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

Looking at the fruit lying quietly in the jade box, Wang Xiaohu suddenly understood—the so-called future is never a fixed path, but rather a series of crossroads paved with countless "nows." Every choice you make right now, every act of perseverance you take, will change the shadow of your future.

As they left Longevity Mountain, a light spring rain drizzled down. Xuanjizi stood at the temple gate to see them off, the jade box in his hand emitting a soft glow: "Sword Master, do you know why the scenes within the fruit just now were all peaceful?"

Wang Xiaohu shook his head.

"Because what you cherish in your heart is the best future." Xuanjizi smiled slightly. "Those who chase shadows only see their own obsessions, while what you see is the possibility that you are protecting with your own hands."

The rain on their way home carried the fresh scent of earth. Su Qingwan's pipa music flowed through the rain, sometimes light and cheerful, sometimes soothing, like humming a song about the present. Wang Xiaohu walked beside her, the Demon-Suppressing Sword humming softly in its sheath, the seven sword spirits intertwining into a warm light that enveloped their path.

When they passed through southern Xinjiang, they made a special detour to Aman's herbal medicine hut. The soul-calming flowers in the hut were indeed in full bloom, and Aman was leading a group of Miao girls to dry herbs. When she saw them, she smiled and handed them a newly made sachet: "This sachet can calm the mind. Take it with you on your journey."

"The matter of Longevity Mountain is resolved." Wang Xiaohu briefly explained the matter of the Zhenyuan Fruit.

Aman's eyes lit up: "So, that means no one will see a messy future anymore?" Seeing Wang Xiaohu nod, she smiled even more happily, "I knew it! Life is lived, not predicted. Look at my medicine hut, when it was first built, who could have imagined so many girls would come to learn medicine?"

As they left the medicine hut, the setting sun pierced through the rain clouds, creating a rainbow on the horizon. Looking at the busy figures beneath the rainbow, Wang Xiaohu suddenly realized that the martial world might not need so many earth-shattering legends; rather, the most touching stories were the quiet, everyday stability and the enduring, steady protection of each other.

When they returned to the Star Sword Sect, the snow had stopped. The children of Puhui Hall were shoveling snow. Seeing them return, they all gathered around, chattering about the interesting things that had happened on the way. Wang Xiaohu sat on the threshold and told them about the Zhenyuan Tree of Longevity Mountain and the wonders of the Time Moss, but he never mentioned those scenes about the future.

Su Qingwan sat beside him, head bowed, wiping the pipa. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating her hair and casting dappled patterns of light. The children's laughter, the rustling of brooms across the snow, and the occasional gentle tremor of the pipa strings intertwined, creating a peaceful and warm rhythm.

Wang Xiaohu knew that as long as the rhythm remained, his story would continue to unfold. Perhaps there would be no more grandeur of the seven swords uniting, no more thrilling battles against evil spirits, but these ordinary moments, these daily routines of protection and growth, were themselves the longest and most moving legend.

Just like the fruit of the Zhenyuan Tree, which will eventually become nutrients to nourish the earth, those imaginations about the future will eventually fall into the soil of the present and bloom into flowers that belong to the present.

Just as the cherry blossoms at the Starry Sky Sword Sect were in full bloom, a letter from the East Sea was carried to the Sword Tomb by a seagull.

The envelope was made of silk that would not rot in the wind, and it was stamped with a sealing wax in the shape of a wave—the mark of "Penglai Island." Penglai Island had been isolated from the world for a hundred years. It was said that a group of extraordinary people who mastered the "tidal arts" lived on the island, could communicate with all things in the sea, and could even predict tsunamis three days in advance.

Wang Xiaohu unfolded the letter; the handwriting was delicate and graceful, like waves. He said that the "Sea-Stabilizing Needle" on the island had been acting strangely lately. The tide chart engraved on the needle had become blurred, and the once regular waves had become violent. Even the most experienced fishermen, who were most familiar with ocean currents, had gotten lost near the shore. Even stranger, a deep, muffled bell-like sound occasionally came from the seabed, as if a giant creature was awakening in the deep sea.

"The Sea-Stabilizing Pillar?" Su Qingwan, who was mixing rouge with cherry blossom petals, looked up upon hearing this. "I've seen it recorded in 'Tales of the Overseas,' which says it's a thousand-year-old black iron pillar that suppresses the eye of the East Sea, and the people of Penglai rely on it to maintain their balance with the ocean." She closed the rouge box. "Could this anomaly be related to the previous time turbulence?"

Wang Xiaohu stroked the edge of the letter, the silk still carrying a faint scent of sea salt: "Master Xuanjizi said that although the timeline has stabilized, the previous fluctuations may have disturbed some ancient beings. The East Sea Eye is connected to the deep sea secret realm, and perhaps something has been awakened."

