Chapter 1257: Why Live? (2)

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

“At that time, even if I had become an immortal, what difference would it make to return to my hometown? Is there still any meaning to everything? Who would be there to see that I fulfilled my mother’s wishes to become an immortal?”

Jiang Hao was surprised.

The little kid who was always beaten up and always cried had grown up so much. He had begun to think about what it meant to become an immortal.

Jiang Hao laughed softly. “You’re already very impressive. Many people in this world don’t even question the meaning of life after having lived so long until the day they die. Some don’t even think about it then. They live for the sake of living. They earn bits of silver with their hands, use those bits of silver to feed themselves and keep warm, and the cycle continues. Where’s the meaning in that? When they’ve been busy their whole lives, who’s there to acknowledge that they’ve tried so hard to live and to dream? No one. For everyone, their own life is already hard enough. How could they spend time reminiscing about other people’s lives and dreams? So, do you know why they live?”

“Why?” Lin Zhi asked.

“To know the answer, you should go ask them. There’s no right answer. Everyone has their own answer,” said Jiang Hao.

Why do people live on?

The Saint Bandits lived on to unify everyone in the world. Long Tian lived to bring about a new world to replace the old. The End of All Things lived on to bring about the annihilation of everything under the sky. The Human Emperor lived for the benefit of all.

Everyone had their reasons and their goals. The meaning of life differed from one individual to another.

“Senior Brother, what do you think they live for?” Lin Zhi asked.

Jiang Hao picked up a stone from the ground. “Suppose this is your mother. She was born among the flowers in the jungle and saw many other flowers bloom. When she gave birth to you, her life changed.” Jiang Hao tossed the stone into the bucket of water.

Water splashed everywhere.

“At that moment, her life was in turmoil, and you are the ripple that she created.” Jiang Hao pointed at the ripples of water in the bucket. “Look at that. The stone has sunk to the bottom, but the ripples are still spreading. As time passes, the stone is nowhere to be seen. People will forget that stone ever was there. They’ll see the ripples for a long while until it finally settles to calmness. But sometimes, a ripple can cause a huge wave that sweeps across the world. At that moment, everyone will know his story and understand his intentions. Under the heavens, everyone will be his witness.”

Lin Zhi was stunned.

His eyes lit up with hope.

Jiang Hao turned around and left.

Why do people live?

In fact, he rarely thought about that. In his opinion, there were as many answers to that question as there were people in the world.

Some lived on because they were afraid of death, some lived for pleasure and greed, some were burdened with responsibilities, and others with ambition.

However, in the end, it was all for a glimmer of hope for a different future.

For most of them, it was only a ripple in the water. But when these ripples came together, they made a spectacular scene.

Jiang Hao suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Everyone’s path in the world was different, but they still affected one another.

Then, what about life or Dao?

There were tens of thousands of Daos in the world, but in reality, they were all connected to one Dao.

Everyone walked the same path in a million different ways.

However, no matter how they did it, they could not leave the path.

For a moment, Jiang Hao felt something in his heart but could not grasp it.

Everything was mysterious.

The Great Dao was unpredictable.

An aura appeared behind him.

The aura seemed to rise from the foot of the mountain to the peak.

The change was significant, but no one around noticed it.

Jiang Hao did not walk very fast, but he could still sense what was behind him.

When he left, Lin Zhi’s aura had completely calmed.

After so many years, Lin Zhi had made it to the Golden Core Realm.

…

Jiang Hao sat under the peach tree when he returned to his courtyard.

He had been recalling the feeling he just had.

The Dao was everywhere. Sometimes a single thought could lead to complete comprehension.

Three thousand paths led to the same destination.

At that moment, Jiang Hao somewhat understood that.

Faint light glowed on his body and lasted until the beginning of September.

Only then did Jiang Hao open his eyes.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t gain much. It’s time to make a trip to the West.”

He planned to find the one with the Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment and give her a gift.

However, on that day, the sect welcomed some experts.

Jiang Hao saw quite a few swords flying in the sky. They seemed to be going somewhere in anticipation.

After asking around, he found out that Wei Siyu, one of the Four Immortal Maidens of the South, had visited.

