Chapter Seventy-Six: The Fifth Rank of the Great Xia Heavenly King Mountain! The Empress of the Netherworld in the Ancestral Land!
The Demon Hunting Squad was composed of three young women of exceptional beauty. Their eyes were clear as water, their skin as white as snow, their faces like blossoms, and their bodies radiated a cold, resolute aura forged in battle, distinctly different from the soft warmth of greenhouse flowers. Even an inadvertent glance from them inspired awe and respect.
There was no doubt: each of them was a prodigy, extraordinary and gifted.
Yet, each had her own distinctive characteristics.
One was a woman of strikingly voluptuous figure, her face like jade tinged with the glow of peach blossoms, her beauty surpassing even the most delicate flowers, her lips a fiery red, alluring and captivating.
In sharp contrast stood another girl, her chest flat as a plain. Though her face was stunning, her figure was regrettably lacking.
As for the leader, she was altogether different. Short-haired with sword-like brows, her eyes shone like stars, her nose straight, her features exquisitely beautiful. From her brow, one could discern a fierce character; her every move carried an air of dominance and authority.
At the center of her forehead bloomed a pristine white snow lotus, emitting a strange energy.
This white lotus was unique—it was a force of the spirit, or perhaps of mind, soul, and faith. Unseen, it inspired those around her to worship, even to yearn to offer their lives, their souls, their everything for her.
If she invoked her power, even those of the Dao would willingly lay down their lives, shed blood, or face destruction for her sake.
Once, she let the lotus bloom and caused a million demons to slaughter each other.
Once, she let the lotus bloom and the strength of ten million allies soared.
She was holy, a queen who had long occupied the heights, yet she was also deeply enigmatic, like a sorceress.
From the subtle expressions of her fellow squad members, it was clear—she was the absolute core.
Now, the voluptuous girl and the flat-chested girl were both watching the leader intently.
“Commander Chen, is this the place you were searching for?”
Chen Yi Hou sensed her surroundings, her heart pounding.
“Yes! Yes! I feel it!” she exclaimed. “It’s this universe! It was here that the Sovereign stood, gazed at me across endless space and time, and guided me to create my own cultivation method!”
Mentioning the Sovereign, a flush crept across Chen Yi Hou’s delicate face, even her ears glowing red.
“The Sovereign! At last, I can see the real Sovereign! What should I do when I meet him? Should I offer myself?”
She cradled her face in her hands, shy to the extreme.
Li Keke, the voluptuous girl, was speechless.
Zhao Qingyan, the flat-chested girl, admonished, “Commander Chen, can you act normal?”
Chen Yi Hou’s cheeks were crimson. “I am normal.”
The other members exchanged looks of helplessness.
Commander Chen was perfect in every way. Descending upon the Grand Xia Universe, she shone like sun and moon, illuminating mountains and rivers. Her talent was so extraordinary that she single-handedly created her own cultivation method!
Her method sanctified the statues of the Sovereign, Ancestor Qin, Officer Ji, and herself, granting them the power to burn demons.
Thus, the Grand Xia Universe fought its way into the black mist, carving a bloody path.
Demons of the Silver Space-Time were powerless before Commander Chen; those of the Golden Space-Time grew ever more fearful of her.
Wherever her gaze fell, the demon mist retreated.
People compared her to the Sovereign who created the Grand Xia Universe twice, three million years ago.
She was a flawless queen, exalted and adored.
For three million years, the Grand Xia produced countless geniuses, but she was the only one whose renown rivaled Sovereign Lin Qiye, prodigy Qin Jiu Ru, the first officer Ji Qinghuan, and Qin Xing Tong.
If the Grand Xia Universe had a Mount Rushmore, Commander Chen would surely be the fifth.
She was iron-fisted and domineering, except when the Sovereign was mentioned... then she became someone else entirely, her face flushed, losing composure, like a lovesick girl.
“Quick, thirty seconds! I need to know the Sovereign’s exact location,” she ordered.
