmic wilderness, as if a great calamity had descended or a massive war had erupted, causing widespread speculation.

At this time, another rumor circulated, saying that Emperor Hengyu's lifespan was about to end, and he was making a final attempt to break into the Celestial Expanse.

In reality, it was his long-refined artifact that had emerged, drawing down the heavenly tribulation, which he intended to leave as a legacy for the Gu Hua Dynasty in the Central Region.

Three years later, the cosmos shook again.

This time, the rumor became reality.

Emperor Hengyu passed away, his Great Dao fading, causing the Nine Heavens and Ten Realms to tremble.

But in the ancient forbidden lands, another person lay beside him.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end