Chapter 505: Truth of Heaven and Earth

Chapter 505: The Reality of Heaven and Earth

The next day, it was literally high noon before the young couple arose, partaking of breakfast and lunch combined, before strolling and admiring the scenery all the way to the Ancient Tomb Mountain, arriving once more at dusk.

Yes, Zhao Changheng had timed it precisely so Yue Hongling could watch the sunset; of that there was no doubt.

Already, many Spirit Race members were laboring away to build a courtyard here, choosing a site near the stream by that smooth, pristine platform, a crowd felling timber and erecting walls with burning enthusiasm, and when Zhao Changheng approached, he found the structures nearly half-finished, a display of supreme efficiency.

After all, he was essentially an emperor now; if he wished for pleasure, it would be only natural to demand a palace. Sisi, understanding his mind, had not embarked on grand construction, arranging instead a simple, small domain, which naturally sped the work along.

Zhao Changheng observed from afar, unwilling to disturb them and trigger tedious scenes of kneeling and worship, preferring to survey the perimeter of the platform on his own.

Yue Hongling had been observing for a long while, her expression somewhat grave.

Zhao Changheng said, "What is it, an epiphany? If so, that is wonderful; shall we stay a bit longer?"

"No martial insights, though I have a few doubts..." Yue Hongling said softly. "The sun, moon, and stars... is it possible... they are fake?"

Zhao Changheng cast a rather astonished look at his wife; such a line of thought was not unusual for a modern soul, but could an ancient truly conceive of it?

Then again, they might not necessarily be fake, because if they were, there was no source for the forgery.

The Heavenly Book protected this space, keeping it isolated and unbroken, but that did not mean it would fashion a canopy, creating the illusion of sun, moon, and stars. A mindless page of the Heavenly Book should not be capable of this, nor have the motive. Furthermore, this page was the Book of Life, which by right possessed no such functions.

If there was not even a creator of the illusion, how could it be fake...

Judging from natural conditions like photosynthesis, oxygen, and flowing water, the firmament seen here was in all probability the same firmament seen from the outside world, save that the space they occupied had folded in some unknown way to produce this phenomenon. As for that seemingly close-by sun, it was highly likely a visual trick born of distorted space, in reality immensely distant; otherwise, it made no sense for so close a sun to emit no heat.

Of course, if one judged the celestial bodies to be fake based on the sun being close yet not hot, that logic held its own ground. Zhao Changheng could not be certain which was correct, and this was the main reason he intended to reside here long-term.

A modern person's interest in such matters would surely be deeper than any ancient's; this was the true, grand anomaly.

Yue Hongling looked somewhat entranced, staring at the setting sun as she murmured to herself, "If the sky here might be fake, then the one outside, must it be real? Or rather... above the nine heavens, what else resides?"

Zhao Changheng’s eyes widened.

If he ever returned to the modern world, let anyone dare say the natives lacked vision, and he would slap them dead.

Even he was jarred by these words; were the so-called lingering gods and demons truly all buried underground? That punch Xia Longyuan threw toward the heavens, where did it lead?

If someone else truly resided above the nine heavens, then the sky of this minor world might indeed be fake—perhaps a Spirit Race ancestor had shielded his descendants, even drawing the Heavenly Book to this place. But if their power was merely at the level of lying in a grave, then forget it.

When even the ancient Azure Dragon and the Sword Emperor lay in tombs, could a Spirit Race ancestor be so formidable?

Zhao Changheng fell into deep thought, but Yue Hongling seemed to snap out of it, smiling with a touch of embarrassment, "Idle, groundless speculation, you are not allowed to mock me."

Zhao Changheng said very seriously, "Do you want to continue pursuing your hypothesis and investigate the truth?"

Yue Hongling’s eyes shone bright.

Lacking interest in ancient heritages and secret lore did not mean she lacked interest in perceiving the truth of heaven and earth. The comprehension of the universe was the Dao, the ultimate destination of any martial artist.

To put it plainly, in wandering the ends of the earth, had she not always been unconsciously walking the path of exploring the world? And now, it grew clearer.

"Are you also looking for these things?" she suddenly asked.

Zhao Changheng thought for a moment, then nodded, "In a way."

Yue Hongling smiled, "Then let us see who finds it faster. You stay here and ponder your small world, while I go out to find mine."

Zhao Changheng felt somewhat helpless, "After all that talk, you still just want to leave, impossible to keep still, like a monkey..."

"Not entirely." Yue Hongling turned her head once more, looking at that seemingly close, great disc, murmuring softly, "It is so close, I really want to pierce it down..."

Zhao Changheng: "..."

"But I know it cannot be done, it would only breed inner demons, so it is better not to look. When my cultivation ripens further and I return to this place... let us see then if my sword can bring down the sun."

...

Yue Hongling departed, refusing to let Zhao Changheng see her off; she had never fancied sticky, sentimental goodbyes.

