Leaving the site of the evening banquet, without the illumination of the Hundred Year Lamp, the road ahead was pitch black; however, gradually, a crimson radiance shot up in the distance. Lu Yuan understood that this was the Crimson Maple Forest, the very place his master intended to go.

“In the last years of my life, I originally had three wishes, concerning the three most important people in my journey: my wife, my friend, and my disciple.”

“It is just that, because of your outstanding performance, the original three wishes have been pared down to two,” Li Yuanbai stated. “After all, with your potential, your future is limitless. Sima Changbai can only stop you for a moment, not for a lifetime. Moreover, Senior Brother Yuanyuan will also protect you, allowing me to depart with peace of mind.”

“The two remaining wishes are, firstly, to see the Zhi Zhu Flower once more, and secondly, to execute that scoundrel Ye Hu—today known as Elder Hu—who betrayed my friend under the guise of friendship. Only then can I pass away without regret,” Li Yuanbai spoke in a low voice.

“However, dealing with Elder Hu will not be a simple matter.”

“Recently, the Radiant Demon Emperor, Fang Xie, is celebrating his two-thousandth birthday. It is common knowledge that Fang Xie has a fondness for Zhi Zhu Flowers. Given Elder Hu’s nature, he is likely to attempt to pick them. But the total quantity of Zhi Zhu Flowers is inherently scarce, and years ago, most of the Zhi Zhu Flowers underground were relocated by the Radiant Demon Emperor to his Radiant Palace.”

“What remains of the Zhi Zhu Flowers underground is even scarcer. Counting them up, Elder Hu is most likely to come collect them from this location.” Li Yuanbai had clearly studied Elder Hu’s character deeply over these years in his pursuit of revenge.

Every one of the Six Sword Immortals of North Peak was terrifying beyond measure. Even the dying Li Yuanbai was by no means to be underestimated.

“Of course, if he were to appear elsewhere, I have planted informants. Should Elder Hu show up in another location, I have means to counter him. As for summoning you here...” It was only so you could witness my final battle. How much experience you absorb from this confrontation will depend entirely on your own capabilities.” Li Yuanbai smiled. “Originally, the plan was to have you face Elder Hu directly, to have you fight a Life Cultivation stage demon head-on... to let you understand the terror of one of the Ten Great Demon Elders. But my body has been deteriorating faster than expected. If I delay any longer, I might miss the optimal moment to kill Elder Hu, so I must act early.”

“Now that Elder Hu has finally been eliminated, this wish has been fulfilled. Even if I descend to the Nine Springs, I can face my old friends of years past,” Li Yuanbai declared.

The Crimson Maple Forest was almost reached. The crimson light bathed Li Yuanbai’s white robe in a layer of scarlet. Lu Yuan followed closely behind Li Yuanbai. On both sides, the maple leaves were entirely red. The scenery here was exquisitely beautiful. The wind from underground stirred the maple leaves into a gentle sway. The beautiful crimson leaves trembled lightly. Stepping into the Crimson Maple Forest was entering a world drenched in fiery red, completely unlike the Yin and Yang of the underground outside. The beauty of this place was certainly not inferior to some of the scenic spots on the surface.

Li Yuanbai coughed a few times, this time bringing up a trace of blood. “I don't worry about you. If I had a Cloud-type spirit beast, I would have passed it to you. But during the battle at Qili Valley, under the assault of the Crimson Wing Demon King... I fled in disgrace and even lost my spatial artifact, the Little Silver Moon Pouch. I have no Cloud Beast to bestow upon you; this is where I have failed you.” The battle at Qili Valley—Elder Hu was then operating under the alias Ye Hu and was not yet one of the Ten Great Elders. The Crimson Wing Demon King at the time was one of the Four-Colored Demon Kings, whose power was unfathomable, likely no less than that of Reverend Yuanyuan. Facing such an attack, the loss of a spatial artifact was understandable.

Lu Yuan spoke, “Master raised me from a mere mortal, teaching me swordsmanship, spellcraft, and heart cultivation, bit by bit... This immense kindness is equivalent to remaking me. What does it matter if there is no Cloud Beast to inherit?” As he spoke, a slight choke entered his voice; he knew his master was giving his final instructions. Everything he had learned was basically taught to him by his master, piece by piece. And now, his master was about to depart... a choke rose in his throat.

Li Yuanbai nodded. “My child, your greatest virtue is not your aptitude, but your character.” Seeing Lu Yuan’s choked emotion, Li Yuanbai let out a wry smile. “You are such a devoted child, still unable to see through life and death. Now that I have eliminated Elder Hu, you no longer need to worry about me. I have no regrets in life, nor any in death. Life and death are the way of Heaven; one should not dwell on them.”

Li Yuanbai coughed a few more times, paused briefly, and then continued speaking, knowing he wouldn't have many more chances. “Originally, there were many enemies I needed to tidy up, like Sima Changbai. Some under my command were secretly disloyal, but they weren't as direct as the Black Swordsman Murong An in their rebellion; they were more cunning. Logically, I should have resolved all these matters here before leaving. But then I reconsidered: since you possess the ability, I can leave these tasks for you to handle. It will also serve to temper you. I believe you are capable of achieving this.”

