Chapter 42
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Chapter 42
Inside the main hall, a scroll was divided into thirty squares, each marked with different sect emblems.
The spiritual scrolls and jade pendants were issued in pairs; one led the disciples to narrate their stories, while the other was handed to each sect for them to check where their disciples were at any time.
In the broad square filled with hundreds of people, each Immortal Sect formed small groups to focus on the images in the spiritual scroll. Those with intent would call unrelated disciples to block the light from the sides, fearing others might come to pry into the situation.
However, in contrast, beneath each emblem on the scroll, there were four small ink dots.
When the ink dot turned green, it indicated the disciple was in the process of crossing tribulations with no other anomalies.
If it turned gold, that meant the tribulation had been passed.
The most concerning was if it turned red, representing that the tribulation had failed, and the three disciples would soon be teleported out of the scroll, with no further fates to intertwine.
Not long after a group of disciples entered, the attentive crowd quickly spotted a red dot lighting up in one of the squares, and murmurs erupted.
“Who is it? So fast?!”
“It just started! What’s going on?!”
Hua Tingxiao, young and restless, clasped his hands in a wish, “Please, not us, not us…”
“Not us,” Tu Xuixin tapped him lightly. “Look, it’s disciples from Beast King Mountain.”
Three disciples were forcefully ejected from the scroll by a reverse whirlpool, stumbling awkwardly as they got up.
Their master, looking pale, rushed over to collect them and angrily scolded, “What happened! You just went in for such a short time!”
“The junior brother barged into the Concubine’s Palace and got caught,” the leading disciple explained pitifully. “How were we to know there were so many Taoist masters hidden in the palace? The defenses are so tight!”
“Are you stupid? The emperor is funding those who watch the stars and fortune-tellers; how could there not be a barrier in the Concubine’s Palace?!”
“It’s all the third brother’s fault!”
“Stop embarrassing yourselves!” The master pulled them back, saying, “What competition? Go back, go back!”
One by one, almost all ink dots in the squares turned green, indicating that they were simultaneously trying to help the emperor through his tribulation in different parallel worlds.
Time inside the painting was very different from outside, but everyone immediately saw a golden shimmer suddenly appear in the corner of the scroll!
Gold! Does that mean the first tribulation has already been passed?!
It has just begun; how is this possible?!
Many ink dots on the scroll were subtly changing, some glowing red, others deepening green.
But that flash of gold was too conspicuous, drawing all the onlookers’ attention to the gold dot marked with the Moonfire emblem.
“What is this—”
“They’ve already started the second tribulation?!”
“Considering the time, it’s only been half an hour. Who could possibly teach all of the Four Books and Five Classics in half an hour—are they cramming the books into someone’s brain?”
The murmurs grew louder, and many began to openly glance toward the location of Moonfire Valley.
Tu Xuixin felt a chill run down his spine under the stares, hiding his view with the spiritual scroll while exchanging glances with his two senior brothers.
“These three kids… they’ve got some real guts.”
Yan Fangji praised, “What courage! What boldness! Taking risks is exactly what this is about!”
Even if they publicly declared that these three children had skipped the first tribulation, letting the Young Prince read on his own, other members of the Immortal Sects would be furious but wouldn’t dare to follow suit!
Hua Tingxiao watched from the side for a long time, covering his face with his sleeve to avoid the stares of those nearby, and whispered, “Aren’t they afraid of being blasted out of the scroll?”
“Let them blast us out, who cares?” Tu Xuixin chuckled. “What’s the point of worrying about face?”
Both senior brothers glared at him.
“I was wrong, I was wrong…”
Meanwhile, beneath the crescent moon in the desert, three masked individuals adjusted their assassination weapons.
They gradually modified their sharp blades from lethal daggers and swords to long spikes designed to cause simpler external injuries.
“The Dazhui point, the Feiyu point, and here…” Du Ren, the most skilled healer, gestured to Gong Wu’s back before they set off. “When we break in, stab these points; it doesn’t matter if it goes deep, understood?”
“However,” she temporarily removed her face cover and took a breath, saying, “Don’t the imperial doctors know this method of bloodletting?”