The two decided to head to the East China Sea. Before their departure, Li Gou Dan sent over a boatload of newly made fishing nets, saying that the fishermen of Qing Shi Town had specially prepared them for them. "These nets are made of whalebone mixed with hemp rope, they're very strong, even if you encounter a great white shark, you won't be afraid." A Man sent over a ceramic jar of "water-repelling beads," the water droplets inside swirling in the sunlight. "These beads can make the seawater part automatically, you'll need them when you go to the seabed."

After sailing for half a month, the outline of Penglai Island finally came into view. The island was like a piece of jade floating on the sea, and the buildings on the island were made of seashells and corals, shimmering with iridescent colors in the sunlight. The islanders wore linen clothes and had conch shells hanging from their waists. When they saw their boat, they all blew their conch shells, and the sound was clear and melodious like the tide.

The island's mistress was an old woman with white hair and pure sea-blue eyes, leaning on a coral staff. She led the two to the central plaza of the island, where a towering pillar of black iron, the very same pillar that stabilized the sea, stood. The tidal patterns on the pillar had indeed become blurred; the once clear wave patterns seemed to have been smeared with ink, leaving only a few twisted black shadows.

“Three months ago, the sound of bells began to echo from the seabed.” The old woman’s voice rose and fell like the waves. “With each ring, the pattern on the magic needle became a little more blurred. Yesterday at dusk, when the last line disappeared, many black bubbles suddenly rose to the surface of the sea, and inside the bubbles… there were shadows moving.”

She pointed to the sea, where there were indeed many black bubbles scattered on the beach. The bubble membranes were as thin as cicada wings, and some huge outlines could be vaguely seen inside, like squid covered with tentacles or giant turtles with hard shells on their backs.

“It’s the ‘Deep Sea Shadow Clan’.” The old woman sighed, her coral staff tracing an arc on the beach. “In ancient times, they lived deep within the sea eye, feeding on light and shadow. Later, they were sealed by the power of the Sea-Stabilizing Needle. Now that the needle is acting strangely, the seal is probably about to break.”

Before the words were even finished, a muffled "thump" suddenly came from the seabed, like a giant bell being struck. At the same time, the black bubbles on the beach vibrated, and one of the bubbles burst with a "pop," and the shadow inside fell to the ground, transforming into a squid about half the height of a person, its tentacles waving as it lunged at the nearest islander.

Wang Xiaohu immediately swung his Demon-Suppressing Sword, and the seven-colored sword energy cleaved the squid shadow in two. But the cleaved shadow quickly reformed, becoming even larger.

"Don't use sword energy!" the old woman shouted, slamming her coral staff into the ground. Countless tiny streams of water surged up from the ground, trapping the squid shadow. "They live on light and shadow. The stronger the attack, the stronger they become!"

Su Qingwan immediately plucked the pipa, and the sound waves from the ice silk strings fell like a drizzle. The gentle power in the sound waves enveloped the squid shadow, and those twisted tentacles gradually became transparent, eventually turning into a wisp of green smoke and dissipating in the sea breeze.

“This sound…” The old woman’s eyes flashed with surprise, “It carries a calming power, which is just right to suppress the Shadow Clan’s ferocity.”

The underwater bell tolled again, this time closer. The surface began to churn, countless black bubbles rising from the depths. As the bubbles burst, even more deep-sea shadow creatures surged forth—some shaped like squid, some like giant turtles, and even some resembling armored figures, each emanating a chilling aura. "They want to storm the island and destroy the Sea-Stabilizing Needle!" The old woman pointed her coral staff towards the sea eye, where the water was swirling, forming a massive whirlpool. "We must reinforce the seal at the bottom of the sea!"

Wang Xiaohu gave the water-repelling pearls to Su Qingwan and the old woman, and the three of them dived into the sea. The closer they got to the sea eye, the greater the water pressure became, and the dimmer the surrounding light grew. Only the Xuan iron pillar of the Sea-Stabilizing Needle emitted a faint golden light. Deep within the sea eye, there was indeed a huge bronze bell, its mouth wrapped with countless black tentacles, each with an eye that stared unblinkingly at the Xuan iron pillar.

“It’s the Shadow Clan’s mother nest.” The old woman’s voice came through the water. “That ‘Nether Bell’ is their core. Every time it’s rung, it awakens more Shadow Clan members.”

The Netherworld Bell rang again, its sound waves traveling with the current, causing a painful ache in the eardrums. The golden light on the Xuan Iron Pillar flickered violently, as if it might be extinguished at any moment. The surrounding Deep Sea Shadow Clan became even more ferocious, rushing towards the Xuan Iron Pillar and pounding its body with their tentacles, attempting to completely destroy the seal.

"Miss Su, hold them steady!" Wang Xiaohu shouted, and the phantoms of seven divine swords appeared around him. The seven colors of light—green, white, red, yellow, blue, green, and black—were interwoven into a giant net, separating the Netherworld Bell and the Xuan Iron Pillar, temporarily blocking the Shadow Clan's attack.

