Chapter 145: Wishing for the Starry Sky

Dark clouds spilled like ink, pressing low over the entire underwater city of the Supreme Council, the air thick with suffocating oppression.

The thirty-six Gao Ta towers scattered across the city reflected twisted shadows from their silver veils, as if trembling beneath the heavy gloom.

Every cultivator of the Return to Void realm in the city was startled; those of the Union with Dao and above felt as though a peerless blade-light had suddenly blazed across the nine heavens, illuminating past and present.

Some young Return to Void cultivators were terrified, utterly confused as to what had happened.

Fortunately, this state did not last long.

As the dark clouds dispersed, the full moon and stars reappeared above the dome, and the oppressive sensation vanished with them.

At the same time, Xu Xing returned to the residence assigned to the Xian Sect's observer by the Righteous Alliance.

There, Xiang Yuanjun had already arrived and was waiting.

Seeing Xu Xing return, she gave a slight nod: "Brother Dao."

"Mm." Xu Xing sat across from her, then gazed out the window as well.

"After so many years apart, Brother Gu Mo has finally reached this step."

The earlier aura of pressure had been unmistakable; Xiang Yuanjun had naturally sensed Gu Mo's current state.

Only one step remains before breaking through the Immortal Gate.

But…

That step is not easy to cross.

Moreover, the aura sensed during the day was even greater than Brother Gu Mo's.

After a pause, Xiang Yuanjun asked: "Brother Dao, was your endeavor successful?"

"Very successful." Xu Xing produced a plain-looking green jade, sighing: "Yuan concealed it among the dust in the cracks of the study's bricks, yet it was still found."

Hearing this, Xiang Yuanjun smiled faintly.

Such situations were all too common—some cultivators emerged from seclusion to find their secret realms or caves discovered and looted clean.

It is truly hard for cultivators to hide anything, let alone someone like Yuan, renowned and high in realm.

"What did Yuan leave this time?"

"I haven't looked yet. After sensing Brother Gu Mo's aura, I left immediately."

Saying this, Xu Xing handed the green jade to her.

Xiang Yuanjun paused, hesitated for two seconds, then reached out and took it, holding it before her eyes to examine.

The square jade measured about an inch per side, its texture warm, smooth, and fine, like congealed spring rain, glowing with a quiet emerald hue.

Its surface was mirror-smooth, yet faintly visible were intricate patterns.

At first glance, it was merely an ordinary green jade.

"Bashan Chu Shui is desolate."

A voice sounded.

Was this the password? Xiang Yuanjun understood at once.

The technique used to craft this jade was far more ingenious than that of the earlier red jade.

And if anyone tried to bypass the mechanism built into the jade to open it, the jade would self-destruct.

Of course, this only applied to ordinary cultivators.

For her, bypassing the password was not difficult.

Xiang Yuanjun returned the jade to Xu Xing, then continued gazing out the window—she had no intention of asking him about the password just now.

…………

Beneath the Council President's Gao Ta, in a secret chamber.

Crystalline fragments floated silently upon the stone platform, but soon one of them began to tremble violently.

Two disheveled figures tumbled out, staggered back several steps, then collapsed outside the chamber.

It was the Council President and the middle-aged Union with Dao! The President's bamboo hairpin had fallen; now his hair hung loose, his former dignity gone.

The middle-aged Union with Dao's eyes were filled with dread, his fear unspent.

Yet both merely looked weary—not injured.

"Hmph!"

In a cold snort, a tall, imposing man appeared in the chamber—Gu Mo held a long blade, his icy gaze sweeping over the two before the chamber door. The entire room seemed to grow cramped with his presence.

But he said nothing further; his form flickered and vanished into another crystalline fragment.

Seeing this, the Council President inwardly groaned.

Previously, the Blade Sovereign had merely asked two casual questions before letting them leave—never had he suddenly inquired about the frontlines of the Starry Battlefield.

Unlucky! "My lord…" the middle-aged Union with Dao stammered nervously.

"Not a single word of today's events is to be spoken. I will handle the aftermath myself!"

"Yes, yes…"

The middle-aged Union with Dao mumbled, daring not to look at the Council President.

……

……

Furious winds howled, filling the world with purple, eerie mist.

Within the hazy fog, twisted, unnatural figures faintly emerged, as if countless insects lurked within, their rustling sounds coming from all directions.

The ground was also an eerie purple; black, serrated plants twisted unnaturally, like countless tiny tentacles.

Stepping on them felt soft, supple, and slick—as if treading upon a fungal carpet woven of flesh.

Gu Mo's expression remained unchanged as he strode forward.

He walked like this for an unknown distance, until the purple mist grew thinner and the purple hue of the ground faded gradually.

Finally, he arrived before a massive purple flesh mountain, where thick blood vessels intertwined and pulsed gently across its surface.

It was as if the entire purple flesh mountain possessed its own life.

Gu Mo reached out and lifted the flesh-carpet, seemingly woven from muscle and sinew, and stepped inside.

Instantly, everything before him changed.

Clouds swirled, peaks piled one upon another, waterfalls cascaded, springs gushed clear to the bottom, converging into a jade-band-like spiritual river that wound through the land, nourishing rare flowers and exotic herbs.

Auspicious beasts leapt through the forests, spiritual birds sang melodious calls, forming a vibrant scroll of a Xian Sect's realm.

The eerie contrast would send chills down any heart, yet Gu Mo remained calm and continued forward.

He crossed a nine-turning long bridge.

At the bridge's end stood an elegant waterside pavilion, its four sides draped with bamboo curtains, where a slender figure sat, silently watching him.

"Auntie," Gu Mo bowed with a fist salute.

"What do you want?" The voice was icy, devoid of warmth.

Inside the pavilion sat a woman clad in plain linen, her face exquisitely perfect, her long hair like a waterfall, a few strands falling over her shoulders.

"I intend to go to the Starry Frontline battlefield; I came merely to inform you, Auntie."

"The Xian Sect already has its own people to handle the frontline battlefield—what does it have to do with you?"

Gu Mo frowned, deeply displeased.

But this woman's status was different; he could only suppress his emotions, though his voice grew colder.

"The Starry Frontline battlefield is a matter of great importance to our human race—how can it not concern me!"

…… A silence fell; the woman lowered her gaze. "Do as you wish."

"Then I won't disturb you further!"

Saying this, Gu Mo said no more, turned, and walked away.

Perhaps because of his displeasure, he left the Secret Realm quickly.

The woman remained with her gaze lowered, motionless.

Long after, she suddenly lifted her head toward a certain spot and softly spoke two words.

"Sword Ancestor…"

Faintly, her perfectly exquisite profile began to ripple—as if beneath her skin lurked a monstrous, terrifying creature.

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