Chapter 3 Xuan Dao

Hei Fan received the token with both hands, showing his respect. As he returned to his seat, he glanced at Li Su and Xue Hu and couldn't help but sigh.

At this moment, Li Qing Mu feared no pressure. Even if everyone in the sect opposed him, it would be futile. According to sect rules, appointing the successor to the Sect Master was the prerogative of the Sect Master. Li Qing Mu insisted on making this decision before his death. Who could challenge him?

"Everyone, remember, after my death, do not announce my funeral. Otherwise, it will bring disaster to the Ancient Crystal Sect!" Li Qing Mu issued another order in front of everyone.

Confusion spread among the disciples, unsure of his meaning. The elders exchanged uneasy glances, as if sensing something was amiss.

After a while, the other disciples left, leaving only the three Elders, Li Shan, and Yun Sheng in the hall.

At this time, Elder Hei Fan asked in a low voice, "Sect Master, you and Dongfang Changfan left with your disciples. Now you return injured like this. What happened? Who hurt you?"

Li Qing Mu replied calmly, "I am too weak now. If you have questions, wait for Junior Brother Dongfang to assume the position of Sect Master. You may ask him then."

With a cold expression, Li Su interjected, "Recently, there have been rumors that the Samsara Mirror has reappeared in the world. Did Sect Master and Dongfang Changfan become like this because they fought with someone for the Samsara Mirror?"

At the mention of the Samsara Mirror, everyone's expressions changed. They stared at Li Qing Mu, waiting for his reaction.

The significance of the Samsara Mirror was profound. Although there were seven kingdoms in the world, it was Wu Kingdom that held the most influence. Wu Yong, the top cultivator in the world, could have lived a tranquil life. However, he intervened in worldly affairs, striving to unify the world. He established the Wu Kingdom and became its Emperor, suppressing cultivators in the name of preventing conflicts between them and mortals. Later, in pursuit of immortality, Wu Yong pierced a hole in the sky, releasing a vast amount of essence into the world, leading to prosperity in the cultivation world. Wu Yong's wife, the Empress of Wu Kingdom, Li Xin, remained committed to restoring balance and mended the sky.

After the couple vanished, the hundreds of vassal states could no longer be restrained. They erupted into a war that has persisted to this day.

Legend holds that Wu Yong forged a set of eight magical treasures, which he used to rupture the sky, while Li Xin used them to mend it. Following the fall of the Wu Kingdom, these treasures leaked out, circulating among the vassal states. As smaller states were annexed, the world fractured into eight dominant powers. Each of these states claimed one of the treasures as their national magical artifact. The Samsara Mirror, belonging to the Gu Kingdom, was said to be the central piece among these treasures, serving as the key to the sky-breaking and sky-mending magic. Its significance led cultivators to intervene, ultimately contributing to the downfall of the Gu Kingdom. When the Gu Kingdom collapsed, the Samsara Mirror disappeared. Despite efforts from all factions, it remained elusive and unrecovered.

The primary issue was that when Empress Li Xin mended the sky, she left gaps unfinished. This led some to believe that the increasing number of cultivators in the world was related to this incomplete task. With more cultivators came inevitable conflicts with ordinary people, and the constant meddling of cultivators was seen as a cause of chaos in the world. Some sought to gather the eight magic treasures to complete the sky mending and seal off the essence source, which offended cultivators worldwide. King Shan Yin of the Fire Kingdom was a prominent advocate of this cause.

However, there were unworthy disciples of the Ancient Crystal Sect who were in league with King Shan Yin, such as Dongfang Changfan.

Recently, rumors surfaced that the Samsara Mirror had reappeared in the outside world. Given that Li Qing Mu and Dongfang Changfan had taken their disciples away at this time, and considering the commotion it caused, suspicions arose that their activities might be related to the Samsara Mirror.

How many cultivation sects existed in a kingdom? Regardless, the Samsara Mirror was capable of causing the downfall of an entire kingdom. If the Ancient Crystal Sect became involved with such an artifact, it was understandable for people to worry. The Ancient Crystal Sect was no longer the formidable sect it once was; it had been in decline for a long time and might not withstand another crisis.

Li Qing Mu slowly closed his eyes. "You're overthinking it. It was just an attack by an unknown assailant."

It was clear that Li Qing Mu had no intention of revealing the truth. He appeared on the brink of collapse, and no one could compel him to speak further.

…

The next day, the temple door creaked open slightly. An eye peered out from the crack.

Gradually, the door opened wider. Xuan Dao cautiously poked his head out and scanned the area.

With careful movements, he extended his foot and leaned sideways, tiptoeing to land silently. He avoided making any noise, keenly observing the surroundings. Xuan Dao stepped outside and circled the small temple, ears pricked and eyes wide open, meticulously surveying the area.

It seemed to be the middle of winter, freezing outside with withered grass and trees.

Xuan Dao tossed a few stones to scout the area, but there was no response, indicating no imminent danger. Standing on the hillside outside the temple, he relaxed and straightened up. Retrieving a polished bronze mirror from his bosom, he gazed at his reflection with a sigh.

