Flower, Yet Not a Flower (Part 11)

This matter concluded even more quietly than the incident with Immortal Venerable Qingyang in the early years. It was probably because it involved the Heavenly Emperor, so even something like the Heavenly Prison being broken into could be treated as if it had never happened. The Emperor heard from Gui Heng and Yingling about Chi Lian's instructions from before his imprisonment, and finally resigned himself to the painful fact that his three young disciples were all simpletons. From then on, whenever he went out, he would either take the children with him personally or leave one of Beichen, Mingshu, or Xianzhen behind in Jiangxiao Palace to manage affairs and, incidentally, keep an eye on these troublesome ones to prevent any of them from being kidnapped and held hostage.

The aftereffects of that incident lingered to this day. Chi Lian had indeed spent several hundred years in peace, but as for the consequences, one was that this wooden block had finally, secretly, and without anyone knowing, come to an awakening. The other was that if the Emperor traveled far without him, he would always feel a little restless.

And today, his anxiety was particularly severe, for he had heard that the Emperor had taken Immortal Lord Xianzhen down to the Mortal Realm to Mang Continent to repair the loosened Oath of the Nine Heavens. Chi Lian was currently in the East Sea, thousands of miles away from Mang Continent. Although the Emperor had sent him a message through the White Jade Bell before leaving, telling him to be at ease and not to worry, Chi Lian always felt a void somewhere in his heart, as if some danger he had overlooked was secretly preparing to fall.

The White Jade Bell at his waist suddenly moved without any wind, ringing out abruptly.

This bell had been polished by the Emperor's own hands, and its sound was originally crisp and mellow. But today, for some unknown reason, it sounded extremely sharp and piercing. Chi Lian was jolted by the sound and immediately connected to the spiritual link, but no voice came from the other side, only the other bell continuously emitting a sharp ringing. It was like being in the middle of a raging storm, without any rhythm or pattern, almost enough to shatter his eardrums.

Chi Lian's expression changed abruptly: “Emperor!”

No one responded.

A faint sound of something shattering came on the wind, and the sharp ringing of the bell came to an abrupt halt.

Chi Lian stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly at a point in the void, but a closer look would reveal that his pupils were unfocused. He remained stunned and rigid for a breath, then finally snapped back to his senses, summoning his longsword with a flick of his hand and riding it away like a bolt of lightning.

From the East Sea to Mang Continent, a million thoughts raced through his mind, and yet it felt as if he hadn't had time to think of anything at all.

Mang Continent was vast, spanning thousands of miles. In peaceful times, finding a specific person would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. But now, without needing any guidance, Chi Lian moved like lightning, heading straight for the largest vortex in the heart of the sky. His snow-white robes billowed in the fierce wind, like a snowflake about to fall but not yet fallen.

The sky was dim, and yellow sand swirled across the ground. The barren mountain peak was strewn with shattered rocks. He hovered in mid-air on his sword and clearly saw that person lying silently among the rubble, eyes shut tight, long hair in disarray.

A large patch of glaring crimson mixed with a faint golden light spilled out from behind him, like a red lotus blooming in a thousand-mile-long dark river, about to devour him completely and drag him into the bottomless Underworld.

Chi Lian stared at him blankly through the flying sand and layered clouds. In a daze, he lost control of his limbs, missed his footing, and fell directly from his sword, plummeting toward the mountaintop without any restraint.

If this were a joke, if he were being tricked... the Emperor would surely open his eyes from the pool of blood and catch him securely.

But he didn't.

He crashed into the pool of blood without any hindrance, kicking up a cloud of dust and was instantly stained the same color.

The immortal sword high above lost control and fell on its own. It grazed the ends of his fluttering hair, severing a lock, and along with a corner of Chi Lian's robe, embedded itself several inches into the ground with a clang.

“Emperor...”

But the Emperor who would gaze at him gently, who would always be the first to reach out his hand, who would shelter him from the storms and wipe away his tears, would never answer him again.

Chi Lian had studied formations with the Emperor for several hundred years and had only learned a single one: the Golden Coffer and Jade Lock Formation. At this moment, he forgot he was an immortal, forgot how to use immortal arts and spells, and couldn't even pick up his own sword. The only thing he still remembered was this formation, and he drew it haphazardly in the air, relying purely on muscle memory.

