Breaking Army - Chapter 2

At the end of the Heavenly River lies a bank of mist. Beyond that mist is the source of the Yellow Springs. Legend says that by drifting down the Heavenly River, one can enter the Underworld directly. However, those who have tried claim they were invariably blocked, for the waters of the Yellow Springs are not meant for just anyone to soak in. The mist stretching between the Heavenly River and the Yellow Springs serves as the boundary gate between the Heavenly Realm and the Underworld. Cross it, and you arrive in the Netherworld.

The immortals halted their steps before the boundary gate. From the distance, the night swept in, draped in starlight. Tonight was indeed a spectacle of brilliant constellations, the silver river of stars stretching across the sky like polished silk. Xiao Chen descended from his palanquin amidst the celestial glow. Having just received spiritual power from Xiangzhi, he was able to stand on his own without needing support.

Gengxie and Xiangzhi also emerged. They had cast spells over their faces, so the gods of the Heavenly Realm never actually saw what they looked like from beginning to end. They didn’t disturb Xiao Chen as he bid farewell to the two Star Lords, tactfully hanging back at first. However, Gengxie still raised his hand to sweep down a barrier so their conversation wouldn’t be overheard by others.

Xiangzhi slung his zither back over his shoulder, “We won’t be heading into the Underworld. It’s inconvenient to handle our affairs immediately after being tainted by nether energy.”

“I’d really like to tell you two to go back to the Star Realm obediently,” Xiao Chen sighed, his gaze drifting over them, “but obviously, you won’t listen.” In the past, he could have used force to suppress them and drag them back, but currently, he had to rely on others’ spiritual power just to keep himself going, let alone engage in combat.

Hearing this, Gengxie lifted his chin, “You can’t beat me right now.”

Xiao Chen replied gloomily, “Yes, so you’ve turned the tables and can now ride over my head.”

Much of Gengxie’s martial arts had been taught to him personally by Xiao Chen. A tiger in the plains bullied by… bullied by a tiger. As the Qisha Star Lord who presided over slaughter, his combat prowess could hardly be that of a lapdog.

Xiangzhi spoke up, “Since you were harmed in the Heavenly Realm, we’ve decided to investigate the situation there. Among those who wanted to kill you before, there were gods as well. The people of the Heavenly Realm cannot be fully trusted. Once you’ve cleared the poison and are ready to go to the mortal realm, send us a message, and we will come”

“No need,” Xiao Chen interrupted, “Going to the mortal realm is for a trial. If you two are protecting me, how am I supposed to encounter any tribulations?”

Xiao Chen raised his hand, and a small star map floated in his palm. He was sending a message to the Star Lords in the Star Realm. Gengxie remarked, “It’s too late to have them come and catch us now.”

“Even so, they need to know your situation as soon as possible.”

Xiao Chen stood tall, his pale complexion doing nothing to diminish his natural grace. His eyes reflected the light of ten thousand stars as he smiled at Gengxie and Xiangzhi, a smile like the wind passing through pines and cypresses. Even the greatest of troubles seemed trivial before him. He kept his edge hidden, yet he remained a sharp blade, capable of breaking through a thousand hardships with a single strike.

“Don’t do anything dangerous, and go home early. Once I’ve cleared the poison and regained my cultivation through the mortal trial, if you two are still loitering in the Heavenly Realm, I’ll personally pack you up and have Ziwei come pick you up.”

All Star Lords could perform divination. After Xiao Chen was poisoned, Ziwei had personally cast a hex for him, but the result failed to reveal the culprit’s origin. Being unable to calculate it was a message in itself, indicating that the person behind this was no simple character. Xiao Chen didn’t want Gengxie and Xiangzhi to get dragged into it. The most difficult thing to guard against in the world is the human heart, he had seen too many scorpions and ghosts lurking within people, and he didn’t want the other Star Lords to be tainted by the red dust of the mortal world for his sake.

Gengxie and Xiangzhi weren’t the type to be swayed by a few words. It was indeed too late to notify the other Star Lords to catch them. Since they were concealing their true forms before the people of the Heavenly Realm, it seemed they knew how to hide their identities even while investigating. With their identities hidden and their own skills, they should be safe for the time being.

After finishing the transmission, Xiao Chen lowered his hand, “I’m leaving.”

The sound-isolating barrier dispersed. Behind him, the two raised their hands. Despite it being a bizarre marriage, according to the customs of the Star Lords, words of congratulation still had to be said, even if only to invoke a bit of good luck for the newcomer. The two spoke in unison, “May you find a blessed union on this journey, may you be free of worries year after year, and may the stars of the heavens keep you in peace.”

