My Dreams Connect to Ancient Times

Chapter 513: Chapter 9: Eight Views Palace Lantern, Sister and ’Brother’ Reunite

"What... is that?"

This was Lu Xuan’s last thought.

The peerlessly beautiful woman filled his entire vision. He could see Wa Huang, lifeless, plummeting from an infinitely deep place.

In that daze, Lu Xuan seemed to witness countless things, to see everything, yet it was all hazy and indistinct,

like trying to see flowers in a fog.

He saw many flashing scenes: Wa Huang sculpting humans from clay, the greatest act of Creation since the Creation of Heaven and Earth;

and Wa Huang mending the heavens, repairing not just the shattered firmament but also the very concept of Heaven.

The final scene was the most profound. Wa Huang lamented:

"I took a wrong step..."

Then, as his eyes met Wa Huang’s for the last time, a vast, endless, brilliant light of Transcendence crashed into him.

Lu Xuan’s eyes rolled back, his body went limp, his vision faded to black, and with a THUD, he collapsed in the dim alley.

.........

「Halfway up Taishan.」

"Old Ancestor."

The Grand Elder of the Zhuge Race bowed respectfully.

"The ritual is complete, and we are attempting to communicate with Emperor Dongyue, but he is clearly resisting... Also, the time for the annual Mountain Opening Gate has arrived. Given the special circumstances, should we postpone it?"

His white hair spoke of ages, his body was steeped in the aura of twilight, and the omens of death were already upon him. Zhuge Shang shook his head.

With dim eyes, he rose with difficulty.

"The Mountain Opening Gate will proceed as planned. Recruit a batch of exceptionally talented individuals, pass down the Cultivation Skill, and grant the Martial Marquis Celestial Book to the most outstanding among them."

After a pause, Zhuge Shang slowly spoke, rolling two walnuts in his hand.

"In the Zhuge Lineage, not even an Immortal can live past three thousand years. There’s a real possibility of our line being broken and extinguished. This Celestial Book, written by my grandfather, must not be lost. The Mountain Opening Gate must be held, no matter what."

"Understood, Old Ancestor." The Grand Elder bowed again, a worried look in his eyes, and said softly,

"Old Ancestor, there have been upheavals in both the Immortal Court and the Buddha Land. Word from the Wudang Sect is that the Demon Country has become very restless."

He paused before continuing,

"The Demon Country has always been watching us like a tiger watches its prey. They want to use your Divination to find the location of the Kongtong Holy Land. I feel they’re about to make a major move. Should we... lie low for a while?"

Zhuge Shang frowned, and a profound light once again bloomed in his murky eyes.

After a long moment, he said gravely,

"Things are indeed getting troublesome. Amidst the chaotic tides of fate, I have glimpsed a possibility, a corner of the future. During this time, a supreme being will come from the Demon Country."

!!!

The Grand Elder’s face fell. Seeing the tears of blood that now streamed from the Old Ancestor’s eyes, he was terrified.

"Then, what should we...?"

"We cannot evacuate Taishan."

Zhuge Shang said with conviction.

"Before my grandfather sealed me away, he told me that I must guard Taishan no matter what, and wait for a certain person..."

He paused to exhale a turbid breath.

"I will go see Emperor Dongyue and the Coffin and Casket at the summit. I must prepare to set up a Killing Array."

The Grand Elder nodded silently but couldn’t help asking one more question.

"Old Ancestor, what kind of Exotic Treasure is it that requires... that requires our Zhuge Race to guard it with our very lives?"

"A lamp."

"A lamp?"

"Yes." Zhuge Shang sighed softly. "Do you know why our Zhuge Lineage has a lifespan limited to three thousand years?"

The Grand Elder shook his head.

Zhuge Shang explained in a low voice,

"Back then, to fight against the powers of Heaven and Earth—the Immortal Gods, ghosts, Buddhas, and Demons—my grandfather used three main lamps, four auxiliary lamps, and seventy-two minor lamps. He burned his own fortune and life, and he burned the lifespans of his countless descendants."

"Ultimately, by using the Seven Stars to alter fate, he unleashed a brilliant light. It struck the Celestial Vault above, supported the Human Race in the middle, and punished the Nine Nether below. It smote the Ancient Immortals in the East, slew the Yin Ghosts in the North, cut down the Buddhas in the West, and suppressed the Demons in the South."

A reminiscent look appeared on Zhuge Shang’s face, as if he were lost in a wistful daze.

"It was the most magnificent sight I have ever seen..."

