Chapter 337: The Pessimistic Taiyin Star Lord

This matter must be known to all fellow Daoists, so it certainly won't be mentioned in the group.

The true immortal's intent blazed brilliantly, and as these words were spoken, responses echoed from all directions.

Kui and You in the starry sky are now at Min of the Xiang Jianzong, along with the true immortal elders of several other Gedaxian Sects.

Though the minds of all responded, not a single one spoke; all waited silently for Ning Ruo's explanation.

"Because of the previous 'Ascension' incident, Brother still retains several Ascension Platforms; I used them as targets, accessing the Ascension Platform's central node within Ling Yin Fang…"

Ning Ruo first explained how she had established contact with Xu Xing and the others, then fully relayed the information transmitted through the karmic threads.

Counteract repulsion.

A world where the Divine Dao and Immortal Dao have replaced each other…

After listening, the immortals fell silent for a long while.

Eventually, Dan Zu was the first to respond.

"According to Brother's account, he intends to sever his past… Did he not specify his progress?"

"No, since contact was only just established, and there may have been external interference causing part of the message to be lost."

"... Is there a better alternative?"

"Not for now. Fellow Daoists, please consider." Ning Ruo replied bluntly, "Later, I will attempt to use the karmic thread delivered by Xiang Yuanjun to establish a stable communication channel, ideally one capable of transmitting power over."

The Xuan Realm's repulsion does not target them; once true immortals have coordinates, traveling there is not difficult.

Of course, true immortals cannot leave the Xuan Realm at will, and even transmitting power outward must be done with extreme caution, especially given the current situation after such a great upheaval.

"We will need the elder's assistance at that time."

Among the immortals, only You was most suitable.

"Fine, fine, fine! I'll go meet that Xu Xing kid myself." You replied.

The other true immortals all have duties; though he too holds the responsibility of guarding the starry sky, diverting a sliver of power beyond the realm poses no issue.

"Mm." Ning Ruo paused, then added, "I will reply once more, but regarding the content of the reply, I'd like to hear your suggestions."

The immortals' minds fell silent for a moment.

"First, inform Brother and the others that the Xuan Realm's situation has stabilized, so they won't worry." Ba Zun spoke first.

"We must also explain the conditions of Taishang Daozong and the Xiang Jianzong," Qi Zun added, "Best to also update them on Hong Zun's consort and descendants' current status."

"I will convey the Taishang Daozong's situation," Master Mei Zu said.

"For the Xiang Jianzong, I'll have Xiao Hai compile the relevant materials and send them via the Spirit Net," said Min, "My Spirit Net account is…"

Huh???

Friend Min is actually using the Spirit Net?

I thought he couldn't use it!

"Then let's do this: we'll organize the materials and send them all together to the group," Ba Zun said, "Min, I'll add you to the group shortly."

Since Kui, who isn't on the Central Continent, and Elder You can't participate in this matter anyway, it's better to discuss it directly in the group.

"Agreed."

At that moment, an unexpected person spoke up.

"Group? You built a group?"

It was Huo.

"..."

The immortals of all Gedaxian Sects fell silent, then Ba Zun withdrew his mind first, followed by the rest.

Ling Yin Fang, inner sect.

Within the Xuan Zhu Tree Hollow Heaven.

Ning Ruo, standing in the white space, retracted her mind and turned again to the artifact before her.

A group…

She didn't care; she never paid attention to such things anyway.

The strings were slender, and the karmic threads entwined upon them were even more illusory, on the verge of dissolving.

Yet information continued to flow through them.

"Must stabilize first…" Ning Ruo frowned slightly, then pointed a finger at the utterly ethereal karmic thread.

Hum~

An invisible ripple spread outward, touching the thread on the verge of vanishing…

Like a wisp of mist on a lake swept away by a gentle breeze, the thread wound around the string suddenly disappeared.

Ning Ruo's expression didn't change; the ripple expanded further, becoming clearer, until it was visible to the naked eye!

And upon the string, the vanished karmic thread reappeared—more solid than before.

"..." Slowly withdrawing her hand, Ning Ruo's furrowed brow did not ease, "It seems more time is still needed."

The karmic thread sent by Xiang Yuanjun seemed heavily disturbed, making stabilization extremely difficult.

First send a reply, so Xu Dage and the others won't keep trying…

Dingdong!

A notification tone suddenly sounded; Ning Ruo paused, and her phone, resting nearby, floated to her front—on the screen was a message.

【Master Mei Zu invited you to join the group chat "Communication Group," tap to view details】

Such a casual name.

…

…

Xiang Jianzong.

Outer Sect cafeteria.

Since Chi Jiuyu broke through to Soul Transformation and spent some time stabilizing her realm, she has taken on another external mission.

Now that the mission is complete and she's just returned, she came to meet Zhang Yunlu and Li Ke for a gathering.

Also, while she was at it, she planned to boil the Qilin egg she obtained from the Three Heaven Realms.

She scooped up a large helping of boiled fish slices, dipped them thoroughly in the oil sauce, shoved them into her mouth, and chewed vigorously several times before swallowing.

