Chapter 583: You Aren’t Worthy of Knowing Either

Chen Changsheng stared at the child before him.

The recent turn of events had truly shocked him; the same method, also the Divine Decree of the Gods.

So, which chapter did the Mountain Lord possess, and where did he obtain it?

Moreover, judging by the words exchanged during their brief clash just now, they seemed very familiar—a familiarity that didn’t feel like mere background setting. It felt more like they were alive, existing somewhere real.

So then, where was that place?

He remembered back in the Lotus Pond, ‘Nezha’ had told him they came from a dream. But where did that dream come from? Where was it hidden?

Chen Changsheng snapped out of his thoughts and raised one hand. “Mountain Lord, enlighten me.”

Hearing this, the child scowled, brows pinching together, and exclaimed,”Alright, alright, alright!”

He lifted his hand; with a flip of his palm, a radiant spiritual-energy-filled lingzhi mushroom bloomed there.

As he raised his other hand, a jade pearl floated above his palm.

The lingzhi then burst into motes of starlight appearing behind the child, while the jade pearl transformed into the figure of a woman, who gently plucked the lingzhi.

That female silhouette was unmistakably familiar to Chen Changsheng.

It was Yu Xuan, without a doubt.

Chen Changsheng hesitated for a moment, instinctively reaching for his sword, only to pause abruptly. He realized with a jolt that he had neither Listening to Rain nor Taiqing at his side.

Helpless, he could only raise his hand.

Bringing two fingers together, he willed them as a sword.

“Hum!”

Sword intent reverberated, transforming into a streak of cyan light that shot towards his foe.

The Mountain Lord summoned his Dharma Form to meet it.

Tianji Mountain rumbled and shook. Instantly, the trees and grass across the mountain swayed violently.

Disciples deep in Cultivation on the mountain were rudely jolted awake.

“What happened?!”

“Boom!”

The great bell of Tianji Mountain began to toll immediately.

Thousands of disciples wore baffled expressions, but as the bell rang out, they all rushed towards the main hall without a second’s delay.

In the blink of an eye, hundreds upon hundreds of Cultivators took to the skies. Divine Cranes flanked them, creating a scene of breathtaking grandeur.

“Rumble…”

The shaking of Tianji Mountain gradually subsided moments later.

Back in the temple on the Back Mountain.

Chen Changsheng withdrew his hand, but froze abruptly. He touched his face, feeling a sting as fingers came away smeared with crimson—a cut splitting his cheek dripped blood.

Staring at the red on his fingertips, he was momentarily stunned, utterly surprised.

Before him,

The child-like Mountain Lord let out a light cough. His form seemed slightly more translucent than before.

That sword strike had struck him hard.

He lifted his head, seeing only a thin line of blood marring Chen Changsheng’s face. Confusion flickered across his own face before he sighed deeply.

“Chen Changsheng…”

“Does the Mountain Lord have more to teach?” Chen Changsheng asked.

“Do you never think the mistakes you made were yours?”

Chen Changsheng paused. “Why say that?”

The child shook his head and sat down.

He sighed again but did not continue.

Chen Changsheng stepped forward and sat down beside the Mountain Lord.

He considered for a moment, then said, “I wouldn’t quite say that. Even a sage wouldn’t claim they were perfect.”

The child stiffened minutely. He looked up at Chen Changsheng.

As their gazes locked,

Thousands upon tens of thousands of years seemed to flash through the Mountain Lord’s mind—from his childhood, to falling into a trap, to becoming the ‘Mountain God Lord’ of a small hillock…

Seeing the profound depth in his gaze, Chen Changsheng spoke gently. “Shall we talk properly?”

The child thought for a bit. “Not with you.”

Chen Changsheng nodded. “Then we won’t.”

The child blinked, perplexed.

Chen Changsheng said, “These recent years brought many experiences. I gleaned some clues. Indeed, some Karma binds me—I won’t deny that. But once… I arrived at an understanding.”

“Regardless of the past, dwelling on it isn’t a concern for this Chen Changsheng. Why ponder Rebirth or past lives when one hasn’t finished living the present one?”

The child looked startled, more than that, disbelieving.

Chen Changsheng took a slow breath. “Focus on doing the task right before your eyes.”

The Mountain Lord was silent for a long moment before finally asking, “You truly mean that?”

Chen Changsheng nodded firmly. “Yes. So whether the Mountain Lord tells me about the past or not, it changes nothing about what I choose to do going forward. Knowing or not knowing… ultimately makes little difference.”

The Mountain Lord shook his head emphatically. “You are far too naive!”

“None of this is yours to determine.”

“Who knows?” Chen Changsheng countered lightly, a small smile playing on his lips.

The Mountain Lord shook his head again. “I can’t grasp what you are truly doing! Plotting across incarnations, carefully preserving foundations amassed over lifetimes… Why burn it all now? Where is the fire? What meaning remained if you walk away?”

Chen Changsheng replied calmly, “Mountain Lord, explaining this to me now likely serves little purpose.”

At these words, the child’s form shuddered violently.

His mouth opened slightly, eyes losing focus for a moment. He murmured, almost to himself, “You don’t want to know anymore…”

“How can you not want to know?”

“How?!”

The Mountain Lord’s voice escalated, turning sharp, intense.

He surged to his feet, clutching the front of Chen Changsheng’s robes. “Why?!” he shouted in a hoarse voice, shaking him, demanding an answer once more.

The same desperate question: Why not now?

A heavy hollowness slammed into his chest like a stone plummeting into a deep well.

Chen Changsheng endured the shaking, voice steady. “Should the Mountain Lord be willing to speak, I would still listen.”

The child released him, staggering back a couple of steps.

“N-no…”

His gaze remained fixed on Chen Changsheng.

But layers of deep disappointment, profound resignation, and something akin to complete despair settled over his features.

The Mountain Lord let out a self-mocking chuckle, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “Leave.”

Chen Changsheng looked at him. “There is one other matter I would ask about.”

The Mountain Lord’s eyes hardened like diamond shards. “Get. Out!”

Though confused by the intensity of the rejection, Chen Changsheng pressed on. “I seek the path into the Demon Realm. Please enlighten me.”

The Mountain Lord’s chest rose and fell visibly with emotion. Only after long moments did his breathing slowly steady.

A heavy silence stretched between them.

Finally, the Mountain Lord spoke once more, his voice low and drained. “The Demon God’s Well has no fixed abode. But each year… at the very same place… it emerges on the thirteenth day of the third month.” He paused deliberately. “You know that place.”

“I know?” Chen Changsheng’s thoughts raced. “…The Southern Garden within the Thirty-Three Heavens?”

The Mountain Lord gave a dismissive wave. He then fished inside his robe, pulling out a yellowed scroll—a cultivation method script. He tossed it onto the ground between them.

“This…” he said flatly, “…is what you charged me to pass to you long ago. Before.”

He turned his back fully on Chen Changsheng. “Beyond that… I’ve nothing more to say. And you… you aren’t worthy of knowing.”