I Got Together with the Goddess [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 75

Desire is that which cannot be obtained; desire is wanting.

“Is the entanglement between me and Wanqi Yanjing merely because of the influence of the Heterogeneous Bone Langhua Jade?” Jiang Yiqing couldn’t help but murmur the question aloud.

“Yiqing, do you still not believe it?” Jiang Yuxiu’s expression darkened. She turned to Jiang Xian and said, “I must trouble the State Preceptor to clear my sister’s doubts. In this world, there is likely no one who understands the cruelty of the Heterogeneous Bone Langhua Jade better than you, correct?”

“…” Jiang Xian’s eyes dimmed. She said, “I cannot speak irresponsible words, but Princess, what I can tell you is that every successive Empress of the Qin Kingdom has had a lover held dear in her heart, but they have never once firmly chosen that person.”

“What?!” Jiang Yiqing asked. “How can there be such a cold-blooded species?!”

Jiang Xian continued: “The Empresses of the Qin Kingdom are all blessed by the heavens, possessing spiritual power far beyond ordinary people. Even those with the poorest aptitude can cultivate for ten or twenty years and become immortals. Among those who have ascended to immortality, every single one abandoned their former companion. Even those who remained on the throne never lingered on old feelings.”

Jiang Yiqing asked, “There… there must be a reason for this, right?”

“The reason lies within the bloodline of the Wanqi clan. The original ancestor who cultivated into an immortal phoenix was named Wanqi Huangyan, the Langhua Deity who governed the Southern Seas and Northern Oceans of the Nine Heavens. When the Deity descended to the mortal realm to gain experience, she founded the Qin Kingdom. The Wanqi clan receives the blessings of the Deity and is born with supreme spiritual power. But strangely, once they fall in love, the people of the Wanqi clan can no longer ascend to immortality. After discovering that the Phoenix bloodline is rooted in ruthlessness, the ancestors of the Qin Kingdom created the immortal artifact known as the Heterogeneous Bone Langhua Jade. Throughout the generations, they have placed all their infatuations and emotional attachments into the jade, choosing the path of severing all kindness and affection toward their loved ones. However, since emotional attachment is not easily dissolved, the Heterogeneous Bone Langhua Jade instead attracts those who love the Wanqi clan to draw near. It is like spreading an alluring net; after the clansmen have enjoyed the love, hate, and entanglements brought by these attachments, they will ultimately swing the sword to sever the emotion.”

After speaking, Jiang Xian let out a laugh that contained a hint of self-mockery: “So, Princess, to them, matters of the heart are nothing more than illusions—a reflection of flowers in a mirror or the moon in water. It is merely a trial in the mortal world. If you take it seriously, who knows how heartbroken you will be in the future.”

“…” Jiang Yiqing was speechless. “So they are essentially the perfect vessels for practicing the Dao of Ruthlessness.”

“The Dao of Ruthlessness?” Jiang Xian said. “Exactly so. They abandon their lovers to prove their Great Dao, yet they love to put on a display of deep affection, as if they were the most devoted lovers in the world. Princess, you have been in contact with Wanqi Yanjing; you must have felt this as well, haven’t you?”

Thinking of Wanqi Yanjing’s repeated persistence—saying harsh words but later being unable to bear hurting her—it would be a lie to say Jiang Yiqing’s heart hadn’t been touched at all. That grand and dazzling phoenix was truly a sight of captivating splendor. If it weren’t for that dream, she might have already succumbed to Wanqi Yanjing’s temptation and remained by her side.

“…Junior emboldens herself to ask a conjecture: Why is Master so familiar with the affairs of the Wanqi clan?” Jiang Yiqing couldn’t help but ask the doubt in her heart.

From Jiang Xian’s words, it seemed there was no possibility between her and Wanqi Yanjing. Was her dream then a mere delusion, or a divine miracle?

“One thousand and three hundred years ago,” Jiang Xian said, “I had an old destiny with a Saint of the Qin Kingdom.”