“That depends on the situation,” Ji Yang replied, looking toward the brightly lit military camp. “In critical times like this, it’s better to be a mediocre doctor than to risk offending the emperor.”
If they were falsely accused of treason, it would be a crime punishable by the execution of nine family members.
At this moment, it seemed more important to know how to navigate bureaucracy than to heal wounds.
“What a pity,” Du Ren muttered as she pulled her mask back on and turned to Gong Wu. “Little Wu, let’s confirm the strategy one last time.”
“I’ll charge in with my brother to startle the soldiers; you slip into the inner chamber to let him bleed. At the sound of the whistle, retreat immediately.”
“Let’s go!”
Even without using spiritual energy, their skills had improved significantly over the years, allowing them to sneak past the sentries and enter the camp smoothly.
It was at this moment that Gong Wu’s exceptional agility truly shone.
She had spent most of her time playing with the little Leopard after gaining this advantage.
As agile and swift as the six-eyed Leopard, they couldn’t catch her fingers; to the ordinary soldiers, she seemed like a slow-moving turtle.
She could even brush past their backs to easily scale the walls, fully aware of everyone’s peripheral vision.
Quieter than a cat and faster than a leopard.
In the blink of an eye, she crossed half of the military camp, standing just outside the barrier set by the celestial master.
The young girl took a breath and finally glanced around.
"Hey, where are my senior brothers and sisters?"
Although Ji Yang moved with agility, he deliberately slowed his pace to protect the less nimble Du Ren.
Once they stood outside the barrier, they exchanged glances and suppressed their spiritual energy to almost nothing, careful not to alert the Taoist masters outside the three tents.
Ji Yang signaled for them to be quiet, using his superior abilities from the Opening Sun Realm to sense the spiritual patterns. After a brief pause, he spoke again.
“There are magical symbols on the emperor’s military tent. If any demonic Daoist tries to use spiritual energy inside, heavenly thunder will strike them.”
“You must be cautious.”
Du Ren hardly dared to breathe, and when she saw Gong Wu, she looked at her with envy.
“You’re so light on your feet, it’s like you flew here with the wind!”
“How about this, I’ll strike first, and you finish them off,” Gong Wu immediately suggested. “Should we light a fire?”
Ji Yang quickly nodded. “I’ll stand guard at the front tent and see when to set the fire. Let’s split up.”
The three individuals jumped down from the tent and separated immediately.
Gong Wu now felt the benefit of her swift movements and directly entered through the front door.
The two soldiers guarding the entrance were distracted and didn’t even notice the slight breeze from her sleeves.
She glided past the palace maids like a fish swimming through water.
People faced in different directions, all yawning in fatigue at that moment.
Gong Wu easily slipped past their blind spots, feeling no tension at all.
So slow. The world of mortals… has become too slow for her.
If it were the playful Gong Hua Ji, she might just nibble at her fingertips.
But these maids and eunuchs with no cultivation couldn’t even catch a glimpse of her afterimage.
The girl felt a hint of pride.
A few years ago, I was so clumsy; things are truly different now!
The young emperor had not gone to sleep but stood pondering over a sand table, still holding a battle talisman in his hand.
Gong Wu stole a glance at him, confirming he hadn’t noticed anyone entering, and quietly lifted the side tent flap to let Du Ren in.
Having always been a healer, Du Ren sighed inwardly at her first attempt at being an assassin.
Why must good deeds be done so sneakily?!
Gong Wu indicated for her to hide deep within the drapery, holding each weapon firmly as she advanced with absolute speed, showing no fear.
—Just like how ordinary people would never worry about moving slower than a tortoise.
Du Ren watched in awe from the corner, silently cheering her on.
Gong Wu’s movements were nearly invisible, gliding past like a light veil.
Junior Sister Gong truly was rising swiftly, incredibly powerful now!!
Yes, yes, get close to him, and once we let him bleed, we’ll run!!
Yun Junxi endured his pain as he continued to observe the battlefield situation, holding a chess piece for a long time without placing it down.
