Under the cover of night, inside the Cui clan—a family lineage that had endured in the mortal world for two thousand years—the atmosphere was somber. Every elder stared at the Night Gazette with deeply furrowed brows.
"Past Rulai looked down upon all of Night Province many years ago. Having mastered authentic Chaos force, he was the foremost disciple of that venerable sage—and yet, he was actually defeated."
In recent times, the Cui clan had actively aligned itself with the earthen city and had grown very close to Past Rulai's faction, as both sides had Earth Immortals backing them.
A grandmaster from the Cui clan had even personally borne lavish gifts to call upon Past Rulai's lineage, bringing Cui Chongxuan along in the hope that he could enter the "orthodox" fold.
Yet in a single night, the heavens had overturned. Sun Chengjun fell to his knees, defeated at Qin Ming's hands; the "orthodox lineage" had actually succumbed to a "collateral branch"!
Worse still, Past Rulai was thoroughly crippled and forced into retirement. The parietal bone of this retired overlord, who had once looked down upon the Newborn path, had already been ground into prayer beads.
For such a towering figure to meet such an end shocked the realm—tragic was scarcely enough to describe it!
Cui Qi was tall and burly, his usual solemnity bordering on rigidity. As the Cui clan's leader of this generation, his cheeks twitched today, unable to maintain his stern demeanor.
He was worried about his youngest son, Cui Chongxuan.
"Night Province is churning with winds and clouds, and a golden age of prosperity may well be upon us. Could we have backed the wrong side?" an old man spoke up.
For a moment, heavy expressions fell upon everyone in the Cui clan's hall. Across the ages, whenever an era shifted, any faction that stood on the wrong side was inevitably crushed to dust beneath the wheels of history.
They feared the patriarchs of Night Province harbored displeasure toward the Cui clan and would settle scores with them in the days to come.
"No matter. We haven't set ourselves in opposition to the various paths of Night Province. Chonghe is apprenticed under Sun Taichu, the patriarch of the immortal path, while Chongxiao studies under a supreme powerhouse of the esoteric sect. We merely spread our bets across multiple sides."
"Besides, the living sage of this era can most likely look down upon Earth Immortals. He hasn't truly returned yet. Once he reappears in Night Province, clouds will surely churn across the ten directions."
"Indeed. In this era, aligning closer with the earthen city cannot be wrong—they represent the supreme will of Yujing!"
In truth, it was not just the Cui clan. Even ancient families that had endured in the mortal world for nearly four thousand years felt somewhat numb; such lineages naturally hedged their bets on multiple fronts.
Now, they too were secretly wiping cold sweat from their brows.
"The contemporary patriarchs native to Night Province grow craftier and more monstrous the older they get, and all of them possess tremendous boldness. They were severely underestimated. I suspect several of them are very likely to step into the seventh realm!"
This was the assessment reached by several top ancient families.
***
Little Rulai Zhao Chengyu kept a low profile and fled to the earthen city, truly not daring to bristle anymore. His grandmaster had been battered into ruin; if he dared to act high-profile now, disaster might very well befall him too.
Even so, he was full of indignation. That useless Sun Chengjun possessed meager skill, so why had he jumped so high?
Zhao Chengyu's brows knitted tightly. After Sun Chengjun was thoroughly trounced by Qin Ming, he had been dragged down by association, his reputation tarnished.
Little Rulai believed that when the time was right, he would need to personally take the field and suppress that collateral branch with one hand to vindicate the main lineage!
For now, he dared not act rashly. He had to wait until the sage truly emerged into the world and set foot in Night Province. At that time, looking across the realm, who would dare stand against him?!
Dressed in black, Gao Chan appeared steady and composed, his eyes deep. "Brother Zhao, simply cultivate in peace in the earthen city. After some time passes, perhaps the moment will come for you to stir up the winds and clouds."
Hearing this, Little Rulai looked at him in confusion.
"It is like this..." Gao Chan murmured.
Zhao Chengyu's eyes widened in astonishment, and he could not help looking up at the pitch-black sky. High in the firmament, there was actually a city of immense pedigree?
"Since ancient times, Yujing has paused over many realms..."
Soon, every genius from the lands Yujing had radiated over would be eligible to register, and all would have an opportunity to enter the Sky City.
This meant that high in the night sky, a multitude of stars was about to shine!
Gao Chan also looked up at the dark sky, saying, "Entering that city in the sky allows one to study quietly. However, many opportunities must be fought for by oneself. If one's performance is dazzling enough, one might receive additional gifts."
Hearing this, Little Rulai took on a solemn expression. "Such as?"
Gao Chan said, "Leaving aside the fortuitous encounters through official channels, simply catching the eye of a noble from above will guarantee a boundless future."
Hearing that, Little Rulai immediately began to speculate. Others said Gao Chan might have another mysterious origin—could he hail from that city in the sky?
Gao Chan looked at Zhao Chengyu and said, "I believe that with Brother Zhao's natural gifts, you may well have your shining moments. After all, in terms of destructive power, Chaos force is estimated to rank among the topmost divine arts. I look forward to seeing Brother Zhao display his brilliance."
