Chapter 1713: Distant Skies and Sun, Mistaken Shadows; Orioles, Swallows, and Flowers Question the Qin Slave

In the Han Palace Imperial Realm, on a barren mountain.

The barren mountain lived up to its name, with no grass or trees growing.

As far as the eye could see, there were only jagged rocks and sharp sands. The entire mountain range was shrouded in continuous swirling dust, making one wonder if a civilization existed within.

Deep within the barren mountain, where no one dared to set foot, Yue Gongli was desperately trying to reconstruct his physical body.

However, he had exhausted all the sacred medicines A'si had given him, and yet his body reconstruction failed again.

"This is going to be a huge problem!"

Yue Gongli was on the verge of a breakdown.

This was his 368th failure to reconstruct his body.

A'si's thoughtfully prepared medicines had run out as early as the 18th attempt—A'si had even been considerate enough to think he would fail seventeen times!

How absurd was that?

But reality was always more absurd.

Could it be that his talent was truly insufficient, or that Heaven intended to destroy him, preventing him from reconstructing his body in this Dharma-Breaking Land?

"Shao Bao Laodao, it must be your doing!"

Yue Gongli roared skyward, wishing he could rush back to the Sacred God Continent and tear that damned thing to shreds.

As early as in the Divine Ruins, when Dao Qiongcang had kindly helped him shape his physical body, he had suspected that fellow would leave a contingency plan.

Indeed, upon returning to the Sacred God Continent, Yue Gongli didn't even dare to stay in the Central Region and immediately returned to the Han Palace Imperial Realm for safety.

He had even specifically chosen this Dharma-Breaking Land—the barren mountain!

No matter how unpredictable Dao Qiongcang was, he surely couldn't bypass the complex and broken rules of this place to continue interfering with his self-destruction and body reconstruction.

The self-destruction itself was smooth.

At the moment of release, Yue Gongli's soul ascended to heaven, experiencing unimaginable pain and equally unimaginable exhilaration.

"This is the first time I've self-destructed in my life, and it will be the only time."

"My body, hair, and skin are received from my parents, but now I discard them, a disgrace."

"And you, Dao Qiongcang, just wait to be severely dealt with by me!"

At that time, Yue Gongli was so confident, determined that everything would start anew.

However, self-destruction was simple, but the subsequent process of body reconstruction was fraught with obstacles.

Either there were issues with the details of the reconstruction process that led to failure, or the reconstructed body was a bit too weak and needed to be redone...

"This is the second time, and it will be the only two times."

"This is the third time, as the saying goes, things do not happen more than three times."

"This is the ninth time, nine is the extreme number, surely there won't be any more mistakes?"

"Two hundred and fifty, surely not again..."

Yue Gongli exploded and re-exploded, hurt and re-hurt.

Only the first time was exhilarating; every subsequent explosion after a failed body reconstruction was torture.

He couldn't understand!

Even if Dao Qiongcang left a contingency plan and could still influence him through the barren mountain, why would he trip him up at this moment?

How boring!

Wouldn't it be better to save this trick and detonate it at an important moment in the future?

Coming at this time, was it merely for fun?

By the 399th failure, Yue Gongli was almost drained, his soul body becoming incredibly weak.

He could no longer suppress the madness in his heart, his soul sound roaring in all directions, yet it couldn't escape this barren mountain:

"Dao Qiongcang, I'll kill you!"

"Is Young Master Li not well yet?"

Outside the barren mountain, beyond the "line" Young Master Li had drawn before his closed-door cultivation, which everyone was forbidden to cross, stood a dozen or so people.

Apart from an elderly old man being surrounded at the front, most of them were handmaidens from Tingyu Pavilion.

Originally, when Young Master Li, tired of life, went to self-destruct, everyone got a rare holiday. Regardless of how insane the message itself was, it was good news.

But even though they were called here during their rest time, and no matter how impatient they were internally, the handmaidens could outwardly show concern.

"Elder, please rest assured. Since Young Master Li has the confidence to self-destruct and drew this line forbidding us from approaching, it means he is tired of living... er, he is confident!" A handmaiden replied.

"Yes, Young Master Li always acts with a clear mind, so we don't need to worry too much." Another handmaiden stifled a yawn, still having the heart to joke, "To be honest, it'd be better to go back to sleep."

