Longevity Candle

Chapter 117 Lingxiao Yaochi Sees Fusheng

The majestic West Kunlun Mountains rise into the clouds.

Li Qingchen, holding a green lantern, came alone.

Thousands of clouds, vast expanse of white clouds, a cold wind blowing through long hair, and the Cloud Dream Sword within his body trembled at this moment.

Standing atop the West Kunlun Mountains, Jiang Zhu gazed out at the continuous mountain range, which resembled a colossal dragon.

Thousands of mountains and countless peaks, ancient trees reaching for the sky, stretching eastward, ending at the Eastern Kunlun Mountains.

Ningguo is a good place, located between the eastern and western Kunlun Mountains.

Standing on this ancient mountain, Jiang Zhu felt a unique sense of familiarity, as if he had been here before.

He held Li Qingchen down and drew the Yunmeng Sword.

The silver-white sword body shimmered with iridescent light, bathed in the cool and gentle glow of the silver moonlight. The immense immortal energy was contained yet not unleashed; the sharp sword aura that was revealed alone possessed the power to cleave the heavens and earth.

The departure of the Yunmeng Sword from his body, and the blood trickling from the corner of Li Qingchen's mouth, still had a significant impact on him.

His talent for immortality was based on the Cloud Dream Sword.

Although he has nurtured it for so many years, drawn upon sword energy, tempered his body, and enhanced his talent, it is still not as good as having the Cloud Dream Sword within his body.

This is also why Jiang Zhu was reluctant to come here and draw the Yunmeng Sword.

As the Cloud Dream Sword appeared, a brilliant celestial light shone atop the West Kunlun Mountains.

The gold and silver light shone brightly, and then a radiant sphere and a silver ring appeared.

The candlelight illuminates the dim glow!

Sacred and vast, it was like a celestial being descending from the heavens to the mortal realm, or an ancient being revived at this moment.

The flickering light slowly merged into the void, and above West Kunlun, a golden portal slowly opened.

"Let's go."

Jiang Zhudao.

Without hesitation, Li Qingchen grasped the green lamp and entered the golden portal with him.

The entrance is adorned with auspicious golden clouds, while in the distance, brilliant candlelight illuminates the sky, and golden rays of light fill the heavens.

The magnificent palaces and celestial halls stand amidst auspicious clouds, like the abode of immortals.

"Is this the Azure Sky Domain?" Li Qingchen exclaimed in astonishment, "What kind of immense power would be needed to create such a domain?"

Such a celestial palace and temple could not have been built even by the old elves.

Jiang Zhu looked ahead and carried him away on a cloud; he had already felt a response.

A sense of shared origin, like another version of myself.

The two passed through golden auspicious clouds and arrived at a place filled with rosy clouds, where a celestial palace exuded ancient and vast heavenly power—Lingxiao!
Jiang Zhu smiled and said, "You really are... nostalgic."

"Nostalgic?" Li Qingchen was puzzled.

Jiang Zhu offered no explanation and led him toward the place of perception.

A golden stone tablet stands amidst the clouds, with two characters carved on it—Jade Pool!
A figure in white robes stood beside the golden fairy pool, gazing at the golden lotus blossoms within.

Li Qingchen stared blankly at the figure, still feeling shocked even though he had expected it.

Jiang Zhu?

Or perhaps, is this just fleeting life?

He didn't go over; he stood outside.

Jiang Zhu walked slowly to his side and looked at the lotus flowers in the pond: "The lotus flowers are very beautiful. You have taken good care of them."

"What is your name now?" the figure in white asked gently.

“My name is Jiang Zhu, a wandering soul within a green lamp,” Jiang Zhu said.

"My name is Fusheng, a part of what you gave up." The white-robed figure pointed to the edge of the pool, where there was a cyan jade pendant. It had no energy and looked like an ordinary jade pendant.

"A part of what I'm giving up?" Jiang Zhu frowned.

Fusheng said softly, "You could also say that it was something we both gave up."

"Why?" Jiang Zhu asked.

Fusheng frowned: "You've forgotten everything?"

"Didn't I only come into being after your rebirth?" Jiang Zhu frowned.

Fusheng remained silent, then pointed to the golden pool in front of him: "This is something I found in your memories, something I dug out from the depths of the void."

"My memories?" Jiang Zhu was even more puzzled: "I have the concept of these things in my memories, but there are no physical objects."

"You should have learned the Taiyin Soul Guiding Technique by now, right?" Fusheng asked.

Jiang Zhu nodded: "This method is quite peculiar."

"Do you think this method is similar to calling back a soul or summoning a spirit?" Fusheng asked softly.

Jiang Zhu's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at Fu Sheng in horror: "Could it be that we can actually invite them?"

Can we really summon back the myths and legends of our past lives?
"I can't invite them, but I can invite the gods I've created." Fu Sheng slightly raised his hand, and the golden pool rippled, revealing sections of golden lotus roots that instantly combined to form a lotus root person.

