Chapter 388: Tengu Swallows the Moon

Yu Qing stood at the entrance of the Ancient Spirit Sect. Looking up, she could just make out a corner of one of the sect's ten towering peaks. The massive rock formations were mostly black, and the central divine hall, nestled among them, was hidden within distant dark clouds, revealing only jagged corners that were indistinguishable from the rock itself. Above it, a continuous stream of netherworld energy surged upwards.

This netherworld energy was confined within the Nine Nether Hall, clinging to the barrier and flowing downwards like water.

Yu Qing's figure shimmered inconsistently outside the Ancient Spirit Sect's gates.

Her snowy white Taoist robe seemed to flow like water, with ink-black lotus flowers growing within it. As spiritual energy surged forth, the ink lotuses on her skirt became more abundant, their slender stems reaching up her graceful back, where an ink lotus bloomed at the center of her back.

The commotion at the Ancient Spirit Sect alarmed many. Although they were accustomed to frequent calamities, a sense of fear was unavoidable.

Yu Qing used a formation to 'open the door' and was about to enter the sect when a snow-like sword light flew towards her, causing her raised foot to retreat.

Yu Qing's light-colored brows furrowed, and the ink lotuses on her Taoist robe swayed ceaselessly.

She observed her small step backward, deep in thought.

The sword light returned, and Lu Jiajia's figure appeared at the entrance of the Ancient Spirit Sect.

She looked at Yu Qing, unable to tell if she was friend or foe.

Yu Qing spoke first, asking calmly, "Are you the new Sect Master of the Ancient Spirit Sect, Miss Siming?"

Lu Jiajia replied, "The Sect Master has left the sect for business, and I am managing it on her behalf. May I ask your name, miss?"

Yu Qing nodded gently and smiled, "Yu Qing. My name means 'after the sky clears.' I currently reside at the Misty Tower."

The Misty Tower...

Lu Jiajia was suddenly startled. The Misty Tower was one of the Four Towers of the Central Lands, and in last year's Heavenly Rankings, Yu Qing was named the fifth most powerful person in the world, surpassed only by Siming at the time.

This gentle-faced female Taoist priest was even more powerful than Liu Junzhuo.

Lu Jiajia smiled and said, "So you are the Tower Master of the Misty Tower. I've heard much about you. May I ask the purpose of your visit today?"

Yu Qing replied, "In recent years, I've been cultivating at the Misty Pavilion, observing celestial phenomena from afar. The numerous strange occurrences at your esteemed sect have puzzled me, and today I simply couldn't resist coming out to see for myself."

Lu Jiajia maintained her smile and said, "I see. Everything is well within the sect, so there's no need for the Tower Master to worry."

Yu Qing looked at the sky full of dark clouds and ominous energy, shaking her head gently. "May I enter the sect to have a look?"

Lu Jiajia did not agree.

Yu Qing explained, "The Four Towers of the Central Lands each guard a region of peace. As the Tower Master of the Misty Tower, although I reside outside the mundane world, I cannot forget my duties."

Lu Jiajia gazed into Yu Qing's clear eyes, pondering for a moment. "In that case, I can escort the Tower Master into the sect. However, vital areas within the sect must not be trespassed upon without permission, or I will not be able to account for it to the Sect Master."

Yu Qing nodded in agreement. The trigrams on her Taoist board and the yin-yang symbol fish all returned into her robe, becoming part of its imagery.

Lu Jiajia led Yu Qing into the Ancient Spirit Sect.

Yu Qing calmly observed the mountain scenery, her hands tucked into her sleeves, silently calculating something.

"By the way, where has the original Sect Master, Huo, gone?"

"Huo and Mu Lingtong caused a great calamity within the sect, and their culpability was undeniable. He was removed from the position of Sect Master and expelled from the sect."

"Oh..." Yu Qing nodded. "This Sect Master Siming, I hear she's a rather ruthless person?"