The scorching sun prevented him from leaving the tent during the day, and he felt a tightness in his chest that made it impossible to eat.
If this continues… it will delay important matters.
Although the man’s eyes were fixed on the sand table, he had actually been distracted for a long time by the hidden pain in his chest, frowning as he grew increasingly irritated.
The imperial medical office is filled with useless people!
Drinking bowl after bowl of medicinal soup has not helped at all!!
Before he could finish cursing in his heart, Yun Junxi abruptly felt a chill in his throat, realizing someone behind him was choking him.
“Don’t move.”
The voice was soft and short, almost like a young girl.
Yun Junxi frowned sharply, coldly saying, “You’re really bold to—” *hiss!*
Gong Wu ignored what he wanted to say, quickly using a thick needle to pierce his skin, pressing on an acupoint as the needle moved from behind his ear to the back of his neck, dark red blood flowing out in a rush.
“His back!” Du Ren, hiding behind the drapery, urged anxiously, “You must remember the back!”
Gong Wu moved so quickly that Yun Junxi barely had time to turn around; her left hand swiftly slashed down with a dagger, tearing apart his sleeping robe to aim precisely at the lower back.
For the first time, the senior sister caught a glimpse of the man’s back, covering her eyes with both hands and exclaiming, “Wow, it’s so white.”
The plum blossom needle struck fiercely and swiftly. While it would generally take most people half a stick of incense to locate the acupoints, for Gong Wu, it was just a flick of her sleeve.
As soon as she finished cutting open the emperor’s robe, she let go, leaving Yun Junxi stunned in place, pulling Du Ren to run.
“Retreat!”
Just then, a small fire broke out in the front stall, immediately drawing the soldiers to rush in with buckets of water.
“The water’s spilt!”
“Quickly, quickly! Use sand!”
Yun Junxi shouted angrily, “Rampant!!”
The guards, awakened from their stupor, finally rushed over.
“Your Majesty!?”
“Didn’t you see there’s an assassin!?” Blood was pouring from Yun Junxi’s neck and back, and when he touched his hand, it was covered in terrifying red blood. “What are you still standing there for!?”
“Catch the assassin—”
“There’s an assassin! Taoist master, Taoist master!!”
The tent’s side window was wide open, and there was no sign of the assassin to be found anywhere.
Yun Junxi loudly called for people as fast as he could, the feeling of the dagger against his throat still vividly clear in his memory.
It felt as if he had just woken from a dream.
How could it be so fast? If the assassin was truly that skilled, why didn’t they take his life?
The eunuchs also stood dumbfounded for a long time before recovering. Seeing the emperor covered in blood frightened them into a panic, their voices sharp as they urged the physicians to hurry.
Soon, five or six imperial doctors, wrapped in their cloaks and looking flustered, rushed over, and upon seeing the emperor bleeding profusely, they were terrified and kept bowing their heads in fear.
“First, stop the bleeding,” the emperor said impassively. “If they kowtow again, drag them out and kill them.”
Some of the braver ones finally dared to rise and approach, inspecting his injuries from behind.
…How peculiar.
What kind of assassin uses needles instead of blades?
Moreover, to kill the emperor, they even slashed his clothes from the back, yet there were no visible flesh wounds?
The Old Physician trembled as he pressed a white gauze against the bleeding spots, growing increasingly familiar with what he saw.
These spots were precisely where bloodletting should be done?!
Anyone versed in pharmacology could see at a glance that the size of these Blood Holes was made by a plum blossom needle.
Not only that, but each acupoint had been pricked multiple times, the bloodletting both precise and ruthless—something none of these fearful physicians would dare do to the emperor.
The more the Old Physician examined, the more terrified he became. Yet Yun Junxi coldly demanded, “How is the injury?”
“Fetch the powdered medicine! Fetch the powdered medicine!” the Old Physician stammered. “Quickly, bring the supplies!”
But as he uttered the word “quickly,” he subtly shook his head at his disciples behind the emperor, signaling that the slower, the better.
If they didn’t let out more blood now, there would be no chance later.
