Chapter 161 Big Bird, Little Bird, Bad Bird.
Unlike the statues that shed blood and tears, or the blurry illusions that gradually fade away, this ancient and desolate realm presents a truly tangible demon.
No, it should be called "Ba". At this time, she was not stigmatized; she was still a goddess, the daughter of the legendary first human emperor, Mother. The woman named after her mother was given her innate divine power to move mountains and stop floods; with a single arrow, she could shatter mountains thousands of miles away.
Shen Lixia could sense that the illusion itself was probably a wisp of consciousness left behind by an ancient being who had personally experienced this battle. Therefore, even the gods within it had limitations in strength. For example, the person in front of her, Ba, seemed to be only at the Nascent Soul stage.
This constantly reminded her that she was in an illusion, not actually on the ancient battlefield.
Her bright golden eyes reflected the soft and elegant color of the blue dress.
So this is what Ba looks like.
That's wonderful. This is how she should be. Not bound, not an illusion, but free to walk between heaven and earth, working and fighting alongside women, being their best, strongest, and most reliable sword and shield, and also herself…
Shen Lixia smiled, her upturned eyes curving into a gentle smile. Seeing this, Ba's curiosity grew even stronger—she was always very perceptive of people's emotions, so how could she not see the happiness in the young man's eyes, the kind that only comes after hardship, but which was because of her, not because of him.
Have they met before?
Thinking of this, a strange feeling suddenly welled up in Ba's heart. It was as if someone had used a paddle to stir a pool of spring water, rippling out gentle warmth. But this water was too vast and too long, spanning many years, before it could reach her with these tiny ripples, allowing her to feel it.
She always trusted her own feelings, just as resolutely as when she agreed to descend to the Heavenly Realm with the Moon Goddess. At the time, the Empress was actually unwilling, because the divination said that she would face a calamity, and no mother would want her daughter to take risks, even if Ba was outstanding from a young age and surpassed her.
Ke Ba was determined to go—she thought that only she could stop the flood, and this was her mission. The young woman promised her mother that once the war was completely over and there was no more suffering on earth, she would return to the Heavenly Realm and come back to her side.
At that time, Ba never imagined that their parting would be forever.
The ancient war did not break her spirit, but another reason, winding and circuitous, ultimately pushed Ba back into the perilous predicament of divination. Ten thousand years passed, until the Celestial Realm separated from the Earthly Realm, until the snow on Mount Youdu melted away, her mother never saw her return. Even as a heroic spirit, the Human Emperor's lifespan was ultimately limited; her heart grew old with melancholy, and one day, in despair, she coughed up blood incessantly, passing away a few years later.
These are all stories for later. At this time, Ba is still a goddess, and her mother, a general serving Lord Lingguang, is still waiting for her to return to the Heavenly Realm.
Looking at the boy's face, she felt a little relieved, but on the surface she still had to pretend to be serious: "How rude! Why didn't you give your name when I asked you? And why were you laughing and joking around?"
Shen Lixia blinked and said gently, "I am just a tribesman who has no ill intentions. Please rest assured, Goddess."
As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly felt dizzy and uncontrollably fell from the tree. A scream was about to escape her lips when, in the blink of an eye, the world turned upside down, and below her was no longer the tiny ground and intertwined branches, but solid mud and dust.
Shen Lixia struggled blankly for a moment before realizing that she had been lifted up by Ba Dan and carried away as if she were a kitten.
She used some kind of magic, as if she were retrieving something from thin air, and instantly pulled the boy over. Shen Lixia was stunned for a while, then finally started gesturing excitedly, her eyes sparkling.
"What magic did you use just now? How did I suddenly get down from the tree—that's amazing! Is it only goddesses who can do that?"
Ba seemed quite pleased, her voice tinged with amusement: "This is a spatial technique. Those who are just beginning to transform into Nascent Souls can master it, allowing them to leap several miles in an instant without relying on her power; those who reach the Great Ascension stage can move objects remotely, distort spacetime, and even control cause and effect."
At that time, the heaven and earth were not yet separated, so people did not know that those in the Void Refining Realm could ascend to the Heavenly Spirit Realm. Shen Lixia listened attentively, nodded vigorously, and said, "Then I must cultivate diligently."
