Zong Shou’s heart gave a sudden jolt, halting the Demon-Repelling Flying Shuttle. Instinct told him that the figure atop the Celestial Altar was supremely dangerous. Standing there silently, yet it felt as though a mere raising of a hand or a lifting of a foot could unleash power capable of overturning mountains and rivers, shattering heaven and earth. There was also an inexplicable connection between this person and the stars above.
However, upon drawing closer, he realized the person before him was merely an illusory projection formed from a wisp of thought, similar in nature to his own Yuan Yi Soul Sword's external avatar.
Yet, Zong Shou’s spirit did not feel relieved; rather, he became even more cautious. If such might emanated from merely a split-second incarnation, how terrifying must the main body of this individual be?
That Soul Refining Sword, at this moment, resonated with a sharp weng, its blade humming, almost tearing free from his restraint, eager to slip into the Celestial Altar.
Zong Shou could only temporarily suppress it, his mind a storm of suspicion and wonder.
Who exactly was this person before him? Although his aura hadn't reached the level of the Ultimate Realm, within Xianyang City, even Ultimate Realm cultivators would have their cultivation temporarily suppressed. It was entirely possible that this was a Saint Venerable, sending an avatar to lead troops.
At this moment, the person looked over, a faint, knowing smile playing on their lips.
After a moment of thought, Zong Shou decisively retracted the Demon-Repelling Shuttle and revealed his true form.
He had a premonition: even the Heaven Evasion Child-Mother Swords of Gong Yuan might not escape this person's grasp, let alone his own incomplete Demon-Repelling Divine Shuttle.
And within this Two Energies Converging Dragon Formation, even with nearly two hundred Star Dragon Pills, he had no chance of achieving long-distance instantaneous spatial displacement.
Moreover, this person, dressed as a Magus, seemed to harbor no great hostility toward him.
“Senior, might you be Xu Fu?”
Dressed in ancient Magus attire nearing Daoist robes, and wearing the Nine-Ridge Star Crown—according to the records of the Desolate Cloud—this indicated the highest echelon of achievement among the Magi.
“Xu Fu? I am not Xu Fu, though under these present circumstances, it is understandable why His Majesty might think so.”
The person smiled, but their eyes scrutinized Zong Shou from head to toe, the unusual glint within their gaze deepening.
“The fate of this world is truly marvelous. Years ago, a close friend and I concluded that the Desolate Cloud World would certainly see a Divine Emperor emerge ten thousand years hence, gathering the world's fortune, sweeping across all heavens, and establishing a Divine Dynasty. Yet, we also glimpsed a trace of change, that future events might deviate. Therefore, within the Lingyun Sect, I left behind the Divine Talisman of ‘Fortune.’ In a way, Your Majesty and I share a faint thread of karmic affinity.”
Zong Shou’s eyes shifted, and he gazed stunned at the person before him.
“Could you be Scholar Ming Ri Xuan?”
Having obtained the true meaning of this man’s inherited Divine Talisman in the past, Zong Shou was able to grasp a part of the Dao of Destiny.
Zong Shou had always been grateful; in several major battles, if not for the blessing of the Fortune Talisman, he would have surely perished at the hands of others.
This person had another friend, named Venerable Ming Ce, half-Buddhist and half-Daoist, the one who once divined the fate of Ao Kun, predicting that unless he submitted to Qing Xuan, he would never meet a good end.
Now, having studied nearly half of the Volume of the Common People’s Dao Scripture, he was unlike before, when he knew little of the figures and events preceding the Desolate Cloud Era.
“It is precisely Ming Ri Xuan!”
The person laughed softly, then continued gazing skyward: “Your Book of Cosmic Destiny Shaping the World truly deserves its reputation as a divine artifact scripture renowned across myriad realms; it actually possesses the power to reverse destiny—truly astonishing! You were meant to die long ago, yet now you gather winds and clouds, soaring into the dragon’s ascent. Alas, recently, for some unknown reason, calamities have arisen. If you survive this, you will soar to the highest heavens and rule the world. If you cannot survive it, you will turn to ash, and all will become nothingness.”
