A Martial Odyssey

Chapter 61: The White Sage and the Three Star Sisters of Fate



Yi Ping countenance was emotional as he cried aloud and his entire body was trembling, “How is it possible for me to forget you? You are the one that I have been searching for all along. You are my fiancée…it is only when we have parted that I have realized who you are and your real name from another Celestial but no matter how hard I have searched, I cannot find you…”

Shen Xinyue was trembling, “Is that why you have purposely said all those cruel words to me that day so that I would kill you?”

Yi Ping was weeping emotionally, “I am really so happy to see you that day but there are two other maidens that day that have also decided to sacrifice themselves for me. I know that you are planning the same or else why of all times, you have to decide to come during the Divine Descendant?”

The Ellipse Heaven Goddess and the Axis Heaven Goddess were not the only ones. The Three Star Sisters of Fate, the Celestial Ocean Heavenly Maiden and the Endor Fairy Vixen did the same as well…

Shen Xinyue muttered as she sobbed in his embrace, “Maybe I have come to take your life as well…”

Yi Ping had walked quietly to her and had brought her into his embrace as he placed his arms around her tightly, “No, you won’t. Your eyes have betrayed you. If you hate me, you won’t look at me with such concern. That day when you have left, your eyes have the same expression. If you really hate me, then you would have rebuked me or beat me up that day and not left in sorrows...”

Shen Xinyue was crying inconsolably, “I have thought that I would never see you again…” She was suddenly startled as she looked up curiously at him, “How did you know…are you really him? No, that can’t be…”

She began to break free of him and took a step back as she stared at him with a shocked realization. It was because it was impossible for anyone to carry memories of their past incarnations. Moreover, Yi Ping was not the White Sage.

But Yi Ping said, “I am the White Sage. It is a long story…”

He turned and looked at Lie Qing, who was staring at Shen Xinyue and him with utter disbelief and shock.

Lie Qing could not believe what she was seeing when Yi Ping and Shen Xinyue had suddenly embraced each other. She had lowered her long sword and her eyes were bleary…

She was not the only one.

Everyone was stunned and bewildered.

But as the windforce and martial shockwaves of Lie Qing and Shen Xinyue were still continuing unabated, everyone continued to adopt a wait and see attitude, not that they could do anything at the moment…

Han Shandong was shouting, “Mistress, don’t believe this Yi Ping. Don’t forget we still have a greater enemy to face…”

Shen Xinyue was only paying scant attention to Han Shandong as Yi Ping had already pulled Lie Qing close to him as he put their hands together. He sighed deeply as he muttered, “We only have Qing’Er and her sisters to thanks for it…”

Lie Qing broke into a soft laugh, “Tell me about it then.”

She looked at Shen Xinyue with tendering eyes as she smiled, “Shall I call you dear Sister Xinyue then?”

Shen Xinyue was startled at the sudden change in Lie Qing’s attitude; the sudden animosity that was displayed by her was replaced with an approachable and receptive friendliness!

She did not know that Lie Qing was also a smart maiden that did not like to go hard against a more powerful opponent unless she had no other choice. That was why she could turn Xiao Youxue and Dugu Yunzi on her side eventually, proving that she was worthy of their trust with her sincerity.

Others who did not know Lie Qing may think of her as an opportunist but that was not true!

She could tell that Yi Ping and Shen Xinyue already had something going on between them. She knew that if she wanted to be with Yi Ping, she must ready to be accommodating. After all, it was common for many men to have many consorts and it was not a too big issue to her; her father, uncles and brothers too had many consorts.

Shen Xinyue nodded slightly and smiled gently at her but she did not let down her guard, maintaining her Divine Rejuvenation Force…

She was secretly glancing at her surroundings and looking secretly at Xiao Shuai, Yuan Shao, Han Shaodong and the Three Sages. She was in an awkward situation and was thinking how to resolve it for she knew very well that the Virtuous Palace and the Honor Manor were determined to gain the secrets of immortality.

The irony was that even Han Shaodong was not aware that his protégé mistress was a Celestial; it was because she had deliberately hidden this knowledge from him. She did not know that he had conspired with Xiao Shuai to attack on the Celestial Palace and the Holy Hex Sect so that he would be a Celestial himself. He had revealed his plans to her recently because he had hoped that his protégé mistress would retire out of her reclusion to lend him a helping hand.

Alarmed and intrigued by the prospects that there were other Celestials, she had agreed…

When Lie Qing saw that Shen Xinyue had nodded, she took it as a hint of silent approval and greeted her happily. “Dear Sister Xinyue! You can call me your Sister Qing’Er!”

Shen Xinyue said softly, “Sister Qing’Er, sorry for giving you a scare…”

Lie Qing whispered, “That’s alright, Sister Xinyue. But we are being surrounded by our enemies and we need a plan fast.”

Yi Ping said quietly as he held their hands, “Qing’Er, Yue’Er…hold my hands and look into my heart…”

Earlier when Yi Ping looked into Shen Xinyue in her eyes, his Emptiness Translucence had suddenly overwhelmed him and he could remember his past vividly!

In that one single instant, his Emptiness of the Absolute broke freed of his present state of divinity and reached the highest level of the Emptiness Translucence, the Emptiness of the Great Ultimate, transforming his Emptiness Translucence to the Great Emptiness Translucence!

Because Yi Ping previous self was the White Sage and the Great Emptiness Translucence was also a divine skill that could transverse as a mirror, keeping precious memories until he could finally reawakened once more as he progressed through it once again. This of course was not enough for a theoretical divine skill to really happen but at his moment of death, he had in a divine coincident collided with the Divine Universal Force, blurring time and space as he gave up his divine life force into the Celestial Annihilating Star Formation!

Lie Qing and Shen Xinyue were startled as they seemed to enter a dream…

Yi Ping had now remembered vividly that that day when he had first met the Three Star Sisters of Fate…

He had blundered into their Celestial Annihilation Star Formation in the mountains by a mistake when he saw a series of intriguing celestial lights in these desolation mountains.

Intrigued by it, he moved to investigate and it was then that he had chanced upon three beautiful heavenly maidens in white…

He was astonished at the intriguing and moving sight of Revelation Star (Yixian) when he first caught sight of her though it was not exactly a friendly welcome. It was because he could sense a great tranquil peace within her and instantly knew that she must be a highly attained Celestial Maiden!

She had said coolly, “There is an intruder and he must be after our divine swords. Activate the Star Formations and let the formation deal with him!”

The White Sage was startled as he quickly said, “I am not a thief. Are you all Celestials too?”

Revelation Star smiled gently, “Isn’t it obvious?”

The White Sage said, “That’s great! I am a Celestial too…”

Revelation Star interrupted gently, “We know. Or else, you will not have the ability to break into the sealing circle that we have setup and talk to us now.”

Luminous Star (Lie Qing) was smiling at him, “Such a cute young man. Do we really want to kill him?”

The White Sage quickly apologized, “Erm…I will leave immediately. I didn’t know that this is a Celestial Formation setup and didn’t mean to intrude. I am just looking for a celestial sect to join…”

Luminous Star laughed softly, “Then you are looking at the wrong place. The Celestial Melody Palace only permits celestial maidens and you are obviously not.”

Revelation Star added gently, “It is already too late. The formation has already been activated.” And she had faded into the Celestial Star Formation!

The White Sage stammered out after her, “Isn’t it forbidden for Celestials to kill one another?”

But it was already too late to call after her; walls of dust, sand and flying stones had whirled around him as his surroundings erupted into thunderous hovering burst of flying projectiles …

Luminous Star laughed softly as she answered him, “That’s not true and there are several exceptions.”

The White Sage broke into a cold sweat, “Killing a Celestial will be detrimental to your divine progression, isn’t it?”

Melody Star (Lele) winked at him and laughed jovially, “So we have an ignorant Celestial in our midst right now. Judging from his expression, he must be a new Celestial. Let me tell you then. You will soon be killed by the renowned Celestial Annihilation Star Formation and not by us so therefore it doesn’t affect our divine progression at all.”

The White Sage asked gently, “Is there a difference? Getting killed by your Celestial Annihilation Star Formation that you have created and getting killed by you directly?”

Melody Star was laughing softly, “Actually there is no difference at all.”

The White Sage was startled, “And then?”

Melody Star replied with an amusing soft laugh, “We have the celestial right to kill anyone that attempts to break into the Celestial Annihilation Star Formation and we have already killed quite a number of Celestials already. Do you know why this is called the Celestial Annihilation Star Formation? It has only one purpose, to kill all intruding Celestials!”

The White Sage laughed softly, “Now I see. May I ask how do I get out of here?”

Melody Star winked at him, “Shameless! You suppose to figure out yourself!”

Luminous Star quickly said, “Sister Melody, that’s enough talks already. We don’t know if he is alone or there are still many others.”

Melody Star nodded and she quickly turned around and faded into a wall of hovering projectiles!

Luminous Star smiled at the White Sage, “So you are afraid now?”

The White Sage rubbed his nose and replied, “Not really.”

Luminous Star was startled, “You are not?”

The White Sage said, “This is the first time that you are setting up this Celestial Star Annihilation Formation?”

Luminous Star was startled, “How did you know?”

The White Sage said coolly, “I saw nine celestial lights and a hint of the Universal Force in the mountains aligning constantly. If I am not wrong, you are experimenting with this Celestial Star Annihilation Formation for the very first time. I am plain unlucky to blunder into your Celestial Star Formation so you have decided to use me as a live subject to test your Celestial Formation?”

Luminous Star laughed softly, “It seems that you have guessed correctly but that doesn’t help you in your predicaments. But no matter what happens, don’t try to break into the inner formation or you will surely die. Just get out as soon as you can.

After warning him, she faded into a wall of furious sandstorm!

The White Sage immediately leapt forward to where she had disappeared and instead of fading into the wall of sandstorm, he was knocked back onto the ground by a powerful rebounding force and was badly bruise by it!

Even though he was badly bruised by it and sustained a minor internal injury, he was smiling. “So she is just waiting for the wall to move into her position so that she can fade into the other side. As I made the leapt a few seconds later than her, I have encountered a solid force blocking me. This small amount of force can injure me? If I am not wrong, this entire celestial formation is held into place by the Universal Force. But how is it possible?”

He began to look at his surroundings for a way out…

Revelation Star was touching the Heavenly Earth Sword, the White Phoenix Sword and the Divine Echo that were thrust in the middle of the Celestial Annihilation Star Formation gently as she had a melancholy look in her eyes.

Melody Star was stroking her long hair, “Don’t tell me that our aloof sister will actually take a liking to him?”

Revelation Star was startled, “Rubbish!”

Melody Star laughed, “He is cute and fine looking isn’t he? I can’t believe he is a Celestial. It will be a pity to kill him then.”

Revelation Star hummed coldly, “It seems that you are the one that likes him.”

Melody Star winked with a playful expression, “If Sister does not like him then he is mine then?”

Luminous Star sighed, “Why are you only asking Eldest Sister? I didn’t even say I don’t like him. Why didn’t you ask me instead? Don’t forget I am your Second Sister.”

Melody Star was woeful, “You…like him?”

Luminous Star laughed softly, “Why not? He looks like a fine looking young man and I am unattached.”

Revelation Star was solemn, “Sisters, we don’t know his background. There are many treacherous Celestials around that wants obtain the Heavenly Relics and secrets of the Celestial Annihilation Star Formation. The Melody Palace has entrusted us to protect these three divine swords from falling into the wrong hands. In the wrong hands, a celestial calamity could happen.”

She looked woefully at the golden halo of the Heavenly Earth Sword as she said, “This celestial sword is the only sword in the entire universe that contain vestiges of the Universal Force. The only place that it can be used without disrupting the order of the universe is in this Celestial Annihilation Star Formation. We must not give the Dark Celestials any opportunities to bring chaos into the world…”

Melody Star was sorrowful too at the mention of the Dark Celestials, “During the last battle with the Dark Celestials, many of the protégés of the Melody Palace had perished and we had almost lost the Heavenly Earth Celestial Sword.”

Luminous Star said to Revelation Star, “Earlier when we had lost control of the three divine swords, it was his sudden appearance that had stabilized the Celestial Annihilations Star Formation or else given our predicament earlier, we would have almost all been killed. Are we really too harsh with him?”

It was their first attempt in trying to recreate the deadly Celestial Annihilation Star Formation after their protégé mistress the Stellar Heaven Fairy had ascended. Just before she had attempted the divine sojourn, she had revealed the secrets of the Celestial Annihilation Star Formation to them, warning them that the first attempt was always the most difficult as they may not be able to control the celestial force within this huge celestial formation. That was why there were nine others celestial maidens watching nearby and ready to take their place should they failed in their attempt!

Revelation Star smiled gently, “Don’t worry. The killing celestial force of the Celestial Annihilation Star Formation is not activated and no real harm will happen to him. I just want to warn him off so that he will be mindful to get out of here as soon as possible.”

Luminous Star was relieved, “Thank you Eldest Sister!”

Revelation Star asked, “Thanks me for what?”

Luminous Star giggled, “You obviously know…”

Melody Star laughed lightly, “But you know it is pretty scary that we have almost turned to star dust earlier and now we are making light of our situations.”

Revelation Star was once again solemn as she said, “We need to recollect what has gone wrong and what we ought to do so that we will not cause a repeat of what had happened earlier.”

Luminous Star was solemn too as this concerned their life and death destiny as she sighed sadly, “We may not have the celestial attainment to control the divine swords and the Celestial Annihilation Star Formation yet. There are many who are chosen but they were all killed during the confrontation with the Dark Celestial Sects not long ago. We are one of the youngest…alas…”

Revelation Star was quiet, “It is too late now for regrets. We need to regain control of these divine swords before the more powerful celestials took notice of us. We can’t just leave these three divine swords, especially the Heavenly Earth Sword here.”

Melody Star was muttering, “What has actually gone wrong? There are at least twenty-one parameters that can have gone wrong or waiting to break apart earlier. Without our protégé mistress to guide us, I am really afraid of attempting the Celestial Annihilation Star Formation again.”

Revelation Star sighed, “Is it the end of our destiny today?”

All of a sudden, there was a startled expression on her face, followed by Melody Star and Luminous Star!

It was because the young man that they had encountered earlier had just popped into the innermost of the Inner Formation of the Celestial Annihilation Star Formation while they were all talking!

It was not possible for anyone to enter the innermost inner formation without any one of them knowing…

The White Sage was sweating profusely as he said excitedly, “I have finally found the three of you!”

Melody Star stammered as she had raised her long sword in front of her, “What do you want? If you are thinking of seizing the three divine swords, then you have better forget it!”

Revelation Star and Luminous Star were too stunned for words as they muttered unintelligently…

The White Sage said, “I forget to introduce myself. My name is the White Sage. That’s my celestial name now. I forget to ask for maidens’ names and the directions to a reputable celestial sect so that I will be able to advance in my divine progression. Erm, I am new to the Celestial Realm.”

Melody was asking, “You are really just asking for directions?”

Revelation Star looked at him curiously as she asked, “I am Revelation Star Maiden. You can call me Revelation Star. How did you come here?”

Melody Star quickly interrupted, “I am Melody Star Maiden. You can call me Melody Star and this is my other sister the Luminous Star Maiden!”

Luminous Star was looking at Revelation Star. Both of them were thinking of the same thing! This young man did not barge into the Celestial Annihilation Star Celestial and stabilize the formation by accident. He actually knew what he was doing!

Revelation Star smiled gently at him, “We believe you then. I actually know the Celestial Ocean Heavenly Maiden from the Great Quiescent Sect. I am sure that if I were to recommend you to her; she may make an exception for you to join the Great Quiescent Sect. But first you need to tell us how you circumvented this Celestial Annihilation Star Formation.”

The White Sage was still panting breathlessly, “It is not an easy thing to do. If I am not wrong, this Celestial Formation consists of eighty-one star formations on the outside and nine more on the inside. But the deadliest part of this Celestial Annihilation Star Formation is actually on the inside. I nearly died of sheer exhaustion as I made my way through.”

Revelation Star immediately took out her handkerchief as she helped him to wipe away his sweat on his forehead as she said gently, “It is a lucky thing that we have not activated the Celestial Star Formation in full or else you won’t be able to make your way here.”

Not to be outdone by Revelation Star, Melody Star and Luminous Star also took out their handkerchiefs as they helped him to wipe away the beads of sweat on his forehead!

Melody Star was coy as she said, “How did you enter the Celestial Annihilation Star Formation in the first place? Do you know that it is dangerous for you in the first place?”

The White Sage explained, “There were plenty of mysterious inertia forces around. When I first enter this celestial formation, I was profound by its astonishing changes. However, I was curious at the same time. I also took the liberty of channeling part of the misalign forces away with my Mirror Reflection of the Emptiness Translucence. I hope that I didn’t cause any damage?”

The three Revelation Star Sisters were startled and they were exchanging knowing glances at one another!

Revelation Star laughed gently, “On the contrary, you have been a great help and even save our lives. You can really detect the motion of the changes of the Celestial Star Formation? How did you do that?”

The White Sage nodded as he said, “If I focus hard enough, then my Emptiness Translucence is like a clear crystal lake on top. Any outside disturbances will create ripples on it. That is how I can sense the flow of the inertia forces.”

Luminous Star laughed softly, “We are forming this Celestial Annihilation Star Formation for the very first time. I hope that you can guide us as we lay the changes of the Celestial Annihilating Star Formation one by one, telling us which area of the Celestial Star Formation is imbalanced.”

Melody Star looked at him with pleading eyes, “It may take a long time but I hope that you can stay to help us…”

The White Sage said, “I guess I can. I am free anyway. But I hope that after this formation is completed, it won’t be used to kill anyone…”

Revelation Star laughed softly, “This is a defensive formation. Usually it is formed to protect an area. There is no way we can use it to harm anyone if they don’t want to harm us in the first place. Moreover we are from the Celestial Melody Palace, one of three most orthodox celestial clans in the Celestial Realm.”

The White Sage was startled as he said, “Oh really! I didn’t know. That’s great to know. What about that Great Quiescent Sect then?”

Luminous Star laughed softly, “The Melody Palace, the Great Quiescent and the Ascension Sect are three of the most powerful celestial clans.”

The White Sage was clearly impressed as he said, “I have heard of the Ascension Sect before. Melody Palace and the Great Quiescent Sect…I guess I am in luck…”

That was how they had met and remained as friends for centuries…

The White Sage did not know that since then, the Three Star Sisters of Fate had already fallen in love with him. Throughout the centuries, they had all tried to give him several hints but it was obvious that the White Sage had only one thing in mind, overcoming through the various divine progressions and eventually ascended as a Celestial Sage.

The three normally dormant and slacken Three Star Sisters of Fate were all astonished at his divinity progression every time that they had met him that they began to spend more and more of their time in their divine progression; they did not want to lose to him. Also as the White Sage progressed further and further, he was attracting plenty of unwanted attentions from the other celestial maidens, causing panic among the Three Star Sisters of Fate yet they did not have the courage to profess their likes for him openly as the Melody Palace had strict rules on celibacy.

When the Divine Descendant had struck, the Three Star Sisters of Fate had already made great advancements in their divine progression and had joined the ranks of the First Celestial, including the White Sage and Shen Xinyue.

The Divine Descendant was a major celestial catastrophe that pitted the celestials among one another. Because the Three Star Sisters of Fate had caused the deaths of too many Celestials, they were beginning to feel guilty and somehow knew that their ascension as Celestial Sagess were doomed in the first place.

And so they had decided sacrifice themselves for the White Sage…

It was because Revelation Star had stumbled upon the secrets of the Divine Descendant by accident; most of the Celestials did not know that they were actually dooming themselves after the seven years period of the Divine Descendant. That was when the Greater Divine Calamity would occur!

The Greater Divine Calamity would fall on those that had the bloods of the other Celestials in their hands. It was an even worse calamity than the Divine Descendant itself, seven folds of all the Divine Descendant combined, with virtually no survivors except the pure hearts.

In the end, Revelation Star and the White Sage seemed to be only survivors in the dawn of the new celestial realm.

As much as the White Sage and Revelation Star had secretly liked each other since then but their hearts were heavy with the deaths of Luminous Star, Melody Star and the other Celestials. Since then, they had silently gone on their separate ways as they tried to seek atonements for their sins.

Revelation Star did not attempt to ascend as a Celestial Sagess as the White Sage had secretly hoped. Instead, after she had overcome the Crisis state of divinity, she had spent much of her time pulling the threads of fate into the Celestial Star Formation so that one day, she would finally be united with her other close sisters and they would start all over again…

Her celestial plans were flaw from start as no one was able to accomplish what she was going to do. Even if she gives up her entire celestial life force, this was not going to help.

The White Sage was reawakened once again and he immediately came to the aid of Revelation Star. But it was too late. In that last moment, he could see her tears and her innermost feelings for him. It was only then he realized that all along, the Three Star Sisters of Fate was only trying to provoke him to kill them so that he may live, just like all the other celestial maidens.