He had made up his mind; he wouldn’t dare tell the emperor that these were spots that should have been bled long ago. Instead, he decided to let the mistake persist.
If the emperor’s condition wasn’t cured, at most, he and his disciples would lose their heads.
But if they erred on matters of grave importance, the emperor might slaughter their entire family!
Meanwhile, the three individuals from Moonfire Valley arrived one after another at the meeting point, repeatedly confirming that no pursuers were trailing them.
There were none; the military camp was in chaos, but no one seemed to notice their presence.
Du Ren, pulled along by Gong Wu, found herself zigzagging out of the military camp before she could even process what was happening. Several times, she brushed past the night watch soldiers, who seemed blind to her presence.
Once she regained her composure, the eldest senior sister clasped her hands in prayer, her sincerity evident.
“Please let this emperor heal slowly and bleed more before the wounds scab over.”
Gong Wu examined the bloodstains on the needle using the spiritual fire held by her senior brother.
“It was indeed deep; I saw quite a lot of blood flow just now.”
Releasing this poisonous blood would not only open the meridians and clear the lungs but also grant the emperor some mental clarity, allowing him to think more swiftly.
Seeing her senior sister pray so earnestly, Gong Wu followed suit, offering a small prayer of her own.
Du Ren found the scene amusing and chuckled. “You just tore the emperor’s clothes off; you really are bold.”
Gong Wu whispered, “I was afraid I wouldn’t find the right spot through the clothes…”
Ji Yang’s brows furrowed. “What?”
“Um, that is,” Gong Wu suddenly remembered her manners, flustered as she gestured, “I only opened the back! I didn’t see anything else!”
“But it was so white,” Du Ren teased, clearly enjoying the moment. “Straight and white!”
Gong Wu grew even more flustered under her senior brother’s gaze, her mind racing as she blurted out, “But it’s not as nice as yours, senior brother!”
Du Ren perked up, her tone playful. “Have you seen your senior brother’s back?”
Ji Yang also showed curiosity, lightly glancing over.
She… she had accidentally caught a glimpse of her senior brother’s silhouette while he was bathing in Diehua Lake.
Gong Wu covered her lips with her hand, swallowing her words.
Last year, while gathering herbs by Diehua Lake, she had stumbled upon her senior brother bathing after his training.
His slender back, black hair like satin, and the faint dimples at his waist left an indelible impression.
It was the first time she realized that a person’s profile could be so captivating.
Du Ren had only meant to tease her, but to her surprise, the little girl’s face flushed red, and she was overwhelmed with joy.
“Alright, alright, it’s my senior sister who won’t let up.”
“Then shall we take another risk? We’re almost there, right?”
Gong Wu felt her face heating up, too shy to meet her senior brother’s gaze, and quickly nodded.
At seventeen years old, she was well aware of the boundaries between men and women.
Moreover—her senior brother was a Daoist of the Path of Emotionless; how could she dare to entertain thoughts about whether his back looked good or if he had dimples!
No more thinking about it; forget it, forget it!
Ji Yang withdrew his gaze, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.
“If my junior sister praises me for looking good, I will gladly accept.”
He transformed the spiritual scroll back into a jade pendant and handed it to Gong Wu.
“Here.”
Gong Wu was caught off guard when his fingertip brushed against her, lowering her head and softly mumbling in response, too shy to look at him.
“What’s wrong?” Ji Yang asked softly. “Are you still worried about the emperor?”
Gong Wu silently thought, Senior Brother, you should worry about yourself instead.
Perhaps she had been out in the sun too long, and like the emperor, her head had grown dizzy in the desert.
But as soon as she lifted her head, the little girl caught another glimpse of that striking, ethereal profile.
Her heart skipped a beat.
He looked so good.
Far more handsome than that emperor!
With a surge of spiritual power, the sun and moon shifted, and the changes on the battlefield accelerated, as if all worldly affairs raced by like a fleeting moment.
After releasing all the stagnant blood, the emperor indeed recovered swiftly, leading the army to a series of victories that greatly boosted morale.
If the emperor was so valiant, how could the soldiers lag behind!
