Volume One: The Emperor’s Decree Chapter Seventy-Nine: Three Matters of the World

“Hand over the Celestial Yin Pearl to us? Absolutely not, such a precious thing, we cannot bear that responsibility,” Liu Xiaoyi declined, feeling that with his abilities, he was hardly qualified to guard the Celestial Yin Pearl.

Such treasures, lacking refining restrictions, easily attract covetous eyes. Without enough strength to carry the pearl, walking out with it was no different from delivering a gift to thieves.

“It’s not for you, boy, but for the young girl. Anyone who tries to harm her must first think of Hunyuan Palace’s retaliation. Besides, if a man carries the Celestial Yin Pearl, he’ll turn into a eunuch,” Granny Yin said, deliberately frightening him.

The innate yin chill in the pearl would gradually alter the bearer’s aura, making it a nemesis of yang energy. Placed on a man, it would soon dispel his beard and leave him looking pallid and wan.

“Better forget it, then. You all stay busy, I’ll take a stroll outside,” Liu Xiaoyi said, unwilling to become effeminate. Seeing Granny Yin unfastening her clothes, he quickly seized the chance to slip away, not wanting to linger a moment longer. He’d been tricked too often lately and yearned for a quiet place.

Granny Yin’s laughter rang out, echoing far beyond the estate. Liu Xiaoyi, with Little Gold, wandered into a garden amidst the valley, mingling with the spirit beasts.

“Little Gold, I always thought I was clever—why can’t I see through the little girl’s lies?” Liu Xiaoyi grumbled, feeling aggrieved.

The little tiger, understanding his words, shook its head and grinned as if mocking him.

“You too? Then I’ll punish you—no meat for a week, only carrots!”

Little Gold quickly nuzzled Liu Xiaoyi, whining pitifully as if saying, “You’re the best, master. They’re all bad eggs.”

Watching Liu Xiaoyi make his escape, Xiao Qingshu couldn’t help but glance twice at his departing figure, an involuntary smile blossoming on her face.

“All right, let’s prepare to refine the Celestial Yin Pearl. I’ll erase the imprint now,” Granny Yin’s call brought her attention back. As soon as the pearl was produced, the room’s temperature plummeted.

On its surface lay Granny Yin’s decades-old imprint, which could not be erased in a moment.

Aware of the difficulty, Xiao Qingshu settled into meditation, adjusting her state, hoping to attempt refining the pearl at her peak.

To part with her lifelong companion, the Celestial Yin Pearl, would impact Granny Yin’s cultivation. As she began to peel away the imprint, her youthful face rapidly aged.

This youthful visage was a result of the pearl’s power; Granny Yin, in truth, was over eighty—a true old woman. Giving up the pearl was a matter of necessity.

Should the pearl remain after her death, it would return uncontrolled to the world, awaiting another destined soul. By relinquishing it willingly, she could use her lingering power to temporarily keep it from dispersing.

Each generation’s master of the pearl would, in old age, choose to let it go. Granny Yin, with neither children nor heirs, had spent decades seeking a successor.

Her bond with Hunyuan Palace was profound; she’d met Xiao Qingshu when the girl was still swaddled, and the child’s constitution was suitable, so she resolved to pass on the pearl.

Having lived so long, Granny Yin took such matters lightly. She gritted her teeth, raising the pearl in both hands, exerting herself to strip away the imprint.

“Hold your breath, focus, release your power and envelop the Celestial Yin Pearl. Carefully sense the flow of its energy!”

After three quarters of an hour, Granny Yin suddenly spoke, pulling Xiao Qingshu from meditation and guiding her to refine the pearl.

Xiao Qingshu’s power was vigorous and forceful, owing much to her innate strength, while the pearl’s aura was extremely gentle. At first contact, the clashing energies nearly knocked her over.

“Concentrate! No stray thoughts—otherwise the pearl will devour you!” Granny Yin’s appearance grew ever more aged, as if a breeze might topple her.

“Granny Yin, without the pearl, will you survive? If not, I don’t want the pearl,” Xiao Qingshu said, resisting the treasure. Such thoughts made it impossible to fully command it. With both forces pressing her, Xiao Qingshu heard two muffled sounds within her body, coughed up blood, and suffered internal injury.

Granny Yin hurriedly shook her hair, countless silver strands wrapping around the pearl to stabilize it.

“My old life is tough—don’t mind me! Focus on mastering the pearl!”

Winds whipped through the room; mist from the pearl finally enveloped Xiao Qingshu. This was the last step—once she absorbed all the mist, she’d gain control.

With this, Granny Yin’s task was finished. The old woman rose slowly, walking to the other side of the room where a delicate mirror hung.

Looking at the unfamiliar face in the mirror, Granny Yin smiled tenderly, “Girl, you’ve truly grown old! I can’t walk this road with you anymore. But leaving it to the young ones shouldn’t cause much trouble, right?”

