Chapter 462: Heavenly Object From Beyond

In April, Ning Changjiu sat in the Seventy-Two Heavens, closing the book his senior sister had given him.

He looked out with slightly reddened eyes. Outside, it seemed to have just rained; the willows were green in the misty rain, the weather was warming, and winter had silently passed.

Ning Changjiu rubbed his temples, memorizing all the contents of the book, and rested his eyes for a while.

Ning Changjiu was twenty years old in this life, yet his appearance remained as delicate as a youth. His cheeks were slightly pale from fatigue, but the lines of his face were distinct and sharp, as if sculpted from a single stroke, imbued with a faint divine quality.

The sound of wind rustling the window could be heard.

Ning Changjiu opened his eyes, the golden light within them quietly receding. He pushed open the window, and the wind blew in, carrying with it a small, white-feathered sparrow.

The white-feathered sparrow hopped onto his desk. Ning Changjiu removed a letter from its leg.

This was a letter from Zhao Xiang'er.

During this time, Ning Changjiu had been meditating on the Heavenly Stele in the Sword Pavilion, never having the leisure to visit the Three Thousand Worlds. So, they communicated by letters. For cultivators like them, this method was seemingly redundant, yet it also held an ancient, romantic charm.

In the initial letters, Zhao Xiang'er would share her recent news, her insights into cultivation, and her scattered thoughts about the Vermilion Bird. The letters also contained Xiang'er's paintings—scenes of the Western Kingdom with long smoke and setting suns, exuding a vast, desolate, freehand beauty.

Although Xiang'er could see most of what Ning Changjiu experienced through her insights, he would still reply with detailed accounts of his recent trivial matters and feelings. At the end of his letters, he would also reminisce about the past with her, writing tender, blush-inducing words.

The two exchanged letters for a while, using this small white-feathered sparrow as a messenger.

Today, Ning Changjiu received a letter from Zhao Xiang'er. Before he could even open it, a knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," Ning Changjiu said.

The door opened.

Shao Xiaoli, wearing a pear-blossom white dress, walked in lightly on her tiptoes, holding a stone pot, and smiled sweetly, "Master, it's time for breakfast."

Ning Changjiu glanced at the stone pot and asked, "Isn't this a bit rich?"

Shao Xiaoli replied, "Master is so powerful, of course you should live a life of luxury."

Ning Changjiu said, "Alright, you can put it down."

Shao Xiaoli huffed, "Hmph, don't pretend Xiaoli doesn't know. You're just going to share it with the Sword Pavilion disciples later."

Ning Changjiu smiled and said, "Everyone works so hard; they deserve a treat."

Shao Xiaoli said nothing, then came and sat beside him. She looked at the small, snow-white bird and said, "This bird is much prettier than Blood-Feather Lord."

The white-feathered sparrow seemed very angry at being compared to that red-headed chicken, puffing up its feathers and chirping indignantly.

Ning Changjiu playfully warned Xiaoli, "Oh no, Xiaoli, you've offended Xiang'er's confidant. I won't be able to protect you when you meet her next time."

Shao Xiaoli believed him and quickly went to appease the little sparrow.

The white-feathered sparrow, still annoyed, hopped out the window and flew to a branch of a flowering tree outside.

"This little sparrow has such a bad temper," Shao Xiaoli pouted and complained.

She looked at the letter in Ning Changjiu's hand and asked, "What did Sister Xiang'er say this time?"

Ning Changjiu smiled, "If I let you see it, then next time we meet, I'll be the one who's dead."

Shao Xiaoli stuck out her tongue, "Why do you make Sister Xiang'er sound like a great demon king?"

Ning Changjiu smiled without a word.

Shao Xiaoli asked, "It's not far from here to the Western Kingdom, Master. Why don't you just ride your sword there yourself? It's only an hour or two away."

Ning Changjiu replied casually, "If I went to the Western Kingdom, how could I concentrate on reading?"

Shao Xiaoli stared at Ning Changjiu for a while, then very quietly asked, "Is Sister Xiang'er really that powerful?"

Ning Changjiu tapped her head and said, "Alright, stop overthinking. If there's an opportunity in the future, Xiaoli can ask her yourself."

Shao Xiaoli snorted, indicating she wouldn't fall for that trick.