"Hmm..." Lu Jiajia thought for a moment, then nodded. "She is indeed quite ruthless."

Yu Qing smiled faintly. "Then being the acting Sect Master must be difficult for you. If you're not careful, you might end up like the previous Sect Master."

Lu Jiajia thought of Siming's adorable, submissive appearance in front of her, then lowered her brows and said, "Yes, Sect Master Si is indeed fierce and terrifying. I dare not be negligent on ordinary days."

Yu Qing asked, "Could you tell me something about Sect Master Si?"

Lu Jiajia said with a hint of apology, "I wouldn't dare to speak ill of the Sect Master."

Yu Qing looked at Lu Jiajia's gentle face and could probably guess that Sect Master Si was very strict. She didn't press the matter and walked alongside Lu Jiajia, stopping outside Ghost Moon Lake. Her gaze lifted to the towering black smoke, and her delicate brows gradually furrowed.

Lu Jiajia felt a little nervous. Although the Misty Tower Master hadn't shown any malice, her mind was constantly linked to the sect's grand formation, preparing for a potential conflict.

"The Ancient Spirit Sect was originally built upon the netherworld. Recently, something seems to have happened in the Ancient Nether Kingdom below, causing netherworld energy to leak out and disturb celestial phenomena. However, with the grand formation protecting us, we are safe," Lu Jiajia said.

Yu Qing offered no opinion, strolling idly along the cliff. Her gaze was suddenly drawn to the lake below.

"What is that?" Yu Qing asked.

Lu Jiajia glanced at the lake's surface; red fish swam lazily.

Lu Jiajia said, "They are fish raised by the sect, named Ye Huli."

"They have names?"

"Yes, our sect has always been particular about such things."

Yu Qing watched the fish for a while, then remarked admiringly, "This fish possesses a Dao fruit."

After speaking, she looked at Lu Jiajia for a moment.

In an ordinary sect, if Yu Qing personally visited and made such a statement, the Sect Master would immediately order someone to fetch a fish tank and catch the fish. But Lu Jiajia showed no reaction whatsoever.

Yu Qing withdrew her gaze and smiled self-deprecatingly.

She and Lu Jiajia walked around the sect, observing that disciples were still attending classes as usual in the wooden halls of the ten peaks.

Yu Qing was very puzzled. After class, she asked a female disciple if they weren't afraid of such strange phenomena.

The female disciple looked at the unfamiliar Taoist priestess and scoffed, "You're easily startled by common sights."

Yu Qing was slightly taken aback, realizing she had made a fool of herself.

Yu Qing continued forward, watching the disciples moving about as usual in the Ancient Spirit Sect. She wondered, "Are they truly not afraid?"

Lu Jiajia replied, "They've seen all sorts of storms."

"I see..." Yu Qing nodded. Her peripheral vision kept subtly glancing towards the direction where the netherworld energy was gathering. After a moment, she asked, "Can you truly guarantee that the netherworld energy won't leak out, Miss?"

Lu Jiajia was also astute; she had long detected something unusual in Yu Qing's words. "Tower Master, what exactly do you mean? Please speak plainly."

Yu Qing smiled faintly. "The commotion here is too great, inevitably attracting attention from all directions. Moreover, with Sect Master Si away, it's difficult to ensure peace. I am willing to guard this place for a period, provided you allow me to cultivate outside the Nether Kingdom."

Lu Jiajia, of course, could not agree, but she did not refuse immediately.

"Do you think I cannot guard the Ancient Spirit Sect?" Lu Jiajia asked.

Yu Qing smiled faintly. "I didn't mean that. Your sword heart is clear..."

Lu Jiajia interrupted, "But you haven't even asked my name."

Yu Qing paused her words softly. After a moment, she said, "That was rude of me."

In truth, she hadn't given much thought to this woman who had just entered the fifth path.

Lu Jiajia calmly stated, "My presence alone is enough on the peak. There's no need for the Tower Master to concern herself."

