Chapter 427: Will Depart

Ye Changong could no longer remember how she felt the first time she broke free from the gray soil and gazed upon that cerulean planet.

At that time, she couldn't see very far, yet she sensed that the star, shrouded in atmosphere, must be teeming with scurrying creatures and soaring birds. This feeling was strange, as, logically, she should have had no concept of life back then.

What followed was a ten-thousand-year vigil.

Without the gentle caress of wind or dew, osmanthus grew in the harsh climate of Moon Prison.

For ten thousand years, she kept watch on the moon, day after day. Before she could even focus her gaze on that blue star, she had no idea what she was observing. That was her long infancy, her consciousness as hazy as a newborn's.

In her perception, solitude felt like an innate part of existence.

On the last day of October, Ye Changong sat on the iron suspension bridge of the Gu Ling Sect, her skirt fluttering. Her calves, encased in white cotton socks, swayed gently in the wind as she looked up at the sky, involuntarily recalling her long life.

Fate was wonderfully strange; she had arrived in the world she had gazed upon for ten millennia, yet felt no sense of alienation from being in a foreign land.

Ning Changjiu sat beside her, and together they gazed at the starry sky from the iron suspension bridge.

In the days after returning from the Ruin Sea, Ye Changong often held the Golden Crow, but her cold symptoms showed no improvement; she remained chilled no matter how many layers she wore.

During the day, Ye Changong spent most of her time curled up in bed, asleep.

Everyone worried about her well-being, but she simply stated it was the moon's habit and there was no need for concern.

However, no one knew that despite possessing the authority over dreams, she herself never dreamed when she slept. This was painful, yet she found a sliver of peace within these pale hours of slumber.

Many times, upon waking, Ye Changong found herself cradling a soft pillow.

She initially thought another woman had placed it in her arms, but upon inquiry, she was told she had unconsciously embraced it herself.

How strange, if she couldn't even dream, where did such subconscious actions originate?

She didn't dwell on it.

She remained like a moon shadow; even a gentle breeze could not stir her hair.

Ye Changong knew that if, one day, the wind were to lift her hair, it would signify a complete severance of her connection with the moon.

"This world is rotating," Ye Changong said.

"What?" Ning Changjiu diverted his gaze from the star-strewn sky and looked at the young woman beside him.

Ye Changong gently shook her head, pressed a finger to her forehead, and said, "Nothing, just recalling some past events."

"Master, please rest well." Ning Changjiu took off his outer garment and draped it over her shoulders.

Ye Changong hummed in acknowledgment, then asked, "How has your cultivation been recently?"

Ning Changjiu replied, "The Golden Crow Divine Kingdom's repairs are almost finished. In three more days, Siming and Jiajia can officially take residence."

Ye Changong nodded, noting that everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion.

Once the Golden Crow Divine Kingdom was established, he would truly possess the power to contend with the divine realm in the human world, and even declare war on higher beings.

Finally, once the Sword Saint's death was confirmed, the threat to the human world would essentially be eliminated.

"Oh, and what are those fragments of consciousness floating on the Southern Ocean? I saw something similar in the ruins of the Skeleton Tower. Master, do you know their origin?" Ning Changjiu asked again.

They had briefly discussed this after returning from the Ruin Sea. Tonight, Ning Changjiu raised the question once more.

"The solitary city stands high and distant, divine bones serving as its burial. In the profound purity of Beiming, the Kunpeng keep company. At the edge of the Cloud Kingdom, the royal pillar has sunk. In the tomb of Guhuang, the Azure Dragon lies headless..."

As Ye Changong slowly recited the passage, the night clouds drifting overhead seemed to respond, transforming into the shape of a five-clawed divine dragon.

"Is that truly the Candle Dragon?" Ning Changjiu murmured, watching the cloud drift away.

Ye Changong replied, "The Candle Dragon died in the Primordial Divine War, a certain death that we all witnessed back then."

Ning Changjiu asked, "So, were these consciousness fragments left before its death? And what does it want to guide us toward?"

These fragmented consciousness fragments were buried deep within the Earth's crust. Were it not for the Sword Saint and Tian Ji, the fragments from the Skeleton Tower ruins and the Southern Ocean would never have seen the light of day.

"I'm not certain either," Ye Changong said. "There are many unsolved legends in this world, such as the 'Four Symbols Slaying Dragons' in the eighty-one cities of the Central Land, and the saying, 'worship the Golden Dragon and live.' No one knows their origin. Perhaps, in the past, someone glimpsed certain secrets but dared not speak openly, so they passed them down through nursery rhymes or legends."

