Chapter 79: Xiangyang
"This looks like an antique, doesn't it?" the panda said. "Seems like something from the Tang Dynasty."
"Hmm," the Ghost King looked it over and said, "This is a soul-collecting lamp."
Oh! Quite knowledgeable! Jiang Hong thought, having lived over two thousand years was indeed worthwhile. He said, "Yes, yes! Ah, you can't view a phone like that, flip it over, you can't see the bottom of the photo that way..."
The Ghost King said, "Soul-capturing lamps have many uses, typically placed in tombs as burial objects."
Jiang Hong resumed playfully teasing the panda, asking, "What's your name?"
"My name is Damaru," the panda said, "I'm the leader of all the pandas here. You're Jiang Hong, right?"
"Yes, yes," Jiang Hong replied, "I want to be good friends with you. It's settled then!"
The Ghost King added, "Some tomb owners would kill their sacrificial victims and then collect their souls in lamps like these to assist in guarding the tombs, scaring away or thwarting tomb robbers."
Jiang Hong murmured in agreement, and the Ghost King said, "Indeed, it was made during the Tang Dynasty."
"So, could Old Sun be a ghost?" Jiang Hong wondered, "A victim of ritual sacrifice in life?"
"But after the mid-Tang period, following the An Lushan Rebellion, this practice was no longer used," the Ghost King explained. "Li Jinglong revived the Exorcism Bureau, and after Hong Jun became the Demon King, the use of soul-capturing spells was strictly prohibited."
Jiang Hong: "?"
"So, I speculate," the Ghost King continued, "someone got this soul-capturing lamp and then used it as a burial item. Do you know where it was unearthed?"
Jiang Hong thought for a while; the person who sold the magical item hadn't mentioned it.
Damaru asked, "What about itself? Does it remember its past life?"
Jiang Hong replied, "It said it couldn't remember anything, only its surname, asking me to call it 'Old Sun.'"
The Ghost King said, "So its three souls and seven spirits are incomplete."
Jiang Hong answered, "Right, right, they must have been lost."
The Ghost King theorized, "Based on this, it couldn't have been a mortal, because when mortals' souls are captured, they lack the strength to escape and are completely sealed. Only demons with certain abilities experience partial soul capture."
Jiang Hong asked, "Could a soul potentially be lost or eroded over a long period of time?"
"If the whole soul was sealed inside, the chances are slim," the Ghost King answered. "There are only two possibilities: one, it was a powerful demon in life, and part of its soul successfully escaped during the soul-sealing process; two, it was a part of a great demon, and this segment of the soul was abandoned, sealed in the lamp."
"Can parts of a soul be discarded?" Jiang Hong asked curiously.
"Yes," the Ghost King said. "For instance, some demon races, in their pursuit of enlightenment, sever their worldly desires."
"Whose seal is this?" Damaru asked, wrapping an arm around Jiang Hong and looking curiously at the photo.
"Buddhist," the Ghost King replied. "You need to find the place where it was unearthed; there might be records."
Jiang Hong said, "Old Sun has always wanted to cultivate, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, claiming it could restore his body. Is that true?"
The floor-sweeping robot, unnoticed, had returned and was quietly listening to the Ghost King's explanation.
The Ghost King glanced at it and said, "Accumulating spiritual power could indeed enable it to manifest a new magical body, but at the final moment, both 'Destiny' and 'Right Seal' are indispensable."
"I know about the Right Seal, but what is Destiny?" Jiang Hong asked.
"The Right Seal works from the outside in, while Destiny works from the inside out," the Ghost King explained. "It means finding the purpose of one's human incarnation, the task they are meant to accomplish in this world." He then turned to Old Sun, "Since you've lost your primary soul, dwelling on past lives is pointless. Better to see yourself as a newborn, free from attachments, and focus on cultivation in this life. Why cling to the past?"
That made sense to Jiang Hong, who then looked back at the floor-sweeping robot.
Old Sun also responded, "You're right, thank you."
The Ghost King nodded, and Jiang Hong continued, "I have another item I'd like you to look at."
Saying this, he took out a Western-style sword he had crafted from the dragon blood mark. At that moment, he considered asking the Ghost King to examine the Book of Everything, but he already had a rough idea of its origin and no major doubts, so he decided not to complicate matters.
"Oh—," Damaru exclaimed, "how beautiful!"
Both Damaru and the Ghost King recognized at a glance that the sword was likely crafted by Jiang Hong himself. Such a valuable weapon had only one purpose: to be given as a gift. Touching it before it reached the intended recipient was impolite, so neither of them touched it.
"Wait a moment." The Ghost King put on a pair of black velvet gloves before taking Jiang Hong's Western sword.
Jiang Hong said, "This is..."
"Truly a fine sword," the Ghost King commented.
"Really!" Jiang Hong was pleasantly surprised, saying, "I always thought my craftsmanship was quite clumsy... If it weren't for my teacher giving me this material..."
"Forged from First Mountain gold," the Ghost King stated, "one hundred and five centimeters long, weighing five hundred grams, crafted with Samadhi True Fire, undergoing nearly a thousand forging processes..."
Jiang Hong: "!!!"
Damaru, with eyes full of envy, said, "Where did you get Samadhi True Fire! No wonder you are the Queen!"
Jiang Hong: "..."
When Jiang Hong was making this sword, he indeed used a bit of Samadhi True Fire... No, quite a lot actually. Since the electromagnetic crucible's heat was limited, sometimes, in his impatience, Jiang Hong would activate his own chakra and use his meager flames. But the fire from his magic was far more effective than that from the crucible, especially for delicate parts like the blade's edge.
Later, he found it troublesome and frequently used his heart's fire instead, which was not only quicker but also more convenient.
The Ghost King said, "More importantly, this sword has been imbued with a bit of 'hope,' it is the light of hope."
Damaru added, "I feel it, the light of dawn."
The Ghost King turned the sword sideways, gazing at its unsharpened edge.
Jiang Hong said, "This was my... my final project for the semester. I'm ashamed to say, I haven't infused it with spirit yet. But what does it mean to infuse hope? I don't have such a process in my technique."
The Ghost King then replied, "This sword must have been forged for a specific person."
"Yes," Jiang Hong felt the Ghost King was truly remarkable.
"In the process of its making, through a thousand hammerings and a hundred refinings," the Ghost King continued, "you were constantly thinking of that person, imagining him wielding this sword, imbuing it with the belief to defeat enemies. Holding this sword, hope will be with him, lasting into eternity. This is the most powerful spell in the world."
Jiang Hong scratched his ear awkwardly and said, "So that's how it is? But aren't other swords also... Oh, I see now."
Jiang Hong realized that most weapons in the world were not made with a specific recipient in mind, let alone custom-made for someone. Only a very few weapons that met this criterion eventually became legendary.
If a weapon is made for someone special, it must carry hope and love. Jiang Hong had only shown the Western sword to Cao Bin, who had described it as "very special, very thoughtful." At the time, Jiang Hong thought it was a veiled criticism... after all, only poorly made items are often described as "thoughtful" or "special."
Now he wondered, did Cao Bin also sense the so-called "hope" imbued in it?
"How do you plan to infuse it with spirit?" the Ghost King asked.
Jiang Hong then explained the origin and the future plans for the Western sword.
"The Big Dipper Array, huh." The Ghost King nodded, and Jiang Hong took out a small piece of colored glaze.
"Oh—!" Damaru exclaimed, "That's a wonderful item!"
