Chapter Two: When the Oil Runs Out and the Lamp Grows Dim

Snow continued to fall, covering all traces of Wang Changsheng’s actions, leaving the mountaintop unchanged from before he had struck.

“Human strength is ultimately limited…” Staring at the now tranquil summit, despair clouded Wang Changsheng’s eyes.

He was certain that his current strength far exceeded that of his father and second uncle in their prime, capable of defeating their combined might with a single move. Why, then, could they open the black hole while he could not?

The only explanation, he reasoned, was that the black hole required a particular method to open—likely the ancient silk his second uncle had once mentioned.

But what use was this understanding now? Wang Changsheng had never seen the ancient silk his uncle spoke of. All that was left to him from his father and second uncle was the Longevity Art—no other items remained.

At this realization, Wang Changsheng abandoned all hope of opening the black hole. He sat cross-legged, gazing at the drifting snowflakes, his eyes gradually growing hazy as the aura of death emanating from him grew ever stronger.

He had already reached the end of his life. Those two recent strikes had exhausted all his cultivation; now, he was little more than a dying ember.

Unless he could break through to another realm, there was no hope.

He had long reached the peak of the Innate realm, and if he could break through, he would have done so already. Moreover, he knew that, according to the cultivation method of the Longevity Art, the Innate peak was the ultimate limit.

Thunder rolled overhead just as Wang Changsheng teetered at the edge of death. He slowly opened his eyes and, through the haze, saw a black fissure appear in midair. The crack slowly widened, eventually forming a pitch-black portal.

At this moment, Wang Changsheng had no words to describe his feelings.

He had exerted all his strength, yet nothing had changed. But now, after he had ceased his efforts and waited, the black hole appeared?

Moreover, it was far larger than the one his father and second uncle had opened together.

“Could it be just slow to react?” Wang Changsheng wondered, but soon realized he was wrong.

A figure clad entirely in a black robe emerged from the black hole, even the head shrouded so that Wang Changsheng could not discern the face. Without witnessing it himself, Wang Changsheng might not have sensed any presence from this person at all.

Yet he was certain: whoever this was, their emergence from the black hole was connected to his father and second uncle’s past departure.

Wang Changsheng, enfeebled and unable even to stand, could only watch as the figure walked forward.

“You are…” The black-robed figure floated not far before Wang Changsheng, a voice uncertain and muffled from within the robe: “You are…are you Changsheng?!”

Then, the black-robed figure removed the hood, revealing a youthful and handsome face.

“You are…” Wang Changsheng gazed at the young man, bewildered.

He was certain he had never met this youth, especially since the man had emerged from the black hole. The only possibility was that he was somehow connected to his father or second uncle.

The young man, seeing Wang Changsheng’s confusion, paused and then understood. His face began to change, aging visibly, even his hair turning gray.

Watching the face grow increasingly aged, Wang Changsheng’s expression grew ever more astonished, until finally, the visage overlapped perfectly with his memory.

“You are…are you…Second Uncle?” Wang Changsheng uttered uncertainly.

Indeed, the face now matched exactly the one from Wang Changsheng’s memories of his second uncle, which he had retained since childhood.

“Yes!” The aged face slowly returned to youth, resuming the original appearance after the hood was removed. “That’s right, Changsheng, I am your second uncle!” he said.

“I never expected it, truly, Changsheng, you have broken through to the peak of the Innate realm!” Second Uncle looked at Wang Changsheng with satisfaction. “As expected from the Longevity Art. To survive for more than two hundred years at the Innate peak! Even with some aid from spiritual herbs, it speaks to the extraordinary nature of the Longevity Art!”

Initially, Wang Changsheng had doubted this youthful second uncle, for from his senses, the man was not merely aged made young, but genuinely youthful, his vitality so abundant that Wang Changsheng could hardly imagine it.

But upon hearing mention of the Longevity Art and his two hundred years, Wang Changsheng was certain: this was indeed his second uncle.

“Second Uncle... truly Second Uncle…”

Tears welled up in Wang Changsheng’s eyes as he gazed at his uncle and murmured, “Second Uncle... I thought you had forgotten me!”

“Since you left, I have never ceased cultivating, never slackened for a single day!”

“You said that once I broke through to the peak, you would come for me!”

