Chapter 328: Master's Name

The kite, bearing the Hierarch’s name, floated into the pond reflecting lotus flowers. It transformed into a fish with fins like wings, flicking its tail in the clear water, its red scales shimmering like illusory fire. The ripples from the fish’s movement spread beneath the sheer skirt the Master wore.

The sheer skirt was light as a veil of mist, translucent. Beneath it was a dark teal Daoist robe with a quiet sheen. The embellishments on the robe, seen through the sheer fabric, resembled flowing moonlight or the drooping feathers of a peacock or phoenix.

This Daoist gown, in dark hues, spread out on the water's surface. The Hierarch seemed to be sitting peacefully on a lotus, yet also in the water. Her reflection below deepened the white sheer fabric and dark teal of her gown. The varying shades, light and dark, merged with the shimmering water and candlelight. Details of her attire were enveloped by the water. Under the water's unique tension, the colors swayed subtly, imbued with a mysterious charm. Her flowing silken hair rose and fell with the same gentle undulation.

After the kite transformed into a fish and entered the water, a sudden sense of loneliness emerged from the Hierarch’s silhouette.

She gazed quietly at the water's surface.

Thousands of curtains, like torrential rain, enveloped her.

The Hierarch watched the swimming fish in the water and gently raised her hand.

At her fingertips, a moon was faintly outlined.

It was not a real moon, but rather an illusory one, born of human imagination. Within it, light and shadow flowed at varying speeds, like the swaying shadows of an osmanthus tree or a mischievous jade rabbit hopping about.

The Hierarch fixed her gaze on this moon.

Her hair ornament also brightened simultaneously. It was a slender, delicate hair crown, like a mythical bird totem, resting on a simply coiled bun. It shimmered with pale gold and moon-white hues, and graceful garlands hung from it, resembling dew drops not strung together by thread.

This moon’s light entered the Hierarch's eyes.

She gazed at it for a while. From the moon, two lines seemed to emerge, imbued with the mystery of destiny, originating from two completely different points. They appeared unrelated, yet in this world, unless lines are parallel, they will always eventually meet if drawn long enough.

The Hierarch focused on those two lines.

One of the lines remained perfectly straight, descending along the moon's central axis. This symbolized herself.

The other line was restive. In the past, this line had been hidden in a fog that even she could not penetrate. A little over three years ago, this line finally emerged vaguely. It wasn't until last year that this line truly became clearly defined.

This was a very restive line.

It touched many other lines that should have been unrelated, then swayed unsteadily as it approached her—this was Ning Changjiu's line, as it was now.

Last year, when she found herself unable to glimpse the general outline of the future twelve years ahead, she finally realized that time had already been rewound once by her.

Had time not been rewound, no matter her perspective, she would have seen a glimmer of light in the future—the power she held to reset everything.

But now, she saw nothing.

The twelve years she had assumed had long since passed… this was the only explanation.

Previously, she could not ascertain Ning Changjiu's whereabouts because her future self, twelve years from now, had broken an osmanthus branch like a sword and embedded it within his body.

"I cannot find myself."

This was her answer to Shen Yu at the time.

Not only could she not find it, but even the Lord of the Divine Realm might not be able to perceive the existence and uniqueness of one who possesses the osmanthus. This must have been her past self's final act, using all her remaining power to conceal him, hoping to grant him enough time to cultivate before being noticed by the heavens and earth.

But… what could this change?

Was it a desperate gamble out of helplessness, or did she, in her final moments, see a light in him that could pierce through endless darkness?

She couldn't understand it yet.

Fortunately, she could understand most of her own thoughts.

However… if the third "Hunt the Nation" plan was destined to fail, how could she reverse it?

The Hierarch looked at the moon, at the intricate lines within it, her slender fingers moving subtly within her sleeves.

Moonlight flowed from her sleeves into the pond.

Around the line symbolizing Ning Changjiu, countless faint, unclear dark lines spread from all directions, aiming to sever it.

As the Hierarch watched the shadows of these lines, a fleeting weariness crossed her eyes.

In the pond, the fish had vanished.

