Jiang Shu had become very troubled after awakening all his memories from previous lives.

Only in his current life's memories, Jiang Shu was a hot-blooded, sunny young man in his twenties.

His greatest wish was to master Daoist techniques, wield his sword across the lands, and whenever injustice arose, he would unsheathe his sword to lend aid, displaying strength to support the weak, sweeping away all injustice in the world, killing all who deserved death.

If there was to be a companion in this process, his dearest hope was Shi Feiyang.

Shi Feiyang had initially helped him lavishly decorate his cave residence, making it luxurious yet comfortable and warm.

He even thought about taking his place at the Tian Dou and Ming He's Sect to bring Shi Feiyang into the Qingcheng Sect for cultivation together.

Later, Shi Feiyang and his disciples went out to search for heaven and earth treasures. During this time, the disciples brought back some fairy flowers, exotic plants, strange stones, and spirit trees, but Shi Feiyang had never returned.

Jiang Shu originally kept hoping, gradually recalling more about his past life, which also changed his mindset.

He gradually changed his perspective. He was a demon-suppressing True Master who had cultivated for hundreds of years, having reincarnated more than once. Throughout these long years, he had experienced countless events and seen countless people.

To him, the past twenty-odd years of rebirth were merely a flick of a finger, and Shi Feiyang was just a passerby in his life.

Sometimes, he reverted to his past mindset, thinking Shi Feiyang was nothing special, and since their paths were different, he really was just a fellow traveler met by chance on the road of life.

At other times, from this life's viewpoint, apart from his birth parents, Shi Feiyang had been the kindest person to him, having saved his life, and even specially found the Broken Jade Hook and the Heavenly Escape Mirror to give to him.

Under the moonlight, whenever he gently touched the icy Broken Jade Hook, waves of sadness surged in his heart.

While he was troubled by these thoughts, Zhu Mei rushed back with an attitude that suffocated one's heart upon hearing her.

What angered Jiang Shu the most was that Zhu Mei actually asked him to find a way to prevent Shi Feiyang from siding with the Wutai Sect, or at least delay it until the Emei Sect was ready.

Jiang Shu could understand Zhu Mei. If he had not met Shi Feiyang in this life, he would have unhesitatingly done as Zhu Mei suggested.

Though Zhu Mei looked down on him a bit, she was still his fellow disciple who had cultivated together for hundreds of years; she was naturally cheeky, and even if her mocking was meant to motivate him.

Logically, Jiang Shu should feel a deeper bond with this fellow disciple.

But that was only rational; emotionally, he could not help but want to scold Zhu Mei: "Shi Feiyang is the sworn brother I acknowledged in this life. He has never wronged me. If the Emei Sect is capable, they should directly attack to avenge their people.

If they are incapable, they should stay in their caves, cultivating until they are capable before going. Why should I scheme against someone on their behalf? You and the Emei Sect, with just a flick of your lips, ask me to do such a thing; what exactly do you consider me?"

Zhu Mei patiently explained, "We are the ones who have cultivated and studied together for hundreds of years as fellow disciples. You've only known him for a few days. That Demon Dragon plotted against you for real. Knowing our Qingcheng and Emei belong together,

he specifically approached you during your reincarnation when your memories had not yet recovered, to confuse your mind. If you can't properly adjust your mindset and recognize its true nature, then this life's reincarnation is in vain. And it could end disastrally for you!"

"I think your life is the one wasted! Going and taking Crystal Master as your teacher, now you and the people of Emei are truly like real brothers. Why bother coming back to Golden Whip Cliff to pick a fight?"

Zhu Mei knew he was speaking out of anger. Even the Tian Dou, Ming He, and the Emei elders along with Master Changmei, indeed had close relationships like a real family.

He sternly chastised Jiang Shu, "Saying your life is wasted, and you still refuse to accept it? Look at what you're saying. With such a mindset, how can you continue the teachings of our predecessors? How can you be the Sect Leader of the Qingcheng Sect?"

Jiang Shu sighed, "When our master first revealed his intention to leave a legacy in the human world, I initially supported you to become the Sect Hierarch, assisting you. But seeing you, as my elder brother, only care about enjoying yourself, fearing even a falling leaf might crack your skull, in a moment of displeasure, I spoke of becoming Sect Hierarch myself."

Zhu Mei said, "I never wanted to be some damned Sect Leader. Since you've made such a grand vow before our master, you should earnestly fulfill it. You can't just wallow in depravity..."

"How am I wallowing in depravity?"

"Right now, because of one Evil Dragon, here you are, all flustered. That is wallowing in depravity."

Hearing him refer to Shi Feiyang as "Evil Dragon," Jiang Shu's brows furrowed instantly, his eyes flashing brilliantly, almost retorting, but then he suddenly found it so pointless.

In the end, he sighed deeply, grabbed the Iron Umbrella, gestured with a wave for Zhu Mei to get lost.

"Golden Whip Cliff is too small to hold a True Immortal like you. Just go back to your own Emei's Ningbi Cliff."

Zhu Mei shook his head, "Such childishness in a centuries-old man, how can you be the leader of a sect?"

Jiang Shu angrily retorted, "If I can't, why don't you do it? You won't do it, just criticize me! If you don't leave now, you'll have to send the umbrella yourself!"

Zhu Mei laughed, turned around, and left the cave, quickly disappearing from view.

Holding the Hunyuan Umbrella, Jiang Shu brooded for several days before making up his mind and headed to Big Bear Ridge to find Shi Feiyang.

