Shengui Changsheng: Start from Zhenwuwei and add some points to cultivate immortality

"What are you looking at, Master?" Wang Xiaohu stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

The old monk turned around, his cloudy eyes facing him: "You bear the aura of the Seven Swords, have you come to stop the disaster?" He sighed, "The time-reading technique of this Hanging Temple was originally meant to warn the world, but it has unexpectedly become the root of disaster. What is in that amber of time and space is not the light of prophecy, but the 'shadow of the future'."

"The Shadow of the Future?"

“It’s the shadow cast by something that hasn’t happened yet in time and space.” The old monk’s fingers slid across the engraving. “Shadows can be good or bad. If a person with a wicked heart sees a bad shadow, they will try to make it come true, thinking it is ‘divine will,’ but in fact they are courting death.”

He suddenly grasped Wang Xiaohu's wrist, the warmth of his palm carrying a peaceful power: "Benefactor, if you enter the temple, never look at that amber. The clearer you see it, the easier it is to be entangled by its shadow."

Wang Xiaohu's heart skipped a beat. Just as he was about to ask another question, the camp suddenly erupted in commotion. The clouds and mist of the snow-capped mountain began to swirl, and the outline of the Hanging Temple became increasingly clear. The temple gate slowly opened, and a golden light shot out from within, enveloping the entire camp. The martial artists in the camp cried out in alarm and rushed towards the temple gate, only to be bounced back as they approached the light, as if they had crashed into an invisible wall.

"Only those with pure hearts can enter." The old monk's voice carried a hint of relief. "It seems that Buddha is still protecting this pure land."

Wang Xiaohu and Su Qingwan exchanged a glance and tried to walk towards the portal. Strangely, the golden light automatically parted as they approached, as if welcoming them. The two stepped into the portal, and behind them came the angry curses of other martial artists, but these were quickly blocked by the Buddhist light.

The courtyard of the Hanging Temple is paved with pure white jade stones, densely engraved with Sanskrit characters. Sunlight shines through the glazed tiles onto the ground, making the Sanskrit characters glow with golden light, forming a huge star map. On the lotus platform in the center of the star map sits a golden Buddha statue that is ten feet tall. The amber in the Buddha's palm emits a soft light, and the golden light flowing within the amber reveals some blurry images—like a great fire, or like a vast ocean.

"Is this the Shadow of the Future?" Su Qingwan walked to the lotus platform, and the image in the amber suddenly became clearer. She saw a familiar figure struggling in the sea of ​​fire. Upon closer inspection, it looked like Li Gou Dan from many years later!
"Don't look!" Wang Xiaohu quickly pulled her back. "The old monk said you'll be haunted by your shadow!"

Su Qingwan snapped back to reality, her face pale: "That scene just now... was too realistic."

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the courtyard. A man dressed in the robes of the Blood Shadow Sect walked in, a strange smile on his face, carrying an unconscious child in his hand: "It seems that only a 'pure heart' can pass through the Buddha's light." He threw the child on the ground, "This child has no impure thoughts in his heart, so I'll borrow his eyes to see the future."

Wang Xiaohu's eyes narrowed, and the Demon-Suppressing Sword was instantly drawn: "Let him go!"

"Don't be in such a hurry, Sword Master." The Blood Shadow Sect man smiled and stepped back, lightly tapping the child's head with his finger. "Let's see what fate awaits the Star Sword Sect in the future."

The child slowly opened his eyes and looked at the amber in the Buddha's palm. The golden light in the amber suddenly surged, and the scene became incredibly clear—the gate of the Star Sword Sect was engulfed in flames, the divine sword in the Sword Tomb was broken, countless figures lay in pools of blood, and standing in the sea of ​​fire was a boy who looked somewhat like Wang Xiaohu, holding half of the Demon-Suppressing Sword in his hand, his eyes empty.

"Do you see that?" the Blood Shadow Sect man laughed wildly. "This is destiny! The Star Sword Sect will be destroyed sooner or later!"

Su Qingwan's body trembled slightly. The scene she had just witnessed was so shocking that she almost believed it was real. Wang Xiaohu, however, gripped his sword tightly, the seven sword spirits between his brows glowing softly: "That wasn't fate, it's the shadow you wanted to see."

He stepped forward, the tip of the Demon-Suppressing Sword pointing at the Time-Space Amber: "The future hasn't happened yet, just like this Sanskrit star map. The position of each star will change, and the shadow will change accordingly. If you want it to come true, it's just wishful thinking."

"Nonsense!" the Blood Shadow Sect man roared, throwing out several Blood Shadow Needles. "This is fate! I'll make it come true right now!"

The Blood Shadow Needle, reeking of blood, shot towards the golden Buddha on the lotus platform, but was blocked by the Buddha's light as it approached, turning into ashes. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Wang Xiaohu swung his sword, and seven-colored sword energy wrapped around the man's wrist, slamming him hard to the ground.

“You’re looking at the shadows, but I’m guarding the present.” Wang Xiaohu’s voice was calm yet powerful. “Even if that day ever comes, I will use every moment of the present to change it, instead of hiding in the shadows and trembling like you.”

