The ethereal ice dragons protecting Bei Dou finally dispersed into flying snow and vanished into the heavens by nightfall of the second day.
This was precisely when Dong Yeshou had anticipated Ming Li and the others would return.
The persimmons in Tian Xuan Hall, unable to withstand this unusual frost and snow, had fallen all over the ground.
Chen Zhou distributed the sweet potatoes that Dong Yeshou had roasted to Qu Zhuyue and the other hall masters. He sat in the room, gazing at the remaining persimmons for a long while before finally rising in silence to continue the unfinished tasks of his master.
The children who had previously scattered to various places had returned, while those who had always remained in Bei Dou had departed.
Those who returned processed their inexpressible sorrow and anger in solitude. They had too many matters to attend to and couldn’t afford to indulge in grief for too long.
The dome of Broken Star River was a pitch-black rock wall. The entire space was illuminated solely by thousands upon thousands of glowing life stars in the river.
The black dragon statue beneath the river waters moved slowly and silently.
Ming Li had already stayed in Broken Star River for two days and two nights.
At first, Dong Yeyun had accompanied her. Though he could no longer speak, he could still respond to Ming Li’s questions through voice transmission talismans.
Later, Dong Yeyun was called away to treat star meridians, leaving Ming Li alone in Broken Star River.
Everyone knew better than to disturb her at this time.
When people of Bei Dou died, their life stars fell and became scales, landing on the black dragon statue and merging with it, continuing to protect Bei Dou.
Her father and countless elders were all here.
Ming Li spoke to the ever-moving black dragon statue that would never stop, using the same tone as when she used to chat casually with her father, discussing ordinary or extraordinary matters.
In the past, after she broke through boundaries and learned about the life meridians, she had first told Dong Yeshou about it.
But even her father couldn’t remember.
Ming Li had mentioned more than once that whenever she felt hesitant, she would go chat with her father. Even though her father couldn’t remember or respond with answers, she would still find her heart calming down again.
Influenced by Chang Yu Su, Dong Yeyun had vaguely realized part of the truth, though not all of it. This explained his nuanced attitude toward the Ghost Tribe and why he had told these things to his and Chang Yu Su’s children, trying to help them avoid risks.
In the end, what was meant to happen would happen; it was unavoidable.
Ming Li had spoken about this to many people around her—her father, brother, fellow disciples—but no one could remember. She could only strive on her own, finding ways to resist by herself.
Unlike Xiang An’ge, who was alone and didn’t care whether anyone in this world lived or died, Ming Li had the entire Bei Dou Sect behind her, along with dear friends and family she wanted to protect.
The black dragon statue swam toward Ming Li, who stood at the edge of Broken Star River. Ming Li crouched down, curling into a small ball.
In her hand, she held a sound-capturing stone left by Dong Yeshou. It recorded his conversation with the golden-robed priest of the Wandering Tribe, telling Ming Li that the whereabouts of her junior disciple Zhou Zixi were related to the Wandering Tribe. If she wanted to find her junior disciple, she would need to go to the thirty-three tribes of the Northern Border.
The golden-robed priest had been severely injured and taken away by a teleportation formation. According to Qu Zhuyue and the others, his injuries were too severe, and he probably wouldn’t live much longer.
Ming Li watched the black dragon statue swimming toward her and slowly extended her hand. Her fingertips touched the cold water surface but could go no further. The black dragon gazed at her from beneath the water—separated by a single layer of water, the distance between life and death.
The black dragon silently swam away.
Perhaps it was the dead who didn’t want the living to dwell in sorrow and attachment, which was why Broken Star River maintained such a clear boundary.
Ming Li slowly withdrew her hand, lowering her gaze to watch the black dragon statue move farther and farther away from her.
A shadow fell, reflecting on the water’s surface. Ming Li turned her head to see the elderly Bei Dou Sect Leader appearing silently on the shore, his gaze calmly following the black dragon statue underwater.