"Is that so..." Yu Qing looked at the Ancient Spirit Sect's grand formation, making her final assessment.

Few at the peak of cultivation could resist the temptation of the Six Primeval Gods' remains. The best opportunity was at hand, and Yu Qing felt she should seize it. However, having been born into a prominent family, she preferred to negotiate an exchange rather than resorting to coercion.

In the past, envoys from the Misty Tower were always revered with the highest courtesies when visiting a sect.

The white-clad woman beside her, who appeared to be only in her twenties, was neither obsequious nor arrogant in her presence, and even showed a hint of hostility, which was rare.

Yu Qing said, "I hope you will reconsider."

Lu Jiajia replied, "I have considered it thoroughly."

Yu Qing asked curiously, "You're refusing the Misty Tower's goodwill. Aren't you afraid Siming will blame you when she returns?"

'She wouldn't dare...' Lu Jiajia thought with a soft snort. She didn't bother to hide her feelings, stating bluntly, "I hope the Tower Master doesn't press her luck."

"Is that so?" Yu Qing, having lived for many years, paid no mind to the junior's disrespect. She said, "The Luo Shu Tower suffered a great calamity back then, and it remains an unsolved mystery to this day. Some say Siming came from the Luo Shu Tower at that time?"

Lu Jiajia sensed the true intent behind her words.

She asked directly, "Miss Yu, are you perhaps planning to force your way in?"

Yu Qing did not answer, but on her Taoist robe, a fish had already leaped out of the water.

A peach wood sword flew out from within her robe, piercing the grand formation like lightning. Her figure vanished from the spot, following the sword.

Lu Jiajia was startled and drew her sword, intending to block, but then she heard a familiar and reassuring voice.

"Who dares to act presumptuously within my sect?"

Yu Qing's vanished figure reappeared by the cliff.

She frowned and looked back, discovering a woman with black robes and colorful hair standing behind her at some unknown moment, quietly observing her. Her face was serenely beautiful and anciently alluring, but only her long hair seemed vibrant and unruly.

Lu Jiajia let out a sigh of relief and smiled gently.

Yu Qing instantly discerned the other's identity, feeling surprised but not afraid.

How big could the gap between the world's fifth and fourth most powerful individuals be?

She had been displaced to fourth place for no apparent reason, and felt somewhat resentful about it.

Siming walked towards her.

Yu Qing slowly raised her hand, intending to summon her Dao sword to test the waters.

But to her horror, she discovered that her Dao sword was wailing.

Then, all the ink lotuses on her robe withered and died, and the Dao fish in the pond on her robe also perished one by one.

The other party had simply walked towards her, yet with every step, every gesture, they had completely suppressed her authority and cultivation.

This... what was happening?

Yu Qing could not hide her alarm.

Lu Jiajia looked at Siming and said softly, "Sister, you're finally back."

Siming glanced at Yu Qing and asked, "Who is she?"

Lu Jiajia replied, "A guest from the Misty Tower."

Siming originally intended to show no mercy, but after hearing "Misty Tower," she nodded slightly.

The Misty Tower of Southern Nether.

Southern Nether...

Siming said indifferently, "Since you are a guest, please return. The sect is not receiving guests these days."

Lu Jiajia had prepared the tea and knelt before the mat, serving it to Siming. She chuckled and murmured, "The tower at home collapsed, and the small courtyard we used to live in was also destroyed. Fortunately, Xiao Ling is safe, though she's trapped in the Nether Kingdom and can't get out. Jiuyou and the Fish King are assisting her. Many people like Yu Qing have arrived recently, but for the Misty Tower Master herself to come is quite a surprise."

Siming knelt opposite her, looking at Lu Jiajia's face, and also smiled. Holding her teacup, she said, "It's good that Xiao Ling is fine. As for me... well, I've been with Master these past few days."

"Master?" Lu Jiajia's heart gave a slight jolt.

Siming nodded. "Yes, Master. Many earth-shattering events have occurred recently. I've been worried about you all, but thankfully, Jiajia and Xiao Ling are safe."

