Volume 3 Chapter 67: True Form

Seeing Zhang Xusheng return to life, everyone present was utterly stunned and momentarily forgot about the current perilous situation at Jiuhua Mountain.

Yet it was Liu Huaxiang who regained his composure first, his gaze turning cold as he looked at Zhang Xusheng and asked, "That experiment, did you succeed?"

Zhang Xusheng was slightly taken aback by Liu Huaxiang’s words and said in surprise, "You actually know about that experiment? Almost everyone thought I was merely researching dark arts, but no one knew the specifics. It seems that old fellow Li Xuhan has told you a lot about me."

At this point, Zhang Xusheng’s smile vanished, and he fixed his gaze on Liu Huaxiang, speaking deliberately, "That’s right, I’ve succeeded with that experiment. In other words, I now have an Immortal Body."

Although Zhang Xusheng was only speaking to Liu Huaxiang, his expression made it seem as if he were announcing something to the whole world.

His words startled everyone in the room.

Even Liu Hualing, who was normally calm and had weathered many storms, was left speechless.

Despite not knowing the details of the experiment Liu Huaxiang and Zhang Xusheng mentioned, the idea of an "Immortal Body" was shocking. The Immortal Body had been the goal that countless cultivators in the cultivation world had sought for thousands of years, with many brilliant talents dedicating their lives to it without success. Yet Zhang Xusheng seemed to have solved this enigma?

Even knowing Zhang Xusheng was the most gifted cultivator in the lineage of Jiuhua Mountain and a once-in-a-generation talent, they never imagined he could accomplish what countless cultivators over millennia could not.

But seeing the serious expressions of Zhang Xusheng and Liu Huaxiang, knowing they would not lie about such a thing, and witnessing the strange change in Zhang Xusheng, Zhang Hualing and the others could not help but believe.

That was the long-cherished wish of countless cultivators in the cultivation world for so many years.

So, even though they knew Zhang Xusheng was the greatest enemy since the founding of Jiuhua, they couldn’t help but look at him with awe.

However, Liu Huaxiang’s next words explained the doubts in Zhang Hualing and the others’ hearts.

Liu Huaxiang’s voice was chilling as he slowly said, "I admit you are a genius, able to achieve what I thought was impossible. But is there anything to be proud of in extending your own life by absorbing the life force of the innocent and merging countless souls into yourself? How is this different from what demon cultivators did millennia ago? How many sins have you committed to complete this experiment? How many innocents have you killed?"

Zhang Xusheng replied calmly, "Reaching a peak that others cannot attain naturally requires some sacrifices, both of oneself and others. This is a step every successful person must go through."

With a sarcastic smile, Zhang Xusheng added, "People like you will never understand my reasoning. But isn’t it strange you worry about these trivial things? Aren’t you concerned for your safety now that you know I’ve obtained an Immortal Body? Your Jiuhua sect stands no chance of victory."

After a brief silence, Liu Huaxiang sneered, "Some sacrifices? Since you betrayed Jiuhua and vanished, I’ve kept watch on you. Though I didn’t always know your whereabouts, your actions were not hidden. Seven hundred years ago, a place called Brandwell City became a ghost town overnight with no survivors. Five hundred years ago, the Kingdom of Melonia faced plague and earthquakes, leaving millions dead, and more recently, eleven sects in the cultivation realm saw thousands of cultivators disappear without a trace. This was your doing, wasn’t it? You’ve claimed the lives of millions of innocents for your immortality. This is your idea of some sacrifices?"

"As for claiming you are now the Immortal Body and unbeatable, I doubt it. You merged countless lives and souls into every drop of your flesh, using them to offset your lost years and damage. Once they’re depleted, you will die the same. Most importantly, as long as that item remains with Jiuhua Gate, you’ll never achieve true immortality with your flawed body. Your Immortal Body will forever have a fatal flaw."

With Liu Huaxiang’s words, the shock on Zhang Hualing and the others’ faces was apparent, while Zhang Xusheng’s eyes narrowed with a gleaming intensity. He earnestly scrutinized Liu Huaxiang, his previously relaxed demeanor gone, asking solemnly, "Who are you? How do you know details from seven centuries ago? If I guess right, you hadn’t even begun cultivating then. And even Zhang Hualing, the sect leader of Jiuhua Gate, only knows I left something there, but not in such detail. I found it strange earlier that my spies at Jiuhua never mentioned you. You’re not just Liu Huaxiang. Who exactly are you?"

