The Return of Stars to the Jianghu

Chapter 126 Eight People Discuss the Path to Immortality Around the Eight Immortals Table

The solar system, the Martian oasis.

Jin Hu and Gu Jing watched as Shen Cheng and Luo Yan left the oasis area.

"What a cruel twist of fate!" Jin Hu sighed.

“They’re lucky. Let’s go, let’s go check out the underground world,” Gu Jing said.

The two remained in the oasis area as liaisons, where they would explore the underground world together with the demon race.

They brought a hundred lamps to illuminate the underground world for the demon race.

……

The Floating Continent is a place full of mystery and legend, and on this vast land, Lanting County is an even more fascinating place.

A week passed quickly, and the negotiations between the various delegations at the Lanting County government office remained stalled. This caused many江湖人士 (jianghu figures, people from all walks of life) to lose patience and confidence, and they all expressed their despair. However, although the world of adults was filled with strife and war, the common people still held onto hope. They stood guard at a distance outside the county government office, hoping that these important figures would end the war and restore a peaceful and tranquil life for them.

During this time, martial arts cultivators continuously returned to Lanting County on the Floating Life Continent from the Demon Clan's Ten Thousand Mountains on the other side of the tunnel. Their return once again filled the land with tension and solemnity. Most of these people suffered serious injuries, and some even died shortly after returning to Lanting County due to their injuries. Others, although they survived, faced the tragic fate of losing all their cultivation.

Of course, some did not return through the tunnel at the old site of Lanting. They chose to travel through the time tunnel, but unexpectedly arrived at Ghost Mountain in the Black Forest. There, they survived countless near-death experiences before finally escaping and returning to Lanting County. Their return was not only to report to their fellow disciples, but also to warn them: the other side of the tunnel is a battlefield full of danger and death, and they should never venture there lightly again.

After a week of arduous travel, traversing vast grasslands and passing through villages, Ji Mi and his companions finally arrived in Lanting County. They discovered that there were far fewer people here than a week ago, and many were staying in single rooms. Ji Mi, along with his master He Shihui, his future brother-in-law Dugu Xin, and his friend Chu Ji, arrived at the Tongfu Inn, where Qi Yuan had previously taken him.

That evening, Qi Yuan returned from the county government office and unexpectedly saw Ji Mi. Luo Yifei, who was following behind Qi Yuan, stepped forward and asked, "Ji Mi, weren't you on An Island? What are you doing here?" Ji Mi sighed and replied, "My master took me down the mountain for training. It's a long story."

Then, Ji Mi asked, "What about you? Did you come to see the Path to Immortality? Please don't go there, it's a battlefield." Qi Yuan and Luo Yifei exchanged a glance and nodded, saying, "We know, we went there, and we barely escaped. It's so good to see you." Bi Li also patted Ji Mi on the shoulder to express his condolences.

At this moment, Shen Lixi stood at the back without speaking, only smiling as she watched the group. The group found a table in the hall and began chatting about their recent situations and experiences. They shared their observations and feelings, while also expressing their aversion to war and their longing for peace.

"You saw Su An?" Luo Yifei asked in surprise.

Ji Mi nodded. "It should be nothing serious, she might have been slightly injured. But with her strength, she should recover quickly."

"You mean she used the Xuan Tian Sword?" Shen Lixi asked seriously.

"Yes, when the Xuan Tian Sword was drawn, the world was astonished. Wherever the sword pointed, all submitted," Ji Mi said with emotion.

"This is a prophecy from the Xuan Tian Continent, you know about it too?" Shen Lixi asked in surprise.

“Yes, the Floating Life Continent has many ancient legends of demons and monsters. Now it seems that they should have come from the Profound Heaven Continent,” Dugu Xin said.

“We have collected many ancient legends from the Floating Life Continent, and we have reason to believe that most of the events described in these legends originated from the Xuan Tian Continent,” Chu Ji said.

“That’s right, the most believable thing is to collect all five divine artifacts and travel through the world,” Dugu Xin said.

"The Five Divine Artifacts." Luo Yifei's backpack contained six more divine artifacts. He was the last to pass through the tunnel, and he grabbed those artifacts and stuffed them into his bag. He never took them out again after that.

“Any magical artifact can become one of the Five Great Divine Artifacts. These artifacts will be called pseudo-divine artifacts, and the true divine artifacts have long since disappeared. Anyone who claims that their artifact is a true divine artifact is a fraud. What is needed to cross the tunnel is not to collect all five divine artifacts, but to collect the power of the five elements. However, the distance of this crossing is very limited because there are no longer any true divine artifacts in the world,” Shen Lixi said.

"So, according to you, the Xuan Tian Sword that Su An is using is also a pseudo-divine artifact?" Ji Mi asked.

“That’s right, there is only one true Xuantian Sword. But the Xuantian Sect and Xuantian Clan on the Xuantian Continent have nine Xuantian Swords. Do you think that’s normal?” Shen Lixi asked rhetorically.

"Have you been to the Xuan Tian Continent?" He Shi asked.

"I accidentally wandered in and was forced to stay there for three years." Shen Lixi didn't go into details, then changed the subject, "Let's not talk about that. I wonder how the negotiations between the various countries are going. Do you think they can reach an agreement?"

"I doubt it," Chu Ji sighed. "There are too many grudges between the countries of the Floating Life Continent. Reaching an agreement will probably require tremendous effort and sacrifice."

“That may be true, but someone has to try.” He Shihui stood up and looked at the bright moon outside the window. “But what they can’t get on the battlefield, they won’t get on their table either.”

“War is never the best way to solve problems.” Shen Lixi also stood up, walked to the window, and stood side by side with He Shihui. “But sometimes, it is the only way.”

A silence fell over the group, and the atmosphere in the hall grew heavy. They all knew the cruelty and ruthlessness of war, but they also knew that sometimes, only through war could a greater catastrophe be ended.

“It seems that the Tang Kingdom has not gained any benefits. On the contrary, in order to get other countries to recognize its position as the supreme ruler of the world, the Tang Kingdom will have to pay a heavy price. If that’s the case, even if the negotiations are successful, it will only achieve temporary peace,” Bi Li said, breaking the silence.

"A war is inevitable, but everyone feels they can't defeat other countries, so they haven't started yet," Chu Ji said earnestly.

Of everyone present, except for Dugu Xin, none of the others knew that he was the true ruler of Chu, and that the person currently in the Chu court was merely his double—the ninja known as Shadow.

"The world, after a long period of division, tends to unite; after a long period of unity, tends to divide. This is an unchanging truth throughout history." Shen Lixi sighed, turned around and walked back to her seat. "What we can do is try to delay this war as much as possible and minimize the losses it causes."

"Easier said than done." He Shihui shook his head with a wry smile. "We Jianghu people are actually powerless when it comes to matters of the imperial court."

“We may really be powerless to help, but the Sword Immortal Sect has sent people to participate,” Bi Li said.

“Yes, Fang Xiaocong of the fifth branch of the Sword Immortal Sect did participate, but that doesn’t mean our Sword Immortal Sect has any influence. On the contrary, if the Sword Immortal Sect wants to have a foothold in the Southern Han Kingdom, it must accept the court’s arrangements,” He Shihui replied.

"So, the only thing we can do is strengthen our own capabilities to prepare for any eventuality," Luo Yifei said.

“That’s right, strength is the only true measure of success.” Shen Lixi nodded. “Moreover, we can’t just focus on the present. There are still many unknown places and unsolved mysteries in this world. Perhaps in those places, we can find ways to change the status quo.”