Memories of the past surged into his heart.
All the fragmented scenes played out across his mind.
"You're... the wooden hairpin?" Qi Yuan looked at the delicate young girl.
Back then, when he emerged from Tianjue, he had carefully prepared a greeting gift for Jin Li.
Unfortunately, beside July Lake, he had never met Jin Li.
The two of them had stood at opposite ends of time and space.
The one who had stood beside Qi Yuan as snow covered their shoulders, braving the flurry together, had been Yue Nü.
Later, he set off alone for Dijue. Yue Nü left the mark of a crescent moon upon his arm, and he entrusted the hairpin to her, hoping she would pass it to Jin Li existing in a future time.
"I'm not some wooden hairpin! I'm Father's daughter!" The Grand Priest lifted her head stubbornly.
Qi Yuan looked at her, his heart stirred with immense emotion.
In this instant, everything connected.
He had only ever communicated with Jin Li through the Exquisite Jade Tide.
They had never met face-to-face, but Qi Yuan could always sense that she was just an ordinary young girl.
He recalled the fragments of words he had overheard in the Five Elements Forbidden Ground.
In the ancient past, Great Sun had encountered a formidable enemy and was ultimately defeated. Even after exhausting nearly all his methods, he had only managed to wound that enemy's leg.
He also remembered Jin Li telling him an embarrassing tale from her youth—how she had tripped on flat ground during her coronation, because her leg had suffered an old wound in her early years that never truly healed.
In other words, the formidable enemy who had fought Great Sun back then was Jin Li's past incarnation.
Yet why had she later become Yue Nü, and then Jin Li?
As if discerning the confusion in Qi Yuan's eyes, the Grand Priest asked in a crisp voice, "Does Father want to know Mother's origins?"
"...Yes." Truth be told, Qi Yuan was a bit hesitant to acknowledge this daughter.
After all, having a daughter appear out of nowhere—and one who had not yet suppressed all eternity—made the boastful words he had uttered earlier rather awkward.
Yet the thought that gaining a daughter was better than inexplicably losing one helped him accept it.
In a sense, she truly was his daughter.
"Mother came from the Upper Realm." The Grand Priest tilted her head back to gaze at the sea of stars.
Qi Yuan could not help looking toward the starlight adorning the branches of the Ancient Qi Toon Tree as well.
He thought of Moon Goddess Yuanjun, and of the Moon Token his master had left him.
"Back then, Mother descended to this world on orders from Moon Goddess Palace to eliminate Great Sun, the master of this realm.
"She easily slew Great Sun, but she fell prey to a scheme by the Black Demon Abyss.
"The Black Demon Abyss is a faction in the Upper Realm even more formidable than Moon Goddess Palace, and they have always been bitter enemies.
"After striking down her foes, Mother fell into the cycle of reincarnation.
"The arrangement that the Black Demon Abyss's Yin God made before falling also began to take effect: the Heavenly Dog Devouring the Moon layout.
"Once completed, Mother would have perished entirely, never to return to the Upper Realm.
"Later, having lost her past memories, Mother manifested as Yue Nü and met Father.
"Father traveled alone to Dijue, destroyed the extraterrestrial demons and Great Sun, broke the Heavenly Dog Devouring the Moon layout, and saved Mother." The Grand Priest's cherry lips were thin, and her teeth resembled crushed jade.
Qi Yuan fell silent, speaking only after a long pause. "So later, she was the one who woke me?"
Jin Li's first reincarnation in this realm had been known as Yue Nü.
She had left the mark of a crescent moon upon Qi Yuan's hand.
Back then, Qi Yuan had fought the extraterrestrial demons alone, slain Great Sun, and achieved Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment.
In reality, his injuries had been catastrophic.
It was Yue Nü who expended the last of her divine spiritual power to heal his wounds.
Thus, when Qi Yuan woke again, Yue Nü was no longer in this world.
