As the morning sun rose in the east, its rays poured over the high platform, coating it in a sheen of crimson gold that dazzled the eyes. Yet, for Yu Ci, this brilliance was overshadowed by a weight in his heart as oppressive as dark clouds blotting out the sky.

Seated upon the Star-Gathering Platform, he cradled his head in his hands, lost in confusion. The sudden and unfathomable disappearance of the Old Daoist plunged his emotions into a bewildering, almost hallucinatory state. Anxiety was all he knew, and beyond that, he was at a loss for how else he ought to feel.

Anxiety alone tormented him terribly. He had summoned the Power Guardian Saint, seeking clarity on the situation, but that figure too had vanished without a trace. Yu Ci, now staring at the Passing Water Sword at the center of the Star-Gathering Platform, resembled a child separated from his parents, uncertain whether to seek help or to wait in place, hopeful for their return.

In the end, he chose to wait.

Such passivity was unlike his nature, but he was paralyzed, unsure of where to begin his search, and so he sat on the ground, forcing into his mind any information that might be advantageous for Yu Zhou:

"Before he took flight, he reversed decay into bloom, brimming with vitality…"

"He conversed with ease, sorrowful yet not despondent…"

"Right, there was also the Vacuum Energy Life Extension Pill, adding a Sixty-Year Lifespan!"

"The Sect too showed no reaction."

He built up these reasons as he watched the shadow of the Passing Water Sword shorten and then lengthen again, yet Yu Zhou did not return.

A chill slowly crept into his heart. Atop the high platform, buffeted by winds from all directions, he was alone, accompanied only by the long sword on the cold ground, as if transported back to a time long past. Then, he was a beggar who might collapse dead in the streets at any moment, spending each night alone in a street corner, enduring the long nights…

With a "thump," Yu Ci slammed his fist onto the platform, wiping away these overwhelmingly pessimistic thoughts, and suddenly stood up with resolve. He'd had enough; today, he must find some answers!

No sooner had he straightened his knees than a spasm seized his back, and then he felt pain everywhere, radiating to his very core, causing his blood to run backward, and he realized he had sustained an internal injury without knowing it.

This was an issue with the Star-Gathering Platform. This place harnessed the All-Heavens Star Power through a Rune Array, bearing immense pressure that changed constantly with the alternating of the sun and moon and the shifting of the stars. In his emotional turmoil, he had rushed here without caution and lingered for half a day. The All-Heavens Star Power, through the transformation of the Rune Array, had eroded him significantly in secret.

Gritting his teeth against his injuries, Yu Ci reached for the Passing Water Sword at the center, but as he was about to touch it, hesitated. What if this was a key item, and taking it now would hinder the Old Daoist?

His heart was heavy with fear of loss, and in that brief moment of delay, a slender, pale hand reached out and effortlessly claimed the Passing Water Sword. Yu Ci was startled; he had been so distraught that his perception was at its lowest, and he hadn't even noticed someone's approach.

Lifting her head, the visage of He Qing came into view.

At that moment, Yu Ci felt like a drowning man grasping at a driftwood. He lunged forward, almost colliding with the female cultivator: "Immortal He, have you seen Taoist Yu..."

His words abruptly cut off.

He Qing was looking at him, her eyes as cold and deep as a tranquil pool, undisturbed by any ripple.

Yu Ci's mouth hung open slightly, as a rush of memories suddenly surged to the forefront of his mind—memories he had unconsciously cast aside during the prior period. But now, the questions that sprouted from them wrapped around his heart like countless thorny vines, constricting his circulation and breath!

"Go back."

He Qing spoke indifferently, no different from before, "As I've told you, with your level of cultivation, you should not come to the Star-Gathering Platform just yet."

Her ordinary words carried an absurd weight.

Yu Ci was stunned. Shouldn't the whereabouts of Old Daoist Yu Zhou be the most pressing concern? He forgot to pursue that question, looking at He Qing and then scanning his surroundings. That feeling of "doubting a dream" enveloped him once more. Was it all just an illusion?

Then, he saw the Passing Water Sword.

With a low hum, the four-foot-long sword was unsheathed. The female cultivator flicked her wrist slightly, and the sword aura, like the glimmer of water, ebbed and flowed. The blade seemed to merge with the void, only the traces of water marks appearing and disappearing intermittently. She was not known for her swordsmanship, yet the chilling Sword Energy that grazed his face still carried a bone-piercing ferocity.

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Yu Ci stood still, the Sword Light and water marks passing before his eyes. He had intended to speak again, but at that moment, he closed his mouth.

Another clear ring, and He Qing ceased her movements. The flexible blade vibrated with a buzzing sound. The female cultivator's gaze slid from the sword to Yu Ci's face, and she slightly shook her head:

"This sword is not suited for you..."

She sheathed the sword and returned it to its original place: "Go down and heal properly. Don't just recover from your injuries only to plant the seeds of new ailments."

With those words, He Qing sat down beside the long sword, crossing her legs and closing her eyes in silent meditation.

Yu Ci, driven to near madness by her bizarre actions, felt as if even the Buddha or the Daoist Patriarchs would lose their composure. Just as he was about to step forward and speak, his body suddenly stiffened—a hand was placed on his shoulder:

"Why bother with these distractions... Do not disturb her."

The first half of the sentence was clearly not meant for him.

Yu Ci, listening to this somewhat unfamiliar voice, found himself completely immobilized. It was at this moment that he felt a sensation: the female cultivator had become the center of heaven and earth—or more precisely, it seemed as if the heavens had cast their "attention" upon her, relegating all others to the periphery.

