Once, for Chen Yan, who was still in the outer court of the Kongshan Sect, just a small, marginal disciple, the Martial Spring Realm was a dream come true.
He could formally join the inner sect, enjoy more cultivation resources, his lifespan would become much longer, and he would become an existence envied and admired by the outer court disciples.
Then, in the Cangwu Residence on Qingchan Peak, he met Fu Qian.
Innate true energy swirled around him, and every single movement carried immense power.
Forget the Martial Spring Realm, even Qi Sea Realm or Spirit Connection Realm cultivators could be snuffed out by Fu Qian with just a single finger. That was the Myriad Transformations Realm.
And now, Chen Yan had also stepped into the Myriad Transformations Realm.
Yet, he still could do nothing.
Just how high must one's cultivation be to truly be considered high?
This question deeply troubled Chen Yan.
She was calling out to him for help.
But...
Chen Yan was very clear that Si Youyou would encounter no danger on Heavenly Summit Mountain.
But if there was a chance to meet again, the person he would likely see might no longer be Si Youyou.
"The value of the Heavenly Summit Mirror fragment is even greater than Jingchen's reincarnated body?"
Chen Yan spoke, asking Mr. You beside him.
"Jingchen is Jingchen. Once she breaks through to the Spirit Connection Realm, she will naturally be a person of Heavenly Summit Mountain."
Mr. You said.
"But the Heavenly Summit Mirror is different. You've already witnessed the mirror's ability within the Heavenly Summit Palace. It allows the present you to affect the past from over sixty thousand years ago."
"So, Realman Lingxuan wants the Heavenly Summit Mirror fragment for..."
Chen Yan seemed to think of something.
The Heavenly Summit Mirror could influence history; it was possible it could also influence the future.
Then, Realman Lingxuan could also use the Heavenly Summit Mirror to achieve some goals.
"Having an Immortal Ascension Realm cultivator affect things across the river of time is not something one-fifth of the Heavenly Summit Mirror can accomplish... It must be the complete mirror."
Mr. You said.
"What does Realman Lingxuan want to do with the Heavenly Summit Mirror?"
Chen Yan asked.
"The greatest possibility is naturally to prevent the destruction of Heavenly Summit Mountain, though there may be other purposes as well."
Mr. You replied.
Chen Yan thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"I believe the destruction of Heavenly Summit Mountain cannot be prevented."
"Oh?"
Mr. You cast a curious look in Chen Yan's direction.
"History is fixed. Everything that happens now is already set in stone... Even if one could return to over sixty thousand years ago, the most one could ultimately do is participate in history, not change history."
Chen Yan said.
Just like Li Haowen from over sixty thousand years ago and the projection of him that was observed.
One could only participate in the past, not change it.
Therefore, if Gu Jing could influence the past through the Heavenly Summit Mirror, then at most, he would merely be a participant in the past.
Just like the "grandfather paradox" Chen Yan had studied in his previous life.
The grandfather paradox was not a loophole; it proved history must be self-consistent. Any attempt to change the past would become part of the past itself.
"A very interesting theory."
Mr. You laughed.
"But the past can be changed. That is a fact I know, and it can be verified on you, can it not?"
Chen Yan suddenly felt a chill run down the back of his neck.
"According to the theory you just mentioned, if any attempt to change the past becomes part of the past... then what is it that corrects history?"
Mr. You continued to pose questions to Chen Yan.
"...Karmic Backlash."
Chen Yan answered.
"Clever!"
Mr. You praised him thus.
"Even with the complete Heavenly Summit Mirror, if Gu Jing wanted to change the past of Heavenly Summit Mountain's destruction, even an immortal would be easily crushed to death by the Karmic Backlash from the river of time, ultimately accomplishing nothing."
"...But, the Karmic Backlash from over sixty thousand years is now on me. So the past can be changed. The price is just... me."
Chen Yan said solemnly.
"Huh? Kid, when did your brain become so sharp?"
This time, Mr. You looked at Chen Yan with a genuinely curious expression.
"What does Mr. You think?"
Chen Yan asked.
"About what?"
"That I've reached this point today is also because of Mr. You's involvement..."
"Don't speak nonsense!"
Mr. You hurriedly interrupted Chen Yan's words.
"You were destined to reach this point sooner or later. All of this was your inevitable path. At most, I merely helped you avoid some detours."
"...What should I do next?"
Chen Yan asked.
"Even if no one touches the past, the eruption of over sixty thousand years of Karmic Backlash is an inevitability."
Mr. You said, then extended two fingers.
"You have two choices."
"What?"
"First, accept your fate. Find a remote, sparsely populated mountain valley to hide in. When the Karmic Backlash comes knocking, try not to implicate the innocent. Consider it accumulating some virtue in the shadows."
Mr. You said.
"And the other choice?"
"Throw this Karmic Backlash spanning over sixty thousand years... back."
...
Chenping Continent, Star Heaven Sect.
A cultivator wearing cyan-blue daoist robes, with long hair reaching her waist, walked along the path leading to the Night Weaving Gate.
A Star Heaven Sect token engraved with the four large characters "Moon Void Authority" hung at her waist. Her flawlessly exquisite features currently showed no expression whatsoever.
The youngest Myriad Transformations Realm cultivator in Star Heaven Sect's history, Qin Qingyu.
Ever since Gu Jiancheng entered seclusion, the many Grand Elders of Star Heaven Sect had all set their sights on this young disciple who had not yet entered the upper three realms.
The talent to ascend to immortality.
Up to this point, the talent Qin Qingyu had displayed was absolutely no less than that of Realman Star-Paying Respects and Realman Sun and Moon from the sect's history.
The talent to ascend to immortality.
Given enough time to cultivate and develop, stepping into the Immortal Ascension Realm was merely a matter of time.
But whether there would be enough time remained an unknown.
"Elder Qin!"
"Greetings, Elder Qin!"
The Night Weaving Gate cultivators nearby all bowed in salute towards Qin Qingyu's direction.
Even though Qin Qingyu's age was less than a fraction of some of these Night Weaving Gate cultivators.
The doors of the Enforcement Hall were wide open.
"Elder Qin."
The Enforcement Hall elder of the Night Weaving Gate hurriedly bowed towards Qin Qingyu.
Qin Qingyu nodded, then stepped into the Enforcement Hall.
Then, Qin Qingyu, who had just stepped into the Enforcement Hall, revealed a slightly astonished expression.
Corpses.
All corpses.
The corpses of Night Weaving Gate Enforcement Hall disciples.
"Thud!"
The Enforcement Hall doors behind her suddenly closed, followed by the slow footsteps of the Enforcement Hall elder.
"Fellow Daoist Xiao, you truly have immense nerve."
Qin Qingyu said softly, not even turning her head.