Chapter 1373: Hereafter They Called It "Moon"

莊國's Three Mountains City.

The Three Mountains City Lord, Dou Yuemei, still possessing her charm, stood suspended in the air, leading a chubby child by the hand, gazing towards the direction of the distant Feilai Peak.

The last famous mountain of Three Mountains City was cleared in a manner no one could have anticipated. The shadow that had hung over the heads of Three Mountains City's inhabitants seemed to vanish without a trace after a single flash of starlight.

Yet, the mountains before them could be flattened, but the mountains in their hearts... how were they?

"Mother," the chubby child asked curiously, "where did it fly?"

Dou Yuemei naturally didn't know the answer, but she certainly couldn't show weakness before her son. She replied with a profound expression, "It went to where it ought to go."

"Where it ought to go is..."

"Speaking of 'ought'. Ought you not go practice your punches? Have you finished today's lessons?"

The chubby child suddenly cried out in pain, "Oh no! The wind blows and my head hurts so much! Mother, let's go down."

Dou Yuemei glared at him, but in the end, she took her precious son and flew down, still inevitably nagging, "Your older sister is out there enduring hardship, honing her martial arts, who knows how hard it is, how much suffering she endures. You are at home every day enjoying good food and drink, and still not working hard. You're a boy! What do you want to do?"

The chubby child paid no heed to these words, wanting to do nothing but eat and sleep. Looking at the increasingly close city gate tower, he wrinkled his nose, "Mother! Should we not call it Three Mountains City now?"

"Why?" Dou Yuemei asked.

The chubby child pouted, "This name was silly to begin with. And now that two out of three mountains are gone, it should be called One Mountain City!"

Dou Yuemei grabbed his ear and twisted it hard.

The twist was heavy, and the chubby child cried out in pain.

Dou Yuemei asked coldly, "Look how you're crying. Should you not be called Sun Kuyan now?"

Sun Xiaoyan sobbed and followed his mother back to the manor.

He didn't know, the name hanging on the city gate of Three Mountains City...

was carved by his own father's hands.

Qi Kingdom, Stargazing Tower.

This was the tallest building in Qi, soaring into the clouds immeasurably.

Of course, measuring the height of the Stargazing Tower was perhaps not difficult; the difficulty lay in how to approach the Stargazing Tower.

The mysterious Imperial Astronomer's Bureau was located here. Regardless of kings, nobles, civil and military officials, none could enter without the Emperor's decree.

The highest level of the Stargazing Tower was an open terrace, without railings, empty in all directions.

The place with the best view of the entire Linzi City was here.

Heaven and earth were uncovered.

The Imperial Astronomer's Bureau Overseer, Ruan Qiu, who appeared to be a young man, now stood here with his hands behind his back, looking up at the sky. A dark ink-colored hairpin stretched out horizontally, giving a sense of measuring the vast expanse of stars.

Next to him, Ruan Zhou, dressed in the same style of Daoist robe, asked with some confusion, "What happened to the Jade Pivot star? Why are the fluctuations so great?"

Ruan Qiu sighed, "Who could have known that the Jade Pivot would lose its master? My whole life I have looked up at the stars, yet I could not see this. And now, it has already been occupied."

Ruan Zhou's eyes widened, "The Jade Pivot has been occupied?"

"Not necessarily by a person," Ruan Qiu's tone carried a trace of lingering regret.

The stars of the universe...

Which successor to the art of divination by stars wouldn't desire to possess them?

For practitioners of star divination, based on the relationship between the stars of the universe and the long river of fate, mastering the stars of the universe to a certain extent... is almost equivalent to controlling destiny!

Unexpectedly, this fantastical notion was actually turned into reality by some existence.

If he had known earlier that the Jade Pivot had lost its master, he might not have been without opportunity...

But who could have imagined it?

The true stars of the universe, illuminating all the heavens and myriad worlds, who could peer into their depths?

"For us, is this a good thing or a bad thing?" Ruan Zhou asked.

Ruan Qiu shook his head, "Since ancient times, the Corrupt star is the most difficult to discern; whether it is a blessing or a curse, it is difficult to predict."

"Corrupt" is another name for the Jade Pivot star. This star has always been unpredictable and changeable. Astrological signs involving it are basically problems that many astrologers find difficult.

