After the battle at Mt. Pool Returning, the mountain was reduced to a lake, and had to be renamed Lake Pool Returning. This lake became a famous tourist attraction which the commoners of Sovereign Capital would go to when on vacation. A stone monument was erected there to commemorate that battle.
Time slowly passed.
The days Qin Yun had left in the world began decreasing. Even with his heart as still as an ice mirror, he could not bear to part with it.
Humans were not vegetation that was void of emotions!
For instance, Qin Yun began playing with Meng Huan when his son was still a gurgling baby. He even got covered in his piss. He couldn’t exactly discipline the playful child when he was so young after all. When Meng Huan was six, he began guiding him in the practice of the sword. He watched him grow bit by bit and reveled in joy with each development milestone. His feelings for Meng Huan was in no way inferior to those he had for Xiaoxiao or his parents who were waiting in his homeworld.
“I’m thankful that Huan’er’s talent with the sword is higher than what I originally expected.” Qin Yun watched with great delight. “I could even say that the true genius of this world isn’t me. It’s Huan’er.”
“I’m an outsider after all. When I descended into this world, I had already stepped into the Dao.”
“Huan’er is the true genius.”
Qin Yun sat in a yard as he enjoyed his alcohol alone.
Meng Huan grasped the Iceheart Paramount realm at the age of thirty-two and began cultivating the Sword of Heaven Earth.
At the age of thirty-six, Meng Huan fought Peerless Sword Sage—fifth on the God roll—to a tie using the Sword of Heaven Earth. He was ranked first on the Heaven roll then!
At the age of forty-eight, Meng Huan finally stepped into the Dao! The moment he did so, his Dao domain spanned five kilometers! In terms of realm, he matched Li Ruji. Li Ruji had only reached that realm only after cultivating for more than four centuries but Meng Huan had already matched him the moment he stepped into the Dao! However, he was still inferior to Qin Yun, since Qin Yun’s Dao domain spanned ten kilometers the moment he stepped into the Dao in the previous world. The second time Qin Yun stepped into the Dao, his Dao domain extended to fifteen kilometers.
But… the number of experiences Meng Huan had been through were ultimately incomparable to Qin Yun’s.
Qin Yun’s homeworld was lurking with fiendish demons. There were many Dharma spells and talisman amulets, as well as many more opportunities.
“With Huan’er’s present strength, he can match Li Ruji in battle. He’s still very young, too. Before his five hundred years are up, he definitely has a chance of shattering the void and ascending,” thought Qin Yun. “If this world is real and Huan’er manages to ascend, perhaps there might be a day the two of us can reunite.”
…
He sat alone the entire night.
When dawn appeared over the eastern horizon, Qin Yun put down his cup. The sky had lit up.
His fifty years were up. This was the last day!
******
Beside Lake Orchid outside Sovereign Capital.
A large group of people was gathered here because an astounding event was about to happen—Frost Sword Meng Yiqiu was going to shatter the void and ascend today!
“Elder Meng, I always thought I would die of age first. I never expected to be able to witness your shattering of the void and ascension before I died! Haha. I, Li Ruji sure have good luck. I can die without regrets after seeing this scene.” Li Ruji’s hair was already snow-white. He too was close to his end. He and Xiahou Zhen came from the same generation. The only difference was that he had an early rise because of his powerful family clan. He also established the Chu Kingdom early. Although Xiahou Zhen was older, he only attained his accomplishments at a later age. He also stepped into the Dao later. It was only in his later years that he surpassed Li Ruji to become first on the God roll. As such, the Wei Kingdom had a shorter history than the Chu Kingdom.
“Ascension has always been a legend.”
“I can finally have the chance to see it today.”
The Elders of the Zhou Mountain Sword Sect quipped. They too felt honored.
Qin Yun smiled as his gaze landed on Zuo Tang.
“Senior Brother,” said Qin Yun.
“Can’t you stay for a few more days?” Zuo Tang could not help but ask. “Although I already imagine that you can’t bear with it, isn’t it a little early? You have not even cultivated for a hundred years yet.”
“I have to leave.” Qin Yun smiled but he did not elaborate.
“Alright, then. I know I can’t convince you. I have not seen the world that lies beyond ascension,” said Zuo Tang. “But I believe there will be fiendcelestials and immortals there. You have to be careful when you head there.”
“Other than fiendcelestials and immortals, there might be demons too,” said Qin Yun with a laugh.
Qin Yun swept his gaze toward Dong Wan and Liu Qingsha. Both of them had followed him for a very long time.
“Elder.” Dong Wan remained ever respectful. Other than Iceheart Sword Meng Huan who was ranked third on the God roll, the Zhou Mountain Sword Sect also had Lockheaven Sword Dong Wan who was ranked fifteenth on the Heaven roll.
“Master, take care.” Liu Qingsha’s eyes were brimming with tears. Her potential was quite ordinary and, to this date, she only remained ranked on the Man roll.
Following that, Qin Yun looked at his sister.
“Brother.” Meng Yuxiang could not help but hug him while crying incessantly. She was already getting old and had some white hair.
“Brother, I really do not wish for you to leave.” Meng Yuxiang sobbed. With her brother backing her, she naturally enjoyed an honorable status. Her son had also become the person in charge of the Duan family. Meng Yuxiang could also be considered as having led a magnificent life.
Qin Yun gently patted his sister on her back. “How old are you now? Aren’t you afraid to be mocked by your juniors?”
Qin Yun looked at the group of children to the side.
