Chapter 196: When the Milky Way Moves

Ning Xiaoling and Lu Jiajia met the following afternoon.

The girl wore a simple white dress, a long sword fastened at her waist. Her dark hair flowed smoothly, tied only in a small knot at the ends. Her features still held a youthful innocence, but she was much quieter and more reserved, appearing cool and detached, strikingly similar to Lu Jiajia in her youth.

She came to see Lu Jiajia carrying a wooden box containing pastries she had made herself and a hair ornament she had personally forged from thin metal sheets.

Entering Lu Jiajia’s thatched hut, she sat on a mat and neatly arranged the still-warm pastries, offering them to Lu Jiajia. Lu Jiajia’s spiritual eyes opened slightly; she did not refuse, quietly thanked her, and began to eat in small bites.

“Master, are you getting used to living here?” Ning Xiaoling asked casually.

Lu Jiajia nodded. “It’s fine. The Southern Wilderness is not as treacherous as rumored, as long as one can resist the local corruption.”

Ning Xiaoling hummed in acknowledgment, still worried. “But Senior Sister told me there are many fierce and evil… creatures in the Southern Wilderness…”

Mid-sentence, she looked up and saw the glistening white, grotesque beast bones piled up outside the window. She quietly closed her mouth, thinking she had almost forgotten that Master was now a true god of slaughter. If Master had possessed such power back then, everything would surely have been resolved with ease. How could that ugly hydra have caused so much trouble?

After finishing the pastries, Lu Jiajia placed the wooden box aside and softly asked, “Are your studies going smoothly? And how is everything in the sect?”

Ning Xiaoling replied, “Yes, smoothly. It’s just that Uncle-Master Lu is truly not suited to be a peak master. Since he became peak master, the number of disciples skipping classes is far greater than when you were here. And he seems to have taken a liking to some girl from Sundered Sun Peak; every ten days or half a month, he gathers disciples for some social gathering, which annoys Sister Xue to no end. She almost directly challenged Heavenly Cave Peak with her sword.”

Lu Jiajia listened to her talking about these mundane matters and smiled faintly. “Xiaoling, work hard. With more effort, you could become the second youngest Long Life realm practitioner in the history of Sword Discourse Celestial Sect.”

“Who was the youngest?” Ning Xiaoling asked curiously.

Lu Jiajia patted her head, sighing helplessly. “Little girl, pretending to be silly again.”

“Oh! So it was my best Master, dearest!” Ning Xiaoling feigned enlightenment.

Lu Jiajia sighed helplessly, reaching out to gently tap her forehead.

Ning Xiaoling flinched slightly, softly pleading for mercy, then pressed her lips together and brought up a worry. “Master, I’ve talked a lot with Han Xiaosu recently… Do you think if Senior Brother really died, is there a way to bring him back to life? Back in Zhao Kingdom, that old fox’s soul was suppressed for over a hundred years without perishing. Even the weak Blood Feather Monarch’s soul could find another vessel. In Linhe City, I even saw Madam Bai’s divine ability, which kept the souls of the entire city from dissipating… If Senior Brother is truly gone, is there a way to piece together his soul and then reconstruct his body?”

Lu Jiajia was currently devoted to cultivation, only wishing to quickly break through the Purple Court, advance to the Five Paths, and then step into the abyss. Naturally, she didn’t know much about such matters.

She merely pondered and said, “Perhaps it is a viable method.”

Ning Xiaoling lowered her head slightly and sighed, “But even if it’s possible, that would be many years from now.”

Lu Jiajia said calmly, “Don’t worry, he is my disciple. I will definitely bring him out.”

Ning Xiaoling was quiet for a moment, then suddenly leaned forward. With one hand, she lifted Lu Jiajia’s beautiful long hair, and with the other, she took out a hair ornament she had forged herself and put it on her Master. Lu Jiajia gently reached out and touched the hard metal in her hair. “Xiaoling is so clever and skillful now. You couldn’t even hold a teapot steady back then.”

