Chapter 399: South Wilderness

That night, a fierce wind howled all night long over the peaks of Huanpu Mountain.

Across the sky, waves of blue-grey clouds swept past. From the distant temple, the wind sounded like a mournful flute, echoing mysteriously and profoundly. Leaves rustled, grass flattened, and then heavy rain poured down once more, throwing heaven and earth into disarray amidst the wind and rain.

Shao Xiaoli clutched the wooden token of an inner disciple of the Hehuan Sect as if it were a precious treasure. She stood outside the main hall, sitting on the steps sheltered by the eaves, gazing out at the dim world where endless rain fell. The muggy summer air enveloped her, and occasionally, cool wisps of rain brushed her face.

Hours earlier, she had confessed her wish to Ning Changjiu, and he had agreed to take her as his disciple.

Shao Xiaoli felt a strange sensation. When she used to call him "boss," there was a sense of wild camaraderie, like sworn brothers of the mountain. But after calling him "master," a lock of respect and hierarchy settled in her heart. Sitting alone on the long steps, watching the rain with no one around, she found herself unconsciously becoming more demure.

The young girl ate small bites of a pear, feeling the spiritual energy flowing in with the wind and rain.

She sat alone for a long time.

After midnight, the hall door quietly opened, and Ning Changjiu emerged. He took a white robe and draped it over her shoulders.

Shao Xiaoli was slow to realize. She gathered the robe around her and smiled, asking, "Master, do you not only prefer master-disciple relationships but also white robes?"

Ning Changjiu ruffled her hair. "I was afraid you'd get cold."

The white robe was very flexible, and Shao Xiaoli’s rather petite body completely curled up inside it. She took out the pear, offered a piece to Ning Changjiu, and they ate together.

Ning Changjiu’s complexion was slightly pale. The Three-legged Golden Crow flew out, landing on his shoulder, and watched the rain with them.

"We used to be your clan," Shao Xiaoli suddenly said. She had acquired those memories and recounted, "After you died, our tribe began to flee. After several migrations, we were on the verge of extinction. It was then that Master returned to the human world, slew Yuanfu, and settled our depleted tribe in Duanjie City, allowing it to continue to this day."

Ning Changjiu nodded gently. When he first arrived in Duanjie City, he had felt a trace of a blood connection but had never thought in that direction.

"It was my fault for not being able to protect you back then," Ning Changjiu said.

In his memories of several past lives, he had died very early. Each time he began to show promise, a projection of Yuanfu would appear and slay him.

Compared to those, this life, though full of twists and turns, was already quite fortunate.

Shao Xiaoli smiled faintly and said, "Master, you've also been trying to recall your past memories recently, haven't you?"

"Yes, constructing a mythical logic requires true history," Ning Changjiu replied.

"History…" Shao Xiaoli mused, "When we were ancient immortals, we were incredibly powerful. If we could return to our peak now, what would we have to fear from the Lord of the Divine Kingdom?"

Ning Changjiu hummed in agreement. The primordial ancient immortals at their peak, like Nuwa and Pangu, had created countless incredible myths. If humanity could ascend to that height again, not only would the projections of the Divine Kingdom's Lord be powerless against them, but together, they might even be able to destroy the seemingly invincible Divine Kingdom.

"Unfortunately, we can never go back," Ning Changjiu said.

Shao Xiaoli asked, puzzled, "Why can't we go back? We were human then, and we are human now. What exactly is missing?"

Ning Changjiu extended his hand, feeling the spiritual energy flowing through his fingertips, and said, "For years, the Dark Lord has ceaselessly plundered the spiritual energy of the human world. This energy is gone forever, and the world's spiritual energy is becoming increasingly sparse. Cultivators may also become weaker and weaker."

Shao Xiaoli spread her fingers against the curtain of rain, the night divided into eight fragments between them.

"Really? Is such vast spiritual energy not enough to support a single cultivator in the third stage of the Legendary realm?" Shao Xiaoli asked.

Ning Changjiu was silent for a long time before saying, "I'm not sure. Spiritual energy scarcity is a common view in the world, but actually… it doesn't quite convince me."

He stood up, watching the water cascading from the eaves.

After he and Lu Jiajia returned to the peak, the spiritual energy in Yujian Tianzong became increasingly abundant—enough to support another cultivator at the Five Paths realm. So why had True Immortal Hanchi been unable to break through for sixty years, eventually resorting to evil ways?