Lu Jiajia immediately asked, "What about Changjiu?"

Siming's face stiffened slightly. "The first thing you ask about is Ning Changjiu's safety. Just as I thought, you only have your husband in your heart, not your sister."

Lu Jiajia lowered her head slightly and immediately corrected herself, "Is Sister Xueci injured?"

"Hmph." Siming's face was as still as water, but her hair remained dazzlingly vibrant. She said, "Alright, I'm concerned about him too. Don't worry, he's currently south of Nanzhou, near your old sect. Someone is taking care of him, he's fine."

Lu Jiajia immediately asked, "Taking care of him? Is he injured?"

Siming smiled faintly. "Why don't you ask who's taking care of him?"

Lu Jiajia said, "Is it the one named Shao Xiaoli?"

"Yes." Siming said, "Anyway, there's no need to worry too much about him. Let me first tell you about what happened these past few days."

Lu Jiajia sat up straight.

Siming recounted the events of Severed Boundary City and the confrontation between Baizang and Ye Changong, continuing until the Year of Baizang passed, the Divine Kingdom was sealed, and Baizang became trapped within it, unable to escape.

Lu Jiajia listened with alarm. "So, everything we experienced in the Central Lands was within Baizang's calculations, and Baizang's calculations were, in turn, within Master's calculations?"

Siming said, "Perhaps. In any case, Master's Dao is profound and boundless; Baizang was no match. Master was indeed weak at the time, but Baizang was completely terrified, only focused on escaping and not resisting. By the time she understood, she was already a tiger in a cage."

The Lord of the Divine Kingdom is invincible. Siming had believed this iron rule before Yuanfu's death. Now, having personally witnessed this rule overturned twice, the emotional repercussions still lingered.

Lu Jiajia asked, "What happened next? What was done after defeating Baizang?"

Siming took a sip of tea. "It's a bit complicated. I'll tell you slowly."

In the quiet room that afternoon, Siming slowly revealed these hidden matters. At this point, she had no reservations; after all, the current high-ranking monarch was one of their own, so divine punishment was unlikely to strike her.

Siming first explained the pattern of the Divine Kingdom's rotation and the origin of the "Godless Moon" to Lu Jiajia.

Lu Jiajia listened until her head swam, nodding reluctantly and pretending to understand.

"The Godless Moon was originally Baizang's confidence, because she was certain that even if Master was indeed waiting for her in Yuanfu Kingdom, as long as the Divine Kingdom didn't truly open, Yuanfu Kingdom couldn't trap her. And for the Divine Kingdom to open, it had to first endure a month of the Godless Moon, and then wait for the Dark Lord to ignite the stars."

"But she didn't realize that Master had already secretly grafted Yuanfu Kingdom's connection onto the moon. Therefore, she didn't need to wait for the Dark Lord to light up the Yuanfu star; she could directly use the moon to light up the Divine Kingdom and activate Yuanfu Kingdom. In the past, that unique moonlight fell upon the 'Unobservable'."

"So as long as the moon stays lit, Yuanfu Kingdom won't close?" Lu Jiajia was surprised and couldn't help but recall the star stone on Sky Cavern Peak.

Siming nodded, "That's how it should be. However, this greatly consumes the moon's primordial power. But as long as we get through this Godless Moon and wait for the Dark Lord to personally ignite the Yuanfu star, perhaps everything will be fine."

"The Dark Lord will still light the Yuanfu star?" Lu Jiajia asked, puzzled.

"I'm not sure," Siming said. "Both Baizang and Master say that the Dark Lord is a vast and vague consciousness. It might be intelligent, but its thoughts are slow, and its actions are primarily instinct-driven. Master startled it seven hundred years ago when she slew Yuanfu. This time, the event is smaller, so I can't be certain if it will reawaken the Dark Lord."

Lu Jiajia looked worried and asked, "What if the Dark Lord doesn't light the stars?"

