Yu Ci felt a twinge of disappointment as he stowed away the Jade Talisman of the Mysterious Celestial Star Major Refining Technique. When he had used this talisman against Tu Du, it had not occurred to him that it was a variant of the "Heavenly Flying Stars" talisman. Alas, this talisman required a prearranged battlefield, and now there was no way to test his own prowess.
Yet, to be entirely candid, he was greatly relieved. By now, the magma had completely severed the aura of the Heavy Weapon Sect Leader, but the remnants of his divine power had etched a profound scar in Yu Ci's heart. Such a monstrous being was best avoided if at all possible.
One concern lingered, however: he had thoroughly offended his adversary. Offending him was one thing, but it was another to have only provoked a Soul Sending Projection. He couldn’t even silence the witness. Without lifting a finger, the enemy could simply send word of the Divine Bronze Mirror to the north, and Yu Ci’s future days would be a hundredfold more difficult than today.
What to do?
Yu Ci shook his head and decided to let it be. He couldn't afford to worry about future troubles when he finally had the chance to tend to his wounds. He poured the Flesh Regeneration Elixir into his mouth, soothing his throat. However, the near-crushed throat bone would take some time to heal, which meant he would be mute for a while.
He also sensed the collapse of the Three-layer Talisman Seal.
This caused him some anxiety. The destruction of the seal in the Secret Domain was not a significant issue; the vast Guixu could accommodate thousands of people. But if the seal of the connected Sword Garden were also affected, the order that had formed over numerous calamities might be ruined in an instant. Outside the Sword Garden, who knew how many exalted masters and powerful beings were interested in the legacy of the Sword Cultivators within?
Of course, with the Sword Garden in upheaval, there would be many troubled souls, and Yu Ci was but one of them. By comparison, Yu Ci was more concerned about the situation in Xuan Huang.
The Heavenly Dome Sword Pool was in utter chaos, yet there was no response from Xuan Huang!
The Master of the Sunken Sword Cave was indeed extraordinary, but this was Guixu, within the Star Track Sword Realm! With the assistance of the seals, the Xuan Huang Killing Sword should have swiftly found and vanquished the enemy, triumphantly returning. Why was it dragging on like this, without resolution?
With this thought, Yu Ci strained to find that thread of connection and, heedless of disturbance, bellowed with his mind, "Where are you? Respond!"
"Head here!"
The prompt response startled Yu Ci. A map of Guixu had unfolded in his mind, sent along with the information from Xuan Huang.
Yu Ci had previously learned of some key locations in Guixu from Xuan Huang—three in particular: the central "Boundary River" where Qu Thunderbolt-Free slumbered, the Battle Blood Hall where Yuan Dao's Coffin lay, and the Heavenly Dome Sword Pool where he now found himself.
The location indicated by Xuan Huang was none of these three, but judging purely by the map, it was somewhat closer to the Boundary River, situated in the central region.
Yu Ci had no time to ponder the specifics, as he sensed the urgency and tension in the message from Xuan Huang. Could it be a call for assistance?
Glancing back, the thermal currents unleashed by the magma still raged at the bottom of the lake. Beyond this fiery barrier, the Heavy Weapon Sect Leader likely hadn't departed yet, but Yu Ci could no longer concern himself with that—fate would determine if they would meet again.
Silently striding away, Yu Ci followed the path guided by the Xuanhuang compass, bursting forth from the Heavenly Dome Sword Pool in a frenzied dash. The magma and dust that had erupted from the pool now formed a haze, dimming the night sky of Guixu—a place akin to a bottomless valley in the sea.
The repercussions of the Three-layer Talisman Seal's collapse had yet to reach this place, leaving it devoid of any figures. Compared to the Lifeless Deathless Garden, this area bore a desolate air, with scant structures and a preponderance of densely packed Void Rifts. Some Rifts influenced each other, warping the void and creating impassable forbidden zones.
Yet with Xuanhuang’s guidance, Yu Ci navigated without hindrance and swiftly arrived at his destination. Contrary to his expectations, this was not the battlefield between Xuanhuang and the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave. Instead, he found himself amidst a rare expanse of continuous buildings, occupying a broad swath of land.
Yu Ci paused at the periphery of the buildings, lifting his gaze to a towering archway standing four zhang high, inscribed with the words "Return Village." Its grandeur bore a resemblance to the Lichen Sect's "White Cloud Hermitage." After a brief moment outside, he nonchalantly stepped through.
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Hardly a few steps past the archway, a disturbance in the void startled him. Turning around, where the archway once stood was now a void, as if it had been a cloudless expanse of sky. The stretch of buildings, previously grounded, now seemed to float amidst the clouds, scattered in an ethereal arrangement that, in the blink of an eye, had taken on a celestial aura.
The notion of retracing his steps gave Yu Ci a strong premonition that he would plummet into the abyss with unpredictable consequences.
"What's going on?" Yu Ci didn't suspect Xuanhuang of foul play, so he wasn't overly anxious. A few theories crossed his mind. "An Illusion technique? Or perhaps a void displacement?"
Of course, no one was there to answer his questions. He reached out with his Divine consciousness starlight to inquire of Xuanhuang, only to receive no response, the connection growing fainter.
