Chapter One: Heartbreak

  Chapter One: The Broken Heart

  At that time, the politics of the world were prosperous and bright, the people lived in peace and happiness, and the divine state was full of auspicious signs everywhere, gradually forming a prosperous atmosphere.

  There was a famous city called Luoyang, because it is located in the central plains of China, with rich products and no war or natural disasters for a long time, the population gradually increased. After several expansions, Luoyang became more prosperous, and seemed to surpass the capital Chang'an. Therefore, over a hundred years ago, Luoyang was designated as the Eastern Capital by the founding emperor Gaozu, and it continued to flourish from then on.

  In the city of Luoyang, there is a long street called Changting Street. At the eastern end of the street, there is a narrow alley called Tongchuan Alley. The alley has high walls and deep courtyards, with bluestone pavement, giving off an atmosphere of solemnity. The people living in Tongchuan Alley are either wealthy or noble, all being prominent families in Luoyang City. As such, this deep alley actually only has a mere five households.

  It was the height of summer, with not a cloud in the sky. The scorching sun seemed to be burning the stone road surface so hot that it was about to smoke. At the entrance of the alley, several weeping willows hung their heads listlessly, their branches straight down, without a single movement.

  It was just noon, the time when wealthy families took their afternoon rest. The entire Tongchuan Alley was empty and quiet, without a single soul in sight. Only the cicadas' chirping broke the stillness of the afternoon.

  In a house at the entrance of Tongkuan Alley, behind two black-lacquered copper doors that were tightly closed, lay a cool and refreshing world. The corridors between the buildings were filled with a gentle breeze that carried a soothing coolness, completely unlike the scorching heat outside the gate. Inside the mansion, there was a waterside pavilion and a song stage, intricately carved beams and painted rafters; the towers and pavilions were layered, the corridors winding, truly an extraordinary sight. In the courtyard, every vase and chair seemed to be either exceptionally beautiful or had some special origin, inviting scrutiny. Take for example those several pieces of artificial hill rocks, which were actually drippy stones from the shores of the South Sea; not to mention that these drippy stones themselves were worth a thousand gold coins, just transporting them over thousands of mountains and rivers to Luoyang was already quite costly.

  It's not just these, but the purple tiger roaring at the moon on the inner wall of the gate, the floating dragon carving in the center of the stone steps in the courtyard, or the four bronze dragon turtles on the roof of the main building, are all decorations that ordinary people can't have. Especially the purple tiger and the touring dragon, which are patterns that only the imperial family can use.

  The front and back of the house are divided into four sections, connected by corridors on both sides. Between each section, there are two hanging flower doors on either side, with plum blossoms, orchids, bamboos, and chrysanthemums, pines, maples, and lotus flowers, each with its own unique shape, not a single one is the same. The servants and maidservants hurry back and forth, all of them light-footed and soft-spoken, as if afraid of disturbing the master's afternoon nap. In the households of the wealthy, rules and regulations are strict, and from these manifestations of the servants, one can see a glimpse of this. Who dares to take an extra step or say half a word more?

  In the backyard, there is another courtyard hidden behind a bamboo grove. The gate of the courtyard has three characters "Ting Mo Ge" (Pause Ink Pavilion) inscribed on it. On the gate, there is a couplet:

  The fragrance of ink lingers on the walls, a window of autumn water surrounds me and flies away.

  Its quiet place has another wonderful world.

  At this moment, the main house door opened slightly, and a young man dressed as a book boy flashed out, rushing towards the Stopping Ink Pavilion. As soon as he entered the door, he eagerly called out: "Young Master! Young Master!"

  The study facing the courtyard was a room where a young man in his late teens sat upright, wearing a plain white robe with sleeves and hem embroidered with auspicious clouds and pine branches. A silk cord made of five-colored threads held a transparent, warm, and dust-repelling jade pendant at his waist. His feet were clad in thick-soled boots with cloud-shaped soles, giving off an air of elegance and refinement. He was indeed a refined young man, a handsome young master. Beside him burned a censer of dragon's saliva incense, and he held an ancient scroll, intently studying it. Suddenly, the sound of the study servant calling from outside startled him, causing his hand to tremble and nearly drop the book. He quickly opened a drawer and hid the book he had been reading inside, then grabbed an official history book from the table and began to read it with feigned interest.

  The servant boy had just called out twice when he rushed into the house, saw the young man with his head buried in reading, and laughed: "Young master! Now there are two great news, you can have a quiet day, don't need to look at these boring things anymore!"

  The young man immediately stood up and said: "Really? What's going on? Tell me quickly, tell me quickly!"

  The book boy leaned in close to the young man and lowered his voice, saying: "I just passed by the main house and overheard Madame and Princess Consort of Luoyang talking about old master's trip to the capital. It seems that he has gained the favor of Emperor Xuanzong and will be retained in the capital for reappointment. This is the first piece of good news. The second piece of good news is that since Chang'an and Luoyang are far apart, it would take at least half a month to travel back and forth, so old master won't be able to come back often to supervise your studies."

