Chapter 200

"Your Martial Granduncle, during one of his travels down the mountain, saved Minghe when he was still a beggar child." Lingxiao's voice flowed slowly through the quiet room; beneath the calm lay ravines that even the years could not smooth over. "That winter, Minghe collapsed in the snow outside the Floating Dream Mountain gate, his breath faint, his life hanging by a thread. Master brought him back and discovered he possessed a rare 'Dark Spirit Root,' merely trapped by cold poison and starvation, his vitality nearly severed. Master expended three months of his cultivation to purge the cold poison for him, personally taught him to guide Qi into his body, bestowed the name 'Minghe' — taking the meaning 'to forge a path to life in the dark and obscure' — and accepted him as a nominal disciple."

Shi Ran listened quietly, as if she could see the wind and snow on Floating Dream Mountain from years ago, and the kind yet resolute figure of that Martial Granduncle she had never met.

"When Minghe entered the sect, I had already completed my training and was often away traveling to cultivate. His talent was extremely high, especially his comprehension of Yin-attribute and Netherworld-type techniques, which was extraordinarily fast. But his disposition... orphaned and suffering from childhood, having experienced too much of the world's coldness and warmth, he was sensitive, suspicious, even somewhat extreme. Master treated him extremely well, regarding him as his own, even more patient and tolerant toward him than toward me at times, out of pity for his background. At that time... I was often away from the sect, and being naturally cold and detached, I felt Master was overly indulgent toward him. In private, I was not very warm to him, and was even overly strict, hoping he would quickly stand on his own and not waste Master's kindness." A trace of extremely faint, nearly self-mocking ripple flashed through Lingxiao's eyes. "Thinking back now, perhaps it was precisely my 'strictness' at that time, coupled with his own nature, that instead made him feel that on Floating Dream Mountain, under Master's tutelage, only Master truly treated him with sincerity, while I, this Senior Martial Brother, harbored prejudice against him."

"In the hundred years before Master's passing, he secretly went to the 'Ancient Battlefield Ruins' several times. That place is the debris of the ancient great war; space is shattered, laws are chaotic, filled with all kinds of violent energies and dangerous remnant clans, but it also buries countless lost ancient secrets. Master was one of the few people acknowledged by the Seven Sects at the time as most likely to break through the 'Unity' bottleneck and step into a higher realm. His going to the Ancient Battlefield was, on one hand, to seek an opportunity for breakthrough; on the other hand, it seemed he was also investigating some ancient leftover mystery. This matter was extremely secret; even I at the time only knew Master had gone into seclusion seeking breakthrough; the specific location and purpose were unclear."

"The last time, before Master left, he entrusted the affairs of Floating Dream Mountain to me, and left half a 'Twin Heart Jade,' informing me that if anything unusual happened, the jade shattering would be the warning. This departure of his lasted ten years. For ten years, there was no news at all. Until one day..." Lingxiao's voice paused slightly; even after so long, the memory of that day remained vivid as yesterday. "That half 'Twin Heart Jade,' in my embrace, silently shattered, turning to dust."

"I immediately used the emergency contact method Master had pre-arranged, known only to me, to contact the high-level officials of the Patrol Heaven Division, because Master had gone secretly years ago under the guise of 'assisting the Patrol Heaven Division in investigating an ancient secret case.' The Patrol Heaven Division's reaction... was fast, but the people they sent were a bit strange. It was a Deputy Division Chief I had never seen before, leading several stewards with deep, restrained auras and blurred features. They confirmed the news of the jade shattering, then demanded I immediately lead the way to the general location of Master's last message — the 'Fallen Star Gorge' on the outskirts of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins."

"Anxious at heart, I didn't think much and went with them. Minghe happened to be at the mountain gate at the time; hearing of this, he insisted on going along. I originally didn't want to bring him, for his cultivation at the time had not yet reached Nascent Soul, and even the outskirts of the Ancient Battlefield Ruins were fraught with danger. But he forced the issue with his life, saying Master's kindness to him was heavy as a mountain, and in life or death he must see the corpse and bones. Helpless, I could only bring him along."

"When we arrived at Fallen Star Gorge, the place had just experienced the aftershock of a terrifying impact; spatial cracks were everywhere, violent spiritual power turbulence had not yet fully subsided. At the edge of a broken ancient altar, we found Master's... remains." Lingxiao closed his eyes; frost and pain that would not dissolve condensed between his brows. "The corpse... was not intact; the body was covered in strange wounds, some like spatial tears, others containing an extremely ancient, bizarre power that seemed capable of eroding the very source of laws. The most fatal wound was at the brow center, piercing straight through the Primordial Spirit. That power... I had never seen before, but I could feel it had utterly annihilated Master's Primordial Spirit, not even leaving a chance for reincarnation."

