Chapter 1743: Turning Heaven and Earth Upside Down

Zhou Mengyao felt somewhat relieved that she had reconciled with Qi Xuansu. This was not a problem that either of them could solve alone. If they had fallen out with each other, neither would have been able to leave.

Qi Xuansu lacked Zhou Mengyao’s breadth of knowledge and experience, so he could not unravel the secrets of this world. He would have wandered around like a headless fly, unable to find the right path.

On the other hand, Zhou Mengyao possessed the knowledge and insight of an Immortal and knew how to leave. However, upon arriving at the Commander’s Office in the yin realm, all she could do was stare at the ruins and rubble in despair.

From this perspective, the Daoist Order’s emphasis on unity and its advocacy of cooperation for mutual benefit certainly made a great deal of sense.

The 33-story inverted tower hung upside down beneath Cangyun Fortress in the yin realm. Naturally, its entrance was inverted as well, with the threshold at the top.

Qi Xuansu and Zhou Mengyao entered the tower through its base.

Everything inside the tower was also upside down. Thus, the two of them were walking on the ceiling, while the floor was above their heads.

The surrounding walls were covered with strange star charts, which were likewise inverted. However, even when viewed upside down, they bore only a superficial resemblance to the traditional star charts of the Daoist Order, with many details differing drastically.

Naturally, the staircases were inverted as well, making it extremely difficult to climb from one floor to another. To make matters worse, both of them had poured all their divine power into the Guizang Lantern, leaving them unable to fly. Fortunately, their destination was the 33rd floor at the very bottom. Instead of climbing upward, they could simply jump down through the stairwells.

The two exchanged glances and said, “Let’s jump.”

Like children hopping down a staircase, they jumped from one floor to the next, making their way toward the tip of the tower.

The only differences between the floors were the star charts. Since these charts were inverted, they created the sensation of traveling into the unknown depths of an infinitely vast and mysterious universe, filling anyone who beheld them with an overwhelming sense of their own insignificance.

Within such a realm, what significance could a mere Pseudo-Immortal possibly have? Even Immortals seemed insignificant. Only formidable Second-Tribulation and Third-Tribulation Immortals could roam freely through such a place, and only supreme beings like the Primordial Daoist Ancestor and the Supreme Will could truly be called its rulers.

Just as Qi Xuansu was gradually becoming entranced by the sight, Zhou Mengyao suddenly reached out and slapped him. “The Master did not speak of strange phenomena, feats of strength, disorder, or spirits. Look without seeing, and listen without hearing.”

Qi Xuansu was momentarily startled. He immediately gathered his wandering thoughts and steadied his mind, no longer looking at those bizarre star charts.

After all, these star charts were most likely connected to the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon. Studying them closely would not necessarily lead to enlightenment or the discovery of some profound cultivation technique. On the contrary, he might suffer cultivation deviation and succumb to its influence.

Simply put, they were not exploring some ancient ruins for archaeological research, much less attempting to uncover history. They were on a perilous adventure after finding themselves stranded, and staying alive was their utmost priority.

Even if they were jumping down rather than climbing, traversing 33 floors would still take quite some time.

Perhaps Zhou Mengyao was feeling bored, or perhaps her mind was somewhat unsettled. Whatever the reason, she unexpectedly struck up a casual conversation with Qi Xuansu. “Tian Yuan, I heard you’ve adopted a daughter?”

Qi Xuansu immediately became somewhat wary. “I did.”

“What’s the kid’s name?” Zhou Mengyao asked.

Qi Xuansu replied, “Qi Xiaoyin.”

Zhou Mengyao commented. “It’s good that she bears the Qi name. That means she’s taking her name from my side of the family. I once thought your children would bear the Zhang last name.”

Qi Xuansu retorted, “Traditionally speaking, only the children of a matrilocal son-in-law take their wife’s family name. Clearly, I’m not a matrilocal son-in-law.”

