Chapter 242: The Loss of Mystique

Zuo Ci curiously observed Chen Xi, unable to discern even the slightest hint of reverence in his eyes. Instead, there was a sense of someone encountering a rare animal, which made Zuo Ci feel a bit uneasy.

"I am but an outsider, having come to Taishan by invitation. Why should I trouble the authorities? But Marquis Chen, aren't you worried that I might harbor ill intentions toward Taishan?" Zuo Ci flicked his horsetail whisk, a faint, unreadable smile on his face.

"Someone who can sing a requiem here likely doesn't have ill intentions. And if you were truly an immortal, you wouldn't harm me. If you're merely human, I have my own means of self-defense," Chen Xi responded calmly, his eyes fixed curiously on Zuo Ci's black whisk.

"There's no such thing as immortals, just people seeking the path to longevity," Zuo Ci sighed. "With talents like yours, if you wished to learn, you could easily reach my level."

"Oh, thank you for the clarification, Daoist." Chen Xi nodded, finally feeling completely at ease after hearing Zuo Ci's words.

Since Zuo Ci, a figure significant enough to be remembered in later historical records as a potential immortal, admitted that there were no true immortals—only people pursuing the path of longevity—Chen Xi felt relieved. From the moment he arrived in this world, he had been worried that mythical figures would intervene in history.

After all, it seemed impossible that the course of four hundred years of Han dynasty history would align so closely with the original timeline without some kind of interference. The mere fact that events had led to the Yellow Turban Rebellion in the late Eastern Han, despite minor differences, suggested the possibility of some external force influencing history.

Although Chen Xi had studied the historical events and found that many occurrences seemed to happen by coincidence, they still followed a logical progression. This made him uncertain whether someone had indeed manipulated events or if the natural flow of history had simply reached that point. But now, with Zuo Ci's words, Chen Xi felt reassured: even the so-called "immortals" of the late Han dynasty were still human.

As long as they were human, Chen Xi had no further concerns. Even if they possessed extraordinary abilities, if they dared to oppose him, he was confident that he could teach them a lesson in "being human."

"It seems Marquis Chen is in a much better mood after hearing my words," Zuo Ci commented with a smile, still unsure of what was on Chen Xi's mind.

"Heh, thank you, Daoist, for resolving my doubts," Chen Xi replied calmly, the heavy weight on his heart lifted. Now, the great momentum of history could proceed without any interference. Without immortals, any tricks played by these so-called "mystics" would be no more than parlor tricks, easily dispelled by a well-formed military formation.

"I wonder, Marquis Chen, what brings you such joy. If you don't mind sharing, perhaps I can share in the happiness," Zuo Ci's curiosity seemed insatiable.

Chen Xi glanced at Zuo Ci indifferently. "I'm pleased because I'm finally confident that I can spread the prosperity of Taishan across the world. The unstoppable force of history can no longer be obstructed."

Zuo Ci frowned. In this chaotic era, no one could predict who would ultimately emerge as the ruler. Even with his extraordinary abilities, Zuo Ci couldn't foresee the outcome of this turbulent time. Yet here was Chen Xi, speaking with such certainty, which made Zuo Ci frown even more.

"Marquis Chen, I urge you to be cautious. The way of heaven is unpredictable, and who can truly see the end of this chaos? I believe it will take nearly a century of turmoil before the land is unified again. As for this unstoppable force you speak of, it has yet to manifest," Zuo Ci said, shaking his head. "Many stars, bright enough to obscure the Purple Star, have already appeared. The situation will be as chaotic as the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods!"

Indeed, despite Zuo Ci's expertise in mysticism, his conclusions were not far off from those reached by strategists like Liu Ye and Guo Jia. In fact, Guo Jia and Liu Ye might even be more accurate, given the intelligence they had gathered. They could pinpoint which figures these "stars" represented, as well as predict their future trajectories and possible conflicts.

"Daoist, you should rest and continue doing what those outside the world do. Leave the world's affairs to us. You pursue your path to immortality, and we'll handle what needs to be done. As for the unstoppable force of history, from today onward, it will be shaped by my hands!" Chen Xi's calm face exuded strong confidence.

Zuo Ci was momentarily stunned, sensing something different in his heart. When he tried to calculate the future again, he found that things had changed slightly. Sighing, he looked at Chen Xi. "Marquis Chen, you are truly a genius. Perhaps you will succeed where others have not. But the way of heaven is unpredictable, and who can say what tomorrow holds?"

"I'll be going now. If the chief celebrant needs anything, just ask General Zhang outside. I'm sure you have ways to convince him." Chen Xi glanced at Zuo Ci, unimpressed by mystics who had lost their mystique. Even if they had powers beyond the ordinary, Chen Xi no longer felt any awe. He waved his hand and turned to leave. His greatest gain today was shedding his fear of so-called "immortals."

"Marquis Chen, you are too kind. Farewell." With that, Zuo Ci transformed into a wisp of smoke and disappeared.