He shook his head again, speaking with a hint of self-consolation, "However, as a cosmic star, the Jade Pivot cannot be attributed to a specific entity. Even if this mysterious existence becomes the Lord of the Jade Pivot star, possessing the ability to illuminate myriad worlds through the Jade Pivot star, it does not affect our star divination."

What he did not say was... the ability to illuminate myriad worlds through the Jade Pivot star is in itself terrifying, in itself something to be desired.

"The universe is truly boundless," Ruan Zhou sighed, "Is there anything impossible in this world?"

The Daoist robes of the father and daughter, covered in dense star charts, fluttered in the night wind. They were like a microcosm of the boundless star dome in the human world.

"I am thinking, after this event, there will surely be many people who are concerned about another question..."

Ruan Qiu looked at the sky and said slowly, "How to make a cosmic star lose its master."

Ruan Zhou was clearly startled by these words and remained silent for a long time before saying, "I don't know how this happened... Presumably, that was also a magnificent story."

"How it lost its stellar will, how it was occupied. These are the questions the mysterious universe has left for us."

Ruan Qiu reached out and made a grasping motion in the air, as if holding starlight—

"Up, down, four directions are the universe; from ancient times to the present is the cosmos. This is the universe, which can encompass all magnificent fantasies."

The Lord of the Jade Pivot star took his place. At this moment, countless people looked up at the star dome.

And before the Jade Pivot star, there were only Guan Yan and Jiang Wang.

The one with the greatest comprehension from the Hanging Temple who came to the Senhai Yuan Realm over five hundred years ago, and the one with the greatest Inner Mansion since ancient times who came to the Senhai Yuan Realm over five hundred years later, stood side by side outside the already stabilized Jade Pivot star.

One in a clear blue robe, one in a moon-white monk's robe, two heavenly talents spanning five hundred years stood shoulder to shoulder. They had agreed to do something great together in this unknown place, in this distant star dome.

And they did it.

Guan Yan fought for five hundred and thirty-seven years, from the heavens to the earth, from the Senhai Yuan Realm to the depths of the universe... fighting against the gods everywhere, not taking a single step back.

Jiang Wang killed Yan Xiao hundreds of times, literally forcing the most evil bird to submit. Finally, he built a heavenly ladder, risked establishing a star tower, to assist Guan Yan.

One eventually became the Lord of the Jade Pivot star, and the other erected a Starlight Holy Tower at close range on the Jade Pivot star.

Before that dead Divine Dragonwood, they had fulfilled their promises to each other with their utmost effort.

They did everything within their power to achieve the current result.

That powerful dragon god who had rampaged through the Senhai Yuan Realm and coveted the Jade Pivot star for a thousand years was now suppressed.

Jiang Wang looked at the Jade Pivot star not far away and asked curiously, "Is that the main body of the Jade Pivot star illuminating all the heavens?"

"You could say that, but it's not entirely correct," Guan Yan said. "To be precise, it is now my destiny star, the foundation of this position as star lord, and the manifestation of the concept of 'Jade Pivot'. It can be considered one of the main bodies of the Jade Pivot star, but it is not entirely equivalent to the Jade Pivot. I can borrow the power of the Jade Pivot star, but the Jade Pivot star is not equal to me."

This question was probably difficult for Jiang Wang to understand at his current level.

So even Guan Yan thought for a moment before continuing, "If you compare the Jade Pivot star to a pond, I am now the master of this pond. I can openly use all the resources in the pond, I can freely divert water elsewhere... but at the same time, others can also enter the water. There are also fish, shrimp, turtles, crabs, aquatic plants, water snakes in the water... We coexist, not conflicting with each other. For example, you can erect a star tower here. As long as others anchor a beacon, they can also erect a star tower within the scope of the Jade Pivot. It was how it was before, and it is still how it is now.

Also, because the Jade Pivot is a collection of concepts, I cannot, like a regular pond owner, casually drive away outsiders. I myself need to abide by its rules. Of course, within the rules, I am the Lord of the Jade Pivot."

"This analogy is not entirely accurate, but that is roughly the meaning."

"Cosmic stars like the Jade Pivot illuminate myriad worlds. Billions of beings in the heavens and myriad worlds have different expectations for it, and have projected different imaginations onto it. It itself is a collection of Dao, and cannot be truly unified by a single will. Of course, I can now use its light to propagate my own Dao."