After an unknown number of eras in slumber, Jin Li appeared, having almost entirely become a mortal.
Without divine spiritual power, she could not even suppress the old wound Great Sun had inflicted upon her leg.
The Grand Priest looked up at Qi Yuan. "Mother said Father is very good-looking."
"Where is she now?" Qi Yuan could not help asking.
"The war between Moon Goddess Palace and the Black Demon Abyss has reached a boiling point.
"Once Mother's cultivation recovered, she ascended to the Upper Realm via a teleportation array.
"She left me here because she believed Father certainly hadn't died.
"One day, Mother will see Father again!" The Grand Priest's starry eyes sparkled with laughter.
*Ru Jian Qing—as if seeing you.*
They had never missed each other; they had clearly met, separated only by the wrong time and space, unaware of who the other truly was.
Qi Yuan looked up at the sky, watching the myriad stars as myriad thoughts crossed his mind.
Why... were they all up in the heavens?
"Can I use the teleportation array to go to the Upper Realm?" Qi Yuan asked.
The Grand Priest's gaze focused. "One must reach the Yin God realm to ascend to the Upper Realm through the teleportation array."
Within the Moon Dynasty, there was a teleportation array capable of sending a select few to lower realms under Moon Goddess Yuanjun's other lineages.
Only the arrays possessed by those lineages could allow a Yin God to ascend to the Upper Realm.
"A Yin God... that's too far away," Qi Yuan sighed.
He could kill a Yin God, but his current cultivation was merely at Origin Core.
Between him and the Yin God realm lay two entire major realms: Divine Infant and Purple Mansion!
"What is Father's cultivation now?" The Grand Priest stared at Qi Yuan's face.
"I'm very weak—just a minor Origin Core cultivator."
"Origin Core?" The Grand Priest was astonished. "Then it definitely isn't an ordinary Origin Core."
Qi Yuan looked down at this daughter he had never known. "What... is your name?"
The Grand Priest smiled, her starry eyes locked on Qi Yuan. "Qi Jianjun."
...
Inside the inn.
True Monarch Dazhi let out a yawn.
Jiang Ya sat nearby, diligently perusing a newly acquired technique.
Xu Tongchen was intently studying a newly obtained *Suona Score*, learning the fingering and breath techniques.
The inn door swung open, and a gust of chilly wind blew in, swirling with white flakes.
Two figures, one tall and one small, stepped into the inn.
True Monarch Dazhi glanced at Qi Yuan, a look of wisdom dawning in his eyes.
Jiang Ya, meanwhile, stared intently at the young girl, sensing the aura of a threat.
A Yin God?
How could a Yin God expert emerge on the Wangyue Continent?
Wasn't the Heavenly Dao here incomplete?
And why was this Yin God... holding the Blood-Robed Sword God's hand?
At the same time, Zhao Ci's eyes widened. He looked at the girl clasping the Blood-Robed Sword God's hand, his expression shifting from doubt to deep reverence.
"Greetings, Grand Priest!" Zhao Ci hurried forward, his face brimming with deference.
Six or seven people from the suona troupe stepped forward one after another, bowing toward Qi Jianjun as well.
Truthfully, deep confusion gnawed at their hearts.
Though petite, the Grand Priest had an icy disposition, rarely spoke to others, and had always carried immense majesty.
When had she ever been so lively and charming, frolicking like a little girl in an elder's embrace?
Qi Jianjun rolled her eyes playfully, a proud expression on her face. "Father, see that? Your daughter is pretty formidable after all."
Hearing this, Qi Yuan had nothing to say.
After all these years, she hadn't even suppressed all eternity—how could that be considered formidable?
He showed little reaction.
Jiang Ya, however, widened her eyes in disbelief.
If the Blood-Robed Sword God having a Yin God Dao partner was something she could barely accept, then now...
He had stepped out for less than half an hour, and came back with a Yin God daughter?
What was wrong with this world?