"That Deputy Division Chief carefully examined Master's remains, then probed the surrounding environment, and finally concluded: Master, while exploring an ancient restriction, accidentally triggered an unknown backlash, and was jointly strangled by the restriction's power and the rampaging spatial turbulence, body and spirit utterly destroyed. The evidence seemed to support this conclusion as well; the residual restriction fluctuations and spatial cracks at the scene all pointed to an accident."

"I was grief-stricken to the extreme, yet always felt something was wrong. Master acted with such meticulous care, his cultivation even more so reaching the heavens; how could he so easily perish in a known, relatively safe area? Moreover, that ancient, bizarre erosive power on his remains was completely different from ordinary spatial turbulence or restriction backlash. I privately voiced my doubts to that Deputy Division Chief, but he sternly admonished me that this matter involved ancient taboos and must not be investigated deeply; the Patrol Heaven Division had its own conclusion, and ordered me to cremate Master's remains on the spot, not to bring them out of the Ancient Battlefield, lest the 'ominous power' spread. At the same time, he demanded Minghe and I swear a Heart Demon Oath not to reveal the specific details and location of Master's passing to the outside, only saying it was seclusion failure and that he passed away in meditation on Floating Dream Mountain."

"Though unwilling, at the time the Patrol Heaven Division was powerful, that Deputy Division Chief also produced an order from an even higher level, and the bizarre power on Master's remains was indeed slowly eroding the surrounding space, unsuitable for a long stay. Helpless, I had to comply. Minghe at the time... cried heart-rendingly, nearly fainting; he did not show much objection to the Patrol Heaven Division's orders, merely clutching tightly a damaged magical artifact Master had left behind, refusing to let go."

"Returning to Floating Dream Mountain, we announced Master's passing to the outside; the Seven Sects trembled, Floating Dream Mountain mourned. I assumed the position of Sect Master, busy with reviving the sect, appeasing the Martial Uncles; the investigation had to be temporarily shelved. After Master's 'passing,' Minghe's temperament became even more reclusive and gloomy; he cultivated even more desperately, even beginning to dabble in some heterodox Netherworld techniques the sect explicitly cautioned against practicing. Mindful of his feelings for Master, and with the truth of Master's passing unclear, I tolerated him more, merely keeping a secret watch."

"Until about thirty years later, my cultivation advanced, my comprehension of the laws of heaven and earth deepened; recalling that bizarre power on Master's remains, I felt increasingly alarmed. That was absolutely not something an ordinary restriction backlash could possess; it was more like a... 'erasure' power with purpose. I secretly restarted the investigation, using my Sect Master authority and some hidden channels Master left behind, secretly gathering information related to the Ancient Battlefield Ruins, especially records concerning that bizarre power."

"The process was extremely difficult, resistance heavy. Many key archives were either lost, or had permissions too high to access. I realized an invisible hand was covering something up."

"And Minghe, at that time, suddenly betrayed Floating Dream Mountain." Lingxiao opened his eyes, cold intent forest-cold in his pupils. "He stole a residual scroll of the 'Nine Nether Record' sealed in the sect's forbidden ground, left a note saying Floating Dream Mountain was hypocritical, that no one dared avenge Master, and that he would pursue the truth and power with his own strength. I personally pursued and apprehended him; we fought a great battle on the South Sea shore. His cultivation at the time had advanced with shocking speed, and his methods were bizarre and ruthless, already vastly different from Floating Dream Mountain's orthodox Daoist arts. I originally wanted to capture him back; he would rather die than submit. In the end, staking everything on taking one of my swords head-on, he fell into an unstable spatial sea-eye vortex and vanished without a trace. I thought at the time he had perished... never expected he not only survived, but joined 'Earth Erosion,' and has come to this step today."

The quiet room fell into long silence. Outside the window, the lights of Xiaqi Fang lit up one by one, reflecting the gradually deepening twilight.

Waves surged in Shi Ran's heart; she never expected that behind Master's passing lay such deep fog and possible conspiracy. The Patrol Heaven Division's abnormal reaction, that bizarre erasure power, the invisible hand's obstruction, Minghe's betrayal and transformation... all of this pointed toward a hair-raising possibility.

"Master, you suspect... that Master's passing is related to high-level officials of the Patrol Heaven Division, or to 'certain secrets' the Patrol Heaven Division guards?" Shi Ran carefully asked the most critical question.

Lingxiao did not answer directly, merely gazing at the deepening night outside the window, and slowly said: "Heaven and earth have shackles; cultivators seek transcendence. But whence come the shackles? Who established them? The Patrol Heaven Division monitors heaven and earth, maintains order; the source of its authority, whence does it come? These questions are not without doubters among the Seven Sects' high levels, within the Patrol Heaven Division's interior. It's just that some doubts touch upon perhaps the most fundamental rules of this world, or even... the existence that established the rules. Those who question often disappear without a sound. Your Master, I fear, discovered certain clues about the 'shackles' and the 'Patrol Heaven Division's true role' that should not have been discovered, and thus incurred the disaster of death."