The Grand Elder was mesmerized, swallowing hard. ’Strike the Celestial Vault, punish the Nine Nether, smite the Ancient Immortals, slay the Yin Ghosts, cut down the Buddhas, suppress the Demons, and support the Human Race!’

Zhuge Shang let out a heavy breath, his eyes downcast.

"A pity. In the end, he was one move short and could not achieve complete victory... Afterward, the seventy-two minor lamps were extinguished, and the four auxiliary lamps returned to where they came from."

Of the three main lamps, two returned to their original owners. The last one, which awaits a certain Great Senior to claim it, is..."

"The Eight Sceneries Palace Lamp."

"It can also be called... the Earth Lamp."

Hearing this, a look of confusion appeared on the Grand Elder’s face.

"What is an Earth Lamp?"

"It is something that cannot be clearly explained or described."

Zhuge Shang shook his head.

"The Jade Void Glazed Lamp is the Celestial Lamp, the Eight Sceneries Palace Lamp is the Earth Lamp, and the Spirit Coffin Lamp is the Human Lamp. When the Three Lamps converge, heaven and earth undergo a great change. It was by relying on these three as the main lamps and the other four as auxiliary that my grandfather gained the power to drive back all opposition, to force back even a Dao Fruit..."

"But it was a power he could use only once. Afterward, his life was extinguished, his soul scattered to the winds."

"A... a Dao Fruit?"

The Grand Elder mulled over the term, a look of bewilderment in his eyes.

’What is a Dao Fruit?’

’And who is this Great Senior the Old Ancestor mentioned?’

He saw the exhaustion on Zhuge Shang’s face and ultimately decided not to ask any more questions. He bowed respectfully and said,

"Old Ancestor, I will go and prepare for the Mountain Opening Gate."

"Go on, go on."

After the Grand Elder departed, Zhuge Shang sat silently in his chair, lost in thought for a long time.

He stroked his long, dry beard and sighed to himself,

"With only twelve years of life remaining, I’m afraid I will never see the wondrous sight of the Three Lamps gathered together... What a pity, what a pity!"

.........

「Wutong City.」

"Hongshan, you’re back? What did the hospital say?"

Zhong Muhua asked worriedly as she packed their luggage. Beside her, Zhong Xiaoyu, who had just turned eighteen, also looked over.

Zhong Hongshan, a man in his forties, was holding a toddler who looked to be two or three years old. He shook his head and sighed.

"We’ve already been to the First Hospital. Still nothing. They can’t find anything wrong with him, but the child just won’t wake up..."

He sighed again as he spoke.

They had found the little toddler in an alley, lying unconscious in a puddle of rainwater, wrapped in a small Daoist Robe.

Over the past month, the couple had run to every hospital, big and small, in Wutong City, but none of them could find a single thing wrong. And all the while, the toddler never woke up.

Zhong Xiaoyu hesitated for a moment before speaking up.

"Why don’t we go to Langya City and have Grandpa take a look?"

"It probably won’t do any good." Zhong Muhua shook her head. "Your grandfather is a Celestial Human, just like your dad. If your dad can’t see the problem and the hospitals can’t find anything, I’m afraid your grandfather won’t be able to help either..."

The woman, who had a rather noble air about her, paused and frowned.

"But since we found him by chance, it must be fate. We’re about to leave on a long journey, but we can’t just abandon the child..."

Zhong Xiaoyu chimed in again,

"We could take him with us to the Taishan Holy Land! The Great Seniors there will definitely be able to figure out what’s wrong."

Zhong Hongshan thought for a moment, then nodded.

"That’s a good idea. This time, the Taishan Holy Land is holding its grand Mountain Opening Gate not only to accept disciples but also to offer aid. The seniors in the Holy Land will surely examine the child. It’s settled, then."

"Okay."

Zhong Muhua nodded, then glanced sideways and chided gently,

"Xiaoyu, hurry up and finish packing. We have to leave today... You silly girl, why are you bringing so many sugar-roasted chestnuts?"

Zhong Xiaoyu stuffed a large bag of chestnuts into her luggage, looking rather sheepish.

"Mom, I’m just worried that if I actually get into the Taishan Holy Land, I won’t be able to come down the mountain for many years, and I won’t be able to buy any chestnuts..."

"You and your chestnuts!"

Zhong Muhua gave her an exasperated look. She was a bit helpless but didn’t say anything more.

Ever since that strange trip thirteen years ago, this girl had been in love with sugar-roasted chestnuts...

