novelraw Chapter 488: Goddess’s Blessing
Chapter 488: Goddess’s Blessing
At that, Old Black Daoist flew into a rage: “Utter nonsense. Throw enemies off? My heart toward Madam is pure and true. Heaven and earth can bear witness.” Ancestor Sui Bian puckered his lips and mimicked his tone: “Oh, pure and true, with heaven and earth as witness. Who was it that hid out in the Five Elements Dao Sect over this very matter, only to be found anyway and hung from a tree and beaten for three days and three nights?”
Seeing the two about to go at it again, Senior Xiu Yu could only sigh: “Enough. You have been bickering for hundreds of years. The Earth Clan is likely still in pursuit. Think of a way back to the Lingxiao Realm first.” The two men glared at each other and finally quieted down.
In an unfamiliar star domain, Ancestor Sui Bian did what he was best at: he pointed in a random direction, and they flew that way. The stars were dazzling, countless points set like jewels in the dark. Yu Zhao had no heart to admire them. At her current cultivation, flying in the starry sky was still taxing; only with the help of two Integration-stage cultivators did she avoid slowing the group.
After a day and a night of swift flight, passing innumerable dead worlds, a planet with palpable spiritual energy finally appeared ahead. Ancestor Sui Bian brightened and said: “At last. Let’s take a look at what this place is.” He was about to dive toward it when Senior Xiu Yu blocked him and said: “We crossed paths with the Water Clan outside the Bifang Realm; word and likenesses will have spread. Change your faces before we go down, so we don’t alarm anyone.”
Ancestor Sui Bian immediately agreed. He rubbed his face with both hands, and in the next moment a bald, bucktoothed man with triangular eyes stood before them. Old Black Daoist sucked in a sharp breath and said: “Sui Bian, you were ruthless with that one.” Ancestor Sui Bian shook his head with utter confidence and said: “Only truly handsome men have the confidence to play ugly. You can’t learn that.”
Yu Zhao used her bracelet artifact to change into a face with a slightly sharp, mean cast. Senior Xiu Yu studied her in surprise and said: “Where did you learn such flawless disguise? I can’t see through it at all.” She paused, then asked: “Was your previous face also false?” Yu Zhao nodded and showed the bracelet at her wrist. Enlightened, Senior Xiu Yu raised her estimation of Yu Zhao yet again. Yu Zhao was not only gifted but richly blessed with fortune; she would surely have great fated opportunities ahead. She was also Ancestor Sui Bian’s junior. By extension, she could be counted as one of their own. When they reached the Lingxiao Realm, it would be worth asking Elder Sister to give her a few pointers.
Once all four wore new faces, they flew toward the planet. As the distance closed, broad rivers and towering mountains came into clear view. Ancestor Sui Bian’s eyes lit up and he said: “The spiritual energy here can’t compare to the Bifang Realm, but the scenery is fine. A land of green hills and clear waters—a good place. There might even be a teleportation array to the Lingxiao Realm.” Old Black Daoist pulled a face and answered: “Not just a teleportation array—there will be wanted posters too.” Ancestor Sui Bian snorted and said: “Unless the patriarchs of a few great houses come in person, the rest of that motley lot hardly deserve a second thought.” Senior Xiu Yu ignored the squabbling. Sweeping her gaze across the surface, she quickly locked onto a place where spiritual energy was thickest and said: “That city below should be the planet’s heartland. There may be a teleportation array. We will go there.”
The others had no objection and followed her down. It was indeed a prosperous city, and in its center rose an altar that soared into the clouds. All around it lay piled offerings upon offerings—flowers, spirit stones, and spirit jade stacked to overflowing.
“What is that for?” they wondered. As they descended to an open stretch on the city’s edge intending to find a local cultivator to question, a commotion rolled toward them. Hills that had been empty moments before were suddenly crowded with people. Those figures lined up of their own accord to open a wide path, their expressions burning with fervor; snatches of “goddess” and “blessing” drifted to the ear.
The four stood at the city’s margin, watching this sudden bustle, bemused. Ancestor Sui Bian dug a finger in his ear and said: “Are my eyes and ears failing? Did they shout ‘goddess’? Aren’t cultivators supposed to seek the Dao and defy heaven? Since when do they believe in gods?” Old Black Daoist shrugged and said: “What’s so strange? Cultivators are people. The human heart is hard to read. Some human cultivators, once they hit a wall and see no path forward, start chasing nebulous things. It’s just a sign of weakness and ineptitude.” Senior Xiu Yu’s brows knit: “They are a minority. Yet the numbers here are vast. Even if they worship, they should not be this fanatical. Something is wrong.”“Either way it has nothing to do with us. We may as well stay and watch the spectacle,” someone said. Just then, lilting music floated from afar. With the clear ringing of bells, a sumptuous flower carriage came slowly into view. Eight unicorns with snow-white coats and golden horns drew the carriage. Gauzy silks studded with gemstones draped their flanks, and auspicious clouds rolled beneath their hooves, lending them a holy air.
The carriage itself was extravagant beyond compare. A great sunstone crowned the roof, gathering ambient qi and shedding a warm daylight glow. The body was crafted from choice hardwood, dense and fragrant, its beautiful grain on display. All along the panels, countless intricate runes were carved, each one brimming with power and linked to form a complex piece of formation arts—a formation that could attack or defend and also gather spiritual energy. From the four corners hung crystal-clear palace bells that chimed as the carriage moved, their sound bright and cleansing to the heart.
Even Yu Zhao stared, slack with surprise; the three well-traveled seniors could not help sighing either. Someone muttered: “This flower carriage is too lavish. Any single piece of it would be enough to make ordinary cultivators fight to the death.” Old Black Daoist’s eyes were about to fall out of his head. The sword on his back seemed to feel its master’s excitement and hummed in response.
As the carriage rolled on, the crowds on either side only grew more fervent. They shouted to the goddess, begging her blessing. At last, the four saw the goddess clearly. She sat upright at the heart of the flower carriage, robed in white, a veil half-hiding her features, a jade staff in her hand. At the top of the staff gleamed a fist-sized piece of top-grade spirit jade, brilliant with light. Yet Yu Zhao’s gaze was not drawn by the staff. Her eyes fixed instead on the pair of eyes above the veil, and her brows slowly drew together.