Chapter 110: The True and False Xue Shan

I brought Xue Shan and Lei Ci to Princess Changyang’s grotto and informed her about Lei Ci’s situation.

“All right, little disciple, leave this matter to me, the Holy Maiden. Four hundred years ago, they suffered enough. Let those emperors come and enjoy a feast of ‘maggots,’ and then they’ll understand what happens when you side with Tiande,” Princess Changyang sneered coldly.

“Wise Holy Maiden,” I said, bowing respectfully.

Having the Holy Maiden of Qingqiu intervene was far more persuasive than me, an outsider. If we could conquer the remaining Four Hills and Seven Marshes, only Lei Xiaze would remain, and Tiande’s power would be nearly hollowed out.

“Holy Maiden, may I borrow your Two-Life Mirror for a moment?” I asked.

“Take it,” Princess Changyang handed me the mirror without question.

I went to the outer hall, where Xue Shan was idly waiting. He came forward as I appeared.

“Xue Shan, take a look at this Dream Entry Token—is it something from the Western Sea? Have you seen it before?” I handed him the Two-Life Mirror.

Xue Shan took the mirror, flipping and turning it over. “I’ve never seen this before. This is the Dream Entry Token? What’s it for?”

“Oh, I heard it was from the Western Sea and thought you might have seen it. Since you haven’t, I’ll ask the Holy Maiden if she knows,” I retrieved the mirror.

Having looked closely, I realized that this lifetime’s primordial spirit was indeed Xue Shan, but his previous life was actually the Heavenly-Capturing Ring—Princess Yuheng’s sacred artifact—shattered into two by Master. More precisely, this was one half of that ring!

The Xue Shan before me resembled the Xue Shan I met at the Xue residence, yet they were not the same person! My heart raced. Who was this fake Xue Shan? Why did he impersonate Xue Shan so perfectly that no one suspected? Why did he dig up the Western Sea’s maggot? Did he save Ming Bo to recruit the Sea Wolf Tribe? Why did he possess the Dream Entry Token from the Netherworld? What unbreakable ties bound him to the Netherworld? Was my Rebirth Tear being exploited by this impostor?

I had once thought he was Master’s reincarnation, but now, looking back, all his actions were closely linked to the Netherworld. When I was with him, his aura felt familiar and quickened my heartbeat—perhaps because… because… because he was the one with whom I had shared intimacy!

I had struck him with a sword directly to the heart—a strike forged from Master’s divine power mingled with my immortality. Though not as potent as now, that precise blow must have caused grievous injury, perhaps leaving a lingering heart ailment… Could it be that all of this was his plot, designed to trap the Great Sound True God, to use the legendary Rebirth Tear to heal his sword wound and cure Ming Bo’s cultivation accident?

My mind tumbled like falling off a cliff—could the Xue Shan I met in the Western Sea actually be Ming Zhong?

The dark Iron Enclosure Mountain loomed like a monstrous beast sleeping in the gloomy, terrifying Netherworld. The blood-red magma in the endless purgatory churned silently, as if ready to erupt with the beast’s sudden awakening.

Ming Zhong stood with closed eyes on the cliff of Iron Enclosure Mountain.

After failing to capture Chun Feng and Yu Fei, he had been grievously wounded and cast there by the Nether King to endure the harshest punishments of the underworld. After surviving both injury and torment, he was finally released a month later. Weary, he slowly returned to his chamber like a wounded soldier.

In the empty, cold room, he sat on the icy bed, extinguishing all the lights… gently touching the cold bed and the…

After a moment, he rose to wash and prepare himself, donning a new mask and straightening his posture. Nothing could defeat him—not even his injuries.

“Reporting, Brother King, there are no disturbances in the Heavenly Realm. The Celestial Palace is peaceful; the Jade Purity Realm remains calm and silent. The high deities perform their duties,” Ming Mo reported.

“What about Hundred Flowers Island?” Ming Zhong asked coldly.

“Hundred Flowers Island… Chun Feng often wanders outside to relax,” Ming Mo replied.

“And the person he took?” Ming Zhong gritted his teeth.

“That night…”

“Speak!”

“He self-immolated and died that night!” Ming Mo said.

Shock flashed in Ming Zhong’s eyes.

Ming Bo burst in, cutting off Ming Mo, “Haha, Second Brother, this matter is better told by Brother King. Brother King took Ming Mo to see it! We were just waiting for you to be released to tell you.” Ming Bo eagerly recounted the night’s events as if watching a magnificent drama, unable to wait to share it with Ming Zhong.

After Ming Bo finished, Ming Mo nodded in confirmation.

Ming Zhong pounded his chest, “You put so much effort into sincerity, but the heart was already given to Chun Feng—haha, do you hate it?”

Ming Zhong’s heartache flared, causing his whole body to tremble. He gritted out one word, “Yes!” and then fainted.

“Oh no! How badly hurt! Can’t even pound his chest anymore… Ming Mo, check on him! Is he alive?” Ming Bo panicked.

Standing on the cliff of Iron Enclosure Mountain, Ming Zhong suppressed the surging memories, opened his eyes sharp as blades. He cast a spell and summoned a bronze tripod the size of a palm from the Nether Sea’s lava. The ancient runes covering its seals began to fade as Ming Zhong pressed hand seals one after another. One layer vanished, then another. Gathering his energy, he struck again, this time directly on the bronze vessel itself. Light spilled forth, as if containing the boundless universe. Moments later, the tripod returned to its original form.