Jiang Wang probably understood, but he still firmly remembered these words for future contemplation and understanding. Many times, it is not a matter of wisdom, but a matter of level. At different levels of cultivation, there may be different understandings. Guan Yan's words were essentially expounding the Dao to him.

"Oh, right, Senior," Jiang Wang asked curiously, "I saw that the Jade Pivot star changed many shapes before. I think that was perhaps a manifestation of different world forms... Why is it this shape now that it has stabilized? Is it related to your understanding of the stars?"

Suspended not far away was an irregular spherical world. The original jade color had receded, and it now looked vibrant. It was lush green above, with trees like a sea.

Jiang Wang added, "It's a bit like the Senhai Yuan Realm. Is it because of the abundance of Wood elemental power, which can nourish vitality and is more suitable for you at this early stage of becoming a star lord?"

He greatly cherished the opportunity to communicate with Senior Guan Yan. Every time he communicated, he benefited greatly. At this moment, he wanted even more to hear the understanding of the universe and stars by the dignified Lord of the Jade Pivot star, to expand the boundaries of his own knowledge.

He felt that he could be considered "quick and eager to learn."

Hearing this question, Guan Yan's eyes curved up and he smiled softly, "This way she will be more used to it..."

Jiang Wang: ...

Of course, he knew who this "she" was.

He couldn't respond to this topic.

He cleared his throat and changed the subject, "Senior, my star tower is now..."

Guan Yan, who had become a star lord, acted with unfathomable might. Grasping his star tower, he instantly smashed out the dragon god. In this process, he also casually helped him shape the star tower. After this process, he even suppressed the dragon god's primordial spirit in his Starlight Holy Tower...

It was truly unimaginable means.

It was just that he still didn't know what exactly this situation was.

Of course, he had already explored the Hidden Star Sea when the star tower was completed.

Unlike the bright and open Five Mansions Sea after the clearing of ignorance, the Hidden Star Sea was completely dark.

Of course, this brightness and darkness were just concepts existing at the soul level and would not truly affect perception, but it was inevitably dim and heavy.

Until... the Starlight Holy Tower was erected, and starlight fell.

Starlight filled the sky, twinkling in the high dome.

Reflected in the water, it was like ten thousand lamps.

This scene was extremely beautiful. Although it could only be seen internally, it greatly satisfied visual perception.

Seeing the starlight, one finally knew why the Hidden Star Sea was named as such.

Indeed, it deeply concealed brightness.

The Dao Vein Soaring Dragon swam and dove in the sea, nimble and free. This was also a difference between the Five Mansions Sea and the Hidden Star Sea.

In the Five Mansions Sea, the Dao Vein Soaring Dragon needed to rest on the heavenly and earthly islands. Each time it accumulated enough strength, it could ascend into the sky to explore the mist of ignorance... When the mist of ignorance was cleared and the five mansions emerged, the Dao Vein Soaring Dragon would permanently reside on the heavenly and earthly islands and basically didn't need to move.

Of course, soaring in the sky was absolutely no problem. Jiang Wang's Dao Vein Soaring Dragon had even visited the Cloud Top Immortal Palace and coiled there many times.

As for the bottom of the Five Mansions Sea, he had never dived down.

That was a sea area that needed to be suppressed by the heavenly and earthly islands. The earliest mist of ignorance rose from the sea, and the deepest ignorance was also at the bottom of the Five Mansions Sea. Human ignorance can never be completely cleared; there will always be new confusion, new unknowns. The process of cultivation is itself a process of constantly clearing ignorance.

Therefore, the heavenly and earthly islands always suppress the Five Mansions Sea. The more stable the heavenly and earthly islands, the more stable the Five Mansions Sea, and the more combat power cultivators can unleash.

People often say "limit combat power." The word "limit" often refers to the end of what one can endure.

In the Five Mansions Sea, if the Dao Vein Soaring Dragon sinks into the sea area rashly, the outcome is basically getting lost.

The Hidden Star Sea is different.

This sea does not hide ignorance; to some extent, it corresponds to the cosmic star sea.

With the star tower casting starlight illumination and the blessing of the Five Mansions' power, the Dao Vein Soaring Dragon can roam freely within it, exploring the connection between the universe and the self.

