Stars in Heaven, Big Dipper on Earth

Shi Xuan understood that Granny Yu must have her reasons for not speaking of it now. He nodded and did not press the matter further.

Seeing Shi Xuan nod, Granny Yu suddenly burst into laughter, like a hundred flowers blooming at once. "When Senior Brother Star River told me this back then, my expression was exactly the same as yours now."

"Ah?" Shi Xuan was deeply puzzled.

Granny Yu said with a smile, "Back then, I was merely a Half-step Golden Immortal who had not even attained External Dao Manifestation. How could I have been qualified to take part in a struggle between Dao Ancestors? Everything concerning Senior Brother Qingyunzi's fall was learned from Senior Brother Star River. When I first heard of it, I thought exactly as you did—that Nirvana Dao Ancestor had not acted alone. Yet Senior Brother Star River merely nodded without speaking and gave no direct answer. Then I thought that if he would not say it, he surely had his reasons, so I did not pursue it. Until he fell at Daoist Yujing's hands, I never asked again."

Only then did Shi Xuan understand. So Granny Yu had lightly teased him, reenacting that scene from long ago, except she had become Senior Brother Star River, while he had become her.

"Then, Granny Yu, you do not know which Innate Dao Ancestors took action either?"

Granny Yu nodded. "Yes. What can be certain is that Nirvana Dao Ancestor was the one who killed Senior Brother Qingyunzi. But I believe he invited other Innate Dao Ancestors to help him block Senior Brother Qingyunzi's reinforcements, or trip him up so he could not escape. Perhaps even..."

She considered it, but still did not finish. Her expression carried several traces of taboo. "All right, there is no need for