Ning Changjiu nodded. These legends were perhaps like dark tales, concealing their true meaning beneath a narrative facade.

"The Skeleton Tower ruins of Guyun City, Beiming, the Cloud Kingdom, Guhuang, and the Southern Ocean—all these places were once homes of ancient dragons. Without exception, legends speak of the Candle Dragon's burial there, but accounts vary, and no one knows its exact resting place," Ning Changjiu said.

"The Cloud Kingdom, near Beiming, was once an immortal realm upon a sea of clouds," Ye Changong recalled. "Later, the clouds were scattered by the wind, and the immortal kingdom collapsed along with the Dragon-entwined Pillar, leaving no trace of its ruins."

"And Guhuang?" Ning Changjiu asked.

"Guhuang is in the northwest, near the Divine Painting Tower," Ye Changong said. "I had intended to visit, but the Bronze Divine Steed arrived sooner than expected, so I was delayed. Perhaps there truly is some secret hidden there."

"If there truly is a secret, then Third Senior Brother, having been stationed at the Divine Painting Tower for so long, must surely have discovered it already, right?" Ning Changjiu suggested.

"Not necessarily," Ye Changong replied. "And in truth, these matters are no longer critical. The Candle Dragon's yin fire has long been extinguished, and there's no hope of resurrection. Understanding what it meant to convey might be useful, but we shouldn't let it disrupt our existing plans."

"Yes, I understand," Ning Changjiu acknowledged.

In ancient times, most deities were dragons, their numbers vast. Yet, after enduring several cataclysms, they were now on the verge of extinction.

Having spoken much tonight, Ye Changong's already delicate frame began to cough softly. On the iron chains spanning the lake, her figure appeared even more fragile, giving the illusion that she might fall at any moment.

Ning Changjiu gently steadied her, as one might support a flower bent by the wind.

On the iron bridge, the frail young woman found it difficult to sit steadily. She grasped the iron cable, then gently swung one leg over the long rope, turning her body to sit sideways before finally finding her balance.

Her posture seemed a little odd.

If the iron chain were a horse, she would have been riding it.

With both hands gripping the iron chain, she looked up at Ning Changjiu and said, "This is the last day of October."

For some reason, Ning Changjiu hesitated to meet her gaze directly. He calmly said, "Yes, next month is Yuan Jun's month. Tian Ji suffered heavy losses in the Southern Ocean battle and is still recuperating. But if the Dark Lord insists on killing us and forcibly ignites the Yuan Jun star, it could be very troublesome."

Ye Changong was silent for a moment, then simply said, "From now on, you shouldn't concern yourself with anything other than the Dark Lord."

With that, the young woman stood up, steadying herself on the iron chain, and turned to walk towards the Nine Nether Hall.

The young woman's hair remained still, but her black dress fluttered gently. The large red bow created a striking and dramatic contrast with her slender waist.

She walked as if on thin ice, like a little girl who had just learned to walk.

Ning Changjiu carefully walked behind her, protecting her.

As they approached the Nine Nether Hall, the night wind swept by, carrying numerous delicate flower petals. These were autumn blooms, now facing death from the increasingly cold winds.

Ye Changong paused as she passed a flowering tree, reaching out to pluck two relatively intact blossoms.

Ning Changjiu thought she was simply admiring the flowers.

Instead, she gently turned, stood on tiptoe, and with a slight effort, pinned one of the flowers to his collar.

Ning Changjiu was puzzled. He gazed into the young woman's eyes, then heard her cool, clear voice say, "Happy birthday."

Ning Changjiu froze on the spot, his gaze fixed on the young woman's eyes, the scent of flowers still lingering in his nose. In that moment, her eyes seemed to swallow the entire starry sky, and he could see nothing else.

He had completely forgotten his own birthday.

When he came to his senses, Ye Changong had already walked to the cliff edge and gently tossed the other flower westward.

"Happy birthday."

This was said to Zhao Xiang'er.

In this lifetime, they were born on the same day.

"Then when is your birthday, Master?" Ning Changjiu immediately asked.

"I..." Ye Changong gently shook her head. "I don't remember."

When Ning Changjiu returned to the main hall, he saw Siming cooking noodles.

He felt a pang in his heart, thinking that everyone but himself remembered his birthday. Just as he was about to speak from the heart, he saw Lu Jiajia and Siming each with a bowl, eating together.

Only then did Ning Changjiu remember that he had never actually told them about his birthday.

