Chapter 239: The past and Yang Ning

“How many family members did Shaman God Mountain find and bring back?”

This question caused the other previously joyful larks to fall silent for a moment.

After a long while, they finally spoke, answering, “Replying to Moon Goddess… None, not one remains.”

“Most of them died under the human emperor sword, and for the few who were rescued, Shaman God Mountain provided treatment, allowing many to survive. However, True Monarch has always told us not to trust Shaman God Mountain, saying that Shaman God Mountain harbors great ambitions, and these small favors are merely to win over people’s hearts.”

The larks hesitated, “Moon Goddess, we…”

Shen Shuibi, however, shook her head and spoke to them in a rare, steady tone:

“Don’t think so much. Just stay here. Shaman God Mountain does have ambitions, but it won’t harm your lives. It’s safer here than outside.”

“Mm-hmm.” The larks nodded repeatedly.

Then, as they traveled, they began to tell Shen Shuibi about what they had seen and heard at Shaman God Mountain.

However, these were all trivial matters, and as Shen Shuibi listened, her mind began to wander.

But this time, what came to her mind were not the familiar calculations, divinations, methods, or Yin and Yang hexagrams.

Instead, it was the final scene at Mount Luofu in the past.

At first, Mount Luofu was suddenly attacked.

Four Third Rank Supreme Beings descended, first knocking on the door, proclaiming an imperial decree, and accusing Mount Luofu of concealment.

The Sun-Moon True Lead Cauldron was enraged and was about to punish these Utmost Persons, but at that moment, the human emperor sword descended.

The Human Emperor, like the Shamanes, was a First Grade.

Moreover, he was much, much stronger than other First Grades.

The reason for this was simple: similar to the three major Dao Orthodoxy of Shaman Dao, namely the Zhu, Zong, and Bu, Humanity also had similar branches.

One of them was to gather the strength of many people for oneself, which was ‘official position.’

As long as one held a certain official position, one could immediately be promoted to the corresponding rank and gain the corresponding Divine Ability.

The official position path only required one to be worthy of their position and capable of fulfilling their duties.

In other words, it only had requirements for wisdom and administrative ability, which could effectively compensate for Tang Nation’s weakness in local official combat power.

However, each official position was actually limited in number. Official positions were not something that could be easily created. This was similar to a Gundam; anyone could pilot it, but Gundams could also be damaged and had manufacturing costs.

In addition to the official position system, Humanity also had its own path of ascent. One could cultivate without being an official. This path was called the Hundred Arts of Humanity.

Medical School, Confucian School, Agricultural School, Eclectic School, Military School of Thought—these were all part of the Hundred Arts of Humanity. One could still advance and possess their own unique abilities without relying on official positions.

But these could not be considered Dao Orthodoxy; they could only be said to be different branches of Humanity.

What would happen when a Cultivator of the Hundred Arts of Humanity path also held a corresponding official position of the same rank?

The answer was that he could possess several times the power of ordinary Cultivators of the same rank.

A Fifth Grade Military School of Thought Cultivator of Humanity, who was also conferred the Fifth Grade Youqi General.

Then any other Dao Orthodoxy, besides Martial Dao, would suffer greatly when confronting him head-on.

And Martial Dao would also be difficult to fight, because while Martial Dao might be evenly matched in a head-on confrontation, Humanity possessed numerous Divine Abilities, unlike those martial brutes.

This was the strongest form of Humanity.

The Human Emperor was like this.

He was not only a First Grade Sage, but also held an official position exclusive to himself.

Its name was ‘Heavenly Strategist Supreme General .’

Humanity had only four First Grade official positions in total.

Grand Tutor, Grand Guardian, Grand Commandant, known as the ‘Three Dukes,’ plus the First Grade official position ‘Heavenly Strategist Supreme General ’ exclusive to the Human Emperor.

The First Grade official position, combined with the Human Emperor himself, made him the top First Grade of his time, with no rivals.

There was no one in the entire world who could defeat him.

At least two great experts of the same rank would be needed to even slow him down.

Moreover, he also had a Second Grade Spiritual Artifact, the human emperor sword.

This surprise attack on Mount Luofu was a sword strike from the Human Emperor from afar.

To be precise, it was the human emperor sword, empowered by the Human Emperor’s magical power, that actively attacked.

After all, the human emperor sword was actually a Second Grade entity with its own consciousness, no less inferior than the Sun-Moon True Lead Cauldron.

And now it was supported by a portion of the Human Emperor’s magical power.

So when that sword light descended, in just an instant, it flattened all the defenses of Luofu Grotto Heaven.

Those usual Formations, natural barriers, Mount Luofu, which was said to be impregnable even if several Second Grades came to attack…

That Mount Luofu, surrounded by thirty-two heavens, where each heaven was a Fourth Grade miniature heaven and earth.

Was flattened by one sword strike.