His heart was in great agony and he felt that as a Celestial, he had actually lost much. He was the one and only Celestial Sage. But that was pointless to him. In that single instant, he too sacrificed himself and reworked the balance of Revelation Star’s imperfect Celestial Star Formation with his Great Emptiness Translucence. No matter how small the odds were, how vain his sacrifices were, he had decided to extinguish his life for this gamble…

Lie Qing was trembling and she was crying. She did not know that they had such a past together! No wonder Lele was always calling her Luminous Star and dear sister. She did not lie to her and to think she had actually fought with both Lele and Yixian…

She took a quick glance at Yunzi, Lingfeng, Yu’Er and Mei’Er…

Lie Qing said quickly, “Yi Ping, let’s go and help Sister Yixian now. She is in mortal danger…”

Xiao Shuai, Yuan Shao, Han Shaodong and the Element Sage had suddenly encircle them as they shouted, “You are not going anyway!”

They had seized the opportunity to attack them when they were all distracted!

Xiao Shuai had already thrown his flying sword at Yi Ping even as he was shouting!

Yunzi had already seen it coming as she readied her own flying sword against Xiao Shuai’s flying sword but her flying sword was no match for Xiao Shuai’s martial power; it got deflected while Xiao Shuai’s flying sword went through into Yi Ping’s body!

Immediately Yi Ping fell down onto the ground, startling Shen Xinyue and Lie Qing!

“Yi Ping!” all the maidens almost cried out at the same time!

Without waiting for Lie Qing and Shen Xinyue to react, Yuan Shao had thrown his flying sword sped towards Lie Qing, striking her with a thunderous and forceful impact! As she was still being protected by her nine hovering Invincible Divine Force, the flying sword was deflected and she was knocked slightly off balance.

In that split second when Yuan Shao’s flying sword had temporary broke through the martial force of Shen Xinyue’s Divine Rejuvenation Force, the Element Sage had struck Shen Xinyue’s on her right shoulder with a thunderous impact even as she tried to avoid it!

Shen Xinyue coughed out a mouthful of blood even as she muttered, “Despicable!”

She had barely knocked the Element Sage backward when the crushing force of Han Shaodong’s Big Dipper Hands came weighing and crushing onto them as he shouted, “You are not going anyway. Surrender your divine swords!”

Shen Xinyue said weakly, “Do you know that I am your grand protégés mistress?!”

Han Shaodong shouted coldly as his martial force came crushing down onto her, “Step aside, Protégé Mistress if you are still on our side!”

Even as Shen Xinyue and Lie Qing raised their swords in defense of this tremendous force that were raining upon them, Xiao Shuai, Yuan Shao and the Element Sage had immediately regrouped behind Han Shaodong with their raising swords glowing in purple hues!

The Martial Sage, Shangguan Qingyun, Yan Nanfei, the Sword Sage, Xiao Fei, Xiao Ao and Chi Zhengqi were shocked that Xiao Shuai, Han Shaodong, the Element Sage and Yuan Shao would actually launched a secret attack at Yi Ping, Lie Qing and Shen Xinyue!

Dugu Yunzi was startled that the Element Sage was also displaying the Dark Mono Swordplay as she shouted out panicky, “Be careful! That is the Dark Mono Sword Formation!”



Ch61 End
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Chapter 63: The Birth of the Two Celestial Swords



Even as Xiao Shuai had raised his hand for his side to prepare to attack, Ji Lingfeng had whispered to Yi Ping and her group. “Execute the Celestial Star Formation. Yi Ping, Yu’Er and Mei’Er will be in the inner perimeter while Yunzi, Youxue and I will be in the outer perimeter. Lie Qing and Shen Xinyue try to hold as much as you can and fall back to us…”

Yi Ping and the rest of the group nodded.

Shen Xinyue had already visualized the entire battle in a blink of an eye now that she got the time to refocus, grasping the attacking and movement speed of all her opponents!

She was already channeling her intricate energies through to her right fingers as she made a full recovery from her earlier disability. Her Divine Rejuvenation Force had an accelerated healing recovery effect. With her present attainment, this was just a slight injury similar to a short momentum knock!

She had decided that when Han Shaodong had moved forward, she would use her Big Dipper Hands to attack him and to force him back. At the same time, when the Sword Sage, the Element Sage and the Martial Sage had leapt forward, she would do a turnaround speed attack and displayed the Starlight Swordplay with the Blue Heavens to blind and disable them. As for Xiao Shuai, as soon as he had attacked her or anyone, she would move to intercept him and striking him with her Starlight Fingers!

All of her main opponents would either be injured or lying on the ground in a blink of a second!

But her plan had a flaw. That would leave her vulnerable to the rest of her opponents. But she did not care less as long as she would injure these main opponents, then Yi Ping, Lie Qing and the rest would eventually find an opening to overcome them!

Lie Qing was also thinking of the same thing.

She had already observed that Xiao Shuai, Han Shaodong, the Sword Sage and the others were already panting or breathing heavily after using the Dark Mono Swordplay.

If her guess was not wrong, even though the Dark Mono Swordplay and Formation were formidable, it was a physically demanding swordplay to display and required a great deal of physical stamina to execute the precision strikes. That was why even though it was formidable, if the practitioners of this Dark Mono Swordplay could not defeat their opponent in a timely manner, then the risk would be on them instead!

The Heavenly Temptress Lie Qing was protected by her defensive Invincible Divine Force. She soon discovered that although the Dark Mono Swordplay was extremely deadly, she had succeeded in exhausting their martial power with her impregnable defense and skill.

Therefore she had decided to take a gambit and lowered the martial power of her Invincible Divine Force and transferred it to her sword as she prepared for her ultimate sword technique, the Pandora Merciless Seven Strikes!

She was wondering, “I am going to treat Xiao Shuai and that arrogant Han Shaodong some of my Pandora Candies. Since the two of you are the leaders of this group, my targets will naturally be you!”

Like Shen Xinyue, Lie Qing’s plans had the same flaw. She would be exposed to several openings and put herself at risk. However, she too was prepared to sacrifice herself so that Yi Ping and the rest of her sisters would live…

In the meantime, Yi Ping was looking intently at his opponents as he raised the Divine Halo and the White Phoenix. He had already seen how powerful the Dark Mono Sword Formation was and with the maidens caught in the midst of this deadly sword formation, he was extremely worried.

He said in a low voice, “Yu’Er, Mei’Er, Lingfeng, Youxue, Yunzi…stay behind me. Their sword energies are formidable and you lack Qing’Er and Xinyue sword skills…”

Lingfeng smiled alluringly, “I guess, we may all die today…”

Yi Ping looked at her and smiled weakly, “We will not die…”

All of a sudden, he froze when he was looking at her. He had actually regained some of his most precious memories from his previous incarnation and was startled to know that all these maidens were all in one way or another acquainted with him in the past except for Lingfeng…

But now, he had suddenly remembered who Lingfeng was and he was startled…

The Heaveness was Lingfeng’s previous incarnation. She was also the one that had taught him the Emptiness Translucence!

She was also the protégé mistress of the Universal Old Man, the old priest that had coerced him to abandon worldly desire to be a Celestial Sage. In short, she was actually his grand protégé mistress!

When he had first met her, he was in awe of her for he was only sixteen. He had expected the protégé mistress of his protégé master to be an old lady but instead, she turned out to be the most beautiful lady that he had ever seen…

The Universal Old Man had laughed at him then, “You didn’t expect this, am I right?”

The Heaveness smiled alluring at him, “You look like a bright young man. Alright then, I will accept you into the clan and impart to you the most forbidden divine skill of our clan the Great Emptiness Translucence. Whether you can become a Celestial and overcome the Divine Calamity is up to Providence. But you must swear never to reveal our names to anyone, alright?”

He had nodded eagerly and he was totally overwhelmed by her smile that reached into his heart…

The Heaveness looked at him alluringly, “You can address me as the Heaveness and I am your grand protégé mistress, the protégé mistress of your protégé master who is the Universal Old Man.”

He looked at his protégé master, the Universal Old Man as he thought. “So he is the Universal Old Man. He only allows me to address him as Old Priest Master when there are others around and I can’t even call him my protégé master…”

He stammered as he mustered his courage, “Protégé Master never reveals the name of our clan, telling me that it is forbidden. Even his name and your name are under wraps. Did I accidentally join a cult or something? Why can’t I tell others my clan and yours?”

The Heaveness laughed softly as she explained patiently, “We are not exactly a Celestial Clan or a Martial Clan. So there isn’t any official name for us yet. Moreover, there are just three of us only.”

He was startled as he stammered, “There are only the three of us? What is the unofficial name of clan then?”

The Heaveness said with an alluring and mystifying look, “It-Is-Forbidden.”

He was disappointed that the Heaveness did not reveal the name of the clan to him and his disappointment was showed on his face.

The Heaveness rebuked him gently, “Why are you feeling so downcast? Just because you cannot know the name of the clan? Names are but an illusion. How are you going to overcome all the mysteries of the divine state to become a Celestial in the future when you can’t even handle a small disappointment? Let me tell you, the name of our clan is called ‘It-Is-Forbidden’.”

He was stunned as he stammered, “That is our clan name?”

The Heaveness laughed softly, “Precisely. In state of divinities, there will be many things to ponder and many obstacles to overcome. Sometimes the texts of the heart intricacy formulas will mislead you and took you to the wrong deviation when you are confused. The name of the heart intricacy formulas have never changed in the first place, so never deviate from your exact purposes. You just need to know that the Great Emptiness Translucence is to teach you to be absolute peaceful and still, only then can you see through the illusions of things.”

He was very much enlightened as he bowed down hastily on the ground, “Grand Protégé Mistress has indeed enlightened me!”

The Heaveness gave an alluring smile at him as she helped him up.

The Universal Old Man took a curious look at the Heaveness and was slightly startled. It was because he had never seen the Heaveness smiled before. When she smiling, it was as though the entire atmosphere had been changed to a gentle and moving alluring scene!

He had asked again, “What about your name? Is there any reason why you do not want others to know?”

The Heaveness sighed deeply, “Actually by knowing our names, in the future you will surely know a little about us. I will tell you a little more in the future but not today, alright?”

He nodded and did not argue. It was because he could sense the sorrows that were within her…

The Heaveness smiled again, “I am sensitive to others calling me by my name whether good or bad. So don’t do that, alright? It is because in my time, names are sacred and that is the original language.”

He looked at her in awe again as he said, “I won’t call you or tell others that you are the Heaveness…”

Immediately, there was a tinged in her eyes as she quickly said. “Don’t!”

He immediately kept quiet as he flustered with embarrassment at the gentle rebuke.

Time passed…

The Universal Old Man taught him the Emptiness Translucence patiently as he explained, “There are five stages to the Emptiness Translucence, which is called the Five Conducts of the Divine Ascendants which is the Spirit, the Void, the Enigma, the Absolute and the Great Ultimate. These are the stages of the Absolute Tranquil and beyond these five staging is the Great Emptiness Translucence. The Great Emptiness Translucence is a divine state that we may never possible reached…other than the Heaveness…”

The Universal Old Man taught him for a whole year while the Heaveness would occasionally appear but only at night to give him some guidance.

Even though the Heaveness had never appeared to him except at night but there were times he would encounter her in the most unexplained situation in nearby cities and towns; she would be a maiden that was selling textiles and clothes as she stood alluringly in the shop, a beautiful humble weaver attracting a great deal of attention, a singer with a beautiful voice and quite a few other roles. But each time when he tried to approach her, she would shake her head in a subtle hint and refused to talk to him!

But the Heaveness was secret startled. The numbers of coincidences were too many. There were many cities and towns in this region; something unexplained was drawing them together.

The Heaveness was sighing to herself, “This will be your undoing in the future. Perhaps it is better than you leave this place altogether…”

One year later, the Universal Old Man had suddenly disappeared and left him a note, giving him some advises and encouraged him to continue pursuing his attainment.

That was the last time that he had ever seen the Universal Old Man and the Heaveness again…

Years later after he had overcome the Divine Calamity, he would return to the Great Tranquil Mountains and had visited the Tranquil Clan which he had secretly founded. Among the intricacy heart formulas that he had left behind were the Emptiness Translucence and a description of the Divine Calamity that he had faced!

But Priest Liu Qingcheng had actually misunderstood the message in the Silver Scroll and had warned him to be wary of the Seven Maidens!

Back to the present, Yi Ping had unconsciously recalled this scattering fragment of his memories. As he looked at Lingfeng, he muttered in an almost inaudible voice. “Heaveness…”

All of a suddenly, Lingfeng’s eyes began to twitch and there were beaming tears in her eyes as she muttered softly. “Look at me, I am feeling emotional again…”

At this moment, Xiao Shuai had finally turned his left flickering fingers into a forward fist!

It was because he had been waiting for the majority to recover their regular breathing first and the bright halos of Yi Ping, Shen Xinyue and Lie Qing swords were also causing their visions to blur as well as a feeling of nausea, slowing the pace of their recovery!

Immediately, Xiao Shuai, Han Shaodong, the Three Sages, Xiao Fei and Xiao Ao, altogether there were seven of them. They began to dash forward at the same time and their swords were colored with a purplish color!

They had only three targets; Yi Ping, Lie Qing or Shen Xinyue!

It was because even though they did not say it loud, they had known that their swords were not just any ordinary precious swords. Judging by the resonating vibrations and the halos of their swords, it had to be divine swords!

They were determined to seize their swords at the same time and to prevent others from seizing it. The most obvious target was Yi Ping and he looked to be an easy target!

Lie Qing and Shen Xinyue had immediately raised their divine swords and lifted their martial power as they braced for the incoming attack. They had already visualized all the possible outcomes and were just waiting!

Yi Ping too, had raised the Divine Echo and the White Phoenix as seven beams of purple sped towards him!

Yu’Er and Mei’Er were already secretly nodding at each other when the seven beams of purple light sped towards Yi Ping! They had already made up their minds to sacrifice themselves for Yi Ping as they bade him a silence goodbye. They had already figured out that the outcome would be unpredictable with their Dual Inertness Intricacy Skill.

Therefore, they had already decided that before Lie Qing, Shen Xinyue, Yunzi, Lingfeng and Youxue had a chance to intervene and possibly sacrificing themselves in the process, they were determined to intercept their opponents first and slowed down their speed attacks, sacrificing themselves first so that the others would find an opening…

So when the seven purple beaming of light had flashed towards Yi Ping, they had made the first move and had deliberately blocked Lie Qing and Shen Xinyue as they raised their precious long swords towards the seven purple beaming lights!

Shen Xinyue gasped as they sped past her all of a sudden as she called out loud, “Don’t! It is too dangerous!”

It was already too late to stop them as seven beams of light clashed with two golden lights as it quickly developed into dozens of purple lights as it hovered around one another!

But when the purple and golden lights made contact with one another, the air around them exploded thunderous in a large blinding flash as the deadly martial force exploded into a wave of deadly pure energies, knocking and sweeping everyone aside!

Almost instantaneous, everyone including the onlookers was rolling and crying out aloud on the ground as the entire ground trembled continuously as though an earthquake had just struck!

The explosive martial wave was so deadly that scores of onlookers including those that were watching at the furthest end were killed in that single moment!

And immediately, cries of agonies were heard everywhere!

It was as though they had just been visited by the infernos of hell!

Shen Xinyue had raised her Blue Heavens and wrapped the Divine Rejuvenation Force around her when the extraordinary martial force struck her. She was stunned that the martial force simply rippled through her and tearing her Divine Rejuvenation Force apart. Immediately, she coughed out blood in disbelief as she gasped, “No, this can’t be. This martial force is the energies of the Divine Calamity…why am I so unlucky whenever I see these two sisters…”

Lie Qing was also coughing weakly as she used up half of her martial power to counter the extraordinary martial force!

When Yi Ping had seen the rippling effect of the extraordinary martial force that were ripping towards him, he gave a mighty martial shout as he raised the Divine Echo and the White Phoenix, executing the martial power of the Asper Divinity as a white burst of white light wisped around him!

At the same time, this white burst of light that was formed from his Boundless Divine Force created a wall of buffer as the extraordinary powerful martial force swept across him!

Yi Ping was startled secretly!

It was because it seemed that the martial power of his Asper Divinity had increased several folds in strength all of a sudden!

However, although the newly attained Asper Divinity was extraordinary and he had already buffered much of this deadly martial force, he was still swept backward!

Lingfeng had mustered her entire martial power as she displayed the Great Dissolution Skill to deflect the bursting energies of the weakened deadly martial force!

At the same time, Yunzi had mustered her Invincible Divine Force while Youxue had displayed the Golden Invincible Body and also the Divine Emerald Skill, startling Yunzi and Lingfeng as they gasped. “When did you learn the Divine Emerald Skill?!”

Youxue did not reply them as she was training her entire focus to maintain the circular motion of the Divine Emerald Skill!

She had of course learnt it from the Celestial Fairy who had already decided that she would be her successor. However, the Celestial Fairy had also told her not to use this secret technique unless she had no other choices for overtly dependent on it would be detrimental to her martial progression and using it too early against a dangerous foe would lose the element of surprise for her.

But now, she had no other choice!

She gasped softly, “Sisters, get behind me immediately!”

As soon as Yi Ping had coughed out a bout of darken blood, he picked himself up weakly as he turned around panicky to take a look at Yunzi, Lingfeng and Youxue who had all gave a startled cry when they were struck by the deadly energy of the sweeping martial force!

He was somewhat relieved when he saw Yunzi, Lingfeng, Youxue, Lie Qing and Shen Xinyue were all already on their feet and struggling to stand feebly.

Shen Xinyue angelic voice was already warning them, “Everyone don’t stand up first. Quickly meditate and try to put the erratic energies into order first. Don’t try to exercise any martial power for the time being. You are injured by the Universal Force. Unless you can purge it out of your body, you will soon lose your life and your martial skills!”

Xiao Shuai, Han Shaodong, the Three Sages and many others were already sitting in a mediation pose as they coughed out bouts of bad blood. From the look of it, their internal injuries were extremely serious!

At the same time, everyone was staring at Yu’Er and Mei’Er in complete disbelief as they stood in the middle of the carnage and the pandemonium!

Yu’Er and Mei’Er were now surrounded by two bright golden halos as bright as the sun that were radiating from their golden swords!

It was because as they had intercepted the sword strokes of the Dark Mono Sword Formation and when their long precious swords had struck against each other in their attempt to overcome their opponents’ martial strength by combining their swordplay together, their swords had suddenly turned into a golden hue permanently and a bursting burst of light that were created from the impact of their swords exploded into all directions!

As unbelievable as it could sound, in that instant, Yu’Er and Mei’Er had brought all the exponents to their knees!

No one had an idea what had happened except for Shen Xinyue!

The Sword Sage had just thrown out another bout of black colored blood as he struggled to speak in trembling fear, “What kind of combine swordplay is that? In my entire life, I have never seen such a destructive swordplay…”

Even Xiao Shuai had a look of fear in his eyes for he had never seen anything like that. His Divine Virtuous Force was scattered instantaneous and his martial power was completed drained by the blinding unstoppable force!

He stared blankly at Xiao Ao who had been knocked unconscious for he was caught in the direct blast…

Han Shaodong was not faring too well either. His powerful Divine Rejuvenation Force was completed drained by the extraordinary martial force and it was only his sheer fortitude that had preserved his martial skills.

He was now looking at the surrounding carnage in stunned horror; he had estimated that at least two thousand exponents from all the martial clans were instantly killed and several hundred had lost their martial skills permanently. It was like a nightmare scene and extremely appalling…

The Sword Sage, the Element Sage and the Martial Sage had closed their eyes and were already trying to treat their internal injuries as much as possible…

Almost immediately at the same time, they had popped in a pill that was made by the Element Sage to speed up their recovery…

Xiao Fei was seriously injured and he was barely conscious…

There were hundreds of loud wailing and moaning as the exponents moaned the fallen…

A number of surviving exponents were exclaiming in great shock as they queried weakly, “What is that martial skill that is displayed earlier? If I die, at least I ought to know the name of this epitome divine skill that has brought me to my grave…”

Xiao Shuai muttered solemnly, “You have won. We admit defeat. What is the name of this divine skill?”

Han Shaodong laughed weakly, “That’s right. We are totally defeated. Our dream of ascending as a Celestial is now completely shattered. If we can’t even defeat two maidens here, what hope have we got to defeat the Celestial Palace?”

The Sword Sage had opened his eyes as he muttered, “If Maidens can enlighten us to the divine skill that has defeated us, I will be gratuitous to you when I go down under the earth!”

Even though they were all admitting defeat but it was actually a delaying tactic so that they would have enough time to calm down the erratic energies in their bodies!

Yu’Er and Mei’Er were sobbing inconsolably as they looked at the terrible carnage that they had caused. They did not know even know what was going on at all!

They were still looking at Yi Ping, Shen Xinyue, Lie Qing, Xiao Shuai, Han Shaodong and everyone in bewilderment and in shock…

It was because Yi Ping, Xiao Shuai, Han Shaodong, Lie Qing and Shen Xinyue were the main characters of this battle and now when the twin sisters were suddenly cast as the main characters, they felt lost and was terrified!

