IVYSCP - Chapter 85
Chapter 85
Aunt Lan's eyes curved in a smile. She bowed to the two of them, and then her figure vanished. As she had said, she was only a wisp of divine consciousness accompanying them this time.
During those days while Pei Yin recuperated, Ling Qingyue spent her days holed up in the Piaomiao Sect's library pavilion, poring over countless ancient texts in search of a method to transcend the tribulation. In the end, she found nothing. Half-human half-demons were already rare, let alone records of such a bizarre and ferocious lightning tribulation.
Ling Qingyue lowered her gaze to the scroll in her hand. Curiosity stirred within her.
Unrolling the scroll, Ling Qingyue discovered that someone had recorded a secret art for resurrection upon it.
Use the Torch Dragon's Heart Crystal to gather the soul, Rootless Wood to form the bones, the blood of kin to irrigate the Blood King Lotus until it grows flesh, and the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart to serve as the heart. One whose soul has scattered and spirit has dissipated may return to the mortal world.
The scroll described the Torch Dragon's Heart Crystal, Rootless Wood, the Blood King Lotus, and the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart.
"This..." Ling Qingyue pointed at the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart, her eyes widening. "Isn't this the stone those yao beasts were fighting over at the Bone Burial Ground in the Ancient Yao Forest Realm?"
Back then, a single glance at it had made her heart ache unbearably, to the point where her demonic markings were forcibly drawn out.
Pei Yin examined it carefully and nodded. "It is."
"A Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart..." Pei Yin frowned slightly. "The Cangshan ancient records contain no mention of this object."
Ling Qingyue raised a hand and pressed it over her heart. She had asked Aunt Lan for a method to transcend the tribulation, yet the scroll Aunt Lan had given her recorded this secret resurrection art. Could this be how she herself had been resurrected?
But earlier, Aunt Lan had deliberately lured them into Crouching Dragon Valley, where they had learned that the Torch Dragon's Heart Crystal had long been taken by someone else. At the time, they had guessed that the person who had harmed Liu Qingtang was the one who had taken the crystal. Now, they were almost certain that the culprit was her senior sister Lou Wudu. Lou Wudu had also been to Crouching Dragon Valley in her early years. That detail matched.
The Blood King Lotus required the blood of kin to irrigate it, and she herself had been brought back to Shangtianqiong by her master. Her family was long gone. This secret resurrection art was likely not meant for her.
Lou Wudu had taken the Torch Dragon's Heart Crystal...
"Could she be trying to resurrect someone?" Ling Qingyue murmured, her eyes suddenly lifting.
That was it. Nie Wenxiao had said that over the years, Shangtianqiong had frequently entered secret realms, and every time, Cui Heng led the team. The combined gains of all the sects from various secret realms did not match what Shangtianqiong alone acquired. Cui Heng often seized items belonging to other sects.
Rumors claimed that the Sword Venerable condoned Cui Heng's behavior in order to find rare medicine to heal their master's injuries, but who really knew the true purpose...
"Qingyue..."
Ling Qingyue looked up, and in the next moment, a hand covered the back of hers. The two hands lay layered together, feeling the vivid pulse beneath their palms.
Pei Yin's eyes were a light shade, like glazed jade, now clearly reflecting a single person's figure. She moved her fingers, threading them through Ling Qingyue's knuckles, and pressed twice against the softness beneath her hand.
The tips of Ling Qingyue's ears reddened. She was just about to accuse her of being a hooligan when she heard Pei Yin speak in a low voice. "The Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart. It's here."
Ling Qingyue froze.
What?
Shangtianqiong.
A thick medicinal scent lingered in the air, refusing to dissipate. Yue Shouming moved her nose slightly and detected several of the ingredients. They were all top-quality tonics for nourishing the body.
"Hidden Moon Lord?" someone said in surprise, then stepped forward.
Yue Shouming bowed slightly in greeting and smiled. "Fuchuan."
Fuchuan was the Medicine King's first disciple, having inherited the Medicine King's entire medical skill. Due to the relationship between the Medicine King and Shangtianqiong's former sect leader, she had become a guest elder of Shangtianqiong and was also consistently responsible for treating the former sect leader's injuries.
"Sit."
Fuchuan guided Yue Shouming to sit, then condensed a ball of green spiritual energy at her fingertips and covered Yue Shouming's eyes with it.
A long while later, Fuchuan sighed. "The demonic qi has invaded too deeply."
