Volume Five: The Quiet River of Past Lives Chapter 133

In the Jade Forest, cranes stood poised amidst drifting celestial clouds, the intoxicating fragrance of exotic fruits and flowers filling the air. Jin Li, seething with malevolence, emerged from the Immortal Banquet. Though she had intended to depart, she paused, standing upon the clouds and gazing back at the Jade Forest that floated majestically between the immortal palaces.

Her eyes were dark, and the final words of A-Mo echoed incessantly in her mind.

"The magical artifact that pierced Emperor Yao Cen was a divine weapon of the Heavenly Clan: the Moon-Glittering Ribbon."

"That day, I saw the Emperor embroiled in a dispute. A violent clash broke out between them, and I was struck down. Yet, even as I lost consciousness, I saw the Moon-Glittering Ribbon fluttering before my eyes."

"My Lady, I have failed you. I... I have no face to see A-Ran. My Lady, thank you."

She clutched a xun in her palm. Her clear eyes were instantly clouded by a surge of hatred.

At that moment, she gripped her long sword. Having already broken through to the second stage of the Xuan-Yin realm, Ling Han, she struck the Jade Forest with a ferocious slash. The massive sword intent transformed into a soaring fire phoenix.

The Jade Forest collapsed instantly, the immense structure crumbling like dry soil. As the debris rained down, Jin Li waved her hand to shield herself, then turned and departed. This place of indulgence deserved destruction, but she would not harm the innocent.

Upon arriving at the Sacred Domain of Heaven, she went straight to the altar. The space was filled with the lingering traces of true-being teleportation incantations, the holy light shining brighter than ever. She gazed at the blessings inscribed on the pillars by various immortals.

She extended her hand and pushed forward with sudden force. A massive golden gate appeared in the previously vacant space, slowly creaking open to greet her. The sheer power of the divine essence flooding from within hit her with such force that she was compelled to take a few steps back.

Nevertheless, she waved her hand and transformed into a wisp of smoke, slipping inside.

Along a transparent, glowing path, golden vines coiled around crystal pillars, each containing the same thing: the divine essence of a fallen Emperor. Jin Li placed Tu Shan Yan’s divine essence into one of the crystal pillars. As the essence entered, the pillar was instantly enveloped in winding vines that began to sprout, blooming into brilliant, crimson flowers at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Mother, I will uncover the truth and expose the conspiracy between the Heavenly Clan and the Demon Clan.

She took one final, lingering look at Tu Shan Yan’s essence and turned to leave. Just then, she was surrounded by a thread of golden-blue celestial light, so faint it seemed ready to vanish at any moment.

What was it guiding her toward?

Though suspicious, Jin Li followed her intuition. After passing through many divine pillars, the ethereal strand of light vanished. Just as she was beginning to wonder, she looked up and noticed that while the surrounding pillars were empty, one stood out as if it did not belong.

It did not contain divine essence, but a single fragment of bone. It was impossible to tell what creature it had belonged to. As Jin Li stood in confusion, a celestial projection shimmered into existence before her.

The figure was dressed in long, elegant robes. Judging by the style, one could not identify which deity it was, but the star patterns on the hem of the robe were all too familiar. They were the same patterns she had seen on the person who saved her when she had nearly met her end.

Who was this?

The figure slowly opened his eyes. Jin Li’s heart trembled violently. Those peach-blossom eyes—they were so similar, so hauntingly familiar...

"Lady Lian."

The figure spoke softly. Even though he was but a celestial projection, manifested through a lingering obsession, how could he know her?

"Who are you?"

The man had a kind expression, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I am Geng Xun, God of the Four Seas."

Geng Xun? The Sea God? The ancient Emperor An Xun! Geng Yuan’s father!

"You are Geng Yuan’s father? The ancient Sea God?"

The man lowered his gaze slightly, as if pondering the name Geng Yuan. "So, you named him Yuan," he whispered. Jin Li could sense the joy hidden in his voice.

But why was the Sea God here? And what of the Shark Demon?

"Emperor An Xun, did you summon me for a reason?"

As Jin Li asked, Geng Xun raised his eyes, nodding with an expression full of appreciation and approval. "The Lady is wise and righteous, her original heart ever constant. This is a blessing for the Six Realms. The answer you seek may perhaps be found in the Li Demon Heaven."

Li Demon Heaven? The territory of the Demon Clan?

"Emperor, please enlighten me."

"My true body is trapped in the Phantom River, my soul scattered. A fragment of my shark bone remains here. It was out of gratitude for Emperor Yao Cen’s kindness that I was able to manifest this shadow to meet you. The way of the world is defined by balance; this balance must not be broken."

"Then what must I do?"

"Li Demon Heaven, Emperor Jiu Xuan."

Suddenly, the shark bone fragment vibrated violently, and Geng Xun’s figure flickered and blurred. Seeming to know his end had come, he spoke softly: "What we of our generation could not achieve, your generation surely will. I have finally waited for this day, and I have no regrets before my comrades."

With those words, he closed his eyes and slowly vanished. The bone fragment within the pillar fell, turning into mere specks of celestial dust. The ancient Sea God had fallen here.

Geng Yuan.