Shen Xinyue was muttering, “This is the first time that I have heard of and witnessed the birth of two divine swords through the use of the Universal Force. And these two golden swords are as potent as the Heavenly Earth Celestial Sword that is said to be created at the beginning of time…how is it possible…”

Yu’Er and Mei’Er did not know that they had just generated the creation energies of the Universal Force by sheer coincidences!

It was because they had consumed the Divine Dragon Pills but because they lacked the internal strength to digest it and that they were not even seriously injured in the first place, the potency of the Divine Dragon Pills remained in their bodies. If they had not learnt the Dual Inertness Intricacy Formulas and suppressing their discomfort by using the vital energy exchanges but not the body and exchanging it with the essence of heavens and earth as their vitality, they would have been engulfed by the burning potency of the Divine Dragon Pills!

However, they could only delay the potency of the Dragon Divine Pills from reacting, delaying the harmful effect through a slow and painful process that was detrimental to their health…

The Dragon Divine Pills happened to be created from the meltdown of the power release of Yi Ping’s Emptiness Translucence as it transformed his Aspire Invocations to the Boundless Divine Force (See Chapter 56), creating the Divine Dragon Pills from the broken pieces of the Heavenly Relic as a spark of the accidentally generated Universal Force was created and was stored in it.

The Dual Inertness Intricacy Divine Skill was a skill that balanced the vital energies of the inner force and the outer force in a delicate manner. In short because the twin sisters were unable to digest the Universal Force of the Divine Dragon Pills and at the same time, they were unable to purge it out, the Universal Force remained in equilibrium in their bodies for the time being.

So when they had cross swords with one another by channeling all their martial power, they had unconsciously power released the Universal Force that were in their bodies by exchanging the Universal Force with each other via the concept of the divine state of heavens and earth as their divine state!

As the Universal Force revived and clashed with each other, the power release was exactly that of the Creation Universal Force. It immediately tampered its way through their precious long swords, transforming it into two celestial weapons that were capable of absorbing the Universal Force as these two Universal Forces clashed against each other in total equilibrium!

As the creations of the two celestial weapons were completed, the remaining Universal Force shattered its force all around them, exploding all around with a huge big bang!

In that single moment, everyone was knocked or swept aside as the Universal Force was the ultimate force in the entire universe, killing and injuring everyone in the vicinity!

Yu’Er and Mei’Er were still looking at each other when a rainbow halo had descended around them; they were like celestial fairies that had visited the mortal realm and were extremely beautiful to beholden.

Shen Xinyue coughed weakly as she walked towards them as she said, “This is a celestial omen, indicating the creation of these two celestial weapons. Congrats!”

Yu’Er and Mei’Er were in tears.

Mei’Er asked in a frightened voice, “What has just happened? We seem to be surrounded by a glowing light…”

Yu’Er was still staring appalling at the numerous dead and injured.

They seemed to be glowing with a soft white light as they held onto their golden long swords…

Shen Xinyue smiled mysteriously, “Don’t worry. Only Celestials and those that have attained a high level in their state of divinity can see it. Right now, you should give a name to your celestial swords.”

Yu’Er suddenly gasped, “Mei’Er, your eyes! Your eyes have turned crimson! What is going on?”

Mei’Er was startled but when she saw her sister’s eyes as well, she was gasping aloud too. “Sister, your eyes are red too!”

“Yu’Er and Mei’Er, are you alright?”

It was Yi Ping and he was being supported by Yunzi, Youxue and Lie Qing.

Yu’Er and Mei’Er had immediately flown to his embrace as they cried aloud…

Yi Ping comforted them weakly, “It is alright now. Everything is alright now. Let’s leave this place immediately…”

Lie Qing asked quietly, “What has exactly happened?”

Shen Xinyue sighed softly as she looked at the appalling carnage all around her, “It seems that somehow these two maidens have just released the Universal Force that only exists from Beyond. I can’t explain it too but what we are witnessing today are the rare occurrences of the birth of two celestial weapons. And they have also just been elevated as Celestials too.”

Lie Qing was stunned as she quickly asked, “They can be elevated as a Celestial without experiencing the Divine Calamity?”

Shen Xinyue nodded, “I find it hard to believe too but that is what has exactly happened. What did they actually do…”

She had immediately raised and moved her right fingers rapidly as she seemed to be deep in thoughts!

Yi Ping muttered as he embraced Yu’Er and Mei’Er, “The big bang that has just struck us is indeed the Universal Force. It is a lucky thing that it is the benevolent Universal Force or else all of us would have perished just now.”

Shen Xinyue nodded lightly as she looked tenderly into Yi Ping’s eyes…

She was not the only one doing the same. All the maidens except Lingfeng were all looking tenderly in his direction.

Yi Ping looked at them one by one with an uneasy feeling and a feeling of guilt overwhelmed him. When he looked into Xiao Youxue’s eyes, all of a sudden his nose began to bleed again. It was because he could not shake the image of the Endor Vixen Fairy from his mind and the scene when Youxue had ‘given’ him her chastity…

Immediately the maidens seemed to forget that they were still in the middle of a battle and were all panicky when Yi Ping had started to nose bleed; they began to take out their handkerchiefs to help him wipe his blood and sweat as they murmured all manners of concern for him!

It was such an enviable sight. All of a sudden, the surviving exponents felt a great sense of loss and they were all reminiscing to a point of time when they were with their loves ones or when they were in happier times…

Yi Ping said, “Somehow it seems that Yu’Er and Mei’Er have exchanged and absorbed the Universal Force as their own vitality energies. That act alone would have killed them but it didn’t and instead they are elevated as Celestials…”

Shen Xinyue smiled softly, “It seems that there are moments that the White Sage can be wrong. The Divine Calamity did happen but it only appeared very briefly before it got extinguished by the Universal Force. The shockwaves that we have all experienced were the result of the clash between the Divine Calamity and the Universal Force. These two maidens have a heart of gold and that is why the Divine Calamity didn’t last too long for them. This must be the shortest Divine Calamity that I have ever seen and also one that had arrived without any prior warning. If I am not wrong, creations of divine and celestial weapons can also brought forth the Divine Calamity. If they fail their Divine Calamity, not only would they die but their celestial weapons would also be destroyed.”

Yi Ping smiled, “You are right…”

Ji Lingfeng had walked quietly to their side. No one seemed to have noticed her quiet expressions…

When the Universal Force had struck her, she had experienced a headache and was feeling nauseous. The Universal Force had reawakened a familiar feeling within her…

All of a sudden, there were hundreds of black ironclad fighters that that had appeared in the horizon.

Yi Ping had recognized that the man leading these fighters was Ji Wuzheng and the lady next to him was the Lady Dugu Zhen!

Yunzi was delighted as she said with a smile, “Mother is here!”

The orthodox fighters were alarmed that the Holy Hex Clan had arrived with their reinforcements and they were grim. It was because none of them had the strength to fight with the unorthodox fighters now. Out of five thousands orthodox fighters, only less than five hundred had remained…

Ji Wuzheng was appalled at the sight as he walked towards Yi Ping as he muttered, “What is going on here?”

As Ji Wuzheng turned and looked at Xiao Shuai, Han Shaodong and the Three Sages, they pretended not to see him as they focused on regaining their martial strength.

Xiao Shuai was startled when Xiao Fan walked silently besides him and said, “Father, forget it. It is all over. We should go back peacefully. Ji Wuzheng has promised me that they will not be pursuing any vendetta. Let bygones be bygones.”

Xiao Shuai was startled, “Son, you are still alive? Who beat you up in this horrid manner?”

He was comforted that Xiao Fan was alive because among all his sons and daughters, he was his favorite…

Xiao Fan grinned as he looked at Dugu Zhen, Dugu Yunzi and Lingfeng, “This is the work of the heretic sects. We have all fallen into the stratagems of the heretic sects. It is Ji Wuzheng and that Yi Ping who has actually saved my life.”

Xiao Shuai was startled.

Xiao Shuai said grimly, “Even then, have you forgotten that we are all so close to becoming a Celestial?”

Xiao Fan sighed, “Father, look around you. So many lives have already been lost. Is it worth it?”

Xiao Shuai said with a cold determination as he got up as he spat out the last bout of bad blood, “It is worth it, my son!”

His recovery rate was startling!

At the same time, Han Shaodong and the Three Sages had also recovered as they all stood up one by one!

Han Shaodong said aloud, “This is not over yet. I have thought that this two maidens have learnt some epitome divine Skills. So it is just a freak celestial manifestation. But if you are all willing to surrender your swords, you can leave here immediately. I will give you my honor for that!”

Shen Xinyue said softly, “Han Shaodong, Han Shaodong. I have thought you are a good man and that is why I take you in as my protégé disciple and even imparted to you the Divine Rejuvenation Force and the Big Dipper Hands. Why are you acting so malicious?”

Han Shaodong said solemnly, “It is because the Celestial Palace left us with no other choices! Do you know how many exponents were killed by the Celestial Palace over the years? If we miss this Seven Star Alignment, goodness know how long must we wait again for another favorable sign to ascend as Celestials?”

Yi Ping interrupted, “You can never overcome the Divine Calamity because…”

“Who wants to challenge the Celestial Palace?” A beautiful and mesmerizing voice was heard.

Yi Ping was startled. It was because he had recognized her distinctive voice!

Even Lie Qing was smiling, “I didn’t think I am beginning to miss her at any moment but now I do.”

Shen Xinyue was the first to catch sight of her as an extremely beautiful maiden appeared in their midst via her traverse speed, brandishing her wicked long black scythe!

She was slightly startled because she not only resembled Melody Star; her swiftness speed was also comparable to her!

Indeed, it was Lele as she laughed softly. “I am the Joyful Goddess, Prime Celestial of the Celestial Palace. Who is looking for a fight with the Celestial Palace? I am here now.”

Xiao Shuai, Han Shaodong and the Three Sages were startled at her sudden appearance and when they saw her crimson eyes, they were alarmed and knew immediately that she was a Celestial!

All of a sudden, the Joyful Goddess had noticed Shen Xinyue and gasped. “Aren’t you a Celestial too? Your eyes are gray…”

Shen Xinyue nodded and said, “Yes, I am a Celestial too…”

The Joyful Goddess began to encircle around her rapidly as she seemed to be pondering something, “Why is that I find your scent so familiar? Have we met before?”

Shen Xinyue refused to answer her but smiled angelically.

Han Shaodong was stunned as he thought, “My protégé mistress is a Celestial?!”

Xiao Shuai interrupted coldly, “There are five of us now. Pick five of you to be our challengers…”

A soft gentle voice said, “I will be your first challenger then.”

Everyone turned and saw an extremely beautiful maiden in light blue long dress walking silently into view. When she had appeared, she was like a beautiful goddess whose beauty had no comparison!

It was Shui Yixian the Celestial Fairy!

Even though her cold demeanor was colder than ice as she gazed at everyone but the hearts of everyone was warm!

Yi Ping was trembling as he muttered, “Xian’Er…you are still alive?”

Xiao Shuai was startled, “Xian’Er…”

Han Shaodong was muttering, “Xian’Er, is that you? I have grown old but you have not changed at all…”

The Martial Sage was in tears as he ran towards her, “Xian’Er, is that really you? I didn’t expect to see you after so many years!”

Even Shangguan Qingyun and Yan Nanfei who were not interested in the outcome of the battle were trembling with excitement as they ran towards her with joyful tears, “Xian’Er, is that really you? You have not changed at all!”



Ch63 End
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Chapter 65: The Heaveness



Hundreds of orthodox exponents and unorthodox exponents were now watching in stunned silence; none dared to move and were looking at one another for instructions and signs…

All nine maidens were now furiously striking Yi Ping’s body lightly with their internal strength in an attempt to keep him alive. Ji Wuzheng and Dugu Zhen could only look on with an unspeakable grief in their eyes…

Ji Wuzheng could only said coldly to Xiao Shuai and Han Shaodong as he stared at them, “My sworn brother Yi Ping has won. So quickly turn back and never let me see you again!”

But Xiao Shuai laughed aloud, “Look who is dead now? He has won? We are the ones that have won the fight!”

The Martial Sage said weakly, “That’s right! We are the ones that have won!”

Han Shaodong said, “From now on, nothing can stop us, not even the Celestial Palace…”

As Lele and Lie Qing were hitting Yi Ping to revive him by transferring bursts of their internal strength in an attempt to clear his blocked channels and stemmed the flow of his blood, they were also staring with a murderous intent towards Xiao Shuai, Han Shaodong and the Martial Sage!

Yixian was muttering, “It is no use. His body has already turned rigid. Not even a Celestial and any divine pills can save him now…”

Shen Xinyue was trembling as she stared at Han Shaodong…

When Han Shaodong caught her piercing glare, it was like a piercing arrow that had already pierced his heart and he was shivering from fear!

He had never seen his protégé mistress with this type of malevolent aura and saw her losing her angelic smiles. His impression of her was that she did not care for anything that had happened in the fraternity and it took him considerable effort to persuade her to join in the western expedition against the Holy Hex Sect and the Celestial Palace!

Shen Xinyue replied softly to Yixian even as she looked malevolently at Han Shaodong, “Unless the Celestial Heaveness is here, no one will be able to save him…”

Youxue was trembling as she cried out, “Who is the Heaveness, why don’t you get her now…”

She knew in her heart that it was impossible to find anyone in such a short notice and was totally irrational to ask that question but nevertheless she still asked; it was because she had totally lose her rational self now!

Even Yu’Er, Mei’Er, Lingfeng were asking, “Where is the Heaveness and who is she?”

Shen Xinyue said melancholy, “She is just a mythical figure. No one has ever seen her. Some says that she is the first among all the Celestials. Some others say that she is never a human and has always been a Celestial and is the creator of all. Some others also say, she is able to travel between Beyond and here at will. It is said that she is the only Celestial that the Divine Calamity is unable to affect. There were times when she had revealed herself to some of the other Celestials but these Celestials were always reluctant to say a word. If there is a Celestial that can actually do the impossible, then it must be the Heaveness…”

Yunzi said with a heavy heart even as she continued to hit Yi Ping’s body with her internal strength, “What is the point of telling us about the Heaveness when it is obviously that she doesn’t exist? This will only give us a false sense of hope!”

Yixian looked coldly at Xiao Shuai, the Martial Sage and Han Shaodong. “You have won? Look around you. There are so many people that have died because of your ambitions! Is it worth it?”

But before they could even reply her, Lele had already flown to Han Shaodong with a startling speed as she raised her long black scythe high into the air, which immediately exploded the air around her with a terrifying booming sound!

She had appeared in front of Han Shaodong in the next instant as she said coldly, “Did you just say that nothing can stop you? The Celestial Palace or from ascending as a Celestial? You are just a muddle headed old man. Let me wake you from your senses!”

Before Han Shaodong could react in time, Lele had slapped Han Shaodong on his face even as he tried to raise his hands feebly to block her!

She then proceeded to give him a high kick that sent the defenseless Han Shaodong into the air!

Han Shaodong could only call out panicky as he landed with a stump on the ground as he coughed out more blood, “Help me!”

But the protégés of the Honor Manor was all looking at the ground and not one of them made a slight move to help him!

It was because the malevolent aura of Shen Xinyue and Lele was everywhere, striking fear in their hearts!

Xiao Shuai said weakly, “Despicable…”

But just as he had muttered out a word, Lele had already descended upon him as she gave him a kick across his face!

She cursed softly, “You say you have won the fight. You say you want to fight the Celestial Palace? I am from the Celestial Palace so your opponent should be me instead!”

Even as Xiao Shuai had landed backward with a loud heavy crash, Lele had already picked up the Martial Sage and had flung him towards Xiao Shuai and Han Shaodong. She was already upon the three of them again as she gave them several kicks and slaps in a blink of an eye!

The kicks and slaps that they had received were so brutal that they were quickly covered in bruises as they pleaded, “Heroine, please have mercy, no more please…”

Yixian and Youxue were already besides Lele as they intercepted her!

Yixian said gently, “That’s enough already…”

Lele said spitefully, “Sisters! Do you know that they have just killed our husband?! Are we letting them off just like that?”

Youxue cried out, “He…he…no matter how bad he is, he is after all my father. I can’t bear to see him in this state…”

Yixian was also teary, “Sister, as much as I hate them but this fight is fair. If we really want to make Ping’Er happy, we should at least persuade them to declare Yi Ping as the victor. Don’t forget, you are now a Celestial. Do you want to suffer the same fate as me?”

She added with a forlorn sorrow as she looked at the numerous dead and the number of wounded people around her, “There are simply too many dead today…”

Lele sighed sorrowful, “You are right…”

She quickly withdrew her long black scythe as she swung it backward…

As she swung it backward, the backend of the metal scythe dealt accidentally hit Xiao Shuai, Han Shaodong and Martial Sage, smashing against their faces at the same time!

Immediately, they cried out in agony and pain as the blow was not light!

Lele quickly turned around panicky as she quickly apologized, “Awwww, I am so sorry. That is an accident…” But as soon as she had turned around, once again she had accidentally swung her long heavy scythe and broke Xiao Shuai’s nose, struck the head of Han Shaodong and sent the Martial Sage flying upward and landing with a hard stump!

The Martial Sage was muttering miserable, “Maiden, you…you did that on purpose!”

Yixian and Youxue were stunned!

It was because Lele had left them in a worst condition before they had intervened!

Lele seemed to be able to read their thoughts as she quickly said in panic, “That is totally an accident! I didn’t do that on purpose!” As she said that, she stepped on Xiao Shuai who was lying on the ground; there was a loud cracking sound as she stepped on his hands and legs!

Lele was astonished as she gently rebuked Xiao Shuai, “Why are you lying on the ground and getting in my way?” She proceeded to lift him up with care.

By now Xiao Shuai was too terrified of this extremely beautiful maiden as he mustered all his strength weakly to speak, “Don’t…don’t….touch…me…” But he was too weak now to even resist her!

Before Xiao Shuai could even reply her, Lele had turned around to Han Shaodong to ask him. “So Master Han Shaodong, who had won this fight?”

There was a loud cracking as Xiao Shuai was hit again by her long scythe as she turned around!

Xiao Shuai immediately fell down flat on the ground!

Once again, Lele turned around to check on Xiao Shuai who was accidentally hit by her as she fingered her long scythe clumsily around and Han Shaodong was hit in the face by the metal end of her long scythe!

Lele’s long scythe was made of steel. Even if it was made of wood, the force that was hitting Xiao Shuai and Han Shaodong was enough to send most exponents bedridden for months. Moreover they had been struck so many times…

The Martial Sage was staring weakly at Xiao Shuai and Han Shaodong as he thought miserably to himself, “This young maiden has the face of a heavenly maiden but she is no saint…”

The Martial Sage was also badly injured but not as severe as Xiao Shuai and Han Shaodong. Moreover, he was renowned for his Invincible Iron Shroud Skill but this young maiden was still able to kick through his martial protection and injured him…

He could only sighed weakly to himself, “If we are not injured by the twin sisters and lost half of our internal strength and martial power, that Yi Ping may not be able to injure us especially with the five of us joining hands together. Now we are at the mercy of this young maiden…this is so disgraceful…”

Yixian had intercepted by reaching out and caught hold of Lele’s long black scythe as she said, “That’s enough already sister. They are already half-dead…”

Lele said unhappily, “I didn’t say I want them dead. I am just asking them the outcome of the fight.”

But Xiao Shuai and Han Shaodong were unable to answer her anymore. They were covered with blood and were muttering incoherently on the ground!

Lele stroked her long silken long hair as she said, “Weird, they are looking so refresh a while ago and now, they are half-dead. Oh well since they didn’t answer me, I declare Ping’Er to be the victor then!”

Xiao Shuai was muttering, “I…this fight…”

Lele stepped forward as she asked, “What did you say? I can’t hear you…”

All of a sudden, Xiao Fan had dashed in front of her and was bowing his head on the ground as he pleaded to her. “Maiden! Please have mercy on my father…”

Even Youxue had also fallen on her knees in front of her as she pleaded tearfully, “He is after all my father. Good sister…”

Even Xiao Fei had also fallen on his knees besides Youxue…

Lele said softly to Youxue, “Please get up sister…”

But Xiao Youxue shook her head with a quiet determination to plead for her to let her father off.

Lele’s eyes softened but she did not say anything…

Xiao Shuai was stunned to see Xiao Fan, Xiao Fei and Xiao Youxue kneeing in front of the Joyful Goddess and pleading for his life…

For the very first time, he was sincerely touched as he muttered almost inaudible, “The wrongs that I have done, is it too late to seek amends? Can I hope for any forgiveness?”

Xiao Shuai got up weakly and he was trembling in his blood soaked sweat, “I…I admit defeat. The young hero Yi Ping has won this fight. From now on…the Virtuous Palace will wash our hands from the martial fraternity…”

He looked at Yixian, “Xian’Er, will you…forgive me?”

