Central Continent, Lake Heart Mountain.
This was the location of Spirit Affinity Hall's public blessed land headquarters.
Within the blessed land, there existed a place known as Silent Rain Valley.
When Feng Jinhuang entered the valley on foot, it began to rain.
A fine drizzle.
The rain fell silently, without a sound.
Bathed in the rain, even Feng Jinhuang unconsciously slowed her steps.
The air carried the fresh scent of grass, wreathed in a thin veil of green.
This kind of rain was not cold — it was like jade, possessing a restrained warmth.
Feng Jinhuang knew: this was Silent Rain. When such rain fell, every sound was absorbed, and the world fell into absolute quiet — so quiet that one could hear one's own breathing, one's own heartbeat.
Silent Rain was a Sixth Transformation Immortal material, and this valley was the resource point for harvesting it, which was how it had earned its name.
After Feng Jiuge betrayed Heavenly Court and disappeared without a trace, his wife — and Feng Jinhuang's mother — Fairy Bai Qing had volunteered to transfer to Silent Rain Valley to collect Silent Rain, never once leaving the valley from that day forward.
Whenever the Silent Rain drifted down, the sound of a zither and xiao would drift from within the valley — as though Fairy Bai Qing were pouring out her grief in a mournful lament.
It was precisely this rumor that had prompted Feng Jinhuang to come to the valley and visit her mother.
Now the Silent Rain fell soft and drifting, and sure enough, the notes of zither and xiao wafted from the valley.
The zither was ethereal, like white clouds drifting across the ninth heaven — ancient in spirit, melodious and pleasing to the ear. The xiao, however, was piercing and sharp, its rises and falls nearly abrupt — like a fierce hawk soaring across the sky, its shrill cry cutting through the wind, tearing through the blue haze.
At first, the zither rang out one moment, the xiao echoed the next, alternating back and forth, as if the two were conversing — each speaking in turn.
Then the zither and xiao began to meet, playing together note by note, gradually merging and interweaving. White clouds drifted while a soaring hawk cut through them. The two contrasting sounds, constantly blending, produced an ineffable beauty.
At last, the zither and xiao became one, indistinguishable, forming a harmonious blend that carried both the melody's flowing grace and the xiao's crisp sharpness. It was utterly unique and breathtakingly beautiful!
Feng Jinhuang was captivated by this exquisite music, and a look of enchantment crossed her face. She ventured deeper into the valley and easily found her mother.
Fairy Bai Qing sat in a bamboo pavilion, two Gu Insects swirling around her like white jade orbs — a pair of Sound Path mortal Gu: the Zither Gu and the Xiao Gu.
When Feng Jinhuang entered the pavilion, the music gradually came to a stop.
Fairy Bai Qing had long sensed her daughter's arrival. She turned slowly: "This piece, the Song of Immortal and Demon Together, was composed when your father and I fell in love — it is our song of commitment. I still remember that when your father first played it for me, he said: Immortals and demons are originally one. The Primordial Immortal Venerable was first called the Primordial Demon Venerable by many of the other races. This song holds great significance. Your father treasured it all this time and never used it — but in the Battle of Destiny, he did."
At this point, Fairy Bai Qing shifted her tone and looked intently at Feng Jinhuang: "The list for this round has been approved."
Feng Jinhuang nodded. "I know. Last time, the sect nominated me, but Heavenly Court gave no response. This time, the sect replaced me with Sun Yao, and Heavenly Court approved it almost immediately."
Fairy Bai Qing said calmly, "The sect had originally intended to recommend you again, but Li Junying and Xu Hao obstructed it, and in the end it was changed to Sun Yao. What are your thoughts on this outcome, my daughter?"
"Heh." Feng Jinhuang smiled faintly, her radiant grin like a burst of sunlight flooding the bamboo pavilion.
"Mother, why must you test me like this? Ever since Father defected on the battlefield and betrayed Heavenly Court, I've been mentally prepared. Right now, the Dream Path Immortal Gu hasn't been confiscated — the situation is already quite favorable," Feng Jinhuang said.
Hearing this, Fairy Bai Qing allowed a slight smile to appear on her face. "The Righteous Path is not without its instances of forceful seizure — they simply drape themselves in a veneer of righteousness and morality. That you can see through to this level is already quite good. But don't worry too much. Your father left Heavenly Court and created the Song of Destiny — his extraordinary combat strength is recognized by all. Neither Heavenly Court nor Spirit Affinity Hall would dare push you around too easily."
