Chapter Thirteen: The World in the Eyes

  Villa No. 7, Room No. 1, Lan Jie looked at the person who had already fallen asleep and slowly lit a cigarette. At her feet were empty wine bottles scattered all over the floor, both red and white labels, all the wine they brought was gone.

  "Hulan" sister slowly blew a smoke ring, but the next moment the cigarette in her hand went out, and only a bare cigarette holder was left in her hand.

  "I told you long ago, didn't I? You should quit smoking." A figure appeared beside Lan Jie and said.

  "Brother, do you think we should save him? We've done too many wrong things, I don't want to risk my life for him again. He saved us today." Lan sister said without turning her head, with a pleading tone.

  Lan's words seemed a bit incoherent, but the people around her understood, sighing and saying "Little Lan, we can't save him, there are too many people watching him. Even if Li... even if he played a role in this matter, it was just a small shrimp."

  "It's precisely because he is also a shrimp that we will be the first to die. I'm not afraid of death, but I don't want to die unjustly. We've long since repaid his kindness over the years, we owe him nothing. We need to think about ourselves." Lan Jie became very agitated and turned around to grab Ning Ge's hand, saying this.

  "Xiao Lan" Ning Ge sadly called out, saying "I also want to leave, but we can't, he's too powerful, we can't escape"

  After hearing Ning Ge's words, Lan Jie's eyes widened in disappointment and hatred, saying "Brother, you've changed, you've finally changed. You don't want freedom, but I do, and it starts with this matter. If you're still my brother, I hope you won't stop me."

  After finishing speaking, Lan Jie turned around and left room number one, leaving only Ning Ge alone in the room, still clenching his fists tightly. But afterwards, he let go like a deflated balloon, and just muttered to himself on the bed: "I hope this can be an opportunity for you, otherwise I won't let you off."

  ……

  Golden light, golden world. I gaze at this endless expanse of golden emptiness and my heart is filled with fear. Where am I? Why am I here? I shout out loud, but there's no echo.

  "Wu wu" I don't know how long it took, a sobbing sound came from afar, and soon a light screen appeared in front of me.

  In the light screen, a tall temple appeared, shining with golden light. In the center of the temple was a huge golden eye hanging, and the halo around the eye was like an invisible door.

  "Don't go in, don't go in" A pair of men and women wearing strange clothes appeared below the eyes. The woman had a black long sword inserted on her chest, but she still grasped the man's pants tightly, crying to him.

  The man hesitated at first, his gaze wandering between the woman and the golden eyes, but soon he made a choice. After gazing deeply at the woman, his expression changed, and with a slight tremble, he shook off the woman and jumped into the golden eyes without hesitation.

  As soon as he entered, the golden eyes burst out with an even more dazzling light, and the light lasted for nearly a minute before slowly fading away, making the entire golden eye dull and lightless.

  The man made his choice, and the woman's expression changed from disappointment to despair, to sadness, and finally became self-mockery.

  "Hmph!" The next moment, the woman drew out a long sword from her chest, and fresh blood shot out like an arrow. However, the woman didn't stop the bleeding, but instead murmured, "The path to immortality on Qingyun Peak, the end of reincarnation is just an empty gaze, reincarnation after reincarnation, it's indeed the source of all disasters." After finishing speaking, a fierce flame burst out from the woman's eyes, and the black long sword in her hand hummed with energy, instantly radiating light in all directions.

  "After today, there will be no more Wheel of Rebirth in this place!" The woman raised her long sword and shouted loudly, then slashed down with one stroke, instantly bursting into endless radiance.

  Just as I was about to be blinded by the dazzling light, the light screen shattered and I returned to this golden world. It's still so vast and boundless here.

  "Where is this? Let me out, I want to get out!" The scenes on the light screen have no effect on me. What do their lives and deaths have to do with me? Now all I want to do is escape from this ghostly place.

  "Young man, this is the world in your eyes. When you want to go out, you can naturally go out." A faint voice came and scared me half to death. Turning back, I saw that there was a Taoist priest behind me at some unknown time, with an immortal air and elegance, looking exactly like an immortal.

  "Who are you?" I swallowed my saliva and asked, actually I wanted to ask if he was a god? If it's a god, then all my difficulties will be solved! What reincarnation eye, what longevity road, the great god waved his hand and it's gone.

  "Haha, young man, if you're disappointed, I'm not a god, my name is Kou Qianzhi, and I'm just an ordinary Daoist." The old Daoist simply looked at me with one glance and knew what was on my mind, and burst out laughing.

  "He" saw through my mind and shocked me greatly. Who is this Kou Qian? Does he have the ability to read minds? How did he know what I was thinking?

  "Don't be afraid, young one. I didn't intentionally try to read your mind, I was just curious. After a thousand years, what kind of person will have the fate to obtain this Wheel of Rebirth? A thousand years is a very, very long time." Kou Qianzhi explained, his expression filled with nostalgia.

