Chapter 452: White Zang Slays the Spirit

Early December, heavy snow had yet to reach the Western Kingdom, and their brief two-day reunion had already concluded.

Inside the city of the Western Kingdom, Zhao Xiang'er and Ning Changjiu shared noodles before strolling through the exotic streets. Amidst the bustling crowds, they enjoyed various performances. As this was the land where the sun set, the people of the Western Kingdom held a fervent reverence for it. Statues and ornaments related to the sun could be found almost everywhere on the capital's streets; even the red carpets draped over elephants depicted abstract sun patterns.

As Ning Changjiu and Zhao Xiang'er walked through the streets, hand in hand, they seemed like ethereal shadows. Gradually, the pedestrians thinned out, and the surroundings grew quiet. Zhao Xiang'er stopped, raising her hand to point ahead. Ning Changjiu followed her gaze.

"Is this the statue of the Vermilion Bird?"

Ning Changjiu gazed at the statue before them—a woman in an ornate long gown, adorned with a golden diadem. She appeared graceful and benevolent, much like a secluded queen. With her back to the setting sun, her features were obscured by what seemed like a faint black veil, making her face indistinguishable. Zhao Xiang'er nodded gently, her finger tracing upward along the black statue, then pointing towards a patch of void. "When the Year of the Vermilion Bird arrives," she said, "the Vermilion Bird Divine Kingdom should open there."

"I hope she truly isn't an enemy," Ning Changjiu remarked.

Gazing at the Vermilion Bird statue, Zhao Xiang'er said, "She might not be an enemy of the mortal realm, but she could be mine."

Ning Changjiu and Zhao Xiang'er stood before the Vermilion Bird statue for a long time, each lost in their own thoughts, until the sun finally set.

"Alright, these two days of leisure are over," she said. "No more delays from now on." On their way back, Zhao Xiang'er looked into Ning Changjiu's eyes and stated seriously, "It's a pity I cannot leave the Three Thousand Worlds, so I won't be able to accompany you on your journey from now on." A two-day reunion after a year of separation was already rare, but before that, their souls had endured 3,500 years of solitude.

"It's alright," Ning Changjiu said. "Just wait for me to return to the Western Kingdom."

Zhao Xiang'er offered a faint, fleeting smile. "Mm, take care of yourself. Too many have already perished along this path. If we were to die, this world might not endure long enough for the next generation of cultivators to mature."

"Don't worry," Ning Changjiu reassured her. "The masters of the Divine Kingdoms are nothing to fear."

After a moment of thought, Zhao Xiang'er asked, "Divine Kingdoms symbolize rules. With so many of them destroyed, will there be any additional impact on the world? Perhaps a backlash from the rules themselves?"

Ning Changjiu shook his head. "Divine Kingdoms were originally creations of the Dark Lord, existing outside the world's natural rules," he explained. "Destroying them won't have any impact."

Zhao Xiang'er nodded, but as she gazed into Ning Changjiu's eyes, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was still concealing something.

"In any case, there's no need to worry," Ning Changjiu said with a slight smile. "I was very happy spending these two days with you all. I'll always remember it."

Zhao Xiang'er frowned. "Don't talk as if this is a final farewell."

Ning Changjiu looked at the young woman's face, nodding gently. They embraced briefly, then walked together towards the upper regions of the Three Thousand Worlds.

Above the world, both Lu Jiajia and Siming were cultivating. Lu Jiajia had begun to harness the true power of sword-spirit-body integration. She sat cross-legged, her white robes fluttering as the spiritual energy of the Three Thousand Worlds converged around her. Lu Jiajia's divine sense, originating from the Western Kingdom, began to spread across the entire mortal realm. The reach of her divine consciousness swiftly approached its limit, yet the swords scattered throughout the mortal realm also registered her presence, responding with faint wisps of sword intent.

Lu Jiajia pinpointed their locations. She couldn't summon hundreds of swords with a single gesture; she could only discern their approximate locations. She would then have to journey to the mortal realm and retrieve each one individually. Under intense strain, Lu Jiajia's divine sense rapidly depleted. This draining sensation was akin to being in a vacuum, her body desperately gasping for meager air in her lungs. The dizzying onset of suffocation quickly overwhelmed her, and uncontrolled spiritual energy seeped from her body like fine beads of sweat on her skin. After enduring for a long while, Lu Jiajia's divine sense eased slightly, her body heaving violently with each breath. She instinctively reached out to her side but grasped at nothing. This sensation of emptiness brought her back to full awareness. Gazing at the boundless landscape of the Western Kingdom, she regulated her breathing before extending her divine sense for a second round.

