Longevity Candle

Chapter 107 Past Life and Present Life, Memories Never Forgotten
Neverland has vanished once more, disappearing into the void.

Only those who are free from distractions and attachments can see Yunmeng Island.

What is called a dream is persistence, it is her waiting.

But she was destined not to live to see that fleeting life of yesteryear, and she too would vanish into the torrent of time.

Years from now, who will remember?
After leaving Neverland, the tabby cat's eyes went limp, and it looked as if it had lost its mind.

The dream of immortality has been shattered.

The giant peach tree takes 100,000 years to mature and another 18,000 years to flower and bear fruit.

He couldn't wait any longer; he was destined to never have the peaches of immortality.

A lifetime of dedication, shattered in a single day—it seems everything has lost its meaning.

Li Qingchen was worried about him, but even more worried about Jiang Zhu, because this ancestor remained silent after coming out.

The ray of silver light given by Yunmeng contained little information, but the information it contained stirred up a huge wave in his heart.

"The most fleeting things in life are youth and beauty; rosy cheeks fade from the mirror, and flowers fall from the trees."

"Life is but a dream, how much joy can it hold? Like morning dew, the days gone by are filled with sorrow."

"Life is fleeting, what is the Way?"

"Where are the emperors and generals now? Only a mound of weeds remains on their desolate graves."

"Life is fleeting, will I have an afterlife? Can you truly be free?"

"I cut the kite string, but I can't sever your bonds..."

"I don't ask for an afterlife, and you don't need to ask for freedom. Let's go to Neverland and turn it into the place you've always wanted..."

"Didn't you ever consider that those ancient secrets might be false? They were merely guiding you to create heaven and earth..."

Those fragmented scenes flashed through my mind.

In the end, Fusheng made the choice to persevere.

He created the Taiyin Netherworld, imitated the Taiyin Boundless Heaven, and built a new celestial realm—the Azure Heaven!
West Kunlun, Azure Sky Domain!
That was where the Floating Life Jade appeared. Someone brought it into the mortal world, and it eventually ended up in the hands of Yunmeng.

In order for Yunmeng to have a next life, and for his own freedom, Fusheng chose to join the Path of Immortality and pursue the light of the candle.

He mastered the Candle Illumination and Shadow Immortal Technique, possessing boundless magical power, and created the heavens and the netherworld.

But the reincarnation failed, and the little ghost's rebirth became a joke. What use was a new life that was similar to Nirvana Fire?
What he wanted was a reincarnation that could preserve memories, not only for Yunmeng, but also to free himself from the shackles of the Floating Life Jade and remain in the mortal world forever.

Fusheng and Yunmeng found the Peach Tree and planted it in the Azure Sky Domain, hoping to lead the elves and immortal masters to share in eternal life.

However, the peach tree is just a seed, and the effects of the peach will gradually weaken when consumed by the same living being, until it can no longer prolong life.

They couldn't wait for the peaches to ripen, let alone for them to blossom and bear fruit.

Yunmeng ultimately chose to leave. She returned to Dream Island, wanting to build a home together with Fusheng.

However, she lived to the end of her life, but never saw the arrival of a new life.

Jiang Zhu fell silent. Judging from these fragmented memories, Fu Sheng, like him, possessed memories of his past life.

If Fusheng was his past life...

The time he traveled through was not the time of the green lamp, but the time of the floating jade.

But why can I still retain my memories of my past life?

Both Nirvana Fire and the Rebirth of the Lesser Netherworld result in the loss of all memories; it is a rebirth, and memories should not be retained.

In this fleeting life, whom do we hate?
If he was born unable to be free, why should he hate?
Can one truly find freedom in the Western Kunlun Mountains?

Jiang Zhu felt heavy-hearted. For the first time, he had the urge to actively explore.

That lack of perseverance also began to crack at this moment.

"Grandpa, are you alright?"

Seeing his increasingly grim expression, Li Qingchen cautiously inquired.

"It's nothing." Jiang Zhu came back to his senses, his expression calm: "Take the tabby cat back."

"Grandmaster, is Master alright?" Li Qingchen asked worriedly, concerned about the tabby cat's condition.

"I won't die." Jiang Zhu glanced at him. His dream of immortality was shattered, and he needed time to adjust his mindset.

Li Qingchen breathed a sigh of relief, as long as he didn't die: "My master is very good to me. He improved the Taiping Scripture. As long as I don't enter the immortal path, I don't have to worry about karma, and I can also rely on the power of the immortal path."

He picked up the tabby cat, took Jiang Zhu away, and recounted the tabby cat's contributions.

Jiang Zhu nodded slightly, and the immense power of Taiyin flew out from the tabby cat's body and entered his Little Netherworld.