"Phew~" She put down her chopsticks, grabbed a sheet of paper, and wiped the red oil from her face.

"The Xiang Jianzong cafeteria is still the best—these past few days of nothing but dried rations nearly made me sick!"

Even though the Qilin egg sounds incredibly prestigious, she still preferred the fish slices.

"Sister, didn't you buy a lot of fresh ingredients on the Spirit Net?" Zhang Yunlu said.

"Ugh, this mission was a nightmare—there was no time for anything."

"Rest more after eating—you need quiet recuperation after this," Li Ke advised.

Chi Jiuyu's right hand was wrapped in thick bandages, suspended from her neck, completely immobile.

A drip bag hung from a nearby rack, filled with pale green spiritual fluid, its tube running all the way to her spine.

These were all injuries from this mission.

Because the principle Chi Jiuyu realized during her Foundation Establishment was unusually unique, her slow recovery process actually aided her cultivation, so Li Ke did not interfere.

But still…

!. read

The scene was still somewhat eerie.

"I know, I know—I'm not a child anymore, I'm already Soul Transformation!" Saying this, Chi Jiuyu turned to Li Ke with a grin. "By the way, Sister, I heard you reached Soul Transformation at a very young age too."

This damn fish is showing off again…

Just as Li Ke was about to respond, her expression suddenly froze, then she rose abruptly.

"I have something to attend to."

Without giving either of them a chance to speak, her figure vanished instantly.

Chi Jiuyu and Zhang Yunlu were not at all surprised.

Lately, high-level sword cultivators like Li Ke have had countless tasks—many sudden incidents require her to intervene…

Chi Jiuyu clicked her tongue.

The Qilin egg still wasn't ready yet.

She picked up another helping of fish slices and muttered to herself.

I wonder when Master will return…

…………

In the Tongxuan energy level world.

Beside the waterfall, the small cottage's fine snow, which had paused for only a moment, began falling again.

The Tai Ping Dan fruits hanging from the white plants swayed gently; occasionally, birds flew by, landed, and pecked away a fruit.

Inside the cottage.

Xiang Yuanjun stood at the door, her feet unmoving for a long time.

The interior decoration was extremely simple—nowhere near the cold opulence of the Taiyin Moon Palace, let alone the grandeur of the Nine Heavens Palace.

Yet this utterly plain little cottage filled her with extreme tension, her mind replaying over and over the scenes she had witnessed before.

After a long while, she suddenly realized and hurried forward, following the inner guidance.

Not long after, she passed through the open door and saw the scene inside.

First was the my lord with white gauze over his eyes; across from him sat a man whose cultivation she could not fathom, smiling calmly.

On the table between them rested a delicate gold-and-white ornament, like a tiny altar.

'So this is the Xiang Jianzong the elder mentioned…'

Standing at the door, she felt utterly at a loss.

She didn't know whether she should enter, nor what she should say or do once inside.

"Come in and sit. Don't be so formal," Xu Xing said slowly.

Xiang Yuanjun paused, then suppressed her nervousness and stepped inside.

"Junior… I… hum… salute Xiang Jianzong, my lord!"

Neither "junior" nor "lesser deity" felt appropriate—she simply omitted it.

She removed the bamboo basket from her hand.

"These are moon laurel fruits—a small token of respect, please don't refuse them."

"Thank you," said Yuanjun, reaching out to take the basket. "Sit."

"You're too kind—I could only see the path ahead thanks to your guidance."

Saying this, she sat carefully on the chair between them, appearing extremely restrained.

As the deity who governs the Taiyin authority in this world, since her birth until now, as the Immortal-Deity Era nears its end, she had never felt this uneasy—even before the Heavenly Sovereigns and several Di Jun.

"By the way, Sui Zu Di Jun…" Xiang Yuanjun was about to warn.

"I know," Xu Xing interrupted her. "But won't this offend him?"

Xiang Yuanjun paused: "You forged the Tai Ping Dan fruits and gave the mortals hope to survive. My fate is sealed—I might as well do something more…"

After all, when the Immortal Dao Era arrives, I will eventually be captured and used to complete the Taiyin Dao of the Celestial Realm, becoming one of the hanging moons.

Yet the beings saved by the Tai Ping Dan fruits—I watched them grow, bit by bit, from the Taiyin Star.

They once prayed to the moon…

For the being who saved them, she wanted to do something, however small, in these final moments.

Xu Xing tapped his fingers lightly on the table: "Have you never considered that everything you've seen might not be real?"

The Lady of the Great Yin, upon hearing this, merely pressed her lips together.

"No, the moment I saw it, I knew—it was the future."

After all, she is a deity who wields the authority of the Great Yin; she simply lacked guidance, which is why she could not see through it.

"Have you never thought of changing something?" This time, it was Xiang Yuanjun who asked.

"Change…" The Lady of the Great Yin shook her head bitterly, "I cannot."

That's right—she is, in truth, an optimist. (End of chapter)