Chapter 17 Prophecy

Cloud Candle Tower

The light and shadow shattered.

Xu Qingning opened her eyes again.

Within the illusion of the Heavenly Dao, the Golden Palace appeared.

The Vermilion Bird stands tall, its pillars embroidered with lotus blossoms; jade steps and celestial staffs celebrate the imperial crown.

The towering gates, so imposing, must be recognized by Qingning; they seem to resemble…

"The Cloud Candle Tower of the Yun Ning Sect?" Xu Qingning asked, puzzled.

A solemn atmosphere filled the Cloud Candle Tower. The clash of swords and the clashing of blades continued, as if two people were dueling. Then came the shouts of a multitude of heroes, as if one of them had won.

Xu Qingning saw Kuang Yunchu, the mountain chief, stand up with a livid face.

Kuang Yunchu said, "Xu Qingning, very good! You've made up your mind to help her, haven't you? How can you face the late sect leader?"

He must calm his mind and furrow his brows.

On the high platform stood a woman in a green robe, holding the Vermilion Bird Token, which she showed to the crowd.

Face unidentified.

The crowd shouted: "Welcome the thirteenth sect leader!"

"One lineage protects Zhennan, for a thousand autumns and ten thousand generations!"

Xu Qingning shook his head.

...

The interplay of light and shadow.

Xu Qingning suddenly regained consciousness, her breathing rising and falling.

The chill clung to his chest like a bone-deep infection, refusing to dissipate for a long time.

What happened?

Xu Qingning shook his head. He found it difficult to process the information he had just received.

[...Is this message about the villain?] He tentatively asked the system.

【yes. 】

The system's response felt like a heavy stone weighing on Xu Qingning's heart.

"The thirteenth generation sect leader of the Yun Ning Sect"?

...Will the villain become the thirteenth generation sect leader of the Yun Ning Sect?

How is that possible?

The Yun Ning Sect Master is the ruler of a continent, standing in a tripartite balance with the other immortal sect masters.

With the movement of a single finger, the entire immortal realm can be shaken.

According to regulations, the next sect leader of the Yun Ning Sect can only be chosen after the death or dethronement of the previous sect leader.

But Ning Tingyue is alive and well, isn't he?

The identity of the person from Zishijian...

Xu Qingning said:

【This is absolutely impossible. This information is incorrect. The people of Yun Ning Sect are not dead. I will never help evildoers.】

This person is a demon cultivator and would never vie for the position of leader of the Immortal Alliance.

The system did not answer his question, but coldly said:

[Please find the fourth fragment of the prerequisite quest "Only Because I Am in the Mountain," namely the Puppet Needle.]

Xu Qingning raised her eyes.

After a while, he left with a cold expression.

Outside the Heavenly Inquiry Platform, the Dragon Pool Immortal Official, dressed in a golden robe, awaited the cultivators who came to inquire about the Dao and protect their lives.

After they left the Path of Inquiry, they brought out a huge jade tablet and asked the cultivators to write down the Heavenly Book.

Xu Qingning, with a calm expression, wrote down two auspicious strokes.

...

Behind the cloud platform, several oxcarts were entwined by green vines.

Zhou Fuling stood in the shadows, feeling a bit cold. She wrapped her cloak tighter around herself and then met the head of the Miao family.

He Yin whispered:

“Fuling, this is the person that Young Master Xu asked me to take you to see. He is Miao Jia, the mountain lord of the Miao family.”

"She is a second-rank official, one of the eight great mountain lords of the mortal realm, skilled in nurturing spirit trees, healing wounds, and concealment. The young sect leader said that Mountain Lord Miao will take you as his personal disciple, which is the best place for you."

Zhou Fuling hummed in agreement.

The Miao family head had already come out to greet her and took Zhou Fuling's hand:

"Good, good child. Young Master Xu has already informed me of your situation. From now on, you should consider Yu Miao Mountain as your home."

Seeing Zhou Fuling hesitate, she took out another jade pendant, which was Xu Qingning's keepsake.

Then, the Miao family head said slowly, "You don't know this, but the young master Xu's mother did me a favor. Back then, the Miao family was trapped in the Heavenly Abyss, and it was Master Xia who returned and rescued me."

"Back then, when Young Master Xu encountered difficulties, I was also imprisoned and unable to help. I couldn't sleep at night because of this and felt deeply guilty. Now that Young Master Xu has personally requested your help, how could I refuse?"

"Don't worry, the Miao people will treat you as their own son."

Zhou Fuling lowered her head; the Miao Mountain Master's hand was very warm, like that of a mother.

