Chapter 405: The Moon of Spring Scales

When Ning Changjiu emerged from the cave, the damp clouds swirling above the thousand peaks finally dissipated, and the forests and mountains turned clear. The Golden Crow's feathers were gilded with light, and it swept back and forth among the peaks, like a sword cutting at extreme speed.

The golden sword light finally stopped on Ning Changjiu's shoulder.

When Liu Junzhuo walked out of the cave, the desolate peak was vast and empty. She held a die in her hand, her fingertips repeatedly rubbing the engraved pips.

Liu Xiewan packed up the remaining natural treasures, securing them in a bundle, then casually popped a fruit into her mouth and walked over to her senior sister.

Liu Junzhuo looked at her and asked, "What are you doing? Why are you packing a bag?"

Liu Xiewan was startled. "We're done fighting, aren't we going home?"

"...Liu Junzhuo said helplessly, "Did your senior sister come here to fight?"

"Otherwise, what... to get beaten up?" Liu Xiewan was confused.

Liu Junzhuo blushed slightly, having thought of something. She tugged the girl's ear and said sternly, "The spiritual energy here is abundant. We came here to cultivate. Meeting Ning Changjiu was just an accident."

"Oh..." Liu Xiewan then remembered the main purpose. She worried, "But... after diligent study and hard practice, will Senior Sister be able to match him?"

Liu Junzhuo lowered her head and remained silent.

Liu Xiewan comforted her, "Senior Sister, don't be discouraged. Think about it... If Ning Changjiu is Hou Yi, he's shot down many suns. Yet, you've been 'shot' so many times and are still perfectly fine. This shows that you are absolutely no weaker than the ancient gods of the Beginning."

"...Liu Junzhuo whispered, "That's because he held back."

Liu Xiewan thought for a moment and said, "In any case, Second Senior Sister will definitely be the most powerful in the world in the future."

The word 'future' was quite subtle.

Liu Junzhuo's gaze softened as she gently embraced the petite, short-haired girl. "Junior Sister is also the best junior sister," she said.

Liu Xiewan nestled closer into her embrace. She felt that her senior sister seemed a little softer.

"Oh, right. About Master and Ning Changjiu... Senior Sister, have you thought it through?" Liu Xiewan asked cautiously.

"No," Liu Junzhuo gently shook her head.

Liu Xiewan's thoughts drifted.

After a long silence, Liu Junzhuo took her hand and sat down cross-legged. "Heaven and Earth are a game, and only those in high positions have the chance to stir up the winds and clouds. We are far from enough right now. Let's focus on our cultivation without distractions. Don't overthink things..."

Liu Xiewan obediently assented.

The woman and the girl sat facing each other.

The Golden Crow had consumed a large amount of spiritual energy, and now the surrounding spiritual energy surged back, filling the previous void. As a result, the mountain wind grew stronger. Liu Junzhuo sat cross-legged, her robes billowing with the long wind, puffing her up like a swollen balloon, as if she would ascend and depart upon achieving enlightenment. She sat there in tranquil self-forgetfulness, small pebbles she had won piled beside her.

Meanwhile, Ning Changjiu was already heading south, having passed through Qingzhou, the region he had come from.

He had not won his battle with Liu Junzhuo easily. Fortunately, after the fight, his swordsmanship had greatly benefited, showing a subtle tendency to advance another level. As he walked, he simulated the Sword Saint's moves, completely cleaving the barriers constructed in the air.

Wind swept across the plains, and the willows remained green.

By the time the gently sloping cliffs of the Southern Wilderness vanished from sight, and the beautiful landscapes of Nanzhou reappeared, it was already early September.

Ning Changjiu first returned to the village to check if Lord Bloodwing had been diligent in his duties. After confirming that everything was in order, he returned to the Yujian Heavenly Sect.

The Yujian Heavenly Sect was equally peaceful; nothing major had happened.

Everything was still as it had been years ago. If not for the moon rising every night to remind them, immersed in such beauty, they might easily forget about the apocalypse.

August passed peacefully; the Thunder Prison Star was not lit. This month, the constellation was supposed to pass precisely over the Spring Scale Star.

He couldn't be certain if the Dark Lord would light the Spring Scale Star.

Upon returning to Ringfall Mountain, Lu Jiajia was practicing her sword.

She sat on the jade platform in front of the grand hall, with stone-forged swords arranged nearby like petals. Lu Jiajia's expression was serene; her figure was slender, yet her curves were exquisitely graceful. With her black hair spread out quietly and the sword light reflecting on her robes, her exceptionally beautiful face combined with her profound cultivation created the perfect immortal maiden imagined by the world.

