The second Mars Star appeared suddenly and briefly, vanishing almost instantly.

The Earth Ghosts, each departing through the snowy night in the Imperial Capital, unanimously raised their heads to look. Qian Li, still standing before the Martial Academy gates, held his umbrella as he looked up, causing accumulated snow to slide off its surface.

Even the Earth Ghosts, far away in Eastern Yang, preparing to leave, gazed at the celestial stars and were surprised by their brevity.

Because the second Mars Star appeared in the northern sky, its momentary presence alarmed many people. Combined with its fleeting nature, everything matched the rumors about the Bei Dou Starlight Academy’s Headmaster, who would die upon breaking through his boundary.

Pilgrims had their subtle perceptions. Xiang An’ge could sense the same message transmitted through the wind and snow, glancing at the Bei Dou disciples beside him.

Qing Ying stared blankly at where the second Mars Star had disappeared, anxiety and fear spreading through her heart.

Dong Yeyun’s face turned pale, his mouth opening but unable to produce any sound.

Chen Zhou, for some reason, recalled the departing scene of the white-robed priest from the Phantom Wanderer tribe. He began to blame himself for not thinking more thoroughly, for not anticipating this earlier, for not rushing back then—

“I need to return,” Qing Ying said with a trembling voice.

Xiang An’ge looked toward her. Qing Ying choked back tears, saying, “Zixi taught me the teleportation formation, but I didn’t master it. I’ll study hard and remember how to do it… I need to go back to see my master.”

Her fingertips traced black curse runes in the air, star lines falling to the ground one by one.

Perhaps because the atmosphere was too sorrowful, affecting even him, Xiang An’ge felt somewhat uncomfortable.

He cared nothing for anyone’s death.

Yet this grief awakened many memories within Xiang An’ge. He glanced at Ming Li, who was being blocked by Shu Sheng and the others. Perhaps she was the one feeling the most regret and sorrow.

And the most anger.

Qing Ying and the others might still convince themselves it was coincidental, that it wasn’t necessarily Dong Yeshou.

But Ming Li knew with certainty that this Pilgrim, who had broken his boundary and died, appearing fleetingly in this world, was her father.

Xiang An’ge looked back at Qing Ying and noticed her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She seemed to be holding on with her last breath, refusing to give up hope until she saw with her own eyes.

But her hands forming the array were trembling.

Fine, he had promised Ming Li anyway.

Xiang An’ge raised his hand, drawing a star line toward Qing Ying, saying: “Tell me the connection points of the teleportation array runes you know. Your senior sister is busy now, I’ll send you there.”

Qing Ying raised her eyes, looking at him in surprise.

Xiang An’ge said lazily, “I learn faster than all of you.”

Chen Zhou and Dong Yeyun turned to look at him. Qing Ying sniffled, grabbing Xiang An’ge’s star line and speaking softly.

Dong Yeyun set Zhou Caicai down, extending his finger to tap the ground a few times, correcting some of Qing Ying’s mistakes and supplementing what she hadn’t learned.

Star lines rapidly rotated around Xiang An’ge, and as the two explained, he felt inwardly surprised—those who could conceive of such things were truly extraordinary.

Qing Ying said regretfully, “But I don’t know how to mark the teleportation destination. Teleportation requires a fixed location, or a clearly defined range.”

Chen Zhou recalled what Gu San had said about the Phantom Wanderers taking Bei Dou’s formation layout, and spoke hoarsely: “I’ll mark the Starlight Academy’s layout for you.”

Qing Ying looked at Dong Yeyun, wanting to ask why he could no longer draw star lines after his star meridian was destroyed. But the words caught in her throat as she only felt heartache and the urge to cry, so she looked away.

*

After Xiang An’ge understood how to set up the teleportation formation, he tossed a sound-transmitting stone to Ming Li before arranging the array.

Ming Li, standing on the palace wall, caught it.

“It’s too late to return to Bei Dou now,” Shu Sheng said gently. “The Mars Star extinguished too quickly, vanishing in an instant. This truly matches the rumors about your father—death upon boundary breakthrough.”

“To be forced to break his boundary by the Phantom Wanderers, it seems his wounds never healed, yet he deceived all of us at Bei Dou,” Cui Yaocen mocked. “He merely delayed his death by several years.”

