Chapter 25: The Grand Sect Tournament (Part Eight)

With the Bihai Sky that Hansu had obtained, Master Hengbo’s journey to forming her Nascent Soul was exceptionally smooth, and she emerged from seclusion just in time for the sect’s grand competition. The ceremony for the formation of her Nascent Soul would have to wait until after the competition, when a suitable date could be chosen. After that, she would be addressed as Daoist Lord Hengbo instead of Master Hengbo.

When Master Hengbo arrived, she brought along Hansu, her little shadow. Hansu had been watching the battles all day. With her intelligence, she naturally saw nothing amiss, yet her years of reading novels made her instinctively suspect that Fairy Lu Tan had done something. To uncover the truth, she accompanied her mother to visit Su Yunmo.

This was also Hansu’s first time entering Su Yunmo’s private chambers. Most female cultivators had no such thing; like the men, they would simply carve out a random cave abode to cultivate, caring little for decor or furnishings, beds, screens, or tables. But since both of Su Yunmo’s parents were Nascent Soul Dao Lords, and her father was even master of a peak, she was their only daughter in hundreds of years. The moment she was born, she was showered with wealth and privilege, lacking for nothing. There was another secret: when Daoist Lord Miaozhen was in the mortal world, she was the daughter of a silversmith and served as a maid to the shopkeeper’s daughter. Later, though she entered the Dao by a twist of fate, her years among mortals left a deep mark. Once she gained power and no longer lived the precarious life of a low-ranking cultivator, she began to lavishly decorate her own cave abode, determined to live like a lady of wealth, to do justice to all her struggles. This penchant she passed to Su Yunmo—being a cherished young lady was an obsession they could not let go.

As Hansu followed Master Hengbo into the cave abode, she was almost dazzled blind. She had visited the outer chambers before, yet each time she couldn’t help but exclaim inwardly, My poor eyes! Everything on the ceiling, the walls, the floors—without exception—were rare treasures hard to find in the world: radiant crystals, pearls the size of dragon’s eyes, exquisitely crafted ornaments, thick, snowy-white pelts from third-tier ice bears... It was practically a paradise of riches. Sixteen Foundation Establishment female cultivators, all dressed as maids, came forward in unison to welcome mother and daughter inside.

No sooner had Hansu stepped into Su Yunmo’s boudoir, and before she could marvel at the full suite of furniture made from millennial phoenixwood, Daoist Lord Miaozhen had already invited her to Yunmo’s bedside. Hansu knew she was merely an accompanying guest and quietly stood to the side, watching her mother perform the diagnosis.

“How does it look, Hengbo? Is there anything wrong?”

“Judging by her injuries, it’s only excessive use of spiritual power, some backlash, and a bit of mental instability...”

Yunmo couldn’t help but interject, “But I felt like my body was being controlled!”

“There’s... no sign of external intrusion. If it was the Illusion Flower, burning it should have been enough to dispel its effects.”

“Mother, is that the Illusion Flower in Senior Sister’s hair?” Hansu had just been prompted by Aunt Chrysanthemum and discovered a small piece of unburnt petal in Su Yunmo’s hair.

Master Hengbo took the petal, looking hesitant.

“This... could it be the *Flower?”

Daoist Lord Miaozhen was skilled in artifact refining, but not as knowledgeable about spiritual plants as Master Hengbo. Hearing this, she immediately asked, “What is the *Flower?”

“It’s said that in ancient times there was the *Flower. If burned, it emits a colorless, scentless mist. Anyone who inhales it becomes subject to another’s control, and afterwards no trace remains. Because this flower resembles the Illusion Flower, many fell victim to it. It was believed to be destroyed. How is it that someone has one now?”