Jiang Hong said, "It's an antique. I borrowed it from the principal and have to return it after."
The Ghost King said, "This is a fragment of Pure Light Colored Glaze, capable of gathering the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. I've seen it before. Legend has it that it was shattered once during the Tang Dynasty."
Jiang Hong asked, "Hmm, do I need to be aware of anything special?"
"With Pure Light Colored Glaze, why only use spiritual energy?" the Ghost King suggested. "As the name implies, its greatest use is to gather 'light' from heaven and earth - sunlight, moonlight, starlight, blazing fire, lightning, bone phosphorescence, and the heart's flame... Gathering the seven great lights of the world can forge another peerless divine weapon that sweeps across mountains and seas."
"What... what?" Jiang Hong was bewildered, saying, "Is that even possible?"
Damaru, obviously hearing this for the first time, eagerly showed a gossip-filled expression, saying, "Tell us more? What kind of technique is this?"
The Ghost King, still focusing on the Western sword in his hand, spoke slowly:
"The golden sun has its days of eclipse; the jade rabbit also has its nights of retreat; the myriad stars shall have their nights of disappearance; the fierce fire must have its time of extinguishment."
"Lightning and thunder, too, have their moments of darkness; the faint glow of phosphorescence will eventually scatter to its end."
"All things return to silence, time is boundless, only the heart's lantern shines eternally bright, enduring through the ages."
Jiang Hong: "!!!"
Da Maru: "!!"
Jiang Hong: "So, this phrase about 'time being boundless' actually follows such a long introduction!"
Da Maru: "This is my first time hearing it too! I always thought the previous line was something like 'as the saying goes'."
Jiang Hong: "What use are these lights?"
Ghost King: "When all light is destined to fade away, in the absolute darkness, use the light to break through this darkness, tearing apart the long night, and become a beacon illuminating the world, giving hope to all beings. The first Sword of Wisdom was once taken by Chi You and transformed into the Demonic Spear; thereafter, it was recreated by the Great Exorcist Chen Xing and the Protector God Xiang Shu, using the same method."
Jiang Hong: "Sounds great, but I just wanted to give Lu Xiu a powerful weapon... Isn't this a bit... too much of an elevation of the theme?"
Ghost King: "I'll teach you a method to use magical power. Draw a magic circle, place the fragments of pure light crystal on it, and you can gather light sources. Infuse them with spiritual energy during the casting process."
"Alright, alright," said Jiang Hong, "since it's so useful, I might as well try it."
Ghost King: "Hmm, if you don't mind the trouble."
Da Maru again asked: "I understand the other lights, but how do you gather the heart's lantern?"
Ghost King replied: "Separate a part of the soul of the Great Exorcist Chen Zhen, that's how."
Da Maru: "Doesn't that mean we have to kill him first?"
Ghost King: "Who doesn't die? When the time comes, everyone must."
Jiang Hong: "No... let's not discuss this, it sounds like some sort of evil art. To forge this sword, we would have to kill Chen Zhen, making me the villain! And, I really like the big boss, he's been good to me, I can't be ungrateful."
"Have you named it yet?" the Ghost King asked again.
"Not yet," Jiang Hong replied, "I'll think about it more."
The Ghost King handed Jiang Hong a hand-drawn magic circle. Jiang Hong felt it was very ancient because it didn't even show the direction of spiritual energy flow. One had to comprehend it on their own. Perhaps a professional could easily discern the flow, but Jiang Hong couldn't and had to ask for help to mark the arrows.
"Thank you so much." Jiang Hong was extremely grateful and said, "I have to go, Lu Xiu is waiting for me outside, I can't let him wait too long."
The Ghost King nodded and said, "You're welcome to visit anytime."
"Sure, sure." Jiang Hong repeatedly expressed his gratitude. Just as he stepped out of the Ghost King's palace, the darkness enveloped him, making his scalp tingle.
"Let me turn on a light for you!" Da Maru came out and said.
"You should have turned on the light earlier!" Jiang Hong responded.
Immediately, Da Maru switched on the electricity, and more than ten big lights illuminated at once, lighting up the vast underground tomb with thousands of coffins. Jiang Hong almost ascended to heaven in shock and yelled, "No, no! Turn off the lights!"
Old Sun led the way in front, and Jiang Hong groped his way out in the dark. Finally, upon reaching the bridge, he wiped his sweat and saw Lu Xiu sitting on the broken bridge railing, with Feng Li standing like he was reporting to a superior.
"...Previously, everyone thought the system of having big and small kings was good, especially since King Xiang often isn't at the Demon Association..."
Lu Xiu raised his hand, signaling Feng Li to stop talking, as Jiang Hong also arrived.
"Did it go well?" Lu Xiu asked. "I heard you shouting in the cave."
"Uh," said Jiang Hong, "after this experience, I guess I've somewhat built up my courage. You heard all that and still... didn’t come in?"
Lu Xiu: "You didn’t call my name, so I didn’t come. That's it, I'm going back."
Feng Li then bowed to Lu Xiu.
Lu Xiu asked, "Did you find out anything?"
"Old Sun?" Jiang Hong, clearly in a good mood, inquired.
Old Sun said, "The Ghost King is right, one should not cling to the past. I need to focus on my cultivation now."
"Hmm," said Jiang Hong.
Lu Xiu had already guessed the gist of the conversation and said nothing.
Jiang Hong: "Why do you seem so listless after listening?"
Old Sun said, "It's probably running out of battery, need to go back to recharge."
As the night deepened, Jiang Hong organized the magic circle he had obtained from the Ghost King. He looked at the pure light crystal and admired the starry sky. The view of the stars in Wushan was truly beautiful. The Demon Association had turned off the lights, leaving only the dark sky and the myriad stars.
That night, it was very quiet around, even the chirping of insects gradually faded away.
The bed in the palace was very large; even if two people slept in it, there was still space for seven or eight more. Jiang Hong moved closer to Lu Xiu and slept comfortably, quickly falling asleep.
The next morning, after a luxurious palace breakfast and a cup of coffee, Jiang Hong prepared to continue the journey with Lu Xiu.
Today, Feng Li was in charge, standing behind Lu Xiu, personally serving them both, which made Jiang Hong feel somewhat embarrassed.
"You don't have to attend to us," Lu Xiu said to Feng Li.
"It's my duty," Feng Li responded, "When the King is not here, I am entrusted with the Demon Association. The Little King is the highest authority here."
After hearing this, Lu Xiu said nothing. After breakfast, he and Jiang Hong changed back into T-shirts and shorts, saying, "We're leaving."
"Farewell, Little King!"
"Farewell, Little King!"
As they got into the car, a group of pandas ran out, all reverting to their original forms.
"Ah, ah, ah—" Jiang Hong, who was already opening the driver's side door, was taken aback and turned to rush towards the pandas, exclaiming, "Pandas! Pandas!!"
Jiang Hong immediately plunged into the group of pandas.
Lu Xiu: "................"
"Take a photo for us!" Jiang Hong shouted. "Lu Xiu! Quick, take a picture of me!"
Reluctantly, Lu Xiu picked up his phone and took photos of Jiang Hong. As he approached, the pandas scattered and fled to a distance, then knelt down and worshiped, continuously performing a 'thank you, boss'-style bow, chanting phrases like "Farewell, Little King" and "Farewell, Little King's Consort."
"Let's go!" Lu Xiu wrapped his arm around Jiang Hong and dragged him away without further discussion.