  "A thousand years, does this cycle really appear once every thousand years? A thousand years ago, weren't you a person of the Tang Dynasty?" I exclaimed in shock. To be able to live for a thousand years, one would have to be either a turtle or an immortal, and a thousand years ago should indeed be during the Tang Dynasty, which I shouldn't be mistaken about.

  "Tang Dynasty? I've never heard of it, to the north there are Xia, Liao, Yan, Wei and other ten countries, to the south there are Shu and Yue, but this Tang country I've really never heard of" Kou Qianzhi shook his head.

  "My god, this isn't the point, is it? The point is how you've lived for a thousand years! I cursed in my heart, but on the surface I asked, 'Xia Liangyan, are you from the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties?' Ah, no, that's not right, the Five Dynasties is also what historians call it... so, Taoist priest, what was your emperor's name, and what were the national title and year number?"

  "Haha, little brother, you're really interesting to talk to. Although I don't quite understand what you're saying, it's necessary for me to let you know who Lao Dao is. My name is Kou Qianzhi, and I'm the Grand Heavenly Master of the Tian Shi Dao sect, as well as the Imperial Master of the Wei Taiwu Empire."

  However, after he finished speaking, I still had a face that didn't know who you were. What Tian Shi Dao, I've only heard of Mao Shan, what Wei Tai Wu Emperor, haven't heard of it. You mention Tang Taizong and I do know a bit about him, but as for Guo Shi, I do know he's very powerful, however his image isn't very good, in TV dramas he's always the villain.

  I saw his expression and almost vomited blood, thinking of how mighty he was back then. He became the national teacher of Wei State, reformed the Tian Shi Dao, eliminated the three Zhang's false methods, built the Jing Lun Tian Gong, and in the northern states, from 80-year-old elderly women to 3-year-old children, who didn't know him?! I really wanted to educate this ignorant kid about the significance of Kou Qian Zhi's name, but thinking of my own situation, Kou Qian Zhi helplessly lowered his head.

  "Right, Kou-senpai, you've been around for a thousand years, can you tell me what's going on with this reincarnation thing? Is it related to immortality? Right now, all the evil demons and heretics in the world are after my life, I'm about to go crazy!" I suddenly remembered that Kou said I was currently inside the Reincarnation Eye, so I quickly asked him. In reality, hardly anyone knows anything about the Reincarnation Eye.

  "Little brother, even if you don't say it, I will tell you anyway. The Wheel of Reincarnation... Alas, the source of all misfortunes." Hearing my question, Kou Ken let out a sigh and his eyes fell into deep reminiscence.

  "I, Kou Qianzhi, was born into a wealthy and influential family, wearing silk clothes and eating jade food from a young age. However, I didn't want to be an official, but instead was very interested in alchemy and cultivating the Tao. I spent several years searching for the Tao on my own, but made no progress until I met Chenggong Xing, my master, who brought me to Mount Song to study the Tao. After seven years, although I considered myself clever, I still only scratched the surface of Taoist learning, and only learned its superficial aspects."

  "So when Cheng Gong Xing was about to leave, he gave me a precious jade. I spent three years contemplating the function of this jade, and from then on my Taoist skills soared. In thirty years of quiet cultivation, I completed what others could not achieve in a hundred years. After I came out of the mountains, I became the national teacher of the state of Wei. During my time in Wei, I used divination to ask for divine guidance, and many omens appeared; I drew talismans to ward off disasters, hoping for peace; I lectured on scriptures and discussed Taoist teachings, spreading my techniques and teaching widely, eliminating three false methods, reforming the Heavenly Master's Taoist doctrine. At that time, my reputation was unmatched."

  "After ten years, the wise and powerful Emperor Wei Taowu of the Northern Wei dynasty, Tuoba Tao, gradually grew old, and the struggle for power in the imperial court began to rise. The world was about to fall into great chaos, and perhaps another tragic event like the one that occurred a hundred years ago would happen again. So, I told Emperor Taowu about the legend of the Wheel of Rebirth, asking him to build the Jinglun Heavenly Palace, inviting heroes from all over the world to determine the location of the Wheel of Rebirth Temple, in an attempt to make Emperor Taowu live forever and the Wei state last for eternity. However, Cui Hao was killed by Crown Prince Shuang, and the completion of the Jinglun Heavenly Palace became a distant dream. I, the old Daoist, also shortened my lifespan due to the labor and financial burden of building the palace, and passed away within its walls. I did not want to fail like this, so I avoided the 'yin' difference with my soul and went alone to the Kunlun Wheel of Rebirth Temple to search for the Wheel of Rebirth Eye. In the end, I was trapped here, alas, alas."

  Kou Qianzhi slowly told his own life story, although it was less than a hundred words, but he said that his life was magnificent and tumultuous, but the final encounter left people with a lingering sigh. Such a majestic person was trapped in the cycle of reincarnation, unable to be reborn for thousands of years, becoming a lonely ghost wandering in the wilderness.

