Infinite Save: I Cultivate Immortality Through Reincarnation - Chapter 282: Strange
No, perhaps I shouldn’t view his current state of mind as simply being vigilant in times of peace.
Because Chen Yan was very clear—the outcome of Heavenly Summit Mountain’s destruction was destined to arrive. This was a fact already completely set in stone sixty thousand years ago, which was precisely the time period he now found himself in.
His goal was to uncover the truth behind Heavenly Summit Mountain’s destruction and then eradicate the Cause of Calamity…
But could he really return to that time sixty thousand years in the future?
Chen Yan had no way to guarantee it.
Because every breath he took, every heartbeat, every circulation of true qi through his meridians undoubtedly proved that he was alive and vibrant here and now.
At the same time, he also couldn’t confirm whether he was trapped in an illusion or not.
Chen Yan sat at the desk in his own residence, recalling all the intelligence he had gathered from Heavenly Summit Mountain over the past month or so.
This intelligence included information both internal and external to Heavenly Summit Mountain.
For example, there was related intelligence concerning the Five Great Sects.
In this current era, the Five Great Sects had already become, aside from Heavenly Summit Mountain, the five Top-Tier Sects of Chenping Continent.
The reason they could become Top-Tier Sects was simple.
Because aside from Heavenly Summit Mountain, only these five immortal cultivation sects had ever produced a great power who reached the Immortal Ascension Realm.
Chen Yan attempted to analyze, based on the current structure of the cultivation world, just how much time remained before Heavenly Summit Mountain’s destruction.
The span of history was simply too vast, making it extremely difficult for Chen Yan to pinpoint an accurate timeframe based on the intelligence he currently possessed.
The conclusion he ultimately reached was that it might be tomorrow, or it might be a hundred years from now.
Chen Yan had no other choice.
Simultaneously, he also tried to dig out any clues from recent events, both internal and external to Heavenly Summit Mountain, that could potentially lead to its destruction.
But he found nothing.
The only thing that struck him as peculiar was the mad Elder Wen Mian.
“Senior Brother Chen.”
A somewhat reluctant young woman’s voice came from outside the room.
Having been transported to the peak period of Heavenly Summit Mountain for over a month now, Chen Yan naturally knew who the owner of this voice was.
Jing Miao.
The ceremonial official of the Water Mirror Pavilion’s Internal Affairs Hall, essentially his deputy.
She was twenty-two years old this year, with a cultivation realm at the mid-stage of the Qi Sea Realm. Her cultivation talent could be considered above average within Heavenly Summit Mountain.
As for Chen Yan himself, he was now twenty-six years old.
This age was consistent with his age from over sixty thousand years in the future, before he was transported to this era—the age when he killed Zhai Yushi, obtained the Heavenly Summit Mirror fragment, and was standing in the main hall of Heavenly Summit Palace.
Chen Yan was still Chen Yan.
It was just that he was now in the peak period of Heavenly Summit Palace, over sixty thousand years in the past.
As for why his identity was that of a Supervisor of the Water Mirror Pavilion’s Internal Affairs Hall, and why so many Heavenly Summit Mountain disciples recognized him…
Chen Yan couldn’t figure it out. He could only temporarily attribute it to the immense power of the Heavenly Summit Mirror fragment.
Speaking of the Heavenly Summit Mirror…
The Heavenly Summit Mirror right now should also be complete.
“Senior Brother Chen!”
The reluctant young woman’s voice came from outside the room again.
Chen Yan finally stood up and walked towards the door.
He pushed the door open, and standing in front of it was, naturally, a pouting Jing Miao.
Despite being twenty-two, her appearance looked like that of a girl merely fifteen or sixteen.
“How many more times do I have to call you?”
Jing Miao said.
“What is it?”
Chen Yan completely ignored Jing Miao’s minor temper and simply asked.
If you added up all the years Chen Yan had lived through across all his Cycles of Reincarnation, even he himself had completely lost track of his true current age.
However, in terms of the elevation and maturation of his own state of mind, the years spent traveling all over Qingque Kingdom with Ding Qiu, and the years he served as the sect master of North Pass Sect, contributed far more to the growth of his experience and the elevation of his mental state than all his other reincarnations combined.
A person’s experience and mental state are often determined by the heights they stand at and the experiences they undergo.
Mortals are the same.
A centenarian who spent their entire life confined to a single village would not have broader horizons and knowledge than a twenty-something wandering swordsman who has seen the world.
As for cultivators, take Jing Miao in front of Chen Yan as an example. She is twenty-two.
For some women in the secular world, at Jing Miao’s age, they might already be mothers, with children running around.
Yet Jing Miao’s appearance remains stuck at fifteen or sixteen, and so is her mental state.
Because she spends the vast majority of her time cultivating. It’s not just Jing Miao; there are many cultivators in this world who know only how to cultivate relentlessly. They might retain a juvenile mindset even at a hundred years old.
“Supervisor Zhao is looking for you at the Internal Affairs Hall. He said starting tomorrow, matters concerning Elder Wen should be handled by people under his command. He needs to hand things over to you.”
Jing Miao said.
“Understood.”
With that, Chen Yan stepped out of his residence, with Jing Miao following behind him.
“Speaking of which, Junior Sister Jing, how many years have you known me?”
Walking towards the direction of the Water Mirror Pavilion’s Internal Affairs Hall, Chen Yan asked this question casually, as if making light conversation.
This was his usual method for extracting information.
Pretend it’s casual chat, then obtain the relevant intelligence he needed from within.
“Why ask such a question all of a sudden?”
Jing Miao, following behind Chen Yan, retorted with a question.
“Just suddenly feeling a bit sentimental, that’s all.”
Chen Yan shook his head with a smile:
“So, how many years have we known each other?”
“…”
Jing Miao did not answer Chen Yan’s question.
Her reaction suddenly made Chen Yan, walking ahead, feel a slight sense of something odd.
When he turned his head to look at Jing Miao, he found her expression showed no abnormality whatsoever; she had simply ignored his question.
“Don’t remember?”
Chen Yan pressed again.
“Of course I remember!”
Jing Miao said, sounding somewhat indignant.
So it’s been how long…
Chen Yan was originally going to ask that, but just as the words were about to leave his mouth, he swallowed back the nearly uttered sentence.
It was best not to press any further, otherwise it might arouse suspicion.
About half an incense stick’s worth of time later, Chen Yan arrived at the Internal Affairs Hall. Supervisor Zhao was waiting for him outside.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Supervisor Zhao!”
Chen Yan very naturally walked over towards Supervisor Zhao.
“No rush, no rush! I’m not busy with anything right now!”
Supervisor Zhao said to Chen Yan with a smile.
The handover of duties was simple. Mainly, Chen Yan needed to brief Supervisor Zhao on Elder Wen’s recent condition—whether any abnormalities had appeared.
“With that, I am relieved. Working alongside Supervisor Chen is truly a blessing for this humble Zhao!”
Supervisor Zhao said this courteously to Chen Yan.
“Look at you, Supervisor Zhao, saying such things.”
Chen Yan responded with a smile. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he asked Supervisor Zhao:
“Speaking of which, how long has it been since you and I started working together here at the Internal Affairs Hall?”
“Well, it’s been quite a long time now.”
Supervisor Zhao answered with a smile.
“So, how long exactly?”
Chen Yan pressed further.
“…”
Silence.
Supervisor Zhao, standing before Chen Yan, simply fell silent all of a sudden, exactly like Jing Miao had not long ago.
And the smile on Chen Yan’s face also froze slightly for an instant at this very moment.
