Chapter Thirty-Eight: Chenxing Departs, Journeying Across the Myriad Worlds

Before long, everyone in the village arrived. The elderly village chief led the hunting party, accompanied by the robust men, and the mischievous children like Skinny Monkey and Second Fierce, who were practicing the Ninefold Profound Art. Little One’s grandfather, parents, and younger brother were present too, and even the Willow Divine Spirit had been summoned by the child, sitting beside Chenxing. Standing next to Little One were two newcomers to Stone Village, Fire Sprite and Shi Hao.

Seeing the three children before him, even Chenxing was a bit bewildered. Little One was named Shi Hao, but he’d named the child who should have been called Shi Qingfeng as Shi Hao as well, and then his younger brother was Qin Hao—what a mess!

Ignoring these chaotic matters, Chenxing began to speak slowly, “Everyone! Little One asked you to come because there are a few things I wish to discuss.”

The crowd was curious about what Chenxing wanted to say, and so they remained silent, gazing at him.

“First, I want to tell you all that the Ninefold Profound Art, which I’ve taught to the village children, may now be practiced by anyone here who meets the requirements. But remember, this technique can only be passed to one’s direct descendants. If anyone passes it on and calamity arises as a result, someone will come for retribution—do not blame me then for being ruthless!”

For a moment, the crowd’s expressions varied. The old patriarch Shi Yunfeng and the hunters were elated; they had coveted this art for a long time but hadn’t dared to learn it for fear of angering Chenxing. Now that he had spoken, their worries were gone.

Shi Zhongtian, the Shi Ziling couple, and others had learned from Little One that Chenxing didn’t wish to take on more disciples and were resigned to it. Though Chenxing now allowed them to practice the technique circulating in the village, they didn’t pay it much mind, only calculating silently in their hearts.

Fire Sprite and Shi Hao were even more interesting. Shi Hao was honest and, ever since being saved by Shi Hao, had always stayed by his side, ready to protect Little One at any moment. What technique he learned was of no concern to him.

Fire Sprite, on the other hand, pouted. She had come here hoping to become Chenxing’s disciple, but he refused to take any more students, disappointing her greatly. As for the Ninefold Profound Art, she thought it was common and didn’t care.

The Willow Divine Spirit and the group of mischievous children, already practicing the Ninefold Profound Art, had nothing to add—especially the Willow Divine Spirit, who alone had mastered all nine levels.

Observing the varied reactions, Chenxing shook his head in silence. The technique was there; whether or not it was learned, he would not force it. Still, he felt he should explain something to Fire Sprite—the only girl among them.

Chenxing gestured for Fire Sprite to come forward. She had been sulking, but seeing Chenxing beckon to her, she was overjoyed, thinking he’d changed his mind about accepting her as a disciple. She ran up with a big smile, bowing, “What instructions do you have, elder?” Her eyes were filled with expectation as she looked at Chenxing.

Amused by the clever little girl, Chenxing recalled how, on her first day, Fire Sprite had dragged Little One to ask to be his disciple and, after being refused, had sulked ever since. She would be his future disciple’s wife—how could he neglect her?

“The Ninefold Profound Art is not suitable for girls. Since you’ve come here and share a destiny with me, I will teach you a technique fit for women. Practice it well.” With that, he tapped her forehead, and a streak of red light entered Fire Sprite’s brow.

Fire Sprite felt her sea of consciousness tremble, and several large characters appeared: Heaven-Shattering Fire Phoenix Technique.

She did not know that this Fire Phoenix Technique was no less than the Ninefold Profound Art—in fact, it was an unparalleled treasure for her. Chenxing had crafted it especially for her, so that her cultivation would not lag far behind Little One’s. He had truly spared no effort for his future disciple’s wife.

Fire Sprite was overjoyed, thinking Chenxing was willing to take her as a disciple. She was about to bow in gratitude when Chenxing stopped her. She hesitated, not knowing what to do, when a message entered her ear. The crowd saw her face flush crimson as she shyly stood up and moved aside.

While others were distracted, she secretly glanced at the carefree Little One standing nearby.

“That’s the first matter sorted. The second: I wish to tell you all that I plan to leave for a while. I shall return in three years. Work hard at your cultivation—I hope when I return, you will have made progress. That is all for today; disperse now.”

Everyone present, except Little One and the Willow Divine Spirit, gradually departed.

As the others left, Little One could no longer hold back. Tears streaming down his face, he threw himself into Chenxing’s arms and said, “Master, can I go with you? I don’t want to be apart from you!”

Chenxing stroked the child’s head. “Silly child, I will return in three years to see you. If you wish to always be with your master, then cultivate diligently. When you break free from the world's constraints, we shall never be separated again.”

Little One nodded determinedly in Chenxing’s arms, vowing, “I will break through as soon as possible and find you, master! I swear!”

Who would have thought that, in the future, the Desolate Heaven Emperor would sever past and future, dominate eternity, and take only the Willow Divine Spirit and Fire Sprite to the heavens, just to escape and search for his master?

