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墨書 Inktalez
Crimson Walls and Azure Tiles, the dimly lit deep palace is filled with countless corridors.
If one were to simply look at this palace complex, they might think it belonged to the Jin Kingdom's capital or the Song Dynasty's Lin'an. However, this vast palace complex is built within a deep gorge, surrounded on all sides by sheer cliffs that are nearly impossible for monkeys to scale, with the top narrowing inward; at its widest point, it is no more than ten zhang. Except for a brief half-hour at noon when sunlight can directly shine in, this place remains shrouded in dim light.
All the palaces are exquisitely crafted and spotless. The carved beams and painted rafters, along with countless curtains of the Vermilion Pavilion, create an atmosphere devoid of any human presence.
In the middle of the gorge stands a small independent Vermilion Tower, situated in the center of a lotus pond. In this deep gorge, where hardly any light reaches, the lotus flowers thrive remarkably well, covering the water's surface entirely. Under the Dark Moon, a fragrant scent wafts through the air as Lotus Leaves sway gently in the breeze, with hundreds of Lotuses peeking out gracefully.
As the pale moon rises to its zenith, silver moonlight filters through the gaps, causing droplets of water on the Lotus Leaves to glimmer faintly. At that moment, a sound of a flute emerges from the Vermilion Tower, sorrowful and plaintive, reminiscent of a Cuckoo's mournful call, stirring deep emotions.
The flute music continues for a while before fading into a trembling final note.
The Deep Valley palace returns to its lifeless tranquility. Not long after, however, a crisp splashing sound breaks through from the Lotus Pond—Fish slapping their tails against the water's surface. Soon after, splashes echo one after another, making it seem as if the Lotus Pond is boiling with Fish tails thrashing about.
Yet there is something strange... The splashing Fish remain unseen. Where the water ripples around the Lotus Leaves, there is nothing to be found.
Ling Kong appears with a pair of exquisitely delicate bare feet, gently stepping onto one of the Lotus Leaves in the Lotus Pond. Upon closer inspection, this particular Lotus Leaf seems to be made of jade—extremely resilient and reflecting a subtle sheen.
Snow-white feet with flawless and graceful shapes. Green jade-like Lotus Leaves. A swaying silver figure. Pinkish-purple Lotuses.
A pair of slender and smooth snow-white hands emerge from beneath silver gauze sleeves, slowly stirring the water beneath the Lotus Leaf. The water ripples gently. The owner of these hands lets out a comfortable murmur.
The water seems extremely cold; as her snow-white hands dip into it, they gradually turn pink, with thin layers of ice beginning to form. She shakes her hands lightly, and wisps of visible milky steam rise delicately from her pink skin.
The unseen Fish in the Lotus Pond leap even more joyfully now, all gravitating towards these hands with several splashes nearby.
These beautiful and flawless hands become bait for fishing.
Yet in an instant, the bait transforms into a hook.
With a twist of her wrist, those soft and boneless beautiful hands turn as strong as steel and tightly grasp an invisible fish.
The moon in the east cast its last silver light, and Beauty held a long, transparent object that faintly glowed in her hand. It resembled a clear ice cube, allowing the moonlight to penetrate through it, clearly revealing the pink Lotus behind. The Lotus was twisting, its red silhouette distorting in a strange manner.
With her bright red nails lightly tracing the invisible transparent Fish, fresh blood flowed out from its body, revealing its form gradually. It resembled a loach but was fatter and longer, covered in peculiar scales the size of hard nails. These scales reflected light, making the Fish's body appear "invisible."
Beauty raised the now non-transparent exotic Fish high, droplets of blood falling into her Crimson Lips. The Fish struggled weakly, its movements growing slower.
Once the blood ceased to drip, Beauty casually tossed it into the Lotus Pond with a splash. Instantly, it sounded as if a pot had boiled beneath the Lotus Leaves, with countless splashing sounds causing the leaves to sway in clusters. A fishy smell filled the air as some Snowy Shreds of Flesh floated to the surface. Moments later, even those pieces of flesh disappeared.
The transparent Fish had been devoured by its companions.
Beauty was already accustomed to this scene. She closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again; her figure gracefully turned as she stepped across the lotus pond.
The white gauze fluttered slightly, and silence enveloped the Small Pavilion.
In the darkness, a pair of eyes watched this scene intently.
This person was surrounded by an impenetrable black mist or perhaps he himself was a mass of human-shaped black fog.
He muttered to himself, “The Small Pavilion has been under house arrest for three years; the blood of Cold Spring Ice Fish is indeed beneficial to her. Once I pass it on to her again, she should no longer fall into madness.”
In the vast hall, this mass of black mist paced... or rather moved from one end of the hall to the other. Occasionally turning back, a pair of sharp eyes that could see deep into one's heart glimmered within the mist; then turning away, those eyes seemed like extinguished lights in the depths, ordinary and unremarkable.
While pacing, the black mist suddenly stopped. After a breath, a voice of indeterminate age emerged from beyond the heavy door: “As Water, since you have come, step inside.”
The hall door opened silently as a figure crossed the threshold and walked deep into the hall. His movements were slow but made no sound at all; even his robe made no rustling noise. He knelt five feet away from the black mist and said, “I pay my respects to Master.”
Lifting his head, it seemed as if the hall brightened in an instant.
This was an extraordinarily beautiful Face... only the word "extraordinary" could describe this incredibly handsome young man. He had a tall and upright figure; his dark purple and silver dragon-patterned tight robe accentuated his imposing presence while diminishing some of the femininity brought by his striking looks. His sword-like brows were raised high with strands of hair swaying on his jade-like forehead. Even before his master, Xiao Rushi maintained an air of playful defiance that added an enchanting quality to his stunning Face.