A flash of displeasure crossed Feng Jinhuang's face. "Mother, there's no need for you to speak on Father's behalf. Though I can understand him, I will not forgive him. He abandoned Heavenly Court without so much as a word of warning to us — that is nothing short of abandoning his wife and daughter! One day, I will settle this with him."
"Heh heh heh." Fairy Bai Qing laughed softly and shook her head. She walked up to Feng Jinhuang and took her hand. "You've misunderstood your father. That Song of Immortal and Demon Together — he treasured it as our song of commitment, and apart from performing it for me, he never once used it for any other purpose. The fact that he used it only in the Battle of Destiny was his way of telling me: Immortal and demon together — his feelings for me have never changed. Even if he left the Righteous Path and returned to the Demonic Path, the bond between us as a family of three would remain unaffected."
"Do you believe that? If I showed even the slightest hint of leaving Spirit Affinity Hall, he would come for me immediately. He also understands me — he knows I don't want to become a person of the Demonic Path. And so, he gave us both the freedom to choose our own paths. He never wanted his ideals to become a burden on us."
Feng Jinhuang let out a cold snort. "Father would rather help Fang Yuan, that great demon, than help our Master. Master is certainly stubborn, always droning on about Destiny and such — but he has always meant well for us, truly had my best interests at heart. Father's behavior was nothing short of heartless and cold."
"Mother, if there's nothing else, I'll be going."
"You..." Fairy Bai Qing sighed but did not try to keep her daughter.
When Feng Jinhuang emerged from the mouth of Silent Rain Valley, she saw two female Gu Masters.
One was delicate and refined, the other adorable — both were Feng Jinhuang's junior sisters, and they stood waiting outside the valley with somewhat anxious expressions.
Upon seeing Feng Jinhuang, their faces lit up with joy, and they hurried over.
"Senior Sister, we heard you were here, so we came right away!" The one with the delicate features was Qin Juan.
"Senior Sister, I'm sorry — I... I didn't want to take your spot either..." Sun Yao's cute, round face was full of unease.
Qin Juan and Sun Yao had always been on good terms with Feng Jinhuang — the two had long served as her close companions.
It was just that in recent years, Feng Jinhuang had been studying the Dream Path under Dragon Lord, and her time with the two of them had become quite limited.
Feng Jinhuang laughed brightly and reached out to tap Sun Yao lightly on the forehead. "You — you did wonderfully this time. Why would you need to apologize? A nomination slot is a trivial matter. As if I couldn't become an Immortal without sponsorship? Becoming an Immortal is no obstacle for me. What I need to consider is what kind of Gu Immortal I will become. But for you, this is a rare opportunity — seize it well."
After addressing Sun Yao, Feng Jinhuang turned to Qin Juan. "You've always had strong convictions and the ability to persevere. This time, with the Dao Marks imprinted upon you, how is it that you fainted? If not for that, the nomination would have gone to you."
Qin Juan did not dare to argue. "Senior Sister's words are correct. I've been negligent in my cultivation."
"That's not it, Senior Sister. Senior Sister Qin Juan had injuries on her at the time and couldn't endure the intense pain, which is why she fainted," Sun Yao hurriedly clarified.
"So that's how it was." Feng Jinhuang nodded with a tinge of regret. "That is indeed a great loss. Fang Yuan destroyed the Destiny Gu and refined it into countless Heavenly Dao Marks, scattering them among all living beings. The more Heavenly Dao Marks one bears, the greater the benefits in the future. Whether in cultivation or in managing one's Immortal Aperture, it is nothing but advantageous. But it's fine even without them — at most, it's merely a stroke of fortune. What determines your lifelong achievements is still your own talent and effort."
"Yes. Qin Juan respectfully heeds Senior Sister's teaching." Qin Juan bowed deeply.
Feng Jinhuang smiled once more. "Come along. I'll give you both some proper guidance."
Qin Juan and Sun Yao's faces brightened immediately. The latter even bounced up and cheered, "How wonderful! It's been so long since we all got together!"
The three departed together, gradually distancing themselves from Silent Rain Valley.
Within the valley, Fairy Bai Qing slowly withdrew her probing methods.