As the world turned, that gleaming beam seemed to awaken, growing ever brighter as if in response to some silent call.
Upon the platform, Ghost Master stirred slightly, sensing something, yet unsure of its nature. After a moment’s hesitation, he slowly opened his eyes and looked up at the Dragon Subduing Cauldron above.
Ghost Li’s body twitched gently, emerging from a daze and rolling over on the bed. He still felt a faint dizziness, which was quite rare given his profound cultivation. Yet, Ghost Li seemed not to care. Composing himself, he took a deep breath, turned around, and suddenly paused. On the ground lay a jade plate, emanating a soft, white light—the Plate of Heavenly Cycle. Beside it, the little monkey, Grey, sat curiously, inspecting the plate with great interest, trying to touch it several times but always drawing back, as if fearful of it.
Ghost Li frowned, pondering for a while, but could not recall if he had dropped the plate or how he had returned from the ice stone chamber. The recent events must have clouded his mind, leaving him confused. Shaking off these thoughts, he sighed and gently descended the stairs. Bending down, he picked up the Plate of Heavenly Cycle. Grey, still seated on the ground, gazed at Ghost Li with his three luminous eyes, lost in thought.
Ghost Li waved to the monkey, “Come here, Grey.”
Grey chattered twice, leapt over, and bounced onto Ghost Li, but still seemed wary of the plate. Finally, instead of staying in Ghost Li’s arms, he jumped onto his shoulder, perching there while still casting glances at the plate.
Ghost Li, not thinking much of it, petted Grey, the only creature that had stayed by his side. After a while, his gaze fell back on the plate. The soft white light still shone, and the countless tiny jade pieces continued to move along their mysterious, never-ending paths, as if nothing had happened.
Silently, Ghost Li stared at the plate, the white glow illuminating his face. He wondered what secrets it held, deeply hidden.
After a long while, he shook his head, a hint of disappointment crossing his face. Taking the black cloth, he wrapped the Plate of Heavenly Cycle and placed it back in his robes. Grey, perched on his shoulder, watched this, and when Ghost Li put the plate away, Grey chattered again.
Ghost Li turned, puzzled, and asked, “What is it, Grey?”
Grey scratched his head, seemingly unable to express what was amiss. He shrugged and sighed. Ghost Li patted his head, not too concerned, and after a moment, said, “Grey, how long did I sleep?”
Grey’s eyes spun, and he chattered, gesturing with his hands. Ghost Li understood, “It’s been a while. Let’s go for a walk.” Standing up, he cradled Grey, petting him. His expression grew somber, but he breathed deeply and said, “No matter what, we must keep going, right?” Grey’s eyes kept spinning, and Ghost Li, not in the mood to delve deeper, patted his back. Grey climbed back onto his shoulder, and they walked out of the stone chamber. The passage outside stretched out in all directions, with widening cracks reminding them of the lurking danger.
Ghost Li stood at the entrance, looking at the fissures. Some were enormous, almost reaching the ground, revealing gray rock. The once-solid stone walls now seemed as fragile as paper. Walking closer to one, he examined it for a while, then looked up at the ceiling, frowning. These cracks appeared after he left the Fox Ridge Mountain. Though he remembered the mysterious power that emerged, it was underground, yet the damage was most severe on the ceiling and less so on the walls. Frustrated, he decided to leave, leading Grey down the passage.
The passage was eerily quiet, and the disciples of the Ghost King Sect stayed in their rooms, unwilling to venture out. Only Ghost Li’s footsteps echoed, and even the usually bustling corridor was deserted. Unbothered, he continued, heading towards the cave entrance, perhaps to escape his troubles.
His steps echoed in the silence, and Grey, unused to such quiet, turned his head, peering around. Suddenly, Grey stopped, looking ahead. At the same moment, Ghost Li sensed something, stopping in his tracks. Ahead, no one was in sight, but soon, a black figure silently floated toward them—it was the enigmatic Ghost Master.
Seeing Ghost Li, Ghost Master halted. They stared at each other, and the atmosphere grew tense. Finally, Ghost Master spoke, “When did you return?”
“Not long ago,” Ghost Li replied, indifferent.
Ghost Master nodded, hesitated, and then said, “Have you noticed anything… unusual?”
Ghost Li gave him a sharp look, “What do you mean?”
Ghost Master paused, then shook his head, “Never mind. I’ll be going.” He walked away without another word.
Watching Ghost Master’s retreating figure, Ghost Li saw him move slowly, not in a straight line, occasionally nearing the stone chambers. It seemed like he was searching for something.
Turning, Ghost Li continued, and soon reached the cave entrance. As he stepped out, a ray of warm sunlight touched his face. Squinting, he took a deep breath, feeling a slight weight lift from his heart.
Azure Ethereal Conclave, Celestial Peak.
Days passed, and Dao Xuan Zhenren, the Patriarch of the Azure Ethereal Vapors, had not been seen. This was no small matter, given his status as a leader among the righteous factions. Xiao Yicai, the acting patriarch, faced increasing pressure, fielding inquiries from various sects and dealing with internal affairs. Despite his best efforts, he was overwhelmed, and the sect’s members were uneasy. Rumors spread that Dao Xuan had gone on a journey, but few believed it.
In reality, only Water Moon Master and Lu Xueqi knew the truth. With the passing of Tian Yisun and Su Ru, the burden fell on Xiao Yicai. The rest of the sect, including the other six branches, were skeptical. The pressure was immense, and one day, the heads of the six branches gathered at Celestial Peak, demanding answers.
Water Moon Master and Lu Xueqi were the only ones aware of the secret, but even they were at a loss. Xiao Yicai, exhausted, tried to explain, but the questions persisted. Eventually, Zeng Shuchang, the head of Wind Return Peak, left in anger, followed by the others. Xiao Yicai, relieved, collapsed, wondering how much longer he could hold on.
Back at Bamboo Peak, Song Dairen, the new head, was in mourning. Wen Min, his secret love, comforted him, but the situation was dire. Water Moon Master, observing, decided to give her blessing, surprising everyone. Perhaps, she thought, letting them find happiness was the best course.
In the Blood Pool, the demonic energy surged, and Ghost Master, watching the Dragon Subduing Cauldron, sensed a connection. The ancient magic, he realized, was linked to the Plate of Heavenly Cycle. A solution was within reach, but it would require careful manipulation. As the earth trembled, Ghost Li and Ghost Master, standing by the sleeping Biaoyao, knew they had to act quickly.
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