Legend of the Great Sage

Li Qingshan flicked his finger. The paper crane turned to dust, scattering on the black water.

The fury in his heart was extinguished after burning for merely an instant. The three mountains were for Demon God Qiongqi, not for an argument with a woman.

His gaze was deep, dark like the black water, ebbing away gently. In just a split second, he calculated all the advantages and disadvantages involved.

If he had not forgotten everything, perhaps he could still put up a fight. If he challenged a divine general of the Six Ding, he was without a doubt asking to be humiliated.

As a result, the most optimal choice was to directly forfeit and remove Chao Tianjiao’s opportunity to be cocky. However, that woman would never let him avoid the battle.

Yeah, ever since he completed the Spirit Turtle Transformation, it was always very easy for him to calm down and consider problems from a purely rational point of view, so pure that it was almost cold.

Though… he just felt like something was missing…

But… what was it?

He lowered his head and pressed his hand against his chest. His heartbeat was extremely slow, and his blood seemed to have cooled as well, flowing through the entirety of his body through his veins and bringing forth a strange sensation of quiet and loneliness.

If he shut his eyes, then he seemed to be still floating through Ruin’s End, where the black water gradually swallowed the warmth and his memories.

“Who am I?”

In reality, up until now, he had only heard an interesting story, with a main character called Li Qingshan.

Perhaps due to some embellishment by the narrator, intentionally or otherwise, this “Li Qingshan” was both courageous and stubborn. He liked to joke around, but when it mattered, he was very valiant, like he was forever a young man.

He lowered his head. The black water only reflected the cold face of a grown man.

In order to not disappoint Xiao An, he tried impersonating this “Li Qingshan”, joking around with the heavenly kings.

“But… who am I?”

Gazing at the circular sky over his head, never did he find it to be so distant, and it seemed to grow more distant with each passing moment. He was currently sinking into the abyss alone, where he would sink into Ruin’s End one day.

Everything was logical. Losing almost all of his memories was equivalent to going through a rebirth and beginning a new life. How could it all be recovered through a single story, a single novel?

She must have sensed it the moment she saw him! That was why she cried so painfully. Instead, it was he who realised afterwards, or perhaps he realised nothing.

To her, most of me is essentially dead. All that remains is my last breath. She wanted to preserve this breath, which is why she wanted to return to the World of the Five Continents!

Drip. From the craggy stalactites, the water dripped into the black water.

His gaze rippled gently. For an instant, smiles and sorrows flashed past.

He ground his teeth; his face became warped, trying his best to stand up, to break free from all the beliefs that the bloodline of the spirit turtle had bestowed upon him, the calm and cool planning, the desire to play safe and stay out of harm’s way.

He needed to accept the battle. Even if he was asking to be humiliated, he could never admit defeat.

Otherwise, would he still be Li Qingshan?

He sucked in a deep breath and let out a great roar. The black water surged, and it echoed through the abyss, reaching into the sky.

“Let’s fight! Before I sink into the abyss. You have no other choice.”

On the day of the battle, in the Xuanwu arena.

The direct disciples had arrived a long time ago, chatting to each other in the spectator’s stand on the cliff. Chao Tianjiao had specially invited them over to watch. Even if they had not been invited, how could they miss out on a show like this?

A person asked with a smile, “Le Tian, why aren’t you setting up a gamble?”

Le Tian shrugged. “Not qualified.‘’

Clearly, he was not just referring to himself. The direct disciples all glanced at each other, and no one objected.

One of them was the first senior brother, the captain of the army, a vicious figure who directly faced a Demon God. The other was respected even among Human Sovereigns, the leader of the Six Ding, a subordinate of Zhenwu.

If the weak used the strong for a gamble, they would be biting off more than they could chew even if the strong did not care. If they were killed by a slap, they deserved it as well. Speaking of which, the two fighting today were both relatively vengeful!

Le Tian crossed his hands behind his head and said lazily, “If I were to set up a gamble, who would you gamble on?”

“Senior sister Chao of course! First senior brother is impressive, but Chao Tianjiao wants to teach him a lesson, so that’s a simple comparison to make!”

“A comparison against what?”

“A mother educating her son!”

“Pft! Hahahaha!”

Everyone roared with laughter. Over the past few years, Chao Tianjiao had truly gone to work with Li Qingshan. The various stories were widespread among the direct disciples.

Even if he set up a gamble like this, it was pointless. The battle prowess of a Human Immortal was utterly overwhelming. Not a single Human Sovereign stood a chance. If they were to be a little more honest, this was all just a farce.

Only Le Tian did not smile. He suddenly noticed something, turning around and bowing. “Greetings, first senior brother!”

Li Qingshan stood with his hands behind his back on another cliff nearby, like a philosopher deep in thought.

The direct disciples immediately fell silent. “Greetings, first senior brother!”

In particular, the one who made the joke began to panic. “F- first senior brother, when did you arrive?”

“A while ago.”

Li Qingshan looked back. His eyes were deep and quiet as if he could see through everything. The direct disciples felt like they were facing the Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance.

They immediately recalled every single detail that occurred on the battlefield in the Demon domain and his invincible figure when he challenged the Demon God. Only then did they suddenly realise that the shade of war had never left them. The person right before them was the brightest, most evident mark from that terrifying nightmare. No matter how they joked about him, he never dimmed or faded.

The scales of victory in their minds immediately began to tilt. Perhaps… first senior brother… really does have a chance?

Ruan Yaozhu sighed inside, He’s become even more unfathomable. Though, he just seems to have changed so much.

Li Qingshan looked away from them again and continued to think. Originally, it was not like he could not take a joke, but now, he only seemed even more indifferent. Even when he tried his best to probe around and deduce a favourable outcome, he did not find the slightest chance at all.

He suddenly raised his head, and a silver star appeared in the clear sky. A comet shot straight over, turning into a female war god clad in silver armour in the air, riding a black-furred heaven-gazing hou. She radiated with a mighty aura, quite a sight to behold.

“Greetings, senior sister!”

The direct disciples did not dare to make eye contact with her, lowering their heads together. That was a natural pressure brought forth from someone of a completely different realm and status.

Li Qingshan stared at her quietly. His eyes rippled.

“Spare the formalities!” Chao Tianjiao swung her hand generously and feigned thought. “Hmm? Why do I remember that someone challenged me in the past?”

Li Qingshan said nothing. How could he still remember what happened back then? All he knew was this was a thing.

Chao Tianjiao continued to provoke him. “Seems to be a guy with the surname Li, called some black mountain or blue mountain. Who is it!? Stand forward if you have guts!”

Li Qingshan remained silent, or perhaps, this question made him think again.

“What, you’ve been castrated or something?”

Chao Tianjiao really was quite puzzled. In the past, he would have lost his temper a long time ago, charging over to throw his life at her. Why was he so well-behaved today as if he was someone completely different now? What exactly had happened during this time? Surely he had not actually castrated himself just to stop her from prevailing!

At this moment, a voice with a tone that was ten times more insulting than Chao Tianjiao’s echoed through the Xuanwu arena. “Bitch, you wanna try it?”

A man strode over through the air. He was bare-chested with his scarlet robes in tatters, rippling like fire and dyeing the sky red. His heavy, violent aura turned into a vicious great wind, disturbing the surroundings.

“A- another first senior brother!?”