"Ah, hahaha." As Jiang Hong drove away from the archway, he kept looking at the group of pandas through the rearview mirror, laughing uncontrollably.
"These lazy and gluttonous creatures," Lu Xiu said with evident disdain for the pandas, "They just know how to eat up the Demon Association's funding and subsidies, never doing any real work."
"But I must admit," laughed Jiang Hong, "they really know how to please! No matter who visits, they always manage to charm them. They're perceptive and have a natural advantage. No wonder the panda clan has thrived so well. Ah, can't see them anymore... Ah, pandas, oh, the last one’s gone too. Next time we do social practice, I must play more with them."
"Focus on driving," Lu Xiu said, almost at his wits' end with Jiang Hong.
Jiang Hong was still somewhat reluctant to leave.
"They all call you Little King," Jiang Hong said with a smile, thinking to himself: They even called me the Little King's Consort, you can't pretend you didn't hear that.
Lu Xiu didn't answer, just leaned back in the passenger seat, lost in thought.
Jiang Hong added, "What's this 'big and small king' system? I overheard Feng Li mentioning it yesterday and caught the last part of the conversation."
Lu Xiu replied, "It's exactly what it sounds like, a primary and deputy role. When the big king is busy, the small king takes over. I just don't want to be too involved in the affairs of the demon clans. Besides, they don't really want to listen to me."
"Ah?" Jiang Hong said, "But they all respect you a lot!"
Lu Xiu: "A stand-in with little experience, do you think they would truly listen to me from their hearts? Xiang Liu would be the first to disagree."
This was a question Jiang Hong had considered yesterday.
"Is that what you think?" Jiang Hong said, "But I don't see it that way."
Lu Xiu: "?"
Lu Xiu glanced at Jiang Hong, who continued: "Principal Xiang is a very impressive person, right? Although I've never met him, only heard about him. He and his spouse, Xiao Duo, founded Cangqiong University. Every exorcist speaks of them with great respect. So, Principal Xiang must be at least on the same level as Chen Zhen."
"Hmm," responded Lu Xiu.
Jiang Hong said, "Such an impressive person must have his reasons. Although we've never discussed this, I think he values you highly, and not just because you're a dragon."
Lu Xiu hummed in acknowledgment, sinking back into thought.
Just as Jiang Hong was about to speak again, Lu Xiu said, "You're right, there are some details you don't know, but indeed he has his reasons. Let's not discuss this, are we heading to Xiangyang today?"
"Yes!" Jiang Hong said, "You book the hotel. Tomorrow we're going to the intersection of the Earth's meridians, a perfect opportunity to try out this magic circle!"
"It's going to rain," Lu Xiu said, "There will be a heavy downpour soon, so drive slowly."
Even though being with Lu Xiu meant no danger to his life, Jiang Hong knew that if anything happened on the road, Lu Xiu would surely prioritize his safety over the car's. Thus, Jiang Hong took the highway instead, and sure enough, the sky darkened ominously, spreading eastward. They had lunch at a rest stop, and barely twenty minutes after setting off, a torrential downpour arrived as expected.
"I can't see anything," Jiang Hong said.
He drove with the fog lights on and the hazard lights flashing, slowing down considerably. All the cars on the highway were cautious as the rain grew heavier. Jiang Hong eventually took the nearest exit off the highway and switched to a national road. Arriving in Xiangyang, a fierce storm turned the world pitch black, like an apocalyptic scene.
The underground parking lot of the hotel they booked was flooded, so they had to park in another lot 600 meters away. On their short walk from the parking lot to the hotel, both were drenched.
"It'll probably rain heavily tomorrow too," Lu Xiu said, standing in front of the hotel's floor-to-ceiling windows, looking outside. "We'll have to delay our stay in Xiangyang for a few days."
Jiang Hong, lying on the bed, said, "Forget about it, come to bed quickly!" He waited for Lu Xiu to come over and naturally wrapped himself around him.
Xiangyang, located in the heart of the south, has always been a strategically important military location. This year, however, its economy visibly declined. The ancient town was nearly deserted. The next day, when the rain stopped, Lu Xiu rode a shared electric bike, carrying Jiang Hong around the scenic areas and ancient town. Jiang Hong, who hated shared electric bikes when driving for blocking the way and being dangerous, found it fun when he was the passenger.
After a day out, Jiang Hong remembered they had serious matters to attend to.
"We're close to the Earth's energy point," said Jiang Hong, "Let's go there after dinner."
"You still remember?" Lu Xiu was surprised, thinking Jiang Hong had forgotten since he hadn't mentioned it all day.
But by evening, the rain started again. Lu Xiu, unsure of the exact location, led Jiang Hong toward the central park on the street. The rain and wind intensified, and the trees began to sway.
"Is this the place?" asked Jiang Hong.
Lu Xiu replied, "We need to go a bit further!"
Lu Xiu kept looking up at the sky, trying to locate the Earth's energy point. As a dragon, he had a special sense for the flow of spiritual energy in the world.
"I think this is it!" Lu Xiu said. "We should be close."
"Is the spiritual energy strong here?" Jiang Hong asked.
Lu Xiu: "I think so. Why don't you check with the Book of Everything?"
Reminded of his magical treasure, the Book of Everything, Jiang Hong quickly took it out. Lu Xiu kept a vigilant watch over their surroundings. They were on a small hill in the park, surrounded by thriving trees and ancient ones in the distance, offering a wide view with seemingly no enemies around.
Jiang Hong activated the Book of Everything, exclaiming, "Wow! It's so beautiful!"
Through the power of the book, he saw a world of splendor and brilliance he had never seen before. The grand wheel of the Earth's energy was hidden in the clouds, illuminating the dark clouds like a massive pathway. The ground below shimmered with countless blue points of light, gently rising like millions of lively sprites ascending to the sky.
In the clouds, lightning flickered, accompanied by countless glowing golden particles exchanging energy with the Earth.
"How is it?" Lu Xiu called out loudly.
Realizing Lu Xiu couldn't see all this, Jiang Hong was about to explain, but Lu Xiu gestured for him to focus on the task at hand.
Both completely drenched, Jiang Hong said, "I'm starting now." He squatted down and drew the magic circle taught by the Ghost King with stone powder, then took out the robotic vacuum cleaner, saying, "Old Sun! You stay here."
The robotic vacuum cleaner, wearing a child's raincoat, and the Tmall Genie wrapped in a plastic bag, asked, "Should I play some music for you?"
Jiang Hong instructed, "When I channel the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, you start vacuuming vigorously, okay? Get as much as you can! We don't have much time."
Old Sun replied, "Understood."
Seeing Jiang Hong soaked like a drowned rat, Lu Xiu said, "Why not wait until tomorrow? Don't catch a cold."
"No, no," Jiang Hong, continuously looking up, said, "Tonight is just right."
Lu Xiu spoke again, but suddenly there was thunder. Jiang Hong looked up blankly, his hair all wet, hanging over his forehead, and asked, "What?"
Lu Xiu knelt on one knee, pulling Jiang Hong into his embrace, whispering close to his ear:
"Are you cold?"
Lu Xiu's voice was so close, his lips almost touching Jiang Hong's ear. Jiang Hong's heart raced in an instant. He glanced at Lu Xiu, who was watching him intently in the pouring rain. As Jiang Hong looked up, their lips were about to touch.
Ah! A kiss! Was that a kiss just now? Did our lips touch?!
Jiang Hong felt like they might have kissed, but also maybe not, his face immediately flushed red, he lowered his head and didn't answer, continuing to draw the magic circle.