“Was it at the Mirror Platform?” Jiang Yiqing blurted out.

Jiang Xian’s expression was somewhat surprised. She said, “The Princess knows of it too?”

“Ah, I…”

Jiang Xian did not press her on how she knew, but instead took on a look of reminiscence: “One thousand and three hundred years ago, when the Crown Princess of the Qin Kingdom visited the Zhai Kingdom, I first met Wanqi Sangyan. The next day she sought me out, saying she had fallen in love with me at first sight. I actually believed her. However, the gap in our cultivation was immense. I endured the pain and rejected her, saying that one day, I would surely meet her again atop the Nine Heavens. Later—I did it. I spent a thousand years with her at the Mirror Platform. In the end, she still willingly buried herself in the Nine Mysterious Phoenix Pool, choosing to abandon me and depart.”

“Did Senior Wanqi Sangyan unfortunately pass away?” Jiang Yiqing asked.

“The phoenix is brilliant, but it is a tragic creature. Receiving the spirit of heaven and earth to bless future generations comes at a price: the previous Phoenix Lord must personally bury themselves in the Nine Mysterious Phoenix Pool so that the next Phoenix Lord can be reborn from the ashes and retake supreme spiritual power. For the necessity of the Qin Kingdom’s eternal continuation, every successive Empress has done this.”

“…” Originally, she felt these people practicing the Dao of Ruthlessness were too cold-blooded, but she hadn’t expected the arrangement of fate to form such a closed loop. She could no longer blame them; it was simply that everyone made different choices.

“I once foolishly thought she would stay with me in the heavens forever.” Jiang Xian smiled sorrowfully; it seemed she still had an unresolved knot in her heart. “However, she ultimately left me, choosing her empire and her descendants. When I learned that she had buried all her feelings for me within the Heterogeneous Bone Langhua Jade when making her choice, I felt it was truly ridiculous!”

Having listened, Jiang Yuxiu was somewhat overwhelmed with rage. She said, “My sister is not a tool for those of the Wanqi clan to play with. I ask the State Preceptor to take action, to unbind the tangled chains upon her body, so that Wanqi Yanjing can never again entice her for all eternity!”

“I can do this.” Jiang Xian looked at Jiang Yiqing and said, “But doing so may cause Wanqi Yanjing to become even more frenzied. People are all like this: desire is that which cannot be obtained; desire is wanting.”

“Then I will personally send her into that Nine Heavens Phoenix Pool!” Jiang Yuxiu looked earnestly at Jiang Yiqing’s face and said, “Yiqing, you think the same way, don’t you? That kind of person is not worth your sincere treatment.”

Compared to the monstrous things surrounding Wanqi Yanjing, Jiang Yuxiu’s sincerity was clear to see. Jiang Yiqing could not bring herself to betray the original host’s intentions and hurt the sister she so deeply loved, so she could only nod.

But why, after hearing Jiang Xian’s words, did her heart feel increasingly stirred?

Could it be that the Heterogeneous Bone Langhua Jade was still influencing her emotions now?

“Since you have decided, I will lend you my strength,” Jiang Xian said.

For the several days following, Jiang Yiqing stayed at the Star Terrace. Jiang Xian applied complex techniques to her. After this, even if she thought of Wanqi Yanjing again, although she knew what had happened between them, there were no longer any ripples in her heart. Those seedlings of emotion that seemed to have sprouted were once again covered by heavy layers of soil and thick snow.

When Jiang Yiqing emerged from her seclusion, Jiang Yuxiu came personally to celebrate with her, and Ning Yinxi came as well.

Jiang Yiqing said politely, “Teacher Ning.”

Ning Yinxi smiled and said, “I almost thought the Princess wouldn’t be coming back. The choice you have made now is undoubtedly the best choice. The Third Princess will surely protect you with all her might.”

The palace attendants of the Star Terrace prepared fine wine and delicacies for them. The three sat together. Jiang Yiqing asked where her Master was; they said Jiang Xian did not drink and would not attend the banquet.

