The more you believe me, the more real it becomes.

Chapter 164 Prophecy
Looking at the Cold Pine Mountain so close at hand, Wang Pingzhang walked to the elegantly dressed young man's side, cupped his hands in greeting, and said:

"Nephew."

The elegantly dressed young man turned around and asked with a smile:
"Uncle, is there anything else you need?"

Wang Pingzhang smiled ingratiatingly:
"Nephew, do you think we should set off up the mountain to pay homage to the immortal?"

The elegantly dressed young man nodded and said:
"That's exactly right. Uncle, please?"

Seeing the elegantly dressed young man step aside to make way, Wang Pingzhang reached out and grabbed his sleeve: "Nephew, you should go first!"

The elegantly dressed young man smiled upon seeing this:

"Uncle, do you still have concerns?"

Wang Pingzhang then said with embarrassment:

"To be honest, my dear nephew, your uncle is ultimately just an ordinary mortal. In the past, let alone immortals, I had only glimpsed the high-ranking officials of the Three Provinces and Six Ministries a few times from afar. Now, to see an immortal in person, I am truly uncertain!"

“Nephew, you are far more knowledgeable and tactful than I am. You go first, you go first! I will follow right behind!”

Wang Pingzhang knew perfectly well that he was merely a member of a collateral branch of the clan, destined only for a military career, and his education was limited. This seemingly fortunate opportunity might not actually bring him any good fortune. After much deliberation, he decided it was best to let his noble nephew from Wuyi Lane take the lead.

As for myself, it would be enough to just follow behind and share in the benefits.

Admittedly, this approach will never lead to instant success. However, by acting in this way, one is unlikely to end up choking to death.

How could the elegantly dressed young man not see through Wang Pingzhang's intentions?
just
Follow me? How can that be? I came here to repay this debt of karma. If I were to take the lead and show my face, how would I ever settle this debt of karma?
The main branch of the Langya Wang clan in Wuyi Lane appears to be at its zenith, but in reality, it is overextended.

And for you, the Beihai branch, now is the perfect time!

He chuckled inwardly and shook his head, then put on a broad smile and grabbed Wang Pingzhang's arm, saying:

"Uncle, you are mistaken! In terms of seniority, you are the elder and I am the junior. How can an elder follow a junior? In terms of status, you are an official of the court, while I am just a commoner. Both for public and private reasons, you should take the lead!"

Seeing that Wang Pingzhang was still trying to refuse, the richly dressed young man whispered a few more words in his ear:
"Uncle, how many have sought immortality and enlightenment throughout history? Yet how many have actually met true immortals? When opportunity knocks, how can you turn away?"

Finally, he patted Wang Pingzhang's breastplate earnestly and said:

"As the saying goes, if you don't take what Heaven gives you, you'll suffer the consequences!"

Wang Pingzhang's mind started racing again; he realized that he seemed to be being led around by his nephew.

But, but, it seems he can never refuse!

When we first met, when I fell from my horse, and now as I prepare to ascend the mountain, each time it seems I had a choice, but upon closer reflection, it was always the same choice with absolutely no other option!
He couldn't possibly watch a fellow clansman, who was almost certainly a nobleman from Wuyi Lane, fall into such a state.

It's impossible that he saw the towering fireworks and knew that something was wrong in the camp, yet he turned back.

The same is true today.
"Then, my dear nephew, you must help me out as much as possible!" Wang Pingzhang finally relented.

The elegantly dressed young man nodded repeatedly in satisfaction:
"Uncle, rest assured! In the Southwest, you are the only one I can rely on. If I don't help you, who else can I help?"

"Shall we leave now?" Wang Pingzhang asked tentatively.

"Please!" The elegantly dressed young man readily stepped aside to make way.

Looking at Wang Pingzhang, who seemed to be getting a little cocky even while riding his horse.

