The Courage to Pursue Immortality, Reunion with Third Senior Brother

Chen Changsheng's words made Zuo Xinghe freeze for a moment.

"Sir, you... how could you be the Undertaker?"

"Why can't I be the Undertaker? Don't forget, I sell coffins, and I even handle the full Funeral Service Package."

"Is it strange for someone who specializes in collecting bodies and burying the dead to be called the Undertaker?"

Faced with Chen Changsheng's answer, Zuo Xinghe was once again speechless.

Chen Changsheng's words sounded strange, but logically, there did not seem to be anything wrong with them.

Seeing this, Chen Changsheng smiled. "When faced with certain information, people always add embellishments, perhaps choosing versions that benefit themselves."

"After being passed around by many people, the original truth becomes utterly unrecognizable."

"If you want to uncover the truth from countless legends, you need to calm down and face the essence of the matter."

"Once you achieve that, you can piece together the truth of the past from scattered clues."

With that, Chen Changsheng summoned his flying sword and left the warship.

Seeing Chen Changsheng leave, Zuo Xinghe immediately shouted, "Sir, where are you going?"

"I am not skilled at fighting, so I won't involve myself in this matter for the time being."

"Though Xuanwu Kingdom is powerful, it won't be able to destroy Night Moon Kingdom anytime soon. I'll handle some matters first and return after a while."

By the time Chen Changsheng's words reached Zuo Xinghe's ears, Chen Changsheng had already vanished.

After Chen Changsheng disappeared, Emperor Zuo appeared beside Zuo Xinghe.

Looking in the direction Chen Changsheng had left, Zuo Xinghe hesitated before saying, "Father Emperor, why didn't you stop him?"

"Aren't you afraid he'll run away?"

Facing Zuo Xinghe's question, Emperor Zuo said calmly, "You are very clever, but your experience is still insufficient."

"More precisely, you still cannot distinguish the differences between people."

"If one day you can see through Chen Changsheng, then you will be qualified to control Xuanwu Kingdom."

"Unfortunately, I do not have enough time. You will have to walk the road ahead yourself."

A trace of reluctance flashed through Zuo Xinghe's eyes at those words.

"Father Emperor, must you truly go to the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Ground?"

"Perhaps there are other ways in this world to extend Father Emperor's life."

Emperor Zuo smiled at the confusion in Zuo Xinghe's eyes.

"You truly are too much like me. Back then, I was exactly as you are now."

"Eager to learn with humility, yet scorning all beneath heaven."

"When I was young, I believed there was nothing in the world that could stump me. As for Lifespan, I never gave it the slightest thought."

"Back then, I believed that in life, one should be a hero among men; in death, a champion among ghosts."

"If I lived, I would live with earth-shaking splendor. If I died, I would die with carefree grace. The wretched act of clinging to life was what I despised most."

"But after living for over two thousand years, I changed."

Listening to Emperor Zuo, Zuo Xinghe merely lowered his head in silence and offered no opinion.

Seeing this, Emperor Zuo smiled and continued.

"Among all my sons, you despise me the most."

"You believe that the Father Emperor who once looked down upon the world has become weak. You believe your Father Emperor does not dare face death."

"Thud!"

As he spoke, Zuo Xinghe dropped to his knees at once.

Yet Emperor Zuo did not stop because of Zuo Xinghe's actions. He continued.

"Your view is right, but it is also wrong."

"You are right because you should have such thoughts at your age."

"You are wrong because you think too little of me."

"When mortals praise love, they often speak of seas drying up and rocks crumbling, of vast seas turning into mulberry fields."

"Because in their understanding, stones do not rot, and the sea will never run dry."

"But when you watch a stone slowly turn to dust, and an endless sea become plains stretching ten thousand miles—"

"Then you will realize that time is the greatest enemy of all living things."

"It is powerful enough to change everything, including those things we once regarded as truth."

"You only know that facing death requires courage, but you do not know that pursuing immortality even after knowing death requires even greater courage."

"If you sat in my position, would you have the courage to pursue immortality as I have?"

Faced with Emperor Zuo's words, Zuo Xinghe began to think seriously.

After a long while, Zuo Xinghe said word by word, "Your son does not have that courage."

"Ha ha ha!"

"Not having that courage is not necessarily a bad thing. At least your future will be stable."

"If possible, you must make good use of Chen Changsheng in the future."

At those words, Zuo Xinghe frowned.

"Why?"

"Because Chen Changsheng possesses something I do not."

"Ten years ago, you went to train in the Demon Beast Mountain Range and were later saved by Chen Changsheng."

"In truth, your mother and I had always been watching over you. You simply never noticed."

"I heard every word of your conversation with Chen Changsheng. From that moment on, I became interested in that coffin seller."

"Afterward, I observed him for ten years. Ten years is not long for cultivators, but it is enough to bring about some changes."

"Yet ten years have passed, and Chen Changsheng is still exactly the same as before."

"As though time has no effect on him at all."

"Cultivators seek change, because only change can break through bottlenecks."

"A nation, however, seeks stability. Only through stability can it endure longer."

"Though I am the emperor of Xuanwu Kingdom, I am also a cultivator. Now is precisely the time for me to seek change."

"But you are different. You still have a long road ahead, so you must seek stability."

"With Chen Changsheng assisting you, the road ahead will be far smoother."

Hearing this, Zuo Xinghe hesitated. "But Chen Changsheng does not seem interested in power."

"That is your matter. I cannot help you settle everything. Some things must be done by your own hand."

With that, Emperor Zuo turned and left.

Zuo Xinghe remained kneeling where he was, brow tightly furrowed as though deep in thought.

Supreme Clarity Temple.

Li Jinshui lay weakly on the ground, with a freshly dug pit beside him.

Even his only remaining eye could no longer see.

Just then, the sound of fallen leaves being crushed underfoot rang out. Li Jinshui, who had nearly closed his eyes, suddenly struggled and said, "Little Junior Brother, is that you?"

Seeing his once free-spirited Third Senior Brother reduced to such a miserable state, Chen Changsheng pressed his lips together and said softly, "Third Senior Brother, it's me."

Hearing that familiar voice, Li Jinshui smiled.

"I knew you would come, because you always keep the promises you make."

Seeing this, Chen Changsheng helped Li Jinshui sit up.

"Senior Brother, you're about to die. I should hurry and change you into your burial clothes."

"Once your corpse turns cold, changing your clothes will be troublesome."