Chapter Sixty-Five: Fate

My consciousness was heavy, my body as if falling into an abyss, drinking in cold as if from a glacier, finally like a dandelion seed finding a place to settle.

Smears of black and red painted the scene, like fiery koi fish swimming playfully in an ink-dark pond at night. Two prominent spots of color transformed into human pupils, staring at me.

"Ah!" I couldn't help but exclaim, my legs buckling as I stumbled back a few steps.

Those glowing red pupils dimmed slightly, and clusters of light floated around the figure. Through the faint glow, I discerned its outline: beneath a dusty black robe was a withered old woman, her eyes dark and lifeless, resembling a corpse without consciousness.

"Who are you, and why did you put me through those illusions? What's your purpose?" I raised my voice to muster some courage.

The "corpse" moved its withered, bark-like lips and spoke in a raspy voice: "After seeing those things, do you still not understand? The causes you sowed before are now reaping their effects. Whether it's fortune or disaster, you must decide for yourself!"

Looking at the terrifying, skeletal figure of the old woman, she couldn't possibly be human—perhaps some ancient monster. I remained cautious.

"But weren't those just illusions you created? How could anything in them be real? Maybe you're trying to deceive me into releasing you!" I pressed for answers.

"Hehehe, little girl, trying to distinguish reality from illusion? Too bad the answer has already been given, and you still insist it's all an illusion!" The old woman coughed heavily, her entire skeletal frame rattling as if only skin and bones lay beneath the black robe.

"Truth is falsehood, and falsehood is truth. For someone trapped in an eternal nightmare, which one is reality?"

"You mean everything in that illusion is something I've experienced before? But why don't I remember any of it?"

The old woman laughed: "That's a question for the 'Dream Immortal' you called for in the illusion."

The man in green, who looked just like Mengxian but with a slightly different personality? Right, I remember his name was Qingwu.

That name... It sounds so familiar. He looks exactly like the man in green I met in Luoyang City—it was him! No wonder every time he appeared, I felt a deep sense of familiarity. But why didn't he tell us we knew each other? It's as if he doesn't remember me at all.

"Girl, come here." The old woman waved at me, gently grasping my wrist and channeling a golden power into me. She continued: "This is Xianlin Dream Drink. The one being cast into the spell will be drawn into an illusion by the caster's thoughts. As long as the caster's cultivation is higher, the subject will never escape the illusion."

Such a powerful spell, it's practically divine. If I master it, I might use it on Quanyou, ensnaring him in a dream and killing him while he's entranced.

It seems this old woman knows everything—she probably knows about my deal with "Dream Immortal" Qingwu.

I immediately bowed respectfully: "Elder, forgive my ignorance and rudeness earlier. Please pardon my impertinence, I am Qingyue."

The old woman gently shook her head and smiled: "When you meet Qingwu next time, you'll find the answers you seek." Her voice suddenly changed, becoming as sweet as a young girl's, just like the voice of the woman in the illusion.

When I looked up, there was no old woman—standing before me was a graceful immortal. A small yellow flower adorned her hair, her beautiful eyes sparkled like pearls beneath her dark locks, her cheeks were rosy, and her lips red as fire. She wore a moon-white dress embroidered with cloud and crane patterns, perfectly complementing her appearance.

I opened my mouth to speak, but heard Huaying calling me from behind. I quickly turned and walked towards her.

I greeted her with a smile: "Huaying, why are you here?"

Huaying looked worried: "Don't get me wrong, I'm not doubting your abilities. But the master needs you at the Star Swallowing Platform."

"Star Swallowing Platform?" I wasn't sure what place she meant. When did it become part of the Moon Shadow Sect?

"It's the platform near the old locust tree outside the main hall, the one that looks like a training ground," Huaying explained.

Oh, that place—I'd seen it a few times, but always thought it was a terrace built by Quanyou to absorb the spiritual energy of the sun and moon.

"Alright, I'll go there now. Wait a moment…" I walked back to the dungeon and found it dark again, with no sign of anyone.

Had she already left? To be safe, I cast another spell on the iron door.

"The master is waiting. Are you done?" Huaying urged from behind.

"Coming!" I replied, wondering what Quanyou wanted from me. Uneasily, I walked outside.

When I arrived at the Star Swallowing Platform, I saw Quanyou standing opposite a man dressed in black. Seeing me, Quanyou chuckled and waved me over.

The man in black flicked his high ponytail, revealing dark blue undertones in his ink-black hair. His sharp eyes, like blades, held a hint of disdain as he said, "Quanyou, it's too much to let such a little girl fight me."

Quanyou took my hand and patted it gently. "She's my treasure, Mo Zhuo. Don't worry, there's no one around. If you lose to her, no one will laugh at you."

"Ridiculous. I don't bully women. You should surrender that phoenix feather now to avoid an embarrassing defeat." Mo Zhuo crossed his arms, the black-green sword in his hand radiating malevolent energy.

Phoenix feather? Could he mean the feather from the blue luan? What does he want with it?

I felt a sense of unease, instinctively knowing that I couldn't let this feather fall into his hands. I stepped forward and retorted, "Don't be so sure of yourself. We'll see who's bullying whom."

"Heh, this little girl..." Mo Zhuo's smile was sharp, but his eyes were filled with killing intent. In an instant, his sword was out, slashing towards me.

I dodged, turning my body and simultaneously striking the blade with my palm, condensing ice to coat the sword with several layers.

"Interesting." Mo Zhuo smirked at the icy sword, sweeping the blade to shatter the ice with a burst of black energy. A crescent-shaped arc of black sword energy sliced towards me.

I didn't expect him to break my move so quickly. There wasn't enough time to summon my ice lotus, and my mind suddenly recalled the Spirit Control Technique. I channeled my spiritual power into the ground, summoning a stone peak to block the sword energy, though the impact sent debris flying.

I had learned this Spirit Control Technique in the illusion, and now I could use it outside the illusion too?

Not only was I surprised, but Mo Zhuo and Quanyou were also taken aback.

Seizing the opportunity, I increased my speed with a gust of wind, sliding around Mo Zhuo and attacking with ice spikes and vines. In no time, he couldn't withstand my relentless assault and surrendered.

Mo Zhuo bit his lip, reluctantly admitting, "To manipulate the five elements so skillfully... I underestimated you."

"Qingyue, I always thought your cold constitution only allowed for icy spells. You've truly surprised me." Quanyou approached, handing me a small box, and then turned to Mo Zhuo. "See? She's better than the four of you."

Mo Zhuo gave me a resentful look, snorted, and walked away.

A chill ran through me. So, he was one of the five students personally taught by Quanyou, like Huaying and Qianqian?

Quanyou didn't pay him any more attention, patting my shoulder in satisfaction. "Since he lost, this is yours to cultivate with. Don't disappoint me."

Could this box contain the feather of the blue luan?

Feeling uneasy, I opened the box and peeked inside through a small gap.

Inside was a magnificent, vivid blue feather, stained with patches of dark red blood...