Chapter 2823 - 82: Infinite Possibilities (Part 2)

If memory serves, the Great Ancient God has not yet regained peak status, currently just barely able to deal with True Monsters.

To avoid troubling the Ancient God, Chai Asi had to remain low-key!

Feeling the varied glances from the Demons around the Eternal Youth Spring, Yang Yu silently distanced himself from Shujia Lan.

Did I just die?

He pondered incredulously. How could it be that I merely walked out of the forest and am already said to have died? Twice? I’ve hardly done anything yet!

But he quickly accepted this fact.

After all, it was spoken to him by the Great Bodhisattva in person.

Yang Yu looked at Chai Asi, vaguely retaining some impression from the Buddha’s consciousness, yet unable to recall it thoroughly. After all, during this period, he hadn’t had the chance to use the Knowledge and Hearing Bell to test the Demons.

Oh right, the Knowledge and Hearing Bell is gone too...

How did it happen that in the brief moment of distraction, everything changed? Wasn’t it just after communicating the Knowledge and Hearing Bell, to proceed directly to kill Shujia Lan, intimidate these geniuses, and reap all benefits?

Was it all for naught?

The recently ranked fifth on the Heavenly List among geniuses, diligently digesting one calamity after another.

Yet accompanying him out of time was Shujia Lan, seemingly much more relaxed.

Even though the whole dying and resurrecting matter was quite unusual, and being hit dead by Yang Yu with a wooden mallet was indeed unpleasant in the past, wasn’t this a fresh start?

The world’s affairs are truly forgivable!

Right now, he genuinely felt no pressure, no longer holding deep resentment.

The daunting task of capturing the Knowledge and Hearing Bell was canceled altogether. Now, the mission is simple—Just keep an eye on Yang Yu. Report upon discovering the Knowledge and Hearing Bell; otherwise, do whatever you please.

The Great Bodhisattva not only temporarily transmitted a method to counter Yang Yu’s heart bell but specially emphasized to him to follow his desires, have fun this time.

Death does have its benefits, the Great Bodhisattva is really gentle!

Pig Dali felt, however, that the strand of thought entrusted by Daozhu into the divine seal seemed to be in a grimmer mood.

He continued to patiently answer his doubts, but evidently with a solemn demeanor.

What happened?

Was it upon witnessing Master Xingnian’s strength that he became concerned about the future of the Demon clan?

Thinking of this, he also started to feel somber.

Jiang Wang in the Mirror World was indeed beset by unresolved worries.

He was empathetic to Master Xingnian’s reverie.

He understood fully why a figure like Master Xingnian would still choose to scheme in the Monster Realm for five hundred years, living selflessly, striving for a future that may never be reached.

Concerning the Knowledge and Hearing Bell, Mi Zhiben had too many ways to leave a mark. Such an entity with top-tier intrinsic value alongside symbolic meaning, staying in the Monster Realm for just one day would still shed much blood in Mount Sumeru.

The World Honored One with Three Bells left; no monastics did not hold respect.

If the previous resolution to return home was simply his personal longing for family and friends, a desire to live, then having witnessed Master Xingnian’s Celestial River battle and touched the Knowledge and Hearing Bell, he gained another reason—the sacrifice of Master Xingnian must not be squandered, this bell must be returned to the Human Race.

But grown till this day, he understood profoundly that the world doesn’t revolve around anyone’s will. Possessing myriad reasons does not imply inevitable success.

Who lacks their own reasons?

Does Yu Xin not have any? Does Zhu Zheng not have any? Did the Heavenly Demon Zhu Yi, nearly beaten to death on the spot, not have any?

Master Xingnian left the Knowledge and Hearing Bell, but didn’t leave, nor could he leave, a means to depart from this world.

To play against Mi Zhiben amidst the Heavenly Demon encirclement, if any trace remains, if any stray thought persists, the final move can’t be secured.

Jiang Wang understood, continued reliance on his efforts was necessary.

Ming Zhi dies, Xing Nian emerges. Xing Nian dies, Jiang Wang picks up.

The Human Race’s legacy millions of years, none but four words—flame passed down.

He also reminded himself.

Perhaps Master Xingnian did something else, something seemingly irrelevant, but surely beneficial to the final return. He needs to feel it sincerely.

Just like this moment, caressing the mottled surface of the Knowledge and Hearing Bell.

Zhu Lanruo gazed at the beautiful reflection on the water, for a long time unaware of his thoughts. He suddenly said, "If this water’s reflection were preserved, wouldn’t it be another form of eternity?"

A beauty in front of the mirror, sighing at fleeting time, naturally makes a picturesque scene.

"But only if a stone falls, just like this—" Shujia Lan casually picked up a pebble, tossed it into the water, watched as Zhu Lanruo’s reflection was scattered, satisfied, he said: "The reflection broke."