"Young Master Li is in closed-door cultivation for death, and self-destruction is indeed a big deal... Perhaps this is an overt scheme; he is waiting inside for those with ill intentions to trespass, so he can catch them red-handed. Young Master Li has always been suspicious... hmm, resourceful."

"Yes, yes, yes, Young Master Li is brilliant!"

The chirping and chattering of the women were quite noisy!

Also, Young Master Li isn't even here, why are you flattering him? Are you talking to me now?

The old man, Yue Gonghui, who was called Elder Hui, listened to the demonic sounds in his ears, and his head almost swelled up.

So noisy indeed!

How did Yue Gongli endure it?

There had long been a rumor in the Han Palace Imperial Realm that the handmaidens of Tingyu Pavilion were as beautiful as celestial beings but lacked patience.

He had indeed seen their beauty.

Their lack of patience, he also witnessed today.

As the esteemed Head of the Spirit Guard Hall, he personally came to consult Young Master Li, which clearly indicated a major issue.

And you tell me he's playing with self-destruction out of boredom, and even playing some overt scheme?

Who in this Han Palace Imperial Realm would dare harbor ill intentions?

Even if there were, they wouldn't be so foolish as to cross that line and seek their own death, would they?

—Even without a physical body, Young Master Li's strength was not something ordinary semi-sages could contend with!

Yue Gonghui suppressed his impatience and said, "I am not worried about Young Master Li's safety. I just want to ask, how much longer do we have to wait for him?"

"We don't know that."

"Last time Young Master Li said he was going to play in the Sacred God Continent, we all thought he was sneaking off again. He didn't even tell us he was invited by Hall Master Dao to be that... yes, the Red-Robed Dao Master."

"Yes, yes, he doesn't tell us anything, nor does he take us to play. Elder Hui, if you have a big matter, just keep it to yourself, no need to tell us."

"Yes, yes, yes, we are useless, not helpful at all. We can only give Young Master Li shoulder rubs and back massages. We have no strength!"

Wow...

Yue Gonghui, at his advanced age, was utterly speechless.

Is this the world of young people? He decided that once Young Master Li came out, he would sternly reprimand these handmaidens.

What was the point of keeping them?

Purely for aesthetic pleasure?

"This line..."

Elder Hui's gaze fixed on the line on the ground.

The wind and sand on the barren mountain were strong, so the line was actually blurred.

But the handmaidens, seeing him coming, quickly stopped him and placed a "No Entry" sign next to it, also warning him.

Yue Gonghui hadn't even asked his question, but these clever handmaidens seemed to know what he wanted to ask and replied:

"If you want to go in, Elder Hui, you can go yourself. We wouldn't dare."

"Yes, the price of violating the order is death. We only earn three thousand spirit crystals a month; it's not worth it."

"Mainly, the spiritual energy concentration in Tingyu Pavilion is very high. Otherwise, I wouldn't want to leave home. I miss my mother."

"Yes, yes, speaking of home..."

"Shut up!" Yue Gonghui roared, his tiger-like eyes sweeping around.

The handmaidens instantly lowered their heads in unison, some touching their skirts, some looking at their chests, some stepping on stones, all very busy.

But they weren't scared.

What kind of witches are these... Yue Gonghui couldn't handle it anymore. If it weren't for the gravity of the matter, he would want to leave this cursed barren mountain right now.

"Is Elder Hui's matter very important? If anyone in Tingyu Pavilion dares to violate Young Master Li's order, it would definitely be Elder Si."

"Oh, yes, yes, Elder Hui, hurry and find Elder Si. If he comes, he'll surely dare to violate the order and take you into the barren mountain to see Young Master Li."

"But the one who had an accident is A'si!" Yue Gonghui roared, completely losing his patience.

In fact, he rarely got angry. The Head of the Spirit Guard Hall oversees the blood soul tokens of all high-level cultivators in the Han Palace Imperial Realm, requiring a peaceful state of mind.

If he was always angry, he might not hear the sound of a token shattering, indicating someone's death.

Previously in the Spirit Guard Hall, A'si's blood soul token showed an abnormality, proving that he had an accident.

But he wasn't dead yet, there was still room for recovery.

