Heaven’s Shadow

That day, after Lu Chen returned to the Feiyan Platform, he went to the edge of the cliff, gazing out at the vast sea of clouds and the grand expanse of the heavens. He sat alone for a long time. As night fell and the moon rose, its light cast a solitary shadow on the ground behind him.

—

Likewise, the moonlight also illuminated the depths of Kunlun Mountain, where the four peculiar peaks soared among the clouds. On one of these peaks, the Winter Peak, the snow and wind still danced, and on the mountain path under the moonlight stood two figures: Kunlun Sect’s leader, Xian Yue Zhenren, and Zhuo Xian.

Xian Yue Zhenren looked displeased, his expression stern as he frequently looked up at the Winter Peak, where at its summit, fierce winds and blizzards swirled around the legendary cave of White Morning True Monarch.

“When will Master come out to see me?” Xian Yue Zhenren asked Zhuo Xian.

Zhuo Xian, with a troubled look, replied, “Senior Brother, I really can’t answer that. Master’s seclusion and cultivation are major matters; I have no right to question how long it will take.”

Xian Yue snorted, showing a hint of anxiety as he paced back and forth on the mountain path, appearing quite troubled.

Zhuo Xian advised, “Senior Brother, don’t be too anxious. It’s just a few people like Qian Deng and Mingzhu making a fuss. Can they really turn the world upside down? Besides, even if the situation is dire, Master is still here. Once Master makes an appearance, it will surely intimidate everyone and prevent them from speaking out.”

Xian Yue nodded, clearly sharing this view, but he soon sighed and said, “Junior Brother, your words make sense, but I still feel something is amiss this time. I want to discuss it with Master. Also, you see, for the past years, Master has always attended the sect’s annual meeting to maintain order. If Master doesn’t attend this year, combined with the recent Devil Cult murders, it’s bound to stir up gossip and deliberately provoke discord between us.”

Zhuo Xian fell silent. He and Xian Yue were long-time brothers in the sect, both disciples of White Morning True Monarch. He understood well why Xian Yue was so unsettled. When the time came to choose the next sect leader among the Yuan Ying stage masters, Xian Yue, though outstanding, was not exactly superior to the other five or six Yuan Ying masters, some of whom were even clearly stronger.

However, Xian Yue was chosen as the sect leader, largely due to their shared master, White Morning True Monarch. Over the years, Xian Yue had done well in his role, diligently and earnestly, but had never won universal acclaim, and there were always people who whispered criticisms.

With the Devil Cult murders escalating, the criticisms against Xian Yue were also rising. It was no wonder Xian Yue was so irritable and anxious. With the annual sect meeting approaching, almost all important figures of Kunlun Sect would be present, and it was almost certain that the Devil Cult murder case would be raised again, leading to further questioning of Xian Yue.

In front of all the important figures of the sect, Xian Yue could not afford to lose face. He felt that no Kunlun Sect leader in history had ever faced such humiliation. But if, like in previous years, White Morning True Monarch were to attend and preside over the meeting at Tian Kun Peak’s Zhengyang Hall, any faction hoping to speak out would need to think twice.

However, months ago, White Morning True Monarch had told them that he might not attend the sect meeting this year. Previously, it was just a matter of helping his disciples maintain order. Also, considering that Xian Yue had done well in his role as sect leader and his position was stable, Master had preferred to stay in seclusion and focus on personal cultivation.

Although this was not wrong, no one expected that during this time, the Devil Cult incident would occur, creating a storm in Kunlun Sect, with unrest throughout the sect. The Yuan Ying stage masters seemed to have found an excuse to jeer and criticize incessantly.

In this situation, Xian Yue felt that Master should attend the sect meeting again this year. Therefore, he had come to Winter Peak to request Master’s presence. However, according to Zhuo Xian, White Morning True Monarch had been in seclusion for many days and had not yet emerged.

The two of them did not dare to disturb White Morning True Monarch’s quiet cultivation, so they could only wait on the mountain path. But after a long wait, there was still no sign of White Morning True Monarch coming out.

Xian Yue, feeling anxious, suddenly said to Zhuo Xian, “Junior Brother, the sect’s mundane affairs are numerous and busy, so I seldom come here. Could it be that now even you cannot reach Master after his seclusion?”

Zhuo Xian smiled wryly and said, “Senior Brother, I’m afraid I really can’t contact Master at the moment. But if you are extremely anxious…” He paused, then lowered his voice and said, “Perhaps Junior Sister Bai Lian has a solution?”