She asked, "Master, how much longer will you be studying the Heavenly Stele?"

Ning Changjiu said, "I should be finished before the Bai Zang Year begins."

Shao Xiaoli said, "Sister Jiajia and Sister Xueci are still preparing for the spring banquet. They plan to celebrate a little after you come out of seclusion."

Ning Changjiu's gaze wandered for a moment. He looked up at the drifting clouds outside and said, "Alright."

After Shao Xiaoli delivered breakfast and relayed messages to Lu Jiajia and Siming, Ning Changjiu finally opened Zhao Xiang'er's letter once she had left.

This time, the letter was very short, containing only one line:

I understand you.

Ning Changjiu's throat tightened slightly. In his peripheral vision, the clouds drifting across the sky seemed to slow down.

After a long while, Ning Changjiu smiled. He didn't know if Xiang'er was watching him through a water mirror at that moment, but he raised his hand and waved forward, as if greeting her.

Then, he began to write a reply.

After writing the letter, Ning Changjiu carefully rolled it up and tucked it into the white-feathered sparrow's leg, saying, "Thank you, Xueyuan."

The now-smaller Xueyuan chirped coldly, spread its wings, and flew away without looking back, as if mocking his insincerity.

This was the last letter they exchanged during this period.

Although Ning Changjiu was in seclusion, it merely meant closing the door. During this time, Lu Jiajia and Siming often visited him, sitting by his side, casually picking up a book to read, quietly, as if accompanying him in study. Only when Shao Xiaoli came, the room would gain a more lively atmosphere.

April was an exceptionally peaceful month. Humanity, having endured several calamities, almost greedily enjoyed this rare quietude. The world had returned to normal, and cultivators and mortals alike thrived like the spring grass outside.

Nearing the end of April, Ning Changjiu emerged from seclusion again. As if on a whim, he went for a walk in the countryside with them.

The countryside was covered in blooming flowers. In the fragrant breeze, butterflies fluttered gracefully, tracing lines as they swept past them and flew deeper into the woods. Farmers tilled their fields, and a small monkey, carrying firewood, leaped from between rocks and playfully hopped to an old man. The old man took the firewood, unhooked a gourd, and offered it to the monkey for a drink, making the little monkey dance with joy.

Scene after scene unfolded before them, then faded from view.

Ning Changjiu calmly observed these scenes and returned to the Sword Pavilion with the three women.

Today, the Sword Pavilion had new guests.

Outside the gate, a girl in a silver silk dress stood wearing small boots. A little girl stood in front of her, arms outstretched, blocking her entry and asking her to show a wooden pass.

When Ning Changjiu and the others returned, Bai Zang turned her head and glanced at them indifferently.

It was Luo Xiaopei again, blocking Bai Zang's entry.

The little girl looked at them fearfully, realizing she seemed to have made another mistake.

"Pavilion Master, Master..." Luo Xiaopei was flustered.

Ning Changjiu said, "It's alright. This young lady's surname is Bai; she's an acquaintance."

"Your surname is Bai," Bai Zang retorted coldly.

Luo Xiaopei stepped aside and led them inside.

"You've arrived so early?" Ning Changjiu asked Bai Zang.

"It's not early," Bai Zang replied indifferently. In her arms, she held Shen Tu, the weapon of the Underworld Kingdom, sheathed in white wood.

Siming frowned, "What's with that tone?"

Bai Zang looked directly at Siming: "Aren't you the ones who are in need of my help?"

Siming continued to stare at Bai Zang.

In the end, as if one thing truly subdues another, Bai Zang's momentum was still deflated by Siming. She hugged Shen Tu tighter, but her tone softened, "Alright, when the Bai Zang Year begins, I will naturally lead you to the Silver Snow Palace."

Bai Zang spent the next two days at the Sword Pavilion.

The Sword Pavilion possessed a classical beauty, and Bai Zang felt like a pampered imperial cat living there.

Bai Zang always avoided Siming whenever possible, and her attitude towards Lu Jiajia was gentle, neither distant nor overly familiar. She always considered herself a lone tiger, desiring only to survive and then, at some point, roar through the mountains. Therefore, she was usually wary of everyone.

In her eyes, everything she experienced was merely a task; she needed these grand events to give her existence immortal meaning.

