C1537 One More Piece of Shattered

At the heart of the Ruby Hand, a massive copper bell hovered within a volcano's fiery maw, bobbing amidst the lava.

The surging flames and dense smoke seemed to buoy the bell, as if the power of the eruption itself was lifting it aloft.

Engraved with fiery glyphs, the bell flickered with astonishing arcs of fire. Suddenly, it plunged into the depths of the magma.

From above, a radiant figure, akin to a red divine crystal, was visible at the bell's base. Seated in tranquility, she drew the essence of the flames through the glyphs, weaving it into her Solar Spirit.

Faang Yao and Zhou Cangmin stood on a nearby peak, their concern palpable as they kept a silent vigil.

"Her Solar Spirit Body has adapted even better to the Pyreheart Incantations after this round of refinement," Faang Yao mused, recalling how Yuan Lianyao had acquired a solar nucleus in the Star River of the extraterrestrial realm. She had traded it for a rare fiery treasure from Zhou Cangmin, enabling her to reconstruct her Solar Spirit and mend its imperfections.

"She's fortunate indeed, and it's largely because she shares my discerning eye," Zhou Cangmin, a favored Hellbreed of the Ruby Hand, remarked with a free-spirited grin. "Reflect on her ascent. Wasn't it her unique perspective on Yu Yuan in Asvetaesi that set her on this path? Wasn't it her choice of Yu Yuan at critical junctures that made the difference?"

Faang Yao paused, deep in thought, before nodding in agreement. "Indeed, that's the case."

Zhou Cangmin's laughter rang out as he continued, "Wise and judicious choices often trump sheer effort. Her innate talent for cultivation may not be extraordinary, yet who within the Ruby Hand can rival the Solar Spirit she has now refined?"

"That's a fair point," Faang Yao conceded.

"She's far luckier than most. Her choice of the Pyreheart Incantations, though unique, seems to have worked in her favor," Zhou Cangmin observed, peering down at the fiery heart of the volcano and the even deeper magma pool.

"The Pyreheart Incantations lead to the Unbound Realm. What's so fortunate about that?" Faang Yao was taken aback.

"Isn't it a good thing?"

Zhou Cangmin retorted, then shifted his gaze from the volcano's crater to the perplexed Faang Yao. "Do you truly believe that the Path to Godhood is synonymous with fortune? Didn't Lee Tianxin die? What fate befell our Ruby Hand ancestors who sought the Path to Godhood?"

"It's been years, and we've only seen the rise of one Most High!"

The High Oracle's eyes betrayed a deep-seated pain. "Our Zhou ancestors, and several of your Fang elders, have all doggedly chased the Path to Godhood. But who among them has actually achieved it?"

Hearing this, Faang Yao lapsed into silence.

"The Pyreheart Incantations she practices are merely the original creator's work, untouched by the deeper powers of earthfire. The culmination of the Pyreheart Incantations might not necessarily be the Unbound State. Nevertheless, I believe that for someone with her caliber, reaching the Unbound State is an excellent achievement. There's no need to delve into its origins."

Zhou Cangmin's voice lightened once more. "I have her best interests at heart. To forge a new path requires untold sacrifices. If she isn't cut out for that, it's actually to her advantage."

"And what about you?" Faang Yao inquired, looking at him thoughtfully.

"Me?"

Zhou Cangmin pointed to himself and chuckled wryly. "I'm not foolish enough to be a pioneer, to tread a path that others have failed to pave. The path I choose will always be the most established, the most secure."

"For instance..."

Zhou Cangmin's gaze wandered toward the distant Sunlit Order. "Yuwen's path is the most tried and true. In these turbulent times, even his divine position isn't invulnerable. I eagerly await the day it crumbles. Then I will step in and seize control of the sacred way he governs."

With that, the High Oracle burst into a hearty laugh.

"For how many years now? The Sunlit Order has tightly gripped two sacred ways! Only their members could ascend to the pinnacle using these paths! At last, the day we've been waiting for has arrived! Our Sect Master has already secured one sacred way. I eagerly anticipate the day I take Yuwen's place."

Zhou Cangmin's mastery of fire magic was initially akin to Yuwen Hao's, a goal he had harbored for some time.

With ample time still on his side, he was confident that by the time he reached the pinnacle of the Unbound Realm, Yuwen Hao's era of suppressing the Ruby Hand might also come to an end.

...

In the Sword Sect's subterranean caverns on the Dwarf Mountain.

"Little Ji, what exactly did you witness on the Dragon Slaying Stage? Can you share with me?" Han Miaoyuan's voice, emanating from the Banner of Duality, was persistent, his phantom form pressing for details.

He was determined to find a breakthrough via Ji Ningshuang, eager to uncover the secrets within the Dragon Slaying Stage.

Lin Daoke, off to the side, hung his head as if asleep, clearly uninterested.

Ji Ningshuang, who had returned from her extraterrestrial journey with the repaired Wintermaw and crystal bottle, stood silently with the Stardust Blade slung over her shoulder, gazing at Gu Xingkui.