Ning Xiaoling remembered the incident where her poor tea-pouring skills accidentally exposed her Senior Brother. She covered her face and said, “So what? Didn’t Master just pretend not to see? I was actually there too at the time. Master’s figure is truly enviable, hmm… Senior Brother’s calm must have been feigned back then too. Ah, with such a beauty like Master, Senior Brother surely wouldn’t bear not to return.”

Lu Jiajia’s voice was cool. “If this were the Sword Hall, Xiaoling would have gotten a ruler smack.”

Ning Xiaoling pressed her lips together, looking out the door, gazing towards the abyssal chasm that was directly opposite, like a sunken, heart-stopping lake. Her gaze seemed to be drawn into it, falling and falling along with it. She suddenly said, “Senior Brother will definitely be fine. He said he’d be back in a few days. With his personality, he might even bring back two young, unmarried maidens. Oh, if that really happens, Master, please don’t… ah!”

Lu Jiajia pinched her ear. “Even if he brings ten or a hundred, what does that have to do with me? He must still address me as Master.”

Ning Xiaoling, still begging for mercy, asked, “If that were true, Master, you wouldn’t be angry at all?”

Lu Jiajia said softly, “As long as he can return, that’s enough… Besides, I’m not his fiancée, why should I be upset? Xiaoling, have I neglected your upbringing these past few months?”

The two played around for a bit. Lu Jiajia smiled a little, a rare sight, which lightened Ning Xiaoling’s mood. She even felt as if she were looking after Senior Brother’s widow.

Afterward, they turned to serious matters.

“Did Lu Yuanbai tell you about the Ancient Spirit Sect?” Lu Jiajia asked with a serious expression.

Ning Xiaoling nodded gently. “Yes, I know.”

Lu Jiajia said, “Do you have any thoughts about it?”

Ning Xiaoling replied, “Originally, I didn’t want to go, but I heard that the Ancient Spirit Sect’s foundational cultivation method is of the soul lineage, and there are even remnants of the Underworld Lord’s abode there. I was thinking, isn’t this an omen in my destiny? If Senior Brother truly became a soul spirit and is lonely in the abyss, he must have been waiting for us to come get him, right?”

Lu Jiajia nodded. “Master also hopes you can go. You are still young, and your talent is truly exceptional. If you waste your time here, you’ll have no hope of achieving the Great Dao in your lifetime. Your Senior Brother surely wouldn’t want to see you like this.”

Ning Xiaoling gave a small hum. “But I still don’t want to go right now.”

“Hmm?”

“I just feel Senior Brother will come back… that feeling. If I leave and Senior Brother comes back and doesn’t see me, how sad he’d be.”

“It’s okay. Whatever decision you make, Master will support you.”

Ning Xiaoling lowered her head, her youthful face no longer able to hide her sorrow. Biting her delicate pink lips, she hesitated for a long time before saying, “I’ll wait with Master a bit longer. Two years from now… if Senior Brother still doesn’t come back, then I’ll assume Senior Brother doesn’t want Xiaoling anymore, and I’ll go diligently learn my craft. Then, later, I’ll try to rescue that ungrateful Senior Brother.”

Her voice grew softer and softer, and her already sparkling eyes became even more moist and bright.

Lu Jiajia hugged her affectionately.

She gently stroked Ning Xiaoling’s back, noticing that the little girl had become much thinner.

Ning Xiaoling leaned against Lu Jiajia’s graceful neck, holding her tightly, reluctant to let go.

Lu Jiajia’s gaze lifted slightly, observing the silent abyss. The light in her autumn-water spiritual eyes grew dimmer and dimmer.

*If you’re still alive, what are you doing?* she thought.

Ning Changjiu sat on the wooden chair as usual, his gaze angled upwards, as if trying to pierce through layers of sky to meet a certain pair of eyes.

The Heaven’s Heart Sutra circulated within his body constantly.

Only now did he realize the strangeness of this cultivation method.