Ning Changjiu quietly ascended the jade platform.

Lu Jiajia, meditating, gently twirled her jade fingers, soft and delicate. The pure white sword light danced gracefully like a flock of cranes, soaring and descending, as if a beautiful immortal maiden in the clouds were scattering flowers from a basket.

As Ning Changjiu was admiring the sight, he saw the swords fly towards him, as if to strike.

Along with them, Lu Jiajia's lips curled slightly, her expression as cool as frost.

Ning Changjiu thought, 'This is bad,' and his figure was immediately enveloped by sword light. He moved swiftly, dodging within the sword light using the Ethereal Step. Just as he narrowly escaped the sword prison, a large sword lunged at him. Ning Changjiu retreated, and the large sword instantly dispersed like a school of fish, splitting into countless rays of sword light that shattered the void's subtle realm, once again encircling Ning Changjiu.

The white-robed young man, who had been so arrogant before Liu Junzhuo, now found himself struggling against this endless, pure sword intent, at one point being at a disadvantage while maneuvering and leaping through the air.

Ning Changjiu looked at Lu Jiajia's serene and beautiful immortal face, her graceful swan neck particularly dazzling in the sunlight.

He knew she was angry with him.

Ning Changjiu paused for a breath, activating the Sword Pavilion's Sea-Slaying Art. He cleaved a path through the surrounding sword light, his figure transforming into a streak of snowy brilliance that merged into the layers of sword energy. Just as he was about to break through, Lu Jiajia flicked her finger, sending forth another sword that slammed him back into the sword prison.

Ning Changjiu pursed his lips, activating his authority over time to freeze the sword prison's operation. He drew a door in front of him, breaking out of the void, covering several li in a single step, and approached Lu Jiajia.

Lu Jiajia's delicate brows furrowed slightly. Her jade hand formed lotus blossoms, and then she swept her joined fingers.

In an instant, everything beyond Lu Jiajia's arm's reach was filled with dazzling white sword light.

The sword spirit was one with her body; she sat within the heavens and earth, and the sword was one with the heavens and earth.

Ning Changjiu felt a headache coming on.

Why are the female sword immortals in this world more difficult to deal with one after another...

He wasn't incapable of breaking this Heaven-and-Earth Sword Prison, but there was no need. He simply gave up resisting, and with thousands of swords pressing against him, he stood perfectly straight and said, "Even though I returned a few days late, Jiajia, you don't have to greet me with such a display, do you?"

Lu Jiajia scoffed softly and quietly asked, "What sword art did you just use? How come I've never seen it before?"

Ning Changjiu was slightly startled. He had recently been studying the Sword Pavilion's sword arts and had unintentionally used one.

"Hmm... this is my..." Ning Changjiu pondered for a moment.

"Don't make things up. I recognize that sword," Lu Jiajia said, opening her autumn-water eyes, which shimmered with spiritual light. She looked at Ning Changjiu and asked, "That's Liu Junzhuo's sword art, isn't it?"

Ning Changjiu suddenly remembered that Jiajia had exchanged swords with Liu Junzhuo.

"Jiajia has discerning eyes and is as clever as ice and snow," Ning Changjiu said, choosing to confess openly.

He told her about the events of the past few days. As Lu Jiajia listened, her brow furrowed slightly, but her expression softened.

"If I hadn't recognized that sword, would you have tried to deceive me again?" Lu Jiajia asked coolly.

Ning Changjiu said, "I just didn't want Jiajia to worry about me."

Lu Jiajia did not comment on that. She merely asked curiously, "Is Liu Junzhuo no longer your match?"

Ning Changjiu said, "It was merely a matter of seizing the initiative with four surprise arrows... If we had faced each other head-on from the start, I might not have been her match."

"Why didn't you send me a sword message?" Lu Jiajia understood the reason as soon as she spoke: sending a sword message and her then traveling there would take at least seven days. Not to mention whether Liu Junzhuo would depart early, her master's matter could not be delayed either.

Just as Ning Changjiu was about to explain, Lu Jiajia said, "Alright, just explain things clearly to me in future sword messages. Being secretive only makes me worry."

Ning Changjiu nodded with a smile. "Yes, I understand. Master, please retract your divine abilities first."

Lu Jiajia glared at him and, with a thought, withdrew the Heaven-and-Earth Sword Prison.

"If you ever dare to deceive me again, the sect's rules will show no mercy," Lu Jiajia said as she slowly stood up, issuing a warning. She then added, "I haven't met that Miss Liu Xiewan yet. If we return earlier, perhaps we can meet her."