Siming replied, "Then we'll continue to illuminate it with the moon. Although the consumption is immense, if it can secure the authority of 'Dust Sealing,' it's worth it. However..."

"However what?"

"It's just that Master has divined the star charts, and there's a strong possibility of a major upheaval this year." Siming's expression was solemn.

"What kind of upheaval?" Lu Jiajia was slightly startled.

Siming replied, "The celestial dog devouring the moon."

"The celestial dog devouring the moon?!"

"Yes, Baizang is the Lord of the Divine Kingdom and cannot be easily killed. On the night of the celestial dog devouring the moon, the moon will lose its connection with Yuanfu Kingdom. At that time, if Baizang still possesses power, there's a strong chance she will fight desperately to escape." Siming reiterated Master's words:

"Currently, Baizang has been detained by Master. Senior Sister and Second Senior Brother have also arrived, presiding as the Divine Official and Heavenly Monarch of the Divine Kingdom, respectively. They are continuously absorbing Baizang's authority, hoping to drain it completely before the celestial dog devours the moon."

"When is the celestial dog devouring the moon?" Lu Jiajia immediately asked.

Siming tilted her head back and looked out the window, swirling the empty cup in her hand. "The fifteenth day of the eleventh month. According to folk calendar terms, it should be before the Winter Solstice."

Lu Jiajia's elegant brows furrowed. "Only about four months left?"

"Yes."

Time was not abundant.

Siming continued, "Master is not as powerful as we imagine. The Yuanfu Divine Kingdom opened, and she only defeated Baizang while within the Divine Kingdom. Compared to seven hundred years ago, Master is much weaker."

Lu Jiajia asked, "So, are we still likely to be enemies with Baizang later?"

Siming shook her head and explained, "Four months is enough time for Master to disable Baizang. In any case, it will either die or be severely wounded. Master's only concern is that its instincts might completely seize the sealed authority. But on the night of the lunar eclipse, the Dark Lord is highly likely to act. Although it cannot directly interfere with the mortal realm, it can create puppets."

"Puppets?" Lu Jiajia immediately understood. "The Sword Pavilion?"

"Yes." Siming said, "The greatest hidden danger now is the Sword Saint Ke Wenzhou. It's not easy for the Dark Lord to create puppets. Thousands of years ago, it created Yuanfu, and thousands of years later, it only added one more Sword Saint. Although there is only the Sword Saint, if he truly becomes as powerful as Yuanfu was after receiving the Heavenly Dao's gift, then everything we've done could go to waste!"

Siming said coldly, "If Master leaves the Divine Kingdom and faces an enemy like Yuanfu, even if she can fight to a draw or even win, there's another, more terrifying possibility..."

"What possibility?"

"The Divine Kingdoms do not open strictly according to a set pattern; they can be illuminated. With order on the brink of collapse, the Dark Lord might very well, after recovering, re-illuminate another Divine Kingdom. Unless that Divine Kingdom is the Thunder Prison or Vermilion Bird, we would most likely face two God-Lord level opponents."

Siming was relaying Master's words. Master spoke calmly, but when the same words came from Siming, they carried an endless undertone of worry.

Master was undoubtedly powerful, powerful enough to exhaust the calculations of heaven and man, but could she truly defeat the Dark Lord?

It was like an ordinary person encountering a tiger in the forest. Although a tiger is far less intelligent than a human, even if the human racked their brains, it would likely only be a matter of how soon they died.

Lu Jiajia wrung her fingers tightly and whispered, "Didn't Master foresee the celestial dog devouring the moon?"

"She did foresee it," Siming sighed. "But this is a celestial event, irreversible. Besides, Baizang had already decided to become an opponent, so going with the flow was Master's only choice."

Lu Jiajia looked at the cold tea on the table, took a casual sip, and felt her throat go dry.

She had initially thought that after defeating Baizang, everything would be settled for now. She hadn't expected it was merely moving from the eighteenth layer of hell to the seventeenth.