Liu Huaxiang sighed softly and said, "Has time dulled your senses? Or have I changed too much over these eight hundred years? Didn’t you feel anything from my tone, my knowledge of you, and my ‘Five-Colored Binding Immortal Rope’?"

Upon hearing Liu Huaxiang, Zhang Xusheng’s body trembled. He carefully examined the seemingly time-ravaged old man before him, then asked in disbelief, "Are you Li Xuhan? You haven’t died? How did you end up like this?"

From his appearance till now, Zhang Xusheng’s usual composure and confidence finally could no longer be maintained.

Li Xuhan? One of the legendary cultivators from Jiuhua Gate, Li Xuhan? The former sect leader of Jiuhua Mountain, and the last Mahayana Stage master cultivator in the past five hundred years at Jiuhua Mountain, Li Xuhan?

Didn’t he die five hundred years ago?

Hearing Zhang Xusheng’s words, Xiao Huazhe and Elder Weichi were even more incredulous and looked again at Liu Huaxiang, only to find that apart from a presence of old age, Liu Huaxiang bore no resemblance to the once dignified and astute sect leader Li Xuhan. But since Zhang Xusheng spoke with such certainty, it wasn’t without reason. The two of them couldn’t help but look towards the current sect leader of Jiuhua, Zhang Hualing, who showed no surprise but nodded slightly to acknowledge, evidently having known all along.

Liu Huaxiang did not deny it either, sighed softly, and said, "That’s right, I am Li Xuhan. You finally recognized me."

Zhang Xusheng said coldly, "You’re alive? Didn’t you die five hundred years ago? How are you here now, and in this state?"

A tinge of self-mockery appeared on Li Xuhan’s face as he said, "Since I’m here now, it proves the news of my death five hundred years ago was false. Junior Brother Zhang, with your intelligence, how could you ask such pointless questions?"

Zhang Xusheng, however, said in a firm voice, "Impossible. If it were merely a false rumor, it couldn’t have deceived my eyes. The reason I believed the news of your death from Jiuhua back then was due to my calculations based on your cultivation level, age, and the injuries you sustained while chasing me eight hundred years ago, deducing that indeed five hundred years ago your end should have come."

At this point, Zhang Xusheng seemed to suddenly realize something, shook violently, and looked at Li Xuhan in shock, slowly saying, "I understand now."

Li Xuhan fell silent for a moment and then said calmly, "It’s good that you understand."

Zhang Xusheng sneered, "Eight hundred years ago, I was forced to flee Jiuhua Mountain because my experiments were discovered, but I had to leave all my completed work behind due to time constraints. The fact that you’ve lived this long and have become what you are now must mean you’ve studied my results, right?"

Zhang Xusheng’s sneering expression grew even more pronounced as he continued, "Brother Li, didn’t you just say my experiments were too cruel? Yet here you are, studying them too, just to live a few more centuries. Since you spoke so righteously just now, why don’t you tell us how many innocent lives you sacrificed to live another five hundred years?"

After hearing Zhang Xusheng’s words, Li Xuhan remained silent as if he had no response.

Suddenly, Zhang Xusheng exclaimed, "No! My research back then was brief, and the results left at Jiuhua Mountain were sparse. You couldn’t have relied on them to live for five hundred years. Did you actually use the things I left at Jiuhua Mountain on yourself?!"

By the end, Zhang Xusheng was shouting, clearly indicating how important the "things left at Jiuhua Mountain" were to him.

Hearing Zhang Xusheng’s series of statements, Xiao Huazhe and Elder Weichi were bewildered, not understanding what he meant, while Zhang Hualing sighed deeply.

"Junior brother sect leader, what exactly is this ‘thing’ you all keep mentioning?"

Xiao Huazhe could no longer contain his curiosity and asked Zhang Hualing in a whisper.

Zhang Hualing sighed once more and replied softly, "That ‘thing’ is Zhang Xusheng’s heart."

"What?!"

Following that, Zhang Hualing slowly recounted the eight-hundred-year-old forgotten history of Jiuhua Mountain to Xiao Huazhe and Elder Weichi.

It was a tale of grudges, the understanding of good and evil, a story of turning friends into enemies, and a scheme lasting eight hundred years.

Perhaps, the story itself represents a legend.