The divine radiance in Zhao Chengyu's eyes pulled inward. "In this era, that group of old men in Night Province seems even more vigorous, like the sun at high noon. The older they get, the darker and more monstrous they become."
Gao Chan shook his head. "They are old. In this brilliant era, they are merely setting suns sinking in the west, falling meteors about to plummet. Their decaying radiance will soon burn out."
Full of confident grace, his eyes bright, Gao Chan gazed at the night sky and said, "Above the night sky, a multitude of stars will soon shine brilliantly. This era belongs primarily to new stars!"
Then, he murmured softly, "If Yujing no longer locks the path, both you and I will be pathbreakers of this era, the trailblazing sages of the present age!"
Just then, someone whispered a report to Gao Chan: "Young Master, Fairy Su Moran has gone out traveling alone."
"Mm, it is fine for her to stroll around," Gao Chan nodded.
"She is likely going to see Qin Ming," the visitor secretly transmitted.
"What?" Gao Chan turned back, somewhat surprised and quite displeased inside. Yet he had no hold whatsoever over that noble and refined lady—in fact, he was deeply wary of her, for her background was even greater than his own.
***
In Kunling, Wu Mochen of Past Rulai's lineage staggered out of Shanhe Academy, his face pale as paper. Instantly, numerous gazes settled upon him.
He had brought a rare treasure in the middle of the night seeking to abduct Qin Ming—a truly base and shameful act—and because of that, his cultivation had been thoroughly destroyed!
Qin Ming and Li Qingyue strolled through Shanhe Academy. One was clad in fluttering black, ethereal and otherworldly, while the other wore robes white as snow, resembling a celestial maiden descended to the mortal realm. Truly, they appeared a matched pair.
"That is Senior Brother Qin Ming, who fought to establish fifty years of prestige for our Shanhe Academy! Who is the woman walking beside him? She is truly unmatched in elegance and beauty!"
"That is Fairy Li!"
Along the way, the two drew every gaze. Many students in the academy turned their heads repeatedly to watch their figures.
Only when the pair drifted into the distance, disappearing into the mist-shrouded back-mountain area deep within the academy, did the onlookers finally withdraw their gazes.
Qin Ming spoke deeply with Li Qingyue, wanting to understand the real dilemma she faced and why she had revealed an intention to leave for distant lands.
"A special weapon—the Eight Trigrams Furnace. Everything stems from it."
Although Qin Ming had guessed as much, his brows still furrowed tightly. An item that even Earth Immortals coveted and hungered after required a special control art to activate.
In the past, he had resonated with the furnace-controlling method—the Six Ding Divine Fire—and passed it on to Li Qingyue.
Over the past six months, Li Qingyue had been spied upon by two mysterious figures in succession. At crucial moments, the Eight Trigrams Furnace had liquefied, automatically outfitting her in armor to keep her safe.
Li Qingyue said, "That is only one reason. With the immortal furnace here, and with the various patriarchs frequently extending goodwill lately, I feel that issue is not critically severe yet."
The most important and secret reason was that after acquiring the Eight Trigrams Furnace, she had to shoulder a corresponding karmic bond.
"This object possesses an origin far greater than we imagined. It originally did not belong to the realm radiated by Yujing, but drifted here by chance."
Li Qingyue mentioned the unfathomable Earth Immortal in the immortal grave; he might have come precisely in search of the Eight Trigrams Furnace.
Qin Ming was startled, suddenly recalling that Li Qingyue had mentioned in the desert that a hazy consciousness within the Eight Trigrams Furnace had partially awakened back then, saying it felt a resonance with the immortal grave.
"There is a secret path leading into the deepest part of the night fog world, so far from the territories radiated by Yujing that relying on exotic birds to fly there would never bring one to the destination."
Li Qingyue spoke the name of the destination: "Doushuai Palace."
Qin Ming looked at her. "I'll go with you."
Li Qingyue shook her head. "The path is long and fraught with peril."
She explained that one had to reach at least the fourth realm before setting out, which was why she had delayed departing earlier.
Moreover, one needed a special weapon capable of liquefying to protect the body in order to cross the boundless void of night fog, reach the destination, and assume that karmic burden.
Hearing this, Qin Ming frowned. "How much longer can you stay here? Wait for me a while. Once I break through into the fourth realm, I will go with you."
As for a special weapon, he thought of the rag. It was woven from various exotic metals and appeared to possess an extraordinary background in every way; after all, it had once been enshrined by gods and immortals.
However, it had consistently remained unresponsive and ignored Qin Ming. He wondered: could it be due to the lack of a proper control art?
Or perhaps it was not an extraordinary weapon at all, but served some other special purpose?
"I can remain for a while longer, but..." Li Qingyue shook her head, not wanting him to take risks alongside her, because the karma associated with Doushuai Palace was too immense!
Even now, the hazy consciousness of the Eight Trigrams Furnace had not told her specifically what she would face.
Nevertheless, she guessed that Doushuai Palace might not be inferior to Yujing and was unfathomably deep. How could such a place be entered and exited lightly?