The empty Netherworld gradually became fuller because of this power.

“Ancestor, I want to go and see where the ambition of peace was raised.” Li Qingchen said, “If you are not awake by then, I will write it down and tell you about it.”

“Alright, I’d also like to know how Taiping’s ambition is going.” Jiang Zhu smiled, seemingly genuinely looking forward to it.

Instead of returning to Peach Blossom Inn, they went to Peach Blossom Spring.

Tao Ling looked at the tabby cat, who seemed almost mentally impaired, and asked in confusion, "What's wrong with it?"

"His dream of immortality was shattered, and that's how it ended," Li Qingchen sighed.

Jiang Zhu glanced at Tao Ling: "Qing Chen's cultivation is almost there, it's time for him to have a sword."

With a wave of his hand, a tree branch fell and instantly transformed into a peach wood sword, shimmering with the light of the sun and moon before receding into the distance.

A wisp of pure Yin energy merged into the peach tree, compensating for the peach spirit's sacrifice.

"Thank you, Green Lamp Spirit." Peach Spirit bowed respectfully.

"Thank you for bestowing this sword upon me, Ancestor. I will certainly use it to safeguard the peace and prosperity of the land." Li Qingchen solemnly accepted the peach wood sword and bowed respectfully.

Jiang Zhu looked at Li Qingchen and sensed the sword within him. It belonged to the Taiyin Sword of Yunmeng, but it was also mixed with a bit of Zhuzhao power.

His talent was created by the Yunmeng Sword, but the Yunmeng Sword did not acknowledge him and chose to remain silent.

Jiang Zhu could draw the sword, but he didn't intend to.

This sword is incredibly powerful. Not only has it been nurtured by Yunmeng throughout her life, but the old tortoise has also continued to nurture it. The energy it contains is already comparable to that of a great elf.

Li Qingchen cannot master this sword, not even if he enters the path of immortality.

Let fate decide; perhaps he will find a way to awaken this immortal sword during his life's journey.

Jiang Zhu then looked at the tabby cat, who also carried a celestial sword on his back. This sword originated from an ancient era and possessed celestial energy no weaker than the Yunmeng Sword.

It was this sword that gave the tabby cat the courage to fight the old dragon.

Although we can't beat them, we won't lose too badly.

Take out a jar of peach blossom wine from under the peach tree; this is wine brewed by the peach orchard itself.

Sitting on a peach tree, drinking peach blossoms, and looking at the bright moon in the sky, for the first time, I did not accumulate magical power.

"The spirit of the green lamp seems to have something on its mind?"

Tao Ling pulled Li Qingchen aside and asked in a low voice.

Li Qingchen looked distressed: "A woman caused all this trouble; both the ancestor and my master are in trouble now."

"Then I'd better not ask." Tao Ling didn't dare to ask any more questions; he couldn't afford to offend either of them.

A day passed quickly, and Jiang Zhu, his figure fading, returned to the green lamp once more.

The tabby cat remained in a daze, its eyes unfocused, as if its soul had been ripped out.

Li Qingchen returned to Peach Blossom Inn carrying the tabby cat. The three people rushed to greet him, and seeing the situation, asked, "Have you run into trouble? Your master has been injured?"

The three of them were filled with worry as they watched the tabby cat being held by Li Qingchen.

What kind of spirit could injure him like that?
"My dream of immortality is shattered," Li Qingchen said helplessly. "My master was obsessed with achieving immortality and wanted to find the peaches of immortality, but the peach tree hasn't even blossomed or borne fruit yet..."

Listening to Li Qingchen's story, the three of them were speechless.

The peaches are real, and there are peach trees.

But who can wait that long?

They are mere mortals, and they can't even wait for the small peaches, let alone those two large peach trees.

A hundred thousand years of growth would kill most elves.

The emperor of Sheng Kingdom is trying to find the Peaches of Immortality, but even if he does find them, what then?

Immortality is ultimately just a delusion!
The three remained silent; they dared not hope for it, nor could they hope for it.

He could only offer a few words of comfort to Li Qingchen and tell him to take the tabby cat to rest.

Life returned to normal, and traveling merchants reported seeing miraculous events every day.

Meanwhile, a tsunami struck the edge of the South China Sea, and the natural disaster swept across the coast, destroying countless homes along the shore.

The emperor of Sheng Kingdom had no choice but to abandon his quest for immortality and begin disaster relief.

In the blink of an eye, half a year has passed.

The tabby cat remained dazed and confused, ignoring everything and no longer teaching Li Qingchen cultivation; it was utterly dejected.