  The young man's face lit up with joy, but immediately realized that he couldn't show his emotions, especially since his father was about to leave on a trip. As the son of the family, how could he be so happy? So he straightened his face and said: "Is this true? I'll go ask my mother about it. If you dare to deceive me, see how I'll deal with you using our family's rules!"

  The book boy was startled and quickly pulled the young master, begging: "Young master! With this question, Madam will certainly know that I am talking too much. At that time, it's a small matter to be punished at home, but if I'm driven out of the mansion, then I won't be able to serve you anymore."

  The young man hesitated for a moment, knowing that his wife was always meticulous and would certainly punish the book boy if she asked him. He had always liked the book boy's cleverness and careful handling of matters, so he suppressed the anxiety in his heart and prepared to slowly probe further.

  Just then, a clear and crisp sound of a bell ringing came from outside the pavilion: "Third brother, what makes you so happy?" Before the voice had fallen, a young girl flashed in from outside, with her hair tied up in a low bun, lightly touched with rouge, wearing a tight-fitting jacket, with thin silk sleeves rolled up, revealing arms like scallions and fingers like water chestnuts. It was none other than Xishi who had not yet met Fan Li, Diao Chan who was innocent of worldly affairs, and Liu Ru who had not yet fallen into the dust of the world. She lifted her skirt and ran quickly, and in an instant she rushed to the young man's desk.

  The young man was shocked, stretched out his hand to pick up the things on the table, but before he could react, she rushed to the front of the table. For a moment, his hand stopped in mid-air, neither advancing nor retreating, feeling quite embarrassed.

  The book boy saw the young girl, his face changed slightly, and he immediately bowed and smiled: "Seventh Miss, how did you come?"

  The girl stared at the book boy and sneered, "Medicine! As long as you're around, nothing good will happen. Are you instigating Third Brother to do something bad again?"

  The servant's face changed greatly as he forced a smile and said, "Seventh Miss is joking, how dare I? I'm just taking a look to see if Young Master has any instructions."

  The girl hummed and ignored the book boy, picked up the book that was spread out on the young man's desk, saw it was an official corrected history, threw it together, walked around to the young man's side, pulled open his drawer, and took out the book the young man had just studied, apparently familiar with the young man's temperament.

  The girl waved the ancient scroll in her hand and said, "The Purple Mansion Golden Elixir Secret? Third brother, you didn't listen to uncle's orders again, and you're reading these inexplicable things! Be careful of demonic obstruction, blocking your seven orifices."

  The young man frowned and argued: "Qingyang Zhenren was the protector of the country, personally appointed by the great-grandfather emperor. The 'Purple Mansion Golden Elixir Secret' he wrote with his own hand can only open up one's mind and wisdom. How could it block the seven orifices? Father, you are getting old and muddle-headed, and you are also talking nonsense like this!"

  The young lady gently placed the ancient scroll on the table and said, "Third Brother, don't blame me for not reminding you that in three days, Old Master Ximen will be inspecting your studies. If you can't pass, when Uncle returns, at the very least, you'll be confined to the house for a month and won't be allowed out."

  The young man smiled and said: "It's just reciting three volumes of Tai Zong Ben Ji, it won't take me half an hour."

  The girl hummed and suddenly smiled shallowly: "I know, under the heaven, only third brother is the smartest."

  Originally, the young man's surname was Luo, his name was Feng, and he was styled Cong Long. He would be eighteen years old in another month. Seventh Miss Luo Xicen was not yet sixteen years old and was not a biological sister of Luo Feng, but rather the niece of Luo Feng's mother, Yang Madame. The Luo family had a long history, his father Luo Renhe was famous for his literary talent and was currently serving as an official in Luoyang, where he was on good terms with King Li Chong of Luoyang. His sister, Imperial Consort Luo, was also favored by the current Emperor Xuanzong, so the family's fortunes were rising day by day. This time, Luo Renhe had come to the capital for a high-ranking position, although it had not yet been officially announced, but it would certainly be a prominent and substantial vacancy.

  When the baby was born, there were strange signs in the sky. A white cloud gathered above the government office building during the day, and a purple lightning bolt and a green lightning bolt swirled around each other as they descended. Luo Renhe invited a Feng Shui master who was just an ordinary person using the name of Xian Dao to make a living, so he couldn't understand the meaning behind it. He simply said that this was a heavenly blessing, and the child was a reincarnation of a celestial being. When asked where the blessing came from, he shook his head and said, "This is heaven's secret, cannot be spoken, cannot be spoken."

  Luo Feng picked up a small piece of green stone from the ground, which was round and shiny with a subtle glow flowing through it, clearly not an ordinary object. Luo Ren saw that his son had picked up the stone and was born to be extraordinary, so he also believed in Mr. Fengshui's words and thanked him with a few taels of silver.

