Chapter 9 The Prophecy of the Immortal Master, Unseen by Mortals
The Xuanji Palace floated above the nine heavens, its body carved from ancient jade of azure blue. A vast sea of clouds flowed silently below. The Imperial Preceptor stepped over the Jade Steps to Heaven and entered the palace, holding a spiritual artifact and bowing deeply: "Immortal Venerable."
The hall's dome is high and far, and the star map array has frozen the ages. A cold light shines down from the star map. A cold jade chessboard is placed in the hall. A woman in a white dress with her hair down, her face is beautiful and pure, like snow piled on a flowering tree. She is reclining on the main seat with her forehead propped up, idly playing with the black pieces in her hand.
When the person called her, she slightly raised her eyelids and said, "Qingyi, you've come."
Xiao Qingyi handed the Heart-to-Heart Mirror to her, her expression indifferent: "Return it to its rightful owner."
Song Xijia stood up and took it, pulling out a few strands of black soul from the mirror. When the golden light from the dome shone on the soul, it scattered into fine points of light. She casually looked at herself in the mirror, set it aside, and pulled Xiao Qingyi's hand to sit down: "Xuanji Palace is too boring, and only you can keep me company."
Xiao Qingyi had come on official business and subtly withdrew her hand: "The spiritual veins in all directions have been damaged, and several major families have sent people with keys to repair and investigate them."
Song Xijia leaned back lazily in her chair, playing with her hair: "Oh? How did it go?"
Xiao Qingyi stared at her silently for a moment, then asked in return, "Does this matter concern you?"
"ha……"
Song Xijia laughed, her hair falling to the ground, and leaned close to Qingyi's ear with a teasing look in her eyes: "What do you think, Qingyi?"
Xiao Qingyi did not speak.
"You Xiao family members are utterly boring. Qingyi, will that little goddess you predicted ever make it to the Xuanji Palace?"
Song Xijia looked at the star map on the dome and said, "I have a feeling she's about to die. If I had known she was going to die young, your Xiao family would probably have a lot of resentment towards me for this marriage certificate."
Xiao Qingyi retorted, "How do you know she can't?"
Song Xijia laughed so hard his whole body trembled. He walked to the wall, opened his arms, and his voice echoed in the hall: "You speak with such certainty, then why did you never foresee me! You said my junior brother would become the ruler of the world, but as I stand here, he has already become a stone in the Xuanji Palace!"
Her expression was arrogant and haughty: "Xiao Qingyi, do you know why your cultivation has not improved at all after so many years? It's all about human effort, not your bullshit prophecy!"
Xiao Qingyi remained solemn, her expression unchanged: "Since everything depends on human effort and there are always variables, it is still unknown whether she can reach the Xuanji Palace. Immortal Venerable, you might as well continue to observe."
Song Xijia's smile faded slightly. After looking at her for a long time, he smiled again: "Since Qingyi is so confident, then I'll wait and see. The lonely and boring days in Xuanji Palace should be over soon."
——
The night was as dark as ink. Two guards in leather armor stood outside the Xiao residence, their hands on their swords, their eyes scanning the street without looking to the side. Several servants walked briskly, heads bowed, through the many corridors, their footsteps light and silent. The water in the stone vat beneath the ancient tree in the corner of the courtyard was a deep, dark color, reflecting the silent chimeras on the eaves. On the towering roof of the main hall, a figure had appeared out of nowhere.
Xiao Jingze changed into a night outfit, his waist empty except for the gold ring on his hand, which he tossed and caught. A faint smile played on his lips as he looked down at the massive and intricate cage below, but his eyes held a chilling depth.
The night watchman struck the third watch, and the two guards were changing shifts. He moved swiftly and silently disappeared into the shadows of the building. The ancestral hall was filled with the scent of aged incense and candles. Xiao Jingze's gaze swept over the two rows of ebony tablets and locked onto the area beneath the offering table.
He reached out and pulled, but the hidden compartment didn't budge. He raised an eyebrow; the marriage certificate was locked, just like it was kept from thieves.
Xiao Jingze straightened up, drew two fingers across the Sumeru Ring, and a golden needle was already held between his fingertips. With a soft click, the lock opened, revealing a golden-red scroll lying quietly inside.