“As for the future, there is one heavy responsibility.”

“If in the future, you grow to a point where you determine the fate of the Five Peaks, and if at that time the Huashan Three Sects—the Sword Sect, the Qi Sect, and the Sword-Qi Sect—are locked in conflict, you must protect the lifeline of the Huashan lineage, lest the Huashan Immortal Sect become utterly extinguished...” As Li Yuanbai delivered this instruction, Lu Yuan looked extremely astonished.

Lu Yuan was indeed deeply surprised. The Huashan Immortal Sect was the foremost immortal sect of the Great Jin Dynasty, with the Patriarch Yan Cangtian presiding over it. Such a sect, glorious and thriving, how could it face extinction?

Li Yuanbai gave a faint smile. “Have you still not realized? Your Patriarch Yan Cangtian is a genius of the highest order, but precisely because his talent is so immense, he is destined to ascend sooner or later. Once he ascends, Huashan Immortal Sect, which sits in the supreme position, will find that position difficult to maintain. The other four major immortal sects harbor deep apprehensions toward Huashan. Furthermore, within Huashan itself, there is the contention between the three sects: the Sword Sect, the Qi Sect, and the Sword-Qi Sect. Huashan Immortal Sect is flourishing now, but the future looks exceedingly perilous, possibly leading to annihilation. When that time comes, if you possess the power, then preserve some remnant of the Huashan lineage; do not let it be completely wiped out...”

With Li Yuanbai’s explanation, Lu Yuan began to realize matters he had previously overlooked. The Huashan Immortal Sect, the premier immortal sect, was already beset by severe internal and external troubles. He had known of the issues, but he had never considered the possibility of total destruction. However, his master was not one to exaggerate; perhaps...

Li Yuanbai smiled faintly. “Of course, do this only if you have the power. If your strength is insufficient at that time, then ensure your own safety.”

“I am truly an unfit master, piling everything onto the shoulders of my junior. The changes you will face when inheriting my enterprise, and the future strife between the three sects—I lay it all upon you, my disciple...” Li Yuanbai offered a bitter smile, but there was truly no other way. His other true disciples had mighty patrons shielding them, but Lu Yuan did not. Reverend Yuanyuan would protect Lu Yuan, but ultimately, it would not be as comprehensive as the protection Li Yuanbai offered while alive.

Having imparted everything necessary, they arrived before an open clearing. There, a spring eye gently bubbled with clear water. The water was incredibly pristine. Beside the spring grew a single jade-green flower, which was already in full bloom. It was a flower of such astonishing beauty that almost no language could adequately describe it. These jade-green petals trailed a faint aura of green in the void, like a peerless jade beauty. How to describe this flower? For a moment, words seemed utterly inadequate; all the language in the mortal world seemed insufficient. Each flower has its merit: the plum boasts pure spirit, the orchid emits secluded fragrance, the tea displays elegant charm, the apricot is lightly adorned, the peach is charmingly sparse, the chrysanthemum defies severe frost, the narcissus has skin of ice and jade, the peony possesses national beauty and heavenly fragrance, the jade tree stands stately and refined, the golden lotus floats in the pond, the osmanthus sends fragrance to the moon’s abode, the hibiscus is coldly alluring by the chilly river. Yet, none of these flowers, regardless of their type, captured the gaze as powerfully as the jade-green blossom before them. The Zhi Zhu Flower! The Zhi Zhu Flower had finally bloomed! This was the Zhi Zhu Flower. Lu Yuan had to admit, every flower he had ever seen in his life was less beautiful than this one.

“The Zhi Zhu Flower has finally bloomed again…” Li Yuanbai murmured softly, his gaze distant, as if lost in an indelible memory. Li Yuanbai walked to a piece of blue stone beside the flower, murmuring, “It was here that I met your master back then...” The words faded lower and lower, audible only to Li Yuanbai himself. Zhi Zhu Flower, Zhi Zhu Flower. When encountering a beautiful love, one should stop hesitating and stop wavering. This is the meaning of the Zhi Zhu Flower. If you hesitate, you miss it; if you miss it, it will not return. Life is sometimes like this. The logic of the flower is the logic of man, the logic of the way, the logic of Heaven.

Lu Yuan also sat nearby, quietly accompanying his master as they watched the blooming Zhi Zhu Flower. A faint yet profound jade-green light, like a fragile, heartbreaking dream, opened quietly, softly, and serenely within the Crimson Maple Forest. The Zhi Zhu Flower showed no desire to compete with the crimson splendor of the forest; it simply bloomed alone in quietude. Jade-green like a dream. A fragile dream. But, perhaps a dream it should be. Not every cultivator seeks eternal life. If all cultivators chased immortality, the society of cultivation would become too monotonous. Li Yuanbai sought immortality in his youth, but later lost interest in it. Li Yuanbai was deeply grateful to Heaven for granting him a group of wonderful friends, a beloved wife, and an excellent disciple. Heaven had favored him so completely; in that case, what did passing away matter?

Li Yuanbai sat silently, gazing at the Zhi Zhu Flower. The color of the flower grew increasingly jade-green, deeper and deeper. But even the most verdant Zhi Zhu Flower must eventually wither. At that time, would the dream finally end?