Eternal Tale

A year later.

At the Shanhai Pass of the Kingdom Qian, the area was sparsely populated, with only the Outer Disciples of the Sky-Supporting Sect stationed there. The true powerhouses were above the valley, using their divine sense to scan the surrounding formations.

A wooden cart was speeding towards them, moving fast enough to kill a wild beast from the mortal realm, a speed considered quite impressive by mortal standards.

At that moment, Xiao Wuhen’s eyes lit up. After a hundred years, he finally saw a familiar figure!

Excitedly, Xiao Wuhen waved and laughed loudly, ”Sister Han Xuan!! My father and I were about to head up the mountain, and I didn’t expect to meet you here.”

A graceful figure trembled slightly; it was the familiar voice from childhood. Her gaze instantly turned towards that direction, and there they were, Elder Xun and Brother Wuhen, their appearances unchanged.

Han Xuan’s appearance had matured significantly, even her hairstyle had changed, and she had unsurprisingly reached the Foundation Establishment stage, granting her a long lifespan.

However, the reunion was not as Xiao Wuhen had imagined. She merely smiled faintly, ”Elder Xun, Wuhen, I didn’t expect to meet you here. I’m stationed here for ten years.”

Chen Xun smiled slightly, saying nothing more, and looked at Xiao Wuhen, ”Old friends meeting, go and catch up.”

”Alright, Dad!” Xiao Wuhen beamed, though his steps were a bit heavier after getting off the cart, not showing the same joy he had in front of his father.It seemed Sister Han Xuan had changed somewhat. Seeing him again after a hundred years, there was a hint of unfamiliarity in her voice.

He was meticulous in thought but didn’t show it on his face. Since they were childhood friends, it was only natural to exchange pleasantries, to see if Sister Han Xuan still recognized him after joining the immortal sect.

Xiao Wuhen understood that once people achieved success, they often disregarded their poor relatives, but he wasn’t there to curry favor, just to chat after not seeing each other for a century.

By Han Xuan’s side stood a few disciples, who boldly scrutinized the mortal riding the wooden cart, their eyes filled with amusement. How shabby...

The child approaching had a decent face, but his demeanor and attire were far from that of a cultivator. In comparison, calling him a beggar wouldn’t be an exaggeration, yet he was a former acquaintance of Sister Han Xuan.

However, they didn’t mock him openly, merely stepping aside as if watching a spectacle.

Han Xuan’s mention of Elder Xun made them more cautious, suspecting there were secrets involved, but since it was an internal sect matter, they refrained from asking directly.

The two had already used their divine sense to probe, finding them more ordinary than ordinary mortals, perfectly normal.

Han Xuan watched as Qian Wuhen approached step by step, forcing a smile, ”Wuhen, how have you been these years? I returned once a few years back, but you and Elder Xun had already left.”

”Yes, these years I’ve traveled with my father and an elder sister across the great mountains and rivers of Kingdom Qian, witnessing many magnificent sights,” Wuhen replied cheerfully, ”You should take a look when you have time.”

”Alright,” Han Xuan replied politely, ”Are you heading back to the mountain to farm?”

”Sister Han Xuan, yes, my father said there’s a summons from an immortal, so we must return,” Wuhen replied openly, without any sense of inferiority, never feeling inferior.

However, before he finished speaking, Han Xuan’s brows furrowed slightly, ”Wuhen, it’s no longer appropriate to call me sister.”

Xiao Wuhen was momentarily stunned but quickly adjusted, without any sense of loss, and smiled, ”Alright, I understand.”

Han Xuan’s eyes showed a hint of apology; she was now a Foundation Establishment cultivator, with the Golden Elixir stage within reach.

If she could reach the Elemental Infant phase, with a lifespan of two thousand years, she could soar through the skies like the senior sisters who once guided her.

Their relationship had long become as different as clouds and mud, no longer suitable to be so close, once merely childhood ignorance.

Though Kingdom Qian never emphasized the distinction between immortals and mortals, the difference seemed always to be a shackle in her heart, dictated by her external identity.

Mortals dared not cling too closely, and immortals were too proud to integrate into the past.

It was a gap in understanding, a gap in worldview, leaving no common language, even without deliberate display, the objective reality remained.

It wasn’t out of fear of others seeking revenge, nor fear of watching loved ones pass away.

After all, which mortal doesn’t watch their loved ones pass away, let alone immortals.

