Chapter 417.2: Qi Yuans Scheme, Jin Lis Choice

Chapter 417.2: Qi Yuan's Scheme, Jin Li's Choice

A moment later, every Yin Spirit caught the faint scent of blood. The previously triumphant Master Baiteng had been executed on the spot. None of them dared to breathe loudly. They realized that this matter had become enormous.

This was the Taihuang Palace's official representative, someone who embodied their prestige! Yet the Heavenly Venerable had simply killed him? If the Taihuang Palace learned of this... Well, the Heavenly Venerable himself would probably be fine, but they would be doomed. The Moluo Clan would certainly sacrifice some of them to appease the Taihuang Palace's anger!

Qi Yuan's gaze swept calmly across the Yin Spirits. "What? Do any of you object to my execution of Master Baiteng?"

All of them trembled, feeling disaster looming upon them.

Just then, one Yin Spirit stepped forward, joy written across his face. "You did well killing him, Heavenly Venerable! Wonderfully done! I have long found that fellow unbearable. How dare he violate your taboo?! He deserved death!"

Qi Yuan nodded approvingly. "What is your name?"

There was certainly no shortage of bootlickers.

The Yin Spirit respectfully bowed as he answered excitedly, "My name is Chuan Pu."

Qi Yuan immediately grinned. "Your name suits your speech perfectly."

Even he had not expected such a coincidence. Life truly was full of amusing moments. Naturally, Chuan Pu had no idea what he meant. But seeing that the Heavenly Venerable seemed pleased, he became happy as well.

"I killed Master Baiteng because I had long disliked him. Hmph. We paid to come here and fight, yet he strutted around lording over us. Truly bad luck."

The other Yin Spirits all found themselves agreeing, or at least sharing the same resentment. It was obvious that Master Baiteng had oppressed and exploited them quite severely.

"He deserved to die!"

"Master Baiteng deceived the Heavenly Venerables of the Taihuang Palace while bullying us. He absolutely deserved death!"

However, despite their resentment toward the Taihuang Palace, none of them dared direct any hatred toward Taihuang Yang Spirits. After all, those lords were all kind-hearted. They had merely been deceived.

***

High above the heavens, pure moonlight streamed across the sky. A crescent-shaped moon boat radiated brilliant crystalline light, carrying countless heavenly treasures, fine wines, and exquisite delicacies.

Moonlight glimmered off Jin Li’s white robe. The plum blossoms embroidered upon her elegant dress appeared even more vivid, possessing the cold beauty of flowers blooming amid the snow. Of course, even those blossoms paled in comparison to their owner.

Upon seeing the arrival of a cold-faced woman, a trace of joy appeared in Jin Li’s eyes. "Moon Frost, what brings you here?"

Moon Frost smiled gently. "It will be your birthday in less than a month, so I came to see you. I was worried you'd be lonely here by yourself."

Warmth flowed through Jin Li's heart as she answered calmly, "It's only an ordinary birthday, not a Moon Radiance Banquet."

Guilt flickered within Moon Frost’s eyes. "Yu Tiao shares the same birthday as you. She's holding a Moon Radiance Banquet, and all kinds of friends have come. I couldn't bear to see you spending yours all alone."

Back on Moonwatch Continent, she and Jin Li had once been trapped together. Of the two Moon Maidens, one had been abandoned, and that was Jin Li. Had it not been for the Faceless Sword God[1], Jin Li would likely have perished back then. Because of that, Moon Frost had always carried a trace of guilt toward her sister.

A dense aura of bloodshed surrounded Jin Li. "It's only my birthday. It's no different from any other day. I plan to continue venturing deeper into the Absolute Moon Abyss and kill more Moluo cultivators."

The fragile young girl from years past had long since transformed beyond recognition.

Moon Frost asked, "Have you accumulated enough merit?"

Jin Li nodded earnestly, anticipation flashing within her beautiful eyes. "Almost. Just a little more."

In another dozen or so years, she would finally accumulate enough merit. At that time, she could ask Lord Moon God to grant one wish.