Yue Gonghui then conducted a preliminary investigation and found that A'si had left on orders to the Sacred God Continent.

Judging by the situation...

And it involved the Sacred God Continent...

It could only be said that the situation was very serious.

But when it was time to find the decision-maker, at this critical moment, the Han Palace Imperial Realm was leaderless.

The leader was self-destructing!

What on earth is going on!

Yue Gonghui's breakdown wasn't due to the handmaidens, but because today's events, one after another, were utterly preposterous.

He quickly cut off his chaotic thoughts. His mind had been somewhat muddled recently, and his emotions were fluctuating very frequently; he probably hadn't been sleeping well.

"What are your thoughts?"

Yue Gonghui looked at the handmaidens, humbly seeking advice.

It was evident that the handmaidens of Tingyu Pavilion were very intelligent, merely feigning ignorance.

These individuals, having followed Young Master Li daily, must have assimilated more than just bad habits by osmosis.

Good ones, too, perhaps?

Perhaps one of them could offer a sensible suggestion, viewing the matter from Young Master Li's usual perspective, and provide him with inspiration.

That would be enough!

"Ah? Elder Si had an accident..."

But upon hearing this, the handmaidens once again touched their skirts, looked at their chests, or stepped on stones, appearing very busy.

No one was a fool.

Elder Si was Young Master Li's shadow. If he had an accident, it was undoubtedly a colossal matter.

This was something for those above them to consider. What use would their words as handmaidens be?

Also, for what?

To be dragged out afterward, blamed, and have their throats slit?

"Whoever can give a useful suggestion, even if it's just half a potentially useful sentence, this Spirit Mark is hers." Yue Gonghui pulled out a Spirit Mark brimming with spiritual energy, his expression serious and earnest.

Spirit Marks were valuable; besides being useful for cultivation, they were primarily worth a hundred million spirit crystals.

A little handmaiden who only received three thousand spirit crystals a month, upon seeing this, wouldn't she eagerly pounce on it, activating her clever mind to offer useful advice?

But the Spirit Mark rotated in his hand for a long time, and the handmaidens only glanced up before retracting their gazes.

Are you kidding? A single Spirit Mark to buy our lives? Who would fall for that?

Among those present, who truly came to be a handmaiden in Tingyu Pavilion for the three thousand spirit crystals a month?

Who wasn't hoping to "fly up the branches and become a phoenix," only to wither when they realized Young Master Li wasn't very interested in them?

Besides, if one didn't have some small Spirit Mark savings at home, did they really think the position of Tingyu Pavilion handmaiden was unwanted and could be obtained through fair election?

A single Spirit Mark?

You must be trying to bribe a Spirit Master from the Sacred God Continent!

Yue Gonghui was also a bit out of sync with the pace of the young generation. Seeing that the Spirit Mark didn't sway them, he produced an unowned token:

"Speaking of which, the Spirit Guard Hall happens to be short-handed recently..."

The handmaidens lifted their gazes and then lowered them again. Faintly, from somewhere, a snicker was heard, but it quickly subsided.

Yue Gonghui knew who was laughing, but as the esteemed Head of the Spirit Guard Hall, it wasn't appropriate to bicker with a young handmaiden.

His old face flushed, and he could only awkwardly put the token away.

Oh, right, working in the Spirit Guard Hall isn't as comfortable as in Tingyu Pavilion.

The Spirit Guard Hall was old, Tingyu Pavilion was young.

The Spirit Guard Hall had heavy duties, Tingyu Pavilion had frequent breaks.

These handmaidens, at their most beautiful age, occupied the best positions. They had clearly reached the "pinnacle of life," and neither internal nor external incentives could move them.

What should he do!

These people were simply too unmotivated!

Was there no one who wanted to move their buttocks, climb higher, and escape the "handmaiden" title?

Yue Gonghui stood awkwardly in place, at a loss for how to speak again for a long time.

"Young Master Li isn't here, why don't you go find the family head?"

In the end, the handmaidens of Tingyu Pavilion couldn't bear it and offered a shallow suggestion.

This voice seemed to come from beyond the heavens, ethereal and melodious, not from the handmaidens of this place, but as if a celestial maiden, pitying Elder Hui's predicament, had spoken.