Although the Dark Lord continuously plundered spiritual energy, spiritual energy was the largest resource, and it might not be exhausted even after thousands of years of mining. However, before that, the Dark Lord might directly infiltrate this realm, no longer needing Divine Lords or Innate Spirits, and devour the spiritual energy greedily himself.

Though spiritual energy was becoming scarcer, this world had countless desolate mountains and wilderness, making it generally vast with sparse population. Why then couldn't it nurture a truly great cultivator or demon?

Plants flourished, and all spirits thrived, so why were only humans and demons declining?

There must be a deeper secret hidden within this.

Ning Changjiu couldn't find an answer for now.

As both pondered the question, the rain gradually subsided.

Lu Jiajia emerged from the hall, cloaked in a white robe, her demeanor elegant.

"Still not back after so long? Are you having a private lesson?" Lu Jiajia asked with a soft laugh.

Shao Xiaoli reacted quickly, immediately pulling out a pear and saying, "Mistress, have a pear."

Lu Jiajia took the pear and sat down beside Shao Xiaoli.

Ning Changjiu chuckled, "Does Jiajia, my disciple, want to listen in too?"

"This master has no such interest," Lu Jiajia said coolly.

Shao Xiaoli, however, let out a surprised sound and teased, "By rights, I was Master's first personal disciple, even in Duanjie City, so I guess I'm Jiajia's senior sister, aren't I?"

Lu Jiajia turned her head, staring at her profoundly. "Senior sister?"

"No! I was just joking, Sister Jiajia!" Shao Xiaoli immediately took the hint and declared firmly.

Lu Jiajia nodded gently. She ruffled the young girl's head and said "Good girl" with a smile.

Ning Changjiu looked at the graceful figure of the immortal and smiled, "Jiajia, after breaking into the Five Paths realm, you've certainly become tougher."

The little sword immortal who was once bullied by the great villainess Xueci now seemed to be on the verge of becoming a new formidable force herself.

Lu Jiajia scoffed, "Do you have an opinion?"

"I wouldn't dare," Ning Changjiu replied. Then he added, "Oh, by the way, I haven't asked you, Jiajia, what authority did you gain after breaking into the Five Paths realm?"

Lu Jiajia's eyelashes fluttered as she pondered for a moment. "After entering the Five Paths, I realized that the sword-spirit unity itself was a fragment of authority…"

With that, Lu Jiajia raised her hand.

The fierce wind and gentle rain that had blown all night abruptly ceased.

A majestic sword qi surged forth like a mountain cry and ocean roar in the misty, rainy night. Raindrops, tree leaves, everything visible transformed into swords as Lu Jiajia raised her hand. Huanpu Mountain, at that moment, was like a royal court, and a sword empress had descended upon the rainy night, with all myriad phenomena bowing before her.

Lu Jiajia flipped her hand over.

Thousands of raindrops, like flying swords, swirled upwards, soaring into the infinitely distant clouds.

Lu Jiajia hadn't gained new power, but after the sword-spirit unity was reshaped, its might was incomparable. She even felt confident that she could, in a single thought, mobilize all the swords and metal objects in the entire Yujian Tianzong. If her spiritual energy were more abundant, she could even assimilate mountains into swords, lifting all four peaks from the ground simultaneously.

Shao Xiaoli snapped back to reality in terror. For a moment, she had felt as if she were in a mountain of blades and a sea of swords. She quietly thought to herself, *I must never provoke Mistress in the future…*

Ning Changjiu was also somewhat surprised. He chuckled, "The eighty-one immortal swords I forged back then seem stronger than I imagined."

"Is that so?" Lu Jiajia stared at Ning Changjiu.

Ning Changjiu quickly corrected himself, "Of course, without Jiajia's diligence and effort, such power to 'carry Mount Tai over the North Sea' would be impossible."

Lu Jiajia smiled, looking at the night sky. "It's still largely thanks to Master's sword heart…"

"Sword heart?"

"Yes…" Lu Jiajia then recounted her third sword trial with Liu Junzhuo to him.

Ning Changjiu couldn't help but recall the scene when facing the Golden-Winged Great Peng, how he and Zhao Xiang'er recited their wedding vows in a dream. All the timing was perfect, all within his master's calculations.

"That Liu Junzhuo, relying on her cultivation, was so heavy-handed. When we go to war with the Sword Pavilion in the future, I will definitely avenge Jiajia," Ning Changjiu declared with conviction.

Lu Jiajia said, "No matter what, Liu Junzhuo is at the peak of the Five Paths. You've only just entered the Five Paths. Can you really be her match?"

Ning Changjiu said confidently, "Among sword wielders in the human world, none are my rivals."