Yue Shouming's expression remained unchanged, still wearing a gentle and faint smile. "I already know that these eyes have no hope of recovery, yet Senior Sister Lou still insisted I come to see you."
While tending to the medicine furnace, Fuchuan replied, "The sect leader values loyalty deeply. She sees you as a younger sister, so naturally she wants your eyes to improve."
Everyone had seen this. Lou Wudu's care and oversight of Yue Shouming even extended to sheltering the entire Yue Family under her wing.
Yue Shouming's lips curved slightly. She murmured softly, "Is that so."
Fuchuan did not have time to answer. Her medicine was ready.
A young medicine apprentice nearby came over and served Yue Shouming a cup of tea.
After setting down the tea, the apprentice looked up and saw that someone else had arrived, a familiar face at that. She hurried over to support the person and called out, "Master, she's here again."
Fuchuan sighed helplessly and told the apprentice to help the person into the inner room to lie down first.
Yue Shouming caught the scent of blood mingling with the medicinal fragrance and could not help asking, "Who is this?"
Fuchuan placed the pills one by one into a medicine bottle. "This person... she's a new disciple of Shangtianqiong. I heard she came from the Mortal Realm. She's just a bit foolish. When she's hurt, she doesn't know to take medicine. When I asked her about it, she said she had no silver and couldn't afford it. I saw the sword she was carrying was quite beautiful, inlaid with gold and jade, so I teased her that she could use the sword to settle her debts. She absolutely refused, clutching it like a precious treasure. When she spars with others, she never uses that sword either, just a wooden sword she carries with her. I must say, this child has extraordinary talent. She passed the entrance examination using only a wooden sword. Even the sect leader intends to take her as a disciple."
Yue Shouming's expression paused slightly upon hearing this. Without showing any reaction, she said, "Oh? Senior Sister Lou? I thought that aside from Xiao Heng, she would never take another disciple. Taking a disciple is a significant matter for Senior Sister Lou. Why haven't I heard about this?"
Fuchuan was also puzzled and shook her head. "That's why I said she's foolish. She even refused the sect leader's offer to take her as a disciple. She said she already has a master, one from Shangtianqiong. When the sect leader asked who it was, she couldn't give a name. She only said she had to wait for her master to return."
Yue Shouming lowered her eyes, her thoughts unreadable.
She reached for the teacup. The faint fragrance of tea lingered at her nose. She took a sip. It was slightly bitter upon entering the mouth, then gave way to a returning sweetness, leaving a fragrance on her lips and teeth.
"Does she come often?"
"Yes, ever since I told her that Shangtianqiong disciples don't need silver to receive treatment here, she comes every time she's injured." Fuchuan said with puzzlement. "I don't know how the assignments are distributed, giving newly admitted disciples such difficult tasks. Even if they want to train her, they should do so step by step."
Yue Shouming smiled faintly. "Indeed."
As they were speaking, the presence of another person silently appeared in the courtyard.
Fuchuan looked up and jumped in fright. "S-Sect Leader, when did you arrive?"
Lou Wudu had her hands clasped behind her back, her tone cold. "Just now."
When her gaze shifted to Yue Shouming, the chill in her eyes softened slightly. "How are Xiao Yue's eyes?"
Fuchuan answered respectfully. "Compared to the last examination, there has been slight improvement."
Lou Wudu nodded. "That's good."
Fuchuan offered the freshly refined medicine forward. "This is the medicine for the old sect leader."
After Lou Wudu accepted it, she said to Yue Shouming, "Xiao Yue, I'll escort you back."
Yue Shouming smiled and nodded.
Yue Shouming had her own residence in Shangtianqiong. That peak had once also housed her good friend, Ling Qingyue.
"Senior Sister Lou, is Senior Wang any better?" Yue Shouming asked with concern.
Lou Wudu's eyes showed no ripple of emotion. "Better."
Seeing that Yue Shouming had no one at her side, Lou Wudu frowned slightly and asked, "Where is Su Lan? How can she let you go out alone?"
Yue Shouming hurried to explain. "Senior Sister Lou, please don't blame Aunt Su. I sent her to the Peach Grove Realm to break off a few peach blossom branches for me."
As she spoke, a desolate expression settled on Yue Shouming's face. "I was just... thinking of Qingyue. She loved that place the most."
Lou Wudu pressed her lips together, her eyes turning cold. "Yes, Junior Sister loved that peach grove the most."