Ning Qinghan and the other two were heartbroken to see this, and for the first time, they felt sorry for the elf.

Li Qingchen looked gloomy every day, and I didn't know how to comfort her.

He had tried countless times to persuade him to stop thinking about immortality, to cheer up, and to see the world's splendor.

They prepared a lot of fish and peach blossom wine, but the tabby cat still didn't react, as if it had become a rag doll. "I have a way, but it can only treat the symptoms, not the root cause," Ning Qinghan said in a low voice as he gathered the three of them together.

"What method?" the three asked hurriedly.

Ning Qinghan hesitated and said, "If his dream is shattered in the end, things might be even worse for him."

"Now that things are like this, why worry about the future?" Li Qingchen hurriedly said, "Auntie, just tell me."

"Didn't you say that Fusheng originated in the Western Kunlun Mountains?" Ning Qinghan whispered, "Give him a target, but don't take him there. In any case, only the sword on your body can activate it."

Li Qingchen's eyes lit up: "Yes, this method works. I'll stall for hundreds or thousands of years."

He has the talent for immortality; once he enters the path of immortality, his lifespan will be extremely long.

As long as he doesn't go to West Kunlun, the tabby cat won't be able to verify whether there are peaches there, leaving only a sliver of hope.

"How long you can drag it out is up to you," Ning Qinghan said.

"Does our ancestor want to go to West Kunlun?" Li Taoshan asked with a worried expression. "After all, there are matters concerning him there."

“I’ll ask the ancestor when I wake up next time,” Li Qingchen said.

Li Taoshan nodded and said, "Yes, you can discuss a plan with the ancestor later."

"Thank you, Auntie."

Li Qingchen quickly walked into the room.

The tabby cat lay on the bed, utterly despondent, its eyes lifeless.

"Master, Master, there is still hope for immortality. Have you forgotten what Yunmeng mentioned about West Kunlun?"

Li Qingchen said excitedly.

The tabby cat remained motionless.

There are nine peach trees in the world, three of which are large peach trees, and the other one must be in the West Kunlun Mountains.

Is it possible that the mortal realm can create the underworld and cause a peach tree to grow rapidly?

Li Qingchen hurriedly said.

The tabby cat's eyes gradually focused, and a hint of brilliance appeared.

"Although it's just a sliver of hope, think about it, immortality is already a rare and elusive thing. You have to seize every opportunity; what if you succeed?" Li Qingchen encouraged.

He never imagined that one day he, a successor of the Way of Peace, would encourage an elf to strive for immortality.

But now, the appearance of Yunmeng has shattered the dream of immortality, a blow that is too great.

Yunmeng and Fusheng, the beings who created the Netherworld, ultimately failed to achieve immortality!

Although the tabby cat is proud and considers itself the best swordsman in the world, and a great spirit of the Way of Heaven, it is not so arrogant as to compare itself to Fusheng and Yunmeng.

If they can't achieve immortality, what makes me think I can?

That's why the tabby cat suffered such a great blow.

"You're right, there's still hope for immortality. Maybe Fusheng will achieve immortality and doesn't want to bestow the peaches of immortality upon Yunmeng." The tabby cat perked up again.

Li Qingchen opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but held back.

They've finally regained some spirits; we can't let that get blown away again.

“Come, follow me to West Kunlun,” said the tabby cat.

“We can’t go now,” Li Qingchen said.

"Are you lying to me?" The tabby cat's eyes gleamed with anger.

"The sword on my body is the key to unlocking West Kunlun, but I can't sense it." Li Qingchen said with a bitter face, "My ancestor said that I should hone my sword skills in the mortal world, observe the will of peace, and slowly comprehend it."

"Can't he just take it out directly?" the tabby cat frowned.

"No, think about it. That's a ephemeral existence, the creation of the netherworld. Even the ancestor could only deal with you when you were injured, and he still needed the nation's fortune to help him."

Li Qingchen sighed, "Ancestor, this isn't your full power yet, how can you possibly shake West Kunlun?"

"This..." The tabby cat was still somewhat skeptical.

"You've been pursuing immortality for so many years, and now that a sliver of opportunity is right in front of you, you're not willing to wait?" Li Qingchen said, "Sometimes, the final step is the hardest; it requires slow and steady progress. Didn't you also teach me that cultivation is a process of gradual and persistent effort?"

The tabby cat looked at him with great satisfaction: "You rascal, I haven't taught you in vain. I can wait this long. So when will you enter the world?"

"Please go ahead." Li Qingchen breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let's not delay, let's go now," said the tabby cat.

“It’s dark now, and Father and Mother need to prepare some valuables for me so I can travel around,” Li Qingchen said. “We can’t just go out and steal or rob, can we? That would be beneath your noble status.”