The Senior Disciple Sister, dressed in a green robe, stood amidst a study adorned with golden lotuses. Countless books turned their pages automatically, and high on the wall hung a character meaning 'Silence'.

The Fifth Senior Disciple Brother sat by a wooden desk, turning the pages of a book.

He often shook his head.

"Time has already been rewound," the Senior Disciple Sister said suddenly.

"Master told me," the Fifth Senior Disciple Brother replied seriously. "But this kind of rewinding violates the theorems I've deduced."

"Master possesses such authority, you know that," the Senior Disciple Sister stated.

The Fifth Senior Disciple Brother said gravely, "That's why I've always felt that authority is the biggest obstacle to fundamental theories. Many seemingly perfect theories can find counter-examples when confronted with authority."

The Senior Disciple Sister said faintly, "Perhaps you should construct a separate system for authority."

"Perhaps," the Fifth Senior Disciple Brother replied weakly.

A moment later, the Fifth Senior Disciple Brother sighed, "Regardless, it's time to start writing the Heavenly Tablets."

"So soon?" the Senior Disciple Sister asked, a hint of doubt in her voice.

The Fifth Senior Disciple Brother gave a wry smile. "Five entire Heavenly Tablets… just thinking about it makes my mind feel like it's cracking open. Master has more important matters, and you and the Second Senior Disciple Brother must keep a close watch on the sky and earth. As for the others, none seem capable of sharing my burdens. I'm not even sure if we can rely on the Seventh."

"You can't," the Senior Disciple Sister stated bluntly. "Master has taken disciples for hundreds of years, but their combined number might not equal the number of wives he's met in just three years. That's currently his only area of accomplishment."

The Fifth Senior Disciple Brother gasped, then sighed, rubbing his forehead. "The Abbey truly faces declining morals… and an abundance of 'talent'."

The Senior Disciple Sister shook her head with a smile. "Then I'm afraid you'll have to work hard."

"Who isn't working hard under heaven?" The Fifth Senior Disciple Brother's worried expression faded as he clasped his hands within his sleeves. "The Immortal Court was destroyed, and our enemies remain unpunished. We are fortunate to have been saved by Master, barely surviving until now, which is no easy feat. No matter how much harder it gets, it's only for the next ten years. But this world will likely have to bear centuries of hardship. By the time they truly realize it, the sages will be dead, the bright moon fallen, and all will be engulfed in irreversible despair…"

The Senior Disciple Sister remained silent. She pushed open the door of the Lotus Study, walked onto the high platform, and her gaze swept over the mist-shrouded mountains and waters, settling on Dahe Town.

"I've actually been wondering if the Heavenly Tablets truly have any meaning," the Senior Disciple Sister said.

"Before the world is destroyed, knowledge must have its meaning," the Fifth Senior Disciple Brother stated firmly.

"I'm referring to cultivation realms," the Senior Disciple Sister clarified.

The Fifth Senior Disciple Brother's brows furrowed slightly.

The Senior Disciple Sister said, "Legend has it that although the Three Realms are as high as the heavens, their power increase isn't substantial. They are more about changes in one's Dao realm and mental state. However, this seemingly direct glimpse into the mysteries of heaven and earth is, in reality, ultimately ephemeral."

"Ephemeral, yet the most difficult to attain," the Fifth Senior Disciple Brother sighed. "Perhaps this is the limit of mortal power. From the perspective of the entire world, we… are actually not much better off."

"The limit of mortal power?" The Senior Disciple Sister turned, looking at him calmly, and countered, "In your memory, have human ascendants truly stopped at this point?"

The Fifth Senior Disciple Brother gently closed his eyes. "I can't recall clearly… We are all Asuras, having reincarnated multiple times, almost becoming human. As for my past 'true self,' I truly can't recall many memories. Sometimes, when I read some myths and legends passed down among mortals, I know the person in the story is me, but I don't feel like it's me."

The Senior Disciple Sister said faintly, "You are the Fifth Senior Disciple Brother of the Abyssal Abbey. If you haven't fully understood these matters after a century of contemplation, entrusting you with the writing of these five Heavenly Tablets is truly unsettling."

