Chapter 397: God Kingdom Origin

Yazhu stared at Lu Jiajia in astonishment.

It was midsummer, yet the snow on the cliff remained frozen year-round, casting a chill. Behind Lu Jiajia, the slender crescent moon rose, like a pearl embedded on her shoulder. The evening breeze ruffled her clothes, revealing no sharpness, yet she seemed like a sword tempered for millennia in a glacial waterfall. Yazhu felt a sense of detachment, as if the person beside her was not her familiar senior sister, but a passing moonbeam.

To Yazhu, Lu Jiajia was now a true immortal.

This statement of hers surprised Yazhu even more.

Yazhu's delicate brows immediately furrowed. "The Joyous Union Sect... that kind of place! How can someone like you, Jiajia, go there?"

Lu Jiajia gazed at the mountain mist in the night. "The principles of Yin and Yang union transcend the mundane, reaching both the divine realms above and the abyssal depths below, connecting with spirits and aligning with the Dao. It is far more profound than mere carnal desire, not a place of impurity. Moreover, with a clear sword heart, wherever one goes is a pure land, a world of glass."

These words were what Ning Changjiu had used when he first persuaded her to practice the Great Yin-Yang Ascension Rite. Back then, she had beaten him after he said them. Now, her earnest recitation genuinely bewildered Yazhu.

Yazhu, seeing her solemn demeanor and captivated by her ethereal aura, found herself unable to retort. She mused on Jiajia's strong disdain for evil.

"Are you sure no one else needs to go?" Yazhu still asked.

"No need. That demon is extremely vicious; it's safest if I go," Lu Jiajia replied.

"Alright then, Senior Sister, please be careful." Yazhu did not press the issue.

Lu Jiajia pointed her fingers like a sword, and the snow and mist on the mountain instantly coalesced into a slender sword, as if obeying a command. Lu Jiajia lightly tapped her toes, gracefully stood upon it, and just as she was about to depart, Shao Xiaoli's clear voice rang out behind her.

"Sister Lu, where are you going? Why isn't Boss back yet?" Shao Xiaoli quickly walked up the hilltop.

Yazhu looked over at the sound, catching a fleeting glimpse.

A woman in a red dress, with stunning beauty and a subtly cold demeanor, abruptly appeared on the hilltop. Though her expression was intentionally softened and her voice clear and pleasant, her black hair and red attire still exuded a faint, inherent killing intent, like a born queen.

Who... who was she?

Lu Jiajia stopped, descended to the hilltop, and introduced her: "This is Shao Xiaoli, a friend of Ning Changjiu. She came to visit today; I almost forgot to tell you."

Shao Xiaoli nodded in agreement.

Yazhu was surprised again. "Ning Changjiu is back too?"

"Yes," Lu Jiajia replied. "He went to the imperial city of Zhao to take care of something and will be back later."

Yazhu smiled with relief. "It's good that you are all safe."

She then looked at the remarkably beautiful young girl. "Hello, Miss Xiaoli."

Shao Xiaoli respectfully greeted her. Since this was Boss's mountain, everyone here was family!

Yazhu explained to her, "There's a demon causing trouble in Nanzhou. Jiajia needs to go investigate and quell the unrest, so she'll be away from the peak for a while. If you get bored, I can show you around."

Shao Xiaoli was a little surprised. "What in Nanzhou could be worth Sister Lu's personal attention?"

Lu Jiajia calmly stated, "It's just safer if I handle it."

This clearly didn't convince Shao Xiaoli. She looked at Yazhu with a questioning gaze. Yazhu smiled helplessly and briefly explained the situation with the Joyous Union Sect.

"It's not that big of a deal..." Shao Xiaoli muttered.

Lu Jiajia immediately said, "Alright, let's not delay any longer. I'll go first, Yazhu. You show Xiaoli around."

Yazhu nodded with a smile.

Shao Xiaoli, however, reacted. "Wait!"

She looked at Yazhu and seriously asked, "What does the new Sect Master of the Joyous Union Sect look like?"

"They say he's a young demon in white clothes," Yazhu replied.

Shao Xiaoli immediately looked at Lu Jiajia, narrowing her eyes. "Sister Lu, vanquishing demons and defending the righteous path is our duty! Let Xiaoli go with you!"

Lu Jiajia calmly refused, "Your cultivation is too low. Don't cause trouble for me."

"Let's go together..."

"No."

Shao Xiaoli retorted defiantly, "You just don't want to take me!"

Lu Jiajia lightly flicked her sleeve. "Exorcising demons requires focus."