Su Qingwan immediately understood. The sound of the pipa became as gentle as the tide, and the sound waves spread along the water. The violent Shadow Clan members gradually calmed down in the sound waves, their tentacles moved more slowly, and the ferocity in their eyes faded a lot.

Taking advantage of the moment, the old woman waved her coral staff, and countless pearls rose from the seawater. The pearls arranged themselves in an array around the black iron pillar, forming a new seal. However, the power of the Netherworld Bell was too great, and the pearl array began to tremble as soon as it was formed, clearly unable to hold for long.

"The diagram of the Sea-Stabilizing Needle must be made clear again!" the old woman shouted. "That requires someone to enter the core of the Black Iron Pillar and awaken the needle's sentience with their own aura!"

Wang Xiaohu looked at the Xuan Tie Pillar—there was a small crack on the pillar, like a natural entrance, which must be the core. But the crack was surrounded by dense black shadows, clearly a key defensive point of the Shadow Clan.

“I’ll go.” Wang Xiaohu’s voice was firm. “The spiritual essence of the Seven Swords might resonate with the Divine Needle.”

Su Qingwan reached out and grabbed him, her fingertips turning white from the force: "I'll go with you."

“No.” Wang Xiaohu gently pulled his hand away from hers and placed the Demon-Suppressing Sword in her hand. “You stay here and use the Pipa Music to stabilize the Shadow Clan and the Pearl Array. Wait for me to come out.” He looked into her eyes. “Trust me.”

Su Qingwan bit her lip and finally nodded: "Be careful."

Wang Xiaohu turned and charged towards the Xuan Tie Pillar, the seven sword phantoms unfolding behind him, tearing a gap in the Shadow Clan's encirclement. He entered the crack, which was pitch black inside, with only a blue crystal floating in the center. The crystal was engraved with the same tidal pattern as the pillar, but it was now blurred.

"The core of the Divine Needle." Wang Xiaohu stretched out his hand, and the spiritual energy of the Seven Swords in his palm surged into the crystal. The crystal vibrated violently, and the blurry pattern began to flicker, as if it were struggling to awaken.

The Netherworld Bell at the bottom of the sea suddenly emitted a piercing shriek, clearly sensing the threat. A muffled groan came from outside the Black Iron Pillar, and Wang Xiaohu's heart tightened; he knew she must be in trouble.

"Wake up!" He focused all his attention on the crystal, and images of fighting alongside Su Qingwan, spending time with Li Gou Dan and A Man, and practicing swordsmanship with the disciples of the Star Sword Sect in the mornings appeared in his mind... These warm memories transformed into the purest power, flowing into the crystal along with the spiritual energy of the Seven Swords.

The crystal burst forth with a dazzling blue light, and the blurry tidal pattern became clearer at a visible speed, the wave patterns becoming lifelike, as if seawater were truly flowing on it. The golden light emanating from the black iron pillar also surged, dispelling all the surrounding shadows.

The Netherworld Bell on the seabed let out a mournful cry. The tentacles wrapped around its mouth began to wither, and countless cracks appeared on the surface of the bronze bell. Finally, with a "crack," it shattered into countless fragments that sank into the trench. The deep-sea shadow creatures, having lost the support of their mother nest, gradually dissipated amidst Su Qingwan's pipa music and the golden light of the divine needle, eventually merging into the seawater as if they had never existed.

Wang Xiaohu emerged from the crack in the black iron pillar and saw Su Qingwan leaning against the old woman, her face pale, clearly exhausted. He quickly stepped forward to support her, and the warmth of his palm made her slowly open her eyes, revealing a weak but reassuring smile.

"Success?"

"Success." Wang Xiaohu nodded, pointing to the Xuan Tie Pillar—the tidal pattern on the pillar was now completely clear, even more vivid than in the legends, and the whirlpool in the sea eye gradually calmed down, the seawater becoming clear again.

As they left Penglai Island, the old woman gave them two necklaces made of luminous mother-of-pearl, the beads of which emitted a soft blue light in the dark. "These beads can guide you; no matter how far you drift at sea, you will find your way home."

The sails of the returning ship were still covered with coral fragments from Penglai Island. Su Qingwan leaned against the gunwale, watching the schools of fish darting beneath the surface of the sea, and suddenly whispered, "Do you think the affairs of the martial world will never be resolved?"

Wang Xiaohu handed her a piece of dry food, his voice carried by the sea breeze: "Perhaps. But it's good this way, otherwise life would be so boring." He looked at the distant horizon where the sky and sea merged into one. "Look at this sea, even if there are occasional storms, it will eventually return to calm. All we need to do is offer an umbrella when the storm comes and hold it up for a while."

Su Qingwan took the dry food, took a small bite, and suddenly smiled: "Then next time we encounter storms, remember to hold an umbrella with me again."

"Okay." (End of Chapter)