Chang Shan was busy with matters at hand and hadnât returned to his residence yet.
Chen Changsheng sat in the courtyard, holding a small pagoda in his hand as he studied it.
He had been looking at this black pagoda for quite some days now.
Back then, the Badger Demon had managed to avoid Chen Changshengâs divination precisely because of this Black Pagoda, proving that its origins were anything but ordinary.
âIt can absorb othersâ Demonic Power and Magical Power. This Black Pagoda is truly quite sinister.â
Chen Changsheng tried probing the Black Pagoda with his Divine Sense, but without exception, it was blocked every time.
Later, he tried using Magical Power. Remembering the previous jade token, he even tested with a strand of hair. But none worked. Not only that, both the Magical Power and the strand of hair were sucked into the Black Pagoda, vanishing as if they had become sustenance.
Chen Changsheng pondered for a moment, then raised his hand and beckoned.
The Rain-Listening Sword fell into his grasp.
He raised the sword and chopped towards the black lump.
âDingâŠâ
The sword trembled, but the Black Pagoda seemed to defend itself, erecting a barrier around it that prevented the Immortal Sword from advancing even half an inch further.
Chen Changsheng furrowed his brows, thinking to himself: âHas it consciousness?â
Chen Changsheng sheathed his sword, holding the Black Pagoda in his palm. He then said, âYour origins are extraordinary, and since youâre an ancient immortal treasure, you are probably not some common Magical Artifact.â
The Black Pagoda remained perfectly still, offering no response.
âFine if you donât answer.â
Chen Changsheng chuckled and said, âI will just cut you open with my sword, and then Iâll know exactly what you are.â
As he spoke, he gripped his sword again.
This time, Chen Changsheng had no intention of holding back.
A Ruthless Aura emanated from this Black Pagoda; it looked like a malign thing no matter how he viewed it. Destroying it wouldnât pain him.
âHum.â
The sword hummed continuously as Chen Changsheng raised it.
He was about to bring it down.
Chen Changshengâs eyes suddenly sharpened, and he swung the sword downward.
The Black Pagoda sensed the danger and wanted to dodge.
But then Chen Changsheng spoke a single word: âFreeze!â
Following the puzzling command, the Black Pagoda froze, unable to move.
The Immortal Sword was about to strike.
Suddenly, a voice emerged from the Black Pagoda.
âStop!â
The voice was hoarse, as if belonging to someone extremely ancient.
Chen Changshengâs sword halted, the blade less than a fingerâs breadth from the Black Pagoda.
Chen Changsheng said, âI was wondering how long you could keep pretending.â
The voice came from the pagoda again. âIf it were back in the day, with your meager cultivation, this honored one could have obliterated you with a flick of my finger.â
âThatâs quite the boast.â
Chen Changsheng raised his sword once more and chopped directly at the pagoda.
âStop it!! Donât!!â
âDing!â
This time, the sword strike landed solidly on the Black Pagoda.
The pagoda shuddered, followed by a howl of pain.
âAh!!â
Chen Changsheng said, âWerenât you boasting so fiercely? A single sword strike, and you canât bear it?â
The pagoda seemed furious. âToo much bullying!!â
Suddenly, a surge of Evil Qi erupted around the Black Pagoda.
Chen Changsheng, channeling Magical Power through his sword, spoke again: âHeaven and Earth divine, impurities scatter! Dispel all fierce sins, the Taoâs light endures!â
As soon as the words fell, a beam of Golden Light shot towards the black mist.
In an instant, the black mist dispersed.
The Black Pagoda wobbled slightly, seemingly dumbstruck.
It apparently hadnât expected this outcome. This was far beyond what it had anticipated.
Chen Changsheng raised his hand and beckoned. A wisp of black mist fell into his grasp.
âKarmic Retribution⊠Baleful Aura⊠vicious Qi⊠Yin EnergyâŠâ
Chen Changsheng gave it a light squeeze, and the wisp of black mist dissipated. He stared at the Black Pagoda and said, âSo thatâs why youâre so yin and sinister.â
The Black Pagoda fell silent. For the first time, it had encountered something like this.
It cultivated by absorbing vicious, baleful energies from all directions, merging them into one. Whether it was Merit, Magical Power, or spiritual devotion, nothing could dissolve this black mist. Yet this manâŠ
With a casual swipe of his sword, he had annihilated it.
Who⊠was he?
