Senior sister, stop working and go home for dinner.

Chapter 361 Countdown: Before Departure

Chen Anran nodded.

He looked up at the sky; the sun had already sunk behind the western mountains, leaving only a dark red hue on the horizon.

Night is about to fall.

And what they are about to traverse is three thousand years of time, which is even deeper than this night.

"At 8 a.m. one month from now," Chen Anran announced finally, "I will activate the Time-Traces Jade and take everyone to the Great Qian Dynasty."

"This month, you may take care of any unfinished business in this realm, bid farewell to your relatives and friends, and prepare your belongings."

"Remember, we may not be coming back."

"And remember, what we're going to bring back isn't just a few people, but a... different future."

In the square, everyone stood solemnly.

A night breeze blew by, carrying the coolness of the mountains.

Chen Anran turned and walked towards the main hall. His back was as straight as a pine tree in the twilight, yet it seemed to bear the weight of an entire era.

Behind him were his companions who would accompany him through three thousand years.

Before him lay an unknown past and a faint hope.

But no matter what, he had to take this step.

For my senior sisters.

For the sake of the Hidden Cloud Sect.

For that line—"Go home, the porridge is getting cold."

………………

The nights at the Hidden Cloud Sect have never been so long, nor so short.

Since the announcement at the square that day, the area both on and off the mountain has been enveloped in a strange atmosphere of intertwined busyness and silence.

Chen Anran gave everyone a month.

A month is nothing more than thirty days and nights for an ordinary person, but for a cultivator, especially one whose spiritual energy has been cut off and whose path of cultivation has been severed, it is enough to cause a complete upheaval in their state of mind.

The mountain gate was no longer completely closed, but Lu Kong and Huiming took turns guarding it, and unless necessary, they did not allow outsiders to easily disturb the "preparations" on the mountain. Most people did not know exactly what these preparations were, but they vaguely knew that Yunyin Sect was going to make a big move, and that Master Chen seemed to be planning something earth-shattering.

Most of the Feng and Jiang families descended the mountain the following day. The brothers Feng Changyuan and Feng Lie stayed behind to contact Feng Lu and purchase the supplies needed for their journey to the ancient era.

The remaining members of the family were sent back, firstly to handle family affairs and make necessary arrangements—after all, this departure might truly be a final farewell; secondly, to keep the secret and prevent the news from leaking out too early, which could cause unnecessary trouble or panic.

In the days that followed, Yunyin Mountain entered a peculiar state of busyness.

Tourists at the resort at the foot of the mountain have been evacuated—Shen Zui has temporarily closed the entire resort, citing a "geological disaster warning."

In the Feng family's training ground in Yun City, more than thirty Feng family disciples stood in formation. The family head, Feng Wenzheng, stood on a high platform, accompanied by Feng Wenyuan, Feng Yue, and a group of elders.

More than thirty members of the Feng family, all of whom were the core direct descendants and elites from collateral branches, stood in formation, completely silent. But deep within each pair of eyes burned a suppressed fire—not the ambitious fire of their usual cultivation, but a fire of survival mixed with desire, struggle, and even a trace of panic.

The spiritual energy has been cut off for nearly half a month.

At first, there was only stagnation, but gradually it turned into complete emptiness. No matter how they activated their family's traditional techniques or how they sensed and breathed, there was no spiritual response from heaven and earth. The gentle power that had once nourished their meridians and filled their dantian had vanished completely. They were like fish suddenly thrown onto dry land, each breath filled with a suffocating panic.

The path of spiritual practice has ended.

At least in this realm, it's severed.

Now, a new path, or rather, a path back to an era when spirituality still existed, is right before us.

On the high platform, the patriarch Feng Wenzheng stood with a solemn expression, his gaze slowly sweeping over every face below, young or no longer young. Beside him stood Feng Wenyuan and Feng Yue, and on either side were three elders with deep auras and white hair and beards. At this moment, even these elders, who were usually high-ranking and pampered, could not hide a trace of anxiety between their brows.

"I presume you have already heard why I have summoned you all here," Feng Wenzheng began. "Fellow Daoist Chen of the Yunyin Sect wishes to use a supreme treasure to lead us back three thousand years to return to the Great Qian Dynasty. This journey has two purposes: first, to reverse the tragedy and save... all fellow Daoists of the Yunyin Sect, including Feng Xiaolu, a descendant of my Feng family; second," he paused, his tone becoming more serious, "is also to find a path for us cultivators... to continue our cultivation."

The students in the audience were breathing noticeably more rapidly.

"However, the reversal of time involves cause and effect, and is fraught with unpredictable dangers. Furthermore, due to the limitations of the secret treasure, the number of people who can carry it is limited." Feng Wenzheng continued, glancing at Feng Wenyuan and Feng Yue beside him. "Elders Wenyuan and Feng Yue, as well as Feng Changyuan and Feng Lie, have received Fellow Daoist Chen's approval to accompany us. In addition, True Person Chen has granted our Feng family six more slots."