“I have broken through, and I waited, and waited…”

“Second Uncle, this wait has lasted more than two hundred years…”

With these words, Wang Changsheng broke down in tears.

Second Uncle watched Wang Changsheng cry without reproach, for he understood better than anyone how difficult it had been for Wang Changsheng to reach this point in such a place.

“We never forgot, Changsheng. Your father and I never forgot you… only…” Second Uncle’s words trailed off, as if he wished to say more.

But Wang Changsheng was lost in his own thoughts, as if already succumbing to the end.

“It’s useless… useless, Second Uncle, you came too late…”

Wang Changsheng slowly closed his eyes, his voice weak, “I am already spent, all vitality gone. Even with you here, it’s no use…”

He knew his condition well; the burst of emotion that allowed him to cry had been sparked by his uncle’s appearance.

After two centuries of cultivation and waiting, Wang Changsheng had finally, at the end, seen his second uncle.

Though he had not seen his father, he was content—for at least, at the moment of death, he knew his father and uncle had not forgotten him.

“Changsheng… Changsheng…!” Second Uncle, seeing Wang Changsheng close his eyes, rushed forward and placed both hands on his shoulders to check his condition.

The more he examined, the more incredulous his expression became.

“All vitality dissipated, yet his true energy still circulates—truly a testament to the Longevity Art!” Second Uncle exhaled in relief. “Thankfully, I arrived in time. Otherwise, even the strongest would not be able to save him!”

Then, Second Uncle produced a porcelain bottle, removed the stopper, and poured out a waxy pellet.

As the pellet fell out, a strange fragrance spread, and as Second Uncle peeled away its outer layer, the scent filled the entire Snowpeak.

“Indeed, a sacred medicine. Just smelling it invigorates the spirit!” Second Uncle said gravely.

He pried open Wang Changsheng’s mouth and fed him the pellet.

As soon as the medicine entered Wang Changsheng’s throat, it dissolved into a stream of clarity, flowing into his body. Within a few breaths, its effects reached his internal organs.

Soon, Wang Changsheng’s complexion began to flush with color.

“If this sacred medicine could be used for cultivation, the boy could probably reach the Opening Meridian realm in one leap!” Second Uncle said, finally relieved as Wang Changsheng’s color improved.

A bout of coughing followed, and Wang Changsheng slowly opened his eyes.

“Second Uncle… what is this…” Wang Changsheng, upon awakening and sensing his physical condition, was astonished.

It was understandable; with the Longevity Art, Wang Changsheng had barely survived this long. Part of his endurance was due to his unparalleled martial mastery and the spiritual herbs he had consumed over the years.

But the more he took, the less effect they had—which was why he had told Second Uncle he was too late; his condition was beyond what any medicine could remedy. Even if his uncle brought herbs, they could not save him.

Yet now, he felt as if he had regained the body he had fifty years ago—not fully youthful, but returned to the state before he began taking medicine to prolong his life.

“Boy, let me tell you, your uncle’s methods now are beyond your understanding,” Second Uncle laughed. “As long as you have a breath left, I can bring you back!”

“Of course, your body was truly spent; otherwise, with this sacred medicine, you would be restored to your prime!” Second Uncle showed a hint of disappointment.

“Thank you, Second Uncle!” Wang Changsheng immediately rose and knelt, bowing deeply.

Though white-haired, Wang Changsheng was still much younger than his uncle and owed him his life.

Second Uncle received the bow and said, “Enough with these formalities!”

“Is there anything left for you to settle here?” he asked. “If not, come with me now.”

He pointed to the pitch-black portal in the air. “This teleportation channel cannot be kept open too long; I’ll explain later.”

Wang Changsheng thought for a moment. “Second Uncle, there’s nothing left to take care of.”

“Good!” Second Uncle took Wang Changsheng by the hand and soared toward the portal. “Let’s go, then!”

Just before entering the dark portal, Wang Changsheng turned back, sensing something. He saw, near the summit of Snowpeak, a figure kneeling and kowtowing toward him in the sky. With his keen eyesight, he immediately recognized the person.

“Xiao Er, wait for me—I will come back for you!” Wang Changsheng said silently, his resolve firm. “You must live and wait for my return!”