Chapter 293: All Are Necessary Sacrifices

"Grand Tutor Gu, thank you for waking Qinghui from her dream!"

Fan Qinghui's voice was hollow and sorrowful; she stepped out of the cabin and saw Shifan Xuan standing at the door. She wiped her mouth, sidestepped Shifan Xuan, and walked toward the outside of the cabin.

She pursued fragmentation—now Fan Qinghui's Dao heart was shattered, her mind a blank void.

"Master?"

Shifan Xuan, startled, was about to ask—but paused, then entered the cabin. She saw Gu Qing tidying his robes, and the room carried a familiar scent. Her jade-like face flushed slightly as she stepped close to Gu Qing and asked, "How far have you gone with my master?"

Gu Qing gently pulled Shifan Xuan close and said calmly, "I was just playing with her. With you, it's real."

"..."

Shifan Xuan had no reply. She felt she hadn't been blind at all—Gu Qing was both powerful and cruel. She scolded softly, "What exactly did you do to my master?"

Outside the cabin.

Fan Qinghui reached the prow of the Perfume Boat, gazing at the misty waterway, her heart empty.

"What's wrong with the Abbess Fan?"

Lu Miaozǐ was also on the prow. He noticed Fan Qinghui's unusual expression and asked gently.

Hearing it was Lu Miaozǐ, Fan Qinghui knew he was a sage of the age and a lifelong friend of Bi Xiuxin. She spoke: "Long ago, I knew this mortal world was a sweet dream, so I pursued the supreme Dao. But now, knowing the requirements for shattering the void, I realize all I've sought my whole life is an illusion."

Fan Qinghui's heart felt hollow.

Lu Miaozǐ listened, then said he wished to hear more.

Fan Qinghui, eyes downcast in sorrow, spoke slowly: "Grand Tutor Gu spoke of certain theories about heaven and earth..."

The theory that cosmic fortune is like a large cake—said by the Celestial Master Sun En—holds that when one era shines brightly, another fades into darkness. The chance to shatter the void follows the same pattern.

Too many shattered during the Borderlands era; by the time of the Twin Dragons of Tang, cosmic fortune had dimmed. Hence, in this world, the Three Great Masters tower above all others.

"This era is wrong."

Fan Qinghui spoke bitterly: "Thus, Qinghui cannot reach that supreme realm, nor attain the ultimate Dao."

For one like Fan Qinghui, who pursued the Dao, the wrong era was her greatest sorrow—every lifelong aspiration now became a mirage, visible but unattainable.

"How long until the next era?"

Lu Miaozǐ asked, puzzled.

As a sage of the world, he still lacked true understanding of the Dao and could not grasp its subtlest changes.

"Watch Shifan Xuan."

Fan Qinghui's voice carried weariness.

At first, when she pursued the Dao, Fan Qinghui never cared about results—merely walking the path and refining herself was enough. But now, knowing the key to shattering the void, she could not accept defeat.

Hearing this, Lu Miaozǐ looked at Fan Qinghui and said, "If that's so, Abbess, you still have a chance."

Fan Qinghui gazed at Lu Miaozǐ as he spoke of Xiang Yutian's lifespan.

"Grand Tutor Gu also possesses the Dao Heart Demon Seeding Art," Lu Miaozǐ said. "He also has the ability to extract the Holy Emperor's Relic."

The primordial essence within the Holy Emperor's Relic replenishes life. Xiang Yutian relied on it to become the longest-lived man in the world. Compared to Xiang Yutian's longevity, Fan Qinghui now seems like a child.

"Can such a thing truly exist?"

Fan Qinghui's voice held surprise, her eyes flickering with hope.

Lu Miaozǐ nodded. "Before, Qingya was on the brink of death, her vitality exhausted. But Grand Tutor Gu replenished her primordial essence and brought her back to life."

Lu Miaozǐ cited Qingya's case, then asked Fan Qinghui to examine her own body. "I once angered Yu Yan by possessing the Holy Emperor's Relic. She damaged my body with the Devilish Qi. Even with medicinal wine to prolong my life, I had little time left. But Grand Tutor Gu said that once we reach Daxing and obtain the Holy Emperor's Relic, he will use its primordial essence to extend my life."

Fan Qinghui had been astonished by Xiang Yutian's story, but with Qingya's example, extending life was no longer absurd.

Just moments ago, Fan Qinghui felt her pursuit of the Dao had turned to nothing. Now, she grasped it again. The dream shattered, then returned—her spirit surged. She immediately took leave of Lu Miaozǐ and hurried into the cabin, where she saw Gu Qing and Shifan Xuan sitting opposite each other, as if speaking. Only when she drew near did they fall silent.

"Grand Tutor Gu."

Fan Qinghui swept her hand across her scalp. Thick black hair instantly grew, and in an instant, she underwent celestial transformation—her hair now reached her waist. Her entire demeanor changed. Standing before Gu Qing, the qualities of fresh rain on an empty mountain, boundless compassion, and vast benevolence all converged upon her. Her voice, sweet and melodious, said: "Grand Tutor Gu, please let Qinghui's dream of the Dao continue."

!

Fan Qinghui's words carried humility.

"From arrogance to groveling—how laughable."

Gu Qing smiled as he watched Fan Qinghui's hair grow.

This was the re-growth of emotional threads, now clinging to Gu Qing.

Fan Qinghui, hearing this blunt mockery, felt no shame. She calmly raised her head and said: "Grand Tutor Gu, whatever you ask of Qinghui now, she will do."

Fan Qinghui now knew when the next great surge of cosmic fortune would come, and that to shatter the void, she must elevate her martial arts further. Whether for lifespan or martial power, she must rely on Gu Qing—and so she grew ever more reverent toward him.

"Grand Tutor..."

Shifan Xuan, seeing her master's state, found even her usually serene Daoist immortal at a loss for words.

"Stay by my side for now."

Gu Qing studied Fan Qinghui's expression. "As for what you desire..." He looked at Shifan Xuan and entrusted Fan Qinghui's fate to her.

Shifan Xuan truly hadn't expected her master to sink so low. After much thought, she first helped Fan Qinghui outside, intending to speak with her properly before deciding anything.

Gu Qing stretched his limbs, thinking of the sycophant Xie Hui. If that dog had seen today's events, would his Dao heart shatter too?

"Fan Qinghui!"

Gu Qing called out directly: "Bring Xie Hui to Daxing."

Gu Qing intended to use this sycophant.

Fan Qinghui responded from outside, smiling. As long as Gu Qing commanded her, she could remain by his side.

All of this is a necessary sacrifice to glimpse the Dao.

(End of Chapter)