At the end of April, on the day of their departure, a small incident occurred again as Bai Zang walked out of the Sword Pavilion, holding the snow-white scabbard.

Luo Xiaopei stopped her again.

"What now?" Bai Zang found children annoying.

Luo Xiaopei stammered her apology, but Bai Zang interrupted her: "There's nothing to apologize for; you didn't do anything wrong."

Luo Xiaopei lowered her head, took something from behind her back, and handed it to Bai Zang, saying, "Sister, this is for you."

Bai Zang frowned: "What is this?"

Luo Xiaopei said childishly, "Sister, come closer."

Bai Zang looked at the little girl's face, reluctantly mustered some patience, and leaned in closer.

Luo Xiaopei took out a soft, fluffy object—it was a newly knitted scarf.

She stood on her tiptoes, put the scarf around Bai Zang's neck, wrapped it once, and then, looking at the exceedingly beautiful older girl, gave a sweet smile.

Bai Zang was stunned for a moment. She reached out and touched the scarf.

The scarf perfectly concealed the collar-like dragon bone chain around Bai Zang's slender neck.

"It's almost May; what do I need a scarf for?" Bai Zang touched the soft scarf, her words neither cold nor warm.

Luo Xiaopei whispered, "Because it looks better this way."

Bai Zang thought of the humiliating chain, gnashing her teeth and clenching the scarf—that chain constantly reminded her of her status as a prisoner, making her dignity and pride seem worthless... Her body trembled slightly.

Luo Xiaopei noticed her unusual reaction, feeling a bit flustered and thinking she had meddled too much.

A moment later, Bai Zang slowly opened her eyes. She looked at the little girl, asked her name, and the little girl answered shyly.

Bai Zang offered a tentative smile, and just before leaving, she softly said, "Thank you."

Inside the Silver Snow Palace, Qiu Yue sat on the throne, holding Tian Zang's Divine Heart. A moment ago, she had wantonly squandered her power, destroying half the beings in the divine realm, turning them into spiritual energy to be re-nurtured in the Mother Well.

Now, she was a bit tired and dozing on the throne. The Silver Divine Officials and Heavenly Lords, once unapproachable to her, now stood respectfully beside her.

Qiu Yue stretched lazily, sighing at the loneliness of invincibility and being at the top.

So, being unmatched in the world was this lonely...

Qiu Yue rose from the throne, walked to the front of the Silver Snow Palace, and stopped to gaze at the vast, boundless world. She felt that, though young, she already possessed the bearing of a profound and unshakable grandmaster. Qiu Yue was quite pleased with this.

However, despite the vastness of the divine realm and her own invincibility, she still felt trapped in a cage... If the Divine Lord could move freely between the inner and outer worlds, that would be wonderful.

Thinking this, Qiu Yue couldn't help but sigh. She thought, since the next twelve years were still far off, she might as well sleep for a long, long time—a twelve-year nap—and then this seemingly long and tedious period would pass in the blink of an eye.

Just as Qiu Yue was about to fall asleep, she sensed something and immediately sat up straight.

This is...

Qiu Yue looked up, feeling a beam of starlight cross the distant, dark cosmos and shine directly towards her. Was that... Bai Zang Star?

Had twelve years passed so quickly? Was the flow of time different in the divine realm compared to the outside world?

After a brief hesitation, Qiu Yue immediately became excited.

Regardless, the opening of the divine realm was exciting for her. She was eager to reunite with Ning Changjiu.

Starlight fell, and the divine realm opened.

Qiu Yue excitedly leaped from the throne. She drew the Sword of the Nation's Guardian from the Bai Zang Divine Realm and told the Divine Officials and Heavenly Lords, "Cheer up! It's our turn to guard the order of the Heavenly Dao again!"

In her joy, the 'Omniscience' ability, unique to the realm's lord, naturally activated. Qiu Yue could use this ability to quickly learn what had happened in the outside world while the divine realm was closed.

As soon as the 'Omniscience' ability activated, Qiu Yue's smile froze on her face.

She looked up, staring ahead in disbelief.

There were people standing outside the Bai Zang Divine Realm! Those were familiar faces, and the silver-dressed woman leading them was... Bai Zang?!

Qiu Yue was so scared her mind went blank.