As she thought about it, Zhong Muhua grew a little dazed, her mind drifting back thirteen years. They had set out from Wutong City on a Hovercar, intending to visit the Kongtong Mountain Range.

Who would have thought that just by staying one night in a small town on the edge of the mountains, they would encounter so many things...

Thirteen years later, she still clearly remembered that the town was called Gouxian Town...

Just then, Zhong Xiaoyu stuffed two more large bags of sugar-roasted chestnuts into her luggage. She, too, seemed to recall the events of over a decade ago.

She spoke with a hint of regret.

"It’s a shame. None of the chestnuts I’ve bought since have ever been as tasty as the ones that Sister Yan gave me when I was little... Speaking of which, Mom, how do you think Sister Yan is doing now?"

Zhong Muhua snapped out of her reverie and said with a scolding laugh,

"Alright, that’s not for you to worry about. She used to be the young miss of Longque Technology, you know..."

"I know."

Zhong Xiaoyu pouted and said,

"I was just feeling a little nostalgic. I was only four or five back then..."

The mother and daughter chatted casually for a few more moments before quickly finishing their packing at Zhong Hongshan’s urging.

"Let me hold him, let me hold him!"

Zhong Xiaoyu took the young child from her dad’s arms. Looking at the sleeping toddler, she reached out and gave his soft, tender cheek a little pinch.

Immediately, Zhong Xiaoyu said in surprise,

"Hey, looking at this little brother’s face, he really does look a bit like that big brother from back then..."

"Alright, time to go!"

Zhong Muhua shot her a look and warned,

"Xiaoyu, remember that loose lips sink ships. Don’t speak carelessly. The person you’re talking about is Lu Zi, an Ancient Saint!"

She paused, then added,

"Remember what I’ve always said: don’t tell anyone that we traveled with Lu Zi thirteen years ago. Not even the important figures at the Taishan Holy Land! To avoid..."

"I know, I know!"

Zhong Xiaoyu pouted, complaining as she held the toddler,

"You must have said that eighty times, if not a hundred..."

Zhong Muhua gave her another exasperated glare but said no more. The family of three, holding the little toddler, headed out the door.

After the world’s great transformation, four new, vast continents had emerged in the East, South, West, and North. Each was no smaller than the Ancestor Star itself.

The original landmass of the Ancestor Star had also undergone tremendous changes, and now Wutong City was even farther from Taishan than before.

Fortunately, with the revival of heaven and earth, the Ancestor Star had transformed into a world with a round heaven and a square earth, making it nearly impossible to venture beyond the Celestial Vault.

The Starships of the past had all been converted for passenger transport. By taking one, it took only three days for Zhong Xiaoyu’s group of three adults and one child to reach the legendary Taishan Holy Land.

The passenger Starship slowly landed in Daxi City, not far from the foot of Taishan.

Holding the still-unconscious, porcelain-like child, Zhong Xiaoyu gazed at the distant, Heaven-Reaching Divine Mountain and couldn’t help but exclaim in awe,

"It’s so magnificent..."

"You know, your dad has been to Taishan once before."

Beside her, Zhong Hongshan also sighed with emotion.

"You were only five or six years old then. It wasn’t long after that trip to... what was it, Gouxian Town. A strange phenomenon occurred at Taishan, and I rushed here with the old master from afar, but before we could even get close..."

He shuddered at the memory of that perilous encounter and let out a turbid breath.

"Taishan was magnificent back then, but nothing like this. After the great revival of heaven and earth two years ago, I estimate Taishan must have grown several hundred times larger..."

Zhong Xiaoyu nodded thoughtfully while holding the toddler. Then, she caught something out of the corner of her eye and exclaimed in shock,

"Hey, hey, hey! Dad, Mom, look over there...!"

Zhong Hongshan and Zhong Muhua instinctively looked over. They saw a little girl who looked similar to the toddler in Zhong Xiaoyu’s arms, only a bit older—around three or four. She was walking toward them with a proud, waddling gait.

The little girl stopped in front of Zhong Xiaoyu, tilted her head up, and stared with her big, dark, glittering eyes.

"Big sister, what’s wrong with my little brother?"

As she spoke, Lu Nian craned her neck curiously to get a closer look at the toddler in Zhong Xiaoyu’s arms. She saw eyes and brows that were strikingly similar to her own. Gazing at the Cause and Effect between them, she confirmed that there was indeed a profound blood connection...

She sighed internally. ’Mom, what have you done...?’

’If that father I’ve never met were to return...’

Lu Nian’s heart was filled with worry.