Chapter 1421: Never Forget

Qu Shunhua gestured to an empty seat beside her,indicating for Yelan'er to sit.She smiled with grace and generosity, "No matter how unpalatable the leftover scraps,can you still speak ill of me?If my Yellow Sorghum Terrace crumbles, who will support you?"

Yelan'er scoffed, "Let whoever believes such words listen."She looked towards Jiang Wang, "I was held up with some matters, and arrived late.Please forgive me, Young Master Jiang."

"We just arrived as well," Jiang Wang smiled faintly.

Yelan'er took a couple more steps, not heading for the empty seat,but looking towards Chu Yuzhi. She smiled at him,"I rather like the position where General Chu is seated.Facing northeast, gazing southwest, overlooking the clouds in the breeze."

"Who could refuse Miss Ye?" Chu Yuzhi laughed freely,simply picking up his chair and rising,exchanging positions with Yelan'er and helping her arrange her chair.

Yelan'er thanked him, and then gracefully seated herself.It was precisely on Jiang Wang's right side.

Jiang Wang almost caught a faint wisp of fragrance,but it merely lingered for a moment before dispersing,leaving a feeling of wistful loss.But he simply maintained a polite smile,nodding in greeting to the newly joined diner.

Yelan'er also smiled and nodded.

Qu Shunhua, as the host of this banquet table today,looked at Jiang Wang, then at Yelan'er, and laughed,"We are all already acquainted with each other.I imagine I don't need to introduce the two of you, do I?You are both the foremost in the world, surely you possess a tacit understanding!"

One, the foremost Inner Mansion in the world.One, the foremost beauty in the world.

Of course, this foremost Inner Mansion had already reached Outer Tower,and this foremost beauty, for now, was only limited to the borders of Chu.At least if Jiang Wang were to judge, he certainly wouldn't think Yelan'er was the foremost beauty in the world.

Yelan'er playfully glared at Qu Shunhua,"Young Master Jiang's achievements, fought out with every punch and kick on the River-Viewing Platform,that is truly called the foremost in the world.What foremost am I? It would only invite ridicule."

She turned her gaze towards Jiang Wang,"It has been a long time since we met. Young Master Jiang's demeanor is even more splendid than before!"

Jiang Wang was taken aback for a moment.Not because Yelan'er was exchanging pleasantries with him.Nor because Yelan'er was too beautiful.But because his usual courteous remark... was used by Yelan'er first!

Fortunately, he quickly reacted,first returning with a—"Oh?"

After speaking this single word, he realized how foolish his reply was;it was difficult for the other person to follow up.With his thoughts racing, he salvaged the situation with a playful tone,"Perhaps elaborate a little?"

The smile on Yelan'er's face froze for a fleeting moment.This Yellow River魁首's words this time were quite differentfrom his performance on the River-Viewing Platform back then.They were indeed... too glib and overly smooth.Especially when coupled with that insincere smile,it had a certain air of an old man who had spent too much time in pleasure houses.

Zuo Guangshu likely felt embarrassed again,and silently looked out the window.

Qu Shunhua still had a good impression of Elder Brother Jiang.She thought in her heart that Elder Brother Jiang was merely temporarily captivated by beauty,which was why his words lacked propriety.How normal for a young man to be infatuated with beauty?Didn't Little Guangshu often speak incoherently in front of her?

So she quickly chimed in to save the situation,"How can Elder Brother Jiang's demeanor be expressed in a few words?Defeating Xiang Bei, battling the Yama Son of Heaven, the decisive battle with Huang Shelì on the River-Viewing Platform,which of these wasn't a famous match?"She looked at Jiang Wang, and said very sincerely,"Later, I also learned that Elder Brother Jiang single-handedly fought the four Great Demon Cultivators, killing them all.With this legendary achievement, his name is cemented in the annals as the foremost Inner Mansion.Could you tell us about these famous matches?"

How could Jiang Wang boast about himself in front of so many people?This wasn't the time to privately show off to An'an or Zuo Guangshu.He said awkwardly, "Well, a true hero doesn't dwell on past glories. Let's look to the future."

After saying this, he gained a few points of sincerity,"The Inner Mansion realm is already in the past.Past glories can only remain in the past, they cannot illuminate the Star Tower."