The moment the words "six spots" were uttered, the air in the training ground seemed to freeze instantly, and then suddenly boil over!

"Six spots?! My Feng family has thirty-seven core disciples present, plus all the elders..."

"Master! How can this matter be handled so hastily!"

"Xiao Lu is my Feng family's daughter. Saving her is our Feng family's duty! But there are so few spots available, how can we possibly have enough?"

The crowd was in an uproar, with discussions swirling. Amidst the interplay of fear and hope, the usual hierarchical order seemed to be crumbling.

The crowd was in an uproar, with discussions swirling. Amidst the interplay of fear and hope, the usual hierarchical order seemed to be crumbling.

"Silence!" An elder with a face as red as a date stepped forward and shouted sternly. This finally managed to quell the noise in the room.

He is Feng Lishan, the sixth elder of the family, and is known for his fiery temper and uprightness.

Feng Wenzheng raised his hand, signaling Feng Lishan to calm down. "Precisely because the spots are precious and the matter is of great importance, we must make a careful choice. This trip is not for sightseeing, but for survival, and we bear the heavy responsibility of changing the past and influencing the future. We need to consider strength, temperament, wisdom, as well as our understanding and determination regarding the Yunyin Sect and the matter of the little deer."

Before he finished speaking, some people in the audience couldn't contain themselves any longer.

A burly young man, bearing a resemblance to Feng Lie, stepped forward first, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and proclaimed loudly, "Patriarch, esteemed elders! This disciple, Feng Gang, possesses mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation and is resilient enough to serve as the vanguard! Little Deer has been close to me since returning home, and rescuing her is my duty! Moreover, the spiritual energy of this realm is exhausted; staying here would only lead to a life of mere survival. This disciple is willing to travel back in time to fight for a future for the family and for my own path!"

His voice was loud and clear, his eyes were firm, and he directly pointed out the core issue that everyone cared about most: the "path."

Immediately, another woman with delicate features and bright eyes stepped forward. She was Feng Zhi from a collateral branch of the Feng family. Although her cultivation was only at the early stage of Qi Refining, she was well-known in the clan for her quick wit and excellent medical skills: "Patriarch, your disciple Feng Zhi may not be as skilled as your elder brothers, but I am proficient in pharmacology and first aid. In ancient times, the environment was unfamiliar and fraught with danger, so healing and detoxification were indispensable. Perhaps I can come in handy."

Following this, several more people stepped forward to volunteer, some emphasizing their combat prowess, others highlighting their special skills, some recounting their feelings for Feng Xiaolu, and still others frankly expressing their yearning for spiritual energy and their fear of a hopeless future remaining in this realm. The scene became noisy again, even tinged with tension.

"Enough!" The Second Elder, a thin old man with sharp, eagle-like eyes, spoke coldly. He was the Feng family elder in charge of criminal justice and intelligence, and was known for his calm and taciturn nature. "What kind of behavior is this, making such a racket! The allocation of spots is not decided by who shouts the loudest or who pleads the most pitiful!"

His cold gaze swept over the few disciples who were arguing the most fiercely, and they immediately fell silent and lowered their heads.

Feng Xuanying looked at the family head Feng Wen, then at Feng Wenyuan and Feng Yue, and slowly said, "In my opinion, this matter needs to be weighed comprehensively. Strength is indeed the foundation for survival; special skills are also indispensable; but the connection and trust with the Yunyin Sect, especially with Chen Zhenren and Xiaolu, is of paramount importance. After all, we are going to rely on others, seeking protection and fighting side by side."

The Grand Elder, Feng Gusong, who had remained silent until now, and was also the most accomplished and oldest member of the Feng family, stroked his long, snow-white beard and slowly spoke, "Xuanying's words are reasonable. However, I have something else to say." His cloudy yet still piercing eyes swept over the elders on the platform, finally settling on the family head, Feng Wen, "This opportunity is a once-in-a-millennium event. It not only concerns the future of our descendants, but also the Feng family's... position and inheritance in the possible new order of the future. I am already old, and should not compete with the younger generation for this opportunity..."

He paused, then abruptly changed the subject: "However, I am a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, and have immersed myself in alchemy for over a hundred years. I may have unique insights into the ancient spiritual environment and the changes in spiritual herbs. I even had a brief encounter with the late headmaster of the Yunyin Sect, where we discussed alchemy principles. If I were to go, I might be able to establish trust with the Yunyin Sect more quickly, securing more... a foothold for my family."

These words shocked everyone, both on and off the stage!

The Grand Elder himself has personally entered the fray to compete for a spot! This undoubtedly indicates that the intensity and cruelty of this competition have far exceeded expectations, to the point that even the highest levels have been unable to remain detached.

Feng Lishan, known for his fiery temper, couldn't help but snort upon hearing this: "Old Gu, you are highly respected and your presence in the family is a pillar of stability. This journey is fraught with uncertainty and great risk. Why must you personally take such a dangerous risk? Why not leave the opportunity to a more ambitious young person? Passing on your alchemical insights would be a great achievement!"

