Eternal Tale

Chapter 279: The Awakening – Visions of Past and Future

The world was hazy and shrouded in chaos.

A man lay on a stone bed, struggling to open his eyes as a faint light pierced the darkness, bringing with it a splitting headache.

He felt as if he had been asleep for a long time, dreaming an endless dream…

The morning sun bathed the grand mountains in golden hues, with countless red clouds interweaving with the dense spiritual energy that nearly took physical form, creating vibrant halos.

This was the hidden sect of the Great Era, the secluded training ground of all supreme forces—a forbidden place behind the scenes of the great powers: the Sect of Cautious Practice!

The lush mountains were filled with ancient Crane Spirit Trees, and occasionally, a few grey shadows flitted by, their expressions calm and gentle, their presence concealed. Without exception, all of them possessed Five Elements spiritual roots. Despite years of development, the sect only numbered a few thousand disciples, adhering to a principle of accepting members based on fate.

Outside a cave, a female disciple with two braids ran excitedly, shouting, “Senior Brother Chen Xun, you’ve finally woken up!”

With a wave of her hand, the formation opened, revealing her eager expression. “You’ve been unconscious for three years!”

Chen Xun’s eyes were filled with confusion, his memories blurred. “I became immortal? Old Ox! Huh, who’s Old Ox?”

He mumbled, struggling to piece together the long dream he had experienced, the details now fading into obscurity.

“Oh, immortality? Senior Brother Chen Xun, I’ve had those kinds of dreams hundreds of times. Who wouldn’t want to become immortal?”

The girl, Wang Xuan, his long-time junior sister with a Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivation, looked him over curiously. Something about him felt unfamiliar. “Do you remember how you ended up unconscious?”

Chen Xun forced a smile and shook his head, gradually recognizing Wang Xuan. Memories of being beaten flashed through his mind.

“Senior Brother, during our sect’s centennial competition, that Chu Zhong acted unfairly. He hid his true cultivation, using a Deity Transformation-stage power to battle us!”

Wang Xuan snorted. “With a single strike, he knocked you out, leaving you unconscious. How could a senior brother conceal his true strength like that?!”

A sudden flash of memory sparked in Chen Xun’s mind, recalling the day he was thoroughly beaten.

“Outrageous!”

He jumped up angrily, his reaction delayed as if he had just realized what had happened. “Where’s my Mountain Splitting Axe? I’m going to teach him a lesson!”

“Huh?”

“…What am I saying?”

Chen Xun and Wang Xuan stared at each other, both bewildered.

Wang Xuan was taken aback. Something seemed off about Chen Xun since he woke up. Was there some demonic influence invading his mind?

“I…”

“Junior Brother Chen Xun, you’ve finally awakened!”

Before Wang Xuan could respond, a sorrowful shout echoed from outside the cave, as if someone had come to offer condolences. “I’m here to atone for my sins, Senior Brother!”

Chu Zhong entered, his long black hair partially tied with a jade hairpin, his jade-like features tinged with a hint of sorrow. His upright posture exuded resilience.

Yet, his revealed cultivation was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, and the hidden art of the Sect of Cautious Practice was cultivated to perfection—no one could discern his true strength, even if they were two stages above him.

The sect’s principle was to walk the world with humility, focus on self-improvement, and avoid drawing unnecessary attention. It wasn’t about hiding one’s cultivation for the sake of deception; it was about living in harmony with the world.

“Greetings, Senior Brother Chu Zhong.”

Chen Xun and Wang Xuan bowed respectfully, despite some lingering frustration. Fellow disciples were like family; conflicts could be resolved with understanding.

Carrying branches from a Crane Spirit Tree on his back, Chu Zhong wept as he apologized profusely. He hadn’t expected that a casual strike would be Chen Xun’s limit.

How could one blow render him unconscious for three years?!

As Wang Xuan and Chu Zhong spoke, Chen Xun felt a moment of disorientation. The sound of their voices faded, and even their faces grew indistinct.

In his vision, he saw a giant ship suspended in the void, housing several simple pavilions—plain and unremarkable.

A massive tree, so grand it pierced the heavens, was rooted atop it, stretching toward an unknown realm, its aura mysterious and unfathomable.

His heart surged with shock. So, the rumors of the Great Era were true…

A world-piercing ship traversing realms—those who witnessed it could comprehend the Dao, and those who boarded it could attain immortal fate. Through the ages, it remained eternal!

Inside one of the pavilions, a woman in a black dress suddenly opened her eyes. In that instant, the light in her eyes shifted, revealing dual pupils of yin and yang—graceful and majestic. She was Nangong Huling, the sect leader of the Sect of Cautious Practice!

Chen Xun’s body trembled. He felt an overwhelming sense of being watched—the most fearsome presence he’d encountered since joining the sect.

Her achievements were legendary, spoken of by all races and realms. Even the most powerful forces had felt her influence.

The pavilion was shrouded in mist, and a plain-looking man sat cross-legged, his features obscured. Beside him stood a large black ox, but its eyes seemed dull.

Nangong Huling’s every movement was enchanting. She addressed the man with utmost respect, “Big brother, he’s awake.”

“Hmm.”

The man replied calmly, standing slowly and patting the black ox. “Old Ox, let’s go.”

He transformed into a wisp of wind, lightly sitting atop the black ox.

“Moo~” The black ox nodded stiffly.

Nangong Huling followed silently, her demeanor starkly different from her public image.

Chen Xun watched in shock, his pupils trembling. The sect leader called this man “big brother.” Who was he?

“Old Ox…”

Suddenly, his head throbbed again. That black ox wasn’t the one from his dream, but why was he seeing all this when he was just an ordinary disciple?

In the darkness.

Three figures approached.

“Chen Xun, I have waited for you for a long time.”

“Greetings, sect leader, esteemed senior!”

Chen Xun felt cold sweat pouring down his face as he bowed. The atmosphere was too eerie, leaving him no thoughts of resistance.

“Listen to me, and don’t overthink. These words aren’t meant for you.”

“Yes… senior.”

“We are caught in an endless cycle of reincarnation. Across the river of time, there are countless versions of Chen Xun. Immortality only leads to decay, and there’s no escape—we are trapped in a cage.”

The man’s words seeped into Chen Xun’s mind, his voice heavy with meaning. “You are the key link, the point of connection with the other Chen Xuns across the river of time. This is the flaw found through countless cycles.”

“What… what does that mean?!”

Fear gripped Chen Xun as he raised his head to look at the man in the mist. There was an uncanny familiarity.

“Immortality is meaningless; we can’t die. The key to breaking free lies within the black ox.”

The man sighed deeply, a sigh filled with the weight of countless years. “This is the power bestowed by a Chen Xun who faced annihilation, condensing into another immortal seed.”

“What about the sect leader?!”

“She cannot attain immortality; she will die before the final destruction. Redemption lies within the cycles.”