The Sun-Moon True Lead Cauldron immediately acted to try and stop the human emperor sword. The two Second Grade Spiritual Artifacts clashed head-on, and it was expected to be a evenly matched struggle, but the outcome was that in just three breaths, the Sun-Moon True Lead Cauldron was directly pierced through.

The Great Dao it controlled was severed into two, and in the eight million worlds covered by the Sun-Moon True Lead Cauldron’s Great Dao, all the suns and moons fell.

Countless heavens wailed in sorrow. The Great Dao of the sun and moon within them was cut off, rules ceased to exist, and the sun and moon could not operate, naturally falling.

Even the sun and moon in the world shook.

The Human Emperor did not personally act, only providing magical power enhancement for the human emperor sword.

But it was these enhancements that allowed the human emperor sword to effortlessly cut through a Spiritual Artifact of the same grade.

Yet, the Sun-Moon True Lead Cauldron still held on for three breaths.

This gave Empress Luofu enough time to save as many people as possible, then burn the last of Mount Luofu’s foundations, and flee towards Shaman God Mountain.

Shen Shuibi saw it at the time.

The human emperor sword did not pursue, but instead left directly, for unknown reasons.

She was also surrounded by the Fifth Grades who appeared, and was affected by the aftermath, suffering extremely severe injuries.

Then Empress Luofu took them all and fled.

Several Third Rank Supreme Beings began to pursue.

After a day and a night of fighting, Empress Luofu was severely wounded, and the will of the Sun-Moon True Lead Cauldron was almost completely worn away. Only then did they finally reach the Shaman God Mountain territory.

Empress Luofu could no longer hold on, and Shen Shuibi voluntarily fell back to disperse the pursuers.

Many others also chose to fall back, no longer fleeing with Empress Luofu.

The casualties were heavy.

Fortunately, at this moment, Zhu Fengdan… that Grand Invoker suddenly appeared and repelled the Utmost Persons.

Empress Luofu also took the opportunity to hide herself.

It was then that Shaman God Mountain realized the situation of Luofu Grotto Heaven, and afterwards began to search for Empress Luofu.

It wasn’t until half a year later that Li Qi’s matter occurred.

Recalling up to this point, Shen Shuibi suddenly murmured, “Li Qi…”

“Ah? What did you say, Moon Goddess?” The larks tilted their heads and looked at Shen Shuibi.

“Oh, nothing.” Shen Shuibi shook her head.

Her concept of time was described by others as ‘closer to a plant.’

In the eyes of the other Fourth and Fifth Grades of Mount Luofu, Shen Shuibi’s time was basically like a moving flower or plant.

Someone once saw her squatting in place, thinking, and then not moving for a full fifteen years.

She would occasionally fall into contemplation, and a contemplation would last at least a week, often several years. If not for her having an immaculate body, never getting stained with dust or dirt, and always remaining clean, one couldn’t imagine what she would become…

Perhaps it was precisely this slow-paced life, where even a small matter required years of thought, that led to Shen Shuibi still maintaining her dazed appearance to this day.

This was a good thing in peacetime.

But now, it might not be a good thing…

Shen Shuibi gritted her teeth.

In the past two years, she had seen more things than in her previous thousand years combined.

She was born naturally immortal, as the essence of Yin nurtured by the Sun-Moon True Lead Cauldron. She had almost never been in contact with the outside world, always leisurely researching what she liked.

Undoubtedly, that period was happy and innocent. Under the protection of Empress Luofu, she lived many, many years of wonderful life.

No burdens, just doing what she liked freely.

It’s just different now.

She also had to grow up.

Li Qi taught her many things.

But she still had to work harder and couldn’t always leave things to others as before.

She had to shoulder a part of Mount Luofu’s burden, to support this family for the other family members before Moon Goddess awakened.

Just like Yang Ning was doing now.

This was very unfamiliar to her, but Shen Shuibi had already made up her mind to do it.

Moon Goddess once said that she had comprehended the true meaning of ‘natural.’

So now… let go of ‘natural.’

In the past, Moon Goddess created the space for her to be natural.

Now it was her turn to do so.

The nearly two years spent with Li Qi were the most time she had spent in the mundane world, and it also made her understand what responsibility was.

Moreover, she now had an even stranger feeling.

It was like…

It’s hard to describe, but there’s a sense of urgency, as if something is pushing her forward.

This made Shen Shuibi feel even more troubled.

But she couldn’t find where this feeling came from.

However, soon, Shen Shuibi arrived at the Immortal Cave.

Inside the Immortal Cave, there were several teleportation gates to Cave Heaven.

Although this spiritual peak was fifty miles in circumference, it was still not enough to accommodate the remnants of Mount Luofu.

For this, Shaman God Mountain dragged over several Cave Heaven for them to live in.

