Tang Bai Li

Volume 3 Chapter 3 Refusal

Inside the cliffside hut.

The senior brother of the Wine Immortal, True Master Chongming, suspected Xu Mu was the son of the Pope from the Western Continent who had once summoned the Apocalypse and destroyed a continent.

But how could that be possible?

Xu Mu’s mind went blank for a moment, his pupils constricted to an extreme before slowly returning to calm.

He looked at the tall, slender Taoist across from him and waved his hands with a bitter smile, saying:

"Stop joking. You know it's impossible."

"Although the civilization of the Western Continent was wiped out, ancient texts still record that while the humans of the Western Continent and the Eastern Continent are both upright humans, their facial features are different, and their eye colors are also different. My appearance clearly marks me as a standard Eastern Continent person."

True Master Chongming heard this and calmly replied:

"Perhaps your mother was from the Eastern Continent."

Xu Mu shook his head again:

"Impossible. I don't know how to explain dominant genes to you, but I can be absolutely certain that, from any perspective, I am of pure Eastern Continent bloodline."

"One could say that whether it was my father or my mother, or even my father's father or mother's father, they must all have been from the Eastern Continent."

Xu Mu spoke with a look of firm conviction.

Upon hearing this, True Master Chongming began to divine again with his fingers. Profound mysteries subtly emerged in the heavens and earth, but soon, as a feather fell onto the table, those mysteries vanished.

Having calculated nothing, True Master Chongming shook his head slightly, then looked at Xu Mu and said calmly:

"At the westernmost edge of the Hundred Races Alliance, beyond the forbidden zone known as the 'Kingdom of Lies,' you will see a sea named the 'Dead Realm'."

"Beneath that sea lies a tunnel leading to the Western Continent, called the Sea Tomb. It is one hundred and eight thousand li long, longer than the distance from the southernmost to the northernmost point of our Eastern Continent."

"One hundred and eight thousand li..." Xu Mu’s expression faltered slightly, and he asked with a hint of awe in his heart, "Does the Sea Tomb you speak of truly exist?"

True Master Chongming did not answer. He merely cast a faint glance at Xu Mu, who immediately understood that there was no need for him to lie.

Xu Mu cleared his throat twice and cautiously asked, bowing his head slightly, "True Master, by telling me about the Sea Tomb, do you wish for me to go to the Western Continent?"

"You will go there sooner or later," True Master Chongming continued speaking placidly, looking at Xu Mu. "In the Elf Kingdom, you must have entered a realm sea that was inverted, and within that realm sea, you must have traversed an underwater tunnel."

"In fact, that tunnel is part of the Sea Tomb. It has existed since ancient times, but was later moved to the Elf Kingdom."

Xu Mu nodded silently and said, "Thank you, True Master. I have noted it."

He sat with a blank expression, avoiding True Master Chongming’s gaze, attempting to conceal his shock.

He had never spoken of his experiences in the Elf Kingdom to anyone, not even the Wine Immortal, yet True Master Chongming knew he had entered the inverted realm sea and traversed the underwater tunnel.

The Human King was truly terrifying, especially one who understood the art of divination and fate. Xu Mu dared not meet True Master Chongming’s eyes, as it made him feel as though he were being seen through.

True Master Chongming paid no mind to Xu Mu’s subtle movements and continued:

"Many people in this world know of the Sea Tomb's existence, but few know that its entrance is actually within one of the eight forbidden zones of pollution, the 'Kingdom of Lies'."

"However, I am not entirely clear about the exact location. But I imagine this minor matter will not be difficult for you, so I shall not expend effort in calculating it."

Xu Mu took a deep breath and looked at True Master Chongming again, his eyes filled with newfound gratitude.

He believed that he would eventually have to go to the Western Continent to uncover the truth of the Apocalypse, and these words had greatly aided him.

Xu Mu rose, clasped his fists, and bowed:

"Thank you, True Master."

True Master Chongming nodded calmly:

"Mm."

"The second matter for which I summoned you is related to the ancestor of the Eight Trigrams of the Taoist sect, Human Emperor Fuxi."

"Over the years, various Taoist lineages have never ceased their search for His Majesty the Human Emperor, but all their efforts have ended in vain. However, I have always believed that the Human Emperor has not died. He must be watching over us from somewhere we cannot see."

As True Master Chongming spoke, he cast a deep look at Xu Mu, who respectfully lowered his head, not daring to meet his gaze.

"I hope that if you learn any news regarding His Majesty the Human Emperor, you will inform me promptly. And if His Majesty the Human Emperor commands you to do something, you must also complete it with all your might."

