Chapter 2851 - 2913: Li Yifei’s Hypothesis

Although Li Yifei cursed a couple of times, he still cooperated with the institutions’ experiments. On the following day, he didn’t have to contribute anything like XX or other things, but he had to cooperate with multiple teams to conduct observations related to cultivation, which had been performed countless times on Murong Yuanqing and others.

After two days like this, Li Yifei, despite his iron physique, felt exhausted. As he sat eating with Murong Yuanqing and others, he suddenly had the urge to lie down and sleep. However, he noticed something unusual about Murong Yuanqing and Yao Lingfu. After finishing his meal, when he got a chance to be alone with Yao Lingfu, Li Yifei asked, "Elder Yao, is there any discord between you and Elder Murong?"

Yao Lingfu glanced at him, smiled, and shook her head, saying, "Silly child, I know you care about us. At our age, what kind of discord could we possibly have?"

"But... it doesn’t seem right. Has something happened?" Li Yifei asked again.

"We are simply getting old!" Yao Lingfu left these words and gracefully departed.

Li Yifei mulled over these words, his body trembling slightly, as if in disbelief, then turned to head towards Murong Yuanqing’s room.

In the room, Li Yifei sat respectfully on a chair, while Murong Yuanqing lay down directly. In his own space, Murong Yuanqing let go of his disguise. He was truly old, his body having declined to a certain degree.

Heroes at dusk, beauties with white hair, the hardest to keep in the mortal world... Li Yifei sat two meters away, momentarily unsure of what to say. Murong Yuanqing’s health had been deteriorating seriously over the years, his physical condition worsening day by day; it was truly calculated by the days.

"Master... Elder Murong, with your health not being great these days, you should take it easy. Some things, even if you don’t do them, will be done by others." Li Yifei finally spoke, advising him casually.

Murong Yuanqing’s eyes were originally half-open and half-closed. Upon hearing this, he slowly opened them, glanced at Li Yifei, chuckled, and said, "How can one live without being busy? Isn’t the meaning of life to be active? Rest assured, I won’t be dying anytime soon. I’ve lived through more than a hundred years, and these days won’t matter much."

"But it’s time to rest!" Li Yifei said.

"Among the young people I know, you actually resemble me the most. Even though you often say this and that, once this country needs you, you rush up without hesitation and take the helm. In my era, us folks had nothing but a burning patriotic passion. Whoever finishes first goes to reincarnate, to repay the country in the next life. So, don’t be sad. I’ve lived longer than those old friends, so I have no regrets."

"But as the younger generation, I still hope you live a little longer, even if you do nothing but watch us grow." Li Yifei said.

"I like hearing that. Now that I’m not so busy, I watch you all grow. Among the few young people I know, you’re the standout." Murong Yuanqing smiled at this, saying, "I know you won’t become complacent with praise, so I can praise you freely. However, it’s best not to get too proud."

"Thank you for the praise, Elder. I’ll try not to be arrogant." Li Yifei smiled.

"That’s right, let’s lighten the mood. Even if I were to die right now, it’s not a big deal. This country is already on the path of rejuvenation, steadily progressing. Technology is developing, and... the strength of a country, the wealth of its people, ultimately relies on the economy, which depends on Martial strength. Only a strong Martial force can deter surrounding threats and make distant major powers wary, ensuring national prosperity and peace. This is what we all hope to see. As for living longer... to be honest, I’ve lived enough; I just can’t die because the country isn’t stable enough." Murong Yuanqing wasn’t looking at Li Yifei but was staring blankly ahead. While saying this, he couldn’t help but shake his head, "But as you said, this country does not rely on individuals. Otherwise, even when they are utterly exhausted, it still wouldn’t suffice. Only when the entire nation strives can the country be strong."

Li Yifei nodded, saying, "That’s the truth. Besides, generation after generation, always someone comes forward."

"You’re trying to comfort me. In fact, I do have my worries. We all have worries. Cultivators have been mysteriously declining since several hundred years ago—severe decline, a gap, the loss of techniques, the dwindling of sects. So when it comes to cultivation, it feels like our vision has been obscured. We only know that we are experts now, but to what extent? Is Innate Expert the limit of this world?" Murong Yuanqing became somewhat agitated at this point, coughing slightly. Li Yifei quickly got up and fetched him a cup of water.

