Chapter 362: A Reunion Across a Thousand Years (Part One)

"The little whelp you speak of is my subordinate! A subordinate who stepped onto the Starry Sky alongside me. Because of me, it has fallen into such a plight—how could I abandon it?"

"Even if it means provoking an unprecedented great enemy, leaving no place for you under this starry sky, making the whole world your foe—you still wouldn't hesitate?" Zixiu's gaze burned as she looked at the jade immortal before her, a trace of incomprehension in her eyes, along with a faint, barely perceptible hope.

"I wouldn't hesitate!"

"My people, only I may deal with them!"

"Good, I understand." As if she had heard the answer she wanted, Zixiu's gaze flickered. She lowered her luminous head and said no more.

The entire platform fell silent at once, leaving only the faint hum of machinery and the howling wind outside.

After a long while, as if she had decided something, she abruptly rose to her feet and walked straight toward the great door made of the same material as the Sighing Wall of the Star Deity Clan. Her hands wove mysterious seals, summoning a strange, twisted arcane rune resembling worm-trails and bird-peckings, and pressed it against the door.

In an instant, the fragile wall that had stood unmoved against Baichuan's myriad attacks earlier melted away and sank into the ground. Only then did she turn gracefully, beaming brilliantly at the beast-shadow before her: "My apologies, I forgot to mention earlier—the only one who can open this place is none other than myself."

"Go, time is limited. Do what you wish to do…"

Having spoken, Zixiu folded her arms and stepped aside, gazing into the distance and saying nothing more.

Baichuan stared at her for a while, really wanting to ask: just how high is your status within the Lingneng Clan?

But in the end he did not ask, because… her body language already made it abundantly clear she refused to discuss this with him. Even if he asked, he would only get lies—or silence.

As far as he knew, this world was one of the most important resource worlds of the Lingneng Clan. The key to what was regarded as the most important and safest place within such a crucial world, by his guess, must undoubtedly be held either by the strongest True Immortal, or by the person in charge of everything here.

Never in his wildest dreams did he expect that the key would actually be on this seemingly frail woman before him.

In other words, this woman's identity was extraordinarily extraordinary—her noble importance might even surpass that of every person and thing in this world!

Because carrying this key meant that even if this world suddenly met with disaster, even if the True Immortal stationed here was slain by invaders, even if the world itself was destroyed by powerful foes, she could still hide within this place and remain safe! Until the arrival of stronger members of the Lingneng Clan—or even that "Ancestor."

Only a being above True Immortal could pose a threat to her.

This was a treatment even the True Immortal guarding this world did not possess.

Such honor, such treatment—how noble must she be?

Given the might of the Lingneng Clan, perhaps even a single stamp of her foot could make this boundless starry sky tremble three times!

Yet now, a person of such extraordinary status was doing something nearly equivalent to betraying her own civilization and race—a foolish act bringing nothing but harm, helping him! Helping an invader who had breached this world, destroyed its rule, sided with its enemies, and made himself their great foe!

No sane person would do such a thing!

She could not possibly be unaware of how severe the consequences of such a traitorous act would be, yet she still did it. What virtue or ability did he possess to deserve such generous treatment from her?

Because he's handsome? Or because of this beast-body before her?

Isn't that absurd? The starry sky is vast and mysterious—whatever hasn't she seen?!

Baichuan understood that in this world there are no pies falling from the sky, nor love without cause. Everything in this world has long had its price marked out by fate.

Gazing at her in silence for a long while, Baichuan withdrew his gaze, stepped forward without a word, and moved toward that passage.

As he passed her, he paused and said softly: "Thank you. What happened today, I, Baichuan, will keep engraved in my heart…"

He said nothing about generous repayment—that would be too hollow and false, no different from making her look down on him.

What she sought, he could not presently provide. All he could do was keep it in mind and repay her with actions in the future.

With that, he no longer hesitated and walked into that "passage" nearly resembling a demon's den.

The power of the Symbiotic Black Sun rose silently and was fully ignited with ravenous hunger, thoroughly scouring this foul place paved with flesh and blood, turning it into a thick layer of white ash—all that remained after the Blood Qi had been drained dry!

As the living flesh and blood binding the little lizard vanished and the machinery was destroyed, the little lizard's much-shrunken body also dropped heavily to the ground.

Yet it still showed no sign of waking. Not only that, without the sustenance of that living flesh and blood, the little lizard's already extremely feeble life aura became like a candle flame in the wind, liable to extinguish at any moment.