"I can't use magic to keep the rain off you," Lu Xiu said, "because you're drawing the magic circle, and it might interfere."
Lu Xiu's way of blocking water involved repelling all water in the vicinity, including underfoot, which could easily disrupt the magic circle Jiang Hong was drawing.
Jiang Hong replied, "It's okay, I'm done, let's start!"
Lu Xiu then pulled him up, positioning Jiang Hong in front of him, their drenched bodies pressing closely together.
This feels like some kind of ritual in a dark cult... Jiang Hong thought.
"Need my help?" Lu Xiu asked.
"I'll do it, let me try!" said Jiang Hong.
"You can't handle it," Lu Xiu said, "You go first."
Jiang Hong placed the Pure Light Crystal in the center of the magic circle, using his feeble magical power, his fingertips ignited with Samadhi True Fire, which he quickly channeled into the circle.
Immediately, the magic circle lit up with a "hum," the Pure Light Crystal emitted a blinding white light before dimming down.
"It's starting!" Jiang Hong declared.
"Maintain your focus and magical power," Lu Xiu instructed, "Don't get distracted!"
Instantly, a beam of light shot down from the sky, breaking through the dark clouds, creating a hole. Golden particles of light accelerated, swirling and buzzing as they flew towards the earth!
Spiritual energy from the Earth's veins also began converging from all directions towards the magic circle! Jiang Hong continuously controlled the Samadhi True Fire, making it flow along the circle, which began to rotate, causing the Pure Light Crystal to slowly rise.
"Ah! The spiritual energy!" Old Sun yelled, "The energy! The energy!"
The robotic vacuum cleaner whirled around everywhere. Jiang Hong was starting to struggle and shouted, "Stop yelling! Start vacuuming! I can't hold on much longer!"
Old Sun formed a small vortex nearby, beginning to absorb the spiritual energy drawn down by Jiang Hong.
Immediately, Lu Xiu wrapped one arm around Jiang Hong’s waist and extended the other hand emitting blue light, intervening in the magic circle, and said, "Withdraw the Samadhi True Fire!"
Water and fire are incompatible, so Jiang Hong immediately withdrew it. Once Lu Xiu took over, things became much easier, but perhaps due to the gathering of spiritual energy, the thunder grew louder, and countless lightning bolts crisscrossed the sky as if ready to strike at any moment.
"Don't be afraid!" Lu Xiu said, "They won't hit us!"
"Can you draw a lightning bolt down?" Jiang Hong, recalling what the Ghost King had said about sunlight, moonlight, and lightning, said, "Channel it into the Pure Light Crystal!"
"What?" Lu Xiu asked in confusion, but since Jiang Hong had requested, he said, "I'll try! What exactly are you trying to do?"
Jiang Hong urged, "Hurry up! The lightning is fading!"
Lu Xiu flipped his palm, and immediately countless lightning bolts in the sky converged into a massive, powerful thunderbolt, crashing down to the earth with a resounding boom!
Instinctively, Jiang Hong buried his face in Lu Xiu’s chest, and Lu Xiu freed one arm to cover his exposed ear.
The moment the lightning struck, it was like an explosion, but it lasted only an instant, then silence returned.
When Jiang Hong looked up again, the Pure Light Crystal was floating in mid-air. Lu Xiu touched it with his finger to ensure it wouldn’t discharge suddenly before handing it to Jiang Hong, saying, "Done, what do you need the lightning for?"
"Wow!" Jiang Hong was ecstatic, observing the miniature lightning constantly flickering inside the Pure Light Crystal. It was incredibly beautiful.
Having absorbed the spiritual energy and the light, the Pure Light Crystal became stunningly beautiful and transparent.
"The spiritual energy—ah? It's gone?" Old Sun was still circling around.
As the storm abated, Jiang Hong, holding the Pure Light Crystal, gazed up at the night sky in amazement.
"Alright," Lu Xiu said, "Let's go before you catch a cold."
That night, back at the hotel, Jiang Hong was ushered into the bathroom by Lu Xiu, who turned the hot water to its maximum, filling the bathroom with steam.
"What do you need the lightning's light for?" Lu Xiu asked again, full of curiosity, "If you needed lightning, I could have summoned it for you anywhere. Why come all the way to Xiangyang?"
Jiang Hong felt a bit embarrassed, but he still tried to keep it a secret for a little longer.
"You took the Pure Light Crystal," Lu Xiu said, "and it definitely wasn't because of Old Sun."
Jiang Hong had to honestly admit, "I wanted to make something else with it."
He saw in the foggy bathroom mirror, their bodies together, his heart starting to race again, longing to embrace Lu Xiu. The thought of their bodies pressing together without any barriers sent a surge of excitement through him.
Jiang Hong gazed at Lu Xiu, who was worried about him catching a cold, constantly urging him to shower in warm water. Moments later, Jiang Hong sneezed thunderously.
"Ah-choo!"
Jiang Hong indeed caught a cold. That night, he first felt a stuffy nose, took some cold medicine, and then lay down to sleep.
"I forgot to bring a change of clothes," Jiang Hong said, "They're still in the car."
Both of their clothes were soaked. Lu Xiu had quickly washed and hung them to dry, so they had to wear bathrobes for the time being.
In the middle of the night, Jiang Hong felt very cold and asked in a soft voice, "Can we turn off the air conditioning? I'm so cold."
In the darkness, Lu Xiu said, "Your forehead is quite hot, you have a fever."
Halfway through the night, Jiang Hong's bathrobe had slipped off, and in his drowsy state, he felt Lu Xiu also wasn't wearing anything. Under the covers, their young bodies lay together. Unconsciously, Jiang Hong moved closer and hugged Lu Xiu.
Lu Xiu's body was so warm. Jiang Hong finally felt the warmth, the sensation of their skin touching was incredibly soothing. It was like being in a warm ocean, melting his consciousness away. It was as if they were engulfed in flames, yet there was no sensation of burning or pain, only warmth, as if he was reborn in a bright golden fire.
Jiang Hong's mind was in a haze, and he had a very long dream.
In his dream, he once again heard the conversation between those two people.
The young boy's voice said, "This is bad, the timeline has been sealed. This power is too defying."
The man said, "It may have more abilities that we don't know about."
The boy asked, "So what now? What do we do?"
The man suggested, "Try the previous coordinates, what about five years ago?"
"Five years ago, the disturbance to the causal line was too great..." the boy said, "If there's no other way, then... now it's sealed off, all of it."
The man inquired, "Sealed off until which year?"
The boy answered, "The year Zheng Qin transformed into a demon dragon."
"The timing is calculated precisely," the man noted, "Going back to that year, if it triggers a chain of annihilation, the loss would be too great."
The boy spoke anxiously, "What Anjie said might not happen, after all, even he himself..."
The man: "No, don't take that risk. What about later?"
"I guess the same for later... Ah! No!" the boy exclaimed, "The timeline after that hasn’t been sealed!"
"Find a suitable point," the man instructed.
The boy worried, "But if we miss the moment of descent, what then?"
"Leave it to them," the man's voice said, "I've always believed in him... only he can do it, and only he is willing to..."
A ray of sunlight streamed into the room, waking Jiang Hong.
Ah! I'm not wearing anything! This was Jiang Hong's first thought.
Ah! Lu Xiu isn't wearing anything either! Jiang Hong felt the temperature and softness of Lu Xiu's skin as they touched.
Ahhhh—how blissful! No! But it's also so embarrassing!