Shao Xiaoli puffed out her cheeks and scoffed, "You... hmph, well, you'd better be careful, don't sacrifice yourself to the demon!"

"No need for my little sister to remind me," Lu Jiajia said, smiling faintly at Shao Xiaoli's annoyed expression.

Yazhu watched from the side, a little confused, wondering if everyone from the Central Plains had such a strong sense of justice.

Lu Jiajia rode her sword and departed.

Shao Xiaoli watched the sword light disappear into the night, her heart filled with frustration. *Hmph, what "vanquishing demons and devils"? She just wanted to send Xiaoli away so they could be alone... A holy righteous immortal and an evil demon from the Joyous Union Sect... What exactly were these two playing at now?!*

This was too much, simply too much!

Shao Xiaoli stomped her foot in anger.

The Imperial City of Zhao.

Ning Changjiu read the letter once.

The words on the letter vanished after he read them—because they weren't words themselves, but thoughts hidden within the box.

These thoughts returned to the old Daoist priest's mind, making him shiver. He immediately shrank back into his chair, trembling with fear.

Ning Changjiu used a Daoist chant to calm the old Daoist priest's spiritual sea.

The old Daoist priest stared at him with wide eyes, speaking incoherently: "Isn't it terrifying? Many people have already died. I've spoken about it, so I'll die too... And you! You'll die too, you will definitely die!"

Ning Changjiu's expression remained calm. "Don't be afraid. These matters are in the past; no one will pursue you for them."

"Impossible!" the old Daoist priest declared adamantly. "Ever since I left the imperial city, I've been tormented day and night by those evil spirits, plagued by curses... If you hadn't come today, I would already be dead!"

Ning Changjiu understood the situation. "This is the backlash from the 'Reverse Calamity Dispelling Sutra'. Many Daoists back then likely died because of it."

Four years ago, the Grand Bright Palace was engulfed in flames, and the Empress 'died.' The State of Zhao was teetering on the brink, beset by internal strife and external threats. At that time, many Daoist priests, at the command of the Witch Lord, entered the city to ward off disasters for Zhao.

It now seemed that many of the renowned Daoist priests the Witch Lord had sought out back then had secretly received confidential orders from the Empress.

They spread throughout the city, activating the 'Reverse Calamity Dispelling Array' to attract demons from all directions, further destabilizing the royal city. The twists and turns involving the fox demon and the sudden appearance of the Soul Devourer, which seemed like a series of coincidences, were in fact orchestrated by the threads of fate and disaster.

If not for himself or his second senior brother, Xiang'er would very likely have died in Suzaku's trap.

If Suzaku truly wanted to kill Xiang'er, it would have been effortless. Why, then, did she go through such elaborate measures?

Ning Changjiu speculated it was related to the Xihe authority she coveted.

"Calamity Dispelling Sutra..." The old Daoist priest's voice trembled. "Yes! The Calamity Dispelling Sutra! This is karmic debt, this is retribution!"

Ning Changjiu said seriously, "I will remove your misfortunes and disasters, and sever this karma for you. From now on, you can live like an ordinary person, but you must not commit evil, or disaster will return."

The old Daoist priest was unsure if he was telling the truth. "You only owe me a single copper coin, why help me? Besides... if you hadn't driven me out of Prince Zhao's residence back then, I would probably have died an untimely death like the other Daoists by now..."

Ning Changjiu looked at the wooden boxes on the table. "Because you made me think of something, and it's very important."

The old Daoist priest still didn't understand. He looked at the boxes, his voice a little lower. "These aren't rare items; they're sold in the market. They're called 'secret treasure boxes.' If you're really interested, you can go check them out."

Ning Changjiu nodded.

These layered boxes from the mundane world had almost deceived his proud Taiyin Eyes.

His Taiyin Eyes could effortlessly see through single-layered objects, but with enough interfering information, they might not be able to penetrate.

The gap between Five-Path cultivators and a Dark Lord was immense, but the difference between ordinary people and Five-Path cultivators was equally vast.

If this ordinary secret treasure box could deceive him, then was it possible for him to create an even larger one to deceive beings above the firmament?

Ning Changjiu's heart raced.

He calmly placed the letter in the very center, then meticulously arranged the wooden boxes layer by layer back to their original state.

The old Daoist priest watched everything he did, feeling that he was more of a lunatic than himself.

Ning Changjiu put the secret treasure box away, returning it to its original corner.