“Presumably, this ordeal has exhausted much of the State Preceptor’s spiritual power.” Jiang Yuxiu looked apologetic. “I will certainly offer more spiritual food to the State Preceptor. For now, let her rest well.”

Ning Yinxi clearly understood the reasoning as well and said, “Princess, from now on, you are free. The Eldest Princess disregarded sisterly affection by sending you to the battlefield; that action was too much.”

Jiang Yuxiu said, “If Imperial Sister tries to use Yiqing again to achieve some ulterior secret, I will certainly not forgive her.”

“The Third Princess truly cherishes the Princess; it is truly enviable to see,” Ning Yinxi said with a smile.

Jiang Yiqing also felt a bit embarrassed. Originally, she had really wanted a sister who was good to her, but Jiang Yuxiu’s kindness exceeded even her expectations.

She suddenly remembered Wanqi Yanjing saying she would strike at Jiang Yuxiu, and a pain rose in her heart for no reason.

“Speaking of which, the State Preceptor said Yiqing’s spiritual power has greatly improved. How did this happen? Yiqing, did you work hard in secret while Imperial Sister wasn’t looking?” Jiang Yuxiu asked teasingly.

Jiang Yiqing gave a dry laugh. She had no spiritual roots; if she had any, it was cultivation accumulated entirely through dual cultivation. This kind of thing was something she absolutely could not say out loud.

“Imperial Sister, you’re making fun of me.”

Jiang Yuxiu stroked Jiang Yiqing’s hair and said, “This way, Imperial Sister can rest easy. The stronger Yiqing is, the fewer people will dare to look down on you.”

Watching the two of them in this peaceful moment, Ning Yinxi felt a trace of anxiety in her heart, because the outside world was already in chaos. Wanqi Yanjing was leading demonic hordes, repeatedly attempting to stir up the flames of war. But she couldn’t bring up Wanqi Yanjing in front of Jiang Yuxiu; wouldn’t that be bringing up the very thing they wanted to avoid?

“Come, let’s drink. I propose a toast to you both,” Ning Yinxi said, simply to hide her internal wavering.

“Now that Yinxi has entered the Hanlin Academy, her future prospects are surely limitless. I return the toast to you,” Jiang Yuxiu said with a smile.

“The Hanlin Academy? Teacher Ning is truly impressive.” Jiang Yiqing greatly admired someone like Ning Yinxi, who could stand out through scholarship at such an age in a world of cultivation. She said, “Teacher Ning teaches me knowledge, Master teaches me cultivation, and I have Imperial Sister accompanying me. It seems I am the happiest person in the world.”

Both were amused by her, and the atmosphere was momentarily very beautiful.

Jiang Yiqing laughed as well, but for some reason, she felt a place inside her was empty.

When she turned her attention to that spot again, it seemed as though nothing was wrong at all.

The Golden Jade Palace.

The Eldest Princess gazed at the Qin Kingdom’s supreme treasure—the Heterogeneous Bone Langhua Jade—sealed within a golden pillar in the hall. It was emitting wisps of black energy.

A portion of the vengeful spirits, under the influence of the formation formed by the Zhai Kingdom’s divine artifacts, had backlashed against Wanqi Yanjing and escaped into the mortal world, but the majority remained sealed within the jade.

From this, one could see what a miraculous object this Heterogeneous Bone Langhua Jade was. If there were a way to utilize this power of the Qin Kingdom’s ancestors, let alone the throne, sweeping across the entire world would be well within reach.

Why did this object originally appear on Jiang Yiqing’s person? Moreover, according to the Elders, Jiang Yiqing had indeed used a technique powerful enough to wound Wanqi Yanjing. It seemed she was not as useless as the rumors suggested.

Now that she had become the disciple of Jiang Xian, her strength had grown immensely, and the Third Princess’s ambition to seize the throne was clear for all to see.

As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. The Eldest Princess recalled Wanqi Yanjing’s proposal to her and felt that the matter was not out of the question.