The Fifth Senior Disciple Brother smiled. "Don't worry, Senior Sister. My philosophical thoughts don't concern the ultimate truths of the world. I am quite skilled at writing the Heavenly Tablets."

The Senior Disciple Sister offered no comment.

The Fifth Senior Disciple Brother suddenly asked, "When is the Seventh Junior Disciple Brother returning?"

"Before the Bai Zang year ends," the Senior Disciple Sister replied.

The Fifth Senior Disciple Brother narrowed his eyes. "Has Bai Zang discovered us?"

"The Divine Lord is, to some extent, aware of our existence. However, in the past, whether it was the Heavenly Sovereign, the Divine Officials, or the projections of the Nation Lords, none could truly harm us. So, they didn't delve deeper and chose to turn a blind eye," the Senior Disciple Sister explained. "Even when the Sin Lord discovered the existence of the Severed Realm City, the Nation Lord of Ti Shan made no move the following Ti Shan year."

The Fifth Senior Disciple Brother chuckled, "That old bull's body is like a massive mountain cavern, its horns like world-opening swords, embodying both sharp spear and strong shield. Being one of the Demon Gods from the Primordial Divine War, it was naturally arrogant and fearless."

The Senior Disciple Sister nodded. "Ti Shan is indeed arrogant. But Bai Zang is different; her arrogance stems from insecurity. Like the Sin Lord, she is inherently a thief who stole divine mandate. When she looks down upon the mortal world, she can possess unparalleled pride, but the moment she discovers something in the world that can threaten her, her insecurity and rage emerge. These are emotions she cannot conceal, even after becoming a Divine Lord, and the appearance of the Headless God has only exacerbated them."

"Therefore, she will absolutely not allow herself to pass the Bai Zang year peacefully," the Senior Disciple Sister said.

The Fifth Senior Disciple Brother pondered, then frowned. "Now that Bai Zang has successfully obtained the Heart of the Divine, given her ambition, she is bound to hinder our next steps."

The Senior Disciple Sister asked, "Are you implying that allowing Bai Zang to obtain the Heart of the Divine was us being too hesitant?"

"I'm just curious," the Fifth Senior Disciple Brother said.

"Regarding the Heart of the Divine, Master has her own profound intentions," the Senior Disciple Sister replied.

The Fifth Senior Disciple Brother nodded, not taking it as a prevarication.

"I presume Junior Disciple Brother will soon depart for Myriad Demon City?" the Fifth Senior Disciple Brother asked.

"Yes," the Senior Disciple Sister affirmed. "He will definitely come."

"What about Sword Pavilion?" the Fifth Senior Disciple Brother asked again.

"Swords are not allowed in the city," the Senior Disciple Sister said. "This rule was specifically written for Sword Pavilion."

The Fifth Senior Disciple Brother pondered for a moment, then sighed. "Time has been rewound… So, in the past, before Junior Disciple Brother truly entered our sight, all his experiences were perilous and chaotic, outside of Master's arrangements. Alas, he has left undeniable traces in the mortal world, coupled with Bai Zang's constant surveillance. I imagine it wouldn't be difficult for the Sword Saint, with his abilities, to discover Junior Disciple Brother's existence and identity."

"Indeed," the Senior Disciple Sister said. "With the Saint nearing death and Myriad Demon City on the verge of collapse, it's expected that Sword Pavilion would seize this opportunity to intercept and kill Junior Disciple Brother."

"What if Bai Zang acts personally?" the Fifth Senior Disciple Brother asked.

"Bai Zang will not act," the Senior Disciple Sister explained. "In her eyes, the Little Junior Disciple Brother is the key to Kunlun. As long as the Moon Nation remains hidden, she won't intervene. The only one she sees as her opponent is Master; she disregards everyone else. Moreover, I've always suspected that Bai Zang's true purpose in doing all this is…"

"Severed Realm City?" The Fifth Senior Disciple Brother guessed her thought.

"Yes," the Senior Disciple Sister confirmed. "The authority of the Nation Lord is too tempting. Since Ti Shan remained indifferent, it was Bai Zang's greatest opportunity. If she missed it, by the next Bai Zang year in thirteen years, the Headless God might have already been completely divided among other Nation Lords."