Only after she said that did Ba notice that this human possessed cultivation. She roughly sensed it, then carefully examined Shen Lixia's face, and shook him twice by the back of the neck, as if to scold him.
"How did you only reach this level?" Ba's tone sounded somewhat disappointed. "You must not be very diligent, little one. Did you get distracted by some puppy or kitten halfway through your meditation?"
Shen Lixia couldn't believe that someone who had been personally praised by Yan Xueya as a "genius that comes along only once in a thousand years" could receive such a evaluation. But then she thought about it again. The illusion was set in the ancient times ten thousand years ago, when spiritual energy was so abundant that even beasts could become intelligent just by eating and sleeping. Her Nascent Soul Realm was indeed not enough for someone who could cultivate.
The boy immediately deflated, "I didn't... I tried so hard."
Seeing her dejected expression, Ba couldn't help but chuckle, her face softening slightly as she comforted her, "Alright, alright, you're still young, it's normal to be playful. But with the war raging now, the human race is in great danger. You are a young person in the tribe, so you must remember your responsibilities... You must protect your mother, sisters, aunts, and grandmothers."
They walked a distance while talking.
Suddenly, a strong wind blew up from all directions.
The wind came strangely; though the forest was lush and green, it couldn't stop its rampage. Leaves fluttered down, as if surrendering to something about to come, and the faint sounds of insects and birds vanished, leaving only deathly silence in the blink of an eye.
It wasn't until the wind hit her face that Shen Lixia realized there was something even more unusual about it—it wasn't that the wind was rising in the forest, but rather that the wind was descending upon the forest.
She could barely open her eyes, her mind filled with only one thought—
It's so hot!
The airflow was not refreshing, but rather scorching hot like rolling lava. Even though I was used to the burning of divine fire, I could not adapt to this heat. It felt as if a layer of my skin was being branded off.
A sharp pain suddenly shot through her, accompanied by a faint smell of burning. Shen Lixia looked up and saw that a strand of her hair hanging in front of her forehead was actually sparking.
She frantically reached out to catch him. This commotion finally made Ba realize the predicament of the little thing in her hands. She put the boy down and raised her hand to send a beam of light mixed with pale gold into her body.
Instantly, divine power spread out, forming a thin barrier around Shen Lixia's body, blocking the high temperature. Just as she recovered from the scorching heat, Shen Lixia felt the wind grow stronger, and then the sky darkened abruptly, and the blazing sun lost its luster.
Is there something wrong with the passage of time?
--wrong.
A layer of rich and vibrant soft red light tinged the darkness that enveloped the forest. Shen Lixia gradually began to have a guess in her heart, and couldn't help but hold her breath and look up.
Hanging above was a large bird, its body a vibrant, fiery red.
Its wings are extremely wide, with layers of thick feathers like the most intense fiery clouds, enough to blot out the sky; its tail feathers are extremely long, with golden light flowing through them, trailing like the hem of the most exquisite robe in the world, far surpassing the divine bird phoenix; its eyes are brightly colored, and just one glance from afar can set one's heart ablaze and make one dizzy.
The large bird did not notice them, but simply circled once in the air before landing on the tallest tree. Suddenly, it opened its beak and let out a long, drawn-out cry.
Without needing to be told to be quiet, Shen Lixia knew that she absolutely could not speak at this moment. She quietly gazed at the crimson bird, its silhouette standing shoulder to shoulder with the sun, its proud posture as if even the heavens would bow down.
It is singing.
For some reason, just as it allowed her to understand the language of beasts, the divine fire was still the link between Shen Lixia and all the spirits of nature, allowing her to understand the song of the ancient Vermilion Bird.
It is singing...
"I gaze upon you, yet you do not come; I sing aloud, but who will remember me? I shine as brightly as the sun and moon, and I gaze upon the world with deep sorrow."
Seemingly slightly saddened, the bird lowered its head and gently preened its feathers for a while. As it folded its wings, the sunlight was allowed to fall, illuminating its beautiful feathers in a rich, vibrant light, until, when it ceased its movement, they took on a blood-red hue.
