Great Yin's Nishang

Two days later, the sky had only just begun to brighten, and a pale mist hung everywhere.

The enormous Immortal Inn had still been bustling with voices the day before yesterday, yet today, only a scant few cultivators passed along its broad streets.

It was said that the Li Clan's secret treasure had emerged deep within Mang Mountain.

Why would Xu Yan join in such excitement? He was merely an Aperture Opening realm cultivator. Was he going there to serve as a mouthful for demons and fiends?

The clear sound of reading drifted from within the inn.

"Taihao Sovereign saw and heard that one day, a wind came from the Northern Nether Sea. The Pillar of Heaven collapsed, seawater surged backward, the tail feathers of the great Golden Crow demon were withering away, blazing fire scorched the land, calamities broke out everywhere, and the people of every tribe suffered grievous casualties... Translated this way, it reads much more smoothly."

Xu Yan held a Daoist scripture in his hand. He was consulting the ancient decree texts of the Hunyuan Sect, along with the latter passages of the Ancient Solar Record.

By deducing from the preceding and following passages, he attempted to translate Shen Congyun's derived text. As for how accurate it was, there was no guarantee.

The myths of antiquity were so grand, yet where had all those figures who spanned heaven and earth, whose radiance had shone through the ages, gone? Had they all died? Did true immortality exist in this world?

Xu Yan casually tossed the Daoist scripture onto the table, questioning himself inwardly.

Taihao Sovereign, the holy ancestor of the Demon Race, Buddha Tathagata, the immortal lords of the Daoist sects.

In this world beneath the four seas—Eastern Continent's Eastern Azure Sea, Northern Wasteland's Northern Nether Sea, Western Sā's Sea of Suffering, Southern Frontier's Rootless Sea—

Who could attain immortality? Who could roam free and unrestrained?

"In the end, all become a handful of yellow earth."

Xu Yan pushed open the window and gazed toward the distant horizon.

The vault of heaven was so high that its layers could not be counted. Thick clouds pressed down, making one's heart feel incomparably stifled.

He wondered whether the humans of the ancient era had felt the same.

Just as he was immersed in the myths recorded from antiquity, a sharp rebuke came from downstairs in the Myriad Medicine Pavilion.

"Where is everyone? Where did they all go?!"

It was a woman's voice, carrying a hint of spoiled arrogance.

Xu Yan found it somewhat familiar. His brows furrowed, and he immediately paced over to the railing.

When he looked down into the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, Xu Yan's pupils abruptly contracted.

She appeared to be a woman in her early twenties, standing around seven and a half feet tall. She wore a dark-red military robe, and a scarlet-feathered crown bound her high ponytail. Her figure was exquisite, her long legs like flawless jade carved by heaven itself. The skin revealed at her neck was snowy white, like congealed fat, delicate enough to break at a touch.

A gilded spear rested across her back. Though she was a woman, she had swordlike brows and starry eyes, with a valiant and heroic bearing.

She strode alone into the Myriad Medicine Pavilion. Seeing the empty room, she immediately drew the spear from her back and slammed it heavily onto the counter.

"Shopkeeper!"

"Coming, coming!"

Alchemist Wang and a maid hurriedly rushed out from an adjoining room. Alchemist Wang was still frantically fastening his Daoist robe, while the maid's neck was flushed crimson and her eyes shimmered with spring water.

"Miss, what spiritual materials or precious medicines would you like to buy?" the maid asked.

"I want pills refined." With a sweep of her hand, dozens of precious herbs fell onto the counter in an instant.

Alchemist Wang's face immediately darkened at the sight. Seeing that this woman's cultivation was not weak, he promptly cupped his hands and said, "Miss, we cannot refine pills here these next few days."

"What? If the Myriad Medicine Pavilion does not refine pills, then what does it refine? Are you not doing business anymore?" The woman in military robes raised a swordlike brow, her voice ringing like metal.

Alchemist Wang pursed his lips, then immediately said, "Miss, you may not know this, but the alchemists have all gone deep into Mang Mountain to gather herbs. At present, I am the only one left in the Myriad Medicine Pavilion."

"You cannot refine them?"