The pressure on his shoulder lifted, and Yu Ci looked up to see the sky suddenly inked with dense, dark clouds.

“You go ahead first, the Sect will give you an explanation.”

“Grandmaster Fang…”

Yu Ci's words were left unfinished as the void shifted before his eyes. By the time his vision stabilized, he was no longer on the Star-Gathering Platform. Surveying his surroundings, he found himself in a room within the Star Plucking Auxiliary Tower, with the void to his left, granting a reasonably expansive view.

Above, the clouds were ink-stained, with a Golden Snake darting about. Below, silhouettes and streaks of light soared up one after another, though they kept their distance, forming a distant ring and looking up in observation.

Occasional snippets of conversation drifted over, until a loud, laughing voice joined in: “To witness with one’s own eyes the esteemed Immortal He of our sect breaking through the Thunderbolt Tribulation, achieving Longevity and Sustained Health, is indeed a fortunate event, far more thrilling than any Sword Garden or the like!”

Murmurs of agreement were faintly heard. Yu Ci glanced in that direction without interest in who was speaking; it didn’t concern him. After standing quietly for a moment, he wiped his face with both hands. When his hands fell away, his expression was serene. He then leaped over the railing and descended without looking back.

************

The entire Sect's Mountain Gate was enveloped in a peculiar atmosphere.

He Qing, a third-generation disciple of the Empirical Department, had bathed in thunderous flames atop the Star Plucking Tower, slain a Sky Demon, and after two days, shattered the barriers of the Thunderbolt Tribulation to ascend as a True Immortal.

With this, the number of Thunderbolt Tribulation Cultivators in the Sect increased to eight. Adding to that the recent success of Hua Xi Feng in mastering Vacuum Walking, the Sect now boasted thirty-one Vacuum Walking Cultivators, significantly bolstering its strength.

However, on the same day, Yu Zhou, another third-generation disciple of the Empirical Department, underwent ‘sword rainbow transformation’ atop the Star Plucking Tower.

Take note, it was ‘sword rainbow transformation’!

Such was the Sect's designation.

What a nebulous term! Just as Yu Ci himself had perceived, people were confounded by that profound and mysterious process. As the tale was passed from mouth to mouth, it grew ever more enigmatic. They didn’t even know whether they should mourn or not.

Bao Guang was a prime example.

The young Taoist was, of course, in mourning. Though it's said that a man's tears are not lightly shed, he had already wept bitterly, his eyes still swollen. But after the tears, he found himself unable to grasp his own emotions. He was sorrowful, yes, but mostly he felt lost. For instance, at this moment, he was tugging at Yu Ci, seeking a definitive answer:

“‘Sword rainbow transformation’ isn’t a particularly bad description, right? It surely doesn’t mean that his lifespan has ended, or that he's met with Both Body and Spirit Annihilated, does it? Senior Brother, you were there at the time. Do you think Master had some other plan in mind, perhaps to reincarnate and cultivate anew?”

Watching the young Taoist's eyes brim with unshakable anticipation, Yu Ci found himself at a loss for words.

His friends, Zhang Yan and Li You, had just left after offering their consolations, which were all variations on a familiar theme.

At that moment, with a forceful grip, he hoisted a jar of fine wine he had prepared earlier onto the table. "The Temple Master's dealings are so profoundly mysterious they vex the soul. Let's not mind him—for today, you and I shall drink to our heart's content until we're thoroughly inebriated!"

His words lacked gravity, yet they comforted Bao Guang. It was as if in the next moment, the kindly old Daoist would appear in the room, speaking with a warm, smiling face.

Bao Guang laughed, and as he did, tears streamed down his face once more.

Half an hour later, Bao Guang was thoroughly drunk, while Yu Ci was only slightly tipsy.

He set down his wine bowl and looked at the young Taoist slumped over the table, asleep. After a moment, his fingers traced rune patterns in the void, and he began to chant in a deep voice. The young Taoist grunted and then murmured the word "Master."

Yu Ci's expression was serene and composed. After a brief pause, he spoke softly, "You know about the relationship between the Master and He Qing, don't you?"

Bao Guang hummed in acknowledgment, prompting Yu Ci to demand, "Tell me!"

As he spoke, his pupils seemed to freeze over.

Two days had passed since Yu Zhou's transformation into a rainbow, and Yu Ci had finally weathered the relentless onslaught of emotions. His mind was gradually calming, but with this calm came surging questions, now vastly different from before. He temporarily set aside the torment of whether the old Daoist was alive or dead, turning his focus to a more tangible concern:

How did it come to this?

Yu Ci was no fool; on the contrary, he was keenly perceptive and adept at deciphering people's hearts. He had long sensed that there must be some painful history between Yu Zhou and He Qing. He had not inquired before, out of respect for the old Daoist and because of the reverential discretion practiced by Li You, Bao Guang, and the others.

But now, he would not allow anyone to keep him in the dark any longer!

Under the influence of strong liquor and a bewitching spell, Bao Guang's lips were unguarded, and he spoke in slurred speech. Yu Ci listened intently, deciphering the words. Just as he began to make sense of them, the door burst open with a loud bang as someone kicked it in:

"There's no need for all this beating around the bush. If you want to know, I'll tell you."

Yu Ci was not particularly surprised; in fact, he had been expecting such an interruption. He stood up, no longer attending to the young Taoist's mumbled words, and bowed respectfully to the elder who had entered unannounced:

"Uncle Master Lu, please enlighten your disciple."

**********