He carefully checked the Immortal Venerable's seal, threw it into his Sumeru Ring, and was about to leave when he suddenly paused as he turned around. The flames cast shadows on the wall behind him, illuminating the figure in front of the door.
Xiao Jingze stared blankly for a while, then a slight smile appeared on his lips as he drawled out, "—Grandfather."
Old Xiao leaned on a heavy wooden cane, a scar running diagonally down his forehead, one of his eye sockets empty, his single eye sunken, his gaze sweeping over him with cold sharpness: "You came back just for this?"
Xiao Jingze's smile remained unchanged: "What kind of era is this? How can Grandfather still be so old-fashioned? Besides, this wasn't just my idea."
Old Xiao walked up to him and tapped his cane on the ground: "Do you know how this marriage contract was arranged?"
Xiao Jingze met his gaze: "The current emperor values literature over martial arts. The Xiao family is not as well-connected as the Jin family, and is also suppressed by the Shen family in the court. Although the Ming family has lived in seclusion, outstanding members have emerged in the decades. However, the Xiao family is stagnant inside and out. In order to maintain the power and glory of the aristocratic family, I can only be sacrificed to promote that mortal goddess of the Ming family."
"That's what you really think?"
Xiao Jingze's eyes were mocking: "Am I wrong?"
Old Master Xiao shook his head: "If that's the case, why would the Ming family agree to marry their goddess to the Xiao family?"
"Ha, that sickly Ming family member, only they treat him like a treasure."
"You've seen her, do you still think that way?"
Xiao Jingze paused for a moment, then raised his eyelids: "Yes."
Old Xiao looked at the ancestral tablets in the ancestral hall, his voice hoarse and dry: "Fine, I'll tell you then. The world only knows half of the prophecy made by the Grand Preceptor back then, but not the other half."
He turned to look at the flickering candlelight and read: "Ten years of upheaval, lamentations throughout the world; divine decree revealed, a savior is born. Destiny is sealed, cause and effect are extinguished; heaven and earth are restored, spring returns to the earth—this is the complete prophecy of the Imperial Preceptor."
Xiao Jingze, however, didn't seem to care and laughed, "You believe me?"
"Believe it or not, the Imperial Preceptor has already reached the Mahayana stage, and is only one step away from the seat in the Xuanji Palace, while the Immortal Venerable..."
Seeing that Elder Xiao did not intend to continue, Xiao Jingze raised his eyebrows and gave a proper bow: "It is late, Grandfather, please take care of yourself. I will pay my respects another day."
After he finished speaking, he took out a Swift Wind Talisman from his Sumeru Ring. The heavy cane made a muffled sound, and an array appeared centered on the point of impact to stop him. Old Xiao said in a calm tone, "Since you're back, stay here for now."
At the third quarter of the hour of Mao (5:45 AM), as dawn broke, servants carried trays in an orderly fashion. Lord Xiao solemnly greeted his father, who was in the main seat, only to find his unfilial son sitting crookedly in the seat below.
The unfilial son was dressed ostentatiously, toying with a silver spoon in his hand, and didn't even lift his eyelids when he saw him arrive.
He frowned, about to reprimand him, when Old Xiao opened his eyes and said, "Sit down first."
Xiao Hou sat down silently, and the three generations of the family finished their breakfast in silence. Old Xiao left, leaning on his cane, leaving only the two of them in the room.
Xiao Hou couldn't stand Xiao Jingze's nonchalant attitude, no matter where he was. Xiao Jingze was too lazy to deal with him, so he stretched and walked out. Xiao Hou slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "Stop! What kind of attitude is this!"
Xiao Jingze stopped and turned his head away expressionlessly: "I have important matters to attend to at the academy, so I'm afraid I won't be able to reminisce with Father about the past today."
Xiao Hou pointed at his nose and cursed, "You brat! With your dissolute behavior, your arrogance, your disrespect for elders, and your disrespect for family rules, how could the old man think you were capable of shouldering the heavy responsibilities of the Xiao family? I think he has misjudged you! You should just stay with those scoundrels and rot together, lest you tarnish the reputation of the Xiao family!"
Xiao Jingze didn't even bother to listen, and pushed open the door to leave: "Since that's the case, I won't get in Father's way."
