Chapter 1183: Sudden Change of Fate

"Daqi..."

The Taiyan Sect cultivator's eyes narrowed slightly, light and shadow seemingly flashing through them rapidly. "Daxuan?" he murmured. "Hmm?" Unsure of what he had seen, his tone became very surprised as he turned to Sun Erlang: "In just a few years, such a significant deviation has occurred? What happened?"

Sun Erlang was completely bewildered, not understanding what the other person was saying.

"Interesting. Follow me," the Taiyan Sect cultivator said after carefully observing Sun Erlang again.

As he finished speaking, his figure instantly became transparent. A silvery, ethereal path formed beneath his feet, leading directly into the mountain. Sun Erlang transformed into a streak of light and followed closely.

After they entered the mountain, the silver path vanished. Even the pit Sun Erlang had dug earlier on Taixuan Mountain was silently restored.

"My name is Yishu. The skeleton you returned is that of my clan brother," the Taiyan Sect disciple told Sun Erlang as they walked. "When the great tribulations, such as 'Laws Cannot Be Cultivated Together' and the 'Immortal-Mortal Miasma,' arrived simultaneously, my clan brother retreated wisely, seeking refuge in a mortal minor world. Although he lost his chance at immortal cultivation, he achieved the status of a mortal emperor. One could say it was fate."

"After thousands of years apart, to reunite under such circumstances... Although I had anticipated this outcome when we parted, still... Fate plays cruel tricks! A simulated, illusory scene is still different from a tangible one!" Yishu sighed softly, then fell silent.

"Simulation? Real scene?" Sun Erlang keenly picked up on the two keywords in Yishu's words. "The Taiyan Sect was renowned throughout the world in ancient times for its divination techniques. Could the 'simulation' and 'deviation' he mentioned be about the future they divined?"

They continued to delve deeper underground until, when the scenery reappeared, they were high above the clouds. The azure sky was clear, and below lay thousands of miles of fertile farmland. Sun Erlang could distinctly sense the numerous mortal auras present there.

Yishu, however, was flying forward through the air. Sun Erlang quickly followed, a sudden doubt arising in his mind. Ever since entering this minor world, Yishu seemed to have undergone some change, but for a moment, Sun Erlang couldn't quite pinpoint what the change was.

"I don't sense any danger, and Master certainly wouldn't harm me..." Sun Erlang suppressed the uneasy feeling in his heart and continued to follow.

Not long after, an enormous floating city suddenly appeared in Sun Erlang's previously empty view. The city was enveloped by a transparent crystal wall. It was precisely because of this crystal wall that Sun Erlang hadn't noticed the celestial city before.

"They certainly have some impressive techniques; they can completely conceal a city of this size," Sun Erlang mused to himself.

Yishu finally spoke again: "The Taixuan Realm was originally borrowed by our Taiyan Sect. Immortals and mortals are separated, and to avoid disturbing the mortals of this realm, we constructed this crystal wall."

Sun Erlang was somewhat unconvinced by Yishu's statement about disturbing mortals. However, he didn't voice his opposition, merely nodding slightly.

Passing through the transparent crystal wall, they officially entered the Taiyan Sect. The moment his feet touched the ground, Sun Erlang suddenly felt countless pairs of eyes all focused on him. Among them were auras of Dao Integration realm experts. Sun Erlang was secretly alarmed: "The Taiyan Sect's power is incredibly well-preserved. How are there still so many cultivators? How did they cope with 'Laws Cannot Be Cultivated Together'?"

As they ventured deeper into the floating city, the strange feeling in Sun Erlang's heart intensified. "It's too quiet here. It doesn't resemble a normal, vibrant city at all," he thought. "And..." Sun Erlang paused. He finally realized the source of the anomaly he felt. The Taiyan Sect cultivators here, much like the treants in the Spiritwood Realm, all emitted the same aura despite having different faces. It was as if they were countless bodies of a single person!

Though startled, Sun Erlang remained composed. Instead of letting his mind wander, he directly asked, "Senior Yi, your Taiyan Sect..."

Yishu seemed to have sensed Sun Erlang's confusion and smiled: "You will understand everything after you meet Senior Brother Chen. But rest assured, young sir, our Taiyan Sect has always been clear about its grievances and favors. By returning the remains of a Taiyan Sect disciple, you have shown kindness to our sect. While the alliance you spoke of may not come to fruition, you absolutely do not need to worry about your personal safety."

Sun Erlang made no comment, swallowing the words he had been about to say.

Following Yishu, they arrived at a blue, transparent crystal building in the center of the floating city. It was as if he saw countless versions of himself entering simultaneously. When Sun Erlang recovered from the illusion, a handsome man with waist-length hair stood before him.

"Senior Brother Chen," Yishu greeted with a cupped-hand salute.

"Yixing also went to the Daxuan minor world to carry out a sect mission. Back then, due to his aptitude, he was never able to enter inner sect cultivation and always harbored resentment..."

"Now, times have changed. What was inner sect or outer sect has long become a joke. Let Yixing return." Senior Brother Chen, who was Chen Tianhai of the Taiyan Sect whom Li Fan had once met, spoke in a calm tone.

"Thank you, Senior Brother," Yishu said, bowing with utmost solemnity. Then his form became ethereal, transforming into blue starlight and vanishing.

Only then did Chen Tianhai turn to Sun Erlang. What he said next was astonishing: "According to the original trajectory, you, Sun Erlang, after repeatedly seeking immortality on Jieli Mountain without success, would have settled down completely, married, and had children. Seven years later, dissatisfied with the excessive demands of the new prefect, you would have killed someone in anger. Afterward, you and your companion Wang Xuanba would have become mountain bandits, causing trouble for the local villagers. After more than a decade of creating havoc, you would ultimately be annihilated by the imperial army. You and Wang Xuanba would fight to the death rather than surrender, and your bodies would be dismembered by countless blades."

Listening to the "fate" the other party described for him, Sun Erlang couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"But now, everything is different."

"Your future..." Chen Tianhai's figure became azure and ethereal. However, after only a moment, it returned to normal.

"Wonderful! Beyond the variables!"

"The Saint Dynasty of Qi, indeed..." A strange light flickered in Chen Tianhai's eyes. "To cause such a massive deviation in just a few years..." He mumbled to himself, seemingly having discovered something incredibly exciting.

"Do you know the origin of your Master?" Chen Tianhai asked.

Sun Erlang simply looked at Chen Tianhai silently.

"Right, it's not just that you don't know. Even if you did, you probably wouldn't or couldn't say it," Chen Tianhai said with an enigmatic smile.

Sun Erlang suddenly felt a sense of unease.

"Oh, wait, the cultivation method you practice..." Chen Tianhai, who had been observing Sun Erlang, suddenly changed the subject, looking somewhat surprised and uncertain. "Is it the Mountain-Sitting Art of the Divine Wood Sect?"