Chapter 79: Xiangyang
"This looks like an antique, doesn't it?" the panda said. "Seems like something from the Tang Dynasty."
"Hmm," the Ghost King looked it over and said, "This is a soul-collecting lamp."
Oh! Quite knowledgeable! Jiang Hong thought, having lived over two thousand years was indeed worthwhile. He said, "Yes, yes! Ah, you can't view a phone like that, flip it over, you can't see the bottom of the photo that way..."
The Ghost King said, "Soul-capturing lamps have many uses, typically placed in tombs as burial objects."
Jiang Hong resumed playfully teasing the panda, asking, "What's your name?"
"My name is Damaru," the panda said, "I'm the leader of all the pandas here. You're Jiang Hong, right?"
"Yes, yes," Jiang Hong replied, "I want to be good friends with you. It's settled then!"
The Ghost King added, "Some tomb owners would kill their sacrificial victims and then collect their souls in lamps like these to assist in guarding the tombs, scaring away or thwarting tomb robbers."
Jiang Hong murmured in agreement, and the Ghost King said, "Indeed, it was made during the Tang Dynasty."
"So, could Old Sun be a ghost?" Jiang Hong wondered, "A victim of ritual sacrifice in life?"
"But after the mid-Tang period, following the An Lushan Rebellion, this practice was no longer used," the Ghost King explained. "Li Jinglong revived the Exorcism Bureau, and after Hong Jun became the Demon King, the use of soul-capturing spells was strictly prohibited."
Jiang Hong: "?"
"So, I speculate," the Ghost King continued, "someone got this soul-capturing lamp and then used it as a burial item. Do you know where it was unearthed?"
Jiang Hong thought for a while; the person who sold the magical item hadn't mentioned it.
Damaru asked, "What about itself? Does it remember its past life?"
Jiang Hong replied, "It said it couldn't remember anything, only its surname, asking me to call it 'Old Sun.'"
The Ghost King said, "So its three souls and seven spirits are incomplete."
Jiang Hong answered, "Right, right, they must have been lost."
The Ghost King theorized, "Based on this, it couldn't have been a mortal, because when mortals' souls are captured, they lack the strength to escape and are completely sealed. Only demons with certain abilities experience partial soul capture."
Jiang Hong asked, "Could a soul potentially be lost or eroded over a long period of time?"
"If the whole soul was sealed inside, the chances are slim," the Ghost King answered. "There are only two possibilities: one, it was a powerful demon in life, and part of its soul successfully escaped during the soul-sealing process; two, it was a part of a great demon, and this segment of the soul was abandoned, sealed in the lamp."
"Can parts of a soul be discarded?" Jiang Hong asked curiously.
"Yes," the Ghost King said. "For instance, some demon races, in their pursuit of enlightenment, sever their worldly desires."
"Whose seal is this?" Damaru asked, wrapping an arm around Jiang Hong and looking curiously at the photo.
"Buddhist," the Ghost King replied. "You need to find the place where it was unearthed; there might be records."
Jiang Hong said, "Old Sun has always wanted to cultivate, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, claiming it could restore his body. Is that true?"
The floor-sweeping robot, unnoticed, had returned and was quietly listening to the Ghost King's explanation.
The Ghost King glanced at it and said, "Accumulating spiritual power could indeed enable it to manifest a new magical body, but at the final moment, both 'Destiny' and 'Right Seal' are indispensable."
"I know about the Right Seal, but what is Destiny?" Jiang Hong asked.
"The Right Seal works from the outside in, while Destiny works from the inside out," the Ghost King explained. "It means finding the purpose of one's human incarnation, the task they are meant to accomplish in this world." He then turned to Old Sun, "Since you've lost your primary soul, dwelling on past lives is pointless. Better to see yourself as a newborn, free from attachments, and focus on cultivation in this life. Why cling to the past?"
That made sense to Jiang Hong, who then looked back at the floor-sweeping robot.
Old Sun also responded, "You're right, thank you."
The Ghost King nodded, and Jiang Hong continued, "I have another item I'd like you to look at."
Saying this, he took out a Western-style sword he had crafted from the dragon blood mark. At that moment, he considered asking the Ghost King to examine the Book of Everything, but he already had a rough idea of its origin and no major doubts, so he decided not to complicate matters.
"Oh—," Damaru exclaimed, "how beautiful!"
Both Damaru and the Ghost King recognized at a glance that the sword was likely crafted by Jiang Hong himself. Such a valuable weapon had only one purpose: to be given as a gift. Touching it before it reached the intended recipient was impolite, so neither of them touched it.
"Wait a moment." The Ghost King put on a pair of black velvet gloves before taking Jiang Hong's Western sword.
Jiang Hong said, "This is..."
"Truly a fine sword," the Ghost King commented.
"Really!" Jiang Hong was pleasantly surprised, saying, "I always thought my craftsmanship was quite clumsy... If it weren't for my teacher giving me this material..."
"Forged from First Mountain gold," the Ghost King stated, "one hundred and five centimeters long, weighing five hundred grams, crafted with Samadhi True Fire, undergoing nearly a thousand forging processes..."
Jiang Hong: "!!!"
Damaru, with eyes full of envy, said, "Where did you get Samadhi True Fire! No wonder you are the Queen!"
Jiang Hong: "..."
When Jiang Hong was making this sword, he indeed used a bit of Samadhi True Fire... No, quite a lot actually. Since the electromagnetic crucible's heat was limited, sometimes, in his impatience, Jiang Hong would activate his own chakra and use his meager flames. But the fire from his magic was far more effective than that from the crucible, especially for delicate parts like the blade's edge.
Later, he found it troublesome and frequently used his heart's fire instead, which was not only quicker but also more convenient.
The Ghost King said, "More importantly, this sword has been imbued with a bit of 'hope,' it is the light of hope."
Damaru added, "I feel it, the light of dawn."
The Ghost King turned the sword sideways, gazing at its unsharpened edge.
Jiang Hong said, "This was my... my final project for the semester. I'm ashamed to say, I haven't infused it with spirit yet. But what does it mean to infuse hope? I don't have such a process in my technique."
The Ghost King then replied, "This sword must have been forged for a specific person."
"Yes," Jiang Hong felt the Ghost King was truly remarkable.
"In the process of its making, through a thousand hammerings and a hundred refinings," the Ghost King continued, "you were constantly thinking of that person, imagining him wielding this sword, imbuing it with the belief to defeat enemies. Holding this sword, hope will be with him, lasting into eternity. This is the most powerful spell in the world."
Jiang Hong scratched his ear awkwardly and said, "So that's how it is? But aren't other swords also... Oh, I see now."
Jiang Hong realized that most weapons in the world were not made with a specific recipient in mind, let alone custom-made for someone. Only a very few weapons that met this criterion eventually became legendary.
If a weapon is made for someone special, it must carry hope and love. Jiang Hong had only shown the Western sword to Cao Bin, who had described it as "very special, very thoughtful." At the time, Jiang Hong thought it was a veiled criticism... after all, only poorly made items are often described as "thoughtful" or "special."
Now he wondered, did Cao Bin also sense the so-called "hope" imbued in it?
"How do you plan to infuse it with spirit?" the Ghost King asked.
Jiang Hong then explained the origin and the future plans for the Western sword.
"The Big Dipper Array, huh." The Ghost King nodded, and Jiang Hong took out a small piece of colored glaze.
"Oh—!" Damaru exclaimed, "That's a wonderful item!"