As the formation landed, a transparent, two-colored barrier of gold and jade instantly rose up, enveloping the two of them.

Golden Coffer and Jade Lock, treasured and cherished. He had desperately learned this formation back then because he had wanted, one day, to be able to envelop both the Emperor and Jiangxiao Palace within it, impervious to all storms, indestructible, remaining unchanged for millions of years, forever serving as the paradise he could look back upon.

This formation had not protected the Emperor when he was in peril, nor had it been able to save him when he was dying. Its only function now was merely to prevent the Emperor's body from dissipating so quickly.

Even if the heavens were to collapse, there would be a moment's buffer, yet the Emperor had not left him even a single word.

Chi Lian sat desolately within the formation, holding the Emperor's body, for three days and three nights. During this time, countless heavenly soldiers, generals, and immortal officials came and went, but no one could break through the Golden Coffer and Jade Lock Formation. It wasn't until the immortals of Jiangxiao Palace arrived that Immortal Lord Beichen came to the outside of the formation and asked him, "White Jade Capital has countless methods of resurrection. Chi Lian, you are an immortal. Are you really willing to resign yourself to fate and not think of a way to bring him back?"

Immortal Lord Beichen was the lord presiding over the palace, second only to the Emperor in Jiangxiao Palace. His words carried more weight than anyone else's. For days, Chi Lian had heard 'the Emperor has perished' countless times, but this was the first time someone had mentioned 'resurrection' in his ear. He dazedly lifted his eyes and asked hoarsely, 'Senior Brother, is there still a way?'

“We will find one.” Immortal Lord Beichen said with conviction. “Let’s return to Jiangxiao Palace first. With everyone searching together, we will surely find a way.”

At this time, only Immortal Lord Beichen dared to say such things. The onlooking immortals all knew clearly in their hearts: the true Heavenly Race was different from mortals and the Spirit Race. They were originally formed from the pure qi of heaven and earth; their bodies were merely the external manifestations of their Divine Souls, unlike other races who possessed both a physical body and a soul. Therefore, while immortals were indestructible, once destroyed, their souls would scatter and their bodies would return to the heavens and earth, with no chance of a second coming. If they were on the brink of death with a single breath remaining, there was still room for recovery, but no one had ever heard of anyone being saved after they were well and truly dead.

Immortal Lord Beichen continued to gaze at the two within the formation, his tone firm and steady, as if he truly had absolute certainty. "The Emperor is going to sleep for a while now. Are you planning to let him sleep in this desolate wilderness?"

His composure was more effective than any consolation, and it finally stabilized Chi Lian, allowing him to take these words to heart.

Chi Lian held up the green lotus jade pendant he always carried with him and gathered, strand by strand, the golden wisps of light that had scattered from the Emperor's body and been trapped at the top of the formation by the Golden Coffer and Jade Lock Formation. He placed them, along with the Emperor's immortal body, into the Secret Realm. All that remained was the blood that had seeped into the ground, which was impossible to retrieve. He finally waved his hand and dispelled the formation.

Mingshu moved to support him but was gently pushed away. Chi Lian propped himself up with his sword and staggered to his feet.

“Back to Jiangxiao Palace.”

From that day on, the main hall of Jiangxiao Palace was sealed shut. Chi Lian locked himself inside and began to frantically search through the Emperor's collection of books for the resurrection method Immortal Lord Beichen had spoken of. However, the more he read, the more clearly he realized the truth they had so carefully avoided, unable to bear to speak it aloud—once a member of the Heavenly Race died, they would vanish completely like smoke, with no path to life that could reverse heaven and earth.

Immortal Lord Beichen's delaying tactic had been very effective... too effective. To this day, he still hadn't recovered.

