Chapter 487: From Now On, I Am You

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"This is..."

Zeng Yi looked around at the scenery, too shocked to say anything.

However, the old man just smiled lightly, looking at Zeng Yi's astonishment and calmly said, "You can sit in this water, and I will help you recall everything from the past."

"Spiritual ritual?" Zeng Yi looked at the golden river, his eyes widened as he murmured.

"Yes."

The old man squinted his eyes and smiled at Zeng Yi.

Zeng Yi fell silent, staring at the old man with a hesitant gaze.

Can I trust this person?

Zeng Yi speculated in his heart, unable to help but wonder why this sudden appearance of a mysterious old man would want to help him. Was it just simple goodwill?

Goodwill, Zeng Yi couldn't help but find it somewhat ridiculous.

If this person didn't have any ulterior motives, Zeng Yi definitely wouldn't believe it.

However, since he had come this far, Zeng Yi naturally couldn't turn back now. No matter the cost, he needed to figure out where he came from, the situation within his body, and what exactly was going on.

Because he had no other choice, there was no other way out.

"Alright."

"Then please prepare yourself." the old man chuckled with a decaying voice, sending shivers down one's spine.

Zeng Yi remained silent, taking off his shirt, revealing his well-built body. The most eye-catching aspect was the mysterious mark on his left chest.

Zeng Yi deeply looked into the eyes of the old man in front of him, who only squinted his eyes and watched him.

Then looking back at the river shimmering with golden light, Zeng Yi took a deep breath and stepped into the water.

The river was shallow, only covering up to his calves.

"Sit down."

The voice of the old man seemed to echo from within, softly luring and hypnotizing.

Zeng Yi complied, sitting in the water. As the water level was low, it only reached his knees.

The river, glimmering with a golden glow, flowed quietly. The cool sensation reached his brain, causing Zeng Yi to feel relaxed in this moment. The river seemed like a sacred spring, with the ability to purify everything.

Feeling the flow of the river passing through his body, Zeng Yi couldn't help but close his eyes. His mind slowly emptied, and the tension on his face, which had been tightly held, relaxed, giving off an incredibly pleasant feeling.

"Flowing water clears the mind, reflecting like a clear mirror, blooming in spring and merging with nature."

The old man, appearing out of nowhere, was already behind Zeng Yi, chanting with an indescribable charm, sounding like a prayer.

In the golden river, on the riverbed, the sparse wild grass grew longer, the leaves enlarged, and the buds opened, eventually blooming.

The flower petals fell, landing on the calm river surface and gently floated down with the current.

Unknowingly, Zeng Yi opened his eyes, witnessing everything.

In this short period of time, he witnessed the birth of life, its culmination, and its conclusion. In just a few minutes, Zeng Yi seemed to see a lengthy lifetime.

"Old man, flowers, hope..."

"Perhaps, hope is enough."

The voice of the old man came from the side, making Zeng Yi turn his head. There stood the old man, holding a peculiar cup in his hands, offering it to Zeng Yi.

It was wine!

Zeng Yi casually glanced at the contents of the cup, and in the elegant fragrance floating in the air, he could even discern a hint of wine aroma. Thus, Zeng Yi quickly recognized it.

The old man held the cup of wine and smiled at Zeng Yi, saying, "Drinking this cup will help you invoke your spiritual connection."

Wine?

Zeng Yi looked at the cup in the old man's hand, feeling a bit absent-minded.

Ever since his time at the Mo Family's Swift Wind Sword Dojo, it had been half a year, and Zeng Yi had never touched alcohol. But for some reason, looking at the cup of wine in front of him, he felt a strong sense of familiarity.

Perhaps, his former self was a lover of wine.

At this moment, unfamiliar images flashed in his mind. His absent-minded eyes revealed a trace of sadness.

"The contents of a cup can never dispel sorrows or make up for regrets."

In that moment, Zeng Yi also fell into a daze. He didn't know why he said those words, but the melancholy emotions continued to linger, making him feel uncomfortable.

However, even so, Zeng Yi accepted the cup from the old man.

The clear liquid reflected his face, and within the tempting floral aroma, there was a hint of wine scent. So, Zeng Yi could quickly discern it.

Looking down at the cup of clear wine and hesitating, his complex gaze remained fixed, but after a while, a firmness flickered through his clouded eyes.

No longer hesitating, Zeng Yi raised his head and drank the wine in one gulp.

The old man stood behind Zeng Yi, watching him finish the wine with a smile that held profound meaning.

"Let's begin." the old man said. "You can release your Martial Spirit now."

The voice of the old man made Zeng Yi pause for a moment.

Release his Martial Spirit?

During the past six months, Zeng Yi had not revealed his Martial Spirit. Even during the training at the dojo, he had always relied on the bamboo sword, never displaying his true power.

Zeng Yi had lost his previous memories and even forgotten what a Spirit Master and Martial Spirit were.

However, Mo Xin had already explained to Zeng Yi that everyone in this world possessed a Martial Spirit.

Before, he had been hesitant to release his Martial Spirit, fearing that once his true power was revealed, the demonic presence within his body would also emerge.

So, he had been resisting this power all along.

But now, there should be no problem.

Being in this river, Zeng Yi felt as if the terrifying power within his body had been suppressed.

So, what would his Martial Spirit be like?

He was somewhat curious.

Zeng Yi closed his eyes and focused his mind.