"Today's matter, it won't be investigated afterward. Let's pretend nothing happened, I swear!" Yue Gonghui deeply exhaled, knowing the handmaidens' worries. He pretended not to know who was giving advice and mumbled into the air, "The old family head is also in closed-door cultivation for death."

"Then wait."

"If we could wait, would I need to ask... *cough*, then I will wait patiently."

"Then choose another shadow."

Wow...

Who gave that advice! Who!

Yue Gonghui almost lost control, wanting to drag her out and beat her to death.

But on second thought, with the old family head and young family head both absent, and the shadow also having an accident, perhaps choosing a new shadow to manage affairs was indeed a good suggestion?

Thinking about this remark in detail, one could also read the handmaidens' incisive interpretation of the fundamental problem causing the current situation in the Han Palace Imperial Realm:

Two generations using the same shadow!

If there were two shadows, this problem wouldn't arise.

Even if the new shadow had an accident, and both the old and young family heads were in closed-door cultivation, there would absolutely still be an old shadow who wouldn't dare to run around, to guard against the unexpected.

Damn it, they really do have some insights...

The selection of a new shadow should indeed be put on the agenda. The situation has been unsettling lately, with incidents constantly occurring...

Yue Gonghui earnestly replied to the air, "There's no time. Both the old family head and young family head are in closed-door cultivation for death. Even if we were to select a new shadow, they would have to pass the final test, which is essentially a dead end."

The handmaidens continued their various tasks, each with bowed head and chest, and found it difficult to speak after hearing this.

Speak up!

Give more suggestions!

All very good suggestions, and there will be rewards for all of them later!

Yue Gonghui waited for a while, but no one spoke. He then pulled out eighteen Spirit Marks and placed them on the ground, deciding to let the handmaidens claim them themselves after he left to avoid the awkwardness of distribution.

But he glanced at them...

This looked utterly improper. How could rewards be thrown on the ground? It looked like he was rewarding a Spirit Master from the Sacred God Continent!

After thinking, Yue Gonghui put the Spirit Marks back.

The handmaidens all raised their eyes and glanced at him. Yue Gonghui was startled and quickly waved his hand, "No..."

He placed each Spirit Mark into a spatial ring, then placed the rings on the ground, showing respect and paying for knowledge.

It still looked a bit shabby!

After thinking, Yue Gonghui pulled out his beloved small square table made of red ant wood, which he and his old friend used for drinking.

He placed the square table in front of the "No Entry" sign and then presented the spatial rings one by one, which looked a bit more appropriate now.

It looked a bit like seeing Young Master Li off... Yue Gonghui suddenly sobered up, shook his head, and looked at the handmaidens with anticipation:

"Anything else?"

The handmaidens secretly glanced at the solemnly placed small square table, then lowered their heads. After a long while, someone cautiously spoke:

"This won't work, and that won't work..."

"It's unsolvable, then."

Wow...

Yue Gonghui almost picked up the small square table and slapped each of the eighteen rings onto the handmaidens' foreheads.

But he held back the twitching of his mouth and waited quietly, without speaking.

They were the Tingyu Pavilion's think tank; they would definitely offer useful advice!

"If you can't choose a new shadow, choose an old one." Sure enough, a kind-hearted fairy spoke.

But the words were vague, and Yue Gonghui was momentarily confused. "Where is there an old shadow?"

The old shadow was A'si.

The only one who could still be related to the old shadow was Young Master Li; his previous identity was a shadow.

Before that...

There was no one!

The shadows before that were all buried, having passed on their semi-sage status. How could there be anyone older?

The Han Palace Imperial Realm wasn't like the other four families, who hadn't chosen a shadow for hundreds of years. I've almost forgotten the process... Yue Gonghui frowned and repeated, "Where is there an old shadow?"

Fairy: "Just think about it."

Are these handmaidens idiots?

How could a shadow exist just by thinking about it?

Could I think of one, and a shadow would appear out of thin air to manage affairs?

"Oh!"

Just then, a handmaiden looked at the sky, slapped her forehead, and said regretfully, "It's time. Young Master Li hasn't come out yet. I need to take his place and deliver food to Sister Nu. I almost forgot."

*Thump-thump-thump.*

After speaking, she scurried away.