  Luofeng was exceptionally intelligent from a young age, able to recite at three and compose poetry at seven. He had a photographic memory for classics, history, and miscellaneous books. As he grew older, he became more composed, perceptive, and open-minded, handling matters with ease. Among his five sons, Luoren had the highest expectations for Luofeng, and was also the most demanding of him. However, Luofeng showed no interest in statecraft or economics, instead being fascinated by Taoist alchemy, spiritual realms, and other esoteric subjects. He spent his days reading extensively from the Taoist canon and associating with fellow practitioners, learning various techniques for refining elixirs and wielding swords.

  When Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty believed in Taoism, the trend of visiting Taoist temples and seeking immortality became more popular. It was said that many Taoist sects lived in seclusion in famous mountains and large marshes, and there were frequent reports of supernatural phenomena such as flying during the day. Therefore, it was not uncommon for princes and nobles to practice Taoism and swordsmanship. What Wang Feng did was just a normal act. However, among those Taoist priests who were willing to associate with aristocrats and wealthy families, nine out of ten had low moral character and could hardly understand a few Taoist scriptures themselves, let alone teach others. What they coveted was only the offering of gold and silver.

  Among them, there are indeed true Taoist masters with real magical powers. For example, the Qingyang True Person who wrote this "Purple Mansion Golden Elixir Secret" was said to be able to turn stones into gold and transform springs into wine, and was also skilled in refining elixirs. After the founding emperor took it, he felt its wonderful uses were endless, and immediately appointed Qingyang True Person as the national master of the current dynasty, bestowing upon him countless fields and houses. There is also a legend that says Qingyang True Person held a sword in his hand, which could summon purple lightning and thunder from heaven when unsheathed, with boundless power; relying on this sword, Qingyang True Person had beheaded countless demons and evil spirits.

  Luo Feng didn't have such good fortune, meeting a transcendent being like Qingyang Zhenren. Although he had made friends with many Taoist practitioners and read a large number of Taoist scriptures, spending a lot of money on alchemy, when it came to refining elixirs, countless attempts ended in failure, without even producing a single immortal pill. As for sword practice, his moves were elegant and refined, but when he actually fought, he couldn't even defeat the guards at the Luo estate. Therefore, Luo Ren and Yue grew angrier by the day, eventually forbidding Luo Feng from discussing Taoist matters again, ordering him to focus on studying and preparing to take over the family legacy and make a name for himself in officialdom.

  Luoren was busy with official duties and rarely had time to check on Lu Feng's studies. Lu Feng, being naturally talented, only needed to put in a bit of effort to pass, but most of the time he was still studying Taoist scriptures, seeking the path to ascension. He was too obsessed with this way, even privately renaming his personal book boy "Caiyao".

  Luorenhe didn't like Lu Feng studying the art of Dan Ding and Huang Lao, but he himself wasn't completely opposed to the Taoist way. After all, since the founding emperor of this dynasty, every ruler had highly valued the study of immortality and alchemy. As officials, how could they not understand a thing or two? Otherwise, how would they be able to follow the emperor's will and cater to his intentions? Moreover, Luorenhe's mansion was no ordinary one. The front and back halls each had two dragon carvings, which together formed a Liulong Yinyang formation. According to the Taoist who set up the formation, it trapped the spirit of a North Sea ice dragon, and not only could it balance yin and yang, drive away evil spirits, but also had the great effect of changing one's fortune and bringing blessings to one's descendants.

  It is unknown whether the array really trapped a North Sea Ice Dragon's spirit, but its effect of harmonizing yin and yang was quite remarkable. The entire mansion was warm in winter and cool in summer, very pleasant, and all the people in the mansion were completely unaffected by the cold and heat, even the Wang Mansion of Luoyang might not be able to surpass it.

  Up to this point, it has been only three years since the completion of the Longyin Yang formation. Luo Renhe was granted an imperial edict by Emperor Xuanzong and was summoned to the capital to discuss matters. It is unknown whether this was due to the power of the formation or the ability of Empress Luo's pillow talk.

  Luo Xichen was a lively and spirited young girl, but she had a strong personality that was quite impressive. Among the younger generation in the Luo household, she got along particularly well with Luo Feng. Since childhood, she had been taken under the wing of a female Taoist who had passed by and taught her the techniques of cultivating her energy and clarifying her mind. The Taoist had instructed her to practice diligently and promised to take her as an apprentice when she turned sixteen. The Taoist claimed to be from Ling Xuan and was a disciple of Bai Yun Xiansheng. However, as the daughter of a high-ranking official, Luo Xichen would not put in much effort and could only manage to practice every three to five days. Even so, Luo Feng looked at her with admiration. But she herself did not think highly of the techniques she had learned, considering them to be trivial and deviating from the true path. Luo Feng was very disappointed by this and often tried to persuade her to see the true value in what she had learned. However, Luo Xichen was proud and arrogant, and naturally refused to listen. Moreover, although Luo Feng had read many Taoist scriptures, he had not achieved any supernatural powers himself. As a result, whenever the siblings discussed Taoist teachings and the origins of immortals, they often ended up arguing.