“Commander Chen, you’re making this difficult for us!”
Chen Yi Hou was adamant, “Three minutes, no more!”
The other members sighed.
“Commander, it’s all white here, nothing but snowy wilderness. Where can we find anyone to ask?”
Chen Yi Hou looked around. Indeed, the snowy plateau was desolate.
“Fine, let’s find a city. We must bring the Sovereign back! Follow me!”
Her cheeks still flushed, she charged north across the plateau.
The two beautiful girls unfurled their wings and followed at full speed.
Li Keke’s wings were lush with green; Zhao Qingyan’s wings gleamed like metal; Chen Yi Hou’s wings were half pure white, half pitch black—strange, unique, and unspeakably noble.
A quarter hour later, a powerful aura approached at lightning speed. Zhu Yuheng, her icy wings flapping, blocked their path.
“Who are you? How dare you intrude upon the Great Qin Universe?!”
The three girls’ eyes lit up.
Zhu Yuheng’s skin was snowy, her brows arched like a dragon’s, her eyes long and phoenix-like; her features together made her strikingly handsome, like a bright pearl or jade, unmatched in beauty.
Even Li Keke and Zhao Qingyan, with their own stunning looks, felt a bit ashamed beside her.
Only Chen Yi Hou’s aura and beauty could contest hers.
“Who are you? If you’re here to cause trouble, don’t blame me for being merciless!” Zhu Yuheng’s gaze was icy, cold aura swirling around her.
She had already unlocked eleven heavenly gates, condensed a true nascent soul, and reached its peak.
Yet, facing the three women, her expression was grave.
She sensed a strong threat from the leader. Though the other had not condensed a nascent soul, a mysterious power lurked within her, making Zhu Yuheng wary.
Of course, Chen Yi Hou, Li Keke, and Zhao Qingyan were equally cautious of Zhu Yuheng.
Their wariness was even greater.
Chen Yi Hou stared at Zhu Yuheng, her eyes shining.
“Beautiful sister, we are cultivators from the Grand Xia Universe. We mean no harm. We only seek the Sovereign.”
Grand Xia Universe? Sovereign?
Hearing these words, Zhu Yuheng was taken aback, examining Chen Yi Hou with a complex gaze—admiration, and a hint of rivalry.
“Are you Ji Qinghuan?”
Chen Yi Hou shook her head.
“I am not Ji Qinghuan. Officer Ji was our universe’s first officer; I am the two thousand six hundred seventy-eighth, three million years apart.”
“Let me introduce myself: I am Chen Yi Hou. Chen as in ‘innovation’, Yi as in ‘splendid attire’, Hou as in ‘noble rank’.”
Zhu Yuheng’s dragon-brow furrowed, and she muttered, “Another love debt left behind? Next time I see him, I’ll stomp his face a hundred times!”
She clenched her fist.
Ji Qinghuan was one thing; she couldn’t change the events of three million years ago. But why was there suddenly a Chen Yi Hou? Was his luck with women really so good?
Zhu Yuheng looked at Chen Yi Hou, suppressing her displeasure and feigning casual inquiry.
“When did you meet him?”
Asked such a question, Chen Yi Hou’s cheeks turned crimson as if she’d drunk several pounds of fake wine, her whole being dizzy.
“It’s a long story... Three hundred and sixty years ago, I faced internal and external crises. For three million years, countless geniuses had failed to ascend; many became white bones paving the way. To make matters worse, I stumbled upon a demon nest, where a super genius appeared. After several wars, Grand Xia suffered heavy losses. Only the fearlessness of our geniuses held the demons at bay.”
“At that time, Grand Xia was beset with difficulties, weighed down by countless challenges.”
“Luckily, at the critical moment, the Sovereign appeared. His gaze was deep and wise, looking across endless time and space, guiding me to enlightenment...”
“And so, I developed my own unique cultivation method!”
Talking about this, the light in Chen Yi Hou’s eyes grew brighter, her breathing quickened, piety flowing over her features.