Meanwhile, Siming was inside a small, inverted pavilion, where absolute silence reigned. This was because she had dispatched her incomplete sundial. This sacred artifact, which she had guarded in the Yuanfu Divine Kingdom, was the very source of temporal authority. Unfortunately, half of it had shattered during the events in Ten Thousand Monster City. Recently, however, Siming was astonished to discover that the sundial's cracks were slowly mending, giving the impression of a crescent moon gradually waxing full. The incomplete sundial seemed to be slowly regaining its completeness!

Puzzled by this phenomenon, Siming soon realized it might be connected to the world gradually becoming more tangible. Time, like space, inherently exists in the world, whether or not it has been refined into a source of authority. As the Dark Lord's influence over this space-time steadily diminished, the broken temporal authority paradoxically began to mend. Indeed, time is eternal for humanity; how could the associated authority ever truly vanish?

Siming gazed at the still incomplete sundial, the wintry hue in her icy eyes deepening. What would happen if the sundial were to fully restore itself one day? Could the world be rewound? If so, could she trace forward into the future and witness their ultimate fate? A myriad of thoughts flooded her mind. Siming's silver hair danced wildly, without a breeze, mirroring the turmoil of her thoughts, and her divine robe rustled. She reined in her thoughts and retrieved the sundial, and all returned to quiet. She began to re-examine her Yuanfu Divine Kingdom.

Yuanfu was the Dark Lord's first puppet established in the mortal realm, and its will should inherently reflect the Dark Lord's own. The Dark Lord had granted Yuanfu an immensely powerful authority: 'Infinity.' This authority was woven from the threads of time and destiny—the countless choices individuals make along a single timeline, which, when linked together, form what is known as fate. Ultimately, however, this merely represented fate along a single timeline. Regardless of how far the authority of 'Infinity' extended, it could not escape the confines of a fixed world. Thus, even with the authority of 'Infinity,' Yuanfu could not escape its destined demise.

If death is ultimately predetermined, how can that outcome be altered? Siming suddenly realized that at the end of Ning Changjiu's previous life, her master had likely discovered the answer, but she hadn't had time to reveal it.

Time flew by. As the sun began to set, Lu Jiajia's divine sense had completed its second round of expansion. If her sea of consciousness were a map, then upon it, more than thirty points of light now shimmered, each marking a location where an immortal sword had been scattered long ago. Ning Changjiu came up behind her. Seeing the pale woman, he reached out and gently stroked her back, channeling spiritual energy into her to accelerate her recovery. Feeling the warmth emanating from behind her, Lu Jiajia's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly.

"Where did you just go?" Lu Jiajia asked.

"I went with Xiang'er to see the Vermilion Bird statue," Ning Changjiu replied.

Lu Jiajia nodded. "I've located thirty-two immortal swords," she said. "During our journey through the peaks later, I can retrieve them one by one along the way."

"You've worked hard, Jiajia," Ning Changjiu said softly.

Lu Jiajia's breathing gradually steadied. Opening her eyes, she asked, "When should we depart?" Ning Changjiu looked into the distance. "Tonight," he said.

"Where do we go first?" Lu Jiajia inquired.

"The Ancient Spirit Sect," Ning Changjiu answered.

The Ancient Spirit Sect... Lu Jiajia couldn't help but recall the first time she encountered a Spirit Devourer in the Imperial City. Back then, the horned Spirit Devourer had broken through the void, its colossal body plummeting to the earth like a mountain. She, clutching her sword, had faced the demon helplessly. In that moment, she felt as though cultivation realms had lost all meaning; with such an immense disparity in power, she could only, like any ordinary mortal, await an indiscriminate death upon the ground. Now, with the passage of time, they were to become the executioners slaughtering those very demons. Lu Jiajia quietly reflected on these memories.

Siming emerged from the pavilion and joined them. The moon-sparrow pattern on her dark divine robe had not yet faded or warped, and a slender crescent moon traced behind her, illuminating her silver hair so it cascaded like a waterfall. Zhao Xiang'er arrived soon after. Zhao Xiang'er presented Ning Changjiu with a rather awkwardly folded paper crane, which carried no hidden meaning beyond a simple blessing.

Ning Changjiu looked at the paper crane. "Xiang'er must have folded this herself, didn't she?" he asked.

Zhao Xiang'er snorted. "Of course! I'm always skillful!"

Ning Changjiu smiled.