Returning the mirror to his bosom, he noticed a stream at the foot of the mountain. He hurried down, jumping onto a stone in the stream to examine his reflection. "Ah," he sighed again.

Recalling his earlier moments in the temple, using daylight to peer into the mirror, and comparing it with his current state, he began to understand why the old man Dongfang had called him "little brother." The term wasn't inaccurate—he had indeed become a little boy.

Squatting on the stone, he studied his reflection in the clear water for a while. Suddenly, his stomach growled; he was hungry.

Regardless of him returning to the young man, hunger was something he couldn't ignore. Rising to his feet, he surveyed his surroundings, searching for food.

Noticing wisps of smoke rising from kitchen chimneys on the opposite side of the mountain, he leapt over the stream and found a rough path leading in that direction. Remaining cautious throughout the journey, he climbed over the mountain and concealed himself behind a large tree to observe. That's when he spotted a village.

The village appeared disheveled, showing signs of recent fire damage. Many women and children were crying, while villagers worked to clean up the mess.

Looking at his own ragged clothes, with his big toe poking through holes in his dirty linen shoes, Xuan Dao felt a bit grim but knew it matched the villagers' attire, giving him the confidence to show himself. He stepped out and approached the village with a guilty conscience.

Upon entering, he encountered a woman with disheveled hair running towards him. She sobbed and embraced him, "Niu Dao, you're alive! I thought those cursed soldiers and bandits had killed you..."

Two hours later, Xuan Dao learned the truth. The village had been raided by bandits the previous day, resulting in casualties and destruction. He had sought refuge in the ruined temple to evade the bandits.

The smoke subsided, and the men in the village, despite being only half-full themselves, set out to forage in the mountains. Their primary task was to dig up root plants or hunt wild animals to ensure the survival of the villagers through the winter. The village's food had been pillaged by bandits, leaving only what had been hidden and escaped discovery. This meager supply was insufficient to feed the entire village, so it was rationed temporarily to those undertaking physical labor. The elderly, weak, women, and children had no choice but to endure hunger while continuing to clean up the devastated village, eagerly awaiting the return of the men with whatever sustenance they could gather from the mountains.

Among the men searching for food, Xuan Dao became one of them, though he was still young and considered barely a man.

In this village, however, his real name was Niu Dao. He wasn't sure if this was fate, but he didn't particularly like the name Niu, so he continued to refer to himself as Xuan Dao.

Despite the strange turn of events, Xuan Dao found it relatively easy to accept. As an archaeologist, he had encountered many odd occurrences and legends of souls inhabiting new bodies. While others might dismiss it as superstition, he maintained an open mind. After confirming his situation, he remained composed and adapted calmly.

He had a recognized identity here, which made things easier for him.

The task of gathering food nearby was assigned to the young boys, while the more perilous journeys were taken on by the adults.

Under the pretext of foraging, Xuan Dao slipped away. Instead of searching for food, he returned to the ruined temple.

There, he removed a piece of cloth from the temple and used it to wrap the old man's body. Carefully, he carried the body down the mountain to the river mentioned by the old man.

In the bamboo forest, Xuan Dao used a chopper to cut down bamboo, stripped it of branches and leaves, and soaked withered vines in water. He skillfully constructed a sturdy bamboo raft with three layers, ensuring it was spacious and stable. Making the raft was straightforward for him given his life experience.

Using bamboo tubes as rollers, Xuan Dao pushed the bamboo raft into the water. He gently placed the old man's body on it and piled dry firewood on top. Finding a large flat rock by the riverbank, he secured the bamboo raft on top of it.

After loading the bamboo raft with a simple oar, a bamboo pole, and the hoe from the village, Xuan Dao pushed it onto the shore. Gripping the bamboo raft, he followed the current, slowly drifting away from the bluish-green waves.

As for why he chose not to stay and rebuild with the villagers, there were several reasons. Firstly, he had no emotional attachment to them; they were inexperienced mountain dwellers who knew little of the outside world. Despite his feigned ignorance and many questions, the villagers remained ignorant of external affairs. Xuan Dao had no interest in settling down to farm here. Instead, he harbored a deep curiosity about this world and the Ancient Crystal Sect mentioned by Dongfang Changfan. As Xuan Dao, he had always been drawn to such practices, often seeking ancient books and records in tombs. The prospect of experiencing life at the Ancient Crystal Sect intrigued him.

Secondly, the village was a frequent target of bandit raids, and his own young family had suffered at their hands. Many villagers shared similar experiences. Being alone, Xuan Dao had no familial ties holding him back.

Unwilling to linger, he departed swiftly while still unfamiliar with the villagers. He feared that developing attachments would make leaving more difficult. Thus, he quietly slipped away.

He resolved to repay the villagers' kindness with a meal in the future, though their provisions had been scant.

Bringing Dongfang Changfan's body along was a strategic decision. Xuan Dao believed it would demonstrate his sincerity to the Ancient Crystal Sect and provide valuable evidence.