“Then tell them now that we’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning and head to Ningguo to see Taiping Zhi,” said the tabby cat.

"Don't be impatient, you need to take it slowly, Master, don't rush." ​​Li Qingchen could only soothe him: "Right now, you need to calm your mind and comprehend the sword within your body. If you are too impatient, you will never succeed."

"No rush, no rush, Master is not in a hurry at all," the tabby cat quickly said.

Li Qingchen's lips twitched slightly. You're practically as anxious as a monkey, aren't you worried?

I went out of the room and asked my parents and aunts to help me prepare some money so that I could bring the tabby cat into the world tomorrow.

Although the three were reluctant to part, they knew that Li Qingchen was going to enter the world, so they immediately prepared to go.

The next morning.

Li Qingchen, carrying a bundle and a peach wood sword, entered the secular world of Sheng Kingdom.

My childhood playmates have long since inherited their family businesses, and Erniu has also gotten married.

Time flies.

As they parted, Li Qingchen suddenly realized that time had flown by and his childhood playmates had long since grown up.

"Where are you planning to go?" the tabby cat asked.

“I want to go and see that demon,” Li Qingchen said. “I will follow the tributary of the Red River and travel on foot to Yunmeng Marsh.”

"Aren't you planning to fly there? Walking is so slow," the tabby cat muttered.

Right now, all he wants is for Li Qingchen to quickly finish seeing the worldly affairs, comprehend the sword, and head to West Kunlun.

"Master, don't rush. Only by measuring this land with my own feet can I gain a deeper understanding."

Li Qingchen carried his luggage and walked out of the city.

"Alright, I'm not in a hurry, but aren't you going the wrong way? Yunmengze is on the other side."

"Oh, this is my first time going out, I don't know the way, please give me directions." Li Qingchen quickly changed direction.

He did not travel by boat, but walked on foot at a slow pace.

He also wanted the tabby cat to see this peaceful and prosperous world. Although the world was in some chaos, it was still relatively peaceful overall.

In the distance, the green mountains stretch as far as the eye can see, with endless vegetation and a caravan of merchants carrying goods moving slowly forward.

"Qingchen." A voice called out from the carriage, where a chubby young man greeted him.

"Duoduo?" Li Qingchen looked at the young man with surprise: "Where are you going?"

"Going to Autumn Moon City to buy grain, you know how it is. Those fleets take a lot of grain with them every time they go out to sea to fish," the young man grinned.

He was Li Qingchen's childhood playmate, the son of that grain merchant, a chubby little boy named Pang Duoduo.

"Autumn Moon City?" Li Qingchen's eyes lit up. "I was just wondering where to go and was planning to go take a look."

"You went out alone?" Pang Duoduo asked doubtfully. "Aunt and the others don't seem to mind?"

"What's there to worry about? The world is at peace now, how could there be bandits?" Li Qingchen laughed. "Even if there were, my sword would still be effective."

“There are no bandits, but there are quite a few wandering spirits and strange objects,” Pang Duoduo said solemnly.

"Oh? I've never seen wandering spirits or divine objects before. Have you?" Li Qingchen became interested.

Pang Duoduo said, "There is a wooden house on this road. People who go in there usually don't have good luck."

"The Taiping Dao didn't do anything about it? They didn't destroy that wooden house?" Li Qingchen asked in surprise, not expecting the strange phenomenon to be so close to him. "Have you been inside?"

"I've only heard that the wooden house can move, and it's impossible to find in Taipingdao. It seems to have some kind of intelligence," Pang Duoduo explained.

"What kind of wooden house can run away?" Li Qingchen laughed nonchalantly.

He also wanted to see the divine phenomena. Putting aside his own cultivation level, the tabby cat was always by his side, and he also had the protection of his ancestor.

Even the most powerful beings must bow down before him!
"I hope we don't run into each other, and don't get any curiosity," Pang Duoduo cautioned.

“I’m not curious, I’m just going with you,” Li Qingchen said.

"I really envy you. You can travel the world on your own. I can't do that. Last time I sneaked away, my dad almost broke my legs," Pang Duoduo said enviously.

"Ha, I envy you. You made a lot of money in one go," Li Qingchen said.

"How about we switch? You can stay at the inn all day and do nothing, unlike me, who has to work like a beast of burden."

“Then I won’t change it,” Li Qingchen said with a smile.

As the two chatted and laughed, the caravan gradually disappeared into the distance.

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye. The caravan had moved far away from Starmoon City. Under the cover of night, the caravan stopped to rest, and a wooden house appeared and disappeared in the distance.

"Young master, run!"

(End of this chapter)