His words echoed like a thunderclap in the courtyard. The amber containing the Buddha's palm suddenly trembled violently, the images within blurring and shattering before finally transforming into specks of golden light that merged into the surrounding Sanskrit star map. The golden Buddha on the lotus pedestal seemed to smile, the beauty mark at the corner of his eye glowing faintly.

The Blood Shadow Sect man collapsed to the ground, his eyes vacant, muttering, "It's not fate...it's not fate..."

Wang Xiaohu released the child's pressure points and picked him up. The child rubbed his eyes and pointed to a bright star on the star map: "Uncle, that star is moving."

As everyone looked, they saw that the star representing the Star Sword Sect on the star map was slowly moving, avoiding a dim, ominous star next to it.

When they left the Hanging Temple, the old monk was still waiting by the boulder at the foot of the mountain. Hearing their footsteps, he smiled and nodded, "Benefactor, you have guarded your true self and your future." He took out a string of Bodhi seeds from his pocket and handed them to Wang Xiaohu, "This string of 'Soul-Stabilizing Beads' can help you block out shadows you shouldn't see."

Wang Xiaohu took the Bodhi seed. The bead felt warm and smooth to the touch, carrying a peaceful power. He suddenly understood that the so-called future is never predetermined. Just as the old monk said, it is only a shadow, and what determines the shape of the shadow is every choice and every act of protection in the present moment.

On the return journey, Su Qingwan spoke very little. Only when they were almost at the Starry Sky Sword Sect did she whisper, "Just now, inside the amber, I saw Li Gou Dan..."

“I know.” Wang Xiaohu held her hand. “But that’s just a shadow. We can write to him and tell him to stay away from fires in the future, and have Aman prepare more calming talismans for him, wouldn’t that be enough?”

Su Qingwan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled: "You're right."

Back at the Star Sword Sect, Wang Xiaohu immediately wrote letters to Li Gou Dan and A Man, reminding them to be careful. The children of Pu Hui Tang surrounded him, chattering about the interesting things that happened in the snow mountain. He picked up the Demon-Suppressing Sword and told them about the Buddha's light at the Hanging Temple and the Sanskrit star map, but he never mentioned the shadow of the future. As the sun set, Wang Xiaohu sat before the Sword Tomb, watching the phantoms of the seven divine swords swirling on the Demon-Suppressing Sword. He remembered the old monk's words, and those martial artists chasing shadows, and suddenly felt that protecting the present was more important than worrying about the future.

Su Qingwan brought over a bowl of hot tea and placed it beside him: "What are you thinking about?"

"I'm thinking about which herb to teach the children to recognize tomorrow." Wang Xiaohu took the tea, the steam blurring his features. "The 'Awakening Herb' is good; it can keep people alert and prevent them from being misled by random shadows."

Su Qingwan smiled, leaning on his shoulder as she gazed at the distant sunset. The sunset painted the sky crimson, and also the bluestone of the Sword Tomb; everything felt so warm and real.

The winter snow of the Star Sword Sect always carries a kind of clarity that cleanses all things.

Wang Xiaohu stood in front of the herb garden of Puhui Hall, looking at the newly planted Awakening Grass covered with snow, yet its leaves still showed a tender green. Su Qingwan walked over, wearing a thick fox fur coat and holding a hand warmer in her hands: "Master Xuanjizi sent someone with a letter saying that the 'Zhenyuan Tree' on Longevity Mountain has borne fruit ahead of schedule."

"The Zhenyuan Tree?" Wang Xiaohu took the letter, the paper carrying a faint medicinal fragrance. "Isn't that tree supposed to bear fruit only once every three hundred years? It's only been fifty years since it last bore fruit."

The letter, written in strong, vigorous handwriting, stated that the fruit of the Zhenyuan Tree contained the "origin of time," and that its premature fruiting was likely related to the "shadow of the future" at the Hanging Temple—fluctuations from the future were traveling back along the timeline, interfering with the growth of all things in the present world. Even more worrying was the appearance of "time moss" around the fruit; wherever the moss passed, vegetation would instantly wither and flourish, as if time had drained its life force.

“Time moss…” Su Qingwan frowned. “I’ve seen records of it in ancient books. It says that it’s a byproduct of time rifts. If it’s allowed to spread, the entire Longevity Mountain will be dragged into the time turbulence.”

Wang Xiaohu folded the letter and stuffed it into his sleeve: "It seems I have to go to Wanshou Mountain. Daoist Xuanjizi said that the Zhenyuan Fruit can stabilize the timeline, but it requires the spiritual essence of the Seven Swords to be harvested, otherwise the power of the fruit will backfire."

As the two set off, the snow was falling heavily. Passing through Qing Shi Town, they saw Li Gou Dan leading a group of townspeople repairing a fence. He was now the town's guardian martial arts master; though the longsword at his waist was simple, his moves were much more composed than before. Seeing Wang Xiaohu pass by, he smiled and handed him two jars of newly brewed rice wine: "Brother Xiaohu, this wine will warm you up on the road."

