40: Chapter 40 Planning for the Next Life

Ten years passed.

Master Chen's old injuries flared up, and she was bedridden.

Beside the bed, Chen Qiuyu, Chen Xuan, and a host of descendants stood by.

"Wang Teng! I truly did not misjudge you back then; a Qilin child should be just like you." Master Chen's eyes filled with tears as the trajectory of her life flashed through her mind.

Diligent in her youth, finding love, raising children, suffering sudden calamities, bearing heavy burdens alone, recognizing talent with her Wisdom Eye, wounded during the beast tide, breaking through Realms to live again—she only sighed that one can never be young again!

Looking at her children and grandchildren, her gaze finally rested on Chen Lingze.

"They say parents live their whole lives for their children; the ancients truly did not deceive me."

"Lingze, come here."

Upon hearing this, Chen Lingze knelt and crawled over with hot tears in his eyes.

At this moment, Master Chen was already on her deathbed.

"In the future, listen more to your uncle. If something comes up, consult him. Do not think about avenging your father and mother. This is fate. In this life, we only seek stability; we cannot fight against those big figures."

Everyone who heard this felt heartbroken and powerless!

"Grandmother, I understand!"

"Mom, don't worry."

Chen Lingze and Chen Xuan replied one after another.

"With that, I can die without regrets."

...

Another ten years passed, and Chen Ling's time was approaching; after all, she had developed an underlying illness in her youth.

Chen Xuan brought the whole family to see Chen Ling off.

Wang He touched her hand and muttered, "We always say there is plenty of time, yet we forget that the world is impermanent."

Chen Ling looked at Chen Xuan and said, "Good child, you are Mom's pride in this life. You have succeeded! Mom is happy."

Chen Xuan handled the funeral arrangements.

As the saying goes, it rains when the roof leaks; a year later, his father fell ill from longing and passed away.

Before passing, Wang He said, "Child, do not be sad. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the will of the Heavenly Dao. You should be happy; I am going to see your mother with a happy heart."

The whole family wept again.

Time ruthlessly punishes everyone.

Life and death have their order, and Chen Xuan's state of mind inevitably fluctuated.

With this, the first generation of the Wang family had all passed away.

At this very moment, Chen Xuan suddenly remembered his youth, Qingshi Lane, and Zhang Keer's home.

Back then, Zhang Keer was so helpless, surrounded by thugs only wanting to swallow her family property.

There was no one left to love her.

Now that his own parents had passed away and death was staring him in the face, Chen Xuan suddenly understood Zhang Keer's state of mind from decades ago.

The memories of his youth struck the present with a roar, like a great bell, deafening.

From this day on, Chen Xuan's insights into the Dao grew increasingly profound.

What is life and death?

Reincarnation of the Heavenly Dao!

What is the interpretation of the Heavenly Book?

Is the Spiritual Root fixed?

Chen Xuan rarely used the Heavenly Book now; he mostly summoned those tadpole-like characters and let them wander freely.

Looking at those golden talisman characters, though he didn't recognize them, every word was a gem.

At the same time, he was nearing seventy, had failed to reach Foundation Establishment twice, and his Dao foundation was damaged; he did not have much time left.

It is said that one loses by the Dao, but unfortunately, Chen Xuan's Realm was too low to seek that state of reduction and emptiness.

Now, both the Wang family and the Chen family had multiple descendants who had achieved Foundation Establishment.

Chen Xuan was relieved.

It was time to lay out plans for his next life.

Planning for the next life is a major undertaking.

Thinking of this, the first thing that came to Chen Xuan's mind was a secret base—finding a deep mountain forest and hiding his treasures.

But as time passes and mountains and rivers change, this method is not ideal.

The Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce had long sent news, having investigated the location and time period of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

During the first Reincarnation of the Left Duke of Literature, there was a gap of thirty years.

Chen Xuan remembered the time it took for his true spirit to break through the mystery of the womb.

This world is so large, so he must plan in a place that is easy to reach!

Most of Chen Xuan's Bloodline was near the Fusheng Sect and the Mortal kingdoms near the Qingcang Sect from his previous life.

Then it was simple!

Which power had a presence in both places?

Naturally, it was the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce.

Chen Xuan immediately purchased multiple residences in various markets; without a token or a secret Formation command, they could not be entered.

Inside, he left behind enough resources to cultivate to Late-stage Qi Refining, as well as the property deeds.

In his next life, after Reincarnation, these residences belonging to President Wang of the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce would be the resources for Chen Xuan's rapid rise once again.

