Novel Full Chapter 1490: Dawn Guest (I)
Chapter 1490: Dawn Guest (I)
His voice was low and haunting, echoing across the Pristine Gui Pool. Waves of Pristine Water aura rose and fell with his words, drifting through the air and transforming into streaks of darting azure-black energy.
How… How did he come back?! The Outer Heavens have already ended!
Ning Wan lowered her head, her mind gradually going blank. She said nothing, not knowing how to face the terrifying figure before her. The silence in the air was suffocating.
Tap.
At this critical moment, she heard footsteps approaching from outside the cave dwelling. The two cultivators guarding the entrance readily stepped aside. The footsteps grew hurried, and Lin Wuning in his dark brown robe appeared in the doorway beyond the pool.
“Daoist Master, Daoist Master Tianwan has sent another letter.”
Ning Wan felt a chill surge up to the center of her eyebrows and cursed inwardly. Yet the handsome man seated above revealed a smile of clear interest, his eyes brimming with amusement as he replied, “Come in.”
Though it was clearly not Ning Wan’s voice, Lin Wuning responded with a respectful and natural “Yes,” lifted his robe, and stepped over the threshold.
He treated Ning Wan, who was kneeling on the ground, as if she did not exist. He passed within an inch of her white robe, yet it was as though he saw nothing. He walked straight to the main seat, bowed, and respectfully presented the letter with both hands, saying naturally, “Daoist Master, please have a look!”
Suiguan did not take the letter, reading its contents with just a glance. His face suddenly burst into uncontrollable mockery, becoming vividly animated.
“Hahahaha… What nonsense! And they dare to inquire about the position of [Cold Essence]!”
His laughter echoed through the cave dwelling. Lin Wuning’s expression stiffened, as if he had turned into a stone statue in that very moment.
The Purple Mansion Realm Grand Daoist Master laughed for a while, then patted his seat and said with a grin, “The Three Yang control radiance, forming the ruler and minister. The Three Yin give birth to cold, serving as assistants. [Radiant Essence] only rose by borrowing the fall of Bright Yang, riding the winds of the cultivators’ desires just to stage that farce of a minister slaying his lord. Since then, its symbolism has changed, letting it strut about with a bit of borrowed authority, even producing a Shi Chang[1]. And you, Tianwan, what are you supposed to be? You want your fifth divine ability to be of Cold Essence? How dare you even seek [Cold Essence]?!”
He withdrew his gaze, quickly losing interest. Ning Wan lowered her head in thought. Taking advantage of Suiguan mentioning Si Boxiu[2], she said respectfully, “Senior Yuanxiu failed his Fruition Attainment and died in the Southern Sea.”
Suiguan sat quietly atop the mountain, one hand resting on a throne like emerald white jade. His pale fingers traced along its patterns, and a trace of amusement appeared in his green-purple eyes.
“What audacity. To dare borrow Du Qing’s[3] path-to-attainment sign. In seven hundred years of Azure Pond Sect, he is the first.”
Ah?
Ning Wan felt her liver and gall turn cold when Pristine Water was called by its true name. She stood frozen in place, sensing the overwhelmingly suppressed and terrifying aura of divine ability from the man before her. She did not dare raise her eyes or speak.
Yet Suiguan seemed rather amused. “Back then, among the so-called Three Yuans, that Tang fellow[4] had the worst innate ability. He was only at the second stage of Qi Cultivation Realm at fifteen, yet he had the greatest courage and the cruelest heart. Now it seems we were all wrong. Even Chi Rui misjudged him. Si Boxiu is the truly ruthless one.
“To seek [Gathering Wood]… What a fine idea… What formidable attainment!”
When Si Boxiu had attained the Dao, his cultivation, cunning, and resolve were such that even Suiguan could not help but admire him. Si Boxiu far surpassed Chi Wei, and Sui Guan’s gaze sharpened as he said, “Unfortunately, shamans have vanished, and Wood Virtue has declined. [Gathering Wood] hangs empty. If he had truly used this to attain the Dao, it would have been quite an interesting affair.”
Ning Wan knew that Yuanxiu’s actions before his death must have had a reason, but her own cultivation was too shallow to see clearly. Now it seemed he had borrowed Du Qing’s Inherent rank, which was akin to provoking a great taboo. How could she dare to interrupt? Suiguan straightened, and the smile on his face gradually faded.