Unlike most cultivation methods in the world, the laws of the three souls and seven spiritual essences seemed to be rendered ineffective here. This method layered and divided the soul into many parts, like a lotus with hundreds of petals, each petal a tiny wisp of soul.

Ning Changjiu understood that these might be fragments left deep within his soul during each reincarnation. Now, with the cyclical circulation of the Asura Divine Record, those soul fragments gradually surfaced, becoming the framework to solidify his current divine soul.

He looked at the dense, numerous lotus petals, finding them somewhat reminiscent of the golden lotus beneath the Buddha in legends.

He could even see the faces of his past and present lives within the golden lotus.

However, if each petal was proof of a reincarnation, then how many times must he have died?

He didn’t know which great deity he had been in his past lives, but he admired his own resilience.

When cultivating the Heaven’s Heart Sutra, he felt his body and bloodline had significantly strengthened, much like Lu Jiajia’s sword body. Most notably, his mental power had greatly improved. In just a few days, the range of his divine sense had vastly increased; originally, it could only cover a few houses, but now it could encompass half the tribe. And when he now stared at the oil lamp’s flame, the flame would gradually condense with his focused gaze into an almost imperceptible point, until it completely extinguished.

What he used was not spiritual energy, but pure mental power.

The stronger his mental power, the better he could mobilize every inch of strength in his body, even the roots of his hair.

Though this method was powerful, these changes were not much of a surprise to Ning Changjiu. He did not believe that Ye Chu, after cultivating this method, could defeat a fully recovered Siming.

While he pondered things, Shao Xiaoli diligently practiced swordplay in the yard.

After dodging that palm last night, Shao Xiaoli’s confidence greatly increased, and her sword drawing and sheathing movements were faster. Her cultivation and Dao realm also showed significant growth. Now, with her ponytail, the girl had a hint of imposing heroism. Ning Changjiu, who had not held high hopes for Shao Xiaoli’s path of cultivation, was now curious to see how far she could go.

These days, the tribe also had an additional fortune teller.

At the crossroads, a youthful-looking Ye Chu set up a stall, hung a simple banner, and told fortunes for people.

His stall was truly simple, with only a table as clean as his robe. There were no old artifacts for wandering geomancers, not even a copper coin for deception.

But like Siming, even if Ye Chu truly wanted to deceive, he would absolutely not need any extra words; relying on that divinely handsome face would be enough.

Most importantly, he didn’t believe in the saying that revealing heavenly secrets would shorten one’s lifespan. He didn’t even charge a single coin for his fortune-telling, which caused many men and women in the tribe to flock to him. Long queues formed in front of his stall early in the morning. Ye Chu kept his hands tucked into his sleeves, always smiling, without the slightest hint of impatience, making many young maidens dizzy with admiration and unwilling to leave.

His predictions were surprisingly accurate.

In just a few days, the reputation of a living immortal spread, and the entire village came with their families to queue for him, seeking a divine divination.

When Ning Changjiu saw him today, it was already dim twilight. As Ye Chu was about to pack up his stall and leave, Ning Changjiu sat down on the long bench opposite him.

Ye Chu still smiled, sitting down again and leaning back in his chair, looking at him gently and elegantly. “Do you want to re-examine your fate? But let’s be clear beforehand, even if I pinched my fingers until they bled, there’s no way to break your fated death in eleven years.”

Ning Changjiu shook his head and said calmly, “I’m just curious why you aren’t cultivating the Asura Divine Record properly, but are doing something so wasteful of time.”

Ye Chu calmly looked at him and said meaningfully, “What I’ve learned my whole life is fate. Even if reincarnated a hundred times, I must never forget my roots, otherwise, I cannot become a pure Asura.”

Ning Changjiu frowned slightly and asked, “Must an Asura not lose their original nature?”

Ye Chu nodded. “Yes, you can temporarily get lost, but you must find it back, otherwise you will become a vengeful spirit.”