"She's your daughter? Senior, how do you have a Yin God... daughter?" Jiang Ya's voice trembled.
"Senior has a Yin God wife, so having a Yin God daughter is only natural," True Monarch Dazhi reasoned.
At that moment, Qi Jianjun pinched Qi Yuan's hand. "Father, did you find me another stepmother?
"Tell me, should I mention this to Mother after I ascend to the Upper Realm?"
The moment those words were spoken, Jiang Ya's mind went completely blank!
The Grand Priest's mother wasn't the Second Step Yin God from earlier?
It was another Yin God from the Upper Realm?
This Blood-Robed Sword God... with a mere Purple Mansion cultivation, how did he have two Yin God Dao partners and a Yin God daughter?
The whole situation felt utterly bizarre.
True Monarch Dazhi flashed an insightful look. "Senior Blood-Robed Sword God is truly brilliant!
"Originally, I only proposed a plan that Senior could become invincible under the heavens by finding more Yin God Dao partners. Who would have thought Senior had already put the plan into action!"
"*Cough, cough...*" Qi Yuan coughed.
"The only pity is that Senior has too little time left," True Monarch Dazhi lamented again.
After all, the Moluo Clan's threat loomed right before their eyes.
Where would the Blood-Robed Sword God find the time to look for more wives?
Xu Tongchen, Jiang Ya, and the others also snapped out of their shock, expressions fraught with worry.
The Moluo Clan possessed two Second Step Sky Treading Yin Gods, along with two First Step Sky Treading Yin Gods.
Since the Blood-Robed Sword God had slain Venerable Mohui, the Moluo Clan would certainly come for vengeance.
Their situation remained precarious.
"There is a teleportation array within the Moon Dynasty. If we cannot match them, we can take the array to other worlds," Qi Jianjun said, her voice clear as a bell.
The Moluo Clan belonged to the lineage of the Black Demon Abyss.
The Black Demon Abyss and Moon Goddess Palace had been locked in conflict for ages.
The Wangyue Continent, surrounded by territories of the Black Demon Abyss lineage, stood out like a thorn in their side.
"Since I've arrived, I won't run. I will deal with the Moluo Clan myself," Qi Yuan said.
In just a few more days, he would completely regain control over the Heavenly Dao.
At that point, his strength would reach a terrifying degree.
"Could it be... Senior, that you have even more Yin God Dao partners?" Jiang Ya blurted out involuntarily.
By now, she had been led completely astray.
She truly could not fathom how the Blood-Robed Sword God intended to resolve this crisis.
The only viable way out was surely to summon other Dao partners.
She looked at Qi Yuan with eager anticipation.
She had to admit, following the Blood-Robed Sword God to the Wangyue Continent had broadened her horizons immensely.
True Monarch Dazhi shook his head. "Senior stated he would take action himself, so he certainly isn't calling in reinforcements.
"Senior Blood-Robed Sword God is at late-stage Purple Mansion. Powerful as he is, he still cannot break this deadlock.
"If he wishes to personally slay a Yin God, there is only one possibility!"
"What possibility?" Everyone looked at True Monarch Dazhi.
Even Qi Yuan eyed him with curiosity.
"My guess is that Senior Blood-Robed Sword God will shout to the heavens: 'Future me, come save me!'
"And the future Senior will appear across time to help his present self overcome this calamity."
Jiang Ya froze, feeling as though her brain could not process this.
"What if Senior doesn't have a future?" she whispered, stealing a glance at Qi Yuan.
What she meant was: what if the Blood-Robed Sword God died here in the Moon Dynasty?
True Monarch Dazhi glanced at Jiang Ya. "Facing the Moluo Clan, even if Senior cannot defeat them, surviving will still be simple enough.
"This time, he only needs to escape and bide his time, and he will have a future.
"His future self might even cross time and space to make up for the regrets of the past."
True Monarch Dazhi's words left the members of the musical troupe thoroughly bewildered, catching only half of what he meant.
