The Moon Venerable shook her head. "If we fail to survive the third nine heavenly tribulation, we will only be disposable pawns on a chessboard, moved at another's whim.
"This is my last chance."
"If my guess is right, that woman of the Righteous Dao—Jade Light Adept of Western Kunlun—is also preparing to face her tribulation."
O
"She is formidable, too. With True Person Nine Yang dead after the battle at the Heavenly Emperor's Treasury, her path is clear now... except that her human killing tribulation will probably fall upon the lord of Mount Fangcun."
Jiang Yingshuang understood. Jade Light Adept stood just one step away from surviving the third nine heavenly tribulation and forming her dao embryo dharma aspect. As for the one on Mount Fangcun, she knew him even better: Bai Ze, once the king of the Outer Dao giants.
She looked at the Moon Venerable. "Do you need me to act?"
The Moon Venerable smiled faintly. "No need to trouble yourself. I have already made arrangements."
Then her tone shifted, tinged with melancholy. "But if I fail, you will be the only one left in the entire Mortal Dust Immortal Sect."
Jiang Yingshuang fell silent for a moment, then looked toward the distant sea. "Lingxiao, once you leave, the sword in my hand really will be my only companion."
"Enough of this gloomy talk. Perhaps tomorrow, Lingxiao will become the second Grandmaster of the Outer Dao, the only female Supreme Grandmaster in a thousand years."
The Moon Venerable merely smiled. "Don't you still have a younger sister?"
At last, a trace of a smile appeared on Jiang Yingshuang's face. "Yes."
"Then why, back then? Why didn't you take her with you?"
Jiang Yingshuang's eyes darkened. "On Mount Fangcun, under Bai Ze... had I not left back then,