Before dawn, deep into the night, during the transition from late spring to early summer, the wind still carried a chill. At this hour, those still toiling in the streets were usually the impoverished—night watchmen and commoners driving donkey carts, collecting night soil from house to house.
Annoying stench wafted from the cart’s rear, but Lao Jiang had long grown accustomed to it. Sipping on cheap wine bought for just a few coins to ward off the cold, he hummed a tune while steadily guiding his old donkey.
Suddenly, his vision blurred, and he thought he saw a shadow dart past. He couldn’t help shivering involuntarily, fearing it was a ghost from the netherworld.
Trembling with fear, he peered closer and noticed a yellow paper stuck on the wall at the street corner.
“I don’t remember seeing this earlier…” Lao Jiang’s heart sank. As his donkey cart slowly approached, he saw strange patterns and familiar characters scribbled all over the yellow paper.
“Summoning souls by evil spirits?” Lao Jiang recalled the talismans he had seen in Daoist temples and, terrified beyond reason, he whipped the donkey and fled in panic.
Not long after he vanished, a night patroller dressed in Six Gates attire arrived and also noticed the yellow paper.
“The map to the entrance of the Nine Heavens Ruins…” the officer murmured, doubting whether he was still dreaming.
Yellow papers filled the city. Before dawn, hidden currents stirred.
…
Yuan Lihuo, the “Blood Fang Divine Investigator,” saw the yellow paper as soon as he received the news, confirming it depicted the entrance map to the Nine Heavens.
“Search high and low without success, only to find it without effort…” Yuan Lihuo muttered without joy. “It’s truly as Su Meng warned—this trap runs deep, and the mastermind behind it harbors grand ambitions!”
“This time, the entire Divine Capital will surely be thrown into chaos!”
Just earlier that day, Meng Qi had warned him, and Yuan had planned to observe developments while contacting allies. Yet no sooner had he visited the Immortal Trace and left a message than this major change occurred.
Yuan Lihuo could already envision what the court officials would do next, and he could almost see his own plans and preparations being thwarted before they even began.
“I wonder how Su Meng is faring…” He ran his fingers over the yellow paper.
…
Sun Yuexiu, filled with mixed emotions, glanced at the other two guest rooms before turning and following Senior Disciple Ren Jingxiu out of the courtyard.
Ren Jingxiu’s expression remained calm, her eyes showing a trace of reflection. Her sharpness had grown more restrained, as if somewhat shaken by the previous battle.
She had only ever seen such swordsmanship in the Clan’s Grand Elders—she was still a level below. After all, her family was a sword sect!
“If judged purely by sword techniques, it might take only the top sword experts from several major sects to stand a chance against him…” Ren Jingxiu mused, recalling the details of the fight.
With such a powerful figure already involved and the Jin Dynasty government stirred, she judged that she no longer had any opportunity and decided to leave the Divine Capital with her junior apprentice.
“Hey, Senior Sister, what are they looking at?” Sun Yuexiu’s gaze wandered, noticing a crowd of idlers gathered at an alleyway.
Ren Jingxiu looked up and suddenly froze, almost speechless, murmuring to herself: “The map to the entrance of the Nine Heavens Ruins…”
“What?” Sun Yuexiu felt startled.
“It seems to be real…” Ren Jingxiu, recalling the ancient records left by the sect and the various rumors about Xuantian Sect obtaining the Time Blade, deduced from the clues that at least part of this map must be genuine.
Sun Yuexiu took a deep breath, regaining her calm: “This matter is suspicious, likely a trap.”
“Yes, our strength is sufficient to traverse the martial world without fear of most dangers, but something this strange should not be recklessly involved in. We should first send word to the sect and let the Sect Leader decide.” Ren Jingxiu replied prudently.
The two women gave the yellow paper one last deep look, memorizing the patterns and characters, then hurried away to send a message to the Moonlight Sword Sect.
…
Inside the Council Hall, the Emperor presided while officials debated matters of state.
Present too was the current Lord of Pingjin, Cui Qinghe, head of the Cui Clan.