"Well said!" Chu Yuzhi, not bothered by any undercurrents, said very directly,"Not obscured by floating clouds, Brother Jiang's realmearns Chu's admiration!"

Yelan'er thought to herself, this is indeed true.If what Jiang Wang just said were his genuine thoughts,then the Yellow River魁首 of the Inner Mansion realm would certainly not be his endpoint.

As the few of them spoke, five young maidens,each holding an exquisitely crafted wooden box,ascended the stairs.When the wooden boxes were opened,inside were sets of tableware,including ivory chopsticks, white jade bowls, Ru ware porcelain plates, and phoenix-patterned luminous cups...They were carefully arranged and placed in front of the five seated individuals.Afterward, they stood separately behind the five people,serving as plating maids, ready to attend to the meal.

Immediately after, a servant slowly ascended the stairs,holding aloft a jade basin shaped like a dragon boat,and approached the table.Before the lid was even lifted, a fragrance already floated out.It was the dishes from the Yellow Sorghum Terrace kitchen that had arrived.

Everyone then fell silent, quietly awaiting the plating.This dragon boat-shaped jade basin,gently placed in the center of the round table,actually appeared very lifelike.The craftsmanship of this jade basin alonewas enough to show its value.

The maid standing next to Jiang Wang,presumably the head attendant for this table,introduced in a voice of appropriate measure,"This banquet today is the Ascending Dragon Banquet.The first dish is called 'Jade Dragon'."

"Jade Dragon, also known as Fish Dragon,is said to be a dragon species, but it's just a legend.However, its abundant spiritual energy is true,and its long whiskers like dragon whiskers are also true."

She reached out and lifted the jade lid, handing it to the servantwho had brought the dish upstairs.Strangely, before the lid was lifted, a floating fragrance could already be smelled.But now that the lid was removed, there was no scent at all.

The crowd then saw, within the dragon boat-shaped jade basin,in the clear fish broth, a Jade Dragon fish with long whiskers and golden scalesslowly swimming.

Jiang Wang's eyelid twitched, and he couldn't help but internally grumble,Does everyone not know how to cook fish?Bringing a live fish up to deceive ghosts?

"This fish is not uncooked," the maid beside himseemed to know the guest's thoughts,and gently introduced, "It is still swimming,but it is an extracted instinct, not its life force."After saying this, she picked up a small jade hammerand gently tapped the fish's head—The fish skin, still bearing golden scales,completely peeled off, sinking to the bottom of the soup,like a beauty lightly shedding her robes.

Thus, the tender and snow-white fish meatwas exposed to everyone's sight.With its skin shed, this Jade Dragonwas still slowly swimming along its previous path.

The maid used a jade spoon to scoop a small bowl of fish meatand placed it in front of Jiang Wang."Please enjoy, Young Master."The other maids also served fish meat to the guests they attended to.

Jiang Wang paid no mind to the others.He scooped a spoonful himself and put it into his mouth.He felt only smoothness, tenderness, and fragrance,and couldn't help but swallow it in one gulp.It turned out that all the fragrance was contained within this fish meat.Thus, it exploded on the tip of his tongue,and surged in his throat.Even after the fish meat was swallowed, a lingering aroma remained on his lips and teeth,just like that Jade Dragon swimming in the jade basin...The utmost delicacy in the human world!

Only this thought existed in Jiang Wang's mind.No one spoke; everyone silently finished the fish meat in their bowls,and then waited for the maid to serve the next bowl.The Jade Dragon in the dragon boat jade basinsoon became only a complete fishbone skeleton,yet it was still swimming in the soup.This was its extracted, swimming "instinct."

Jiang Wang glanced at the dragon boat jade basin.He somewhat wanted to taste the fish soup,but the plating maid didn't seem to intend to serve him...Just as he was hesitating whether to help himself,the main attending maid had already retrieved the lidand covered the dragon boat jade basin.As if unintentionally, and also as if reminding, she said,"This portion of Jade Dragon's soup cannot be drunk,because all the impurities are in it.This soup is of lower quality."

Jiang Wang thought to himself, even lower quality soup might be quite delicious.But the servant who had brought the dishhad already taken the dragon boat jade basin awayand descended the stairs.Leaving a feeling of wistful loss.