Ning Changjiu said, "The Sword Scripture itself is the Yujian Heavenly Sect's treasured guardian of the mountain. She is one of our sect."

Lu Jiajia recalled past events and said, "Yes, she used Yan Zhou as her protector and hid in the scripture pavilion for so many years, making it hard for us to find her."

"Yan Zhou..." Ning Changjiu's heart stirred.

He couldn't sever his ties to the Yujian Heavenly Sect precisely because he felt indebted to Yan Zhou, who had no descendants. He couldn't repay this debt, but Liu Xiewan... Ning Changjiu's thoughts stirred. He suddenly realized that Liu Xiewan had been inadvertently released by Yan Zhou, and before Yan Zhou died, he had entrusted Ning Changjiu to take good care of the Sword Scripture's spirit.

At that time, his expression was like an old man entrusting his granddaughter to him.

So that's how it is...

Ning Changjiu suddenly smiled.

Fate truly is ingenious; it had already drawn the circle perfectly, amidst countless inadvertent moments.

"What's wrong?" Lu Jiajia asked, seeing his subtle expression.

"Nothing," Ning Changjiu said with a faint smile. He asked, "Where is Xiaoli? Her master has returned, and she didn't even come out to greet him?"

Lu Jiajia took out a pear and handed it to him, smiling. "Xiaoli has been in seclusion recently. She wanted me to give you this. She said that seeing the pear is like seeing her."

"Uh..." Ning Changjiu took the small, exquisite pear, which had a cute smiley face drawn on it with a pen.

The two walked back together to the massive hall at Ringfall Mountain.

"How is the spiritual energy collection going?" Lu Jiajia asked.

Ning Changjiu nodded. "It's enough for what the divine kingdom needs."

Lu Jiajia placed a finger to her lips, thought for a moment, and asked, "Roughly how long will it take to construct the Primordial Spirit Mother Well and complete the rudimentary form of divine logic?"

Ning Changjiu said, "One month."

"One month..."

Time seemed even tighter than expected.

Lu Jiajia involuntarily gazed northwards.

When she parted with Siming, they had agreed that Siming would send her a sword message with any news. But in the blink of an eye, two months had passed without a single message... She couldn't help but feel worried.

Ning Changjiu knew what she was thinking and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, gently comforting her with a few words.

Neither of them dared to delay, and they quickly returned to the depths of the grand hall.

The Golden Crow flew out, and they entered the divine kingdom.

Before the Primordial Spirit Well, Lu Jiajia looked at the deep well and suddenly asked, "If you were to directly use me as a cultivation vessel, could your cultivation speed be faster?"

Ning Changjiu stared at her in astonishment, wondering why she would suddenly ask such a thing.

Lu Jiajia lowered her immortal head slightly, her voice cool and faint: "I have no divine past life, nor truly astonishing aptitude. If heaven and earth overturn in the future, I fear I won't be able to do more... So, if I can help you faster, you don't need to pity me."

Ning Changjiu couldn't help but laugh, saying, "Do you really think I'm a cult leader? Jiajia, don't let your imagination run wild. Not only would that harm you greatly, it would also imbalance the yin and yang energies here, making it counterproductive."

"Is that so..." Lu Jiajia pondered for a moment, then self-deprecatingly said, "Thinking about how the days are getting closer and seeing you not return for so long, I can't help but feel restless lately."

Ning Changjiu said with a serious expression, "We were indeed too exhausted the past few days. But precisely because of that, we must not seek quick success. Jiajia, you must not underestimate yourself. A lack of mental energy can still be compensated, but if your will is not firm, you might invite inner demons to arise."

Lu Jiajia composed herself and said, "Yes, my husband is right."

Ning Changjiu's expression softened. He took her hand and said, "Don't say such things again from now on, or forging swords will be inevitable."

Lu Jiajia pretended not to hear him and said, "Alright, let's not waste time. Once the divine kingdom is forged, we should return to Middle-earth soon. Xiaoling is still waiting for us at the Ancient Spirit Sect."

"Xiaoling..." Ning Changjiu responded.

He wondered if Xiaoling could manage such a vast Ancient Spirit Sect all by herself.

The Ancient Spirit Sect was, for the most part, still peaceful.

The Underworld Divine Kingdom lay hidden beneath the Ancient Spirit Sect. Ning Xiaoling, wearing a pure white Daoist dress with its sash tied, sat slender and petite on the vast throne. She watched everything happening in the Ancient Spirit Sect with a calm expression. When alone, the young girl appeared composed and majestic.

She was like a true Underworld Lord, sitting in the vast and ancient realm, having inherited the ancient bloodline and crown passed down for four millennia.