Zhao Xiang'er looked at him and said earnestly, "If you encounter anything unexpected, don't push yourself. Remember, the world is vast, but human strength is ultimately limited."

Ning Changjiu, however, replied, "Next time we meet, I hope it will be at the ends of the earth, Xiang'er."

Zhao Xiang'er's eyes sparkled, starlight transforming into shimmering points within them. With a slight smile, she retorted, "Less talk, more action. It'll be impressive if you don't have to beg me for mercy."

"What are they talking about?" Siming asked, perplexed.

Lu Jiajia shook her head, indicating she didn't understand either.

"We're speaking metaphorically," Ning Changjiu stated calmly.

Zhao Xiang'er nodded in agreement.

They bid farewell in the heart of the Three Thousand Worlds, promising a date for their next reunion.

Inside the Underworld Divine Temple, Ning Xiaoling had received a letter from Evil. After reading the letter, she looked toward the large door at the rear of the Hades Temple, her delicate features etched with worry. The plan was to kill a specific number of Spirit Devourers, feed a fixed amount of spiritual energy to maintain the Dark Lord's basic functions, and prevent it from killing cultivators who possessed innate spirits. While this plan sounded simple and ideal, its practical execution presented immense difficulties. Firstly, Ning Xiaoling had no way of knowing the exact number of Spirit Devourers scattered throughout the vast Void Sea, and each one was notoriously tough and difficult to kill. Furthermore, even if some were eliminated, the remaining Spirit Devourers would remain scattered, making it impossible to consistently feed them spiritual energy.

Jiuyou, seated on the throne, remained unaware of Ning Xiaoling's worries. For days, Jiuyou had harbored deep guilt over Diting's departure. Even if Diting had already resolved to leave, perhaps her chili fish that night had solidified its decision. Yet... she had only been joking; she hadn't meant to bully it. She longed to apologize properly to Diting, but even in her naivety, she knew Diting would never return. Jiuyou sat listlessly on her throne, no longer composing poetry, merely gazing outside. She had become increasingly subdued. Ning Xiaoling, too, did not share her concerns with her.

As she paced back and forth within the Underworld Temple, clutching the letter, a bird call suddenly chirped behind her. Ning Xiaoling paused, then turned to look. A familiar three-legged Golden Crow perched on the window lattice, gazing at her through the dimness of the grand hall. Ning Changjiu, Lu Jiajia, and Siming appeared in the hall one after another. After a night of flying by sword, they had returned to the Ancient Spirit Sect.

Ning Xiaoling thought she was mistaken and rubbed her eyes, but Ning Changjiu was indeed in the hall, gently extending his arms. In the past, she might have rushed straight into her senior brother's arms, but now, she merely nestled against him for a brief moment before releasing him. Ning Xiaoling looked up, raising the letter in her hand. "Xiaoling has received this letter," she said. "Did Senior Brother come because you were worried I couldn't complete the task?"

Ning Changjiu gazed at the delicate and charming young woman, about to assure her of his trust. But before he could speak, Ning Xiaoling answered her own question, "Senior Brother's worries are quite justified!" Ning Changjiu paused, then chuckled.

Lu Jiajia and Siming also approached the young woman, and Ning Xiaoling obediently greeted them as Master and Elder Sister. The four sat down in the Hades Temple, and Ning Xiaoling began to explain the problems she had encountered. Everyone listened attentively.

"Even as the Hades Lord, Xiaoling, can you not fully perceive the entire Void Sea?" Ning Changjiu asked, pondering the issue.

Ning Xiaoling nodded, a hint of guilt on her face. "My position as Hades Lord isn't hereditary," she explained. "Although I've gained the authority of reincarnation, I don't possess the full capabilities of the previous Hades Lord."

"So, we can't possibly determine the exact number of Spirit Devourers in the Void Sea, can we?" Siming asked.

"Yes," Ning Xiaoling affirmed.

Siming rubbed her temple and sighed. "So, this plan is difficult to implement right from the very first step?"

Ning Xiaoling quickly interjected, "Perhaps my cultivation realm is too low. Once my spiritual power in the sea of consciousness grows stronger, I might be able to perceive the entire Void Sea."

Lu Jiajia comforted her. "Xiaoling, you don't need to push yourself. We'll find a solution." With that, Lu Jiajia looked towards Ning Changjiu.

Ning Changjiu closed his eyes, deep in thought. As an Asura and a master archer, his spiritual power was exceptionally strong. He might be able to use the Golden Crow to measure the full extent of the Void Sea and then roughly estimate the total number of Spirit Devourers based on their scattered distribution. However, this approach would not only yield inaccurate results but also consume a significant amount of time.