"Clearly, we’re not at the limit yet—far from it. All us old-timers search for this limit, but to date, I’m stuck here. However, you’re the glimmer of hope after reaching the Innate Expert level. Cultivation is supposed to become extremely slow, but not for you. You’re still progressing quickly, seemingly boundless, giving us hope. I even have a feeling that breaking the shackles of cultivation might just be up to you."

"Elder, this... I truly find it hard to imagine. Although my cultivation is growing, I feel as if the Dantian within me is a bottomless pit. No matter how much I grow or how much True Qi I increase, it always seems to have room... so perhaps this is what Heaven ordains." Li Yifei shook his head and said.

"Who can say for sure about the future? You’ve already given us hope, and you have a long century ahead to delve into this. If there truly is a next level, then you’ll become the new hope for cultivators." Murong Yuanqing said.

"Elder, I clearly feel that the mysterious senior’s cultivation is unfathomable. I once thought he might have already reached the new level. Haven’t you asked him?"

"Never. That guy, true to his title, is extremely mysterious. I really don’t know how far he’s reached, but certainly not to the next level. Perhaps he, like you, is a step further; that’s why he appears more formidable than us. As for how strong, that’s unknown."

Li Yifei slightly nodded, pondering for a moment, then said, "If there truly is another level of cultivation, if one could break through to that level, it might be a new world."

"Hahaha, indeed. That would be a new world, provided such a level exists. If one day you break through it, remember to burn incense and tell me; I’ll be happy even underground in Hell." Murong Yuanqing laughed.

Li Yifei initially intended to laugh along but instead froze, furrowing his brow, "Elder, what did you just say?"

"I said... if there’s a next level, I’d be happy underground." Murong Yuanqing repeated, looking at Li Yifei curiously.

Li Yifei’s eyes turned, as if a light bulb lit up in his mind, quickly saying, "Elder, if I’m not mistaken..."

"What is it?"

"We seem to be able to feel... souls."

"Souls? You mean the souls of the deceased?" Murong Yuanqing sat up upon hearing this, his eyes also opening, pondering Li Yifei’s words.

"Yes, we cultivators are sensitive to Qi, have authority, some sects have passed down knowledge, particularly in the Technique of Yin and Yang!"

"Indeed, your question is well posed. We can sense souls; it’s still a form of Qi, a type of energy."

"I didn’t pay attention before, but I think we can sense them; it’s just that such souls, or Qi, dissipate quickly. Without the body’s confinement, they drift in the air, then quickly vanish."

"That’s right. Maybe they dissipate, or maybe they go to Hell."

"Elder, have you considered... if there are truly souls, indeed going to Hell, does it imply... there is another place on this planet? Just a hypothesis, although unlikely. I just mean that while mythology today is explained as human fabrication, who’s to say these things don’t truly exist, just not anymore."

"Fairyland?" Murong Yuanqing chuckled.

"What if it exists, provided we break through to a certain level, as portrayed in films, requiring ascension to become an immortal, only to then ascend to Fairyland." Li Yifei laughed along.

Two grown men discussing becoming immortals would be taken for lunatics by passersby. Yet, after some discussion, both fell silent.

"Yifei, these speculations you just made are quite reasonable." Suddenly, Murong Yuanqing affirmed.

"I also believe... if humans have souls, and souls depart after death, then there might be Hell or another place accommodating these souls, which implies that outside of our reality, there might be other worlds, potentially housing more formidable beings." Li Yifei said.

"The task of exploring the answer to this matter is yours now." Murong Yuanqing laughed, looking at Li Yifei, who was taken aback before bursting out in laughter, "Absolutely, Elder. If after your centenary, you truly went to another world, and my guess proves correct, then in that alternate world, we shall meet again, drink to our heart’s content, and reminisce!"

"Good, I’ll remember this promise. Even if there’s truly a Hell, I won’t drink that so-called Meng Po Soup." Murong Yuanqing couldn’t help but laugh.

The old man hadn’t been this happy in a while; it was evident his mood was rather elevated today.