Jin Li’s eyes grew red and moist. She raised her hand and offered a deep, respectful bow in the direction where the Sea God had faded away.

I will guard this balance.

***

A month later, Jin Li appeared in Li Demon Heaven.

Li Demon Heaven, Emperor Jiu Xuan?

The disappearance of Emperor Jiu Xuan was a cold case across the Six Realms. Yet, in the "Floating Life of Tian Yu" (Kunlun), she had clearly seen the Emperor fall and vanish. How could he appear here? Could it be that, like the Sea God, his true body was being controlled by the Demon Clan?

Regardless, she had to investigate Li Demon Heaven thoroughly.

Following the memories from the Kunlun vision, she searched for the ferry crossing, but all that met her eyes was a desolate, parched wasteland. She knelt and picked up a stone; it crumbled at the slightest touch. It seemed this place had been dried up for a long time.

She gazed across the vast landscape. The layers of demonic barriers made it impossible to get close. The terrain was complex and ever-changing; after hundreds of years, everything that should—and should not—have changed had done so. If she wandered blindly, she might exhaust her celestial energy and die before even finding the entrance to the Demon Palace.

It would be better to inquire for information.

Jin Li arrived at the most well-informed villa in Li Demon Heaven. She remembered the Demon Lord Shi Xin bringing Tian Yu here. It had been a bustling place, famous for its intelligence network.

But now, it was a hollow shell, crumbling and desolate, with only a few elderly folk leaning on canes to survive.

"Here, the bread and water you asked for."

"Thank you, Granny."

The simple teahouse was run by an old woman. Perhaps she had not seen a fresh face in a long time, for she lingered on Jin Li with a curious gaze before hurrying back inside. Passersby looked at her with astonishment.

Puzzled, Jin Li suddenly felt a surge of alertness. Her eyes darted toward a gap in the wall, but the shadow that had been there vanished in a flash.

Who was it?

She rose, intending to give chase, but the old woman came back out to collect the bowls. Jin Li seized the opportunity to ask, "Granny, are you the only one running this teahouse?"

The old woman, wearing a thick headscarf that obscured half her face, leaving only a pair of cloudy eyes visible, did not speak. She simply nodded slowly and returned to her chores.

What had happened here?

She knew that Li Demon Heaven favored black and purple, so she had specifically dressed in dark purple attire, but it seemed useless now. She left a piece of celestial stone on the table and prepared to leave. The old woman emerged again, looked at the stone, and slapped it to the ground.

"Granny? What’s wrong? Is this not acceptable payment?"

The old woman remained silent, wiping the table.

Then someone spoke: "This is Li Demon Heaven. Do you really think the Demon Clan would want the treasures of the Celestial Clan?"

Jin Li turned to see an old man with a flowing white beard. The terrifying part was that one of his eye sockets was empty.

The old man laughed. "Forgive my appearance." He lowered his head, covering the hollow eye with a rough cloth, and shouted to the old woman, "Mother of Lima, bring me two flatbreads and a pot of hot water."

The old woman seemed to hear him, yet gave no reply. The old man didn't mind. He sat down and scrutinized Jin Li. "You, you’re from the Immortal Realm, aren't you?"

Jin Li glanced down at her attire. There was nothing wrong with it.

"Heh, whether someone is from the Demon Clan or not, I can tell at a glance."

Was it really that obvious?

Jin Li sat across from the old man and asked, "How did you know?"

"How? Look around you. It’s a ghost town, a discarded city. There are only a few dying old souls left. You are wearing demonic attire, but you aren't one of them. You look more like someone from the Heavenly Clan."

The old man had only one eye, but it was filled with sharp, calculating intelligence. He was no ordinary person.

"Since the senior knows, could you tell me what happened here?"

To her surprise, the old man laughed with disdain. "As a member of the Heavenly Clan, you don't know what happened here?"

What did he mean?

"I truly do not know."

The old man crossed his arms, his tattered coat mended with patches, his gray hair held up by a twig. "The Heavenly Clan slaughtered the city. You at least know that, don't you?"

When?

"When did this happen?"

"It seems you really don't know. What? Are you too young, or is your cultivation too low?" Jin Li caught the sarcasm in his voice.

"Perhaps both. This is my first time leaving the immortal mountains. I came to Li Demon Heaven to gain some experience, but I am unfamiliar with these paths. I ask for your guidance, Senior."

Perhaps the flattery worked. The old man stroked his beard before saying, "Fine, I’ll enlighten you."

The flatbreads arrived, smelling delicious, but the old man’s gaze dimmed as he looked at them.

"After the Supreme Lord was sealed, Li Demon Heaven submitted a letter of surrender to the Nine Heavens, retreating beyond the Li River and the Weak Water. That Great War between Heaven and Demons caused heavy casualties. We thought that once we retreated, we would be left to live in peace, but fate is unpredictable..."

"What happened?"

"Li Demon Heaven suffered a Heavenly Punishment..."

The old man’s eyes filled with endless sorrow. He lowered his gaze to the bread, falling into a sudden, deathly silence, like a statue carved in stone. Perhaps he was reliving the Heavenly Punishment, or perhaps he was thinking of the Great War that day.