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Chapter 484 The Remnant Eagle Dies for His Cause
Tuoba Liu ignored all of Fang Weihan's actions and continued speaking to himself:

"Does Your Highness know of the former Master of Lin Yuan Pavilion, True Man Tai Xu?"

"know."

Master Taixu was Wen Zhexue's master. Not long ago, Wen Zhexue returned to Tianshan to inherit the position of Pavilion Master, and Master Taixu has been missing ever since. Fang Weihan had asked about this matter, but Wen Zhexue was vague, so he did not pursue the matter further.

Within the Myriad Spirits Secret Realm, Fang Weihan once used the power of his soul to look back on his past and learned about a memory that had been deliberately erased on Mount Tian.

Taixu Zhenjun dispersed his Heaven and Earth souls to shield him from the repulsive forces of the Sun and Moon. However, according to Wen Zhexue and his analysis, there was never any record in the Lin Yuan Secret Technique of separating the Heaven, Earth, and Human souls. At the time, they suspected that this matter might be related to the Chule River and the Fan Sheng Temple, but unfortunately, due to Wen Zhexue's return to Tianshan, this clue was forced to be interrupted.

It wasn't until Tuoba Liu brought up the matter again that Fang Weihan suddenly realized that their initial deduction was correct.

His tone was complicated: "Fifteen years ago, were you also in the Tianshan Mountains?"

“Exactly.” Tuoba Liu told him frankly, his rough fingers rubbing against the eagle’s tail feathers. “And what I want to tell Your Highness is that the cause and effect of that matter is far more complicated than you see.”

"Master Taixu... Hehe, does Your Highness know what Wen Yuchen's Daoist title is now that she has become the head of Lin Yuan?"

Fang Weihan was taken aback; he really didn't know that: "...I don't know."

"It's also the void."

Fang Weihan asked in surprise, "Does Lin Yuan Pavilion have a custom of masters and disciples sharing the same Daoist name?"

"No."

Tuoba Liu shook his head, the gaunt old man staring at Fang Weihan, watching the howling wind and snow rush past before his eyes. His robes fluttered, but the hem of the young man's clothes remained perfectly still.

Fang Weihan could sense that there seemed to be something else mixed in with Tuoba Liu's gaze.

It seems to be envy.

“There is no such thing as Taixu in the world,” Tuoba Liu said. “The so-called Taixu is just an illusion created by Lin Yuan Tian Yi.”

The veins on his forehead throbbed, and Fang Weihan could feel a tingling sensation on his scalp.

Although he was prepared for Tuoba Liu to reveal some shocking news, was this a bit...? He took a deep breath and asked again, his tone now showing a hint of respect: "I still don't understand, please enlighten me, old priest."

"To save all living beings and help the Nine Pavilions of Lin Yuan overcome this great calamity, Tian Yi reversed the cause and effect of time and space, sending the last Nine Revolutions Mirror Heaven of Lin Yuan from five hundred years ago to the future. Together with the Heavenly Secret Concealment Technique, it was activated to erase all traces of this person left in the world. This divine skill of deceiving the heavens and crossing the sea should have been foolproof, making the world trapped in lies like monkeys. Unfortunately... it overlooked one thing."

“That is the Chule River,” Tuoba Liu said slowly. “We Holy Priests mainly cultivate the power of the soul and are protected by the Eternal Heaven. We defy the laws of time and space, so ordinary techniques of concealing heavenly secrets cannot work. Although the Heavenly Instrument is a precious artifact, the spells activated by it can only affect Holy Priests below the seventh level.”

"And I... even before I became the high priest five hundred years ago, I was already a seventh-level incarnation."

Fang Weihan managed to sort out his tangled thoughts and asked, "But if that's all, how did the old priest determine that the True Man Taixu was the Lord of Linyuan Pavilion from five hundred years ago?"

“Indeed, if that were all, I might only have some doubts about the identity of the Chief of Linyuan, but I wouldn’t connect him with others.” Tuoba Liu paused. “But… interestingly, I once saw the Master of Linyuan Pavilion five hundred years ago, True Man Huayuan.”

Fang Weihan: "..."

"Thirty years ago, I visited Tianshan for the Demon Abyss and met this so-called Taixu Zhenren. Under the influence of the technique of concealing heavenly secrets, he did not disguise himself, and those Linyuan Zhenren who were of the same lineage as Tianyi, including Tianyi himself, were completely unaware of the secret of heavenly secrets concealment. They actually believed that this Taixu had a flawless background and origin."

"At the time, I didn't make a sound. I knew that this must be a highly secretive plan of Lin Yuan Pavilion. I was no match for a Nine Revolutions Mirror Heaven cultivator, so I planned to pretend that nothing had happened and leave quietly after the discussion. But unfortunately, I was still discovered."

“Tai Xu… that is, Hua Yuan, he did not kill me, not even the slightest sign of it. I tried to communicate with him about the Demon Abyss, but he showed little interest. Instead, he begged me to help him with another matter.”