Yu Ci couldn't help but worry, yet no matter how he pondered, he couldn't fathom any reason for Xuanhuang to be in danger. Even with the collapse of the Three-layer Talisman Seal, there was still the relatively independent and more formidable Star Track Sword Realm. With absolute power at play, what use were the myriad schemes of the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave in the face of such strength?
After a moment of contemplation, Yu Ci considered that since Xuanhuang had deliberately led him here, there must be a plan in place. If he truly wished to help, it would be prudent to first understand the layout of this place before proceeding.
Suppressing the unease within him, Yu Ci calmed himself and followed the mist-shrouded path beneath his feet towards the heart of Return Village. The place reminded him somewhat of the Misty Shadow Sky between the Three-layer Talisman Seal, though the clouds here were sparser and the visibility clearer. After walking a hundred or so steps, he began to discern that the architectural cluster here varied in style, with buildings of different heights scattered among the clouds, each standing in relative isolation. The greatest height difference reached over two thousand feet, yet paths still connected them all. The entire "Return Village" resembled a vast tree, with buildings of various styles branching out in all directions, a truly unique sight.
And now, he was traversing the "trunk."
Walking another two hundred steps along the path, he passed a junction. Initially, he intended to take the nearest turn, but a sudden intuition led him astray, and he continued forward to the second junction. The "terrain" rose sharply from there, and the buildings near the junction were not particularly conspicuous—a small courtyard, half-concealed by clouds, was faintly visible.
It's strange, standing here, Yu Ci feels an involuntary pull towards that direction, his aura subtly transforming. Yet, when he peers into the Inner Void of his Heart, the clues remain elusive.
"Go and see, and the reason shall reveal itself." Without further thought, Yu Ci steps into the fork in the path, strolling ahead.
Barely ten paces in, the surrounding mist thickens, undulating and shifting capriciously, as if layers of images were flowing past. Yu Ci's gaze sharpens; the more he sees, the more peculiar he finds it. A sense of unreality washes over him; these images should be nothing but void, yet as they morph and flow, they seem to spring to life. Such contradictory thoughts intertwine, reminiscent of the sensations one only experiences within dreams.
Or perhaps, they are fragments of a distant, hazy memory...
As this thought flickers through his mind, Yu Ci is startled to see the clouds on either side truly "come alive," moving with great velocity. His perspective is suddenly flung miles away, as if hurled into the distance, and from within this lively expanse of clouds, an indescribable, elongated figure bursts forth, bathed in sunlight that seemed to appear from nowhere, its scales shimmering with a crimson-golden gleam.
Ten zhang, a hundred zhang, a thousand zhang!
As the figure ascends through the clouds, growing ever longer, Yu Ci's understanding is continuously challenged. Never before has he witnessed such a colossal Spirit, its body breaking through the clouds, rising towards the heavens like a giant loop encircling the sky, exuding a vitality unmatched by any lifeless being.
Only then does Yu Ci see the mountainous skull, the tree-like branching horns, the constantly moving Spirit whiskers, the protruding yet not unsightly snout, and the crimson-gold scales that cascade down the length of its body, as well as the golden mane sweeping across its spine.
Of course, one cannot overlook the majestic Divine Light that flows around the immense body, nor the natural, disdainful posture it assumes, lofty and majestic, creating a Spirit pressure that sweeps across a hundred miles of high sky, stirring the clouds into a frenzy, lightning and thunder intertwining within.
Is this... a dragon? A Heavenly Dragon!
As this realization dawns on Yu Ci, he is taken aback, but the most astonishing sight is yet to come. He had thought the magnificent dragon would capture all his attention, but a surge of intense emotion compels him to look beyond this incredible Spirit, towards the distant void.
There, a "small dot" lingers. After a moment, Yu Ci confirms it's a human figure.
The Heavenly Dragon's long chant resonates, earth-shattering and devoid of any goodwill. Merely by sight, the thousand-zhang-long Heavenly Dragon could, with a mere sneeze, blow the figure to the ends of the earth. But in reality, the person remains unmoved, simply extending a hand and, with a casual stroke through the void, declares,
"To witness my ultimate skill, you too shall meet a fitting end!"
In an instant, blood rains down like a waterfall, drenching Yu Ci's vision.
"What's happening?"
Yu Ci jolts, snapping awake. Now, looking around, where are the Heavenly Dragon and the bloody storm? All that remains are the ever-changing shadows in the mist and ahead, the embedded plaque on the wall adjacent to the courtyard's main gate. The inscription is clear:
"Hao Dian's Former Residence."
The gate is ajar, swaying in the wind, accompanied by the delicate sound of wind chimes.
Yu Ci stands outside, slightly dazed. After a moment's hesitation, he steps forward, reaching out to push the half-closed door open.
Stepping inside, the courtyard mirrors the simplicity and refinement seen outside, free of any particular eyesores. If there is anything to note, it is the stone table under the shade tree in the courtyard, upon which rests an enigmatic object.
It's an unfinished piece of embroidery on fine gauze.
The gauze is the color of fire, its edges peeking out from the corner flower frame, fluttering in the wind as if calling for the embroidering beauty to complete it.
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