“Hmph! I’ve heard that the woman cultivator had some remarkable items. To think she dared frame my daughter!” A flash of coldness quickly crossed Daoist Lord Miaozhen’s face, but she replaced it with gratitude, warmly saying to Master Hengbo, “We owe you so much this time, Sister. Otherwise, my Yunmo would have suffered in silence. I had prepared a gift for your Nascent Soul formation, but it’s not the right time to present it. Here’s a pouch of trinkets—give them to Susu to play with.” She produced a storage pouch and placed it in Hansu’s small hand. “Susu’s progress is so fast. Sister, your legacy is assured.”

Master Hengbo knew the mother and daughter must have things to discuss, so she took her leave.

Back in her own cave abode, Hansu couldn’t help but take out the necklace from around her neck. “Aunt Chrysanthemum? What happened today? Su Yunmo tried so hard and still couldn’t surpass Fairy Lu Tan?”

“Lu Tan is someone with extraordinary destiny—Su Yunmo can’t catch up.”

“So it’s really true. She just managed to counter one of Lu Tan’s moves, and Lu Tan immediately had another trick up her sleeve. And those incredible spirit beasts and spiritual plants—how does she have so many?”

“Do you think just anyone can be called one with great destiny?”

“But... if that’s the case, why let Su Yunmo be reborn? If, after all her efforts in a second life, she still can’t surpass her enemy, how painful must that be?”

“That’s why you were brought here—to split Lu Tan’s destiny. Perhaps that will lead to a different ending.”

“So... I’m here to help Su Yunmo defeat Lu Tan?”

“You’re just the variable. As long as you exist, all sorts of changes will happen.”

“Then I don’t need to get involved in their affairs?”

“You won’t be able to avoid it now. Once you’re entangled, it’s not so easy to break free.”

“Then... when can I go home?”

“...”

“When you reach the Great Golden Immortal stage.”

“G-Great Golden Immortal? Didn’t you say you’d send me home once I was satisfied? Were you... lying to me?”

“I used nearly all my power to send you here. Do you know how the novel ends?”

“The ending? Wasn’t this a story about the supporting character’s counterattack?”

“No. Su Yunmo was born into privilege and gained the memories of a past life, yet even so, she only managed to fight Lu Tan to a draw.”

“So the two fought and fought, developed mutual respect, and finally joined hands?”

“Worse. They both turned into demons.”

“They became devils, then...?”

“In the end, the whole Yao Hua realm will be destroyed, becoming nothing but a stepping stone for them. Their struggle lasts thousands of years, and because both are too obsessed, they succumb to demonic ways. Even after turning, they keep fighting. First Yao Hua falls, then the Luo Xing world. By then, the land you live on will be a living hell.”

“Then you...”

“I shouldn’t have had feelings. I don’t know why, but watching the children who once played every day unable to run and laugh anymore, seeing the diligent cultivators with no tomorrow, the once lush and vibrant world with all its plants withered... I... I don’t want to see that. So I used all my strength to turn back time to before Su Yunmo’s rebirth and brought you here.” Hansu suddenly sensed that the voice, unchanged for millennia, sounded... different.

“But... what can I do?”

“You have spiritual wisdom.”

“Spiritual wisdom? Do you want me to become a nun... a Zen cultivator?”

“I can only predict that you are the key to changing the ending. How you do it, I don’t know. If all else fails, just focus on cultivation. When you reach the Soul Transformation stage, go west to the Bodhi Realm and find a monk named Master Mingxin. Only he has the power to purify them. Until then, you must work twice as hard and keep your cultivation ahead of the two of them.”

“Why are you telling me so much today?”

“You must have noticed—my power grows weaker each time. To appear now, I’ll need months of rest. I’m telling you all this because soon I’ll lose control and fall into deep sleep. When I wake again, perhaps centuries will have passed. Don’t take off this necklace; it’ll ensure you can survive in this world, no matter what injuries you suffer—you’ll always have a life left.”

“You...”

“I’ll go now.”

The last words faded on the wind, leaving no trace behind. Shaken and sorrowful at the destiny Aunt Chrysanthemum described, Hansu stood lost for a long time. Suddenly, amid her sobs, she blurted out, “Wait! I meant to ask how to get home at the start! Did she ever say?”