Chapter 208: Clouds Leave No Trace (Part 1)

"San Yueqi, San Yueqi?"

Accompanied by Xing's voice, San Yueqi slowly opened her eyes and only then realized she had already broken free from the Qiongguan Array's link, returning to reality.

Rubbing her head, San Yue felt dizzy... She looked puzzled at Miss Fu Xuan beside her: "Miss Fu Xuan, why did the deduction suddenly stop?"

"The Qiongguan Array halted in that instant just now."

Recalling what had just happened, Fu Xuan was also incredulous; in all the years since her promotion to Grand Diviner, she had never encountered such a case, and she asked curiously: "San Yue, ever since you touched that ice, I haven't been able to observe you at all—what exactly happened?"

"Hmm..." San Yueqi recounted the entire conversation she had with the messenger to the two of them.

"So... it's Fuli? The star god connected to my past is the Memory's Fuli?"

"No, we can't assert that yet..." Fu Xuan rested a hand on her chin, thinking, "All we can say is that a star god likely sealed your memories, but it may not be Liuguang Tianjun."

"Perhaps the messenger's mention of protection hints that Liuguang Tianjun is not the culprit behind sealing your memories. His involvement might be to shield you from harm caused by those sealed memories."

Although this trip still didn't reveal San Yueqi's past, it did capture a clue about Liuguang Yiting, so it wasn't a total loss. Little San Yue remained quite optimistic; after all, many days lie ahead, and she'll eventually have a chance to uncover her past.

——

A certain scientific Railgun.

The sunset tinged the sky orange‑red, and the evening breeze brushed the tips of their hair. Yusang Meiqin leaned against the railing, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing a small coin.

"People from Yiting really keep their mouths shut; they'd rather forcibly sever her link to the Qiongguan Array than spill even a hint of information," Yusang Meiqin hummed with slight displeasure, "In the end, we still got no useful intel."

"When faced with those unspeakable beings, the best approach is to stay silent," Shang Tiao Dangma glanced at her, "Just from Yiting's attitude toward this matter, it's clear that San Yueqi's past memories carry great weight."

"... Even a star god has to intervene; it seems San Yueqi's memories are quite significant."

"Hmm, now that you mention it, I have a question," Yusang Meiqin said, looking at the magical eye on Fu Xuan's forehead displayed on the screen, "Fu Xuan and the Qiongguan Array couldn't help San Yueqi find her past, and Yiting intercepted them—could it be that Fu Xuan's approach was wrong, that she shouldn't have started with 'Memory' at all?"

"What do you mean?" Shang Tiao Dangma was momentarily confused.

Yusang Meiqin simply changed the question: "'San Yueqi's past hides a secret that even a star god must act upon'—who do you think would be most interested in this topic right now?"

"Hmm..." Dangma lowered his head, thought for a moment, then recalled someone, "Ms. Black Tower?"

"Indeed, scientists are a bunch of monsters manifested from curiosity; she wouldn't be uninterested," Yusang Meiqin nodded, gazing toward the vague outline of Academy City in the distance.

"The Star God Boshizun of Zhishi, in theory, already possesses information of the entire universe and can solve all things, answering any question. If Ms. Black Tower, as a Zhishi Envoy, were to pose San Yueqi's dilemma to Boshizun, do you think Boshizun would provide an answer?"

——

Shortly after Xing and San Yueqi returned to the train, they discovered a letter from Xianzhou.

The letter contained phrases like "Inverted Ancient Sea" and "Revisit Old Grounds," presumably addressed to Dan Heng. After Xing handed the letter to him, Dan Heng noticed it bore no signature, nor any meeting time or place.

Confronted with such a strange letter, Dan Heng sent Xing away and alone applied the Yunyin Technique on it; indeed... the original text vanished, replaced by another line of ink—

"There are five names for a person, and three prices."

Dan Heng immediately sensed something unusual and decided to head to Shenshefu to inquire about clues.

……

The scene shifts to inside Shenshefu.

Jing Liu surveyed the surroundings, eyeing the cloud riders who seemed as if facing a great enemy, and laughed coldly: "Having been away from Luofu for so long, the killing intent in this mansion hasn't lessened but increased—somewhat comforting."

Hearing her words, Yan Qing thought she was about to draw her sword, and immediately stepped forward, pressing his hand onto the hilt.

"Oh, just talking. Little brother, no need to treat this like a great enemy."

——

The Wei Gong family.

"I thought I could witness her divine technique again, but alas, alas..."

Zuosong Xiaoxiaolang shook his head regretfully. Although his over‑three‑foot‑long "Wugan Pole" differed greatly in form from Jing Liu's sword, the subtleties of sword technique were still something he could learn a thing or two from.

After witnessing Jing Liu's sword technique that sliced moonlight, he became utterly engrossed in recalling her moves; now that he had a chance to see her sword art again, Zuosong Xiaoxiaolang was more excited than anyone.

"The price for witnessing a divine technique is the lives of everyone here, you know?"

Lancer swayed the beer can, "If that woman truly decides to strike, she could probably slay everyone here in an instant except Yan Qing. At most this kid could barely block a few blows, but if Jing Liu really intends to finish them off... he wouldn't get out of Shenshefu either."

Speaking so, a hint of regret crossed Lancer's face: "I originally wanted to watch Dan Heng fight more, but after he transformed he didn't need a gun for close combat, spending the whole time fiddling with a bead. Though that thing is powerful, I still want to see him spar with Jing Liu using his gun."

"... I see you want Dan Heng dead, don't you?"

Saber glared at the spectacle‑loving Lancer, recalling Dan Heng's battle with the Blade; although Dan Heng was constantly resisting and showed no fighting spirit, it was clear that his Dragon Lord form was the peak of his power.

Relying solely on a single pole to strike clouds and fight Jing Liu... feels like a forced self‑destruction of seven levels just to go looking for death.

——

Just then, Dan Heng walked in slowly, indicating he had business to see the General, but... feeling the tense, sword‑ready atmosphere in the room, he was rather embarrassed.

The Qingjian beside him whispered a reminder, asking whether he still remembered the white‑haired swordsman before him; Dan Heng remained quite calm, replied "Don't know" and prepared to turn and leave.

Qingjian called out to the departing Dan Heng, recounting the white‑haired woman's past achievements and glorious battle record; however, when speaking of the future, his gaze inevitably dimmed, for no immortal race can escape a demon‑shadow body.

"It is said that Lord Jing Liu eventually went mad, went on a killing spree, and became a fugitive outside the realm. With her abilities, no one could capture her, yet for some reason she arrived at Luofu together with a suspect disguised as a traveling merchant, claiming to surrender..."