  Although Lu Feng was infatuated with the Taoist arts and had no interest in economic or national affairs, he merely went through the motions of reading, yet at the age of seventeen, he already showed great promise, able to thoroughly understand the classics, histories, and various schools of thought, and could discern the intricacies of state affairs, people's emotions, and worldly principles with ease, often uttering astonishingly wonderful phrases. However, his painstaking efforts in the Taoist arts ultimately yielded nothing.

  It's hard to predict what will happen in life, as can be seen from this.

  The two siblings chatted for a few sentences in the study, then returned to the topic of alchemy, and naturally, another quarrel ensued. After a heated debate, both of them were somewhat exhausted. Luo Xichen suddenly glanced at Cai Yao, who had been quietly standing by, and said, "You go out first, I have something to discuss with Third Brother."

  He picked up his medicine and let out a long breath, then turned around and ran away.

  Luoxi dust was both angry and annoyed, shouting: "Why are you running so fast? Can't I eat you?"

  She picked the medicine with agility, and relied on Luo Feng's favor. She pretended not to hear, exerted her strength, and disappeared outside the courtyard in an instant, leaving Luo Xian dust-covered and gritting her teeth.

  Luo Feng smiled and said: "Never mind him, what do you want to say to me?"

  Lu Xi stomped her foot in annoyance, then turned to Lu Feng and said, "Hmph, you're lucky. I heard that your uncle has important business in the capital this time and won't be returning to Luoyang for a while, so you can do as you please again. But nothing is ever that easy. I happened to find out that this time, Old Master Ximen, entrusted by your uncle, will thoroughly examine your studies, and it's not just limited to the three volumes of High Ancestor's Records."

  Luo Feng smiled and said: "That's nothing. Those few books of history have long been in my belly, what fear..."

  He had not finished speaking, when suddenly a strong gust of wind blew in from the window. The wind was very fierce and in an instant it swept up all the books, papers and pens on the desk, sending them flying towards Luo Feng and Luo Xianzhen, even the ancient inkstone from the previous dynasty was blown away!

  Luofeng was startled, and in a flurry of effort, he pulled Luoxi dust to one side, avoiding the sudden appearance of the fierce gust of wind. However, he himself was hit by the ancient inkstone on his shoulder, unable to bear the pain, his face turned pale, and he let out a muffled groan.

  Suddenly, another loud crash, a row of high bookshelves was blown down by the fierce wind, and fell towards the two. Luo Feng was shocked again, and didn't care about the severe pain in his shoulders and back, he forcefully pushed Luo Xicen to the ground, barely avoiding the heavy wooden bookshelf. Afterwards, there was a burst of crashing sounds, and things like the ancient dragon-patterned plate, the antique green flower-patterned vase, and the jade cloud-patterned flower pot were all smashed to pieces.

  The fierce wind came suddenly and left quickly, carrying a pile of miscellaneous objects with it, and immediately broke through the window on the other side.

  After a moment, Luofeng finally lifted his head, staring at the study which was now in disarray. Lu Xiduan saw that the dust had settled and his fear was slowly fading away, so he gently pushed Luofeng. Luofeng then came to his senses, stood up, and helped Lu Xiduan up. In this dynasty, the rules for men and women were not as strict as they were in the previous one, and besides, they were in a state of emergency, so physical contact was unavoidable.

  "What's going on? It's so strange! A fine day like today and suddenly it starts raining!"

  Luo Feng looked out of the window and said: "Indeed, there's something strange... Hmm?!"

  He ran to the window and looked up at the sky, only to find that what was just a cloudless day with the sun shining brightly had turned into a dense layer of dark clouds. The black clouds kept falling, as if they had the power of a thousand pounds, and seemed to be about to touch the eaves of the main building. If these clouds were to lose their reins, this great city of Luoyang would probably be crushed to dust!

  At this time, the Lu mansion had already lost its previous tranquility, and a noisy voice was heard everywhere. The servants were all rushing to and fro, preparing for the impending torrential rain.

  Luo Feng walked to the center of the courtyard, looked up at the sky and furrowed his brow: "This wind and rain are really strange, there must be a reason. Hmm, let me think... what did the 'Xuan Du Jiu Zhen' scripture say..."

  Luoxie dust suddenly changed color, shouting something to Luofeng, but her cries were completely drowned out by a sudden clap of thunder.

  Luofeng raised his head towards the sky, staring blankly at the torrential lightning that fell like a waterfall from the ninth heaven, already shocked into stupidity.

  A rare sound is heard from afar.

  "Third Brother!" Luo Xiuzhen didn't know how many times she had called out, but her numb ears finally faintly heard her own voice. Seeing the thunder and lightning rushing towards Luofeng, she couldn't help but ignore the pain in her body and dash towards him without avoiding the thunderstorm in the courtyard.