Ming Li pocketed the sound stone and turned to look at Cui Yaocen behind her. At this moment, her cold eyes focused only on this Pilgrim: “You remind me—if not for you sending Yumei and others to attack Bei Dou years ago, causing his severe injuries that remain unhealed, he wouldn’t have needed to break his boundary today.”

With Dong Yeshou’s strength, he could have held on until Ming Li returned.

Cui Yaocen laughed coldly: “So what? He was simply less skilled, needing to break his boundary to—”

Before she finished speaking, Ming Li appeared before her. Cui Yaocen’s pupils dilated in shock—the speed was too fast, she hadn’t sensed it at all!

Cui Yaocen’s battle instincts raised her sword in defense. Ming Li’s finger touched the blade as her body moved in an eerie manner, a flash of red light passing through her eyes.

Eight Demon Eyes seal!

Cui Yaocen flashed away to dodge, cold sweat breaking out on her back. She had evaded, yet she felt a familiar pressure descending. She might dodge the first and second attacks, but what about the third or fourth?

When facing Ming Li in battle, her confidence eroded with time, becoming increasingly uncertain.

“You think with his death, you can still live?” Ming Li caught Cui Yaocen’s sword blade with her raised hand as the other swung her blade. Her voice was soft, but her gaze toward Cui Yaocen contained hints of murderous intent.

The second time!

Cui Yaocen had no time to counterattack and could only retreat.

The other two Pilgrims acted simultaneously. As Shu Sheng’s Creation and Destruction disrupted the natural energy flow around Ming Li, Yuan Lu coordinated, swinging his fist from behind Ming Li with his Myriad Gods Body. The first wind was about to brush past Ming Li’s cheek when, without even turning her head, she coldly said: “Get lost.”

The shattered mirror fragments rotated, reflecting Shu Sheng’s Creation and Destruction at him.

Yuan Lu was knocked away by a channeled Qi incantation that violently tore through his star power protection. Several mirror fragments surrounded and amplified this invisible channeled Qi incantation fivefold, making it impossible for Yuan Lu to dodge. He was instantly struck to the ground, creating a deep crater.

Yuan Lu felt his head buzzing, unable to rise for a moment.

Cui Yaocen glanced at the repelled Yuan Lu in disbelief. He possessed the Myriad Gods Body with Body Technique Meridian—even for a Pilgrim, it should be impossible to break through his protection with just one channeled Qi incantation!

Moreover, how could “Get lost” be considered an incantation?

Is this her strength after breaking through the boundary twice? Shu Sheng, beneath his mask, frowned unusually.

Perhaps he had made a wrong decision.

It seemed he had overestimated the Divine Oracle too much. In the end, it still couldn’t influence Ming Li or make her change.

Shu Sheng glimpsed Xiang An’ge below, who had already set up the formation. Their gazes met across the distance, and Xiang An’ge realized something when several channeled Qi incantations came killing toward them, slightly raising his eyebrow.

Xiang An’ge stepped forward, shielding everyone behind him. The image appearing around him wasn’t the ghostly purple light of the Eight Meridians Formation Technique, but a gentle green glow, bringing tender comfort, completely neutralizing the killing force of the incoming channeled Qi incantations.

In the end, what reached Xiang An’ge was merely a small gust of winter’s cold wind, stirring his clothes and hair.

The teleportation formation activated, transporting the people within to Bei Dou.

As Xiang An’ge’s group disappeared, Shu Sheng saw Princess Chang Xi holding Fang Hui hostage, looking up at him from below.

The young man and woman stood amid plum blossoms beneath the palace wall. Red plums and white snow framed the dangerous atmosphere between them, only adding to the sense of desolation.

Princess Chang Xi’s star lines encircled Fang Hui’s neck—a slight pull backward would sever his head.

Fang Hui was unusually disheveled, yet had no mind to struggle for his life, having abandoned all resistance.

Shu Sheng ceased engaging with Ming Li, instantly descending to the plum grove to stand opposite the pair. Though his tone was calm, it lacked his usual gentleness: “What is the meaning of this?”

“I know Fang Hui is important to you, and you wouldn’t bear his death.” Chang Xi’s eyelashes trembled slightly as she slowly looked at Shu Sheng, gazing at that white mask as if trying to see the person beneath. “Foster father, I only need you to tell me—was it you who killed the Empress?”

The massive battle sounds from the palace wall couldn’t affect the three people facing off in the flower grove.