He looked at the old Daoist priest and conjured three talismans, each landing on his glabella. Light flickered erratically in the room, and the imps that had been lurking outside, waiting for an opportunity, shrieked in unison. Unable to escape, they turned to ashes.

A moment later, the old Daoist priest came to his senses. He felt his body had become much lighter; the oppressive, muddy sensation was gone, and the feeling of impending death had vanished without a trace.

He stared blankly at the copper coin on the table for a moment, then abruptly rose from his chair. He wanted to express his gratitude, but when he looked around, the young man in white had vanished without a trace. He couldn't even recall his name, let alone offer prayers in return.

Soon, he couldn't even remember the young man's face.

Ning Changjiu stood on the long street in the night. The imperial city seemed to avoid him, and the passing crowds paid him no mind.

He walked through the streets alone and arrived at an inn.

This was an inn where he and Zhao Xiang'er had eaten when they pretended to be a chivalrous couple traveling around. He casually turned in, intending to order some food and recall the time he spent with Xiang'er.

He sat by the window and ordered a small jar of wine. The waiter asked if he wanted anything else, and he simply asked for some snacks to go with the wine.

The waiter complied.

Ning Changjiu took out some private money from his sleeve.

When the snacks arrived, Ning Changjiu was slightly surprised.

He had expected snacks like peanuts or lotus root slices, but what was served was a sliced pig's trotters, topped with finely chopped chives.

"Your snacks... are quite unusual," Ning Changjiu commented.

The waiter was slightly startled. He pointed to the menu on the wall. "Didn't the guest order this? It's our signature dish."

Ning Changjiu followed his finger.

The first line he saw on the wall menu was "Long-Lasting Dishes."

Memories stirred. Back then, he had simultaneously taken away Nanzhou's two most beautiful female emperors and the Sword Immortal, drawing public condemnation. These 'Long-Lasting Dishes' had been established then and were surprisingly still preserved, becoming a local custom.

He looked at the large pig's trotters on the plate and gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"Yes, this is what I ordered."

The waiter let out a breath of relief, having thought a visitor from out of town had made a mistake.

Ning Changjiu took two casual bites, then sensed something was off.

*Long-Lasting Dishes...*

Why did he have a bad feeling?

His fingers twitched within his sleeve, and his eyes narrowed involuntarily. After quickly finishing his meal and paying, he immediately took flight on his sword, returning to the Joyous Union Sect.

At that moment, the elder who had successfully fled to the Heavenly Sword Sect to lodge a complaint was still feeling smug, thinking how fortunate he was to have arrived just as the mysterious Sect Master of the Sword Sect returned. Heaven was truly on his side; surely, the demon who had brought chaos to the Joyous Union Sect would be vanquished!

Ning Changjiu did not take much time to return to the sect on his sword.

When he returned, the entire sect was solemn and quiet. Seeing Ning Changjiu back, He Guang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"What happened?" Ning Changjiu asked.

He Guang replied, "The elder who escaped earlier went to the Heavenly Sword Sect to lodge a complaint. The Heavenly Sect sent someone to investigate. We've already explained to the immortal, but she doesn't believe us and insists on waiting for you to return to question you personally."

Ning Changjiu sighed, asking knowingly, "Which immortal from the Heavenly Sword Sect is it, may I ask?"

He Guang whispered, "It's quite a coincidence. The one who came is none other than your former master, Lu Jiajia. She should have been traveling around at this time, but for some reason, she returned today... Sect Master, you... you haven't done anything to offend your master, have you?"

Ning Changjiu shook his head slightly, his expression unchanged. "Don't worry, I'll have a good talk with her."

Although He Guang knew they were on the side of justice, he was still somewhat worried, fearing there might be some personal vendetta between them.

He Guang stepped back into the crowd. Ning Changjiu walked forward, stopping at the hall entrance.

The disciples watched him.

The young immortal, who had effortlessly defeated the former Sect Master of the Joyous Union Sect, actually bowed respectfully towards the main gate and said, "This disciple did not know of Master's esteemed arrival and failed to greet you properly. I beg Master's forgiveness."

The other disciples were utterly astonished.

They had made some guesses about this immortal's origins earlier, but they never expected him to be the disciple of Nanzhou's most mysterious female sword immortal.

Was this... truly a case of a renowned master producing a brilliant disciple?

When the Sect Master of the Sword Sect arrived, many disciples were alarmed and worried for their immortal, yet they also eagerly anticipated whether he could astonish everyone and subdue the Sword Sect immortal. Now, it seemed there wouldn't be a fight after all...