  As the lotus foot stepped into the courtyard, Luo Xichen suddenly froze. The courtyard was filled with emerald bamboo and a hidden stream flowed quietly, without any signs of the thunderstorm that had just passed. She raised her head again, and the sky was once more a clear blue, bathed in warm sunlight. The dark clouds that had seemed to shake the very foundations of the city just moments before were now nowhere to be seen, as if they had never existed at all.

  It wasn't until she saw Luo Feng curled up on the ground, already unconscious, that Luo Xicen finally believed that what had just happened was not an illusion. Her heart ached and she hastily ran to Luo Feng's side.

  Luo Feng's eyes were tightly closed, his face a deep purple-red color, and his entire body was emitting an astonishingly high fever, as if he was about to spew out flames. The clothes on his chest were charred black, almost completely burned away by the heavenly fire ignited by the purple lightning. Strangely, however, the exposed skin was tender and snow-white, like a newly peeled lotus root, without any trace of being scorched by the heavenly fire. Around his neck was tied a delicate golden chain, with a small cyan stone pendant at the end. Luo Xian naturally recognized that this was the cyan stone that Luo Feng had grasped in his hand since birth.

  At this moment, the blue stone was emitting a soft glow, the light flowing and changing like a living thing. Seeing this scene, Luo Xichen thought to himself: It must be that the blue stone is protecting his body, and that's why he was spared from the suffering of being burned by his third brother. For a moment, he felt that this object was not ordinary, and so he focused his spirit and looked at it carefully. As he looked, he saw that the small blue stone had already become completely transparent, with what seemed to be a boiling lake inside, and countless tiny purple-golden characters floating up from within.

  The text was too small, and Lu Xiuzhen had to examine it carefully before she could barely make out the outline of the words. The text resembled the ancient seal script, but she couldn't recognize a single character. However, the scene in front of her was too mysterious, and when she lost herself in thought, Xiuzhen involuntarily reached out to touch the bluestone slab. As soon as her fingertips touched the stone, she let out a startled cry and quickly withdrew her hand.

  Whether it was due to the heavenly fire, the bluestone was scorching hot, and with just a slight touch, Luo Xi's fingertips would be scorched into a blister. As a noble lady who had always been pampered, how could she endure such hardship? Tears immediately welled up in her eyes.

  Luoxi dust did not stop blowing his fingertips, the pain eased slightly, and he thought of Luofeng's safety again, hurriedly looked over, and was stunned once more.

  Luofeng didn't know when he woke up, but he lay motionless on the ground, staring blankly at the distant blue sky, hot tears streaming out, and had long been infatuated. The square green stone also converged its treasure light, quietly lying on Luofeng's chest.

  "Third Brother! What's wrong?" Lu Xiuchen called out, pushing on Lu Feng's arm. She was secretly getting anxious, vaguely feeling that something big was about to happen.

  It was a long time before Luo Feng turned his head, he seemed to be looking at Luo Xicen, but his eyes actually pierced through everything in front of him and fell into the depths of the mysterious void.

  "Could it be... that this is the last life of reincarnation?" Luo Feng muttered to himself, but Luo Xichen couldn't understand what he was saying at all. After experiencing the Purple Thunder Fire, the Luo Feng in front of her seemed to have become a different person, no longer with his original slight arrogance, replaced by a vast and profound aura that made it impossible for people to see through or discern.

  She was secretly frightened and shook Luo Feng's arm, saying: "Third brother! What's wrong with you? Do you want to ask Dr. Xue from the Wang Mansion to take a look?"

  "Xue Taiyi?" Luo Feng finally came back to his senses and slowly stood up. Hearing her words, he couldn't help but smile and say: "What can he see? Common medicine and ordinary methods, how can they break the predetermined cycle of cause and effect? Moreover, this is already the last life, as long as one cultivates to perfection, everything will naturally be resolved. Why bother breaking it?"

  Luoxie dust was even more panicked, she grabbed Lu Feng's sleeve and wouldn't let go, saying: "Third brother, what are you talking about? I don't understand at all?"

  The gentle breeze stroked her hair and said, "We are all companions in the dust of toil, how can we know the gate of liberation? The wheel of cause and effect turns, if there is existence then there is existence, if it is said that there is none then there is none. It was originally just a story, but where does a story have reason? You don't understand now. Wait until one day when the opportunity arrives, you will comprehend."

  Luoxi dust was originally clever and intelligent in ice and snow. At this moment, he suddenly had an epiphany and asked: "Third brother, are you leaving?"

  This question also made Luo Feng slightly stunned. He pondered for a moment, then said: "Life and death are just one trial, proving the cycle of rebirth. The countless changes are nothing but cause and effect. Alright, since I was born into the Luo family, it is also a destined encounter. I will leave behind a letter. If fate permits, we will meet again someday."

  Having spoken, Luo Feng immediately returned to the study, picked up his pen and paper, hastily wrote a letter, and then headed out towards the Stopping Ink Pavilion.

  Luoxi didn't even have time to take a closer look at what Luofeng had written, and hastily chased out of the study, calling out to his back: "Third Brother, where are you going?"

  Lofty and majestic, Kunlun.

