To Southern Xinjiang, Chasing the Moon

Hearing the young girl speak these words softly, Li Mo's heart skipped a beat.

He couldn't help but recall the evaluation given by his Heavenly Fate Divine Eye:

‘A destiny fraught with trials.’

‘Yet one day, she will soar across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.’

She was the Phoenix Heavenly Empress, destined to defy fate and spread her wings.

The Qingyuan Sect might be her starting point, but it would never—and should never—be the cage that confines her.

It seemed sudden, but upon reflection, had it not been for waiting for tonight’s fireworks, she might have already left long ago.

And yet.

She said she would retrieve the wish he had made.

Li Mo gazed at the graceful girl, only to see her beautiful eyes deep and serene, devoid of any arrogance about her impending departure, nor any fear—just tranquility and gentleness.

Like the ever-shining moon that had always illuminated his path.

"Ice Block."

"The Southern Border is the domain of demonic beasts. There’s no benefit in you going, only unnecessary danger," Ying Bing murmured softly.

Li Mo shook his head. "Where did that meteor fall?"

"Guess?"

"When are you leaving?"

"Not telling you."

"Alright, I never said I was going with you."

"I’ll leave when it’s time."

Ying Bing’s jade-like lips parted slightly, her gaze flickering to the red thread tied around the young man’s wrist.

Perhaps after a meal, perhaps at dawn—she truly didn’t know when she would depart, nor did she know exactly where the Jade Phoenix Divine Meteor had landed.

But... though her destination was uncertain, knowing where she would return was enough.

......

The main hall of the tavern.

By the time Li Mo finished his dual cultivation session, it was already the next morning. The tavern was unusually quiet today.

Second Xu swept the floor—now promoted to manager of the hall (and still doubling as a waiter).

Murong Xiao remained seated in his usual spot, though a few more incense sticks had been added to the burner. Strangely, someone had also piled up yesterday’s leftover dishes beside him, along with several bottles of wine.

Hmm...

Seems the beautiful master had a good time drinking last night—otherwise, those bottles wouldn’t have survived.

Li Mo casually picked up one and took a sip.

"Brother Murong, a peaceful life requires the strength to weather storms, don’t you think?"

"If I were at the Ninth Realm right now, a single mighty aura would make the demonic beasts of the Southern Border obediently hand over what Ice Block wants."

"Mind asking the Buddha for me?"

Murong Xiao: "......"

As the two chatted, Li Mo suddenly tensed, turning his head.

Though his spiritual sense was now formidable, he hadn’t detected the newcomer until he heard footsteps.

Standing there was an elderly monk in patched robes, his long white eyebrows hanging low—an unassuming ascetic at first glance.

"Amitabha," the old monk intoned.

"Master, are you here for alms?"

"Amitabha."

No matter what Li Mo asked, the monk only repeated the sacred chant.

Li Mo’s brow arched slightly as a cryptic light flickered in his eyes.

[Name: Hengyuan]

[Age: 82]

[Root Bone: Thousand-Hand Technique, Buddha’s Golden Bones.]

[Realm: Sixth Heaven of External Scenery.]

[Fate: Blue tinged with Purple.]

[Evaluation: Chief of the Discipline Hall at the Hanging Temple. Has practiced the Vow of Silence for fifty years.]

[Recent Events: Commissioned by the Southern Border King, uncovered the Demon-Summoning Sect’s plot. Tracking Chang Bolong to Yunzhou in search of the ‘Prospective Divine Child.’]

Li Mo set down the Twin Hearts Bell in his arms.

The Hanging Temple was the orthodox Buddhist sect of the Southern Border, its reputation rivaling even the Cloud-Slicing Sword City.

Prospective Divine Child...

Li Mo glanced at Murong Xiao, who sat there solemnly like a bodhisattva.

"Master, are you here for him?"

"Amitabha..."

The old monk Hengyuan nodded slightly, his gaze benevolent.

"But he’s a disciple of the Qingyuan Sect. I can’t let you take him."

Li Mo spoke firmly.

Hengyuan shook his head, chanting again. Strangely, though he said nothing, his intent carried no malice.

Even when Li Mo subtly activated his Lunar Spirit Sense, he sensed no hostility.

