Chapter 2006: Xu Xiaolan’s Choice

After that, no matter what An Lin said, Chen Chen wouldn’t answer him.

Xue Yan liked Chen Chen. An Lin already figured that out.

To put it more accurately, the entire Heaven Crushing Sect had figured this out.

However, no one knew if Chen Chen liked Xue Yan!

“Brother Chen Chen, hey, Brother Chen Chen, don’t go!”

An Lin quickly tried to give chase, but Chen Chen fled as if he were avoiding the plague and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

An Lin could only give up after that.

After spending some more time at the Heaven Crushing Sect, he and Xiaolan returned to Yue Tong City.

They had already gotten a grasp on all of the core elements of the Heaven Crushing Sect, and all that was left for them to do was to digest these observations. As such, there was no need for them to stay at the Land of Eternal Light. An Lin thought that there were no further improvements that he could make to his Heaven Crushing Techniques. However, he was able to make substantial improvements following his trip to the Heaven Crushing Sect, and it was time to test his power against the Heavenly Human Tribe.

A brilliant light erupted from the teleportation spell formation.

An Lin and Xu Xiaolan reappeared in Yue Tong City.

“Hmm… What a lovely scent…”

An Lin caught a whiff of osmanthus flowers from the breeze that blew by.

Directly ahead of the formation was a wide path. Osmanthus trees grew along both sides of the path, and they swayed in the wind. Their fragrant scent wafted through the air, instilling one with a sense of serenity and relaxation.

Xu Xiaolan inhaled deeply through her nose. “After that intensive crash course, we can finally relax our brains…”

After becoming a Heavenly Disciple Attendant, she had also received the best benefits the Heaven Crushing Sect had to offer. As such, her heaven crushing true intent had improved by leaps and bounds, and she now had the heaven crushing aptitude of a heavenly disciple candidate.

In reality, Cyril and Chen Chen would have had no objections if she wanted to become a heavenly disciple. After all, her heaven crushing true intent and her cultivation base both fit the required criteria. However, she didn’t want to do that. She only wanted to be An Lin’s Heavenly Disciple Attendant.

All of the heavenly disciple candidates were extremely shocked after hearing about this. They dreamed night and day of becoming a heavenly disciple, but Xu Xiaolan discarded the opportunity like it was nothing!

“Let’s go home, Xiaolan.” An Lin held onto Xu Xiaolan’s hand.

Xu Xiaolan nodded with a smile, and the two of them strolled along the osmanthus tree path.

Back at the courtyard, Xu Xiaolan returned to her room and lay down on her bed as usual.

Ever since her body had begun undergoing its transformations, she had begun sleeping more.

She soon fell into a deep slumber.

Within the darkness, a white light suddenly appeared in the distance. That light was extremely alluring, as if it were hope, the future, and the meaning of life.

Xu Xiaolan began to chase after that light…

After what seemed to be an eternity, she finally held that light in her arms.

In that instant, she felt like she owned everything.

Xu Xiaolan was struck by an unfathomable sense of relaxation. She then flew high into the sky like a bird and looked down at the world from above.

What a fantastic feeling…

Is this the true meaning of life?

From her vantage point in the sky, Xu Xiaolan could see that familiar courtyard. She saw her old and shriveled body, as well as An Lin, who was quietly meditating.

Everything was so realistic.

In fact, it was TOO realistic!

Wait, no!

Xu Xiaolan suddenly came to her senses. She was then shocked by a discovery she made.

Everything WAS real! This was reality!

Xu Xiaolan’s eyes widened. If all of this was real and the Xiaolan within the room was also real, then what was she supposed to be?

She turned her attention to herself and discovered that she was now a miniature Vermilion Bird. She was flying slowly into the heavens toward transcendence.

“I understand now… I finally know what this feeling is…

“It’s the feeling of transcending beyond heaven and earth… I am evolving to become the ultimate life form. I am transcending to become a living being above this world and able to exist for all of eternity…

“I have experienced everything from infancy to old age. My life is already over, as is my karma in this life. It is now time to pursue my true self…”

Xu Xiaolan was enlightened. She suddenly understood life and her own dao.

The miniature Vermilion Bird rose into the sky and the courtyard shrank in her line of sight.

Xu Xiaolan’s entire body yearned for transcendence. This was the ultimate pursuit of life. This temptation and yearning was not something that could be resisted through one’s will alone.

Xu Xiaolan was about to accomplish something that even the former Great Empress Vermilion Bird was unable to.

Even now, Xu Xiaolan didn’t understand. How was she able to attain transcendence?

The former Great Empress Vermilion Bird possessed the Vermilion Bird Holy Berth just as she did… Could it be because she was the first living being in history to achieve dual dao integration?

Alternatively, could it be that she had attained such a deep understanding of heaven crushing that even the heavens feared her and were trying to ferry her away?

This was a valid suspicion. After all, she had just returned after an extensive crash course in the Heaven Crushing Sect, and she had almost immediately attained transcendence.

Xu Xiaolan’s mind was very muddled, and she thought about many things.

However, the overriding theme of her thoughts was that transcendence was the absolute path of righteousness. This was the path all Gods of Creation in the entire Tai Chu Continent and Realm of Stars were pursuing.

Hmm? Wait! I’m not even at the God of Creation Stage yet, how could I possibly transcend?

Xu Xiaolan’s heart jolted in shock.

At this moment, her body gradually became transparent.

Countless worlds flashed through her eyes.

All of her questions were then answered.

Xu Xiaolan felt like she had become omniscient and omnipotent.

“Cultivation base? Hehe… That’s not important.”

She raised her head to find a living being in a jade dress who was on a plane of existence beyond this world.

That was her future self.

This was a true… immortal!

“Relationships? Those aren’t important eith…”

Xu Xiaolan’s words suddenly faltered.

A figure appeared in her mind.

She had abandoned many ties with this world and was on the brink of transcendence. However, that figure suddenly appeared, even though it was a little blurry. Just as her body was on the brink of disappearing, it suddenly became clearer and more substantial again.

A series of images appeared in her mind. The two of them fighting side by side, the two of them sidling up against one another to watch the sunset, the two of them cultivating and motivating one another, the two of them discussing cooking together…

She couldn’t and she refused to forget!

“You won’t have another chance if you miss out on this one…” the figure in the jade dress urged in an ethereal, enticing voice.

“Relationships… are important!” Xu Xiaolan replied in a firm voice. One final image appeared in her mind. This was an image of An Lin kissing her shriveled and wrinkly forehead.

A vibrant smile appeared on her face, and she swept a hand through the air to dispel the image of the figure in the jade dress.

An ethereal voice rang out across the heavens.

“What’s so good about transcendence? My An Lin is more important!”