Clearly, the little lizard was beyond saving…

With the power of his current body, it would be very difficult to save it. Perhaps with the diverse abilities of his true dragon form, given time he could save it and even make it stronger—but that was not possible at present.

Moreover, such an enormous body with no mobility whatsoever would undoubtedly be extremely difficult to carry, and would also become a massive living target.

"It's beyond saving…"

Just as Baichuan was at a loss, Lingxin's gentle, utterly unassuming voice drifted over faintly.

"Lingxin, you've already prepared?" Hearing this, Baichuan lowered his head to look at the Biyu Seed. If Lingxin was ready, he could prepare to attempt his true body's descent. With the power of the Ancient Bell, whether to fight or retreat, he would have the initiative.

"No, still a little short. The old body is even more frail than I imagined." Lingxin shook her head. "I merely sensed that you've run into some trouble on your end…"

"Do you have a way?" Baichuan's gaze flickered as he said in a low voice. As a True Immortal—even one on the verge of death—that did not affect the foundation she possessed. After all, he was merely an Earth Immortal, yet his true body already held means beyond ordinary imagination.

"No," Lingxin, however, still shook her head. Her fragmented Spirit seemed to peer through the Biyu Seed at the little lizard on the brink of death, a hint of regret and pity in her eyes. "The heart's blood containing the Star Beast's power within this Rock-Spined Demon Dragon has nearly been drained dry—even a True Immortal couldn't save it."

"To save it, we can only take its Spirit and abandon this broken body. But then it will lose all its power and its special bloodline, and have to start over from scratch…"

"Is that so? That's fine then." Baichuan only thought it over briefly before deciding. To him, this was no issue at all. The emergence of the Black Sun's power had given him the confidence to quickly produce Earth Immortal Realm experts. Give him time, and he could restore the little lizard to its peak—and even beyond.

"What do I need to do?" Baichuan asked.

"Please wait a moment, sir."

With that, a crystalline pale-green light flared. A phantom figure flew out from within, hands cradled over its heart. Her dark hair stirred without wind, and a breath of vibrant spring vitality emanated gently from her. She was a woman whose face could not be seen clearly, but whose very appearance radiated tenderness and a motherly grace.

Was this Lingxin's true form?

Watching this scene, the thought flashed through Baichuan's mind instinctively.

The next moment, the figure slowly opened a pair of ethereal eyes, and a gentle breeze of life-force wafted past. When the figure vanished, Baichuan saw a tiny Light Point shaped like a little lizard appear before him.

And that massive body before him visibly lost all signs of life, its death conclusively declared!

Taking in the Light Point representing the little lizard's Spirit, Baichuan looked at the body before him, about to incinerate it.

A strange ripple suddenly flashed, spreading out in all directions.

In an instant, on the battlefield, Guyue—who was still catching up with former comrades while wearing a tight mask—suddenly froze. The expression beneath his mask changed drastically. The small but solid spear of lightning in his hand, meant to entertain his old friend with a sharp sting, was crushed in his grip. He turned his head back toward the Tongtian Jianmu with an ugly expression, grinding his teeth: "Damn it!"

"Quick! Everyone, attack together—hold him!" The Mountain-Suppressing God saw this. Though he didn't know what had happened, the other's ghastly expression clearly told him something major had occurred—and to their advantage. Naturally, he could not let the other leave to deal with it.

With a resolute expression, he erupted with all his divine power, striding forward with heavy, thunderous steps to grapple the foe. It was a divine power as heavy and solid as a great mountain, representing the force of the world's mountains and rivers. So long as he stood upon this land, his defense was linked to it—to bring him down, one would have to bring down this very earth!

In an instant, the momentarily lost Guyue was seized in a crushing embrace. The immense weight of a mountain crashed into him, the tremendous force savagely battering his small frame.

At the same time, from the shadow of the Mountain-Suppressing God, a handsome youth wielding a sharp disc-blade suddenly leapt forth. His aura was gloomy, his gaze like lightning, and he slashed with the deadly gleaming disc-blade.

Not only these two, but two other old gods nearby also exerted their full abilities. For a moment, currents surged and roared; a heaven-shaking great blade slashed across the sky—all to hold Guyue back for even a moment.