Chenxing waved his hand. “In three years, I will return and take you to the Stone Kingdom. Don’t act like a child.”

Then he turned to the Willow Divine Spirit, smiling, “Friend, now that you’ve made your decision, are you not afraid you’ll regret it later?”

“This is my inner demon; perhaps I should have resolved it long ago,” replied the Willow Divine Spirit calmly.

Chenxing nodded, somewhat helpless. “Since it’s so, I was thoughtless when I passed the Ninefold Profound Art to you.” He thought for a moment, then tossed a ball of red light to the Willow Divine Spirit, “I also pass to you my newly comprehended Heaven-Shattering Fire Phoenix Technique. You may combine the two, and perhaps gain unexpected results.”

Taking the light, the Willow Divine Spirit said nothing, but inwardly was shaken. She knew well that both techniques were extraordinary; she owed Chenxing a great debt.

At that moment, Chenxing was preoccupied and did not notice that, beneath the green glow enveloping the Willow Divine Spirit’s ethereal, peerless face, a slight blush had appeared—a hint of girlishness.

Chenxing hesitated, then sent Little One off to cultivate. Little One left reluctantly, pausing at the door to say, “Master, can you let me know before you go?” His eyes were pleading.

Chenxing sighed helplessly and nodded. Seeing his master agree, Little One finally walked away, glancing back at every step.

“Do you have more matters to entrust?” came the Willow Divine Spirit’s cold voice.

Chenxing turned, slightly sorrowful. “Though I’ll return in three years, it’s only to vent the resentment of my disciple’s suffering. Once that’s done, I fear I’ll leave this world for a long time.”

The Willow Divine Spirit trembled inwardly. “Are you truly not of this world? Could you tell me where you come from?”

Chenxing pondered, then told her of the Prehistoric Realm.

The Willow Divine Spirit listened in awe. When Chenxing finished, she asked incredulously, “You mean this world is but a middle realm, and the Prehistoric Realm you speak of is a grand world? And every world has its own Dao and Heavenly Law that binds all beings?”

Chenxing nodded.

“But in this world, after countless ages of darkness and disaster, why have the Dao or Heavenly Law never appeared?” The Willow Divine Spirit’s ethereal green glow carried a trace of anger and sorrow as she questioned him.

Chenxing was silent for a long time, then said, “This world has suffered a great calamity. The Heavenly Law is shattered, the Dao lost. When you and Little One attain great cultivation, I will take you above the heavens to seek the truth.”

“Are you the Dao or Heavenly Law of the Prehistoric Realm?” the Willow Divine Spirit suddenly asked.

Chenxing shook his head. “Neither.”

Seeing that Chenxing would not reveal his identity, the Willow Divine Spirit pressed no further and changed the topic. “Do you have anything else to tell me?”

Chenxing: “……”

In a secret chamber of Stone Village, Little One had just begun to comprehend the Chaos Genesis Technique. While meditating, a voice suddenly entered his mind. He trembled, awakened from his meditation, knelt, and pressed his head deep to the ground. His small body quivered, a faint sob emerging with each tremor...

In Stone Village, the villagers suddenly felt a sense of loss, as if something important had vanished. Skinny Monkey, Second Fierce, and the other mischievous children felt this most acutely; inwardly, they were reluctant, but their faces were blank, not knowing what had happened.

Above the Nine Heavens, the Willow Divine Spirit stood in the void, gazing for a long time at the spot where Chenxing had vanished.

After a while, she sighed softly. Her voice, subtly changed from before, carried a trace of charm amidst her heroism. She murmured, “I will fulfill what you entrusted to me. I only hope to see you again in three years.” With a flash, she vanished into the void.

...

To return to the Perfect World within three years, Chenxing sat cross-legged in the chaos, his mind splitting into countless avatars, each piloting boundary-breaking shuttles—borne from his vast power—traveling through myriad worlds, observing their transformations.

Only then did Chenxing realize that, though he’d spent only a few years in Stone Village, his Dao heart was closer to perfection. He understood now that true completion did not lie in cultivation alone, but in the missing element of ‘emotion.’

His former self, the Primordial Lord, was supreme among myriad worlds, yet lacked only this word—emotion. The original Chenxing had lived barely more than a decade, never experiencing deep feelings, save for the faint affection of family, which seemed so insignificant amid the Lord’s endless memories.

For Chenxing now, his longing for parents and sister was emotion; Little One’s reliance on him was emotion; his desire to save the Perfect World was emotion; his teaching of Stone Village was emotion. It seemed his earlier thinking had been mistaken—even the Prehistoric Realm could offer him a breakthrough.

At this thought, two figures appeared in Chenxing’s mind, graceful and radiant.

He murmured, “Little Demon, Nüwa, are you well?” This time, he did not shy away.

Chenxing understood: the bond between men and women is also emotion. Unexpectedly, beside the two women, a figure shrouded in green light appeared, somewhat dim, but undeniably there.

He smiled bitterly, “Does this make me a scoundrel?” Then, letting go, he thought, Let fate decide.