Yixian looked quietly away. It was because while she was appearing emotionless on the surface but her heart was in grieving pain!

At the same time, Shen Xinyue had silently appeared besides Han Shaodong and all of a sudden she had given him a thunderous blow on his chest!

Immediately Han Shaodong threw out a bout of blood as he sunk into the ground in an awkward position!

Shen Xinyue said emotionlessly, “You have disgraced me and betray your protégé mistress. Your skills are imparted by me and now I am taking it back!”

Just as she was about to disable his skills, Yixian had intercepted her with a counter-strike!

Shen Xinyue said in a mono tone, “I am sparing his life but I am going disable his martial skills. This is just a light punishment for him!”

Shui Yixian sighed softly as she looked at Han Shaodong who was coughing weakly, “He…is my friend and I believe that they have learnt a hard lesson…”

Han Shaodong looked at Yixian feebly and he was actually teary!

He muttered weakly, “Xian’Er, you still treat me as your friend?”

Yixian nodded gently as she said, “In my heart, always.”

Han Shaodong laughed aloud as he wept, “Good…good!”

He rose up weakly and bowed on his knees at Shen Xinyue as he wept aloud, “Protégé Mistress! Your protégé disciple is undeserving of your forgiveness and grace…”

Shen Xinyue sighed softly as she looked around her; thousands of exponents had set off for this expedition and now only less than a thousand had remained…

All of a sudden, there was a large implosion as Lie Qing thrust her long black sword into the ground in a moment of anguish and frustration!

Everyone began to look into her direction…

She was covering her face with her hands as she cried tearfully and had broken down emotionally!

Who would have expected that the Heavenly Temptress Lie Qing would be the first to have broken down?

Among all the maidens, she had the strongest will and was rarely affected by anything. But she had really fallen in love and was emotionally attached to Yi Ping. He was everything to her and she could not afford to lose him. It took her a long time to find someone that she could finally trust; that day when Yi Ping had refused to put her down despite fighting against the odds. This touched her greatly. This was not the only thing that Yi Ping had done for him. She had long pledged her heart to him…

Her silent tears flowed down her porcelain cheeks as she contemplated suicide as she said silently to herself, “Ping’Er, I have said to you that I want to be with you till the earth disintegrate, the rocks turned to dust and the oceans dried up. Now that you are gone, do you really think that I will want to live on my own? You are so heartless, how can you bear to leave me alone…”

Her thoughts were back again in the Icy Cavern with him when she had first known him…

In the meantime, Lingfeng too was overcome by grief as she continued to rejuvenate Yi Ping’s dead channels with her Great Dissolution Skill by striking him again and again.

And besides her were Yu’Er, Mei’Er and Yunzi who were also doing the same and did not stop trying even though Yi Ping body had become rigid and his skin color had turned gray!

They had ignored their surroundings and were exhausting all their internal strength just to create a shimmer of hope.

Even Lie Qing had given up hope as she threw her sword with a thunderous impact into the earth as she wept bitterly…

Yixian, Lele, Shen Xinyue and Youxue were all internal martial experts and were among the first to realize that they had already lost Yi Ping and that was why they had stopped trying to resuscitate him…

Lingfeng muttered softly, her hands were trembling as she held his face, “Yi Ping…”

Earlier, Lingfeng had experienced a severe headache. She rarely had migraine but after she was struck by the Universal Force that was generated by Yu’Er and Mei’Er, she had experienced the discomforts.

At first, she had thought that she was seriously injured by the Universal Force. But she soon realized that she was the only that seemed unaffected by it.

The Universal Force had awakened her true self, giving her a weird sense of familiarity which she could not point her finger at. As she looked at everyone, there was a strange feeling of quiescent. It was as though she was just a speculator and not part of the scene. This peculiar feeling stunned her for quite some time as she looked quietly at her surroundings.

But when it was obvious that she was losing Yi Ping and when Lie Qing had suddenly threw her long black sword into the ground, she was jolted; she had suddenly realized who she was!

Lingfeng sighed softly as she stroke Yi Ping’s face gently and arranged his long hair aside before she said delicately, “Yu’Er, Mei’Er, Yunzi…please step aside first. I can save him.”

Yunzi, Mei’Er and Yu’Er were startled as they examined her but from the look of it, it did not seem to be a casual remark.

Even Lie Qing was looking at Lingfeng curiously as she quickly said, “You…really have a way?” But as soon as she lifted her eyes to ask her, she was startled!

Ji Wuzheng and Dugu Zhen were also looking at Lingfeng with a startled expression!

It was not because of her casual remark that had startled them but as they turned to look at her, she had tiptoed and kissed the petrified Yi Ping on his lip in everyone’s presence!

Yu’Er and Mei’Er were blushing as they lowered their heads…

There were gasps and muttering from hundreds of onlookers.

Even Shen Xinyue, Yixian and Lele were also looking in Lingfeng’s direction!

Many were sighing secretly regretfully that this young alluring maiden had received too much of a shock and was emotional distress. Quite a number of exponents from both sides of the martial fraternity wanted to go to her and to comfort her but they lacked the courage.

But to everyone astonishments, the young hero Yi Ping was now trembling as color returned to his skin and face!

Perhaps the greatest astonishment comes from Yi Ping when he opened his eyes and found himself kissing Lingfeng…

His first thought was, “I am not dead? Or is it a dream? I can’t even feel the excruciating pain in my heart now…”

Not only did his excruciating pain vanish, his strength was also slowly recovering and the aching pain of his injuries was also slowly relieving!

“Breathe in and out gently first. You are not dead and this is not a dream. I am trying to treat your injuries so don’t move for the time being alright or you will undo all my efforts. I can only attempt this only once.” It was Lingfeng’s voice in his head!

Yi Ping was startled as he thought, “I can hear you inside my mind?”

“This is the linking spirits of my Great Emptiness Translucence. While we are physically linked, we can exchange our spirits. Therefore you can hear me and I can hear your thoughts.”

Yi Ping said to her, “Lingfeng, you know the Emptiness Translucence too?!”

Lingfeng did not reply him.

Yi Ping suddenly said quietly, “You are the Heaveness?!”

Lingfeng trembled slightly, “Don’t say my name! You have promised to keep it to yourself!”

Yi Ping was startled, “You are really the Heaveness!”

This time it was Lingfeng who was startled in his thoughts, “How…did you know who I am?!”

Yi Ping was not sure how he knew so he said, “I don’t know either. I have seen you as the Heaveness through a vision with the Emptiness Translucence…”

He could hear her gasping with astonishment, “You know the Emptiness Translucence too?”

Yi Ping said to her, “I don’t know how I know this heart intricate skill. It was rekindled in my heart when Priest Liu Qingcheng had shown me a silver scroll and had recited to me…”

Lingfeng interrupted melancholy, “But still when a person dies, all memories should vanish as well. Even if you could learn the Emptiness Translucence again, it is not possible for you to retain any memories of old self. Unless…”

She seemed to pause for a while…

When Yi Ping noticed that Lingfeng was silent, he asked. “Unless…?”

He could hear her sighs as she said, “Even though the Great Emptiness Translucence is able to retain some vestige of a person memory but at the time of that person’s death, he has to think of her strongly…there exist a small possibility but that is impossible…unless…”

She paused for a while before she quickly changed to another topic, “No one should remember anything for sure. Maybe at most, you only get a vision of two…”

Yi Ping said gently, “You are the Heaveness and my grand protégé mistress. Why did you suddenly disappear that day? Where did you go?”

She gasped aloud and her surprise was evident in his mind!

“You…remember…?” She asked.

She was embarrassed to say it to him but she had forgotten that at this moment, they were linked spirit to spirit with each other. Even if she wanted to conceal her thoughts from him, it was impossible!

When he had mentioned that he was previously her grand protégé and had asked her whereabouts, she had unwittingly refreshed her memories!

That day, she had met him once again in the streets…

This time, he had mustered his courage to ask her when there was no one else around, “Grand Protégé Mistress, why are you here? It seems that we keep bumping into each other everywhere. This time, you are a songstress. I am surprise that you can sing so well but the song is too melancholy…”

The Heaveness said softly, “Yes, we keep bumping into each other everywhere…”

He mustered the courage to ask, “I have thought that grand protégé mistress is an eminent Sagess but why is that whenever I see you, you are always in such humble roles?”

The Heaveness sighed softly, “In a sense, I am trying to experience the emotions of others.”

He asked curiously, “Have you succeeded?”

The Heaveness smiled at him with her alluded eyes, “I may never be able to experience their emotions. Their happiness, their sadness, I can never experience. Nothing that they do or feel excites me.”

He was startled, “Is that the highest level of the Great Emptiness Translucence? To be completely freed from all emotions? That is a state of divinity that I hope to attain one day.”

The Heaveness looked away, “What if I tell you I am born with the Great Emptiness Translucence and have never feel any emotions for anyone?”

He said, “I may be young and ignorant but I hope grand protégé mistress pardon me for saying this, surely you will have felt a sense of loss when you lose someone or joy when you have learnt something new? I have seen protégé mistress in so many different roles and I am really impressed by your talents.”

He paused to catch his breath, “Surely, grand protégé mistress will have some affection towards me or else you won’t instruct me so patiently?”

The Heaveness was quiet.

Curious that she had suddenly turned quiet, he asked, “Am I not right to say so?”

The Heaveness said, “You are wrong. I have never felt anything toward you. I only know that you are the protégé of the Universal Old Man and I should instruct you accordingly. Other than that, I do not treat you any differently from the others. The so call humble roles that you have mentioned are just my way of expressing my disillusions with the people. Why am I being treat differently from the others? Just because I have a pretty face and I am able to attract people to patronize for me?”

Even now, there were many people who were looking at her in the streets and they were holding their breath at her alluring beauty and wondered who she was…

Just as he was pondering what she had just said, a little girl had accidentally bumped into him, causing him to trip as he fell into the Heaveness and accidentally kissing her on her lips!

The Heaveness was stunned. However, she quickly recovered her composure and pushed him lightly away but because she had utilized her martial force, he was sent flying away and tumbled onto a stall!

The Heaveness gasped to him, “I…sorry…”

An elderly old man who was tendering the stall quickly said aloud, “Hey young man, watch out!”

As he picked himself up, he quickly apologized profusely to the elderly old man many times.

But when the sleepy elderly old man had saw the alluring and refined Heaveness standing next to him, he appeared to be somewhat startled as he said again. “It is a couple that is quarreling?”

He was flustered as he quickly said, “She…alas, she’s not. In fact, she is my…”

The Heaveness interrupted him with a soft hum and he suddenly remembered that he was not supposed to tell anyone about her so he quickly said, “She’s a friend…”

The elderly old man laughed merrily, “One is a young maiden and one is a young man. It is only natural to be together. There is nothing to be shy at. Do you want to get your fortunes told?” He pointed at his banner that read ‘The Divine Teller, Never Missing a Telling’.

The elderly old man laughed merrily, “Are you impress now? Let me tell you, if I am not accurate then I won’t charge you a single cent. So what do you want to divine? Marriage, status or fortune?”

He was startled and he quickly shook his hands as he said, “That won’t be necessary. I am really sorry for knocking into your stall…”

The elderly old man laughed, “Don’t be shy. If you don’t know your eight birth characters, I can still be able to help you divine your destiny. All you need to do is to show me your palm or write a character on my table. How about that?”

He smiled bitterly at the elderly old man, “To be frank with you, I am a young priest. There is nothing that I desire to ask of…”

The elderly old man said with a smile. “Don’t be hasty first. Maybe you don’t want to know your destinies but your female companion may want to?”

He quickly replied to the elderly old man, “She isn’t someone who is interested in this sort of things…”

The Heaveness said softly, “Don’t make my decision for me. This won’t be good for your future attainment. Remember this.”

She smiled alluringly at the elderly old man and said, “Old Senior, you won’t charge a cent if you are not accurate?”

The elderly old man laughed merrily, “Naturally I won’t! So far, I have never been proven to be wrong.”

The Heaveness pointed at her grand protégé and said, “Why don’t you try on him first. I like to know his destiny.”

The elderly old man smiled and turned to ask him, “Young man, do you want to divine through your palm or your character?”

He reluctantly placed his palm on the table.

The elderly old man smiled and said, “What are you most interested in?”

He was hesitating for he really did not know, “I…anything?”

The Heaveness looked at him before she said, “Old Senior, help him to divine his marriage. How about that?”

When the elderly old man saw that the young man did not object, he laughed softly and said. “Marriage so be it!”

The Heaveness smiled alluringly, “Thank you.”

So the elderly old man took the young man’s palm and fingered it. But he was soon bewildered as he muttered while staring at the lines of the young man’s palm, “Weird. Your palm lines are straight. I have never seen anything like this.”

The elderly old man had broken into beads of perspiration on his forehead as he said, “I can’t read your destiny but you don’t have any marriage lines. There will be plenty of missed opportunities though…”

He tried to comfort the elderly old man as he said, “Don’t worry Old Senior. I am a priest, remember? So don’t worry. I really do not mind at all.”

The elderly old man sighed heavily and said to the alluring young maiden, “Maiden, do you want to get your destiny foretold as well?”

The Heaveness nodded and said, “That will be interesting, isn’t it?”

She proceeded to take a brush and wrote the character ‘Heaven’ on a piece of white paper.

The elderly old man stared at the character ‘Heaven’ as he muttered, “In my entire life, I have never seen anyone write the character ‘Heaven’ in such a perfect manner. Every stroke, every line is in such perfect harmony…”

The Heaveness asked, “So what are my marriage lines?”

The elderly old man was quiet for a while before he said, “If it is not offensive to maiden, may I take a look at your palm?”

The Heaveness nodded and took out both her tender palms at the same time for him to read.

Just when the elderly old man had said, “Just the right palm will do…” as he looked at her palm, he had suddenly staggered backward!

Both her palm lines seemed to have the same ‘Heaven’ character that she had just written!

Even the young man was startled for it was the first time that he had seen her palms and he had never seen anything like this before!

The elderly old man had immediately bowed down on his knees and kowtowed repeatedly on the ground!

The Heaveness said, “Please rise, old senior. You haven’t foretold my marriage destiny yet.”

The elderly old man cried out miserly, “Maiden, please forgive me. Even if I know, I dare not divulge it. Moreover maiden, your destiny is in your own hands. If you are willing, everything is yours to will!”

The Heaveness said gently, “Is that so?”

She turned to say to her grand protégé, “I need to be alone for a while. Can you leave me for now?”

He nodded and bade his grand protégé mistress farewell, “Then I take my leave first…”

He seemed to have more things to ask of her but he could sense that the Heaveness was not in a good mood and moreover, he was still feeling guilty that he had just outrage the modesty of his grand protégé mistress. Therefore, he quickly left.

However, he did not know that that was actually the very last time that he would ever see the Heaveness again!

As the elderly old man watched them as they left, he was muttering. “Such tragic fates, such tragic couple…”

After they had parted, the Heaveness had walked quietly to the outskirt of the town, toward the mountains. Along the way, she had attracted the attention of many men who had tried to tail her. Even though she appeared to be walking leisurely and casually, her pace was astonishing and her admirers could not catch up with her; one by one, they fell behind from fatigue as they tailed her up and down the mountain paths.

In a short while time, she was deep in the mountains and had soon reached a waterfall.

She waved her hand with her inertia martial force as she caused the waters of the waterfall to part to the side, revealing a hidden cave behind the waterfall!

Immediately, she walked into the hidden cave and into what seemed to be a tunnel.

It was not long before she had reached the other side of the mountains and was in what seemed to be a beautiful adorned garden where there were all kinds of fruit trees and flowers.

As she stepped into the garden, the songbirds that were in the garden which came in a rainbow variety of colors began to sing jovially at the sight of her!

The Heaveness raised her hands as she whistled, mimicking their songs.

These songbirds instead of shying from her were all around her, flying and hopping around her!

The Heaveness said with a soft sigh, “My friends…”

“You are finally back. I am a little worry for you.” The Universal Old Man had walked quietly to her.

The Heaveness nodded gently, “I have met him earlier…”

The Universal Old Man asked, “Our protégé?”

She nodded gently.

The Universal Old Man said, “Does he know that we are leaving? I have left him a note at the usual place and he should be able to know it tonight.”

The Heaveness shook her head, “I didn’t tell him. You are his protégé master. That’s your duty, not mine.”

The Universal Old Man laughed jovially, “I want to imagine his expressions when he has learnt that his protégé master and grand protégé mistress have both abandoned him.”

But he had suddenly turned solemn, “If we do not hurry to the Firmament Mountains and transmigrate to Beyond, we will have to wait for a long time before another opportunity arises. I don’t want to be struck here for too long and continue to address you as my protégé mistress.”

The Heaveness said with an alluring smile, “What’s so bad about being my protégé?”

The Universal Old Man said, “You and I are equal. Just because I lost a bet to you and you have found him first, I have to pretend to be your protégé.”

The Heaveness said, “If we switch our roles, he may not necessary want to follow us. You have the look of a wise old sage and is convincing as a highly attained priest. If you don’t want to be his protégé master, then you are asking me to be his protégé mistress? He will end up being distracted by me and ruin his attainment. This is something that I am trying to avoid.”

The Universal Old Man sighed, “It is a lucky thing that we are able to find him just before we go but one year is really too short to impart to him anything. Hopefully, he will be able to survive the Divine Descendant in the future. But if we don’t leave now and when the Celestial Wrath descends upon us, countless lives will be lost. It is not something that we want to see. The question is; is he the one we are looking for?”

The Heaveness looked up to the cloudy heavens as she sighed melancholy, “To be able to ascend to Beyond, is the dream of every aspiring Celestials. But it is a place that I do not want to return; that vast expanse of empty spaces, that eternal loneliness. After I have returned from Beyond, I really do not wish to go back again. While they are all aspiring to ascend as a Celestial and transmigrated to Beyond, they didn’t know that a greater tribulation actually awaits them there and the Celestial Wrath in Beyond is even more deadly than the Divine Calamity here.”

The Universal Old Man said solemnly, “Time is running out for us. We are already at the last staging where we can finally transmigrated to the Gods’ Realm but that is something that have always eluded us. The longer we delay the celestial transmigration, the more powerful the Celestial Wrath is. Already so many of us have perished at the Astronomic Stellar Formation or at the Stellar Sanctuary in an attempt to locate the last mystery. Do you still remember that the reason we have come back here is to look for the last clue for the final ascension?”

The Heaveness nodded, “It is said that the Stellar Sanctuary is created by the first person that has ever ascended as an immortal being and the Astronomic Stellar Formation is the only place that is possible to transmigrate to the Gods’ Realm. The clues that we have found indicated that the immortal being had actually returned to the lower world to accomplish something and take something from here so that he could ascend. But what is it that exist here but did not exist in Beyond?”

The Universal Old Man added solemnly, “We have already incurred Heavens’ Wrath by trying to divine the secrets of heaven and returning here. The best of our divinations indicated that our protégé may hold the key to that clue. But while he can still take his own sweet time to become a Celestial, we really don’t have any time left. This time when I am back to Beyond, I am going to the Stellar Sanctuary again. It is better to die attempting to transmigrate than to be killed by the Celestial Wrath. I hope that you can accompany me to the Stellar Sanctuary again.”

But the Heaveness did not reply to his request, instead she muttered, “Do you think we can come back here again?”

The Universal Old Man said, “That is impossible. Do you still remember how many celestial artifacts we have to sacrifice in order to return here? All that for nothing! Even though I am a highly attained Celestial and no longer have any worldly desire over material things but I still feel a terrible ache in my heart over the loss of so many artifacts that made our descend here possible. Our next Celestial Wrath would not be easy to overcome and could well be our last without those celestial artifacts to ward us.”

The Heaveness smiled, “Highly attained Celestial? I am astonished that you can make it so far as a Celestial. You are always grudging over every little things, even trying to take my pomegranate fruits, mulberries and honey peaches.”

The Universal Old Man said grumbly, “You must know that I have been in Beyond for a long time and my nourishments come from those divine fruits. There aren’t any here except for those rare occasions. You will go with me to the Stellar Sanctuary?”

The Heaveness looked away quietly, “Since the great separation of the Heavens and the Earth, before the Great Inundation and when mortals could live to a thousand years, we have known each other. We have survived countless number of cycles of Celestial Wrath and have fought against terrible foes together. We are also the first among the Celestials but now only just a few of the original Celestials are left…”

The Universal Old Man was puzzled that she was suddenly melancholy and did not reply to his request but he said, “Your heart is sorrowful? You shouldn’t have those emotions because you are never a mortal in the first place!”

The Heaveness said, “Maybe I have already decided to be a mortal. I will not leave with you.”

The Universal Old Man was startled, “Do you know what you are saying? If the Celestial Wrath descends while you are here, nothing will survive!”

The Heaveness was without any emotions but her countenance was piercing sharp as she tossed a pearl with a rainbow halo on the ground, “This is my Heaveness Pearl. You may need this in the future. I am not going with you because I have already decided to transmigrate as a mortal instead. My greatest mistake in my entire life is to transmigrate from here to Beyond in the first place.”