Only, before leaving, she sought out Sisi to ask for a fine sword, and extorted a storage ring to tinker with, though it remained unknown if she could use the ring without the Crane-Controlling technique; by her appearance, it seemed the strength of the Second Secret Portal was already enough to forcibly attract objects.

Feeling his sense of scale utterly crushed by his own wife, Zhao Changheng sat with tucked hands on the tomb mountain platform, staring blankly as the great disc slowly sank behind the mountain.

Not until it vanished completely and the stars and moon shone bright did Zhao Changheng suddenly remark, "Why summon people from the modern world? You might as well have just become Hongling's portable mentor; I hear female-lead novels are popular now."

The Blind One could not be bothered to reply.

Zhao Changheng narrowed his eyes and remained silent for a long while, yet he seemed to have gained an inkling of an idea.

Perhaps some matters required someone "outside the Heavenly Dao" to execute... at least, in the Blind One's judgment, it had to be so.

Otherwise, with so many heroes in the world, why go to the modern era to summon someone...

If he, a traveler from beyond, possessed any extra advantage compared to the people of this world, it might truly be his understanding of cosmic reality. Could this perhaps be the origin of his intent of the heavenly stars, which had shocked even the Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise?

"My Lord," a murmur came from his side, "their house is built, and the utensils are prepared. Shall we go inside?"

Zhao Changheng snapped out of his thoughts, "Damn, so fast?"

Sisi pursed her lips in a soft laugh, "It is but a wooden house, a villa for the Holy Envoy; they were all full of drive. I didn't even have to use a whip to make them work."

Zhao Changheng teased, "If you dared whip them, Hongling would demand your head in the name of justice."

Sisi leaned her head closer, "Isn't Hero Zhao here... if justice is to be done, then do it yourself..."

Seeing her offer her smooth, pink cheek right to his lips, Zhao Changheng could not help but smile, "The moment Hongling leaves, you get bold, don't you? You were so well-behaved before."

Sisi pouted; she used to think Yue Hongling was so upright and loved to court death by teasing her, though in the end she was always picked up and beaten... but this time Yue Hongling had been a massive help, so she truly could not act up.

Especially when Yue Hongling and Zhao Changheng were together, it always gave off the impression of dao companions walking the exact same path, making anyone else's presence seem utterly intrusive. One moment she was holding hands with Zhao Changheng like a young couple, but the next moment Yue Hongling appeared, she automatically reverted to a little maidservant, a feeling that made Sisi quite sullen.

Yue Hongling had bid a carefree farewell, and though Sisi looked reluctant on the surface, her belly was practically setting off fireworks in celebration, delivering the sword and ring with unmatched generosity.

"My Lord cannot always lack someone to tend to him..." Sisi said in a coquettish voice. "Look at what Sisi is wearing today, My Lord."

Zhao Changheng shifted his gaze from her flawlessly delicate face down to her body, laughing out loud at a single glance.

She had actually donned a maidservant outfit identical to the one from Gusu, a textbook little maid.

He suddenly recalled when she played the maid back then, how she had defiantly changed into grand tribal attire to show she was no servant, beautiful and high-status, yet now she actively chose to wear the maid’s garb again, her blushing face ready for his pleasure.

Zhao Changheng's heart softened slightly, and he finally reached out to pull her by the waist; Sisi slid into his lap along with the motion, leaning against him softly.

In this posture, she could feel that Zhao Changheng's heartbeat was faster than usual, not as calm as he appeared on the surface.

Yet clearly, Zhao Changheng was somewhat distracted today, holding her completely still, unlike yesterday on the road when he would pin her against a tree to devour her. Sisi asked cautiously, "What are you thinking about? Missed Sister Yue?"

Sensing her slightly humble manner, Zhao Changheng sighed, "I told you I am here for cultivation; naturally, I am contemplating matters of cultivation..."

Sisi balled her fists, "I know a bit about the martial arts of the Xia people. Shall we brainstorm together?"

Zhao Changheng’s mind stirred slightly, "Do your records mention what kind of figure your primal ancestor was, or perhaps a certain crucial ancestor who brought prosperity to the Spirit Race?"

"Of course there are legends. It is said he was an immense shaman who stood between heaven and earth, holding the sun in one hand and the moon in the other, his breath forming hurricanes... don't laugh, we all believe it."

"I am not laughing..."

"You clearly are."

"It is only you who find the legend laughable, but in truth... I believe it."

Sisi froze, "You believe it?"

This showed that her so-called "we all believe it" was something she herself did not credit; how could the Spirit Race ever guess their queen was an absolute traitor to their lore, believing almost none of the things her people held true.

"Yes..." Zhao Changheng turned to look toward the mountain hollow, speaking softly, "I am thinking, there might truly be nothing we previously feared inside this mountain hollow; instead, it might hold your destiny. Do you want to take a gamble? Just like... when we explored the Sword Emperor's tomb hand in hand."