Chapter 1411: Meeting an Old Friend

Decades passed in a flash, and He Qing's Dao Cultivation grew increasingly unfathomable. Within those years, she took a monumental step forward, crossing into the Dongxu Realm. Not only did she shine in the subsequent Xuanmen Grand Tournament, but she claimed first place, becoming the celebrated prodigy on everyone's lips.

Yet only He Qing knew her true limits. Compared to those two seniors, her strength was woefully inadequate.

In the past ten years, she had managed to read barely ten pages of that book—not even a tenth of it.

Later on, Yun Li invited her to become an elder of Yunai Immortal Mountain, but He Qing declined.

"If Elder Yun ever needs anything, you can come to me directly, and I will do everything in my power to help. But as for becoming an elder, let's leave it at that."

He Qing didn't have the time to act as an elder of an immortal sect. She only wanted to read her book.

Chen Changsheng returned once every three years.

And though Zhao Yuqing was always cursing and grumbling, he never failed to bring a sack of Spirit Rice in late autumn, just before the onset of winter.

Yet several times in a row, he failed to make Chen Changsheng concede.

The two men always inexplicably ended up fighting.

At first, He Qing was a little afraid, but eventually, she grew used to it.

"They're fighting again. Sigh..."

He Qing muttered under her breath, choosing instead to simply sit inside the Wine Tavern and drink.

In the past, she would have sprinted away faster than anyone.

After fighting for two or three days, the two would always return.

The outcome was always predetermined: Chen Changsheng was always the one to lose.

In terms of Cultivation Base and Dao Cultivation, Chen Changsheng was indeed far inferior. But in He Qing's eyes, he likely just didn't want to bicker with Zhao Yuqing.

The profound mystery of the Art of Imperial Decree could only be truly grasped by those who had mastered it.

In the blink of an eye, more years passed.

The Wine Tavern at the foot of the mountain once again carried the fragrance of cooked rice.

He Qing showed up to mooch a meal as usual, for that bowl of porridge was truly delicious.

Zhao Yuqing hadn't arrived yet, affording them some peace and quiet.

Chen Changsheng brought out the wine and asked, "How is your study of those two books coming along?"

He Qing took a sip of wine. "Only about ten pages. They're too difficult. The things you two know truly aren't meant for ordinary people to grasp."

"Honestly, I doubt I'll manage to finish reading them in this lifetime."

Chen Changsheng laughed upon hearing this. "Just learn as much as you can."

"Mmhmm."

He Qing set down her wine pot and asked, "Senior Chen, every time you fight with Senior Zhao, do you always go easy on him?"

Chen Changsheng shook his head. "That's not it. We're just playing around; it's not a real fight."

"What if you really fought?"

"Zhao Yuqing knows much more than I do."

Chen Changsheng said, "Anyway, up to this point, I'm still not sure if he has ever used his full strength."

"Is that so..."

He Qing blinked and asked, "Speaking of which, I've never asked. If I fully mastered those two books, what kind of level could I reach?"

"What kind of level?"

Chen Changsheng thought about it and said, "Through heaven and earth, you could roam wherever you please."

"That's it?"

"Yes."

He Qing didn't seem to realize the meaning behind those words.

Chen Changsheng didn't explain any further, either. Instead, he said, "You should go out and travel. See the world. Cultivating behind closed doors will never carry you to the opposite shore."

"I've had that thought."

He Qing had been contemplating this recently.

She really did want to go out and take a look around. For so many years, she had rarely ever left this place.

"I just don't know where to go..."

Chen Changsheng considered this for a moment. With a flip of his wrist, a Geographical Map appeared in his palm.

He handed it over.

Seeing this, He Qing froze, her eyes scanning over it.

"This is..."

"A Geographical Map?!"

He Qing stared blankly, suddenly realizing that this Geographical Map did not merely depict a single mountain or a small region, but the entire world!

It even included the Mortal World.

It was incredibly detailed; even the roads and rivers were clearly marked.

"Look here. This is a Snow Plain. It snows all year round. When you stand in it, you can even hear your own heartbeat perfectly clearly."

"Here, it is spring year-round, and the mountain flowers bloom brilliantly. There are families who make a living picking flowers to brew medicine, and quite a few flower demons reside there as well."

"And here..."

Chen Changsheng introduced the various regions across the world to He Qing.

He Qing listened in a slight daze. "Senior Chen, you seem to know everything..."

"I've been to all of them."

Chen Changsheng said, "I spent a very long time traveling across many places in this world. However, this Geographical Map actually isn't that comprehensive. There are still some hidden regions that haven't been drawn in."

"So amazing..."

He Qing felt deep admiration. She felt that being able to do such a thing well and complete it was already an incredibly remarkable feat.

"Keep it. Look over it when you have free time. If there's a place you want to visit, just head there directly."

"This... this isn't appropriate, is it?"

"It's fine. I have a copied version, so it doesn't matter if you lose it."

"Thank you, Senior Chen!!"

Overjoyed, He Qing quickly filled her wine pot and hurried off. She was truly engrossed in the contents of that Geographical Map.

Chen Changsheng snapped back to the present, then went back into the Wine Tavern to clean up the tables and bowls.

Just as he was cleaning, the clatter of hooves rang out from outside. Yet the sound wasn't quite right, leaving Chen Changsheng a bit puzzled.

A donkey came to a halt. Shortly after, a woman walked into the Wine Tavern.

Chen Changsheng looked at the person and was slightly taken aback.

Chen Lingyun glanced at Chen Changsheng but didn't say much else. She merely ordered, "Bring wine, bring food."

Chen Changsheng nodded, then immediately went to serve the wine and food.

Chen Lingyun sat in the Wine Tavern, resting one foot on the long bench, completely disregarding her image.

She drank her wine and ate her food.

Seeing Chen Changsheng stay silent for a long while, she couldn't help but get a little angry.

"Come over and have a couple of drinks with me."

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment, then nodded and walked over.

Chen Lingyun said, "You're certainly living freely, turning around and opening a Wine Tavern at the foot of this mountain. Mm, a carefree and leisurely life. I heard that not too long ago, you even played the hero saving a beauty. I wonder which family's young lady you saved."

Chen Changsheng didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "It's a misunderstanding."

"Mmhmm, a misunderstanding."

Chen Lingyun asked, "Why did you leave without saying goodbye back then? You didn't even leave a single word."

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and said, "There was an accident."

"What kind of accident?"

"It's better if you don't know."

Chen Lingyun scoffed, no longer wanting to say anything more to Chen Changsheng.

She just ate and drank without saying another word.

"Bring more wine."

"Alright."

"Not enough!"

Chen Changsheng brought out a few more pots of wine.

"Still not enough!!"

Chen Changsheng said, "Even cultivators can get drunk."

"Mind your own business!"

"It's not enough. Keep bringing more!"

Chen Changsheng busied himself for a good while, and the table was soon completely covered in wine jars.

Only then did Chen Lingyun say, "I can't drink them. Take them back."

Chen Changsheng didn't say anything either. He simply turned around and carried the wine back.

"Chen Changsheng!!"

Chen Lingyun said with some anger, "Are you incapable of speaking?"