She looked up and said, "Okay."

She was pulled into the car.

The room was filled with a sweet fragrance when Zhou Fuling suddenly asked, "Senior Brother, has something happened?"

The Miao family head pinched Zhou Fuling's cheek and whispered, "Little Fuling, alright, stop asking. Let's go back to the mountains and hide for a while. The immortal sect is probably going to be in turmoil, and this is for your senior brother's own good. He'll be at ease if you come with me."

"..." Zhou Fuling didn't really like the feeling of having her cheeks pinched.

Her mother and father never treated her like that.

The Miao chieftain then said, "We must all protect Xiao Fuling."

Zhou Fuling: "..."

The Miao family head smiled as he looked at the silent Zhou Fuling, but a sense of unease lingered in his heart.

She is indeed a grateful person; she is willing to treat Zhou Fuling well and protect her.

However, it must be said that Zhou Fuling's behavior was somewhat tactless.

As a person of no character, it would be best for her not to stay by Xu Qingning's side and drag him down.

Why bother asking? It's pointless anyway.

She shook her head.

"After saying goodbye to Senior Sister He Yin, let's go, Fu Ling."

"Sister Xiaoyin, aren't you leaving?" Zhou Fuling asked reluctantly.

He Yin shook her head.

I don't know what she was thinking, but her face was still somewhat pale.

Zhou Fuling suddenly hugged her tightly.

"Senior Sister Xiaoyin, I can't bear to part with you!"

He Yin was both moved and heavy-hearted, because she couldn't bear to part with Zhou Fuling, and she was also thinking about what was about to happen.

She choked back tears, saying, "Fuling, me too! I can't bear to leave you! But I have to go. You must live well! We all must live well!"

With red eyes, Zhou Fuling said goodbye to He Yin.

He Yin watched Zhou Fuling and the other companions disappear from sight.

Then, she took a deep breath while holding her sword.

Suddenly, many scenes appeared before her eyes.

The happy days of practicing at Bingjian Peak.

However, there was also... In Kanghuangzhai, her mother died tragically, her relatives died tragically, and the cheerful old woman who loved matchmaking, before being washed and dressed, used her last breath to stuff her under the barrier and handed her the fake death medicine that her mother had obtained at great expense.

"Don't come out, my dear child. No matter what happens, don't come out."

Then, as He Yin was hiding, she could faintly hear the old woman's screams: "You and he both killed Alan, and now you want to kill Alan's daughter? Where is she? I'd rather die than tell you, you crazy woman! Crazy woman!"

The screams later became horrific.

He Yin's teeth chattered against her lips, and a metallic taste of blood rose in her throat.

Then, as He Yin was hiding, she could faintly hear the old woman's screams: "You and he both killed Alan, and now you want to kill Alan's daughter? Where is she? I'd rather die than tell you, you crazy woman! Crazy woman!"

The screams later became horrific.

He Yin's teeth chattered against her lips, and a metallic taste of blood rose in her throat.

However, someone suddenly bumped into her.

"Don't go! Don't go!"

...

Under the protective barrier, a gentle breeze caressed the mountain path.

Zhou Fuling boarded the oxcart.

They were walking towards the Dragon Pool under the Hidden Light Technique set up by the Miao Mountain Master.

In less than half an hour, she arrived at the outskirts of Longtan.

However, the master of Yumiao Mountain did not accompany Zhou Fuling.

Instead, the mountain lord of Yumiao released ten oxcarts to take different routes.

She led the way herself, while Zhou Fuling was escorted by her personal disciple.

"Fuling, you mustn't be willful."

"...Understood, Mountain Lord."

Zhou Fuling sat by the curtain of the oxcart, hugging her knees, gazing at the green mountains along the road, but her mood was somewhat uneasy.

“Miss Zhou, I’m a straightforward person, and I can’t help asking questions. Please don’t mind me.”

A voice came from close by.

Zhou Fuling looked up and saw the green-robed disciple sent by the mountain lord of Yu Miao Mountain to escort her standing in front of her.

When this person came over just now, he was extremely respectful in front of Lord Yu Miao.

After bringing her up, he secretly rolled his eyes.

Are all the people in Yumiao Mountain the same?

The cultivator said, "I've heard of you. You wanted to get close to Young Master Xu and even went around looking for him, but you were kicked out. Is that true?"

"how are you feeling?"

Zhou Fuling paused for a moment, then smiled at him and said:

I don't know if you're straightforward or not.

"But you really are blind."

A note from the author:

----------------------