Chapter Thirty-Five: The Fall of the Ancient Realm

The existence of cultivators was no secret in the ancient realm of Azure Mystery. Here, the presence of other races had endured for ages, and every so often, traces of cultivators from the past could be found.

Chu Tiange spoke, his voice deep and resolute, declaring himself a cultivator. Yet, there was a deeper meaning to his words.

He sought to become a god, to prove the Dao, to ascend as an immortal!

The path to immortality was long and arduous, always demanding pursuit—some chased after eternal life, some after freedom, some yearned for the everlasting, while others aspired to divinity, striving to win life for countless beings.

Agu Duo was stunned. She gazed at Chu Tiange as if beholding a deity who should not have appeared in the mundane world.

“So, you’ve come to me, seeking my help? Do you wish for me to aid your escape? I have told you before—if you so desire, I am willing to help you.” Chu Tiange spoke.

“No… it’s not that,” Agu Duo shook her head, her eyes welling with tears once more. “Brother Agen has always treated me well. I never realized he cared for me in that way. I willingly became his wife, to soothe his restless spirit.”

“I came here only to ask you to avenge Brother Agen, to slay the beast that killed him.”

“Is this not a farce? How can the dead sleep with a wife? How can a soul without a body consummate yin and yang?” Chu Tiange shook his head. “Utter nonsense—here, this is for you.”

A crisp ringing sounded through the air.

Agu Duo instinctively caught the item and saw a finely crafted bell, upon which a lifelike phoenix was engraved.

“Why are you giving this to me?” Agu Duo asked suspiciously.

“It’s a gift from Agen to you,” Chu Tiange explained.

“Brother Agen!” Agu Duo’s expression changed, her breath quickening.

“He appeared once more and left this behind. It was, I believe, the gift he promised you earlier. He told me not to let you die with him.” Chu Tiange continued, his expression somewhat peculiar. “As for why he found me, perhaps it is because I am upright, untempted even in the presence of beauty, and worthy of trust.”

“So, you cannot die,” Chu Tiange’s gaze deepened, his words leaving no room for refusal.

“Are you telling the truth?” Agu Duo hesitated.

“In the future, I will stand shoulder to shoulder with gods. Have you ever heard of a god telling lies? Come, let me take you to seek vengeance,” Chu Tiange said.

As for the murderer, Chu Tiange already had clues. It would not be long before he brought the culprit to light.

Night fell deep. Except for the small hut where Agen’s body lay, lit by candlelight and the occasional sound of weeping, the rest of the houses were swallowed by darkness and silence.

Soon, the two, guided by the starlight, walked toward the edge of the valley.

Just then, a furious shout abruptly shattered the darkness.

“Just as the High Priest said—you’re trying to flee!”

Lights flickered in hut after hut.

One by one, figures emerged from their houses.

“What a pair of shameless adulterers! Agen’s spirit has not yet found peace, and you’re already plotting to elope?” a woman cursed from within the gathering.

Through the crowd, Chu Tiange saw an elderly woman with swollen eyelids and bloodshot eyes, supported by others as she walked out.

“Aunt, it’s not like that. I want to avenge Brother Agen!” Agu Duo hurriedly explained.

“Shameless wench! My son is not yet at rest, and you bring an outsider back here? This is betrayal! I will slice him into a thousand pieces and offer his head to my son’s spirit! Agu Duo must be buried with my son at once!” the old woman shrieked.

“Aunt!” Agu Duo’s face changed; her memory of this woman was always gentle, but now she seemed a vengeful ghost from the underworld.

Chu Tiange looked at her with earnest gravity. “Aunt, you watched Agu Duo grow up. Do you truly wish her to be buried alive with your dead son? You would destroy her.”

“You understand nothing! If Agu Duo doesn’t follow him in death, Agen’s spirit will never rest. Everyone in this tribe will perish!” someone said angrily.

More and more footsteps closed in. Hundreds in the tribe, wielding wooden clubs, surrounded the pair so tightly that none could escape.

Chu Tiange let out a cold laugh. “You are right, Agen’s spirit needs peace. But what of Agu Duo? If she loved any one of you, would you have her buried with you as well?”