"The immortal furnace said that the path leading there is almost buried by the dust of history. It is exceedingly difficult to traverse, and the path might even have broken long ago, filled with hazards."
Most critically, what Doushuai Palace was like now was impossible to say. It might already be in ruins, or unfathomable beings might still wander there.
Qin Ming was alarmed. Was that a place on par with Yujing?
Immediately after, he turned to look at the slender, graceful figure beside him and said, "So, when you introduced your friends to me, did you want to match me with Jiang Ran or Zhao Qingcheng?"
He wanted to speak candidly, so he asked directly.
"I don't know if I will be able to return." Li Qingyue looked toward the far edge of the sky, where the night fog was dense and the road ahead could not be seen.
Her beautiful eyes were exceptionally clear, unblemished by the dust of the mortal world, and her crystalline face was filled with sincerity.
"In the future, if we are both still alive, we will eventually meet again."
Li Qingyue was very calm and peaceful, speaking her true thoughts without the slightest awkwardness: "Perhaps between us, we can be considered a pair of Dao companions on the path of cultivation, to meet again at the peak in the future."
Qin Ming stared blankly, and then understood her meaning. "Dao companions" could refer to companions walking the cultivation path together, or to lovers cultivating side by side.
The two had always been very close, truly intimate friends and confidants, but they still seemed just a step away from a romantic relationship, not having reached that stage yet.
He felt that Li Qingyue's mention of Dao companions referred to companions cultivating together.
If things had continued as they were, the two would likely have drawn closer and closer, leaning toward one another. But now she had to journey far away, and who knew how many deadly perils awaited her on the road ahead and at her destination, Doushuai Palace.
Therefore, tonight she had candidly laid out the reality, telling him why she could not stay.
Qin Ming spoke: "Wait a while longer. The fourth realm will not hold me back for long. When the time comes, I will take to the road with you."
"Mm. There is still time, but I do not want you to face danger."
The two walked forward, opening their hearts to discuss everything and holding nothing back.
They conversed softly as they walked, the atmosphere gradually lightening.
Later on, a smile blossomed on Li Qingyue's face as she said, "The immortal furnace said that although Jiang Ran's performance is stunning, she is actually still hiding her true capabilities. She is more formidable than any of us imagined, and she is a woman blessed with deep fortune. Whoever marries her..."
At this point, she felt a sudden intuition and abruptly looked back, only to see Jiang Ran, along with the plump girl Luo Yao beside her, who had covered her mouth in shock upon hearing these words.
Jiang Ran wore a peculiar smile and said, "I originally wanted to call you to leave Kunling together, but here you are speaking ill of me behind my back. How about this... I'll marry you instead and bestow my fortune upon you."
She was actually teasing Li Qingyue.
***
That morning, just as Earth Immortal Mu Qinghe had finished contemplating and prepared to ascend to the sky to communicate with that city, the rumors had already leaked out.
In fact, this was Mu Qinghe giving prior notice through the founding ancestors and disciples to inform the relevant parties in advance.
At the periphery of Night Province, the Earth Immortals lingering outside all received the report.
"What? That legendary Sky City is about to open, allowing new stars from the various territories to go there? *Hiss!*"
Instantly, even figures as mighty as Earth Immortals gasped. Because their status was so elevated, they could access matters at a higher level, and they were naturally stunned.
In the distant past, whenever that city in the sky opened, it heralded an exceedingly glorious era and inevitably produced a batch of formidable experts.
"Could it be that Yujing is no longer locking the path and is loosening the reins? In that case, complete Earth Immortals, or even Heavenly Immortal beings, may have hope of emerging!"
Not to mention cultivators of other realms, even the passions of the Earth Immortals were ignited, their excitement hard to conceal.
Soon, they sent letters instructing their descendants and personal closed-door disciples to set out for Night Province immediately, awaiting the arrival of the era when the stars would shine.
"Strive to become a great star in the night sky!" This was the Earth Immortals' ardent hope for their juniors.
Without question, from this day forth, seeds and geniuses from the outer domains would swarm in, converging upon Night Province.
At this juncture, Mu Qinghe was already preparing to ascend to the sky, yet she was still halted by sincere personal letters from the patriarchs of the various paths.
That group did not care whether the Sky City appeared or not. They continued strictly according to their own rhythm and were about to "dig a hole" once more, linking toward a distant and unknown foreign realm to explore.
At Shanhe Academy, Jiang Ran walked forward with graceful, swaying steps, looking at Li Qingyue, then at Qin Ming.
She spoke: "Tell us so we can hear—where exactly is your immortal furnace guiding you?"
In the distance, Su Moran appeared, bathed in a layer of hazy celestial light. Smiling and conveying goodwill, she too walked in this direction.
The earthen city was very close to Kunling. Gao Chan circulated the Divine Cicada Scripture, traveling at extreme speed like a Great Thunder Sound Cicada crossing the realm, carrying a dense, resonant aura of the Dao.
"Mm?"
As the red-clad woman Tang Yushang and the white-robed youth Bai Meng drew near to Kunling City, they spotted that streak of flowing light sweeping across the horizon.
Chapter 389