Some dwell in grand houses and tall buildings,some have no roof over their heads.Some carry fragrance and are carefree and romantic,some huddle and embrace foulness.In this world, people are fundamentally different.Different births, different sights, different encounters, different pursuits.A different life.

Fang Heling often recalledthe sight of those few people drinking and laughing.He actually very much wanted to join them.He wanted to be like them, bold and uninhibited.But he was never like them.

The so-called "Maple Forest Five Heroes,"when placed in the context of the world,what a laughable title.Not imposing at all, extremely crude.Even in Maple Forest City,they couldn't enter the Transcendent level.No cultivator would even glance at them.But among the outer disciples of the Maple Forest City Daoist Academy,how resonant it was.In the eyes of someone like him, who desperately wanted to enter the city Daoist Academy,it was practically legendary.Five of the most outstanding outer disciples,kindred spirits, became brothers for life.They would traverse mountains and rivers together,acting as chivalrous heroes.Perhaps later, they would also soar with swords in the azure sky together.

How much he wanted to be a part of it.He had also imaginedthe grandeur of keeping a promise,drawing his sword, traveling thousands of miles,cutting off the enemy's head, and returning.He would drink fine wine and sing wildly with his brothers.But this life, it could not be.

All those who were later completely changed,how could they have been willing to change in the beginning!Blood was such a vibrant, yet painful color.He didn't know when it started.Everything he saw in his eyeswas covered in blood color.No, that's not right.It's this world, which is inherently blood-colored.No, that's not right...

You clearly remember when it started...So why blur it?Why forget?Why be so cowardly?Why, even after trying so desperately and so hard, are youSTILL! SO! WEAK!

A sharp pain came from the region of his heart,in waves.Like ants crawling, like knives cutting, like fire burning.The incessant pain made Fang Heling want to collapse,to curl up on the ground, hugging himself.But he just stood in silence,expressionless.

In front of him was a high cliff,and on the cliff was a sturdy pine tree with deep roots.From the pine tree, a person was hanging.The person's hands were bound together,suspended above their head.The rope was blood-colored,the other end of the rope was embedded in the tree branch,as if symbiotic with the branch.This person's feet were also bound together,the blood-colored rope wrapped several times,converging behind him, like two blood snakes,suddenly pulled taut,钉入了 into the high cliff.This person was thus fixed in mid-air.His jaw was clenched tightly, his eyes wide open,his eyeballs bulging, and veins bulging on his forehead.

At this time and place, it was actually very silent,only the wind was blowing.And Fang Heling, standing in silence,extended his right hand,piercing the chest of the person before him,and clutched their heart.

Hatred Heart Divine Ability, transmitting hatred with hatred,asking the heart with the heart.Aggravating pain with pain.The person suffering before him,didn't know that the tormentor was in more pain than he.Of course, even if he knew, it wouldn't alleviate anything.Fang Heling was already used to this degree of pain,silently chewing on the information transmitted from this heart.Most of it was useless,only a few sporadic clues could be captured,like searching for crickets in the grass when he was a child—this was also simpler than making the other person speak.

"The Moon Rabbit of the Lifeless Cult, is that the Rabbit Face from the twelve Bone Faces before...?"Fang Heling muttered to himself.His hand slowly tightened,and this heart was thus slowly crushed.

The person hanging,his eyes were still wide open,but the divine light had already dispersed.His physical body had already become necrotic,his soul might have simply dissipated,or perhaps gone to the so-called Lifeless World...Who knows?

Fang Heling withdrew his hand,and flicked it gently,all the blood staining his handsplashed out,following a graceful trajectory,灑落 onto the high cliff.

He was not suited for the Hatred Heart Divine Ability,he didn't even have the talent to cultivate divine abilities at all.The Blood Rejuvenation Pill of the White Bone Pathhad long since destroyed his foundation—although his foundation was originally mediocre.He was found by chance in a dying state.He was reshaped after his meridians were destroyed.That blood-red mansion in his Five Mansion Seawas built by a powerful force.His Hatred Heart Divine Ability was transplanted into his body, alive.He wasn't suited.

The First Demon Cultivator had long since made a judgment: he was not suitable.But what was he suitable for?He was too mediocre, too useless, too much of a waste.Even Yan Chunhui, who was at the peak of the Transcendent realm,didn't know what he was suitable for!

