System Granted Me Immortality; I Outlived Everyone

Chapter 32: The Reappearance of the Ancient Bronze Hall, An Olive Branch from the Xuanwu Kingdom

Chen Changsheng was in the midst of treating the townsfolk’s ailments.

Suddenly, several suffocating waves of Pressure descended from the distant horizon.

Sensing the overwhelming weight, the low-level cultivators of the Xuanwu Kingdom proficiently parted, carving open a wide path.

“Zuo Xinghe pays his respects to you, sir.”

A young man draped in resplendent silk stepped forward, bowing deeply to Chen Changsheng.

Seeing this, Chen Changsheng’s face tightened into a mask of profound exhaustion.

“I truly regret dragging you from the grave back then. You come here every single year to pester me. It has been a full decade. Do you not find it tiresome?”

Hearing this, the splendidly dressed young man smiled warmly.

“If I can secure your aid, sir, what does a decade matter? I would gladly spend another ten years.”

“Had you not intervened ten years ago, Xinghe would have long since returned to the earth.”

“What Xinghe cannot fathom is why a man of your unfathomable talent is content to rot in this desolate border town.”

“Say the word, and the Xuanwu Kingdom shall anoint you as our State Preceptor!”

Chen Changsheng clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“I refuse the imperial capital not out of arrogance, nor because your tribute is lacking.”

“It is simply because your grand capital cannot compare to the wealth of Kuhai Town!”

“We sit on the very edge of the Monster Beast Mountain Range. The mountains provide an endless daily bounty of fresh herbs and ancient, dense timber.”

“I am a Funeral Man and a physician. These materials are the lifeblood of my trade.”

Faced with Chen Changsheng’s deadpan excuse, Zuo Xinghe smiled without refuting.

Chen Changsheng had used this exact reasoning for ten years, and he had patiently listened for ten years.

“Your words hold truth, sir. Yet, the Xuanwu Kingdom thirsts for true talent. I have brought offerings today that I believe will adequately compensate for your absence.”

As he spoke, Zuo Xinghe lifted the red cloth from a silver tray beside him, revealing two ancient herbs and a jade slip resting within.

“This Seven Star Grass is a royal heirloom, nurtured within the Xuanwu Kingdom’s vaults for over three centuries.”

“And this thousand-year Flesh Lingzhi cost the kingdom an ocean of Blood-Qi and manpower to secure.”

“As for this scripture, it is the legendary Nine Revolutions Profound Art. Though it contains only the first three layers, its profundity rivals any Heaven-grade manual.”

“Accompany me to the imperial capital, and all these treasures are yours.”

Staring at the offerings, a flicker of genuine interest pierced Chen Changsheng’s usual apathy.

The Xuanwu Kingdom walked the path of External Cultivation; their physical bodies were furnaces of Blood-Qi, their raw density vastly outstripping the frail forms of the Daqian Dynasty.

Similarly, the grading of their Cultivation scriptures differed entirely from the Daqian Dynasty.

Here, scriptures were divided into four strict tiers: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. Heaven-grade was the absolute zenith, and Yellow-grade the lowest.

Throughout the entire Xuanwu Kingdom, the only known Heaven-grade scripture was the royal family’s Tian Gang Body Forging Art.

For Zuo Xinghe to casually offer a scripture hailed as second only to the Tian Gang Art meant the prince was truly bleeding his own coffers dry.

Rising from his seat, Chen Changsheng approached Zuo Xinghe, his gaze sweeping over the tray.

“Flesh Lingzhi, Seven Star Grass… These are the primary catalysts for refining the mythical Glazed Pill.”

“It is written that consuming a Glazed Pill forges a Diamond Glazed Body, packing the sinews with enough raw density to shatter mountains and part oceans.”

“In the terminology of my homeland, it would forge a flesh vessel that only a Soul Formation cultivator could scratch.”

A brilliant light flashed in Zuo Xinghe’s eyes at those words.

Yet, Chen Changsheng’s next movement extinguished his hopes entirely.

Because Chen Changsheng coldly pulled the red cloth back over the tray.

Bewildered, Zuo Xinghe asked, “Sir, do these offerings still fall short of your standards?”

“Whatever you desire, name it. If it exists beneath the Heavens, Xinghe will procure it, no matter the cost.”

Chen Changsheng let out a dusty, tired sigh.

“Young Master Xinghe, I am not trying to extort you. I simply refuse to entangle myself in the karmic web of the royal family.”

“The heavier the tribute you offer, the deadlier the catastrophe you expect me to solve.”

“My shoulders are narrow, and my bones are brittle. You should seek a grander hero.”

Dismissing the prince with a wave of his hand, Chen Changsheng turned back toward the shadows of his coffin shop.

At that moment, Zuo Xinghe suddenly called out, “Sir, do you truly have no interest in the Ancient Bronze Hall?”

Chen Changsheng froze in his tracks.

“You found a trail?”

“I did. A decade ago, you mentioned it in passing. Though you spoke casually, Xinghe etched those words into his heart.”

“After ten years of scouring the continent, I have finally grasped a thread.”

“Furthermore, this thread is inextricably tied to the turmoil within the capital. If you wish to uncover the Ancient Bronze Hall, you must walk into the imperial city.”

Chen Changsheng stood perfectly still, the weight of the decision settling heavily on his shoulders.

Ever since he learned that Niansheng had vanished into the void within that accursed hall, he had sought rumors of the others.

Yet, after ten years of silent inquiry, the Xuanwu Kingdom had yielded absolutely nothing.

So much time had passed that the search had faded to the back of his mind.

The eighteen Ancient Bronze Halls were scattered like dust across the realms, and this world was terrifyingly vast.

Finding even one in some remote, forgotten corner was akin to dragging the ocean for a single needle.

Now, with a tangible lead dangling before him, refusing was impossible.

Turning back, Chen Changsheng said, “You have laid a masterful trap.”

“Very well, I will walk this path with you.”

“But hear me clearly: I will only do what is within my power regarding your imperial disputes. I guarantee no miracles.”

“I will pack my tools. Wait outside.”

Zuo Xinghe bowed deeply, his voice trembling with relief. “Xinghe shall respectfully await you, sir.”

……

Stepping into the dim quiet of his coffin shop, Chen Changsheng stored his tools and materials into his system space.

His gaze drifted to a massive, imposing coffin resting in the deepest corner of the room, and he murmured to himself.

“Five years to collect the dead in the Night Moon Country, and another forty-three years carving wood here in the Xuanwu Kingdom.”

“By my count, it has been nearly forty-nine years since I turned my back on the Shangqing Temple.”

“Back then, Third Senior Brother’s foundation was shattered. He had, at most, fifty years of life remaining.”

“The winds of chaos are blowing again. Old Heavens, are you telling me it is time to dig his grave?”

Chen Changsheng walked over, his calloused fingers tracing the intricate array patterns carved deep into the heavy wood.

He had spent forty excruciating years perfecting this single coffin.

Its intended occupant was none other than Perfected Master Yuhua, the monster who had chased him into the Xuanwu Kingdom.

“My esteemed Martial Grandfather!”

“Burying one is a job; burying two is just a bundled service.”

“Since Third Senior Brother’s time is up, there is no reason for you to continue breathing either.”

“Your loyal grand-disciple spent forty years carving this masterpiece for you. You can close your eyes and rest in peace.”

A chilling, deadpan smile curled the corners of Chen Changsheng’s mouth. He swept the massive coffin into his system space, turned his back on the shop that had sheltered him for forty-three years, and stepped out into the light.

……