He no longer addressed Shi Feiyang as "brother" or "elder brother" but as "Daoist Shi."

He returned the treasure umbrella first, then took out the Broken Jade Double Hooks and the Heavenly Escape Mirror and placed them on the table.

"These two treasures as well, I return them together. Thank you, Shi Feiyang, for everything you have done for me in the past. If there is ever anything troubling you in the future, just send a Flying Sword Transmission to Golden Whip Cliff, be it thousands of miles away, or through mountains of swords and seas of flames, I will definitely rush to your aid!"

Shi Feiyang could feel the despondency in his emotions, it was clear that emotionally, he did not want to set such definite boundaries with himself.

"Do you think, you should set clear boundaries with me and solidify your Daoist heart?"

Jiang Shu pondered and said nothing.

Shi Feiyang then asked him, "When you awakened memories of your past, was it like waking up from a big dream, feeling as if the past twenty-some years have all been lived in a dream?"

Jiang Shu's heart jolted, Shi Feiyang had discussed this with him before.

Shi Feiyang said, "If you regard the memories of this life as an illusory dream and those of the past few hundred years as the reality of your life, then I will take back this hook and mirror, and we can act as if we've never met each other. If in the future, due to some reason, we meet on narrow paths with differing stands, drawing swords against one another, there's no need to hold back, we'll simply treat each other as strangers.

"If, however, you believe that every lifetime's experience is real, then there's no need to define such clear boundaries with me. The you of past lives is you, and the you of this life is also you, but the past you is long gone, more importantly, it's the you in the present that matters. Today is more important than tomorrow, and tomorrow is more important than yesterday. Daoism is different from Buddhism, it does not distinguish between reality and dreams through illusion; ultimately, you decide for yourself!"

By the time Jiang Shu heard the last few sentences, he was already sitting there stunned.

In the past, he indeed viewed his situation as "waking up from a big dream," which was why he wanted to set clear boundaries with Shi Feiyang, even parting ways with his entire life to fully conclude and return to his uninterrupted path of Cultivation from the past centuries.

Shi Feiyang had offered him another perspective—it was not new to him, as they had discussed this issue before.

He once vowed with conviction, "What I was in the past is in the past, it's not important, what's more important is this life. The people I knew in the past, even if they were friends for hundreds of years, are not as important as the parents of this life, the friends of this life."

He was comforting Shi Feiyang then, ensuring that he would not harbor suspicions about turning against him or even resorting to fighting or killing because he had awakened memories of his past.

The answer had always been within himself!

He stood up, turned to Shi Feiyang and asked, "May I borrow a quiet room?"

Shi Feiyang then had Zhu Changyuan take him to a side hall and found him a quiet room.

Jiang Shu closed the door and sat on the cushion to meditate quietly.

He had to completely transform his mindset!

Originally, he had viewed the past twenty-something years of this lifetime as an interlude within a dream, while the memories of the past centuries were the true journey of Immortal Cultivation.

Now, he decided to regard the past twenty-something years of this life as the real process of Immortal Cultivation.

As if, he had only started the proper Cultivation in this life, and those past centuries were just gathering resources for this life!

The present is the real, while those past events are the dreams and illusions!

He sat this way for five days and nights, stirring up all sorts of memories from his past life, some of which had become blurry, some he had not thought of in a long time...

It was like tidying up a house full of old items, cleaning them thoroughly, rearranging them, and placing them according to a new logic.

Shi Feiyang knew what he was doing in the room and did not disturb him, only speaking with his three disciples.

Yang Xu, Chen Taizhen, Hu Yanxian.

All three had been saved by Shi Feiyang and were curious about his origins and identity. After Jiang Shu was called back to Qingcheng Mountain, they tried asking, but Jiang Shu didn't know how to explain it well and didn't go into detail, so Shi Feiyang remained especially mysterious in their eyes.

What puzzled them the most was that Shi Feiyang could use Taiyin Divine Thunder and Formless Immortal Escape from the Qingcheng Sect, yet he could also wield powerful Demon Path Techniques.

They were even more curious about how their master knew him, the relationship seemed quite complex, unsure whether they should be close or distant, it seemed that their master was also conflicted.

The three brothers had discussed among themselves several times, guessing over a hundred possibilities...

Shi Feiyang took them to visit the eastern and western gardens.

When they saw the Millennium Meat Ganoderma and Taiyin Essence, their eyes nearly popped out.

They had traveled across the world for many years and had never encountered such treasures.

Then they saw the Hundred Poison Golden Silkworm Gu, the Literary Spider, the Golden Spider, and the Poison Dragon Essence named Long Meng, as well as an unclear essence-forming entity named Wu Longzi.

It was only because they had been well-taught routinely that they didn't let out a burst of exclamations.

By the time Jiang Shu came out of seclusion, he felt that the sunshine was more brilliant, the air fresher, the sky even bluer and more vast, and the mountains more charmingly undulating; everything felt wonderful.

Meeting Shi Feiyang again, Jiang Shu greeted him like a brother as he used to, once again becoming that sunlit, passionate young Sword Immortal.

"Thanks to my brother's enlightening words, I truly feel like I've awakened from a great dream. The past was a dream, and what's before me now is reality! I hope my elder brother will not hold my past foolishness against me, and just treat it as the ignorance of my youth, and forgive me generously."

Those three disciples of his stood there stunned, more bewildered than when they saw the Millennium Meat Ganoderma. Their master had always been strictly disciplined, an old-fashioned scholar, and never before had he shown such a youthful demeanor, almost as if he was a completely different person, like someone had taken possession of his body!

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