Not to mention that Jiang Wang's Dao Vein Soaring Dragon is also entwined with the light of the Five Divine Abilities, inherently luminous, itself the light of the Hidden Star Sea, illuminating a sea area.

The greatest danger in the Hidden Star Sea still lies in getting lost. If the star tower in the distant star dome is lost, losing the guidance of starlight, the Hidden Star Sea will gradually darken. At this time, the Dao Vein Soaring Dragon can only withdraw from the Hidden Star Sea, otherwise, it will sink into silence with the surface of the sea.

Jiang Wang, who felt he had a preliminary understanding of the Hidden Star Sea, was not entirely sure about his Starlight Holy Tower... or rather, Starlight Holy Pagoda? He didn't know what it meant for the dragon god to be suppressed within it. Since he hadn't used it formally yet, he also didn't know what it represented for the Starlight Holy Tower to stand above the Jade Pivot star. However, according to the Seven Stars Holy Tower secret method, the closer to the core concept of the Seven Stars, the higher the quality of the star tower.

Guan Yan explained, "That malevolent dragon just now was too deeply connected to you. If I were to kill it rashly, it would easily affect you. So I simply suppressed Him in your Starlight Holy Tower. Since He wanted life and death to be one, let Him be one. You don't need to worry, I have set up restrictions. He cannot escape, nor can He affect you. On the contrary, your Starlight Holy Tower can continuously absorb His power to strengthen and consolidate, thereby reducing the demand on you."

As expected, things are different after Senior became a star lord.

Look, now He's not called the dragon god anymore, but the malevolent dragon!

Jiang Wang could naturally understand these words. From the first star point anchored in the distant star dome, cultivators in the Outer Tower realm are constantly transmitting power to the star dome to continuously strengthen the Starlight Holy Tower. Having a source of power like the dragon god can save him a lot of hard work.

But what Jiang Wang thought of at this moment was another point...

"Like your Holy Tower, even if I die one day, this Starlight Holy Tower can still exist?"

This question felt a bit awkward, but Jiang Wang was genuinely happy that his star tower could be close to Senior Guan Yan's star tower. Heaven knows how surprised and envious he was when he had seen Senior Guan Yan's star tower before.

Guan Yan's gaze had already moved away at this point, looking into the distance, and he casually replied, "You could say that."

Jiang Wang thought for a moment and then said, "Then this pagoda shape, is it convenient to change it..."

When Senior Guan Yan answered questions, he was generally very detailed and serious, not only considering Jiang Wang's cultivation level but also taking Jiang Wang's emotions into account... But at this moment, he was clearly being perfunctory, only stating curtly, "Unless it's shattered and rebuilt."

Jiang Wang consciously closed his mouth.

Because he had already seen it ahead, a point of starlight approaching from far away...

Senhai Yuan Realm, Land of Divine Protection.

Grandma Xiaofan ignited the book house. In front of the golden flames illuminating the night sky, she led her tribesmen in prayer, devoutly worshipping their true faith.

She participated in the battle in her own way.

The dragon god's presence at the Tree Altar no longer excited her.

Because she knew who the person in her heart was fighting against.

Until...

That brilliant divine seat suddenly flew from the Tree Altar, its target clear, flying straight towards her... finally suspending itself before her.

Grandma Xiaofan was a little flustered at first, even preparing for battle.

But the divine decree, clear and resounding, echoed in her ears.

Amidst the tribesmen's surprised gazes, the white-haired old woman shyly pursed her lips, carefully adjusted her clothing, and then sat on that divine seat.

The divine seat ascended into the sky, and with a flash, it disappeared into the star dome.

The tribesmen present looked at each other, until someone suddenly shouted—

"Our High Priest has become a god!"

Everyone prostrated themselves, devoutly singing hymns of praise.

Unbeknownst to them, the deep dark color, centered on the Land of Divine Protection, was constantly receding.

The invasion of night that had enveloped this realm for hundreds of years dissipated on this night.

The freedom and peace they had devoutly prayed for were returned to them on this night.

And in the sky, there hung a star dimmer than the day.

From then on, they called it "Moon."

That starlight approached from far away, gradually becoming clear.

Upon the brilliant divine seat, sat a white-haired old woman.

Her withered hands were clasped in front of her, fingers intertwined, with some obvious tension.

But her eyes were fixed on the front...

Seeing that look, one could probably understand what it meant to gaze longingly.