As if something had occurred to her, Lou Wudu's lips hooked into a smile. She asked, "Xiao Yue, have you ever thought about what would happen if Junior Sister returned one day?"
Yue Shouming turned her head in surprise, puzzled. "Return? What does Senior Sister Lou mean by that? Qingyue's soul lamp has been extinguished. How could she return? Whatever came back would be nothing but some evil demon."
The smile on Lou Wudu's face deepened. "Yes, whatever returned would only be an evil demon, one to be cut down beneath my sword."
Yue Shouming nodded in agreement, her tone now carrying unmistakable hatred. "Evil demons indeed deserve to die."
Lou Wudu looked at her, knowing she was thinking again of what had happened to her sister. For reasons unknown, she raised a hand and stroked Yue Shouming's hair.
A long while later, Lou Wudu had escorted the person to Chunshan Dwelling, where they happened to meet Su Lan returning with peach blossom branches. She stood at a distance and bowed respectfully to the two of them.
Lou Wudu seemed to suddenly remember something and asked, "Why didn't Yue Xian come with you this time?"
A faint smile rose to Yue Shouming's lips. "She was originally going to come, but suddenly fell ill right before we departed, so I told her to stay at the Yue Family and recuperate properly. Why, does Senior Sister Lou need her for something?"
A glint flashed through Lou Wudu's eyes before she replied flatly, "Nothing."
"Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart?"
Ling Qingyue felt the pulse beating beneath her palm.
Pei Yin said, "Mm. The Seven-Aperture Exquisite we saw in the Ancient Yao Forest Realm was steeped in demonic qi, only suppressed and calmed by Bai Ze's Tear. Your body is half-human half-demon, and it's highly likely that the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart is the reason."
Ling Qingyue's mood grew complicated. Her senior sister wanted the Seven-Aperture Exquisite, and she herself had been resurrected with the Seven-Aperture Exquisite. They were destined to stand in opposition.
Taking a deep breath, Ling Qingyue smiled at Pei Yin. A hint of strain lay hidden within the smile.
Pei Yin stepped forward to embrace her and said in a low voice, "I will protect you. I won't let anyone take it from you."
Lou Wudu would not be allowed to, nor would whoever had resurrected Ling Qingyue. From this moment on, there was no such thing as a Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart. This was Ling Qingyue's heart, and Pei Yin's own life as well.
Ling Qingyue raised her arms and hugged her back, her hands clasping tightly around the woman's waist. Her voice was muffled against the woman's neck. "What should I do? I really want to go back to Cangshan with you."
Pei Yin tenderly kissed her hair. "As long as you wish it, I will go with you anywhere."
Ling Qingyue let out a laugh.
Both of them knew well that returning to Cangshan was only a matter of time, but they had to resolve the troubles before them first.
After holding each other for a while, Ling Qingyue released her grip and looked back at the scroll, her fingers brushing over the spot where the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart was written.
Suddenly, the written characters shifted. Stroke by stroke, they rearranged themselves, and finally reformed into two new characters before their eyes.
Great. Wilderness.
Ling Qingyue was startled for a moment, then used her hand to touch other places on the scroll. There was no further reaction.
"Is this trying to tell me that the method to transcend the tribulation is in the Great Wilderness?" Ling Qingyue frowned after speaking.
The wooden carving of Liu Qingtang, influenced by her blood, and those four corpses all wanted nothing more than to tear her apart and devour her. The Great Wilderness was even more of a nest of demon lords. Sending her to the Great Wilderness would be like sending a fat lamb into a wolf's den.
After putting away the scroll, Ling Qingyue sighed. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the large characters "Shi Du" on the Ten-Thousand Names Stele. Anger flared in her heart, difficult to suppress. She raised a hand and lashed out with a streak of sword qi, intending to carve a mark across that name.
Who could have known that the originally perfectly intact Ten-Thousand Names Stele would suddenly crack with fissure after fissure, and in the blink of an eye, crumble into dust. The thousands upon thousands of names on it all scattered as motes of phosphorescent light.
In the instant she was engulfed by the phosphorescent light, Ling Qingyue felt her wrist being grasped, and then her whole body was pulled into a sweet-scented embrace.
A flash of white light passed before her eyes. The cry of a soaring hawk and the crisp, pleasant sound of bells reached her ears.
Outside the large white jade gates of the Liuyun Immortal Sect, a young-looking youth with bright eyes gazed at the immortal sect grounds before her.
Bearing years of anticipation and yearning, she lifted her foot and stepped onto the path toward immortality.
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