Eternal Tale

Liu Han swept her sleeve with a flourish, her tone cool and commanding as she turned to Jiang Xuechen. “Sister Xuechen, if the Four Symbols Alliance pulls any more of their little tricks…”

“Nothing worth mentioning,” Jiang Xuechen replied with a calm smile. “I’ll handle it. There’s no need to worry about the Moon Tower. The cultivation world in the eastern nations has always been chaotic, but I’ve prepared accordingly.”

Ji Zhao clenched his fist slightly, his tone rising. “Sister Xuechen, you don’t have to worry about the Moon Tower. That’s my responsibility.”

Liu Han and Shi Wujun exchanged a small smile, understanding passing between them.

Jiang Xuechen nodded with a serene expression. Her gaze was as pure and clear as ever, untouched by worldly concerns. She no longer held any thoughts of seeking a life partner.

Ancestor Jin Yu’s entrustment still weighed on her. She was now the pillar of the Moon Tower, with neither family nor lineage tying her down.

Ji Zhao’s face fell momentarily but quickly regained his composure. If he could stay by her side, that was enough—he would protect her, no matter what.

The four continued their discussion in the grand hall, unaware that three figures had already arrived outside the Five Elements Sect’s mountain range.

Outside the sect gates, a grand statue of a man and an ox loomed, facing the western horizon.

To see the world, to see all beings, to see oneself.

Chen Xun looked at the inscriptions, a note of admiration in his voice. “It seems they’ve found their answers. Our time beyond this world wasn’t in vain.”

He had once encouraged them to explore the mortal realm and the world of cultivators, knowing they would gain insights. These stone tablets reflected the wisdom they had gleaned. He was deeply pleased.

“Moo~~~”

Brother Ox snorted, releasing a long breath. The three young disciples they had once guided had grown into revered ancestors of the sect, honoring the legacy he and his brother had left.

Brother Ox nudged Chen Xun gently, perhaps because the disciples feared they wouldn’t live to see his return, so they had left these tokens behind.

Chen Xun patted Brother Ox’s head, saying nothing.

Xiao Chi’s eyes widened, not at the inscriptions but at the imposing statues of Chen Xun and Brother Ox.

His breath caught as he wondered just how long they’d lived and how it seemed like everywhere he went, they’d left their mark. Pure legends… ancient, immortal Dao Ancestors.

Quickly shaking off these thoughts, Xiao Chi suppressed his awe, rendered speechless.

“Come on, let’s see how our sect has grown.”

“Moo moo!”

“Yes, Brother Xun! I’ve never been to a human sect before!”

They stepped forward, and the Five Elements Sect’s protective formation rippled like water, letting them pass. After all, Brother Ox had been the one who set up the array… ŘΑNỔ𐌱Еṥ

Around the mountain, numerous disciples were moving about, all of them carrying a booklet titled “Introduction to Cultivation.”

“Senior Brother Li, how many questions have you answered correctly this time? The next trial is all about real-life application!”

“Haha, Junior Brother Kang, how did you know I got five right?!”

“Uh… Senior Brother Li, actually, I was just saying…”

“Haha, exactly! Even Master praised me. If I pass the trial, my contribution points might just be enough to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill!”

…

One disciple was laughing proudly, while another was downcast, struggling to wrap his head around the unfamiliar concepts.

The Five Elements Sect had long since abandoned the usual competitions between disciples, instead investing resources into trials that took them down the mountain.

Who else would train their Qi Condensation disciples with field trials?

But these disciples carried themselves with pride and confidence, inspired by the statues outside the gates. Everyone in the sect walked tall and proud, knowing they had a legacy to uphold.

There was no place for favoritism here. The story of the Ji family served as a constant reminder—connections meant nothing. If anything, having a powerful background made life tougher.

Unbeknownst to these disciples, the challenges they faced during each trial were partly real, partly orchestrated. Every five years, countless disciples would return injured, with a Golden Core cultivator secretly monitoring them and documenting everything in a little booklet.

It was only once these disciples reached the Golden Core stage themselves that they learned the full truth. And after a few days of laughing it off, they joined in on the fun, putting the new initiates through the same “rite of passage.”

Hearing all this, Chen Xun and Brother Ox exchanged a look of surprise. Whoa.

Up in the peaks, Foundation Establishment cultivators sometimes passed overhead, sweating as they wielded their flying swords, also holding booklets—this one titled “Cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Level.”

Chen Xun’s jaw dropped. Much of the booklet’s content was his own, but it had been greatly expanded with new material.

