Chapter 1304: 582: The Third Incarnation, Six Hundred Years Later (2)
Capítulo 1304: Chapter 582: The Third Incarnation, Six Hundred Years Later (2)
Zheng Fa was stunned.
“Fellow Daoist Qingnv… others might not know, but wouldn’t you know? That All Heaven Stars Formation, I might not be able to use it once we’re in the West Continent, which means returning won’t be so easy.”
“I know.”
“Then you still…”
This is different from Zheng Fa entering with the Maitreya Body; Qingnv going to the West Continent truly poses a life-threatening risk.
“The Water Mother said you, being alone, would have a hard time subduing Bai Hua.” Qingnv’s tone was very calm, “With my assistance, only then do you have the confidence to succeed.”
That’s the rationale.
But this involves life and death for Qingnv, causing Zheng Fa to hesitate.
Seeing his indecisive expression, Qingnv suddenly smiled, her tone becoming even more resolute:
“This life of mine is originally one you saved, Sect Leader.” She paused, seeing Zheng Fa still not in agreement, then continued, “Besides, I indeed want to return to the Turquoise Pool soon.”
“Hmm?”
“With the chaos in the Buddhist realm and Four Directions Buddha in confrontation, the Turquoise Pool, as a third force, is in a similar situation as the Peacock Emperor, but the Peacock Emperor can leave, whereas the ordinary beings of the Turquoise Pool cannot escape, and might easily suffer calamities.” The Taiyin Fairy finally spoke, “No matter Bai Hua’s situation, those ordinary beings in the Turquoise Pool once worshiped us, and are tied to our Daoist progress. As cultivators of Divine Dao Skill, we cannot turn a blind eye.”
This made Zheng Fa hold some respect for the two of them. He knew they were just finding excuses — after all, they had the support of the Golden Immortal World; if something happened to those Turquoise Pool believers, they might be affected, but they would hardly die.
The Taiyin Fairy continued: “Originally, I also wanted to go, to ensure safety, but…”
She glanced at Qingnv helplessly.
Qingnv waved her hand, her manner so natural and unrestrained that it exuded an inexplicable dominance: “Didn’t I say, Taiyin, you’re smart, stay in the Jiushan Sect assisting the reincarnated Water Mother, a small Bai Hua, I can handle it alone!”
The Taiyin Fairy pursed her lips, and after a few breaths, pulled out a faint smile from the corner of her mouth.
Zheng Fa secretly sighed; Qingnv still wanted to leave the Turquoise Pool with some capital — in other words, she was truly prepared for her demise.
Seeing the downcast expressions of the crowd, Qingnv seemed a bit unaccustomed, and suddenly said: “The Water Mother asked the Nine Nether Emperor for me, he said if something does happen to me, they could arrange a good reincarnation, definitely won’t treat me badly!”
Even Zheng Fa couldn’t help but laugh.
Honestly, this might be some sort of assurance for disciples with lower cultivation, but for a Golden Immortal like Qingnv, it did not mean much.
To become a Golden Immortal, it requires not just aptitude and background but also luck, accumulation, effort, and character, all of which are indispensable. For Qingnv, reincarnating and hoping to reach the realm of a Golden Immortal again is indeed a slim chance.
In truth, Qingnv stepping forward greatly aids Zheng Fa in his actions in the West Continent. Given her persistence, Zheng Fa had no reason to refuse and could only agree.
After sending the Taiyin Fairy and others away, Zheng Fa entered the inner chamber with Sister Zhang, and only then sighed: “The two fairies from the Turquoise Pool are truly loyal to it, as well as to the Water Mother.”
During the conversation just now, Qingnv actually asked if, should she die, the credit could be given to Mu Qingyan.
It was evident that Qingnv’s decision also had the intention of paving the way for Mu Qingyan…
This made Zheng Fa truly in awe.
Sister Zhang chuckled, explaining: “Before you emerged from retreat, I asked the two fairies, Taiyin and others.”
“What?”
“They actually grew up with the Water Mother and the Turquoise Pool; among them, Taiyin and the Water Mother met very early, both achieving the Dao with spirit roots and having congenial temperaments, they were already close friends, living and dying together for several epochs…”
Zheng Fa began to understand.
“Qingnv is actually a bit younger; just as she developed spiritual wisdom, she was discovered by the Water Mother. One could say the two share a bond like mother and daughter.”