Shu Sheng understood both children completely. Chang Xi appeared obedient and well-behaved, yet she was also incredibly persistent.

Because of his previous struggle with Ming Li, Shu Sheng had relaxed his vigilance over Emperor Wen Xiu. Now, hearing Chang Xi’s question, he knew the Emperor was already dead.

The death knell rang out at this moment, echoing throughout the Imperial Capital. Yet within the Imperial Palace, no one grieved for Emperor Wen Xiu’s death.

In the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince was awakened by the bell and asked A’Nu what had happened.

A’Nu looked outside, telling him to continue sleeping and go out only when daylight came.

The snow on the red plum branches was too heavy, and as it fell, Chang Xi heard Shu Sheng say: “Yes.”

Chang Xi’s hand gripping the star line tightened, her gaze fixed stubbornly on him as she asked: “Didn’t you once say she was under a curse, that someone had mixed something into that poisoned wine to trigger the curse and kill her?”

Shu Sheng said calmly, “That was just a lie directed at certain ministers in the Imperial Capital. I didn’t expect you would hear it.”

Chang Xi stood behind Fang Hui, silent for a moment before asking softly: “Why did you have to kill her?”

“I presume your father also told you that the Empress was an Earth Ghost,” Shu Sheng said. “I must kill Earth Ghosts and maintain the order of the Ancient Continent.”

“But she never harmed anyone, did she?” Chang Xi’s gaze trembled, her voice rising. “She only wanted to see me. Father had already decided to let her leave—”

Shu Sheng: “Your father had no right to decide an Earth Ghost’s life or death.”

Chang Xi was stunned at his words.

Indeed.

In this world, only Pilgrims could kill Earth Ghosts, who could resurrect.

“Besides, do you believe His Majesty truly decided to let the Empress leave? When he brought her into the palace, knowing her Earth Ghost identity, making her the Empress of Da Qin, he had already doomed this woman.” Shu Sheng spoke flatly. “You needn’t believe everything His Majesty said. He only wanted you to live in suffering.”

Chang Xi lowered her head, her expression sorrowful as she released the star line. “I may not believe many things he said, but you just confirmed what I care about most.”

She wasn’t a child yearning for Emperor Wen Xiu’s love, because the person she regarded as her father was Shu Sheng.

Chang Xi looked at Shu Sheng with grief-stricken eyes: “I am the child of an Earth Ghost. Why haven’t you killed me?”

Shu Sheng brought Fang Hui to his side with a sweep of his sleeve, saying: “You are the Princess of Da Qin, not an Earth Ghost.”

Chang Xi asked: “Is that all?”

Shu Sheng remained silent.

Chang Xi gripped the star disc in her hand. Star lines appeared on the ground, and pairs of Celestial Eyes opened on the plum petals. The entire Imperial Capital’s protective formation was awakened, with the power of the Eight Meridians stirring restlessly.

Shu Sheng raised his hand toward Chang Xi. Fang Hui grabbed his sleeve: “Stop!”

*

Yuan Lu finally stopped the buzzing in his head and managed to half-sit up. His feet were still numb, preventing him from standing, and even his palms were numb, unable to raise his arms.

What kind of monster was that?

Yuan Lu’s carefree attitude was gone, his gaze fearful as he looked toward Ming Li fighting with Cui Yaocen.

The two figures on the palace wall moved so fast that Yuan Lu could barely see them. He wasn’t sure if it was due to the previous strike, but he tried hard to blink, barely managing to track Cui Yaocen’s speed yet still unable to see Ming Li.

Cui Yaocen had used every spiritual technique she knew, but her opponent could use the same techniques. Thus, in battles between Pilgrims, after neutralizing each other’s star power, they relied on their unique divine miracle abilities.

Ming Li’s divine miracle ability, Dual Mirror, could reflect any spiritual technique while amplifying her spiritual powers—an almost unbeatable ability.

Forced back to the edge of the palace wall, Cui Yaocen had exhausted most of her star power. Facing Ming Li’s attacks, she had lost her confidence. The hair at her temples was soaked with sweat, though she hadn’t noticed, and she dared not take her eyes off Ming Li for even a moment.

“A Pilgrim with Eight Meridians at the peak boundary continues to flee pathetically.” Ming Li walked leisurely toward Cui Yaocen at the wall’s edge. “You should take a good look at yourself now. There’s not a trace of your former arrogance.”