The Universal Old Man was stunned and was left speechless!

The Heaveness said almost inaudible, “I want to be able to sing sentimental songs. I want to know what it is meant to love someone…”

Even when the Heaveness had walked away, he was still rooted on the same spot as he continued to mutter the same thing over and over again. “You are really going to give up all your hard earned attainment…”



Ch65 End
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Chapter 67: The Infinity-Zero



Zuo Tianyi was wrapped in an extraordinary powerful cold piercing sword energy as he looked murderously at everyone.

His aura was so malicious and cold that many exponents began to take frightful steps backward!

Zuo Tianyi was slightly startled to see the Joyful Goddess and the Celestial Fairy. He had recognized them and had borne a hatred for the Joyful Goddess.

It was because while he was at the Great Tranquil Mountains, she had interrupted his duel with Yi Ping by moving into the death zone of their sword energies. If he had been slower by a second, he would be killed by her. As a result of her attack, he had suffered a minor slash across his chest.

He had many puzzling questions that were on his mind.

How did she manage to get close to the killing sword energies that were rippling all around them that day without putting on any defenses? And why did she not get rip apart by their sword energies?

He was also perplexed to see the Celestial Fairy talking to Shen Xinyue, Xiao Shuai, Han Shaodong and the Martial Sage.

He could tell that even the insolent Xiao Shuai was talking respectfully to her.

Did Xiao Shuai not know that it was actually the Celestial Fairy that had fatally injured Yuan Shao?

But when he saw the state of condition that Xiao Shuai, Han Shaodong and the Three Sages were in, he almost wanted to laugh aloud at their uselessness.

He was dragging Gu Tianle. When he had stopped, he let loose of him.

Immediately, the exponents from the various martial clans were muttering. “Isn’t that Gu Tianle, the Master of the Honor Manor? Is he dead?”

When the Universal Force had imploded and its shockwaves had rippled throughout the surrounding areas, Zuo Tianyi and Gu Tianle were recuperating from their injuries in the safety of the tent.

Zuo Tianyi who had developed a strong innate energy sense due to his superior sword energy level, had sensed a powerful shockwave towards them with a supersonic speed.

He had quickly grabbed Gu Tianle who was startled by surprise as he asked, “What are you doing…”

But before he could finish what he had wanted to say, the Universal Force had struck him directly!

Even though Zuo Tianyi had used Gu Tianle as a shield, he was still struck by the powerful Universal Force as it went past through to him!

He immediately coughed out a bout of black blood.

He had thought he was dead but he was feeling more energetic than ever. The Universal Force had completely forced out the sword energies that were caused by Yi Ping out of his body and had cleared his life and death channels!

As he looked in bewildered at himself, he noticed that his wounds were healing at a rapid rate and his agony pain was now endurable.

When he tried to muster his strength, he found that his internal energy was now very smoothing and he was even more energetic than ever before.

Zuo Tianyi picked out his sword and stared at it.

All of a sudden, he waved his sword as he tried to imbue his sword energy into his sword. But because he was not expecting his martial progression to improve, he was startled to see that the sword energy that he had imbued had flown out of the tent with a rippling slashing force!

Even though he was panting from the effort, he was excited; it was because his sword energies were limited to the length of his sword but now he could actually sent it flying out!

He laughed, “Providence is kind to me. To think that I have finally mastered the Infinity-Zero and can kill invisibly from afar. Now I am truly Invincible. Xiao Shuai, Han Shaodong, Yi Ping and Shen Xinyue, I have tolerated all of you long enough. This is the day that the entire fraternity will only know who is Zuo Tianyi and the Infinity Sword Clan will take the leadership away from the Honor Manor!”

That was how he had attained the Infinity-Zero and he was now looking disdainfully at everyone!

Two elders of the Infinity Sword Clan stepped forward as they called out respectfully to him, “Congratulations to our Protégé Leader for mastering the Infinity-Zero Technique! But how are your injuries? Are you well? Master Gu is…”

Zuo Tianyi looked at them coldly, saying. “If I am not well, will I be standing here?”

He pointed his sword towards Yi Ping, “That man has killed Master Gu. If I don’t take vengeance for him, can I still consider myself as a righteous hero?”

The elder on the right, who had a short black beard said weakly, “The Honor Manor and the Virtuous Palace have conceded. The battle is over and the Young Hero Yi Ping has won. Therefore we should also retreat peacefully back to the Central Fraternity. The Holy Hex Sect has given their word that they won’t be pursuing this matter anymore. Too many lives have already been lost…”

Zuo Tianyi said coldly, “Evil can only reign for a time but good will eventually triumph. Look at the number of dead around us. Are we going to let their sacrifices be in vain? Don’t forget that this expedition is to avenge the Old Sword Saint. Even if the other martial orthodox clans are too cowardly to oppose the Holy Hex Sect and the Celestial Palace, the Infinity Sword Clan is not going to put it to rest so easily!”

Han Shaodong said coldly, “This battle is meaningless. Put down your sword…”

Zuo Tianyi interrupted as he looked at the hundreds of orthodox exponents who were still standing, pointing at Han Shaodong and Xiao Shuai. “If the Honor Manor and the Virtuous Palace are unable to uphold the honor of the orthodox clans, maybe it is time for the Infinity Sword Clan to take the mantle of leadership.”

Xiao Shuai appraised him coldly before he said weakly, “So you have the lofty ambition to head the orthodox clans. But I wonder if you are capable.”

Zuo Tianyi was clearly provoked and his murderous intent was evident.

The two elders quickly tried to persuade him, “Protégé Leader, this is unnecessary. Let’s us go now…”

But Zuo Tianyi ignored them and shouted to Yi Ping, “Yi Ping, do you dare to accept my challenge?!”

Yi Ping was startled.

He coughed weakly and was being supported by Lingfeng, Youxue and the rest of the maidens but he replied defiantly, “Tianyi, give it up. This fight is meaningless. What do you hope to achieve even if you have defeated me?”

Zuo Tianyi laughed aloud, “Everything that I have lost, every honor that I have lost will be regained if you are killed by me.”

Yunzi said, “There are certain things that once you have lost it, you will never be able to regain again.”

Zuo Tianyi looked bitterly at them and he had also noticed that for the very first time, all the martial exponents were on the same side and were all staring at him hostility!

But Zuo Tianyi disregarded their hostility for these injured exponents were not a threat to him.

Zuo Tianyi said coldly, “Those who are on my side and willingly to follow me to greater glory, come over to my side. From now on, I will take on the legacy of the Old Sword Saint and will also lead the righteous martial orthodox clans to exterminate all the unorthodox clans.”

Except for the remnants of the thirty odd protégés of the Infinity Sword Clan, no one else made a single move!

Zuo Tianyi said coldly, “It seems that the orthodox exponents are all cowed by the presence of the heretics. In this case, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

All of a sudden, the ‘dead’ Gu Tianle raised a loud shout with the last bout of his strength. “Zuo Tianyi, you despicable man. You try to kill me!”

He had taken a fatal blow from the Universal Force when Zuo Tianyi had used him as a shield. It was only then did he realize that this Zuo Tianyi was an unscrupulous man that would do anything to satisfy his own desires.

Using the last reserve of his internal strength, he had used the basic heart intricacy formula of the Divine Rejuvenation Force which Han Shaodong had imparted to him to halt his heart beat and breathing, faking his own death.

Zuo Tianyi was startled that Gu Tianle was still alive. When he was startled by Gu Tianle, he reacted immediately by slashing him into two!

Immediately the entire congregation of martial exponents were all stunned and they had all broken into incessant mutterings!

Zuo Tianyi was looking at them and he was imagining that they were all scorning him!

Han Shaodong shouted angrily, “Zuo Tianyi, you dare to kill Gu Tianle!”

Zuo Tianyi shouted, “Shut your crap! I am going to use your blood as a sacrificial offering for my newly acquainted Infinity-Zero!”

He drawn out his beaming precious sword and waved in three different directions, stirring out the sand from the ground. Immediately, three rippling windforce energized by sword energies had flown with startling bursting speed towards the martial exponents!

As the rippling windforce swept across the field, it ripped apart everything that the invisible windforce had come into contact with as it shattered weapons, bodies and powdered rocks into dust!

Shen Xinyue, Xiao Shuai and Han Shaodong quickly shouted aloud to everyone, “Run! These sword energies cannot be blocked!”

To the astonishment of everyone, Yixian, Lele and Lie Qing had leapt forward in three different directions with a startling speed towards the three wavering sword energies!

Yixian had raised her fingers forward and had shattered the incoming wavering sword energy apart with a loud implosion using her Divine Emerald Skill!

Lele had drawn out her long black scythe and sliced the ground in front of her with her martial force, creating a wall of inertia force. As the wavering sword energies struck her wall of inertia force, it exploded and she was sent moving back a few steps but she was otherwise unharmed.

Lele exclaimed with a soft relief, “Lucky!”

At the same time, Lie Qing had surrounded herself with her Invincible Divine Force and had drawn out her Perpetual Darkness as she executed her sword technique with a soft shout, “The Seventh Heavens Stroke!”

The Seventh Heavens Stroke was an epitome sword technique that was similar to the Infinity-Zero. It was a sword energy technique that Lie Qing only reserved for her strongest opponents. She had used it in the past against the Celestial Fairy.

As she executed it, seven beaming blue visible blue beams of sword energies flew and clashed against Zuo Tianyi’s incoming sword energy waves.

There was a thunderous implosion as the sword energies imploded against one another!

Zuo Tianyi’s sword energies were dissipated by Lie Qing’s sword energies as seven beaming bluish sword energies continued to fly towards Zuo Tianyi with astonishing speed!

Zuo Tianyi, unlike the majority of the exponents who were astonished that Lie Qing had the same level of energy technique as him was not surprised. It was because he had previously witnessed the duel between the Celestial Fairy and Lie Qing. That had the remarkable effect of helping him to progress his Infinity-Two to the Infinity-One at that time!

Unlike his invisible sword energy, her sword energies were visible and radiated a light hue. But the fact that she could unleash seven beaming continuous sword energies was a feat onto itself.

He immediately raised his sword and circulated his entire vital energies to block her sword energies, via the principle of using sword energy technique to guard against sword energy technique. Only a person of his level could be able to block sword energy with sword energy!

He smiled to himself. This would be a good time that he could prove to everyone that his Infinity-Zero was the most superior sword technique. He had decided that after he had defeated all of them, he would make this Lie Qing surrendered her sword techniques and sword manuals to him. He was particular interested in her sword energy as it may help to advance his future sword energy attainment.

Thereafter, he would demolish all his opponents, destroy the heretic sects and demolished the mysticism of the Celestial Palace! From this day onward, his renown and that of the Infinity Sword Clan would resonate throughout the martial fraternity!

All of a sudden when the seven beaming sword energies were about to approach him, he was startled and began to move backward!

It was because he had suddenly sensed seven extraordinary powerful energy bursts approaching at a terrifying speed. He was suddenly trembling and there was fear in his eyes!

As Zuo Tianyi had raised his precious sword, imbuing it with his sword energy and timed it against the seven flying bluish sword energies, he was ripped to pieces even before the bluish sword energies had even come within twenty paces of his body!

This development stunned the onlookers who were all gasping with startled disbelief!

While the super exponents could roughly guessed the reasons for that, only Shen Xinyue and Lele who had reached the Transverse state of divinity could see Lie Qing’s invisible sword energies!

Zuo Tianyi had ill-timed his defense too late and as soon as he had raised his long precious sword, seven beaming invisible sword energies had went through his body, ripping him apart instantly!

The bluish sword energies that everyone had seen were just the aftermath and trail of Lie Qing’s invisible sword energies; because it was speeding so fast and the intense heat was so great, it condensed the air behind the sword energies resulting in seven bluish trails!

Xiao Shuai muttered as he observed the nine hovering faint glow around Lie Qing, “She has not only mastered the Invincible Divine Force that the Virtuous Palace have been coveting but she has also reached the sword energy level of the Invincible Divine Force. Alas, it is a terrible mistake to fight her in the first place. If we have fought her one at a time, our fates would be the same as this Zuo Tianyi…”

Yixian sighed quietly, “This Zuo Tianyi has progressed too fast in his swordplay and has fought against too few powerful opponents that he has underestimated Qing’Er sword energy bursts and has allowed his eyes to deceive him.”

She took a quick glance at the breathless Lie Qing who had thrust her sword into the ground as she used it as a support.

The execution of sword energies was an extremely exhausting affair for any practitioner. But because Lie Qing still had her Invincible Divine Force around her and that did not dissipated with her Seventh Heavens Stroke, Yixian knew that her martial foundation had shown a marked progression since they had last fought.

She began to wonder if her epitome Divine Emerald Skill would be able to withstand her Seventh Heavens Stroke?

Shen Xinyue looked at the three Celestial Star Sisters of Fate with a startled expression. These three sisters had just stopped the Infinity-Zero and their martial skills were startling.

She sighed softly, “It is going to be interesting in the future…”

Yi Ping had taken a few steps forward as he sighed weakly, “Zuo Tianyi, this shouldn’t be your fate if you have repented of your past wrongdoings…”

The two elders of the Infinity Sword Clan and the three dozen protégés of the Infinity Sword Clan threw their long swords on the ground before walking towards Yi Ping, Xiao Shuai and Han Shaodong respectfully.

The black beard elder of the Infinity Sword Clan sighed as he said, “I am Zuo Ziya, elder of the Infinity Sword Clan. I hope the heroes of the fraternity will forgive our clan transgression and let this matter rest.”

Yi Ping took a quick glance at Lie Qing who was stroking her long hair before he replied weakly, “If the Infinity Sword Clan does not pursue Maiden Lie Qing for your protégé leader’s death and our transgressions over the deaths of your martial clan, I am naturally happy to let matters rest.”

Zuo Ziya sighed, “This entire expedition is but a mistake in the first place…”

Han Shaodong said regretfully, “The mistake is mine too. Go in peace. My protégé disciple’s death has nothing to do with the Infinity Sword Clan.”

Xiao Shuai nodded weakly, “The mistake is mine as well. I only hope that we can make amends for the wrongs that we did…”

Zuo Ziya bowed respectfully before he shouted to the protégés of the Infinity Sword Clan, “Let’s us go now!”

But before they could depart, there were columns of dust in the horizon!

Everyone was startled as they looked nervously at the horizons.

Had the heretic sects returned?

Or had a new enemy arrived to take advantage of the situation?

Ji Wuzheng shouted to his protégés, “Get ready for battle!”

He turned to address the orthodox exponents, “This is the territory of the Holy Hex Sect. Let us deal with the intruders. Evacuate all the wounded people behind our battle lines!”

Immediately, the injured martial exponents began to move to the back.

Xiao Shuai coughed weakly as he gripped his long sword, “Xiao Fei, Xiao Ao can you still fight?”

Xiao Fei said coolly, “I can still kill a few enemies.”

Xiao Ao said, “The same goes for me!”

Xiao Shuai laughed aloud, “Good, good! You have not disgraced the Virtuous Palace. Even if we all perish today, the honor of the Virtuous Palace shall still remain for all posterity!”

There were also scores of orthodox exponents that despite their injuries had also stepped forward and shouted, “We are willing to be deployed by the Master of the Holy Hex Sect and to fight alongside you!”

Yi Ping too had gripped his swords and had stood beside Ji Wuzheng, “Elder Brother, let me fight with you.”

Ji Wuzheng said, “Brother Yi Ping, you should take a rest first. You are in no condition to fight. No matter who the enemy is, the Holy Hex Sect has more than enough men to handle it…”

Lingfeng said coldly, “He wants to court his own death so fast, brother. So let him be.”

Yi Ping smiled bitterly at her.

Lele closed her eyes for a second before she said solemnly, “The approaching enemies are numerous, probably in the thousands!”

Ji Wuzheng, Yi Ping, Xiao Shuai, Han Shaodong, Yan Nanfei, Shangguan Qingyun and the Three Sages were startled.

The Sword Sage coughed weakly, “Thousands? Who else could muster so many fighters?”

Yi Ping looked at everyone.

Yixian smiled gently at him as she held his hand tenderly, “Life and death is predetermined. I am content enough to know you and to listen to your voice. Ping’Er, are you afraid?”

Yi Ping looked tenderly at her, “Xian’Er, with you by my side I am not afraid. I just wish that I have my strength now…”

Shen Xinyue sighed softly, “Even if I have to destroy my attainments today, I would be willing.”

She looked at Lele and Lie Qing who were also looking intently at the horizon and knew that they were also thinking the same because she could feel their disguised killing intent, however slight it had been.

Yu’Er said melancholy to Yi Ping, “You know I don’t care about being a Celestial.”

Mei’Er blinked at Yi Ping, “Master, you should take a step back to rest. You have been fighting nonstop all this while. How about this? Let’s us form the Celestial Star Formation and you can watch in the middle while we fight off the intruders?”

Dugu Yunzi said demurely, “Mei’Er, this is an excellent idea!”

Youxue said coldly, “It doesn’t matter how many they are. They are not getting past me.”

Xiao Shuai laughed faintly, “That is my good daughter!”

Lingfeng said coolly, “Don’t be alarmed. Things may not be as bad it looked.”

Yi Ping nodded as he stared at the horizons.

They could see thousands of men with martial banners approaching in the horizon now.

All of a sudden, Ji Wuzheng and Yi Ping stared blankly at each other!

It was because they had quickly caught sight of Huo Fu who was leading his protégés, Nangong Le, Qiu Wufeng, Gongsun Jing, Sufeng, Suxin, Suyue, Priest Ling Kongquan, Priest Liu Qingcheng, Priest Bai Chongzhen and many other martial clans that were from the Western Fraternity!

Huo Fu, Nangong Le, Qiu Wufeng, Gongsun Jing, Sufeng, Suxin and Suyue were worried for Ji Wuzheng and Yi Ping. Despite their injuries, the four sworn brothers were determined to offer whatever aid they could to Yi Ping and Ji Wuzheng. The daughters of Ji Wuzheng were worried for their parents and they were also worried for Qiu Wufeng, Gongsun Jing and Nangong Le. Therefore, they had forced them to bring them along.

When they were at the foot of the mountains, they had met Priest Liu Qingcheng and Priest Bai Chongzhen who had led more than thirty other martial clans of the Western Fraternity to aid Yi Ping and to fight against the dominating ambitions of the Honor Manor!

Priest Bai Chongzhen was startled to see Yi Ping and Xiao Shuai standing on the same side, “Young Hero, whose side are you on now?”

Yi Ping smiled as he bowed respectfully with both his hands, “The battle is already over. We have made peace. There are no more feuds.”

Immediately, the fighters that had just newly arrived shouted thunderously; their shouts shook the ground with excitement and joy!

Everyone who could move was hugging one another in joyous exclamations at the announcement, regardless of their clan and fraction affiliations!

Priest Bai Chongzhen was relieved, “That’s good to hear…all men from four corners of the fraternity are brothers…”

Lele laughed heartily, “Yi Ping, you should thank me for this.”

Yi Ping was startled, “Why should I?”

Lele was not happy that Yi Ping was questioning her so she replied, “Why do you think there are so many reinforcements coming to aid you?”

Yi Ping was surprised, “You have a help in mustering them?”

Priest Bai Chongzhen bowed respectfully to the Joyful Goddess, “The Joyful Goddess is the envoy from the Celestial Palace. With her token, we manage to persuade a large number of martial clans that were still neutral in the Western Fraternity to join our cause.”

He turned to Yi Ping to say, “Young Hero, you must know that in the Western Fraternity, the Celestial Palace has a powerful presence.”

Lele blinked at Yi Ping, “Now you know who you should thank?”

Yi Ping smiled bitterly at her.

Priest Bai Chongzhen saw that Yi Ping did not know what to say so he laughed aloud, “The credit naturally belongs to the Joyful Goddess. We are just doing our part to help.”

Lele clapped her hands delightfully as she said to Priest Chongzhen, “The Celestial Palace will definitely reward you handsomely for accomplishing this task so well!”

Priest Chongzhen said humbly, “We are honored that the Joyful Goddess has appointed me as the Celestial Messenger and the Traverse Clan as the guardian clan of the Celestial Palace…”

Priest Liu Qingcheng quickly interrupted, “The Tranquil City also plays a major role in this. Why is that all the credits now belongs to the Traverse Clan?”

Priest Bai Chongzhen smiled, “Why didn’t you ask the Joyful Goddess for a reward then?”

Lele said delightfully as she clapped her hands, “Both of you will be rewarded handsomely!”

Lie Qing almost fainted from the scene as she thought miserly, “She seems to be enjoying herself as she makes a fool out of them. She is a fake Celestial Envoy…”

Yixian, Youxue and Lingfeng were sighing…

Yi Ping could only smile bitterly…

When Ji Wuzheng saw the awkward smile that was on Yi Ping, he thought that Yi Ping did not believe in the far reaching influence of the Celestial Palace, so he said. “Brother Yi Ping, do you still remember the Celestial Liege? He…”

He was suddenly interrupted by Lele who exclaimed with surprise, “What?! You have seen my bro…the Celestial Liege?”