“On the contrary, the Rangsui Goddess was born only after the establishment of the Turquoise Pool. The Jile Heavenly Girl and Lord Nichang came in only after the Turquoise Pool thrived, and emotionally, indeed, they are not as close as the three.”
This is true; the position of the Rangsui Goddess is something that requires the establishment of a large-scale social organization to be born.
Although the Jile Heavenly Girl and Lord Nichang are of the same generation, the Jile Heavenly Girl later rose to prominence with the help of the Buddhist sect, becoming the fifth Golden Immortal of the Turquoise Pool. Even if we don’t mention seniority, emotionally, the trio of Qingnv and others is particularly distinct.
“So, all this time, it was the three of them who established the Turquoise Pool together?” Zheng Fa finally understood thoroughly, “No wonder she is willing to sacrifice.”
“On the other hand, with the presence of the Taiyin Fairy, and the ties with Mu Qingyan, even after Qingnv reincarnates, she won’t lack opportunities.” Sister Zhang saw clearly from a point even Zheng Fa hadn’t considered, “If they don’t integrate this way, the Turquoise Pool faction cannot fully merge into the Jiushan Sect and will always be considered outsiders. This is probably a collective decision from the Turquoise Pool faction.”
Zheng Fa was dumbfounded: “Qingnv has such intentions?”
Sister Zhang smiled, glancing at Zheng Fa: “Are you underestimating a Golden Immortal?”
Zheng Fa slowly shook his head, the expression of a bitter smile usually shown when someone’s been duped, but he did not mind it at all. The willingness of the Turquoise Pool faction to integrate into the Jiushan Sect was undoubtedly beneficial for both sides.
“Three individuals, growing together, united in life and death.” Sister Zhang suddenly spoke again, “Does it sound a bit familiar?”
“?”
Zheng Fa wore an appropriately puzzled look, as if he had no understanding of what Sister Zhang was implying.
Sister Zhang’s lips twitched slightly, without any names mentioned: “Someone has been waiting for you for six hundred years, aren’t you going to take a look?”
“…I was planning to go tomorrow.”
“No rush.” Sister Zhang gently tugged at the ends of the sash on Zheng Fa’s robe, her smile carrying a slight mischief, “She’s waited six hundred years; what’s another ten days or so.”
“…”
When standing at the threshold of the modern world again, Zheng Fa suddenly felt a pang of nervousness in his heart.
The passage of time in the modern world far surpasses that of the Xuanwei realm, let alone compared to the time inside the All Heaven Stars Formation.
Zheng Fa had only stayed in Chaos for two or three months, but about seventy years had passed in the Xuanwei realm, and in the modern world… just as Sister Zhang said, six hundred years had gone by.
Having never been away from the modern world for so long, he felt an overwhelming sense of nostalgia as if returning home old, having left when young.
Due to the massive time disparity, communication with Old Man Bai and Tang Lingwu in the modern world was not smooth for Zheng Fa.
To Tang Lingwu and others, the intervals between Zheng Fa’s responses were exceedingly long, with months between each message. As such, they only roughly knew that Zheng Fa was safe and had gotten out of danger; beyond that, communication was minimal.
What seemed like two or three months to Zheng Fa translated to six hundred years for Tang Lingwu and the others… he wondered if they would regard him as a stranger upon seeing him.
Thinking of this, Zheng Fa smiled lightly, shifted his thoughts, and entered the modern world.
At this moment, it happened to be nighttime in the modern world, and Rainbow Mountain seemed unchanged, aside from a figure standing atop its peak, gazing up at the stars in a daze.
Zheng Fa recognized them at a glance; it was Tang Lingwu. She hadn’t noticed Zheng Fa yet and was staring blankly at the stars above.
A path, revealing clay earth beneath her feet, wound its way down into the forest, seemingly trodden down over long periods by someone…
Who knew how many times Tang Lingwu had come here, or how many nights she had spent gazing into the night sky.
In Zheng Fa’s heart suddenly welled up an indescribably profound emotion, and he leapt towards Rainbow Mountain, appearing in front of Tang Lingwu.
Tang Lingwu was taken aback, her gaze upon Zheng Fa before her gradually brightening, more radiant than the stars above.
Her lips parted slightly, yet no sound came forth.
Zheng Fa too found himself at a loss for words momentarily, and under the celestial light and the glow of earthly neon, the two silently gazed at each other across the distance.
Only after an unknown duration did Tang Lingwu softly speak up:
“You’re back?”
Her tone was like that of a wife awaiting the return of her husband who had only departed for work that morning.