Chapter 372: The Reincarnation of the Purple Micro Star

Beneath the blue sky, within the sea of clouds.

Gu Qing stood before the Immortal Chang'e, feeling waves of icy chill like tides pulling and tugging at him, nearly unsteadying his stance; even his solid Sun Golden Core began to leak its essence.

Gu Qing had now formed the Sun Golden Core, his cultivation far surpassing ordinary Golden Core cultivators, but the Immortal Chang'e before him might be a divine being—the gap between them was immeasurable. Thus, facing Chang'e, Gu Qing played the part of an honest man, fully activating the Dao Heart Seed Demon technique; lacking strength, he chose to rely on personal charm to defuse the situation.

"You use this to test a god?"

Immortal Chang'e's dimples faintly appeared, her peerless face cold with frost.

Hearing this, Gu Qing knew Chang'e had been watching him for a long time—even his speech patterns had been copied. He immediately retracted the Amber Vermilion Silk and sincerely said: "I truly have nothing worthy to offer. Your immortal beauty needs no jewels to enhance it, no finery to add color; in cultivation, I've barely taken my first steps…"

Gu Qing looked deeply ashamed.

But the situation was what it was—he had nothing to compensate with, yet he had given her every bit of the contrite attitude a woman desired.

"Your tongue is quite sweet."

Immortal Chang'e spoke coldly: "No wonder you've bewitched the Immortal of the Hundred Flowers."

Sweet tongue?

Not as sweet as your undergarments!

Gu Qing knew Chang'e and the Immortal of the Hundred Flowers were at odds; he did not take the bait, instead saying: "Immortal, if you often look down, you must know I am a man of my word. Though my cultivation is now low, I owe you. When I achieve true cultivation or obtain a rare treasure, I will repay you for your teaching."

When one has nothing, one can only owe.

"Teaching?"

Immortal Chang'e scanned Gu Qing and said: "You speak well."

She had been observing Gu Qing all along, fully aware of his circumstances—she had seen him support Bai Suzhen and sensed Lu Dongbin's subtle hints to him.

"I previously harbored Jiaoxingzhixin."

Gu Qing added: "I assumed you had not noticed me, and dared not offer worship. But when I return to the mortal realm, I will surely build a temple to honor you."

These were all the promises Gu Qing could make at this stage.

Chang'e sneered: "You consort with the Immortal of the Hundred Flowers—do you expect me to let you off lightly?"

Chang'e had replayed every moment between Gu Qing and the Immortal of the Hundred Flowers; she could not forgive their conspiracy to steal her secret scriptures.

"Please, Immortal, punish me severely."

Gu Qing's contrition was exceptional.

When Lu Dongbin found Gu Qing and hinted at rebellion, Gu Qing felt he might also carry the Mandate of Heaven; as long as the plan wasn't complete, he wouldn't easily perish—this was one reason he dared ascend to heaven.

So Gu Qing accepted Chang'e's punishment willingly—so long as it didn't hinder his cultivation, he'd endure anything. Of course, if the Immortal whipped him with a leather lash, all the better.

"You're bold enough to own up."

Immortal Chang'e, impressed by his contrition, gave rare approval, studying him closely: "I'll find you again."

With that, Chang'e vanished before Gu Qing's eyes.

Yet at the same time, the Sun Golden Core's essence still leaked from him—and he distinctly felt Chang'e was still before him, subtly resonating with his true qi.

"Little Daoist."

In this celestial palace, an immortal elder drifted forward, clad in fire-washed silk robes, his countenance ancient and noble, holding a divine staff, saying: "This is no place for you."

"Immortal Elder."

Gu Qing bowed to the elder, his eyes instantly reddening: "I cultivated in the mortal realm, accumulating virtue and doing good, never slacking. But my friend fell gravely ill, so I dared ascend to seek divine medicine."

The elder lightly pinched his fingers, then said: "Ah, so it's you. Heh—you've come to the wrong place."

Gu Qing was bewildered—he had been guided here by divine revelation.

"You don't understand."

The elder teased, turning to leave. Gu Qing hurried beside him, begging for clarity.

"Your calamity was entirely created by Lu Dongbin."