The lotus root person quickly transformed, becoming as white as jade, with three heads and six arms, wielding a golden circle and a long spear, and riding on a fire wheel.

The lotus root boy had bright, intelligent eyes and a unique flame emanating from his body.

Jiang Zhu was astonished, and even more terrifying was that the immortal energy of this lotus root person was in no way inferior to that of a great spirit.

A great spirit was created from just a few golden lotus roots.

Life is fleeting, yet we create gods!

"Greetings, fellow Daoist." The young man bowed and paid his respects to Fusheng before dissipating, transforming into sections of lotus root and returning to the golden pond.

"It's just a replica based on your memory, but the spell is incomplete and can only last for a short while," Fusheng said.

"You're really amazing," Jiang Zhu said. "I can't replicate or create such a powerful immortal master."

"Perhaps." Fusheng smiled. "When I saw these memories back then, I was more surprised than you, and I became obsessed with them and pursued them relentlessly."

"Are you really my predecessor?" Jiang Zhu frowned, somewhat uncertain.

According to Fusheng, he himself is more like a product created by Jiangzhu's memories.

"If you say yes, then it is; if you say no, then it isn't."

Fusheng calmly said, "I don't even know what kind of being you are. Perhaps you are the original body now, or perhaps you are just a part of the memories of the original body, just like me."

Jiang Zhu's expression darkened: "Can a portion of memories also transform into a living being?"

"At first, I was just like you, finding it hard to accept this fact, so I joined the Path of Immortality."

Fu Sheng calmly said, "I led them, following their memories, and dragged Ling Xiao and Yao Chi out of the void..."

"I am a piece of jade, a wandering soul within the Floating Life Jade, born with the 'Scripture of the Mortal World,' capable of becoming an immortal in the mortal world..."

He recounted that he was born with a Daoist scripture that could gather the energy of the mortal world, allowing him to stand on the mundane yet transcend it.

At first, Fusheng was similar to Jiangzhu; he only wanted to accumulate magical power, become an immortal as soon as possible, and break free from the shackles of the Fusheng Jade.

Until he came into contact with the elves and found a memory in which the person looked exactly like him.

All the elves and immortals believed it to be his past life.

Fusheng also thought so, believing that his memories of his past life could help him quickly become an immortal and achieve liberation.

Jiang Zhu's heart was in turmoil, and his face turned extremely pale.

A smile appeared on Fu Sheng's lips: "When I was in my final moments, my face looked just as terrible as yours. There are past lives after past lives. Should I admire myself for coming back to life again?" "You seem quite happy?" Jiang Zhu calmed down.

"Seeing another version of myself in a bad mood actually made me feel much better."

Fusheng laughed and said, "The most terrifying thing is when you've exhausted everything to accomplish something, only to find that it's already been done before."

Jiang Zhu fell silent.

"Alright, I don't have much time left. If you have any questions, ask them now," Fusheng said.

"Time is running out?" Jiang Zhu frowned. "Isn't the Floating Life Jade still around? If you're not my former self, are you nearing the end of your lifespan?"

"Lifespan? That's something only mortals pursue." Fusheng shook his head and said, "You and I are both people who have grasped immortality."

Jiang Zhu's pupils contracted: "Then you?"

“Yunmeng is gone,” Fusheng sighed softly.

He stood up, picked up the floating jade, and held it in his hand with ease: "At first, I couldn't lift the floating jade, just like you couldn't lift the green lamp."

Jiang Zhu sighed softly, "So, you turned me into a green lamp?"

“No.” Fusheng shook his head: “I wanted Yunmeng to live forever, and I accidentally awakened you.”

"wake?"

“That’s right. You have been sleeping in the deepest part of my consciousness. You appeared when I failed to make Yunmeng immortal.”

"So what did I do?"

“I don’t know.” Fusheng shook his head: “As for why you became a green lamp, you may have always been a green lamp, or perhaps some being turned you into one.”

"Someone?" Jiang Zhu frowned. "Do you have any clues?"

“Yes.” Fusheng said solemnly, “During the pursuit, I found the True Dragon. He knew me, an existence exactly like me, but the True Dragon did not tell me who he was.”

"A true dragon?" Jiang Zhu asked in a deep voice, "Why won't he say?"

"He was probably just being stubborn, so I killed him," Fusheng said casually.

Jiang Zhu's face stiffened. Had he killed the true dragon?
“I rarely kill elves, but since he’s been a riddle-teller in front of me, I can’t let him live.”

Fu Sheng slightly raised his hand, and a golden egg, about a meter tall, appeared in the golden pool. It had golden patterns on it, like dragons: "This is a true dragon that heaven and earth have nurtured anew. I have sealed it away."

Jiang Zhu: "..."

“In East Kunlun, I still have a new phoenix under my control. She’s always wanted to avenge the phoenix, and I find it quite annoying,” Fusheng continued.

Jiang Zhu fell silent. This Fusheng... didn't seem to be a kind person?

"Do you want the Scripture of the Mortal World?" Fusheng suddenly said, "That is a direct path to immortality, but it can never be mastered."