After learning that the entrance maps to the Nine Heavens had spread throughout the city, including the Zhao Clan of the Divine Capital, several top aristocratic families had already exchanged opinions and reached an agreement. Now, they were merely going through the formalities.
Cui Qinghe, taking the lead, his thin face radiating authority: “The Nine Heavens entrance map is genuine, but the mastermind behind it harbors sinister intentions!”
If they couldn’t confirm the authenticity of half the map in Bai Ning’s possession, how else would they have schemed against each other previously?
Wang Wenxian, the Deputy Chancellor, said: “This matter occurs in the Divine Capital, and outsiders are merely guests. How can we possibly ignore it?”
Cui Qinghe nodded in agreement: “Since the matter is happening in the Divine Capital, how can we remain idle? I propose we fully activate the Divine Capital Formation, seal it with the Nine Dragon Seal, isolate the inside from the outside, and temporarily lock down the city to prevent the news about the entrance map from spreading.”
This way, aside from those already hidden within the Divine Capital, the number of competitors could be minimized—such as the Law Body experts rushing in upon hearing the news.
“Secondly, not only should vigilance at key locations throughout the Divine Capital not be relaxed, but it should be heightened, to prevent the mastermind from creating diversions or dark sects taking advantage of the chaos.”
Zhao Jingshi, standing beside the Emperor, looked deeply at Sima Shi and volunteered: “Since I oversee the Nine Dragon Seal to safeguard the Divine Capital, perhaps the Chief Investigator should accompany Lord Pingjin with the Emperor’s Sword?”
Though nominally belonging to the royal family, the Emperor’s Sword was currently under the joint custody of the Council. At a time like this, a Half-Law Body using the Emperor’s Sword would definitely be more effective than a mere Grandmaster. As Deputy Chancellor, Sima Shi was the natural choice after Zhao Jingshi.
Cui Qinghe was a Law Body expert. If he also wielded the Emperor’s Sword, the other families would naturally feel uneasy. Upon hearing Zhao Jingshi’s suggestion, they all nodded in agreement.
The Divine Capital was the Zhao Clan’s stronghold. Among all the families, the Zhao Clan naturally had the strongest interest in preventing chaos. Therefore, Zhao Jingshi volunteering to stay behind with the Nine Dragon Seal was entirely reasonable.
With the urgency of the situation, there was no time for further deliberation. After a brief moment of thought, Cui Qinghe accepted Zhao Jingshi’s proposal.
Within a few breaths, the sky above the Divine Capital darkened with gathering clouds, golden light radiating outward in rings, merging the breath of all beings into streams of dragon-like human Dao energy!
Witnessing this scene, Ren Jingxiu and Sun Yuexiu, who had yet to send their message, exchanged bitter smiles.
Yuan Lihuo sighed, realizing that the “reinforcements” would not arrive…
…
Inside the palace fragment of the Heavenly Realm.
Han Guang had already regained his usual composed demeanor, no longer showing the slight embarrassment from earlier. His spiritual sense extended outward as he casually asked, “Have they all withdrawn?”
Gao Lan still sat on the Heavenly Emperor’s throne, his expression cold: “Most have withdrawn. Those who needed to retreat to the upper layers of heaven for concealment have done so. Are you really willing to abandon this place?”
Han Guang folded his hands behind his back, smiling slightly: “Now that its exact location is known to outsiders, what is there left to cling to? To let go is to gain. How can I pretend not to see the fatal flaw others have discovered? Do I expect mercy from them, hoping they will keep this secret? No, we only need to buy some time to relocate important items.”
Gao Lan, like a sovereign emperor surveying his domain, glanced at Han Guang with indifference: “After being a monk for several years, your words have grown increasingly philosophical.”
“Buddhist sutras do contain some valuable truths. I’ve gained deep insights, though I know to take the essence and discard the dross.” Han Guang strolled to the edge of the hall, gazing upward at the swirling mists above, his eyes deep and his lips curving into a faint, ambiguous smile. “They’re nearly there.”