Ji Wuzheng said respectfully, “Indeed. The Celestial Palace has paid us a visit not too long ago.”

Lele had turned ashen as she whispered softly, “He didn’t take anything from you or ask for anything? What did he say to you?”

While Ji Wuzheng was explaining to the Joyful Goddess, Priest Liu Qingcheng said to Yi Ping, “Brother Yi Ping! I have also come to warn you to be wary of the seven maidens! Do you still remember the silver scroll that I have shown you?”

Yi Ping smiled bitterly, “Which seven of the maidens are you talking about?”

Priest Liu Qingcheng was also smiling bitterly as he looked at the hostile stares of the maidens that were standing behind Yi Ping.

Youxue said coldly, “Be wary of who? Do you want to say that again?”

Priest Liu Qingcheng broke into a cold sweat as he stammered, “Nothing…”

Nangong Le suddenly clapped him on his back, “I think you are in trouble, brother…”

Priest Liu Qingcheng stared at him, “Brother? I thought that I am your protégé teacher and master now.”

Nangong Le laughed, “I haven’t mastered your Dual Inertness Intricacy Skill yet…”

Priest Ling Kongquan hit him on his head, “Stop being so slippery and accept your fate!”

Suyue looked at them shyly, “Why are you bullying Brother Nangong Le?”

Priest Ling Kongquan and Priest Liu Qingcheng looked at each other before they roared with laughter!

Suyue was startled, “Why so funny about that?”

Yi Ping quickly tried to change the conversation as he turned to Yixian and Lele with an earnest sigh, “Xian’Er, Lele. I am so sorry…”

Lele asked curiously, “Why are you sorry?”

Yixian smiled at him gently, “Ping’Er, what’s wrong?”

Yi Ping sighed, “I have promised Lele to find a miracle pill to help her grandpa. I have got a Divine Dragon Pill…”

He looked at Yixian with a sad expression, “But my heart wants to give this Divine Dragon Pill to you first. This may be the only thing that can help you...”

Lele was startled, “You have the Divine Dragon Pill…where did you find it?”

Yixian smiled gently, “Ping’Er, you can give it to Lele. Life and death is predetermined. Even if you have given me the Divine Dragon Pill, I may not be able to overcome the Divine Calamity. Rather than let it be wasted, it is better that you give it to Lele.”

When Xiao Shuai, Han Shaodong and the Three Sages heard that Yi Ping had the Divine Dragon Pill with him, they were startled and they were already drooling to see it. In fact, they wished they could take it from him and swallowed it immediately!

The Martial Sage was the most impatient, “Young Hero Yi Ping, can you show it to us? I am really curious to see what it is like.”

Xiao Shuai was trembling, “This pill is a legendary martial treasure…those who can consume it are able to become a Celestial Being…”

Shangguan Qingyun said, “Young Hero Yi Ping, do you still remember that I am the one that gives you this Divine Dragon Pill? I don’t regret giving it to you but I hope that you can give it to Xian’Er instead. I don’t want her to die…”

Xiao Shuai, Han Shaodong and the Three Martial Sages were shocked.

Han Shaodong interrupted him, “You have the Divine Dragon Pill all the time and you have actually given it away?!”

But Shangguan Qingyun ignored them.

Yi Ping said to Shangguan Qingyun, “The one that you have given me, I have actually given to Maiden Lie Qing to save her life. I have since found another one.”

Shangguan Qingyun was startled as he muttered, “You really found another one?”

Ji Wuzheng said, “My wife and I can be the witness!”

Gongsun Jing and Qiu Wufeng said at the same time, “We can vouch for Brother Yi Ping as well!”

Yi Ping sighed as he reached into his garment to take out the Divine Dragon Pill that he had carefully concealed, “This is the only one Divine Dragon Pill now. I wish that there are two in the world…”

Yixian smiled gently at him, “Ping’Er, do the right thing and give it to Lele. Don’t worry about me.”

Lele looked tearfully at Yixian as she fell into her embrace, “Sister! I don’t want you to die either! I…don’t know what to do…”

Lie Qing moved quietly next to Lele and held her hands…

All of a sudden, Yi Ping had turned ashen as he searched panicky. He muttered aloud in alarm. “Where is it? I can’t find it!”

Lingfeng had turned around and looked away…

Yunzi and Youxue were quiet too. They had witnessed how Lingfeng had stolen the Divine Dragon Pill and giving it to Yi Ping to save his life…



Ch67 End
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Chapter 69: The Divine Calamity



When the others had arrived in the cave, Yixian was standing regally beside Yi Ping and they were sharing some nuts together.

When Yixian saw their approach, she smiled gently at them, “You are all here. Do you want to have some nuts too?”

Lele sighed softly as she looked at Yi Ping, “I have no appetite.”

None of them had any appetite.

Xiao Shuai and Han Shaodong had a solemn look on their faces.

Yi Ping was looking at the gathering dark clouds and the flurrying winds that were sweeping into the dimly lit cave.

But they waited patiently for Yixian to finish her last meal.

Han Shaodong asked, “Xian’Er, you eat so simple…”

Yixian smiled comfortingly, “Brother Han, have you forgotten that I am a vegetarian? These are delicacies to me.”

Han Shaodong sighed, “That’s right. Time flies and I have forgotten…”

Yixian smiled gently as she looked calmly at everyone, “If only there are some good wines to be shared among us. That will be nice too.”

Xiao Shuai sighed, “It is a pity that there are none right now…”

The Martial Sage sighed, “That’s right.”

Yi Ping immediately said, “Xian’Er, wait for me. I go get the wines…”

Xian’Er caught hold of him immediately with a quiet smile, “Silly! By the time you have returned, more than a day will have passed. That is just a casual remark. Don’t go, alright?”

Yi Ping hesitated for a while before he was interrupted by Yixian. Her melancholically eyes were gazing at the gathering dark clouds, “It has come. Remember to stay back and don’t come out of the cave.”

Yi Ping said bitterly, “Xian’Er! You cannot go out. It is too dangerous…surely we can think of another way?”

Xiao Shuai said gravely, “Xian’Er, is there another way?”

Yixian smiled gently, “Brother Shuai, it is already too late. Everywhere that I go, the Divine Calamity will follow me. This is also the reason why this cave is picked for you to witness the furies of the Divine Calamity. Remember to do more good, stay away from evil and avoid needless killings.”

She paused for a while before adding woefully, “It is precisely because I have killed so many people that my Divine Calamity will be difficult to overcome. Let my fate be a lesson to all.”

Xiao Shuai stammered, “You call me Brother Shuai…I am still your Brother Shuai? After all that I did?”

Yixian nodded gently, “That’s right.”

Xiao Shuai murmured, “Xian’Er…”

Han Shaodong said quietly, “Xian’Er, be strong. I know that you can overcome the Divine Calamity.”

Yixian said gently to him, “Thank you Brother Han. Let the past be the past. You should put the past aside and look forward. Given your intelligence, you can easily ascend to be a Celestial eventually.”

Han Shaodong smiled bitterly, “I have the blood of many in my hands as well. Can I still hope for that?”

The Martial Sage quickly said, “Xian’Er, I know that you can surely overcome the Divine Calamity. You don’t have to worry about my safety. Later when you are in trouble, I will surely…”

All of a sudden, Yixian had raised her fingers and had struck the Martial Sage three times on his chest!

The windforce of her fingers were so resonate and the blows received by the Martial Sage were so loud that the entire cave could feel the windforce that was generated by her fingers!

Xiao Shuai and Han Shaodong was startled that Yixian’s finger skills would be so astonishing that she could even penetrated through the Martial Sage’s Iron shroud skill and to numb him!

The Element Sage praised Yixian, “Xian’Er, your skills have improved! Even with my skills, I am not confident of striking through his Iron Shroud Skill and hit his pressure points.”

The Martial Sage was suddenly gasping for breathe and he had fallen on his knees, “My foot! Quickly help me to clear my channels!”

The Element Sage smiled bitterly, “I just say I am not confident of bypassing your Iron Shroud Skill. If I fail to hit your channels properly, I may even worsen your numbness. I think you have better wait for your channels to clear on its own. Unless of course, you want to tell me the weakness of your Iron Shroud Skill…”

The Martial Sage interrupted him, “Do you think that I am foolish and senile?”

But he quickly turned to Yixian to say, “Xian’Er, why did you do that for…”

Yixian said gently, “Brother Ironfist, I know that you will surely come to aid me. That is what I am most afraid of. I have temporary disable your internal strength. With your internal strength, it won’t be long before you clear your channels and regain your strength. But that will be enough to stop you for acting recklessly.”

The Martial Sage hit his fists on the ground as he wailed aloud, “Xian’Er, I…if you are gone, I really don’t know what my existence is for!”

The Sword Sage sighed and helped him up, “Maybe Xian’Er will live. Don’t you think too much.”

Yu’Er was downhearted as she tried very hard to withhold her tears, “Protégé Mistress will surely survive the Divine Calamity.”

What she had said did not match her emotions.

As everyone looked at Yu’Er and her fluffy eyes, they could sense her heartfelt emotions.

Yi Ping sighed sadly. But at this moment, he refused to say anything because he did not want to distract Yixian!

He could only lend her his silent support!

After Yu’Er had ascended as a Celestial, her Dual Inertness Intricacy had advanced to the level of the ‘Reflective Emotions’. Her emotions were like a mirror that affected everyone and her feeling could be felt mutually by all the others!

Immediately, those who were already saddened by her voice found themselves shedding silent tears!

Yi Ping and Ji Lingfeng managed to suppress their emotions with their present attainment of the Emptiness Translucence but only barely…

Lingfeng was unaffected but she was sighing melancholy…

Yixian sighed softly. This was really something that she did not want to see.

Even with her cultivation in the Emotionless Rhyme, she was already brimming with tears as she embraced Yu’Er.

Yixian said gently, “Yu’Er, you are always more mature than Mei’Er. Take good care of Mei’Er for me. She needs your care and support…”

Even as Yu’Er nodded, Mei’Er had already flown into her embrace as she began to sob uncontrollable, “I don’t want protégé mistress to leave us! You are more than our protégé mistress to me…I…mistress, I don’t want you to leave us…”

Yunzi and Youxue had already looked away with silently tears as they could not bear to look anymore.

Yixian caressed Meijian’s face gently, smiling fondly at her. “Mei’Er, don’t be willful anymore. Be a good wife to Ping’Er and take good care of him on my behalf.”

Mei’Er cried, “I will…I will…”

Yixian held Yujian and Meijian with loving hold as she said, “I’m so happy that both of you are Celestial Being now. This is the lifelong wish of our clan patriarchs to overcome the Divine Calamity and see the world beyond. Finally, we have the two of you. I am so proud of you…”

Yu’Er pursed her lips as she cried aloud, “This is not Yu’Er wish at all! Without protégé mistress to guide us, we really don’t have confident to survive even the next celestial crisis! I only want mistress to be with us forever!”

Mei’Er cried, “Yes. Without protégé mistress to guide us, what hope do we have? We are so young and there are so many things we don’t know yet. We can never be as good as protégé mistress. Why is Heavens so unfair to us? The one that should be a Celestial Being is Protégé Mistress and not us!”

Yixian smiled gently and looked at Lele and Lie Qing with a soft sigh, “Sisters, help me to take care of them as your dear sisters too. And Ping’Er…”

Lele glanced at Yi Ping unhappily, “Ping’Er, you do not have any last words to say?!”

Yi Ping sighed softly, “I have already said all I want to say when we are alone.”

It was true. There was nothing he could do now at this point.

He had of course, his own decisions but he was determined to keep it to himself. In order not to make the others worry for him, he refused to say anything!

Yunzi sighed softly as she looked keenly at Yi Ping as she thought, “I don’t believe you will not do a thing.”

She had witnessed his fearless gut and how he had stand in front of adversity many times. The first time was when she had met him at the Honor Manor. The second time was when he dared to battle Yuan Shao alone so that she could escape and the third time was when he battled the Three Evils of the West, refusing to put down Lie Qing.

If her analysis was correct, he would surely rush into the Divine Calamity to take the blunt of it!

Therefore she had decided to keep a watchful look on him…

In the meantime, Lie Qing pulled Lele’s sleeves, “Sister, surely you know that this is the inevitable and is irrational to ask Yi Ping to do anything at this moment. Let Heavens decide the forthcoming outcome and lets us just pray for Sister Xian’Er.”

Even Suxin, Sufeng and Suyue who did not know Yixian were also embracing her and they were also inconsolable!

Shangguan Qingyun recited aloud, “Sorrowful partings, sorrowful farewells. Destinies meeting, destinies parting. When will Provident be kind to the empty soul?”

As he recited, he began to draw his long sword with his left hand and engraved the words that he had just recited into the wall!

Yan Nanfei immediately said, “You, you…!”

Shangguan Qingyun laughed bitterly, “What’s the matter, Brother Yan? You didn’t expect that my calligraphy skills and my swordsmanship to be this good?”

Yan Nanfei said bitterly, “Indeed! I am really surprise!”

Shangguan Qingyun sighed, “If only all these praises would turn my solemn mood into joyous mood…”

Yan Nanfei interrupted angrily, “You really think I am praising you? I feel like beating you up instead!”

Everyone was startled.

It was because Yan Nanfei had suddenly turned hostile and he was looking dead serious.

The Sword Sage was startled, “What’s the matter with you brothers?”

Shangguan Qingyun quickly asked, “Yes, what’s the matter? You seem upset with me all of a sudden?”

Yan Nanfei smiled bitterly, “I only realize that you are a left-handed swordsman today. You have cut off your thumb on your right hand and I did the same. You have not lost your sword skills but I have. Now tell me, why shouldn’t I be angry with you?”

Shangguan Qingyun was stammering as he tried to pacify him, “Don’t be angry, Brother Yan…I can explain…”

In his melancholy mood, he had actually forgotten to conceal the fact that he was also an ambidextrous swordsman and had accidentally let his secret slipped out…

The Element Sage said, “Both of you cut your thumbs willingly. Now it is not the time to quarrel. You will only be distracting Xian’Er.”

Shangguan Qingyun said quickly, “That’s right. We will only be distracting Xian’Er…”

Yan Nanfei kept quiet immediately but he was sighing heavily…

He was not really upset and was just venting. He took a quick glance at Yixian who was smiling to him and immediately he was not gloomy anymore.

He said aloud, “Forget it. This is just a small trivial. I don’t really like to fight…”

Shangguan Qingyun interrupted, “Of course it is trivial to you. Everyone knows you are more renowned for your Vacuum Fist than your swordplay. As for me, not able to use a sword in the Divine Sword Clan is a big handicap and is a subject of scorn.”

Yan Nanfei stammered, “You! You are the Old Master of the Divine Sword Clan. Who will dare to ridicule you and get away from it? And your swordplay isn’t even impaired…”

Yi Ping was amused that these two Old Seniors were poking fun at one another. But he knew that the two of them were old friends and had also aided him in the past. Moreover Shangguan Qingyun had given him the precious Divine Dragon Pill…

He murmured to himself, “They are good men…”

Even Yixian was amused as she giggled softly, “Stop it. I really got to go now.”

Shangguan Qingyun and Yan Nanfei sighed as they called out at the same time, “Xian’Er…”

Yixian was now standing at the entrance and the heavy, powerful winds were sweeping into the cave. The entire skies had turned dark even though it was still noon.

The winds were lashing so furiously now that everyone could barely stand straight!

Yi Ping had mustered his martial power immediately to steady himself while his attention was still on Yixian.

Yixian was about to exit the cave when Shen Xinyue called out to her, “Sister Xian’Er. Can I call you sister?”

Yixian nodded gently and held her hands.

Shen Xinyue smiled and took out a pouch, “Inside the pouch are three Heavenly Dreams Divine Pills. Take it when you are in desperate needs. These pills can grant a temporary boast to your internal strength and can even treats internal injuries. But be warned, these pills are also lethal and are poisonous.”

Yixian nodded as she smiled faintly, “Thank you, my good sister…”

Xiao Shuai immediately interrupted, “If these are poisonous then where are the antidotes? You didn’t give it to us…”

Shen Xinyue blinked at him, “There are no antidotes. I haven’t managed to concoct one successfully yet. The only way to prevent the poison from reacting is to suppress it with another Heavenly Dreams Divine Pills periodically.”

Han Shaodong stammered, “What happens when the poison reacts?”

Shen Xinyue sighed softly, “Then you will feel like a thousand scorpions stinging on you all at the same time.”

The Element Sage was well versed in herbalism and he quickly asked, “What are the main ingredients of this Heavenly Dreams Divine Pill that cause it to be so poisonous and lethal?”

Shen Xinyue said coolly, “I am afraid I cannot tell you or else you will not be able to sleep or eat for days.”

Han Shaodong, Xiao Shuai, the Element Sage, the Sword Sage and the Martial Sage were all smiling bitterly at her…

While they were talking, Yixian had quietly walked out of the cave as she struggled to walk in the fury winds to the platform outside the cave.

Yi Ping clenched his fists as he watched her walking towards the rugged platform.

The entire skies above the platform had turned eerily dark and the winds were howling so loud that it seemed almost supernatural. And in the middle of the skies, a dark whirling vortex had appeared!

It was a lucky thing that they were in a cave shelter or else they would be swept off their feet by the wailing winds!

Yi Ping had never seen such a powerful gale before.

He immediately increased his martial power again and executed the Thousand Weighed Skill to steady himself, as did the rest too!

Even though they were in the cave shelter, they could already feel the powerful might of the howling windforce. They could only imagine how strong the windforce was and the difficulties that Yixian had to brave outside!

As the intensity of the windforce grew in fury, Yujian and Meijian were forced to use the Divine Emerald Skill continuously to stay on their feet.

Yujian said to her sister as she stood in front of her, “Mei’Er, at this rate we will surely exhaust our martial power. Let’s take turn to use the Divine Emerald Skill.”

Meijian nodded silently as she withdrew her Emerald Intricate Energy and just steadied herself with her internal strength!

Lie Qing was beside the Martial Sage at a startling speed as she quickly struck him several times on his body, freeing him from his immobilization.

The Martial Sage sighed, “Thank you…”

Lie Qing combed her long hair as she laughed softly, “Quickly clear your channels. Things are getting more dangerous soon.”

The Martial Sage nodded as he took a deep breathe…

Chi Zhengqi, Qiu Wufeng, Gongsun Jing and Nangong Le had already broken into cold sweat. They had already mustered all their strength and yet this windforce seemed to be trying to suck them out of the cave!

Lele quickly thrust her long sickle into the hard rocky ground with a large implosion as she said anxiously, “Everyone, stand behind Yu’Er quick! This is not an ordinary Divine Calamity. In all my years, I have never seen anything like this before! Grab my pole everyone!”

Xiao Shuai and Han Shaodong were startled at her internal strength.

The Sword Sage murmured, “She can pierce through this rocky ground with her pole. That is some amazing feat…”

Chi Zhengqi was puzzled. He quickly drawn his long sword and tried to thrust his long sword into the rocky rock; his long sword could only pierce just a little of the rocky rock before it got deflected! There was no way his long sword could go into the hard rocky ground…

When he had diverted part of his martial power away, he had lost his balance and in that instant he was swept off his feet; the powerful vortex had threatened to suck him out of the cave when the Element Sage caught hold of his foot, “Careful nephew!”

Priest Liu Qingcheng, Priest Bai Chongzhen and Priest Ling Kongquan were all sweating as they exercised their entire martial power to keep themselves on the ground!

Even Xiao Shuai who had profound internal strength was panicky as he asked, “Does anyone knows how long this wind vortex will last? We can’t maintain our martial power like this!”

Xiao Shuai was right. Martial power was a sudden burst of a practitioner’s internal strength and using martial power itself was physical demanding.

Ji Wuzheng had just mustered a martial shout as he raised his palms continuously to fight off the sucking wind vortex with his Holy Amalgamate Force by absorbing and neutralizing the windforce. He too, was sweating heavily and was worried for his wife and daughters, “At this rate, we will all be forced out of this cave and sweep into the skies!”

Shen Xinyue had turned pale completely, “Be careful. This windforce is not just trying to knock us to the ground. It is trying to pull us towards the dark vortex up the skies above.”

She too, had never seen anything like this before!

Yujian was already standing at the entrance of the cave where it was the strongest as she lifted her fingers to deflect the furious vortex!

If she was not there, many of them would have already been swept out of the cave by now!

A tree that was outside the cave had just been uprooted by the strong winds and was swept in a circular motion up to the skies above. As it touched the vortex, it was ripped apart!

Only Yi Ping, Shen Xinyue, Lele, Youxue and the Element Sage could still maintain their balance through the Thousand Weight internal skill but from their expressions, it was also taking considerable effort to do so!