"You've done a good job repairing this fence." Wang Xiaohu patted his shoulder, his gaze falling on the old locust tree at the town entrance—it was adorned with many red ribbons, all offered by the townspeople as prayers for peace. "Is the town peaceful?"

“It’s perfectly peaceful!” Li Gou Dan scratched his head. “It’s just that a few outsiders came to cause trouble the other day, saying they saw some ‘future flood’ and tried to trick everyone into moving away. I beat them up and drove them away.” He lowered his voice. “I know it’s all a lie. You live your life, you don’t just see it.”

Wang Xiaohu felt a warmth in his heart, took off the "Soul-Stabilizing Bead" given to him by Xuanjizi, and hung it around Li Gou Dan's neck: "This bead can calm the mind. If we encounter someone talking nonsense again, we can show them this."

Leaving Qing Shi Town and heading south, the snow gradually turned into rain. Upon arriving at Wanshou Mountain, the mountain mist was thicker than usual, and the air was filled with a strange, sweet fragrance—the scent of ripe Zhenyuan Tree fruit. Sure enough, the stone steps of Wanshou Temple were covered with dark green moss, and stepping on them produced a faint rustling sound, like withered leaves crumbling or new buds breaking through the soil.

"Be careful of this moss." Master Xuanjizi waited at the temple entrance, a few withered leaves clinging to his robe. "Just now, three young disciples accidentally stepped on it and instantly turned from boys into white-haired old men. Fortunately, I used the power of Zhenyuan to stabilize their time, otherwise..."

Wang Xiaohu activated the Seven Swords Spiritual Energy, forming an invisible barrier beneath his feet, which indeed isolated the moss from its erosion. Su Qingwan then plucked the strings of her pipa, and the sound waves from the ice silkworm strings spread across the stone steps, causing the moss to curl up and reveal the bluish-gray rock below.

“The Zhenyuan Tree is by the ‘Fountain of Immortality’ behind the temple.” Xuanjizi led them toward the back mountain. “The fruit is ripe. In three more days, it will fall off on its own. At that time, the turbulent flow of time will be unstoppable.”

The Zhenyuan Tree by the Fountain of Youth was indeed extraordinary. Its trunk required three people to encircle it, and each branch bore only a single fist-sized fruit, its peel gleaming with a golden-red sheen, like crushed dawn light. The air around the fruit distorted, revealing blurred light and shadow—sometimes blooming flowers, sometimes snow-covered landscapes—signs of the turbulent flow of time.

The roots of the tree trunk are covered with moss of time, which is spreading upwards at a visible speed. Wherever it goes, the bark ages rapidly, and new buds suddenly sprout, repeating the cycle as if it is going through countless cycles of life and death.

"Only by combining the seven swords can the time field of the fruit be stabilized." Xuanjizi took out seven crystal-clear jade beads and embedded them in the groove under the tree. "Sword Master, please."

Wang Xiaohu took a deep breath and planted the Demon-Suppressing Sword in the center of the jade bead. Seven colors of light—cyan, white, red, yellow, blue, green, and black—surged from the sword and flowed into the jade bead, forming a huge light shield that enveloped the Zhenyuan Tree. Time within the light shield seemed to freeze; the moss stopped spreading, and the light and shadow around the fruit stabilized, revealing clear patterns.

“Now you can start picking.” Xuanjizi handed Wang Xiaohu a pair of jade scissors. “Remember, you must not have any distracting thoughts while picking, otherwise you will be carried into the time turbulence by the fruit.”

Wang Xiaohu grasped the jade scissors and slowly reached for the fruit. Just as his fingertips were about to touch the peel, the fruit suddenly burst forth with dazzling light, within which countless images appeared—he saw himself, with white hair, sitting before the Sword Tomb, polishing the Demon-Suppressing Sword; he saw Su Qingwan's pipa string broken, yet she still smiled and played; he saw Li Gou Dan's son take over the longsword of the town's guardian martial artist; he saw in A Man's medicine hut, Soul-Gathering Flowers blooming all over the mountains…

These scenes were so warm and real that they made him feel a little dazed, and he wanted to reach out and touch them.

"Hold fast to your heart!" Su Qingwan's voice suddenly rang out, the sound of her pipa flowing like a clear spring into his heart. "Those are possible futures, not the present!"

Wang Xiaohu snapped back to reality, the Seven Swords' spiritual energy flowing through his body, dispelling the images. He gripped the jade scissors tightly and decisively cut off the fruit. The instant the fruit left the branch, the time field within the light shield abruptly stabilized, and the Time Moss rapidly withered, turning into a layer of grayish-white powder, which was then scattered by the wind.

The Zhenyuan Tree emitted a long, soft tremor. The new buds on its trunk no longer withered and flourished repeatedly, but instead stretched out their leaves normally, exuding vitality.

"It's done." Xuanjizi breathed a sigh of relief, took the fruit, and placed it in a jade box. "With this fruit, the timeline can stabilize, and the shadow of the future will no longer interfere with the present world." (End of Chapter)