Soul Locks Overturn Mountains and Rivers
When Jianyuan saw that Xie Jinhui and I recognized him, he immediately tried to come over to us like the other children.
However, the children at my feet saw the ravine coming and hid behind me.
It seems that part of their fear comes from the emperor's son, whom they want to get close to but are clearly being ostracized.
"You, you, don't come any closer, Xiao Li, aren't you a girl? How have you changed!"
A little boy, his face full of confusion and regret, hid behind me and scolded Jianyuan.
Jian Yuan remained unconvinced and continued walking over. He frowned, staring at Gui Wangyuan, and occasionally glared at the rain of stones outside the barrier.
At this moment, fourteen strings of rubble fell from Feikong Mountain. There were many of them, but their destructive power was not great.
Those larger rocks, the broken mountain ranges, were constantly struggling and roaring above the sky on the surface of the barrier Xie Jinhui had set up.
Xie Jinhui letting the smaller rocks pass through the barrier was actually relieving my stress.
Rocks always slide down the edge of the barrier to prevent them from flowing down to the lower realm.
I set up a defensive array between the Fourteen Strings and the Void Realm Mountain.
The Non-Empty Mountain collapsed very quickly, with rocks breaking apart, falling, and piling up fiercely. This forced Xie Jinhui to allow some of the larger mountain sections to pass through the barrier, with the less important Immortal Palaces and floating islands within the Fourteen Strings bearing part of the load.
The sounds of rocks crashing and destroying buildings echoed in my ears.
Crystals, rocks, multicolored sand, architectural ruins, broken bridges, arched columns...
In an instant, they flew and intersected within the fourteen strings, colliding and exploding everywhere, with dust and debris flying in all directions, crashing against the barrier of Hongmeng Academy with a crackling sound.
I looked up with the children and felt a moment of bewilderment.
My immortal power surged within me, and the power of the piled-up rubble grew ever stronger. Together, they broke through my barrier, determined to descend into the Void Realm Mountain.
My heart tightened, yet my hands had to soothe the child as I touched him.
The smoke and dust have obscured the blue of the sky, leaving us with a gray and yellow landscape.
With a loud bang, the pile of debris above my barrier collapsed like a mountain, creating wave after wave of rolling stones.
I admit, the dead Feikongshan Mountain is too heavy.
A sense of helplessness inevitably arose: if Fei Kong Mountain continues to collapse, I don't know when I will be able to withstand it with just the ordinary immortal power I have learned.
"You're making a fuss over nothing."
The sound of the ravine came through the rumbling rain of falling rocks.
"When studying, one should be calm and focused, and it is best to be in the female form."
He rolled his eyes at the little boy who was questioning him, quickly ran to my side, and continued, "At this moment, with danger at hand, of course I must use my male body to properly wield my father's gun."
The children may not have seen Gui Wangyuan's spear, but the word "father" silenced them all.
I thought to myself: It must be that Emperor Zangli concealed his son's identity and threw Jianyuan into Hongmeng Academy to be "raised roughly" with a group of other children.
Just now, the children heard Jianyuan's real name, and also heard Gui Wangyuan's appearance with a single shot.
Presumably, some of the children had already guessed Jianyuan's identity, so they relaxed and became less resistant.
To be honest, seeing Jianyuan suddenly transform from a diligent little girl into a proud young man with immense strength, ready to take up arms and fight was quite a shock.
This unique scene was incredibly impactful for these children.
The immortal emperor, Zangli, could be either male or female, and possessed the ability to split his primordial spirit. He passed this ability on to his son, but other immortals did not have it.
It inevitably seems bizarre.
As soon as Jian Yuan came over, a little girl with rosy cheeks popped out from the group of children and pulled Jian Yuan in front of me.
"Xiao Li is my good friend, I like her whether she's a boy or a girl."
While controlling the barrier, Xie Jinhui casually asked a question.
"Jianyuan, where is Emperor Zangli? Why is Guiwang Yuanyi with you?"
Jianyuan sighed in my arms.
"My father took my mother down to the mortal realm before the Holy Emperor of Heaven announced his recovery... Sigh..."
He dumped Gui Wangyuan on me, left me at the academy, and never came back…
He looked up, his eyes full of eagerness, looking back and forth between me and Xie Jinhui.
"Father, Mother, you can't abandon me!" His voice was full of longing.
I was thinking that it's a good thing that Emperor Zangli is in the mortal realm; he's a great help to the immortals.
Hearing Jianyuan's words, I felt that the child had been wronged, and I was about to comfort him.
But then I saw him frown and ask me in a panic.
"Mother, could it be that my father has caused a huge mess in the mortal realm, and ruined Fei Kong Mountain?!"
Looking at this and many other bewildered little faces, I could only smile and shake my head.
I feel the gravity of the barrier is so strong that I can barely laugh anymore.
In any case, in his son's eyes, Emperor Zangli was quite unreliable.
I vaguely sensed within my sea of consciousness that my master wanted to use me to check on the situation in the Immortal Realm.