As Ning Changjiu pondered deeply, a faint voice whispered in his ear, interrupting their train of thought. Ning Changjiu was slightly taken aback and turned his head to find Jiuyou looking at them earnestly.

Ning Xiaoling looked at her, asking in surprise, "Is something wrong?"

Jiuyou tentatively raised her hand. "Let me try," she offered.

Ning Xiaoling suddenly realized: Jiuyou was a part of the Hades Lord, the true inheritor of the position. It was just that this particular descendant of the Hades Lord seemed rather unremarkable, appearing foolish and lacking presence, which led to her being largely overlooked most of the time. It was only now, with Jiuyou volunteering, that everyone suddenly recalled her noble status.

Ning Xiaoling's heart tightened slightly. She stared intently at Jiuyou. "Do you really understand what we're discussing, Jiuyou?" she asked.

Jiuyou clutched her skirt. "I heard everything," she said earnestly. "Perceiving the entire Void Sea... I think I can do it."

Ning Xiaoling's tense nerves relaxed considerably. Still curious, she asked, "Why do you seem a little different today, Jiuyou?"

Jiuyou looked up at the Hades Temple's dome. "Nothing's different," she replied. "I've always been listening to you all. I know there's a terrifying great demon king outside who has sealed the sky, preventing us from leaving. We have to defeat it..."

"Do you also want to defeat the great demon king, Jiuyou?" Ning Xiaoling asked.

Jiuyou nodded vigorously, her eyes suddenly bright with resolve. "Yes, I want to see the outside world too."

The others exchanged glances, then all shared faint smiles.

Jiuyou gracefully lifted her skirt and approached the Underworld Throne. Settling onto it, she closed her eyes. As if in response, the temple subtly vibrated, and the outline of the Void Sea began to form within her sea of consciousness. The young woman then drifted into a deep sleep. Ning Changjiu stepped before her, gently touching her brow with his finger. He released only after confirming that the young woman was unharmed.

"Jiuyou is currently using her divine sense to explore the Underworld. When she awakens, the Void Sea exploration should be complete," Ning Changjiu announced, reassuring everyone.

Ning Xiaoling laughed happily. "I never knew Jiuyou was so capable!" she exclaimed.

"Do we need to stay here and wait for her to wake up?" Lu Jiajia asked.

Ning Changjiu hesitated. He was uncertain when Jiuyou would awaken. They still had to journey to the high mountains, collect the lost swords, and go to the mortal realm to help the Sword Pavilion spread their teachings. Even if the Vermilion Bird Divine Kingdom didn't open, they had less than two months remaining.

Ning Xiaoling also looked at her senior brother, whispering, "With my strength alone, killing those Spirit Devourers... I probably couldn't finish even in ten years."

"Even if we can't remain here indefinitely," Siming proposed, "we can still find helpers for Xiaoling."

"Helpers?" Ning Xiaoling asked. "Where would we find them?"

Ning Xiaoling looked at Siming, who turned her wooden chair to face her directly. Ever since Siming had reverted to her silver-white hair, her emotions had largely become subdued. Her silver-haired figure, contrasting with her dark robes, exuded a cool tranquility, making her resemble a perfect goddess.

Ning Changjiu, understanding the implication, said, "I'll step out for a moment." He temporarily left the ancient Underworld Kingdom, arriving outside the Ancient Spirit Sect by the iron chain bridge. There, he closed his eyes and silently called out his Master's name.

Within the Imperceptible Temple, amidst the lotus shadows, Ye Changong slowly returned to full awareness. She blinked her dry eyes, watching the ripples spread across the pond, and heard Ning Changjiu's voice. Ye Changong didn't offer much of a reply, simply stating, "I understand." She looked out of the hall.

At this moment, Baizang was patrolling Dahe Town. She proudly held her head high, casting a disdainful gaze upon the shabby little town. She was now the queen of cats here, and although the other cats, dogs, cattle, and sheep in town all boasted impressive origins, they dared only to yield to her presence. Baizang was quite proud of this, believing she had infiltrated the Imperceptible Temple and was now dismantling its core strength. The Imperceptible Temple was scenic and pleasant, like spring all year round, and she truly liked it here. If she had a choice, it was indeed more beautiful than her own cold Silver Snow Palace. Thus, she entertained contradictory thoughts: on one hand, she fantasized about one day defeating Ye Changong, brutally enslaving her by stepping on her serene face with her cat paws; on the other hand, she also wished to help everyone protect the Imperceptible Temple and resist the Dark Lord.