Outside, the clamor of voices was incessant, a chaotic mess. The fall of Emperor Cangze had shaken the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, and the true colors of all the immortals were revealed in these few short days. Chi Lian knew that Immortal Lord Beichen and the others were outside, exhausting themselves to hold things together. The fate of Immortal Lord Xianzhen, the whereabouts of the Sancai Seal, the next successor to Jiangxiao Palace... one matter after another pressed in. The powers that had previously been suppressed by the Emperor were now springing up one by one like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. He also knew he shouldn't be indulging in a past that could not be undone. The Emperor had once taught him to bravely shoulder the fate of the Three Realms, saying that one day he would step back and leave the world to those who came after...

But none of them were ready.

The Emperor had taught him so many great principles, but he had never taught him how to face life, death, and separation. He didn't know if the Emperor had forgotten or deliberately avoided it, intentionally creating a sweet, false atmosphere that he would never leave. Then, after coaxing Chi Lian into believing it without a doubt, he had shattered this illusion called 'eternity' with his own death.

Chi Lian stood dazedly in the gap between the bookshelves, feeling as small as an ant. A single book falling could crush him to death, so how could he even speak of ruling the Three Realms and saving all living beings?

The sound of a spiritual explosion shook the entire palace, causing even the room he was in to tremble. Chi Lian was jolted back to his senses and heard the usually gentle Immortal Lord Mingshu shout for the first time in a sharp and stern voice, "Get out!"

Two heavenly generals who had forced their way into the main hall were swept aside by Mingshu. However, the immortal lord in golden robes, surrounded by a crowd of followers, acted as if he hadn't seen a thing. He chuckled, waved the Heavenly Emperor's edict in his hand, and said with feigned sincerity, "Immortal Lord Mingshu, I can understand how you feel, but you have to understand me as well. After all, the Heavenly Emperor has perished, leaving behind such a huge mess for someone to clean up. With the Emperor's decree here, it's not like I can disobey an order, right?"

Before Mingshu could reply, a creak was suddenly heard from behind. The doors of the main hall, which had been silent for many days, slowly opened before everyone's eyes.

The hem of Chi Lian's robes was still stained with old blood. His face was like ice and snow, so calm that he didn't resemble a filial disciple overcome with grief. He walked steadily with every step, slowly descending the stairs under everyone's gaze. He reached out, pushed Immortal Lord Mingshu behind him, and asked faintly, "What is the matter?"

The immortal lord in golden robes eyed him up and down, probably seeing him as a stray dog who had lost his backer and was not to be feared. He spoke without the false politeness he had shown Mingshu, not even bothering to smile. "You're Chi Lian, right? I've heard of you. By order of the Emperor, from this day forward, I will be taking over all affairs of Jiangxiao Palace. You—"

“The Emperor?” Chi Lian cut him off. “Our Emperor is lying in the hall. I doubt he would recognize you.”

The immortal lord in golden robes: “...”

“There's no point in playing dumb,” he said, suppressing his anger. “I am acting on the decree of Emperor Luanhua! Do you intend to defy the sacred order of the Heavenly Emperor?!”

Chi Lian nodded with understanding. "I was wondering who was so impatient to come and ransack our home. Such an unsightly display. So it was the Heavenly Emperor. My apologies."

The immortal lord in golden robes never imagined he could be so brazenly disrespectful and immediately shouted, "You dare disrespect the Heavenly Emperor! How insolent!"

“Yes, I have always been insolent.” Chi Lian actually agreed, then asked, “Is there anything else you wish to say?”

The immortal lord in golden robes was taken aback. “...What do you mean?”

The next instant, a magnificent golden-red sword light illuminated the courtyard. A spray of blood showered down like rain, and amidst the alarmed cries of the heavenly generals, the distinct sounds of two objects, one heavy and one light, hitting the ground could be heard.

Even Mingshu was frightened by him. "Chi Lian!"

The rain of blood subsided, revealing Chi Lian's expressionless face. The sword in his hand was still dripping blood as he stared indifferently at the headless corpse of the immortal lord in golden robes. He raised his foot and stomped on the head that had rolled to a stop in front of him.

He lifted the head, its eyes not even having had time to close, with the tip of his sword. Like a complete madman who had just emerged from a bloodbath, his voice was not loud as he spoke to the group of heavenly generals who wished they could retreat eight zhang away from him, "Why are you standing so far away? All of you, come take a clear look—whoever wants to replace the Emperor, this man is their fate."