"This humble Daoist has no time." A smile touched Alchemist Wang's lips as he assumed a solemn expression. "Over the next few days, this humble Daoist must refine pills for Young Master Yan of Prince Wu'an's Residence, so I cannot refine any for you."

As he spoke, he even lifted his chin slightly.

Hearing this upstairs, Xu Yan raised a hand to his forehead, suddenly feeling that something was amiss.

"Xu Yan?"

At those words, the woman in military robes suddenly revealed an amused smile. Her voice rang out sharply. "Where is he? Tell him to come out and see me."

"Miss, are you certain?" Alchemist Wang frowned, looking this heroic woman up and down.

Although this woman's cultivation was not low, that lord was Prince Wu'an's adopted son.

The Ten-Thousand Mang Mountains were no longer within Great Yin's borders, but this place was only three or four thousand li from the frontier.

Xu Fei's military camp was located there.

The Moat Dragon Army was no pushover. One hundred thousand elite soldiers formed their formations, like a savage great blade sweeping through all directions!

When Xu Fei had conquered this territory back then, no one knew how many demonic sects he had slaughtered, how many spirit-beast strongholds he had razed. Blood had flowed for ten thousand li like rivers, mist had blanketed the sky, and it had taken more than a decade to cleanse it all away.

His mighty reputation had cowed the lands for hundreds of thousands of li around. Everyone knew of him. Who would dare seek trouble with Prince Wu'an's Residence?

Wang Xuan frowned. Just as he turned around, he saw Xu Yan pacing down from upstairs on his own.

"Sister Nishang, it has been a long time." Xu Yan shook out his sleeves and cupped his hands.

This person was the biological daughter of the current emperor and empress, the Third Princess of the Great Yin Dynasty, Qin Nishang.

Within the Moat Dragon Eighteen Commanderies, this princess was quite famous.

That was because, shortly after turning sixteen and completing her Aperture Opening and Meridian Breaking cultivation, she had come on her own to train in the Moat Dragon Army. She had joined the army in clearing out many spirit beasts, demonic creatures, and demonic sect lineages along the frontier. Only after staying for four years had she returned to the imperial capital, Dragon City.

A few years ago, this matter had often been discussed throughout the Moat Dragon Eighteen Commanderies. They called it "the princess joining the army."

It was truly rare to see. Only in the martial prosperity and splendid golden age of the Great Yin Dynasty could such a sight be found.

That was also why Xu Yan and Qin Nishang knew one another.

When he was young, he had often trained his body and practiced martial arts with several of his sworn elder brothers under the Moat Dragon Army. Qin Nishang had been among them.

"Little Yan, after not seeing you for years, you have grown quite a bit taller. You are nearly as tall as me!" Qin Nishang laughed brightly, patting Xu Yan on the arm. "You opened your spirit aperture? Your spiritual power is quite substantial. Your talent and innate bones must be good. Excellent. In next year's Dragon Gate Examination, you should have a chance to make the martial rankings."

The way she called him Little Yan sounded strange to Xu Yan no matter how he heard it. It made him uncomfortable, as though he were one of the palace eunuchs.

"Sister Nishang, could you not call me 'Little Yan'? It sounds rather strange," Xu Yan said.

The two walked while chatting casually.

Why had Qin Nishang come to the Ten-Thousand Mang Mountains as well? In less than a year, the frontier had truly become lively.

How could Emperor Jiaguang and her mother, the empress, have been willing to let her leave the imperial capital, Dragon City?

The two sat facing each other at the table.

"Father and Mother do not know. I slipped out in secret." Princess Nishang stroked her chin, one swordlike brow raised as she declared sternly, "How can one improve in martial arts by discussing warfare on paper in Dragon City every day? I came to train in Mang Mountain and slaughter every last evil fiend and demonic creature!"

Back in the Moat Dragon Army, she had expert guards protecting her.

Now she was wandering the martial world alone and had even come to Mang Mountain. Her courage was truly immense.

"Do not spread word of this for me, understand? Otherwise, do not blame me for being discourteous."

Qin Nishang's eyes curved as she narrowed them, raising a small clenched fist before Xu Yan's face.

Xu Yan found it amusing.

Who ran away in secret with such fanfare? Emperor Jiaguang had likely already sent people to follow her in the shadows. Even at this very moment, there might be palace experts guarding her.