Embers of Sword

Chapter 700 Seeing the Cicada (Part 2)

Countless golden cicadas emerged from the sea.

These golden cicadas swarmed around Xie Xuanyi and Jiang Miaoyin...

The pressure from the deep sea gradually dissipated, and these golden lights seemed to possess some indescribable power, bringing a sense of peace.

Who in this world possesses the strength to fight against a Yang God at the tenth level in the long river of destiny, and is also related to the "cicada"?
There's probably only one person left...

At the end of those countless golden lights, a figure could be faintly seen.

He seemed to have been waiting at the bottom of the North Sea for a long time, bathed in golden light, like a holy Buddha, inspiring reverence in anyone who looked at him.

“...Zen Master”.

Xie Xuanyi spoke subconsciously.

The sound traveled easily without any obstruction.

He suddenly realized that the seawater that had enveloped him had vanished into nothingness at some point. He was still "falling," but the seawater was useless. The countless golden cicadas had transformed and pieced together an incredibly solid cavern realm, enveloping him and Jiang Miaoyin within it.

"it's me……"

The person standing in the golden cicada tide, whose face was obscured, smiled and bowed, saying softly, "Thank you, benefactor, we meet again."

Xie Xuanyi's expression was complicated.

If I remember correctly, the last time we met was when we were abroad.

That cicada helped him comprehend the "Way of Life"...

He slowly descended to the bottom of the sea.

The woman in his arms suddenly became very quiet.

Xie Xuanyi looked down and saw that Jiang Miaoyin had fallen asleep sometime earlier, and was sleeping soundly, as if she were having a beautiful dream... In this boundless depths of the sea, the cicadas embraced each other, creating a rather warm space, but it still exuded a faint chill. Perhaps for this reason, a few frosts had formed between Jiang Miaoyin's brows.

"Is she... alright?"

Xie Xuanyi felt a sense of worry.

At this moment, Jiang Miaoyin's situation is very similar to that of the main body who is in seclusion in the Ice Soul Cave.

"rest assured."

The monk in the cicada spoke gently: "Benefactor Jiang is well... Isn't her soul under your protection? She will not be reborn, but her own soul cannot bear the weight of the 'River of Destiny,' so she is forced into a deep slumber."

Not everyone in this world has the opportunity to step into the river of destiny.

Similarly, not everyone... has the ability to step into this long river.

"The River of Destiny... Is this the River of Destiny?"

Xie Xuanyi frowned and looked around.

He was already somewhat unable to distinguish between reality and illusion. He had thought that jumping into the North Sea was real, and that the Golden Cicada Illusion was fake.

The transition between the real and the fake is too smooth, and there isn't a single flaw.

"All causal connections are part of destiny."

The Zen master said, “The long river… does not necessarily have to be a river, nor does it necessarily have to be a sea. It is just that the rivers and seas are so similar to the concept of destiny and cause and effect that they are given this name.”

"so……"

Xie Xuanyi looked at the woman in his arms, fell into a brief moment of thought, and then said, "All of this is not Jiang Miaoyin's illusion, but a real reality."

"Yes."

The Zen master's response was concise and to the point: "Benefactor Xie is currently in a state of 'spiritual wandering,' but this is not the first time."

Xie Xuanyi understood the Zen master's meaning.

If a brief encounter of consciousness can be considered a spiritual journey, then the last time I stepped into the river of destiny must have been in the country of Li.

"It really was you who appeared in Yusang City."

Xie Xuanyi asked in confusion, "Why did you make me come to the North Sea... Since you can travel through the River of Destiny, why didn't you use your supernatural powers when we met in Yusang City?"

“The appearance of Yusang City is already an exception.” The Zen master shook his head and said solemnly, “Just imagine, even if Benefactor Xie has cultivated great supernatural powers, can he step into the same river twice? Destiny… is such a thing. Once certain causes and effects change, this long river can never return to its original state.”

"Regarding the Beihai incident... the cause and effect cannot be altered arbitrarily..."

Golden light surged.

The Zen master sighed and said, "Some people have tried to alter cause and effect, but the final result was terrible."

"Who?"

Xie Xuanyi was very alert and had a candidate in mind.

The Beihai case dealt a heavy blow to the Sword Palace.

The one who couldn't accept his own death the most... was his master!
The one most capable of changing all of this... is still Master!
"There's nothing to hide about this matter. The one who once tried to alter cause and effect is the very person you're thinking of."

The Zen master clasped his hands together and softly chanted a Buddhist mantra. A hint of sorrow appeared on his face, which was shrouded in golden light: "Actually, my meeting with Benefactor Xie... also had its reasons. Headmaster Zhao was very worried about your safety, but Benefactor Xie's talent and understanding are indeed extraordinary. Without my reminder, you have already guessed that all of this is not an illusion, but rather a state of 'spiritual travel'."

"Wait, it really is Master..."

Xie Xuanyi's heart skipped a beat.

He had a vague, ominous feeling.

“Senior, my master can also ‘travel in spirit’.”

Xie Xuanyi said anxiously, "If he's going to give guidance, why doesn't he show himself?"

"Some things involve significant cause and effect, and should not be discussed in detail."

The Zen master remained silent for a moment, then gave a very far-fetched reason: "In short... now is the time for me to meet you, benefactor. I don't have much time, and this meeting cannot last long... Thank you, benefactor, please cooperate a little."

"..."

Xie Xuanyi already had a bad feeling.

But at this moment he calmed down.

He could tell that the Zen master's use of supernatural powers to arrange a meeting with him at the bottom of the North Sea was definitely not just a casual chat.

Soon, Xie Xuanyi calmed his mind.

"Senior, please speak." He bowed, his expression solemn.

"You've already guessed that you're currently in a state of 'spiritual wandering'," the Zen master said gently. "Then you should know what the biggest problem with 'spiritual wandering' is..."

"Anchor?"

Xie Xuanyi spoke subconsciously.

"good."

The Zen master revealed a look of satisfaction: "All those who travel in spirit will gain something... but some people get lost in the river of destiny. They cannot find the 'anchor point' to return to, and thus become a wandering soul, their physical body returning to the void, their soul wandering the river."

Upon hearing this, Xie Xuanyi's first thought was of Xiaoyaozi from the Daoist sect.

And now.

His situation is actually the same as "Xiaoyaozi"!
Even worse...
Who is Xiaoyaozi? He is an invincible being who is close to the Celestial Realm. Even without his anchor point, he is still trapped in the River of Fate.

"I was grafted into Jiang Miaoyin's dream world through the supernatural powers of Forget-Worry Island."

Xie Xuanyi frowned and said, "If this state is 'spiritual wandering,' then Jiang Miaoyin and I should be spiritually wandering together..."

"good."

The Zen master said earnestly, "This is what I wanted to say, and it is also what Headmaster Zhao asked me to do... The two of you are now united in spirit and soul, sharing both glory and loss. This Miss Jiang's spirit is your 'anchor point' for returning home, and you must take good care of it no matter what."

"If anything goes wrong..."

"She became a wandering spirit."

The Zen master paused, then said meaningfully, "Thank you, benefactor, but I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to return."

(End of this chapter)