Qi Jianjun looked at True Monarch Dazhi, a brilliant smile in her eyes. "A very interesting idea."
"Alas, speaking of this brings me some sorrow.
"A few years ago, I sent an invitation to my future self.
"On the invitation, I wrote that if the future me did not come, I would die right there.
"Yet I sat alone for seven days, and my future self never arrived.
"It seems... my cultivation in this lifetime is limited, insufficient to tear through time and space."
True Monarch Dazhi wore a melancholy look before turning to the crowd.
"Make sure this method is never leaked.
"I invented it myself; it can test whether one will truly be able to cross the long river of time in the future!"
Jiang Ya knitted her brows.
For some reason, she felt True Monarch Dazhi made a bizarre amount of sense.
At that moment, Qi Jianjun let out a light chuckle. "Your thought is good, but... there is a problem."
"Oh?" True Monarch Dazhi looked toward the Grand Priest.
"First, any expert capable of tearing through time and space must have already ascended to the Upper Realm, and Upper Realm experts have at most one or two chances in their lifetime to descend to a lower realm.
"Second, you might not know this... but the living beings of this world possess a past self and a present self, but no... future self." As Qi Jianjun spoke, she shot a glance at Qi Yuan.
"No future self?" True Monarch Dazhi's body went stiff, followed by terror.
Even a Yang God had no future self? What did that imply?
Hearing this, Qi Yuan found it rather intriguing.
Truth be told, this was the first time he had learned such lore.
His daughter knew an impressive amount.
He could not help asking, "Actually, there has always been a doubt in my mind."
"Please speak, Father."
"Why do the Moluo Clan, the Wangyue Continent, and the Canglan Realm all speak the exact same language?"
It was even identical to that of the Blue Star.
Logically, shouldn't different races possess different languages?
A tiny place like the Blue Star had thousands of languages.
Yet the vast Canglan Realm and other worlds all used the same tongue.
"Wherever the light of all the stars shines, all speak the same tongue." Qi Jianjun was surprised; she had not expected Qi Yuan to ask such a question.
Qi Yuan froze. He reached out and caught a snowflake. "Then why doesn't snow speak human words?"
"..."
...
Three days later.
July Lake, within the Moon Dynasty.
Qi Yuan sat by the shore, watching the ever-expanding lake, a reminiscent look in his eyes.
In the end, he had returned here.
The one accompanying him was not Yue Nü, but Qi Jianjun.
The two sat carefreely, appearing to be fishing.
From a pavilion in the distance, the white-robed woman watched this scene with an inscrutable expression.
"The Blood-Robed Sword God... is actually the Faceless Sword God."
This was something she had never imagined.
In the history of the Wangyue Continent, the Faceless Sword God was considered a figure from the primordial era.
Yet he was still alive today, and his cultivation did not even seem to be at the Yin God realm.
It was utterly bizarre.
Bizarre as it was, facing the Moluo Clan, their Moon Dynasty still had no hope of victory.
After all, one of the Moluo Clan's Yin Gods had already pushed the Second Step of Sky Treading to the absolute limit.
One more step, and they would be a Third Step Sky Treading existence.
An expert of that caliber could suppress the entire Moon Dynasty single-handedly.
"July, shouldn't you try to persuade the Grand Priest to prepare early so we can leave the Wangyue Continent?" the white-robed woman asked.
All she wanted now was to depart this realm as quickly as possible.
Priest July had already been replaced across many generations. Gazing toward Qi Yuan by the lakeside, her face held a fanatical reverence. "The Faceless Sword God will surely save the Wangyue Continent once again!
"All who invade our Wangyue Continent shall perish!"
Hearing this answer, the white-robed woman could not help pressing a hand to her forehead.
She could not understand why the people of the Wangyue Continent held such inexplicable faith in that Faceless Sword God.
Even if he had saved the world in the past, the reality before them was undeniable: an impossible match was an impossible match.