As Ming Li tried to stand, the Sect Leader pressed a hand on her shoulder to stop her. She said softly, “Sect Leader.”
“I went to the Northern Border some time ago and met that young Wandering Tribe chief. He’s the one who united the thirty-three tribes that had been suspicious of each other and fighting amongst themselves,” the Bei Dou Sect Leader spoke neither hurriedly nor slowly, making Ming Li listen patiently. “Many years ago, a Heart Meridian disciple from Bei Dou went to sow discord among the thirty-three tribes of the Northern Border, preventing them from entering the Inner City for many years. Since then, successive Bei Dou Sect Leaders may not have been Eight Meridian Masters or even Eight Meridian Awakened, but they must all be Heart Meridian Peak experts.”
Ming Li knew about this.
The current Bei Dou Sect Leader was neither an Eight Meridian Master nor an Eight Meridian Awakened, but he was at the peak of the Heart Meridian realm. In the current Tonggu Continent, no one could match him in controlling the “heart intent.”
While others pursued the Eight Meridians throughout their lives, the Bei Dou Sect Leaders pursued only the Heart Meridian peak.
Yet such Heart Meridian peak masters carried a lifelong responsibility—to continue using their Heart Meridian power to influence the thirty-three tribes of the Northern Border, keeping them in endless internal strife and mutual slaughter.
The Bei Dou Sect Leader sighed lightly, his gaze continuously following the black dragon statue. “The people of the Northern Border are Eight Meridian Masters from birth. That place is a world of only pilgrims.”
Ming Li lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly. This was something she had learned when she died last time and only remembered after her second breakthrough.
“Although they are Eight Meridian Masters from birth, their strengths still vary,” Ming Li recalled. “Just like us cultivators—compared to those without training, after cultivation and practice, the techniques and strength of using power are not equal.”
Moreover, she had another suspicion.
The Bei Dou Sect Leader nodded and continued, “Though we share the same continent, that place seems enveloped by a strange power. Born pilgrims—it seems like a place and people blessed by the divine.”
“If all people of the thirty-three tribes of the Northern Border united, under the attack of countless pilgrims, the people of the Inner City would find it difficult to defend. Many would die, and the Inner City people would have no chance of winning.”
“The pilgrim who broke the stalemate years ago used the ‘intent’ of the Heart Meridian to control the ‘intent’ of the thirty-three tribes, making them suspicious of each other, engaged in endless internal strife, unable to reach consensus. Thus, they retreated in defeat back to the Northern Ghost Plains.”
Successive Bei Dou Sect Leaders had inherited this mission, using their Heart Meridian power to resonate with the stars above, covering the Northern Ghost Plains with this power. When the thirty-three tribes absorbed the star power from heaven and earth, this force would seize the opportunity to enter.
The Bei Dou Sect Leader sighed, guilt appearing in his eyes. “After all these years, due to my insufficient strength, variables have appeared, bringing countless storms.”
Ming Li replied, “It’s not that your strength is insufficient, but that the thirty-three tribes finally produced a true Eight Meridian master.”
As she spoke, she tilted her head to look at the Bei Dou Sect Leader, but froze when she noticed blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
“Some secrets can only be revealed at death,” the Bei Dou Sect Leader smiled at her lovingly before looking back at the black dragon statue. “Since the war with the Northern Ghost Plains five years ago, I’ve been trying to figure out what went wrong, often investigating near the Northern Ghost Plains. All sect affairs were managed by A’shou and the others.”
“When I sensed changes in Bei Dou and wanted to return, I was intercepted by the chief of the Wandering Tribe. He seemed impatient with my years of surveillance and finally decided to take action.”
The Bei Dou Sect Leader coughed, large patches of blood seeping through his clothes.
“Fighting him made me understand… within the Northern Ghost Plains, one should never lightly use Heart Meridian power.”