My eyes scanned the entire mountain range, including the empty mountain, the fourteen strings, and the rocks inside and outside the barrier.
At the same time, I also saw the scene in my master's eyes.
The lower realm of Void Mountain, at this moment, is like the divine mark on Jianyuan's forehead, alternating between light and darkness.
This mountain has reached a state of near extinction.
This is no longer a situation that can be resolved simply by patching up the vulnerabilities.
I saw all the immortals working together, using their immortal power to maintain the shape of the Void Realm Mountain.
If Mount Xujing perishes, not only will the immortals and spirits on it vanish, but the civilization, education, and knowledge of the lower realm will also be wiped out and destroyed.
With the demise of the Void Realm Mountain, for the lower realms, it is no longer a matter of destruction and hope coexisting.
That would mean that even that world would be completely destroyed, leaving not even ashes or a trace of spirit behind.
My eyes stung with tears; it must have been because my master's throat tightened after seeing what was happening in the celestial realm.
The sound of my master's first vulnerable sob echoed in my mind.
"When I return to the Immortal Realm, I still hope to see my little stone."
Master's tone suddenly became urgent. He said, "Yuan'e, you... promise Master."
My heart skipped a beat, and a moment of sadness washed over me.
What I'm actually more afraid of is that Master won't come back, and then I...
“Master,” I responded excitedly in my mind, “Xie Jinhui is here, Master, you must come back, I will kowtow to you until my head is covered in bumps.”
Perhaps because his master stopped crying and started laughing, the sound was so faint that the scene before his eyes disappeared.
All I heard were the chaotic roars of the immortals, and from the clashing and disordered sounds of magical artifacts, a few words came from my master, accompanied by a relieved smile: "Good, good, good..." Fei Kong Mountain...
Then, the master stopped speaking.
I know my time has come.
The continuous impact of falling rocks from Feikong Mountain made my hands tremble.
I hid my not-so-tough self inside my fairy robes, squatted on the ground, and soothed the children's outstretched heads.
Then, I stood up and looked at Xie Jinhui, who was maintaining the barrier.
He unleashed the power of Gui Wangyuan's spear and stepped onto the core of the formation.
"Xie Jinhui," I called to him.
He turned his head from the imposing, flowing black light and shadow.
I lifted my leg and found that the magical power in my legs was becoming heavy. I bit my lip and tried my best to lift my leg towards him.
"Xie Jinhui, I want to..."
Before I could finish speaking, he was in front of me in an instant, his anxious expression as if he wanted to meld me into something and hide me away.
But he didn't show any vulnerability in front of the child. He raised his hand and, just like I would with a child, rubbed my head.
"Goddess Yuan'e, I will protect you to the very end."
He took my hand and said, "Come here."
Immediately, he and I entered another barrier.
*
“Yuan’e, hand over all the barriers you have to me. Go and make arrangements for those children first.”
Then, do as we just agreed.
...
The moment I handed over all the burdens, both inside and outside the Fourteen Strings of the Immortal Realm, to Xie Jinhui, I saw a fleeting, almost imperceptible distortion on his face.
Then, he rose into the air like a stream of water and rushed towards Feikong Mountain once again.
He turned his head slightly and smiled as he mouthed the words.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here."
The sense of relief that scene brought me was an unprecedented joy, but it was also the heaviest moment of my life.
Because Xie Jinhui was carrying such a heavy burden, yet he still had to fly so high.
I can't do that.
Time is of the essence; the sooner the better.
I summoned the children and old teachers from the academy, and once again used the immortal power refined by the Soul Lock to forge seven magic arrays that combined defense and mobility.
They were given to seven children who were fairly skilled in magic.
I proposed that a few rescuers be selected from among them, and that my celestial magic array protect them as they freely traverse the Fourteen Strings.
Their mission was to first bring the old Heavenly Physician from the Heavenly Hospital into the barrier that used Gui Wangyuan's spear as the array's core.
Afterwards, they toured the celestial realm, searching for weak and helpless celestial spirits, and rescued them all here.
In addition, other children and celestial beings with magical powers were arranged to summon all the Ascension Platforms to the front of the Purple Extreme Palace.
At that time, I will send them all to the Purple Extreme Palace beneath the nine-layered magic array, to be protected together with the Holy Emperor.
I also told them that if any immortals returned from the Lower Realm Void Mountain, they should be gathered together as well.
Those who are injured should be treated quickly, and those with magical powers should work together to reinforce the barrier.
Finally, he specifically instructed the old man to make sure to inform the returning immortals.
"No matter what, we must not let Emperor Shengsheng emerge from seclusion rashly."
When I was selecting the rescue envoy, Jianyuan raised his hand the highest.
I handed the teleportation array to each of the children whose names were pinned to their chests.
Their names are: Zilan, Haoze, Tongling, Huayue, Wuxi, Zhijue, and Luochenge.
The condensed magic circle floated in front of the young children. Looking at their determined eyes and the courage they mustered, I felt both heartache and relief.
