Legend Management Bureau Chapter 447

[ … words ]

Whenever Du Yu searched for a period of time, he would descend back to his starting point in time and begin his search anew from a different direction.

He did not dare to reverse time too far back. After all, the “Reversing Cause and Effect Formula” sounded like a relic left behind by an ancient Immortal Being.

With something that transcended the three realms, no one could guarantee that it wouldn’t suddenly appear right as Xu Fu was about to arrive.

For several consecutive months, Du Yu traversed nearly every island in the Eastern Sea, yet he still failed to find the so-called “Reversing Cause and Effect Formula.”

Searching for something he had never even seen before in such a vast expanse was simply far too difficult.

Du Yu did not even know the size or shape of the “Reversing Cause and Effect Formula,” nor did he know whether it was a Scroll or a book.

A few more years passed, and Du Yu scoured every cave on the islands, but he still found nothing.

He changed his mind.

Retracting his flames, he transformed into “Time” and drifted beyond the confines of the world to search for Xu Fu’s fleet.

It was a massive fleet.

It was hard to imagine that China’s shipbuilding technology had already reached such a mature level during the era of the First Emperor.

Casting his gaze across the water, Du Yu counted roughly fifty massive ships.

These were unlike ordinary ships; towards the rear-center of each vessel stood a structure resembling an ancient palace.

The structures were three stories high, looking much like small, multi-level pavilions.

If Du Yu remembered correctly, this type of vessel was called a “tower ship,” a design developed during the Spring and Autumn period that became mainstream during the Western Han dynasty.

Each of these current ships reached a length of thirty meters and carried one to two hundred people.

Looking at it this way, the entire fleet should have contained about six thousand people.

It seemed the legend of Xu Fu “taking three thousand virgin boys and girls” was slightly mistaken; it should have been “three thousand virgin boys and three thousand virgin girls.”

Furthermore, these so-called “young boys and girls” were all around thirteen or fourteen years old, an age that in modern terms would simply be called “teenagers.”

Thinking about it, leading a fleet across the vast ocean naturally required a large amount of manpower. How could Xu Fu possibly bring a bunch of helpless children?

During the pre-Qin era, the world’s Spiritual Energy was still relatively abundant. Nourished by this Spiritual Energy, every one of these youths stood tall and sturdy, quite unlike ordinary Mortals.

After a moment of thought, Du Yu dispersed his Time Magic, assumed the form of an ordinary Mortal, stole a set of Clothes from a cabin, and blended into the crowd.

The ship he boarded was the flagship. Disguised as a sailor, he moved in and out with the bustling crew and soon laid eyes on Xu Fu.

After just a single glance, Du Yu spotted the problem.

Xu Fu’s eyes looked incredibly strange.

Under the premise of “traveling east to seek immortals,” Xu Fu’s eyes should have held at least a trace of anticipation.

But they did not.

His gaze resembled a pool of stagnant water, completely devoid of direction or purpose.

“So that’s how it is…” Du Yu muttered to himself. “You knew from the very beginning that it was impossible to find the ‘Elixir of Life’… Then why did you set sail? Is it truly just because a monarch’s command cannot be disobeyed?”

Du Yu hesitated. He was not even certain if following Xu Fu would lead him to the “Reversing Cause and Effect Formula.”

On the fourth day, the fleet arrived at a small island.

The island did not appear very large. It held two wild mountains covered in dense vegetation and shaded by lush green trees.

“Someone, pass down the order. We shall dock at the island and take a brief rest,” Xu Fu instructed a youth standing beside him.

Du Yu stood on the roof of the tower ship, gazing out at the distant island alongside Xu Fu.

“Xu Fu, what exactly are you thinking?” Du Yu asked softly, observing the island. “I’ve already visited this island three times. It’s absolutely impossible for the ‘Reversing Cause and Effect Formula’ to be hidden here.”

The fifty massive ships Xu Fu brought gradually surrounded the small island. It took an entire afternoon to anchor all the vessels properly.