Yet facing all of this, Guyue merely trembled, and boundless shockwaves rose up, easily shaking the four Old Gods; all the power of the Old Gods, before the shockwaves he unleashed, was like the light of a grain of rice compared to the bright moon, and was effortlessly erased.

That seemed to be power not of the same level, but a kind of power one level higher than theirs.

In an instant, the four gods were like birds with broken wings, letting out miserable groans as they crashed toward the surroundings.

"Crack crack~~" The crisp sound of shattering rang out continuously beside the God of the Summit — that was the sound of his indestructible divine body, which had endured tens of millions of battles and rivaled the great mountains and rivers, breaking apart! In just one tremor from Guyue, that solid divine body was completely shattered!

At this moment, it wasn't just him; the few companions beside him were all the same, and even more severely so than him!

The God of Shadow's entire body was already covered in cracks, like a fragile porcelain doll, waiting only for the slightest touch to completely crumble!

The God of Streams was even more directly shattered into several huge lakes, no longer in human form!

……

"I don't have the leisure to keep playing with you!" Guyue coldly gazed at these old friends who had already entered a death countdown, with no intention of finishing them off; only letting them quietly taste the flavor of death was the greatest punishment for their disrespect.

As his words fell, he transformed into a streak of grey light and headed toward the direction of the Tongtian Jianmu.

And that bizarre beast-shadow within the Grey Mist had now completely pinned down Baichuan's continent-level body, which had lost its true master, and was beating it savagely.

……

Elsewhere, at the same time.

"Are you preparing to leave just like that?"

At the doorway, watching Baichuan, who had burned up the little lizard's body and was making a great show of preparing to walk out, Zixiu, who had been leaning against the wall nearby thinking about who-knows-what, suddenly spoke.

"?" Baichuan stopped his steps and turned his head in puzzlement.

"You sensed that wave just now, didn't you? Soon, the True Immortal guarding this place will descend; are you certain you're a match for that True Immortal?"

"Following the direction you're heading, it won't be long before you two will meet face-to-face."

"What are you trying to say? Speak plainly." Baichuan thought it over carefully and realized that this body of his was indeed no match; the continent-level body he had placed outside, controlled by Jin Yun'er, could not return now, already entangled by that creature within the Grey Mist.

'Lingxin, how much longer?'

Thinking of this, Baichuan inwardly inquired of Lingxin through the Biyu Seed.

"This way!"

Before Lingxin could answer, Zixiu walked to the spot Baichuan had just stepped out from, and unexpectedly triggered a special passage.

That was a special passage built within the 【Sighing Wall】, seemingly prepared for those who had entered the Sighing Wall to leave by.

"This passage can take you directly to the highest peak of this base; there is an open, special platform, and from there you can leave at the fastest speed!"

"Listen to her!"

"She isn't deceiving you."

At this moment, Lingxin's voice also timely transmitted into Baichuan's consciousness.

But this time, Baichuan did not respond; instead, he stared fixedly at the woman before him, as if trying to see through her.

"Why aren't you going?" It seemed Baichuan had been silent for too long, and Zixiu was the first to grow anxious, "Don't believe me?"

"But if you don't leave now, once True Immortal Guyue arrives, you might not be able to leave even if you want to. The power of a True Immortal is beyond what you can imagine; below True Immortal, the power you take pride in will shatter at a touch before the power of a True Immortal, and will even become its aid…"

Baichuan shook his head, interrupting the other's words, "Why?"

"Why? Why what?" Zixiu was first stunned, then seemed to react, and burst into laughter despite herself, covering her mouth as she laughed until she bent over, "Why so many whys? I've invested so much in you after all; if you die now, wouldn't I be at a loss?"

"Don't dawdle, hurry and go!"

Seeing that the other was still talking around the subject, Baichuan sighed inwardly, and finally stepped into the passage.

In an instant, the passage seemed to have been activated; the previously melted and vanished Sighing Wall rose once again, guarding the interior as solid as gold and iron, enduring even the collapse of the world.

"Why?"

A voice like murmuring rose faintly in this space that had fallen silent; Zixiu stared blankly in the direction the beast-shadow had vanished, slowly sat down against the wall, and with a somewhat dejected expression, stroked the little snake that seemed to be comforting her — it was a snake species Baichuan knew all too well — the king cobra.

Why so many whys; I just wanted to save you, that's all.

My Bai…

A reunion spanning over a thousand years, it clearly should have been an extremely beautiful thing…

Why, why…

(End of this chapter)