“Master, congratulations on your return,” Xiao Rushi said.
"What is it that you need?"
"I recently did a small thing and heard that Master has come out of seclusion, so I came to report to you."
"Why not tell your Senior Brother?"
"I thought it would be better to inform you personally, Master." Xiao Rushi's expression remained calm.
"Go on."
"Heavenly Grain and Southern Valley Master Qingqinzi have officially defected from the Immortal Sect to join our Dao Sect. This action was initiated by me."
Xiao Rushi did not elaborate further, knowing that his Master was likely already aware of everything. He was merely here to confirm it in person.
The eyes in the black mist stared at Xiao Rushi: "Action? It has been premeditated and put into motion, hasn't it?"
"I dare not say so."
"You do dare; you have quite the courage. However, you handled this matter well."
Xiao Rushi immediately felt relieved. He had thought that confessing to his Master would result in a minor reprimand, but unexpectedly, he received praise instead, which delighted him.
"Thank you for your praise, Master."
"Then, what reward do you want? That woman?" The eyes in the black mist now held curiosity.
"Qingqinzi? I don't like her at all. If it weren't for needing her to help reclaim Heavenly Grain from Kunlun, I would want to kill her right now," Xiao Rushi replied lightly.
The black mist fell silent for a moment before saying, "Bring her to see me."
"Yes, she is currently in the Introduction Hall."
Xiao Rushi turned and walked out.
The door closed again, leaving the black mist alone in the darkness.
Moments later, the black mist suddenly contracted and rolled. Yandao Demon Lord could no longer control himself; the movement of the black mist directly revealed his inner excitement.
"Haha, for so many years I've wanted to uncover the secret of the Celestial Mansion Map, and unexpectedly, the secret comes knocking at my door now. As Water has done well. It's just a pity that this child is too clever and has too many little tricks. Otherwise, I would really want to reward him properly."
Yandao Demon Lord laughed wildly in the hall until he sensed Xiao Rushi and Qingqinzi approaching, at which point he stopped laughing.
The hall door opened again, and behind Xiao Rushi stood a trembling Qingqinzi.
Qingqinzi had reached the Late Stage of Nascent Soul cultivation, ranking within the top twenty of the entire Immortal Sect. But in front of Yandao, Qingqinzi felt her cultivation was as insignificant as that of a three-year-old child. In the darkness ahead stood a massive shadow, its oppressive aura nearly freezing her Nascent Soul with fear.
Large beads of cold sweat appeared on her forehead, quickly soaking her delicate features. A strand of disheveled hair stuck to her pale forehead, and sweat rapidly spread from her back and armpits. She involuntarily reached out her hand to touch her lover's fingertips, seeking a bit of strength and comfort.
Xiao Rushi glanced at the ashen-faced Qingqinzi, a mocking smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. However, she took a step back, deliberately avoiding the desperate fingertips reaching out like a drowning person.
With a thud, Qingqinzi collapsed to the ground. After thinking for a moment, she mustered her courage and lowered her body, trembling as she said, "Disciple, Xiao Rushi's friend Qingqin greets the Demon Lord." In a moment of quick wit, she deliberately emphasized "Xiao Rushi's friend" with weighty significance.
"Heavenly Grain Qingqinzi, long time no see."
A voice without discernible age emerged from the black mist, but what was said left Qingqinzi puzzled. She couldn't help but ask, "Have we met?"
"Yes. But you definitely don't know. I often visit your Ancient Celestial Field when I have nothing to do."
Yandao Demon Lord's words struck like thunder on a clear day, causing Qingqinzi to feel weak all over. "You... you often go to Ancient Celestial Field? We never knew!"
"Of course not; why would I need to disturb you when I go in? Besides, it's really not difficult to enter your place. Now you can tell me what exactly is in that Center Restriction Jade Cottage?" As he spoke, two eyes in the black mist glanced at Xiao Rushi fleetingly, their light flickering.
Xiao Rushi's previously relaxed heart tightened instantly, cold sweat pouring down. Her master often entered Ancient Celestial Field! Her master knew the secret of Jade Cottage! She had specifically gone to Ancient Celestial Field during his seclusion to try to understand the secrets within Jade Cottage; did he know about this?
Xiao Rushi could hardly hear Qingqinzi's words, feeling anxious as she speculated about who might have leaked the information. After all, only she and Qingqinzi knew about this matter, and it was Qingqinzi's first time meeting the master.
Yandao was methodically interrogating Qingqinzi.
"The blood of a person with no elemental constitution can open the door to the Jade Cottage; so that's how it is..." Yandao's mind flashed with Li Hong's face, "That young man from the Nine Li Sect has already discovered this secret; it turns out he has no elemental constitution!"
After pondering for a moment, Yandao spoke, "Unfortunately, something has happened in the Ancient Celestial Field, and we can't enter now. I really want to know, besides the Restrictions in that little house, is there anything else?"
Xiao Rushi felt a chill run down her spine.
Qingqinzi replied, "Aside from the Restrictions controlling the Ancient Celestial Field, there is only one thing in the little house: when you enter to the other side, many glowing dots appear, and these dots form patterns that keep changing. Forgive me for my ignorance; I truly cannot comprehend what significance these glowing patterns hold."
"Oh?" Yandao's gaze turned to Xiao Rushi. "What about you? You've been inside for such a long time; what have you gained?"
Xiao Rushi's head rang with a loud noise; her master really knew! With a thud, she knelt on the ground. "Disciple knows wrong!"
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