“If Agu Duo could be wife to Agen, then his soul would rest,” the old woman said.

“How interesting.” Chu Tiange swept his gaze over the crowd, a smile curling at his lips. “Since that is so, we’ll have to force our way out.”

Seven men stepped out from the crowd, barring Chu Tiange’s path. They stood tall, iron weapons on their backs—clearly the ten champions of the Ayan tribe.

“Boy, kill yourself quietly and we’ll let half your corpse remain. Agu Duo only claimed first champion because we let her. Otherwise, do you think she’d be first among so many men?” one of the men said, his voice slow, his intent murderous.

Agen was their brother! How could they allow another to take his wife? Worse still, if Agu Duo were not pure and her burial failed to bring peace to Agen, then all of them would be doomed as well!

He had not yet married, had no children, had not lived enough! He could not die—not even though he secretly admired Agu Duo. For survival’s sake, he had to push her forward.

Thud! Thud!

Men and women alike beat the ground with their clubs.

“Cut off his head!”

“Offer sacrifice to Agen!”

“Cut off his head!”

“Offer sacrifice to Agen!”

Agu Duo stared wide-eyed at the unfamiliar, twisted faces, seeing among them her second uncle and aunt, her cousins.

“A Tai, if you think my title as first champion is unearned, then I’ll fight you here and now!” Agu Duo was about to charge forward.

But Chu Tiange held her back, casting a scornful glance at the crowd. “If you think you can keep us here, come and try.”

“You’re seeking death!” A Tai wasted no words; true men spoke with their fists.

He drew his iron sword and attacked.

The sword whistled through the air, emitting a harsh screech. In the moonlight, it glimmered coldly, slashing toward Chu Tiange’s neck to take his head.

Chu Tiange dodged easily, laughing lightly. “Even if I stood here for ten years, you wouldn’t hit me.”

A Tai was unfazed by the taunt, swinging a powerful fist at Chu Tiange’s head—fast, vicious, and cunning.

“A Tai’s skill has improved—or was this his true strength all along?” Agu Duo thought in shock. That punch seemed to tear the air, no weaker than herself.

Yet A Tai was only the tenth champion! Could it be, as he said, that her title as first champion was undeserved?

The iron sword sang again, every strike fierce and deadly, every move targeting a vital point.

But he could not land a blow.

A Tai was sweating, and the onlookers were dumbstruck. The stranger was simply too fast.

At last, metal clashed and sparks flew!

Chu Tiange reached out with his right hand, caught the iron sword, and with a gentle push, sent a tremendous force through it, driving A Tai back until he fell hard to the ground.

“Pfft.”

Agu Duo, seeing this, could not help but laugh.

“You!” A Tai protested.

“A Tai, you’re no match for him. Let me,” said a young man, handsome and clear-eyed.

“The second champion!”

The crowd grew restless again—the second champion of the Ayan tribe, the true hidden strongest.

“A Hua! You would block me too?” Agu Duo’s face darkened. This was her cousin!

“Sister, forgive me. I must fight for the tribe!” said the handsome youth, shaking his head apologetically.

“A Hua, don’t waste time—kill him quickly!” A Tai urged.

The young man moved, legs bent, body taut, blood surging, his whole being like an unsheathed blade, sharp and ready. He threw a punch at Chu Tiange!

His seemingly delicate frame contained strength that defied his appearance.

“You’re right, we shouldn’t waste time,” Chu Tiange said, shaking his head.

He raised his left fist and struck toward the empty air.

Boom!

The void itself seemed to shatter!

The air trembled; spiritual energy went wild.

Chu Tiange’s punch seemed to hit nothing but air. Yet, all around, everyone was sent flying!

Thud, thud, thud—

One after another, bodies crashed heavily to the ground!

“This… this…”

Those lying on the ground groaned in pain, eyes wide with terror.

What just happened? Chu Tiange’s movements hadn’t even seemed fast, yet none could dodge—they were sent flying!

How could this be?

“This… this…” Agu Duo’s lips parted, her face filled with disbelief.

She knew Chu Tiange was formidable, but never imagined he could be so terrifying!

With a single punch, he had sent everyone flying!