This was the traditional wedding congratulation of the Star Realm. Gengxie and Xiangzhi thought to themselves: the “blessed union” was just a polite formality, but their wish for his safety was sincere. The starlight flowed like a river alongside their voices as Xiao Chen stepped forward. The immortals bowed their heads, seeing him off as he entered the gate. Though a grand procession had come this far, Xiao Chen entered the Underworld alone. The misty boundary gate swallowed his silhouette, and he vanished in the blink of an eye.

The immortals began to play celestial music, returning the way they came. Gengxie and Xiangzhi stood still as the crowd flowed past them. When the end of the Heavenly River became empty and only the two of them remained, they stayed a moment longer. Gengxie said, “You’re the one with all the tricks. Tell me, how are we sneaking into the Heavenly Realm?”

Xiangzhi was still staring at the boundary gate, his eyes filled with sorrow, though his voice remained firm, “We’ll head to the mortal realm first and see where someone is about to ascend, then we’ll hitch a ride. If there isn’t anyone, we’ll forge a path and disguise it as an ascension.”

Neither of them had been to the mortal realm before, nor did they know where someone might ascend. Gengxie asked, “Cast a hex?”

While all Star Lords could calculate, they each had their specialties. The level of detail they could reach varied. Furthermore, if the question was complex, the divination process became intricate. Simple matters only required a flick of the fingers, but complex ones required extensive preparation—arrays, rituals, and various specific requirements.

If they wanted to calculate who was ascending and where, they would need to prepare.

“No need, I have this.” Xiangzhi raised his hand, and a scroll appeared, bearing the four characters for “Star Projection Map.” When the scroll opened, it was a blank sheet of paper, but as long as one stated a destination and injected spiritual power, the scroll would show the way. It was a treasure belonging to Taibai Jinxing.

Since Xiangzhi had sneaked out, he couldn’t have borrowed it from Taibai openly, as that would alert others to his flight. Moreover, Taibai had been inside the life-protecting array and hadn’t come out. Clearly, Xiangzhi had “borrowed” the map secretly.

Gengxie clapped his hands in applause, “Impressive. When it comes to doing bad things, one must be like you. You see, every time you do something wrong, your punishment is never heavy. You just cry once, and that poor sap Xiao Chen gets a headache. But every time I make a tiny mistake, I get punished to the limit or just beaten outright.”

Gengxie emphasized the word “tiny,” earning a glare from Xiangzhi. Despite his obedient exterior, Xiangzhi was just as troublesome as Gengxie. He replied, “Isn’t that because you’re asking for it? There are only a few people who can actually beat you. Usually, you’re the one who starts it, and you fight back fiercely after being hit. If you have the guts, don’t fight back, and you might get hit a few times less.”

Gengxie put his hands behind his back and said leisurely, “Not fighting back is impossible.”

“That’s why you deserve the beating.” Xiangzhi unfurled the Star Projection Map, “Let’s go, to the mortal realm.”

****

After crossing the boundary gate, a different world awaited Xiao Chen. The Underworld had no daylight, the sky above was always dark and gloomy, which felt very oppressive. They had no sun, moon, or stars, so the people of the Underworld decorated it themselves. They sent floating lanterns into the sky to replace the stars. The lights of ten thousand homes stretched out vast and misty, a continuous spark of life that could also illuminate the darkness.

Without bestowed light, they created their own. Upon entering the Underworld, Xiao Chen’s heart was momentarily dazed by the lanterns connecting with the sky. In his eyes, that glow reflected the word “gentle.”

Xiao Chen realized that the Underworld was very different from what he had imagined.

The Underworld was divided into the Ghost Capital and the Netherworld Office. The Netherworld Office was the place for official business, subdivided into many regions, but that is for another time. As for the Ghost Capital, it was where the people lived. The Sovereign’s palace sat at the highest point, solemn and majestic. From the top of the palace, one could overlook the entire capital. The marriage ceremony was also held within the Underworld Palace.

The source of the Yellow Springs was no mere trickle, it was just as surging and vast. Five steps ahead of Xiao Chen stood the wedding procession. The leader was dressed in dark, formal robes embroidered with golden lotus patterns. He wore a mask that covered the upper half of his face, his eyes, brows, and nose hidden beneath the iron, leaving only his lips and chin visible. This was presumably Rong Yuan himself.

Coincidentally, Xiao Chen was also dressed in dark robes today, adorned with gold-traced star maps and many intricate, hidden woven patterns. Although this outfit had been rushed by the weavers, every stitch was meticulous—noble, elegant, and dignified. It suited the atmosphere of the Ghost Capital perfectly and happened to match Rong Yuan’s attire.