This time, the imperial expedition was remarkably successful, significantly expanding their territory, which deterred the northwest from daring to attack again and led to repeated requests for surrender, offering horses and gold to negotiate peace.
The Hanging Pot Calamity was thus resolved!
Beyond the scroll, the Daoists at Zhi Bai Guan gathered together, intently observing how their disciple was navigating the challenges.
Their disciple, disguised as a palace maid, infiltrated the deep palace, familiarizing herself with the daily routines during the day and attempting at night to send dreams to the Young Prince, carefully explaining many principles of the world.
The Daoists looked quite satisfied.
This lesson truly had the essence of a royal tutor—concise, well-structured, and meticulously arranged. Excellent, truly excellent!
After a long wait, the first tribulation was finally completed, and the Young Prince had learned far more than the shallow teachings from that old immortal.
The three disciples of Zhi Bai Guan moved into the second tribulation, once again plotting new identities and devising ways to disguise themselves to infiltrate the army.
Before they could blend into the army with their new identities, a commotion erupted from outside.
“Moonfire Valley! Moonfire Valley is incredible!”
“Are they at it again? When will this end?”
The old Daoist from Zhi Bai Guan, engrossed in the spiritual scroll, grew visibly annoyed at the noise.
“They know they passed the first tribulation quickly, but what’s the rush? Do they need to flaunt it to everyone before they’re satisfied?”
“Aren’t they afraid those reckless ones, eager for success, will be thrown out of the painting without even glimpsing the shadow of the third tribulation?”
“It’s not that, Master…”
The old Daoist handed the spiritual scroll to someone else and huffed, “What is it now?”
“Moonfire Valley…” The disciple bit his hand, struggling to control his expression. “Moonfire Valley has already entered the third tribulation!”
On the massive scroll, beneath the Moonfire emblem, two golden marks gleamed brightly, and the third point had already turned green.
Only their sect seemed to have raced through the tribulations like lightning, completing them before even finishing two cups of tea.
Forget Zhi Bai Guan; the other twenty-plus sects were in an uproar.
While our people are still stuck at the first hurdle, you’ve already surged ahead to the third tribulation?
What, have your disciples already ascended to immortality?
Beyond that, many others were also stunned by another matter.
—Where did Moonfire Valley come from? The south or the north? Are they truly that powerful?
If they were so powerful, why had no one heard of them before?
The four involved pretended to study the spiritual scroll, forcing polite smiles when approached by others.
Hua Tingxiao lowered his voice, “If I had known, I would’ve told them not to be so flashy; just securing fifth place would’ve been enough!”
Tu Xuixin was a bit nervous. “Senior Brother, this is already the tenth person to come chat with us. I hope nothing goes wrong.”
Yan Fangji scoffed, “Stand tall! We’ve done nothing wrong. Why be so cautious?”
At that moment, the Grand Palace Lord spoke with a touch of nonchalance.
“What’s wrong with being invincible? Are we not allowed to showcase our disciples’ unmatched prowess?”
“Taking first place is fine—that’s my daughter! She’s just that extraordinary.”
Hua Tingxiao downed a cup of tea, sinking into deep thought.
How could they turn saving lives into something akin to killing? How does Tianhua Palace teach their disciples…
Even if he had revealed the strategies for the first and second tribulations to the other sects in advance, they probably would’ve thought he was joking!
Tu Xuixin happily nibbled on pastries when his senior brother nudged him in the arm.
"What are you thinking about right now?"
"I’m thinking…" Tu Xuixin said honestly, "If we make it into the top three, how should we split the prize?"
"What if we actually win first place? Wouldn’t it be too conspicuous to let Wu Wu enjoy the lucky formation?"
"Can you stop worrying everyone?!"
As soon as Ji Kai heard about the lucky formation, he eagerly approached.
"Master Ji Qing, if your words come true, could you take me along when Wu Wu opens the rare secret realm?"
"I haven’t achieved much in my life; just seeing something extraordinary would be worth it!"
Hua Tingxiao, who had been trying to calm his junior brother, suddenly changed his tone. "Then, take me too! There are so many treasures; I can help you carry some!"