Jiang Hong said, "It's an antique. I borrowed it from the principal and have to return it after."
The Ghost King said, "This is a fragment of Pure Light Colored Glaze, capable of gathering the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. I've seen it before. Legend has it that it was shattered once during the Tang Dynasty."
Jiang Hong asked, "Hmm, do I need to be aware of anything special?"
"With Pure Light Colored Glaze, why only use spiritual energy?" the Ghost King suggested. "As the name implies, its greatest use is to gather 'light' from heaven and earth - sunlight, moonlight, starlight, blazing fire, lightning, bone phosphorescence, and the heart's flame... Gathering the seven great lights of the world can forge another peerless divine weapon that sweeps across mountains and seas."
"What... what?" Jiang Hong was bewildered, saying, "Is that even possible?"
Damaru, obviously hearing this for the first time, eagerly showed a gossip-filled expression, saying, "Tell us more? What kind of technique is this?"
The Ghost King, still focusing on the Western sword in his hand, spoke slowly:
"The golden sun has its days of eclipse; the jade rabbit also has its nights of retreat; the myriad stars shall have their nights of disappearance; the fierce fire must have its time of extinguishment."
"Lightning and thunder, too, have their moments of darkness; the faint glow of phosphorescence will eventually scatter to its end."
"All things return to silence, time is boundless, only the heart's lantern shines eternally bright, enduring through the ages."
Jiang Hong: "!!!"
Da Maru: "!!"
Jiang Hong: "So, this phrase about 'time being boundless' actually follows such a long introduction!"
Da Maru: "This is my first time hearing it too! I always thought the previous line was something like 'as the saying goes'."
Jiang Hong: "What use are these lights?"
Ghost King: "When all light is destined to fade away, in the absolute darkness, use the light to break through this darkness, tearing apart the long night, and become a beacon illuminating the world, giving hope to all beings. The first Sword of Wisdom was once taken by Chi You and transformed into the Demonic Spear; thereafter, it was recreated by the Great Exorcist Chen Xing and the Protector God Xiang Shu, using the same method."
Jiang Hong: "Sounds great, but I just wanted to give Lu Xiu a powerful weapon... Isn't this a bit... too much of an elevation of the theme?"
Ghost King: "I'll teach you a method to use magical power. Draw a magic circle, place the fragments of pure light crystal on it, and you can gather light sources. Infuse them with spiritual energy during the casting process."
"Alright, alright," said Jiang Hong, "since it's so useful, I might as well try it."
Ghost King: "Hmm, if you don't mind the trouble."
Da Maru again asked: "I understand the other lights, but how do you gather the heart's lantern?"
Ghost King replied: "Separate a part of the soul of the Great Exorcist Chen Zhen, that's how."
Da Maru: "Doesn't that mean we have to kill him first?"
Ghost King: "Who doesn't die? When the time comes, everyone must."
Jiang Hong: "No... let's not discuss this, it sounds like some sort of evil art. To forge this sword, we would have to kill Chen Zhen, making me the villain! And, I really like the big boss, he's been good to me, I can't be ungrateful."
"Have you named it yet?" the Ghost King asked again.
"Not yet," Jiang Hong replied, "I'll think about it more."
The Ghost King handed Jiang Hong a hand-drawn magic circle. Jiang Hong felt it was very ancient because it didn't even show the direction of spiritual energy flow. One had to comprehend it on their own. Perhaps a professional could easily discern the flow, but Jiang Hong couldn't and had to ask for help to mark the arrows.
"Thank you so much." Jiang Hong was extremely grateful and said, "I have to go, Lu Xiu is waiting for me outside, I can't let him wait too long."
The Ghost King nodded and said, "You're welcome to visit anytime."
"Sure, sure." Jiang Hong repeatedly expressed his gratitude. Just as he stepped out of the Ghost King's palace, the darkness enveloped him, making his scalp tingle.
"Let me turn on a light for you!" Da Maru came out and said.
"You should have turned on the light earlier!" Jiang Hong responded.
Immediately, Da Maru switched on the electricity, and more than ten big lights illuminated at once, lighting up the vast underground tomb with thousands of coffins. Jiang Hong almost ascended to heaven in shock and yelled, "No, no! Turn off the lights!"
Old Sun led the way in front, and Jiang Hong groped his way out in the dark. Finally, upon reaching the bridge, he wiped his sweat and saw Lu Xiu sitting on the broken bridge railing, with Feng Li standing like he was reporting to a superior.
"...Previously, everyone thought the system of having big and small kings was good, especially since King Xiang often isn't at the Demon Association..."
Lu Xiu raised his hand, signaling Feng Li to stop talking, as Jiang Hong also arrived.
"Did it go well?" Lu Xiu asked. "I heard you shouting in the cave."
"Uh," said Jiang Hong, "after this experience, I guess I've somewhat built up my courage. You heard all that and still... didn’t come in?"
Lu Xiu: "You didn’t call my name, so I didn’t come. That's it, I'm going back."
Feng Li then bowed to Lu Xiu.
Lu Xiu asked, "Did you find out anything?"
"Old Sun?" Jiang Hong, clearly in a good mood, inquired.
Old Sun said, "The Ghost King is right, one should not cling to the past. I need to focus on my cultivation now."
"Hmm," said Jiang Hong.
Lu Xiu had already guessed the gist of the conversation and said nothing.
Jiang Hong: "Why do you seem so listless after listening?"
Old Sun said, "It's probably running out of battery, need to go back to recharge."
As the night deepened, Jiang Hong organized the magic circle he had obtained from the Ghost King. He looked at the pure light crystal and admired the starry sky. The view of the stars in Wushan was truly beautiful. The Demon Association had turned off the lights, leaving only the dark sky and the myriad stars.
That night, it was very quiet around, even the chirping of insects gradually faded away.
The bed in the palace was very large; even if two people slept in it, there was still space for seven or eight more. Jiang Hong moved closer to Lu Xiu and slept comfortably, quickly falling asleep.
The next morning, after a luxurious palace breakfast and a cup of coffee, Jiang Hong prepared to continue the journey with Lu Xiu.
Today, Feng Li was in charge, standing behind Lu Xiu, personally serving them both, which made Jiang Hong feel somewhat embarrassed.
"You don't have to attend to us," Lu Xiu said to Feng Li.
"It's my duty," Feng Li responded, "When the King is not here, I am entrusted with the Demon Association. The Little King is the highest authority here."
After hearing this, Lu Xiu said nothing. After breakfast, he and Jiang Hong changed back into T-shirts and shorts, saying, "We're leaving."
"Farewell, Little King!"
"Farewell, Little King!"
As they got into the car, a group of pandas ran out, all reverting to their original forms.
"Ah, ah, ah—" Jiang Hong, who was already opening the driver's side door, was taken aback and turned to rush towards the pandas, exclaiming, "Pandas! Pandas!!"
Jiang Hong immediately plunged into the group of pandas.
Lu Xiu: "................"
"Take a photo for us!" Jiang Hong shouted. "Lu Xiu! Quick, take a picture of me!"
Reluctantly, Lu Xiu picked up his phone and took photos of Jiang Hong. As he approached, the pandas scattered and fled to a distance, then knelt down and worshiped, continuously performing a 'thank you, boss'-style bow, chanting phrases like "Farewell, Little King" and "Farewell, Little King's Consort."
"Let's go!" Lu Xiu wrapped his arm around Jiang Hong and dragged him away without further discussion.