They were Meng Yuxiang’s grandchildren. There were also juniors from the Duan family. All of them were being watched by their parents. None of them dared to cause a stir at such an important moment.
“Alright. It’s time I leave.” Qin Yun released his sister.
“Huan’er.”
Qin Yun looked at Meng Huan.
“Father.” Meng Huan looked at Qin Yun. “In the future, I will shatter the void and ascend to meet you.”
“Hahaha, great.” Qin Yun roared with laughter.
However, he knew very well that even if Meng Huan shattered the void and ascended, it was unlikely he would end up in Qin Yun’s homeworld.
Qin Yun had long made the necessary preparations for Meng Huan and his descendants. He even left behind two Dharma spells. One of them was the Beam Transformation Art and the other was the Cloud Leap Art. Both of them were flying Dharma spells! As this world had thin spiritual energies, even the spiritual energy gathered in a domain formed by a Paramount realm expert was insufficient. One needed to step into the Dao! Through the Dao domain, one could forcefully steer the Heaven and Earth spiritual energies so as to maintain the ordinary strength of a Dharma spell.
Once one stepped into the Dao and learned the Beam Transformation Art or the Cloud Leap Art, their speed would be the fastest in the world!
The Cloud Leap Art was naturally far inferior to the Beam Transformation Art but it was much faster than the silly notion of relying solely on one’s Dao domain to fly.
The Meng family had six secret manuals which included the Sword of Heaven Earth and the two flying Dharma spells. The flying Dharma spells were exclusive to them. As for the Sword of Heaven Earth, the Zhou Mountain Sword Sect also kept a copy.
“Father, say something to Mother.” Meng Huan could not help but comment.
Qin Yun nodded and looked at Gong Yan’er.
Gong Yan’er was already seventy-eight years old. Although she was at the twelfth stage of the Qi Refinement realm and had consumed all sorts of treasured herbs, she was still very advanced in her years. She had some white hair and it was becoming difficult for her to hide her age. She was not much different from Meng Yuxiang.
As for Qin Yun? He retained his youthful looks.
“Yiqiu.” Gong Yan’er felt inferior but she could not help but say, “I know that you have always had a knot in your heart when it came to us, and a grudge against me.”
“Yan’er, I hold no grudges against you.” Qin Yun held her hand. Gong Yan’er trembled as she looked at Qin Yun. He continued, “There is no knot either.”
It was the truth. There were no grudges or knots in his heart.
However, it was also true that there was no love. But in the end, she was still Meng Huan’s mother! After spending time together for fifty years, he did come to think of her as a confidant and good friend.
“You don’t blame me?” Gong Yan’er turned anxious.
“I do not.” Qin Yun nodded. “Let bygones be bygones. It’s all in the past.”
Gong Yan’er could not stop the tears from streaming down her face.
She had waited for this day for far too long.
“Huan’er. I’m leaving. You have to take good care of your mother,” said Qin Yun.
“Yes.” Meng Huan nodded.
With that said, Qin Yun swept his gaze at the surrounding crowd before turning to fly up into the sky. He flew into midair and drew a sword from his waist. It was an ordinary weapon. As for Frost Sword, Qin Yun had left it with the Meng family as a family heirloom. At Qin Yun’s level, even though he had not deliberately refined it, the Frost Sword received his Sword Dao’s nurturing over time. It had also evolved to become more powerful.
Frost Sword now contained some of the aurae of Qin Yun’s Sword Dao. As a result, it was one of the best weapons in the world.
Qin Yun would naturally not bring such a divine weapon with him into the void.
Rip!
With a seemingly nonchalant wave of his sword, the void easily tore apart to reveal a gigantic rift. It was a black rift that spanned thirty feet.
Qin Yun looked down and smiled. Following that, he flew into the black rift with a whoosh.
“Father!”
Meng Huan looked up and could not help but mutter softly.
Following that, the black rift in the sky closed. Meng Yiqui’s figure was never to be seen again.
…
On the third day of the third month of the year of Chu Yongning’s 18th reign, above Lake Orchid outside Sovereign Capital, Frost Sword Meng Yiqiu shattered the void and ascended!
Three hundred years later, Meng Yiqiu’s son Meng Huan similarly shattered the void and ascended at the same spot!
Both father and son’s shattering of the void and ascension naturally became a legend that was handed down from generation to generation. As for the Sword of Heaven Earth that both of them studied, it also was recognized as the number one manual in the world! Years later, the manual as well as the divine weapon, Frost Sword, stirred up numerous storms.
******
Qin Yun did not know what happened after he left.
When Qin Yun flew into the void rift, he sensed a mysterious and unfathomable power tugging at his body.
“Whoosh.”
He rapidly flew across the black void.
In a blink of an eye, he flew for billions of kilometers. He tore through space again and again as the distant scene ahead of him remained in constant flux.
Occasionally, he saw a massive star in the distance.
At other times, he would see a gargantuan fiendcelestial slumbering in an ancient and lonely star.
He also saw a huge fiery ball with a three-legged bird flying around the flames.
…
Qin Yun was astounded when he saw all this. “We have always talked about Other Realm Fiendcelestials! In my homeworld, there is indeed an other realm! Furthermore, it is mysterious and shocking.”
He constantly flew.
The mysterious power tugged at Qin Yun as he traversed an unknown distance.
Qin Yun saw a massive star in the distance. On its periphery were layers of lightning that swam across it as a form of protection. He could sense a repressive force from the star despite it being far away! Furthermore, the mysterious power was pulling him towards the massive star.
“Is the shattering of the void and ascension meant to bring me to this star?” Qin Yun guessed.