The distinction between immortals and mortals seemed always to be the lie of immortals... a lie to keep their Dao heart calm and serene.

In simple terms, when you achieve success, do you truly recognize those poor relatives from the bottom of your heart, without maintaining a superior attitude in speech or inadvertently?

But Xiao Wuhen seemed to have understood this truth early on, so when Elder Sister Yuxuan left, he merely watched his father, never disturbing Elder Sister Yuxuan.

He could only marvel, describing it animatedly in front of his father, believing only his father was the most worthy of his respect and love.

Xiao Wuhen took a deep breath, lowered his head, and took out a candy from his bag, ”Sister Han Xuan... Han Xuan, immortal, this is the candy you once gave me, I’ve kept it all along, though it’s spoiled.”

As the candy appeared, Han Xuan’s eyes trembled, looking at Qian Wuhen in disbelief, how could you still have it.

”After all, you were the young lady of our village, and you helped me get candy, of course, I remember.”

Wuhen’s smile was clear and pure, with a slight hint of bitterness, ”I never thanked you back then, but now we’ve grown up, this preserved candy is my thanks from the past.”

”I don’t have anything valuable on me, just picked up some odd stones along the way.”

Wuhen fumbled around and finally took out a small stone, ”Han Xuan, do you think this stone is pretty, it’s the most valuable thing I have.”

”For you!”

”...Alright,” Han Xuan felt a sudden pang of pain in her heart, but quickly recovered, gently accepting them, murmuring softly, ”Thank you, Wuhen.”

”Then I won’t disturb you guarding this place, my father and I are going back to farm.”

Wuhen turned, smiling broadly, ”Han Xuan, I wish you prosperity on your immortal path, may everything go smoothly, I’m leaving.”

With that, he started running, heading towards his father.

Xiao Wuhen lightly hopped onto the back seat of the wooden cart, waving at Han Xuan, never lingering his gaze on her again.

Whoosh...

Chen Xun glanced at his son, then resumed pedaling the wooden cart, saying nothing more.

In the distance.

Han Xuan tightly gripped the odd stone, watching their departing figures, ultimately saying nothing, the discomfort was only temporary, they were just mortals...

”Sister Han Xuan, who are they?” A teasing voice came, glancing at the stone in her hand, ”Didn’t expect a mortal to give stones, quite amusing.”

”That young man was rather rude, not even getting off that shabby wooden cart to pay respects, but clearly a rural villager, no need to bother with these mortals.”

...

A few mocking voices sounded, just teasing a bit, not intending to trouble the mortals, as sect rules were strict, unless one had a death wish.

Han Xuan forced a smile, ”Senior Brother, they’re descendants of former servants, I returned once after starting cultivation, had a brief encounter, but didn’t interact much.”

”I see.” The group realized, having heard of Sister Han Xuan’s notable mortal family background.

However, the man who criticized Chen Xun’s lack of manners was about to speak when suddenly, the winds and clouds changed, lightning and thunder roared, and a terrifying aura swept across the land!

Boom...

Under the vast electric light, an elder with an immortal demeanor descended from the sky, his attire marking him as the grand elder of the Sky-Supporting Sect!!!

The legendary late-stage Great Ascension venerable... one step further, and he would be the unparalleled ruler of a domain!

The Foundation Establishment disciples were terrified, their hair standing on end, their mana completely stalled, never having seen such a heavenly power descend.

Their legs were trembling, Han Xuan was so frightened that the candy and stone in her hand fell to the ground... it seemed she never cared much, subconsciously ignoring them.

However, the elder with the immortal demeanor’s eyes flashed with brilliance.

In an instant, he swooped down, performing an invincible slide of a Great Ascension venerable, his entire body entering the ground.

He raised his hands above his head, catching the candy and stone in a flash of lightning.

The grand elder of the Sky-Supporting Sect secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thankful for his quick reflexes, ensuring the immortal items remained untainted, demonstrating his sincerity by not using any mana, doing it personally!

His entire body lay on the ground, head slightly raised, hands still holding the items above his head, in a rather peculiar posture.

The Foundation Establishment disciples stared dumbfounded at the legendary heavenly power, wondering what kind of pose this was...

”Impudent!!!”

Suddenly, the grand elder of the Sky-Supporting Sect let out a roar that shook the heavens, instantly shaking the entire majestic Shanhai Pass, the earth veins trembling violently!