Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 344: Return After Reaching the Ranking of Earth

In this world, everyone knew about the previous era and the existence of gods and demons, and they either sought their power or believed in them.

However, very few knew that some gods and demons were still alive.

Those who knew often had encountered them directly. Otherwise, who would believe someone claiming that beings survived the collapse of the era and still existed?

Once contact was made, various relationships naturally formed. Ignoring their existence and living independently became nearly impossible.

As people continued to cultivate and reach higher levels, they encountered numerous ancient connections that were impossible to sever. In fact, most people were inheritors of these ancient legacies.

Thus, they either opposed them or became their agents in the mortal realm, striving to help them fully revive.

The former described Xia Longyuan, while the latter described Bo’e, the Great Shaman of Tngri.

In a certain sense, Zhao Changhe could also be considered to be part of the latter group, though he harbored rebellious thoughts.

Yuxu looked at Zhao Changhe with a serious expression, trying to determine which category Zhao Changhe belonged to.

Based on Zhao Changhe’s cultivation level, he should not have encountered such things yet. If he had been nurtured by gods or demons from a young age, his inheritances would not have been so fragmented. His fundamental cultivation technique, the Vicious Blood Art, did not align with that thought, and his techniques could only really be considered “adequate” at best.

How could an agent of gods or demons have such a mediocre upbringing?

Ah, his supporting internal art should be the Six Harmonies Art, which was created by Xia Longyuan after he unified the world. It’s said that Zhao Changhe is a prince... But then why doesn’t he know any of Xia Longyuan’s other techniques?

Yuxu slowly asked, “Did Xia Longyuan send you to Kunlun?”

Zhao Changhe was taken aback for a moment, but then he laughed. “This has nothing to do with him.”

Yuxu was silent for a moment and then asked, “What are your thoughts on them?”

Zhao Changhe replied, “Actually, I don’t have strong opinions about them... If I were to put myself in their shoes, if I were living my life peacefully and suddenly faced a calamity that left me gravely injured and forced into hiding to survive, would it not be natural for me to seek revival?”

These words were sincere. Zhao Changhe resented the blind woman’s deception, but he never felt that their desire to be revived was wrong. If she had not tricked him, he would not have used his beauty lotion to try and insult her.

Yuxu looked at him for a while and nodded. “There seems to be more to your thoughts. Continue.”

Zhao Changhe continued, “If I use myself as an example again, assuming I was severely injured and hiding somewhere, if someone happened to pass by, I would hope that they would help me with things to ensure my revival. I would request assistance and offer ample rewards. If they agree, I would be eternally grateful. If they refuse, I wouldn’t be able to force them.”

Yuxu gradually smiled, “Well said. But what if the assistance you need is very troublesome and no one is willing to help?”

“Then I might resort to some deceitful means...” Zhao Changhe paused here, then laughed. “If they end up finding out and wanting to beat me up, I would accept that too.”

“Beat you up...” Yuxu laughed heartily. “You’re at the ninth layer of the Profound Gate, half a step into the Profound Mysteries. If that was just a normal person, how could he beat you up? Would you willingly sit there and let him beat you up?”

Zhao Changhe was silent.

Yuxu added, “Everyone in the world is just a normal person. After you wake up, you will look around and see that everything has been reduced to ruin. Will you continue to live your own life, or will you spread your Dao techniques widely? Or would you... feel that you can rule over the entire world?”

Zhao Changhe thought for a while, shook his head, and said, “It depends on the person. If it were me, I would just continue to live my own life, and cut down those I find displeasing.”

“That’s right, it depends on the individual. We can only hope they think the same way.” Yuxu’s expression was calm. “Unless there’s a devoted agent who has been striving for this all along... How many others, upon finding out, would be willing to entrust the future to someone else?”

Zhao Changhe finally nodded. “Yes. It seems irreconcilable.”

In the Sword Emperor’s tomb, whether it was Tang Wanzhuang, Sisi, or Zhao Changhe himself, there had been no need for discussion; the consensus had instantly been to keep it sealed.

Who would dare entrust the future to the whims of the revived Sword Emperor? The tomb was filled with a dense vicious qi. If he wished to unleash a massacre, who could resist?

It would be much better to simply let him lie in his tomb.