  At this time, the maids of the Luo mansion finally realized the changes in the Tingmo Pavilion and rushed in. They saw the study that had just been ravaged by the wind and were all shocked. However, Luo Feng walked out from among them, but no one was able to notice.

  "How did everything suddenly break?"

  "Where is Third Master? Why can't I see Third Master?"

  The people below were in a state of chaos, shouting and scolding, but Luo Xiuzhen was completely unaware of it. She quietly put the letter left by Luo Feng into her sleeve.

  September's Luoyang was still as hot as a furnace, but in the wind outside Guanxi, there was already a hint of chilliness, wandering over this vast and desolate Gobi. This was a land vastly different from the eastern capital of Luoyang, without warm and pleasant green mountains and clear waters, without intricate pavilions and buildings, and without crowded and bustling streets. Here, apart from the endless yellow sand, there were only scattered gravel stones.

  What makes people retreat and avoid is the fierce sandstorm that rises in the Gobi Desert. One moment it's a clear blue sky with the sun shining brightly, the next moment it's dark and gloomy with flying sand and rocks. If you encounter such a strong windstorm, all you see is yellow sand swirling around, suddenly forming into whirlwinds that rise higher and higher, like thousands of horses galloping or waves crashing against the shore, sweeping across the sky and rushing away. If you're not careful and get caught in such a storm, your life will be in danger. That's why people traveling on the border are extremely cautious and always observe the weather.

  In the midst of a raging sandstorm, a young man emerged. He walked slowly forward, his hair and clothes immaculately clean, not a speck of dust on him, as if the fierce winds and sands of the western frontier had no effect on him. However, his face showed signs of exhaustion.

  This young man is Luo Feng.

  In the blink of an eye, as the purple lightning illuminated his body, he suddenly realized the destined cycle of reincarnation that had lasted for a hundred lifetimes, and the dusty fate that had spanned a thousand years. Although the events of his past life were fragmented and disordered, barely amounting to disjointed chapters that couldn't be woven into a complete story. Yet, for Luo Feng, being able to recall the chanting of scriptures on the banks of the Wu Ding Tian River, and remembering those two bright eyes, was enough.

  This life, reincarnation is complete.

  He only needs to refine this physical body, cultivate an immortal body, and after ascending in broad daylight, he can break free from the karma of hundreds of years and rejoin the ranks of immortals. Although Qing Shi is still unaware of her whereabouts in this life, as his cultivation deepens and his divine powers begin to take shape, he will surely find her. At that time, with his past-life memories and divine powers, he will definitely be able to help her ascend and transform, returning to the immortal realm.

  Luofeng knew that in the last life of reincarnation, the calamity must be great. However, he did not have any doubts about flying up to the realm, because this had long been a predetermined fate. The worldly calamities were no longer fierce and could not turn the universe upside down or reverse the cause and effect to such an extent. His only concern was Qing Shi.

  Before falling into the mundane world, she had just achieved spiritual transformation and cultivated a divine body. Her divine consciousness and abilities were not yet fully formed, so how could she possess the magical skills of Luo Feng, effortlessly resolving the cycle of reincarnation and transcending the dust of time? Although after a hundred lifetimes of cultivation she would return to the realm of immortals, the suffering in between would be unavoidable.

  The long official road stretches out, with no end in sight ahead and no origin behind. The Luo wind blows to the edge of one's vision, within tens of miles around, except for him, there is not a single person or horse. Only the faint sound of barbarian flutes drifts from afar, and falls back into the distance.

  Luofeng smiled wryly. He had only heard that the Western Regions were desolate and harsh, with few people, but this time he personally set foot in it, and only then did he deeply understand how apt the phrase "ancient roads, western winds, thin horses" was.

  Luo Feng let out a sigh and continued on his way. Along with the karma from his past life, he had also gained many magical powers and divine abilities. Unfortunately, without immense spiritual power, it was difficult to wield the profound mysteries of the Tao. Luo Feng's current body was just a mortal shell, still carrying impurities that had not been fully shed. What kind of cultivation could he possibly have? To be honest, his physical body at this moment was only slightly stronger than those indulgent and decadent young masters from Luoyang. The few magical techniques and Taoist methods he could barely use were just enough to protect him from the cold and heat, and keep him safe from the wind and sand.

  In front of another hundred miles, it is Jianhu Pass. After leaving the pass, it is considered to have left the territory of this dynasty. Although this dynasty has set up two other metropolitan prefectures in the far west, the western frontier region is vast and these thousands of miles of territory are still a barbarian and savage world.

  Beyond the Jiuyan Pass, it is still necessary to have a distance of ten thousand miles, which is the legendary "Golden City with thousands of layers, Jade Building with twelve floors, left with Yaochi, and right with Cuishui" Kunlun Xuanjing.

  A place with a naturally formed cave, there must be a true person cultivating. Luofeng is going to Kunlun now, precisely to seek out a master and ask about the way, seeking the method of eating wind and drinking dew, refining one's energy to cultivate truth, in order to transform one's physical body into an immortal embryo, ultimately achieving ascension through feathered transformation.