Ming Li’s eyelids twitched as she instantly recalled the scene of the great fire burning in the Northern Ghost Plains years ago.
The Bei Dou Sect Leader sat cross-legged on the shore, raising his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth. “Whether now or in the future, you have many tasks to accomplish. Therefore, I’ve passed the position of the new Sect Leader to your Aunt Qu.”
Qu Zhuyue was the strongest Heart Meridian cultivator among the hall masters. According to custom, passing the Bei Dou Sect Leader position to her would not be opposed by anyone.
“While my Heart Meridian power still has some suppressive effect on them, go do what you wish to do,” the Bei Dou Sect Leader said softly, watching the black dragon statue. “Regarding your father, don’t be too sad. Although we are extremely reluctant to part with him, since your mother left, he has always been lonely. Perhaps this is what he wanted most.”
“I’ve guarded for so many years; it’s time to go meet those old friends.”
He smiled slightly and lowered his head.
For the Bei Dou Sect Leader, he knew nothing of life meridians or divine prophecies. All he had to do in his lifetime was to stop the thirty-three tribes who wanted to flatten the Inner City and kill all non-Eight Meridian Masters.
This was also what successive Bei Dou Sect Leaders had to do.
Ming Li saw another life star fall, caught by the swimming black dragon.
Everyone had their responsibilities and made choices to protect what they wanted to protect.
Ming Li also had to make choices repeatedly for the people she wanted to protect.
She would do anything to save Zhou Zixi, and if she couldn’t save him, she would exhaust all her strength to avenge him.
By the third night, Ming Li finally left Broken Star River.
*
Northern Ghost Plains, Wandering Isle.
Several high mountains outside the city were dyed with intermingling pink, white, and blue colors from unknown flowers. Rare birds and beasts freely roamed in the deep mountains, either standing on branches, hiding in decayed leaves, or lurking in dense cave openings on the cliff faces, quietly observing changes in the outside world.
The overlapping high mountains formed a pagoda shape. A purple snake quietly poked its head out from a cave entrance, saw the bright sunshine outside, and quietly retreated.
The bright spring sunshine, however, could not penetrate the deep underground world beneath the cliff face.
On the circular altar above the steps, there were several columns on both sides with iron chains that wrapped around the black shadow at the center of the altar’s pile of bones.
Though sunlight couldn’t penetrate here, when the black shadow raised its head, it could see the gloomy, dismal dark clouds.
Standing at the edge of the altar, Qiu Lang slightly raised his head and addressed Zhou Zixi, whose limbs were wrapped in iron chains: “You’re standing quite high.”
Zhou Zixi flexed his wrists and looked down at him: “Come up and try it yourself.”
Qiu Lang didn’t move, his peripheral vision sweeping toward several people standing at the gap on the left side of the altar.
One was dressed like a frail scholar, with a white mask covering his face marked by two blood-red streaks. His aura was imperceptible, making him seem like an ordinary person easily overlooked at a glance.
Shu Sheng had brought Fang Hui to the distant Northern Ghost Plains, and beneath the Grievance Pagoda Mountain of Wandering Isle was an important tool for creating their new world.
Qiu Lang’s gaze passed over Shu Sheng and Fang Hui, landing on another young man.
This young man also wore white clothes, but they hung loosely on him. With his handsome features caught between a smile and not, he tilted his head to look at Qiu Lang. In that instant, his eyes changed to vertical pupils, but Qiu Lang averted his gaze before meeting them.
“Qiu Lang, is there something you want to ask?” the young man said with a smile.
“No,” Qiu Lang replied flatly.
The young man touched his brow bone and looked up at Zhou Zixi, standing on the pile of bones. His vertical pupils disappeared as he smiled and said, “Your unauthorized escape has caused me quite a bit of trouble, forcing me to have your friends bring you back.”
Qiu Lang said with disgust: “I’m not his friend.”