The Fifth Senior Disciple Brother's expression was grave. He knew that Master still held secrets in Severed Realm City unknown to them, but if Bai Zang went prepared…

"Can Master now… truly confront Bai Zang directly?" the Fifth Senior Disciple Brother asked, his face filled with worry.

They had never worried about these things when the Hierarch was at her peak, but now…

"There's still me and the Second Senior Disciple Brother," the Senior Disciple Sister said. "If Bai Zang's projection comes, I'll stop Bai Zang. If the Sword Saint leaves his pavilion, I'll stop the Sword Saint. In any case, Master absolutely must not leave the Abbey now."

The Fifth Senior Disciple Brother looked at the Senior Disciple Sister's silhouette, her green robe like frost, and nodded in silence.

He trusted the abilities of the Senior Disciple Sister and the Second Senior Disciple Brother.

They were the pillars that had kept the Abyssal Abbey stable until now.

The Fifth Senior Disciple Brother settled his chaotic thoughts. He casually turned the pages of the book, his gaze lightly scanning.

The Senior Disciple Sister walked out of the room.

"By the way, Master and the Little Junior Disciple Brother's past…" The Fifth Senior Disciple Brother hesitated, trailing off.

"What past do they have?"

With just that one sentence, the Senior Disciple Sister's figure, like a green leaf, twirled and vanished into the wind.

The Fifth Senior Disciple Brother looked at the scrolls piled on the desk, sighed, and began to formulate the topics for each Heavenly Tablet.

Outside the Abyssal Abbey, the weather was mild and sunny.

Yet, in the mortal world, a heavy rain poured.

It was the first heavy rain of early spring. After the sound of the Awakening of Insects thunder, faint light occasionally fell through gaps in the contiguous dark clouds. The world's overall hue was dim and damp, yet amid the lightning and thunder, all things grew with vigorous vitality.

The eaves of the Nine Nether Hall were shrouded in this spring rain.

Light filtered through the window paper.

Ning Changjiu, Lu Jiajia, and Si Ming sat in a circle, organizing all the information they had collected over the past few days concerning Myriad Demon City. Ning Xiaoling sat in the center of the table, dutifully holding a candle flame, a ball of cotton thread stuffed in her mouth.

"I heard the demons in Myriad Demon City are all old, weak, sick, and disabled, nothing to fear…"

"Uh, why does my text say that the demons in Myriad Demon City are fierce and immensely powerful, and would have long since plagued the mortal world if not for the restraints of the Lord of the Divine Realm?"

"Myriad Demon City must not be weak. I wonder how many great demons of the Fifth Path there are."

"Oh, I saw a record of this… it seems to be the Four Heavenly Kings!"

"Four Heavenly Kings? How many great demons are the Four Heavenly Kings?"

The sound of flipping pages suddenly quickened, as did the sound of the rain.

The heavy rain seemed like a decree from the heavens, forbidding travel, isolating countless households from the outside world. The Nine Nether Hall appeared particularly desolate in the rain.

Inside the hall, the discussions among the three continued intermittently.

"The Saint is dying, which is a devastating blow to Myriad Demon City. It's said that Myriad Demon City has exhausted all means but cannot enter the place where the Saint is sealed, so they've turned their gaze to the wider sky."

"The sky? You mean… stars?"

"Yes, they believe that besides the stars of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, and Underworld, there is a masterless star named Heavenly King drifting in the universe, connected to our star. So, their most powerful demons want to ignite this star to serve as their source of power."

"The Six Primordial Gods were deities created by the elemental power of their respective stars… Is Myriad Demon City trying to go against the current, actively seeking recognition from a certain star, thereby transforming Myriad Demon City into a true Divine Realm?"

"Hmm, it sounds a bit fantastical."

"Yes, the sky is already obscured. Even if there truly is a 'Heart of the Heavenly King,' they wouldn't be able to transmit their ideas to it. Let's just call the Four Heavenly Kings the Four Tragedies instead." Si Ming's tone was flat, filled with disdain for Myriad Demon City's ideas.