October passed peacefully.

November brought deep autumn, and the human world felt as desolate as a poem penned by Nine Nether.

These were rare peaceful days; everything proceeded in an orderly manner, with no unnecessary occurrences.

Ning Changjiu spent a great deal of time each day cultivating diligently, striving to restore the divine kingdom to its former scale. Lu Jiajia and Siming also took turns entering the divine kingdom, adapting to this new realm alongside him and then inheriting its power.

Zhao Xiang'er already possessed three thousand worlds, so this former Xihe Temple would be inherited by Siming. Lu Jiajia, too, would become the master of the original eighty-one immortal swords, and when the time was right, she would reclaim all the masterless immortal swords scattered across the human world.

Beyond his cultivation, Ning Changjiu would also accompany Xiaoling to visit the Underworld and the Sea of Reincarnation, or sit with Xiaoli in the Red Chamber, gazing at the light outside. Shao Xiaoli was very diligent, waking early every day, and her first task was always to tear off yesterday's calendar page for her master.

Ning Changjiu felt she was trying to remind him of something.

Hmm... it must mean that every day is a brand new day.

Of course, besides conversing with his Master, he spent more time with Siming.

He publicly stated he was teaching the inner cultivation method of the Joyful Union Sect. During these times, he would also release Liu Xihuan from her spirit form, sending her to practice swordsmanship with Lu Jiajia. Liu Xihuan was utterly bewildered by Ning Changjiu's actions, wondering if it wouldn't be better to have an extra person present.

Shao Xiaoli also had a few complaints about this, as Ning Changjiu had conveniently confiscated her box and had not yet returned it.

Ye Changong remained the same; even when dressed in lovely clothes, her inner self remained aloof, like a girl pretending to be an adult.

On November 3rd, at dusk, Ye Changong awoke from her slumber. She slipped on her small shoes and walked to the large mirror in the Underworld Hall. Jiuyou helped her arrange her attire, and Ning Xiaoling brought her a bowl of warming herbal medicine she had brewed.

Ye Changong knew that the broth made from these valuable herbs wouldn't have much effect, but she obediently drank it nonetheless.

She pursed her lips, then politely returned the porcelain bowl and spoon.

"Master, how are you feeling today?" Ning Xiaoling asked, sitting beside her with a worried expression.

Ye Changong replied, "Every day is the same."

After speaking, she added, "But after drinking Xiaoling's herbal soup, I do feel a little better."

Ning Xiaoling smiled faintly. After clearing away the leftover medicine, she returned to Ye Changong's side to keep her company and chat.

"What questions do you have today?" Ye Changong asked, taking a handkerchief to gently wipe the herbal juice from her lips.

Ning Xiaoling whispered, "May I ask what kind of person Xiaoli was in her past life?"

Ye Changong replied, "Why do you ask that?"

Ning Xiaoling stated righteously, "Xiaoli will eventually become part of our Ning family, so I need to properly vet her for Senior Brother."

Ye Changong smiled faintly. "Compared to that," she said, "you probably wish to leave the Underworld and be with him, don't you?"

Ning Xiaoling exclaimed in surprise, "Though Master possesses immense powers, you can't just read people's thoughts!"

Ye Changong looked at her and gently said, "Xiaoling's thoughts are written in her eyes for all but the foolish to see."

Ning Xiaoling was slightly startled and murmured to herself, "Is... is it really that obvious?"

Jiuyou, standing nearby, was utterly confused. She stared at Ning Xiaoling's eyes for a moment, then murmured, "What thoughts? I can't see anything at all..."

Ye Changong offered a faint smile.

Ning Xiaoling covered her eyes and ran out.

As the afterglow faded and night descended once more, Ye Changong glanced at the calendar on the table. With a quick deduction, she realized that Siming and Lu Jiajia had truly begun to integrate into Ning Changjiu's divine kingdom.

The thought of Xihe's statue being moved out caused the halo in her eyes to stir involuntarily.

But that was all.

Ye Changong sat at the table for a while.

She felt herself growing colder and colder, a chill that no herbal soup could suppress.

Drowsiness assailed her once more.

Ye Changong's body swayed, and she had a vague premonition that once she fell asleep this time, it might be a long while before she awoke.

Just as her arms rested on the table and her cheek was about to press into her hand, a surge of wakefulness unexpectedly washed over her.

Ye Changong froze for a moment, vaguely guessing what had happened, and immediately headed out of the hall.

"What will this divine temple be called from now on?"