Lu Jiajia calmed herself, re-evaluated the situation, and said, "So now the only way is to kill the Sword Saint and destroy the Sword Pavilion?"

"Yes, kill the Sword Saint, but there's no need to concern ourselves with the Sword Pavilion," Siming said.

"Why?"

"According to the Sword Saint, Sword Pavilion disciples will also receive empowerment in the future, but Master told me this is likely a smokescreen," Siming said. "It's very difficult for the Heavenly Dao to establish a connection with a person. Otherwise, it would have created several more 'Yuanfus' over thousands of years. Although Sword Pavilion disciples are all exceptionally talented, they are absolutely unrelated to the Dark Lord."

"Then why did the Sword Saint say that?"

Siming speculated, "It's likely he's using them to distract us. If I'm not mistaken, all the Sword Pavilion disciples have already left. If we were to hunt them down one by one, it would definitely waste a lot of time."

Lu Jiajia's heart grew cold. "Deceiving even his own disciples..."

She then asked, "What are our chances of killing the Sword Saint within four months?"

Siming replied, "I can't be certain. The Sword Saint is blessed by the Heavenly Dao, and even Master can only determine his approximate location."

"Where is he?"

"Northern Nether."

The Northern Nether, where the Kunpeng once emerged, where flood dragons soared, and divine turtles carried mountains out to sea.

The Sword Saint had left the Hanging Sea Tower, a lone sword on a solitary boat, hiding in the boundless expanse of the Northern Nether.

If the Sword Saint intentionally avoided battle, how could they find him?

Lu Jiajia knew the difficulty of the situation and asked, "Does Master have any other countermeasures?"

"Yes." Siming's gaze was firm. "The countermeasure lies with Ning Changjiu."

"Changjiu?"

Siming's frosty white hair finally regained some luster. "Yes, in these four months, before all the changes arrive, we also need to create a deity... no, rather than create, it's more about helping Ning Changjiu return to his rightful place."

"Returning to a divine position..." Lu Jiajia's fists clenched in her sleeves, her heart suddenly burning. She bit her lip and asked, "How should we do it?"

Siming said, "Master has entrusted the steps to me, but whether it succeeds depends on Changjiu's fortune... And the next tasks require your action."

"Me?" Lu Jiajia was bewildered.

"Yes," Siming replied. "To become a deity, one must sever ties with the mortal realm. He has left too many unknown karmic links in Nanzhou that need to be removed one by one."

Lu Jiajia's heart tightened with alarm. "Becoming a deity requires severing emotions, desires, and worldly ties?"

Siming smiled faintly. "Don't worry, it's not about severing everything entirely, just 'severing when necessary.' And it's not about killing people, just removing the karmic links."

Lu Jiajia nodded vaguely. "What about Sister Xueci? Where will you go next, Sister?"

Siming calmly stated, "To besiege and kill the Sword Saint."

Lu Jiajia had anticipated this outcome and said worriedly, "Sister Xueci, please be careful."

"It's not a matter of being careful or not. I'm just afraid the Sword Saint will hide like a turtle for the rest of his life..." Siming sighed with a smile, her long hair pale, not optimistic about the future.

Lu Jiajia asked, "So what should I do next?"

Siming replied, "Return to Nanzhou, find Ning Changjiu, and then return the Dao to Nanzhou with him."

"Returning the Dao to Nanzhou..." Lu Jiajia pondered the deeper meaning of these words.

As she thought, Siming suddenly leaned forward, drew close to Lu Jiajia, and gently pecked her lips.

Lu Jiajia gasped, covering her mouth, and her clear, autumn-water eyes widened. "This... what are you doing?"

Siming smiled gently, an impulse she had after thinking of Shao Xiaoli.

"Take this to my husband for me." Her voice was clear and cool, yet her tone was gentle. "Your humble wife won't be able to accompany you for the next few months, so I hope my husband won't blame me."