The disciples, as outsiders, were bewildered. If Shao Xiaoli had been there, she would probably have stomped her foot in exasperation and fumed, "You two really know how to play games!"

The immortal inside the hall seemed to be intentionally ignoring him. Ning Changjiu stood for quite a while before a clear, cold voice finally came out:

"Disciple, enter the hall for a talk."

Ning Changjiu turned around and looked at the disciples. "You all go back first. I will have a long talk with my master. Master comes from a renowned righteous sect; she should understand me."

Many disciples who had come to watch the show clearly didn't want to leave. However, the current situation likely meant that the immortal master was giving her disciple some face. Once inside the hall, he might be severely disciplined. If sounds of a beating were to emanate later, it would be a loss of face for the immortal.

They were indebted to the immortal. Since he had given the command, despite their reluctance, everyone wisely departed.

Ning Changjiu pushed open the hall door and entered.

Lu Jiajia sat on the Sect Master's seat, watching him with a half-smile. "My dear disciple, what great capabilities you possess. You've only been out for half a day and already caused such a commotion. You truly can't stay quiet for a moment."

Ning Changjiu smiled as he closed the hall door. "I've made Master wait too long; it's this disciple's fault. Oh, right, where's that girl Xiaoli?"

"Don't worry about her," Lu Jiajia said. "I had Xiaoli stay at the sect."

Ning Changjiu smiled faintly. "So, Master came alone."

Lu Jiajia said indifferently, "To deal with an unruly disciple like you, I am enough on my own."

Ning Changjiu sat beside Lu Jiajia. He looked at the woman's beautiful yet cold face. "Master truly cares about the common people."

Lu Jiajia turned slightly, pinching her delicate chin, and gazed intently at Ning Changjiu. "What exactly is going on with this Joyous Union Sect Master business? Are you finally fulfilling a long-held dream?"

"Didn't they explain it to you?" Ning Changjiu asked.

"I want to hear *your* explanation," Lu Jiajia said.

Ning Changjiu smiled helplessly. "As Master commands."

Ning Changjiu gave a brief overview of the events, speaking with indignant fervor while also painting his own image as a righteous champion with an ethereal, immortal quality.

From his extravagant words, Lu Jiajia caught the key point. "So, back then, you swapped the Joyous Union Sect's cultivation technique with the Sword Sect's sword art?"

"..." Ning Changjiu deliberated. "Didn't you also experience its profound mysteries, Jiajia?"

Lu Jiajia's delicate brows furrowed, her expression turning cold.

Ning Changjiu immediately said, "This disciple knows he was wrong, and begs Master's forgiveness."

Only then did Lu Jiajia nod faintly. Of course, she didn't truly mind these things; she was merely finding an excuse to fault him.

She asked, "We will eventually leave this place. You're the Sect Master here now, but you won't be staying for long. What do you plan to do?"

Ning Changjiu replied, "The karma in this world is too heavy; I never intended to stay long. However, I will paint a portrait of myself to preside over the sect in my stead. A painting won't be tainted by karma."

"It won't be discovered?" Lu Jiajia asked uncertainly.

"Just let the painting reside in the hall permanently to maintain a sense of mystery. Then, establish a set of rules. You can transfer some people from the Heavenly Sword Sect to help manage things; there shouldn't be any major problems," Ning Changjiu said.

Lu Jiajia said coldly, "Don't push your luck. My Sword Sect is a renowned righteous sect. Why should I transfer people for you, the leader of a heretical cult?"

In the past, Ning Changjiu might have conceded, but now, with his added identity as the Old Ancestor of the Joyous Union Sect, he absolutely refused to acknowledge the term "heretical cult" to preserve his past life's dignity.

"Master, you, a righteous immortal, haven't you also praised the profound mysteries of the Joyous Union Sect's Daoist techniques in the past?" Ning Changjiu asked.

"Did I, did I really..." Lu Jiajia's immortal face flushed slightly, and her gaze flickered away. "Don't twist words, I don't believe your nonsense."

Ning Changjiu patiently coaxed, "Jiajia, with your sharp discernment, you should be able to see the profound mysteries of the Great Yin-Yang Ascension Rite. It's just that this method is too profound, and they've only learned the superficial aspects without grasping its essence. I have re-drafted the cultivation method, and in the future, this sect will surely flourish, becoming the twin jewels, like the sun and moon of Nanzhou, alongside the Sword Sect."

Lu Jiajia was skeptical. She still found it hard to accept that her husband had suddenly become the Sect Master of the Joyous Union Sect.

