"Heavenly Court…" Qin Dingling stood atop the Monitoring Heaven Tower, gazing into the distance at the Heavenly Court's skyline, a look of reminiscence on her face.
After a long while, she let out a soft sigh. "Though so much has changed, I can still make out the outlines of what I remember. Over three hundred thousand years…"
Standing beside her was Fairy Ziwei.
Fairy Ziwei wore an expression of reverence.
This senior female Immortal before her, though not as senior in rank as Lord Dragon, was still staggeringly old.
She had once been a Grand Supreme Elder of the Heavenly Jealousy Tower, one of the Ten Great Ancient Sects of Central Continent, and was on the verge of becoming a member of the Heavenly Court the very next day—only to be forced into becoming a concubine of Imperial Yang Immortal Venerable by a single word from him.
Imperial Yang Immortal Venerable had taken an extensive harem, establishing palaces across the Northern Wastes, Southern Border, Eastern Sea, Western Desert, and Central Continent.
Qin Dingling had been the Fairy Consort of his Central Continent palace!
After Imperial Yang Immortal Venerable's death, Qin Dingling had mysteriously vanished—who would have thought she would suddenly reappear just a few days ago?
"The identity of Senior Qin Dingling should be beyond doubt," Fairy Ziwei thought, "but according to historical records, she originally specialized in the Gold Path. How did she become a Fortune Path Gu Immortal?" The doubt lingered in her mind.
At that moment, Qin Dingling slowly turned around, her slender eyes gleaming with a light that saw through the affairs of the world.
She was not a beauty in the conventional sense. Though her nose bridge was high, the wings of her nose were somewhat pointed. Her lips were thin, her eyes long and narrow. Yet all these features combined to form a unique beauty that left an indelible impression at first glance.
Her stature exceeded that of ordinary people. Her shoulders were broad, and she stood ramrod straight, exuding a heroic air. An expansive cloak draped from her shoulders down to the floor.
The cloak's material was extraordinary—it appeared to be composed of interlocking golden scale-plates, fitted and inlaid together. From time to time, faint golden light would flow across its surface in shimmering streams.
The voluminous cloak accentuated her tall, athletic build. Her long legs were also encased in tightly fitted scale-armor plates of alternating black and gold.
Her bearing was supremely distinguished, as if she had been born a noble destined to tower above the common masses. When she looked at others, she often had to gaze downward due to her height. The commanding presence she naturally emanated made people instinctively lower their brows and avert their eyes, not daring to meet her gaze—as though staring only at their own feet was the only way to avoid giving offense.
Qin Dingling spoke in a calm voice. "Fairy Ziwei, I know the doubts in your heart. In truth, my disappearance was deliberate. In those days, Imperial Yang Immortal Venerable was invincible under heaven, commanding the entire era. No one could resist him. Fortunately, he was not a Demon Venerable. Though I was forced to become one of his Fairy Consorts at the time, I also harbored my own intentions—I wished to learn the mysteries of the Fortune Path from him."
"After Imperial Yang Immortal Venerable's death, I had accumulated considerable insight and resolved to abandon the Gold Path and cultivate the Fortune Path instead. However, I already possessed an Eighth Transformation cultivation, and switching to a different Path carried immense risk. With the Heavenly Court's assistance, I obtained the opportunity of prolonged slumber to extend my lifespan. I then discarded all of my Gold Path Dao Marks, transforming them into a Golden Coffin, and buried myself deep within the earth's ley lines to enter a death seclusion—to comprehend the Fortune Path."
"Who would have expected that this sleep would last over three hundred thousand years? When I awoke and walked the world once more, everything had changed beyond recognition."
Qin Dingling's words carried limitless emotion.
Over three hundred thousand years—seas had turned to mulberry fields.
The enormous shadow that had once loomed over her life—Imperial Yang Immortal Venerable—had long since passed away.
And after him, there had arisen Phantom Demon Venerable and Earth Immortal Venerable.
Now, the entire world faced yet another epochal tide. According to various signs and prophecies, a supreme Venerable of unprecedented strength was about to emerge.
"So that's how it is." Fairy Ziwei exhaled a long breath, her face breaking into a joyful, delighted smile. "Senior, your arrival could not be more timely. Your junior is ashamed—my inadequacy has led to repeated defeats for the Heavenly Court. One of the chief reasons is that we are deficient on the Fortune Path, hemmed in at every turn, allowing that demon to display his power time and again."
Qin Dingling nodded slightly. "I have reviewed all the intelligence. I didn't expect a demon of Fang Yuan's caliber to appear. In the history of humanity, such a figure is exceedingly rare. However, Fairy Ziwei, you need not belittle yourself. Your decisions were sound—it is only that your opponent is cunning and sinister, and moreover has obtained a Venerable's inheritance. The latter in particular has made Fang Yuan extraordinarily difficult to deal with."
"My awakening and return to the mortal realm this time was likely orchestrated specifically to counter Fang Yuan."
Fairy Ziwei asked curiously, "What does Senior mean by that?"
Qin Dingling smiled with deep meaning. "Fairy Ziwei, there is naturally profound purpose behind my awakening. Let me ask you—who awakened me?"
"It was Gu Yue Fang Zheng."
"Precisely." Qin Dingling continued in measured tones. "A Demon from Beyond the Heavens exists outside of Destiny—he is a natural variable. When the Heavenly Will deploys such a piece to counteract a Demon Venerable who defies heaven, it naturally possesses means to restrain the Demon from Beyond the Heavens as well. Just as where venomous snakes make their lair, there often grows the herb that counters their poison. Gu Yue Fang Zheng is the Heavenly Dao's safeguard to restrain Gu Yue Fang Yuan."
At this point, Qin Dingling regarded Fairy Ziwei with an approving gaze. "You know little of the Fortune Path, yet to have deduced this layer and to have begun cultivating Fang Zheng toward Immortality—that is no small feat."
"This junior is undeserving of such praise. I only know to give my all in defending the greater cause of our Heavenly Court and safeguarding justice in the mortal realm."
"Ha ha ha! Well said! That is the spirit of our Heavenly Court—and even after three hundred thousand years, it has never changed!"
Qin Dingling laughed several times, clearly in high spirits, then paused before continuing. "The Demon from Beyond the Heavens, Fang Yuan, is a variable. Gu Yue Fang Zheng is the existence meant to restrain him—and he will change in response to Fang Yuan's own changes. Phantom Demon Venerable's defiance of heaven ended in failure, but Fang Yuan has broken free of the Heavenly Will's control. He grows ever stronger, without flaw, at a terrifying rate—even the Heavenly Court finds itself at a loss. And so, to counteract such a shift, the result was Fang Zheng awakening me, bringing me back into the world."
"Destiny is fixed fate; fortune is variable. The higher a Gu Immortal's cultivation and the greater their strength, the more formidable their innate fortune. This is because a single thought or action on their part can trigger immense changes in their surroundings. Fang Yuan is formidable on the Fortune Path, but you have cultivated Fang Zheng and enabled him to become an Immortal. Because the variable is substantial enough, my awakening and appearance have come to pass to counteract his advantage in this domain. Going forward, I expect similar developments to occur. This demon, Fang Yuan, will not be prancing about for much longer."
At this, Qin Dingling admonished Fairy Ziwei. "You must continue to intensify your efforts in cultivating Fang Zheng, and ensure his safety. So long as we focus on this and align with the Heavenly Will's design, we shall achieve twice the result with half the effort."