"To separate the Heavenly Soul and Earthly Soul for a kid from Changming, to be honest, when I heard that, I even doubted whether I had misheard."

Although this was a rather serious occasion, Fang Weihan inexplicably felt like laughing: "For the chief priest of Chilichuan and the chief of Linyuan to perform surgery on me together, it seems that my Heavenly Soul and Earthly Soul are quite valuable."

"Your Highness, have you ever considered why Hua Yuan, who came with the mission of saving the world, would waste so much energy on you?" Tuoba Liu said. "If he truly took Tianyi's words to heart, he should have killed me the moment he learned that I was not affected by the obscured heavenly secrets, instead of discussing how to save a completely unrelated little girl, even if she possesses the Taiyin Destiny Star."

Fang Weihan could no longer laugh.

"Why?" he asked, frowning.

“I was also curious about why, until I suddenly remembered something else.” Tuoba Liu said slowly, “Hua Yuan… was not without offspring. He and his wife Youhe had a daughter, Tantai Li.”

Tantai Li… He was suddenly startled. He had heard Yun Shu mention this name once before; she had indeed said that she was the daughter of Hua Yuan Zhenren and had a close relationship with her.

"Judging from Your Highness's expression, it seems you've heard of this person?" Tuoba Liu asked hoarsely. "Was it Liu Feng Fu Yun Shu who told Your Highness about him?"

Fang Weihan narrowed his eyes: "The old priest seems to know everything about me?"

Tuoba Liu smiled and said, "Don't be surprised. I have been observing Your Highness for a long time. I was sitting among the guests when Your Highness went to Huanhua Tower to attend the poetry gathering."

Fang Weihan cursed under his breath.

"The Book of Flowing Wind and Floating Clouds only told Your Highness that Tantai Li existed, but what it absolutely did not tell you is that Tantai Li's destiny star... is also Taiyin!"

Amidst the misty mountains, the two people beside the pavilion fell into silence.

“According to the history of Lin Yuan that I know, the Taiyin Star never recognized a master before Wen Zhexue. Even the Cloud Book, one of the three sacred artifacts, did not know about it, so how did the High Priest know?” Fang Weihan asked.

“Those who observe the stars are blind. Tantai Li deceived everyone with her art of concealing the secrets of heaven, but she could not deceive me… an immortal soul wandering the world. The Immortal Heaven bestowed its grace upon me, but I could not tell outsiders about it until you appeared.”

By examining the myriad of celestial stars, Fang Weihan could sense that Tuoba Liu before him seemed to be telling the truth. That meant… both Tantai Li and Wen Zhexue's celestial stars were Taiyin? What was their relationship?
He suddenly realized a sensational possibility.

"Your Highness, what I want to tell you is the scheme of Lin Yuan Pavilion, and also the truth about what happened on Tianshan Mountain fifteen years ago."

"The absolutely rational Tianyi wanted to save all living beings, so it sent its most trusted Jingtian to the future to lead Linyuan Pavilion through the great calamity. But this Jingtian was ultimately human. After his daughter died, he secretly left behind a wisp of her soul, intending to reincarnate her five hundred years later."

"But rebirth goes against the laws of nature. Even with the help of the Hetu, the favor of the stars, and the Phoenix Divine Fire, and with his cultivation reaching the heavens and the earth, he could not save his daughter's life—he failed to protect her Heavenly Soul. And with her three souls incomplete, she would die young. Perhaps it was divine intervention, or perhaps it was just a coincidence, but at this point in time, five hundred years later, someone's Heavenly Soul actually fits her body perfectly. The Yin and Yang are mutually restraining and mutually generating; your appearance is the final piece of the puzzle for her rebirth."

"The title of Chief, the Divine Sword Bright Sky, the power of Nirvana, all come with the responsibility of saving the world. Using his life as bait, he gave everything to his daughter. That is how the True Man of Taixu, Wen Zhexue, came to be today."

"Hua Yuan is no more, and in the end, there will only be one Tai Xu." Fang Weihan was silent for a moment, then asked, "But... why do I still remember him?"

"Because...you are a person outside the world, and you will not be affected by the obscuring of heavenly secrets."

Tuoba Liu recalled: "When His Highness's Heaven and Earth souls were separated back then, the Heaven soul had already been injected into Wen Zhexue's body. I originally wanted to bring His Highness's Earth soul back to Chulechuan, but who knew that His Highness's Earth soul would break free from my control on the way and scatter into the world."

"Later, I traveled all over the world, but I still couldn't find any trace of His Highness's earth soul. It wasn't until I met His Highness again at Huanhua Tower that I suddenly realized that the earth soul had somehow returned to His Highness's mind."

"I speculate that Your Highness's earth spirit must have dispersed into another dimension and only returned today, is that correct?"

Fang Weihan remained silent.

"If that's the case, then everything makes sense."

Tuoba Liu coughed heavily, his aged, wrinkled face flushed with color as blood rushed to his head.

"Tianyi chose Taixu, and Yunshu chose you. A person from another world, a person who is not bound by cause and effect, and whose cultivation is not limited to a single path. In this world, your destiny has exceeded the prophecy of the Heavenly Dao, and your actions are unpredictable."