Zhou Mengyao warned, “Let me remind you that under Daoist law, female Daoists also have the right to pass on their last names to their children. A statement like that could be construed as discrimination against female Daoists. You’d best be careful. Otherwise, you might receive a warning from the Female Daoist Association of Mutual Aid.”

Qi Xuansu said, “Then let me put it another way. If that’s the case, why do all the descendants of the great clans bear their last name? Why do so many noble and aristocratic families continue to cling to these old traditions? That’s because it isn’t just about names or equality. It’s a question of inheriting power and wealth. To put it plainly, anyone in the Zhang family who doesn’t bear their last name will not be eligible to inherit the position of Heavenly Preceptor. If someone takes their maternal family’s name, they become a member of that family. This isn’t merely a matter between two individuals but two entire families. Even if I wanted to inherit the Zhang family’s legacy, the Zhang family would have to be willing to accept me. A matrilocal son-in-law relinquishes these inheritance rights. That’s why I’ve never been a member of the Zhang family.”

Zhou Mengyao nodded. “You’re a member of the Qi family, so you have my support.”

“Madam San, don’t try to take advantage of me. You’re not Qi Haoran. Are you and Madam Qi actually married or something?” Qi Xuansu grew even more suspicious.

The conversation eventually came to an end with a soft snort from Zhou Mengyao.

The exchange had mostly been playful banter. Nevertheless, Zhou Mengyao had deliberately brought up the child’s last name despite already knowing the answer. She had indeed harbored some intention to take advantage of Qi Xuansu.

She wanted Qi Xuansu to realize that his last name came from Qi Haoran, which happened to be herself.

Madam Qi had merely assumed the role of Qi Xuansu’s mother, while the position of his father had always remained vacant. Though Sage Donghua was his master, the former was not exactly his father, especially when family matters were involved. Qi Xuansu could inherit Sage Donghua’s lineage, but he could not simply claim the inheritance of the Pei family and become its patriarch. Those were two entirely different matters. Thus, there was still a distinction between being someone’s father and being someone’s master.

By that rather generous stretch of logic, if Zhou Mengyao assumed the position of Qi Xuansu’s father, she would effectively become the patriarch of the Qi family.

Naturally, Qi Xuansu saw through Zhou Mengyao’s ulterior motives and called her out on them directly.

Finally, the two of them jumped their way to the final floor. There were no windows here. Instead, they found a tightly shut doorway.

This door at the top of the tower aligned perfectly with Zhou Mengyao’s conjecture, that the entrance lay above the Nine Heavens, while the exit lay beneath the Nine Netherworlds.

A sphere hovered in the center of the chamber.

This sphere was rather peculiar, somewhat resembling the Daoist Order’s Taiji symbol, except that it lacked the two contrasting dots. Its black and white halves were distinctly separated.

Zhou Mengyao gazed at the sphere and said, “This probably symbolizes the Azure Heaven. The black half represents the yin realm, while the white half represents the yang realm. Together, they constitute the Azure Heaven itself.”

Qi Xuansu fell into contemplation.

Zhou Mengyao walked over to the tightly shut doorway and tried pushing it, but it did not budge. The stone door had a rather unusual structure, featuring a mechanism integrated into the door itself. Since the tower was inverted, the mechanism had automatically dropped into place like a massive portcullis, sealing the doorway completely.

Given Qi Xuansu’s and Zhou Mengyao’s current cultivation levels, there was no way they could push the door open, much less break through it by force.

Qi Xuansu suddenly asked, “Madam San, have you ever heard of this poem?”

“What poem?” Zhou Mengyao asked casually, her gaze still fixed on the stone door.

Qi Xuansu recited, “Distant mountains cast their shadowy silhouettes. Their heavy base supports a shallow peak. Should someone one day turn heaven and earth upside down, the ancient traditions shall crumble amid the splitting earth and collapsing mountains.”

Zhou Mengyao was stunned for quite some time before asking, “What exactly are you trying to say?”