At Luoshu Tower, when Myriad Demon City attempted to steal Heaven's hidden power with the Demon God Array, Si Ming had already sensed the great demons' limitations when operating in this world.

Ning Changjiu said, "Although few have truly accessed the core of Myriad Demon City, a considerable number have entered it, and their records are… quite friendly."

Si Ming poured cold water on his optimism. "You also know they haven't touched the core. If you spend all day dealing with common folk in a city, who's going to bother you? But the moment you infringe upon the interests of the nobility, you might disappear the next day."

Lu Jiajia looked at Ning Changjiu, her expression puzzled. "You don't seem too worried about this trip to Myriad Demon City?"

Ning Changjiu paused, then quickly understood the source of his composure.

Because Kunlun and the Moon Nation were in Myriad Demon City!

Suddenly, a flash of insight struck Ning Changjiu's mind. He immediately realized it was even possible that Master and the Saint had made some agreement back then. That was why, after the Saint was suppressed and killed, the Moon Nation had remained suspended above Myriad Demon City, protecting it from destruction.

However, the Master's sword strike from his previous life never faded from his memory; instead, it became clearer with the passage of time. Therefore, he always harbored a distrust toward Master.

"After twenty-four years of cultivation, I don't even know your name. How can I trust you?"

This had been Ning Changjiu's long-standing thought.

But he had never harbored any doubt towards his Senior Disciple Brothers and Sisters.

In this life, the Abyssal Abbey was thus contradictorily constructed in his mind, often leaving him at a loss.

Ning Changjiu collected himself, looked at Lu Jiajia's clear, bright eyes in the candlelight, and explained with a smile, "Perhaps having experienced many storms, my mind has simply found peace."

Ning Xiaoling knew her Senior Brother was lying again, but due to the gag, she couldn't expose him… It was precisely because she had exposed him too many times recently that he had done this to her.

Lu Jiajia could actually guess some of his thoughts.

She smiled and said softly, "In any case, no matter where you go, never be careless. When encountering an enemy, regardless of their strength, never underestimate them."

"Okay," Ning Changjiu said, seeing the worry in her eyes. He gently reassured her, "Don't worry, enemies usually like to underestimate me."

Lu Jiajia chuckled softly and said, "Just be sure to come back."

"I will," Ning Changjiu said, extending a finger to pinky promise with her.

Si Ming watched the loving couple and scoffed disdainfully. She rolled up the scroll in her hand, tossing it casually onto the table. "Since the books are full of dubious information anyway, Myriad Demon City isn't worth wasting time researching."

Ning Changjiu looked at Si Ming and asked, "Should I go alone then?"

"Absolutely not!" Lu Jiajia immediately interjected. "No matter how weakened Myriad Demon City may be, it's certainly not a place someone below the Fifth Path can just barge into."

Si Ming said, "I'll go with you. Besides, I have many questions about this world myself."

Ning Changjiu thought for a moment, then said sincerely, "With a Divine Official by my side, the demons of Myriad Demon City shouldn't dare to act recklessly."

Lu Jiajia glanced at Ning Changjiu, then at Si Ming, biting her lip slightly, finding it a bit hard to accept. "You two… going together?"

She suddenly felt that her Sword Spirit Fusion didn't seem so wonderful anymore.

Ning Changjiu looked at Lu Jiajia gently and asked, "Jiajia, don't you trust me?"

Lu Jiajia stared at him coldly, as if saying, *Do you really not know if you're trustworthy?*

"But your safety is more important, after all," Lu Jiajia sighed softly, making a compromise.

Ning Xiaoling, sensing the complex family dynamics, felt even more sympathy for her Master.

Si Ming pondered briefly, then added, "But if I leave, Ancient Spirit Sect will be leaderless. Can Sister Jiajia alone steadily defend the sect?"

Lu Jiajia's eyes flickered, and only then did she consider her own safety. True… she was only at the peak of the Purple Court realm. Her past stability was primarily due to Senior Sister Si Ming being by her side. But now that her husband was eloping with Senior Sister Si Ming, could she, alone, defend Ancient Spirit Sect?