“Thank you for the reminder, Mister,” Ning Changjiu replied, then pondered. “But I still feel you’re hiding something from me.”

“Oh?”

“Are you looking for someone by telling fortunes for them?” Ning Changjiu asked.

The smile on Ye Chu’s face grew wider. “Siming’s biggest mistake, perhaps, was underestimating you.”

He hesitated for a moment, then said, “I just suddenly recalled the legend of a hero emerging from Sundered Realm City every hundred years. I searched all over Sundered Realm City but didn’t find anyone bearing such destiny. My reason for coming here was twofold: first for this, and second, to see how the fates of those affected by the cursed land’s pollution have changed.”

“Discovered anything?” Ning Changjiu asked.

Ye Chu smiled and shook his head. “Nothing but things within the Great Dao.”

Ning Changjiu gave him a deep look.

Ye Chu seemed to sense the other’s emotions and smiled. “You’ve missed the best time to kill me. Now, no matter what happens, our common enemy is only that woman, Siming.”

“Then do you know what she’s doing now?” Ning Changjiu asked.

Ye Chu replied, “I don’t know, but I can guess.”

Ning Changjiu did not press further. Beside him, Shao Xiaoli, having finished her sword practice, walked over and easily and familiarly sat down beside Ning Changjiu. Lightly wiping her forehead, she looked at Ye Chu and asked, “How many people did you deceive today?”

Ye Chu smiled. “What a polite young lady.”

Shao Xiaoli didn’t bother to argue with him further. She turned to Ning Changjiu and said, “Boss, don’t get tangled up with this fellow’s nonsensical rambling. I cooked your favorite meat today. Let’s hurry home.”

Ning Changjiu nodded and bade farewell to Ye Chu.

Ye Chu said regretfully, “I originally wanted to play a game of chess with you. Now that a beauty has an appointment with you, I suppose you’re not in the mood to play chess with me.”

Shao Xiaoli snorted coldly, rather pleased with the word “beauty.”

Ning Changjiu stopped, tilted his head slightly, and his gaze fell on him. “If you wish to play chess, Mister, you can find me anytime.”

Ye Chu smiled and agreed.

It grew dark.

He watched Ning Changjiu and Shao Xiaoli’s figures gradually disappear down the street, then vanish into the dark night.

He felt it was a pity about this young man.

The order of scrolls he had rearranged was the sixty-third and sixty-fourth. Within two months, Ning Changjiu would cultivate to this point, then suffer an energy imbalance that would have a ripple effect, turning him into an unredeemable vengeful spirit.

And he would then face Siming alone.

Ye Chu smiled faintly.

He found it amusing that Siming, even after so many years, still had such a foolish mind beneath her exquisitely beautiful skin.

She had no idea about his true plan, yet he had already seen through everything about her.

What did she have to win against him?

***

Sundered Realm City.

Siming bathed in a cold pool, silvery-white water flowing over her silken, delicate skin.

The dark pool water reflected the candlelight. Her body was like beautiful mountains submerged in lake water, enveloped only by clear, pure water. The curves of the mountains subtly distorted in the swaying water light, resembling the most exquisite lake and mountain scenery in the world.

Amidst the dripping water sounds, Siming waded slowly up the underwater steps with a graceful gait.

Droplets of water slowly and quickly trickled down her spine, paused briefly at her waist, slid over soft slopes, then fell smoothly down her taut thighs, re-merging with the pool water.

A dress as thin as cicada wings draped over her, then she put on a white dress, finally wrapping herself in a pure black magic robe.

The flickering candlelight in the water also returned to stillness, just like the woman’s lips.

She stood before a massive sundial, her gaze slowly scanning the markings on it. The gnomon did not rest on any point, but formed a tiny shadow at its base.

After bathing, Siming burned incense before the sundial.

Incense smoke wafted up, just like her shadow.

Although she bathed and burned incense daily, today she was exceptionally serious.

And the light in her eyes brightened little by little, as if gradually firming up some resolve.