Upon arriving here, the larks all said to Shen Shuibi:

“True Monarch Chiqui is in the Immortal Cave ahead. The heat there is too intense; we would get hurt if we approached. Moon Goddess, please go by yourself. It’s right ahead.”

Shen Shuibi nodded, knowing that what they said was true.

Yang Ning needed to use the power of the Great Sun True Yang to heal.

These little larks couldn’t withstand the radiation of the Great Sun True Yang.

Besides… they probably wouldn’t dare to see Yang Ning anyway, given her bad temper.

The larks dispersed.

Shen Shuibi, on the other hand, walked alone into one of the Cave Heaven.

Upon entering, the surroundings were a Void Realm, with no living things, not even air.

Inside the Cave Heaven, there was only one Great Sun.

It should be a miniature heaven and earth specially made by Shaman God Mountain, with only one sun placed inside.

Upon arriving there, one suddenly felt a clear sky turn scorching hot, a deep and prolonged oppressive heat, with fierce fire power.

Suffering torment, the entire Universe was empty, blood Qi collided horizontally, and nostrils and mouths dried up.

Emitting firelight, forcing the sun, burning the Dantian, boiling the sea, burning with golden flames surging, and rolling waves crashing.

It was truly:

A crimson sun rises from the Void Realm, illuminating the central sky, the scenery distant and vast.

The true fire in the heavens cannot be extinguished, it scorches all things and emits light.

The size of this sun was very small, with a radius of only two hundred thousand miles, which could be said to be a tiny speck among suns, but it was still incredibly huge.

After all, it was a sun, so a large size was very normal.

Shen Shuibi felt very unaccustomed upon arriving here, but she stayed relatively far away and had also recovered to the Eighth Grade, so she could temporarily endure for a period of time.

Just as she had arrived here, in the extremely far distance where the sun was located, solar flares suddenly began to erupt.

The sun fell into violent fluctuations. This Great Fireball with a radius of two hundred thousand miles began to become active. A bubble erupted from beneath the sun, and in the chromosphere, a red ring appeared, with crimson tongues of fire dancing on it.

This single ring alone was thirty to forty thousand miles long.

There was a red cloud Qi beside the sun, like a crown or ear, called a solar flare.

The entire solar flare expanded rapidly outwards, erupting a full hundred thousand miles into the Void Realm, and then was pulled back by the Great Sun’s gravity, falling back onto the solar surface.

Such solar flare eruptions continued four or five times.

Then, from within that Great Sun, the largest solar flare to date suddenly erupted!

A large amount of solar material, under the influence of the upward thrust, directly soared one hundred fifty thousand miles into the air!

At this distance, the sun’s gravity could no longer pull back the extremely fast solar material. These solar flares carried countless fireballs and flew towards the Universe space.

However, at this moment, a golden-red bird, with a wingspan of tens of miles, directly spread its wings and soared into the air amidst the countless flames, its speed suddenly increasing, flying towards Shen Shuibi!

That large bird, with golden-red feathers, wrapped in a red halo, its body radiating incredibly dazzling light, like a second sun!

It was truly:

Crimson brilliance scatters, azure clouds open, illuminating myriad lives, abundant like a heap.

The Great Sun burns boundlessly, golden feathers shake the dawn, approaching heavenly might.

The Smelting Furnace (Hong Lu) hangs in the azure sky, the clear and tranquil Universe permeates the vast sky!

In space, the Golden Crow’s body grew smaller and smaller as it flew, gradually becoming only a little over a mile in wingspan.

But its speed did not decrease, but rather increased, drawing a golden line in the pitch-black space, as if it was dragging the sun forward through this golden line.

Its acceleration became faster and faster, and in a short while, it arrived beside Shen Shuibi.

When it reached Shen Shuibi, the large bird had already transformed into a wingspan of over a person, then melted into a ball of light, and then reshaped into a human form.

Her golden-red long hair was glowing, with a halo flowing.

Her fair wrists were adorned with golden bracelets, and three phoenix hairpins were on her head. Red light surrounded her on all sides, and she rode on colorful clouds.

She wore not a long dress, but a practical, close-fitting outfit, a common style for Tang Nation knights-errant.

Her face was beautiful, and her eyes were sharp.

Shen Shuibi’s eyes were slightly downcast, giving a first impression of being gentle and weak.

But Yang Ning was exactly the opposite; her eyes were upturned, and her demeanor was vibrant, making her seem like someone full of vigor and vitality.

When she finally stopped, the halo around her hair gradually faded, turning into ordinary black long hair.

She landed beside Shen Shuibi, intending to say something, but then she noticed that Shen Shuibi was somewhat different from before.

In the past, the rabbit was always immersed in her own world, so she always seemed to be in a daze.

But now, although Shen Shuibi was still gentle, there was a subtle hint of determination in her eyes.

“You… how did you become like this?” Yang Ning raised an eyebrow, her expression somewhat surprised.

I'm taking a day off tomorrow to go to the hospital.