Outside, Liu Xiaoyi, bored, sat down to cultivate earnestly. Whenever his power circulated through his body, he felt a sort of peace, making him unknowingly love cultivation more.

Unlike martial arts, cultivation required stillness rather than movement. If sword practice were this easy, how high would his swordsmanship be?

Little Gold quickly adapted to the environment among the valley’s spirit beasts. Though a tiger, being young and raised by Liu Xiaoyi since shortly after birth, he had little experience and was kicked around by a few spirit rabbits, curling up like a small ball.

Suddenly, a slightly larger Emerald Spirit Rabbit appeared, stood before Little Gold, and chased away the other rabbits.

After waiting a while and sensing no movement outside, Little Gold finally noticed the familiar figure before him. Thinking it over, he realized this rabbit was an old acquaintance and snuggled up to it.

The scene was odd—a tiger cuddling a rabbit, acting cute, while the Emerald Spirit Rabbit looked proud and seemed to enjoy it.

“Little Jade! I told you not to wander after coming in—why won’t you listen… Lucky Star! Why are you here!” Meng Qiaoqiao was entering the Wind Howl Valley, unsure which way to go, when the Emerald Spirit Rabbit leaped from her arms, hopping deep into the valley and vanishing in an instant.

Meng Qiaoqiao and her companions hurried after it, barely catching up, only to find the rabbit among other spirit rabbits, apparently involved in some dispute.

Spirit beasts communicated in their own way—humans could hardly understand their language, but it was clear Little Gold was being defended and the other rabbits scolded.

Hearing voices, Liu Xiaoyi opened his eyes just in time to be tackled by a soft body. “Meng Qiaoqiao, move aside—men and women shouldn’t be so close…”

“We’ve been through thick and thin together, good friends! It’s fine, I don’t mind,” Meng Qiaoqiao said, helping him up and brushing the dirt from his clothes.

“How did you end up here? Weren’t you following Heavenly King Dao to the Central Continent?” Liu Xiaoyi asked, confused. She’d told him at their parting that her master wanted her to broaden her horizons and meet fellow cultivators in the Central Continent.

Wind Howl Valley wasn’t on the route; by rights, the Heavenly King Dao’s forces should have gone far, not appeared here.

“Don’t ask! Some strange fellow appeared at the front lines, using a fiery red pearl to block the army and capture many elders of Heavenly King Dao. Master sent me to ask Granny Yin in Wind Howl Valley for help—only she can deal with this person.”

Any excuse to leave was fine by Meng Qiaoqiao, who rushed here ahead of schedule, her playful nature giving her companions headaches.

Feng Nanque was easy enough—silent and focused on the road. But Li Jue, mourning his friend’s death, had become somewhat deranged, chanting incantations near Meng Qiaoqiao and causing her much distress.

“Such bad luck. Granny Yin is in seclusion at the estate; it’ll be a while. What happened to Fellow Daoist Li?”

Liu Xiaoyi noticed Li Jue lingering at the back, staring blankly at the stone walls of the valley. The Li Jue he’d met earlier hadn’t looked like this.

Calling three times, Li Jue finally returned to himself, saying sadly, “Brother Liu, at the front lines of Flame City, Brother Guo died saving others—killed by the Four Elders of Spring and Autumn…”

“Guo Shutai is dead?” Liu Xiaoyi was saddened, not knowing him well, but finding him congenial. He hadn’t expected Guo Shutai to perish.

“The Four Elders of Spring and Autumn are famed heroes—how could they stoop to attack Brother Guo?”

“It happened when Autumn Gale and the Lord of Tianxuan Mountain were fighting. Brother Guo stepped in to save the Lord, bringing disaster upon himself.” Li Jue had marked this enmity, vowing to avenge Guo Shutai someday.

While they talked, the estate’s magical fluctuations finally settled. Granny Yin came to the door, calling, “You may all come in.”

Xiao Qingshu had preliminarily refined the Celestial Yin Pearl and could now absorb it into her body. Her expression had grown colder, with less of her former liveliness.

“Granny Yin, does the pearl affect someone so much?” Liu Xiaoyi frowned. He didn’t like this change in Xiao Qingshu.

Granny Yin replied, “It shouldn’t. When I refined it, nothing like this happened. Perhaps the method was wrong?” She was puzzled—the pearl altered one’s aura, not their personality.

Suddenly, Xiao Qingshu broke into a smile, leapt into Liu Xiaoyi’s arms, and exclaimed, “I tricked you again! Fooled you once more! Hehehe!”

Liu Xiaoyi slapped her rounded backside, his hand bouncing off, “If you trick me again, I’ll sell you!”

“You two! What is your relationship!”

Their banter stirred another pot of jealousy. Meng Qiaoqiao stepped forward and hugged Liu Xiaoyi too. The two girls locked eyes, an awkward and angry atmosphere filling the room.