Tu Xuixin cupped his face, already lost in daydreams.
"That would be wonderful—truly wonderful!"
Within the illusion scroll, Gong Wu held the spiritual scroll and looked at the scene before her, feeling a slight headache.
"Why is it another military camp?!"
"Emperor Yun Jun’s life has always been one of battles, fighting in the south and north," Du Ren said casually. "During his father’s reign, their military was too weak. Not only did they lose many cities, but they were also oppressed by the other two kingdoms. How frustrating!"
"Otherwise, the heavenly deities wouldn’t have sent Old Immortal Chen to assist him in unifying the land and establishing his empire."
The third image before them was titled "Thousand Armies Crossing Life."
This battle was extremely brutal, historically known as the Battle of Xun Shui.
The three armies clashed in the central plains, fighting for a crucial territory, deploying over a hundred thousand soldiers.
At this time, the emperor, who personally led the charge, was already forty years old.
In his life, he faced four major tribulations, with two of them occurring on the battlefield, risking everything for his reign.
Each of the three kingdoms had its own brave generals, skilled archers, and swordsmen. Surviving such chaos was no easy feat.
To break through the thousands of troops and emerge victorious truly required exceptional combat skills.
At this moment, the three individuals stood atop a hill, gazing out over the three realms of rivers and grasslands.
Yun Kingdom, Yan Kingdom, and Zhao Kingdom had all begun their deployments; in just a few days, the battle would be on the verge of erupting.
Gong Wu felt a sense of weariness. "There are so many things that deities have to worry about."
"Well, you haven’t encountered those desperate for children," Du Ren sighed. "Wait, we also have to help the emperor figure out who to have children with in the fourth tribulation."
Dealing with such troublesome matters made it uncertain whether they could survive.
They had to protect the emperor’s life, finding a way for him to endure the chaos of battle without being struck by a sudden arrow from nowhere.
…This was indeed challenging.
Gong Wu looked at the battlefield that had yet to begin and felt overwhelmed. She turned and asked, "How did that senior immortal handle it?"
"It was similar to the previous tribulation," Du Ren replied. "He managed to become close to a fierce general, escorting the emperor for decades. This year would be the final move; if they win, it would be a successful conclusion, and he would no longer have to worry about the emperor’s battles."
The story, when told among the common folk, took on another version.
It was said that under Emperor Yun Jun’s command, a clever medical general formed a deep friendship with him in the depths of the desert.
The medical general was renowned for his ability to diagnose pulses and cure strange poisons, and his martial prowess was such that he could ride into battle and secure victory. His name was destined to be etched in the annals of history with great honor!
Ji Yang gestured for the others to continue studying the spiritual scroll while he gracefully departed to survey the situation. He thoroughly acquainted himself with the layout of the three military camps, both inside and out.
During this period, Gong Wu completed reading the second half of the spiritual scroll and was taken aback.
"Ah, the final tribulation turns out to be the Peachtree Tribulation, and the emperor has taken a fancy to the wife of a virtuous minister!"
"I too wish to witness that spectacle. I’ve heard that Lady Fuju is exceptionally beautiful," Du Ren whispered, sharing the gossip with a tinge of regret. "But the challenge before us is formidable; if we’re not careful, we might be stuck here indefinitely."
As they conversed, Ji Yang approached with a grave expression.
Gong Wu sensed something amiss and stepped forward to meet him.
"Senior brother?"
"If my assumptions are correct," the young man murmured, "the most stable way to resolve this tribulation is by employing Old Immortal Chen’s method."
"But if we seek the swiftest resolution, there may be only one option…"
Gong Wu felt a pang of realization and instinctively held her breath.
The latter part of his sentence mirrored her thoughts precisely.
"Assassinate the generals of the two kingdoms and usurp their positions."
Amidst the chaos of the three kingdoms’ conflict, how could they ensure the safety of one kingdom’s marshal?
— The only way was to let the other two kingdoms engage in fierce combat, thereby creating an opportunity for him to emerge victorious.