Qi Xuansu reached out and placed his hand on the sphere. “Reverse heaven and earth.”

Zhou Mengyao understood what he meant. After pondering for a moment, she nodded. “It’s worth a try.”

Without wasting any more words, Qi Xuansu reached out and rotated the sphere, turning it upside down.

Originally, the white half had been on top and the black half on the bottom. Now, the white half was below, while the black half was above.

In an instant, the entire inverted tower flipped along with it.

Originally, they were standing on the ceiling. But they lost their footing and fell uncontrollably onto the floor, landing in a rather undignified heap.

More importantly, as the inverted tower rotated and flipped, the mechanism that had previously sealed the stone door returned to its original position. It slid into a groove beneath the threshold, with its remaining portion fitting perfectly flush with the threshold itself. The previously sealed stone door could now be opened normally.

Qi Xuansu withdrew his hand and looked toward the stone door. “Whether we succeed or fail depends on what happens next.”

There was no need for further discussion. The two walked side by side toward the stone door and pushed against it together.

With a deep, muffled rumble, the stone door slowly budged open a narrow crack.

This time, it was no longer the endless darkness beyond the doorway. Instead, a sliver of light shone through.

As the stone door opened wider, the sliver of light grew increasingly brilliant, illuminating their faces.

“Let’s go!” Zhou Mengyao said in a low voice.

The two passed through the doorway together.

Since they had lost their cultivation, neither of them was in any position to scheme against the other. Thus, they simply walked through the doorway together without any complications.

On the other side of the doorway was an inner chamber of a palace, its entire structure cast from bronze.

All the doors and windows were tightly shut and inscribed with talismans, making it impossible to see what lay outside.

This place should have presented a magnificent scene befitting an Immortal’s abode. However, many of the golden lamps hanging throughout the hall had already gone out, leaving the chamber rather dim. As a result, the chamber was shrouded in darkness. It had lost its former splendor, looking desolate and deathly still.

The domed ceiling of the great hall had been fashioned into a vast starry sky. The radiance of countless stars formed a thin veil of luminous mist. However, the starlight had a distinctly cold quality. Despite the sheer number of stars, their combined glow only added to the chilling atmosphere.

Having inherited the True Lord Ziguang’s legacy, Qi Xuansu possessed some knowledge of the Purple Star Astrology. As he observed the fluctuations in the brightness of the stars and how they corresponded to the waxing and waning of celestial phenomena, he immediately recognized the intricacy of this star chart. Unlike the bizarre star charts within the inverted tower, this was an entirely authentic Daoist star chart.

Beneath the star chart stood an object resembling a sundial. The Eight Trigrams were engraved upon its stone disk. As the star chart shifted, the shadow cast upon the sundial moved accordingly, aligning with each of the Eight Gates associated with the Eight Trigrams.

The surrounding walls were adorned with various murals depicting scenes of worshiping heaven and earth, distributing talisman water, gathering followers, armies clashing in battle, and troops storming cities and capturing fortresses. These scenes were remarkably similar to what Qi Xuansu and Zhou Mengyao had been doing themselves. Moreover, all the figures in the murals wore yellow headscarves, while their leader wielded a nine-section staff. These were unmistakably depictions of the famous Yellow Turban Uprising.

Clearly, this palace had been constructed by the Old Taiping Sect.

Zhou Mengyao murmured, “The Azure Heaven is dead. The Yellow Heaven shall rise. In the Jiazi year, great fortune shall descend upon the world. Could this be the very place where the Old Taiping Sect sealed away the Azure Heaven all those years ago?”

Qi Xuansu remained silent. This place clearly matched what Long Xiaobai had described. Back then, she had not encountered any Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon. Instead, she had arrived directly at the cave dwelling of a predecessor. This place corresponded closely to her description of that supposed cave dwelling.

He thought to himself, Fools really did have all the luck. That silly dragon had somehow managed to reach the destination without even trying!