Xiao Shuai cursed aloud as he grabbed the Element Sage to steady himself, “If I know this would happen and that the Divine Calamity would be like this, I would have focused on internal strength training rather than martial power training!”

The Element Sage managed a weak smile, “Don’t envy me. Maybe it is because Xian’Er is an internal strength practitioner so that is why this Divine Calamity was a test on internal strength foundation.”

Yujian almost cried. Like Yi Ping, she had wanted to aid her protégé mistress but she could barely move at all!

Earlier, Shen Xinyue had emphasized to Lie Qing, Lele, Mei’Er and her that on no circumstances must she lend any lending hand to the Celestial Fairy. It was because once they had decided to aid her, the Divine Calamity would transfigure and that would cause Yixian to ascend as a Dark Celestial.

But when Yu’Er saw how terrifying this Divine Calamity was and the worst had yet to come, she did not care for that warning anymore and just wanted her protégé mistress to live!

Yi Ping had steadied himself with his martial power as beads of sweat dripped down his forehead. He saw that Yixian was now standing in the midst of the furious winds.

Without giving any prior warning to the others, he began to take slow steps as he walked out of the cave towards her!

Yi Ping could only move very slowly, lifting his feet slowly. As he stepped onto the ground, he left behind a deep imprint onto the rocky ground. Each step of his was likened to a ton of force as he concentrated all his martial force into his center of gravity.

He could see that Yixian was now sitting in mediation in the middle of the platform. He was in awe of her internal strength. As he moved closer to the platform, he could feel the lashing of the furious winds that continuously seek to cause him to lose his balance and blown him into the skies.

He could only move very slowly for each step was extremely tedious and difficult now.

Shen Xinyue and Ji Lingfeng called panicky to him but their voices were quickly drowned as Yi Ping had already stepped out of the cave!

Shen Xinyue was stunned and she was not sure if Yi Ping could hear her even though she had traversed her words through the Thousand Mile Skill.

Lingfeng sighed softly, “It is no use. Even if you have used the Thousand Mile Skill and even if Yi Ping has heard you, he probably won’t turn back. He is this stubborn…”

Dugu Yunzi was breathless as she raised the martial power of her Invincible Divine Force once again to maintain her balance, “That’s right. Right now, we can only pray.”

Youxue was battling the furious vortex with her Divine Emerald Skill beside Yu’Er and Mei’Er, pursing her lips silently as she watched helplessness when Yi Ping had walked past her…

Yu’Er and Mei’Er called after Yi Ping but their concerned voices were drowned out by the howling winds. They had tried to move forward but could not resist the slaughtering of the winds so they were forced to remain in the cave shelter.

Dugu Zhen said aloud, “Everyone, save your strength. We can only pray for now. I got a very bad feeling about this and this is best that we conserve as much strength as possible.”

Shen Xinyue sighed softly and said, “That’s right. We are in equally precaution position as well. I have thought that we are out of reach from the Divine Calamity but it seemed that this is a most unusual Divine Calamity. I have never seen anything like this before…”

Her voice was soft but everyone could hear her clearly despite the howling winds. That spoke volumes of her internal strength.

Lingfeng said quietly, “This is the Divine Wrath.”

Lele, Lie Qing and Shen Xinyue had an astonished look in their expressions.

Lele asked, “You have never even seen a Divine Calamity before. How do you know what it is?”

Lingfeng who was the Heaveness and had recovered her memories kept quiet and did not reply to Lele. Instead she was looking intently at what happened outside.

Shen Xinyue’s suspicious was immediately aroused. It was only now that she had noticed that Lingfeng was able to maintain her balance in perfect harmony and seemingly effortlessly!

She immediately thought, “What martial skill is she using? And she is not even using the stance of the Thousand Weight Skill for her posture was too casual. That isn’t a skill from the Holy Hex Sect as even Ji Wuzheng, Dugu Zhen and Dugu Yunzi are all struggling against this forceful vortex.”

Lie Qing and Lele were also exchanging curious looks to one another…

Lie Qing was already thinking, “If this is the legendary Divine Wrath, how can mortals like us overcome this?”

All of a sudden, she had felt mortal and was even afraid. Even though she was a Celestial but she felt no different from the others…

Not only was she trembling with fear, Shen Xinyue was also trembling and a sense of petrifying fear had also began to creep into everyone!

Suxin was already gasping as she struggled against her fatigue, “I cannot hold much longer. I am too tired…”

Lingfeng said softly, “Everyone, sit on the ground and hold each other hands. This divine storm isn’t something that we can handle alone.”

Nangong Le said panicky, “That’s right. Let us hold hands. I have already exhausted all my strength.” He tried to move towards Lingfeng and Shen Xinyue when he caught an angry glance coming from Suyue. He smiled bitterly and walked towards her instead.

As soon as everyone had sat down and holding each other hands, there was a loud rumbling earthquake as the ground began to shake violently and at the same time, multiple flashes of purple lightning began to flash thunderous across the entire skies!

Lele gasped, “This is an electric thunderstorm!”

There was a light drizzle and all of a sudden, a fireball freaked from the sky and headed right towards the middle of the platform where Yixian was mediating!

Everyone was shocked at the sudden appearance of the huge fireball that had burst out of the blue from the darkened skies!

Lingfeng said quietly, “This is just the beginning of the Divine Wrath and more are yet to come.”



Ch69 End
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Chapter 71: The Three Celestial Maidens



It was a moonless night and the streets were empty.

The four sentries of the Enchains Sect were looking bored and were casually chatting quietly with each other.

The Enchains Sect was a small clan in the Western Martial Fraternity but in this small town, it was now the most influential clan among several clans.

One year ago, a major conflict between the various martial clans took place at the Holy Amalgamate Mountains. It was a terrifying battle between good and evil that saw dozens of martial clans disappearing overnight and hundreds of martial clans were so badly affected that it would take them a long time to recover.

The Enchains Sect was a small clan then and it was the Septuagint Clan that was the dominating clan in this town. However during the battle at the Holy Amalgamate Mountains, the Septuagint Clan suffered a crippling loss and many of its best fighters were killed or injured. Because of that, the Enchains Sect rose to be the dominant clan in this small town.

All of a sudden, the four sentries froze in their tracks as they could sense something was amiss; there was a light fragrance scent in the air!

The leader of the sentries immediately spoke in a firm voice to the others, “Be on your alert! Someone is here…”

But before he could finish speaking, they were all stunned and one of the sentries even dropped his sword on the ground by what they had seen!

It was because an alluring heavenly maiden in white had just come into view and was taking slow strides toward them!

It was she that had caused them to be startled!

In the dead of the night even if she was the most striking maiden that they had ever seen, she was like a haunting apparition that had totally freaked them out completely! Moreover, they could see that her alluring eyes were crimson in color! Indeed no one had seen anyone with eyes like her!

She may be walking very slowly but she was soon in front of them.

The four sentries were all trembling with great fear and they were convinced that she was indeed a ghost. What else other than a ghost could move so quietly and so swift?

The beautiful apparition gave an alluring smile, “I am looking for someone. Can you open the gate for me to continue my search?”

The sentries slowly relaxed after realizing that she was just human and not what they had feared. Moreover, she was not armed and was alone.

The Sentry Leader grew bold as he looked at his men who were harboring the same thoughts as him; here was a beautiful maiden that had delivered herself to them and it would be foolish of them to let her go just like this.

Therefore the Sentry Leader eyed her lecherously after noting that she was really a rare beauty. As a matter of fact, he had never seen anyone like her and was still in disbelief that such a beautiful maiden was now standing before his eyes. He quickly added, “May we know maiden’s name and who are you looking for?”

The alluring maiden raised her eyebrows as though she could sense their ill intentions as she said with a soft murmur, “I am the Heaveness. I do not know the name of that person but I am sure that they are inside.”

The Sentry Leader nodded quietly to his men even as he laughed aloud, “Since maiden does not want to reveal your true name to us, that’s alright. Why don’t you come with us to the back alley? We know a backdoor that can get you inside without anyone knowing so that you can search for the person that you are looking for?”

This young maiden who called herself the Heaveness may be innocent looking but she had seen through their little tricks immediately. With a wave of her slender hand, she had immediately knocked all four of them onto the ground as they moaned painfully on the ground!

The four men were stunned!

They had never seen anyone strike with such a swift martial move and disabling the four of them at the same time!

The Heaveness looked quietly at the forbidding iron-gate as she hesitated for a while.

The iron-gate only had a protruding iron ring on its gates. Anyone that wanted to enter the iron-gate must grab the iron ring and knocked it against the gate to alert the guards that were inside. It was because the iron-gate was held into place by a large iron bar on the other side!

The Sentry Leader coughed out a mouthful of blood as he muttered weakly, “Who are you? Do you think that the Enchains Sect will let you off just like this? You may have defeated us but there are still hundreds of us more inside!”

The Heaveness turned to him as she smiled coyly, “Is that so?”

She simply raised her right hand and forced opened the iron-gate with the sheer might of her martial force, stunning them as she walked into the grounds of the Enchains Sect!

Barely had she just entered inside, several scuffle cries could be heard inside as she rampaged her way in!

The Heaveness was immediately surrounded by dozens of armed fighters as she stood serenely at the martial platform leading to the interior of the Enchains Sect.

A man with a bushy beard who was wielding a big sabre shouted aloud, “Who are you! How dare you barge into the Enchains Sect?”

The Heaveness sighed softly as she asked, “Just who are you?”

The bushy man roared with anger, “Just who I am? I am the Protégé Leader of the Enchains Sect! I am Wen Zhong! You didn’t know who I am and you have dared to barge into my territory and even injure my men?”

As he roared with anger, he had suddenly halted. It was because he was captivated by her alluring beauty. But at the same time, he was also alarmed; it was because he had noticed that her eyes were unlike others.

But he quickly composed himself and said with a somewhat soften manner, “Just because you have a petite face, do you think I will be soft on you?”

It was because Wen Zhong had already noticed that more than half of his clan protégés were already mesmerized by her beauty and were staring at her blankly.

The Heaveness said coldly, “Beneath the flesh are just blood and bones. I am no different from the rest of you. So you are the Protégé Leader. Good! I am the Heaveness and I am here to look for something. If you are willing to hand it over, I will go immediately.”

Wen Zhong looked a little startled. He had never heard of anyone with the fraternity name of the Heaveness. Because she did not state her clan of origin, he garnered a guess that she may not be from a major clan.

So he roared with laughter, “It seems that I must teach you a lesson first. It is not a place where you can come and go as you please. It is also not a place that you can make your demands! Just who do you think you are? Just because you have learnt some martial moves, you think you can be insolent in my territory?!”

Even though he was raising his voice fiercely, the alluring maiden did not appear to be daunted by him. Instead she scanned her alluring eyes at everyone.

Wen Zhong was already entertaining ill-intentional thoughts on her. Just as he was about to rebuke her further, an old woman walked quietly to his side and asked him. “Son, who is this maiden?”

This old woman had a walking stick and was helped by a frail old steward.

But when the old woman and the old steward saw her eyes, they were also slightly startled.

Wen Zhong managed a weak smile. It was because there was nothing he feared more than his aged mother. He was really afraid that his aged mother would interfere in his decisions.

Even though he was the Protégé Leader of the Enchains Sect but the real controller was actually the Old Matriarch Wen!

Old Matriarch Wen smiled as she looked at her son, “Son, you have been flirting around and now your troubles come knocking on its own accord.”

Wen Zhong smiled weakly, “I do not know her. This is the first time that we have met.”

Old Matriarch Wen smiled at the Heaveness as she appraised her with her keen eyes. She must admit that the maiden that had intruded into the Enchains Sect was indeed extremely stunning. In fact, she had never seen anyone as captivating as her. If she was a man, she would surely fall in love with her but she was not.

However, the alluring maiden that called herself the Heaveness was looking at her sternly and was saying coldly to her instead. “Hand it over. I know that you have it.”

Old Matriarch Wen growled in bewilderment, “Hand what over?”

The Heaveness said coldly, “The Heavenly Relic!”

Old Matriarch Wen and the old steward turned ashen immediately!

The Heaveness had been searching the fraternity for the Heavenly Relics with her innate senses and her search had led her to this small town. There were two more Heavenly Relics more to go before the Celestial Star Formation could be completed for the transition to Beyond, the Celestial Realm.

The Heaveness said unhappily, “Quick hand it over or I won’t be polite anymore.”

After a while, Old Matriarch Wen said slowly. “Just who are you? I don’t know what you are talking about.”

The Heaveness sighed softly, “You surely know what I am talking about and I even know that the Heavenly Relic is on you now.”

Her innate sense had sensed that the Heavenly Relic was in this place and when this old woman had appeared, she immediately knew that the Heavenly Relic was with her. There was no mistaking the spiritual aura of the Heavenly Relic.

Old Matriarch Wen had suddenly turn hostile and there was a malevolent air around her, “I really don’t know who you are but today you are not getting out of here alive!”

Wen Zhong was alarmed. It was because his mother was not someone that gave empty threats. So he panicky said, “Mother…”

All of a sudden, the frail old steward leapt with surprise agility and attacked the young alluring maiden with a startling speed as he displayed half a dozen of forceful fists!

The protégés of the Enchains Sect were stunned and were in awe of the old steward. It was because they had never thought that the old steward was a super exponent and his moves would be so ingenious!

The young alluring maiden was startled and she barely avoided his attacks.

In a split second, she had raised her palm just in time to parry off the old steward’s strokes. But because the old steward was really too formidable and merciless, she was forced to take five steps back!

In a blink of an eye, they had exchanged dozens of strokes, stunning everyone with their speed attacks!

Wen Zhong was stunned. This young, seemingly vulnerable maiden was also a super martial exponent and her swiftness movements were surprising agile!

However, the old steward was the more formidable fighter and in another blink of an eye, he had gained the upper hand and just as he was about to land his fist on her, he was knocked back by two flashes of shadow!

The old steward stumbled five steps backward as he shouted coldly, “Who is that!?”

Right beside the young alluring maiden were another two extremely beautiful maidens in a fine yellow dress and a gray dress!

It was the yellow dressed maiden that had knocked the old steward back with a forceful palm attack. Like the young alluring maiden in white, she was also unarmed.

However, the maiden in gray dress was armed and carried a beautiful adorned long sword.

The old steward’s fists were trembling and he was startled!

He had received a powerful impact on his fists that his entire arm was trembling lightly. He was already thinking, “Who is this maiden? Why is it possible that a young maiden like her will possesses such a powerful internal strength? It is not possible. Is she using a trick?”

The Heaveness laughed softly, “Who takes you all so long to arrive?”

The exquisite maiden in gray dress replied softly, “You should have waited for us before barging in here. Who knows what dangers await you.”

The mesmerizing maiden in yellow dress nodded, “The heretic sect is not something that you think you can handle alone. If something happens to you, Ping’Er would surely be heartbroken.”

The Heaveness laughed softly, “I hope to get his attention and make him worry for me!”

The mesmerizing maiden in yellow gasped exasperatedly, “You!”

Old Matriarch Wen had stepped forward behind the old steward as she caught the old steward’s shoulder, “Old Yang, are you alright?”

She stared coldly at the three mysterious maidens and was furrowing her eyebrows. It was because their martial skills were simply too extraordinary for their age.

Incredulously, all three of them had the same crimson eyes!

The old steward was also staring at them, “Who are you!”

The mesmerizing maiden in yellow muttered softly but her tone was icily cold, “I am the Endor Vixen Fairy!”

The exquisite and demure maiden in gray looked at them with piercing eyes as though she could see their thoughts, “The Celestial Ocean Heavenly Maiden!”

Old Matriarch Wen groaned. It was because she had never heard of their fraternity names in the martial fraternity.

All of a sudden, she extended out her hands and dozens of shimmering light flew out in all directions as she displayed her secret projectiles!

Immediately, the Heaveness reacted by throwing dozens of secret projectiles at the same time too, deflecting the secret projectiles that were thrown at her.

The Celestial Ocean Heavenly Maiden was not slow either. She had drawn out her long sword with lightning speed and had parried off the speeding secret projectiles harmlessly.

The Endor Vixen Fairy had simply raised her long sleeves and the offensive secret projectiles simply rebound off harmlessly!

Old Matriarch Wen’s secret projectiles were not targeted at them only. Immediately, all the protégés of Enchains Sect had yelled out with agonies as they fell dead on the ground!

The Heaveness scoffed at Old Matriarch Wen, “How ruthless to kill even your own people!”

Old Matriarch Wen was taken aback. It was because she had never expected these three maidens to evade her deadly Butterfly Projectiles so easily. From the looks of it, the alluring maiden in white was also an expert in secret projectiles and could rival her in skill.

Wen Zhong was startled, “Mother! Some of them are my most loyal subordinates!”

Old Matriarch Wen said coldly, “No one must know anything about the Heavenly Relic. Only dead men tell no tales. They have heard what they shouldn’t hear and if there is someone to blame, then it is all thanks to this maiden here. Son, you got to be ruthless if you want to survive in the martial fraternity. There are many more subordinates and other desirable beauties. Never show any weakness. Don’t forget who you are!”

Old Yang stared at the three maidens as he said coldly, “Who exactly are you? Which clan are you from? How did you know we have the Heavenly Relic?”

The Celestial Ocean Heavenly Maiden had stepped forward, “How do I not know you? You are an elder of the Sacred Divine Clan.”

Old Matriarch Wen immediately turned pale but she recovered quickly, “You know?”

The Sacred Divine Clan was a heretic sect and was opposed by the orthodox clans and the majority of the unorthodox clans. It was a secretive sect and had a fearsome reputation in the martial fraternity.

On the surface, the Enchains Sect was an orthodox clan but it was actually a secret division of the Sacred Divine Clan!

Old Matriarch Wen said coldly, “Just who are you? Since you already know who we are, why are you not afraid?”

The Celestial Ocean Heavenly Maiden replied calmly, “I am Dugu Yunzi, daughter of Dugu Zhen. I am Holy Mistress of the Sacred Divine Clan. Now you know who I am, why don’t you pay your respects to me?”

Old Matriarch Wen spat angrily, “It is you! One year ago, you caused the deaths of the Three Evils of the West and you still have the cheek to claim to be our Holy Mistress?! Have you forgotten your oaths to the Sacred Divine Clan and the curse that will follow you if you break the oath?”

Old Yang interrupted coldly, “No matter. Since they have come on their own accord to the gates of hell, we will do them the favor and send them to the King of Hades!”

Yunzi stepped elegantly forward as she said icily, “Have you forgotten who the Matriarch Grandmaster of the Sacred Divine Clan is? It is she that wants the Heavenly Relic and the Heavenly Relic belongs to the Sacred Divine Clan. If you still remember your oaths and hand over the Heavenly Relic quietly, you will be spared the fiery of hell of your broken oath. Or else don’t blame me for not regarding both of you as elders of the Sacred Divine Clan and punishing you.”

Old Yang hummed coldly, “How insolent. Even if our Matriarch Grandmaster the Heavenly Temptress is here today, she will surely stand on our side. The Heavenly Relic is our sect most precious treasure and with it, we will be able to ascend to the heavens as Celestials. We are its guardians. Even if you are still with the Sacred Divine Clan and are our Holy Mistress, you still do not have the right to take it away from us. Why do you want the Heavenly Relic for? You are too young to attempt the ascension…”

All of a sudden, he began to freeze as he stared blankly at their crimson eyes. He began to stammer, “Don’t tell me, you have overcome the Divine Calamity and are now Celestials?!”

Yunzi nodded quietly as she said nonchalantly, “That’s right.”

Old Matriarch Wen began to tremble, “You have discovered how to ascend? How is that possible? What is the secret? What exactly happened one year ago at the Holy Amalgamate Mountains?”

The Divine Calamity was a celestial event that would descend when martial practitioners were able to reach the divine state of martial epitome and they were very close to clearing their life and death channels. It was an event that was to be feared but at the same time to be embraced. Failure to overcome the Divine Calamity would result in instant death. Overcoming the Divine Calamity would mean clearing the martial practitioner’s life and death channel, resulting in extended lifespan not seen in mortals and an elevated state of divinity that gave them an edge.

Old Matriarch Wen and Old Yang exchanged quiet glances quietly. They were the best of friends for many decades and almost knew what was on one another’s mind; if they could eat their hearts then they would be able to become half-celestials. Not only could they prolong their mortal lives, they could even overcome their internal strengths and martial limitations!

Therefore without waiting for Dugu Yunzi to reply them, they had both attacked her at the same time!

Old Matriarch Wen had jumped over and had imbued her hand with a powerful martial force to send a powerful blow towards her forehead while Old Yang had stooped down with surprising agility and had used a despicable underhand stroke to attack between her legs!

A blue wisp of faint blue glowing sphere appeared in Dugu Yunzi’s left hand as she raise her palm to receive Old Matriarch Wen’s attack as a thunderous clap occurred in mid-air. At the same time, she whirled her long sword and sent it flying in a circular spin towards Old Yang!