The Fish King sat on the side seat to her left, curled up and napping.

Jiuyou, the true heir to the Underworld Lord, meanwhile, walked back and forth in the hall, holding up her elaborate, elegant gown. She didn't feel there would be any difference whether she became the Underworld Lord or not, and was instead enjoying the current ease. Her only wish was to see the outside world someday.

"Still writing poetry?" The Fish King opened its eyes and glanced at Jiuyou.

Jiuyou nodded. "Yes, I'm very diligent!"

The Fish King sighed. If it weren't truly bored, it really wouldn't want to chat with Jiuyou.

"What are you writing now?" The Fish King asked.

"It's an elegy this time," Jiuyou said, her gaze revealing sorrow.

"An elegy? For whom?"

"The Old Underworld Lord."

"...You're truly filial."

"Of course! That day is forever etched in my underworld memory," Jiuyou said, unfolding her poem. "Do you want me to read it to you? 'The late Lord passed away and returned to hell, thankfully his bloodline continues...'"

"Stop, stop, stop!" The Fish King couldn't bear to listen, repeatedly interrupting.

Jiuyou pouted, her dark and splendid gown flowing, and looked at Ning Xiaoling with a wronged expression.

Ning Xiaoling gently opened her eyes. She looked at the girl and said in a clear, soft voice, "I'm listening. It's well-written."

Jiuyou brightened up. "Sister Xiaoling's underworld eyes are truly discerning!"

Ning Xiaoling pursed her lips, her smile faint.

Sister Siming had visited her before leaving, informing her of everything that might happen in the future and instructing her to properly integrate the Underworld Kingdom and prepare in advance.

For the past two months, Ning Xiaoling had diligently adapted to the Underworld Kingdom. She gradually swept away the lingering remnants of the apocalypse from the Underworld Kingdom, restoring peace and clarity to the realm. The spirits in the Underworld Kingdom, once oppressed by calamities and diseases, were finally no longer twisted. The sects that had originally sought to escape the Sea of Darkness disintegrated one after another; the former Regicide Sect had now become a vanguard supporting the Underworld Lord.

However, these changes were limited to the Underworld Kingdom.

Ning Xiaoling had to issue decrees to govern the Underworld Kingdom while also using its divine powers to monitor the Ancient Spirit Sect, checking for any intruders.

These tasks were already very taxing on her energy, and now September had arrived.

"You seem particularly tired lately," the Fish King observed, noticing the pallor on Ning Xiaoling's face.

Ning Xiaoling nodded gently and explained, "Because in September, we will pass by the Spring Scale Star, and the Dark Lord is very likely to light it up. What Spring Scale governs is similar to the Underworld Kingdom, so it might become very troublesome then."

"Spring Scale..." Jiuyou had some impression of it.

Ancient texts said that Spring Scale was once an ancient serpent formed from the convergence of underground demons. It crawled out from the depths of the earth's core, passed through layers of magma and earth, broke into the netherworld, and became powerful after devouring vast amounts of netherworld energy. After several battles, it became a deity, finally acquiring its divine position in the divine wars.

In the Primordial Divine War, the Underworld Lord's power was greatly diminished, gradually becoming inferior to the other Primordial Deities, precisely because Spring Scale had accidentally broken into the netherworld and seized its netherworld energy.

"I heard she's one of only three female deities among the twelve Divine Kingdom Lords," Jiuyou said. "They say she's incredibly enchanting and beautiful; merely a glance can drive one to madness."

Ning Xiaoling didn't care about that. If possible, she hoped never to meet her before her divine position was consolidated.

The Fish King sighed. "After the Underworld Lord died, the character '冥' (underworld) was taken by Mingzheng, and the character '君' (lord) by Yuanjun. For many months this year, these were blood feuds etched into the calendar."

Jiuyou nodded in profound agreement.

"Being the Underworld Lord is really dangerous, good thing I yielded early..."

The Fish King lazily said, "Is this 'underworld foresight'?"

Jiuyou's eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands. "General Ditian truly understands!"

"If I stay here too long, you'll lead me astray..." The Fish King lay sprawled on the throne, sighed, and said faintly, "I wonder who is more troublesome, Mingzheng or Yuanjun."

Jiuyou pondered, "It should be Mingzheng!"

"Why?" The Fish King thought she knew some insider information.

Jiuyou stated confidently, "As the saying goes, 'Ming is noble, Jun is light,' so whoever got the 'Ming' character should be stronger."

