Chapter Thirty-Five: An Old Benefactor Appears in the Mountain Cave

A gentle breeze drifted by, and the sun shone high in a cloudless sky. Yet on such a beautiful day, not a soul stepped out to admire it; all remained confined within their rooms, immersed in cultivation. Clearly, everyone placed great importance on the decisive battle looming only days ahead. Through the paper window, one could glimpse Yushang seated cross-legged atop his bed, eyes tightly shut, his expression grave. Perhaps some trouble had arisen amidst his cultivation. Beads of sweat streamed down his cold, handsome face like rainfall. His brows knit together, and his breaths came in rapid, labored bursts. The hands that had moments before rested upon his knees were now clenched into fists, the veins bulging so tautly upon them that one feared they might burst if he tightened his grip even further.

If one listened closely, it was as though a great battle raged within his body—blood surging, heart pounding, the mysterious gate within him opening and closing with furious speed. None of these forces appeared able to coexist, each striving to vanquish the others and claim dominion. Presently, Yushang unfurled his fists and slowly raised both hands before his chest, guiding the true energy within him to converge at his heart. Then, after a few slow rotations of his joined hands, he gently lowered them. With a final exhalation, his tightly shut eyes opened. After this cycle of breath and energy, the pallor had faded from his face, replaced by a healthy flush upon his cheeks.

“What is happening to me? No matter what I try, I cannot fully open it. Each time I muster all my true energy and attempt to force open the gate, I feel as though the organs and meridians within my body are about to rupture. What am I to do? If this continues, when will I ever find the path to the other world?” Yushang muttered to himself in frustration. He despised his own ineptitude; so much time had passed, yet he still could not unravel the secret of the gate within him. In truth, he had already tried many methods—feeding it with crystals and immortal fruits, channeling true energy and essence into it—yet nothing had any effect. He felt trapped at a bottleneck; though he could see boundless vistas beyond, he could find no way past the barrier.

Just as he despaired, a distant transmission reached his ears, the voice of an old man speaking slowly to Yushang: “Young man, why so impatient? Only with a calm heart can the mind be clear. Would you like to know how to open the gate within you? Head south for a hundred miles, and you’ll see a mountain. There, you’ll find all your answers. Remember, you must go alone!”

“Who are you, and how do you know so much about me?” The voice was uncannily familiar to Yushang, yet for a moment, he could not recall where he had heard it before.

“A good blade is given to the worthy, no reason needed.” With that, the voice faded away, as if nothing had happened.

“Old benefactor!” Yushang exclaimed in delight, immediately rising to leave the academy and seek out the place the old man had described.

His heart was fraught with both anticipation and confusion along the way—eager to see the benefactor he had not met in so long, yet puzzled as to the reason for being summoned. His instincts told him it was not merely about the gate within his body—could it also involve the mysterious region within the ancient city of Biluo? Apart from this, he could think of no other reason. Although the old benefactor had once selflessly given him a divine blade, Yushang always suspected there was some hidden purpose or benefit involved. It seemed that this meeting too was one of mutual need. Yushang’s thinking was always pragmatic; he did not believe that someone he had only met once would give him so much for nothing, unless the man was either a madman or harbored ulterior motives.

After a long search, he finally arrived at the place the old benefactor had mentioned, yet found nothing remarkable about it. “Young man, you’ve finally come. I’ve been waiting for you a long time!” The old man’s voice echoed in his mind once more. Suddenly, the tangled vines and wild grass clinging to the mountainside seemed to come alive, parting on their own to reveal a clearing shaped like a great doorway. Yushang reached out to touch the exposed rock face, only to be sucked in and vanish in an instant. When he regained his senses, he found himself standing within a mountain cavern.

The cave was most peculiar: on each side, lamps in the shape of ancient divine dragons blazed with steady light, their noble forms exuding an awe-inspiring presence. The lamp wicks were set in the mouths of the dragons, glowing like pearls. Upon closer inspection, the walls themselves were fashioned from iridescent mystical iron, and the murals etched upon them were exquisitely lifelike, brimming with spirit. Yushang found these murals uncannily familiar. Then, as flashes of memory crossed his mind, he realized—they were drawn by the same hand as those in the Netherworld, and even the scenes depicted were continuous and interconnected. Evidently, this place was closely linked to the Netherworld, and the old benefactor might well be entangled with the mysterious Master of the Netherworld.

Venturing further, Yushang discovered that the cavern spiraled upward; the farther he walked, the higher he ascended. He strolled on, admiring the wondrous murals, perfectly at ease. The murals depicted the ancient gods forging the world from the miasma of heaven and earth, the forging of another world by the same means, and at last, the terrifying war between immortals and the underworld. Harmony and joy, slaughter and rage—all played out across these endless murals, stirring Yushang’s heart between tranquility and sorrow, unable to settle. Surveying the world, he saw that all beings were born innocent, yet as time passed, the ugliness of human nature was revealed, leading to the chaotic state of mutual destruction and oppression between the realms.