"You haven't become an immortal?"

"Becoming an immortal? It's not that easy. Does having an endless lifespan make you an immortal? No."

"Is the absence of attachment considered becoming an immortal? Not quite."

Fusheng sighed, “I have tried to sever the seven emotions and cut off the six desires. I even ate the Emperor’s Rest Tree, but I still failed, all because of the Scripture of the Mortal World.”

Jiang Zhu did not interrupt him and continued to listen to his story.

The Scripture of the Mortal World is a celestial technique, but it can also be considered a demonic technique.

Life is but a dream, the mortal world is all illusion, only I am real!

To become an immortal, one must realize that the entire mortal world is an illusion, and only oneself is real.

Fusheng's attempt to grant Yunmeng immortality was an attempt to transform Yunmeng from an illusion into a real existence.

He was obsessed with becoming an immortal, obsessed with the so-called truth, severing the seven emotions and six desires, eating the Emperor's Rest Tree, and trying to achieve peace of mind in order to reach the state of supreme detachment from emotions.

But because of attachment, it is always impossible to completely sever it. Cutting off all of this means cutting off the attachment to becoming an immortal as well.

Besides becoming an immortal, he also wanted to leave Yunmeng behind forever.

"I desperately want to keep her here, and I desperately want to become an immortal." Fusheng was filled with longing: "But, is there a way to have it all in this world?"

"Sigh." Jiang Zhu sighed softly and said, "You should keep this 'Red Dust Scripture' for yourself. I already have enough with the 'Candle Illumination Technique'."

“A solitary yang cannot produce life, nor can a solitary yin grow.” Fusheng said, “If you wish to break free from your shackles and remain in the mortal realm, then I will give you this method that illuminates the heavens.”

A wisp of golden light appeared at his fingertips and disappeared into Jiang Zhu's brow.

Jiang Zhu thanked him, "Thank you very much. I wonder if this method can help me avoid falling into a deep sleep?"

"No, this method still cannot allow you to remain in the mortal realm for long. Even if you cultivate to the extreme, you will still need to slumber for a year. You can wait for the true dragon to grow and then ask it."

The Way of Life.

"Does the new true dragon have the memories of the past?" Jiang Zhu frowned.

“No, but I gave him enough time back then to leave his memories.” Fusheng said, “Unfortunately, I couldn’t find where those memories are, and besides, they can only be considered a part of the true dragon.”

"A part of the true dragon?" Jiang Zhu asked curiously, "What about the rest?"

"True dragons are not born that way. Heaven and earth will give birth to many true dragon bloodlines. They will fight each other, and only the final victor will transform into a true dragon."

Fusheng explained.

"Is this encouraging bloodlines of true dragons to fight each other?"

"No, a true dragon can integrate into the nation's destiny, accelerate its growth, and eventually, the nation that unifies the world will allow that true dragon bloodline to transform into a true dragon."

"I see, no wonder the Dragon Blood Serpent merged into the nation's destiny," Jiang Zhu said with sudden realization, then asked, "Have you found the Candle Illumination?"

"I've only found some power, but I've never seen the true Candlelight and Shadow." Fusheng said, "Alright, my time is up. I'm going to accompany Yunmeng. The peaches are in East Kunlun. If you want them, go and guard them. They shouldn't be ripe yet."

"I have been to this world."

His body became ethereal, turning into shimmering specks of light that dissipated into the world.

Jiang Zhu watched him leave, for life itself cannot last forever.

He tried everything to pursue it, but in the end he couldn't hold onto anything, and he couldn't even become an immortal.

In the end, only this sentence remains: I have been here in this world.

As he turned to leave, everything became illusory, including the golden pool, which gradually faded away.

Everything here was sustained by Fusheng. Now that he is gone, perhaps he has vanished into the void, or perhaps the place has collapsed.

"Ancestor," Li Qingchen asked, "Shall we go back?"

"Let's go back," Jiang Zhu said.

"What about the peaches?" Li Qingchen asked cautiously.

Although he was not obsessed with immortality, if the peaches of immortality were right in front of him, he would naturally pick them.

“It’s not here,” Jiang Zhu said, then paused and added, “If you want to pursue it, you can go to East Kunlun, but it’s not ripe yet.”

According to his memories of his previous life, the peaches of immortality should be in West Kunlun, but Fusheng is in the opposite direction.

Normally, West Kunlun is the residence of the Queen Mother of the West, the phoenix and the dragon represent women, and the dragon represents the emperor and men. The dragon should be in East Kunlun, and the phoenix in West Kunlun.

But life is all the opposite.

Isn't this also his rebellion against Jiang Zhu, or even against his own memories?

As for Fusheng's past life, Jiang Zhu didn't want to pursue it anymore. He didn't think he was better than Fusheng, and he didn't want to become a new Fusheng in the end.

"If it's not ripe, then so be it," Li Qingchen said. Since it's not ripe, there's no need to pursue it.

(End of this chapter)