Chapter 127: The Changing of the World

White clouds drifted across the sky, and ethereal mists wandered in every direction. Suddenly, two surging beams of sword light pierced through the clouds!

Standing atop a rolling limestone mountain range, two figures looked down at the landscape. The middle-aged man, somewhat tall and slender, wore a black dragon robe. He gazed ahead at a lush, lotus-like mountain peak, seemingly lost in thought. Beside him, a youth in a brocade white robe looked around with curiosity.

"Father, aren't we supposed to be returning to the estate? Why have you brought me here?" After a long silence, the youth in white could not hold back any longer. He looked up at the man in the dragon robe and asked, perplexed.

He glanced again at the solitary mountain ahead. While the scenery was breathtaking compared to the surrounding peaks, he remained confused. No matter how beautiful a mountain might be, it served no practical purpose. Since Father Chu had taken him from the Li estate, he had brought him here without saying a word. Tianming had planned to sneak away once they returned home, but that plan had now completely fallen through. He wondered how Sister Xue and the others were faring.

"Yun'er, do you know what place this once was?" After a moment of silence, Father Chu did not answer the question directly. Instead, he kept his eyes fixed on the mountain ahead, finally speaking in a deep, sighing tone.

"I do not... Wait, Father, are you saying that this place is...?" Upon hearing this, Tianming shook his head in surprise, but then a realization struck him, causing his heart to skip a beat.

"Heh, exactly! That ancestral heirloom is indeed intricately linked to this site. In the past, this mountain was not called South Mountain, but rather the Northern Foothills of the Chu Ridge. Beneath the Lishan Mountains, along the banks of the Wei River, the land south of the river was known as the Northern Foothills of the Chu Ridge—the burial ground of our ancestor, Chu Tianhe."

"During the ancient era, when the imperial system was revered, our Chu family was at its zenith. It is no boast to say that no one today can imagine how glorious we once were. After long periods of suppression and destruction, our family gradually declined from a legendary clan into a small family in a town." Chuckling self-deprecatingly, Father Chu pointed to the solitary mountain and explained in detail.

As the words fell, every syllable felt like a thunderbolt to Tianming, shaking him to his core. Although Father Chu appeared dejected, Tianming could sense a deep pride in his voice. Perhaps because his soul did not truly belong to the Chu family, it was difficult for him to fully resonate with that pride.

"Are you shocked already? Past glory is but flowing water; it is soon washed away. I tell you this not for any other reason than to instill a sense of mission in your bones. Our Chu family line is a single succession, and the future must be borne by you alone."

"Though it may seem cruel, your mother and I will always support you from the shadows. You must understand: if not us, then who?" Seeing Tianming standing there in a daze, Father Chu smiled, shook his head, and continued.

Hearing this, Tianming felt even more ashamed. Had it not been for him, the original Chu Yun would not have vanished. While this was not his original intention, what was done was done, and he had to atone for it.

"Father, rest assured! I will surely reach the peak of this continent, restore the Chu family, and recreate the glory of the ancient era!"

Nodding heavily, Tianming felt his blood boil. He raised his right hand, clenched it into a fist, and declared loudly.

"That is the spirit. I believe you will lead this era in the future. However, remember to act according to your strength. Although your current cultivation is nearing mine, and I know you are set to embark for the Central Divine Continent tomorrow, you must proceed with caution," Father Chu said with a gratified smile.

Tianming’s heart skipped a beat again. How did Father Chu know about his departure to the Central Divine Continent? That was supposed to be a secret. But after a moment, he could only nod, curious as to why his father did not object.

"That is precisely why I am in such a rush to pass this ancestral heirloom to you! But... Father, are you not afraid that I might lose this ancient treasure or have it snatched away? Would it not be better if you were the one to wield its power?"

Try as he might, he could not figure it out, and in his helplessness, he turned his gaze toward Father Chu.

"This treasure is sealed beneath the Northern Foothills of the Chu Ridge, right where we stand. According to ancestral legend: 'He who is fated shall possess it. Know that after three thousand two hundred and sixteen years, the fated one shall appear. When the secret technique is chanted, ten thousand thunders shall descend. Those without fate shall have their bones laid to rest here.'"

Seeing Tianming’s helpless expression, Father Chu smiled and began to explain. As he spoke, his brow furrowed, as if he were worried about something, and he seemed to age a few years in an instant.

"No wonder! So, if neither you nor I were the fated one, we would be struck by ten thousand thunders?" Tianming’s mouth hung open, and he frowned in dismay. He had been sailing through life smoothly, but he didn't know if his replacing the original soul would have any effect. These things were all unknown.

"Actually, I never intended to bring you here. But from the moment you suddenly attained the Void-Spirit Realm, my last doubts were dispelled. It confirmed the final line of the prophecy: 'Though a wastrel for a time, one may yet become a dragon.'"

Seeing Tianming’s anxiety, Father Chu patted him on the shoulder and laughed to comfort him.

"So that means I am the fated one! Hahaha... I’ve hit the jackpot! To be guarded by such a powerful seal, this treasure must be truly formidable. But how do I obtain it?" Tianming’s heart leaped with joy, and he nodded eagerly. He had not expected the identity of Chu Yun to have such a profound origin. At the same time, he grew curious about the ancestor Chu Tianhe, who possessed such supernatural foresight that he could predict events thousands of years into the future.

"Do not be impatient. Once I perform the technique passed down by our ancient ancestor, the treasure will automatically rise from the earth to acknowledge its master. Yun'er, watch closely. Even though this technique is of no use to you yet, observing it carefully will bring you great benefit."