Ji Yang made his rounds through each of the three military camps, confirming that the Taoist master of the Yun Kingdom had established robust defenses and had set up numerous protective barriers for Emperor Yun Jun well in advance.
To maintain the stability of the spiritual scroll, they had to ensure that the Yun Kingdom Emperor remained unaware of the hidden powers supporting him.
However, the other two kingdoms were not subject to these constraints.
"According to the rules, we must not only ensure Emperor Yun Jun’s victory in this great battle but also make him believe that he achieved it through his own prowess."
Gong Wu took a bite of a wild pear, her finger tracing a line of text on the spiritual scroll.
"If we were to unleash a malevolent fire that consumed the other two armies, Emperor Yun Jun would surely sense something was amiss, and the scroll might expel us."
To ease the situation, they needed to do so with genuine intent.
"Then we must adhere to your senior brother’s plan," Du Ren stated resolutely. "I can surreptitiously introduce poison into their food and drink, but it must not be too conspicuous."
Otherwise, if the Yun Kingdom soldiers launched an attack and found the other two armies incapacitated, it would undoubtedly give rise to bizarre rumors.
Just as Ji Yang was about to finalize their strategy, he noticed Gong Wu’s troubled expression and inquired, "Little Wu, what’s troubling you?"
Gong Wu shook her head.
"It’s my excessive compassion; I find it difficult to take a life."
Having cultivated the Path of Reincarnation and experienced numerous cycles of life and death, she had gradually become accustomed to the concept of life and death.
Yet, while saving lives came easily to her, taking one… she still found it challenging.
The Yan and Zhao kingdoms had existed centuries before Gong Wu’s birth, mere footnotes in the pages of history.
Amidst the turmoil of the old dynasty, countless lives had been lost due to her actions, making her hesitate even more.
Du Ren, however, was quite forthright.
"Then you keep watch while I go in to kill."
Gong Wu was startled. "Senior Sister?"
"It’s nothing serious," Du Ren replied briskly. "You’re still young and haven’t experienced much; I understand."
Ji Yang had already prepared to take action, but after hearing her speak the truth, he fell silent for a long while.
Du Ren continued, "We’ve already passed two obstacles, and we have much more time than others. Why not think of other ways?"
She thought of the presence of those Taoist masters from the Yun Kingdom and optimistically said, "With such powerful Daoists heavily guarding the emperor, perhaps he has already found a way to avoid the blades and remains safe."
Gong Wu felt guilty and said, "I shouldn’t have hesitated about this."
"There’s still a way," Ji Yang suddenly stated. "Take your time to finish this pear; we’re not in a hurry."
Gong Wu stood still for a moment. "Really?"
Ji Yang wiped another wild pear clean and placed it beside her.
"We’ll weave dreams."
They would use dreams to lure the Yan and Zhao armies into a fierce battle, each acting as they saw fit.
Rather than forcing her to infiltrate the military camps and kill unfamiliar faces one by one.
Upon hearing the words "weave dreams," Du Ren showed a worried expression.
"Weaving dreams… is too difficult. I might not be able to help you."
For someone at her level of cultivation, resisting the dream illusions of others was already quite challenging; she didn’t dare to hope for such profound techniques.
She opened her medicine pouch for a moment and said uncertainly, "But I can prepare some calming powders to help you sleep deeply, allowing your dreams to penetrate faster."
Weaving dreams required at least disciples in the Yaoguang realm.
However, being able to do it didn’t guarantee success.
Creating an illusion was difficult enough, and spreading so many dreams across the two armies would require an immense amount of spiritual energy.
Though Ji Yang and Gong Wu had both reached the Opening Sun Realm, they had been away from their sect for a long time, without the opportunity to further cultivate their heart purification techniques.
Strictly speaking, killing was much simpler than weaving dreams.
Gong Wu felt she had caused trouble and kept apologizing.
"I shouldn’t have said that. Let’s stick to the original plan."
Ji Yang looked at her, finally showing a faint smile.
"If you kill those you don’t want to kill, you’ll unknowingly taint yourself with Demonic Energy, step by step, drawn ever deeper."
"I am your senior brother; I should maintain a sense of balance."
