Chapter 2206: 2205: Heaven's Wrath Descends, I'm Here to Hear a Story

In fact, before coming here, Xu Zimei had some imaginations. It should be an extraordinary temperament with a flowing beard.

Or perhaps extremely old, like a flickering candle.

But when he truly met the Old Longevity Man, he was filled with astonishment.

The elder in front of him, or rather, he doesn't resemble an elder at all.

He has a baby face, like a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy; no one would doubt him walking on the street.

He stands about one meter eighty tall.

At this moment, several burly men dressed in coarse linen clothing, holding machetes, were pulling at the collar of the Old Longevity Man.

The machete in their hands was almost against the Old Longevity Man's cheek, fearing a bit more force would pierce through his left face.

Yet, the Old Longevity Man wasn't afraid of these bandit-like threats.

Instead, he smiled and said, "If you could kill me, I would probably thank you for it."

"Is this old geezer crazy?"

Several bandits exchanged glances.

These people were bandits, previously reigning in the Dalian Mountain area.

Having heard of the Old Longevity Man's tales, they all wanted to come and pursue longevity.

Now, arriving at Longevity Village, everyone came up empty-handed.

The bandits, annoyed, acted impulsively.

"Are you provoking me, old man, don't force me," the bandit said with furious eyes.

"I'm serious," said the Old Longevity Man named Jiang Huai.

Perhaps others didn't understand, but Xu Zimei saw a genuine death wish in his eyes.

...…

"You all, since my birth, I seem to be cursed somehow, unable to die!"

"Everyone says it's wonderful to not die, eternal life, many pursue it."

"But do you know how lonely I am?"

"As a mortal, unable to cultivate, having no purpose, barely hanging on to life."

"At first, I was proud, even felt fresh."

"But gradually, a thousand years passed, ten thousand years, even later, I forgot time."

"The people around me kept dying, and losing loved ones almost numbed me."

"Later I sought death, but couldn't die, as if heaven wouldn't let me."

"Kill me, let me be freed!"

Hearing the old man's words, the bandits exchanged glances.

In the end, the previous bandit didn't dare make a move.

Beside him, a bandit with a violent temper directly stepped out, drew the long knife from his waist.

He shouted lightly, "Old geezer, playing tricks, I've killed plenty, not afraid of you."

The bandit said nothing and directly swung the knife.

Just heard a "boom".

At this moment, a bolt of lightning suddenly rang out in the clear firmament.

The heaven-shaking explosion sounded.

"Boom boom boom, boom boom boom."

A purple thunderbolt descended from the firmament, straight at the bandit.

Just heard a "boom".

The bandit couldn't react, being struck into a charred lump.

A hint of burnt flesh smell lingered in the air.

Seeing this strange scene, the remaining bandits were also scared witless.

"Ghost, there's a ghost!"

"It's divine punishment, divine punishment!"

The bandits didn't dare stay, running straight outside.

Luckily, no more lightning struck them.

Everything seemed to have a pattern.

Only those planning to kill the old man would be struck by thunderbolt.

As for others, the thunderbolt doesn't care.

Xu Zimei wasn't surprised, Jiang Huai has lived so long as a mortal, and hasn't been killed.

There must be something keeping him alive.

But in Xu Zimei's view, the thunderbolt seems unrelated to Jiang Huai.

After all, in Xu Zimei's perception, the old man Jiang Huai is indeed an ordinary person.

Impossible to have the ability to summon thunderbolt.

Just a long-lived mortal.

And the firmament's thunderbolt seems suddenly descended by Heavenly Dao, without any spiritual energy driving it around.

Proving no one secretly helped.

This is interesting.

Heaven doesn't allow a person to die, something never seen before.

Seeing the bandits flee, the old man Jiang Huai remained indifferent.

After all these years, he's seen all kinds.

Ferocious and sinister ones,

Pitiful and miserable ones,

Powerful ones,

Even a beggar, legendary Great Saint, he's met them all.

His eyes, just a glance, reveal everything.

Nothing related to power or practice, this is experience.

Real experience.

It's the witness of decades of thousands of years living.

...…

Suddenly, a figure approached the old man.

The figure stood against the sunlight, casting a shadow in front of the old man.

The old man slowly raised his head.

"Hello," Xu Zimei took the initiative to speak.

The old man nodded slightly, asked, "Is there something you need?"

"A fresh face?"

"Want to seek the way of longevity, or study my bloodline?"

Those coming sought just these things, the old man was already used to it.

These words almost became his opening line.

Some wanted to study the bloodline, he was willing to give it.

As for the way of longevity, he didn't know.

His existence was like an anomaly between heaven and earth.

...…

"I don't want any," Xu Zimei smiled.

He picked a chair next to him, slowly sat down.

Looking at the old man, he said, "I just want to hear something, about ancient secrets."

"Listening to stories?" Jiang Huai the old man exclaimed.

"That's an odd request, coming just to hear stories, seems you're the first to ask such."

"What do you want to know, let's see if I can recall."

"About the Buddha Country," Xu Zimei asked.

If the old man didn't have clues, Xu Zimei was ready to give up.

Regarding the transformation of the Divine Soul, he could only seek other methods.

After all, the Buddha Country existed for too long.

During the Demon's Advent period, Buddha Country should have thrived.

Later after the Demon's Advent, the ancient and Middle Ages followed.

During that time, Jiang Huai the old man hadn't been born.

Xu Zimei wanted to know, when exactly did Buddha Country fall.

Did it perish after Demon's Advent, extinguished by Holy Court.

Or, did history make Buddha Country decline inevitably, leading to extinction.

Seeing Xu Zimei's eyes, the old man paused.

His gaze deep, seemed caught in some memory.

Xu Zimei did not disturb.

And quietly waiting.

After a while, the old man broke free from the whirlpool of memory, slowly spoke.

"Once upon a time, I too was a devout Buddhist believer."

"As you know, when one is helpless, they pray to gods and Buddha, hoping for help."

"Buddha Country, I know roughly what you mean."

"But since Jade Mountain Buddha, I haven't seen Buddha Lord again."

"Jade Mountain Buddha?" Xu Zimei asked.

"Could you elaborate?"

"The ruler of Buddha Country, each era had a Buddha Lord."