Chen Xuan could not help but admire his own planning; the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce was indeed a brilliant move.

However, the most important thing was that the Liu family was willing to endorse it back then, serving as the backing for the Chamber of Commerce.

Otherwise, the expansion would not have been so rapid.

But the downside was that too many chambers of commerce were engaging in malicious competition now, selling various cultivation resources at low prices.

Chen Xuan was helpless; he had to increase the quality for the price-performance ratio.

For this, the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce suffered great losses, with many products being sold at a loss of his own Spirit Stones until all competitors were driven out!

Then, he raised the prices again.

Over these years, Chen Xuan traveled to various countries. He went to the Qingcang Sect to experience exotic customs—the demon women were truly luscious—and he also went to the Liuyang Sword Sect to witness the demeanor of Sword Cultivators; each one was a heroine who did not yield to the women of Jiangnan.

He traveled all over the Southern Territory and finally made his decision.

Since he had traveled throughout the Southern Territory, he naturally had to choose a secret location, and Chen Xuan already had one in mind.

Chen Xuan placed the four most important strands of Spiritual Qi and the Qingyuan token in a mountain pass he had visited, guarded by a second-tier Formation.

The Spirit Stones left inside could support the Formation for at least a hundred years.

Within a hundred years, Chen Xuan would surely reincarnate.

When that time came, he would retrieve the Qingyuan token and soar upwards.

As for this life, he did not seek much more.

Chen Xuan arranged his affairs and prepared to take the incredibly perilous Central Province trade route to investigate.

It was said that in the Central Province, Nascent Soul True Monarchs presided over the temples.

Immortal dynasties stood in great numbers; what a magnificent sight!

It would be a true pity not to see it with his own eyes.

...

Above Wangyue Hall, at the space port.

"Brother." Wang Lingxue was speechless, just looking at Chen Xuan.

He now had the appearance of a middle-aged man, and the heroism of his youth had settled into a kind of wisdom.

In his graying temples, the experiences of a lifetime were etched.

"Husband, take care on this journey." A group of wives saw Chen Xuan off at the port.

"Brother, take care on your journey!" Yao Zhao stared blankly, unable to speak.

"Waa! If you leave, how will I make money! Brother!" Manager Liu cried his heart out, from the bottom of his soul.

"Father, be careful in everything on this journey!" His children looked at Chen Xuan.

"This journey is only for the Dao. My affairs have already been arranged. Act according to this Jade Slip; do not worry about me."

As the Jade Slip flew out, all Chen Xuan left for everyone was his back on the flying ship.

"Dad!" Wang Ling, who was already a father himself, looked at his father's retreating figure and couldn't help but shout.

Alas.

He drifted further and further away.

...

Central Province trade route.

Located north of the Qingcang Sect.

The journey had been underway for three days, and they were hundreds of thousands of miles away from the Fusheng Sect.

"President, ahead lies the Heavenly Danger Peak. Once we enter the Heavenly Danger Peak, as long as we pass through the dangerous areas where three great demons haunt, we will reach the Central Province!"

Then, the manager steered the helm and docked at a nearby flying port.

"All Fellow Daoists traveling with us, please disembark here."

Cultivators who were not planning to go to the Central Province took flight with their Spirit Beasts.

They were originally Cultivators who came for sightseeing, and they had paid Spirit Stones to the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce for their experiences along the way.

The Central Province was dangerous, and it required a large fee to board the ship, so they naturally left.

After they left, a man dressed as a deacon of the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce led a large group of practitioners wearing various Dharma robes onto the ship.

Almost everyone had a beast they were controlling!

Chen Xuan saw at a glance that there were people from all The Three Sects.

The flying ship manager of the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce bowed and saluted, saying: "President! These are the Fellow Daoists traveling to the Central Province together. Please see if there is anything amiss?"

Chen Xuan withdrew his gaze and said indifferently: "Set sail!"

Upon hearing this, the flying ship set sail, and the wind whistled.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his black gold-gilded cloak flying wildly in the gale.

Three blood-red heavenly secret jade slips floated in mid-air.

Chen Xuan's eyes reflected a blood-red Great Omen!

His gaze was indifferent; he showed no fear at all.

Although he was aged, his spirit remained; his straight spine was like a pine or cypress, standing unmoved in the gale.

A pair of Dharma Eyes condensed from the [Heaven-Stealing Foundation] seemed to pierce through the mist ahead.

Chen Xuan whispered to himself: "I want to see just how dangerous three Great Omens can be!"