Zhou Zixi looked in the young man’s direction, looking down at him condescendingly.
Unlike his shadow form, Zhou Zixi had a broken arrow wrapped in black threads at his waist. The arrowhead was wrapped in black threads and attached to his clothing, while the arrow tail lay at his feet.
The young man said to Zhou Zixi: “While there’s still some time, talk more with your friend.”
“Are you the one who decides the time?” Zhou Zixi asked coldly.
The young man smiled and said, “Of course.”
“If I recall correctly, your so-called ‘still some time’ requires me to be alive, not dead.” Zhou Zixi raised his hand, and the broken arrow at his feet floated up and flew into his hand. “If I die, you’ll never have another chance.”
The young man also raised his hand toward him, smiling with narrowed eyes: “Do you think you’ll kill yourself first, or I’ll capture you first?”
Qiu Lang watched Zhou Zixi’s movements without speaking.
Shu Sheng said gently, “On the night you were captured and brought back, Dong Yeshou also broke through boundaries.”
Zhou Zixi glanced at him, showing no expression.
Shu Sheng continued: “It was because of the teleportation formation you created that the golden-robed priest had the opportunity to force Dong Yeshou to break through boundaries and die. Bei Dou now knows about this and can certainly connect it to you. They might think you’re collaborating with the Wandering Tribe of the Northern Border and consider you a traitor.”
“Their impression of the Ghost Tribe will change again, and they’ll start to detest and hate the existence of ghosts because you caused the death of their respected master and father.”
The young man who had raised his hand turned to rub his nose, sighing: “You are talkative.”
Zhou Zixi’s expression remained unchanged.
Shu Sheng said, “If it were the previous you, you would have been overwhelmed with pain and regret. But look at yourself now—learning that you caused the death of Ming Li’s father doesn’t bring you the slightest pain. What kind of inhuman monster still has the face to live?”
Qiu Lang looked at Shu Sheng with furrowed brows: “Are you sick? Trying to force him to die right now?”
The young man waved his hand at Qiu Lang, laughing: “Ignore him, ignore him.”
Shu Sheng was testing whether Zhou Zixi had regained some humanity after contact with Ming Li and the others. Every word he spoke carried Heart Meridian power. Although he thought it unlikely, it was better to be cautious.
“I don’t care who dies; it’s not my fault,” Zhou Zixi said, staring at Shu Sheng with a hint of a smile. “As for you, every word you say is so nauseating it makes one want to vomit. Listening to you is truly torture. If I had to keep listening, I’d rather die.”
As he finished speaking, the broken arrow spun once on the back of his hand before he gripped it. Qiu Lang, who had been constantly monitoring Zhou Zixi’s state, instantly used Shadow Step to move forward. At the same time, the young man raised his hand again, and together with Shu Sheng, they conjured two Qi Circulation word spells to shatter the broken arrow.
Zhou Zixi’s lips curved slightly. Although the broken arrow had left his hand and fallen, a piece of star script glowing with purple light flew from his fingertips. The arrowhead tied at his waist felt the summoning; the black threads broke, and the sharp arrowhead flew straight toward Zhou Zixi’s heart.
Shu Sheng cast another Qi Circulation word spell, but it was blocked by the star script. When the young man used Shadow Step to move forward, he too was blocked by the star script. Only Qiu Lang, who had already reached the bone pile, drew his blade to slash at the broken arrow, but Zhou Zixi mercilessly whipped him in the face with an iron chain, sending him flying.
The arrowhead had already pierced Zhou Zixi’s heart. Everything happened in an instant, and both the young man and Shu Sheng changed expressions immediately.
“There’s something you need to understand clearly,” Zhou Zixi grabbed the broken arrow that was trying to pierce through his heart. Blood stained his chest and clothes as he slowly raised his eyes to look at the three people suspended in mid-air with Shadow Step. With a cold, eerie smile, he said: “Whether I live or die, I decide.”