Feng Gusong slightly raised his eyelids and said calmly, "Sixth brother, now that spiritual energy is exhausted, alchemy has become a thing of the past in this realm. Insights? They're nothing but a pile of waste paper. My path lies ahead. Besides, although I'm old, these bones of mine may not be any less resilient than those of young people."

The patriarch, Feng Wenzheng, who had been mostly silent, felt immense pressure as he sensed the deeper anxiety in the eyes of the disciples below and the invisible power struggle among the elders on the stage.

However, he was secretly delighted.

Because Chen Anran gave them seven spots, not six.

He missed reporting one because he already wanted it.

Who wouldn't want to embark on the path of cultivation? Even if it means going to an extremely dangerous ancient era.

A similar scene unfolded in the Jiang family of Sichuan, where the competition was even fiercer...

………………

In a presidential suite at the Yunyin Sect Resort International Hot Spring Hotel, Daoist Tianbao and Shen Zui were staying. Neither of them had returned to Maoshan.

Given the prevailing customs of Maoshan, the scrolls from the Jiang and his family were not sealed. Master Tianbao simply sent a short message to the elders of his sect and then left it at that.

At this moment, Daoist Tianbao was lying on the sofa with his legs crossed, holding a wine gourd in his hand, taking sips here and there. The wine was ordinary rice wine, without any spiritual energy, and tasted bland.

Shen Zui sat to the side, his brows furrowed, holding a stack of talisman paper in his hand, trying to draw talismans, but when the pen tip touched the paper, there was no reaction—without spiritual energy infused, the talismans were nothing more than scribbles.

"Don't bother trying, it's useless," Master Tianbao said lazily. "I've tried eight hundred times in the past few days, and it's all been for naught. This world is truly 'dead'."

Shen Zui slumped down, putting down his pen. "Master, are we really going to that... Great Qian?"

"What, scared?" Master Tianbao glanced at him sideways.

"It's not that I'm afraid..." Shen Zui scratched his head, "It's just that...it's too far-fetched. Time travel back three thousand years...is that really possible? Could it be that Fellow Daoist Chen...suffered some kind of shock, so..."

"So what? Gone mad?" Master Tianbao sneered. "Kid, I've lived for decades and seen plenty of people. That look in Chen's eyes isn't the look of a madman. It's the look of someone who's decided on a path and will walk it even if it means death. Besides," he took a swig of wine, "even your Uncle Qi went, how could I not go? Little Black Panther is very shrewd; she won't do a losing business."

Mentioning Qi Lan, Shen Zui's expression became even stranger: "Senior Aunt Qi... seems quite looking forward to it?"

"Her," Master Tianbao gazed at the roof beam, "has lived too long, seen everything, and is bored with everything. This kind of suicidal... no, this kind of exciting thing is just to her liking."

He put down his wine gourd, sat up straight, and the playful expression on his face faded: "Shen Zui, what do we cultivators seek? Immortality? Freedom? Or... to witness the true mysteries of this world?"

Shen Zui was stunned.

"The path to immortality is now severed, and true freedom is hard to find," Master Tianbao said slowly. "But to travel through time, to reverse history, to witness and even participate in a completely different era... isn't that an even greater 'mystery'? This might be my only chance in this lifetime. I'm not willing to die in this desolate place where spiritual energy is exhausted." He paused slightly, then added, "And after a thousand years, when I return to the modern era, perhaps I can still save my old friend's life."

"Master, are you referring to Elder Zhang of Longhu Mountain?"

"Hmm, who else could it be but him?"

Then, Master Tianbao looked at Shen Zui and said, "If you don't want to go, then stay."

Shen Zui remained silent for a long time before finally raising his head, his eyes becoming resolute: "Disciple...is willing to go with Master."

"That's more like it." Master Tianbao grinned, lay back down, and shook his wine gourd. "Then let's prepare. Bring plenty of cinnabar and yellow paper; once we get there, the spiritual energy will reappear, and they'll definitely be useful."

………………

Meanwhile, on the other side of the resort, there is the Lingqiaofang (Ingenious Workshop).

Jiang Yun and Asheng have been spending all their time in the several large boxes that Jiang Yan brought. The boxes don't contain gold or silver jewelry, but rather all sorts of ingenious and precise mechanical devices, blueprints and notes, as well as some rare materials sealed using special methods.

"Uncle has brought half of his fortune here," Jiang Yun said to Asheng with a wry smile, his hands moving non-stop as he quickly identified, categorized, and assembled some small, portable mechanisms. "He said that once we get there, we won't know anyone, and these things might be more useful than magic."

Ah Sheng silently helped by handing over the tools, occasionally pointing to a complex structure on the blueprints. Jiang Yun's eyes would light up, and the two would discuss it in hushed tones. In this era of spiritual stagnation, these "ingenious skills" relying on the laws of physics and ingenious designs seemed to exude a unique sense of security.

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