Why trust him so blindly?
She could not fathom it.
She considered trying to advise the Grand Priest again, but in the end, she refrained.
Because the fanaticism in the Grand Priest's eyes burned even more fiercely than in anyone else's.
...
Within Heaven and Earth Cave of the Canglan Realm.
A youthful, delicate voice rang out.
"The results are in. The Blood-Robed Sword God does not possess a Yin God Dharma artifact; rather, behind him stands a Second Step Sky Treading Yin God."
"A Second Step of Sky Treading?" Venerable Youqing sucked in a breath of cold air. "No wonder he dared slaughter our subordinates at will and provoke us."
"Fortunately, this old man never provoked such an expert," an aged voice said.
"However, by killing Mohui, he has completely alienated the Moluo Clan.
"Just now, Venerable Mochen of the Moluo Clan sent word.
"He wishes to join forces with the three of us to kill the Blood-Robed Sword God and the Yin God backing him." The youthful voice was flat, devoid of sorrow or joy.
"The Second Step of Sky Treading... in a battle of that scale, this old man's bones are brittle; I shall not participate."
"Hehe, Venerable Yunju, could it be that you're frightened?" Venerable Youqing chuckled alluringly.
"Venerable Mochen stated that we do not need to directly face the Second Step Sky Treading expert behind the Blood-Robed Sword God.
"We only need to capture the Blood-Robed Sword God alive and disrupt the Moon Dynasty's teleportation array. Such trivial matters are effortless for us.
"Venerable Mochen also promised that if this succeeds, a quarter of the Wangyue Continent's territory will be granted to us." A hint of greed tinged the youthful voice.
"I'll take the deal," the alluring female voice replied with a soft laugh.
"This matter... this old man will not participate," the aged voice sounded again.
"Are you afraid of Lord Feng?" the youthful voice asked with contempt.
"It has nothing to do with Lord Feng. It is merely that as this old man grows older, his courage grows smaller," the aged voice replied with resignation.
"Venerable Yunju, it is fine if you do not go. However... until this matter concludes, you must not inform Lord Feng or anyone else!" The youthful voice carried a thread of threat.
"Very well. This old man will not interfere." The aged voice was heavy with helplessness, finally fading away.
Within Heaven and Earth Cave, only the youthful voice and the alluring female voice remained, seemingly discussing their plans.
After an unknown amount of time, the youthful voice echoed throughout Heaven and Earth Cave.
"Send word to Shuiyun Palace. Tell them their grievance with the Blood-Robed Alliance may be settled at any time."
Shuixian Continent, where Shuiyun Palace resided, had always been hostile toward Cuiyun Continent.
Some time ago, the Blood-Robed Alliance had captured a Purple Mansion cultivator from Shuiyun Palace, sparking friction between the two.
Now, news had come from the Wangyue Continent that Ling Jiao had offended the Blood-Robed Sword God and been executed by him.
Shuiyun Palace was furious. Had it not been for the three Venerables above them and their wariness toward the Blood-Robed Sword God, they would have launched a massive invasion of Cuiyun Continent long ago.
Now that the two Venerables intended to collaborate with the Moluo Clan against the Blood-Robed Sword God, they might as well do Shuiyun Palace a favor.
Letting them move against the Blood-Robed Alliance would clip the Blood-Robed Sword God's wings.
It was an insignificant matter that could be carried out at will.
"Understood!" Within Heaven and Earth Cave, a Purple Mansion cultivator's eyes gleamed.
The Blood-Robed Sword God's provocation of Heaven and Earth Cave had long stoked their resentment.
"Let us depart for the Wangyue Continent." At this moment, Venerable Yeqiong finally emerged from Heaven and Earth Cave, where he had slumbered for thousands of years.
Across the Eastern Lands, a vast streak of rainbow light could be seen blazing across the sky.
Every cultivator who beheld that rainbow knew that a monumental event was about to unfold!
Chapter 164