Chapter Twenty: Today, Several Monuments Erected by Predecessors Serve as Objects of Ridicule

"Old man, how are you so incredible... Teach me, won’t you? Let’s discuss it together," Xue Xiaoyu chased after Jiang Ruhai, saying.

Jiang Ruhai kept his usual smiling face, watering the vegetables as he replied, "What’s so incredible about it? I’ve just lived a bit longer, that’s all."

"So, is it the secret art of Mount Li?"

"There’s no such thing as a secret art from Mount Li."

"Then how are you so amazing? Don’t try to tell me you were born this way."

"Of course not. I just spend my days planting vegetables, tending flowers. It’s all thanks to Mount Li."

"Nonsense. I’ve been here for two days, and Mount Li hasn’t given me anything!"

"Because you haven’t planted vegetables or tended flowers."

Xue Xiaoyu was instantly at a loss for words. After a moment, he complained again, "Why hasn’t Wu Yue come back yet? A pile of things, I can’t even tell if they’re words or pictures—what’s so interesting about that?"

......

Behind Mount Li.

Dozens of stone tablets stood in dense rows, each with different colors and forms. Wu Yue stood among them, face alight with excitement. The so-called "scribbles" on the tablets—Wu Yue could actually understand! Because they were standard Chinese characters.

"So boring, so boring. Just jotting a diary entry for fun on these. I, the first generation sect master of Mount Li, am now invincible in nature, and it seems I’m close to immortal as well. Truly a world that defies logic. If this were Earth, those so-called legends like Superman, Iron Man, Batman, whatever—give me a whole train of them, will you? Still, it’s really boring. I wonder which country won the most gold medals in the 3636 Olympics. I wish I could go home."

Wu Yue’s heart trembled. Without doubt, the first generation sect master of Mount Li was an Earthling! Yet he came from the year 3636...

Wu Yue continued reading along the stone tablets...

"The one above—invincible, you say? Don’t make me laugh. Someone like you, I could flatten with a single punch. Claiming to be invincible, aren’t you ashamed? If you’re so mighty, why haven’t you killed that giant bug outside the realm? Looks like the job’s left to me. And after all these years, you still have a bunch of League of Legends champions hanging around? What a disappointing development—I worry for Earth’s culture.

"Lastly, a bit of advice: the golden finger is dangerous, use it with caution. But if you’ve already been almost completely absorbed by the golden finger, then it’s game over. And if you’ve been assimilated, you probably can’t see these words anyway. Well, I’m just bored. By the way, I’m the second generation sect master of Mount Li, from Earth’s year 2100."

Wu Yue grew silent and read on.

"The previous two are shameless, leaving such a huge mystery. One from 3636, one from 2100. Absolutely outrageous. Of course, I could explain, oh, but I forgot—these things touch upon the laws within the realm, which can’t be revealed in this world. What a pity. But you could try; there’s a thunderstorm gift pack waiting if you do. All right, I’m the third generation sect master of Mount Li, speaking for myself."

"What are those guys even talking about, rambling on with nothing useful. Successors, let me give you some practical advice. Those three tablets before you, they’re all made of the finest stellar stone. If you pull them out and forge them into treasures, you can smash anyone you want—imagine the thrill! Out of friendship, I’ll provide a forging technique. I haven’t named it yet, but it’s definitely powerful! The instructions follow below."

Wu Yue committed the purely textual method to memory. If it had been drawn as diagrams, it would have been more direct, but this person insisted on using words.

"I’m the fifth in line—bah, I’m the fifth generation sect master of Mount Li. As usual, leaving no name. Also, the fourth generation’s forging method is way too complicated. When I was transcending the mundane, I saw that technique! Totally unusable—there isn’t enough spiritual energy in the body. Oh, and the main founder left such a massive treasure here without a word? Made me waste over a hundred years before I suddenly figured it out. So, I’m not saying much either!"

......

"The names of the predecessors echo throughout the realms, even in death their deeds are sung for ages. As a woman, I offer my congratulations. Though I am but a mere woman, I refuse to fall behind—tomorrow shall be the day I attain enlightenment!"

"Miss above, I calculated—if we were only a century closer in time, we might have met. This is the first thing I wanted to say when I saw your words, but back then I didn’t have the power to leave a mark here. Now, I’ve finally fulfilled that old wish.

"In the blink of an eye, a thousand years have passed. When I first saw these stone tablets, I just wanted a peaceful life, wherever it might be. But that bug has messed with me time and again—does it really think I, the Celestial King, am made of clay?"

......

"I realize the discussion is getting more and more off track. Writing a diary is such a hassle. I, the king, have invented a notebook! From now on, whatever happens, I’ll record it, though who knows how much will survive. Pity. I had so many benefits to leave for later generations, but in the end, I decided not to, to make your lives more interesting. I’m just too considerate."

Wu Yue counted—this was already the ninth stone tablet. According to Jiang Ruhai, records state that Mount Li has existed for more than seven thousand years. From this stone tablet onward, seven thousand years had already passed! And those before, when they arrived, the time on Earth was all different—just what was going on?

"Do not look only at the elegance left inscribed on these stones—some died unremembered, unknown to the world. May someone break free of shackles, and walk the great path freely. Life and death are my joy.

"I have been in this world for over thirteen centuries, invincible here for six hundred years, yet stuck at the threshold between heaven and man for three centuries. I declared none could stand against me, yet heaven itself blocked my path. Now I step forward, sword raised to the sky. Life or death, it matters not."

"The above is still in traditional script—what dynasty is this from? I was going to leave some secret art or ultimate technique, but seeing as everyone wants you to strive and grow on your own, I won’t play the villain either. Do your best. If you lack strength, best not take on Mount Li’s mess, a cursed place that’s a headache just to think about. Oh, and if any of you manage to return to Earth, remember to scatter my belongings there—preferably at some famous historic sites. The things are buried under this tablet. Time’s nearly up; to think I’ll die so soon—well, it’s not too regretful."

Wu Yue stepped back to the final stone tablet.

"My name is Shenwu. Now I may return, yet have not. Thus, I move Mount Li and leave this world."

Able to return, yet did not? What had happened?

One stone tablet after another, each inscribed with a few casual words, some separated by centuries, others by over a thousand years. Yet now, it felt as if a few friends were chatting together, yesterday and today.

A profound shock, but even more so, endless confusion.

What had truly happened? How did they come here? Some arrived from over three thousand years ago, others from two thousand years ago, still others from ancient times! Did they all come from the same Earth?

What were these heavens, these realms? Who was the enemy? After all these years, what was it that drew them so desperately to return to Earth? Was it only homesickness?

That last person clearly could have returned—so why didn’t he? And why did Mount Li move here in the first place?

Stone tablets large and small, some with elegant, others with bold script. Yet all radiated a fierce spirit—facing the heavens, unyielding! Even after countless ages, Wu Yue seemed to see each tablet transform into a person: beautiful, handsome, refined...

Unconsciously, Wu Yue became utterly absorbed. Suddenly, mysterious auras began to emanate from the stone tablets, and strange symbols flew forth from them. Mount Li, once barren, no longer seemed so—an overwhelming vitality burst forth from within!

What were these secrets? What was it you all sought?

Wu Yue felt as if his heart had become boundless—stretching out his hand, he could touch the sky; with a single thought, countless ages and changes swept before him...