"One day won't make any difference. Don't go to the Moon Radiance Banquet. We'll have our own banquet, and after we're done eating, I'll accompany you."

Jin Li fell silent for a moment before finally nodding. "Alright."

Moon Frost suddenly thought of something. "What do you intend to ask Lord Moon God for? Will you ask them to find him, rescue him, or revive him? The Moon Maidens of the Divine Moon Palace are forbidden from marrying. Even if Lord Moon God finds him for you, you still won't be able to leave with him.

"Could it be that you are planning to ask Lord Moon God to free you from your identity as a Moon Maiden, and then go find him yourself, so the two of you can stay together forever?"

Every Moon Maiden had only one chance in her lifetime to make a request of Lord Moon God.

A smile blossomed across Jin Li’s flawless face, like plum blossoms flourishing across a snowy wilderness. "As long as he's still alive, if I could see him just one more time, that would already be the greatest fortune of my life."

Moon Frost sighed. "Why go this far?"

Something destined to have no ending was better cut off sooner.

Jin Li's gaze was unwavering. "As long as he's still alive, I believe he'll come find me."

She recalled Qi Yuan’s second message, which Red Bridal Armor had conveyed to her. The meaning had eluded her at the time. Later, after seeing the Faceless Sword God’s statue and recovering the memories of the past, she finally understood everything.

Those words had been spoken by Qi Yuan, who had waited in vain beside Seventh Moon Lake for so long, to the Empress Jin Li of a future era across time itself. Even separated by the distance of time, he had still said he would come to see her.

"You..." Moon Frost sighed helplessly. "Endless years can bury everything. So many years have passed. How can you know he's still the same man you carry in your heart?"

The greatest power of a first love was that even the real person could never surpass the idealized image in one’s heart.

Gently grasping the Linglong Xi Jade, a radiant smile bloomed once again upon Jin Li’s face. She remembered the sword-bearing watcher by Seventh Moon Lake, shoulders covered with falling snow. She remembered the peerless Faceless Sword God who had held her tiny hand as they traveled across a hundred cities, slaughtering the Black Army.

She remembered the fearless swordsman who had single-handedly blocked the Earth's End and fought alone for three hundred years. Back then, he had slain three thousand fiends.

Though she had never once seen his face, she knew with certainty. "He's even better than the one in my memories. A thousand times better... No, ten thousand times better."

***

Within the great hall, Qi Yuan's figure slowly faded away. "Everything is prepared. It's time to pay a visit to Heavenly Venerable Motong."

Motong was the ruler of the Absolute Moon Abyss, a Principle Yang Spirit, and effectively Mochi's direct superior. Among the Moluo Clan's five Principle Yang Spirits, three were stationed within the Demon Abyss alone. It was a testament to just how seriously the Moluo Clan regarded the Divine Moon Palace.

"This meeting will truly put my acting skills to the test! I have a feeling that after this, I could return to Blue Planet and compete for the title of Best Actor! I really am an excellent, trustworthy man."

There had been very little interaction between Mochi and Motong, but both were Yang Spirits of the Moluo Clan. A single careless mistake could expose Qi Yuan. Moreover, he was not merely visiting his superior. He also intended to fish for opportunities and tempt this cadre with valuable bait.

To that end, he had not only relentlessly extracted information from Mochi, but had also already laid out bait throughout Absolute Moon Abyss. He was simply waiting for his own performance to begin!

A Principle realm expert... There shouldn't be much of a problem, right? Qi Yuan pondered.

He had never fought a Principle realm expert before. Still, after estimating the situation, he concluded that things should be manageable. After all, his right eyebrow had not begun twitching wildly.

Qi Yuan sighed softly as he flew toward the Absolute Moon Abyss. "What a pity. This is the Demon Abyss, not the Moluo Clan's homeland. If Heavenly Venerable Motong disappeared for too long, someone would definitely notice."

1. That was what Qi Yuan had been called because he wore a mask back then. ☜