"Subei is right; let’s do it this way." Du Ren took out a small medicine furnace. "Let’s get started!"
Ji Yang found a quiet place to sit and called Gong Wu to sit behind him.
"I’ll first circulate my energy to form seals; Liu Feng will guard my mind."
"If there isn’t enough spiritual energy… I’ll have to trouble Junior Sister to share some of yours."
"Of course!" Gong Wu said with guilt. "It’s only right for me to give you my spiritual energy."
Ji Yang ceased his arguments with her and began to concentrate his energy.
With his hands, he formed multiple seals, channeling spiritual energy that flowed out and transformed into several luminous dreams.
These dreams resembled the delicate fluff of dandelions, gradually emitting a soft glow.
Each dream required an infusion of rich Spiritual Awareness, akin to etching vivid memories in a fleeting moment.
All these illusions intertwined the fates of Zhao and Yan.
They compelled an enemy general from one nation to dream of decapitating the monarch of the other, and soldiers from one country to envision shooting their adversary’s general off his steed with an arrow.
Within these dreams, they depicted springtime troubles, the sensation of drunkenness akin to divine aid, brimming with reckless thoughts and desires.
Though inherently emotionless, Ji Yang wove these dreams with ease, as though he had witnessed it all before.
From noon till dusk, and from dusk into the deep night, Ji Yang meditated quietly for nearly six hours, with Gong Wu steadfastly behind him, vigilantly guarding his mind.
Any Demonic Energy or miasma that ventured near was promptly dispersed by her, allowing no intrusion.
She shielded his clear heart, adamant that not even a mote of dust should mar it.
The galaxy suddenly unveiled itself, casting light upon the dark night.
In the stillness, myriad illusions surrounded Ji Yang, flickering like fireflies.
"Little Wu," he called softly.
"I’m here."
"Forgive the imposition, but could you lend me some of your spiritual energy?" Ji Yang asked, his voice tinged with weariness. "I need a bit more to ensure safety."
The countless dreams would cascade down, enveloping the encampments of both armies.
With a mere glance, he memorized the layout of all military divisions, crafting the illusions with meticulous precision.
Without hesitation, Gong Wu formed seals with her hands and pressed her palms against his back, generously allowing the flowing Spiritual Sea to merge with him.
At that instant, their spiritual awareness became one.
Like the confluence of rivers and seas, like the intertwining of frost and snow.
She suddenly lifted her gaze, her spiritual energy flowing, gently guided by him, and then absorbed even deeper.
Through the meridians, past the lungs, circulating smoothly throughout her body.
Finally, it transformed into one dream after another, encircling their hair at the temples.
There were youthful fantasies, tender moments with a beloved, achievements, and the delight of fine wine.
They sapped the will to fight, leaving one feeling as though intoxicated.
Even upon awakening from these dreams, one might not regain the resolve to fight.
Her spiritual awareness was drawn deeper, as if being led away by him to distant realms.
Until, without realizing, her breathing quickened, nearly swept away by the dreams.
Brother, are you truly on the Path of Emotionless?
How can you understand so deeply… the desires of the human heart?
"Breathe," Ji Yang murmured softly, lowering his gaze. "Little Wu, your breathing is becoming irregular."
Her ears turned red at the tips, and she struggled to steady her breathing.
But her consciousness was swiftly swept away by the other party’s vast spiritual energy, flowing like a mighty river.
It felt as though she were caught in a whirlpool, pulled deep into the embrace of a warm chest.
Though her brother had only borrowed a portion of her spiritual energy, it seemed as if he had drawn her entirely into a realm of dreams, and her cheeks burned with an unbearable heat.
"Brother…" Gong Wu stammered, her voice tinged with embarrassment, "How are you so adept at weaving these thoughts?"
She hadn’t seen anything overtly explicit—not even a glimpse of skin.
Yet her mind was left in turmoil, unable to find peace.
Ji Yang kept his gaze lowered, allowing countless glowing dreams to bloom around him like fireflies.
He let out a soft chuckle, almost self-deprecating.
"Just inner demons," he murmured.
