Chapter 128: Nether Marriage (6500)
Ancient Immortals, Immortal Texts?
Chen Yan smirked, "What do you mean?"
Gu Qingyi frowned, "It's like in your world, the scripts from the Pre-Qin era, zhuan script, and the simplified characters used today are vastly different.
If you suddenly throw a line of zhuan script at someone now, they wouldn't understand it either."
Chen Yan frowned and said, "So, the ancient immortals in the Domain Realm used different texts than the people there now?"
Gu Qingyi laughed.
"You seem to imagine the Domain Realm as a static, unchanging world.
But the Domain Realm, conceptually, is similar to your world, an independent and complete world.
We have our own civilization, it's just the forms and types of civilization are different from yours.
Our civilization is not fixed either; it's constantly changing from ancient times to the present."
Chen Yan nodded, admitting he had indeed neglected that.
Gu Qingyi was right; the development of any civilization is always in flux, never static.
Even in this world's Dragon Country, from Pre-Qin to the Han and Tang Dynasties, civilization has evolved.
The script changed, customs changed, and many aspects are always changing.
Just speaking of script, the writing from Pre-Qin, Han and Tang were different, and by Song and Yuan, Ming and Qing, the script changed again.
Not even mentioning far back, traditional characters were still used several decades ago!
Gu Qingyi's expression turned serious, "Where did you see this text?"
Chen Yan thought for a moment, then recounted his journey to Japan and the strange trials he encountered in the Secret Realm—he kept his promise with the little girl he met in the Mirror World of Port City, and didn't mention her.
"Oh, I also met a guy named Ouyang..."
As he spoke, Chen Yan watched Gu Qingyi's face.
Gu Qingyi nodded, "He was a disciple brought back by my third uncle. My third uncle intended to take him as a personal disciple, seeing his potential. But the guy had no interest in my third uncle's Science of Observation. After two years of earnest training, my third uncle gave up.
Later, he was counted as a disciple of the Gu Family, finally being introduced to a Great Power on the Immortal Platform with ties to our family for cultivation. That guy… hmph, he's a coward."
Coward?
Chen Yan was puzzled; in the Secret Realm trials, Ouyang fought bravely. How was he a coward?
"Originally, as a Gu Family member, he should have trained in our combat techniques, but he couldn't endure the hardship.
After achieving some results under that Great Power on the Immortal Platform, with his status as a Gu Family member, the best choice for breakthrough would be to head to the Three Platforms, Eight Passes, and Sixteen Towns!
To guard the passes, like I was sent to the Prison Suppression Platform for five years of brutal fights, that kind of tempering is essential.
But he refused, finally choosing the Inspection Bureau, wasting his precious Gu Family status. Such battle avoidance, what else is cowardice?"
Chen Yan disagreed.
He just wanted to live more comfortably, what's wrong with that?
Of course, he'd look for a job that's easy, less dangerous, and well-paid!
Why get involved in all that competition?
Gu Qingyi complained a bit more about Ouyang before changing the topic, "Show me the stone you retrieved from the Secret Realm in Japan."
Chen Yan took out a black stone and placed it in front of Gu Qingyi.
Gu Qingyi carefully examined it, even attempting to input some Primordial Qi, before shaking his head, "It's likely a fragment of a magical treasure."
"Hmm, Ouyang guessed the same, I think so too."
"But it's not an ordinary magical treasure, it should be an ancient treasure left by an ancient immortal—in the Domain Realm, such ancient treasures left by ancient immortals are called ancient treasures."
"Are they more powerful than current magical treasures?" Chen Yan's eyes lit up.
Gu Qingyi shot Chen Yan a glance, "A bronze sword from over two thousand years ago, if preserved until now, would be rusty and nearly disintegrate! Even if well-preserved without rusting, do you think a bronze sword is sharper and harder than a modern steel blade forged with contemporary metallurgy?"
Uh... that does make sense.
After all, technology is always advancing.
"Ancient treasures are very rare in the Domain Realm, but most of the preserved ones are damaged remnants. If any are intact, they are usually collected and studied by Great Powers. My third uncle collects a few of them.
In terms of power, they're not necessarily superior to contemporary magical treasures. Just, certain ancient treasures' functions differ from current magical treasures.
Most ancient treasures are considered relatively outdated now.
The Artifact Creation methods and Qi manipulation cultivation techniques have been updated many times more since ancient times!
However, there are also some powerful ones. For instance, ancient treasures made by ancient Great Powers, if passed down, could still be immensely destructive weapons."
As Gu Qingyi spoke, he gently placed the black stone back on the table, shaking his head, "I can't quite discern this one. It should be a fragment of an ancient treasure, perhaps a core component, hence the Artifact Spirit housed within."
Gu Qingyi pushed the black stone back to Chen Yan, "Keep this, don't show it to others."
"Alright."
Chen Yan put away the black stone.
"I will leave after the Nether Marriage tomorrow, you…" Gu Qingyi looked at Chen Yan, his expression complex, "Take care, you're the Chen Family's only descendant. I hope you thrive in this world and continue the Chen Family lineage."
After pausing, Gu Qingyi hesitated, "Lu Sisi has deep feelings for you, treat her well."