"...I shouldn't have had any hope for you," the Fish King groaned. It thought silently, *By rights, Jiuyou should be a walking history book, yet why do I get no useful information from conversing with her?*

As Ning Xiaoling listened to their conversation, her taut nerves relaxed somewhat. She pursed her pink lips, her smile gentle.

After the Fish King and Jiuyou debated for a while, silence returned to the hall.

Ning Xiaoling's smile also faded.

"On November fifteenth, the celestial dog will devour the moon," Ning Xiaoling said calmly. "Before then, I absolutely will not allow the Spring Scale Star to light up. After that, if the Yuanjun Star lights up, I will work with Senior Brother to reclaim the character 'Jun'."

She spoke as if making an oath.

The Fish King looked at Ning Xiaoling's face, knowing that although this young girl was lively and obedient in front of her senior sisters, her heart had long become calm and serious since her time in the Ancient White Snake Hall.

"How can you prevent the Spring Scale Star from being lit?" the Fish King asked.

Ning Xiaoling lowered her head, a hint of guilt in her voice: "Although the Underworld Lord's Hall is underground, the divine kingdom's space-time is complex and chaotic. For example, the back of the Underworld Lord's Hall actually connects to the Sea of Ruins. The Sea of Ruins is where the previous Sea of Reincarnation was located. Sister Siming told me that many years ago, Senior Brother came to the human realm through the Sea of Reincarnation... This year, Master is presiding over the heavens, so the world's barrier might be weaker. I'm wondering if I can control the entire divine kingdom as a vessel to break out and collide with the Spring Scale Star."

The Fish King looked at her, utterly calm as she spoke of such a wild, suicidal plan, and felt a slight chill down its spine.

Jiuyou also paused her literary creation and looked up at Ning Xiaoling in horror.

Ning Xiaoling immediately added, "Don't worry, before that, I'll find a way to send you all out first."

The Fish King shook its head. "This plan is absolutely not feasible."

"Even the Candle Dragon couldn't break through the sky back then; how could our fractured Underworld Kingdom get out? Moreover, that immensely powerful Monastery Lord is still around. If you act rashly, you might disrupt her original plans."

The Fish King said earnestly.

Ning Xiaoling rubbed her head. "Hmm, I know my limits... I'm only considering it as a last resort."

Jiuyou looked at her pale cheeks and the faint blue veins on her neck, saying worriedly, "Sister Xiaoling, you should get more rest. Even ghosts need to sleep... How about I read some poetry to help you sleep?"

Ning Xiaoling softly assented, surprisingly agreeing.

Jiuyou was overjoyed and picked up her poetry manuscript to read.

The Fish King, sensing the situation, plugged its ears.

Ning Xiaoling gently caressed the characters carved on her right side, softly murmuring, "I am Senior Brother's junior sister, Master's disciple. I am Ning Xiaoling, the Underworld Lord..."

East of the Ancient Spirit Sect lay the Ethereal Tower.

The Ethereal Tower was located near the Southern Abyss, a remote area that had seen no major activity for a millennium.

Yu Qing sat by the Southern Abyss, watching the undulating iron-black water surface, where fish occasionally surged up from below.

Yu Qing was a Daoist nun, the leader of the Middle-earth Daoist sect, and in the eyes of the world, an ethereal Grand Immortal. But now, this female Daoist immortal, at the pinnacle of the Five Paths, spent her days facing the Southern Abyss, her face filled with sorrow.

She still remembered her visit to the Ancient Spirit Sect.

When that exquisitely beautiful woman named Siming stood before her, a sense of trepidation arose for the first time in her Daoist heart, which had always been as still as an ancient well.

She knew she was no match for the other party.

So she followed her intuition, left the Ancient Spirit Sect, and returned to the Southern Abyss.

Before the great storm, latent dragons would emerge from their waters... This should have been a common occurrence; she only needed to guard the Ethereal Tower alone in her secluded corner. But lately, her mind had been restless.

As she looked at the Southern Abyss, which had been unchanged for ages, she always felt a sense of strangeness, sensing that something was hidden within it that even she could not perceive.

And faintly, clouds and rain from all directions were converging here.

She sighed and tucked the letter she had read earlier into her sleeve.

The letter was brief, but its contents were significant. It stated that the Sword Saint had appeared in the Northern Abyss, ridden a Kunpeng straight up into the sky, and vanished without a trace.

What was the Sword Saint's purpose? Was it merely to escape? Where would he go?

Numerous questions flashed through her mind.

Yu Qing slowly rose, softly chanting a prophecy: "The ancient Kun carries a sword, seeking its old abode; the divine turtle bears a continent, returning to the raging sea..."

The strong wind howled, and the waters of the Southern Abyss crashed against the shore, shattering into countless fragments.