Upon her arrival, she candidly informed Han Miaoyuan that Yu Yuan had taken her Lunar Spirit into the Dragon Slaying Stage.

Since then, she had been delving into the essence of the frost wyrm and the cosmic order of ice magic within the stage, gaining fresh insights with each passing moment.

Upon hearing this, Han Miaoyuan's interest was piqued, and he bombarded her with questions.

He even encouraged Ji Ningshuang to explore the Dragon Slaying Stage further, to cherish this unique opportunity and investigate the regions where the Chronowyrm and golden dragon lay entombed, curious about the wonders that might be found there.

His fascination with the Dragon Slaying Stage seemed boundless, as he was desperate to uncover its truths.

Regrettably, even with his affinity for the spiritual energy of the Everlands and his status as one of the Most High, he could not penetrate the Dragon Slaying Stage's enigmatic seal to glimpse the secrets it held deep within.

Yet, he could sense that something extraordinary resided inside...

Unable to enter or see for himself, he had no choice but to seek Ji Ningshuang's assistance.

But Ji Ningshuang remained as impassive as ever, unswayed by his pleas.

She consistently reiterated that she was engrossed in deciphering the mysteries of ice and had no leisure to roam aimlessly.

Han Miaoyuan, growing increasingly agitated within the Banner of Duality, was at his wit's end with her.

And so, time slipped away silently.

Then, one day, Ji Ningshuang's ice-crystal eyes betrayed a visible reluctance as she looked upon Gu Xingkui, his hair and beard now white, her gaze filled with hesitation and an unspoken longing.

She clearly wanted to say something, yet she suppressed the urge, unable to find the words.

"Are you ready?"

Han Miaoyuan of the Ebon Star Sect had been discreetly observing her. From the slightest change in her expression, he discerned what had transpired. The usually jovial Sect Master's demeanor had shifted to one of gravity as he spoke, "Everyone's waiting, and much time has passed. If you're truly prepared, then..." His gaze lingered on Ji Ningshuang before turning to Gu Xingkui, whose face was etched with despair.

Ji Ningshuang remained silent, giving only a faint nod in response.

Lin Daoke at last opened his eyes, rose without a word, and approached Gu Xingkui. He asked earnestly, "Is there anything else you wish to say?"

"I have wronged Nie Qingtian," Gu Xingkui murmured, head bowed.

These were his final words.

No sooner had he spoken than his barely intact Divine Throne shattered with a resounding blast.

Clearly, even from the distant Ionodios, Taishi could listen in on the conversation among those present.

Knowing that Ji Ningshuang was ready, Taishi no longer delayed.

With the fragmentation of Gu Xingkui's Divine Throne, his bones and Solar Spirit crumbled like blocks smashed by a steel juggernaut. His essence, spirit, and residual soul were beyond recovery, unable to be contained or coalesced within any vessel. The rupture of the Divine Throne rapidly obliterated his memories and thoughts.

"It's not your fault."

Lin Daoke, his face impassive, gently patted Gu Xingkui's shoulder, offering a soft explanation.

Alas, Gu Xingkui's spirit had been extinguished, and he could no longer hear.

Whoosh!

A figure emerged from the Banner of Duality, his expression stern.

He was the real body of Han Miaoyuan.

Clutching the Banner of Duality, the tall and slender Han Miaoyuan was clad in a plain green robe. His snow-white eyebrows fell naturally from his temples, resembling two delicate white serpents.

Watching Gu Xingkui's Divine Throne disintegrate, transitioning from a solid crystal to a liquid state, he too let out a soft sigh.

"Return from the Rainbow Ocean as quickly as you can. I can only safeguard this divine seat for a short time. If too much time passes, nothing will be able to prevent it from reverting to the Everlands' origin," Han Miaoyuan urged.

"Alright," Ji Ningshuang nodded.

...

In the Rainbow Ocean, while Ji Ningshuang's Lunar Spirit was immersed in mastering ice magic on the Dragon Slaying Stage, Yu Yuan and her real body were keeping each other company in the outside world.

They had never before had such ample time to share their deepest thoughts and feelings. They relished the present, savoring this precious time together.

Gradually, they lost track of time, barely realizing how long they had been together. Every significant entity in the Everlands knew they were in the Rainbow Ocean, within the Shadowflame Blight Array, so no one dared to intrude.

Until...

Ji Ningshuang's Lunar Spirit gracefully emerged from the Dragon Slaying Stage and seamlessly integrated with her real body. With a hint of reluctance, she said, "It's time for me to leave."

Yu Yuan nodded, smiling. "You've completed your task quicker than I anticipated."

"I am, after all, a once-in-ten-thousand-years sword prodigy," Ji Ningshuang replied with a playful smile.

At that moment, a chill moonbeam effortlessly penetrated the Shadowflame Blight Array's defenses, casting a direct line to the muddy earth before them. Within the moonlight, countless sparkling lights began to coalesce rapidly, taking shape.

"How long has it been since we last saw each other? I've traveled such a great distance to return. Won't you spend some time talking with me?" a clear female voice called out from the still-forming wraith in the moonlight.

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