Moonset Cool Night (2)
Fengling Hall is the mausoleum of successive abbots of the Yizi Monastery. After death, the bodies of monks remain sealed in coffins, often without light, and accidents are inevitable. Several predecessors' bodies have been possessed by wandering spirits, suddenly escaping from their tombs and startling many. Some claim they are demons, while others claim they aren't human at all, but ghosts.
Over time, Fengling Hall became known as a haunted place. Disciples called it a ghost tomb, and whenever it was mentioned, they would remain silent, let alone visit it on their own initiative. Because of this, few knew that the bodies of these immortal masters, gathered after death, could generate a powerful spiritual force. It was through this power that Yue Jinhuan forcibly awakened some of Li Zhaoyue's memories.
Li Zhaoyue walked over to the ice coffin, took out her worn compass, and slowly poured power into it. Ever since she acquired the First Sun Sword, she could clearly feel the changes in her spiritual energy.
It seemed as though her spiritual power grew stronger with each passing day, and with it, her cultivation base. And the rate of improvement was accelerating. Having spent so many years as a useless cultivator, this sudden change was particularly difficult for her to adapt to.
Now, she could touch the branches of the Tree of Destiny at will. This meant that she could inquire about the fate of others and learn about the past hidden in the ashes of fate.
Sitting in meditation, closing her eyes, she came to the huge tree of destiny again.
This place felt different from her last time here, warmer. A sea of stars streamed over the tree trunks. Li Zhaoyue gently closed her eyes and walked forward, following the guidance of her heart.
"What you are doing is too risky. The formation cannot withstand the destruction. The consequences will be unbearable for both you and me." It was a familiar male voice.
"Isn't this formation you're talking about also obtained through our risky efforts?"
"That's different, you..."
"I don't care about this little bit of empty fame. Wei Zhegu, your goal is to be remembered for eternity. I just want to solve this problem for the Floating Island. We don't conflict with each other, and we don't need to care about each other."
Zhu Ming was walking on a path, and Wei Zhegu was following behind her. There seemed to be an argument between the two.
It was clearly her memory, so why was Zhu Ming there? Had she taken the wrong path? Li Zhaoyue was filled with doubts and could only hide in the woods by the road, silently observing the movements here.
After saying this, Zhu Ming left quickly, leaving Wei Zhegu standing there, sighing heavily.
"Master." A young man wearing the uniform of a Yiziyuan disciple walked over and bowed to Wei Zhegu. His face, though young and immature, still showed the shadow of his future.
It turned out to be Loudao Yan? !
"Master, are you worried about Zhu Jianxian?" Seeing Wei Zhegu's bad face, he asked carefully. Wei Zhegu sighed and shook his head: "She is always very persistent, and sometimes I can't persuade her."
"It's okay, as long as she understands your feelings." Lou Daoyan said.
Do you understand? Wei Zhegu gave a bitter smile. She only had eyes for the future of the Floating Island. Those promises made in their youth had long since drifted away with the wind.
"Let's go. We still have to discuss strengthening the formation with the dean tomorrow. Don't be late."
"By the way, Master, has the dean developed a new set of sword techniques? Can I ask for your advice then?"
"It's rare that you have such a keen desire to learn."
The sound of conversation gradually faded away. Li Zhaoyue walked out from behind the bushes, observed the direction Zhu Ming left, and just as he took a step forward, the road suddenly broke.
Dense cracks instantly spread across the entire space, and she fell into the void. When she opened her eyes again, all she saw was a rich blood-red color.
Zhu Ming, his cheeks stained with blood, pulled the Falling Mountain Sword out of an old man's chest. The old man's hair changed rapidly, turning white in the blink of an eye.
"You... using such a heaven-defying method will only lead to a miserable end!" He struggled and sternly shouted. Zhu Ming glanced at his face coldly, placed the Falling Mountain Sword against his cheek, and said, "Everyone who has died at my hands has said this. You'd better conserve your strength and hope someone comes to save you."
"Beast!" The old man was so angry that he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. The blood splashed onto Zhu Ming's face. She wiped it off expressionlessly and suddenly smiled.
"Master, you have worked hard for half your life and are about to pass away. It would be better to use this body to do something meaningful." Zhu Ming looked at him strangely and slowly stood up.
"Try this formation. It will allow you to leave without any pain."
The scene finally freezes on the old man's bloodshot expression. Li Zhaoyue's eyes turn again.
The afterglow of the setting sun faded completely from the horizon, and the rich darkness of night descended. Flickering candlelight illuminated the bookshelves overflowing with books. In the distance, two figures intersected, accompanied by the sound of a fierce argument. Li Zhaoyue approached cautiously and discovered that the two people arguing were Zhu Ming and Wei Zhegu.
"Are you crazy? You didn't even let your master go?" Wei Zhegu pointed at her, almost trembling, and said in disbelief. He seemed to be meeting her for the first time, and his eyes were full of fear.
Zhu Ming sat at his desk and said without looking up, "But the energy of the formation has indeed been replenished, hasn't it?"
Wei Zhegu's throat was blocked, and his tone suddenly dropped: "But you can't use this method. We agreed not to hurt anyone."
