The massive battleship, comparable to a mountain, slowly ascended into the sky. Chen Changsheng stood on the deck, gazing in the direction of the Royal Dynasty.

Fifty years had passed in the blink of an eye, and the faces of old friends flashed through Chen Changsheng's mind once more.

The kind-hearted yet timid little monk, the clingy Ninth Senior Brother who always followed him around, the Third Senior Brother who was gravely injured.

And that little girl who always loved to call him "Brother Changsheng."

A myriad of emotions welled up in his heart, and an indescribable feeling appeared in Chen Changsheng's eyes.

At this moment, Zuo Xinghe walked over.

"Sir, what are you looking at?"

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Zuo Xinghe's words pulled Chen Changsheng back from his memories.

"Just looking at some old friends."

"But we're thirty thousand miles away from the Royal Dynasty. Can you really see them?"

"Old friends are in the heart; there's no need to see them with the eyes."

Hearing Chen Changsheng's words, Zuo Xinghe pondered for a moment but couldn't grasp Chen Changsheng's feelings.

Seeing this, Chen Changsheng smiled and patted his shoulder, saying, "Don't think too much about it. At this point in your life, you can't understand this feeling."

"When you've lived through long years and look back, you'll understand."

"You're a good kid, quite sharp too."

"Since we've met, I'll give you a twenty percent discount. When that day comes, I'll personally escort you to your grave."

Upon hearing this, Zuo Xinghe's face immediately fell.

He was only a hundred years old, technically just reaching adulthood. With Chen Changsheng's vast experience, he must have lived for over two hundred years. By that calculation, he should definitely go before Zuo Xinghe!

After silently grumbling to himself, Zuo Xinghe chuckled, "Thank you for your kind offer, sir, but let's hold off on the coffin for now."

To Zuo Xinghe's forced smile, Chen Changsheng merely gave him a faint glance before turning back to his room.

Even the mighty Left Emperor would face the end of his lifespan one day, and Zuo Xinghe was no exception.

Time, to him, was merely an insignificant matter.

......

Shangqing Temple.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Li Jinshui coughed violently, standing before eight graves.

These eight graves belonged to his former master and fellow disciples.

The once elegant Shangqing Temple had now fallen into disrepair, and the couplets written by Chen Changsheng had become somewhat blurred.

"Senior Brother, why are you here again?"

Song Yuanshan looked at the frail Third Senior Brother and couldn't help but voice his concern.

Hearing this, Li Jinshui smiled and said, "I should be the one saying that."

"You're now the head of Shangqing Temple, the renowned Unbeaten Daoist, and the defense against the Nightmoon Kingdom relies on you."

"If something happens to you, what will the others do?"

"And I'm just a man about to die. Even if the Nightmoon Kingdom finds me, there's nothing they can do."

Song Yuanshan fell silent at these words.

Back when Chen Changsheng left Shangqing Temple, he intended to bring back their master's bodies.

Time passed, and just as Song Yuanshan was about to give up, the long-absent Master Ikkyu returned.

Not only did he bring back the princess of the Nightmoon Kingdom, but he also brought back their master's bodies.

However, he did not bring Chen Changsheng back.

After a long pause, Song Yuanshan asked, "Senior Brother, do you think Brother Changsheng will return?"

"He will definitely return because he promised to bury me."

"Our junior brother is a man of his word. Whatever he says, he will do."

"Now that I'm about to die, it means he's coming back."

Saying this, Li Jinshui looked into the distance, as if he could already see that familiar figure.

Moments later, Li Jinshui leaned tiredly against the tombstone of the Primordial Spirit Master and waved his hand.

"Go on, you have many responsibilities. No need to stay with a dying man like me all the time."

"I'm about to meet our master, and I have so much to say to them."

"As for what happened in the Forbidden Zone of the Nightmoon Kingdom, give up on knowing the truth."

"Master Ikkyu won't tell you, and neither will Princess Wanyan."

"We've all agreed to take this secret to our graves."

Faced with the words of the Third Senior Brother, Song Yuanshan fell silent again, but he no longer pursued the truth as he once did.

Because as he grew older, Song Yuanshan understood that knowing the truth wasn't always a good thing.

After Song Yuanshan left, Li Jinshui caressed the tombstone of the Primordial Spirit Master and whispered.

"Master, how did a perfectly fine Shangqing Temple end up like this?"

"Is strength and longevity really worth everything?"

Saying this, Li Jinshui's eyes were filled with sorrow.

When Master Ikkyu returned, he had already revealed the entire truth to him.

Upon learning the truth, Li Jinshui couldn't accept the reality.

He couldn't accept that the kind Master Ancestor had killed their master and fellow disciples.

Yet the cruel reality wouldn't change just because someone couldn't accept it.

Helplessly, Li Jinshui and the others made a pact to never reveal this secret.

As for the Transcendent Realist of Shangqing Temple...

He had fallen shortly after the national war began.

......

On the battleship.

The massive battleship had been flying for a whole month, and by now, Chen Changsheng and his companions were getting closer to the Royal Dynasty.

As they drew nearer, Chen Changsheng received more news about the Royal Dynasty.

The Royal Dynasty had been completely occupied by the Nightmoon Kingdom, with only a few forces struggling to survive.

In addition, Chen Changsheng received other news.

For instance, the demon king of the Nightmoon Kingdom was killed by the "Funeral Escort," and the new head of Shangqing Temple was unmatched in fist technique, earning the title of Unbeaten Daoist.

"Sir, is this Funeral Escort really that formidable?"

"To silently kill a demon king within the demon clan's territory, you are from the Royal Dynasty."

"Nightmoon Kingdom borders the Royal Dynasty, have you heard of him?"

Zuo Xinghe analyzed the newly acquired intelligence, trying to understand the strength of their future enemy.

Seeing this, Chen Changsheng clicked his tongue and said, "I know the 'Funeral Escort,' but don't worry, he won't obstruct Xuanwu Nation."

Hearing Chen Changsheng's words, Zuo Xinghe immediately voiced his disagreement.

"Sir, that's not right. This person is mysterious and unpredictable."

"He might be a temperamental killer, otherwise why would he have such a grim nickname like 'Funeral Escort'?"

"It's necessary to be prepared."

"'Funeral Escort' is my nickname. How come I didn't know I was temperamental and a killer?"

Zuo Xinghe: ???