The elder leaned on his staff, leading Gu Qing forward, explaining: "In the mortal realm, you were a virtuous believer—this is why the Door God guided you into the Dao. You cultivated sincerely, had many wonders, won the favor of the spirits of Hangzhou, even the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper manifested before you. Thus, you've become a rising star among immortals; most deities of heaven know you."

So I've already made a name for myself among the immortals?

As the elder spoke, they had already passed many mountains, rivers, and halls.

"At this time, Lu Dongbin passed through Hangzhou, heard mortals speaking of him, descended to earth, and saw you worshiping the Medicine Immortal—yet his name was absent."

The elder said: "That angered him. So he met you, gave you divine pills to suppress the two snakes' souls—just to make you come to him, to realize he is the Medicine Immortal. Do you believe me? Even if you reached the Medicine Immortal's hall and obtained the medicine, it would only rouse them temporarily; soon, those two snakes would faint again."

The elder laid out the full story.

But Gu Qing felt it wasn't true—he looked at the elder and asked his name.

"Immortal of the Southern Pole."

The old immortal stroked his beard and named himself.

"So you're the Old Man of Longevity."

Gu Qing bowed deeply, recalling how Bai Suzhen had sought medicine from the Immortal of the Southern Pole in the tale of Bai Niangzi—how he had been playing chess with Laozi yet already prepared the lingzhi mushroom for her to take.

"In the mortal realm, I only followed the official documents, fearing that placing Lu Zu beside the proper deities listed might be improper—but I never imagined I had offended Lu Zu."

Gu Qing's contrition remained exceptional: "Please, Old Man of Longevity, have mercy—tell me Lu Zu's whereabouts, so I may beg his forgiveness."

The Immortal of the Southern Pole stroked his beard: "April fifteenth is Lu Dongbin's birthday—no wonder he was angry. But even if he was, his anger should have passed by now. Come, I'll take you to see him."

As he spoke, the Immortal of the Southern Pole and Gu Qing vanished in a flash, arriving before a palace.

Gu Qing looked up—the palace loomed majestic, radiating starlight, exuding solemn majesty. He glanced left and right and saw the words "Northern Pole"—his expression instantly turned solemn. The Immortal of the Southern Pole had brought him to the outer gates of the Purple Micro Emperor's palace.

At the same time, Gu Qing sensed faint moonlight nearby—Immortal Chang'e had been following close by, though the Immortal of the Southern Pole seemed unaware.

"This is the Purple Micro Emperor's palace?"

Gu Qing realized he might be caught in some divine scheme—but since the gods were performing, he had no choice but to play along. He stared at the palace in astonishment.

"Lu Dongbin is visiting here."

The Immortal of the Southern Pole knocked on the palace gate and entered with Gu Qing. Inside, every hall was draped in starlight, each corner radiating divine mystery. As Gu Qing looked around, he followed the elder to a side hall.

"Wait here. I'll go find Lu Dongbin."

The Immortal of the Southern Pole told Gu Qing to sit, then walked off alone.

Gu Qing obediently sat on the chair, feeling a sudden chill—Chang'e must be beside him.

Chang'e possessed extraordinary power; even the Immortal of the Southern Pole could not sense her presence—only Gu Qing, with his Sun Golden Core, could perceive her invisibility.

This awareness existed only between Gu Qing and Chang'e.

"Shhh…"

Suddenly, a cluster of starlight appeared in the side hall, flowing from outside and striking Gu Qing directly, instantly merging into his body.

The starlight came swiftly and vanished quickly—Gu Qing had no time to react. Once inside, he immediately activated his Sun Golden Core to sense it; beneath the starlight, his Golden Core rapidly purified, and the starlight condensed into liquid, swirling around his Golden Core as an unrefinable pure energy.

"There!"

After the starlight, several sword rays flashed—Lu Dongbin appeared in an instant, behind him stood the Immortal of the Southern Pole and the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper, whom Gu Qing knew well.

"Gu Qing…"

The immortals all stared at Gu Qing in astonishment.

"I pay homage to Lu Zu."

Gu Qing bowed sincerely to Lu Dongbin, then repeatedly paid respects to the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper.

"Gu Qing."

The Immortal of the Southern Pole looked at him with surprise: "Where is that cluster of starlight?"

Gu Qing answered truthfully: "It has merged into my body."

"How could this happen?"

The Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper seemed unable to accept it.

"It seems this was all fate."