“Junior Sister Bai Lian?” Xian Yue was taken aback and asked, “What solution does she have?”

Zhuo Xian explained, “When Master was older, he took Bai Lian as his last disciple, who is exceptionally talented and cherished by him. Besides teaching her diligently when he had free time, he also entrusted her with the ‘Wind Whisper Disk,’ a treasured artifact. In urgent matters, using the Wind Whisper Disk might allow us to contact Master.”

That day, after Lu Chen returned to the Feiyan Platform, he went to the edge of the cliff, gazing at the vast sea of clouds and the grand expanse of the heavens. He sat alone for a long time. When night fell and the moon rose, its light cast a solitary shadow on the ground behind him.

—

Similarly, the moonlight also illuminated the depths of Kunlun Mountain, where the four peculiar peaks soared among the clouds. On one of these peaks, Winter Peak, snow and wind still danced. On the moonlit mountain path stood two figures: Kunlun Sect’s leader, Xian Yue Zhenren, and Zhuo Xian.

Xian Yue Zhenren looked displeased, his expression stern as he frequently glanced up at Winter Peak, where at its summit, fierce winds and blizzards swirled around the legendary cave of White Morning True Monarch.

“When will Master come out to see me?” Xian Yue Zhenren asked Zhuo Xian.

Zhuo Xian, with a troubled look, replied, “Senior Brother, I really can’t answer that. Master’s seclusion and cultivation are major matters; I have no right to question how long it will take.”

Xian Yue snorted, showing a hint of anxiety as he paced back and forth on the mountain path, appearing quite troubled.

Zhuo Xian advised, “Senior Brother, don’t be too anxious. It’s just a few people like Qian Deng and Mingzhu making a fuss. Can they really turn the world upside down? Besides, even if the situation is dire, Master is still here. Once Master makes an appearance, it will surely intimidate everyone and prevent them from speaking out.”

Xian Yue nodded, clearly sharing this view, but he soon sighed and said, “Junior Brother, your words make sense, but I still feel something is amiss this time. I want to discuss it with Master. Also, you see, for the past years, Master has always attended the sect’s annual meeting to maintain order. If Master doesn’t attend this year, combined with the recent Devil Cult murders, it’s bound to stir up gossip and deliberately provoke discord between us.”

Zhuo Xian fell silent. He and Xian Yue were long-time brothers in the sect, both disciples of White Morning True Monarch. He understood why Xian Yue was so unsettled. When choosing the next sect leader among the Yuan Ying stage masters, Xian Yue, though outstanding, was not superior to the other five or six Yuan Ying masters, some of whom were even clearly stronger.

However, Xian Yue was chosen as the sect leader, largely due to their shared master, White Morning True Monarch. Over the years, Xian Yue had done well in his role, diligently and earnestly, but had never won universal acclaim, and there were always people who whispered criticisms.

With the Devil Cult murders escalating, the criticisms against Xian Yue were also rising. It was no wonder Xian Yue was so irritable and anxious. With the annual sect meeting approaching, almost all important figures of Kunlun Sect would be present, and it was almost certain that the Devil Cult murder case would be raised again, leading to further questioning of Xian Yue.

In front of all the important figures of the sect, Xian Yue could not afford to lose face. He felt that no Kunlun Sect leader in history had ever faced such humiliation. But if, like in previous years, White Morning True Monarch were to attend and preside over the meeting at Tian Kun Peak’s Zhengyang Hall, any faction hoping to speak out would need to think twice.

However, months ago, White Morning True Monarch had told them that he might not attend the sect meeting this year. Previously, it was just a matter of helping his disciples maintain order. Also, considering that Xian Yue had done well in his role as sect leader and his position was stable, Master had preferred to stay in seclusion and focus on personal cultivation.

Although this was not wrong, no one expected that during this time, the Devil Cult incident would occur, creating a storm in Kunlun Sect, with unrest throughout the sect. The Yuan Ying stage masters seemed to have found an excuse to jeer and criticize incessantly.

In this situation, Xian Yue felt that Master should attend the sect meeting again this year. Therefore, he had come to Winter Peak to request Master’s presence. However, according to Zhuo Xian, White Morning True Monarch had been in seclusion for many days and had not yet emerged.