He turned his head, his gaze deep as he looked at Shi Ran: "Minghe's final words, though unfinished, already point clearly. His joining 'Earth Erosion,' the so-called 'breaking of shackles' he pursues, I fear is not simply breaking through realms to ascend, but to overturn the existing order maintained by the power behind the Patrol Heaven Division. For this, they do not hesitate to use extreme means like blood sacrifice, attempting to break the deadlock by force, or... summon and utilize certain ancient existences or powers rejected and sealed by this order. And your Patrol Heaven Token, due to its special nature and the internal 'Ancient God Residual Will,' is very likely a key link in their plan, the so-called 'catalyst.'"

Shi Ran gripped the Patrol Heaven Token at her chest; the token transmitted a warm, moist touch, that ancient "Will" peaceful and firm, connected with her heart and mind. "Master, then what should we do?"

"Before tomorrow, the five nodes of the Falling Rosy Clouds River should be cleared, cutting off the Yin Sha transport to the Weeping Blood Valley, at least able to delay or weaken their blood sacrifice preparations. The trip to Weeping Blood Valley is imperative. Not only to stop the blood sacrifice, but to uncover 'Earth Erosion's' true scheme in this matter, and also..." A fierce glint flashed in Lingxiao's eyes. "To investigate the truth of Master's passing back then. If it truly relates to certain figures hiding in the dark, I, Lingxiao, will surely wield the sword in my hand to demand justice!"

His tone was calm, yet contained decisive determination and stern killing intent. At this moment, he was no longer that Floating Dream Sect Master forever calm like an ancient well, but a sword cultivator burdened with his Master's vengeance and numerous mysteries, about to step into the eye of the storm.

"Willing to go with you, unafraid of life or death!" Shi Ran said solemnly.

Lingxiao looked at the determined light in her eyes; his icy brows and eyes softened slightly. He raised his hand and lightly patted her shoulder: "Having this heart is enough. This trip's danger far exceeds the past; Weeping Blood Valley is an 'Earth Erosion' stronghold, certainly heavily guarded, bizarre methods emerging endlessly. You must remember: stay close to me, remain calm in all situations, fully exert the Patrol Heaven Token's newly added perception power. Your Senior Martial Brother's side, after imprisoning Minghe, will also rush to join us as soon as possible. We are not fighting alone."

Just then, the transmission talisman outside the quiet room flickered slightly. Lingxiao waved his hand to open the restriction, and Gu Yusheng's steady voice came through: "Master, all five nodes have been uprooted and reverse-sealed; the core of the 'Human Sha' node beneath Xiaqi Fang has been destroyed; three low-level 'Earth Erosion' members left behind have been captured and are being interrogated. The latest news from the Patrol Heaven Division's Southern Wilderness border monitoring: after the nodes were destroyed, the Yin Sha fluctuations in the Weeping Blood Valley direction show obvious signs of disorder, but no large-scale abnormal movements yet. Additionally, Axue transmitted a message: she has safely escorted Minghe into the Silent Contemplation Grotto-Heaven; Senior Martial Brother has taken over guarding him; she is returning at full speed."

"Good." Lingxiao stood up. "Yusheng, compile and report the interrogation results promptly. Order all departments participating in the operation to heighten vigilance, prevent 'Earth Erosion' counterattack. We proceed as originally planned, departing tomorrow at the Hour of the Rabbit, heading for Weeping Blood Valley. You and Ruoxue, after joining up, go directly to 'Broken Cloud Defile' three hundred li south of the city to rendezvous with us."

"Disciple obeys!"

The transmission talisman's light extinguished. Lingxiao said to Shi Ran: "Rest well tonight, adjust your state to its peak. Tomorrow is the time to face 'Earth Erosion' head-on."

Shi Ran nodded heavily, sat cross-legged, and began circulating her heart method. The Patrol Heaven Token hovered before her, harmonizing with her breath, the dark golden halo it emitted faintly blending with the protective Sword Intent Lingxiao had laid down, illuminating the quiet room in a stretch of tranquility, as if the final calm before the storm.

Lingxiao walked to the window, hands behind his back, gazing at that distant southern horizon belonging to the Southern Wilderness, shrouded in heavy night. There, dark clouds gathered, faint dark red lightning silently streaking through the cloud depths, like the breathing of a ferocious beast lying in wait.

Weeping Blood Valley.

The night of the New Moon.

Earth Erosion.

Master's vengeance.

The mystery of Heaven and Earth's shackles...

Clue after clue, layer upon layer of mist, all ultimately pointed to that place.

His fingertips unconsciously lightly brushed the hilt of that seemingly ancient and unadorned long sword at his waist. The sword was not yet drawn, yet a wisp of chill condensed to the extreme, seemingly capable of slicing through time itself, silently spread out.

?? Thank you to the baby who cries after turning around for the recommendation vote