"Hmm?" Lu Jiajia's spiritual eyes narrowed.

Shao Xiaoli quickly added for him, "Sister Jiajia is a celestial immortal."

The three chuckled softly for a while, chatting as they returned to the hall.

After Ning Changjiu and Lu Jiajia finished resting, they returned to their rooms to cultivate, beginning to carve out the Fetal Spirit Well within the Golden Crow Divine Kingdom. Shao Xiaoli sat cross-legged in the main hall, also cultivating rapidly. Her cultivation had been suppressed for too long in Duanjie City, and now she was breaking through levels continuously, making swift progress.

However, this miraculous speed still did not satisfy Shao Xiaoli.

She knew that only by breaking into the Five Paths realm could she have even a slight influence on the future trajectory of the world.

This was a rare, peaceful August.

Over the next half-month, the three of them did not leave Huanpu Mountain.

Ning Changjiu and Lu Jiajia busily constructed the Golden Crow Divine Kingdom. The Fetal Spirit Well was taking shape, and the positions for the five mythical pillars of logic were also set. Discussions about the mythical nodes continued.

"The central divine pillar should be the legend of shooting down the suns," Lu Jiajia said. "This is known throughout the world and should serve as the absolute foundation."

Ning Changjiu had no objection. "I came to the human world from the Ancient Sun Kingdom through the Sea of Reincarnation. This is the initial node, but for the current world, it's 'outside of history.' Even Baizang doesn't know that Heng'e was once Chang Xi. So… shooting down the suns should be the midpoint, but choosing the major events before and after is difficult."

Lu Jiajia asked, "Then what do you consider to be the initial point 'within history'?"

Ning Changjiu fell into contemplation.

The establishment of mythical logic had to be rigorous, but rigor didn't mean delay. With only three and a half months until the lunar eclipse, he had to make a decision.

"What if I weren't a god, but an ordinary person?" Ning Changjiu said.

"What?" Lu Jiajia didn't understand immediately.

Ning Changjiu explained, "If an ordinary person were asked to choose the most important nodes in their life, what would they choose?"

Lu Jiajia thought for a while.

"Birth, marriage and children, death…" she said, thinking that every day of life was important, but these were generally universal nodes.

Ning Changjiu nodded. "Then let's do that."

He raised his hand and gently placed it within the Golden Crow Divine Kingdom.

In that village back then, he and Heng'e were born on the same day. All the villagers came, their expressions solemn, as if witnessing an incredibly sacred event.

At fourteen, he and Heng'e completed their wedding. He wasn't sure if they consummated the marriage that night, but the next day, they left the village together, swords on their backs, heading into the human world.

They had no children.

So, according to Lu Jiajia's suggestion, the third scene was Hou Yi shooting down nine suns, followed by the golden crows submitting.

The fourth scene was his death at the hands of Yuanfu, a fact known to many ancient beings.

Memories transformed into vivid scenes. Yuanfu's shadow was indescribable; Lu Jiajia saw only Ning Changjiu, bathed in blood, leaning on his blade within a pillar of light, his soul scattering alone in the wind.

"The last scene…"

Ning Changjiu raised his hand.

Lu Jiajia looked in the direction he pointed, and a pillar of light rose from the ground. Within the light, the scene was oppressive and solemn.

Ning Xiaoling lay on the ground, her hair spread out, faint blood vessels crawling across her pale cheeks. Ning Qinshui, turned into a corpse demon, roared in the hall, crawling towards the boy and girl. The sky was high and the moon distant, and Lady Bai's spirit was hidden outside the hall, peering through a candle stand.

The hall was dim, candlelight flickering wildly, but the boy, who should have been unconscious, opened his eyes.

Watching this scene, Lu Jiajia trembled slightly. At that time, she had not yet left the Sword Sect in her green sedan chair, yet all destinies had quietly begun to unfold in the imperial city a thousand miles away.

Ning Changjiu lowered his arm, his sea of memories seemingly drained, his breathing becoming shallow.

Lu Jiajia grasped his hand, gently输送 spiritual energy, and said, "Rest well today. You haven't had proper sleep in half a month."

Ning Changjiu shook his head, weakly saying, "It's nothing, I'm fine."

The five pillars of light gradually extinguished. What Ning Changjiu had just imbued were only preliminary drafts; he needed time and energy to inject more details and make them complete.

After speaking, Ning Changjiu gently leaned against Lu Jiajia and fell asleep.