The two of them did not dare to disturb White Morning True Monarch’s quiet cultivation, so they could only wait on the mountain path. But after a long wait, there was still no sign of White Morning True Monarch coming out.

Xian Yue, feeling anxious, suddenly said to Zhuo Xian, “Junior Brother, the sect’s mundane affairs are numerous and busy, so I seldom come here. Could it be that now even you cannot reach Master after his seclusion?”

Zhuo Xian smiled wryly and said, “Senior Brother, I’m afraid I really can’t contact Master at the moment. But if you are extremely anxious…” He paused, then lowered his voice and said, “Perhaps Junior Sister Bai Lian has a solution?”

“Junior Sister Bai Lian?” Xian Yue was taken aback and asked, “What solution does she have?”

Zhuo Xian explained, “When Master was older, he took Bai Lian as his last disciple, who is exceptionally talented and cherished by him. Besides teaching her diligently when he had free time, he also entrusted her with the ‘Wind Whisper Disk,’ a treasured artifact. In urgent matters, using the Wind Whisper Disk might allow us to contact Master.”

—

Xian Yue Zhenren immediately had a moment of realization and clapped his hands. “You’re right, how could I forget this? Junior Brother, quickly take me to Junior Sister’s cave dwelling. I’ll ask her to help contact Master.”

Zhuo Xian hesitated, glancing at the sky. “Senior Brother, might it be too late now?”

Looking at the night sky, it was indeed late, but he quickly shook his head. “Given the urgency of the matter, we should resolve it as soon as possible. Junior Brother, lead the way. I’ll speak to Junior Sister.”

Zhuo Xian nodded. “Alright, Senior Brother, follow me.”

The two of them descended the mountain path, and after a while, arrived at the entrance of the two cave dwellings. Zhuo Xian went ahead and knocked on the door, calling out loudly.

The stone door of the cave remained unmoved.

Zhuo Xian frowned and called again several times, but there was still no response.

Xian Yue, surprised, came over and asked, “Could she not be in the cave?”

Zhuo Xian shook his head. “She shouldn’t be. It’s against the rules to be out this late. I’ll call again. Maybe she’s just a young girl who overslept and didn’t hear.”

Saying this, he raised his hand and continued to knock and call, but the cave remained closed, with no sign of movement.

Zhuo Xian turned back to Xian Yue, and at that moment, both of them had the same question in their minds: “Where could that little girl have gone at this late hour?”

—

The moon flickered in the dark night, illuminating Kunlun Mountain shrouded in shadows. On the dim mountain path, a little girl walked contentedly. Given her age and the dark, cold night, it seemed quite eerie for her to be walking alone.

The girl was Bai Lian, and her delicate, beautiful face was serene. Her destination was the Feiyan Platform.

Her clothes fluttered in the night wind, occasionally revealing the high collar around her neck. This was to conceal an injury she had sustained. Although it was mostly under control, the injury Lu Chen had inflicted on her had left a peculiar mark on her neck that had not completely healed.

However, for some reason, Bai Lian did not seem to harbor deep hatred towards the person named Lu Chen. This was unusual for someone like her, who had been spoiled since childhood, and it even surprised her.

Perhaps it was because, despite his cunning and cruelty, she could be genuine in his presence, saying and doing whatever she wanted without pretense. This was truly refreshing and comfortable for her.

Oh, and that black dog.

In fact, the blood-eating secret technique was not as crucial as she had made it out to be. It was something she had acquired by accident in her youth, not a unique secret technique of her own. If she chose to disregard it, she could.

Anyway, she would go and bother him first. Seeing Lu Chen’s helpless and frustrated expression was quite pleasing.

As Bai Lian thought this, a smile appeared on her lips, and she quickened her pace towards the Feiyan Platform. However, as she walked, her expression suddenly froze, and she stopped immediately.

A look of surprise and caution crossed her face, and at the same time, three green lights suddenly emerged from a shadowy corner about ten feet in front of her.

They glowed like emerald flames.

It seemed like three eyes embedded in a strange, menacing face.

Darkness poured out from the corner, and Bai Lian furrowed her brows, taking a step back. She focused intently on the source of the green light, her face showing signs of wariness.

The green ghostly flames slowly swayed, approaching closer. Bai Lian soon saw that it was a small, snake-like three-eyed monster, baring its fangs and showing its terrifying teeth. The three green lights were the monster’s eerie eyes on its strange head.

“Hiss, hiss, hiss…” A series of strange sounds