Within the Golden Crow Throne, Ning Changjiu and Siming were still debating whether to name it the Snow Porcelain Hall or the Siming Hall.

Ning Changjiu insisted on "Snow Porcelain," but Siming found the name too soft for a divine temple and held firm on "Siming."

"By the way, where did you put Xihe's statue?" Siming asked.

"Of course, it's placed in the very center of the divine kingdom, serving as the national guardian goddess statue," Ning Changjiu replied.

"Hmph, you once said you'd completely renovate the temple for me. It was all a lie, after all." Siming sighed, looking around and noticing that, aside from Xihe's statue being gone, the temple had not changed in the slightest.

And with Xihe's statue moved to the very center of the divine kingdom, its status seemed to have become even more revered, which displeased Siming somewhat.

Of course, smashing statues was just a whimsical thought she voiced; if she actually forced Ning Changjiu to do it, she'd likely be a widow the next time she met Zhao Xiang'er.

"Liar!" Siming scoffed softly again.

Ning Changjiu asked, "How would you like to renovate it? Otherwise, should we remove this throne and replace it with a golden crucifix?"

Siming's pupils contracted slightly. An image immediately flashed through her mind, then she bit her lip, and her long hair visibly shifted to a joyful red.

Ning Changjiu paused, then asked, "You really want to change it?"

Siming's icy gaze glared at him fiercely, and her fist swung up. "Change your head!" she snapped.

Ning Changjiu put up his hands to parry, daring only to defend. "But isn't that what you like?" he asked.

"What makes you think I like it?"

"Your hair..."

"That's because Xihe's hair cream is faulty! It's... it's slandering me!"

"How could that be..."

"Why couldn't it be? Do you trust Xihe or me?"

"I trust you..."

Ning Changjiu quickly surrendered.

Siming then huffily withdrew her hand and said blandly, "In front of others, you must never speak of such topics again, understood?"

Ultimately, Siming made the final decision, naming the hall the Snow Porcelain Hall.

In less than ten days, she would fully integrate with the divine temple and take up residence within it.

She had never imagined that she would once again become a divine official of the divine kingdom in this manner.

As the two were planning future combat strategies, Ning Changjiu suddenly looked up at the sky.

An unusual sensation arose in his heart, as if a long-severed connection had gently re-established itself.

Siming felt it too.

They exchanged glances, immediately left the Golden Crow Divine Kingdom, and hurried to the Nine Nether Hall.

Ye Changong was standing at the entrance of the Nine Nether Hall, gazing up at the night sky.

They quietly approached Ye Changong, standing on either side of her, and looked up at the sky together.

"What is that..."

Ning Changjiu looked at a bright spot of light in the sky. It was larger than a normal star and appeared more like an irregularly shaped fragment.

Siming immediately jumped to the worst conclusion: "Has the sky broken? Does this mean the Dark Sun is arriving early?"

Ning Changjiu shook his head. "No, it doesn't seem like it..."

"Did a star explode, then?" Siming grew even more puzzled.

Ye Changong gently shook her head. Gazing up at the starry sky, she said, "That is the moon."

"The moon?" Siming stared at the bright spot, bewildered. "How could the moon be...?"

Ning Changjiu, however, understood.

The moon had been obscured, not vanished. The dust from the Yuanfu Star couldn't block the light forever. Now that Tian Ji and the Sword Saint had failed consecutively, the obstructions beyond the Moon Prison might also be unable to hold.

Most importantly, of course, someone must have been diligently clearing the dust every day.

"Fifth Senior Brother has worked hard," Ning Changjiu remarked.

Ye Changong nodded. "It's just that Fifth Brother is dedicated to clearing the dust, so the matter of the Heavenly Stele will likely be postponed."

Ning Changjiu said, "There are priorities, and in our hearts, your safety is paramount."

Ye Changong extended her hand, as if catching a beam of moonlight.

A soft, delicate color finally returned to her pale cheeks.

"Thank you," Ye Changong said softly.

She clasped this beam of moonlight, crushed it, and scattered it over her head like a celestial maiden scattering blossoms.

This was the authority over dreams.

As a sliver of moonlight reappeared, she once again grasped a faint measure of her authority.

That night, everyone slept soundly.

In their dreams, they returned to the Unobservable Realm.

The Unobservable Realm in their dreams was still bathed in the warmth of spring.