The old monk approached Murong Xiao, his eyelids twitching slightly at the sight of the ‘offerings’ laid before him.

Then, he began reciting Buddhist scriptures in a measured tone.

Soon after,

A golden glow—akin to the Golden Bell Shield—emanated from Murong Xiao’s body, yet within it, the faint silhouette of a sinuous dragon emerged.

As the scriptures continued, the dragon seemed to stir slowly from slumber.

"Bloodline power... similar to divine intent, yet not entirely the same..."

Li Mo understood.

The old monk was using esoteric Buddhist methods to hasten Murong Xiao’s awakening, so he remained silent.

Moments later,

Though Murong Xiao still hadn’t woken, a glance with the Heavenly Fate Divine Eye revealed he was no longer in deep slumber.

[Recent Events: Received a letter from his parents and returned to the Southern Border to visit. After an accident, his Mingjiao bloodline awakened, plunging him into dormancy. Now suppressed by the monk’s power, he will awaken soon.]

With this done,

Hengyuan withdrew his gaze from Murong Xiao, giving Li Mo a profound look before departing soundlessly.

Li Mo stood frozen, frowning.

He had a feeling he would meet this old monk again.

......

Three days later.

Autumn deepened. At dusk, when the sun had not fully set and the moon not fully risen,

The faint dark light shimmering around Li Mo grew more subdued. Outwardly, he seemed unchanged, but his physique was now incomparable.

Extreme Soldier’s Slaughter Body—perfected.

Dinner was a lively affair, as always—though everyone’s ‘liveliness’ differed.

Shang Wu gulped down fine wine, Princess Little Jiang polished the broken sword Li Mo had bought her, the blade humming softly in her grip.

Qian Bufan wielded his chopsticks like lightning, eating and talking without pause.

Murong Xiao...

Murong Xiao’s silence was deafening!

"We’ll be setting off soon," Qian Bufan announced, wiping his mouth contentedly. After staying in Yunzhou so long, there were matters awaiting them back at the sect.

"Old Qian, let’s take the war vessel back," Shang Wu suggested, her apricot eyes glazed with drink.

"What for? Two spirit crystals a pop—you think money grows on trees?"

"Tch—"

"It’s not too far anyway. I’ve got pill deliveries to make in a few cities along the way."

"I’ll be distributing the latest The Tyrannical Empress Falls for Me in those cities too."

Seemed everyone had their own tasks for the journey.

"Setting off..."

Li Mo listened to the chatter, his gaze drifting to the empty spot beneath the tree. A sudden realization struck him.

She was here just moments ago...

Young Li sprinted out of Yulong Street, chasing all the way to the lakeside intersection.

There, under the fiery hues of twilight, the girl’s slender figure receded into the distance.

The streets teemed with life, bustling and noisy.

As if sensing his presence, she turned.

Across the crowd, their eyes met.

For a moment, she seemed startled—then, helplessly, she smiled.

She hadn’t wanted a farewell, to burden the moment with sorrow.

[Name: Ying Bing]

[Age: 16]

[Root Bone: Lunar Phoenix Body.]

[Realm: Three Apertures of Insight.]

[Fate: Red (Bearing the Emperor’s Bone, destiny of ice, spirit of autumn waters, with the bearing of the Heavenly Phoenix.)]

[Evaluation: A fate of many trials, yet always turning misfortune to fortune. Now her wings are still tender, but when the winds of change rise, she will ascend beyond the heavens, reigning over all realms as the Phoenix Empress.]

[Recent Events: Witnessed the fall of the Jade Phoenix Divine Meteor—one of the Nine-Colored Primordial Phoenix Spirits—and set out for the Southern Border.]

She was off to retrieve a fallen star for the boy.

When that figure vanished from sight, Li Mo let out a soft sigh.

By the time he turned back toward the tavern, dusk had passed, and the moon now hung atop the branches.

"I won’t be returning to the Purple Sun Prefecture," Li Mo announced to the group.

Shang Wu blinked her almond-shaped eyes, about to speak, but Xue Jing cut in first:

"What are your plans, then?"

"To the Southern Border—to chase the moon."

She now knew where he was headed, where his path would lead.

And so did he.

The day he mastered the Seventy-Two Earthly Transformations would be the day he set out for the Southern Border.