Seeing Chen Changsheng lost in thought, Qingfeng assumed he was worried about the war between the two nations and immediately smiled reassuringly. "Don't dwell on it. Only Golden Core stage cultivators are qualified to participate in such a national war. By the time you reach the Golden Core stage, the war will likely be long over. The Wuliang Secret Realm is about to open. Hurry and go in with your Senior Brother Yuanshan."
With that, Qingfeng gently pushed Chen Changsheng and Yuanshan forward. At that moment, the three top-tier cultivation sects of the Great Qian Empire—Tianfo Temple, Linglong Sect, and Shangqing Temple—joined forces to open the seal of the Wuliang Secret Realm. A deep, dark vortex instantly appeared on the altar platform. Those pre-selected to enter were immediately sucked into the black vortex.
...
After a dizzying spin through space, Chen Changsheng and Yuanshan found themselves in a sea of flowers.
Looking at their surroundings, Yuanshan tugged on Chen Changsheng's sleeve. "Junior Brother Changsheng, where is this?"
Faced with his somewhat timid Ninth Senior Brother, Chen Changsheng couldn't help but smile wryly. Before he had arrived at Shangqing Temple, there were nine inner disciples. Each had their own specialized skills and unique personality. This Ninth Senior Brother of his was famously timid within Shangqing Temple, partly because he was only thirteen years old this year. Despite his youth, his talent was remarkable—a dual Spirit Root of Water and Fire.
"Senior Brother Yuanshan, you're at the mid Foundation Building stage. You really shouldn't be so timid."
Hearing this, Yuanshan wore a pained expression. "Big Brother Changsheng, you know me. I was brought to Shangqing Temple by Master when I was three. Every day, it's just cultivation, cultivation, and more cultivation. How could I possibly know as much about the outside world as you do?"
Chen Changsheng grinned. "Then, will you listen to me?"
"Of course, I'll listen to you! I was even the lookout when you went to steal Master's Lightning-Struck Wood!"
"Good that you'll listen. Then, let's start picking flowers now."
"Picking flowers?" Yuanshan's face was full of confusion at this request.
"Big Brother Changsheng, why are we picking flowers?"
"To make wine! This should be the Hundred Flower Sea within the Wuliang Secret Realm, where flowers from all four seasons can grow. I read in an ancient text about an immortal brew called Hundred Flower Wine. The ingredients require fresh flowers from all four seasons. The conditions were too苛刻 (demanding), so I've never been able to make it. Now is a heaven-sent opportunity!"
Watching Chen Changsheng squat down and begin collecting petals, Yuanshan scratched his head. "But Master sent us in to find our opportunities. If we're just here picking flowers to make wine, how will we explain it to Master when we get out?"
"According to the Wuliang Secret Realm map I found, thirty li east from here, there's a ruined ancient bronze palace. That palace holds the kind of opportunity you're talking about, but it requires passing a trial to obtain it. I know this information, but others certainly do too. So, you have two choices before you. First, go to the Bronze Ancient Palace, take the trial, and fight it out with disciples from other sects. Second, stay here with me, make Hundred Flower Wine. Master and Third Senior Brother both love good wine. Presenting them with Hundred Flower Wine should spare us any serious punishment."
Faced with Chen Changsheng's choices, Yuanshan tilted his head in thought for a moment, then squatted down and joined in the flower picking.
...
Time passed bit by bit. The many geniuses who had entered the Wuliang Secret Realm were desperately searching for opportunities, fighting until they were bloody over them. In contrast, Chen Changsheng and Yuanshan lived a leisurely and carefree life. In the morning, they picked petals still wet with dew. At noon, they lay in the flower sea gazing at the sky. In the afternoon, they worked on recreating the Hundred Flower Wine according to the ancient method. Their lifestyle stood in stark contrast to that of the other cultivators who had come here.
"Big Brother Changsheng, come quick, look at this!"
Yuanshan's call made Chen Changsheng lift his head from the flowers. He saw Yuanshan waving excitedly, as if he had discovered something.
"What is it?" Chen Changsheng walked over and asked instinctively.
Yuanshan pointed at the ground. "Big Brother Changsheng, there's a stone slab with patterns here."
Hearing this, Chen Changsheng squatted down, gently brushed away the loose soil, and indeed found a stone slab carved with intricate patterns. Tracing the lines with his fingers, Chen Changsheng frowned. "This thing seems quite large. Let's dig it out and see."
With that, the two junior brothers began digging. After an hour of hard work, a massive stone outer coffin appeared before them. Strange characters were carved on the top of the coffin.
Yuanshan examined them carefully. "Big Brother Changsheng, what script is this? I can't understand it."
"Of course you can't. This is a script from two thousand years ago."
"Ah! Two thousand years! The Great Qian Empire was only established eighteen hundred years ago. This coffin is from before the Great Qian Empire?"
"Be quiet! I've only seen some of these characters in ancient texts. There are some I don't recognize either. Let me think carefully."
Hearing Chen Changsheng's words, Yuanshan immediately covered his mouth with his hands and stood obediently in place.
An hour passed. Chen Changsheng wiped the sweat from his brow and said, "So that's what it is. We've really hit the jackpot."
Seeing that Chen Changsheng finally spoke, Yuanshan hurriedly asked, "Big Brother Changsheng, what does it say?"
"A person's life summary."
"I cultivated from a young age. At eighteen, I fought 3,981 battles, won 756, lost 3,225."
"At eighty, I fought 4,498 battles, won 1,325, lost 3,173."
"At two hundred, I fought 1,680 battles, won 985, lost 695." (Note: Corrected minor arithmetic inconsistency: 1680 - 985 = 695, not 780)
"At five hundred, I fought 130 battles, won 115, lost 15."
"At one thousand, I fought nine battles and won nine. Suddenly looking back, I found no rivals left under heaven."
"Alas! In my life, I sought a worthy opponent but could not find one. Truly, the loneliness is unbearable."
"I once found a cave heaven intending to live out my days in solitude, but upon further reflection, I chose another place, unwilling to let my legacy die with me."
"I specifically bury this stone coffin beneath the sea of flowers. The path of longevity is long; only the sincere of heart may obtain it."
Chen Changsheng finished reciting the text on the stone coffin in one breath.
Yuanshan's jaw was now hanging open in astonishment. "Big Brother Changsheng, this person was incredible! He fought so many battles in his lifetime! But why did he fight less and less as time went on?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Chen Changsheng replied. "As the years passed, there were fewer and fewer people left who were qualified to face him in battle! Those nine battles when he was a thousand years old must have been earth-shattering conflicts. 'Nine battles, nine victories' – though just four simple characters, they cannot hide his excitement. Those nine battles were undoubtedly the most satisfying fights of his entire life."