“A pity. The Chi Family could still have been of use.”
The entire Pristine Gui Pool’s aura froze in an instant, like the depths of winter. Despair rose silently in Ning Wan’s heart, The Si Family and the Lingu Family joined forces; the other families fanned the flames; and the Li Family dug the grave to bury the Chi Family. Yet I am the one who has to face this!
She slightly raised her head and said respectfully, “The Chi Family was destroyed in vengeance by the various families… By the time this junior came out of seclusion, their entire clan had already been wiped out.”
The man above smiled faintly. His face took on an almost demonic, alluring beauty as he rose from the main seat with his hands behind his back. The entire Pristine Gui Pool seemed to thaw like spring, turning warm and gentle.
“It does not matter. As long as they can be used, it only means a few more deaths. However, there is one Chi Buzi who has fled to the Eastern Sea. Not only that, he has gone to Penglai as well. Quite bold of him. He is even attempting to cultivate Mansion Water.”
Suiguan’s gaze turned meaningful as he said, “Your Azure Pond Sect produces nothing but ambitious and sharp-minded individuals. I have looked at the Golden Feather Sect, and it produces those adept at maneuvering, unpredictable in transformation, and skilled in schemes. All of it stems from Zhang Yuanyu’s[5] Inherent rank. It seems you follow those above you and have likewise been influenced by Du Qing’s Inherent rank.”
Ning Wan lowered her gaze and said nothing, sighing inwardly.
The man before her stepped down, drawing closer step by step as he said softly, “Mansion Water has lost its vastness. The Surplus Position will no longer respond, but the Intercalary Position can still be attempted. He is a clever man. Whether it succeeds or not, at least he has seized it to cultivate. In this era, the timing is right. It is just that the Dragon Clan may not be willing to allow it.”
When speaking of the Dragon Clan, a trace of deep coldness flickered in the man’s eyes, yet a smile rose upon his face. “Those accursed flood dragons are more narrow-minded than the tip of a needle. The Dragon King of the Northern Sea is a bit more broad-minded than his brothers, but not by much. He will have his share of suffering…”
Hearing him casually mention Zhang Yuanyu, Du Qing, Shi Chang, and even the Dragon King, Ning Wan was filled with shock and fear. Even listening felt like a kind of blasphemy. Seizing the chance to steer the topic back to Chi Buzi, she hurriedly said, “This man is wholly devoted to the Dao. After Chi Wei died, he vanished without a trace…”
“Mhm.” Suiguan gave a faint response and said, “He is smarter than Chi Wei.”
With that, the man slowly closed his green-purple eyes. The Pristine Water aura over the Pristine Gui Pool gradually calmed, and the surroundings fell silent except for the dripping of the Cavern Spring.
After waiting for a while, Ning Wan finally heard him say calmly, “Come with me to [Pristine Cadence Heaven].”
The heart that had long hung in suspense within Ning Wan finally sank to the bottom. Despair filled her, her voice stiff and strained. Even Yuansu would not be able to refuse, let alone her. After a brief hesitation, she could only weakly utter a single word, “Yes…”
Waves of Pristine Water aura began to spread across the pool. A light, drizzling rain fell within the cave, gradually obscuring the two of them. Their figures vanished without a trace, leaving the space empty and silent, with only Lin Wuning kneeling by the pool.
Drip!
As the rain faded, the surface of the pool returned to stillness, once more as clean as a mirror. It reflected Ning Wan’s white robes and her gentle face, her head slightly lowered, appearing especially clear in the pristine water.
Ning Wan’s reflection remained within the Pristine Gui Pool. And on the reflected main seat, Suiguan’s image appeared as well. His green-purple eyes were lowered, quietly gazing at Ning Wan.
Soon, he rose at ease. In the pool, Ning Wan’s reflection also stood up uneasily and followed closely behind him, until both disappeared beyond the edge that the Pristine Gui Pool could reflect.
1. Emperor of Qi State. ☜
2. Yuanxiu’s name. ☜
3. The Pristine Water True Monarch. ☜
4. Referring to Daoist Master Yuanwu/Tang Yuanwu. ☜
5. True Monarch Taiyuan of Golden Feather Sect. ☜