Yushang could not help but sigh: “Right and wrong in this world are truly simple, yet it’s the human heart that makes things ugly and complex. Every cause and effect springs from a heart that refuses to accept the ordinary. Sometimes, our hardships and setbacks are not Heaven’s fault at all—we have only ourselves to blame for our own lack of repentance.” With a shake of his head, he continued forward.

After who knew how long, Yushang reached the end of the cave—yet it was only the beginning of another. Before him now were two tunnels, one black and one white. One appeared bright and spacious, filled with birdsong and floral fragrance; the other was narrow, dark, and in ruins. Though there were no signs or instructions, Yushang knew this was a test set by the old benefactor. But with his temperament, how could he seek comfort and choose the seemingly safe and easy path? Without hesitation, he chose the treacherous and unpredictable shadowy trail.

Fortunately, he traversed it safely and without incident. It seemed that things were not always as terrifying as they appeared; perhaps, by entering and exploring, one might make unexpected discoveries. Sometimes, a task that seemed insurmountable and fraught with pain would, upon bravely undertaking it, prove to be nothing so dreadful after all. All along, he had only magnified the challenge in his mind; it was just himself frightening himself.

“You truly are unlike ordinary men. I did not misjudge you after all,” the old man said, smiling with satisfaction when he saw Yushang. “Had it been someone else, they would have chosen that seemingly safe and easy road. But you alone chose the perilous, daunting path. Even had you chosen the easy road, nothing would have happened; you would simply have wandered in circles, never finding me.”

Closer inspection revealed that the old man resembled a hermit sage, clothed in a light, flowing robe of blue gauze, his long silver beard almost sweeping the ground, lending him an air of otherworldly nobility. But most striking of all was the staff in his hand—unremarkable at first glance, yet inlaid with a luminous pale-violet gem that shone dazzlingly bright.

“It has been a long time, Elder. I hope you have been well? May I ask what business brings you to summon me today?” Yushang dispensed with pleasantries, preferring to speak plainly.

“You are a straightforward fellow indeed. Not even a few words of courtesy before getting to the point!” The old man was not offended by Yushang’s directness; in fact, he admired it.

“I admit I am impatient, Elder. But this matter concerns my future, and I cannot afford to waste time on small talk.” Yushang longed to know what he ought to do, yet the old man always diverted the conversation, discussing trivialities instead—was it not deliberate torment?

“Very well, I shall not test your patience any longer. Let us get to the heart of the matter.” Stroking his long beard, the old man continued, “You wish to know how to open the gate within your body? It is closely tied to the blade I once gave you. That blade is a superior divine weapon, endowed with great spirit—but during the Immortal-Underworld War, it and another equal weapon were both shattered, reduced to fragments. Though the blade now seems flawless, its true spirit and power have diminished greatly. If you can recover all its fragments and merge them with your own cultivation, it will become whole again—and that restored blade will be the key to unlocking your inner gate. If you also unite it with the other divine weapon, you will be truly invincible. Alas, that other weapon is scattered and has chosen new masters. Though its main sword is in your possession, reuniting them is a task of utmost difficulty—whether you succeed or not depends on your destiny.”

“Then, Elder, how might I find the blade’s fragments and the three other swords? I am ignorant and seek your guidance,” Yushang replied with utmost respect.

“Heaven truly favors you. Right now, an opportunity lies before you to find one of the blade’s fragments. It is hidden in the mysterious region within the ancient city of Biluo. If you can gain entry, you will have a good chance of retrieving it. But do not underestimate the dangers inside—they are far greater than you imagine!” The old man advised kindly, lest Yushang fall to carelessness and perish.

“Is there anything you yourself require from that place, Elder? I owe you so much and cannot simply take advantage of your kindness and walk away. If you need anything, I will do all I can to retrieve it for you,” Yushang volunteered before the old man could reply.

“Your mind is truly beyond the reach of ordinary men—a natural born ruler,” the old man said with a sigh. “What I ask of you is not so difficult. It is said that the daughter of a great immortal, the woman who once married a king, is buried there. If you find her coffin, place this upon it for me, and relay this message: ‘Whether in life or death, my promise to you remains unchanged.’” At this, sorrow flickered in the old man’s eyes and his voice trembled. He removed the pale-violet gem from his staff and placed it in Yushang’s hand.

Yushang had not expected the old benefactor’s request to be so simple and readily agreed. “I will see it done as you have asked!”

“Do not think it is so easy—merely approaching that coffin will be no simple matter. Be cautious and do not let your guard down!” the old man exhorted, then with a wave of his hand, sent Yushang out of the cave in the blink of an eye. When Yushang looked back, the cave mouth had vanished without a trace, never to be found again.