66 – Let There Be Light
Gu Linghua stared at it in disbelief, her eyes wide. She circled around the vehicle not once or twice, but four full times. Only then was she satisfied with her inspection. Standing in front of her, without a doubt and undoubtedly, was a double decked passenger bus. Scaled up three times the normal size.
“Who owns this… carriage?” Linghua asked the guards stationed at the parking area.
“It belonged to the one and only adopted son of Xuan.” The guard replied monotonely, as if he had been saying this a lot of times.
“If you want to see the inside, you have to ask the owner’s permission.” The other guard added.
Both guards had been posted here specifically because of the commotion the Xuan’s carriage had caused. After all, its design was quite novel. There were other oversized carriages in the city, of course, some shaped like two-story buildings on wheels and similarly extravagant constructions. But this bus was sleek, with no outlandish external decorations. Instead of windows that could be opened or slid aside, it had heavily tinted panels that made it nearly impossible to see inside. The entire design radiated a sense of privacy that most cultivator carriages lacked.
“Of course, I know that.” Gu Linghua said curtly. Behind her, her guardian and Zhaoge exchanged glances. From the way their young lady was circling the bus like a hungry wolf, both almost expected her to force her way inside at any moment.
“The tournament is still two weeks away, correct?” Linghua asked her party.
“That is correct.”
Gu Linghua nodded. Now that the vehicle in front of her was unmistakably a bus, she could not simply walk away without confirming her suspicions. It was already significant that the adopted son of a Raid Boss was a hidden character. It would be something else entirely if he was also from Blue Star (Earth).
Then all of them sensed dozens of cultivators beginning to fly and gather in a certain direction. Without hesitation, the three of them followed. Whatever had drawn such attention was bound to be important.
About five dozen cultivators, ranging from Foundation Establishment to Qi Refining, had already gathered in front of a majestic inn, the kind frequently used by sect disciples.
“Why the gathering?” Zhaoge asked the nearest person.
“It’s been confirmed that Ningguang of the Tianhe Sect possesses the Nine Yin Constitution. You know the rest.”
The Nine Yin constitution. It was both a blessing and a curse for the women who possessed it. On one hand, the body naturally accumulated not only Ice Qi but also pure Yin Qi, granting unparalleled talent in ice-attribute techniques and overall cultivation.On the other hand, it caused a severe imbalance in the body’s internal energies, freezing the body beyond its limits. Without proper treatment, it could drastically shorten one’s lifespan. The method to properly treat the condition was the same as the method to exploit it, dual cultivation with a man to balance the overwhelming Yin.
The staff of the inn, alongside a few of Jiushuang sect disciples, desperately tried to stop the gathering cultivators from barging inside. In an establishment of this level, the staff were cultivators themselves, but none of them were particularly strong. Certainly none were at Foundation Establishment, no cultivator of that stage would willingly work supervising a mere inn. Under normal circumstances, either the guests inside would resolve any trouble themselves, or no one would dare cause a disturbance in a place filled with sect disciples. This, however, was a special case. The Nine Yin Constitution was just that enticing.
“Come on, just let us in. We only want to take a look. And if a few accidental touches happen here and there, it shouldn’t be a problem, right?” the foremost cultivator said in a mocking, lecherous tone. He was at the peak of Foundation Establishment, which was why no one could easily push him aside.
“Unfortunately. that won’t be an option.”
The Xuan suddenly appeared out of thin air, completely undetected by the gathered cultivators, landing soundlessly in front of the entrance. Two other Tianhe Sect disciples in black-and-white robes landed beside him at the same moment. One is fat while the other is a sword cultivator.
“Ah, the fabled young master.” The lecher cupped his hand and bowed mockingly. “Come now young master. I saw you arrive with not only nine Jiushuang sect disciples, but also with one having the fabled Nine Yin constitution. Won’t you please share a little for us impoverished folk?”
“Turn back. Now.” The Xuan said calmly.