Lu Jiajia held him, feeling immensely tired herself. For the past half-month, they had cultivated day and night, their minds constantly stimulated, almost losing the capacity for joy, becoming indifferent like gods.

She held Ning Changjiu, looking at the nascent form of the Fetal Spirit Well, a gentle expression on her face.

It was an abyss located at the edge of the Golden Crow Divine Kingdom.

Yin and yang energy swirled within the abyss, intertwining and ceaselessly circulating under the fundamental logic of the Great Yin-Yang Ceremony. The spiritual energy of the entire Golden Crow Divine Kingdom flowed into it, forming 'spirits' supported by the unique laws of the divine kingdom.

These 'spirits' quickly shattered like bubbles after appearing, returning to the mother well. Once the mother well was fully constructed, they would become the unique life forms of the divine kingdom.

Simultaneously, this fragmented Golden Crow Divine Kingdom gradually became ordered.

Lu Jiajia watched the many changes, feeling as though she was weaving a home with her own hands.

In the days to come, they would also need to recreate sacred images, temples, and gather the scattered sparks to form the sun.

She sat in this still simple divine kingdom, smiling softly, and unconsciously drifted into slumber.

When he woke, Ning Changjiu was still somewhat disoriented.

He suppressed the fatigue in his body, carried Lu Jiajia out of the Golden Crow Divine Kingdom, and settled her on the bed in the Sect Master's hall. He tucked in the covers and placed a plush doll made of fleece in her arms. Ning Changjiu quietly pushed open the hall door and saw Shao Xiaoli concentrating on her meditation, spiritual energy circulating throughout her body.

Ning Changjiu did not disturb her. He watched carefully for a while, and only after confirming she hadn't made any mistakes due to eagerness did he relax slightly.

After Shao Xiaoli finished her cultivation, she turned to Ning Changjiu and smiled faintly, "Master hasn't visited your disciple for days. Even a lazy emperor knows to attend court occasionally."

Ning Changjiu said remorsefully, "I was truly occupied."

Shao Xiaoli looked at his bloodless lips and said, "Master, you must moderate yourself. Don't overwork yourself."

"Yes, thank you for your concern, Xiaoli."

"Master, when will you teach me the inner sect techniques?"

"When do you want to learn?"

"Hmm…" Shao Xiaoli looked at his face, then hesitated before saying, "Let's wait until Master is done being busy."

As she spoke, she grabbed a pear and, in a few breaths, demonstrated seventy-six sword techniques, cleanly peeling the pear. She cut it in half and offered one half to Ning Changjiu.

Ning Changjiu took it. The moist pear touched his chapped lips, and the juice gently flowed into his mouth.

"Is it good?" Shao Xiaoli asked expectantly. This was the only small, insignificant thing she could do.

Ning Changjiu smiled, "This little pear is delicious."

Shao Xiaoli's pretty face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head, taking a bite herself.

Lu Jiajia woke up not long after. She wore a snowy white robe, held the plush doll, and her waist-length hair was disheveled. Her sleepy eyes were still a little red.

She walked over to them, her words a bit slurred, "Are you two secretly eating again?"

Ning Changjiu handed his half-eaten pear to Lu Jiajia. "Jiajia, you eat too."

Lu Jiajia looked at him for a moment, then threw the plush doll at him. Shao Xiaoli quickly went to peel another pear.

The three sat together. Lu Jiajia leaned against the chair back, retrieved the doll, and placed it on her lap. She rubbed her temples, gradually recovering her spirits.

"In a couple of days, I'll need to go to the Southern Wilderness," Ning Changjiu said, his hoarse voice a little better after eating the pear.

Shao Xiaoli asked, "The Southern Wilderness is so dangerous, why go there?"

Lu Jiajia explained, "The Golden Crow Divine Kingdom doesn't have enough spiritual energy. Extensively absorbing spiritual energy from Yujian Tianzong would affect it too much. The Southern Wilderness was recently freed from a curse, and many uninhabited areas have countless spiritual energies that the Divine Kingdom can absorb."

Shao Xiaoli understood, nodded, and asked, "Then, Master, do you need your disciple to accompany you to the Southern Wilderness?"

Ning Changjiu shook his head. "No need. You two rest well in the sect. I'll return as early as possible."

Lu Jiajia nodded in agreement, not insisting on accompanying him. She was very familiar with the Southern Wilderness and knew that although there were many exotic beasts, the area was heavily polluted, and their cultivation levels were lower. At this point, Ning Changjiu traveling in the Southern Wilderness shouldn't be a problem.