"Ah, hahaha." As Jiang Hong drove away from the archway, he kept looking at the group of pandas through the rearview mirror, laughing uncontrollably.
"These lazy and gluttonous creatures," Lu Xiu said with evident disdain for the pandas, "They just know how to eat up the Demon Association's funding and subsidies, never doing any real work."
"But I must admit," laughed Jiang Hong, "they really know how to please! No matter who visits, they always manage to charm them. They're perceptive and have a natural advantage. No wonder the panda clan has thrived so well. Ah, can't see them anymore... Ah, pandas, oh, the last one’s gone too. Next time we do social practice, I must play more with them."
"Focus on driving," Lu Xiu said, almost at his wits' end with Jiang Hong.
Jiang Hong was still somewhat reluctant to leave.
"They all call you Little King," Jiang Hong said with a smile, thinking to himself: They even called me the Little King's Consort, you can't pretend you didn't hear that.
Lu Xiu didn't answer, just leaned back in the passenger seat, lost in thought.
Jiang Hong added, "What's this 'big and small king' system? I overheard Feng Li mentioning it yesterday and caught the last part of the conversation."
Lu Xiu replied, "It's exactly what it sounds like, a primary and deputy role. When the big king is busy, the small king takes over. I just don't want to be too involved in the affairs of the demon clans. Besides, they don't really want to listen to me."
"Ah?" Jiang Hong said, "But they all respect you a lot!"
Lu Xiu: "A stand-in with little experience, do you think they would truly listen to me from their hearts? Xiang Liu would be the first to disagree."
This was a question Jiang Hong had considered yesterday.
"Is that what you think?" Jiang Hong said, "But I don't see it that way."
Lu Xiu: "?"
Lu Xiu glanced at Jiang Hong, who continued: "Principal Xiang is a very impressive person, right? Although I've never met him, only heard about him. He and his spouse, Xiao Duo, founded Cangqiong University. Every exorcist speaks of them with great respect. So, Principal Xiang must be at least on the same level as Chen Zhen."
"Hmm," responded Lu Xiu.
Jiang Hong said, "Such an impressive person must have his reasons. Although we've never discussed this, I think he values you highly, and not just because you're a dragon."
Lu Xiu hummed in acknowledgment, sinking back into thought.
Just as Jiang Hong was about to speak again, Lu Xiu said, "You're right, there are some details you don't know, but indeed he has his reasons. Let's not discuss this, are we heading to Xiangyang today?"
"Yes!" Jiang Hong said, "You book the hotel. Tomorrow we're going to the intersection of the Earth's meridians, a perfect opportunity to try out this magic circle!"
"It's going to rain," Lu Xiu said, "There will be a heavy downpour soon, so drive slowly."
Even though being with Lu Xiu meant no danger to his life, Jiang Hong knew that if anything happened on the road, Lu Xiu would surely prioritize his safety over the car's. Thus, Jiang Hong took the highway instead, and sure enough, the sky darkened ominously, spreading eastward. They had lunch at a rest stop, and barely twenty minutes after setting off, a torrential downpour arrived as expected.
"I can't see anything," Jiang Hong said.
He drove with the fog lights on and the hazard lights flashing, slowing down considerably. All the cars on the highway were cautious as the rain grew heavier. Jiang Hong eventually took the nearest exit off the highway and switched to a national road. Arriving in Xiangyang, a fierce storm turned the world pitch black, like an apocalyptic scene.
The underground parking lot of the hotel they booked was flooded, so they had to park in another lot 600 meters away. On their short walk from the parking lot to the hotel, both were drenched.
"It'll probably rain heavily tomorrow too," Lu Xiu said, standing in front of the hotel's floor-to-ceiling windows, looking outside. "We'll have to delay our stay in Xiangyang for a few days."
Jiang Hong, lying on the bed, said, "Forget about it, come to bed quickly!" He waited for Lu Xiu to come over and naturally wrapped himself around him.
Xiangyang, located in the heart of the south, has always been a strategically important military location. This year, however, its economy visibly declined. The ancient town was nearly deserted. The next day, when the rain stopped, Lu Xiu rode a shared electric bike, carrying Jiang Hong around the scenic areas and ancient town. Jiang Hong, who hated shared electric bikes when driving for blocking the way and being dangerous, found it fun when he was the passenger.
After a day out, Jiang Hong remembered they had serious matters to attend to.
"We're close to the Earth's energy point," said Jiang Hong, "Let's go there after dinner."
"You still remember?" Lu Xiu was surprised, thinking Jiang Hong had forgotten since he hadn't mentioned it all day.
But by evening, the rain started again. Lu Xiu, unsure of the exact location, led Jiang Hong toward the central park on the street. The rain and wind intensified, and the trees began to sway.
"Is this the place?" asked Jiang Hong.
Lu Xiu replied, "We need to go a bit further!"
Lu Xiu kept looking up at the sky, trying to locate the Earth's energy point. As a dragon, he had a special sense for the flow of spiritual energy in the world.
"I think this is it!" Lu Xiu said. "We should be close."
"Is the spiritual energy strong here?" Jiang Hong asked.
Lu Xiu: "I think so. Why don't you check with the Book of Everything?"
Reminded of his magical treasure, the Book of Everything, Jiang Hong quickly took it out. Lu Xiu kept a vigilant watch over their surroundings. They were on a small hill in the park, surrounded by thriving trees and ancient ones in the distance, offering a wide view with seemingly no enemies around.
Jiang Hong activated the Book of Everything, exclaiming, "Wow! It's so beautiful!"
Through the power of the book, he saw a world of splendor and brilliance he had never seen before. The grand wheel of the Earth's energy was hidden in the clouds, illuminating the dark clouds like a massive pathway. The ground below shimmered with countless blue points of light, gently rising like millions of lively sprites ascending to the sky.
In the clouds, lightning flickered, accompanied by countless glowing golden particles exchanging energy with the Earth.
"How is it?" Lu Xiu called out loudly.
Realizing Lu Xiu couldn't see all this, Jiang Hong was about to explain, but Lu Xiu gestured for him to focus on the task at hand.
Both completely drenched, Jiang Hong said, "I'm starting now." He squatted down and drew the magic circle taught by the Ghost King with stone powder, then took out the robotic vacuum cleaner, saying, "Old Sun! You stay here."
The robotic vacuum cleaner, wearing a child's raincoat, and the Tmall Genie wrapped in a plastic bag, asked, "Should I play some music for you?"
Jiang Hong instructed, "When I channel the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, you start vacuuming vigorously, okay? Get as much as you can! We don't have much time."
Old Sun replied, "Understood."
Seeing Jiang Hong soaked like a drowned rat, Lu Xiu said, "Why not wait until tomorrow? Don't catch a cold."
"No, no," Jiang Hong, continuously looking up, said, "Tonight is just right."
Lu Xiu spoke again, but suddenly there was thunder. Jiang Hong looked up blankly, his hair all wet, hanging over his forehead, and asked, "What?"
Lu Xiu knelt on one knee, pulling Jiang Hong into his embrace, whispering close to his ear:
"Are you cold?"
Lu Xiu's voice was so close, his lips almost touching Jiang Hong's ear. Jiang Hong's heart raced in an instant. He glanced at Lu Xiu, who was watching him intently in the pouring rain. As Jiang Hong looked up, their lips were about to touch.
Ah! A kiss! Was that a kiss just now? Did our lips touch?!
Jiang Hong felt like they might have kissed, but also maybe not, his face immediately flushed red, he lowered his head and didn't answer, continuing to draw the magic circle.
