Archean Eon Art

Jiang State Capital, Meng Manor’s inner courtyard, Lake Heart Pavilion.

“It’s really well painted,” said Liu Qiyue as she watched from the side.

Meng Chuan sat in front of the painting table and painted. He smiled at his wife and continued painting. Liu Qiyue carefully studied the painting, which depicted a white-haired Meng Chuan and a white-haired Liu Qiyue sitting together. They took in the fractured world’s view and the purple lightning tearing through endless the darkness—the scene of a forming world…

Regardless of a forming or dying world, it was as though the two of them would forever be together.

“Alright.” Meng Chuan stopped painting and moved aside.

Liu Qiyue stood in front of the table and carefully admired the painting. She stared at the scene of a shattered world and the purple lightning tearing through the darkness. The depicted forming world induced a sense of awe and fear within her. Although Meng Chuan didn’t paint it with deep purpose, the grand scene still pressured her. However, grand as the scenes were, the white-haired man and the white-haired woman remained the painting’s core.

The white-haired duo leaned against each other; it was as if they would continue doing so for an eternity. One could clearly sense the intent of eternity.

Tears welled up in Liu Qiyue’s eyes. “Good, very good.”

Meng Chuan hugged his wife and glanced at the painting in front of him.

“Ah Chuan, ever since we got married, you have painted a painting for me every year. Including the three paintings you painted for me before we got married,” said Liu Qiyue softly, “there are a total of 72 paintings. In the past, when I was free, I often took a look at those paintings. I was very happy whenever I saw them.”

Meng Chuan hugged his wife tightly.

“After I enter the slumber, 1,000 years will pass in an instant.” Liu Qiyue looked at her husband. “To me, 1,000 years will pass in the blink of an eye. I won’t feel any pain or suffering. However, you will have to endure the torment of time alone.”

“Time will fly by,” said Meng Chuan with a smile.

“I’ll leave these 72 paintings with you for now. Give them back to me when I wake up.” Liu Qiyue smiled at her husband. “Whenever you miss me, you can take a look at these paintings.” Meng Chuan nodded and smiled. “Alright.”

In the last few days, she bade farewell to Meng Dajiang and his wife, as well as Liu Yebai.

After all, Meng Dajiang, Liu Yebai, and others couldn’t enter Archean Mountain’s Millennium Hall.

Archean Mountain, in a grotto-heaven.

White fog filled the area, causing the grotto-heaven to look bleak and desolate. Through the white fog, one could see a palace in the distance.

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Meng Chuan, Liu Qiyue, Li Guan, an illusory Qin Wu, an illusory Luo Tang, Meng An, and Meng You arrived together.

Two figures sat cross-legged in front of the cold, lonely palace. One figure was a black-robed man; the other was a black-robed, red-haired woman. They were Archean Mountain’s two Dao Protectors.

Since the pressure on the cities had lessened over the past few years, the two of them temporarily rested here.

“Oh?” The two Dao Protectors opened their eyes at the same time. When they saw that it was Li Guan, Meng Chuan, and company, they naturally didn’t stop them from advancing. Meng Chuan and company continued forward.

Boom!

Meng Chuan, Li Guan, the illusory Qin Wu, and the illusory Luo Tang simultaneously stretched out their hands and pushed the palace doors.

The door immediately opened with a rumble. A freezing-cold wind swept out.

Through the palace doors, one could see many figures lying inside the palace. All of them were frozen within dark-blue ice.

“Wait here,” instructed Meng Chuan.

“Yes, Dad,” replied Meng An and Meng You.

Meng You—the weakest of the group-was only a Marquis. She was only permitted to come to this important area because she was Liu Qiyue’s daughter.

“Meng Chuan, we won’t be entering,” said Qin Wu.

“Alright.” Meng Chuan nodded and led his wife, Liu Qiyue, into the Millennium Hall.

Currently, 17 figures were sleeping within Millennium Hall. After the pressure on the cities had reduced, many ancient Regis Godfiend returned to Millennium Hall to slumber.

Whoosh.

Meng Chuan walked to an empty spot and waved his hand. He placed a jade bed—which he had prepared in advance-down.

Liu Qiyue smiled and sat on it before slowly lying down.

“Mom.” Meng An and Meng You watched outside the hall, unwilling to separate from her.