Xu Mu suppressed the unease in his heart, looked up, and asked with clasped fists:

"Please enlighten me, True Master."

True Master Chongming looked at Xu Mu and said calmly:

"The Innate Eight Trigrams, you cannot hide it."

"Not only I, but the people of Heavenly Master Mountain must have also noticed something."

Xu Mu was silent for a moment, then asked, "Does the True Master wish for me to hand over the cultivation method of the Innate Eight Trigrams?"

True Master Chongming shook his head: "No."

"His Majesty Fuxi imparted the method of the Innate Eight Trigrams to you, so this is your destiny. It concerns no one else."

Xu Mu frowned upon hearing this and asked, "Then what is your meaning?"

True Master Chongming:

"Zuo Mingqiu."

"If my calculations are correct, the successor His Majesty Fuxi is waiting for is not you, but Zuo Mingqiu."

"Although you are exceptionally talented, rarely seen in the world, in terms of cultivation, you are no match for Zuo Mingqiu. And since the Innate Eight Trigrams rightfully belong to him, I hope you will voluntarily return them to their rightful owner."

Xu Mu was stunned and finally understood True Master Chongming's intention.

"So, you are worried that I will hoard the Innate Eight Trigrams and forget His Majesty the Human Emperor's entrustment."

Xu Mu let out a long sigh and said with a faint smile, hands clasped: "Please do not worry, True Master. I will certainly return the inheritance of the Lian Shan Yi Shu to its rightful owner."

"When I met Zuo Mingqiu before, I felt a strange sense of familiarity about him. At the time, I couldn't recognize him as the successor His Majesty Fuxi was looking for. Now that I know, I will naturally return what is his."

True Master Chongming’s expression was calm as he nodded: "Good."

"The third matter concerns Zuo Mingqiu. I need to use your hands to strengthen the relationship between White Cloud Temple and Heavenly Master Mountain, and then have the ancestral court of Taoism return to the Temple's control."

"From now on, you will go to Heavenly Master Mountain to complete this task. The deadline is five years. As for the specific execution, I will have the Wine Immortal explain it to you in more detail."

Xu Mu fell silent again.

"Now?" Xu Mu asked.

True Master Chongming: "Yes."

"Sacred relics are appearing one by one, elves are active on the borders of Alfheim and may invade humanity at any time, the Golden Horde has also begun to stir, seemingly preparing to reignite war, and friction between the Great Xia and Great Zhou is also increasing... the world situation is changing, with undercurrents surging. It will not be long before a world-shattering upheaval occurs."

"For any power to survive this turmoil, they must exert all their strength. Even though we, White Cloud Temple, have had a lineage since ancient times, we cannot be careless. Therefore, we need you to integrate Heavenly Master Mountain, and the return of the ancestral court holds extraordinary significance for the Temple."

"I see." Xu Mu nodded, silent for a long time, then suddenly said, "But if I go to Heavenly Master Mountain, what about the Nangong clan? Their situation seems very dire now."

True Master Chongming: "The Nangong clan has their own destiny, and Tian Shui is already there. He will find a way to protect them."

Xu Mu: "You mean, apart from Senior Tian Shui, White Cloud Temple will not send anyone else to provide support?"

True Master Chongming nodded: "Correct."

Xu Mu: "So, if Senior Tian Shui is unable to protect the Nangong family, you will let the Nangong clan fend for themselves?"

True Master Chongming: "Mm."

Xu Mu asked in confusion: "Aren't the Nangong family and the Temple generations of friends?"

True Master Chongming: "This matter involves too many factions. Before this impending century-long major change, any act of making enemies is inadvisable."

"Moreover, people from the Demon Slaying Division have already secretly entered the land of the Hundred Races, strong individuals from the Hunter's Alliance and the Gold and Silver Merchant Guild have been mobilized, and people from the Golden Horde are directly involved in this incident. Great changes are hidden within the chaos. The best strategy for victory is not to get involved."

Xu Mu fell silent and calmly asked:

"For the sake of victory, you can condemn the Nangong clan to death?"

True Master Chongming: "That is their clan's destiny. It has nothing to do with me."

"I have been cultivating in seclusion for a hundred years and have witnessed too much separation and death. Apart from inheritance, I care about nothing else."

"Furthermore, I am not acquainted with the Nangong clan."

"I understand," Xu Mu nodded calmly. "But have you considered that I am familiar with the Nangong clan?"

True Master Chongming: "And so?"

Xu Mu:

"Therefore, I cannot help you with this third task."