Jiang Wang was also familiar with Grandma Xiaofan. He cupped his hands in greeting, politely preparing to speak...

The figure in the moon-white monk's robe had already blocked his view.

Guan Yan, who had already achieved the position of star lord, had already gone to meet her. And it was obvious that Grandma Xiaofan hadn't noticed a certain young heavenly talent either...

In her eyes, there was only the handsome monk in the moon-white monk's robe.

And in the eyes of the monk she saw, there was only herself.

What void, what stars, what divine seat, what extraneous people...

When lovers gaze at each other, the entire universe is superfluous.

These two lovers who had endured five hundred years of suffering gazed at each other, speechless for a moment.

There were tears in their eyes, and the vicissitudes of years. You knew how much pain and suffering they had endured, but at this moment, their gaze at each other only made people feel happy.

Now they could look at each other so quietly.

How insignificant the suffering of those long years was!

"That..."

Jiang Wang really didn't want to spoil the mood, but he also couldn't just stand here in the void and watch.

He could only say hesitantly, "If there's nothing else, I'll go now. There are still things in the mundane world."

He couldn't leave on his own, of course; he was merely hinting to Guan Yan to send him off.

"I shall accompany this young friend for a while," Guan Yan's voice said.

His eyes still looking at the old woman before him, he simply waved his sleeve, and the surroundings became empty.

Jiang Wang didn't even have time to say a word of politeness before he disappeared.

Xiaofan still looked at Guan Yan, and Guan Yan still looked at Xiaofan.

They looked at each other for an unknown amount of time, as if they could gaze at each other until the end of time.

Grandma Xiaofan raised her hand to touch Guan Yan's face.

Was this face, which had appeared countless times in her dreams, truly real?

God, if this is a dream, please don't wake too early.

The moment her fingers touched Guan Yan's cheek, her hand trembled.

That warm, real touch validated the happiness in her heart.

But her gaze fell upon her deeply wrinkled hand and Guan Yan's face, which was still divine and handsome.

Grandma Xiaofan lowered her eyes, a trace of sadness she found hard to suppress.

Indeed, they had met again.

But this day had come too late...

"I am old," she sighed softly.

At this moment, she suddenly wanted to cry out loud.

But she was already very old, and her crying would be laughable.

"I can also grow old," Guan Yan said.

In her tear-filled eyes, Xiaofan saw wrinkles gradually appearing on Guan Yan's face, his skin beginning to sag, his eyes becoming cloudy...

With a hand that had also grown wrinkled, he gently grasped hers.

Only his voice was still so gentle: "You can also be young."

A warm force emanated from Guan Yan's palm.

Xiaofan felt a long-lost vitality reviving in her body. She could feel her skin becoming firm again, her eyes returning to clarity, and all traces of youth and vitality blooming anew in her body.

Plants withered and flourished, and it was spring again.

She couldn't help but tighten her grip on Guan Yan's hand and said softly, "We want to be together. Grow old together, or be young together."

Five hundred years of suffering, five hundred years of yearning, were nothing more than these two words...

"Together."

Only deep love can withstand the long years.

In this vast universe, before the Jade Pivot star already covered in green.

A young girl with bright eyes and white teeth, and a monk with a divine and handsome face, gazed at each other hand in hand.

Autumn waves flowed in the girl's eyes. She looked at his moon-white monk's robe and whispered, "Are you still a monk?"

Guan Yan looked down and smiled, "I have long since returned to secular life."

As he spoke, his moon-white monk's robe transformed into a scholar's robe.

"Do you like scholars?" he asked softly.

His clothing transformed again.

"Warriors?"

Changed again.

"Wanderers?"

Changed again.

"Generals?"

Xiaofan pressed the pad of her index finger gently against Guan Yan's lips.

"I like you in any form. As long as..."

She blushed, but still bravely looked into his eyes, "As long as we can get married."

I can become everything you like.

And I like you in all your forms.

More than five hundred years had passed, how many stories had unfolded, how many traces had been carried away.

It seemed that everything had changed, and yet it seemed that nothing had changed at all.

As if everything had returned to the very beginning.

That day she was collecting spiritual silk, that day he descended from the sky.

He said, "Miss..."

The long passage of time was pierced through, dissolving in eyes as gentle as the sea.

The handsome young man before her said, "Miss, let's go home."