Chapter 170: Everything Will Decay Eventually

Chapter 170: Everything Will Decay Eventually

Under the silent watch of the moon, another sacred text made its descent, positioning itself above the humble bamboo raft. Wang Xuan, his hand resting on the hilt of his short sword, looked on with a furrowed brow, a mix of skepticism and wariness in his eyes. The persistence of this celestial angler, casting from the moon itself, was unnerving.

The very existence of the Departed Land had brought forth the extraordinary, predating even the ancient lineage of the immortals. "What kind of entity is up there, angling from the lunar sphere?" Wang Xuan pondered, his face a canvas of shifting thoughts and emotions.

Suspended in the air, the manuscript radiated a soft, rosy luminescence, encapsulating the very essence of Taoist mystique. Though its pages remained sealed, a plethora of enigmatic symbols shimmered into view, each one a testament to the text's profound significance.

"The Divine Illumination of Inner Landscape," Wang Xuan whispered, fixated on the cover. His heart quickened at the thought—this book might illuminate the much-revered Inner Landscape, an aspect of his practice about which he knew startlingly little, having always experienced it as a passive participant. Could this volume hold the key to understanding those depths?

He turned to the Ferryman and asked, "What do you make of this scripture?"

"It is a treasure among Taoist scriptures," the Ferryman responded with earnest veneration. "Its wisdom is typically entrusted from master to disciple, seldom committed to the written word."

"And where does it stand in the annals of texts on the Inner Landscape?" Wang Xuan asked, his curiosity piqued.

"With its unique perspectives on the Inner Landscape, it's undoubtedly prestigious. I would place it within the top seventeen," the Ferryman answered, his voice tinged with respect.

"Not in the top ten?" Wang Xuan scoffed, disappointment tinging his voice. "A scripture more impressive in appearance than in wisdom—it does not tempt me." He stepped back, ensuring not to make contact with the tome.

The Ferryman, having predicted this line of thought, ventured, "Are there better within Old Zhong's collection?"

A nod from Wang Xuan was all the confirmation needed. As the text took flight once more, retreating into the night, Wang Xuan shouted after it, "Such a subpar scripture! It pales in comparison to the treasures amassed by the mortal realm's most scholarly elder. Who would waste their time on such readings?"

The Ferryman could no longer contain his skepticism. "Tell me about this Old Zhong," he demanded, "Who is he to possess such treasures that could overshadow the profound 'Divine Illumination Inner Visions Scroll'?"

Old Zhong, Wang Xuan explained with a touch of reverence, was a jack-of-all-trades: a health enthusiast, collector, and archaeologist rolled into one. To care for his children and grandchildren, he delved into the art of longevity, ironically aging himself in the process. His collection was vast and varied, encompassing everything from earth-immortal calligraphy and ascensdent scriptures to the writings of esteemed immortals and ancient relics—all housed within his study. A man of considerable literary taste, Old Zhong spent his days appreciating antiques and cultivating his sentiment.

The Ferryman pressed on, his expression stern with incredulity. "How does a mere mortal come to possess such an extensive trove of arcane texts?"

Wang Xuan responded, "As I mentioned, he's an archaeologist. Are you aware of the Old Earth? He and his group of seasoned explorers have nearly excavated it completely."

"That's preposterous," the Ferryman countered with disbelief. "Not even to mention the sanctified grounds of the Ascended, a mortal like him couldn't possibly enter the sanctums of earth-immortals, which can conceal themselves in the void. How could he locate them?"

Wang Xuan elucidated, "Times have changed, elder. The Old Earth is no longer a place where one can cultivate. Devoid of any transcendent substances, all these texts are mere historical artifacts now, to be admired and studied. Those so-called 'crypts' and 'ruins' are quite ordinary. Despite some anomalies and dangers, they could be blasted open with warships." He laid bare some hard truths.

The Ferryman stood dumbfounded, then melancholic, as he sighed deeply, "This signifies the nadir of transcendent energy. When a transcendent planet falls into decay, all laws crumble, and every divine feat becomes but an illusion. Even the abodes of immortals degrade to mere labyrinths devoid of celestial might. All that was extraordinary fades away... and the great Dao decays."

Otherwise, according to his claims, if even the abodes of earth-immortals could remain hidden in the void all year round, how could ordinary people possibly come into contact with them?

And as for the residences of the transcended immortals, there was no need to even consider it. Merely laying eyes on them was a distant dream, let alone approaching. To do so would invite a thunderous retribution from the heavens, powerful enough to shatter warships.

"The thing is, Old Zhong has even dug through the ruins of the immortals," Wang Xuan stated with an unsettling calm.

The Ferryman was lost in thought, almost in a trance. "I have a foothold in the Old Earth myself," he muttered, a hint of concern in his tone. "Surely, he hasn't dug that up too, has he?"

"I would say it's quite likely," Wang Xuan nodded. Even the small Taoist temple in the Great Dark Mountain near his home had been excavated, let alone other places. Take for instance the famed Mount Qingcheng; not just the main peak, but even the most peripheral areas and beyond were hollowed out.

"That's outrageous! They're digging up the roots of the immortals. If someone were to return from beyond the boundaries, this Old Zhong... huh!" Clearly, even the Ferryman was struggling to maintain his composure as he started to grumble.

