Chapter 132: People of the Past

Ghosts are manifestations of the world’s accumulated resentment and filth, making them incredibly powerful. Yet, even with such power, they could not act with impunity right in front of the Sacred Grounds of Yaochi. In other words, the behavior of these ghosts above the Sea of No Illusion was tacitly permitted by Yaochi behind the scenes. Yaochi needed these ghosts to guard the outer seas; in a sense, they served as the first critical barrier for outsiders approaching the sacred site. This was not difficult to deduce, and it became clear to many after a moment’s reflection. This was why, back on the ship, Shen Yu had remarked that there would always be a few fools filled with inexplicable righteousness. Truly taking action against the ghosts might well invite the displeasure of those from Yaochi. In fact, for most of the famous legendary beasts residing across the Spirit Desolation Continent, the surrounding areas had already received the approval of various sects or even sacred grounds.

"You! Why are you being so sluggish!"

Not receiving a response from Shen Yu, Xi Jiu stomped his foot, his figure flashing as he hurriedly pursued into the distance. Shen Yu watched the ripples stir where the other had plunged into the sea, still somewhat dazed. Three thousand years ago, before the continent was divided into five regions, the extreme southeast was the domain of the dragons. When Shen Yu had traveled there, he came upon a nameless island and discovered that the people living there could actually coexist with the dragon clan, while their own studies were a patchwork of various traditions. Back then, he had watched silently from the sea of clouds; even that small island had already shown the budding signs of a powerful sect. Sure enough, that small island had since become one of the nine great sacred grounds of the world. However, the people of Mount Liubo had always advocated for a "hundred schools of thought to contend," and while their studies were broad and refined, their minds were naturally deep and suspicious. Yet this boy just now seemed... perhaps a bit too guileless?

Waves crashed against the sea surface, splashing loudly. The two children awoke and caught sight of the figure in green robes, as well as the corpse of the monster beside him. The girl, being more intelligent, stood up the next moment, bowed, and said, "Thank you, Immortal, for saving our lives." The boy scrambled up in confusion, mimicking her actions. Shen Yu looked toward the horizon; they were already far from the ship and the shipping lanes, drifting at the edge of the sea. Feeling a headache coming on, Shen Yu said in a negotiating tone, "Wait here; I will call for someone." The girl scanned the surroundings—dark, empty, and unusually cold—and her gaze toward Shen Yu became even more delicate, as if it could melt into water. Shen Yu felt troubled; he did not like carrying people, especially when sword-flying.

Just then, the sea in the distance exploded, and Xi Jiu, dressed in long purple robes, flew back through the air. With an expression of bewilderment, he asked in annoyance, "It’s so strange—it just vanished all of a sudden. Do you know where it flew off to?"

"It likely escaped," Shen Yu replied simply. Looking at the other’s visibly innocent and naive demeanor, he thought for a moment and added, "These two children were captured from a ship and brought here. Could you help send them back?"

Xi Jiu was stunned. He turned his gaze toward them, then exclaimed in admiration, "What a pair of water and fire spirit bodies! It’s a pity—the fire spirit body isn't suitable for our Mount Liubo, though this boy is quite good. But... I still have to... go hunt down those ghosts!"

Shen Yu remained silent for a moment before saying, "If you send them back, you might just gain a talented disciple for Mount Liubo. Wouldn't that also be a great accomplishment?"

Xi Jiu froze, then suddenly gave a thumbs-up, exclaiming, "That makes sense!"

Xi Jiu hoisted the girl onto his back and picked up the boy. He paused in mid-air, looked back with a brilliant smile, and said, "By the way, my name is Xi Jiu. No need to thank me."

A purple light streaked into the sky and vanished beyond the horizon.

"What a righteous and responsible child," Shen Yu remarked, watching the sky. "A white lotus flower from within Mount Liubo."

...

Not long after Xi Jiu departed, Shen Yu also took his sword and left. The old man from the Thousand Rivers region, who had disguised himself as a ghost, might be hiding in some corner. Above the Sea of No Illusion, Shen Yu flew at high speed while masking his aura. After several hours, the spiritual energy ahead began to surge, and a vast light faintly appeared—as if a great sun had emerged in the endless night.

