Hearing that name, the Third Senior Brother's eyes flickered, but he remained silent.
Chen Changsheng, however, continued cheerfully, reminiscing about the past.
"Moreover, you once investigated this matter in detail. You found that the Undertaker's first appearance was to bury the Blood Demon Patriarch a century ago."
"Besides that, the Undertaker also seems to have a deep connection with Zen Master Yixiu of the Heavenly Buddha Temple."
"Regarding all this, I just want to say: the Undertaker isn't as terrifying as you described. He's just a coffin seller."
Having said his piece, Chen Changsheng turned, waved his hand without looking back, and strode away.
Yuan Shan shouted after his retreating figure, "Brother Changsheng! Will you come back?"
"I made coffins for all of you. I'll return when it's time for you to use them."
With these words, Chen Changsheng vanished from sight.
Watching him leave, the Third Senior Brother felt a surge of complex emotions.
Truth be told, he had sensed something unusual about this junior brother ever since his arrival at Shangqing Temple.
He had noticed that time seemed to leave no mark on Changsheng.
While it was true that certain elixirs in the cultivation world could preserve eternal youth, the passage of years leaves traces not just on the body, but also on the heart.
A full decade had passed. The three-year-old Yuan Shan had grown into a thirteen-year-old youth. Everyone had changed in some way.
Yet, after ten years, Junior Brother Changsheng's eyes remained as clear and untroubled as the day he first arrived at Shangqing Temple.
At first, the Third Senior Brother had assumed Changsheng simply possessed an exceptionally serene state of mind.
But now, twenty years later, upon his return to Shangqing Temple, he found Changsheng's gaze unchanged – still as clear as ever.
Thinking of this, the Third Senior Brother let out a soft sigh. "Yuan Shan, in a few days, announce publicly that the last disciple accepted by Shangqing Temple has perished due to a Qi deviation."
"Why? Brother Changsheng is alive and well!"
"Just do as I say. Changsheng has his own path to walk. Shangqing Temple's bond with him has reached its end."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Shan fell silent for a moment, then finally nodded.
He had been brought to Shangqing Temple by their master at the age of three. Although he had entered a few months before Changsheng, technically making him the senior brother, he had always regarded Changsheng as an elder brother.
If possible, he truly didn't want to see Brother Changsheng leave. But no feast in this world lasts forever.
Seeing Yuan Shan's despondent mood, the Third Senior Brother patted his shoulder with his remaining hand.
"As the Grand Master often said, those who enter the Taoist path are often those with shallow karmic ties to the six emotions, yet they are also the ones who hold sentiment and righteousness most deeply."
"If others cannot understand him, we must."
...
Outside Shangqing Temple, Chen Changsheng looked up at the blue sky, then glanced at the cultivators retreating from the border, and smiled wryly.
"My face-loving Master..."
"In life, you cared so much about prestige. How could you ever rest, in death, so far from home in a foreign land?"
"Let your disciple bring you back."
"Consider it a final duty between master and student. This time, I won't charge you any spirit stones."
With that, Chen Changsheng set out on foot towards the former border.
The Great Qian Dynasty was defeated, and the areas ahead were engulfed in the aftermath of war. Yet, Chen Changsheng paid this no mind.
His goal was singular: to find the remains of those he once knew and grant them a proper burial.
...
"Humans entering the city must pay three copper coins!"
Two demon tribesmen blocked Chen Changsheng's path. Assessing their Qi Refining third-level cultivation, Chen Changsheng obediently handed over three copper coins.
After paying the fee, he entered the city without issue.
Sensing the faint, lingering spiritual power within the city walls, Chen Changsheng murmured to himself, "Concealing my cultivation was the right choice."
"Even a small city like this has a Golden Core expert stationed here. How did the Kingdom of Nocturnal Moon become so powerful so suddenly?"
Pondering this question, Chen Changsheng found an inn and settled in.
For this journey to retrieve the bodies, he had chosen not to fly on his sword nor to travel using spiritual energy. Instead, he adopted the most primitive method: walking, step by step.
The areas he needed to reach were now occupied by the Nocturnal Moon Kingdom. A Human Golden Core cultivator flying brazenly across the sky would be far too conspicuous.
His cautious approach proved wise.
As he drew closer to the Nocturnal Moon territory, Chen Changsheng began to understand why the Great Qian Dynasty had been so thoroughly defeated.
The number of demon tribe cultivators was staggering.
Foundation Establishment cultivators were everywhere. Golden Core experts were a common sight. Nascent Soul realm masters could be encountered every few days.
Faced with such overwhelming numbers, it was no wonder the Great Qian Dynasty had lost.
After briefly reflecting on the stark difference between the two nations, Chen Changsheng ordered some local specialty dishes, planning to enjoy a meal before continuing his journey.
However, his plan to savor the food was interrupted by a conversation between two demon tribesmen at a nearby table.
"Did you hear? Our Demon King's daughter is holding a public contest to choose a husband. Anyone above the Foundation Establishment stage can participate."
"Of course I heard. But what does that have to do with us?"
"Our King is from the noble Silvermoon Wolf Tribe. Do you think we have any chance of becoming his son-in-law?"
"Whether we qualify or not, it would still be worth going to see the spectacle!"
"I heard the Fox Tribe prepared a Nascent Soul realm puppet as a congratulatory gift!"
"A Nascent Soul realm puppet? You must be joking."
"Why would I lie? The Fox Tribe obtained that puppet from Phoenix Mountain."
"They mobilized three late-stage Nascent Soul ancestors just to kill that cultivator!"
Hearing this, Chen Changsheng couldn't help but sigh under his breath.
"Master..."
"It took me five years to walk here, and the moment I arrive, you present me with such a monumental problem."
"The Fox Tribe is one of the most powerful clans in the Nocturnal Moon Kingdom. How am I supposed to retrieve you from their hands?"
"I can't possibly fight them all by myself!"
Faced with this dilemma, Chen Changsheng scratched his head in frustration.
Suddenly, a brilliant, albeit wild, idea sparked in his mind.
"The Fox Tribe is a powerful clan in the Nocturnal Moon Kingdom. The Demon King of Nocturnal Moon is the Silvermoon Wolf King. What if... I became the Silvermoon Wolf King's son-in-law?"
"Would that give me a chance to request the puppet from the Fox Tribe?"
"The idea sounds absurd... but in theory, it seems possible!"
He muttered to himself, and the more he thought about it, the more feasible the plan seemed.
...
Nocturnal Moon Kingdom, Royal Palace.
"Your Majesty! The Princess has fled the palace!"
"Then send people to find her at once! If a single hair on my daughter's head is harmed, I will have your heads!"
A commanding voice thundered. Instantly, the entire palace erupted into chaos.
Meanwhile, on a mountainside outside the royal city, a spirited young woman stuck her tongue out in the direction of the distant capital.
"Meh!"
"If you're so keen on marriage, go marry him yourself!"
"This young lady wants no part of it!"