He added, "This Old Zhong, once those behind the great curtain come to know of his deeds, he is bound to become... a 'celebrity'."

Deep within his secluded dwelling, Old Zhong suddenly sneezed nine times, overcome with a sense of foreboding. After a moment of confusion, he became alert. He, who read every book, immediately cast a divination for himself and became visibly unsettled. How could it be an unsolvable divine hexagram?

Back on the bamboo raft, Wang Xuan quickly attempted to mend the situation. "Elder, you mustn't speak carelessly. The human world has changed, and you can't be too harsh on the descendants. Old Zhong is not an anomaly; he represents a group. The Qin family, the Song family, they've all dug their share!"

"Alright, it's all noted," the Ferryman declared, his vague face emerging from beneath his straw raincoat, making a silent note.

"If Old Zhong invites me to his study in the future, I'll take charge of his affairs. After all, the matters of the human world should ultimately be decided by humans," Wang Xuan remarked humbly, not daring to claim dominion over the human realm.

Wang Xuan did indeed possess a segment of golden bamboo slip, bestowed upon him by Qingmu when he opted to join the secret exploration group. Regrettably, it was a single fragment, vastly incomplete compared to a full set which could be dozens, if not hundreds, of pieces.

"What scriptures are not to be found in the human realm? With diligence, I will eventually gaze upon them all." Wang Xuan observed the fishing line and scripture that lingered unusually long, proclaiming, "Thus, these so-called profound and secret teachings need not be displayed before me, they fall short. Unless it is the strongest scripture, one that even the immortals would envy, the most supreme secret tome, do not bother sending them down; they fail to pique my interest!"

The Ferryman, though his heart was far from calm, found himself without words. Was this youth looking down upon the anglers from the moon from the pinnacle of disdain?

The scroll of scripture departed, lingering no more.

Wang Xuan added, "By the way, Old Zhong's study also houses a Five-Colored Jade Book, which is said to be equally complex."

In an instant, the scroll accelerated away, vanishing into the night sky.

"I forgot to mention, this is but the study of an elderly man whose candle of life flickers in the wind. There must be at least a dozen more studies like his among the other families," Wang Xuan shouted into the night sky.

At this moment, he was practicing the physical techniques described in the five pages of the golden scripture, seamlessly executing the first four movements and even advancing to the fifth. To his delight, he successfully mastered it as well.

"Have I really perfected the fifth movement?!" Wang Xuan exclaimed in joy, slightly surprised yet it seemed within reason.

His Golden Body Technique had advanced a level, furnishing the necessary vigor to sustain the more strenuous subsequent movement. The golden scripture’s secret methods demanded a formidable physique as the foundation.

Wang Xuan noted that even after executing all five movements, his body no longer felt excessively hot, negating the need for a prolonged "cool-down" period.

This indicated that his offensive capabilities would surge substantially!

"See this? I’m practicing the physical techniques of Zhang Daoling, the founder of Taoism, as recorded in these five pages of golden scripture. I have come across all manners of techniques, so truly, spare me any mundane tomes!" he declared, his tone hardly endearing.

At the very least, even the Ferryman seemed wearied by his manner—was this young man angling for scriptures?

In a low voice, Wang Xuan said, "Elder, the secrets of the waning moon surpass even those of the immortals. What sort of creature lies above? If you tell me, I might just reward you with a piece of golden bamboo slip."

"One piece? I don't want it!" the Ferryman asserted firmly.

Wang Xuan grimaced. Even he had not yet laid eyes on a complete section, so he wouldn’t offer it.

He pondered that once his second metamorphosis was complete, he would make his departure immediately, unwilling to linger any longer.

At that moment, there was a stir upon the moon. A fishing line descended, and a scripture fell from the heavens.

But this time, there was no spectacular phenomenon, only a faint mist shrouding a stone slab, silently hovering above the bamboo boat.

"I desire only the supreme scriptures; otherwise, they are no match for Old Zhong's collection!" Wang Xuan proclaimed.

Wang Xuan perceived the stone slab to be rather ordinary at first glance. It was riddled with cracks, adorned with human figures and script, but only a corner was exposed. The rest was shrouded in an enigmatic mist that obscured any further insight.

Upon laying eyes on the slab, the Ferryman was visibly shaken. His body trembled within his straw raincoat, and even from his obscured visage, one could discern the quivering of his lips—a clear sign of profound astonishment.

Witnessing the Ferryman’s reaction, Wang Xuan instantly recognized the extraordinary origins of the stone slab, potent enough to unnerve a being as stoic as the Ferryman.

"Is this slab truly exceptional?" he whispered.

"Of course!" The Ferryman reached out, his hand nearly trembling with the desire to touch it, yet he restrained himself, affirming, "This must be what you seek, the scripture you yearn for."

"Would it be normal for a being from the moon to fail while fishing?" Wang Xuan inquired, considering that if the lunar entities could directly interfere with the mortal realm, they would hardly need to resort to such laborious methods as fishing.

The Ferryman nodded in agreement.

Without another word, Wang Xuan acted with decisive swiftness, swinging his short sword with a resolute arc. With a clang that sent sparks flying, he managed to sever the fishing line—a challenging yet effective strike.