"Chang'an, what do you think... is the end of cultivation?"

"...?"

Hearing Zhu Pingniang's sudden question, Xu Chang'an was taken aback.

The end of cultivation?

This topic is something that Senior Zhu can contemplate, but when asked about it himself, he felt a bit at a loss.

Xu Chang'an couldn't quite tell if Zhu Pingniang was genuinely asking or just making conversation.

Probably the latter, since what someone like him who has just begun cultivation had to say wouldn't hold much significance.

Yet, Zhu Pingniang seemed to know what Xu Chang'an was thinking. Bringing her palms together, she looked at Xu Chang'an, "Share your thoughts, I'm not joking."

"Me?" Xu Chang'an was surprised, but began to think seriously.

What is the end of cultivation?

This question didn't seem too hard to answer.

"Ascension." Xu Chang'an gave an answer without much hesitation.

"Ascension... ah." Zhu Pingniang gave Xu Chang'an a deep look and nodded, "Indeed, ascending in broad daylight is everyone's pursuit."

Xu Chang'an did not understand what Zhu Pingniang meant, but he saw that she seemed to suddenly become lazy, or perhaps despondent, slouching on the table, lazily raising her head, "But ascension... is too difficult."

Rules are set in squareness and roundness, are established for heaven and earth.

All cultivators, regardless of how they cultivate, or how they improve their cultivation, even with the consumption of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures... in the end, all power sources are within the systematic rules of heaven and earth.

Then, whether it's an ordinary cultivator, Zhu Tongjun, or even the Sect Leader...

What gives these cultivators the right to use power obtained within the rules to break them, trying to ascend beyond heaven and earth?

What gives them the right?

Even carrying things obtained within heaven and earth to the outside, the resources of this world will only become scarcer, which in itself is unreasonable.

Zhu Pingniang sighed lightly but didn't share these thoughts with Xu Chang'an. She extended a finger, "Chang'an, actually... if ascension doesn't require transcendence, then everything can be explained."

She drew a large circle with her hands and said earnestly, "If immortals can't transcend either, then... it shows there's still a road ahead."

"..." Hearing this, Xu Chang'an shook his head, "Senior, I don't understand."

"You don't need to understand thoroughly." Zhu Pingniang sat up slightly, "Little Chang'an, according to you, the end of cultivation is to ascend to immortality, then what is the purpose of ascension?"

Peeling off the layers, what remains is the answer she seeks.

"Immortal..." Xu Chang'an frowned.

Now he knew why Zhu Pingniang wanted to discuss cultivation with him.

He certainly didn't understand the details of the cultivation path, but if it was this kind of grand philosophical question, he could still answer somewhat.

Not just him, even a random person who enjoyed listening to storytelling could probably provide some insight.

Why aspire to ascend to immortality?

Xu Chang'an thought briefly about why he was cultivating and then said, "To live a few years longer?"

Longevity, so many people seek out immortals and pursue the Dao for this reason.

"Cultivating for longevity?" Zhu Pingniang clicked her tongue, "Cultivation is for ascension, and for longevity. You really see things clearly; those with vision indeed stand out."

"Senior." Xu Chang'an sighed lightly, feeling quite helpless.

How was that having vision? Ask anyone, and after careful thought, they would arrive at this answer.

What Xu Chang'an didn't know was that, given how Li Zhibai and Shi Qingjun regarded him—

Even if he stood up now, took Zhu Pingniang's hairpin, and skipped it across the small river outside the window, Zhu Pingniang might still think he had deep meaning behind the act.

For someone who was already lost in a whirlwind of thoughts, logic had become unnecessary.

——

Zhu Pingniang pondered for a while and asked again, "Chang'an, so... do you think the ultimate goal of cultivation is for longevity?"

Xu Chang'an nodded, "Probably, and to preserve one's appearance... Moreover, not just for longevity, even living a bit longer is a good thing."

It's about not dying, rather than just longevity.

After speaking, Xu Chang'an paused and looked at Zhu Pingniang, "Senior, not everyone thinks about ascension and longevity from the start of cultivation, right..."

There are many reasons, such as for wealth and glory, carefree wandering, and even to avenge a deep grudge.

"That's true," Zhu Pingniang brushed away the long hair that fell beside her ear, eyes bright, "Looking further, these things hold no meaning."

The reasons for stepping into cultivation lose their luster under the test of time. Asking most people, they'd think it's for longevity.

But the more obvious and undeniable the ultimate goal is, the more it has a certain eeriness from inside out.

Zhu Pingniang furrowed her brows.

Her sudden silence was observed by Xu Chang'an, but regarding Zhu Pingniang's eccentricities today, he felt he was almost getting used to it—though he didn't want to get used to it at all.

"Chang'an." Zhu Pingniang stared at Xu Chang'an.

Her doubts couldn't be clarified even by Shi Qingjun, but if Xu Chang'an had indeed once been an immortal, despite losing his memories now... Zhu Pingniang still hoped to glean some information from him.

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