Chapter 802 - 36: The Events of Five Hundred Years Ago, Only a Fragmented Ballad Remains
Chapter 802: Chapter 36: The Events of Five Hundred Years Ago, Only a Fragmented Ballad Remains
"My dear, what is the cultivation level of that residual soul?"
Hearing Xia Qinglian’s words, everyone stopped in their tracks, and Qin Gengyun asked Xia Qinglian.
Xia Qinglian frowned slightly, "At that time, my cultivation had not recovered, and I was not a match for him. If that person were still alive, his cultivation should not be lower than mine now."
"Half-Step Divinity Transformation?"
Everyone looked at each other, Liu Su gasped in surprise, "Should we still go in?"
Xia Qinglian said arrogantly, "Dead to the path, only a residual soul remains. So what if he was at Divinity Transformation when alive? With me here, let’s go."
After saying this, she stepped into the corridor and entered the Divine Statue Hall.
Qin Gengyun hurried to follow, and Mo Xiaolan also followed closely.
Liu Su grabbed Yun Wu, "Xiaowu, we’ll be right behind. If things go wrong, I’ll take you and run. Hey Xiaowu, slow down!"
Worried about Wei Wan, Yun Wu had already run out quickly, forcing Liu Su to keep up.
Exiting the corridor, they arrived at an enormous, empty hall surrounded by debris — remnants from the fighting when they previously entered.
In the center of the hall was a gigantic divine statue, with features painted vividly and exuding heroism, resembling Mo Xiaolan almost exactly.
Mo Xiaolan had already arrived beneath the statue, looking up, Sheng Tanglian slightly bowed, seemingly looking at her.
"So similar, too similar..."
Watching this scene from the side, Liu Su compared Sheng Tanglian’s statue to Mo Xiaolan and couldn’t help but marvel.
Yun Wu said quietly, "Isn’t it possible Sister Xiaolan really is Sheng Tanglian’s daughter?"
Xia Qinglian stood aside, frowning, "Where is the residual soul?"
Qin Gengyun had searched all the secret rooms around the hall but had found nothing unusual.
The residual soul was nowhere to be seen.
...
Zhenyang Mountain.
Sect Leader’s Immortal Mansion.
Chen Qingmo stood before an altar dedicated to the founding patriarch of Zhenyang Sect, Zhenyang, looking at the portrait hanging above, a self-mocking cold smile on his face.
He raised his hand slightly, and the altar swiftly moved aside, revealing a passageway to a secret chamber.
Chen Qingmo entered the passage and soon arrived in a secret chamber.
This was the same chamber that Qin Gengyun and Xia Qinglian had previously stolen the Colorful Bone from.
But now, the chamber felt extremely cold, and faintly echoed with mournful howls.
The howls grew more desperate upon sensing someone entering.
"Return my happiness! Return my Tanglian! Return my child!"
"Ahhh! I will, I will kill you!"
In the chamber, a residual soul darted around, shrieking crazily, its features incredibly clear, matching the portrait of Zhenyang above the altar!
Seeing Chen Qingmo, the soul became even more agitated, screaming and rushing about.
But the array in the chamber kept it from escaping, forcing it to crash repeatedly into the array, its ferocious face nearly touching Chen Qingmo.
"My daughter! I want to see my daughter!!"
"Return my dear!!"
Chen Qingmo sneered, "Rest assured, I have found your daughter for you. I will soon bring her to you."
"Daughter, daughter! Hahaha!"
"Tanglian, Tanglian, where are you..."
The residual soul, its divine sense incomplete, spoke incoherently, wildly mimicking rowing motions in the air, and began singing a song:
"In March, I await at the bridge to admire the lotus, hoping my lover pities me. The small boat flows home, spring breeze and willow fulfilling a good match."
Expressionless, Chen Qingmo listened to the song, and said coldly:
"You were mired in love and became like this. I am ultimately different from you... On the day I ascend, you will vanish without a trace."
...
Cyan Lotus Sect Relic.
The enormous Sheng Tanglian statue had a large round hole at the center of its brow.
"That’s where the teleportation array was. I was pursued by the residual soul and had to enter the array, which took me to Zhenyang Sect."
Xia Qinglian pointed at the hole, her expression heavy, "But now, the array is gone, and the residual soul is gone... Someone has been here."
Liu Su looked around, crossing her arms, "Miss, don’t scare me. Why do I feel so chilly?"
Qin Gengyun frowned in thought, "So someone came before us, took the residual soul, and destroyed the array. What is he trying to conceal?"
Mo Xiaolan said, "According to Sister Xia, that residual soul resembles Zhenyang. If it really is Zhenyang’s residual soul, its strength would surpass ninety percent of cultivators in the world. Who could take him away?"
Yun Wu, somewhat scared, held onto Xia Qinglian’s sleeve, "Sister Xia, didn’t you say Zhenyang ascended five hundred years ago? Why is there still his residual soul in this world?"
For a moment, everyone fell silent, unable to comprehend the situation.
They had traveled a great distance back to the Cyan Lotus Sect relic to find this residual soul and uncover the secrets behind it.
Unexpectedly, they found nothing.
Qin Gengyun sighed, taking out a broken Colorful Bone from his storage bag.
"If we want to know the secrets of five hundred years ago, I’m afraid we’ll have to rely on this Colorful Bone..."
Liu Su asked Xia Qinglian, "Miss, what should we do?"
Xia Qinglian thought for a while and said, "There are twelve days left until the Immortal Flying Pavilion opens. We should cultivate on Cloud Bamboo Mountain for seven days and then head to Jianxian City."
Qin Gengyun said, "By then, cultivators from across the world will gather in Jianxian City, and Chen Qingmo will likely plot something too, leading to conflict. My dear, your condition..."
Qin Gengyun actually wanted Xia Qinglian to return to Cyan Lotus Mountain, considering her pregnancy and diminished spiritual power.
Xia Qinglian shook her head, looking at Qin Gengyun and Mo Xiaolan, "The danger is not to me, but to you. When you come down from the Immortal Flying Pavilion, you will be most at risk. I will be at the base of Immortal Flying Peak to assist you."
Knowing Xia Qinglian’s stubbornness, Qin Gengyun could only agree, "My dear, after I ascend the pavilion, take care of yourself."
The six of them then left the Divine Statue Hall, preparing to return to Cloud Bamboo Mountain.
Before leaving, Mo Xiaolan turned back to the gigantic statue and gave a deep bow:
"Senior, whether you are my mother or not, I will uncover the truth and bring justice to you."
...
Two days later.
Cyan Lotus Mountain.
"Caihe, Sister Xia and Sister Susu aren’t here; it’s so boring!"
"Ling’Er, weren’t you told to focus on cultivation? Why are you slacking again?"
"Without eavesdropping on secrets, I’m itching all over, how can I think of cultivation!"
"Shush, lower your voice."
Xu Caihe and Zhou Ling’Er sat cross-legged by the lotus pond on the back mountain, surrounded by numerous freshly initiated disciples of the Qinlian Sect, all engaged in cultivation.
The two were considered veterans of Qinlian Sect, acting as deputy ministers of the Intelligence Department, yet had no subordinates.
With Qin Gengyun and Xia Qinglian off to the Northern Wilderness, they felt utterly forgotten, reduced to wandering aimlessly all day.
Suddenly, just as Zhou Ling’Er was lamenting boredom, a brilliant firework surged from the base of the mountain:
"Tao Spirit Body, Tao Spirit Body is ascending the mountain!"