In the inner courtyard, Siming and Lu Jiajia were squabbling over who was the senior sister. Meanwhile, Ning Changjiu and Zhao Xiang'er sat by the stream, their fingers lightly touching. Although it was a beautiful scene, Ning Changjiu could always sense a faint, almost imperceptible murderous intent.

"Xiang'er, it's been a long time," Ning Changjiu said.

"It's you who haven't seen me; I, however, see you every day," Zhao Xiang'er said wistfully.

"Uh... what exactly have you seen?" Ning Changjiu asked, feeling a little flustered.

"Care to guess?" Zhao Xiang'er purred, narrowing her eyes like a kitten and smiling.

A chill ran down Ning Changjiu's spine, and he remained silent, feeling guilty.

Zhao Xiang'er casually tossed a pebble into the stream. "Being able to re-enter dreams means Master's power is recovering, right?" she asked.

Ning Changjiu nodded. "The moon has revealed itself somewhat, which at least ensures Master's safety," he replied.

"Mhm." Zhao Xiang'er asked, "When will you come to the Western Kingdom?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, both your senior siblings are in the Western Kingdom, and they miss you very much, so I'm asking on their behalf," Zhao Xiang'er said casually.

"Master and I plan to go to the Divine Painting Tower first. After that trip, I'll immediately come to the Western Kingdom to find you... er, I mean, to find Senior Brother and Senior Sister," Ning Changjiu said.

"Why the Divine Painting Tower?" Zhao Xiang'er asked.

"You must have also seen the fragments of consciousness on the Southern Ocean, right?" Ning Changjiu said. "The Sword Saint must have sensed those fragments back then, and his appearance in the Southern Ocean might be connected to the fragments from the Skeleton Tower ruins. He's already visited the other locations mentioned in the fragments, and the last Guhuang relic is near the Divine Painting Tower. I suspect if the Sword Saint is still alive, he will go there."

"To seek the Candle Dragon?" Zhao Xiang'er gently shook her head. "The Candle Dragon is long dead," she said.

Ning Changjiu replied, "But for Ke Wenzhou, this represents his last sliver of hope, so he will likely go."

"Then be careful," Zhao Xiang'er warned. "If you get beaten too badly, they'll be heartbroken." She glanced behind her, where Lu Jiajia and Siming were still bickering without any awareness of their divine stature, their robes flecked with bits of grass from their playful struggle.

"You be careful too, and wait for me," Ning Changjiu said, his voice brief and firm.

"Mhm, there's a boundary marker outside the Western Kingdom. Beyond it lies the territory of the Three Thousand Worlds. When you arrive, I will find you," Zhao Xiang'er said, her voice clear and bright.

These words also reached Siming's ears... *Hmm, when going to the Western Kingdom in the future, I must absolutely not cross that boundary marker.*

Siming made a mental note.

Outside the courtyard gate, a knock sounded again.

The knock was light and tentative.

"Xiaoling and Xiaoli are here," Ning Changjiu said. "Xiang'er... you haven't met Xiaoli yet, have you?"

"I have," Zhao Xiang'er said calmly. "Didn't you two sunbathe together?"

Ning Changjiu looked at her in shock. "Are you no longer cultivating during the day?" he asked.

Zhao Xiang'er pursed her thin, upturned lips. "Is cultivating the mind not a form of cultivation?" she replied.

Lu Jiajia walked around the large tree to open the door.

The door opened, and Ning Xiaoling and Shao Xiaoli cautiously peered inside.

Then, Ning Xiaoling sat up from her bed.

The moon had only revealed less than one-twentieth of its light. Ye Changong had constructed the dream merely to test its integrity.

Just moments ago, the authority over dreams had given way, collapsing without warning.

Ning Xiaoling hugged her knees, feeling a slight headache.

Dressed in her nightgown, she slowly walked to the throne, gently sat down, and slowly raised her head.

Her consciousness connected to the Sea of Reincarnation, and she saw the moon's bright spot in the sky outside.

Vaguely, she knew that her Senior Brother would soon be departing again.

With each departure, his return was uncertain.

The young woman couldn't help but feel a touch of sadness once more.

The next day, when her Senior Brother arrived in the hall, she gathered her courage, stepped forward, and tapped his head three times.

Ning Changjiu looked at her, somewhat bewildered.

Ning Xiaoling, however, said earnestly, "Don't you dare forget!"

Being of one mind, he quickly understood Ning Xiaoling's meaning.

At half past midnight, the Underworld Hall was empty.

As Ning Changjiu entered the main hall, he saw a figure with its back to him. The figure was graceful and charming, dressed in Lu Jiajia's clothes.