Chapter Six: A Journey of Ten Thousand Miles Begins Beneath One’s Feet

The objective was Black Curtain City: to find the key. It was, in truth, much like searching for a needle in the ocean. But what if luck favored him? After all, he was a transmigrator. Could ordinary logic really be applied to him?

Along the way, Green Jade Child encouraged him, calmly analyzing the safety that the growing renown of Wu Yue would bring. He also gave examples to prove that fortune favors the prepared. For instance, in some occasion, he had happened to encounter a certain object; a friend of his had casually bought something, only to discover it was a long-lost treasure; a son of a relative of a neighbor had merely eaten a leaf, and it had turned out to be some legendary miracle. See how many such examples there were?

Green Jade Child was very afraid that Wu Yue would be too timid to move forward. What if some windfall never came? In Green Jade Child's view, by the time Wu Yue reached the God-Forming stage, they could already be planning his funeral.

But the distance was sixteen thousand li. What kind of distance was that, exactly? In this fantastical world, it was said that a True Man who had shed the mortal self could turn a breath and travel thirty thousand li. If one traveled at full speed, sixteen thousand li would only take a few moments. Yet for the three before him, it was as distant as the edge of heaven.

They walked for a whole day and had covered only a little over sixty li, and that was only because it was the first day, when their energy was still abundant. Wu Yue suddenly understood why Plain Lands had decisively parted ways with him.

Night had fallen. Though there was no wolf howl to accompany it, the surroundings were already terrifying enough. Old Yellow Mountain was indeed quite generous in its treatment of the party's freedom: he had delivered them to the foot of the mountain and then sent them on their way, to live or die as they might. Even though Yu Dongran's daughter was with them, it was obvious that Zhao Qingzhao, or rather the mind of an expert, was not to be guessed at, and had brought them no special treatment. Yu Dongran's daughter bore the surname Zhao, taking her mother's family name.

They were still in the mountains, still more than a hundred li from the main road. The three leaned against trees, all looking utterly exhausted, with a small campfire burning between them. As expected, once the body had been battered to the limit, the mind no longer wandered so freely. Aside from fatigue, the youths no longer thought too much. Perhaps the heart of youth could always forget pain without meaning to.

"Wu Yue, I'm hungry. I want meat."

"Then go catch some wild beasts, and we'll roast them."

"You mean you want the beasts to roast me," Yu Fu said with a huge eye-roll, sounding cross.

"Your master is so impressive; how did his disciple end up less than a tenth as good?" Wu Yue said, almost in anguish.

"Master said I don't need to cultivate spells, only longevity," Yu Fu said with righteous certainty, though how could he not long for those miraculous arts that let one fly through the air?

As for Zhao Qingzhao, Wu Yue still did not understand why Yu Dongran's daughter had such poor aptitude. She could only manage a few hand-to-hand techniques. If not for Yu Fu's care along the way, they might not have made it this far. By then, Zhao Qingzhao had already fallen asleep against a tree; walking all day had been far too tiring.

Wu Yue habitually began to cultivate, slowly circulating spiritual energy.

"Kid, you did well this time. You brought along the Old Yellow Mountain master's daughter, and along the way, with just a little effort, there is no need to fear that when you run into danger Yu Dongran will not come to save you. Rumor has it he feels very guilty toward that daughter."

Wu Yue concentrated and said nothing, choosing complete immunity to Green Jade Child's words.

Only Yu Fu remained bored out of his mind. His body had been utterly exhausted, but after resting only a short while he felt as though he had fully recovered. Unfortunately, Yu Fu saw nothing wrong with that; he only felt his stomach growling like mad. But to make him go out and find food in such darkness, such gloom, such a place? Better to stay hungry. Yu Fu looked up at the sky and, through the treetops, saw stars scattered like tiny lights.

"Wu Yue, what do you think Master is doing right now? I wonder if the people on the mountain have gotten out yet. Let me tell you, the vegetables the master planted are especially strange. One moment they're growing huge, the next they're wilting. We haven't found the reason yet, and then Master sent us to come see you." Yu Fu entered endless muttering mode.

Wu Yue naturally heard him, and he could also guess that something had likely happened on the mountain. But what could he do now?

"Wu Yue, look at that star. It's so bright. I'm hungry too."

"What!" Wu Yue sprang to his feet and looked up. Sure enough, the stars glittered overhead. The ever-present cloud cover had nearly made him give up hope. Yet now, by some sudden turn of fortune, Wu Yue subconsciously looked at Yu Fu. This kid truly lived up to his name.

Since the chosen day was already here, there was no better time than now. Wu Yue found a spacious spot and immediately began drawing the summoning formation. Beside him, Yu Fu had no idea what was happening. Could Wu Yue have been possessed? Very possible indeed. He had long heard that ghosts and monsters roamed the mountains at night. Yu Fu instinctively swallowed, clenched his teeth, glanced at Zhao Qingzhao, had a flash of inspiration, and decisively pretended to be asleep.

Wu Yue drew quickly. He was in a hurry; he did not know how long this stroke of luck would last. Whatever came, it would be better than nothing. He was simply too weak in this world.

Far away, in another realm.

A palace paved with white stone. Below stood a crowd of people, crudely dressed yet fanatical in expression. At the highest point stood four figures: two maidens in white robes, one holding a crown, the other a jeweled sword. The remaining two were a knight in armor and a woman whose cold expression seemed utterly out of place amid the present atmosphere.

"Dear sister, my Catherine, congratulations on becoming the most powerful person on the continent, and on becoming our queen. I am proud of you." With that, he struck his chest hard.

The woman looked coldly at the knight and said flatly, "So what? No matter how powerful one becomes, one cannot escape the summons of the gods. We are merely a people abandoned by them."

"That is the gods testing us. Only the strong are qualified to enter the divine realm," the knight declared with conviction.

"To become slaves, perhaps? My brother, compared with your illusory faith, I believe the words of the Wolf King more. We are merely kept in captivity, and when we are grown, they take us away, brand us with slave marks, and keep us until death."

"Shut up!" the knight growled. "Our human race needs faith, so it must be the gods' summons. We are far too fragile. To survive, we need faith, even if what it truly is... is the harvest of demons."

The woman lowered her head and allowed the knight to place the crown upon it. A trace of mockery flashed at the corner of her mouth. The most powerful person on the continent?

Suddenly, a vortex appeared, revealing the stars of the cosmos. The vortex grew larger and larger, radiating boundless power of the stars.

"Hehehe, brother, look, the gods have come. They cannot wait to begin their harvest. I will be the shortest-reigned queen in human history."

Cheers also rose from below. "It is the gods!" All of them fell prostrate on the ground, praying fervently.

The knight's expression darkened, yet they could not resist. This was their rule, their fate. No one could go against the will of the gods.

The knight looked at his sister, his eyes filled with apology. If brother had been stronger, he would not have let you shoulder such a heavy burden. You would not have become so strong because of it, and the gods would not have noticed you. It is brother who owes you.

"If possible, I would like to take your place."

Eh? Something seemed a little off.

The woman opposite the knight widened her eyes as more and more stellar power wrapped around the knight, and the vortex slowly began to swallow him.

The six-pointed star lit up bit by bit, and the descent formation in the center slowly began to rotate. Wu Yue sighed. The preparation had been too poor, leaving the power of the stars far too weak.

Who knew what would be summoned?