Three visits to the cemetery
But in the end, his answer was: "Let me look at the stars again."
He looked at the stars not only to find out the reason for the recent rise of this undeserved fame, but also to see what the hidden divination meant behind this matter.
One person is not a force, but ten or a hundred people can form a force, and may even influence and dominate the fate of the world.
The world has been in chaos for a long time. And now, someone has brought up the name Shangguan Jin.
Despite the apparent surprise, he could sense a certain divine will and mystery at play.
The tomb keeper was skilled in divination and numerology, a crucial skill that had sustained the Shangguan family for nearly a century. Therefore, the clan head deeply agreed with Shangguan Jin's answer. He thus agreed that Shangguan Jin should retreat into seclusion to further study before discussing how to proceed.
That night, Shangguan Jin saw a sky full of light like rain, Mars encroaching on the constellation Ziwei, war breaking out, and drought—all omens of great misfortune.
This has always been a celestial omen.
The fate of the Great Huan Dynasty had come to an end. Moreover, the southward migration of the Hu people was an inevitable trend. The Jiangdong region, which had endured for centuries, was also destined for a bloody purge.
This division is caused by the long-standing imbalance in political and cultural development between the North and the South. And this division will inevitably find its balance again in some way and reunite, even in extreme ways.
In short, if you, the people living on the same land, are prosperous and peaceful while we are poor and violent, then we will certainly not allow you to continue your comfortable life. We are constantly struggling in misery, and we will not care whether this is due to our own shortcomings or whether conquest is too barbaric. This will inevitably happen once the balance of power reaches a critical point.
This is also why Shangguan Jin never considered taking up an official post.
He did not want to go against the will of Heaven, preferring to be a detached hermit in this world destined for suffering.
But on the very night the clan chief inquired about him, something unusual suddenly happened.
A star shone from the southwest, passed through Zhongyuan, and lingered over the sky above Jiangdong.
Immediately, the imperial star shone brightly again, sweeping away all the chaos in the universe, leaving the cosmos vast and the mountains and rivers clear.
Shangguan Jin was extremely surprised. Had something unexpected happened that became a variable?
That night, he repeatedly consulted the oracle, seeking answers through the "I Ching," pondering deeply and repeatedly, until he produced the largest and most complex hexagram of his life, the "Heavenly Fortune Formation," which lasted for three days and three nights.
What he didn't know was that while he was repeatedly casting divinations, someone was already waiting for him outside the forbidden area of the Shangguan family.
Three days later, the clan leader entered the forbidden area and was surprised to find that Shangguan Jin's temples were already covered with strands of silver hair.
Shangguan Jin was in his prime at the time, and most importantly, as a cultivator with refined cultivation, he probably wouldn't have a single white hair even in his old age.
The clan chief could no longer bring himself to ask the questions he was about to ask.
In the end, it was Shangguan Jin who spoke first.
The moment he opened his mouth, the atmosphere became extremely heavy.
“There is hope for peace in Jiangdong, and it is possible for the Han people to regain control of the Central Plains.”
The clan chief immediately looked relieved and said heavily, "That's good!" This was probably the best news he had heard in recent years.
But Shangguan Jin's next words made him nervous again.
"But the appearance of the Imperial Star will not occur until thirty years later."
"In other words, only if we can survive the next thirty years without being destroyed by the barbarians will we be able to conquer the Central Plains in the future."
The clan chief, who had already sat down in a folding chair in the hall, immediately stood up upon hearing this, exclaiming in shock, "What does this mean?"
Shangguan Jin unfolded the astronomical chart he had drawn the day before, pointed to it, and said with a wry smile, "There is an imperial star, but that is the imperial star of thirty years from now. There is a person who assists the king, who has come from the southwest to Jiangdong, but he has not yet gained any momentum."
The clan chief stared at him, his eyes shining, and said, word by word, "In other words, destiny is not in the present, but in the future."
Shangguan Jin interjected, "But if we can't protect Jiangdong now, I'm afraid we won't have a future."
The clan chief, thinking of the current chaos outside, the infighting among princes, and the fact that even the imperial court was unable to function properly, smiled bitterly and said, "Asking us to protect the Great Huan for another thirty years is easier said than done." He scrutinized Shangguan Jin, then suddenly realized something and said, "Unless..."
Shangguan Jin replied, "Unless I take up an official post."
The clan chief remained silent for a long time before saying, "To use one person's cultivation and fortune to reverse the course of history and prolong the life of a dynasty is probably not a long-term solution."
Within the family, the patriarch was the only one who knew about Shangguan Jin's achievements in Taoist cultivation.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Shangguan Jin will remain in the cemetery until the end of his life, and he will be the number one sword immortal of the Southern Dynasty.
Throughout history, tales of immortals have been considered fantastical. How many people have actually seen a living immortal? But Shangguan Jin was destined to be one.
When in the world, one becomes a wise and capable minister; when out of the world, one becomes a transcendent immortal.
Shangguan Jin remained silent for a moment, then said, "To exchange one person's chance to become an immortal and their lifespan after fifty years for thirty years of peace in the Southern Dynasty, to await future generations, is not a loss, is it?"
The clan chief's expression changed. "Lifespan in fifty years? That means you won't live past fifty? This... how is that possible!"
It is understandable that one cannot become an immortal. After leaving this world, one will inevitably be involved in the karma of the mortal world and the cycle of reincarnation. One will no longer be able to detach oneself from worldly affairs and cultivate in seclusion. The primary task of superior alchemy is to refine the mind. Therefore, one's cultivation in the "mind" is considered to have reached its limit in one lifetime, and there is no longer any power of liberation.
