Yang Jian and the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts

Things like the Taiji Diagram and the Pangu Banner.

As for Chaos supreme treasures, Jiang Zhe could only think of two, no matter how he racked his brain.

Hongjun's Jade Disc of Creation and the Chaos Pearl that had escaped.

The Meteor Spear born from Black Rhino Star, meanwhile, was an innate artifact.

After all, it had been born from a star, and it suited him quite well.

The heavier, the better. When all was said and done, he had no grasp of any agile fighting style.

One might overcome ten techniques with sheer strength, which suited heavy armor like Black Rhino Armor quite well.

Slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air, Jiang Zhe could not help murmuring, "Good, good, good. As expected of a star formed from Black Rhino."

Only when he held it did he discover that this innate artifact, which resembled the Black Rhino Armor's Meteor Spear, had none of the light, flimsy feel of a toy. It felt like it was made of pure metal.

With a thought, the Meteor Spear shrank and spun as it entered Jiang Zhe's body.

His natal artifact had merged with his body! He could summon and dismiss it at will!

Next, Jiang Zhe immersed himself in Black Rhino Star once more and began comprehending its natal divine ability.

And just as Jiang Zhe was immersed in this,

In the sea of stars, besides the stars that filled the sky, there were naturally two principal stars standing in the boundless expanse: the Great Yin and the Great Yang.

When the Great Yang sank, the Great Yin ruled the sea of stars.

Chang'e, who was making osmanthus cakes, noticed Rhino Star's appearance and the disturbance it caused almost immediately.

At first, Chang'e did not recognize it. After all, Rhino Star was far too different from the star she had seen that day.

Only when she saw Weaver Girl's star beside Rhino Star did Chang'e realize that this pitch-black planet was the star of Weaver Girl's heaven-ordained romance she had seen that day.

Clutching the osmanthus cake dough she had yet to knead, she stood in the Moon Palace courtyard and gazed at it for a long time.

As the daughter of the Heavenly Emperor, Weaver Girl should, by rights, have spent her life quietly watching over that lone star.

The last time Chang'e had passed by, a silver star bearing the mark of an ox had inexplicably appeared beside Weaver Girl's.

And now look: the ox had turned into a rhinoceros, and its color had changed to black.

In the boundless sea of stars, the two planets, one black and one white, reflected each other.

The two stars were tangled together so closely that anyone who did not know better might think they were about to merge.

"Could it be that even His Majesty didn't foresee that Weaver Girl Star would have a heaven-ordained star of destiny in the future?" Chang'e murmured to herself.

If the Jade Emperor had foreseen it, surely he would not have given this star to Weaver Girl?

After all, the heavenly laws forbade immortals in heaven from forming romantic bonds.

And the stars followed the principles of heaven.

The Jade Emperor probably had not known at the time that Weaver Girl Star would become a star of romance in the future, had he?

Judging by the two stars' current state, the red thread of matrimony between them, formed from gossamer strands of starlight, had almost become a chain.

Clearly, Weaver Girl had already become entangled with the other party, and they might even have pledged themselves to each other.

In all fairness, Chang'e really did not want this for Weaver Girl.

As a celestial maiden, Weaver Girl ought to obey the heavenly laws.

But this was Weaver Girl Star's tribulation. Since she had become Weaver Girl, it meant she had to face this bond of fate, and this tribulation as well.

Chang'e did not know whether the person who had formed a romantic bond with Weaver Girl was a mortal or a cultivator.

Hopefully, it was not a mortal or a demon or anything of the sort.

Otherwise, it would bring shame upon almost the entire Heavenly Court.

Even if the Jade Emperor gave no order, the other heavenly kings and generals would probably show Weaver Girl no kindness.

After hesitating for a while, Chang'e ultimately decided not to visit Black Rhino Star to investigate. She did not know who its master was, and rashly entering another's star's domain could very well put the other party on guard and spark a war.

And once anyone else noticed a war in the sea of stars, the abnormality of Weaver Girl Star would surely be discovered as well.

She would delay it as long as she could. In any case, she seldom left the Moon Palace, so if anyone asked her about anything outside, she would just say she did not know.

Besides, she still had to investigate that little thief, who had actually stolen something like that.

Utterly shameless!

At Mount Hua, evening had fallen. Yang Jian had used his Heavenly Eye to search until now, but had found nothing out of the ordinary.

Apart from that presence sharing the same origin as the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts, there was nothing unusual. Was that Buddhist power hidden too deeply, or was there some other reason?

It was just that...

Yang Jian withdrew his Heavenly Eye and tapped his knee twice with his fingertips.

He had found nothing unusual about the Buddhist power, but something was wrong with the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts.

The people in this world who knew that cultivation technique could be counted on one hand.

Who had taught it to the other party? One of his martial uncles?

The Eight-Nine Arcane Arts were a protective art of the Chan School, and the person cultivating them was hidden extremely well.

Even his Heavenly Eye could not locate that person.

Even if the other party belonged to the same school, their appearance still made Yang Jian a little uneasy.

"Once I've dealt with this matter, it won't be too late to look for you," Yang Jian murmured, a trace of worry flashing across his face.

Spirit Mountain had set its sights on his younger sister. That was not good news.

Surely nothing would happen to her by the next time he saw her?

"Second Brother, why don't you go back for now? They can't do without you in Guanjiangkou either," Yang Chan said as she came to Yang Jian's side.

Her second brother was indeed powerful, but there was also a wicked dragon in Guanjiangkou that came out from time to time to harass the people.

It hid beneath Dujiangyan in Guanjiangkou, and they could not wipe it out completely.

If he stayed away too long, the Six Brothers of Meishan would not be able to hold out much longer either.

"I know. I'll stay another three days! Then I'll go back and slay that wicked dragon before coming to see you again," Yang Jian said, looking at Yang Chan with a tender light in his eyes.

She was his only reverse scale, and his only weakness. He would never allow anything to happen to his younger sister.

"Don't worry. I have the Precious Lotus Lantern protecting me. No one can hurt me," Yang Chan said proudly.

"Mm. Also, show fewer miracles in the future. They'll make the people lose their reverence for you," Yang Jian said mildly.

"I know, I know." Yang Chan nodded. Nodding was one thing; whether she listened was her own business.

Seeing that his sister was brushing him off, Yang Jian did not press her. After a sigh, he continued standing guard atop Mount Hua, sensing everything around him.

"Hm? Someone from Spirit Mountain really has come." Several hours later, beneath a night that had fallen completely silent,

A glimmer of golden light flashed within the divine marking on Yang Jian's forehead, and it opened like an eye.

It stared straight at a spot not far from Mount Hua.

A golden cloud was speeding toward them. Clearly, its destination was Mount Hua.

And on the golden cloud was a bald figure radiating the light of the Arhat Golden Body.

One of the leaders of the Eighteen Arhats!

The Eighteen Arhats were special! They had two leaders, Dragon-Subduing and Tiger-Taming!

Clouds followed the dragon, and wind followed the tiger!

Fierce winds howled all around. Clearly, the one who had come was Tiger-Taming!

"I hope your arrival is a coincidence. If not..." Yang Jian murmured. A flash of silver followed in his hand, and the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Halberd appeared in his grip.