This was a development Chen Yan had never anticipated.
Gazing at the great power of the Immortal Ascension Realm who could overturn the entire Chenping Continent in an instant, sitting before a simple tea stall in this rundown small town, and at the shimmering orb of intertwined deep black and bright white light in his hand, Chen Yan's mind was struck by an extremely surreal sense of déjà vu.
It was completely different from the progression of the previous cycle of reincarnation.
Between these two cycles, the only change Chen Yan had made was not directly going into Shengyuan Mountain to search for True Person Minghua's Dao Basis. Instead, he had chosen to first go to Wind Ravine Valley to obtain a few Nine Revolutions Chaos Heaven Tempering Meridian Pills. This would allow him to more comfortably use the Immortal Qi derived from the Great Derivation Art to deal with the Eighth Realm Great Demon within the mountain.
This was Chen Yan's original plan.
But when he returned to the small town near Shengyuan Mountain again, Kong Yang was already waiting for him here.
"True Person Kong."
Chen Yan took two more steps forward, then spoke to Kong Yang, who was cradling Minghua's Dao Basis in his palm.
"Give me an explanation."
"Why exactly did you go to Wind Ravine Valley?"
Facing this question from Kong Yang, Chen Yan dared not relax his guard in the slightest.
"Could it be that I am not allowed to go?"
However, none of the tension in his heart showed on his face. Chen Yan just smiled and replied quite casually, shifting his gaze to the Dao Basis in Kong Yang's palm.
"A while ago, you told me that Ancestor Xie's Dao Basis lies deep within Shengyuan Mountain. If I wanted to search for it, I should go to the Demon-Slaying Sword Sect to borrow a map."
Chen Yan said this,
"I did as you instructed, and today I was prepared to enter the mountain to seek Ancestor Xie's Dao Basis. I wonder, what is your purpose in being here today?"
Li Haowen stood to the side like a mere underling.
He had originally thought Chen Yan was working for Patriarch Kong. But judging from the conversation between Chen Yan and Patriarch Kong, the two didn't seem to have a simple superior-subordinate relationship.
It seemed like they were testing each other.
Upon hearing this, Kong Yang's expression remained impassive. He said nothing, merely extending his left hand a bit further towards where Chen Yan stood.
"Take it."
Chen Yan said nothing and remained standing still.
He didn't know what calculations were running through Kong Yang's mind.
"You won't even take it if it's given to you?"
Kong Yang merely raised an eyebrow slightly. Seeing Chen Yan still had no reaction, he gave his left hand a light flick. The orb of intertwined deep black and bright white light in his palm flew towards Chen Yan.
Chen Yan instinctively caught the Minghua Dao Basis that Kong Yang tossed over. The moment he touched it, the true qi in all his meridians instantly congealed, becoming like thick mud.
Immediately after, Chen Yan's entire cultivation was completely suppressed by the Dao Basis of True Person Minghua in his hand. He couldn't sense the existence of any true qi at all.
Suppressed by the Immortal Ascension Dao Basis, Chen Yan was just a mere mortal.
Just like when he had come into contact with Realman Star-Paying Respects's Dao Basis back in the Southern Region.
"..."
Chen Yan stared at the orb of intertwined deep black and bright white light in his hand.
He saw Kong Yang casually lift a finger. Several pale cyan chains appeared above Chen Yan's palm, encircling the Minghua Dao Basis he held.
In an instant, a torrential surge of true qi erupted once more from his Martial Spring, roaring through Chen Yan's meridians.
"I have already placed a seal on the Dao Basis in your hand."
Kong Yang said calmly,
"If you wish to break it, simply pour your true qi into the seal."
"...Why?"
Chen Yan finally couldn't help but ask.
He could understand that Kong Yang, through divining the secrets of heaven, or perhaps from his actions of going to Wind Ravine Valley, might have discerned something.
Because Chen Yan, who had now experienced who knows how many cycles of reincarnation, though he still considered his own intellect rather average, had such a wealth of experience of being screwed over to death that it was enough to make him a qualified "fox." Given sufficient information, he could see through the vast majority of schemes in this world.
But he still couldn't figure it out.
Chen Yan completely failed to understand why Kong Yang's attitude would change so drastically after his return from Wind Ravine Valley.
He had originally wanted to use the Eighth Realm Great Demon within Shengyuan Mountain to kill him.
But now, he was actively delivering True Person Minghua's Dao Basis directly into his hands.
No matter how he thought about it, it made one feel uneasy.
"This is also part of the transaction I made with that person."
Kong Yang said indifferently.
"Is that so?"
Chen Yan certainly didn't believe it, but he wouldn't press further either.
Because the purpose of this trip was to obtain an Immortal Ascension Dao Basis as a credential to enter Fusheng City.
Perhaps Mr. You was maneuvering behind all of this.
Chen Yan didn't know what that reincarnated Immortal Ascension being, who had spent a long time with him yet remained mysterious, was actually plotting.
In fact, ever since the day he escaped from the Star Heaven Sect's mine, Mr. You's presence could be found in every major event Chen Yan had experienced.
According to Mr. You, he had been to Fusheng City nine times.
Perhaps he could uncover Mr. You's secrets within Fusheng City.
"It's time to set off."
Kong Yang said,
"You obtaining a Dao Basis from an Immortal Ascension Realm cultivator will undoubtedly be seen as a threat by Lingxuan and Jingchen. Before they find you, go and do what you should do."
Chen Yan first stared in Kong Yang's direction, as if pondering something.
Two breaths later, he respectfully bowed towards Kong Yang and said,
"I thank True Person Kong."
Immediately after, Chen Yan did not linger any longer. With a flash of his figure, he vanished from the small town near Shengyuan Mountain.
"..."
Sitting before the tea stall, Kong Yang toyed with the plain, commonplace porcelain teacup in his hand, then took a small sip of the low-quality tea within.
In this desolate border region of the Qingque Kingdom, in the small towns around Shengyuan Mountain, naturally there was no good tea to be found.
"You are called Li Haowen, correct?"
Kong Yang's face remained expressionless as he spoke lightly.
"Yes, Patriarch Kong."
Li Haowen replied respectfully.
"I've seen you before, back at Yuanhua Mountain. At that time, you were still Yuanhua Mountain's chief disciple."
Kong Yang said.
Upon hearing this, Li Haowen was slightly taken aback, then his mind began racing.
He remembered.
One year after the Heavenly Summit Mountain Cataclysm ended, not long after Chen Yan awoke from his coma, he had come to Yuanhua Mountain once.
And at that time, the instructor from Qingchan Peak who accompanied him was Patriarch Kong's reincarnated body.
Lu Li.
"Yes."
Li Haowen didn't say more, merely acknowledging with that single word.
"I know your master, Wei Mian, was wrongly accused."
Kong Yang said calmly,
"As for who exactly pushed your master out to be the scapegoat, Chen Yan has already told you, hasn't he?"
"Yes."
Before this great power of the Immortal Ascension Realm, Li Haowen seemed capable of only uttering this one word.
Kong Yang sat before the tea stall in silence.
A few breaths later, he stood up, leaving Li Haowen with only one final sentence:
"Come to Qingchan Peak and take charge of the Enforcement Hall."