Zong Shou raised an eyebrow. Even this great master of calculation from the ancient Desolate Cloud Era said the same thing?
But why was this Scholar Ming Ri Xuan suddenly the one divining his fate for him?
A thought struck him, and he asked: “Senior, do you know of any divine artifacts from the ancient Desolate Cloud Era that could enhance Xuan and sustain the Dao?”
“Divine artifacts to enhance Xuan and sustain the Dao? What are those?”
Scholar Ming Ri Xuan shook his head in confusion, then pondered briefly: “I see! However, I cannot speak too much, or I will incur a loss of life essence. The lifespan remaining in this life is scarce; it must be cherished even more.”
The sliver of hope that Zong Shou had managed to raise was instantly dashed.
Judging by this person’s expression, he clearly knew something. But based on his tone, no matter how Zong Shou asked, the answer would likely be withheld.
Scholar Ming Ri Xuan then shifted the topic: “Your Majesty, have you come in pursuit of the traces left behind by Xi Zi?”
Zong Shou’s spirit immediately lifted. Xi Zi had indeed entered the Qin Emperor’s domain, specifically this Celestial Altar.
In fact, the abnormality of the Soul Refining Sword earlier had already hinted at this, and Xi Zi must have left something behind here.
At this moment, instead of answering directly, he countered: “Then what about the Scholar? Why have you come here?”
“Naturally, it is for the matter of resurrecting the Qin Emperor.”
Ming Ri Xuan continued looking up at the sky: “Because of His Majesty, the stellar constellations are like tangled threads, the heavenly secrets are confused, making it difficult to trace the source. Even I find it hard to judge the future variables, which is why I had to come here personally.”
He then mocked himself: “My lineage has an entangled grievance with that Qin Emperor; we bear deep mutual hatred. I was most unwilling to see this Qin Emperor resurrected in the world, which is why I came personally. However, upon arriving, I realized my worries were excessive. It turns out that the Saint Venerable Xi Zi had already laid down countermeasures long ago.”
As this last sentence was uttered, Zong Shou’s eyes brightened, and the few people beside him also showed signs of joy.
For the first time, they felt their luck had been rather good this time.
If Xi Zi had truly left behind means to counter the current upheaval, then this trip to the Qin Emperor’s tomb would be somewhat safer. The possibility of seizing the Twelve Bronze Men had also increased significantly.
The only uncertainty was the attitude of the person before them.
Zong Shou was about to ask further when he saw Ming Ri Xuan suddenly raise a hand, signaling him to stop, his expression becoming intensely grave: “My predecessor, it seems, has arrived—”
As he spoke, the sky above began to churn violently. A powerful soul presence abruptly descended from afar.
Then, in the mid-air, an identical soul shadow condensed, looking down upon everyone present.
It was the same Nine-Ridge Star Crown and Crimson Cloud Feathered Robe, with a countenance resembling a youth who had just reached adulthood, his eyes shadowed with grimness.
He first swept his gaze over the five individuals including Zong Shou, and finally settled his gaze upon Ming Ri Xuan.
That vast soul pressure permeated the entire Celestial Altar.
“Ming Ri Xuan, you are determined to intervene this time and stand against me?”
Zong Shou and the others felt their complexions change slightly.
Scholar Ming Ri Xuan gave the impression of being boundless as the sea, unfathomable.
But this newcomer held the advantage over him. In this era, among the Magi, who else could be considered a senior worthy of Ming Ri Xuan, other than Xu Fu?
This man was indeed an Ultimate Realm Saint Venerable!
Indeed, Ming Ri Xuan performed a deep bow, his expression solemn: “Greetings, Senior Xu Fu! Just as you are bound to attempt the resurrection of the Qin Emperor, I, Ming Ri Xuan, truly have no other choice!”