Hearing this, Zhu Ming put down the ancient book in his hand and looked at him: "Do you have any other better ideas?"
Under the light, Zhu Ming looked very handsome, but his eyes were cold and ruthless, which was inconsistent with his age.
"Not harming anyone?" She sneered and asked, "How can we activate the formation without harming anyone? Are we going to watch all our years of hard work go to waste?"
Wei Zhegu swallowed and was speechless.
"If you want something, you have to pay a price. If you still have such cowardly thoughts, I will withdraw immediately."
"No, I...I won't say anymore."
Later, in a cave, they painstakingly drew an extremely complex formation. The bright red strokes spreading on the ground were all made of human blood.
"Are you ready?" Wei Zhegu asked Zhu Ming beside him. Zhu Ming nodded. Behind the two men was Lou Daoyan in his youth. The three of them stood at different positions in the formation, exerting their strength simultaneously.
A massive surge of spiritual energy triggered an earthquake. Inside the chamber, large chunks of rubble fell, and the formation glowed with a blinding red light. After a moment, the light dimmed, and a wailing baby appeared within the formation.
"How could it be...how could it be a human?" Wei Zhegu ran to the center of the formation in disbelief. When he saw that it was a baby with incomplete spiritual veins, he fell to the ground.
Zhu Ming came over with a frown on his face and said, "Failed again. It seems that asking for help from the gods is not a good idea."
"No! We must have made a mistake. How is that possible? There are clearly gods above the nine heavens, so why can't I get any response from them, even a single sound, despite my best efforts?"
Wei Zhegu was a little mentally disturbed, and he kept muttering. Zhu Ming glanced at him indifferently and pulled him away from the baby.
"Take your master back. He's been too tired these past few days. Let him go back and have a good rest." Zhu Ming said to Lou Daoyan. Lou Daoyan didn't dare to disobey her. He took Wei Zhegu from her and dragged him away.
After crying briefly, the baby in the center of the formation blinked its big tearful eyes and looked at Zhu Ming curiously.
Zhu Ming discovered that there was a brown wooden board in the swaddling clothes surrounding the baby, with three words engraved on it.
"Li Zhaoyue?" She read the name written on the wooden board and glanced at the baby calmly. Her eyes were always cold, but the baby smiled sweetly as she looked at him.
Zhu Ming was stunned for a moment. The baby smiled and stretched out his hands towards her, as if asking for a hug.
She felt a little awkward for the first time, but couldn't resist the baby's innocent eyes and picked her up from the ground. This feeling was wonderful. Zhu Ming felt like she was holding a piece of warm cotton in her arms, incredibly soft.
The baby seemed to like her very much and giggled non-stop.
"Yi Zi Yuan is not suitable for you with your incomplete spiritual roots. I will send you out." Zhu Ming looked at the pair of round, watery eyes, and his heart softened involuntarily.
"Just consider it a good thing I did."
Later, the family that adopted Li Zhaoyue was accidentally killed by a spirit, and she was rescued and brought back by the people of Yiziyuan. Zhu Ming recognized Li Zhaoyue at a glance. The black mole between her eyebrows was exactly the same as the baby from that year.
However, Zhu Ming showed particular dislike for her, and Li Zhaoyue's life in the courtyard was not easy. After Lin Xian's death, her blood accidentally dripped into the formation, replenishing its energy. Li Zhaoyue then became Zhu Ming's only disciple, and countless love and honor showered her.
Even Wei Zhegu began to take an interest in her. However, Zhu Ming kept a close watch on her, and Li Zhaoyue only met Wei Zhegu a few times.
Later, Wei Zhegu secretly practiced the forbidden book and was killed by Zhu Ming with a sword.
"Even if you can kill me now, you won't end up well either! Will that formation be easy to get rid of in the future? Once you try to conquer it, want to use it, you'll never be able to leave it!"
"Zhu Ming, I'm waiting for the day when you're ruined and your soul is shattered!"
Everything ended with Wei Zhegu's ferocious expression. Li Zhaoyue suddenly opened his eyes, his chest rising and falling rapidly, and he breathed in big gulps of air.
The Tree of Destiny still stood quietly among the sea of stars, and the surroundings were still warm, but she felt as if all the blood in her body had frozen.
If her memory stayed at the day when Zhu Ming wanted to kill her in the formation, she wouldn't be sad at all now. But, she just happened to see the memory just now.
Maybe at some point, Zhu Ming treated himself sincerely?
What kind of person could harm the child he raised with his own hands? What kind of person could endure for so many years just to raise her into a useless vase that is powerless.
In the end, she willingly became a sacrifice for the formation.
Why? Li Zhaoyue thought, nearly losing consciousness. Why? Why could one person be so divided? Everyone, everyone, was like this.
Why?
"Li Zhaoyue? Li Zhaoyue? What's wrong with you?" Yue Jinhuan's voice gradually faded away. Li Zhaoyue stumbled forward and accidentally fell from the branches.
She fell rapidly, the corners of her goose yellow clothes revealed the color of starlight, and finally melted into the transparent mirror.
Li Zhaoyue opened his eyes and found himself standing in front of a mirror.
Opposite him stood a woman in white.
It was the white-haired girl who appeared in her dream.
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