Her slumber could last for 1,000 years. If Meng You couldn’t become a Regis Godfiend, this could be their final meeting.

Liu Qiyue lay down and looked at her children outside the hall before looking at her husband.

“Ah Chuan,” said Liu Qiyue.

Meng Chuan stared at his wife. “The happiest thing I did in my life”— Liu Qiyue looked at Meng Chuan and smiled – “was marrying you and becoming your wife.”

Meng Chuan’s eyes were filled with tears. “I’m very lucky to marry you and have you as my wife.”

“Cast Millennium Instant,” said Liu Qiyue with a smile. “When I open my eyes again, I’ll definitely see you.”

“Definitely.” Meng Chuan infused his Quintessential Essence into the mystic runes on the Millennium Hall’s surface. The mystic runes required for the Millennium Instant mystic techniques were already carved into the hall. He just needed to activate them.

Buzz.

As he activated the runes with his Quintessential Essence, an intense, boundless cold wind gathered around Liu Qiyue. The cold wind formed a dark-blue layer of ice around her body. In just several seconds, a huge, dark-blue ice block formed around Liu Qiyue’s body.

With this, Liu Qiyue had been completely frozen. Her lifeforce was frozen and maintained at its current state.

As Meng Chuan stared at Liu Qiyue through the ice, his heart felt empty.

Li Guan, Qin Wu, and Luo Tang didn’t rush him. They just waited outside the hall silently.

Moments later

Meng Chuan finally turned around and left Millennium Hall silently.

Rumble!

Millennium Hall’s doors began to close. One last time, Meng Chuan turned his head and looked at his wife—who was sleeping in the hall—amongst all the other slumbering Regis Godfiends. Finally, Millennium Hall’s doors shut completely.

The group left the grotto-heaven and arrived in front of Grotto-Heaven Pavilion.

“Dad,” said Meng An. “Come with us to Jiang State Capital. Sis, Grandpa, and Grandma, and I are there.”

“Dad, you can also give Yuan’er pointers on cultivation. Yuan’er will be participating in Archean Mountain’s entrance examination at the end of the year. He says that you are the best teacher.”

Meng Chuan looked at his children and nodded slightly. “Go back to Jiang State Capital without me. I still have something to do.”

With a whoosh, he transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into the horizon. Meng An and Meng You exchanged looks. They could do nothing to change their father’s mind.

Meng Chuan returned to his wife’s residence at Snow Wind Pass. This was the place he and his wife had lived in for the longest. This had been their residence for the past few decades.

Swoosh.

After returning to the ordinary manor, Meng Chuan sat in a pavilion blankly. His heart felt empty. This was something he had never experienced in so many years. Unknowingly, the sky turned dark.

Meng Chuan returned to his familiar room and lay down on the bed. He looked to his side. This time, he was the only one sleeping here.

Sleep. He closed his eyes and gradually fell asleep.

When he opened his eyes again, it was already dawn.

After waking up, Meng Chuan became more spirited. He stood up and walked to the dining table.

Meng Chuan’s body trembled as he stared at a seat blankly.

In the past, his wife, Liu Qiyue, liked to cook porridge and make flatbread. He also liked to eat everything she cooked in big mouthfuls. Every day, he ate breakfast at home.

At this moment, the dining hall was silent.

Meng Chuan sat alone at the dining table. There was no porridge or flatbread today. The familiar fragrance was missing.

“Qiyue…” Meng Chuan murmured.They had known each other since they were children. They grew up together as childhood sweethearts. They cultivated together on Archean Mountain.

After leaving the mountain, they went to North River Pass. They guarded the city pass and participated in many bloody battles.

After leaving North River Pass, they lived secluded lives in Gu Mountain Prefecture. They guarded the prefecture and killed demons to reinforce the world’s safety.

They brought up their children in Jiang State Capital together. His wife guarded cities while he patrolled the world to kill demon monarchs…

Even after so many years, the longest they had ever been separated from each other was when he was fighting in the World Gap. Due to his mission, they didn’t meet for over ten years. Besides this exception, he spent most of his time with her.

“We agreed to walk alongside each other for the rest of our lives. We were to fight on the battlefield together, risking our lives to slay all demons,” muttered Meng Chuan. “However, I’m now walking forward alone without you.”

At that moment, a strong sense of loneliness erupted, completely drowning Meng Chuan’s heart.

For the next 1,000 years, he would be alone.