She held out a hand. "Let me see it."

Ning Changjiu handed it over.

There really was one... Lu Jiajia was surprised.

She read it once, pondered for a moment, and indeed found it exceptionally profound. Yet, she still felt it was some kind of trick...

"You understand this cultivation method so deeply?" The more Lu Jiajia read, the more astonished she became.

Ning Changjiu sighed. "To be honest, thousands of years ago, the original founder of this cultivation method was none other than..."

He pointed to himself.

Lu Jiajia looked up and stared into Ning Changjiu's eyes for a moment, confirming he wasn't lying.

Lu Jiajia's clear eyes flickered. After a long pause, she sneered, "You truly are a rare talent in the cultivation world."

"Master, you flatter me..."

"Do you have any other identities?"

"I'm curious too."

"In the future, you should visit more heretical cults; you might find some surprises."

The two chatted for a while. Lu Jiajia had read the scripture and found it indeed excellent, profound yet easy to understand. After reading it, she even felt a sudden enlightenment and an urge to try it out.

Her gaze was calm. "You've gone to all this trouble; do you have no other objective?"

Ning Changjiu put away the manual and smiled. "Given my extraordinary talent in my previous life, the mysteries of this scripture naturally extend beyond what's written."

As he spoke, he extended his hand and summoned the Golden Crow.

The Golden Crow illuminated his palm lines brightly.

"I wonder if my past self foresaw this day, or if it's merely a coincidence," Ning Changjiu mused for a moment. "Jiajia, come with me."

A golden light brightly illuminated the grand hall.

The two vanished from the hall.

Ning Changjiu led Lu Jiajia into the vast Divine Land of the Golden Crow.

"Constructing a divine land requires mythical logic. At the same time, it also needs a means for heaven and earth to spontaneously generate and cycle life. For example, in Linhe City, Lady Bai commanded Ning Qinshui to 'capture water,' connecting the ends of the Yellow Spring, which was one way to establish such a cyclical mechanism for heaven and earth."

As Ning Changjiu spoke, he led Lu Jiajia to a high vantage point, and together they looked down.

"In the past, I'd always wondered how to create an existence like the Mother Well of Embryo Spirits. I couldn't figure it out, but the complete Great Yin-Yang Ascension Rite gave me immense inspiration."

As Ning Changjiu spoke, his white robes caught the shifting shadows of starlight. He pointed to a certain spot and effortlessly drew a perfect circle, designating it as a well.

He continued, "Though a divine land also nurtures living beings, it is not a true world. The beings it cultivates focus more on 'spirit' than 'life,' so creating divine land beings doesn't require wind, rain, thunder, lightning, or billions of years of evolution. All it needs is a self-consistent logic constructed within the divine land itself."

"And the Great Yin-Yang Ascension Rite is precisely such a Daoist technique."

"I even believe this was one of the cornerstones of the ancient Solar Kingdom."

Ning Changjiu spoke these words with great solemnity, but Lu Jiajia, as a righteous immortal, still found the name "Joyous Union Sect" difficult to accept.

Ning Changjiu suddenly smiled with relief. "In any case, this will surely be our kingdom in the future. I will build a prosperous Solar Kingdom for you, but... it might require our combined efforts."

Lu Jiajia looked at the vast divine land, feeling a strong sense of belonging. As she gazed into Ning Changjiu's sincere eyes, her mood also relaxed.

"Mm-hm." She nodded with a faint smile.

Ning Changjiu descended into the circle he had drawn earlier.

He silently chanted Daoist incantations.

*Yang sustains Yin, male and female interdependent, Kan and Li paramount, light pervasive...*

The surrounding heaven and earth responded to him. An indescribable aura, like a gentle spring breeze, emerged. Two distinct yet complementary invisible entities floated in the air, slowly descending and enveloping his body. Wisps of smoke curled around his sleeves, resembling flood dragons leaping from a vast white sea.

Adorned with the brilliance of starlight, Ning Changjiu's white robes shone resplendently, as if he were a true deity.

He opened his eyes, and his serene gaze turned towards Lu Jiajia.

Lu Jiajia lightly landed beside him and also extended her hand.

Their palms met.

As the Daoist incantations of the Great Yin-Yang Ascension Rite were simultaneously cast, a profound aura, like the proud sun rising above the horizon, re-infused this desolate divine land with vitality.

The earthly ties were about to be severed, and the divine land finally began its reshaping.

There was no need for further words this night. They would jointly comprehend the wondrous technique until dawn.