Then he could only cling to the Hatred Heart Divine Ability.This was his only choice.Named after the Hatred Heart, it wasn't some grand path to becoming stronger,nor was it about terrifying willpower,and it certainly didn't qualify as the word "will."It was merely the only hopein this lingering life.The only hope of taking revenge with his own hands.So he could only do this.Could only walk this path.Even though every time he used the Hatred Heart Divine Ability,he suffered greatly from the pain of the ability itself.As if the divine ability seed itself had sentience,unwilling to be controlled by a waste like him.Even though the price of using this divine ability was so painfulthat he wanted to commit suicide.

He wanted to give up countless times,wanted to collapse on the ground,wanted to weep bitterly.But he did not.

In this world, no one would be there to catch him anymore,no one would hold his head and say to him—"Then prove it to me, my son."No one cared about his tears either.

Strength began when one could no longer be weak.He was no longer living to prove something to anyone.

"Lifeless Cult... Lifeless Cult."He repeatedly chewed on this term.This sect, which had developed in Yong, Jiao, and Luo states,seemed to have first emerged during the Zhuang-Yong State War.Using the tremendous suffering caused by the war,it rapidly developed.

"War, death, resentment..." Fang Heling murmured.This sect was almost a direct lineage of the White Bone Path,but they didn't worship the White Bone Evil God.Instead, they worshipped the Lifeless Cult Patriarch,who embodied the roles of Divine Master, Dao Master, and Cult Master.The Divine Master was their deity,the Dao Master was their ideal,the Cult Master was their leader.In this regard, they were completely different from other evil cults.From the White Bone Path all the way to the Lifeless Cult,that Moon Rabbit must know something...Fang Heling thought this.

But at the same time, he was very clear.From the end of the Zhuang-Yong State War until now,it had been only a little over a year.The fact that this sect could develop to its current scalein such a short period of timemeant that the power behind it was far beyond what he could challenge alone.

Of course, he wasn't without an organization behind him.Even if Fate Seer was dead, All Evils was dead, Flesh Cutter was dead, Head Chopper was dead,nearly half of the nine Great Demon Cultivators were dead or injured.But these fundamental changes would not shake anything.As long as the boss, Forgetful Demon Cultivator, was still here,the Unreturned Valley would remain powerful.

But an extremely loose organization like the Unreturned Valleycould not possibly provide him with any assistance.Everyone in the organization was damn unrestrained to the extreme.Don't even think about forming any friendships.Everyone in the organization was selfish, cold, and heartless.At most, under the will of the boss, they tried not to kill each other.Only top-down commands could consolidate some power.Like how Fate Seer Demon Cultivator commanded a few of them to destroy Qingyun Pavilion,like how Fate Seer Demon Cultivator led All Evils and Flesh Cutter to plot against Yu Beidou,like how every one of them had to act under the boss's command...

However, among the nine Demon Cultivators, he was ranked ninth.It was obvious that even if new Demon Cultivators were added,his rank would not rise.The ranking of Demon Cultivators only considered strength, not time.

So why was he still so weak?!This waste of mine...I am not a waste!

Fang Heling's eyes were wild for a moment,then quickly calmed down.To borrow the power of the Unreturned Valley.Unless...The reach of the Lifeless Cult extended to Chen State.But while these Lifeless Cultists acted wildly,their higher-ups were very cautious.It seemed they had no intention of expanding further in a short time.

So, what should he do?Fang Heling thought silently,and turned to leave.His steps paused.At this moment, a person stood before him.This person had appeared at some unknown time,and had been standing behind him for an unknown duration.And he had not even noticed.More importantly—This man, standing there calmly,allowing the mountain wind to scatter his long hair.He had appeared countless times in his nightmares!This man was his nightmare itself!