  "Senior, your experience is astonishing, but you haven't told me yet whether this reincarnation eye can really help people transcend reincarnation and live forever." After sighing in amazement, I asked again, and now I most want to know is still this.

  "Reincarnation, reincarnation, this is heaven's secret, cannot be revealed." Kou Qianzhi replied.

  "Senior, Lord Kou, please tell me, I'm really being hunted to the point of having nowhere to hide on earth or in heaven. Please have mercy and tell me," I cried out loudly, thinking about how I was a public enemy outside made my heart feel cold, walking on the road not knowing if someone would stab me at any moment.

  "Haha, little brother, what's the hurry? It's normal to be pursued and killed when you have such a treasure. You'll get used to it slowly," Kou Qianzhi laughed loudly. He wasn't any different back then, but he had Cheng Gongxing's help at the beginning, and when he traveled the world, his Taoist skills were already great, so those who chased him all became souls under the knife, and he was fine instead.

  I'm speechless, this old man can talk without getting a sore waist, I cursed him out in my heart, but Kou Qianzhi's words didn't make me lose hope, instead it sparked another thought in my mind, this old Daoist is deliberately arguing with me, he must have an ulterior motive, could it be that he's taken a liking to me and wants to take me as his apprentice?

  "Bang, bang, bang" I knelt down and knocked three loud heads, rather kill the wrong one than miss the right one. It's not easy to meet someone like you, how can I let it slip away? "Master, please accept my respects, I beg of you to take me as your disciple."

  "Haha, foolish disciple has finally awakened! Come, come, no need for formalities, rise up." Kou Qianzhi saw me kowtowing to pay respects to the master and suddenly let out a hearty laugh. The Wheel of Rebirth is not only a secret within secrets, but also closely related to his Tian Shi Dao. It's not something that can be spoken to anyone outside of close family or disciples, which is what "the law is not transmitted to six ears" means. Of course, the "law" here doesn't just refer to techniques.

  "Thanks, Master!" I secretly rejoiced at the result of my gamble. With a thousand-year-old freak like him as my master, I could walk sideways too!

  "Disciple, I have spent my life mastering the Tao, magic, and strategy, but none of the later generations of Heavenly Masters were worthy of the great responsibility. The few talented disciples I personally selected, after entering Ping City, began to indulge in pleasure and lost their desire for cultivation. That's why I had to forcefully search for the Reincarnation Temple, and that's how you ended up here. So, the first thing I want to warn you about is not to go to Kunlun to look for the Reincarnation Temple. Having the Reincarnation Eye is already enough for you."

  "Yes, Master. Disciple remembers Master's teachings." I replied seriously, if I didn't go to that Wheel of Reincarnation Temple, I definitely wouldn't go, who knows what's inside, even Kou Qianzhi, such a powerful person, was deceived by it!

  "The second thing is that I will pass on to you the Taoist scripture 'Tú Lù Zhēn Jīng' (Illustrated Record of True Principles), which I obtained from Mount Song. Even with my own cyclical eye assisting me in understanding it throughout my life, I dare not say that I have thoroughly researched it. You must cultivate it well and make the Tian Shi Dao flourish."

  "Yes, Master, I will not disappoint your expectations," I replied, although I didn't understand what the True Classic of the Diagram was, but if it could make the old Daoist so esteemed, it must be a good thing.

  "Thirdly, alas, the third thing is better left unsaid. As a teacher, my days are numbered. You should take care of yourself and never go to Mount Kunlun, or you will follow in your master's footsteps."

  "Time is running out, wait, Master, what do you mean? Haven't you been here for a thousand years already?" When I heard that time was running out, I got a shock. What the hell does this mean? Is the old Daoist going to kick the bucket? Damn it, I finally found a big thigh to hug, and now it's going to be gone in half a day without a big thigh? This is unscientific.

  "Yes, Master forgot to tell you that the image you saw on the light screen was the first master of the reincarnation eye. We are just administrators. After the reincarnation eye appears in the world, as long as the master is not immortal, his soul will be absorbed here and guarded for a thousand years. A thousand years later, after the next master merges with the reincarnation eye, we will disperse like smoke. It's truly a case of the soul flying away and the spirit scattering." Kou Qian said calmly, his current state of mind rendering the concept of "soul flying away and spirit scattering" utterly insignificant.

  "Ah, no, Master, don't die! You haven't taught me the Tao yet!" I was shocked to hear this. What the heck, you're going to kick the bucket now? And you still accepted a disciple like me? And what's with this reincarnation eye thingy? It's actually got such a terrifying ability that it can make someone stay here for a thousand years, and after a thousand years are up, it makes their soul scatter. Isn't this an Dark Treasure?!

  "Haha, don't be impatient, although my soul has already scattered and it's a done deal, you haven't fully merged with the Wheel of Reincarnation yet, so we still have plenty of time together. For now, you should go take care of things in the real world first, your troubles are coming," Kou Qianzhi said, then suddenly slapped his palm on my forehead. Although Kou Qianzhi only lightly slapped me, I heard a loud crash and was left dazed.