In the Star Spirit Hall, many totems rose. All of them corresponded, and only Siming could understand them.

That night, Sundered Realm City, which should have been asleep, stirred again.

All the candles in the Royal Palace were lit, and the night sky was burned red.

Silver-haired, black-robed Siming once again descended upon Sundered Realm City as a goddess. She stood at the highest point; Sundered Realm City awoke beneath her gaze. People from the royal city streamed in to worship her. She watched them quietly, as if a faint smile could captivate everyone’s minds.

“Today, I received a divine decree from the Heavenly God, to announce something of immense significance to the city. This matter might concern the prosperity of Sundered Realm City for the next hundred years.”

Her very pleasant voice slowly resounded, carrying an ineffable persuasive power, like a spring breeze passing through, followed by a hundred flowers blooming.

They all knelt devoutly, listening to the goddess relay the heavenly decree.

Siming spoke unhurriedly, her voice soft. “Originally, royal family members could only summon a spirit from the Temporal Abyss upon reaching adulthood at seventeen years old. But now the Heavenly God has shown mercy, unwilling for the people of my city to forever be lost to this curse. Thus, a new command has been issued, lifting the royal city’s restrictions. From now on, whether it is a babbling child or an elderly person of eighty or ninety, all are qualified to summon spirits from the Temporal Abyss.”

A moment later, the entire city burst into uproar.

They prostrated on the ground, thanking the goddess for her grace.

The advisor kneeling beside her, upon hearing this, couldn’t help but recall Sundered Realm City’s centuries-old ancient teachings and wished to question her. But daunted by Siming’s power, he ultimately shut his mouth reluctantly, though still vaguely uneasy in his heart.

Only Siming knew she had deceived everyone.

The reason that goddess established the rule that only seventeen-year-olds could summon spirits was twofold: first, at seventeen, a royal descendant’s mental power is relatively mature enough to control spirits; second, the Temporal Abyss’s operation and repair also require time. If operated too frequently, the summoned spirits would likely not be powerful enough, possibly even deformed and weak, akin to draining the pond to catch all the fish.

But Siming didn’t care about these things.

She believed in taking every last bit, like plucking all the feathers from a goose or skinning a beast clean.

She wanted to pluck every feather from the goose and peel off an entire bloody hide.

Starting tomorrow, she would activate the Temporal Abyss for ten people at a time, even if not a single truly powerful spirit could be drawn from those ten people.

Her goal was simply to wring out the last bit of value from these royal descendants.

She suddenly felt a bit amused.

Ye Chu had originally emerged from the desperate land before her and found this royal city. She never imagined his poor judgment wouldn’t recognize that the Temporal Abyss was the Divine Lord’s head. The scattered fragments of authority within the Temporal Abyss were countless. It was a pity that the Temporal Abyss couldn’t be reversed; she could only gradually mine this incredibly rich treasure through these royal descendants.

The final moment was approaching.

Siming’s black robe billowed in the wind. She looked up, as if she already saw the massive kingdom above Sundered Realm City reopening its gates for her.

Of course, everything now was still an illusion.

The true hidden danger still lay beyond the northern ice plains.

But at this moment, Siming did not discover it.

Beneath the high platform, in the dense crowd, one person did not kneel.

Likewise, no one else noticed him.

He wore a black cloak, from the front of which extended a long, pointed brim, like a crow’s long beak. Along the edge of the cloak, black feathers were woven like fabric, quietly hanging to the ground. Behind him, slender segments of a tail were linked together, like winding water marks flowing across the ground.

He looked up at the city-toppling, nation-ruining beauty on the high platform. His eyes, hidden within the black robe, held an unknown emotion.

Though he stood not as high as Siming, he could see farther—far enough to see the entire world.

This world, in his eyes, was like a true star map. The brightest star, however, was not the woman before him, but to the north.

These stars, some still, some moving, circulated in this unchanging world, as if dancing one last dance before annihilation.