Determination flashed in Chen Changshengâs eyes. âIt seems you cannot be allowed to exist!â
As he said this, he raised his sword again!
The Black Pagoda suddenly became anxious. âHold⊠hold onâŠâ it stammered.
Chen Changsheng, however, decisively swung his sword downwards.
In desperation, the pagoda shouted with its hoarse voice, âI can help you achieve Longevity!!â
The sword in Chen Changshengâs hand stopped again.
The Black Pagoda sighed inwardly in relief. It hurriedly continued, âI speak the truth! I really can help you gain Longevity!â
Chen Changsheng asked, âThen tell me, how exactly do you help someone achieve Longevity?â
The Black Pagoda remained silent for a short while.
Then it explained, âThere was once an Arcane Spell⊠Pile up a million corpses, dye the world in blood⊠Refining a million ounces of Essence Blood⊠enables one to grasp Longevity.â
As soon as the words were spoken, the sharp hum of a sword split the air.
âIâm telling the truth!!â
Chen Changsheng lessened his force slightly.
The Rain-Listening Sword struck the Black Pagoda.
Under the blow, the pagoda seemed to shatter violently, accompanied by another agonized scream. The hoarse voice within hissed, âI didnât lie to you!! I was born because of this!â
Chen Changsheng fell silent.
He pondered whether the Black Pagodaâs words were true or false.
Could such an Arcane Spell truly exist in this world?
Chen Changsheng asked, âWho created you?â
The Black Pagoda paused, then replied, âI⊠I donât know.â
âAccording to me, you donât seem particularly keen on living either.â
âI truly donât know.â
The pagoda explained, âEver since I gained awareness, Iâve wandered this world. My sole purpose has been the accumulation of Blood Qi. At first, I didnât understand why, but later⊠a Daoist priest utilized the Blood Qi I had gathered to lay down a formation that extended his Lifespan. Thatâs when I understood why I came into beingâŠâ
âSuch a method truly exists?â Chen Changsheng questioned.
âIt does. Though few know of it now,â the pagoda answered.
âIâve witnessed many people. The last one who sought to use this method to extend her life and pursue Longevity⊠she also died. We were somewhat bound by fate, I suppose. But she couldnât bring herself to use this path that defied the natural order. And she refused to let the method fall into othersâ hands. So she destroyed the method and hid me away with her within her tomb.â
âLater, you were found by the Badger Demon?â
âYes,â the pagoda confirmed.
It continued, âI havenât lied to you. All these words are true. If you truly disbelieve, then just⊠destroy me.â
Chen Changsheng silently contemplated.
He naturally couldnât trust all of the Black Pagodaâs words. Estimating cautiously, perhaps seven parts of it held truth.
Chen Changsheng asked, âWho was that last person who knew this method? Who was she?â
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âHerâŠâ
The pagoda seemed to be recalling. âShe was a foolish Cultivator. Foolish beyond measure.â
âHow so? How was she foolish beyond measure?â
âThe Ancestral Master who founded Long Flow Sword Mountain, Sword Immortal Yu Xuan⊠Have you heard of her?â
Chen Changsheng paused slightly upon hearing this name.
Yu XuanâŠ
He remembered this name. Long ago⊠Zhao Yuqing had spoken of her.
The Black Pagoda continued, voice tinged with disdain, âTruly, she was foolish. She waited for someone⊠waited over three hundred years. Right up until her Lifespan was about to run out⊠she still hadnât seen him.â
Chen Changshengâs lips parted slightly. âWho⊠whom was she waiting for?â
The pagoda seemed to reflect. âThat, I do not know. She never spoke his name.â
Chen Changsheng suddenly fell into deep silence.
The Black Pagoda observed the heavy expression on Chen Changshengâs face and seemed to realize something. It said cautiously, âYou⊠you knew her?â
Chen Changsheng snapped out of his reverie. He answered softly.
âPerhaps⊠I did.â
The Black Pagodaâs tone hitched. It suddenly regretted its earlier tirade and hurriedly backtracked. âAh, that⊠I was just saying things casually! She wasnât foolish! She justâŠâ
Chen Changsheng cut it off. âWerenât you brought out of the Ancient Immortalâs tomb by the Badger Demon? She⊠Yu Xuan⊠couldnât have been an Ancient Immortal, could she?â
The Black Pagoda hurried to clarify. âThat tomb was indeed the tomb of an Ancient Immortal. But she⊠she was not its owner.â