Ning Changjiu took out the ancient longsword and silver hair ornament. "These are the sword and hair ornament of the Sword Pavilion's Second Senior Disciple Sister. With these, Jiajia can guard the sect; no one will dare to disturb it."

Sword Pavilion was a supreme existence in the Central Lands, far surpassing the Four Towers and Eight Divine Sects. The higher one's status and cultivation realm, the more wary they were of Sword Pavilion.

The Second Senior Disciple Sister's sword and hair ornament were equivalent to adding an impenetrable barrier to Ancient Spirit Sect.

Furthermore, Si Ming had departed quietly. No one knew if the Sect Master was still in the sect, so who would dare provoke it easily?

Most importantly, True Monarch White Crane was also dead, and they had no enemies in the Central Lands…

"So… you had already planned to go to Myriad Demon City with Si Ming," Lu Jiajia said, glancing at the prepared sword and hair ornament. She stared at Ning Changjiu coldly, her gaze like daggers, and her scarlet lips uttered words of clear resentment.

Ning Changjiu flinched, then immediately defended himself. "Jiajia, don't misunderstand. I just tend to be more thorough in my planning."

"Are you saying I'm not thorough in my thinking?" Lu Jiajia seized on his words again.

Ning Changjiu was powerless to argue.

Lu Jiajia scoffed coldly, then stood up and left.

Ning Changjiu glanced at Si Ming, then stood up and followed her out.

Si Ming watched their figures disappear into the rain, then turned to the little fox on the table. She picked up Ning Xiaoling, removed the cotton ball from her mouth, and said with a soft laugh, "Be a good girl and stay home, wait for your Senior Sister to come back."

Ning Xiaoling said reluctantly, "Senior Sister and Senior Brother, you must be safe. Xiaoling… is very strong."

Si Ming replied, "It's not for a little fox like you to worry about your Senior Sister's safety."

Ning Xiaoling blinked her eyes and asked, "Will Senior Sister eat Senior Brother?"

Si Ming's brow furrowed slightly. "Xiaoling, I've been a bit lax in my discipline lately, and you've become quite audacious."

"Senior Sister, I was wrong…" Ning Xiaoling, assessing the situation, immediately pleaded for mercy.

After a series of little fox yelps, she lay limply on the table.

Si Ming suddenly dropped a brocade pouch in front of her.

Ning Xiaoling was startled and said earnestly, "You don't need to pay to pinch my tail."

Thwack.

A knuckle flick landed on Ning Xiaoling's forehead.

"What on earth fills your head all day?" Si Ming sighed, exasperated. "This is a brocade pouch. Inside is a Moon Finch feather. If you encounter danger, just open the pouch, and I will sense it."

Ning Xiaoling took the brocade pouch, holding it tightly with her small paws, and nodded vigorously.

The rain continued to fall.

Ning Changjiu woke up as if guided by a mysterious force. He looked at Lu Jiajia's serene sleeping face beside him and tiptoed out of bed.

He set up a silent sword domain, isolating himself from the room, before opening the window.

Strands of rain drifted in.

Falling with the rain strands was also… a kite!

Ning Changjiu suddenly became fully awake. He instantly recognized the kite—it was the very one they had flown a few days ago in the spring fields.

As the kite drifted through the hazy night rain, Ning Changjiu's heart clenched. Raindrops bounced on the windowsill, and in his mind, something seemed to gently crack open and release. He vaguely realized certain things, and immediately used his spiritual power to entangle the kite, carefully retrieving it from the rain.

"Why are you awake again?"

Behind him, Lu Jiajia's voice sounded, with a hint of reproach, remarkably clear in the night.

The kite in his hand suddenly transformed into a fish, swimming into the sea formed by the heavy rain, heading toward Silent Moon Lake.

"The window wasn't closed properly," Ning Changjiu said, closing the window. He calmly walked back to the bed, comforted Lu Jiajia for a while, and then they lay down clothed to sleep together.

Ning Changjiu, however, could not fall asleep.

He had seen a name on the kite.

The name had been washed away by the rain immediately after he saw it.

But he had still clearly seen it.

He knew it was Master's name.

Ye Changong.

Chapter List: Above the Divine Kingdom