Suddenly, the bird's body gradually blurred, transforming into towering flames. The firelight reflected brightly in the sky, spreading out in golden and red hues across vast expanses, as if to burn the heavens.
A figure slowly emerged from the flowing flames.
Shen Lixia's heart pounded. She clenched her fists and held her breath. From the direction of the figure came a faint melody, gentle yet powerful, played on a flute, expressing endless thoughts.
—The mountain has trees, but the trees have no branches; I love you, but you do not know.
The boy recognized the familiar melody; it was the song she had sung for her beloved in his dream that day. And if he could understand it, surely the other birds, even all the beasts, could understand it too… and even other people could feel the sorrowful, bittersweet longing in that tender music…
It's common knowledge that everyone knows except those directly involved, yet they still advertise it everywhere, as if afraid no one will understand that she has someone she loves but can't confess her feelings, or even understand her own.
That big, clumsy bird!
After a sudden burst of inexplicable anger, Shen Lixia blushed and her ears began to burn.
How could she do this? The whole world knows, everyone understands that she loves someone...
However, no one knew who that person was.
Thinking of this, Shen Lixia calmed down a little, and belatedly realized a fact, causing her pupils to shrink slightly.
wrong.
Along the way, there are records of Lingguang Jun, Taiyin Jun... the Four Symbols, the Supreme Gods, the Demon Clan, and even Luochuan.
One person, in particular, has never appeared in history, as if vanished into the endless river of time.
Luo Yang.
Why does nobody remember her?
Is it because Hua Ying didn't tell anyone? Didn't Luo Yang participate in the war and even befriend the Merfolk, yet he only received word of mouth from them?
The flute music stopped, and a light, delicate sound entered her ears, interrupting Shen Lixia's thoughts.
Ba was about to kneel down on one knee, but was held up by a force and could not bend over. The figure jumped down from the tree, the giant bird disappeared, and the flowing flames were returned to her body.
Beneath her flowing black hair were a pair of bright red eyes.
Her cloak billowed in the wind, her red dress paired with silver armor, her tall figure resembling a towering and eternally burning flame, her brows furrowed with arrogance, her noble and dazzling presence surpassing even the sun.
A single dot of cinnabar on the forehead surpasses all the vibrant colors in the world.
“Raise your head.”
Following her calm voice, Ba raised her head.
The young man glanced at her, then slightly raised his chin. "Don't kneel. I don't like such cumbersome formalities."
They even find it disgusting.
As she spoke, her gaze suddenly shifted, landing on Shen Lixia. She narrowed her eyes slightly, scrutinizing the other woman. Although Shen Lixia already knew her identity and had seen her countless times in her mind and dreams, and even remembered secretly shedding tears the first time Luo Yang carried her, she was still so intimidated by the pressure that she clenched her teeth, gripped her hands tightly, and felt her heart pounding.
In this illusory realm where the power of all things has been diminished, even a supreme god should retreat to the Nascent Soul stage.
Yet, I couldn't sense any potential in the person in front of me.
Just as she is not only outside, but also in this illusion, she is an unquestionable deity.
It is unfathomable and unshakeable.
Just as she was feeling flustered, Shen Lixia felt a scorching breath approaching, and her chin was lifted up by someone's fingertip.
A face that was both incredibly familiar and strangely unfamiliar came into view.
Hua Ying raised an eyebrow slightly, her voice tinged with a hint of mischief, and chuckled softly:
"Look, not only did she not bend over, she even lowered her head, as if she's plotting how to punch me. Sometimes you're too polite, not as sincere as humans. Why don't you learn from her, hmm?"
Shen Lixia was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized what was happening, but she didn't loosen her fist; in fact, she clenched it so tightly that it made a cracking sound.
She was indirectly mocking herself for being impolite!
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Author's note: The next chapter will be about my senior sister.
Why do my junior sister and I always seem to be at odds? It's like I'm constantly mocking and fighting with myself (not really).
*The content of the song has been referenced in terms of its genre.
The gist is: Without you, who will I sing to? Even if I shine as brightly as the sun and moon, I will still be filled with sorrow.
Short version: Luo Yang, I miss you!!! T_T
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