  From Luoyang to the front of Jiankuguan, it took two months for Luo Feng to use up his time. He didn't buy a mule or horse to replace his steps, and he walked slowly westward with a steady pace.

  At that time, although it was a peaceful and prosperous era, the journey was also fraught with danger, especially for lone travelers like Luo Feng. However, at this moment, Luo Feng had awakened to his past life, his divine powers were already beginning to manifest, and he could know good or bad fortune without divination, so he naturally avoided harm and sought benefit, and the journey was peaceful and uneventful. Moreover, seeing the rise and fall of all living beings on this journey was also a kind of cultivation for him.

  Although this area is within the pass, it is also a place where horse thieves are rampant. At this moment, there is only one person on the official road, Luofeng, and for dozens of miles around, it is all flat land, with no place to hide. However, as soon as Luofeng had an idea, he knew that if he went forward, he would be able to get food and lodging, and after leaving the pass, it was a straightforward path, leading directly to the wonderful scenery of Kunlun.

  Luofeng's spirit lifted, and he continued on his way. He walked from morning till dusk, when he finally saw a wisp of smoke rising from the clouds in the distance. His heart leapt with joy, and he quickened his pace, walking for another half hour before he saw a tall pole in the distance, with a tattered banner hanging from it that read "Welcome Guests".

  On the flag were embroidered four large characters: Longmen Inn.

  The name is high-sounding, but the reality is hard to match. The inn's name is so loud, but under the tall flagpole, there are only three low earthen houses in front and back, and another separate small house, which is unknown whether it is a toilet or a storage room. The main hall of the inn is narrow, and even more tables and chairs can't be put down, two eight-immortal tables were placed outside the door. The north wind is strong and sandy, no matter what season, it's hard to imagine having dinner outdoors like in Jiangnan water town.

  It can be seen how small this inn is.

  Luofeng shook his head and sighed, but having a mouthful of tea water and a cup of light wine was always better than resting by the roadside. So he continued on to the inn.

  The Longmen Inn was empty at this moment, with no guests in sight. The innkeeper stood behind the counter, while his wife busied herself in the kitchen. In the hall, a young boy who did chores and ran errands stood at attention. The innkeeper was a middle-aged fat man with a face full of smiles, but the boy was unexpectedly refined, with clear eyebrows and bright eyes, clean clothes, and a lively demeanor that was quite elegant. His speech and movements were full of spirit, completely unlike the rough characters from the northwest region.

  Luo Feng sat down in the shop and randomly ordered four dishes, two meat and two vegetarian, and also asked for a jar of wine. He slowly poured himself a drink and started drinking.

  At this time, the Western Regions' Gobi Desert, as soon as night falls, the cold air invades. Outside the inn, the wind and sand rise again, and the yellow sand howls across the sky. The setting sun has gradually disappeared below the horizon in the distance, with fiery red clouds in the western half of the sky, while a new moon hangs in the eastern half.

  The moon is outside the sky, and the sun is west of the moon.

  Luo Feng sat calmly in the seat facing the shop door, completely ignoring the wind and sand that came rushing over, but instead gazing at the clouds and mist, savoring the wine in his cup.

  "Sir, it's going to be a big windstorm tonight. Do you want me to close the shop door for you?" The young waiter asked as he approached.

  Luo Feng gazed at the young man once more, feeling that he was intelligent and talented, and shouldn't be buried in this desolate wilderness for his whole life. He hesitated for a moment, pointing outside the shop door, saying: "Look at this vast expanse of wind and sand, the setting sun like blood - this is the true scenery of the frontier, the Gobi Desert that breeds iron-blooded men of the northwest! Young brother, since you were born in this land, you must have some great accomplishments, or else it would be a waste to come into this world!"

  The young man smiled and said, "I am an orphan since childhood, relying on the boss's kindness to survive until now. Now that I have a place to live, food and clothing are not a problem, what else can I dare to ask for?"

  Luo Feng shook his head and sighed, saying: "Alas, you're infatuated and unaware, it's a pity to waste your talent."

  At this time, the shopkeeper seemed to have noticed something and ran over with a smile on his face, asking: "Sir, are you satisfied with our dishes?"

  The young man's face changed slightly, as if he was afraid of being scolded by the shopkeeper, and immediately retreated quietly into the back room.

  Luo Feng glanced at the shopkeeper's city-dwelling and oily face, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, and simply waved his hand, saying: "It's fine. You can go down now, I want to be alone for a while."

  The shopkeeper smiled all over his face, nodded and returned to the counter, and then rattled away at the abacus.

  Luo Feng sat upright, facing the wind and sand that came rushing towards him. His hair flew about as his fingers moved in a strange rhythm, causing the strong liquor in the cup to start swirling rapidly. Before long, it formed a deep whirlpool, with a small column of wine rising from its center. The small column of wine rose and fell like a dragon flying through the air, or a serpent exploring the water.