The lecher gritted his teeth in anger, his peak Foundation Establishment Qi flaring. “Look here, young man. Since I am stronger, I’ll just give you a small lesso…”
He never finished the sentence. His head suddenly exploded, spraying blood and gore across the surrounding crowd, yet somehow not a single drop touched the Xuan or the two Tianhe disciples standing in front of him. The headless body tumbled down the stairs into the panicked crowd, twitching once before going still.
“Anyone else?” The Xuan asked.
“As expected of the young master of the Xuan. Domineering, just like the stories.” A calm voice came from a young man dressed in luxurious red robes, tapping a folded fan against his palm. Behind him stood four armored cultivators, each carrying a powerful spiritual weapon.
“Gongsun Qīngchén (輕塵|Light Dust), pleased to make your acquaintance.” He cupped his hand but didn't bow. Gongsun Qingchen cut a refined and elegant figure, dressed in luxurious crimson robes embroidered with subtle golden cloud patterns that marked his status as the true young master of the Gongsun family. His features were sharp and handsome with a permanently composed expression that carried none of the arrogance or recklessness his deceased cousin Fendao had once displayed.
“You know my name.” The Xuan curtly said. “And yours sounds familiar.”
“Ah, you may have forgotten, but you killed my cousin Fendao at the foot of Lingshan,” Qīngchén replied. “I must inform you that I am nothing like that failure of a cousin. He was nothing more than a stain on our family’s name.”
“I wonder… will someone else come and say the same after I kill you?” A wave of killing intent erupted from the Xuan’s mouth. It was almost imperceptible, yet sharp enough to pierce every heart present. Even the wind seemed to stop blowing.
“My apologies. That was quite cruel of me.” the Xuan swiftly corrected himself. “So, will you try to force your way in?”
Qingchen gritted his teeth within his still calm and composed face from the humiliation, but quickly regained his composure. “Of course not. I am only here to notify you.”
“A busybody. Of course.” The Xuan then looked at the rest of the crowd. “Anyone else?”
No one answered.
“THEN GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!”
The shout was amplified with Qi, Soul Power, and even Merit Essence. For a single blink, two additional heads appeared beside the veiled deer skull, a wolf and a serpent. The three heads roared as one, their overlapping voices thundering across the entire city. The sound rang and echoed endlessly inside the minds of those unfortunate enough to be standing directly in front of him. Many screamed in pain, clutching their heads. Some slammed their skulls against the ground or the nearest wall, preferring physical pain over the unbearable ringing.
Gu Linghua and Zhaoge were protected by her guardian. Still, Linghua’s determination to confirm her suspicion only grew stronger.
—
With the trouble outside resolved, the three of us entered the massive inn. The main building was five stories tall, featuring indoor balconies and grand staircases. There were more than enough tables and private VIP rooms for dining. In one corner of the first floor, Ningguang lay confined. Part of the inn had turned completely white. Ice crystals rose from the floor, locking her body in place like a coffin, while Wanxia desperately tried to share her Fire Qi with little success.
“Who gets attacked?” Wendao asked one of the Jiushuang sect disciples.
“It’s Senior Sister Hanmei.” She answered quickly. “A healer from Wànshēng (萬生|Ten Thousand Life) sect is already treating her.”
“Then that’s covered for now.” I turn to Wanxia and Ningguang. “How does this happen?”
“One of Ningguang’s sealing bracelets suddenly broke and her Qi went out of control.” She answered. She was already sweating profusely. Her Qi was nearly exhausted, yet Ningguang’s skin and body continued to freeze and crystallize.
“What needs to be done?” I asked, seeing that the current method clearly wasn’t working.
“She needs Fire Qi!” Wanxia screamed in exhaustion and fear as the last of her energy finally ran out. She collapsed, and Huiran caught her. I looked at Wendao, who shook his head, then at Huiran, who did the same. Neither of them possessed Fire spiritual roots.
“Ningguang, are you still with us?” I snapped my fingers in front of her eyes.
“It’s… cold…” she whispered weakly. It was the same soft voice I had once heard when sensing desires.
Fire Qi… Fire Qi. How was I supposed to produce that? Did it strictly have to be Fire Qi? Would a projection count? Fuck it. Just try something.
I poured nearly all of my remaining Qi into the attempt, then added Soul Power and even Merit Essence, simply pushing everything forward and hoping it would work. I carefully controlled the luminosity and intensity, trying to make it sustainable and localized. God, please work.