The Immortal of the Southern Pole added: "Gu Qing, I never imagined you'd have such fortune—to be chosen by the Purple Micro Emperor. This is more than luck."

"…."

Gu Qing watched the immortals act out their roles, doing his best to cooperate, wearing expressions of astonishment as Lu Dongbin spoke.

"That was the spirit of the Purple Micro Star."

Lu Dongbin said: "When the Purple Micro Star descends, the mortal realm must change dynasties. I've long despised the mortal court and wished to overthrow it. I came here to plead—but the Purple Micro Star spirit attached itself to you. Perhaps this is fate."

Lu Dongbin wore an expression of "this was meant to be."

"The mortal realm must change dynasties?"

Gu Qing sought a clear confirmation.

"The Purple Micro Star has already attached to you—change of dynasty is now inevitable."

Lu Dongbin declared.

Listening to Lu Dongbin's explanation, Gu Qing understood the state of the Purple Micro Star spirit: it was not a soul or a living being, but a destiny pattern. This pattern could be used by Gu Qing—but only slightly. Only when Gu Qing projected this pattern to give birth to a life could the Purple Micro Star become a primordial destiny.

The child born would be Gu Qing's with a woman—and naturally destined to be an emperor.

"Is that so?"

Gu Qing felt the destiny power within him—it was like Bai Suzhen carrying the Wenqu Star: all evil and heresy recoiled.

"Gu Qing."

The Immortal of the Southern Pole said: "To become the father of the Purple Micro Star, your path in cultivation will now be smooth."

The Purple Micro Emperor was the son of Doumu Yuanjun.

Gu Qing was to become the father of the Purple Micro Star.

So Gu Qing's relationship with Doumu Yuanjun was… mother and stepfather.

It sounded like he might get to ride on that coattail a little.

"But to become the father of the Purple Star, you have your duties as well."

Lu Dongbin said: "That means laying a solid foundation for the Purple Star, helping him avoid unnecessary detours and swiftly unify the land, so the people may live in peace."

Gu Qing nodded immediately, and in his heart he wanted to recite a passage—though one not in his position… the rest slipped his mind, but the gist was: step onto the stage!

"Gu Qing…"

Nanji Xianweng walked up to Gu Qing and said: "Though you have been possessed by the Purple Star and temporarily gained divine power, for the sake of peace in the mortal realm, you must soon find a mother for the Purple Star."

Hearing this, Gu Qing immediately recalled why he had come to Heaven, bowed repeatedly to Lu Dongbin, and told him of Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing, pleading for Lu Dongbin to grant more medicine to cure their condition.

"That is a minor matter."

Lu Dongbin reached into his robe, fumbled twice, then wore an embarrassed expression. "I've given away too many pills in the mortal realm lately—I have no medicine left on me… Please, Nanji Xianweng, lend me some."

Lu Dongbin appealed to Nanji Xianweng.

The Northern Dipper records death; the Southern Dipper governs life.

Nanji Xianweng smiled and shook his head, then pulled out a gourd and handed it directly to Gu Qing. "You've brewed many medicines in the mortal realm. From now on, store your prepared medicines inside this gourd—they will not lose potency; instead, they will grow ever more potent. With this gourd, you may save countless beings."

Nanji Xianweng made an early investment in Gu Qing.

Gu Qing quickly took the gourd and felt its interior was vast, divided into many compartments like a mortal's hundred-drawer cabinet, filled with all manner of herbs.

"The divine herb I gave you—if you place it in this gourd for three days, its potency doubles. Have them split and consume it."

Lu Dongbin, seeing Nanji Xianweng hand over the gourd, quickly spoke up.

Gu Qing bowed again in thanks, then couldn't help asking: "When I studied the human body in the mortal realm, I learned that the intestines are ultimately where medicinal efficacy is absorbed. If I split the divine herb in half and directly introduce each half into the intestines, could half the potency still save them?"

To be honest, when faced with the choice, Gu Qing had already thought of this method—but after much deliberation, he deemed it too risky, so he came to Heaven to seek medical advice.

At this question, Lu Dongbin and Nanji Xianweng exchanged glances, then pondered whether Gu Qing's method could indeed save the two women…

The final conclusion: it could.

The realization made them both break into cold sweat.

The plan had nearly gone disastrously off course!

(End of Chapter)