"I can't use magic to keep the rain off you," Lu Xiu said, "because you're drawing the magic circle, and it might interfere."
Lu Xiu's way of blocking water involved repelling all water in the vicinity, including underfoot, which could easily disrupt the magic circle Jiang Hong was drawing.
Jiang Hong replied, "It's okay, I'm done, let's start!"
Lu Xiu then pulled him up, positioning Jiang Hong in front of him, their drenched bodies pressing closely together.
This feels like some kind of ritual in a dark cult... Jiang Hong thought.
"Need my help?" Lu Xiu asked.
"I'll do it, let me try!" said Jiang Hong.
"You can't handle it," Lu Xiu said, "You go first."
Jiang Hong placed the Pure Light Crystal in the center of the magic circle, using his feeble magical power, his fingertips ignited with Samadhi True Fire, which he quickly channeled into the circle.
Immediately, the magic circle lit up with a "hum," the Pure Light Crystal emitted a blinding white light before dimming down.
"It's starting!" Jiang Hong declared.
"Maintain your focus and magical power," Lu Xiu instructed, "Don't get distracted!"
Instantly, a beam of light shot down from the sky, breaking through the dark clouds, creating a hole. Golden particles of light accelerated, swirling and buzzing as they flew towards the earth!
Spiritual energy from the Earth's veins also began converging from all directions towards the magic circle! Jiang Hong continuously controlled the Samadhi True Fire, making it flow along the circle, which began to rotate, causing the Pure Light Crystal to slowly rise.
"Ah! The spiritual energy!" Old Sun yelled, "The energy! The energy!"
The robotic vacuum cleaner whirled around everywhere. Jiang Hong was starting to struggle and shouted, "Stop yelling! Start vacuuming! I can't hold on much longer!"
Old Sun formed a small vortex nearby, beginning to absorb the spiritual energy drawn down by Jiang Hong.
Immediately, Lu Xiu wrapped one arm around Jiang Hong’s waist and extended the other hand emitting blue light, intervening in the magic circle, and said, "Withdraw the Samadhi True Fire!"
Water and fire are incompatible, so Jiang Hong immediately withdrew it. Once Lu Xiu took over, things became much easier, but perhaps due to the gathering of spiritual energy, the thunder grew louder, and countless lightning bolts crisscrossed the sky as if ready to strike at any moment.
"Don't be afraid!" Lu Xiu said, "They won't hit us!"
"Can you draw a lightning bolt down?" Jiang Hong, recalling what the Ghost King had said about sunlight, moonlight, and lightning, said, "Channel it into the Pure Light Crystal!"
"What?" Lu Xiu asked in confusion, but since Jiang Hong had requested, he said, "I'll try! What exactly are you trying to do?"
Jiang Hong urged, "Hurry up! The lightning is fading!"
Lu Xiu flipped his palm, and immediately countless lightning bolts in the sky converged into a massive, powerful thunderbolt, crashing down to the earth with a resounding boom!
Instinctively, Jiang Hong buried his face in Lu Xiu’s chest, and Lu Xiu freed one arm to cover his exposed ear.
The moment the lightning struck, it was like an explosion, but it lasted only an instant, then silence returned.
When Jiang Hong looked up again, the Pure Light Crystal was floating in mid-air. Lu Xiu touched it with his finger to ensure it wouldn’t discharge suddenly before handing it to Jiang Hong, saying, "Done, what do you need the lightning for?"
"Wow!" Jiang Hong was ecstatic, observing the miniature lightning constantly flickering inside the Pure Light Crystal. It was incredibly beautiful.
Having absorbed the spiritual energy and the light, the Pure Light Crystal became stunningly beautiful and transparent.
"The spiritual energy—ah? It's gone?" Old Sun was still circling around.
As the storm abated, Jiang Hong, holding the Pure Light Crystal, gazed up at the night sky in amazement.
"Alright," Lu Xiu said, "Let's go before you catch a cold."
That night, back at the hotel, Jiang Hong was ushered into the bathroom by Lu Xiu, who turned the hot water to its maximum, filling the bathroom with steam.
"What do you need the lightning's light for?" Lu Xiu asked again, full of curiosity, "If you needed lightning, I could have summoned it for you anywhere. Why come all the way to Xiangyang?"
Jiang Hong felt a bit embarrassed, but he still tried to keep it a secret for a little longer.
"You took the Pure Light Crystal," Lu Xiu said, "and it definitely wasn't because of Old Sun."
Jiang Hong had to honestly admit, "I wanted to make something else with it."
He saw in the foggy bathroom mirror, their bodies together, his heart starting to race again, longing to embrace Lu Xiu. The thought of their bodies pressing together without any barriers sent a surge of excitement through him.
Jiang Hong gazed at Lu Xiu, who was worried about him catching a cold, constantly urging him to shower in warm water. Moments later, Jiang Hong sneezed thunderously.
"Ah-choo!"
Jiang Hong indeed caught a cold. That night, he first felt a stuffy nose, took some cold medicine, and then lay down to sleep.
"I forgot to bring a change of clothes," Jiang Hong said, "They're still in the car."
Both of their clothes were soaked. Lu Xiu had quickly washed and hung them to dry, so they had to wear bathrobes for the time being.
In the middle of the night, Jiang Hong felt very cold and asked in a soft voice, "Can we turn off the air conditioning? I'm so cold."
In the darkness, Lu Xiu said, "Your forehead is quite hot, you have a fever."
Halfway through the night, Jiang Hong's bathrobe had slipped off, and in his drowsy state, he felt Lu Xiu also wasn't wearing anything. Under the covers, their young bodies lay together. Unconsciously, Jiang Hong moved closer and hugged Lu Xiu.
Lu Xiu's body was so warm. Jiang Hong finally felt the warmth, the sensation of their skin touching was incredibly soothing. It was like being in a warm ocean, melting his consciousness away. It was as if they were engulfed in flames, yet there was no sensation of burning or pain, only warmth, as if he was reborn in a bright golden fire.
Jiang Hong's mind was in a haze, and he had a very long dream.
In his dream, he once again heard the conversation between those two people.
The young boy's voice said, "This is bad, the timeline has been sealed. This power is too defying."
The man said, "It may have more abilities that we don't know about."
The boy asked, "So what now? What do we do?"
The man suggested, "Try the previous coordinates, what about five years ago?"
"Five years ago, the disturbance to the causal line was too great..." the boy said, "If there's no other way, then... now it's sealed off, all of it."
The man inquired, "Sealed off until which year?"
The boy answered, "The year Zheng Qin transformed into a demon dragon."
"The timing is calculated precisely," the man noted, "Going back to that year, if it triggers a chain of annihilation, the loss would be too great."
The boy spoke anxiously, "What Anjie said might not happen, after all, even he himself..."
The man: "No, don't take that risk. What about later?"
"I guess the same for later... Ah! No!" the boy exclaimed, "The timeline after that hasn’t been sealed!"
"Find a suitable point," the man instructed.
The boy worried, "But if we miss the moment of descent, what then?"
"Leave it to them," the man's voice said, "I've always believed in him... only he can do it, and only he is willing to..."
A ray of sunlight streamed into the room, waking Jiang Hong.
Ah! I'm not wearing anything! This was Jiang Hong's first thought.
Ah! Lu Xiu isn't wearing anything either! Jiang Hong felt the temperature and softness of Lu Xiu's skin as they touched.
Ahhhh—how blissful! No! But it's also so embarrassing!