After I finished arranging things for the children, I finally called the lost Jianyuan to me.
I gave him instructions.
“Jianyuan, you will stay by Guiwang Yuanyi’s side. Remember, from now on, you are the general of these children.”
You must guard this place, while also keeping an eye on those who roam the Fourteen Strings, noting the every movement and stillness of each of them.
If they are in danger, you need to activate the magic array as quickly as possible to save them.
You must become a general like your father, someone your soldiers can trust, rely on, and who will advance without hesitation because of your decisions.
"Jianyuan, do you understand?"
Upon hearing these words, Jianyuan immediately straightened his back and stood beside Guiwang Yuanyi, whose black light soared into the sky, facing the waves of sound as the rocks continued to strike him.
With a stern expression, he nodded deeply.
"Mother, Jianyuan understands!"
I asked the other children.
Do you understand?
Their innocent faces, seemingly born with boundless courage and a sense of responsibility, their high-pitched voices drowned out the thunderous roar of Fei Kong Mountain.
"Understood, Goddess Yuan'e, Lord Jianyuan!"
Before leaving, the children not only entrusted Jianyuan with their trust, but also gave him their cherished possessions, such as small windmills, small candies, small wooden horses, small wooden swords, and grasshoppers made of straw...
It was entrusted to Jianyuan for safekeeping.
I smiled slightly at them and looked up at the towering figure against the sky.
After I leaped away, the old scholar clutched the books of teaching and instruction in his hand, and he trembled as he fell to the ground in worship.
I heard the sound of the ravine again.
"Mother, tell Father that Jianyuan is waiting for you to come back."
Ha, good lad, but I don't know if you're my son-in-law or daughter-in-law.
Thinking of this, I smiled helplessly and looked up at Xie Jinhui.
The goddess Yuan'e's brain has probably gone mad again.
Well, maybe being crazy is more suitable for casting spells.
It's time.
On my path of soaring through the sky, the fallen pebbles have already been crushed into powder by Xie Jinhui.
At this moment, I feel as if I have embarked on a journey back to simplicity, tracing back to the origins of sand.
That tiny speck of dust in the sky paved a path for me to find him without injury or pain.
But I can't fly to him yet, because we agreed to unload something along the way.
That is my soul lock.
I stood amidst the clouds, silently reciting something.
"A speck of dust resides within me, my chains bind me day and night; the strength of my very soul can cover the boundless."
"Soul Lock, release."
As I uttered the command to unleash the Soul Lock, the divine seal on my forehead illuminated the fourteen strings with a crimson glow.
His immortal power was like dormant lava from a high mountain, suddenly released like a torrent filling the sky.
However, the moment the power erupted, it was instantly absorbed by the rings of soul locks surrounding me.
I felt my primal power burning like a raging fire, strengthening the chains of the Soul Chain with my life.
At that moment, I felt no pain; instead, I felt an urge to completely release myself.
My master said that my soul lock originated from the red mark inside my stone.
He first saw the Soul Chains take shape 30,000 years before I was created.
This red color was originally like flowing water, but later it was covered with a layer of indestructible mountain rock.
My master and many fellow immortals once tried to figure out what kind of stone I was.
In the end, they couldn't figure out how I got here, but they all agreed that this chain of mountains and flowing water had the ability to protect multiple worlds.
My fellow immortals all say that I am a spirit stone imbued with the power of the ancient gods to create and repair this mountain.
When I transformed into an immortal, the Soul Lock fully matured within my body. In addition to being sturdy, it also possessed the effects of permeating, healing, and reviving.
At this point, the entire immortal realm unanimously agreed that I, the Goddess Yuan'e, am a divine artifact hidden in the world by an ancient deity to save the world.
Born of necessity, my destiny is to dedicate myself to repairing and rebuilding a new heaven and earth during a catastrophe.
My master asked me to stay in the celestial realm; it was both out of love and a sacrifice.
Because even if the Non-Empty Mountain collapses into a complete mess right now, if I sacrifice the Soul Lock, it will rebuild the mountain and become a magnificent peak again.
After I perish, an invisible barrier called Yuan'e will appear within the entire Fourteen Strings.
It will remain forever, protecting the immortal realm.
That's why it doesn't matter how much I mess around, how careless I am, or how unlike a proper immortal I am in the celestial realm.
Because my master, Emperor Shengsheng, and the others all pity me, who will eventually become a barrier to the immortal realm.
The goddess Yuan'e was a fleeting visitor.
I already knew this, so I dislike being bound by constraints and am unwilling to shoulder any other destiny.
They will desperately push away all those who are close to them.
What I've always thought is this: let the kite, a lone little stone, fly from Qingmang Mountain to the celestial realm without any worries, live a carefree life, and then quietly perish.
However, to everyone's surprise, Xie Jinhui said something inside the barrier just now.
“Yuan’e, I will mend the empty mountain.”
He paused, his voice so low that only the wind could hear it.
"...So, stop entrusting your life to the world, entrust it to me."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com