Ming Zhong tucked the tripod into his sleeve and leapt down from the cliff.

“Zhong’er, have you broken the Sea King Tribe’s seal on the Infinite Tripod?” the Nether King asked, seated on his throne beside the demure Lady Jiang.

“Father King, I have unlocked the Sea King Tribe’s protective seal on the Infinite Tripod,” Ming Zhong reported.

“Show me!” the Nether King commanded.

Ming Zhong manifested the Infinite Tripod, presenting it with both hands.

The Nether King held it, waving over the vessel, which immediately shimmered with cosmic radiance; stars and galaxies spun within, mysterious and profound.

The Nether King laughed heartily and stored the tripod away.

“Have your injuries healed?” the Nether King asked.

“Yes, healed,” Ming Zhong replied.

“Was it the Great Sound True God who healed you?”

“Yes.”

“There are many useless ones and unusual talents in the Heavenly Realm. Have you identified his true identity?”

“Not yet.”

“Hurry and find out. Five hundred years ago, I reforged my true body. Once the Blood Moon fully manifests, I can open the Infinite Tripod and reforge the Heavenly Realm! If the Great Sound True God cannot be used by us Netherworld folk, eliminate him quickly!”

“Yes!”

“Nether King, rather than killing the Great Sound True God, why not capture and imprison him? That way, we can always use his Rebirth Tear. Our Netherworld people won’t suffer injuries like Bo’er anymore,” Lady Jiang said softly, eyes fixed on the silent, downcast Ming Mo, wishing to protect him as though cradling a precious child.

Ming Mo frowned tightly.

The Nether King nodded, glancing at Lady Jiang’s gentle smile. “Makes sense. That useless Ming Bo has spoiled you all! Zhong’er, I wasn’t wrong about you. You’ve suffered much since youth, but it wasn’t in vain. The generals of heaven and earth will be ours, father and son! When you look for a woman, find one as obedient and sensible as Lady Jiang, understand?”

“Yes!” Ming Zhong cupped his fists.

“Yes!” Ming Mo’s frown deepened.

On the quiet Jade Bamboo Mountain, within the empty bamboo pavilion with its curtains rolled high, Ming Zhong sat by the window, gazing at the bright moonlight filtering through bamboo tips.

“Second Brother, no leads,” Ming Mo returned after a search.

“What did the woman who later arrived on the island look like?” Ming Zhong asked.

“Face like frost and snow, quite plain,” Ming Mo answered.

“But the old woman with gray-white hair?” Ming Zhong inquired.

“No. She was a young woman with pure white hair,” Ming Mo said.

“Search again,” Ming Zhong ordered.

Ming Mo bowed and withdrew.

Ming Zhong watched a few bamboo leaves spiral in the breeze, drifting into the room. He caught one and transformed it into a bamboo flute. The ethereal, mournful tune of “Ancient Sands and Descending Geese” spread like moonlight across the heavens and earth. The wind stirred fallen leaves into a dance, as if following the figure of a fairy from a dream.

“Second Brother,” Ming Mo’s voice called.

The flute’s melody ceased abruptly.

“We found a white sparrow feather in the gap of the bed,” Ming Mo reported.

Ming Zhong shook the flute from his hand; it turned back into bamboo leaves and disappeared among the scattered foliage.

Ming Mo presented the white sparrow feather to Ming Zhong.

Ming Zhong held the feather tightly, silent for a long while, eyes gleaming coldly, murmuring, “Great Sound True God…”

The Qingqiu journey should have been exhilarating. That phrase from long ago, “Eyes can look back,” had spared someone who should have been spared, planting a seed of kindness that bore fruit today. The Heavenly Realm’s situation was nearing the direction I had planned. After five hundred years of lying low, the true form of the Great Sound Ascendant was gradually exposed.

I would entrust the Ten Immortal Pursuit Orders and the Qingqiu Token to Tian Sheng, the one who could inherit Master’s will and bring hope to the world. The Heavenly Realm might unite and end its endless internal strife.

I had planned, once this was done, to retire gracefully and remain on Hundred Flowers Island as a caretaker of pear trees—a “granny” of sorts. When Little Bai grew older, I would set out alone to wander, returning to the life of my youth.

But now, I was gripped by fear. It seemed I had fallen into Ming Zhong’s trap! The Netherworld’s greatest threat remained. Crown Prince Tiande was still arrogant. The Red Flame Demon Star’s emergence had drawn out the Infinite Tripod. All were closely intertwined yet shrouded in mystery, impossible to unravel clearly.

The forty thousand years of past history seemed long gone, yet remained inextricably linked to the present. When the Celestial Palace had branded Lu Xue as the Red Flame Demon Star and executed her, Lu Xue’s reincarnation had guarded the Thirty-Three Heavens for five centuries. Yet when the Red Flame Demon Star reappeared five hundred years ago, the Celestial Palace turned its blame on me. Why?

I had always avoided Lu Xue, trying to escape her, but we remained entangled. I had repaid all debts owed her; if anything remained, it was only her Han Qing’s heart.

So now the Red Flame Demon Star’s guilt was to be pinned on me? But I am not! Truly not! While I possess the true fire of smelting power, how could I ever forge heaven and earth? Impossible. I would never do such a thing!

Ming Zhong was clearly a nightmare, yet seemed like a dream. Lu Xue was clearly a dream, yet seemed like a nightmare. Why did these two always haunt my world, intertwined with me endlessly?

A blazing fire surged from my heart to my head, scorching even the moon, turning it a fiery red!