Chapter 260: Fate

Shen Qingchanyi struggled to rise, her face pale, wiping the blood from the corner of her lips with her sleeve, then gazing at the sword before her.

“Hanguang.”

She caressed the three-foot snow blade, whispering softly.

The next moment.

The girl in the plain skirt lifted her head and looked at Jiang Jian: “Thank you.”

She did not refuse.

Her gaze, as always, was calm and resolute.

Jiang Jian nodded and asked: “Do you wish to leave this world?”

Shen Qingchanyi’s Weaving Fate technique was too valuable.

The Second Realm was no place to remain long.

“Leave this place?”

Shen Qingchanyi froze.

The next instant.

She shook her head firmly, her expression resolute: “I still have things to do—about my mother.”

Jiang Jian said: “I’m not talking about now.”

Shen Qingchanyi pondered a moment, then said: “When I’ve finished what I must do, where I am will make no difference to me.”

She lifted her face to Jiang Jian: “Holy Elected One.”

“Beyond this world, is there truly another?”

Hearing this,

Jiang Jian fell silent briefly, then said: “This place is called the Second Realm.”

“Compared to the Solar System, it’s less than a speck of dust.”

Shen Qingchanyi gasped: “The Solar System—the place where the Sun is?”

As she spoke,

she instinctively looked up, her gaze seeming to pierce through Qiushuigong and reach the stars above.

The Sun, also called the Great Sun.

Hanging high in the heavens, illuminating all things.

The boundary of the Second Realm could not block the light of the stars.

“Knowledge of star systems may be hard for you to grasp.”

Jiang Jian shook his head: “When you leave here and reach Earth, you’ll understand naturally.”

Shen Qingchanyi murmured an acknowledgment and fell silent.

She took up Hanguang, the robe tied with Zhaoming.

Thinking of “Solar System,”

a faint longing appeared in her expression.

But in an instant,

her yearning gaze was replaced by deep, burning hatred.

Her fingers tightened around the sword.

“This sword is immensely powerful—use it with caution.”

Jiang Jian spoke softly.

By normal rules,

divine-gifted weapons could be used only by the one granted them.

Only rare “Innate Divine Gifts” were exempt.

With the original owner’s permission,

Innate Divine Gifts could be wielded by other beings.

Shen Qingchanyi’s “Weaving Fate” was such a gift.

Jiang Jian’s “Hanguang” was the same.

On the water platform,

Shen Qingchanyi murmured: “I’ll use it carefully.”

Jiang Jian nodded, said no more, and turned to walk out of the cave.

Behind him,

Shen Qingchanyi suddenly spoke: “Holy Elected One, I’ve just now mastered a new technique.”

Jiang Jian stopped, but did not turn.

Shen Qingchanyi whispered: “My innate talent can alter fate—based on cultivation.”

“Not just my own.”

“But others’ as well.”

“Now, I have one chance to use it—as a last-resort lifeline.”

She raised Hanguang, lifting her head: “So, Holy Elected One, don’t worry about my safety.”

“I will live—until I finish what I must do.”

Hearing this,

Jiang Jian stood still, silent for several seconds, then walked straight out of the cave.

Fuhai Cave gradually fell still.

Above the Li Sea,

a massive black phoenix flapped its wings.

Pouring streams of dark light upward into the sky.

Jiang Jian stood atop Long Quexu, spiritual energy surging around him, rippling light across his white robe.

The cracked meridians and acupoints had fully healed.

Not only was his spiritual circulation now unimpeded,

but the spiritual essence of Shenque and Yongquan was rapidly restoring.

“Return to Yinshan?”

The Guide Messenger suddenly spoke, the surrounding mirrors warping as his projection sharpened.

Jiang Jian shook his head: “I must first go to the Earth-Moon Academy to reclaim my identity artifact.”

His original identity artifact remained on Shengshan, kept by designated custodians.

Previously,

Jiang Jian had failed his breakthrough.

His soul was riddled with cracks, barely maintainable for short periods.

There was no room for delay.

Thus, upon leaving Shengshan, he went directly to Li Sea—never had time to retrieve his identity artifact.

“I must warn you,”

“your time is extremely limited.”

The Guide Messenger stepped beside Jiang Jian, stroking the black feathers of Long Quexu, his tone strange.

“Yinshan’s Marvelous Realm exists in a dimensional space, orbiting Earth.”

“In a little while,

its corresponding surface coordinates will drift away from Chang’an Prefecture.”

“When that happens,

you won’t be able to return to Yinshan.”

His form flickered, shifting between transparency and solidity, unstable.

Previously,

Jiang Jian had activated the Dizang Staff, using its link to Yinshan’s Marvelous Realm to provide precise coordinates, allowing the Guide Messenger to project here.

But if Yinshan’s Marvelous Realm’s surface coordinates drifted far from the Second Realm,

the Guide Messenger’s projection would instantly shatter.

Likewise,

if the distance became too great,

he could no longer invoke the Marvelous Realm’s rules to connect with Jiang Jian.

Though the complete Marvelous Realm was born from the virtual becoming real, possessing primordial power,

its influence was not infinite.

Once beyond that range,

even if the Guide Messenger knew Jiang Jian’s exact coordinates, he could not bring him back to Yinshan.

Hearing this,

Jiang Jian’s expression remained unreadable: “How long?”

The Guide Messenger estimated briefly: “About half an hour—by surface-world reckoning, one hour.”

“That should be enough.”

Jiang Jian whispered.

The next instant.

His shenque spiritual essence suddenly erupted forth!

Beneath him, the black phoenix flapped its wings, letting out a clear, piercing cry.

Within its massive form, streams of black light rapidly wove together, nearly solidifying!

A few seconds later.

Long Quexu transformed into a streak of black light, slicing across the sky with drastically increased speed!

Boom!

Wind howled past his ears, roaring fiercely.

Jiang Jian stood still, his snow-white sleeves lifting gently; spiritual energy formed a curtain before him, blocking most of the violent gales.

“When I left the Breaking Realm Hall.”

“The Earth-Moon Academy was unnaturally quiet.”

“The duty instructors and academy students.”

“Seemed to all be gone from Shengshan.”

As he pondered,

Jiang Jian flipped his palm, and the Spirit Monster Identity Device appeared.

The transparent wristwatch emitted a sharp alert tone the moment it materialized!

On the device, faint lights flashed rapidly!

Jiang Jian’s gaze sharpened; deep within his spirit, a sense of foreboding stirred.

He swiped his finger, opening the holographic screen.

He looked toward the topmost message.

The next moment.

His previously calm expression suddenly changed!

(End of Chapter)