Within the Sea of Clouds Dreamscape, atop a solitary peak.
Ye Tianlan stood with her hands clasped behind her back, her brow slightly furrowed, her eyes closed as if sensing the presence of the Shangqing Tower.
Meanwhile, inside the pavilion.
An elderly matron had appeared at some unknown time. Her figure was ethereal, like a wisp of smoke or a trace of a soul, giving off a very elusive feeling. Her blurred form seemed ancient, leaning on a white jade dragon-head cane as if sighing over something.
"Lan'er, what are you thinking about?"
Ye Tianlan did not turn around, her eyes still closed as if she knew who the old woman was, and replied softly, "Grandmother, were Zhenjue's words just now true?"
"What words?"
"Zhenjue said that the Human Dao, a very, very long time ago, not only stood on equal footing with the Heavenly Dao and Immortal Dao, but even once stood above the Three Thousand Great Daos."
"That matter..." The old matron pondered for a moment before responding, "So I've heard. As for the truth, no one can say for certain."
"Why have I never heard you mention it?"
"That matter, like the words 'Wu Dao', was considered taboo among our generation. Few spoke of it. And the reason I never mentioned it to you is because whether it's true or false, it holds no meaning anymore. False or true, what difference does it make?"
Ye Tianlan merely let out a soft "oh" and said nothing more.
After another moment, she spoke again, "They're all discussing inside the tower, speculating about Zhenjue's purpose in teaching Gu Tianlang the essence of the Human Dao back then. Opinions seem to vary wildly. Grandmother, what do you think?"
"Hard to say."
The old matron addressed as Grandmother shook her head. "Zhenjue is a recluse of heaven and earth. No one knows how many years he has truly lived, nor his background or origins. Everything about him is unknown. It is only known that he has existed since a very, very early time...
Perhaps earlier than we can imagine."
She paused, then continued, "As for his purpose in teaching that kid surnamed Gu the essence of the Human Dao back then, I'm afraid only he himself knows. However...
Zhenjue has never made a move in his entire life. At least, in all the years I've known him, I have never seen him take action. Not even once."
She sighed with emotion. "There is one person within the tower. Zhenjue has been observing the chessboard for so many years, yet he has only made one move: that kid surnamed Gu. In truth, Grandmother would rather say, Zhenjue has been sharpening his blade for who knows how many years, yet he has only swung it this once. And when he swung this blade, he staked almost all his hopes upon it—upon that kid surnamed Gu."
"What are Zhenjue's hopes?
To revitalize the Human Dao?"
"I don't know."
Ye Tianlan let out another "oh."
A stretch of silence followed.
Ye Tianlan slowly opened her eyes. A complex light flashed within her beautiful pupils. "He...
has left."
"It's good that he's left...
It's good that he's left..." Grandmother also gazed at the boundless sea of clouds, her tone as if a great weight had been lifted, sighing, "He should never have come...
And you, you especially should not have met him."
"Does Grandmother still blame me?"
"Ai, I don't want to advise you anymore. Even if I did, you wouldn't listen. That kid surnamed Gu is someone others avoid like the plague, yet you insist on drawing close to him. Tianlan, you're playing with fire, do you know that?
And it's the most mysterious, most unknown, and most dangerous fire in all of heaven and earth."
"I don't care. As long as I can seek the truth of karma, I care about nothing else."
"You..." Grandmother shook her head, sighing helplessly. "Silly girl, there will come a day when you regret this..." "Life itself is a gamble. The outcome is not important; what matters is the process. Just like flowers and grass, from the moment they bloom, they are destined to wither one day. Does that mean they should not bloom and blossom simply because they will eventually wither?"
Ye Tianlan offered a faint smile. "Those words were spoken to me by Gu Tianlang. I used to think them shallow, but for some reason, I've gradually come to find them more and more meaningful. Perhaps it's truly as he said: matters of the world are originally simple; it's just that we overcomplicate simple things."
Noticing Grandmother was about to speak again, Ye Tianlan interrupted her. "Grandmother, I know you worry for me. In all other matters, I can heed your advice. But in this matter alone, please let me decide for myself. May I?"
Grandmother looked at Ye Tianlan and let out a deep sigh, one that seemed to exhaust all the helplessness in her heart.
"Since you have already made your decision, I won't advise you further. However, there is one thing you must promise me."
"What is it?"
"Do not leave the Shangqing Tower before Wu Dao Mountain manifests in the world."
"Why?"
"If my guess is correct, this world will become very chaotic before Wu Dao Mountain manifests."
"Very chaotic?"
Ye Tianlan's brow furrowed slightly in doubt. "After this recent probing by the Great Daos, who would dare move against Gu Tianlang now?
They should all be focusing on their arrangements and preparations for the manifestation of Wu Dao Mountain."
"The matter is not that simple."
"Oh?
What else is there?"
As if realizing something, Ye Tianlan added, "Are you referring to those people from Wu Dao Mountain?
Although they have also set their sights on Gu Tianlang, they likely won't act before Wu Dao Mountain manifests. If they truly intended to act, they probably wouldn't have waited until now."
After saying this, Ye Tianlan seemed to remember something, her heart stirring. "How could I have forgotten about them? Grandmother, the chaos you speak of must refer to our Shangqing Sect's Great Heir Apparent, the Third Prince of the Immortal Dynasty, and Crimson-Letter Manor's Purple-Sky King, those few, right?"
Grandmother nodded solemnly. "The existence of those few is in no way inferior to that kid surnamed Gu. Be it their identities and backgrounds, or their destiny and strength, all are profound beyond measure, mysterious and unfathomable."
"Especially this Great Heir Apparent of the Shangqing Sect. The experts by his side are without exception great beings who have undergone reincarnation. Among them are not only Great Dao experts from the Present-Ancient Era, but also from the Remote Ancient Era. That Great Heir Apparent is merely an incarnation, yet he possesses awe-inspiring, earth-shattering power. It is unimaginable how terrifying his true form must be. Although I have never crossed hands with him, I have a vague sense that his existence is likely far more fearsome than I imagine."
"And that Third Prince of the Immortal Dynasty is no less formidable than this Great Heir Apparent of the Shangqing Sect. Leaving aside everything else, the mere fact that he hails from the legendary place known as Kunlun is enough to signify everything. Kunlun—that is a very, very ancient legendary land, one that shares a lineage with the sacred grounds of the Great Desolate Heavenly Realm."
"Then there is that Purple-Sky King of Crimson-Letter Manor. He may not be as profound and unfathomable as the Shangqing Sect's Great Heir Apparent, nor possess the peerless background of the Immortal Dynasty's Third Prince. However, his personal destiny is truly matchless under heaven. He is, without exception, the most extraordinary person in terms of destiny that I have ever encountered in all my years. Most importantly, the Three Thousand Great Daos are all trying to win him over. And even more terrifyingly, he has rejected the invitations of all the Great Daos."