"Go early and return early. If you're delayed along the way, remember to send a sword-letter to inform me. The news last time came from an elder who escaped from the Hehuan Sect. If it happens again, this master will punish you severely without mercy," Lu Jiajia instructed sternly, her arms crossed.

Shao Xiaoli looked at her, thinking, *Mistress is really fierce…*

"Yes, this master obeys," Ning Changjiu replied with a smile.

On a small riverside street in Southern State during summer, willow trees swayed like smoke.

Liu Xiwang peeled a pear and handed it to Zhou Zhenyue, saying, "Senior Sister, have a pear."

Zhou Zhenyue still coughed frequently.

In the battle at Tianhu Peak, her Qi Sea had been pierced by Siming's sword. Even now, though much recovered, she remained stuck at the initial stage of the Five Paths realm, unable to fall or ascend.

To her, this was like being crippled.

Liu Junzhuo sat by the window, cultivating her sword dao, using her body as a miniature world, gathering qi and concentrating her spirit.

Her sword heart, ironically, had become even stronger and more resolute after numerous tribulations, showing signs of advancing further.

Liu Xiwang looked at her second senior sister's profile, often lost in thought. It wasn't because of her second senior sister's heroic spirit and beauty, but because she often thought of the enmity between the Sword Pavilion and Ning Changjiu. Although she had sworn to her senior sisters that her loyalty lay solely with the Sword Pavilion, she knew in her heart that her sword heart had never been firm.

She loved her second senior sister, and similarly, she could never truly be enemies with Ning Changjiu. Both were people who had treated her very well. These should have been two sources of happiness, but now they were on opposing sides, causing her deep worry.

Liu Xiwang's inner thoughts, in front of her second senior sister, were actually not hidden at all.

Many times, Liu Junzhuo essentially accepted that she had a little traitor by her side.

But she was also powerless. This was her first disciple, into whom she had poured much effort. She would give her the freedom and opportunity to choose, but if she chose to stand against her, she would consider their sisterly bond severed and show no further mercy.

Liu Junzhuo finished nurturing her sword embryo. She looked out the window at the gently swaying willows, her sword heart serene.

"Junior Sister, you don't need to take care of me here. It delays your cultivation too much," Zhou Zhenyue suddenly said seriously.

Liu Junzhuo turned her head, looking at her senior sister's graceful yet pale face, and said, "It's no delay. Although this place is not as good as the Sword Pavilion's grotto-heaven, it is a quiet place, perfect for cultivation. If there were no other ties, it wouldn't be impossible for me to grow old here with Senior Sister and Junior Sister."

Liu Xiwang listened and nodded along, her short hair swaying.

Zhou Zhenyue lowered her head, biting her lip, her sword-like brows gaining a sharper glint. "We are not recluses; we are only temporarily staying here. Our great revenge is unfulfilled, our grand plan not yet complete, and Master is still stranded in the North Sea. *Cough cough*… This place may have good scenery, but we are sword cultivators, not sightseers… The spiritual energy here is too sparse, Junzhuo. If you continue cultivating like this, you will only hinder yourself."

Liu Junzhuo lowered her head slightly. She sat by the bed, the Xuan paper and her fair neck both illuminated as brightly as snow.

In the past, when she was punished by her senior sister, she often thought that if her cultivation ever surpassed hers, she would definitely get revenge. But now, though her cultivation far exceeded her senior sister's, she remained humble.

Liu Junzhuo said softly, "Senior Sister's lesson is right, but…"

Liu Xiwang volunteered, "I'll take care of Senior Sister."

"Your cultivation is even lower than Senior Sister's…" Liu Junzhuo sighed.

"Uh… then we'll depend on each other," Liu Xiwang said weakly.

Liu Junzhuo wasn't too worried about their safety. She had been in Southern State for several months, having surveyed thousands of miles around with her sword, and hadn't found any strong enemies.

"But if I am to leave, where should I go?" Liu Junzhuo asked.

Zhou Zhenyue said, "Go wherever spiritual energy is abundant."

Liu Junzhuo naturally understood this principle.

She looked into her senior sister's eyes. They gazed at each other for a moment, and both found their answer.

"The center of Southern State is a barren wilderness, untouched for hundreds of years, with abundant spiritual energy and perhaps even scattered opportunities. Junior Sister can go there to open a cave dwelling and enter secluded cultivation. When Master returns from his journey across the North Sea, and the sword command is issued, then you can return," Zhou Zhenyue said.

Liu Junzhuo pondered for a long time, her heart filled with resolve. "Yes, Junior Sister obeys."