Yue Gonghui felt as if struck by lightning, trembling all over. He watched the retreating handmaiden's back, unable to speak.

You, you all...

Could it, could it be...

It's completely rebellious!

Simply rebellious!

Just for the sake of A'si, do I have to invite that sinner out of the Cold Prison to manage affairs?

Wouldn't I then become another sinner?

"I also want to see Sister Nu. Dai'er, wait for me."

"Young Master Li and Sister Nu have such a good relationship. I also want to hear Sister Nu play the zither again; her music is heavenly."

"Yes, yes. Since Young Master Li isn't here, our task is to keep Sister Nu company, otherwise he'll blame us!"

"Sister Nu is so beautiful. Sister Nu is a fairy."

"Speaking of which, it seems Young Master Li also goes to ask Sister Nu whenever he encounters difficult problems..."

Half of the chattering women playfully left.

The remaining half kept their heads down, still surrounding the small square table, touching their skirts, looking at their chests, and stepping on pebbles, showing no interest in the spatial rings or the Spirit Marks.

They also showed no interest in the small square table made of the sacred red ant wood.

Presumptuous...

So very presumptuous...

Yue Gonghui tried to calm himself down.

But once a person calms down and reconsiders the current problem, it is truly terrifying upon closer thought!

It didn't matter much if A'si died.

The crucial point was that his mind contained too much information. He was a shadow. If this information were to fall outside...

Even if it was lost, it might later be discovered by people on the Sacred God Continent.

After all, wherever a semi-sage status is lost, that place becomes the center of the world and will always be found.

This is a chance for sainthood!

"If this matter isn't handled well, the Han Palace Imperial Realm will face huge problems."

"Their advice wasn't wrong. The one who took things for granted and simplified them was actually me. I was foolish."

"I must ask, I really must ask!"

"But..."

But that was Yue Gongnu!

In the Han Palace Imperial Realm, a "Saint Slave" who should have been executed, or even had her entire clan wiped out, or at the very least, exiled!

Due to various unspeakable reasons, Yue Gongnu survived, but was imprisoned for life in the Cold Prison.

Her name had even become a taboo; only the handmaidens of Tingyu Pavilion dared to mention it so directly.

"Young Lady... Yue Gongnu..."

Yue Gonghui was completely lost in thought, his mind utterly chaotic.

Many actively sealed and forcibly retrieved images flashed through his mind, and even the long-lost honorific he used for that person many years ago surfaced, and he unconsciously uttered it aloud.

The handmaidens looked up in surprise.

They dared to call her that because Young Master Li pampered them.

But for thirty years in the Han Palace Imperial Realm, no one had been so brazen as to dare to say it out loud.

"No..."

Yue Gonghui's old face turned pale in fright as he realized what he had done, waving his hands repeatedly.

The handmaidens lowered their heads again, as if they hadn't heard anything.

Everyone was intelligent; selective deafness was an essential spiritual skill for dealing with people.

Yue Gonghui's right eyelid twitched wildly. He pressed his eye, feeling that he couldn't stay here much longer.

"You all wait for Young Master Li here. As soon as there's news, someone come and inform me."

"I almost forgot, there's still something to handle at the Spirit Guard Hall. I need to go deal with it. You all please carry on..."

Yue Gonghui spoke incoherently, becoming more and more confused, and finally, after a few brief sentences, he flashed into the sky.

He stood suspended in the void.

The void was empty.

Yue Gonghui's heart was even more hollow and numb.

"Should I go ask?"

"That sinner, Yue Gongnu..."

Yue Gonghui suddenly looked up at the sky.

Somehow, he always felt an invisible giant eye in the sky staring at him.

Yet, a sweep of his saintly perception revealed nothing.

How strange.

Why was he having so many delusions lately?

After Young Master Li returned, why did it feel like things were going wrong in the Han Palace Imperial Realm?

Selectively forgetting the oddity, Yue Gonghui quickly returned to thinking about the main issue:

"Just go and consult her, or use her words to enter the barren mountain and see Young Master Li, but without taking her out of the Cold Prison."

"She's so kind, she'll surely agree, right?"

"That way, Young Master Li won't blame me, and everything in the Cold Prison will remain as usual..."

This should be fine, right?

Hmm, there shouldn't be any problem. (End of chapter)