412 - Rebirth of a Star: Another Day, Another Drama

Chapter 412: Di Chang Ling Ye Ling Long's gaze swiftly shifted to where the voice originated, and to her surprise, at the foremost position of the stone chamber stood a man. A man who bore an extraordinarily familiar appearance, nearly identical to Di Lian Yun, almost as if a grown-up version of Qian Jun. Coupled with his somewhat translucent body, Ye Ling Long quickly deduced his identity. It was her master, whom she had never met, Di Chang Ling. This particular Di Chang Ling seemed to be a fragment of a soul left behind from long ago, which is why he appeared somewhat youthful, almost tender. "You, young lady, are decisive and straightforward. I like it!" Di Chang Ling looked at Ye Ling Long with admiration, his eyes betraying his fondness for her. Qian Jun, on the other hand, reddened around his eyes as he gazed at Di Lian Yun standing before him. His entire spiritual form trembled slightly. "Master…" It had been thousands of years, centuries since he had last seen his master. Witnessing his master fall right before his eyes during that battle, with no way to help, was an eternal agony for Qian Jun. Ye Ling Long cast an empathetic glance at Qian Jun before decisively kneeling down to show her respects, reverently calling out, "Master." No matter what, she acknowledged his Qian Jun Divine Sword and was accepted as a disciple by Qian Jun on his behalf; thus, Di Chang Ling was indeed her master. Di Chang Ling, seemingly predicting her thoughts, nodded kindly at her. "Good disciple, stand up." After Ye Ling Long rose, Di Chang Ling turned to Qian Jun with a voice full of nostalgia. "Little Qian Jun, you've changed so much." Finally, Qian Jun's cool demeanor collapsed, and tears pooled in his reddened eyes. Though as a sword spirit, it was unnatural for him to cry, in that moment, tears uncontrollably streamed down his cheeks. His heart still yearned for Di Chang Ling and the days they once shared, adventuring across the immortal realm. "Don't cry, Qian Jun." Di Chang Ling drifted beside Qian Jun, reaching to wipe away his tears, but his hand passed through Qian Jun's face without meeting resistance. He paused, then smiled, "I almost forgot, I’m just a fragment of a soul, not even a complete spiritual body." Qian Jun's face reflected deeper sorrow. The fragment belonged to the time when they were together, and Di Chang Ling's words from back then still echoed in his mind. But now, his old companion was absent. Di Chang Ling then inquired, "What time is it now?" Qian Jun lingered in his thoughts, while Ye Ling Long replied after a moment of reflection, "It should be over ten thousand years." Ten thousand years before, Di Chang Ling had already achieved the status of Immortal Emperor. This treasury in the realm was presumably set up before his ascension, suggesting an even more ancient time. "Eighteen thousand years," Qian Jun suddenly spoke. Di Chang Ling mused, "So, it has been that long. During this time, I must have already fallen." He spoke with certainty. Although a fragment from eighteen thousand years ago when he was not yet an Immortal Emperor, a being capable of becoming an Immortal Emperor within a few millennia possessed both talent and intellect. Eighteen thousand years allowed for many occurrences, and Qian Jun’s presence with his disciple indicated his death was probable. Ye Ling Long had to admit that her unseen master was incredibly astute. "Indeed, Master, you have been dead for over ten thousand years," she responded bluntly. Di Chang Ling pondered briefly. "You're saying I've been dead for over ten thousand years?" Ye Ling Long nodded. "But..." he started, "you appear to be only about two hundred years old. How did I come to accept you as a disciple?" Ye Ling Long: "..." It felt bizarre to hear someone remark on their death while standing right in front of them, even if they were merely a fragment. Qian Jun timely interjected, "Of course, I accepted you on his behalf. I recently discovered a promising talent from the lower realm. Within a mere two hundred years, she ascended to the immortal realm and is now at the King Immortal level, surpassing your early prowess." At this, Qian Jun wore a smug expression. Ye Ling Long paused, contemplating whether to recount how she had bested Qian Jun with heavenly lightning, convincing him to accept her reluctantly. Ultimately, she opted to let him boast. After all, he was her sword spirit; a little face-saving was necessary. Di Chang Ling tactfully nodded, akin to indulging a child. "Yes, yes, Qian Jun is the best." With Di Chang Ling's approval, Qian Jun's smugness intensified as he narrated their later exploits. Ye Ling Long observed the two, one recounting with glee, the other listening with joy, feeling somewhat silent amidst the scene. It began to resemble a father indulging a child. As time passed, Qian Jun's tales turned to their adventures in the higher realms with Di Chang Ling, culminating in Di Chang Ling’s ascension to Immortal Emperor, mentorship to disciples, and ultimately, the immortal-demon war where betrayal by a trusted friend led to his soul’s destruction. Ye Ling Long listened avidly. While she knew some details of her master's betrayal in battle, she had never heard so vividly before. "I knew back then that person seemed untrustworthy, yet you still trusted him, didn't you! Hmph!" Di Chang Ling patiently nodded, "Yes, yes, it’s my fault for not heeding your words." Ye Ling Long: "..." It truly seemed like they were humoring a child; clearly treating Qian Jun as if he were one. Prior, Qian Jun's persona was that of a high-handed, cool, and brooding character, yet this flamboyance was a first for her to witness. … Perhaps overwhelmed by happiness from reuniting with Di Chang Ling or from unloading years of stories, Qian Jun unwittingly fell into a deep sleep, his head resting on Di Chang Ling’s leg, a faint smile gracing his lips. After gently patting Qian Jun’s head, Di Chang Ling lifted his gaze towards Ye Ling Long, sighing deeply. "Without me, the past ten thousand years must have been hard for him." Ye Ling Long fell silent. Those millennia, Qian Jun had guarded the ancient secret realm, enduring demonic erosion yet never once considered leaving—perhaps due to lingering traces of Di Chang Ling's presence. Despite being a divine sword capable of cutting through all, he remained bound to a small secret realm. "I can see he wouldn't say it, but those ten thousand years couldn't have been kind to him. However…" Di Chang Ling's tone shifted, "Now, with you, he seems happy." Their bond spanning countless years meant Di Chang Ling understood Qian Jun more than he understood himself.