  As the last wisps of red cloud disappeared in the western sky, Luo Feng suddenly stood up tall, pouring out the wine from his cup onto the ground. Silently, he prayed: "I will now end my worldly ties and return to the realm of the immortals. All causes and effects, all entanglements of karma, are resolved in this cup of wine!"

  Northern land has plenty of iron in its soil.

  Although it was already pitch black, the strong wind howled like iron, and the flying sand cut like a knife. The guest flag on top of the shop cracked with a loud noise. This desolate inn in the wilderness, which was empty for a while, was suddenly filled with the murderous atmosphere of golden armor and iron horses!

  Luo Feng's heart surged with heroic spirit, he threw away the small cup in his hand, instead grabbed a large bowl, poured a full bowl of strong liquor, and drank it all in one gulp.

  The wine enters like a knife, its flavor is inferior, but it's strong and bold, perfectly matching Luo Feng's current mood.

  "Fantastic!" Luo Feng couldn't help but exclaim, for such a heroic drink was something he had never experienced before. The northwest wine's ferocity and intensity were far beyond the refined, mellow, and lingering aftertaste of the wines from the Central Plains region.

  In Luoyang, whose family is walking with wine orders, warming up Huadiao, and leaning against green and red?

  It's all like a fleeting dream.

  He grabbed the wine jug again and was about to pour another large bowl of wine.

  The ancients were generous and must have three big whites when they encountered things. Luo Feng had just drunk the first bowl, what else could he do?

  As soon as he lifted the wine jar, it suddenly felt like it had gained dozens of pounds. Luofeng's hand went limp and he couldn't hold onto the jar, letting it crash heavily back onto the table.

  Luo Feng let out a soft "hmm" and felt somewhat strange, then reached out to grab the wine jug. Just as he did, he suddenly felt the ground shaking and the mountains trembling, his feet unstable, almost falling to the ground. Luo Feng was shocked in his heart, something that could cause such intense shaking must be either an immortal or a rare spiritual beast. Whether it was a fairy or a spirit, since it had arrived nearby, how could he not have sensed anything?

  Luo Feng was filled with doubts when he suddenly realized that everything in front of him didn't seem so real anymore. His eyes caught a glimpse of the bowl of soup on the table, and he was shocked!

  The soup was placed steadily and smoothly, with a thick layer of oil on the surface slowly dissolving, without any ripples or waves.

  It wasn't heaven and earth shaking, but Luo Feng himself standing unsteadily.

  Just then, a dizziness came over him, and Luo Feng felt his eyelids weighed down by a thousand pounds, gradually falling. He stumbled, almost fell to the ground, but fortunately held onto the Eight Immortals table, which kept him from falling.

  Luo Feng's body was weak and powerless, but his mind was clear as snow, knowing that there must be a mysterious trick in this wine!

  However, Luo Feng had already calculated the auspicious and ominous signs beforehand and knew that although he had mistakenly entered a black shop, it was only a small tribulation. Therefore, he did not panic. He took a deep breath, began to chant incantations, and was about to dispel the medicinal effects of the poison. Although he currently had no spiritual power or Taoist skills, dispelling the poisonous medicine was still easy for him. After the poison was gone, summoning two ghostly guards to protect himself was not difficult either. After this tribulation passed, Luo Feng planned to mete out punishment according to the severity of the crimes committed by the shopkeeper and his wife. As for the young boy who did chores and ran errands, he rather liked him, which was another strange occurrence. It seemed that the boy was still young and had not been in this black shop for long, and being young and ignorant, there was still room for improvement. Therefore, Luo Feng planned to take the boy with him to Kunlun Mountain to cultivate the Great Way. This child had a lot of spiritual energy, and perhaps after several lifetimes of reincarnation, he would also have the hope of verifying the Great Way and becoming an immortal.

  Just as Luo Feng was halfway through his Clear Mind Incantation, a sudden buzzing sound appeared in his ears, followed by a severe pain that spread from the back of his head!

  Luofeng's vision went black, and he could no longer stand. Before falling to the ground, he managed to turn his head back, only to see that the young man had somehow appeared behind him. The young man held a large wooden stick in his hand, staring steadily at Luofeng with an expressionless face that showed neither panic nor ferocity.

  Facing such an expressionless face, Luo Feng's heart gradually felt a chill. Apparently, this young man was so used to doing such things that he could do it with ease, just like washing dishes every day.

  "Why is this? ... Isn't it a smooth journey to Kunlun?"

  Luo Feng finally couldn't hold on and fell to the ground with a thud. As he lay dying, he faintly heard the shopkeeper's voice, which sounded like a duck quacking:

  "Who would have thought that this guy is dressed so elegantly, but his luggage is so shabby? No wonder he can't even afford a horse! But look at this fat sheep, its meat is so tender and juicy, it's enough to feed the whole shop for a month. Hey! Quickly drag him to the back kitchen, boil water and sharpen knives, don't dawdle! You little scoundrel, if you dare to slack off again, I'll break your dog legs!"