The Sword Emperor was right to want to revive, but everyone else not wanting him to revive was not wrong either.

Yuxu looked at him for a long time and suddenly said, “Seeing as you speak this way, it seems you aren’t an agent.”

Zhao Changhe said, “Of course I’m not.”

Yuxu said, “Since that’s the case, you should use their legacies sparingly.”

Zhao Changhe asked, “Is it because there would be a sense of indebtedness?”

“That’s one reason... But whether someone feels indebted or not also depends on the person,” said Yuxu lightly. “The key is, using their legacies or inheritances might lead to some strange consequences. Some simple skills or techniques are fine, but as for cultivation techniques and arts, it would be best to use them sparingly if you can, or create your own.”

At this, Yuxu laughed heartily. “It seems that the Blood God Cult’s inheritance suits you quite well. That ancient demon god likely wasn’t particularly powerful. If something goes wrong, dealing with it should not be too troublesome. Moreover, it’s highly probable that he’s truly dead. If he had any awareness, then knowing that he has a legacy in this world, the Blood God Cult would not be so pathetic...”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

“In my youth, I admired the Dao of the immortal palace[1] in ancient Kunlun, and thus took on the name Yuxu, seeing it to be passed down onto me just like how the surnames of the Cui and Wang Clans are passed down. In hindsight, it was ridiculous. There were no gods or demons in ancient times named Yuxu. It was all just a legend spoken of in tales.” Yuxu laughed again. “Now, I lie drunk in Kunlun, amidst the clouds and mountains. I am Yuxu, who dares say otherwise?”

Zhao Changhe cupped his fist in respect and said, “Indeed.”

In his heart, he began to piece things together. Yuxu had inherited the Daoist legacy, believing himself to follow the Dao, but some entities might not see it that way, thinking he followed their path instead.

Tensions thus emerged.

Yuxu was probably forced to do certain tasks for them, perhaps to repay some kind of debt, but it was highly likely that these tasks went against his own will. Instead of doing them himself, he tricked evildoers into it.

It was likely that not all the evildoers who entered the mountain died. Some of them could be working on certain tasks. Occasionally, some of them might leave the mountain and enter the city, which would explain why people believed that the evildoers were hiding and being protected in the mountain.

If this reasoning was correct, then it suggested that those evildoers were likely being driven to search for the Heavenly Tome.

The Heavenly Tome page was probably not in Yuxu’s possession. Otherwise, the blind woman would have had no reason to send Zhao Changhe here to look for it. A Profound Gate martial artist seeking a page of the Heavenly Tome from the figure ranked fourth on the Ranking of Heaven? That was no different from a death wish. It would make much more sense if the page of the Heavenly Tome was hidden somewhere within one of the secret realms across the peak, and Yuxu had not obtained it himself.

Furthermore, Yuxu may not even want it. It was possible that it was a completely different entity that truly sought it, and Yuxu was merely cooperating perfunctorily. If he were to obtain it himself, it might instead prove to be a burden.

He simply wanted to sleep and drink.

Initially, Zhao Changhe thought that Xia Longyuan was a rebel, but later realized that he was more of a challenger instead.

Yuzu, however, was a true rebel, though his nature or Dao made his form of rebellion appear more passive.

This completely explained Yuxu’s attitude to Zhao Changhe when he first arrived. It was why Yuxu told him not to ask about what he was doing in this place, and that it would not benefit him in the slightest. Instead, Yuxu urged him to leave and go where he needed to go.

Zhao Changhe suddenly asked, “If I want to have another drink with you, when would it be convenient?”

Yuxu looked at him for a while, then smiled. “When you reach the second layer of the Profound Mysteries and enter the Ranking of Earth. At that time, you may come again.”

Zhao Changhe nodded. “Where should I go now?”

Yuxu’s eyes bulged, and he almost threw his bowl at him. “If you wish to hone your Vicious Blood Art, where else should you go but Wushan?”

Zhao Changhe stood up and respectfully said, “Understood. I’ll come back to have a drink with you in the future, and I’ll bring the wine next time.”

1. This is specifically written as 玉虚 (yùxū), same as his name, here. In Daoism, Yuxu also refers to the residence of the Jade Emperor. ☜