The Quest for Immortality

Wenren Jingxuan looked at his daughter’s gentle eyes filled with a trace of pity and sorrow, a pang stabbing his heart, and his face showed a shadow of bitterness as the words of comfort he had prepared could not be spoken.

Shang Che breathed a slight sigh of relief.

In his heart, he naturally hoped that Wenren Wan would agree.

This matter was a decision made by numerous Heaven Void Ancestors within the Qian Learning State Boundary, and as the Family Head of the Shangguan Family, he naturally did not want to go against the wishes of those Ancestors.

Speaking on a smaller scale, it concerned the life of Shangguan’s legitimate son and the reputation of the Shangguan Family.

On a larger scale, it concerned the security of the entire Qian Learning State Boundary.

As long as Wenren Wan agreed, it would be a favor.

Regardless of whether Yu’er could be saved in the end, and what the outcome of Wenren Wan would be, it would be beneficial for the Shangguan Family.

He was the Family Head, balancing the pros and cons.

However, this ”balancing” was somewhat selfish and indifferent, Shang Che could not express this to avoid offending the Wenren Family.

Fortunately, Wenren Wan was anxious for her child and made her own decision. Otherwise, if she did not consider the ties of blood and chose to protect herself, Shang Che would not be able to persuade her.

In the current situation, Shang Che was naturally pleased with how things turned out.

He stood calmly aside, with his hands folded in his sleeves, indifferent to everything.

But at this moment, Shangguan Yi stepped forward.

Seeing his wife’s face filled with anguish, he couldn’t help but feel a pang in his heart:

”I am Yu’er’s father, father and son are bound by blood, if a dream must be entered, let it be me...”

Upon hearing this, Shang Che’s face turned blue, and he angrily rebuked:

”Nonsense! What business is it of yours here?”

Throughout his life, he had been indulgent, with countless women, but only this one son.

He needed this only son to inherit the family business.

Once the Sea of Consciousness was damaged, the Tao body flawed, the Great Dao severed, cultivation could no longer advance, and the Family Head position would be out of reach.

He had struggled all his life, meticulously built a network, and painstakingly saved the foundation, only for it all to be wasted.

Wenren Jingxuan coldly glanced at Shang Che, then turned his head to look at Shangguan Yi’s sorrowful expression, feeling both gratified and disdained.

He was gratified that Shangguan Yi truly loved his daughter.

His daughter hadn’t married the wrong person.

But he disdained the fact that had she not married Shangguan Yi, his precious daughter could have lived a carefree life, sweet as honey, without the torment endured in the Shangguan Family. She wouldn’t have to face this difficult choice where her prospects of Tao Cultivation were doomed, confronted by the possible parting with her children.

”Alas, fate rules all, with not a bit under human control...”

Wenren Jingxuan’s face was difficult to look at, and he sighed at the end.

”Wan’er, you...”

Wenren Jingxuan gazed deeply at Wenren Wan, words turning into a deep sigh.

But this was, after all, his biological daughter, and as her father, he couldn’t ignore her.

”You come with me, to report to the Ancestor.”

Wenren Jingxuan reached out, supporting Wenren Wan as they walked outside.

Wenren Wan walked a few steps, turned back to look at her husband, her eyes lingering, then became resolutely sorrowful, finally leaving the secret chamber with Wenren Jingxuan.

Within the secret chamber, apart from the Shangguan father and son, there were no others.

Shangguan Yi stood pale, motionless.

Seeing how his son looked, despite Shang Che’s deep cunning, he couldn’t help but feel anger rising in his heart, chastising:

”Is that all the ambition you have?”

”As my son, Shang Che’s, is your head full only of love affairs?”

”Without wife or child, you appear lost and despairing, how can you become great?”

Shangguan Yi calmly bore his father’s reprimand before finally saying quietly:

”Father, I am Yu’er’s father, Wan’er’s husband. If I can’t protect my son and wife, can I truly become, as they say, great?”

”Unable to protect my own little family, how can I lead the Shangguan Clan as Clan Leader?”

Shang Che stalled, ”That’s a separate matter.”

Shangguan Yi shook his head, ”A family clan has ’family’ before ’clan’.”

Shang Che grew angry, ”But you can’t sacrifice your cultivation path for your little family. Entering the dream with Divine Sense, wasting your Sea of Consciousness, is this something you should do?”

Shangguan Yi’s face was calm, ”It’s merely wasting the Sea of Consciousness. If I can truly save Yu’er and protect Wan’er, being a beast of burden will be worth it.”

Shang Che, his chest aching with rage, seeing his son’s ”pushover” demeanor, could only furiously sigh:

”It is all retribution...”

Having been indulgent all his life, he had given birth to a ”lover” obsessed with romantic ties.

Shang Che’s face turned cold as he flicked his sleeves and left.

Leaving Shangguan Yi alone in the secret chamber, contemplating his child whose life was uncertain, and his wife forced to abandon her Tao path to save their child, his heart was filled with both shame and powerlessness, his face full of regret.

...

Within the Sword Observation Tower.

Wenren Wan was brought by Wenren Jingxuan before True Man Situ and numerous Heaven Void Ancestors.

True Man Situ asked, ”Have you made up your mind?”

Wenren Wan nodded, her gentle face showing maternal determination:

”As long as Yu’er is saved, I care not for the Sea of Consciousness, nor for cultivation.”

True Man Situ was moved and even felt a trace of respect. Yet the more heartfelt it was, the more he sighed inwardly.

If the matter was impossible, this mother and son might not survive.

In this world, the kinder a person is, the more prone they are to endure the torment of fate.

The other Heaven Void Ancestors slightly nodded, their hearts relieved.

Though they were Heaven Void Ancestors, with high cultivation and significant power, able to coerce even if Wenren Wan disagreed, they had methods to make Shangguan and Wenren families comply, but the ”Heavenly Dream’s Guide” spell point involved the Sea of Consciousness.