The Eastern Heaven Gate slowly opened. Qiao San arrived in a disheveled state but departed in glory, feeling as if he were still in a dream.
Thus concluded the legendary uproar in Heaven!
Lady Qiao, leading the heavenly army under the command of the Queen Mother, rushed swiftly toward the mortal realm to release her long-suppressed anger. Qiao San waved goodbye to his mother, his heart full of joy. Even after Lady Qiao vanished from sight, he still couldn’t figure out why his mother had left so quickly, almost as if she were fleeing from a plague. Sigh…
Just as the sigh escaped his lips, his mischievous mind quickly became excited again. With events unfolding so unexpectedly, he naturally no longer needed to bother heading to the dreaded Sansheng Heaven.
The moment he thought about returning to the Dragon Palace to reunite with two peerless beauties, his heart became restless with anticipation. He was eager to surprise his mother, the Dragon Queen, and Taiyuan.
His ghostly cloud sped up, and the rogue soared through the skies, unaware that a major “surprise” awaited him ahead.
At the border between the Western Bull Continent and the Eastern Apsaras Continent, lay a desolate, forbidden space inaccessible to mortals. This vast wasteland was barren, shrouded in toxic mists, with only the faint tracks of savage beasts occasionally visible.
A ghostly cloud entered this desolate land. Qiao San glanced sideways at the grotesque peaks and strange rocks below. Rather than slowing down, his cloud sped up—he had no intention of lingering in this inhospitable place for even a moment.
The wilderness rushed past beneath him. Just as the rogue was about to return to the Eastern Apsaras Continent and indulge in his worldly pleasures, an unexpected, scholarly yet mysterious voice drifted up from below.
“Fate brings us together; young friend, why not stop by for a brief visit?”
The voice was calm and gentle, yet strangely, it irresistibly halted Qiao San’s flight. The same Qiao San who had just dominated the heavenly palace with unmatched ferocity couldn’t help but feel a sudden jolt of surprise. Among the countless warriors of Heaven, none had ever made him feel this way.
Curiosity is human nature. Confident in his superior powers, Qiao San felt no fear of danger. As soon as the thought crossed his mind, his ghostly cloud swiftly descended with him aboard.
Atop a solitary peak of reddish-brown stone sat three unusual middle-aged scholars.
The ghostly cloud drifted slowly toward the summit, and Qiao San’s heart involuntarily quickened. Though he clearly saw three men with black beards dressed in traditional scholar’s robes, his spiritual senses detected absolutely nothing, as if the three were mere illusions.
While maintaining a calm exterior, Qiao San silently mused: So it’s true—there’s always someone greater beyond the mountains, someone higher beyond the sky!
The three scholars continued to stare intently at their chessboard, seemingly unaware of Qiao San’s approach. The rogue, equally peculiar, offered no greeting or pleasantries and simply sat down at the only empty seat, immediately taking a large sip from a fragrant teacup.
Only after Qiao San set down his cup did the three finally seem to notice his presence.
The scholar directly opposite Qiao San still said nothing, merely gesturing with one hand to draw Qiao San’s gaze toward the chessboard.
“Huh?”
As Qiao San focused, the chess pieces suddenly vanished, and a glowing spoon materialized at the center of the board. In an instant, the board darkened, transforming into a deep, starry sky. Glittering stars emerged in the dim light, twinkling as if smiling at Qiao San.
In a flash, Qiao San’s entire consciousness seemed to soar out of his body, plunging into the infinite mystery of the starry expanse. At the same time, his Ten-Yang Body instinctively sensed danger.
“Boom!”
Qiao San felt as if his soul had split in two—one half entranced by the stars and unwilling to return, the other struggling desperately to escape.
“Young friend, this is the Chart of Celestial Transformation. It greatly benefits those cultivating the Dao. I never lie, so why not give it a try?”
Though the scholar appeared no older than thirty, his tone was ancient and natural.
As subtle changes stirred in his mind, Qiao San remained cautious but ceased resisting. His soul flew into the “Chart of Celestial Transformation” and looked around. Stars seemed to swirl around him.
The three scholars appeared beside him out of nowhere. One pointed at the starry sky and said, “I think this star should shift slightly to the left.”
Before his words had even faded, a beam of light shot from his fingertip, nudging the star slightly leftward.
“No, shifting it a bit to the right would make it shine brighter. Look,” another scholar immediately countered, pulling the star back to the right.
The third scholar, unwilling to be left out, sighed solemnly, “Stillness is better than movement. It’s better left in its original place; otherwise, the celestial guardian of this star might file a complaint.”
As the three scholars continued their debate, beams of light crisscrossed the sky. The poor star swayed helplessly back and forth, while Qiao San watched, completely baffled by their argument.
A sudden realization flashed through Qiao San’s mind. Overcome with curiosity, he instantly returned to reality. Looking up, he saw a single star in the sky swaying left and right—truly miraculous.
“Hmph!” A cold breath filled Qiao San’s chest. Blinking in disbelief to confirm his senses were intact, his shocked consciousness automatically flew back into the “chessboard.”
“May I ask the honored titles of the three elders? This humble junior, Qiao San, pays his respects!”
The three scholars seemed to finally notice him after their debate. One leisurely smiled and said, “No need to be so formal, young friend. I’ve long forgotten my worldly name. Fellow Daoists call me the Sun Venerable. These two are the Moon Venerable and the Star Venerable.”
“The Three Venerables?!”
Even Qiao San couldn’t help but feel his heart race. He had nearly lost his life trying to meet them, yet now, without even seeking them out, they had appeared before him. How wondrous fate could be.
The Moon Venerable waved his hand casually, using a tone Qiao San found familiar, “Venerable this, Venerable that—just three old immortals, that’s all.”
The Moon Venerable’s demeanor further softened Qiao San’s caution. He knew he stood no chance against the Three Venerables’ powers. Accepting this, his wariness gradually faded, and the Venerable’s tone amused him greatly. “Hehe… Why are the three elders here?”
The Moon Venerable, seemingly most compatible with Qiao San’s rogue personality, took the lead and cheerfully replied, “Old man certainly doesn’t want to be in this godforsaken place, but someone asked us to wait for a fearless young friend.”
He paused briefly, then pointed toward a corner of the chaotic space, “Young friend, would you like to come with us for a journey?”
As the Moon Venerable pointed, the space suddenly brightened. A misty, paradisiacal realm appeared before Qiao San, rapidly expanding as if rushing toward him.
Though he knew the place lay millions of miles away, Qiao San instinctively took a step back. Though the mysterious starry sky stirred his heart, the urgency of his current situation prevented him from acting recklessly. With regret, he could only shake his head.
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