Xiao Chi gawked in disbelief. Could human cultivators really train this way? He hadn’t seen a single slacker. Was everyone this hardworking?

The more he watched, the more awestruck he became. These cultivators were either training, studying, or even arguing over cultivation!

“Moo moo~~” Brother Ox nudged Chen Xun and Xiao Chi, directing their gaze to the peaks.

Each peak was crowded with Qi Condensation disciples. Two incense burners sat nearby as they focused intently, absorbing the essence of the land… the very breath of dawn.

Before each of them was another booklet: “Cultivation Begins with Breath Control and Gratitude.”

“Whoa…” Chen Xun’s jaw hung open, glancing around. The entire sect had transformed, and the sheer dedication was enough to make his head spin.

Brother Ox’s eyes widened as he gazed at the herb garden, seeing countless Foundation Establishment cultivators still absorbing the essence of dawn.

“Brother Xun, Brother Ox… Is this really your sect? If they went to Da Li, I can’t even imagine…” Xiao Chi swallowed hard. A sect like this producing a monster like Brother Xun suddenly made perfect sense. “This kind of focus and discipline—it’s… remarkable.”

“But it’s good,” Chen Xun laughed, breathing a sigh of relief. “Old Ox, it seems the Five Elements Sect has exceeded our expectations.”

He cast another glance at the herb garden. Cultivating dawn essence was as much a matter of refining the heart as it was of refining power. He hadn’t expected it would lead to so many at the third layer of the Water Spirit Technique.

“Moo moo~” Brother Ox grinned. Disciples who could ignore other temptations for a full year of absorbing essence had potential.

“Let’s go, over there.”

Chen Xun laughed heartily as they arrived at a sealed-off mountain peak with an unobstructed view of the entire sect.

The mountain breeze carried no dust, resting on layers of verdant green that cast dappled shadows, bringing memories of a time long gone.

Brother Ox set out a set of chairs carved from Crane Spirit wood. Xiao Chi stared, puzzled. Why were there five chairs?

Chen Xun leaned back, looking remarkably relaxed, sitting comfortably as he raised a cup of tea to the sky with a serene smile.

“Moo moo~” Brother Ox brought out a tea bucket, lifting it to the sky before taking a sip.

Xiao Chi squatted nearby, feeling awkward. He didn’t have a tea bucket… He was about to ask Brother Xun for one when he noticed the two sitting quietly, absorbed in the moment.

Suddenly—

Boom!

Boom!

…

The entire mountain range trembled as four overwhelming forces surged skyward, brimming with wrath. Someone was trespassing in this forbidden place!

“Who dares intrude on the Five Elements Sect?!”

“This is a sacred place—do you even understand the value of your own life?”

“Breaking into the Ox Ancestor’s forbidden ground… Can you truly bear the karmic weight of this?”

Three mighty voices echoed across the mountains, whipping up fierce winds that carried a murderous intent, shaking all around.

Disciples everywhere had prepared their weapons, expressions steely. Whether Golden Core, Foundation Establishment, or Qi Condensation, all had the same sharp gaze, their magic items ready, focused on the cliff.

The unity of the Five Elements Sect was beyond anything the cultivation world had ever seen. Whoever the intruder was, they’d pay dearly.

On the cliff:

Chen Xun raised a brow, shaking his head with a smile. “Xuechen… and the rest of you, it’s been too long.”

A calm yet powerful voice filled the air, touching the hearts of everyone. Silence fell across the mountain range, as still as death.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Countless disciples’ magic items slipped from their hands, their hearts pounding as they stared at the distant, fearsome figure.

In the sky, Jiang Xuechen, Liu Han, Shi Wujun, and Ji Zhao stopped in their tracks, memories flooding back as that familiar voice shattered their composure.

They trembled, tears glistening in their eyes, as they beheld the figures before them. He… he was alive!

“Jiang Xuechen of the Moon Tower greets the honored ancestors!”

“Shi Wujun greets the Old Ancestor and Ox Ancestor!”

“Liu Han greets the Old Ancestor and Ox Ancestor!”

“Ji Zhao greets the Old Ancestor and Ox Ancestor!”

“Disciples of the Five Elements Sect greet the Old Ancestor and Ox Ancestor!”

…

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The entire Yuzhu Mountains resounded with shouts that soared into the heavens, over a hundred thousand cultivators bowing in reverence, welcoming their return.

On the cliff:

Chen Xun stood with one hand behind his back, his gaze calm and unfathomable as he looked upon them all, his face radiating a serene smile.

“Everyone, we’re back.”

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