“Pass down the order! Everyone is to rest where they are. Starting tomorrow, look for fresh streams and gather fruits and vegetables. We set sail the day after.”

After settling the thousands of people, Xu Fu requested a Saber from an attendant. He then picked up a dead branch from the ground to use as a walking stick and slowly made his way toward the two solitary mountains.

Du Yu transformed into “Time” and slowly followed behind him.

Even though Xu Fu was a “renowned alchemist” of the Qin Dynasty, he actually appeared to be a mere Mortal. He hadn’t even reached the realm of drawing qi into his body.

As the sky gradually darkened into night, Xu Fu held up his dead branch, wrapped coarse cloth around it, poured on some vegetable oil, and used two flint stones to ignite a torch.

On a wild mountain like this, encountering venomous insects and fierce beasts was inevitable, so he appeared exceptionally cautious.

It was only around midnight that he finally reached the mountain’s peak. Planting the torch and his Saber into the ground, he slowly sat down.

He peered down at the foot of the mountain, where campfires had also gradually begun to burn.

It seemed the six thousand youths had begun setting up camp to rest.

After ensuring that no one was around, he slowly retrieved a bamboo slip scroll from his robes.

Startled, Du Yu quickly flew over, landing right beside Xu Fu.

If what he pulled out was the “Reversing Cause and Effect Formula,” Du Yu decided he would burn it on the spot. That way, no more problems would plague the future timeline.

To his surprise, however, the object Xu Fu took out was actually a letter.

Near the wax seal of the bamboo slip, a few words were written in Small Seal Script: “To My Master, Xu Fu, To Be Opened Personally.”

Xu Fu slowly settled in, scraped off the bamboo scroll’s wax seal, and unrolled it flat. The words inscribed upon it instantly entered Du Yu’s line of sight.

“Master Xu Fu, reading this letter is like seeing me in person. I wish to preserve my Master’s life, and so I write this letter, hoping my Master will consider it carefully. I met my Master in the southwest. At that time, my Master single-handedly saved the people of an entire city and was revered as an ‘Immortal.’ I was greatly amazed, but in my heart, I knew very well that my Master is a healer and a sage, not an Immortal. I had selfish desires, hoping my Master would remain by my side as an advisor, so I appointed you as the ‘First Alchemist.’ However, I never anticipated that such a title would repeatedly plunge my Master into crisis. The various alchemists in the court covet my Master’s position and constantly target you. Alas, the royal court has only just stabilized, and I cannot show blatant favoritism. This mission to find the ‘Elixir of Life’ provides the perfect opportunity. I wish to keep my Master safe. If my Master has no desire to serve as an official, then take these thousands of attendants and settle wherever you please. I will absolutely not pursue the matter. But remember, you must never return to the capital, for it will certainly spark massive chaos.”

Xu Fu stared at the text on the bamboo scroll, remaining dazed for a long time before heavily kowtowing on the ground.

“Your Majesty’s profound grace and boundless kindness, Xu Fu will never forget for the rest of his life.”

He kept his forehead pressed deeply against the earth, never raising it.

‘What are you thinking, Xu Fu?’ Du Yu felt somewhat perplexed. It seemed something significant had happened in Xu Fu’s past.

With that thought, Du Yu twitched his fingers. Locking his gaze on Xu Fu, he caused time to rapidly reverse.

Thirty years earlier.

Within a dim, gloomy cave, a young Xu Fu knelt before an elderly man, kowtowing incessantly.

The old man looked somewhat familiar, though in Du Yu’s memories, he had not been this ancient.

He gently waved his hand and asked, “Xu Fu, why exactly do you wish to take this old man as your master?”

“Please… Please take me in, Sir!”

The old man smiled faintly. “Then what is it that you desire? Do you wish to command armies of thousands and gallop across the battlefield like my disciples Sun Bin and Pang Juan? Or do you wish to Dominate the World with a silver tongue, like Su Qin and Zhang Yi?”

“I… I…” Xu Fu paused for a long time before finally saying, “I have long heard of your world-shaking reputation, Sir. I hope you can teach me the ‘Art of Immortality’!”