Amidst light laughter, he rode his donkey and followed closely behind, but no matter where Wang Pingzhang went, he always remained in the shadow of him, never stepping out of line.

He was also chanting softly, a verse that was neither quite a verse nor a verse:
"Cause and effect, cause and effect, without cause and effect, only then can one be the true self!"

"Heaven's will, Heaven's will, there is no Heaven's will, the heart is at ease!"

Wang Pingzhang, standing in front, was filled with unbridled curiosity:
"Nephew, what kind of magic are you chanting?" The richly dressed young man waved his hands repeatedly:

"It was just something I made up, Uncle, don't take it to heart!"

Seeing that he was unwilling to say more, Wang Pingzhang had no choice but to give up. When the two reached the burned-down Taoist temple, Wang Pingzhang abruptly pulled on the reins, dismounted, and hurriedly began to tidy his clothes and armor. After a while, he turned back and asked urgently:
"Nephew, quickly check if your uncle has overlooked anything?"

At this moment, Wang Pingzhang felt that he might not have been this nervous even when meeting the emperor.

The elegantly dressed young man circled him, pretending to be sophisticated, and nodded with a smile:

"Uncle, your appearance is impeccable!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Pingzhang no longer hesitated. He took a deep breath and strode into the ruins of the Taoist temple.

As soon as he stepped into the ruins of the Taoist temple, the barrier to his vision shattered instantly, allowing him and thousands of elite cavalrymen below the mountain to witness the blazing flames soaring into the sky!
For a moment, even though Wang Pingzhang had only seen it once from afar, he was still dumbfounded.

The cavalrymen below the mountain were terrified and dismounted, bowing and worshipping the blazing flames on the mountaintop.

All previous doubts about the military orders being changed frequently vanished at this moment, leaving no other thoughts.

If this kind of spectacle isn't that of immortals, then what is?
The elegantly dressed young man was also amazed; it was quite rare to see someone so arrogant in such a situation.

I wonder which family's expert is sitting here.

It doesn't matter, since he mostly refines pills for his own benefit anyway. As long as I give him a little pointers and let this cheap uncle show his face and benefit from it, in the future, if things change in the capital, no matter how the situation changes, the Beihai branch of the Langya Wang clan can always be protected.

With a slight chuckle, the elegantly dressed young man had already walked up behind Wang Pingzhang and gently kicked him in the back of the knee, causing him to kneel down.

"Uncle, wake up!"

Wang Pingzhang, as if waking from a dream, hurriedly bowed and said:
"This humble general is a General of Bright Might, personally appointed by the imperial court, and the Prefect of Yizhou. I have come on behalf of the court to protect the immortal master in his alchemy!"

Seeing how perceptive his uncle was, the richly dressed young master grew increasingly satisfied. He then glanced at the immortal master who remained with his back to him, refining pills.

He patted his sleeves a few times and was about to kneel down as well.

But as soon as he bent over, he heard the person with their back to him chanting softly, their voice as clear as metal and stone, piercing straight to his soul:
"Hiding from the will of heaven, avoiding karma, all kinds of shackles entrap my true self."

"By following the will of Heaven and the law of cause and effect, I finally know who I am today."

These words struck like a thunderbolt, leaving the elegantly dressed young man speechless.

The body that was about to kneel down slowly straightened up under the boundless scrutiny.

Who is this person?

What does this mean?

Thoughts raced through his mind in an instant, and the person facing the alchemy furnace also rose and turned around at that moment.

The immortal, with eyes as deep as an abyss, stood with his hands behind his back and chuckled as he spoke to him:
"Once you realize the truth and see your true self, why should you fear the old shackles?"

"The shackles of the world are just dreams, they have no form, no shape, and no self."

At this moment, the elegantly dressed young man stood beneath the ruins, while the immortal stood with his hands behind his back on the steps.

One tall, one short, they stared at each other.

Then the immortal chuckled:

"long time no see!"

(End of this chapter)