I knelt beside her and extended my hand near her chest. “Let there be light.”
A small, bright sun the size of my fist appeared in all its glory, surrounded by three sets of rings. Almost immediately, the freezing of her skin and body halted and began to slowly recede. The ice crystals confining her started to melt.
I kept the miniature sun hovering above my palm until Ningguang finally began breathing properly again. Her eyes, which had been frozen shut, slowly opened. She looked at me, then at the sun in my hand, with a dazed expression.
“Danxing…?” she whispered softly.
“Water? Do you need water?” I asked, then quickly thought better of it. “Or would drinking water make the symptoms worse?”
That earned a weak chuckle from her. “What’s in your hand?”
“Oh, this?” I glanced at it. “It’s the sun. From where I came from.”
“Your sun has rings?” She asked. The fact that she was asking questions was a good sign, her mind was recovering as well.
“Yes. My nation built the largest one right here.” I pointed at the outermost and biggest ring. “The Great United States of America.”
“It’s beautiful,” she said quietly.
“You want it?” I projected a small cylinder to hold the sun.
“What?”
“Here, catch.” I made a quick tossing motion, which caused her upper body to jerk upward in alarm. She glared at me when she realized I was only grinning and had no intention of throwing it.
Fortunately, the symptoms continued to ease. Ningguang’s upper body was freed from the ice first, followed soon after by her lower body. Still, it was clear that the condition could go from worse to critical just as fast.
“Well, keep it in your hand for now.” I said, carefully placing the sun inside the cylinder and handing it to her. After a moment of hesitation, she accepted it.
I finally stood up and swallowed a Qi Recovery pill. Only then did I notice that nearly everyone in the hall was staring at me.
“What are you all looking at?” I said to no one in particular. Most people quickly found something else to do, though a few continued observing from a respectful distance. Some privacy was clearly in order.
“Did all of you manage to book rooms?”
—
He can create a sun!?
That was the only thought running through Gu Linghua’s mind as she observed the brief but strangely cute interaction between Ningguang and Xuan Danxing. As far as she remembered, Ningguang was a very minor character who died quite early — one of the many preventable losses suffered by the Tianhe Sect. If her memory was correct, Ningguang had eventually taken her own life after repeatedly failing the treatments her master provided, and after her constitution was finally exposed. Once revealed, she had been relentlessly hounded by “suitors” from both within her own sect and outside forces. There’s even mention that her master’s is quite… unhinged.
This was completely preventable as Jiǔyáng (九陽|Nine Sun) sect in the north has another cultivator with Nine Yang constitution that was also hidden from the world! Most importantly, both have interacted with each other and clearly are very compatible with each other. It is just that Ningguang has suffered much longer and cannot hold it any longer. Killing herself before he can find and save her.
As for Xuan Danxing, her suspicion was now confirmed. He was, like her, a transmigrator. The moment he casually name-dropped the USA, there was no longer any room for doubt, he was also from Blue Star. The real question was whether she should attempt to cooperate with him. Gu Linghua was extremely tempted. Yet several reasons left her deeply apprehensive.
First, he was American. While there was a certain camaraderie that came from originating from the same world, that was where it ended. Second, he was a Xuan. She already knew how powerful Elder Luochen, the raid boss, truly was. She had originally assumed that while Danxing was still only at the second stage of Foundation Establishment, the gap between them would not be too large. The events of the past few minutes had thoroughly proven that assumption wrong. Even her guardian had admitted that killing a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator so quickly and effortlessly was something he himself could not do. Associating with Danxing now would create a clear power imbalance, with her on the weaker side, an arrangement she was not comfortable with.
Then there was the final issue. The sun he had created possessed rings. Dyson Swarms. Something her Blue Star did not have. Did that mean he came from the future… or from an entirely different Blue Star? Depending on the answer, there could even be a level of hostility she could not risk, especially given the current power imbalance. So Linghua decided to shelve the idea for now and interact with limitations. There’s just one thing she cannot accept.
Why does he have to be so OP!?
~ Valarion