At this moment, she was a fervent devotee of Lin Qiye.
“Do you know what ‘a glance that lasts a thousand years’ means? That one look across endless time made me the Sovereign’s worshipper! He is my supreme, unwavering faith.”
“Please, tell me where the Sovereign is... I beg you, good sister!”
To meet her faith, to offer her soul and body, Chen Yi Hou willingly called Zhu Yuheng ‘sister’.
Now, Zhu Yuheng understood the cause and effect, and couldn’t blame Lin Qiye. Who knew that a single glance would inspire enlightenment and turn someone into a lovesick devotee? Too bizarre!
Zhu Yuheng shook her head inwardly.
“If you’re searching for Seventeen... Three hundred sixty-eight years ago, he descended briefly, but at age eight, after saving the world, he was struck by thunder from the void and shattered into countless rays of light...”
As she recalled, pain flickered in Zhu Yuheng’s phoenix eyes.
“As for your other ancestor, Qin Xing Tong, he wandered the world two hundred years ago and has likely gone to another universe.”
“You’re three hundred sixty years too late.”
Hearing this, Chen Yi Hou held her face, heartbroken.
“My supreme Sovereign, why is your life always so short? Why can’t you live longer? Finally, a chance to meet...”
Her heart was empty, mist gathering in her eyes.
Zhu Yuheng gave her a sympathetic look. “Miss him once, and you may not see him for millions of years.”
Chen Yi Hou was stunned.
“Millions of years? How is that possible?”
Zhu Yuheng’s eyes grew dim.
“Do you know Ji Qinghuan? She’s searched for Seventeen for three million years and is still searching...”
Hearing this, Chen Yi Hou pressed her red lips together.
“Three million years?”
“So long. I knew Officer Ji and the Sovereign had feelings, but I never imagined she’d search for him for three million years.”
Chen Yi Hou was moved by Officer Ji’s devotion.
No wonder she was Officer Ji—the remarkable woman who burned her life in magma.
Chen Yi Hou’s eyes were full of admiration.
But at the same time, flames blazed in her gaze.
“I’m willing to search too. Three million years, ten million years, whatever it takes. In this life, I must offer my flawless self to my supreme Sovereign!”
As a passionate devotee, her tone was unwavering.
Zhu Yuheng fell silent, words caught in her throat.
She never expected another Ji Qinghuan to appear.
How could this be?
Zhu Yuheng was speechless.
In her youth, she had mocked Ji Qinghuan harshly.
But now, everyone was Ji Qinghuan!
“Good luck to you,” Zhu Yuheng said.
Chen Yi Hou looked at Zhu Yuheng.
“And good luck to you.”
Zhu Yuheng turned away, pouting. “I focus on cultivation, on getting stronger—I would never seek out that scoundrel!”
Chen Yi Hou was at a loss.
She and Li Keke, Zhao Qingyan exchanged glances.
In their eyes, the same thought arose: So she’s a tsundere queen. Saying no, but her micro-expressions were utterly honest. Such a classic case of saying one thing and meaning another. Did she really think no one could see through it?
Chen Yi Hou smiled knowingly.
“By the way, sister, we don’t know your name yet.”
Zhu Yuheng hesitated a moment. “Zhu Yuheng.”
“A wonderful name!” Chen Yi Hou praised, looking at Zhu Yuheng with a hint of hesitation.
Zhu Yuheng raised her gaze.
“You want to ask how to condense a nascent soul, right?”
Chen Yi Hou smiled. “Sister, you are truly brilliant! Please instruct us! All the geniuses in our universe are stuck at a bottleneck. We have no idea how to advance. Even I fail every time I try to condense a true nascent soul!”
Hearing this, Zhu Yuheng spread her snowy wings. Two heavenly gates shone with brilliant golden light.
“The issue lies in the wings. There are two gates on the wings as well, called the Qian and Kun Gates. Only when these are lit can you condense a true nascent soul.”
The three girls were wide-eyed with surprise.