The first heaven of the Nine Heavens, at the very end of the far south, was the former cultivation ground of the Queen Mother of the West, known as the Yaochi Blessed Land. This was the location of the Yaochi Sacred Grounds. Mountains began to appear in Shen Yu’s vision: flying beasts, spiritual cranes, phoenixes, pavilions in the air, exotic flowers and herbs, and a sky filled with the fragrance of spiritual medicine. Looking out, it was truly a celestial paradise on earth. With the Flat Peach Banquet beginning, people arrived in an endless stream, making the distant mountain gate appear quite lively.

However, Shen Yu did not choose that path. He descended onto a path between flowers and walked deep into the grounds without disturbing anyone. Along the way, he encountered several young women dressed in exquisite, translucent gauze; seeing his demeanor and appearance, they assumed he was a guest of honor and did not stop him. Eventually, the greenery became deep and lush. At the summit of a great mountain, countless gates stood tall, each separated by dozens of yards. Each gate consisted of two long white jade pillars, with the space between them resembling a calm lake, emitting a faint white glow. It was as if they connected to another world.

This was the Immortal Burial Ground of Yaochi, equivalent to the Treasure-Dividing Cliff of the Dao Sect. The only difference was that while the Dao Sect buried thousands of spiritual treasures, this place buried people. At the foot of the mountain crouched a beast with four horns, shaped like a divine ox, with hair as long as a straw raincoat. It had likely lived for a very long time; with every breath, its body trembled slightly, as if containing infinite power. The divine ox opened its eyes slightly, emitting a cold glare, and white mist puffed from its nostrils as it breathed.

Shen Yu’s gaze swept across the gates on the mountain peak, finally resting on the second light-gate from the right in the center. He lifted his foot to ascend the mountain, ignoring the guarding beast. The divine ox narrowed its eyes, following his gaze. When it saw that particular gate, its expression changed—seemingly surprised, yet puzzled. It hesitated for a moment, but in the end, it did nothing and closed its eyes to continue its deep slumber. It didn't matter anyway; no one had ever been able to enter. Having guarded this place for hundreds of years, it had never seen a soul pass through.

Shen Yu climbed the mountain and arrived before the light-gate, reaching out his right hand to touch the "lake surface." It felt cold and as hard as iron.

Just like her temperament back then. Shen Yu stared at the gate, silent.

"This is the resting place of Fairy Linghua, the second disciple of the Ancestor, the Queen Mother of the West. Senior Linghua’s Daoist techniques were heaven-defying, and she was exceptionally cold and proud. Since her passing, not a single person has been able to step inside, not even her closest friends."

A voice as pleasant as a spring breeze rang out. He Pianpian, the Saintess of Yaochi, appeared behind Shen Yu for reasons unknown, then smiled. "Since you have come, why not tell me?"

Shen Yu did not turn around, saying calmly, "I don't think we are that familiar."

The Saintess of Yaochi was always incredibly noble, and the fact that she had repeatedly shown kindness to him was a strange matter. He Pianpian stood there gracefully, bright and moving, carrying an air of supreme nobility. Hearing his words, she was not angered and said softly, "We will eventually fight side-by-side in the Southern Barbarian lands; we will surely become familiar."

Shen Yu understood something and raised an eyebrow slightly. He Pianpian waited a moment, then said, "The Flat Peach Banquet is being prepared and will begin tomorrow. Why don't I take you elsewhere for a tour?"

Shen Yu shook his head. "No need."

He Pianpian looked at his eyes, then at the tomb, seemingly understanding something. She said earnestly, "I cannot enter either. The formation set by Fairy Linghua during her lifetime—in the current Yaochi, no one can enter except for my Master."

Shen Yu listened to these words quietly for a long time, then placed his hand on the "lake surface" of the gate once more.

"Being too cold is not good; when things reach their extreme, they wither, and when wisdom is too great, it brings harm."

...

"The peach blossoms on the Sacred Mountain once bloomed, but the Jianmu Tree broke, shattering the Heavenly River at the foot of the mountain. I will take you to see it when I have time."

...

"I like many things: cultivating the Dao, practicing the sword... and, of course, I like peach blossoms."

The "gate" remained completely motionless. For some reason, Shen Yu suddenly smiled, as if remembering something. He shook his head slightly, lowered his head, and whispered, "It is me, Taixuan."

"It is me."

"Taixuan."

As the words fell, the four light, airy words caused the light-gate, which had not stirred in a thousand years, to instantly erupt in brilliance. A majestic aura awakened, illuminating heaven and earth. Shen Yu vanished from the spot.