As she spoke, several mirror fragments appeared around Cui Yaocen, startling her into tightening her grip on her sword.

The fragments reflected Cui Yaocen’s current pathetic state. She glanced at them and gritted her teeth in frustration.

“You’re only so reckless because you’ve awakened the Life Meridian,” Cui Yaocen said coldly.

“The Life Meridian only brings immortality, not the power that makes you flee so pathetically,” Ming Li mocked. “You also want to create a world with only Eight Meridians, but you don’t consider whether you’re worthy.”

Cui Yaocen said, “Creating a world with only Eight Meridians is the effort of countless Pilgrims and the only path to make this world better!”

Ming Li stopped walking, looking at her from three steps away: “It seems you’ve been heavily influenced by the Divine Oracle consciousness.”

Cui Yaocen gripped her sword, pointing its tip downward into the ground: “Self-centered people like you who never consider others and are content with the status quo are a disgrace to Pilgrims!”

The slender light sword transformed into a giant blade taller than a person. The sword intent swept across, shattering the surrounding dual mirrors. Countless blade arcs filled the space between heaven and earth, rushing toward Ming Li.

The sword moved with her heart.

Cui Yaocen’s killing intent was clear.

“I indeed shouldn’t have been content with the status quo. I should have killed all of you when I first broke through my boundary.” Ming Li stood motionless, her Creation and Destruction range expanding to shred all the blade arcs.

“After you die, I will raze Nan Que and Tai Yi. From today onward, there will be no Four Great Sects in this world, only Bei Dou.”

The young woman’s voice was calm in the fierce wind and snow, yet her eyes couldn’t suppress her murderous intent. As she raised her hand, she swiftly drew with the star line, blood droplets from her palm flying and congealing in mid-air.

Virtual manifestation.

These blood droplets were infinitely multiplied by the dual mirrors, almost covering the entire sky. When Ming Li raised her hand and pointed at Cui Yaocen, they exploded, releasing countless blood-colored long snakes that hissed and lunged with open mouths toward the person beside the giant sword.

The world in Cui Yaocen’s eyes became eerie and dangerous. What should have been a winter night with vast white snow suddenly turned blood-red.

The giant sword obeyed her will, slaying the flying blood-colored snakes. As Cui Yaocen hid behind the giant sword, trying to set up a formation, a snake from an exploding blood droplet, nearly invisible to the naked eye, bit her finger.

Under intense pain, she used a channeled Qi incantation to cut the snake, only to see Ming Li instantly appear before her. Fear magnified several times in her heart, and this time, Cui Yaocen couldn’t dodge.

Ming Li’s lightning fist struck her abdomen. Cui Yaocen was sent flying into the palace wall behind her, creating a huge crater and spitting blood continuously.

Cui Yaocen saw Ming Li instantly approaching her, but could no longer evade. Her heart screamed “no,” but Ming Li stepped on her shoulder, watching as she was torn apart by the blood-colored snakes.

The blood-colored snakes bit into Cui Yaocen’s flesh piece by piece, then spat it out. They devoured not just flesh and bones, but also her star power.

Even the giant sword was being consumed by the snakes, its sword cry changing from shrill to weak.

“You… Nan Que…”

Cui Yaocen looked at Ming Li with trembling pupils. It shouldn’t be like this! I’m also at the peak of the Eight Meridians! Why?

Why can she always stay one step ahead of me?

“They will bite off your flesh, tear apart your bones, and drain all your blood, just as you did to my junior sister.” Ming Li bent down, stepping on Cui Yaocen with increasing force, watching her scream in agony, her eyes now showing a pleading look.

“Nan Que… cannot…” Cui Yaocen could barely form a complete sentence due to the excruciating pain of being devoured, unable to stop screaming.

Ming Li laughed softly, crushing her eyeball with one finger: “Why can’t I touch Nan Que? When I kill you, must I consider how to make your family and friends live happily and peacefully after losing you?”

“Did you consider her senior brothers and sisters when you took my junior sister’s spiritual meridian?”

“Did your Nan Que consider the disciples who would lose them when you killed my Bei Dou Academy’s Headmaster and severely wounded my father?”

“How… dare… you…”

The blood-colored snakes hissed, amid Cui Yaocen’s screams, moving to kill Yuan Lu, who still couldn’t rise, and the Book Saint, who had his back to the palace wall.