However, the clan leader could not understand why he would not live past fifty. The main reason was that with Shangguan Jin's current level of innate profound skill, he was at least a hundred years old.
If he were to be reborn, his cultivation level might not be able to advance further, but his already formed core body would not regress.
Shangguan Jin stared at the astronomical chart before him and said, "I cannot answer this question either, because the divination did not tell me. I only saw that if I acted in this way, the result would be like this."
The clan chief said in a deep voice, "I have heard of and seen the top martial arts masters of both the Northern and Southern Dynasties. With your current swordsmanship, there is no one in the world who can hurt you. Even if you take up your sword on the battlefield, I do not think you will die at the age of fifty."
A faint smile appeared on Shangguan Jin's lips as he said, "Who knows? Maybe the roof beam will collapse and crush me to death."
The clan chief smiled for the first time, then said, "That is indeed possible. To drown while ferrying someone across, to be burned while putting out a fire—such is the way of fate, the balance of heaven and earth. But you…"
Shangguan Jin interrupted him, saying firmly, "I have no intention of entering the world."
The clan chief was not surprised. Instead, he stroked his beard and sighed, "Everyone has things they consider important in their lives. Exchanging one's cultivation for the fate of the world thirty years from now may seem like a good deal, but what you sacrifice is the bit of opportunity and destiny you have gained through countless lifetimes of cultivation. You don't owe the world anything. Your uncle understands and will not force you."
For the first time, Shangguan Jin genuinely respected this clan patriarch, who was always outgoing and adhering to the doctrine of the mean, and who was also his uncle. He whispered, "Thank you."
But a few days later, the person who came to the forbidden area again was someone that even the patriarch of the Shangguan family could not refuse.
The one who came was the newly appointed crown prince, who would soon be crowned the new ruler of the Great Huan Dynasty.
He specifically requested to see Shangguan Jin, and sat outside the forbidden area for half a day, ignoring all the various formalities and obstructions from the Shangguan family.
He refused to drink tea or water, and refused to go to the Shangguan family's villa, so that the Shangguan family could at least show some hospitality, and explain the reasons why Shangguan Jin could not obey the imperial edict.
He only had one simple move: if they didn't come out, he would wait.
He wanted to see Shangguan Shisan, not any other member of the Shangguan family.
And so he actually set up his tent under the sun, showing a determination that he would stay there forever as long as Shangguan Jin didn't come out.
When Shangguan Jin, who was in the forbidden area, heard this news, he was stunned for a long time.
Then he uttered a question: "Who is this newly appointed crown prince?"
This person's stubbornness is so similar to someone from the past.
But he quickly dismissed the vague idea from his mind and immediately concluded that it was impossible.
No matter which prince, grandson, or grandson of the Sima family becomes the crown prince, it's impossible for that person to get the position.
The clan chief's reply, however, felt like a heavy blow to his head.
"Thirteen, you have been out of touch with worldly affairs for a long time, and I have not had time to explain the current situation of Jianzhang to you. The capable princes of the Sima family have almost killed each other after the chaos of war. The ministers have been troubled by the princes' ambitions for a long time, so they have decided to select a peaceful, kind and quiet prince as the next emperor."
"Therefore, Prince Jin Yuan of Guangling was summoned from a remote place."
"The crown prince has been temporarily appointed, but at most a month later, the enthronement ceremony will be held and he will officially ascend the throne as emperor."
Sima... Jin Yuan?
This name, long buried in his memory, suddenly resounded in Shangguan Jin's mind like a thunderclap.
He... wants to be emperor?
All the memories of their time together in their youth suddenly became incredibly clear, flashing before his eyes one by one.
Shangguan Jin was initially incredulous, then gave a bitter smile, and finally just a bitter smile, until he himself didn't understand what he was laughing at.
Ministers... do you think this country has too long a life ahead of it?
Did Sima Jinyuan himself... also feel that his life was too long?
Doesn't he know what happened to the previous princes who ascended the throne?
Such a dull and mediocre person, yet he dares to seek out scholars three times to visit his thatched cottage and compete for supremacy?
With a heavy, unspoken feeling, Shangguan Jin finally stepped out of the forbidden area.
He assumed that the first person he would see outside the forbidden area would be a eunuch relaying messages for the Crown Prince. But to his surprise, the person standing in the blazing sun, craning his neck to look in his direction, was none other than Sima Jinyuan himself.
After a long separation, Shangguan Jin also had to take a fresh look at the prince from back then.
Unfortunately... it seems nothing has changed.
Aside from that brand-new dragon robe that looked somewhat stolen and didn't fit quite right, making him look a little awkward in it.
"Shangguan Shisan! Shangguan Shisan!" Sima Jinyuan's eyes lit up with joy as he shouted, "I knew you would get out!"
He jogged over quickly, grabbed Shangguan Jin's hand, and said as if reciting a familiar story, "I've gone to so much trouble to build your reputation and prestige, and I've even come here to stake out this place myself. I don't believe the Shangguan family can continue to pretend they can't see you, continue to suppress you, keep you trapped, and prevent you from seeing me!"
Then, with an expectant look on his face, he asked, "Did I do a good job?"
Even with Shangguan Jin's intelligence, his mind almost couldn't process it. He gathered his thoughts and spoke very, very slowly, "You mean, all those people who wanted to see me before, you were the one who brought them?"
Sima Jinyuan said smugly, "I didn't order them to find you. I only said that if we were to find someone to restore the Great Huan Dynasty, Shangguan Shisan would be the only one suitable. I also secretly bribed some children to sing folk songs on the streets of Jianzhang. The lyrics were 'Without Shangguan, the suffering of the people cannot be relieved.' Those who follow the crowd will naturally try to find out what kind of person Shangguan Jin is. See? Have I become smarter?"
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