She was from a demonic sect, the Fallen Moon Palace Sect.

“That sect is so far away. Why is she here?”

Jiang Hao recalled the things they had discussed in the gathering.

These people were definitely here to make trouble.

However, with the Great Era just beginning, the immortals probably would not make a move soon.

From the looks of it, it should be impossible to target the Heavenly Note Sect right away.

The Heavenly Note Sect had Elder Baizhi, who was an immortal. There were many other experts at the Immortal Ascension Platform as well.

In an era where immortals did not appear openly, it was not a wise move to provoke the Heavenly Note Sect, unless the other party did not want the opportunities of the Great Era and wanted to attack in full force.

Only then would they have a chance of winning.

He did not care about these people and disappeared on the spot.

When he reappeared, he was in the West.

He had left a golden ring here, so nothing unexpected happened.

Before, he had to be careful whenever he visited the Divine Rotation Sect. This time, he had to be on high alert.

The Divine Rotation Sect was not a first-class sect, but it was huge.

There must be extremely powerful immortals in the sect.

Once he was discovered, he would be in grave danger.

He had to be able to escape if he wanted to be safe.

The danger within the sect was not small.

Three days later, Jiang Hao arrived at the ancient city.

He had been to this city before. It seemed even more derelict than before. Something had attacked this place.

“Is it because of the chaos?”

Along the way, Jiang Hao saw many dangers. He had suppressed them if it was within his power.

If not, he had let it be.

He did not have time to deal with it.

In the ancient city, Jiang Hao looked around.

Finally, he saw an ordinary noodle shop.

That was Liu Ying’s shop.

Back then, she had been able to see through him.

It seemed to have quite an influence on aura and fortune.

However, she still had not been able to find the one with the Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment.

If the one with the Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment was in the West, she would definitely visit this place.

Jiang Hao sighed and walked in.

As soon as he entered, he saw a young girl sitting at the table and eating some noodles.

There was also a white bird perching at the side.

She looked ethereal.

Without hesitation, Jiang Hao walked over and sat down across from her.

“Hm?” Chu Jie raised her head to look at him. She only saw a stranger. “I think I’ve seen you before.”

“Have you? Where?” Jiang Hao was surprised.

“I haven’t seen you in this form, but I’ve seen other forms of you,” she said.

Jiang Hao was taken aback at her sharp perception.

“Senior, is there something you need from me?” Chu Jie asked.

“I heard you failed to condense the Flower of Fortune?” Jiang Hao asked.

“I did. I guess it wasn’t my time yet,” she said calmly.

“Do you regret it?” Jiang Hao asked.

Chu Jie laughed. “Senior, you must be joking. How can someone regret something after it has been done? It’s the karmic cycle. What’s bound to happen will happen. There is nothing to regret.”

Jiang Hao felt rather emotional when he heard that.

More than forty years ago, he had seen this same young girl who was still naïve and simple.

He could not believe that she was already a formidable existence with her own path to walk.

It turned out that he was not the only one who had changed greatly over the years. Many people had changed as well.

Chu Jie, Xuanyuan Tai, Chu Chuan, Han Ming, and Lin Zhi had all changed.

All of them had their own lives and experiences that shaped them.

He could not do some of the things they could.

Time was really a fleeting thing.

“Noodles?” Chu Jie asked.

“Of course. How about you treat me to a bowl of noodles?” Jiang Hao asked.

“Alright.” Chu Jie nodded.

After that, he asked the waiter to serve a bowl for him.

Jiang Hao ate his noodles quietly. Chu Jie ate hers in the same way.

The noodles tasted just average. It was not very delicious. The portion was small too.

He finished it soon and gulped down the soup.

“Thank you.” Jiang Hao put down his chopsticks. “I hope you won’t refuse my gift for you in return.”

He took out a palm-sized cauldron and pushed it toward her.

He then got up and left. “I hope this will be of some help to you. It’s a waste to keep it to myself.”

Jiang Hao did not know how she must have reacted. He just turned around and left the shop.

Chu Jie looked at the small cauldron on the table and fell into deep thought. This was an incredible opportunity.