In the lazy sunlight, Baizang lay quietly. From the stone where she lay, five trees could be seen growing side by side. She occasionally carried a bucket to water the trees. Because Siming often bullied her, she would deliberately give Siming's tree less water, and seeing it grow the slowest was one of her rare delights. Today, after patrolling Dahe Town, Baizang returned to the Imperceptible Temple. She used to enjoy sleeping in the Pavilion of Edicts, until one day, a woman in a green skirt, holding a whisk, returned and gave her a severe beating. Since then, she only dared to skirt around that area. She entered an ordinary grand hall, found a statue of an immortal that seemed benevolent enough, and curled up beside it for her afternoon nap. She suddenly found this simple existence quite pleasant, even seemingly happier than when she was a Divine Lord. However, the thought that such a life could be enjoyed by any common cat—could a stray truly be happier than a Divine Lord?—was a conclusion she found somewhat unacceptable. If that were true, then had her bloody struggles and millennia of obsession been for naught?

Baizang let out a soft meow-sigh, deciding to stop dwelling on such thoughts. She simply wanted a few more days of peaceful, unburdened living. But just as Baizang was about to drift off to sleep, Ye Changong's voice echoed in her ear. Baizang's furry ears twitched. Though she had resolved to live a life of peace, she was, after all, a tiger. If there truly were an opportunity to once again roar through the mountains and forests, she would still be willing to seize it.

Baizang anxiously made her way to the Dao Temple, gazing at Ye Changong through the shifting shadows of the white gauze curtains. The graceful silhouette behind the rustling white gauze was quite deceptive; Baizang couldn't discern Ye Changong's current state.

"Meow, meow, meow," Baizang vocalized a few times. She awaited the bestowal of a great mission upon herself.

Ye Changong opened her eyes. "Go to the ancient Underworld Kingdom," she instructed.

"Meow?" Baizang responded, puzzled.

Ye Changong briefly explained the plan to sustain the Dark Lord. "Spirit Devourers have tough scales," she said. "Killing them requires sharp blades, and you are the most suitable for the task."

Baizang was deeply disappointed. She thought to herself, after all this time recuperating here, was her ultimate purpose merely to hack at the sluggish bodies of Spirit Devourers?

"Remember to follow Ning Xiaoling's commands and avoid impulsive deviations," Ye Changong stated. "If everything goes smoothly, the next time you return to the temple, I can temporarily remove your dragon-bone chains."

Baizang's pupils constricted slightly, a bright gleam appearing in her eyes. She had long been fed up with the dragon-bone chains around her neck; after all, a collar was a symbol of servitude. Despite feeling overqualified for the task, she agreed to slaughter the Spirit Devourers.

"Meow-ao," Baizang replied. Then, a swirling water mirror appeared beneath her feet. Baizang, startled, tumbled into it.

Jiuyou's awakening occurred ten days later. Ning Changjiu and the others had already departed, bound for the supreme peaks that still remained in the world. Ning Xiaoling meticulously reviewed the agreed-upon plan, yet despite its thoroughness, she couldn't shake off her anxieties.

When Jiuyou awoke, she felt groggy. Rubbing her eyes, she vaguely saw a white cat lying on the steps before her.

"Diting?" Jiuyou softly called out.

Baizang licked her paw and meowed, signaling a denial.

Jiuyou then fully awoke. "Oh, it's little Baizang," she exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

Ning Xiaoling smiled slightly. "Perhaps our Underworld Kingdom simply cannot be without a cat," she said.

Jiuyou then felt a little more at ease.

"How was your perception, Jiuyou?" Ning Xiaoling asked.

Jiuyou recalled for a moment, then nodded vigorously. "I've finished counting them all!"

"You actually counted them one by one?" Ning Xiaoling exclaimed, shocked.

Jiuyou bit her lip, then said meekly, "Don't worry, I won't miscount. I even numbered them all."

Ning Xiaoling looked at her with a mix of belief and doubt.

Baizang let out another meow, indicating that the operation could begin. The dragon-bone chains on her neck loosened slightly, and the small white tiger quietly transformed into the likeness of a young woman.

"Blade," Baizang said, glancing at Ning Xiaoling.

Ning Xiaoling understood, drew out the Shen Tu Blade of the Underworld Kingdom, and handed it to her. Baizang gracefully accepted the blade. The young woman, with her snow-white hair and silver gown, elegantly held the blade and walked towards the rear of the Hades Temple.