The people of the Underworld favored dark colors, their official and ceremonial robes were all dark. Xiao Chen himself rarely wore dark colors. His true form as a Star Lord wore silver-white light armor, and perhaps influenced by this, he had always preferred white clothing. Back then, when he charged into battle in his silver armor, he was always exceptionally striking amidst the flying blood a target for the enemy, and a steady banner for his own army. One look, and it was impossible to turn away.

Rong Yuan’s long robes swept the ground, the lotus patterns likely inspired by the Purple Lotus of the Underworld. He stepped forward slowly and, within inches, reached out his hand toward Xiao Chen, waiting quietly.

That hand was as fair as jade. Xiao Chen sighed inwardly and placed his own palm into the other’s. The moment their palms met, Xiao Chen saw Rong Yuan’s lips move slightly, he was actually smiling gently.

Even without seeing his eyes, Xiao Chen felt that this smile was exceptionally beautiful… was it an illusion?

The two walked side by side, hand in hand. It wasn’t convenient for Xiao Chen to pointedly turn his head to look, but he could already see that the shape of Rong Yuan’s lips and jawline were extremely handsome. Nothing about him suggested fangs, and his complexion was like jade, white and warm. If the rumors of Rong Yuan’s ugliness were true, what, did the upper half of his face alone turn green while the rest of his skin remained a different color?

If that were true, it would be quite horrifying. Or perhaps the rumors were simply false and he wore the mask for another reason. Then, were the claims of his eccentric personality true or false?

As Xiao Chen was thinking, he suddenly felt a surge of spiritual power flowing through their joined hands. Rong Yuan was actually quietly transferring spiritual power to him. Xiao Chen paused and whispered, “Thank you.”

Rong Yuan nodded slightly, still not speaking, and simply led Xiao Chen forward. Even though he didn’t make a sound, Xiao Chen didn’t feel slighted or offended, nor did he find Rong Yuan arrogant. Xiao Chen found it strange himself, this was their first meeting, and their only communication had been his own single sentence, yet he felt no sense of estrangement.

Was it Rong Yuan’s natural aura?

The scale of the Underworld’s wedding procession was grand enough to outshine the Heavenly Realm. The music played was not as ethereal as celestial songs, lacking that sense of hollow emptiness, and instead possessed a deeper weight of sincerity, pious in its blessings and pleasant to the ear.

Xiao Chen didn’t know the customs of the Underworld, but he could tell from the surrounding scenery that they were still some distance from the capital. Brilliant Equinox Flowers bloomed along the banks of the Yellow Springs. Xiao Chen thought of Gengxie’s eye, which was just like these flowers—blood-red, eerie, and passionate. After walking only dozens of steps, Xiao Chen saw a massive stone tablet with three large characters carved into it: The Sansheng Stone.

The path ahead must be the Path of Three Lives. So that was it; they were to walk the Path of Three Lives hand in hand. The ceremony was solemn, and the symbolism was good everywhere, but… this wedding was clearly just a formality. Thinking of this, Xiao Chen felt his steps grow heavier.

Stepping onto the Path of Three Lives, the Equinox Flowers no longer lined the road. On the pitch-black soil, a tiny white flower, small yet exceptionally striking, immediately caught Xiao Chen’s eye. Xiao Chen’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, “Zhaomu?”

On the wide ground, only a single flower bloomed in isolation, its white petals unfurled, its head held high with pride. This flower was called Zhaomu, originally native to the banks of the Star River. When Xiao Chen had descended to the lower realms years ago, he had brought a handful of Zhaomu seeds and scattered them by the Heavenly River. Perhaps due to the different soil and water, the flowers grew sparsely and were not lush, though a few could still be seen by the Heavenly River occasionally.

Could Zhaomu also survive in the Underworld?

Xiao Chen felt his hand being squeezed. He turned his head and saw a line of text outlined by spiritual power floating before Rong Yuan: [I wanted to give the Star Lord a garden of blooming flowers, but only one of the transplanted Zhaomu survived, and none of the scattered seeds sprouted. I am ashamed.]

It was actually prepared specifically for him? For the moment, Xiao Chen couldn’t quite grasp the thoughts of the Underworld Sovereign. However, another matter caught his attention. Rong Yuan hadn’t spoken a single word the entire way. Xiao Chen had initially thought he was simply a man of few words, but communicating now via spiritual text made Xiao Chen ask instinctively, “Is the Sovereign unwell and unable to speak?”

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