“Let’s go,” Chu Tiange said, flexing his hand as he looked at Agu Duo.

“Yes!” Agu Duo’s heart pounded with excitement. So this was a cultivator’s strength? One man could easily defeat an entire tribe. Agen’s death could be avenged. No longer would they need to fear the coming of “the Return.”

The two turned to leave.

Suddenly, a thunderous shout split the night.

“Wait!”

The one approaching was the old priest, with the chieftain and the final champion in tow.

“You cannot just leave like this!” the old priest declared.

Chu Tiange turned, his gaze cold as it fell on the elder. He sighed. “Since that great upheaval years ago, I have killed very few. After all, with each death, the world is poorer. Unless the crime is unforgivable, I prefer to show mercy and compassion.”

“Tonight, I do not wish to kill. But should you persist in your folly, I do not mind a massacre. This is not my world. Your lives and deaths are nothing to me.”

As his words faded, a blinding brilliance split the night, illuminating the world as if it were day!

Thunder and sword-light wove a net, covering all present!

“A thunderous spell!” The crowd quailed.

The people of the Ayan tribe were petrified, the shadow of death looming over them.

Such power, such means—only a celestial could wield them!

All fell to their knees, faces stricken with fear. Only the old priest and the chieftain braved the storm of lightning to approach Chu Tiange.

The old priest’s expression was complicated; he bowed his head. “I know the temperament of cultivators. If you wish to take Agu Duo, none here can stop you. I will not attempt it. But I have one request.”

“Oh?” Chu Tiange inclined his head. “Anything but this business of burial and sacrifice, I will consider.”

“Take me with you; I may be of help,” the old priest implored. “It will aid Agu Duo, and myself, and our whole tribe.”

At this point, the old man knew he could not oppose them.

“Very well,” Chu Tiange nodded. As the most senior in the tribe, the priest must know more—about “the Return,” for example.

“Let us be off,” Chu Tiange said, hands clasped behind his back, his tone cool.

Agu Duo glanced hesitantly at the old priest, then hurried after Chu Tiange. Though they had spent but half a day together, Chu Tiange gave her a sense of safety.

Three figures moved swiftly through the night.

The hour was late; frogs croaked and insects sang.

The Forgotten Spring Mountains were perennially damp, plagued by mosquitoes, infested with venomous snakes, and shrouded in miasma. Especially at night, the miasma thickened. Thus, the Ayan tribe rarely ventured out after dark. If they did, they rested in treetops to avoid inhaling too much poison.

No sooner had they left the valley than a crimson serpent, tongue flickering, shot out from the undergrowth toward them.

But after a few leaps, Chu Tiange dispatched it with a flick of his sword.

“Chu Tiange, where are we going?” Agu Duo asked.

“To avenge Agen,” Chu Tiange replied, halting as he opened his palm.

A withered dark-purple flower appeared in his hand.

Bathed in moonlight, the flower changed.

In an instant, the ordinary blossom emitted a blinding black radiance, like an ominous flower from the depths of hell.

“What is this?” Agu Duo asked in confusion.

The old priest stared at the flower, his expression changing drastically. “Where did you get that?”

“You recognize it?” Chu Tiange caught the subtle nuance in the elder’s face.

“Yes. It is the Forgotten Spring Flower, after which these mountains are named. Legend says it came from the Yellow Springs. Whoever consumes it, upon death, will walk the path of the Yellow Springs to another world, thereby attaining immortality.” The old priest’s gaze was fixed on the flower, a trace of terror in his eyes.

“Another world?” Chu Tiange frowned.

The priest nodded. “That is what the ancient texts say. For countless generations, the dying have searched for this flower, hoping to enter the banks of the River Lethe and discover the secret of immortality. Yet, after countless attempts, all ended in failure, bringing only the ‘Return’—a calamity that nearly destroyed this world.”

Chu Tiange listened, falling into deep thought.

The decline of the ancient realm of Azure Mystery—there were legends that this old relic, even now, bore traces left by celestials.

In those days, the prosperity of Azure Mystery far outstripped the present world. Yet, it still vanished into the river of history.

Did its destruction come from a failed pursuit of immortality?