His expression was indifferent. The servants of the Xiao family were all doing their jobs properly and did not give the father and son any extra attention.
Xiao Jingze stood in the courtyard, feeling utterly bored. He tapped the ring on his finger; the marriage certificate lay quietly in his Sumeru Ring. He then remembered that he still had something to do, and wondered if that mortal could obtain the Heavenly Fire.
Mingying sat alone in the Purple Cloud Carriage, her arms resting on the window frame, watching the birds fly alongside her. She wasn't afraid, but she felt a little bored. When she was in Yunchuan, the Ming family was always very lively.
She waved to them, saying, "Could there be a Mingyan among you?"
Thinking of this, she sighed again. She had sent several letters to Yun Chuan before, fearing that there might be many changes along the way and that she would only be able to get a reply when she arrived at the Shen family.
The Shen family didn't know when she would arrive, and they thought they might give their grandmother a big surprise.
Thinking of this, Mingying's mood brightened, and she began to ponder what she would say. She had sent a few packets of seeds to her cousin two years ago, and she wondered what had happened to them.
The Purple Cloud Chariot landed slowly, and Mingying felt that it seemed more stable than last time. She jumped off the chariot without feeling dizzy.
Mingying placed her hand on the runes on the chariot, and the Purple Cloud Chariot transformed into a wooden box. She picked it up, and someone called her from behind: "Manman."
Mingying turned around in surprise and replied with a smile, "Cousin."
Shen Yichuan stood in front of the carriage, tall and elegant, with an air of refined nobility. His gaze fell upon the wooden box in Mingying's hand, and his smile deepened slightly: "This is the magical artifact that Young Master Xiao gave you?"
Mingying skipped over to his side, saying as she walked, "He lent it to me. How did you know I would come today? I wanted to give you a surprise!"
Shen Yichuan lifted the carriage curtain and helped her into the carriage, his smile as warm as a spring breeze: "This carriage has been waiting for you at the post station for several days. If you don't come soon, Grandmother will be worried."
The Shen family's carriage looked unassuming from the outside, but the interior was lined with deerskin carpets, and a small purple clay teapot sat on the table. Different kinds of dried fruits and candied fruits were stacked in a three-tiered pastry box.
Having not seen each other for many years, Mingying was not reserved. She picked up a piece of dried peach, chewed it, and then poured a cup of tea for each of them.
Shen Yichuan looked at the familiar movements and shook his head with a smile: "Manman really hasn't changed at all."
He picked up his teacup and asked again, "But why did you come alone? Didn't the Ming family send anyone to escort you?"
Mingying waved her hand: "It was my own idea. My cousin was originally supposed to come with me, but she parted ways with me before I came to Huaijiang."
Shen Yichuan paused for a moment, then gently set down the teacup: "Full."
"Hmm?"
Mingying held the teacup and looked up at him with a puzzled expression.
Seeing her nonchalant expression, Shen Yichuan gently reminded her, "You are a goddess, and everything should be done with you first. Since Mingyan has taken on the responsibility of protecting you, if she offends you or even puts you in danger, you should also..."
"Cousin, there's no need to say anything more."
Mingying interrupted him, her eyes serious: "I know my cousin is thinking of me, but I am not some high and mighty goddess. Mingyan is my sister, and I came here because I pestered her. It has nothing to do with the duty of guarding you mentioned. I was able to get here largely because of her help. Besides, she has important matters to attend to. The damage to the spiritual veins in all directions is no small matter. I came here to inform my grandmother about this."
Shen Yichuan paused for a moment, then his brows relaxed: "I was wrong. This cup of tea is my apology."
Mingying readily clinked glasses with him: "I appreciate your kindness, cousin, but please don't say things like that again."
Shen Yichuan took a sip of tea: "What about the four spiritual veins you mentioned?"
Mingying recounted the events of the past few days, and Shen Yichuan nodded thoughtfully, his gaze falling on the wooden box in her hand: "You mean, this is a magical artifact that even mortals can use?"
"Yes, yes."
Mingying handed over the Purple Cloud Chariot: "Cousin, you can try it too, it's so much fun!"
Shen Yichuan took it over and examined it carefully, his fingers tracing the runes on the surface.
Xiao Jingze paused slightly, and the ring on his hand flashed. Qianji Yin sensed the unusual aura.
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