Martial Spirit, reveal!

Suddenly, a long sword appeared out of thin air, stopping in mid-air in front of Zeng Yi.

Seeing his Martial Spirit in front of him, it was indeed a sword-type Martial Spirit, which didn't surprise Zeng Yi.

However, the color of the sword made Zeng Yi furrow his brow.

Because his Martial Spirit, this slender and sharp sword, turned out to be blood-red in color, radiating a sharp and chilling aura. It looked as if blood was flowing through it, like a living creature.

Eerie and terrifying, it seemed like a demonic sword capable of devouring spirits.

Looking at his Martial Spirit, Zeng Yi was stunned.

However, the old man behind him looked at the demonic and blood-red glow emitting from the sword, and within his almost decrepit eyes, a greedy gaze flickered.

Truly beautiful!

Zeng Yi fell silent, reaching out and grasping the blood-colored sword, placing it flat on his knees.

The golden glow emanating from the river washed over his body, as if attempting to cleanse away the blood-red color.

Zeng Yi quickly adjusted his mindset and closed his eyes, allowing the clear water to flow, as if it could purify his spirit.

His mind began to empty, merging with nature. In this moment, he seemed to clearly hear and perceive the movements of all living creatures around him – breathing, heartbeats, every sound.

The sound of the flowing water brought a pleasant mood, relaxation. This was the melody of nature.

He seemed to have melted into the river, transforming into a fish-like spirit, frolicking and swimming in this spiritual river.

This harmonious, peaceful, and natural scene suddenly resonated with the sound of a leisurely and prolonged melody.

The old man, at some point, had sat in the river and began playing the Erhu.

The melodious sound of the Erhu seemed to blend seamlessly with this environment, becoming a part of it.

[Notes: The Erhu is a Chinese two-stringed bowed instrument that is also known as the Chinese Violin, Chinese two-stringed Fiddle, or Spike Fiddle.]

The strings played, resonating without interruption, and the aquatic creatures danced along with the music.

Sitting cross-legged, Zeng Yi's closed eyes furrowed, as if something had happened.

The power buried within his body began to surge, urging him to wield it.

Everything seemed to be out of control.

The pain caused Zeng Yi's facial expression to distort.

He was like someone trapped in a dim space. Fragmented memories flickered through his mind, increasing in number like a revolving lantern.

Who am I?

Zeng Yi mentally screamed, clutching his head in painful torment, standing on top of those fragmented memory fragments.

The blue planet, from birth, growth, to one day suddenly arriving in another world.

The world in the books!

With panic, fear, curiosity, and the unknown, the unfinished life was restarted in another world!

Martial Spirit? Spirit Power? Spirit Master?

Sword Dao? Continuously forging oneself and climbing towards the peak?

Who am I?

Zeng Yi!

Right, my name is Zeng Yi! Not Mo Lang!

I am Zeng Yi!!!

In his spiritual world, Zeng Yi painfully clutched his head, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins, feeling as if his head was about to explode. His fierce gaze revealed a twisted expression, and he screamed and shouted in anger, releasing his frustrations.

Finally, in this moment, the revolving lantern that represented the passing time in his mind cracked, ultimately shattering like a mirror.

The world turned dark, and with the fragments of memories falling, it seemed as if he was falling into an endless abyss, devouring everything within him.

In reality, Zeng Yi remained seated in the river, but there were changes.

It was ominous, terrifying, and chilling.

The river washed over Zeng Yi's body, as well as his Martial Spirit on his knees. The blood-red color on the sword began to slowly fade away, like peeling off a layer of skin, revealing its original appearance.

Shimmering with a cold and sharp silver!

Meanwhile, the discarded blood-red color flowed out from Zeng Yi's body, appearing like a shadow, gathering in the river and moving towards the old man who was still playing the Erhu.

Absorbing into the old man's body.

The old man squinted his eyes and continued to play the Erhu, seemingly enjoying himself. His almost decrepit face first showed immense satisfaction, excitement, and delight.

He was reveling in all of this.

Until the music ended.

At that moment, the Erhu in the old man's hands instantly turned into ashes and scattered with the wind.

"Hahaha!"

The old man burst into laughter, an utterly delighted and satisfied expression on his face.

What was even more surprising was that as he laughed, his body started to change. His stooped figure became taller, his decaying skin turned smooth and glossy, and his black hair extended.

Everything happening to this person could be described with just one word.

Reverse Aging!

"This is too wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! It's truly remarkable!" The old man exclaimed uncontrollably, his laughter resounding as he covered his face with his hand.

He could no longer be called an old man.

Returning to his youthful self, he laughed for a long time. Finally, he stopped his joyous laughter, turned around, and looked at Zeng Yi, who was still sitting in the water.

When he turned, his face was revealed.

It was a face that looked exactly like Zeng Yi.

This person swiftly reappeared in front of Zeng Yi, his face displaying a smile akin to that of a dead person, without any signs of life.

"I am truly surprised by you. I never expected you to contain power that can rival a Sword Saint."

"Now, you can disappear... Oh, no!" He suddenly remembered something, his lips curling into a sinister smile.

"You haven't disappeared because from now on, I am you!"

"I am Zeng Yi! Ahahaha!"

He laughed heartily, his eyes glowing crimson. He extended his hand, and a blood-colored long sword materialized, gripping the hilt. He then swung it down toward Zeng Yi, who was still seated, going for a decisive beheading!