“I have met Princess Chengping from five hundred years ago, and I am certain that she is the same person as the current Emperor of the Great Zhou. She appeared out of nowhere a year ago and used her thunderous methods to unite the Great Zhou and eliminate internal and external troubles in one fell swoop. If it were not for the power of time and space, there would be no other reason to explain this kind of magic that brought the country back from the brink of death.”

The surface of the wolf's teeth gradually cracked, and the surrounding wind and snow howled and pounded against the pavilion. The old man's life flame flickered in the wind and snow, like a lamp that could be extinguished at any moment.

"You're about to die," Fang Weihan said.

"The lifespan of a Seventh-Rank Saint is only a little over three hundred years. The fact that I have been able to survive until today is a blessing from the Eternal Heaven," Tuoba Liu gasped.

Suddenly, he leaned forward and, across the stone table, gripped Fang Weihan's shoulders tightly with both hands like eagle claws.

"Your Highness, Prince of Guangling, I would like to make a deal with you."

Tuoba Liu coughed violently again, blood foam spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"You said."

"The great calamity is approaching, and there is no possibility of safely surviving it in the Chule River region. Of the 153 soul fragments I have found, not once have we had the means to deal with the calamity. I am the most revered holy person in the world, and I can live on after the disaster, but... what is the point if my entire clan dies?"

“But I realized that this life is special. In this life, I saw Hua Yuan, who should not have appeared in the Nine Revolutions Mirror Heaven. In this life, I also saw the star lords of the Taiyin and Taiyang life stars. I even saw the most prosperous and united Central Zhou Dynasty.”

"Perhaps this great calamity is a divine punishment sent down by the Heavenly Dao, the end of the old era and the beginning of the new era. But Your Highness is a person outside the world. If there is anyone in this world who has the opportunity to find the possible in the impossible, then it can only be you, Prince Guangling, Fang Weihan."

"I, Tuoba Liu, the chief priest of the Chulechuan, am willing to entrust my cultivation to Your Highness. I only implore Your Highness to help my people as much as possible when we overcome this great calamity, and to leave some seeds of life for my grasslands."

"The royal court launched a war, and tonight they have suffered the consequences. It is their own fault, and the Chule River will not interfere. I only ask that Your Highness, in consideration of the slight favor I showed you by not harming Your Highness's soul in the past, grant my people some chance to survive."

"Whether they are slaves or shields, I only wish that... they can live."

The old priest stared intently into his eyes, his withered fingers tightening their grip, and he asked almost pleadingly:
"Your Highness, are you well?"

Fang Weihan let out a slow sigh.

"To be fair, your foreign tribe invaded the Central Plains, killing tens of thousands of my comrades, and even forcing my fourth uncle to commit suicide. I should not have agreed to your request."

"But... if the great calamity is about to come, we must unite all forces that can be united. If one less person dies in the Northern Desert, perhaps the creation of the Demon Abyss will be reduced by one."

Finally, he said, "I promise you, do I need to swear by my destiny star?"

"No, no need."

As if relieved, Tuoba Liu's face showed a sincere smile, and he seemed to be very confident in Fang Weihan's character.

"I trust Your Highness."

"Then... Your Highness, please open your mind and do not resist. The spiritual power of the Holy Blessing is quite surging, and the process may be somewhat agonizing."

A bluish-white glow shone between Tuoba Liu's brows, and an immense mental pressure surged forth like a torrent.

"I hereby entrust all the knowledge and magical power of my life to you."

"The future of our people, the future of the world, rests on Your Highness..."

"Unfortunately... I will never live to see that day come."

A sharp pain shot through Fang Weihan's mind, and everything went black before his eyes, as if he had lost his sight.

His muscles tensed, and beads of cold sweat streamed down his forehead. The intense pain nearly shattered his mind. Countless stars gathered around his head, their light protecting his conscience and maintaining his last shred of consciousness.

Several days passed before Fang Weihan finally emerged from that excruciating state.

He opened his eyes and found himself still sitting on the same horse he had set out on, at the familiar crossroads, in the familiar wilderness, as if everything that had happened before was just an illusion.

He stretched out his hand, his fingertips swirling with pale blue spiritual threads. The purest holy power materialized, reminding him that the secret conversation was not an absurd dream.
On the horizon, where gray clouds churned, a familiar eagle let out a sharp cry, as if mourning its master.

Fang Weihan sighed deeply and remained silent for a long time, his feelings inexplicable.

He took out the Bright Moon Reed Flower app and opened his private chat with Xie Lingwan.

Fang Weihan: "Tuoba Liu is dead. I made a deal with him. We won't let the alien army commit suicide. The conditions can be relaxed a bit."

He waited a minute, but Xie Lingwan still didn't reply, seemingly unaware of his presence.

Without giving it much thought, Fang Weihan pulled on the reins and continued heading towards the Western Hills Imperial Mausoleum.

(End of this chapter)