Chapter 774

Chapter 774: Elder Yao

Wang Chen’s shock at this moment was beyond words.

Although he knew that many cultivators and demons from the Haotian Realm had entered the Misty Mountains Realm, according to the Qingqiu Fox Clan, most of these pioneers had perished within. The few who survived didn’t last long after escaping.

Yet here stood a potential survivor before him!

Could he be a disciple or descendant of some extraordinary practitioner?

But how could this person possibly guess his origins?

Moreover, was their encounter merely a coincidence?

A thousand thoughts raced through Wang Chen’s mind, leaving him momentarily stunned.

"Qianxing Immortal City…"

The plain-clothed elder’s face softened with nostalgia. "I visited once many years ago. Is the Huaman Building still there?"

"Uh…"

Wang Chen was at a loss for words.

Huaman Building was one of the most renowned entertainment venues in Qianxing Immortal City. It was said that the maidens there were not only stunningly beautiful but also highly skilled, making it a top-tier pleasure palace.

Wang Chen had never set foot in Huaman Building, but he had certainly heard of it.

The issue was that this ageless cultivator was inquiring about Huaman Building right off the bat, leaving Wang Chen both amused and bewildered. He didn’t know how to respond.

"Is it gone?"

The plain-clothed elder’s voice carried a hint of disappointment. "What a pity."

"It’s still there," Wang Chen quickly replied. "Senior, how long have you been in this realm?"

The elder paused, counting on his fingers, and then answered, "Almost three thousand years."

Three thousand years!

Wang Chen nearly choked on his own saliva—how was that possible!?

Although the Misty Mountains Realm was not entirely devoid of spiritual energy, it was not much different from the mundane world. Given the restrictions of the world’s rules, even a Nascent Soul true immortal could not survive long here, let alone live for three thousand years!

To put it in perspective, cultivators in this realm, particularly those in the extraordinary state or entry into the path, typically only had lifespans of two to three hundred years.

"You don’t believe me, do you?"

The plain-clothed elder sighed. "I was plotted against and ended up in this realm; I should have perished long ago. I just happened to have a reincarnation treasure on me at that time."

"Counting this life, it’s already my twelfth reincarnation!"

Wang Chen was astonished. "Is it really that incredible?"

The elder smiled wryly. "Incredible? What’s so incredible about it?"

This treasure could only be used once in the Haotian Realm, meaning it allowed him to reincarnate once.

However, in the Misty Mountains Realm, the plain-clothed elder had gone through a full twelve lifetimes!

Living for so long seemed like a great fortune, but in reality, each of these reincarnations felt more like a prison without hope to him.

For over two thousand years, the plain-clothed elder had exhausted every possible method to return to the Haotian Realm and had tirelessly sought the world’s essence of the Misty Mountains Realm, yet all his endeavors culminated in failure.

“Throughout these years, I have been in search of kindred spirits,”

the plain-clothed elder stated, “I dispersed all the magical artifacts I had brought with me, hoping that a newcomer might discover them.”

Each of these artifacts was imbued with a fragment of the elder’s divine sense. Once triggered, no matter the distance, he could sense it and trace its origin.

Regrettably, after more than two millennia, none of the artifacts he had deliberately scattered had been activated.

That was until a few days ago.

“The Wujimen Mirror belongs to you!”

Wang Chen’s mind became clear, and many of his questions were instantly resolved.

The plain-clothed elder smiled faintly, “Indeed, I am the true progenitor of Wujimen.”

Upon sensing the activation of the Wujimen Mirror, he immediately traversed great distances to Chibi City and stealthily entered Wang Chen’s dwelling.

He then located Wang Chen through the Wujimen Realm!

In fact, Wang Chen’s ability to locate himself through the Wujimen Realm was a mechanism prearranged by the plain-clothed elder!

Realizing this, Wang Chen felt a wave of relief; fortunately, the elder harbored no malice, or he would have been unaware of his demise!

He respectfully inquired, “May I know your esteemed name, venerable elder?”

“A man of misfortune need not mention his name,”

the plain-clothed elder waved dismissively, “You may call me Elder Yao.”

Wang Chen bowed, “I am Wang Chen, paying my respects to Elder Yao!”

This individual was a Nascent Soul true immortal, having resided in the Misty Mountains Realm for nearly three thousand years, and was worthy of his utmost reverence!

“No need for such formalities,”

Elder Yao clearly disregarded the disparity in their statuses, his address casual, “As fellow denizens of the celestial realm, I wish to seek your assistance!”

“By the way,” he asked, “how did you descend here?”

Wang Chen, of course, withheld nothing and recounted his experiences in detail to this Nascent Soul true immortal.

Elder Yao was momentarily stunned, “You mean the Inquiry Bell has been with the Qingqiu Fox Clan all this time?”

Wang Chen nodded, “To my knowledge, yes.”

“Now it all makes sense!”

Elder Yao exclaimed, “No wonder none of my artifacts have been activated all these years.”

When he was ensnared and fell into the Misty Mountains Realm, the Inquiry Bell was not in the possession of the Fox Clan. After the Fox Clan acquired this treasure, they would not permit human cultivators to enter and explore.

Even if the demons obtained the artifacts he had scattered, they could not activate them.

This resulted in Elder Yao’s schemes being entirely thwarted.

Until the emergence of Wang Chen as an anomaly!

The former Nascent Soul true immortal gazed at Wang Chen with a complex expression, “Time, fate, the Dao encompasses fifty aspects, and heaven devised forty-nine. One eludes among humans; it is the decree of destiny!”

He clapped his hands and collapsed to the ground, a relieved smile spreading across his wrinkled visage.

“Hahaha!”

Amidst his laughter, Elder Yao’s beard and hair transitioned from snowy white to jet black, his skin becoming smooth and delicate, and in an instant, he appeared decades younger, brimming with vitality.

Yet, this rejuvenation was ephemeral; in the next moment, the Nascent Soul true immortal rapidly aged and withered once more.

He fixed his gaze upon Wang Chen and uttered, “After three thousand years of great dreams, today I shall complete my reincarnation!”

As soon as he spoke, Elder Yao transformed into specks of light, silently dissipating into the air.

Under Wang Chen’s watchful eyes, these luminous dots swiftly coalesced into a pearl the size of a dragon’s eye, gently alighting in his palm.

Wang Chen felt as though he had just awakened from a dream; it all seemed surreal.

As he stood in a daze, a voice suddenly echoed in his Sea of Consciousness, “Wang lad, take this Reincarnation Pearl back to the Haotian Realm, and I shall bestow upon you a cave dwelling!”

Wang Chen immediately comprehended that Elder Yao had transmuted into a pearl, embedding a portion of his true spirit within it and entrusting his aspiration of returning to the Haotian Realm to him.

The urgency of this Nascent Soul true immortal was palpable; he must be confronting a situation that brooked no delay.

Wang Chen’s conjecture was accurate.

After twelve cycles of reincarnation, Elder Yao’s Reincarnation Pearl had depleted its power and could no longer aid him in continuing his reincarnations.

If this Nascent Soul true immortal did not entrust his true spirit while he still retained his magical prowess, he would soon face complete annihilation without the possibility of rebirth.

Wang Chen was his final hope!