In just an instant, Fang Heling's eyeshad already turned blood-red,and a cold light had already leaped to his fingertips!In the shortest time, he erupted with all the power he could unleash,including what he had mastered and what he had not.In an era where flying sword techniques flourished,there was a sword technique named "Remnant."What was the Remnant Sword Technique?Heaven is remnant, earth is lacking, and man is absolute.Utterly fierce and utterly evil.It is separating a part of the soul,cutting two parts of the bone,slashing three parts of the flesh,and cleaving four parts of the blood.Using the body as a furnace, life as the fire,casting a single remnant sword.This sword, born with a heavenly flaw,moves to split the earth,born to kill, it will not rest until it has devoured all souls and lives.This was the forbidden technique of the flying sword era!Even a strong individual like Yan Chunhui,who had inherited the peak sword techniques,described this technique as a "fierce sword."Because he risked his life and earned merit,completing a task that was almost impossible with his strength,he was rewarded with this technique.Yan Chunhui reminded him, "Do not use it unless at the end of your tether."Fang Heling had been practicing this sword technique for a long time,and could completely understand this reminder.This sword technique first harmed oneself, then harmed others.It had definitely gone down an evil path,a product of the narrowest and most radical period of the flying sword era,it could even be called the "lingering disaster" of the flying sword era.But what choice did Fang Heling have?

Not all powerful cultivation methodscould disregard talent so much.The Forgetful Sword Canon, standing at the peak of the flying sword era,even if Yan Chunhui was willing to teach it,did he possess the talent to comprehend it?

Fang Heling had told himself countless timesthat the Remnant Sword Technique could not be easily used.He understood the danger of this sword technique very well.But the moment he saw this long-haired man,he had already activated the Hatred Heart Divine Ability,drawn the Heart Gouging Dagger,his body like a sheath,resounding with a fierce sword cry!

His lingering life, surviving on borrowed time,was for this man!It should be now, at this moment.Zhang Linchuan... Zhang Linchuan... Zhang Linchuan!Let you know my hatred!

Fang Heling had never felt such a powerful self,surging power flowing within his body.As if this world itself was trembling.The intense pain caused by activating the divine ability in his hearthad now become another form of motivation.His soul was trembling!Everything he had struggled through on this pathwould burn in this round.At least in this round...Zhang Linchuan!You must look at me!

In Fang Heling's blood-red eyes,at this moment, he could only see that one person.Then he saw...That person quietly looked up,and cast a glance.Just a single glance.It was a calm,almost gentle glance,but also detached,and indifferent.He had no dissatisfaction with this world,but this world also had nothing to do with him.It was roughly such a glance.

Like a mountain pressing down.His body, infinitely heavy.His heart, infinitely heavy.

Fang Heling felt as if he were falling into an infinite abyss.Falling forever.There was nowhere to borrow strength.He couldn't see any possibility of stopping his fall.

The sharp and fierce sword cry within his bodycame to an abrupt halt.Such immense power,yet it could not resonate again.The power that had already been boiling within himwas actually fixed in place,unable to continue bursting forth!It was ridiculously frozen in the space between eruption and annihilation.The parts of his soul, bone, flesh, and blood that he had already separatedwere awkwardly stopped at the step of separation.One step back, and this sword would disappear, how could he be willing?One step forward, and this sword could be forged,but it couldn't kill its way out.

Fang Heling clearly feltthat his body was sealed by an invisible force.That feeling...It was as if all the pores on his body were blocked,his skin itself had become a prison.His own body thus formed a completely sealed space,trapping all his power related to the Remnant Sword Technique within it.This caused him to be clearly risking his life,clearly exerting all his might...But all his powercould not even leave his own body.He was still charging forward,but his strongest reliancewas still trapped within his body!Like a swordsmanwho had already charged towards the enemy,ready to decide the final life and death,but his sword was in its sheath,and he couldn't draw it!

What kind of power is this...?What kind of gap is this?He understood that he had been utterly defeated,but he didn't even know how he was suppressed!Once the thought of despair arose,it could no longer be stopped,growing infinitely.

This kind of despair,he had experienced it before.Is this Zhang Linchuan?Is this Zhang Linchuan?

Fang Heling vaguely remembered again,amidst the violent lightning,Wei Quji, the City Lord of Maple Forest City,fell from the sky.And this man, illuminated by the lightning,calmly put on the white bone mask.He would not forgetthat at that time, he was encouraged by that kind of power,admiring that kind of cold strength...And it was precisely this kind of cold strengththat exploded into a ball of lightning,taking away his father.

Countless times, he had seen...A charred corpse...fallen before him.He would never forget.