How could they be here? Did Bai Zang lead the way? What did they want?

No! Why was she afraid? She was the supreme Divine Lord, why should she fear these humble ants? Their daring to appear before her wasn't just walking into a trap? It saved her the trouble of finding them!

Qiu Yue gripped her sword, her heart battling between heaven and hell. She closed her eyes, mobilizing the Divine Lord's power, preparing to release a projection.

Suddenly, the ground shook violently.

Qiu Yue's attempt to deploy a projection was interrupted.

"What's going on?" Qiu Yue opened her eyes, unable to hide her horror. She roared at the Silver Divine Officials and Heavenly Lords who stood frozen nearby, "Why are you just standing there? The enemy is outside; go kill them!"

The Silver Divine Official and Silver Heavenly Lord gave no response. Instead, they knelt down.

Their bows were not to Qiu Yue, but directly towards the main gate of the divine palace.

Only then did Qiu Yue realize that the enemy had already broken in!

How did they do it? Shouldn't the Divine Lord be invincible within the divine realm?

Countless questions flooded Qiu Yue's mind. The ultimate hunter had suddenly become the surrounded prey. She needed only a little bit of her omniscience to understand what was happening, but Qiu Yue was utterly cold, unable to do anything, her brain buzzing as if it were about to crack.

In this dizzying state, Bai Zang arrived at the divine palace entrance, appearing before her.

"You..." Qiu Yue opened her mouth, almost instinctively shouting, "What are you doing here?!"

Bai Zang straightened her scarf and said, "This is my palace. Why can't I return?"

Qiu Yue stared at her, her body trembling uncontrollably. She tried to mobilize her power to attack, but found she had no courage.

Ning Changjiu and Lu Jiajia followed shortly after.

"Long time no see."

Ning Changjiu looked at Qiu Yue and made a throat-slitting gesture.

Qiu Yue felt like she was going mad. She slapped herself hard, hoping she was just having an absurd nightmare, but this wasn't a dream, and she wouldn't wake up.

Qiu Yue looked at them, not daring to breathe. She calmed down slightly, then remembered to invoke the authority of omniscience. In an instant, Qiu Yue finally understood everything... It turned out the Divine Lord had been abandoned by the Dark Lord; they were all pawns meant to delay Ning Changjiu, and the power of the divine realm no longer existed.

How... how could this happen?

This was undoubtedly a bolt from the blue, hitting Qiu Yue so hard she was disoriented and almost burst into tears.

But the instinct for survival calmed her down. She looked up at Ning Changjiu and Lu Jiajia, forcing out a smile uglier than a grimace: "Father, Mother, I... I am your daughter. Have you finally come to see me?"

Lu Jiajia recalled the shipwreck incident on the pleasure boat. At that time, she had truly been deceived by her, so much so that every time she remembered it afterward, Lu Jiajia felt a chill down her spine.

"You truly are a filial daughter," Lu Jiajia said indifferently.

Qiu Yue maintained her smile, saying, "Of course. Filial piety is my greatest virtue..."

"Stop wasting words with her; just kill her." Siming had already conjured her black sword.

The black sword was drawn taut, launching instantly. When this slender sword truly struck, it was like a black dragon, roaring as it lunged at Qiu Yue.

Qiu Yue's pupils constricted. In the nick of time, she instinctively raised her sword to block. With a clang, Qiu Yue was flung back by the immense force, crashing hard into the Silver Throne. Her throat tightened, and blood gushed out.

Qiu Yue felt immense resentment. She wiped the blood, but still forced out an innocent smile: "This new mother-in-law, did... did you also misunderstand something? Although I am the Divine Lord, I am not an enemy. I infiltrated the Silver Snow Palace precisely to seize power and help you all! I... I have always been fulfilling my mission!"

"Is that so?"

This time, it was Bai Zang who spoke.

Qiu Yue's scalp tingled. She realized that no matter what she said, she would offend someone.

Ning Changjiu didn't make a move, seemingly just enjoying her clown-like performance... Fear, humiliation, and rage tangled and erupted within her, yet she was extremely timid, not even having the courage to react.

Ning Changjiu quietly looked at her and said, "Don't you like parricide and matricide? We are standing before you; come, try it."

