Chen Yan walked along the road built from Yunxian Jade, slowly making his way toward Du Cang Hall.

As the sacred cultivation site of Chenping Continent, Du Cang Mountain was far more serene and solemn than outsiders might have imagined.

At this moment, the vast expanse of Du Cang Mountain seemed to hold only Chen Yan walking alone, his plain white figure appearing as insignificant as a single speck of dust adrift in a vast ocean.

Yet what made it all the more contradictory was that he also seemed immense.

So immense that this boundless Chenping Continent, spanning tens of millions of li in every direction, was entirely within his grasp.

Steward of Chenping Continent.

After the Great Chaos of the Immortals had ended, Chen Yan had called himself this, and he had been acknowledged as such by the millions of cultivators across Chenping Continent.

But Chen Yan knew very well that he was far from qualified for the title.

Because the stewardship of an entire continent could only be borne by a Sage.

Yet Chen Yan had no choice but to sit in this position.

He slowly raised his head, casting his gaze toward the massive pitch-black rift in the sky, stretching for hundreds of li.

Like a torn-open wound, its edges seemed to seep with blood as it squirmed and slowly expanded.

In the end, Chen Yan withdrew his gaze from that pitch-black rift and continued walking toward Du Cang Hall.

Du Cang Hall.

Originally, standing where Du Cang Hall now stood had been the Profound Scripture Hall of Heavenly Summit Mountain.

Now, atop this towering peak of over eight thousand three hundred zhang, a gentle breeze brushed against the hem of Chen Yan's plain white daoist robes, bringing this Immortal Ascension cultivator a faint sense of refreshing coolness.

Just as he had felt thirty years ago, when he had first arrived at Heavenly Summit Mountain, the former sacred cultivation ground of Chenping Continent.

Or rather, that had already been several thousand years ago.

Heavenly Summit Mountain no longer existed now, yet standing here, Chen Yan felt as though nothing had truly changed.

As the distance grew shorter, the contours of Du Cang Hall became increasingly clear.

Chen Yan also spotted a gaunt man dressed in pure white daoist robes standing motionless before the hall's entrance.

He looked even more haggard and emaciated than when Chen Yan had first seen him in the outer court's Scripture Hall of Kongshan Sect.

Chen Yan walked toward the entrance of Du Cang Hall, then, as he passed by the gaunt man in pure white daoist robes, his footsteps came to a halt.

"Ah, Instructor Lu has arrived."

Speaking in a half-joking manner, Chen Yan said with an easygoing tone.

Upon hearing this, the gaunt man was briefly startled, then bowed respectfully toward Chen Yan:

"True Person Chen jests."

"Come inside and talk."

Chen Yan said simply, then shifted his gaze away from Kong Yang and walked into Du Cang Hall, passing through the twelve coiling-dragon jade pillars that emanated dao rhyme pressure, before finally taking his seat on the white jade throne at the far end of the hall.

The current Ascended Steward of Kongshan Sect, True Person Caiyun, Kong Yang, stood below Chen Yan's white jade throne.

"How is it?"

Chen Yan dispensed with pleasantries and asked directly and concisely.

"Reporting to True Person Chen, Kongshan Sect has currently delegated full authority over the allocation of quotas for this Du Cang Mountain Dao Discussion to Sword Master Elder Zhong Yin of our sect's Qingchan Peak. Yunyin Peak, Yuanhua Mountain, and the outer court of Kongshan Sect have also organized over two thousand disciples to maintain order on Du Cang Mountain when the time comes..."

"That's not what I'm asking about."

Chen Yan cut off Kong Yang's words.

"..."

Kong Yang was briefly silent for a moment, then continued:

"Over the past three years, in the northwest region of Chenping Continent, a total of three hundred and twenty-five cultivation sects have been established across the territories of one hundred and seven secular dynasties..."

"That's not what I'm asking about either."

Chen Yan interrupted Kong Yang's words once again.

"...May I ask what True Person Chen wishes to know?"

Kong Yang asked.

"How are you holding up right now, and how much longer can you last?"

Chen Yan asked.

"..."

Upon hearing this, Kong Yang fell silent once more, but this time he truly said nothing, merely shaking his head gently.

His time was running out.

That was what Kong Yang intended to convey.

In truth, even without asking about Kong Yang's current condition, Chen Yan could already see it clearly.

Because at this moment, an aura of decay and death had begun to emanate from Kong Yang's body.

This Immortal Ascension cultivator's dao rhyme had already dwindled to almost nothing, to the point where it could be entirely disregarded.

Chen Yan simply watched Kong Yang in silence, and the empty, vast Du Cang Hall fell into a hush.

After a few more breaths of time, Kong Yang finally spoke again:

"In the northwest region of Chenping Continent, a total of three hundred and twenty-five cultivation sects have been established across the territories of one hundred and seven secular dynasties. According to the statistics from the External Affairs Hall of Kongyuan Mountain, this year the northwest region of Chenping Continent has seen approximately four thousand seven hundred new Martial Spring Realm cultivators, roughly fifty new Qi Sea Realm cultivators, and the number of Spirit Connection Realm and above cultivators is zero."

"The path of immortality is long and boundless, True Person Kong."

Chen Yan ignored Kong Yang's report and simply said:

"Although I have also stepped into the Immortal Ascension Realm now, I am still only in my fifties. My experience is so shallow that it doesn't even compare to that of many Qi Sea Realm cultivators."

As he spoke, Chen Yan slowly shook his head:

"So I have many questions and hope True Person Kong can provide me with answers."

"Please speak, True Person Chen."

Kong Yang's expression showed neither joy nor sorrow, his tone calm and indifferent.

"This long path of immortality, what is it ultimately for?"

Chen Yan asked.

"As for this question, everyone's answer may be different."

Kong Yang replied:

"Some seek to prove the Dao and achieve eternal life, some seek to obtain greater power to dominate, and some seek to roam the world freely."

"Then what about you, True Person Kong? Throughout your journey, what has it all been for?"

Chen Yan continued:

"It couldn't have been for the sake of the sect from the very beginning, could it?"

Asked this way, Kong Yang paused briefly once more, then continued:

"For a full stomach."

"A full stomach?"

The answer Kong Yang gave was something Chen Yan had never expected.

"When this one first set foot on the path of immortality, it was indeed for a full stomach. And then..."

The third-generation Ascended Steward of Kongshan Sect recalled with a trace of nostalgia:

"It was to repay a debt of gratitude."

"It sounds like a story from very long ago."

Chen Yan said.

"Indeed, it is a story from very, very long ago."

Kong Yang replied.

"There's not much time left, True Person Kong. In these final days, don't overwork yourself."

Chen Yan said softly:

"I promised you that after you're gone, I would take care of Kongshan Sect in your stead."

Kong Yang, or rather, Lu Li.

There had once been a time when he had cast an immense shadow over Chen Yan.

But now, that shadow had gradually been worn away by the passage of time and by Chen Yan's own growing strength.

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