“They came prepared. They should be able to break through in one strike.” Gao Lan tapped the armrest and slowly rose, his towering figure seeming to fill the heavens.
Han Guang stood with his hands behind his back, as if contemplating the secrets between life and death, his tone playful: “I’ve spent many years in this place, searching the lower layers multiple times. I never expected there to be hidden areas I missed, concealing the secrets of the Nine Heavens Goddess. That girl from Luo Sect seems to understand this place better than I do.”
“The Luo Sect’s successive Holy Maidens are said to be reincarnations of the Primordial Mother, an ancient great being. It’s not surprising that they know certain things.” Gao Lan strode toward Han Guang like a dragon or tiger on the prowl.
Han Guang chuckled: “Though the Primordial Mother is an ancient great being, her origins are mysterious. She suddenly appeared at the end of the ancient era, blending Buddhism and Daoism into her own school, surviving until the early middle ages. No one knows her true roots.”
…
Surrounded by green light, Meng Qi and Gu Xiaosang soared rapidly upward, passing through layers of solid-like white clouds and crystal-like voids.
Tattered clouds, shattered oceans, overturned immortal mountains, broken Milky Ways, and ruined palaces and caves flashed past Meng Qi’s vision. Yet whenever he tried to examine them closely, they vanished quickly, like layers of illusions.
After an unknown duration, Meng Qi felt his feet touch solid ground, standing now upon the white clouds. The mists around him swirled, the boundless sea of primordial energy washing over him. Infinite and endless, the once intangible Laws of Heaven now seemed clearly visible—fire manifesting as flames, water forming pools, and so on.
“The lower layers contain the palaces and retreats of various immortals, the residences of different deities, and the Heavenly Emperor’s temporary palaces, all long since plundered. Our target lies in the top three layers.” Gu Xiaosang, seemingly forgetting that Meng Qi still held her hand, smiled faintly, exuding yet another unique charm.
“What a versatile temptress…” Meng Qi released her hand and surveyed the surroundings. In the distance, a vortex swirled, sealed by purple lightning, crackling loudly. Each bolt seemed to contain an entire world!
“Just let your Thunder Mark shine, and cleave through the gate with the Divine Thunder Annihilation!” Gu Xiaosang stepped back, standing gracefully, her white dress fluttering without wind, as if embraced by the air itself.
Meng Qi inhaled deeply. The purple lightning mark on his hand did not fade. With his right hand slightly tilting the long blade, he suddenly slashed upward, the blade trembling with each movement.
Each tremor contained the transformation of Yin and Yang, generating countless Yang thunderbolts converging at the blade’s tip.
Bang!
The blade struck the purple gate, releasing the accumulated thunder. The sky filled with pure Yang energy, while Meng Qi’s soul trembled, his mind drawn into a strange illusion. Before him, the purple lightning coalesced into a giant with copper-colored skin, ancient thunder marks covering his body, wielding a long spear.
Without hesitation, Meng Qi suddenly vanished, reappearing silently behind the giant. Yin thunder coiled around his blade, seductive and soul-consuming.
Boom!
The giant’s spear halted mid-swing, offering no further resistance. Instead, part of the thunder energy merged into the Yin thunder, dissipating much of the giant itself.
Startled, Meng Qi raised his blade, unleashing the Five Thunder Heaven Smite!
Boom!
Celestial punishment rained down, and the giant vanished.
At that moment, a boundary stone flew into the dim purple gate. Meng Qi caught a faint, orchid-like fragrance, and Gu Xiaosang’s voice reached his ears: “Quickly, go inside before any ambushes nearby!”
Meng Qi heightened his vigilance, stepping forward as if piercing through layers of void and myriad worlds, arriving at the edge of existence.
Light flared before him. Meng Qi saw ancient, gnarled peach trees. Their branches were bare, their bark tinged with blood. The earth beneath was stained as if soaked in blood, exuding a thick, pungent scent of blood.
“The Peaches of Immortality Garden…” Gu Xiaosang whispered.
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