Qiu Yue blinked and said, "Father, what kind of joke are you making?"

Ning Changjiu said, "I'm only giving you this chance out of boredom. If you don't take it, then I'll make the first move."

Qiu Yue trembled, huddled on the throne, the vibrancy in her eyes long gone.

Previously, Ning Changjiu had said that the Six-Eared Macaque might be the weakest of the existing Divine Lords. When he said that, he hadn't even included Qiu Yue.

Even though Qiu Yue had become the Lord of the Divine Realm and possessed the Sword of the Nation's Guardian, she was still just an arrogant, foolish child.

"Three." Ning Changjiu began to count down.

"Two."

"One."

As the echo of "one" faded, Qiu Yue's mind conjured a scene of herself furiously grabbing the Silver Sword and roaring as she charged at Ning Changjiu.

But that grand and tragic scene was merely a fantasy.

Qiu Yue thought of many scenes she had witnessed at execution grounds... condemned criminals being pushed onto the platform by soldiers to be beheaded. They knew they were going to die, yet they walked blankly to the market square, knelt, and waited for the executioner's blade to fall. Qiu Yue had thought then, it's one cut whether you stick your neck out or pull it back, why not resist? Perhaps they could even escape in the chaos.

Now, she truly and deeply experienced that emotion...

Her limbs went soft, unable to muster any courage to resist, only tears flowed uncontrollably down her distorted face.

Ning Changjiu walked in front of her and effortlessly took the Divine Heart and the Luo River Map, Qiu Yue's most cherished possessions.

Ning Changjiu raised the Silver Sword.

"No, no, no... no!!"

Qiu Yue was terrified. She kept screaming, gasping for breath: "I surrender! I'm not resisting anymore, why are you still killing me? I was wrong, I was wrong... please spare me... Ah!"

A scream echoed through the Silver Divine Realm.

The Silver Divine Sword descended, pinning her to the throne. Qiu Yue's mouth gaped open, cold air slowly escaping, and her pupils were filled with bloodshot veins.

The pain caused her whole body to convulse, her mind went blank, and death was her last thought.

But Qiu Yue did not die.

She was, after all, the spirit of the Luo River Map. If she died, the Luo River Map would lose its spiritual energy.

This was the only reason she was alive.

Qiu Yue would not feel lucky for this. In the years to come, she would be sealed forever in the Luo River Map, never to see the light of day again.

Snow fell in the Silver Snow Palace.

Bai Zang, wearing her scarf, stood amidst the falling snow, a surprisingly fitting image.

She gazed at the place where she had lived for thousands of years, a place that held her throne and her lonely, snow-like divine heart. Now, everything was about to disappear; in the vast white world, there was only a near-pale purity.

Bai Zang put her hands into her scarf, as if to warm them.

"Let's go," Siming said. "This place is about to collapse."

Bai Zang nodded and walked out of the Silver Snow Palace.

Only Ning Changjiu remained standing in place.

Lu Jiajia turned back in confusion, sensing something ominous. "What's wrong?"

Ning Changjiu looked up, his gaze crossing the vast white snow of the divine realm and reaching beyond the heavens.

Everyone felt curious and followed his gaze, looking up together.

Bai Zang was the first to understand.

She saw...

She saw stones with long fiery tails flying straight towards them from beyond the distant sky!

Those were meteors!

The meteors turned orange-red as they crossed the atmosphere, trailing hundreds of miles of fire as they rushed towards the earth, twisting the void in their path!

And there was more than one such meteor!

One, two, three, four...

Bai Zang counted them clearly!

There were exactly seven falling stars, lined up in neat formation, hurtling towards the human world with a destructive aura!

Siming also understood.

For days, she had felt like she was missing something, and only now did it hit her like a revelation: the scene in Northern Darkness when they pursued the Sword Saint—at the very end, as they were about to kill the Sword Saint, Yuanyu's meteor descended from the sky, stopping everything.

Since Yuanyu's star could be hurled down to earth after Yuanyu lost her value, couldn't the Dark Lord, who possessed the power of the stars, also control the other stars and hurl them down?

These seven stars were the stars of the Sin Lord, Bai Zang, Tianji, Yuanjun, Jufu, Mingzheng, and Konglie.

They were flying towards the mortal world.