“So that’s the secret! Thank you, sister!”
Zhu Yuheng shook her head.
“No need to thank me. This path was pioneered by your Sovereign. He realized there were gates on the wings, then crushed them inch by inch, successfully lighting the Qian and Kun Gates.”
“The wings must be ground down bit by bit, then absorbed into the body, so they resonate with the inner gates. It’s extremely painful, but the gains are immense.”
“No wonder my supreme Sovereign is so incredible!” Chen Yi Hou’s face was flushed with admiration.
Zhu Yuheng was speechless.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll return to seclusion. If you travel the Great Qin Empire, remember—do not harm civilians, or I will destroy you.”
Chen Yi Hou nodded solemnly.
“No worries, the laws left by the Sovereign to Grand Xia include that rule.”
“But thank you for teaching us how to break through. In return, I’ll give you the jade pendant I carved myself.”
As she spoke, Chen Yi Hou handed the pendant to Zhu Yuheng.
On it was a full-body carving of Lin Qiye, his figure tall, lightning wings half-folded behind him. The face was featureless, but the image was vivid, with a strange aura of faith flowing from it, as if the figure were a deity.
Even without features, Zhu Yuheng recognized Lin Qiye at once.
“This is my best effort, though my cultivation is incomplete, and I dared not attempt the finer details.”
“But it’s my most heartfelt work. It can help dispel black mist. When ascending, it may be useful! Also, if the Sovereign is within ten universes, the pendant will heat up.”
Zhu Yuheng took the pendant almost on impulse.
She truly wasn’t interested in its tracking ability—she simply liked its power to dispel the black mist!
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me, we gained more.”
“If possible, may we use this land to break through?”
Zhu Yuheng nodded.
Thus, the three beauties found a valley on the snowy plateau to break through.
A year later, the three girls lit the Qian and Kun Gates.
Another year passed.
All three, their ten heavenly gates turned gold, condensed true nascent souls.
“We did it! We did it!”
“Finally entered the nascent soul stage! Now we can fight the demons even better!”
Li Keke and Zhao Qingyan were full of fighting spirit.
Chen Yi Hou exhaled a deep breath.
“No wonder my supreme Sovereign is so incredible! Not only did he create the ‘Qi Refining Technique’, he found the Qian and Kun Gates, and guided me to enlightenment… I wish I could offer my body and soul immediately!”
Chen Yi Hou’s cheeks flushed, her devotion clear.
...
Over the next centuries, the Grand Xia Universe and Great Qin Universe established lasting ties, and the Great Qin Universe changed its structure.
New Qin Calendar, Year 500: Zhu Yuheng, chosen by destiny, broke through the void and ascended to Platinum Space-Time.
New Qin Calendar, Year 600: Grand Xia and Great Qin Universes merged.
When the two universes merged, the ancestral land of Great Qin—a fragment of an ancient world—was absorbed.
The entire ancestral land was shrouded in endless evil black mist.
Amid the despairing darkness, only a lone figure remained, fighting demons.
A girl wielded her sword, standing like a statue before the Tower of White Bones.
That tower... was built from the bones of Qin Jiu Ru and thousands of generations after her.
The tower radiated a strange light.
Its glow pierced the barriers of time, the depths of the black mist, appearing like a faint star above the Silver Space-Time.
The girl before the tower was stubborn to the extreme.
“Ancestor said we must guard the tower’s light. There are countless kin below, waiting for guidance. Without it, they’ll lose their way in the black mist.”
“I must not fall!”
“I must not fall!”
“Remember how the forebears guarded the tower!”
“Remember how Old Lin fought against cancer!”
“I am the light for countless kin. I bear the hopes of my family. I cannot let them down! I must always protect the tower.”
“My family guards me too. My kin will come! I will see them pass through the black mist.”
Qin You murmured softly.
From childhood, she had been cherished by her family, loved dearly by all.
But when demons invaded, her relatives fell one by one.
Only she remained, stubbornly holding on alone in the evil black mist...