He drew his conclusion: "Therefore, this is not true eternity."

"This statement is erroneous," Yang Yu had by now calmed his mind, to face this intricate situation anew, he casually remarked, "The ripple caused by the stone will eventually disappear, yet the reflection remains there. It is a form of eternity uninfluenced by temporal ripples, how is this not considered eternity?"

Shujia Lan chuckled: "At the very moment the stone falls, the reflection is broken. The restored reflection thereafter, is it still the previous reflection? You say waiting for the temporal ripples to subside, the pursuit of eternity by the uneternal, how can it await time?"

Thus began a debate between the two monks.

The one who originally posed the question, Zhu Lanruo stood aside, effectively becoming an outsider to the argument.

Lu Qilang glanced at them, admitting that these two fellows becoming monks, indeed had its reasons.

He thought for a moment, did not interrupt.

They were denying each other’s paths, thus marking the beginning of another battle.

"So is this indeed the Eternal Youth Spring?" Standing beside the spring, Xiong Sansi asked: "Why do I not feel any vitality?"

This coarse and raspy voice severed the monks’ debate.

Zhu Lanruo softly spoke: "The ancient sage who brought the Eternal Youth Spring to the Monster Realm back then has long since perished.

The Eternal Youth Spring, continuously pursued in history, had dried up and stopped flowing long ago.

His bloodline brought the Eternal Youth Spring to the Land of Shenxiao, seeking to leverage this open world to set the stage, to renew the mythology...Clearly, he failed.

The current Eternal Youth Spring merely possesses its appearance. Of course, you cannot feel vitality, because it merely exists as a deathly intent."

As the original planner with the Eternal Youth Spring as the centerpiece, the Spider Family certainly had more insight about the Eternal Youth Spring, explaining more authoritatively. They even knew that the present Eternal Youth Spring was a product after a failed scheme.

But compared to the contemplation of the ancient planner’s legacy among a group of Demon Kings, Jiang Wang in the Mirror World was instead inspired by another five words.

Open World!

Before the Eternal Youth Spring, there lies a bubble of fate.

Forest path, straddled by the Mirage Dragon.

Furthermore, there lies the Time Treasure Ship, named "Flying Light".

Mi Zhiben, Chan Fayuan, Ji Xingkong, Zhu Yi, Tiger Taisui, Lu Ximing, even Master Xingnian, successively in this setup...

He suddenly understood the connection between the six paths in the forest and grasped what the fundamental rules of the Land of Shenxiao are.

It is reincarnation, it is openness, it is infinite possibilities!

Previously Master Xingnian conversed with Heavenly Demon Zhu Yi, saying— "Depending on the uniqueness of this place...If this world weren’t as such, how would this poor monk have come at all?"

The Zen Master was a guest from Beyond the Heavens, also faced against Mi Zhiben, hence could not speak plainly. But had long hinted.

What is "unique" about this place?

Unlike the Mountain and Sea Realm being Huang Weizhen’s back garden, as Wang Changji described, as a home where the owner is temporarily absent.

The legendary figure Yu Zhen from the Demon clan many years ago, bravely relinquished the ownership of the Land of Shenxiao entirely, openly offering this world to all beings of the Myriad Heavens and Worlds.

This place once counted as Yu Zhen’s home, yet he swung open its doors, tossed away the keys, tore up the property deed, allowing every visitor to come and go.

This is a completely open world without ownership, capable of accommodating any entities to engage in match-ups...whether Yu Zhen is alive or dead, he cannot intervene.

That’s why so many Heavenly Demons dare to come here to play their pieces.

That’s why the Human Race’s Master Xingnian also viewed this game as the sole hope.

Surveying the entire game between Master Xingnian and Mi Zhiben, the Land of Shenxiao had no inherent bias at all, even supporting Master Xingnian at the end with "Beyond the Heavens, no evil". The only issue was Master Xingnian alone faced the pressure of the entire Monster Realm in his game.

So where lays the vitality of this journey?

In this "open world", in these "infinite possibilities"!

Like the ants could traverse the Mountain and Sea, ants uprooting towering trees. Mantis confronting the chariot that should topple, drawing water against the grain!

Outcomes are not assured, gains are not guaranteed.

Pieces may yet become players.

Rumble!

Heavenly Mountain trembled.

Numerous demons looked up at the sky.

But they saw myriad feathers falling, gathering pale golden radiance, landing on the mountains, on the trees, on the water...landing upon the heads and clothes of these young Demons present, they seemingly melted like snowflakes.

Regarding this world’s principles.

Words from Zhu Lanruo, thoughts by Jiang Wang.

The earth shook and the heavens trembled for an instant.

Heavenly Venerate Yu Zhen’s Dao in Shenxiao...had been touched!