Old Yang was startled as he changed his attacking stance to an evading stance as he barely avoided the flying sword even as he stammered out, “The Flying Sword technique of the Virtuous Palace!”

Yunzi was not paying attention to Old Yang for she was knocked back by Old Matriarch Wen’s martial power as she was forced to take five steps backward which were followed by dozens of quick strokes that were descended upon her as she was knocked off balance!

Just as Old Yang was about to exploit her critical weakness that was being displayed, the Endor Vixen Fairy had intercepted Old Matriarch Wen’s attacks with her Penetrating Hands martial skill and said anxiously to Yunzi, “Sister Yun, are you alright? Leave this old granny to me!”

Yunzi gasped softly, “Thank you, Sister Youxue!”

She was referring to the Endor Vixen Fairy whose real name was Xiao Youxue.

She had immediately composed herself as she stared coldly at Old Yang, “Despicable!”

In the meantime, the Heaveness who real name was Ji Lingfeng was being encircled by Wen Zhong was heard saying breathlessly, “It seems that we have got ourselves in a fix. They are much more difficult to handle than we have been expecting…”

She paused for a breather before adding, “If we don’t overcome them soon, we will be in serious trouble soon.” It was because she had observed that dozens of fighters were already making their way to the scene and the clanking of loud gongs was already being sounded out throughout the place!

Old Matriarch Wen smiled wryly, “That is your mistake, isn’t it? All three of us have been through hundreds of fights be it big or small. In this aspect, experiences still count.”

Wen Zhong laughed aloud, “Mother, don’t be hasty in dealing them the death blow. Let me have a little fun first before we eat their hearts!”

Old Yang was also laughing wickedly, “There are three of us here and there are three of you there. It will be terrible if there is only one just one heart. It seems that Heavens is simply too kind for the three of us.”

Old Matriarch Wen said coldly, “Indeed. Son! After we have killed Dugu Yunzi and avenged the humiliations of the Sacred Divine Clan, you will definitely be the Holy Master of the Sacred Divine Clan. This is such a rare golden opportunity that has come knocking on its own!”

Yunzi scoffed icily as she mustered her martial force as four wisps of faint hovering blue light surrounded her with a sudden burst as the aftershock ripple around her, “Wishful thinking!”

Old Matriarch Wen turned pale as she took a step backward, “This! This is not the Divine Virtuous Force. This is the…”

Yunzi interrupted coldly, “This is the Invincible Divine Force, a martial skill of the Heavenly Temptress!”

Even Old Yang and Wen Zhong were both taken aback as their confidence level plummeted!

But Old Yang quickly whispered as he reminded them, “Fighting is also a psychology battle. Don’t panic or we will surely lose. From what I can tell, her Invincible Divine Force is only at the intermediate level. With our present martial strength, it poses no threat to us. She should be the one that should fear us.”

Wen Zhong smiled as he regained his composure quickly, “That’s right. Let’s see how long she can maintain her Invincible Divine Force before fatigue overcomes her!”

Youxue hummed coldly, “You can try us!”

Lingfeng smiled alluringly as she looked in a different direction, “Unfortunately, they have no chance now.”

A white figure had descended over the high walls and in just a few blinks of an eye, a young handsome man with an righteous air was already in their midst!

His swiftness movement was astonishing!

Yunzi and Youxue exclaimed excitedly as they called out joyously for him, “Yi Ping!”

Yi Ping did not look pleased at all as he rebuked them gently, “Why didn’t you wait for me?”

Lingfeng winked at him, “I want you to worry for me. I want to know how emotionless you have become after you have become a Celestial!”

Yi Ping ignored her and had turned to face Wen Zhong, Old Matriarch Wen and Old Yang. His glance was piercing but what startled them were his crimson eyes!



Ch71 End
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Chapter 73: The Ancient Celestials



At the mere mention of the Heavenly Relic, Old Matriarch Wen and Old Yang instantly knew that she harbored no good intents. Therefore they immediately attacked her!

Throughout the years, they had collaborated on numerous times against many much more powerful opponents. The deadly combination of Old Yang’s Dragon Claws and Old Matriarch Wen’s Eternal Explosive Hands were powerful enough to cripple any opponent. And today, they were using these two secret techniques at the same time!

The maiden in scarlet fluttered her velvet cloak, rising her slender fingers as she moved quietly between her two opponents. There was a red blinding flash as Old Matriarch Wen and Old Yang cried out aloud at the same time; there were blood in their eyes and they were rolling on the ground in agony!

Old Yang was trembling in disbelief, “What manner of sorcery is this?! What skill is this?”

He could not believe that anyone could strike so fast that even with his years of fighting experiences that he could not see how she had executed her strokes!

The maiden in scarlet enthralling replied softly and unhurriedly, “This is my Starlight Divine Finger. This is but a small punishment for trying to hurt my sisters and my beloved.”

She smiled and took a glance at Yi Ping, who was standing in a flustered manner.

Lingfeng had purged out most of the venomous toxins from his body and she was sitting in a mediation pose with her eyes closed. Her battle with the venoms had not ended though and there was beads cold sweat on her forehead!

Xiao Youxue was also looking flustered and her cold demeanor had vanished. She appeared coy and called out, “Sister Xingyue, you are finally here! It is a good thing that you are here or we will meet with mishaps!”

The maiden in scarlet whose real name was Shen Xingyue said, “I have warned you all not to take any actions on your own. You have no idea how many strong opponents there are in the martial fraternity. What if you have met a Dark Celestial?”

Xiao Youxue pointed at the corpse of the Venomous Evil and said, “We have already met one. He is just so and so. Yi Ping had already dealt with him.”

Shen Xingyue looked quietly at Yi Ping and Lingfeng before sighing to Youxue, “You call their situation something that you are in control of? What about the injuries on your arm?”

Youxue protested, “Injuries are common occurrence in a fight or else next time when we have met with a better exponent, we won’t be at a complete loss. Every fight that is won is experienced gained!”

Shen Xingyue continued to sigh softly to herself but it was clearly audible to everyone, “But when you have lost even once, all your experiences will come to naught.”

But before Youxue could protest further, Old Matriarch Wen was already cursing aloud. “You are so despicable, resorting to such underhand means to blind us! You are a completely disgrace on the martial honor of the martial fraternity! I will surely shame your name to the entire fraternity!”

Shen Xingyue said gently, “Up to you. I don’t care…”

But before she could finish, Old Matriarch Wen and Old Yang had stood up again to attack her once again. This time all their strokes were even more deadly than any of their previous strokes as they disregard their defenses; even if they were to die, they must bring her down as well!

Shen Xingyue brandished her Blue Heavens Divine Sword and there were a brilliant bluish white flash as cold beaming piercing sword energies rippled through. Immediately, Old Matriarch Wen and Old Yang collapsed onto the ground, never to get up again!

Shen Xingyue said softly, “This is your just desserts.”

Yi Ping went up to her and was trembling, “Xingyue, why are you here? Do you know if Lele is alright?”

He pointed at the dead body of Sikong Zhai and his eyes were watery, “This old man here, he has claimed to have killed a maiden from the Celestial Palace. Other than Lele, who else could she be?”

Yunzi was solemn as she said, “It shouldn’t be Lele. There are many others like Lele in the Celestial Palace.”

Yi Ping muttered, “But there are few maidens like Lele that can come and go in the Celestial Palace…”

Shen Xingyue interrupted softly, “I doubt it is Lele. It is because I have just seen her just a few days ago.”

Yi Ping was startled, “Where is she and where are the others?”

Shen Xingyue said, “That is why I am searching for you so franticly. They have decided to make their way to the Celestial Palace to obtain the Heavenly Relic. I couldn’t stop them.”

Yi Ping was stunned, “They are going to the Celestial Palace?! Why didn’t you stop them? Lele is a traitor of the Celestial Palace and the Celestial Palace won’t be kind to traitors…”

Shen Xingyue sighed softly, “Do you think I didn’t try? You expect me to subdue them using force or diplomacy? I have tried both means and it didn’t work.”

Yi Ping was silent.

She was right. If Lele the Joyful Goddess wanted to do something, nothing could stop her from doing so. Moreover, there were still Lie Qing the Heavenly Temptress, Shui Yixian the Celestial Fairy, Shui Yujian the Eclipse Heaven Goddess and Shui Meijian the Axis Heaven Goddess.

Yi Ping murmured with a throbbing headache, “Why didn’t Lie Qing and Yixian stop her?”

Shen Xingyue said, “They didn’t know how long it will take to find the Heavenly Relic. They also didn’t know how long it will take you to find Lingfeng. The only place they know where the Heavenly Relic can be located is at the Celestial Palace. They want to save you some troubles and they have perfectly good intentions.”

Yi Ping smiled bitterly, “Now I have perfectly plenty of troubles. Quick, we must hurry!”

He was reluctant to go to the Celestial Palace and he had repeatedly warned Lele not to go back there. It was because a year ago, he had fought with the Celestial Liege who was a Prime Celestial from the Celestial Palace and it was a fight that still dreaded him to this day!

By now, Lingfeng had opened her eyes and she had walked weakly beside YI Ping, saying gently to him. “Let’s hurry then.”

When Yi Ping saw her weakened state, his heart was aching and he said. “Lingfeng, are you alright? Why don’t you find a haven to recuperate first? I will surely get back to you in no time…”

Lingfeng shook her head gently, “I am as worry for the rest as much as you do. My physical condition is nothing to worry about. Have you forgotten that I am protected by my Divine Invigorate Skill?”

She paused before looking melancholy at him, “We have been through much together…are you are thinking of leaving me alone and go off to fight the Celestial Palace alone?”

Yi Ping sighed heavily, “You didn’t tell me when you go off to look for the Heavenly Relic either.”

Lingfeng hummed coldly, “This is just trivial. Why did you put that in your heart? I know you are a petty man! I know that you don’t feel comfortable in taking the Heavenly Relic from the others. That is why I have asked Yunzi and Youxue to come along. Do you know why Lele and the others have also taken the initiative to go to the Celestial Palace on their own? It is because they know that you are reluctant to risk anyone of us. But do you know that anyone of us will be glad to give up our lives for you and the other sisters?”

Yi Ping was startled and he was quiet all of a sudden.

Six months ago, Yunzi and Youxue had successful overcome the Divine Calamity with the guidance of Lingfeng the Heaveness, Yixian the Celestial Fairy and Lie Qing the Heavenly Temptress.

It was not easy for them though and they had almost lost their lives.

Yi Ping had taken the Divine Calamity at the same time as them, taking the blunt for them. This time round, he was truly a Celestial and did not resist the Divine Force unlike the last time.

Lingfeng was the only one left that did not attempt the Divine Calamity. She did not have to for she had awakened as a Celestial on her own.

She was the Heaveness and her true name represented the Heavens of this realm! In this realm, the Divine Calamity would not be able to affect her and she had all of eternity to ponder over the mysteries of the universe.

Her race was the Ancient Celestials who aspired to be Celestial Sages for they knew of another realm that existed above this realm. That place was to be called the Ninth Heavens or Beyond. To mortals, that place was called the Celestial Realm.

Eventually, the Ancient Celestials discovered the means to traverse to Beyond. To traverse to Beyond, they had to ascend! To ascend, they had to undergone the tribulations of the Divine Wrath and a majority of the Ancient Celestials perished during the tribulations!

Before the Ancient Celestials departed, they left behind their heart intricate formulas and other divine skills so that one day, the mortals would gain the knowledge of attaining as a Celestial and ascended to Beyond.

A long time had passed in Beyond and the Ancient Celestials were eventually joined by other Celestials from the lower realm. But it was not before long they had found that the Celestial Realm was not the Heavenly Realm that they were looking for but a transiting realm to yet another realm, the God Realm!

The Celestials were at a complete loss how to reach the God Realm. The only clues to reach the God Realm were in the Stellar Sanctuary and the Astronomic Stellar Formation. Already many Celestials had been killed in an attempt to storm these two places.

The Celestials did not have a choice for them to take the risk for many of them had reached the limits of their state of divinity. Without a breakthrough and without a new divine intricacy formula, sooner or later they would be killed by the Divine Wrath which got more powerful after each tribulation.

Eventually, there were just a few of the Ancient Celestials that were left and even their Divine Wrath tribulation had transformed into the Heavenly Wrath, which was even more terrifying than the Divine Wrath!

Knowing that the next time the Heavenly Wrath were to strike would also be their last, the Heaveness, the Universal Old Man and the Great Sage Lord took a calculated risk to descend to the lower realm in an attempt to find fresh clues that would help unravel the mysteries of the Stellar Sanctuary. It was because during an expedition to the Stellar Sanctuary, they had found clues that the Dark Lord of the Chaos Cosmos, the only one that had successfully ascended to the God Realm had made a trip to the lower realm for a search.

The trip to the lower realm was not easy and not without great risk for no one had ever attempted it before except for the Dark Lord of the Chaos Cosmos. He had left behind the means to do so in the Stellar Sanctuary via the Cosmos Stellar Formation.

The Cosmos Stellar Formation was complex even to the three Ancient Celestials and their hearts sunk. But left with no other choice and finding it meaningless to meditate for another millennium years, they decided to attempt the Cosmos Stellar Formation.

During the attempt, the Great Lord Sage lost his life as he sacrificed himself to bring the Heaveness and the Universal Old Man to the lower realm.

His death was a great blow to them, especially the Heaveness. It was because they had known each other for as long as they could remember and had been through numerous tribulations. She had also admired him for a long time…

When they had descended to the lower realm, it was thriving with numerous celestial sects and martial clans. It was also during this sojourn that the Heaveness and the Universal Old Man had secretly helped many worthy mortals to be a Celestial and many Celestials to ascend. As for their origin, they did not disclose to any of them except for their celestial names.

It was also at that time that they had decided to pick a young lad, the future White Sage to be their protégé. The Heaveness had picked him because this young lad was in many ways similar to the Great Lord Sage when he was young and they shared the same beaming eyes.

Time passed but still they had no idea what the Dark Lord of the Chaos Cosmos was searching for in the lower realm.

Faced with the prospect of the Heavenly Wrath descending upon the lower realm and wrecking destruction upon the innocents, the dispirited Universal Old Man decided to return to the upper realm to look for new clues.

The Heaveness had grown fond of the lower realm. She had yearned to experience the emotions that she never had. She wanted to be a mortal and to die in the place where she came from. To her, that was her true home and not the God Realm.

Not wanting to invite destruction upon the innocents, the Heaveness had chosen a self-sacrificing path as a mortal. For that, she was willing to give up being a Celestial!

She had never expected that she would have such an interweaving destiny with the young lad that she had taken in as a protégé who was the future White Sage who had awakened her memories.

Not only had she awakened as a Celestial, she had also discovered that the Dark Lord of the Chaos Cosmos had actually went to the lower realm in search of the Universal Force which was non-existent in the Ninth Heavens!

The Heavenly Earth Sword was the only celestial sword that could unleash the Universal Force and now it was with the Celestial Fairy!

However, her awakening had also brought about an unintended consequence; her cycle of tribulations would begin anew and she was faced with the prospect of an occurring Heavenly Wrath!

Because of this, she had to leave the lower realm to the upper realm where she could face the Heavenly Wrath.

So she had said to Yi Ping, “I have to leave now. I do not belong to this world and you should know this. If I do not leave, numerous lives would be lost as a result of the approaching Heavenly Wrath.”

Yi Ping was stunned.

He had quickly said, “Lingfeng…we have been together for so long and you are leaving me alone? Can I come with you?”

Lingfeng put on a smile, “You still have the others. Certainly you may have forgotten about me after some time. My presence here will only endanger the lower realm. It is best that I go back to the upper realm where I belong. If you want to see me again, it is best that you put all your efforts towards divine attainment. But with so many distractions, it may be hard on you.”

At the moment, she was suppressing her divine state with her Divine Invigorate Force and had only limited her divine strength to that of the crimson level. After the crimson level was the gray level and then it would be the golden level. After that was the green-golden level and finally the red-blue level. Celestials of the green-golden level were able to revert their eyes to that of a mortal.

As one of the most powerful Celestials in Beyond, the Heaveness was naturally on the blue-red level.

Yi Ping sighed and everyone could clearly see how downhearted he was.

She turned to ask Yixian the Celestial Fairy, “I wonder if I am able to borrow your Heavenly Earth Sword?”

Yixian smiled gently as she took slow glances at everyone before saying gently, “I refuse.”

Lingfeng smiled too. It was because she did not expect Yixian would adhere to her request. So she replied gently, “I understand…”

But Yixian interrupted with a gentle smile, “But on one condition though.”

Lingfeng was startled, “On what condition will you lend me?”

Yixian replied, “You must take us to the upper realm with you.”

Lingfeng was startled, “That’s impossible…”

Yixian sighed softly, “Normal ascension is impossible to take the Heavenly Earth Sword with you. When my celestial protégé mistress the Stellar Heaven Fairy had ascended, she couldn’t bring the Heavenly Earth Sword to the Ninth Heavens because of its weight. If I am not mistaken, you do know of another way but you are not telling us.”

Lingfeng was silent for a while. In the end, she could not fool the Celestial Fairy.

Even Lele, Lie Qing, Yujian and Meijian were astonished. “There is another way to the Ninth Heavens?!”

Yunzi and Youxue looked curiosity at Yixian…

Shen Xingyue was trembling. No one else other than her knows how arduous it was to reach her present state of divinity. She had been through many close encounters and even though she did not show it, she was even afraid to ascend.

It was not because she feared death. She feared losing Yi Ping and having to bear with an eternity of loneliness. Among the eight maidens, she had the highest state of divinity and she may be the first one to start the ascension. But of course, it was easily said than done and it may take her a long time.

Shen Xingyue asked, “Lingfeng, you know a way to get us all to the Ninth Heavens?”

Lingfeng froze and after a time, she nodded before saying solemnly. “Yes I know. But it is extremely dangerous. I come here via the Cosmos Stellar Formation and I can use the same formation to ascend back to the upper realm. However, I have never tried using the Cosmos Stellar Formation more than twice and in a scale like this.”

Yi Ping’s eyes were beaming and he said, “Quick, we can try!”

All of a sudden, the baby in Lele’s comforting arms was crying as though she could sense that her parents were about to abandon her.

Lele began to comfort her baby, “Poor child. Be quiet. You can understand huh?”

Yi Ping was overwhelmed with guilt all of a sudden.

Yixian looked at Shen Xingyue as they nodded silently.

The two of them were the most talented celestial practitioners of their generation. Out of ten celestials, only one or two may eventually ascended to the Ninth Heavens. And both of them hold the most promise.

Shen Xingyue said to Lingfeng, “Can you show us the Cosmos Stellar Formation? With so many of us here, it may not be difficult for us?”

Lingfeng sighed, “What is so good about reaching the upper realm? It may be a place that you may loath as time passes.”

Lingfeng was saying it from the bottom of her heart. In Beyond, all the Celestials guarded their celestial skills zealously, not wanting their rivals to overtake them. And the same goes for here too.

But not Lingfeng.

She began to explain the intricacy formulas of the Cosmos Stellar Formation to everyone.

Everyone was dumbfounded and at a loss to understand the Cosmos Stellar Formation.

Yi Ping had broken into cold sweat while Youxue and Yunzi had nearly fainted. It was because with their present state of divinity, it was still beyond them to apprehend it!

Even Shen Xingyue was silent!

After some hours, Yixian was the first to say. “This Cosmos Stellar Formation has similarities to the Celestial Star Formation. Look at this part here and this part.”

Lele and Lie Qing immediately exclaimed aloud, “That’s right!”

Lingfeng was surprised, “Even for me, I don’t understand these two parts of the formation. Is it possible for you to share with us on the intricacies of the Celestial Star Formation?”

Yixian nodded and she quickly drew the Celestial Star Formation on the ground and explained it. Even though she was a late comer to the Celestial Star Formation compared to Lele, she had grasped its intricacies quickly.

Shen Xingyue was astonished how readiness the Celestial Fairy and the Heaveness were willing to share with them two of the most extraordinary celestial formations. It was something that not even celestial protégés of the same clan would be privy to.

In the end, they discovered that they could use the Celestial Star Formation to move the Cosmos Stellar Formation at a considerable lower risk. Even if it failed, they would still able to stall the fallout of the Cosmos Stellar Formation and escaped from it if they were quick enough.

But there were another problem. In order to traverse from the Celestial Star Formation to the Cosmos Stellar Formation, they would need nine divine relics to act as catalyst for the transmigration for each one of them. The Heaveness was the exception because of her elevated state of divinity.

Yixian had the Heavenly Earth Sword, Shen Xinyue had her Blue Heavens Divine Sword, Yu’Er had her Harp Whisperer, Mei’Er had her Lyrical Whisperer, Lie Qing had the Perpetual Darkness and the White Phoenix Sword while Lele had the Divine Echo.

That was seven divine relics in total in their possessions!

In the end, they only needed to find two more divine relics. Divine and Celestial Swords were almost impossible to find so in the end they had turned their search towards the Heavenly Relics.



Ch73 End
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